It has been 5 months since the last edition of Skincare Shake Up and I was tempted to skip this because (spoilers!) not a lot has changed in my routine. But I get a lot of questions about the products I use every single day, so if it’s helpful I will continue to share these as and when. There are a lot of old favourites here, which will shock no one who’s a regular around these parts. Make sure you read the disclaimers below, they’re important and may help with questions you might have.
Here’s the usual Skincare Shake Up disclaimer: I am not a derm or a doctor. All my recommendations are based on my experiences as someone who has had rosacea for 15 years. I am prone to dermatitis (around my brows, hairline, temples, and forehead) as well as very oily skin on my t-zone. As a result my recommendations may not work for you but this blog serves as a starting point for people to find products and advice that they can then apply their own common sense to and do further research. I try to include as much information as I can about potentially aggravating ingredients where possible but, one of the things I’ve learned about rosacea (or any skin condition) is that you have to become your own expert about what your skin likes and doesn’t like. It’s a lengthy process but a worthwhile one.
I split the Skincare Shake Up posts into evening and morning routines. Sometimes there are products that crossover but typically they will be slightly different. I label products as MH (‘must haves’ – products that I think are essential for any skincare routine) and which are NTH (‘nice to haves’ – things to add when your skin is in a position to handle them, if you can afford them, or can be bothered!) These codes refer to the product type, not necessarily the exact product mentioned.
The products are listed in the order in which I use them and I’ll try to explain why if there’s a specific reason for that. I try to include as much info on ingredients or extra details as possible (e.g. if it’s vegan, perfume-free, alcohol-free) but please bear in mind that my information isn’t exhaustive and you should still do research to double check these details if these things are important to you.
ENOUGH CHITTER-CHATTER. LET’S GO.
There’s a widget above and also at the bottom of the post where you can shop all the products I mention. These are affiliate links, which means that I get a tiny commission if you purchase, with no extra cost to you. Thank you so much to everyone who purchases through my links, I really appreciate it.
SKINCARE SHAKE UP EVENING ROUTINE
FIRST CLEANSE (MH to remove make up and SPF): I’m still using the Pai Light Work Rosehip Cleansing Oil [press sample] to remove my make up. It’s gentle, it dissolves make up in seconds, and it never aggravates my skin. I’ve done a video HERE which shows me using the cleansing oil.
SECOND CLEANSE (MH to treat your skin type): I am now on my third tube of the Exuviance Gentle Cleansing Creme [press sample] so I don’t really need to tell you how much I love it. I wrote a whole introduction to it in my last Skincare Shake Up post, explaining why PHAs (Polyhydroxy Acids) are great for sensitive skin so go have a nosey there if you’re looking to dabble with chemical exfoliants.
SPRITZ (NTH – good to cool and soothe skin but also boosts hydration, especially if you’re using a hyaluronic acid product next): I’m coming to the end of my Sanoflore Rose Floral Water Revitalising Toner Mist [press sample] and I would recommend it to anyone, especially if you’re a fan of the smell of rose – I find it so calming before bed.
SERUM (NTH – I can’t be without serums but if you want to streamline your routine/save money you could skip): La Roche-Posay HyaluB5 Serum [press sample] It’s been years and I still love love love this serum. Read more details HERE.
MOISTURISER (MH for most people, even if you’re oily): I’ve been using the ARK Regenerating Night Treatment and it’s a really great night cream [I did some sponsored content on Instagram for this product – I wasn’t asked to talk about it on the blog, but it would’ve been weird to not include it in my Skincare Shake Up!]. When it comes to the colder months, my skin needs a bit more oomph in my moisturiser and this fits the bill perfectly. It has kiwi seed oil (omega 3 fatty acids for moisture and to help the skin barrier), passion fruit oil (anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory), Prodizia (for signs of fatigue), and CoQ10 (an antioxidant to help the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles). If you would like to try it, you can use my code to get 20% off your first order – just enter TALONTEDLEX at checkout (that’s not an affiliate link, it’s just a nice code for my readers!)
