The Skin Care Edition
Now before I start I am not a skin expert, far from it, but I do read a lot about skin care and I would consider myself to have a good skin care routine. I have tried so many different products, and I would say, I have a pretty good skin routine these days. So I thought this week I would share the order I apply my skin care and the products I like to use.
Morning Evening
Cleanse 1. Cleanse
Tone/Mist 2. Tone/Mist
Eyes 3. Eyes
Treatment 4. Treatment
Moisturiser 5. Moisturiser
SPF 6. Oil
Extra bits I do: Exfoliate or a Mask between step 1 and 2
Cleansers
We all have different skin types, mine can be a little oily, especially around my t-zone, but as I am getting older (currently perimenopausal) hydration is key to ensure my skin is looking youthful. When I was younger I have awful acne, I took a pill to help control it for years. It wasn’t until I was in my 30’s, that my skin stopped breaking out. I am lucky, I don’t have any marks on my skin from my acne. I do have a few slightly enlarged pores around my nose and cheeks, nothing a good treatment cream or primer can’t sort.
When it comes to keeping my skin clean, I double cleanse like all the experts recommend. My go to cleansers is Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. It is super rich, with an oily balm texture, but it properly cleans your skin. It minimises my pores and also feels nourishing. It is so good at taking off your makeup and SPF at the end of the day. I know it’s pricy but it is worth it. I also use Jeju Daily from Beauty Pie for my second cleanse, or for my morning cleanse. It is a nice light cleansing milk, which is very hydrating. I also use The Ordinary Squalane. It is a great product and more affordable.
Mists, Eye Cream, Toners, Exfoliants & Serums.
After cleansing I start with Dr Glycolic acid toner. I soak a cotton pad and wipe it over my face avoiding the eyes & lips, it helps with minimising breakouts and helps with pore clearing. Then I move onto a mist, there are loads to choose from, but my absolute favourite is the Elemis SuperFood Mist, it smells incredible, and makes you feel like you have stepped into a spa. Another one I love is Cruel Deep Moisture Spray, ultra fine moisturising spray, good if your skin feels dry.
Next is eye cream, so important to help keep your under eyes looking bright and hydrated. The skin under your eyes is thin, so keeping them moist helps you look more youthful. I use Plantastic Genius Ginseng Eye Cream, which helps with puffiness, fine lines and dullness. It adds some moisture ahead of applying undereye concealer. I also use a retinol eye cream which helps with fine lines, again both from beauty pie. I alternate between both depending on the time of year. If you have dark circles or puffiness, the best eye cream on the market is Sunday Riley Auto Correct, pricey but excellent.
Next I use some brightening drops, Superdrops which has Niacinamide which helps reduce the size of your pores and helps prevent break outs, you can use it daily. Then it is Salicylic acid micro peeling drops, which helps reduce breakouts and blackheads. I use it a couple of times a week.
Then is comes to serums I use Super Healthy Skin & Sunday Riley Brightening Serum both excellent and helps to improve the appearance of your skin. At night I use a retinol from Medik8 or Super Retinol , makes my skin firmer, brighter and looking younger.
Twice a week I give my skin a good scrub one of the best exfoliants I have used is from Murad, it's their Vita C Triple Exfoliating cream. My skin feels very soft and super clean removing all dead skin and giving you a bright refreshed look.
Moisturisers
I switch up my moisturiser depending on a few factors, time of year, and how my skin is doing. I exercise a lot, so before a run I don’t like to wear anything too heavy. In winter sometimes I get a little but of Rosacea, so I need something calming, and because my skin is oily, I need something that helps, to ensure my makeup sits nicely.
My favourite moisturiser is Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream, It’s expensive, I know, but it’s incredible, smells lovely, and makes my skin look amazing. It wakes my skin up, if I am looking tired, by making it look more plump and glowy. I am currently using the new Magic Water Cream, as Charlotte made this for oily skin. First impressions are, it is really lovely. It is more gel like and doesn’t have any scent. I also love the Super Healthy Skin, which is a great light daily cream, and Happy Face when my skin is looking a bit sensitive from the cold winter runs, both are from Beauty Pie. I do also use the Ordinary Natural Moisturising, really affordable and a cult classic.
SPF
I am not the type of person who sits in the sun. I have fair skin covered in freckles. Therefore SPF is super important to me and should be to everyone. I wear SPF all year round, no matter what the weather is like. These are the ones I have tried and love, Bondi Sands Face Mist 50+, so versatile, chuck it in your bag and use it when needed. Next Super goop texture is like a gel primer, it sits so well under makeup and finally you can’t go wrong with La Roche-Posay.
Some of My Skincare Hacks
Spend more time in the evening prepping your skin, take your makeup off when you get in from work, or if you are working form home, before you start cooking dinner. This means you won’t be too tired, if you leave your routine before you go to bed. This should help your skin look better in the morning, as all your products have had more time to work in.
Don't forget about your lips, just like our skin, so remember to exfoliate and scrub your lips, and then put a nice lip balm on them. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm is a nice one to try.
Mix a few bronzing drops into your moisturiser, it amazing what a little few can do for you, especially in these cold winter months.
Tint your brows, honestly there is no need to pay someone to tint your brows, Boots or Amazon sell great foolproof kits. Tinting your brows gives you a lovely natural look and can make a real different to framing your face.
Top Tips for Perimenopausal Skin
Norish & Hydrate - The decline of oestrogen causes your oil to decrease, which means your skin becomes drier, and less able to retain moisture. To help choose moisturisers with fatty acids and hydrating ingredients to help. I have started to use a facial oil in my night time routine to help.
Soothe Sensitivity - if like me your skin has started to react and become a little sensitive then, keep your cleansers and moisturisers simple. Use treatment serums to help and a facial mist to cool your skin down. Go easy on alcohol filled products as this can make things worse.
Vitamin A - Buy some retinols, they help with ageing, skin damage and keep your skin looking brighter.
Hydration - I talk about this everywhere, especially in my makeup updates. A good mist, along with a hydrating serum and moisturiser is vital.
Vitamin C - Helps to make you look glowy.
Exfoliate More Thank You Think - My skin needs to be exfoliated about twice a week. As I am getting older it looks duller quicker, since I have increased my exfoliation my skin is looking so much brighter.
Wear SPF Always - I’ve said it before, it’s not rocket science, just wear your spf daily.
Hope you enjoyed this week’s update Sx