Skin is the largest organ you got, and it deserve to be looked after. I had been thinking I needed to do something to take care of my skin but didn’t really know where to start. The catalyst that started my research was actually this skincare routine video by YouTuber Melanie Murphy. As a 30 year old woman she was talking about the importance of caring about anti-aging now, before it’s too late. Now this wasn’t really my concern just yet but I had realised that I was still using spot treatment products as if I was still a teenager. It was time for a change.

I’ve been stuck in skincare habits that I formed as a teenager and my skin is vastly different from then so it was time to shake it up. The problem for so long has been that I didn’t even know what my skin wanted, what I should get, how much do I want to spend on it all, etc.

Step 1: Figuring out my skin type
So now that I’m no longer a spotty teenager, I needed to drop the intense scrubs and tea tree and figure out what my skin actually needs now. So what am I trying to solve? After a quick search it seemed like my skin was best aligning with the oily/mixed skin type – this guide by Nivea sets the types out nice and clearly. So I started looking for products or routines that would help with that.

Step 2: What combination of products do I need?
Now I am a busy lady and I didn’t want to go overboard with a million steps that I would not be bothered to do every day but I found this plan by Beauty Bay which suggests 4 steps in the morning and 6 in the evening. Great, sounds do-able, but which products? And how expensive is this gonna be?

Step 3: Which specific products should I use? 
As much as possible, I knew I wanted use products that are kind to the planet, but also ones that wouldn’t break the bank. My first port of call was getting some reusable cotton pads (£10) and these are such a win. I think in the long run too these will save me money and they also save on excessive waste – it’s a win-win.

So for my gel cleanser I got The Ordinary’s Squalane Cleanser (£5.50) and Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser (£15) because I have heard so many people raving about it! To be honest, as much as I love the feel of Milky Jelly I do think The Ordinary is much more cost efficient so I’ll take that in mind when it comes to restocking. I have seen YouTubers and influencers gushing over the Pixi Glow Tonic (£10) for so long that I thought I should give it a go and I have since been told I was glowing so I guess it’s working. For a hydrating serum my research showed that it was really important to find something that had Hylauronic Acid in it which is so good for helping your skin retain moisture. I splashed out £24 on Glossier’s Super Bounce Serum which felt like a lot for the wee bottle but I do really like the way it makes my skin feel. But a pal has since recommended The Inkey Lists’ Hylauronic Acid Serum which is only £6 so I think I’ll give that a go next time. Then to round off my morning I use the Simple Light Moisturiser (£2), cheap, easy, contains SPF protection and does the trick. I keep it simple when it comes to Micellar Water and will just grab whatever is cheapest when I’m at the shop. For an extra cleanse in the evening (especially when I’ve been wearing make up) I go for the Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm from Botanics (£9), it smells great, pretty sure it will last me a while and feels like my own little spa treat from home when I chill for a couple minutes under a hot face cloth. For additional overnight moisture I have started using a night oil and really like The Ordinary B Oil (£9), I have become a big fan of The Ordinary on this journey. A lot of my research said that the best night oil to use was the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Oil but at £38 a bottle I just don’t think I can justify it, maybe one day when I’m richer. Back to Botanics for their Hydrating Eye Cream (£11.50) and I round off my evening routine with the Botanics Hydrating Night Cream (£7).

Step 4: Evaluate
So do I think it’s been worth it? It looks like a lot to spend all at once (and it was) but I think I found a lot of great products that will help my skin going forward and hopefully will last me a long time.
I do think that my skin is getting better just from being paid some attention at all. I’m still battling with the fluctuation of dry or oily spots at times but I think my face is adjusting as time goes on. The other day a friend did say to me that I was glowing and I was neither wearing make up nor am I pregnant so that’s pretty cool!
I do really enjoy taking the short amount of time out of my day to chill out and pamper myself a little bit and it feels like an Adulting win to dedicate my time to it.
Do I think I’ve nailed it? Absolutely not, there is so much more to learn and I’m very open to suggestions on how I can make this better!

What is your skincare routine? Which skincare products do you swear by? Let me know in the comments!