My skin is OUT OF CONTROL right now. I am *nearly* 28 years old and I have the skin of my spotty teenage self. I am a grown woman. I can deal with this.
I have a husband and a child, who needs clear skin anyway?! For the first few months I thought I’d got this. It’ll get back to normal soon I thought, but it hasn’t, and it’s really starting to get me down.
When you lie in bed at night unable to lay on your side because you have a throbbing spot on each cheek. As well as being ugly, it hurts! The most annoying thing, it is all hormone related. After two consecutive miscarriages, my hormones are all over the show! I am currently not on any form of contraception because in a few months we will be trying to conceive again. I am stuck with this crazy face and so to help my skin I have been trying to follow a new skincare routine.
I do feel like this has really helped. My skin feels smooth and hydrated. I still have spots, those hormones laugh in the face at my futile attempts to stop them! Yet my skin is not excessively dry or oily. It doesn’t feel uncomfortably tight. My skin actually feels pretty good. If these spots would p*** off we’d be fine. Anyway enough of my moaning, I’m here to tell you about my current skincare routine, without which I believe my skin would be so much worse.
The first product in my morning skincare routine is the Oskia Renaissance cleansing gel. I’ve linked my review of this product. After using it for a few months I feel I was a little hard on it. I expected my skin to clear up when I started using it. I have now come to the realisation that nothing is going to stop these spots. They are coming from the inside! I just have to help my skin heal as quickly as it can.
The Oskia Renaissance cleansing gel is gel cleanser that melts into an oil as you apply it to your face. I massage this all over my face daily, morning and night. After massaging it in for a good 30 seconds. If used alone I think these you’d still see benefits.
The next step in my routine is to apply a primer. I am currently using the L’Or Pure Radiance Face Primer from Guerlain. It was a gift from a friend and I am just using it up really. If I am honest I haven’t noticed any amazing results from using this product and it’s pretty pricey so I wouldn’t recommend it.
The last product in my morning skincare routine is the . I love this stuff! It hydrates. I can feel the goodness seeping into my skin but it doesn’t leave a sheen to my skin. Perfect for an oily/combination skinned gal like myself. I can have quite sensitive skin, this doesn’t irritate my skin at all. It’s a great base for make up, and you can apply your foundation straight on top which I do most mornings.
In the evening, I remove my eye make up with the . I apply the micellar water to two cotton pads and then use them on each eye to remove my eye makeup. I then turn over the pads and sweep the cotton pads over my face to remove most of my foundation. As a second cleanse, I go in with the Oskia Renaissance cleansing gel again before removing with my hot cloth.I like to use a serum before I apply my night cream. I am currently using the Espa pro serum. It smells absolutely gorgeous, as all Espa products do! It’s absorbed into your skin instantly so you really get the benefits, rather than smearing it all over your pillow case! My skin feels soft and comforted. Just what I need before bed.
I like to get into bed before applying a my last two products. I keep my night cream and eye cream on my bedside table for ease of application. I am using the Neal’s Yard Beauty Sleep concentrate at the moment. It contains calming aromatherapy oils and the relaxing scent really helps send me off to sleep. It helps to plump out my fine lines and wrinkles and my skin feels replenished come morning.
To finish I apply , I use my ring finger to dot this lightly under each eye. I genuinely believe it doesn’t matter what skincare you use, the important thing being that you use something! Eye cream has always been a step that in the past I have skipped. Since I started using this every day I have noticed my fine lines are less noticeable.
By doing this routine I get 5 minutes at the start and end of each day all to myself. I have started to try and practise a little bit of mindfulness whilst I carry out these tasks. I try to empty my head of all the thoughts that normally buzz around. Instead I think about the feelings and sensations as I apply each product.So that’s my skincare routine, 7 products. I have really noticed that my skin feels better, more cared for, since starting this routine and most importantly sticking to it. I’m still spotty but my skin feels soft and smooth. Taking the time to do this also makes me feel a whole lot better about the current face situation!
All these products are pretty fuss free which is perfect when you are short of time like me.
I filmed a video of my current skincare routine and how I apply these products.
14 Comments
Le Coin de Mel
3rd March 2016 at 10:38 AMSince having babies, my skin has also been at its worst. Seriously, having more spots than a teenager when you're a grown woman is not appealing (I repeat, NOT appealing!). My youngest is 20 months and still I get spots regularly (really??). I'm also following a good skincare routine and it has helped. Miscellar water is great, isn't it? I use Avene at the moment but my favourite one is Bioderma. The primer I really find the best is from Origins. As soon as I put it on, my skin feels soft and nourished. Using good makeup and cleaning brushes every week (with a quick daily quick) has also made a world of difference. I'd really like to try the Oskia Renaissance cleansing gel. Would you recommend it?
Sarah Cantwell
3rd March 2016 at 11:13 AMI completely feel your pain. Its awful isn't it? I do like using nice skincare it makes me feel better about my horrible skin. Yes I would recommend it. My skin feels really lovely and soft after I use it, despite the spots! Xx
Kellie Kearney
3rd March 2016 at 10:59 AMThe garnier micellar cleansing water is a favourite here, so gentle on my skin. I really need to get more of a routine though. I can be so lazy some evenings!! The Keihls sounds lovely!
Sarah Cantwell
3rd March 2016 at 11:14 AMSometimes I really don't feel like doing it all but I make myself, it doesn't take long and really does make the world of difference xx
Lucy Melissa Smith
4th March 2016 at 7:57 AMI'm glad your skin is starting to feel better, mine was a bit of a state for a while after having Lily but I think you look lovely anyway X
Sarah Cantwell
4th March 2016 at 8:38 AMThank you lovely xxx
Jodie Fisher
5th March 2016 at 6:34 AMI needed this post. My skin too is absolutely terrible at the moment.
Sarah Cantwell
6th March 2016 at 5:53 PMOh sorry to hear you have bad skin too! It sucks. Hope it clears up soon xx
mental parentals
6th March 2016 at 9:16 AMI am terrible… I don't have much of a skincare routine at all. Other than washing my face in the shower and using a daily moisturiser when I'm dry x
Sarah Cantwell
6th March 2016 at 5:58 PMIt can be hard to fit in, sometimes I only just the cleanser at night time but I am trying to stick to it as I have my found my skin feels a lot smoother when I do xx
Tori Gabriel
6th March 2016 at 9:55 AMOh honey, I am sorry for your losses. Stress does awful things to our skin but it sounds like you are managing well. I recommend teatree for spots and drink loads of water. Wishing you baby dust. X
Sarah Cantwell
6th March 2016 at 6:00 PMAw thank you tori! I'm doing all I can and trying to drink lots of water. Hopefully it'll happen for us soon x
Chantal Milk and Nappies
11th March 2016 at 9:59 AMAhh post baby skin is a nightmare – I've gone the other way and have dry patches after living my entire life with oily skin. Seems so alien to me to use products for dry skin and finding it hard to get the right routine! I am using the oskia Renaissance cleansing gel too and at first I didn't really like it – I expected miracles it didn't deliver but now I've realised I actually love it! I want to try out that Khiels moisturiser – it's next on my list! xx
Sarah Cantwell
12th March 2016 at 10:22 AMOh my god! I was exactly the same, and now I'm a convert too, I'm definitely going to repurchase. The Kiehls facial cream is lovely, not too oily but really hydrating x