Skincare Routine: Am & Pm & Weekly

I have tried a LOT of skincare products over the years and I still get excited about new finds and discoveries when it comes to getting smooth, youthful skin.  Here’s a glimpse into my morning, evening and weekly skincare routine.  You can see that I adopt the same “beautifully balanced” approach to skincare as I do to other areas of my life.  I am not a brand snob and will literally use anything (even my own homemade concoctions) if they are effective.  I use a mix of organic natural products, aromatherapy, and more science/high performance based products.  There’s definitely a mixed bag when it comes to price too.  Here is the current line-up.

Morning Routine

Dr Organic Rose Otto Cleansing Milk – This is such a gentle cleanser, it’s perfect for the morning as it cleans my face without stripping it of moisture.  I have normal to dry skin so I don’t really like to use anything that makes my face feel “squeaky clean”.  Plus I’ve only been sleeping, so it’s not like I need anything more high performance as it’s not as though I need to remove any makeup in the morning.

Mount Purious Pure Rosewater – The next step is this facial spritzer.  I love to spritz my face with this pure organic rosewater.  All it contains is Rose Flower Water and Potassium Sorbate which is a food grade preservative.  It’s also made in the UK so it’s great to support British brands.  Rose is such a great flower for leaving skin feeling hydrated and soothed.

Ren Vita Mineral Omega 3 Optimum Skin Serum Oil – I apply this whilst my skin is still damp from the rosewater.  I feel like it helps to absorb better this way.  If you have oily skin then I don’t think this would be a good product for you as it’s definitely very hydrating and has an oily consistency.  My skin soaks this up and it feels so soft and nourished when it’s all absorbed.

Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Moisture Lotion SPF30 – This is the last layer of moisture for my face, but really I use it for the SPF.  It’s a lotion that absorbs quickly into the skin and doesn’t leave any white residue – actually it’s got a yellowish tint to the lotion when it comes out of the tube, so you don’t get the white cast.  I really love this and think it does a great job of protecting my skin from the elements (and the London pollution too!).

Neal’s Yard Rose Formula Hydrating Eye Cream – Can you see a theme emerging here… I think I might be a rose fan do you ;-)  This has a light consistency and absorbs quickly into the skin leaving my eye area soft and smooth and ready for concealer.

Evening Routine

Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye & Lip Make-Up Remover – When I get in from work the first thing I do is take off my makeup.  I wear waterproof mascara (otherwise I end up with panda eyes after about 5 minutes of wearing eye makeup) so I need something that can remove this easily.  This eye make-up remover is the absolute best!  It removes all traces of mascara and does it so gently and easily.  I love this and will probably use it forever!

Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil – Next up, it’s time to remove the rest of my make-up and clean my face.  This oil cleanser is really great.  I massage 2 pumps onto my face, then add a touch of water to emulsify the oil and massage for another minute.  Then I remove it with a damp face cloth and rinse with warm water.  My face is lovely and clean and feels soft and silky.

Kora Organics Calming Lavender Mist – I love using lavender at night, it is so calming and relaxing.  This is so lovely to spritz on my face after cleansing.  I really breathe in all the lavender goodness and know that all the lovely organic ingredients in this face mist are doing wonders for my skin.  I don’t think there is one product in the Kora Organics range that I haven’t liked.  For anyone that doesn’t know, it’s Miranda Kerr’s brand and it’s made in Australia.  You can get it in the UK (Net-a-Porter and Space NK stock some of the range) but I am lucky enough to have a sister who lives in Australia, so I stock up every time I visit :-)

Ren Vita Mineral Omega 3 Optimum Skin Serum Oil – This is the same serum oil that I use in the morning.  It’s good to layer products to hydrate the skin, so this is the next step in my routine before my night moisturiser.

Kora Organics Hydrating Day and Night Cream – This is a great cream to use at night as it is really hydrating and has some fab ingredients, including Noni extract, which is a staple in all the Kora Organics products.  It keeps my skin soft and smooth.

Kora Organics Recovery Eye Gel Cream – This is a sort of hybrid between a gel and a cream, so again perfect for dryer skin types.  It’s soothing and not too scented like some eye creams.  It feels lovely on the eye area.

L’Occitane Shea Butter – I love this stuff because it is just one ingredient… shea butter.  It couldn’t be more simple, yet it is so effective at hydrating my lips and leaving them feeling plump and smooth.  It’s quite a matte finish, so don’t expect a shiny lipgloss effect.  It can also be used for any other areas that need some hydration, so it’s perfect for travelling as a multi-purpose product.

Weekly Routine

Once a week I like to give myself a facial.  This involves a face scrub, face mask, high performance toner and a leave-on moisture mask.

Sukin Revitalising Facial Scrub – This is a good, natural product that doesn’t contain any sulphates or parabens.  It is a creamy scrub that doesn’t foam up.  It has actual exfoliating particles which some people may not like, but I find that it is gentle yet effective at buffing my skin and removing the top layer of dead cells.  It’s the perfect prep for the next step.

Kora Organics Clay Purifying Mask – This is a really great mask for drawing out any impurities in the skin and cleansing the pores.  I apply this all over my face (except the eye area) and leave it on for about ten minutes until it has set.  I then remove it with warm water and face cloth.

AlphaH Liquid Gold – I use this as a form of toner after removing the mask.  This is quite a strong product and for anyone with super sensitive skin it would probably be too much.  I have quite sensitive skin and it has been fine for me, but it does sort of tingle when I first apply it.  This has been great at creating a more even skintone and firming the skin.  I know some people use this every night, but I feel that once a week is enough for my skin.

Sisley Express Flower Gel Mask – This is a hydrating, toning and firming mask.  I apply this step last of all as a leave-on mask that I sleep with.  My skin absorbs all the goodness and it doesn’t leave any residue.  It’s such a pleasure to use and I feel that it is worth the higher price tag.

What are your favourite skincare products?  Anything that you absolutely couldn’t live without?  Let me know your favourite skincare products or tips below in the comments.

L x