My Current Skincare Routine

Beauty is and has always been a massive part of my life. My drawers and bathroom cabinets are overflowing with products and I’m constantly buying something new. I decided to share my current skincare routine and what currently works for me.

As you can see it’s a fairly extensive routine, so I’ll share another post detailing what I use when I travel.

Morning Skincare Routine

Cosrx Low pH Good Morning Cleanser

My go-to cleanser in the morning. It’s gentle and easy to use. This Korean skincare brand is a cult-fave for good reason, I can’t imagine using anything else.

Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid

Another staple from Cosrx. This gentle BHA liquid is designed to prevent blackheads and blemishes. I apply two pumps directly to my skin (cotton pads equal wastage) every morning. I use this in place of a toner and notice a difference in my skin; my pores are definitely clearer. I don’t see myself trying anything else…for now.

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA

This bad boy drastically improved my hyper-pigmentation and dark marks since I began using it last winter. For the first 4-6 weeks I applied the serum morning and night to the affected areas only and saw noticeable results. I’m now on my second bottle and would recommend it to anyone looking to treat dark spots. Definitely avoid using it all over if you don’t need to, the bottle lasts a lot longer than way.

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Oil-Free Moisturiser

I used to buy fancy everyday moisturisers until I discovered this via Instagram. At just £5, although usually on offer, I didn’t have much to lose. This is hands down one of the best moisturisers I’ve used; it’s lightweight by hydrating and super affordable. I love the Hydraluron Moisture Jelly, but after a while I couldn’t justify having to repurchase it every month. Since then I haven’t looked back and this will continue to be a staple in my routine.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Ultra Light Fluid SPF50+

I wear sunscreen every. single. day. That’s 365/6 days a year sun or rain. It’s important for black people to wear sunscreen too, but even more so if you’re treating hyperpigmentation. Ingredients such as AHAs/BHAs and retinoids make the skin more sensitive to UV rays. In case you’re wondering, this formula is brown girl friendly and won’t leave you looking ashy!

Nighttime Skincare Routine

Oil Cleanser

I don’t have a staple oil cleanser at the moment. I’ve used Simple and a few other brands but I’m still experimenting. I always ‘double cleanse’ at night to ensure my sunscreen and/or makeup is thoroughly removed. Bioderma is my go-to product for removing eye and lip makeup but I occasionally use it as a first-step cleanser, especially when feeling lazy.

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm

One of my all-time favourite products. This indulgent cleanser is beyond divine and I always look forward to using it. Everything from the scent to the texture is perfect and it leaves the skin feeling soft and nourished. I’ve used other balm cleansers in the past, but this is worth the investment. Nothing else compares…

Differin Gel

The active ingredient adapalene is a type of retinoid and although it’s advertised as an acne treatment, it works wonders on my non-acneic skin. I’ve used this every night since April and saw a noticeable difference in the appearance of my skin. My pores are almost non-existent and I experience very few breakouts. This isn’t my first time using a retinoid, but this formula is much gentler yet super effective. Differin has made the biggest visible difference to my skin – I’ll never be without a tube.

It’s worth mentioning that this used to be prescription only and you should conduct your own research trying. Boots/Superdrug sell it through their prescription service under the generic name of ‘adapalene’ I believe, but I just stock up via friends in America.

Rosehip Seed Oil

I’ve experimented with various oils over the years, but rosehip seed oil is my favourite for its texture and regenerative properties. I’m not fussed about the brand as long as the oil is cold-pressed. I recently fell in love with Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate so eventually I may replace rosehip seed oil, but for now it stays.

Treatments

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Facial Clay

I mix this 100% bentonite clay with apple cider vinegar (or water) for a weekly face mask. Aside from the inconvenience of having to mix the mask, this product is everything and then some. When I’m feeling lazy I use the L’Oreal Pure Clay Masks instead which are surprisingly effective, my only critique is the heavy fragrance, but I love the multi-masking concept.

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%

The infamous Sunday Riley Good Genes does nothing for me whilst this product is a miracle worker. The smell (like celery?) leaves much to be desired, but the lightweight, runny serum leaves your skin glowing with overnight use. It doesn’t irritate my skin but I limit its use to 1-3 times a week and skip the Differin gel on those nights. I’ve stopped using manual exfoliators (minus the very rare occasion) and rely on this for gentle exfoliation. I’ve used other BHAs in the past from First Aid Beauty and Nip + Fab, but this one is gentler and provides better results. The Ordinary is launching a Mandelic Acid 10% Solution soon, I’ll definitely be buying that!

La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Intense Eyes

Technically this should be a part of my daily routine, but I’m not very consistent with using eye cream. This lightweight gel is my first ever eye cream, I definitely feel more awake and refreshed when using it but I’m sure I can find a better alternative. My biggest issue is the packaging; too much product comes out at once and the nozzle snapped mysteriously. I’ve been eyeing up a few eye creams from Kiehl’s so I’m sure this will soon be replaced.

I rotate my cleansers and mask more than anything, but this is essentially everything I use on a daily/weekly basis. Check out my Instagram Stories for more products and new purchases that I share from time to time!