SAVING FACE - My Current Skincare Loves

New Skincare Favourites

God, I get so excited about new skincare! When a delivery arrives with some new cleanser or serum or moisturiser I just want to get up to the bathroom straight away and cleanse my face so I can use them all. Even if that means immediately reapplying a full face of makeup!!

Like most of us, I’ve had a bit more time than usual to linger over my skincare routine lately. Being a totally promiscuous skincare junkie I have a very generously stocked bathroom cabinet full of products that I dip in and out of depending on what I feel my skin needs that day. There are always some old faithfuls in there that I can’t imagine ever being without but mostly I love trying out new things so most of the products I’m using currently have only been in my rotation for the last few months or so. Two of them are repurchases (my favourite facial oil and face mask) but the others are new to me and I’m loving them. So…here’s my recommendations based on what I keep reaching for every day…

Elemis Pro Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm is my new favourite evening cleanser. It’s a rich, rose scented, oily balm - it smells DIVINE and completely removes all makeup including mascara. I always use a warm damp flannel to remove my evening cleanser but this one also emulsifies well with water if a wash cloth isn’t your thing.

Milk Makeup Vegan Milk Moisturiser: my latest purchase and God this stuff is beautiful! I have been feeling like my skin needed something really nurturing and moisture infusing and this...is...it. It has the most perfect rich texture that sinks in quickly whilst leaving the skin feeling plump and hydrated and I am absolutely loving it.

Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore Refining Cleansing Gel has been my go-to morning cleanser for a few m months now. Refreshing and refining without tightening, it’s the perfect morning wash off cleanser or light second cleanse for anyone with combination skin. I really do see a difference in my skin texture when using it. 

Biossance Squalane + Phyto Retinol Serum is another new addition and so far so good. It contains bakuchiol - a plant derived retinol alternative that helps reduce lines and wrinkles but unlike retinol is safe to use morning and night. It’s creamier in texture than most serums I’ve used before so is super nourishing. It contains 100% plant derived Squalane to deliver and retain essential moisture, niacinamide to restore the skin barrier and fight water loss plus Hyaluronic acid too so is a great extra step for upping your hydration levels. Again, I’m loving this.

Kate Somerville + Retinol Vitamin C Moisturiser applied every other night is really helping to keep my lines and wrinkles at bay, pores refined and pigmentation marks lightened. It’s firming, brightening and nourishing and frankly bloody brilliant. It’s pretty strong stuff if you’re not used to retinoids so start slow but it’s by far my favourite retinol of all I’ve tried so far.

Herbivore Orchid Facial Oil is what I reach for when I want my skin to feel indulged. On a no-makeup day I sometimes use it in place of moisturiser, or under makeup if I’m going for glow. In the evening I’ll layer it over serum and moisturiser or retinol as an extra comforting blanket of moisture. It contains squalane again which locks in moisture and helps prevent hyperpigmentation as well as Omegas 3 & 6 and essential minerals. The addition of elasticity boosting jasmine oil smells INCREDIBLE and the tiny amount needed means a bottle lasts for aeons. This will always be on my bathroom shelf.

Nestled at the back there is the classic acid toner/ liquid exfoliant Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 (I have the PIGM version - to target pigmentation issues). Swept over cleansed skin every other night (alternating with your retinol nights) this sweeps away dead skin cells, and regenerates and refines the skin. All Lotions P50 contain a potent combination of AHA, BHA and PHA exfoliants: lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, salicylic acid and gluconolactone, to act as a chemical exfoliator. As its name indicates, the Lotions P50 gently renew the skin over 50 days – ‘P’ stands for peeling and ‘50’ stands for 50 days – which represents about two epidermal cycles, for a gentle yet effective exfoliating process. There are many impersonators on the market, but this Parisian Spa original is the absolute best (with a price tag to match, I’m afraid!)

My Sunday mask routine might sometimes involve something a little stronger (like Caudalie’s Glycolic Mask or The Ordinary AHA 30% Peeling Solution which are both brilliant for a quick intensive brightening effect) but it always rounds off with the rose and almond scented Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask. It’s a pore-refining and moisturising 10 minute quick fix and I couldn’t be without it for my weekly deep cleanse.

You’ll find most of these items on Cult Beauty’s website. (For 15% off your first spend over £25 follow this link: https://share.cultbeauty.co.uk/x/9zGDbT)