It’s supposed to be the start of Spring; instead, I’ve been stuck in the house for 3 days (at the time of writing this post) because of snow! Cabin fever is setting in – but, there’s a pretty good upside to being confined to my little home. When I’m rushing around in the morning, the main thing that gets neglected is my skincare. We’re all guilty of reaching for a face wipe when we’re in a rush instead of giving our skin a thorough cleanse!
Since I’ve been stuck indoors, I’ve been able to give my skin the attention it needs. This winter has been particularly harsh in Glasgow – and my skin has been feeling really dry as a result. Freezing temperatures, strong winds and central heating have all taken their toll!
I thought I’d share my current skincare routine with you – it’s very hydration-focused, in an attempt to rebalance my skin’s moisture levels.
When I wake up, the first thing I do is use a facewash. I really like the Simple Moisturising Facial Wash, as it doesn’t make my skin feel irritated! As I’ve mentioned a million times before, my skin is quite sensitive, so I don’t like using products that are too strong. This one is really affordable, and you can pick it up in most drugstores or supermarkets.
After patting my face dry, I reach for my Simple Micellar Cleansing Water. The facewash makes sure my face is clean, but I just like to make sure that I’ve removed any traces of the facewash from my skin as well. I go through bottles of this stuff, so I only ever buy the big 400ml bottles now (unless I’m really desperate and the shops have run out of them!)
Next up, hydration! I’ve been using the Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate for nearly a year now – I’m obsessed with it. 4 little drops warmed up and pressed into the skin honestly makes the world of difference in terms of how my skin feels for the rest of the day – and it really helps with makeup application as well. Plus, it smells of oranges – it really does wake me up in the morning!
The final step of my morning skin prep is moisturiser. I’ve been raving about this product since the end of last year – and I’ve just picked up a fresh pot. The Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream is the best moisturiser I’ve ever used – it’s true what they say, don’t scrimp on a moisturiser! The super light consistency means that it absorbs into the skin straight away – and it instantly hydrates without feeling greasy (often a hard balance to strike!)
Kiehl’s also offer an Ultra Facial Cream with SPF 30 – I checked this out in store and the consistency is a little thicker than the standard one. The main selling point of the moisturiser for me is how light it is, so I decided not to go for the SPF one, but Kiehl’s also offer a separate SPF which I tried in store – it feels so light as well, so I’d recommend picking up the separate products instead of the combined one.
When it comes to bedtime (or as soon as I get home, the more common option these days) it’s time to get all the makeup off my skin. It’s so important for my skin to have time to breathe! I have 2 cleansers that I go between for taking off makeup – Lush Ultrabland and the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil. Both are oil-based, so they’re ideal for removing makeup. Ultrabland is almond oil-based, whereas the Kiehl’s one contains lavender essential oil and evening primrose oil. Both work best when left to emulsify on the face, then washed off with lukewarm water (or with a damp cotton pad). After the cleanser is removed, it’s back in with the Simple Micellar Water to make sure my skin is clear!
To add hydration back into my skin after cleansing, I use 4 drops of the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate. I love this just as much as the Daily Reviving Concentrate; it may not smell of oranges, but it smells lovely – it’s a relaxing scent, if that makes any sense!
Once the oil has settled into my skin, I apply another layer of the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. This leaves my skin feeling hydrated, even when I wake up the next morning. I’m looking for a new night cream, but I haven’t come across one I’m tempted by yet.
During the winter months, I’ve been trying to use a face mask at least once a week. I’ve been alternating between the Garnier Moisture Bomb sheet masks, and the Glamglow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment. You can tell I’ve been following through on the hydration theme! I started using sheet masks at the end of last year. They never seem to fit my face properly, but they’re a bit of a novelty, aren’t they? Thirstymud smells incredible, and a little goes a long way! Both masks leave my skin feeling refreshed and moisturised.
I haven’t forgotten about my body, either! I’m ploughing my way through the various body butters I’ve accumulated – I’m using an Aloe Vera one just now. I’ve got a Mango one from the Body Shop, and I can’t wait to use it!
I’ve also been going a bit ham with the hand cream, too! I suffer from dry skin during winter, so I’ve been using the Dove Regenerating Nourishment Hand Cream constantly. I can’t find a link for it, sorry! It’s meant to be for overnight use, but if it’s that good, I’ll use it round the clock! Its thinner consistency means that I’ve been wearing gloves whilst using it – much to the amusement of my dad.
What winter skincare products would you recommend?
