Mastering Hydration Stacking
Pritika Swarup emphasizes a multi-layered approach to hydration, a technique she calls 'hydration stacking,' involving the application of three to four
hydrating products consecutively. This method is crucial for maintaining plump, smooth, and deeply moisturized skin, particularly during taxing travel or extensive beauty sessions. The process typically begins with a refreshing toner to prepare the skin, followed by a potent serum that delivers deep moisture, brightens, and plumps the complexion, even helping to rebalance stressed or dehydrated skin. The final step involves a rich moisturizer or balm formulated with ingredients like ceramides and natural oils to fortify the skin's natural barrier and effectively seal in all the pre-applied hydration without feeling heavy or occlusive. Occasionally, a specialized treatment enriched with antioxidants and fatty acids is mixed in for an extra boost of restoration and dewy radiance, ensuring the skin remains balanced and supple.
Pre-Event Skin Reset
For significant events or photoshoots, Pritika dedicates the night before to a comprehensive skin reset. This ritual begins with a gentle yet transformative exfoliant designed to brighten, soften, and smooth the skin's surface without causing micro-tears or irritation. Removing dead skin cells and debris is highlighted as a critical step that significantly enhances the absorption and efficacy of subsequent skincare products. Following exfoliation, a sophisticated LED mask is employed; this device offers a cooling effect to reduce puffiness and boost circulation, promoting an overall glow. The subsequent step involves applying a potent serum containing an Antioxidant Recovery Complex, which works in sync with the skin's natural circadian rhythm to support overnight repair and infuse the skin with essential hydration. The ritual concludes with a luxurious moisturizer formulated with ingredients known for their brightening and revitalizing properties, ensuring the skin wakes up looking incredibly fresh and radiant, as if after a professional facial.
Post-Flight Recovery Trio
Upon arrival after a long journey, Pritika prioritizes reawakening her skin. The first step involves a specialized product that generates gentle heat to enhance circulation and encourage the purging of impurities and excess oil from pores, while also providing a pore-tightening effect for instantly smoother-looking skin. This is immediately followed by a targeted approach to combat puffiness and sluggishness around the eyes, common after flights. This includes applying cooling, hydrating eye patches to swiftly minimize signs of jet lag. Once these are removed, a rich eye cream is gently tapped into the delicate eye area to smooth, firm, and brighten, creating a lifted appearance and serving as an excellent base for makeup. The final element of this trifecta is a facial massage technique, often employing a gua sha tool, to encourage lymphatic drainage, reduce fluid retention, and redefine facial contours. An optional extra step involves using a chilled tool to further reduce any lingering puffiness for a sculpted look.
SOS Fixes for Irritation
When skin encounters irritation or breakouts, Pritika’s focus shifts to soothing and strengthening the skin barrier. The initial step is a gentle cleanse using a formula designed with adaptogens and anti-inflammatory agents to effectively remove impurities without exacerbating sensitivity. This cleanser aims to calm stressed skin, diminish redness, and support a healthy skin microbiome, which is fundamental for barrier function. For active breakouts, a targeted treatment is applied, utilizing ingredients like mandelic acid to gently exfoliate and clear pore blockages, thereby preventing post-breakout marks. Following this, a calming serum packed with botanical extracts and hyaluronic acid is gently pressed into the skin to reduce redness and soothe discomfort. The final stage addresses any active blemishes with specialized spot treatments, and if inflammation is present, a mist containing hypochlorous acid is used to purify and calm the skin.
