Skincare is a JOURNEY! In capital letters- because I really want to emphasise that finding the perfect skincare routine can be hard work and take a lot of trial and error! I feel I’ve done enough experimenting and have finally found the ultimate skincare routine. For context I started with acne at age 12 and suffered with difficult combination skin until my mid-twenties. I’d had enough of feeling self conscious and took it upon myself to start investing in a good skincare routine. And now I want to share it with you– in the hope it saves you a lot of time, money and gives you the confidence you deserve!
Getting Started..
The ultimate skincare routine is no joke and I want to give you all my tips and tricks in FULL detail. So buckle up- this could be a long one. Before we get started I’ll provide you with an overview- in case you’re looking for something specific. This ultimate skincare routine is broken down into:
Morning Routine
Doing your morning skincare means starting the day right! It’s a chance to remove the grime that collects during your overnight activities (I mean sleeping of course)! It’s also important to add moisture to your skin barrier and help protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. That’s three key treatment targets (remove dirt, add moisture and protect). And we achieve it in 5 easy steps.
Step One: Cleanse
My absolute favourite cleanser is by La Roche Posay in the Effaclar range. This brand is recommended by dermatologists and is prescriptive to your skin type.
The Effaclar range is ideal for those with sensitive, oily or combination skin types. The Effaclar cleanser is AMAZING! Or the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time)- as my husband would say!
How to Use: One pump applied to your hands, rub onto the face and remove using a face cloth.
Step Two: Tone
Toning is important for balancing your skins pH, which makes your skin less oily and creates a smoother looking appearance.
The Effaclar range toner by La Roche Posay works like a dream! It contains a micro-exfoliant, meaning it actively works to reduce the size of pores along with reducing oil and smoothing the skin.
How to use: 10 pence piece size applied to cotton pad and wiped across face.
Step Three: Serum
Depending on your individual skin goals, you can use serums to hydrate, smooth, firm, plump, exfoliate or brighter your skin. (There’s a theme appearing here)- but my favourite serums are by..? You guessed it- La Roche Posay!
My two daytime serums are Hyalu B5 serum and the Vitamin C serum. The Hyalu B5 serum contains Hyaluronic Acid, meaning you should use this if you’re concerned about fine lines as the benefit of this serum is to visibly plump the skin in 4 hours. The Vitamin C serum contains 12% pure vitamin C, meaning you should use this if you’re concerned about dullness as it boosts radiance and reduces lines.
How to use: Use one quarter of a pipette worth of serum, apply directly to face and rub gently into skin.
Step Four: Moisturise
There’s been a real hype recently about the use of niacinamide. Niacinamide is a type of B3 vitamin and has 10 key benefits to the skin. The key ones include collagen production (important for skin elasticity) and ceramide production (important for a healthy skin barrier).
I’ve tried many different moisturisers which incorporate niacinamide but my favourite has to be by Olay! It isn’t heavy on the skin which is ideal for those of us with oil prone skin types. Honestly I don’t feel greasy or shiny after using- which is a must for me!
How to use: Apply pea-sized amount to face and rub gently into skin.
Step Five: SPF
I forgot to mention that the Olay Niacinamide moisturiser does have SPF30 included in the formula. So perhaps if you’re staying at home you might feel this is enough protection. If I’m going out the house, regardless of if it’s sunny or not, I always use an additional SPF.
My go to is by La Roche Posay! It is unscented and does NOT feel greasy or oily! I repeat IT DOES NOT feel oily or greasy! So many alternatives either stink or melt my make up.
How to use: Apply pea size amount to face and rub gently into skin.
Night Routine
My night skincare routine genuinely makes me so happy. It is the perfect way to take the day off. Your skin will thank you for it and it only takes 5 minutes to do! Your night skincare routine should focus on cleansing and hydrating your skin.
Step One: Double Cleanse
Have you ever removed your make up well (or so you thought) only to see more grime come off when you cleanser or tone? Dirt can be more stubborn than you think, which is why a double cleanse is so important!
Initially you want to use an oil based cleanser- to remove sun cream, make-up and oil. This should be followed by a water-based cleanser to remove sweat and other grime.
My oil-based cleanser of choice is the Clinique ‘Take the Day Off’ cleanser. It does what it says on the tin- literally.
