The basics of a skincare routine

Skincare is something that has been important to me since about the age fifteen, and my face was breaking out in all its hormonal teenage glory, and my mum got me some anti-bacterial face wash and face cream and said "put this on every day. It doesn't matter if you don't see a difference at first, just keep using it until it's finished, then we'll get you a new product." I thought this was odd advice, and in the beginning was frustrated by the fact that I was putting in all this effort, washing and moisturising my face day and night without seeing results, until one day - when I was about 3/4 through the products, I woke up and my face was the clearest I had seen in a long time. 

I doubt that this drastic improvements was due to a miracle product but rather that I had gone from desperately buying whatever new product a television advert promised to help with my skin and then discarding it when it didn't produce immediate results, to having a regular consistent skincare routine, however spartan it was. As I've grown older, I've slowly added elements to my skincare routine, and these are the five products I need to keep my skin looking relatively clear and healthy.

Cleanser

A clean face is a happy face, and I have found that the best way to get there is to have one cleanser that can both remove your make up and clean your skin without leaving it feeling stripped. Recently I have fallen in love with the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser which does a wonderful job of breaking down the make up in the first wash, and then leaving skin soft and thoroughly clean on the second was. Most face cleansers don't stand much of against waterproof mascara and stubborn lipstains though, so I'd recommend a such as the Elizabeth Arden All Gone Eye and Lip Remover. You could also use two different cleansers or a micellar water, but I prefer just having the one product. 

Toner

Personally I like to use natural-based toners, and am currently using the Evoluderm Rosewater Toner. Rosewater is said to have a whole host of benefits such as soothing irritated skin, balancing out the skin oils, adding moisture and bringing a glow to the face all the while getting rid of the last bit of dirt that your cleanser might not have gotten to, and I'm inclined to believe it. I definitely find non-natural toners harsher on my skin now. Camomile-based toners are also a godsend to calming down inflammed or irritated skin. 

Serum

I don't think serums are necessarily essential, but they are a great way of targeting a problem area. For example, my Yves Rocher Sebo-Vegetal Pore-Minimizing Serum is really good for when my skin is on the oilier, spot-prone side, keeping my skin matte and breakouts under control, but when the weather is harsher and my skin grows dryer, nothing restores moisture and softness like The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil. 

Moisturiser

The importance of moisturiser cannot be overstated, especially for those with oilier skins. I have learnt the hard way that the drier my skin becomes the oilier it is, and so will use something as rich as the The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream in the winter months, balancing out any unwanted shine with a decent primer and fixing powder. If I want to use a more mattifying face cream, I'll use a cream-based cleanser instead, or switch serums to make sure that my routine always has a moisturising element. 

Face mask or scrub 

Once or twice a week it is good to use a mask or a scrub to really give the skin a deep cleanse, ridding it of impurities and dead skin cells. Whilst I have shied away from scrubs, and have yet to try chemical exfoliation, I do love a good face mask. The Body Shop Warming Mineral Mask is one of my favourites: it feels amazing, smells delicious and really keeps excess oil at bay without stripping my skin. 

What are your skincare routine basics? Does your skincare routine look like mine?