As a beauty journalist, I often get a lot of people asking for my skincare and makeup recommendations. I can’t lie—it’s a pretty good feeling. I’m lucky enough to be gifted with new products to try out on a weekly basis, but as someone who’s always had an interest in beauty, a lot of the products I own I purchased myself. There’s truly nothing better than testing out products that catch your eye. Fortunately, even if I try a product that I’m not necessarily fond of, I always have a friend to take it off my hands.
My thorough skincare journey started a year and a half ago. I’d had an intense panic attack that left me in bed for a few weeks feeling as though I’d lost all control of my life. However, I soon discovered that creating my own a.m. and p.m. skincare schedules was the perfect way to help me feel more in control. My morning routine usually consists of using a cleanser, toner, serum and hydrating SPF, and my evening routine includes an exfoliator and face mask once or twice a week and a double cleanse, toner, serum/treatment, eye cream, moisturiser and hydrating lip mask.
I’ve tried a whole heap of brands and products from budget-friendly serums to higher-priced ones for my normal-to-dry skin type and get such a thrill out of recommending products to anyone who asks, no matter their skin type.
It was quite the struggle to condense my list, but here are the 12 skincare products that I always recommend as a beauty journalist, whether you’re looking for something to help with spots or give you a glow.
I’m never without a bottle of CeraVe’s Moisturising Lotion, as I find it’s the perfect body moisturiser that never feels heavy on the skin. It’s super lightweight no matter the season, which is why I use it all year round. It offers three essential ceramides and multivesicular emulsion (MVE) technology to give your skin that long-lasting hydration it deserves.
This cleanser always feels like such a luxury and smells incredible with its scent of sage and oat milk. It’s the perfect do-it-all cleanser whether you're using it to remove makeup and impurities or simply to hydrate your skin after a long day. For my p.m. routine, I tend to use the Golden Cleanser as the first step of my double-cleanse routine.
I swear by this moisturiser for anyone with dry or dull skin for super-hydrating moisture that will leave your skin with a hard-to-miss glow.
I’ve always been a bit sceptical when it comes to blemish patches, but Dots for Spots is my go-to when blemishes arise. The small patches are translucent, super thin and blend seamlessly into the skin for all skin tones. Let them work their magic, and remove them after several hours or leave them on overnight.
Suitable for all skin types, this oil-to-gel cleanser melts effortlessly into the skin to remove impurities and makeup with its formulated mix of hydrating and fresh ingredients including vitamins C and E, chamomile and rose. Take your time and really work it in for a spa-level facial at home.
This toner is the perfect product to leave your skin feeling fresh and bright. It's an exfoliating acid toner formulated with (PHA), and depending on your skin type, you can use it as often as you like without causing irritation.
This eye serum always leaves my under-eye area feeling hydrated and refreshed. It glides onto the skin for an instant pick-me-up, and I swear by it for daily use but especially for tired eyes and when I might have had a restless night's sleep.
I’m sure we all know the importance of daily SPF use, but that still doesn’t mean that our skin will agree with every SPF on the market. In the midst of my SPF trial and error, Fenty Skin released this insanely hydrating and lightweight SPF 30 that’ll leave your skin with a healthy-looking glow.
The name alone was enough for me to fall in love and Son Park’s Beauty Water, which does not disappoint. Whether you want to use it to cleanse, lightly exfoliate, moisturise or even refresh the face, simply apply a few drops to your reusable cotton pad and let it absorb into the skin.
This lip mask doubles as a glossy balm and an intense night treatment to leave the lips feeling hydrated and supple.
This is one of the best gel creams on the market to give your skin an instant blast of hydration. The formula helps to hydrate and strengthen the skin's natural moisture barrier.
Last but by no means least is Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair serum that so many people, including me, swear by. It’ll leave your skin looking smoother, more radiant and more hydrated for hours. I know it’s quite a pricey product, but the countless rave reviews really do speak for themselves. Thankfully, a mini version is now available for £10, which is perfect if you’re eager to try it before committing to the full-sized version.
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