I have to admit that for years my skincare routine has been pretty basic and maybe a little bit inadequate: in the morning, I would have simply cleansed my face and applied my favourite moisturiser. That is it. Looking back now it sounds a bit crazy, I know. But I genuinely didn’t grow up with a clear idea of how important is to take care of our skin and how much our skin is affected by external agents too.
It took me a good 10 years to realise it and now, at the age of 28, when the first wrinkles start to appear, I am finally starting to appreciate all the toning mists, anti-ageing serums, face masks and facial oils I haven’t heard of and used in the previous decade.
I am not a skin expert and I still consider myself pretty new to this constantly evolving world but my interest for skincare has massively awakened in me now and I thought it could be interesting to share with you my “upgraded” skincare routine, and my experience with some of the products I have recently been trying – and absolutely LOVING.
Step #1: Cleansing | Holy Grail Beauty & Co. Calming Chamomile Skin Cleanser, £12,99
Cleansing is the first important step of any skincare regime: research shows that cleansing your skin before going to bed as well as in the morning, is an essential step for looking younger and healthier for longer… so we better do it right!
I recently discovered Holy Grail Beauty: in their small but complete line they combine the best botanical ingredients with potent scientific advancements in deep skincare to create products that are natural, gentle and highly effective – exactly what I need as I have sensitive and dry skin!
In the past months I have been using their Calming Chamomile Skin Cleanser and I have been loving it. It is Paraben and Sodium Lauryl sulphate-free and full of natural ingredients such as shea butter, chamomile, aloe vera, olive leaf extract etc. It is very delicate on the skin and you only need a small amount to take the majority of your makeup off, it works like magic! I usually wash my face twice in the evening so that I am sure I removed all of the make up, especially the remaining mascara around the eyes area.
This Calming Chamomile Skin Cleanser leaves your skin toned, balanced and perfectly ready for the next step in your skincare regime. Such a great discovery! The price is super competitive too: £12,99 for 120ml and they ship worldwide!
Step #2: Toning | Annmarie Neroli Toning Mist, $31
It is only recently that I discovered how important it is to use a toner after cleansing your skin. It is considered another key step of a skincare routine as toning completes step #1: it helps to soothe, nourish and hydrate the skin while restoring its delicate pH balance, preparing it for the moisturiser or serum that will follow. I mean, where I have been living all my life not to know all this?!
The good news is, now I know and during my research for the perfect toner, I discovered Annmarie Skincare and their Neroli Toning Mist which I am in love with! At Annmarie’s they handcraft skin care, using organic and wildcrafted ingredients – a super important aspect as I have very sensitive skin and I truly need to be extra careful on what I apply on my face.
The Neroli Toning Mist it is a delicate aloe vera infusion that hydrates, softens and balances your look, and enhances absorption of all serums and oils. The addition of the orange-blossom aroma of neroli oil, makes this mist smelling truly divine (trust me!), plus it has an incredible aromatherapy effect too as it calms and soothes the mind. It leaves my skin soft, smooth and refreshed and I couldn’t recommend this brand more, a truly must have!
Step #3: Serum | SAMPAR The Impossible C-Rum, €69
After having cleansed and toned your face it’s now time to apply a serum. Unlike a moisturiser, which usually contains between 5 and 10% of active ingredient, serums contain concentrated doses, up to 70%. Also, because of their lipid-soluble base, they have the power to soak deeply into your skin instead of lying on the surface. For these reasons you will be able to see results, whether you are looking to reduce fine lines, firm, tone or get rid of dark spots.
At the beginning of the year, when I decided to take action and to upgrade my skincare routine, I was on the look for an innovative brand that could help me to combat the effects that the urban environment I live in has on my skin. Living in London is a dream come true but pollution truly has affected my skin in these past 4 years making it look more dull, less radiant, dehydrated and it seems like my skin is ageing faster than it should… Time to stop worrying though, I finally found the solution: it is SAMPAR Paris!
SAMPAR Paris has a reputation as the pioneer of urban skincare: their products contain an exclusive anti-pollution complex, the Urban Advance, that acts at the heart of the skin cells to awaken and reactivate the skin’s natural functions. After having discovered the brand and having spent a good hour on their website learning about their products, I was sold! I knew this was exactly what I was looking for!
I have been using The Impossible C-Rum for a month now and I can’t begin to tell you how much I am loving it: it is a 5-in-1 action serum meaning that it is anti-wrinkle, hydrating, firming, radiating and anti dark spots, all in one product.
It is the first anti-aging « Skin Guard » serum with both preventative and corrective powers, leaving the texture of my skin incredibly velvety, hydrated and plump day after day. It has a lovely light smell too and overall it truly made a difference in my skincare regime. It is great for all skin types from 20 to 60+ years old so give it a go if you are looking for a high quality serum, you won’t be disappointed!
Step #4: Moisturiser | Holy Grail Beauty & Co. Retinol Repair Skin Crème, £23,99
Moisturising the skin is the final step of my skincare program: using a good moisturiser is essential to keep your skin looking radiant and glowing throughout the day.
To be honest, this has been the step I have been following for as long as I can remember. I have always been addicted to moisturisers and tried many different ones in the past decade. The Holy Grail Beauty Retinol Repair Skin Crème has been another pleasant recent finding. I mentioned this brand earlier already in Step #1 and explained how this company combine the best botanical ingredients with potent scientific advancements in deep skincare to create products that are natural, gentle and highly effective. For this reason I was very interested and excited to try their moisturiser too and it didn’t leave me disappointed.
The Holy Grail Beauty Retinol Repair Skin Crème it is a beautiful light regenerating moisturiser supercharged with retinol, hyaluronic acid and plant based extracts such as green tea extract, aloe vera leaf juice and shea butter.
Retinol has the power to restore the skin’s youthful appearance by speeding up cell-turnover and boosting collagen production, while plant based extracts protect the skin against harmful effects of pollution and UV rays.
The moisturiser’s lightweight formula absorbs in seconds, making my skin firmer and hydrated and without leaving any greasy feeling at all. Simply the perfect final step of my skincare routine!
Step #5: Lip Balm | Dr. PAWPAW Scrub & Nourish, £ 8.95
Last step I do daily, both in the morning and in the evening, is using a super moisturising lip balm. I have been using the Dr. PAWPAW Scrub & Nourish since a few months now and it is just great!
It is a perfect duo pot with a a lip scrub in the top and their original balm in the bottom: ideal for when you are on the go and a great little product to leave on your night table too.
It is made up by 100% natural ingredients: PAWPAW to nourish, Olive Oil to hydrate, and aloe Vera to soothe – LOVE!
The scrub is a sugar lip exfoliating scrub, it is super gentle and it smells amazing! You then only need a tiny amount of the balm as it is super nourishing. Try it and let me know your thoughts about it! 🙂
That’s it Lovelies! This is my up to date skincare routine! I do it twice a day: every morning when I wake up and every evening before going to bed. To be 100% honest with you, there are evenings when I am truly exhausted and I really can’t be bothered to do anything at all, I guess it is human! 😉 But I have to admit the next day I ALWAYS regret it! 🙂
I really hope my skincare routine can inspire you to take care a little bit more of your beautiful skin too! Let me know in the comments your fave skincare products and if you try any of the ones I suggested, let me know how you get on with them! It would be great to know your opinion! 🙂
P.S.: Watch my skincare routine video HERE!
Love,
Alice xx