THAT GRACE GIRL | Beauty Editor + Esthetician

SKINCARE DIARY XIV

THATGRACEGIRL | SKINCARE DIARY XIV

I’m typically too often tempted by new launches landing on my desk to maintain a long-term, consistent skincare routine, but in truth I’ve had little time for any serious experimentation in recent weeks. Far from forcing me into a skincare rut, this has simply meant that I’ve become set in my ways, unintentionally embracing good skincare habits and rarely straying from the established selection of products already lined across my bathroom shelf.

 

MONDAY

MORNING: SJÄL Balans Deep Pore Cleanser*, CLARISONIC Mia*, GLOSSIER Soothing Face Mist, CLINIQUE Pep-Start Eye Cream*, EVE LOM Brightening Lotion*, EVE LOM Brightening Serum*, EMBRYOLISSE Lait-Crème Concentré.

EVENING: GARNIER Micellar Cleansing Water, EVE LOM Cleanser, AESOP Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque*, EVE LOM Brightening Lotion*, ZELENS Vitamin A Power Treatment, CLINIQUE Pep-Start Eye Cream, EVE LOM Brightening Serum, EVE LOM Brightening Cream*.

In lieu of a strong cup of coffee, washing my face is undoubtedly my favourite way to kickstart my morning. 6am starts call for a skincare routine that is nothing short of refreshing, and Själ’s cleanser ticks all of the boxes. It’s a gel/cream hybrid that performs exceptionally well in conjunction with my Clarisonic, and leaves my face feeling soothed and cosseted as well as clean and refreshed. I follow it up with a spritz of face mist (for an extra moisture boost - dehydrated skin plagued me throughout the winter months) and eye cream straight from the fridge. Believe me when I say that there is nothing more refreshing than slicking the ice-cold rollerball applicator of Clinique’s new Pep-Start Eye Cream over one’s under-eye whilst you wait for your tea to brew.

TUESDAY

MORNING: SJÄL Balans Deep Pore Cleanser*, CLARISONIC Aria*, GLOSSIER Soothing Face Mist, CLINIQUE Pep-Start Eye Cream*, EVE LOM Brightening Lotion*, EVE LOM Brightening Serum*, EMBRYOLISSE Lait-Crème Concentré.

EVENING: GARNIER Micellar Cleansing Water, EVE LOM Cleanser, AESOP Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque*, EVE LOM Brightening Lotion*, ZELENS Vitamin A Power Treatment, CLINIQUE Pep-Start Eye Cream, EVE LOM Brightening Serum, EVE LOM Brightening Cream*.

A wonderfully simple, but pleasingly effective method of giving skin a bit of a reboot is a commitment to daily masking. Whilst not for everyone (especially the dry/sensitive-skinned), I’d hugely commend it to anyone struggling with congestion and a seemingly never-ending cycle of breakouts. Aesop’s Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque is one of my favourites for clearing blemishes and rebalancing my skin without being too drying. Despite this, I've been making sure that round-the-clock hydration defines my routine. By day, backstage beauty favourite Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré has been my hydrator of choice. It's a thicker texture than most creams I'd typically apply in the morning, but absorbs surprisingly quickly and has the most incredible comforting effect. It smells like cocoa butter [always a winner] and worked miracles on dry patches of skin I suffered after some over-enthusiastic retinol use. N.B. As a pre-base skin prep product, it’s perfect for softening and smoothing skin ahead of makeup application and preventing foundation from caking over dry patches.

Zelens' Vitamin A Power Treatment has fast become the star of my evening routine. In truth, it was always going to be a game-changer - a blend of retinol, retinoids, omegas, and glycolipids - designed to stimulate cell renewal and strengthen skin's barrier function. Blemish marks and dullness are two of my biggest skin concerns at this point in time, and this has truly transformed my skin during the short time I've been using it - with daily use, my skintone is appearing notably more even and more luminous.. Despite being oil-free, it has a delicate oil-like texture that absorbs immediately, and soothes and comforts my skin - failing to irritate, unlike other retinol blends I've used in the past. 

THURSDAY

MORNING: SJÄL Balans Deep Pore Cleanser*, CLARISONIC Aria*, GLOSSIER Soothing Face Mist, CLINIQUE Pep-Start Eye Cream*, EVE LOM Brightening Lotion*, EVE LOM Brightening Serum*, EMBRYOLISSE Lait-Crème Concentré.

