When it comes to skin care I like to keep it simple. Even before lockdown I never adopted the infamous 10 step routine (I’m pretty sure it’s actually more now), 5 is more like it in my books, and that’s just for the evening. My daytime skin care routine is even more stripped back with just 3 simple steps: cleanse, serum, moisturise and I’m going to talk you through my process and show you which products I’m currently using!
Step 1 – Cleanse
I have dry combination skin which means dry cheeks and chin and an oily T-Zone. However, I’m definitely on the drier side than oily. Over the years I have learnt to understand what my skin needs and responds well to. In the mornings I used to cleanse with a cleanser such as the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel or the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser but after a while, I realised my skin just didn’t need it.
The dry patches on my skin have always present and no amount of moisturiser could nourish them. After finishing my last bit of cleanser, I decided to take a break and cleanse exclusively with water! When I wake up my skin isn’t overly greasy so just doesn’t require a deep cleanse compared to the evenings when I’ve been active all-day. Since using just water in the mornings, my skin has vastly improved and the dry patches diminished so it could be something to consider if you have similar skin to mine.
Step 2 – Serum
I tried using Hyaluronic Acid before but never found that it worked for me. BUT since lockdown and joining TikTok, I discovered a whole new side to skin care that I never even knew existed. And one of those new nuggets of information was how to apply Hyaluronic Acid correctly. By correctly I mean having a damp face before application. Previously, I’d been applying it to a dry face so no wonder the texture was tacky and actually made my skin feel drier. By dampening your face it gives the serum something to absorb versus if you apply to a dry face it’s absorbing moisture from your skin.
I’m currently using The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 and use this morning and night after cleansing. And honestly, my skin has never felt better! It’s affordable so makes repurchasing less painful and one bottle lasted me around 3 months. I’m also keen to try The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum but it’s permanently out of stock. Trying to get hold of The Ordinary’s HA was just as difficult so when I managed to find it online at Boots I went ahead and bought 2 bottles, just in case!
Step 3 – Moisturise
The final step to round off my daytime skin care routine is to moisturise. And since this is a daytime skin care routine it’s no surprise that both my choices have SPF. I’ve been using the Cetaphil Daily Defence Moisturiser for the last few years and have repurchased multiple times. This moisturiser is lightweight, non-greasy and the best thing about it is that it has SPF50.
Protecting your skin against sun damage is more prevalent than ever especially knowing how harmful UVA and UVB rays are. UV rays can cause irreversible damage to the skin or worse yet cause skin cancer. Therefore make sure you always apply SPF when you’re out and about. Even if it’s cloudy or raining outside, there are still UV rays. They’re just less obvious compared to when the sun is shining!
Another option for SPF that I alternate between is the Ultrasun SPF50 for Face. Before repurchasing the Cetaphil I tried to use up moisturisers I’d already opened. In the interim, I would apply the Ultrasun first then layer a moisturiser on top. However, looks like Ultrasun has since reformulated this SPF as it now has moisturising properties included. To be honest I find the formulation of the Ultrasun SPF50 that I have now to be moisturising enough for me so I’m happy to apply alone but the Cetaphil just makes it easier because it’s all in one!
So do you go all-in with the full 10+ steps or keep it simple like me? Let me know what your skin care routine is like!