How ya all doing? I hope you’re feeling suitably festive in the run up to Christmas!! Not long to go now…
This year, as Christmas draws closer, I thought it might be fun to countdown the last 12 days with different makeup looks for each day, up until Christmas day (see my Instagram posts here!!). Now, surprisingly enough, when I am working from home (writing blog posts, replying to emails, updating my accounts, working on my website, etc) I don’t wear ANY makeup. Yep, not a single scrap. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I make a special effort with my hair and makeup for meetings, trials, wedding days, makeup jobs, etc but other than that, I am generally bare-faced. So when I was shooting these different makeup looks (and applying A LOT of makeup), it really got me thinking about skincare and thoroughly removing makeup.
Every single makeup artist I know, will tell you how vital and important skincare is and how it will affect the overall look of your makeup. Before each makeup look, I cleansed my skin with a micellar water (I LOVE the Darphin one) and then prepped it with a hydrating serum, a lightweight gel moisturiser and also a drop of rose oil to give my skin luminosity and glow.
So, today I’m going to spend some time chatting to you about my skincare regime. Before I start, please note that the products that I mention later on are my personal faves (some of which live in my makeup kit); my skin is normal and dehydrated and can get dry in winter. You will need to tailor your skincare products to your own specific skin type.
Cleanse
Fist things first – the most important thing you can do is REALLY clean your skin thoroughly. A face wipe is not gonna cut the mustard. In the mornings I use a gel cleanser (I’m currently loving Vichy’s Pureté Thermale Fresh Cleansing Gel) or a micellar water to refresh my skin and wake me up.
In the evenings, I double cleanse my skin. This literally means cleansing your skin twice. It may sound ridiculous, but it is so important to remove all the dirt, grime and makeup that can build up on your skin throughout the day. The first time, I cleanse my skin with Clinique’s Take Off the Day Balm. This is an un-fragranced balm that I apply to dry skin and massage into my face with all my make up still on. I then use a warm muslin cloth or flannel to remove the balm (which emulsifies to a milk upon contact with water) and most of my makeup. The muslin cloth is a great way of naturally exfoliating your skin without being harsh or abrasive.
The product that I use to cleanse my skin the second time around will depend on how dry, or dehydrated my skin is feeling. I use the second cleanser to put the goodness back into my skin, as well as removing any makeup that is still lingering on my face. My favourites to cleanse again with are: Emma Hardie’s Moringa balm (smells, feels and works like a dream) or Origins Clean Energy Cleansing Oil (also a joy to use). Again, I apply them to dry skin and use a muslin cloth to remove them.
Once my skin is squeaky clean, I will then think about the rest of my skincare. If you’re using an eye cream, this should be the first thing to touch your clean skin. I like Clinique’s All About Eyes Serum, as it’s light and refreshing and helps to de-puff and hydrate.
Serum
The next step will be a serum – these tend to be a lightweight gel or oil that is quickly absorbed and penetrates deeply into your skin. There are countless options out there, so it is worth researching before you invest. Serums tend to be treatments, so can work to your skin’s needs. A selection of my favourites include: Eve Lom’s Hydration serum, Estee Lauder’s Advance Night Repair, Darphin’s hydraskin serum and Vichy’s Aqualia Thermal.
In the evenings, I LOVE a good facial oil – I’m currently using Liz Earle’s Superskin Concentrate, which is gorgeous. I am also a massive fan of Sarah Chapman’s Overnight Facial (packed with vitamin A, it really does make your skin glow the following morning).
Moisturise
It is important to follow your serum with a moisturiser, as your serum penetrates deeper into your skin tissue and your moisturiser works on the surface level. My personal favourites include Darphin’s Hyrdaskin Light (such a joy to use and a great base for makeup) and Vichy’s Aqualia Thermal Rich (just glorious) but be warned neither of these contain an SPF for the daytime!
Finally, don’t forget to use a good lip balm (no one wants flaky, chapped lips!); I love Crème de La Mer’s. It’s expensive, but so worth it!
I hope you guys found that useful. Do let me know if you have any questions regarding your skincare routines.
Until next time, cheerio chums! x