Nailing My Skincare Routine

I have always been a bit slapdash when it comes to my skincare routine. I have good intentions but I tend to fail on follow through. I’m lucky that my sister is a beauty therapist and knows all about skincare, so it’s not that I don’t know what products I should be using. Half the problem is I don’t make the time to do it. I jump in and out of the shower in the morning and might throw on a bit of serum, eye cream and moisturiser if I can be bothered, but that’s as far as it goes. The same can be said for my evening routine. I wash my face, randomly use a product and fall into bed. Now we’re currently in ‘lockdown’ I don’t really have an excuse!

Skincare Routine

As someone who can never really be bothered to wear makeup, it has dawned on me that I should put more effort into making my skin the best it can be. I’d love to be the type of person that has naturally glowy skin that exudes health. Now I have more time each day I have focused on nailing my skincare routine, and because I’ve been doing it for a couple of weeks now, it doesn’t feel like the chore it once did.

Morning

My morning routine differs slightly from my evening routine. In the morning I want to use relatively light products that still hydrate my skin.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a clear, slighty tacky substance that is naturally produced by your body. It retains over 1,000 times its weight in water within the cells in your skin. I find that it really plumps out any fine lines that I have and when I wear makeup it then goes on much smoother. My current hyaluronic acid is by The Inkey List. Not only is it brilliant, but it’s less than £6.

Eye Cream

I really notice a difference if I don’t use an eye cream as the skin around my eyes is prone to feeling dry. I’ve used a range of different eye creams but I find myself re-purchasing the Alpha H Absolute Eye Complex with Cucumber and Vitamin B5. This actually has more of a serum type consistancy than a cream but I find it really refreshing and the area around my eyes feels firm and hydrated.

Vitamin C Serum

A few years ago I attended the opening of a skin clinic and was told if I was to only do three things to benefit my skin they should be to drink lots of water, wear SPF and use products with Vitamin C. As it happened I was already using the Super Facialist Vitamin C + Brighten Glow Boost Serum. The serum does what it says on the tin and really gives my skin a healthy looking glow. Plus it smells great!

Daily Moisturiser with SPF

My favourite moisturiser has to be the Alpha H Daily Essential Moisturiser with SPF50+. I have been repurchasing it since I was given an Alpha H gift set for Christmas a couple of years ago. The moisturiser is lightweight, protects against UVA and UVB rays, and is a mattifying primer. As well as Pro-Vitamin B5 it contains antioxidant Vitamin E to guard against environmental damage and premature ageing.

Evening

I feel like my evening routine is where things become slightly more complicated as products are switched in and out. If I use somethings then I won’t use others. For example if I’ve put on retinol I won’t use Vitamin C Serum as they work optimally at different pH environments.

Retinol 2%

Retinoids are a form of vitamin A. They help fight acne, reduce wrinkles, stimulate collagen, and promote cellular turnover. They are also known for evening out skin tone and increasing blood flow to the skin. I tend to use retinol twice a week. The important thing to remember if you use retinol is that you must wear SPF as it makes your skin more sensitive to UV rays. My go to here is The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2%.

Glyconic Acid

Glycolic acid is a type of alpha-hydroxy acid (or AHA). It has a small molecular weight which means it’s easy for it to penetrate your skin and be super effective. Glyconic acid helps shed dead skin cells and reveal the newer, brighter layers underneath. It stimulates collagen production, helping skin feel firmer and minimising fine lines and wrinkles. I also only use this twice a week and like pretty much everyone else I use Alpha H Liquid Gold.

Hyaluronic Acid

I mentioned hyaluronic acid as part of my morning routine, but I will use it twice a day. If I lack time hyaluronic acid is something I always make sure I use.

Salicylic Acid Serum

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid (or BHA). It exfoliates, unclogs pores and has antibacterial properties. I will only use this a couple of times a week and not with retinol or glycolic acid. If you use it with retinol it can cause dryness and redness. Salicylic and glyconic both exfoliate the surface of the skin so you may end up with dry, irritated skin. I always use the salicylic acid serum from Superfacialist.

Eye Cream

This is the same eye cream that I use in the morning. I always make time for this as I think using it really does make a difference.

Moisturiser

At the moment out of desperation I’m wearing the same moisturiser day and night. This is the only part of my skincare routine that I feel like I’m failing on. I really want an actual night cream but I’m unsure which. The one I have my eye on is the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Night Cream but that is on the pricey side. If anyone has any recommendations I would love to hear them.

Oil

Maybe once or twice a week I will use an oil either on it’s own in my routine or a couple of drops mixed with my moisturiser. I don’t find that it clogs up my pores or makes my skin feel greasy, just nicely hydrated. I did actually write a post on the facial oil that’s transformed my skin. If you follow the link it will give you more detail but the oil I’m loving is The Ordinary B Oil.

Rose Quartz Roller

For Christmas I asked for a rose quartz roller because I had seen so much about them (and jade rollers) online. Rose quartz rollers help to cool the face a reduce facial tension. The roller helps to improve blood circulation, reduce puffiness and promote lymphatic drainage. I find using it quite relaxing and I feel like my face is less puffy. I use it after applying my skincare, starting in the centre of my face and rolling outwards. Using it after skincare means it doesn’t drag the skin and it helps to push the products into your skin.

Do you follow a skincare routine? What are your go to products?