Today I’m chatting all things skincare and the routine I have developed that has seen some really positive results when it comes to the overall condition and appearance of my skin! I am also going to include to added extra tips outside of my daily routine that have also made a positive impact.
Small disclaimer: obviously it goes without saying that this is a routine that works for me and therefore won’t work for everyone. I am therefore going to describe my skin a little and the issues I’ve had that this routine has helped with, so that if you relate to my problems, the products I use may be something you want to try out too!
My Skin
I don’t think my skin falls on either side of oily or dry, and rather somewhere in between; pretty normal/combination. My main issue is that I get monthly breakouts (hormone related of course) that crop up on my chin, cheeks and forehead. These breakouts would take a week to fully immerse, chill on my face for another week, and it’d be another few days before they could be considered completely cleared up - meaning the majority of the month I would be dealing with spots in some form.
I thought that this was just how my body worked and nothing would calm the breakouts down, but this routine has proven that there are things that help. Whilst a good routine can’t control how my body reacts to hormones, I have noticed that spots come in a much smaller volume and clear up much quicker because of this routine.
The Routine
This routine is what I use when I have worn makeup and need to cleanse it off. In the morning, or on days I haven’t worn makeup, the routine is the same minus the first two steps.
Simple Purifying Cleansing Lotion, £3
I feel like Simple is associated with pretty basic skincare, but I use a number of their products and love that their stuff is so gentle (and cruelty free as a bonus). I use this cleanser on a wet cotton pad to break down my face makeup and it really melts everything off with ease.
Simple Eye Makeup Remover, £3
Even though the above cleanser could probably do this job with a bit more scrubbing, this stuff on a cotton pad breaks down even the most extreme/dramatic eye makeup easily and helps to avoid rubbing my eyes too much to remove it all (we don’t want premature wrinkles loves). It’s a much thinner consistency than the cleanser and you only need a couple of drops.
Clean and Clear Blackhead Clearing Daily Scrub, £3.99
Even though my skin feels pretty clean after the first two steps, using a scrub really feels like my skin is getting a good polish and that there is definitely nothing left on it. The blackhead clearing claims of this product are a bit suspect, but luckily I don’t use it for that purpose, and it serves my desired purpose of exfoliating my skin and making it feel clean and smooth. After applying this to a wet face I use warm water to wash it off and pat my face dry with a towel - again on wrinkles, dragging the towel is apparently bad. I also use my hands to wash the scrub off and not a flannel. To avoid bacteria build up, you basically need to use a clean flannel every day, and I’m just too lazy for that.
Simple Soothing Facial Toner, £3
Honestly, I don’t really know what toner does. But, I do notice a negative difference in my skin when I don’t use this. It lives up to the soothing claims of its name and it seems to keep my pores clean. Whatever it does, it’s good and I will continue to use it haha.
Glossier Super Pure Serum, £24
This is the only product I use that makes my routine a bit less affordable. I was reluctant to buy and begin to rely on something so expensive for its size, but I have never seen such positive reviews for a product before - and I have to say it totally lives up to the hype. After toner, I take 2-3 drops of this and rub it in with my fingers. After a month of using this, my skin breaks out less, the overall texture and colour of skin is more even, and it has generally improved the look of my skin overall. I have always loved and trusted Glossier as a brand and this serum has definitely become an essential part of my routine.
Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser, £2
Another trusty Simple product here. As I said, I don't suffer from severely dry skin, so don't feel the need to splash out on a particularly luxurious moisturiser. If you do have dryer skin, then this formula might not be enough for you. For me, this totally does the job and leaves my skin feeling very hydrated and smooth. I'm not a big fan of primer, so if I'm about to do my makeup, I will apply it over this moisturiser before it has fully dried down, meaning my makeup goes on much smoother and more flawless.
Witch Naturally Clear Blemish Stick, £2.50
This is a product I used to love when I was younger and first dealing with the horror of puberty-induced breakouts. I recently re-discovered this and have found that applying it to active spots overnight means I wake up to the spot being significantly smaller and beginning to dry up. It's an easy product to whack on any time without the need for access to a bathroom/water, and really works for reducing the appearance of my spots and making them less angry at a faster rate.
Extras
Though the above routine and products are my daily choices, there are also a few extra, occasional things I do to really ensure my skin is the best it possibly can be (even when hormones aren't my friend).
Sheet Masks
I try to use a sheet mask around once a week - no particular brand. A lot of masks claim to do a lot of remarkable things for your skin, so I am always cautious not to have crazy expectations of them. Rather, I find that the amount of moisture that sheet masks in particular apply to my skin is what makes the most difference. After using a sheet mask in the evening, I wake up with significantly more plump, healthy looking skin and, like my chosen Glossier serum, my skin appears more even and brighter. As long as you don't think masks are going to work miracles, they are still a great addition to any skincare regime.
Pore Strips
I have always suffered with blackheads on my nose, and as weird and uncomfortable as they can be, the only thing I can find that works at all are pore strips, and not any scrub or face wash that claims to clear them up. Without embarking on the painful, ill-advised practice of squeezing them, pore strips, used sparingly, are my best recommendation for those pesky things.
Sudocrem
It's a bit of an old wives tale kind of skincare tip, but I'm sure many of you have utilised the multi-functional wonders of Sudocrem. It may have been originally created for nappy rash, but I have to say that if you have a particularly angry, oozing spot (gross, I know), nothing drys it up and kick-starts the healing process quite like this magic stuff. It will always have a rightful place on my bathroom shelf.
Consuming Less Dairy
There is a lot of evidence out there that consuming a lot of dairy can have a negative affect on someone's skin. Whilst I don't know for sure whether this correlation is relevant for my skin, I recently made the decision to only use oat milk in situations where I would usually use cow's milk (cereal, coffee etc). I don't know whether my skin's improvement is solely due to my more streamlined routine seen above, but I do feel like this life choice has made a difference. Plus, oat milk is so tasty that I'd be continuing this practice either way. If you have a good routine but still think your skin is bad, maybe think about your dairy consumption and see if cutting down on it makes any difference!
Drinking LOTS of Water
This is an obvious one of course, but my body just will not function if I don't drink a lot of water in a day. Not only do I feel sluggish and get headaches, but my skin definitely suffers too. I must refill my Chillys reusable bottle at least 5-7 times a day, and always make sure to have it next to me whatever I'm doing. I recommend reusable bottles like a Chillys one, because the water stays cold for hours, meaning that the water is always refreshing and pleasant to drink - a much more positive experience than drinking the lukewarm glass of water on your bedside table that has been there a little too long. This practice has encouraged me to drink far more water each day than I used to and my skin has benefited as a result.
There you have it! Writing all that down made me realise how much time and money I spend trying to improve my skin. But in times where any kind of routine is hard to come by, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a sense of achievement and responsibility in keeping to this routine, and love that my efforts are actually making a difference!
Let me know if you have any holy grail tips for me and whether you're going to take on any aspects of my routine too!
H x
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