A Fashion Editor's Skincare Routine for Surviving Fashion Week
Chloe Street is a fashion editor who has covered the international collections for nearly a decade. She also consults for Dr Sebagh.
New York, London, Milan then Paris. Twice a year, in September and February, everyone in the fashion industry hits the same circuit of international fashion weeks. Each is a month or so of hectic travel itineraries, endless appointments and runway show after runway show, not to mention a healthy smattering of parties.
After nearly a decade of fashion weeks I have worked out a skincare routine that holds up to all of it: the prep in the run-up, the regime I keep on the road, and the recovery afterwards.
The focus is always on pulling together a cool outfit, but if your skin is looking dull and tired it really detracts from the overall look. Read on for my top tips.
The run-up: how far ahead to book a facial
The skin prep I do in the lead up to fashion week is really important for laying the foundations of a lasting glow. One or two days before the shows start I like to book in for the Aquapure Facial, a four-step, non-invasive treatment built on Korean aesthetic technology that addresses the foundations of skin health in a single 60-minute session: congestion, hydration, tone and elasticity.
The four stages work in sequence.
- Aqua Peeling. A dual-action handpiece exfoliates and extracts through gentle vacuum suction while delivering targeted solutions, so the skin is cleansed and hydrated at the same time.
- Electroporation. Controlled electrical pulses momentarily open channels in the skin, allowing hyaluronic acid, peptides and antioxidants to reach the deeper layers without needles.
- Micro-current. Low-level currents stimulate the facial muscles and circulation, supporting a visible lifting and tightening effect.
- Cooling and heating. A final thermotherapy stage soothes and calms while helping to firm and tone, leaving the complexion refreshed and even.
There is no downtime, and I find it preps your skin so that everything else works better.
Dr Sebagh on the Aquapure'Good skin is built over time, with maintenance, not in a single dramatic moment. The Korean Aquapure does the quiet, foundational work, cleansing, hydrating and conditioning the skin so that everything else, in clinic and at home, performs better.'
The days before: the exfoliating routine I never skip
I really focus on my skincare in the weeks leading up to fashion month, and a few days out I do a little exfoliating routine to make sure my skin texture is smooth and soft. The Deep Exfoliating Mask is my favourite in the range. It is a powerful exfoliating mask with AHA acids that clears congestion, smooths texture and leaves an instant radiant glow. I slather it on, wait three minutes, then wash it off. It is so effective even after one use.
The Skin Perfecting Mask, my second step
I follow it with the Skin Perfecting Mask, a clay mask that clears clogged pores and excess oil while still being gentle on the skin. The two together leave my skin really fresh without feeling tight. If you want both, the Two-Step Skin Prep Kit pairs them.
My fashion week skincare routine
With endless appointments, shows, catch ups and events, fashion month can be quite chaotic, but I try to stay pretty regimented with my morning regime. Alongside gargantuan amounts of coffee I drink plenty of water every morning, and I take a multivitamin, Omega 3, a probiotic and echinacea.
Morning: skincare that survives a 6am call time
My morning regime focuses on products that give me a lit-from-within glow. I am really into the Exo C Booster, which uses plant-derived exosomes alongside a stabilised vitamin C, and gives an instant luminous effect from the pearlescent pigments in the formula. I layer it under the Supreme Day Cream, which is a great base under makeup, and finish with lots of SPF.
The De-Puff Eye Treatment is great for tackling any puffiness and dark circles from the party the night before, with a five-peptide complex and a cooling roller ball applicator. If they are really bad, a pair of oversized shades is always a fashion week best friend. Lastly, if my outfit is showing my arms and legs, I slick on a layer of Supreme Body.
Night: how I repair my skin after a long day
At night I do a double cleanse with the lovely creamy Rose de Vie Cream Cleanser then the Foaming Cleanser, before layering on Serum Repair and Supreme Night Secret to hydrate my skin while I sleep. Both are part of the Supreme range. I also pop on some Lip Balm and High Maintenance Hand Cream before bed.
What I keep in my bag between shows
Hand cream and lip balm, the fashion week essentials
Four things earn their place, and only four, because bag space during fashion week is brutal:
- Lip Balm. I do not go anywhere in fashion week without it.
- High Maintenance Hand Cream, if the bag is spacious enough that day.
- Oversized sunglasses, for the mornings the eye cream cannot fix on its own.
- A fully charged phone, because you will be doing more walking between venues than you think.
On which note: I walk or cycle between shows where possible, but if the weather is bad I take a black cab. They know all the short cuts to save time when you are in a rush.
Post fashion week recovery: how to fix dull, dehydrated skin
Chloe at Chandos House
After a month of late nights and lots of flights, my skin tends to be dull and dehydrated. I focus on nourishing skincare in the weeks that follow. Rose de Vie Serum has a lovely calming, hydrating effect, and applying the Rose de Vie Hydrating Mask overnight a couple of times makes my skin look and feel significantly happier.
I also book in for a good lymphatic facial a few days after I get off the last flight. The Dr Sebagh Signature Facial combines lymphatic massage with red LED light. It is a lovely little reset.
Shop the travel size collection
Fashion week skincare: your questions answered
How long before fashion week should I book a facial?
One or two days before the shows start. That is close enough that the glow is still there when the first show comes round.
What skincare should I pack for fashion week?
Travel sizes of a cleanser, a serum, a day cream and a night cream, plus a lip balm and hand cream that live in your bag rather than your case. Anything you will not realistically use at 1am should stay at home.
How do you fix dull, dehydrated skin after travelling?
Hydration first, then a treatment. Rose de Vie Serum and the Rose de Vie Hydrating Mask overnight for a fortnight afterwards, and a lymphatic facial a few days after the last flight.
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