YOUR SKIN CARE RoUTINE

A daily routine, habit, ritual whatever you want to call it. If you take care of your skin daily you will soon see the benefits. Be realistic about how much time and money you want to spend on your routine and build steps and products to suit accordingly

Your skin renews aproximately every 28 days, so some results can be visible pretty quickly however, to give yourself the best chance of having amazing skin for your wedding start your skincare routine at least 6 months before your wedding day if not sooner

Your steps should include; cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate, treat, moisturise, SPF

Cleanse

You should cleanse twice daily. Your morning cleanse can be a simple and lightweight cleaning of your skin. Your evening cleanse should be two steps. Your first cleanse to remove makeup and SPF (you can use a cheaper cleanser for this) and your second cleanse (straight after) cleans your skin (you should select a cleanser suited to your skin type)

Avoid using face wipes unless you have no access to water or its an emergency. They simply loosen makeup and move it around your face as opposed to thoroughly cleaning it.

Flannels are great for removing cleanser. They are cost effective, easy to use and help gently buff your skin

exfoliate

Exfoliation can be physical or chemical. Physical types include flannels, muslins or scrubs. Chemical includes acids such as glycolic acid, lactic acid or salicylic acid which are amongst the most popular types

hydrate

Hydration doesn’t just mean drinking more water but applying hydration topically to your skin. Mist or spritz your skin throughout the day, use humectants (they hydrate the skin by attracting water molecules) and choose products with the right level of hydration for your skin type. Even oily skin needs hydration

treat

Serums and acids can be applied as treatments depending on what your skin needs or what changes you want to achieve

Neurophroline - combats stress

Vitamin C - brightens

Retinol - anti-ageing

Niacinimide - improves texture, pores and reduces inflammation caused by blemishes

moisturise

Choose a moisturising product suited to your skin type. This might be a gel, lotion, milk, cream or face oil. Eye creams really help to reduce the appearance of fine lines around the eyes by making them plumper and more hydrated. Night creams are another way to add extra hydration or to treat your skin overnight

SPF

If you are going to be outside or close to a window and thus sunlight for 5 minutes for more a day then you need to apply an SPF product especially if you want to protect your skin from ageing. SPF is most effective when applied seperately to any other products and as the last step in your skincare routine before you apply makeup.

your skin type

dry / dehydrated skin

Your skin will feel tight and possibly look dull. Often flaky skin appears around the nose or chin. Foundation can disappear throughout the day. The key here is to choose a gentle cleanser, something like a balm, a milk or cream. Something non foaming. Exfoliate using lactic acid. Then add as much hydration as possible. Use mists or serums containing hyaluronic acid. Apply thin layers of moisturiser as face oil or emoilient creams will struggle to penetrate the surface

oily skin

Your skin may look shiny, thick or have large pores. Blackheads and spots will be common as a result of excess sebum production and should be spot treated. Whilst it is tempting to use products to dry up your skin its likely that they will strip your skin barrier of its natural moisture and consequently it will go into an overproduction of oil. Makeup may slide off or not last. Cleanse with a non foaming product or use one containing salicylic acid. Exfoliate with an acid toner also containing salicylic acid. Hydrate with a hyaluronic acid serum or mist. Treat with other lighter serums as needed and apply a moisturiser or face oil suited to your skin type. Using a face oil may feel counter intuitive but it will help restore the balance

combination skin

Your skin is a mixture of types; usually the area across the forehead, nose and chin (t-zone) is oily and the cheeks are dehydrated / dry. Often flaky skin appears around the nose, chin or cheeks. Foundation can disappear throughout the day. Hydration is key even with combination skin, in order to achieve balance between the 2 areas. Avoid foaming cleansers as these can aggravate the situatuon. Boost hydration with hyaluronic acid either in serum or mist form and use light layers of moisturiser or a face oil to suit your skin type. Any blemishes should be spot treated

normal skin

Your skin will have a good balance of moisture. Pore size is ok and skin texture is good. Cleanse using a non foaming cleanser. Exfoliate using glycolic or malic acid to keep the surface of your skin good and boost your collagen production. Spritz with hyaluronic acid to hydrate. Moisturise using an anti ageing product and use face oils to seal in moisture

skin issues

Eczema, ichthyosis (scaly skin), pigmentation, keratosis pilaris (bumpy chicken skin), psoriasis, roseacea, perioral dermatitis etc. Your skin can present with many diffrernt issues and you should seek the advice of a dermatologist, GP or facilaist in the first instance

Blemishes or the occasional spot as a result of over indulgence, an allergy or simply not cleaning the skin properly can be treated relatively easily at home using products containing salicylic acid or niacinimide

Acne is persistent, can be painful and can psychologically affect the sufferer. Identifying the root cause of the acne whether it is hormonal, a food, product or environmental allergy or another reason will help determine the treatment required. You may need to seek the advice of your GP in the first instance and ask for a referral to a dermatologist

what else

The skin on your lips needs to be cared for too. Dehydration from lack of water, too much alcohol or weather can affect the gentle skin on your lips. Gently exfoliate weekly using a flannel, lip scrub or some acid and moisturise them using your face oil or a quality lip balm

If you’re wearing a wedding dress with a low or ornate back design, you may want to ensure your back is free of belmishes or pigmentation. Treat your back to a facial to deal with any issues and maintain the condition of your skin. Avoid having wet hair hangining down your back as oils from your hair or any conditioner can cause spots. Simply clip it up in the shower until it’s time to rinse it clean or dry it in sections

When the seasons change from winter to summer and vice versa you may want to switch up your routine. Winter means more central heating which will dry out the skin on your body so hydrating products are a must. The warmer weather in the summer means that we may sweat a bit more and so lighter products may be of benefit

Old wives tales and myths are simply that. Claims that you can reduce the size of your pores, dry up spots using toothpaste or nappy cream etc aren’t true and won’t fix your issues. Seek treatment from an expert and deal with the issue head on

must have items

flannels

You’ll need at least 8 flannels for cleansing. A clean one every day and an extra for wash day. Cheap as chips flannels from Primark or the supermarket will do the job just as well as paying triple from elsewhere

Retinol / retinoids

Otherwise known as Vitamin A. An absolute must for anti ageing. Use 3 x weekly in your 30’s, 4 x weekly in your 40’s and daily if 50+. Serum based products are more effective than using moisturiser with added retinol. Check the label for percentages so you know how potent the retinol is

vitamin c

The serum not the tablet. Topical products containing vitamin C are excellent for achieving brighter skin

spf

I recommend using SPF 50 all year round (including winter) whether you are outside or sat next to a window for more than 5 minutes a day. Make it the last step of your skincare routine before applying makeup. My favourite brands are La Roche Posay or Heliocare. Both work well under makeup

hydrating sheet masks

Treating your skin to regular use (weekly) of hydrating gel eye patches and sheet masks will provide your skin with an extra boost of hydration, making it look plump, fresh and glowing