RETINAL (NTH if you would like to target texture, signs of ageing…): Medik8 are a fantastic brand and are well-known for their Vitamin A products. Medik8 Crystal Retinal 1 is their entry level product. It’s low-strength but still effective. As with all vitamin A products, you need to introduce them slowly to let your skin get used to it. I’m a scaredy-cat so I’ve been using it twice a week for about 3 months, but after chatting to the lovely Dr Justine Kluk recently I’m going to start to slowly increase that. Even though I’ve only been using it twice a week, I’ve still seen amazing changes to my skin: the texture of my skin has improved, the fine lines around my eyes and between my eyebrows have faded, and my skin just looks more glowy overall. I apply this after cleansing and wait for about 15 mins for it to do its business, before carrying on with my normal routine. I’m excited to see how my skin improves as I increase my use.
NB – if you introduce vitamin A into your skincare routine, you need to use SPF. You should be using one anyway, but seriously. SPF. Are you listening? SPF!
SKINCARE SHAKE UP MORNING ROUTINE
CLEANSE (MH to remove dirt, oil, sweat, dead skin): This is another product that has been a skincare staple for me for years. The La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanse [press sample] is one I recommend to pretty much everyone, whether they have sensitive skin or not. It’s a simple cream cleanser that looks after my skin with no irritation to my skin. It can be washed off with water (which is what I do) or wiped off with cotton pads if you are in a pinch (e.g. on a flight, at a festival… anywhere you might be tempted to use a face wipe *insert boo-ing*, just use this instead!)
SPRITZ (NTH – good to cool and soothe skin but also boosts hydration, especially if you’re using a hyaluronic acid product next): La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra 8 Spray [press sample] is step 1 in my hydration skincare sandwich. Spritz – serum – moisturiser. This spray, from my holy grail Toleriane range, is also great during the day when my skin feels hot or tight as it can be applied over make up without leaving you dripping or sticky.
SERUM (NTH – I can’t be without serums but if you want to streamline your routine/save money you could skip): La Roche-Posay HyaluB5 Serum [press sample] yet another non-mover and truly lovely serum. If I’m in a crazy rush and I don’t have time to do my serum step, I really notice its absence. You can read more of my thoughts about it HERE.
MOISTURISER (MH for most people, even if you’re oily): Lex and La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Fluid moisturiser, sitting in a tree, K I S S I N G… my love for this moisturiser is for keeps. [press sample]
SPF (ABSOLUTE MH): La Roche-Posay Anthelios Shaka Fluid SPF 50+ [press sample] – SPF is probably the product that I get the most questions about: people are nervous after terrible experiences with thick, greasy, shiny SPF products that clog their pores so they give up. I don’t know how to stress this strongly enough: SPF should be your absolute priority in your skincare routine. If you’re worried about skin cancer – SPF (source). If you’re worried about signs of ageing – SPF (source). If you’re worried about your rosacea – SPF (source). You may have to try a few to find one that works for you, but there are so many out there now so you will be able to find one that suits your skin. SPF should be applied any time you are outside in daylight, but also pay attention to the amount of sun you get through windows (in cars, trains, at work, on flights etc.) The SPF in your make up is NOT enough coverage, so please just treat that as a nice bonus to your separate SPF step.
And that’s your lot! To be honest the name ‘Skincare Shake Up’ seems a bit of a misnomer for these posts now, as most things stay the same update-to-update. But I think a recommendation for a product I’ve used for 2 years speaks for itself, rather than a different list of items every month (which is what I used to do!) I hope you still find these Skincare Shake Up posts useful, let me know in the comments below!
NEXT STEPS
- Follow me on INSTAGRAM for lots of rosacea updates.
- Get more information on rosacea and my journey so far in my ROSACEA FAQ POST.
- Join my private rosacea FACEBOOK GROUP for support and information.
- I’ve designed some FREE digital downloads to help you get to grips with your rosacea: grab the Rosacea Trigger Checklist and the Rosacea Flare Up Diary.
- If you’re a Pinterest user, I share all my rosacea posts (and some interesting posts by others) on this board: Rosacea Articles, Reviews, And Infographics.
Lex
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