As we all hunker down and find new things to focus our attention on during lockdown, some bake (enough with the banana bread already!) or crochet a new wardrobe, I’ve set about fixing my skin. Something you can do whenever you might think but with no meetings, events or trips on the books, it was the perfect opportunity to spend my days make-up free trying out new skincare in the safety of isolation.
You guys know how utterly fascinating I find skincare and the older I get the more interesting I am to find solutions to annual complexion woes. My entire life (even the teenage years) I’ve been blessed with perfect skin so you can imagine my frustration at the grand old age of 32 when I developed hormonal acne, congestion and rosacea flare-ups.
Since I uploaded an image of my skin last week on Instagram, my DM’s were flooded with messages from followers asking what I had changed so I thought I’d share my current skincare routine. The long and short of it is, I stopped using skincare that was trendy, new or a must-have and just gave in to what my skin actually needed. The products might not be sexy or have Insta-worthy packaging my god do they work. So, I’m done trying to make my skin something that it’s not and just accept it for what it is – we do that with ourselves, why not do that with our skin?
ROS CLEANSER, SESDERMA
Sesderma was recommended to me by Debbie Thomas clinic after consultation and when I bought it, I loved it. Why I stopped using it I don’t know. Maybe because something new and shiny came along. I was also unsure if I’d like a cleanser that didn’t foam up (as drying as they tend to be) but my skin has never felt cleaner or fresher after using it. Perfect for all skin types but especially sensitive or redness-prone complexion, it increases your skin’s natural defences, controls its pH levels and stops the skin tissue from deteriorating. It’s basically an armour for your skin that protects and hydrates it. It removes ALL makeup and gives me that glass skin finish.
BALANCING MIST TONER, DISCIPLE
Following on from my cleanser, I spritz on the Disciple Balancing Mist Toner. You’ll probably notice if you follow me on Instagram, that I talk about this brand a lot! They are one of the very few companies that have tackled hormonal skincare head-on and created products that are results-driven. I’ve swapped my harsh AHA toner for this Geranium floral water (to balance progesterone and oestrogen levels) and protecting Copper Peptide alternative. This can be used as a toner or over make-up as a skin pick-me-up and it tends to move from my desk to the bathroom with me every day!
AZELAC SERUM, SESDERMA
There’s a reason why one of these sells every 30 seconds around the world – it is quite simply, a game-changer. Not only does it reduce blemishes (I haven’t had a new one in two weeks now), it fades pigmentation and the scarring left behind by spots. With azelaic acid (a must for evening skin tone), niacinamide (builds the skin’s defences) and retinol, it has significantly improved the texture of my complexion. Where I once had congestion on my cheeks and jawline, this has smoothed out every last bump.
LIQUID PEPTIDE, MEDIK8
Peptides were always a bit of a mystery to me and I never really understood what they did, but when I was gifted this Medik8 Liquid Peptide, I was intrigued. Medik8 is a brand I (and most derms) trust completely for delivering with their skincare so I knew it would be good. I use this after cleanser and toning, and before my night cream for a hit of anti-ageing and it has done wonders for the fine lines around my eyes. By minimising muscle contractions (I know, how clever!), it plumps the skin and restores the skin’s elasticity overnight. After 10 days of using it, I’m hooked.
BAPTISTE H2O ULTRA-HYDRATING WATER GEL, ANTIPODES
I’m going to be completely honest here (sorry Antipodes), but I wasn’t expecting to like this product. As an all-natural beauty brand, Antipodes was always something I kept in my draw at work when I was on Natural Health magazine and got send their latest release. The packing isn’t great and it looks very….natural. OK, now that’s out of the way, I can tell you that I’m actually completely obsessed with this product! The gel texture is cooling on application and is like a big pint glass of water for my skin. I’ve been using it as a night cream as not even oils were making a difference to the dryness but this holds its own overnight and my skin has never been softer or more refined. It just goes to show – don’t overlook the underdog!
NOURISHING CREAM, VERSO
I’ve known for some time that I need to step up my daytime moisturiser but struggled to find one that performed without making my make-up slip off my face. Enter Verso. Known for its slick minimal packaging, it’s a brand that’s all over Instagram but I questioned its ability to deliver. After researching, I knew that I needed to incorporate niacinamide into my regime to re-build my skin’s defences after over-doing it on the chemical exfoliants. It’s why my skin was textured, aggregated and sensitive. This has been a total skin-safer to bring my complexion back to a more stable place. Love, love, love.
REDNESS CORRECTOR, MEDIK8
There’s that brand again! I’ve had this rolling around in my beauty stash for so long I forgot I had it, but after a few days of not being able to put anything on my skin without it flaring up, I tried this. Wow. Never have I had a product act so quickly before. The green tint instantly covered any redness, calmed everything down in seconds and gave it a hit of hydration. 24 hours later, it was back to normal which never happens so quickly. I now use this when my skin is feeling particularly dry or aggravated.
SHOP THE POST
Leave a Reply