EVENING: GARNIER Micellar Cleansing Water, EVE LOM Cleanser, AESOP Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque*, EVE LOM Brightening Lotion*, ZELENS Vitamin A Power Treatment, CLINIQUE Pep-Start Eye Cream, EVE LOM Brightening Serum, EVE LOM Brightening Cream, ORIGINS Super Spot Remover.

Eve Lom’s newly launched Brightening range features heavily within this week’s lineup. I’ve waxed lyrical on many an occasion over the brand's Brightening Cream (which launched last year) so was ecstatic to hear that it as to be followed up with an entire collection dedicated to brightening skin. I’m plagued with pigmentation left behind from acne breakouts and nothing has displayed as much prowess as the Brightening Cream has when it comes to fading these marks. It unfailingly succeeds in a dual-pronged approach - fading pigmentation and injecting the entire compleion with a fresh, healthy luminosity. As for the new collection, I’ve not been using it for long enough to comment upon its efficacy in the long-run, but so far, I’m impressed. The serum in particular has had a noticeable brightening effect [even after a few weeks], evident in an immediate fresh-faced glow the morning after application. 

Typically I reserve any attempts at recreating a faux glow for the summer months, but it's the time of year when my complexion has the kind of lacklustre pallor that requires a boost of colour to prevent it from looking too washed out and wan. Time is of the essence in my packed routine, so Clarins' Radiance Plus Golden Glow Booster is the perfect candidate for a facial tan with maximum results [and minimal effort required]. It's an almost made-to-measure facial tanner - a couple of drops mixed in with my night cream [it performs best with water-based ones] gives my skin a realistic ‘weekend near the equator’ hint of bronze. I typically use this for 2-3 nights to achieve the desired effect.

As for the long-term hero products within this week's routine, I couldn't go without mentioning the Eve Lom Cleanser. I've used so many truly fantastic cleansers in recent months, but my skin never looks better than when I'm using Eve Lom's, which somehow seems to make any products I consequently use on my face work so much more efficiently. Perhaps it's the multi-pronged approach to cleansing that works for me [it promises to decongest, exfoliate, tone, and hydrate]; rather than simply leaving my face feeling "clean", it leaves my complexion with the same super-clean, but super-comforted sensation [and glowy appearance] I've only ever experienced post-facial. Note also, another well-established favourite - I’m down to the very last drop of Origins’ Super Spot Remover. The potent witch hazel-based gel has served my skin well - quelling redness and soothing inflammation with speedy results.

SUNDAY

MORNING: SJÄL Balans Deep Pore Cleanser*, CLARISONIC Aria*, GLOSSIER Soothing Face Mist, CLINIQUE Pep-Start Eye Cream*, EVE LOM Brightening Lotion*, EVE LOM Brightening Serum*, EMBRYOLISSE Lait-Crème Concentré.

AFTERNOON: GARNIER Micellar Cleansing Water, EVE LOM Cleanser.

EVENING : NO7 Total Renewal Microdermabrasion Face Exfoliator*, MALIN+GOETZ Purifying Clay Mask*, ZELENS Vitamin A Power Treatment*, SISLEY Eye Contour Mask*, ORIGINS Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask*.

My ritual Sunday facial changes by the week - dependant upon my most pressing skin concerns. Having masked throughout the week, I didn't want to go in with anything too heavy or astringent today. I started off with No7's take on microdermabrasion, which considering its price, is a fantastic exfoliant. Unlike other "budget" offerings, the particles are incredibly finely-milled and suspended within a thick cream that prevents skin from being scraped raw. Likewise, Malin+Goetz's Purifying Clay Mask is a wonderful deep cleansing mask for those with dry/sensitive skins. A failsafe way to beat the more literally brighten up my Monday morning - I can always anticipate waking up with a noticeably radiant complexion after applying Origins' Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask. Thick and buttery, it's super soothing, and packs skin with all the right ingredients to replenish lost moisture. Whilst Clinique has served my eyes particularly well throughout the week, even in the eye department I like to amp the intensity for my weekly facial. Sisley's Eye Contour Mask is one of the most indulgent and luxurious products I've ever used, but [as I've come to expect from Sisley] performs exceptionally well and rehydrates the eye area beautifully.

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