My Skincare Routine

For a little bit of my skin history and the facials that I use to supplement my routine, click for this post here. But for now, let’s get onto my current skincare products.

Morning

Medik8 poreCleanse Gel This is a cleansing gel with both AHA and BHA acids which helps to chemically exfoliate the skin, reducing blackheads and comedones. I use it in the morning in the shower, rubbing it into the skin and then rinsing it off after five minutes or so. It is quite a strong product, so despite the packaging urging me to use it morning and evening, I use this only once a day. Make sure to use sunscreen after using this product in the morning. When I don’t use it I certainly notice a difference in the congestion of my skin.

Pixi Glow Tonic If my skin is feeling a little dry post-cleanse then I will give this step a miss, but otherwise I’ll do this extra step of acid exfoliation in the morning. This is a product I’ve had in my routine for ages, and I can’t live without it.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% This product is a true lifesaver, and as soon as I started using it back in May (I think?) I immediately noticed a huge difference. The Ordinary touts it as an anti-blemish serum, but the combination of Niacinamide and Zinc both should (and did) reduce scarring as well. It’s very effective, very affordable and now I stockpile the stuff in my bathroom cabinet (sorry).

Eve Lom Rescue Oil Free Moisturiser The only moisturiser I’ve found that has no oil, but also no dimethicone or silicones either, which very quickly clog my pores. I don’t always use a moisturiser, as my skin is quite oily and I find moisturiser can easily contribute to it, whether it’s comodegenic or not. However, if it’s feeling dry I’ll slap a bit of this on; it’s not the most nourishing, but it does the job.

Evening

Jojoba Oil I use this natural wax to take my makeup off at the end of the day, and then take it off with a flannel. I find an oil/wax/balm is the only way for me to get rid of every scrap of makeup and dirt, but I make sure to wash it off thoroughly to prevent congestion. When my skin was a lot less sensitive a few years ago, I used to make a jojoba oil and tea tree combination and apply it overnight – and jojoba oil is low down on the comedogenic scale – and this worked great, but these days I think it’s a little more risky.

Garnier Micellar Water I use this on a cotton pad to get rid of the last of the oil and makeup. It’s a great, affordable micellar water and I always find myself reaching for it.

Pixi Glow Tonic/Pixi Glow Peel Pads Depending on how my skin is feeling I will use one of these products. The pads are a much higher concentration but they also contain a lot of alcohol, which I am a bit sceptical about. It can create long-term skin dehydration, but I do find the pads to be effective at reducing blackheads and congestion in general. Sometimes in the evening I use the Niacinamide product again, or my moisturiser, but more often than that I leave it there. So far, this has been great for keeping my skin happy and healthy and blemish free. It’s not a perfect routine as I can still get a little dehydrated, but I find it incredibly hard to find other serums and moisturisers that help maintain the balance my skin needs to keep clear, but do let me know if you have any suggestions down below.