Skincare Shake Up: March ’18 Edition

I am never fully satisfied with my skincare routine. I am a total hussy when it comes to new products, always wondering if THE product that will transform my skin is just around the corner. I like to find affordable versions of high end products, I like to find independent brands who fill their skincare with as much love as they do science, and I also try to find things that suit all pockets and preferences. Every month when I select new products to try, I get really excited and I always look forward to telling you about them. So I’m pleased to present last month’s Skincare Shake Up featuring a few old favourites, new additions, and some exciting brand-new launches.

I’m going to try a bit of a different approach in this month’s Skincare Shake Up: every month I try to give as much information as a I can in these posts (hence why they’re usually 1k+ words long!) but I still get a few messages from people who are completely baffled. They want to know which products are ‘must haves’ and which are ‘nice to haves’ when building a routine; which products do what; what order to use them in, etc. So I’m going to put in a little code – MH for ‘must have’, NTH for ‘nice to have’. The products (as always) are in the order I use them and I’ll try to explain why if there’s a specific reason for that. Let me know if the new approach is helpful in the comments!

SKINCARE SHAKE UP EVENING ROUTINE

First cleanse (MH if you wear SPF and/or heavy make up) – DHC Deep Cleansing Oil. This has appeared in my Skincare Shake Up posts before so I won’t waffle too much. But it’s a light oil that dissolves even stubborn make up, doesn’t irritate my skin or eyes, and doesn’t leave a greasy feeling on the skin. People with oily skin are often afraid of adding oil to their skincare routine but I love this product and highly recommend it.

Second cleanse (MH if you wear SPF and/or heavy make up)  – This will come as a shock to US readers, but CeraVe has only just launched in the UK. It’s been a cult drugstore product over the pond for years (in fact it’s the fastest growing major skincare brand in the US) and I’m very excited that it’s finally here. I’m really enjoying using the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser*: it’s fragrance free, contains ceramides – which help to protect the skin barrier – and hydrating hyaluronic acid. If you’re looking for a gentle, easily available, and pretty affordable cleansing option this is a great one.

Exfoliation (exfoliation is a MH if you have dull or dehydrated skin, and chemical exfoliation is a kinder option if you have sensitive skin) – I’m still using The Ordinary Glycolic Acid* twice a week. This helps to remove dead and dehydrated skin to give your skin back it’s lovely natural glow. This is an affordable way to dip your toe in the exfoliating acids pool, although if you have dry skin there are more hydrating options (see my last Skincare Shake Up for more info).

Serum (NTH – I can’t be without serums but if you want to streamline your routine/save money you could skip) – Rohto Hadalabo Gokujyn Hyaluronic Acid Lotion. I repurchased this on my recent Japan trip and I have fallen in love with it all over again. It’s a very thin, runny liquid that you pour into your palms and then apply to the face to boost hydration. I’ve been using it for over a month and there’s still so much left, a bottle of this will last me ages!

Retinol (If you’re targeting pigmentation, fine lines, texture it’s a MH) – I’m still in love with the La Roche Posay Redermic R Intensive cream*. Have a nosey at my previous Skincare Shake Ups for more detail. I use this on the nights when I don’t use the Glycolic Acid and I always use it over the ‘cushion’ of a serum as it can be a little irritating on sensitive skin otherwise.

Moisturiser (MH) – More CeraVe! The CeraVe Daily Moisturiser* has similar benefits as the cleanser (no fragrance, skin barrier strengthening ceramides, etc.), is very lightweight, layers well, and sinks in quickly. The cult PM Moisturiser (containing Niacinamide) hasn’t launched in the UK but I’ve heard rumours that it’s on its way…

Masks (NTH) – Once a week I have been applying the Caudalie Instant Detox Mask to my T-zone to help with my oily patches and congestion. I like this clay mask because, although it dries on the skin, it’s not stripping or irritating (NB: remember to rehydrate dry masks before removing to avoid scrubbing harshly). On the rest of my face, I’ve been using the Body Shop British Rose Plumping Mask. It looks like strawberry jam and feels soothing and calming on the skin.

SKINCARE SHAKE UP MORNING ROUTINE

Cleansing (MH to remove dirt, oil, sweat, dead skin) – I’ve been using the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser* in the morning and I really like it. Usually I worry about foaming cleansers as they can be drying and leave my skin tight but this one is very gentle. It has similar benefits as the Hydrating Cleanser but contains Niacinamide (AKA Vitamin B3) to regulate sebum and calm breakouts, which is why this cleanser is great for oily/breakout prone skin.

Vitamin C (NTH) – I’m still using the La Roche Posay Redermic C10* and, in the interest of brevity, I won’t rave about it again. Instead you can read all about it in January’s Skincare Shake Up HERE.

Serum (NTH – I can’t be without serums but if you want to streamline your routine/save money you could skip) – You won’t be surprised to see the La Roche Posay HyaluB5 serum* make another appearance. April will be the 5th month I’ve used it(!) and I can’t see a reason to stop.

Moisturiser (MH) – I’ve been using the CeraVe Daily Moisturiser SPF 25* in the morning and I find it a little too thick for my taste. It didn’t aggravate my skin or feel sticky or greasy, but I just didn’t enjoy putting it on. Yes, I’m very picky when it comes to my skincare!

SPF (ABSOLUTE MH) – You know I advocate a separate SPF even if your moisturiser contains some and I’m always on the hunt for great ones that are suitable for sensitive skin. I branched out (slightly) this month and tried the La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Anti-Shine 50+ ‘dry touch gel cream’* which was good… but it’s just not quite as good as my beloved La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Ultra Light 50+ SPF*. It’s a little bit thicker (more like a cream than a milk) and aimed at people with oily, spot-prone skin so if that describes you then you may love it.

And that’s the end of this month’s Skincare Shake Up! I hope you enjoyed it, that it gave you some inspiration, or answered some of your questions. Let me know if the new format is helpful in the comments below – it feels a little bit disjointed to me as I’m used to just spilling out all the information in my head onto the page, but if it’s useful I’ll carry on doing it!

As always, you can read my other Skincare Shake Up posts HERE.

Lex

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