Oh hello! So, you are looking to improve your skincare but not sure where to start. Well, here are some of my skin care suggestions to help you out.
Whether you are wearing makeup or SPF it’s essential to double cleanse. Your first cleanse removes that barrier (SPF or makeup). Your second cleanse will nourish your skin, so it is important to do both steps.
You then want to find a serum with an ingredient which will help your skin type (dry, acne prone, rosacea etc).
Eye cream, not everyone uses this, I do as this skin is thinner and is an area prone to fine lines. I’m ok with aging but if I can do something to slow this process, well then, I am going to bloomin well do it!
Moisturiser will then help ‘lock in’ all these products and help nourish your skin overnight.
Your morning routine will be a little simpler, you only require one cleanse (the second cleanser as you have no barrier to remove). A serum, moisturiser and then the all-important SPF. Do not skip SPF even on the coldest winter’s day, the sun will still get you!
Two products I would introduce to your evening routine a few times a week is a liquid exfoliant and a retinol. A liquid exfoliant will help remove dead skin cells and can help reduce the appearance of large pores or help tackle break outs.
Ok, so now you know the routine, what the bloody hell do I use? Below I will give some suggestions of brands I have tried and loved. I will try to offer budget, mid-range and high-end options, you can decide where you want to splash the cash!
First Cleanse
Coconut oil, yes, the stuff you use for cooking. This is essentially grease which will help melt your makeup away. I use Lucy Bee and wipe it away with a clean flannel or muslin cloth.
Micellar water and cotton rounds. There are loads now available on the market, I like Garnier and Simple, but I do not think there is a wrong option here. I personally would choose budget options, or your first cleanse then invest in a great second cleanse.
Second Cleanse (Top budget, mid-range, purse friendly)
If you have a Beauty Pie subscription, then go and order their Plantastic balm as it a cult favourite and a total dream to use. Again, use your flannel or muslin cloth to remove.
Emma Hardie Moringa cleansing balm is a top budget choice for me but again, a dream to use.
Dermalogica.
Kate Somerville Goat Milk.
First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser.
Liz Early cleanse to polish is a mid-range option and smells DIVINE!
Cerave cream to foam cleanser is a great budget option, also great for teenage skin.
The Inkey List Oat cleansing balm, can’t go wrong!
(Use my code LFTFGENEVIEVE at Look Fantastic and you can get 20% off on SOME of these brands)
Serums
I am going to pop down which ingredients I would look for with certain skin types then list some brands I love. You can decide what you think your skin requires.
Dehydrated skin – Hylauronic Acid, ceramides, squalene, lactic acid
Acne/breakouts – Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, activated charcoal, retinol
Dull complexion – Vit C, niacinamide, licorice, lactic acid.
Pigmentation – Tranexamic acid, Vitamin C, Rosehip oil
Brands I know and love.
Emma Hardie
First Aid Beauty
Neals Yard
Kate Sommerville
Dermalogica
Medik 8
The Inkey List
The Ordinary
Cerave
Revolution
Pixi
Nip+Fab
(Use my code LFTFGENEVIEVE at Look Fantastic and you can get 20%off on SOME of these brands)
Moisturisers
When looking for an appropriate moisturiser, its important to know that it cannot penetrate as deeply as your serum (serum can get 30% deeper). Therefore, I would personally take more interest in my serum if I were watching my pennies. I will stress that you do NEED moisturiser and it would benefit to buy one which has the same active ingredient as your serum to give your skin the extra boost. Moisturiser will then seal in all this loveliness and let it all get to work.
Here are brands I like… yes you can see a pattern emerging.
Emma Hardie
Biossance
Dermalogica
First Aid Beauty
Medik 8
Cerave
The Inkey List
The Ordinary
Weleda
Embryolisse Lait Crème
Neals Yard
Lumene
(Use my code LFTFGENEVIEVE at Look Fantastic and you can get 20%off on SOME of these brands)
SPF
Ok, were getting there. Let us talk SPF, none of this ‘its in my moisturiser’ rubbish, I am talking factor 50 UVA/UVB. We need BROAD SPECTRUM protection, and you need lots of it (three fingers worth to be exact). This is the only proven way to prevent the signs of aging and will protect you from horrible basal cell carcinomas aka mother fucking CANCER, so do not skip this step, ok?!?!
Dermalogica…FAB
Ultra-Sun…is awesome
La Roche-Posay… not cruelty free but is a good option if you are not looking for the leaping bunny.
The Body Shop…they have a few brilliant options.
Drunk Elephant…GREAT.
Kate Somerville… GREAT
Eucerin… GREAT
These are all GREAT options; this is the one thing you should invest in above all else.
Lecture over, lets move on to the liquid exfoliants and retinols!
Retinols
I feel that these are two areas that cause people the most amount of fear. I kinda get it with retinols but honestly, if you start low and slow, you will be fine.
What do I mean by low and slow I hear you ask? When it comes to retinols it’s Important to start with a low percentage, I would advise 0.1% if you go in too high, your face will hurt! I started applying twice a week and I have built up the strength over time. Consensus is once you have used a full bottle, your ready to increase the strength.
Why do I need this?
Retinol is the MOST effective anti-aging ingredient and helps fight acne. It is from the Vitamin A family so you may see it written as; retinal, retinyl palmitate, tretinoin, retinaldehyde etc…
Use after cleansing making sure your skin is dry to start. Most formulas are for PM but do check the guidance on your chosen product. ALWAYS WEAR SPF as this makes your skin more sensitive to the sun.
Which would you suggest? Well, I am so glad you asked.
The Ordinary
Medik 8
Dermalogica
First Aid Beauty Skin Lab
Peter Thomas
(You can get 20% off each of these from LookFantastic.com using my code LFTFGENEVIEVE)
Liquid Exfoliants (Acids)
Liquid Exfoliants, I feel that these are the new kids on the block, when I talk about it with clients, I usually get a very confused look back and an ‘eh?’ sound. A liquid exfoliant can do so much, they help fight the signs of aging, can help against breakouts and lift that dullest of complexions!
How? Our skin has a natural exfoliation process, but this can become obstructed due to sun damage, oily skin, genetics etc which can cause clogged pores, breakouts and uneven skin tone. These exfoliants help you restore the natural process.
Why not a scrub or cleansing brush? These can do more harm than good. An abrasive scrub or brush can cause micro tears in the skin and cannot reach the multiple layers of built-up dead skin cells.
I would exfoliate with either AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) or BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid). An AHA is recommended for dry and sun damaged skin. A BHA is recommended for oily, sensitive, rosacea prone skin.
Which would I choose?
111SKIN Clinical
Dr Dennis Gross
Kate Somerville
Sarah Chapman
Nip + Fab
Revolution
Pixi
Paulas Choice
(Use my code LFTFGENEVIEVE at Look Fantastic and you can get 20% off on SOME of these brands)
So that is my whistle stop tour! I hope it helps; please be aware I am a makeup artist not a facialist. I have done my research by following skin care experts such as Sali Hughes and Carline Hirons which is where I find a lot of my information. Remember, the products that work for me, may not work for you HOWEVER, we would all benefit from taking better care of our skin so find what works for you and let me know!
Laters,
Gen x