How to use: Take ten-pence piece and rub onto face. Activation of the product causing it to liquify and melt your make-up off.
My water-based cleanser of choice is the La Roche Posay Effaclar cleanser. Yes- the same one as mentioned in the morning routine. The application process is the same.
Step Two: Tone
My night toning step is exactly the same as my morning routine. Toning is important for the same reasons and the application process is the same.
Step Three: Serum
Your night time serum has a different job to play than your daytime serum. The serum you use at night is absorbed much better and plays a big role in repairing the skin. This is why so many people use a retinol based serum.
Retinol is often described as anti-aging. It is recommended people start using retinol as soon as their early 20s- before the aging process truly begins. Secondary effects of retinol include acne treatment, reducing wrinkles and inflammation.
My favourite retinol serum is by La Roche Posay. Sorry to be quite predictable!
How to use: Use one quarter of a pipette worth of serum, apply directly to face and rub gently into skin.
Step Four: Moisturiser
A night time moisturiser can afford to feel heavier on the skin. This was something I avoided for a long time as I was convinced it would worsen my acne and oiliness. The other steps of this ultimate skincare routine means you don’t have to worry about this. All the products have different roles to play. After stripping back your skin with double cleansers and toning, it’s important to really hydrate your skin.
This is an investment piece, but my favourite night moisturiser is the Capture Totale ‘Super Potent Rich Cream’ by Dior. By the morning, my skin is so soft!
How to use: Apply 5 pence piece size of moisturiser to face and rub gently into skin.
Step Five: Neck Cream
It is easy to overlook your neck and decolletage area. Hence I’ve dedicated it’s own step in the night time routine. Your neck is as on show as the skin on your face, so why not give it just as much attention.
The Prai Neck and Decolletage cream is my go to cream of choice. It has a really delicate scent that’s quite soothing to apply just before bed.
How to use: Apply enough cream to lightly cover your neck and decolletage area.
Once a Week To Do’s
There are certain tasks that don’t need to be done everyday. Partly because they’re quite time consuming but mainly because they would be too harsh on your skin. Having said this incorporating exfoliators and face masks are crucial in unclogging pores, stimulating blood flow and generally improving your skins appearance.
Exfoliator (X1)
Aim to do this just once a week. You don’t need to use an exfoliator every day because it cleanses the skin deeply. Exfoliating too much can in fact harm the skin. I personally enjoy an exfoliator which is slightly grainy. My personal favourite is the Blackcurrant Jelly Superfood Exfoliator by Elemis.
How to use: Gently rub a pea sized amount onto dampened skin and rinse off with water. Do this in an evening after cleansing.
Clay Face Mask (X1)
A clay face mask is a the best friend to anyone with oily skin. Hence why it’s become a staple in my skincare routine. Clay face masks are excellent at reducing shine, shrinking pores, detoxifying the skin and cleansing. Similar to exfoliating you don’t want to overuse these products, but they make the perfect self-care weekend treat. My personal favourite clay face mask is by La Roche Posay.
How to use: Apply thin amount across the skin using a facial brush. Allow to dry for 10-15 minutes before washing off with water.
Eye and Face Masks (X1)
I hear so many people lust after celebrities appearances, including their glowing skin. I mean I’m sure a lot of us would look that good with a few million pounds to spend on skincare. Which is why I’m always grateful to read about celebrity skincare habits that are actually affordable. I stumbled across an article about Haley Bieber’s skincare routine including how to improve your skin barrier.
A good skin barrier is important in protecting your skin from harmful radicals that can age and dehydrate. How can you improve your skin barrier? All the other steps mentioned in this post will give you a pretty good skin barrier. But if you really want to go the extra mile, then you want to drench your skin in lots of goodness. This is where a good face mask comes in.
Truthfully I don’t have an absolute favourite, so I’m open to suggestions and would love to hear you’re favourites.
FINAL THOUGHTS..
Phew! If you made it this far, then you deserve a medal! This has been my longest post by far. This skincare routine has been in the making for 10+ years. There’s been a lot of trial and error. I hope it saves you some time and money. For anyone else out there who has struggled to love and accept their skin, you are not alone. I promise you will find a routine that works for you. I have very awkward skin that’s extremely sensitive, oily, dry and prone to spots. This routine is prescriptive that deals with current concerns and protects your future skin from aging. I really hope it helps and would love to hear your stories.
