There’s something about the combination of always being tired #mumlife, entering your thirties, and not having an intentional skincare routine, that will have your skin age before your eyes!
This is exactly what I realised a few months back, when I looked in the mirror and could barely recognise myself. My skin was dull, tired, and quite frankly lifeless. Needless to say, this was the kick up the backside that I needed, and began a week long research process into how to take better care of my skin; outside of my diet and physical wellbeing.
Here are the products that I’ve been using, loving and seeing great results with*:
P.s. I regularly update this list to reflect product upgrades and what works even better for me than previously shared.
My Current Skincare Products
Makeup remover – Bioderma Make-Up Removing Solution
I’ve always gone down the oil cleansing route when it comes to make up removal, so I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I’ve fallen in love with a water based makeup remover product instead. This honestly does deserve all of the positive reviews that it’s received, it is extremely gentle on the skin yet manages to take EVERYTHING off! Love it.
Daytime Moisturiser – Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
As per my October ‘Made It Monthly’ favourites, the Charlotte Tilbury Magic cream still remains my current favourite day cream. A little of this product goes a long way and it instantly leaves your skin feeling plump, hydrated and soft. The formulation is rich without being greasy and it makes for an excellent moisturiser especially during the colder winter months.
Night Moisturiser – ESPA Tri-Active ProBiome Moisturiser
The ESPA team gifted me with this moisturiser a few months back and my skin can’t get enough of it! The tri-active moisturiser helps fight visible signs of lifestyle skin ageing, and is clinically proven to increase hydration levels by 43%, enhance firmness by 14% and improve elasticity by 10%. I will never get tired of how smooth and soft this leaves my skin overnight! A definite fave. Though if you’re not a fan of aromatherapy like fragrances, then this may not be for you.
Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
Whilst I enjoyed the Biolumin C Eye Serum (my previous eye serum), I decided to give the Ordinarys Caffeine Solution a try as soon as I ran out, as I hadn’t noticed much change with the main issue I have with my under eyes being how dark they are. I started to use the Ordinarys solution about a month ago, and dare I say I feel like my under eye area has improved. This may be because I’ve also since increased my water intake which shows in my face and has reduced my under eye hollowness. All in all, I like this product and use it twice a day every day underneath an eye cream.
Sunscreen – SkinCeuticals Brightening UV Defense SPF 30
When Dr. Ewoma aka the skndoctor shared this sunscreen and said that it wouldn’t leave a white cast on dark skin, I knew it was worth a try. My verdict? She was right. It also does not have an overpowering fragrance like most sunscreens I’ve come across and has a light formularion, which makes me like it all the more.
Dermatica Prescription [Tretinoin, Niacinamide, Azelaic Acid]
I recently made the decision to up my Retinol strength and my first stop was to go via Dermatica. Dermatica is an online prescription service offered by an expert dermatology team helping to combat acne and fight ageing with treatments that can’t otherwise be bought in stores. What I loved in particular and one of the reasons why I opted for this service, was I wasn’t sure how much more Retinol my skin could handle & I wanted to get my skin in front of a team who could better advise me. The process was simple, I took some high quality photos of my skin, answered a few questions and then submitted everything online. Within just a few days I was sent my prescription treatment and I haven’t looked back since.
You can trial the service for just £2.90 [postage cost] to see if it works for you, and if it doesn’t then you can subscribe to a monthly subscription. More details here
Serum – Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Intensive Recovery Ampoules
What can I say, I love a good serum! If there’s one thing that I can guarantee will leave my skin looking like its had an overnight facial, a serum just before my moisturiser is definitely one of them. This particular serum is said to strengthen the skins barrier and generally make it look more radiant, which at present I can definitely attest to.
During the winter months my skin is particularly dry and this does wonders at calming my skin as well as locking the moisture from my night time routine in so that my skin still feels moisturised and supple in the a.m. If my skin is exceptionally dry as a result of the weather I’ll switch the oil for a thicker alternative such as the rest and restore skin balm from the same brand which I love and double up as a balm and oil cleanser.
Hyaluronic acid – Vichy Minéral 89 Serum
The number one ingredient for moisture retention none other than hyaluronic acid. This product is another recommendation from the skn doctor who doesn’t usually talk about drugstore products, but vouched for this one. So far I’m absolutely in love, not only does it glide on the skin so smoothly but even with the harsh cold weather in London during the winter months, it keeps my skin moisturised without a dry patch in sight for the entire day. I also use it at night and it never disappoints.
Vitamin C – Medik8 C-Tetra Lipid Vitamin C Antioxidant Serum
This is my first time using vitamin C and I’m definitely excited about my continued journey with it. Vitamin C is the ingredient you want to have in your skincare products if either of the following are concerns: hyperpigmentation, dull skin, sun damage protection the list goes on. It’s jam packed with antioxidants and also known to promote collagen production. This is a staple daily product for me and definitely gives my skin an extra glow to it.
AHA/BHA – Dr Dennis Gross Aplha Beta Universal Daily Peel
This product! AHA’s and BHA’s are a form of acid otherwise known as chemical exfoliators, whilst both acids are different and serve different purposes, I was keen to try the Dr Dennis universal daily peel because of its unique combination of five alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids (AHAs and BHAs), with potent wrinkle-wrestling antioxidants, that claim to smooth and refine the skin. As someone who does intend on getting professional peels in the near future, I’ve got to say this product has been the perfect introduction to the world of peels. Each and every time I use this my skin is significantly smoother and brighter in complexion, I always feel like I look younger and it’s a product I try hard to ensure I never run out of.
Ole Henriksen Pore Balance Sauna Scrub
I am always on the look out for new and better products, especially if they come highly recommended by aestheticians or celebrities with gorgeous skin, like the Ole Henriksen Sauna facial scrub that Halle Berry shared here.
I’ll admit, prior to using this I hadn’t used a facial scrub in at least 3 years because several aestheticians have spoken about how harsh most scrubs are on our face. However, this scrub is made from very small particles of volcanic sand and not the chunkier and larger beads in most facial scrubs, making them gentler on the skin.
My first time using this I was floored at how smooth, bright (thanks to the glycolic and lactic acid) and renewed my skin felt in the morning. The best part is, a few friends purchased this shortly after me sharing it and the voice notes on how much they love this and are glad they picked it up are hilarious! A definite fave to say the least.
Lip Mask – Laneige Lip Mask
Hands down one of my favourite parts of my evening skincare routine is applying this lip mask. It layers on thick and when paired with a lip scrub before, leaves your lips baby bottom soft – even through the night. I stalled on buying this for some time because the price point was more pricey than I would have liked. That was until I tried it, now I’m a major fan girl!
Face Mask – Laneige Water Sleeping Mask
My love for Laneige as a brand started when I discovered the infamous lip mask I shared above, but let me tell you it do not end there. As part of a recent shop I did that was shipped from the US, all it took was a small sample of the water sleeping mask to have me run to google to find out where I could buy the full sized product. All I can say is a soft baby’s bottom – that’s how my skin feels whenever I use this. Plump, smooth and so unbelievably youthful.
So that’s the scoop on my go to skincare products
What are some holy grail skincare products that you just can’t live without?
