When it comes to my skincare routine, I am methodical and organised!
I love a good morning and evening routine and it’s very rare that I ever skip either.
Of course, every now and then I may take a short cut but my version of a short cut would be just to cleanse and moisturise before bed …. I literally don’t think I could sleep without applying my moisturiser haha! Oh and the thought of going to sleep without taking my makeup off?? I just couldn’t do it!
But I haven’t always been like this with skincare. I’ve always had a routine as such but my love of skincare, and the science behind it, has grown as I’ve got older. I’m now very aware of my ageing skin and the underlying pigmentation I have from sun damage in my younger years. So my skincare routine is really important to me and I can 100% see the benefits of the products I’m using.
So, a breakdown of my current routine and order of application!
Morning:
I start the day with a large glass of water mixed with a tablespoon of collagen (10,000mg serving)
Hydraboost Cream Cleanser
Bright and Clear Solution (Daily Exfoliator)
Everactive C&E (vitamin C)
Alumineye (eye cream)
Intellibright Serum
Hydradew Moisturiser
Sheer Hydration SPF 40
Evening:
Purifying Gel Cleanser
Bright and Clear Solution
Retinol Resurfacing Serum 1.0 (I use this on average twice per week)
Eventone Serum
Alumineye
Hydradew moisturiser
Neck and Décolleté Firming Cream
Glass of water before bed
Does my routine take me a long time?
No not at all. It can seem daunting if you’re new to skincare but once you’re in a routine it takes just a few minutes morning and night. I find it quite therapeutic. It’s part of my daily self care and I enjoy taking those few minutes out to sit at my dressing table and pamper myself!
What’s with the water?
Water keeps your body hydrated and refreshed and it also helps to maintain your skins elasticity! Drinking plenty of water is good for your overall health and if you are healthy then that will be reflected in your skin.
SPF 40? But it’s October!
Yes that’s right. I wear a UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum factor 40 every day and all year round. Wearing a daily sunscreen is one of the best and easiest ways to protect your skins appearance and health at any age. Too much exposure to the sun not only increases the risk of skin cancer but it also causes premature ageing. It doesn’t matter what season it is or what the weather is like, sunscreen is needed all year round.
How often do you exfoliate?
I use a daily exfoliator morning and night (AlumierMD Bright and Clear Solution). I absolutely love this product and I use it twice daily for two reasons – anti-ageing and pigmentation. It’s an award-winning, skin conditioning solution that refines your skins complexion. It contains lactic acid and caviar lime to gently exfoliate cellular debris to brighten and improve skin texture. I wouldn’t be without it! It takes seconds to apply. Just a few pumps onto a cotton pad and sweep over your face – simple!
Does drinking collagen actually work?
I take Rejuvenated Collagen shots daily. It’s a marine collagen and it’s scientifically proven to stimulate collagen synthesis, strengthen connective tissue and vascular health, which in turn boosts blood flow and hydrates the skin. There are so many advantages to drinking a collagen supplement. Too many to list here but from a personal perspective I see a noticeable difference in how my nails and hair grow and I also think my skin is more glowy when taking the supplements. There are many collagen supplements on the market these days. Make sure you choose one that is 10,000mg per serving as that’s the maximum dose you can ingest. I would also recommend you try to choose a hydrolysed collagen because of its high bioavailability (meaning more collagen reaches the cells rather than being metabolised by the body before doing any good).
What’s the difference between a serum and a moisturiser? Don’t they do the same thing?
They both do great things, but they do them in very different ways. There are 3 main differences between a serum and a moisturiser;
They reach different layers of your skin.
Serums provide a treatment whereas a moisturiser provides hydration/condition.
One works against your skin’s barrier, the other works with it.
I use two serums daily to help my pigmentation. I use AlumierMD’s Intellibright serum in the morning and AlumierMD’s Eventone serum in the evening. Both contain naturally powerful skin brightening agents that work by building resistance to new pigment formation. Intellibright contains contains arbutin, kojic acid, and punica granatum extract which evens skin tone and improves the appearance of discolouration and sun damaged skin. And Eventone contains Emblica™, white shiitake mushroom, licorice, and brightening peptides to reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone. Both are powerful anti-pigmentation serums and I have been using them for around 3 years now. My skin is a million times better as a result but, as many will know, hyperpigmentation can take a long time to fix and, being a freckly complexion, it’s an ongoing battle so I will continue to use them as a preventative measure even though my pigmentation is pretty much under control.
I have retinol in my anti-ageing moisturiser so why would I use one separately? And why are you only using it twice a week?
First of all, let me just say that Retinol is the MAGIC INGREDIENT to any anti-ageing skincare routine. I always say, if you had to choose just 2 products for anti-ageing then you should choose a daily SPF and a retinol.
The amount of retinol in your daily moisturiser is tiny …. So small that it would barely have any effect. It is much better to use a separate medical-grade retinol serum, applied to your skin straight after cleansing and then moisturise as normal afterwards.
I use the AlumierMD Retinol Resurfacing Serum 1.0. It’s a pure potent retinol serum. So it’s on a completely different level to those found in your usual moisturiser. A separate medical grade serum like this will give you results! This is why I only use it twice per week. At this strength, using too frequently can cause irritation, redness or peeling. For me, I’ve found the right balance to be twice weekly. A Retinol Resurfacing Serum will improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes and skin texture, while evening skin tone. What’s not to love?
Any questions?
If you have any questions that I haven’t answered. Please ask!
If you need help/advice regarding your own skincare routine then reach out to us. We provide honest, informative, evidence based advice!
Our skincare consultations can take place in person at our clinic in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire or we offer a virtual consultation service for skincare advice and delivery if you are not local to us.
We can help and advise with regards to a wide variety of skin concerns/conditions so please feel free to contact us for further information.
