Skincare Routine

Starting a skincare routine can be daunting as heck. What order do you do things, what things should I put on - is there anything I can realistically leave out? Do I have to spend all that money? Now I'm no skincare specialist, and I'll never claim to be one. If you've a thirst for knowledge about all things skincare then I wholly recommend Caroline Hiron's Skincare - The No Nonsense Guide - it has incredible advice in it and more knowledge than you could ever imagine! There's also two incredible skincare specialists I recommend in Nottingham if you're looking to get specific help. 

However, here are my tips for all skincare types!

CLEANSE YOUR SKIN. In the morning, if your skin is dry you can probably get away with a rinse of water. If you're oily, I'd go in with a cleanser. All the night's oil and grime will want wiping off so your other skincare can work effectively. At night time, no matter what your skin is like, clean it. Yes, even if you're not wearing makeup! Get that dirt off your face. All the day's bacteria needs to be washed off your face at night. 

MOISTURISE YOUR SKIN. In the morning and in the evening, your skin barrier needs moisture to repair and protect itself. Slather it on! You skin needs hydration both from you drinking water, AND from you moisturising it.

SPF. Every Damn Day. Every morning, whether it's snowing, raining, cloudy, windy - WHATEVER THE WEATHER, WEAR YOUR SPF. And I don't mean "My foundation has a little SPF 15 in it" - that's not worth a damn thing. You want a minimum of SPF 30 on every day. I mean, slather it on. SPF50 *chef kiss* all over your face, neck, and chest. It is solely the one thing you can do every day that will benefit your skin for YEARS to come. 

Extra bits you can add in

DOUBLE CLEANSE - This is the process of cleaning your face twice. Easy as that! If you're wearing makeup, I'd always suggest an oil based cleanser which will break down the makeup without stripping your skin. You can then cleanse your face with your favourite cleanser that's suitable for your skin. 

EXFOLIATE. Start using a chemical exfoliant. My absolute favourite is Nip & Fab's Glycolic Acid pads. Anyone who's had a 1-2-1 lesson with me will have heard me rave about them. The glycolic acid helps to disolve the dry skin without using anything 'bitty' to scrub at your skin. Don't be scared by the word acid, this stuff is so much gentler on your skin. 

SERUM - This goes on before moisturising. A super easy rule of thumb is that if the product is thinner, it goes on earlier in the application. Serums will penetrate deeper into your skin and come with some pretty awesome concentrated skincare benefits (things like Vit C, or hyaluronic acid) so it's worth while looking at them and thinking of adding them in.

EYECREAM - I'd pop this on after serum and before moisturising too - again, thinner products go on first. You can get some great eye creams that have caffiene in them that sort of tighten the area a little and reduce puffy skin. Your undereye is super thin and doesn't produce oil, which makes it dryer. If you're finding it's dry, get a hydrating eyecream in there. Don't go up to the lash line; you're asking for trouble! And be SUPER gentle in your application. Pad the product in, instead of swiping. 

If you were doing all the above I'd go for Cleanse, Double Cleanser, Exfoliate, Serum, Eye Cream, Moisturise, and SPF - in that order :)

There's also other great things that we can do to benefit our skin - eat healthy, drink loads of water, do some exercise, get a lot of sleep, maybe take some vitamins. And now you've read this, go get yourself a glass of water. Your skin will thank you for it!