Table of Contents
I’ve written a fair few skincare posts in the past including how I integrated a brand into my routine. I decided it was time to write a post detailing my full skincare routine and what each product does for me as well as how to combine ones from different brands to get the best results.
This post does contain gifted products (marked with *) but all views and opinions are my own. This post was not requested by the brand but I wanted to show how I use the products I’ve been sent and how they work for me.
Daily
I’ve finally found the combination of products that I can use on a day to day basis and while none of them are cheap they last me a long time. It’s taken me over a year to get through one bottle of the cleanser. While I’ve tried multiple products from the same company my skin likes this mix of products from various companies.
First I use the Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk (£19 for 400ml) and I put a good amount onto 2 cotton pads and wipe all over my face to get as much dirt off as possible. The best bit about this cleanser is it’s gentle enough to be used over my eyes which are incredibly sensitive.
Next, I remove the leftover cleanser with Pixi Rose Tonic (£19 for 250ml or £10 for 100ml) with a few sprays onto a cotton pad. The rose in the tonic helps cool my skin down and stops it from reacting to the environment. I’ve written a full review on the Pixi Rose Collection so I’ll keep my full thoughts here to a minimum.
I must add the Pixi Rose tonic doesn’t come with the spray top – I bought a travel bottle from Superdrug, popped the normal top off the Pixi bottle and screwed the spray attachment on. I find I end up with less wastage doing it this way as with the standard top on the bottle I end up spilling toner everywhere.
After toning with the Rose Tonic I add a protective layer of the Pixi Rose Flash Balm (£26 for 45ml) and it’s become a staple in my full skincare routine.
Moisturising is a key part of any skincare routine and my favourite is the ARK Skincare Age Defend Replenishing Moisturiser* (£35 for 50ml). The Age Defend range has been developed for anyone between the age of 30 and 40 as well as being British made and Vegan friendly. I have a huge patch of dry skin on my forehead and this moisturiser is nice and thick meaning even that patch of dry skin is well moisturised. I’ve used thinner ones in the past that just don’t do the job as well as this one does. It also doesn’t affect my rosacea which is another bonus.
In the Shower
I don’t often wear make-up but when I like to make sure that I’ve taken it all off before I go to bed. The ARK Skincare Pre-Cleanse & Make-Up Remover* (£30 for 150ml) is the best product I have ever used to remove my make-up. It’s applied to dry skin and rubbed all over and then you add some water to make a thin emulsion on the surface of your face. The reason I’ve listed this as use “in the shower” is that I apply the remover before I get in the shower, add water and then use a flannel to remove the make-up and any leftover product.
I then follow up my make-up removal with the ARK Skincare Age Defend Conditioning Cleanser* (£25 for 200ml) which honestly smells and leaves my skin feeling like I’ve had a spa facial. I’m a mess when it comes to cleansers that need to be rinsed and for that reason I only ever use them in the shower. I rub the cleanser all over and remove with a flannel that I’ve dampened off under the shower head. I love a hot shower and always have a reaction to the heat but this cleanser means it’s not quite as bad as it could be.
If I haven’t been wearing make-up but want to make sure that my skin has had an exfoliation then I use the Caudalie Gentle Buffing Cream (£20 for 75ml). I’ve been using this as my facial exfoliator since I picked some up at a blogger event held at Caudalie in London a few years ago. With having sensitive skin this is the only facial exfoliator that removes dead skin but leaves the healthy skin behind. Every other one I’ve used has left me feeling like I’ve taken the top layer of epidermis off completely. On the days I use this I follow up with the conditioning cleanser to add some moisture back to my face in the places that need it the most.
SPF
I have two facial SPF’s that I use depending on how bright it is and how long I’m going to be outside for. If I’m only walking to the bus to go to work then I use the SPF 30 ARK Skincare Skin Protector* (£30 for 30ml). If I’m on holiday or out and about in the summer in the UK then I have a tube of the SPF 50 Caudalie Facial Suncare (£19 for 50ml) in my bag so that I can top up my SPF throughout the day. I picked up more of the Caudalie when I was in France last summer as it’s much cheaper there than buying it here.
I love the formula of both SPF’s that I use. Neither is sticky or has an odd scent that you usually associate with a facial SPF. At the end of a long day I will admit that I love taking the whole lot off with either the Caudalie cleanser or in the shower with the ARK pre-cleanse and make-up remover.
There you have my full skincare routine, links to all the products and mini reviews of each one. I hope it was helpful for you and you find a new product to try or a suggestion of how to use a product that you already own. As mentioned above I am aware that they are not cheap products but I believe with skincare that you get what you pay for and my skincare seems to like the more expensive end of the spectrum, If you have anything you would like to suggest that I try then feel free to leave it in the comments for me.
What does your full skincare routine look like?
Disclaimer: I was gifted the products by ARK Skincare, however, all views and opinions are my own. No review was requested when the items were sent to me but I’m sharing because I love them.
