Aesop Skincare Routine

So you all know how much I love Aesop right?? I was thinking of doing an 'Introducing...' post, but let's be honest, Aesop have had more than an introduction on TGG already. It's heart-shaped Emoji's all around for me, and my love affair with the brand is more than just a fling... Let's just say that if Aesop was a man (he'd be dashing, charming, and a do-it-all miracle worker) I'd be taking him home to meet my parents and booking the honeymoon ASAP.

AM:

First up, the Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser. This gentle gel cleanser exfoliates (with lactic acid rather than a manual exfoliant) and removes impurities, refining pores, and softening and hydrating the skin, and is hands down THE BEST cleanser I have ever used. You know how some products leave your face feeling a bit greasy/tight/squeaky etc? Well this one doesn't, not in the slightest. It cleans up all the grease and grime of the night and the previous night's products, but leave my skin feeling perfectly calm and balanced. It also works a treat with my Clarisonic, and smells to die for. My only gripe is that it doesn't have a pump.

Do NOT be put off by the B Triple C Facial Hydrating Gel's initially gloopy, sticky texture. Upon application this thick gels sinks straight into the skin leaving a smooth, matte surface - the perfect makeup base. Aside from being the primer of your dreams, the contents of this little brown jar provide intense hydration, and instantly refreshed, nourished skin. Spot-on for hot summer's days, or if you're oily-skinned and tend to avoid day creams.

During the winter months I reach for the Sage & Zinc Facial Hydrating Cream. My skin tends to get a bit dull and dry at this time of year so needs something a bit more nourishing and softening. This thick cream has the added benefit of SPF 15 (perfect for the winter) but doesn't clog my pores or aggravate my sensitive skin at all. Leaving my skin velvety soft, and without a hint of greasiness, this cream is also an A+ makeup base.

PM:

The do-it-all night treatment that I reach for most in the summer months or if I'm in a rush is the Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Serum - a moisturiser and skin treatment combined, which leaves my skin feeling instantly hydrated. Perfect if you have oily skin and don't want to overdo it with the oils and moisturisers, this sinks straight into the skin without leaving a hint of residue (also ideal if you're headed straight to bed post-application and don't want a pillow covered in cream). This serum is packed with anti-oxidants, which protect your skin from the inside out, guarding your skin cells from environmental damage, and encouraging cell renewal.

I think of the Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Treatment as a super intense version of the above. A potent combination of anti-oxidants and fatty acids which leaves my skin feeling deeply hydrated, nourished, and protected. I'd really recommend investing in a face oil (even if you're oily skinned), my skin used to be very much on the oily side of the spectrum, but since I incorporated an oil into my regime has been much more balanced and "normal".

Blended with the above, the Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream provides the ultimate moisture boost.I layer this sweetly scented cream on THICK, taking time to massage it in well. It's lightweight and silky in texture, but not the kind of cream that leaves you wondering whether you need another layer - I find it does take some time to sink in (something I personally like in a night cream) but leaves my skin feeling refreshed, soothed, and, come morning, noticeably brighter.

Treat (twice weekly):

If you're not exfoliating pre-mask then get on it! Doing so means that your pores are ready for whatever masks/treatments/oils etc you're about to apply, and (because any blockage has been scrubbed away) these will be so much more effective. If you have sensitive skin opt for the Tea Tree Leaf Facial Exfoliant. This finely milled powder can be added to any cleanser in an amount of your choice, so if your skin is uber sensitive you can tailor the power of the exfoliant to suit you. For something a little more intense try the Purifying Facial Exfoliant Paste, a gentle AHA infused cream cleanser flecked with quartz (for double the exfoliation), which leaves skin feeling smooth and polished to perfection.

Aesop's Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque is that rarity, one gentle enough for dry and sensitive skin. I reach for this when my skin is in need of a little TLC but not really suffering from any particular concerns. Enriched with parsley seed (to regulate oil production, deeply cleanse, and battle blemishes), rosehip oil (to moisturise, and reduce redness), and evening primrose (to deeply hydrate and refresh tired skin), this light, soothing mask will leave skin feeling deeply cleansed and refreshed.

Every blemish-battling skincare artillery should be equipped with the Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Masque - the first I reach for when I feel a breakout coming on. A little more intensive than the above, this mask is certain to stop spots in their tracks before they've even made an appearance. Packed full with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients (tea tree, rosemary, chamomile, and evening primrose to name but a few), this leaves my skin feeling deeply cleansed but without the tight, stripped feeling associated with similarly astringent products. I often use this as a spot-on treatment overnight - it completely dries out those sore, under the skin spots, but without drying out the skin around them.

The Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque is a lesser-known Aesop gem with a serious A-game, simultaneously decongesting and hydrating the skin, whilst leaving it noticeably brighter, clearer, and smoother (skin is left feeling so insanely smooth and soft that you'd swear you'd been blessed with a new face). It's easy to get into the rut of only using a face mask when your skin is in a bad phase, or if you're spot-prone, but really everyone should use a gentle do-it-all masque like this one once or twice a week. The product I reach for ahead of any significant event - this sweet, floral-scented masque is the closest I've found to a spa-worthy facial, outside of a spa, and in one product.  Coming from a face mask enthusiast, you know that means business, right?

Faced with the brand's chic brown glass bottles, Pinterest-worthy store interiors, and luxe, dreamily scented products, you'd be forgiven for thinking that aesthetics was at the forefront of Aesop's branding. Not quite... the attention to detail devoted to the formulation of Aesop's products is like no other. These products are created entirely for their purpose (be that spot-fighting, moisturising, anti-aging, etc), and so don't contain a single ingredient that doesn't contribute to that function. You can read more about all of that here, but let me leave you with the assurance that Aesop products do exactly what they say on the (#shelfie worthy) jar.

All of these products are available to purchase online and in Aesop stores worldwide.

If you're weighing up wardrobe revamp vs. skincare overhaul in preparation for winter, I hope I've made your mind up! What are your Aesop loves/lusts??

G x

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Some of these products were provided for review by Aesop.