My everyday skincare routine is something I’m often asked about.
While I’m a self confessed beauty junkie – I LOVE to try all the beauty and skincare related things – when it comes to my own skincare routine it’s simple, quick and effective.
It’s pretty much always been this way, but particularly as I’m getting older I find my skin responds best to simple products that actually work. For me, less is definitely more.
My everyday skincare routine
I have what’s best described as combination skin with a side serve of sensitivity.
This means I produce a bit of extra oil through my t-zone (forehead, nose and chin) while the rest of my face swings between normal and dry.
My skin also excels at reacting to certain products, which is the main reason I like to keep my skincare routine simple. Anything too active sets my skin off into a tingling, red frenzy, which is less than ideal.
So here we go with my morning and night skincare routine. If you’ve got skin similiar to mine or would like to try some new products, the following information will help.
morning skincare routine:
1. cleanser
I alternate between a Micellar Water and a cream cleanser, depending on how much time I have and how my skin is feeling.
Micellar Water is great for a quick and easy cleanse while standing at the bathroom bench, while a cream cleanser is super easy to use in the shower.
Sukin Micellar Cleansing Water, $10.95
2. hydrating face oil
Get Up And Glow® comes next. I use a couple of drops and let the natural botanical oils work their magic at hydrating my skin.
Get Up And Glow® hydrating face oil, $45
3. sunscreen
If I had one regret about my skincare routine when I was younger, it would be that I didn’t apply sunscreen every day.
Now that I’m older and *ahem* wiser, daily application of sunscreen is a non-negotiable.
I love finding new sunscreens to try and have rounded up 5 of my faves in this blog post, 5 sunscreens your skin will love. There are links to all five sunscreens there, but my current sunscreen of choice is number 4 – Clean Screen by Ultra Violette.
My evening skincare routine:
1. cleanser
I’ve only recently discovered the cleansing balm concept and I love it. It feels AH-MAZING on your skin and gives a superior deep clean, making it perfect for removing makeup.
Triology Make-Up Be Gone Cleansing Balm, $38.95
2. toner
I alternate between two toners. Alpha H Liquid Gold should only be used every second night, so I use Clarins on the other evenings.
Clarins toning lotion for normal/dry skin, $42
3. blissful night oil
The last step in my evening routine is Sleep On It, our blissful night oil. The natural botanical oils combined with the soothing scent of lavender and chamomile essential oils, nourish and hydrate my skin perfectly.
Sleep On It, Blissful Night Oil, $45
Pro Tip: I don’t use a moisturiser anymore – my skin has never really been a fan of them – so our face oil is my final step in my evening skincare routine. However your skin might be different and if you feel like you need a moisturiser in addition to the face oil, that’s all good!
4. lip balm
I always finish my evening skincare routine with a swipe of Betty Balm, moisturising lip balm. It keeps my lips feeing smooth and soothed.
additional skincare notes:
While I adore all things skincare, beauty and makeup related, my skincare routine is super simple. I don’t use an eye cream – instead I take the face oils right up to my eyes. They’re gentle enough to do that and provide ample hydration for my skin.
I try to exfoliate once a week and mask when I remember.
I have facials a couple of times a year – usually when Scott or the kids give me a voucher for my birthday or Mother’s Day.
final thoughts
I’m a huge advocate for doing what you feel is right for your skin. If your skin craves serums, needs an eye cream and loves a good swipe of retinol, slather those products on!
However since launching Bettyquette and becoming heavily involved in the beauty industry, the one thing that bothers me is the fear based marketing we all have to endure, particularly as we get older.
It’s ok to have fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, hormonal breakouts, dark circles. I mean I have all four of those happening and they don’t affect my ability to function as a person.
I also use a combination of natural produts and some that aren’t so natural. I like to try – and create – new products but when I find a product my skin loves, I generally don’t stray from it.
So I guess what I’m trying to say is, have fun with your skincare routine. Find products your skin loves and enjoy the aging process. Your skin will thank you for it, I promise!
Hi, I am reading your website with much interest. Could you please answer a question or 2 for me?
What is the difference between a moisturiser and a hydrating product? My skin tends to dryness. Do I need both, If so, could you recommend a moisturiser that works with your oils?
Thanks. Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Our products are made from natural botanical/plant oils. There’s nothing else added – no parabens, no sulfates, no nasties. Face oils also contain no water, whereas moisturisers are usually anywhere from 60% – 90% water. Dry skin LOVES oil based products as the oils are extremely nourishing and replenishing. They leave your skin looking and feeling super glowy and hydrated. A moisturiser will also hydrate the skin, but needs to reach the deeper layers of the skin to achieve this. Personally, I don’t use a moisturiser anymore, as the face oils are enough for my skin. We do have a lot of customers who combine both our face oils and their moisturiser – you can add a couple of drops of face oil to your moisturiser or use both products on their own. Pretty much any moisturiser will work well with our oils, but which one is best for you really is a personal choice. In the past I’ve used Clarins, Sukin and Dermalogica moisturisers. I hope that info helps, Kirsten.