(UPDATED 2019)

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For me, a skincare routine has to be thorough, quick and enjoyable otherwise I’m just not going to stick to it. As someone who has depression, anxiety and chronic pain having a skincare routine is also a good way of adding a little bit of self-care daily. This is the first part of my skincare routine, the cleanse. You can see my skincare routine here (I’ll also be updating this soon!).

I don’t always feel up to cleansing due to fatigue or pain so having a manageable cleansing routine means I can keep to it and importantly, look forward to it. To make the cleansing routine a bit more decadent you can always add a mask (here’s a couple of my favourites here and here) or double cleanse.

The basis of a good skincare routine is definitely in the cleansing so please please please remove your makeup at night. It’ll clog up your pores and cause a death of a fairy, I don’t think you want that on your conscience.

You can, of course, make it longer than my routine (like the Korean 10-step routine) but my cleansing routine is quick, easy and most importantly it’s effective. It’s taken me a while to figure out the right kinds of products for me but I hope the following is useful for you too (but if you’re unsure I liked this guide for finding the right cleanser for your skin type).

 

My Morning Cleansing Routine

 

 

In the morning I like something quick that gently cleanses while leaving my skin soft and ready for my morning skin routine (which is pretty minimal btw, I essentially just use Nivea UV Face Shine Control- this is brilliant especially if you find sunscreen too oily and it provides both UVA and UVB with 4 star rating).

Alternatively you can find some of my most recent favourite sunscreens here. All provide high protection and are suitable for sensitive/combination skin types. Always use and SPF this is the most important thing you can do to take care of your skin.

Recently, I’ve started using Alpha Arbutin to treat pigmentation. It’s early days yet so not sure how effective it is. The one I have is from Garden of Wisdom. I’ve used several products from the range now and have loved every single one. It’s a brilliant skincare range that’s similar to The ordinary but I think it might actually be better! Lookout for a Garden of Wisdom review coming soon.

 

 

I also occasionally use the absolutely gorgeous Nourish London Kale 3D Cleanse. Kale is a key ingredient (did you guess?) as is Griffonia (it helps to detoxify and protect against pollution) as well as Hyaluronic acid, probiotics and oxygenating extracts (this is what gives its slightly gimmicky colour changing abilities). Kale 3D Cleanse really is a pleasure to use, it smells amazing and leaves my skin incredibly smooth. I haven’t tried anything else from this brand so if you have any recommendations I’d love to hear from you.

I’ve started using Cerave Foaming Face Wash in the morning and I think this is my favourite morning cleanser. The face wash gives a nice lather that’s full of skin loving ingredients such as ceramides, niacinamide, & hyaluronic acid. This gentle cleanser won’t dry out your skin but if you do have especially dry skin there’s a cream version too. You can now purchase Cerave from Boots here, it’s a brilliant skincare brand.

I’m also trialing the new skincare range from Primark called Naturals. So far I’m really liking the Gentle Face Wash, it’s a nice morning cleanser. Full review of Primark Naturals skincare range coming soon too!

 

 

My Evening Cleansing Routine

 

In the evening I take a bit longer but not that much tbh. My first step is either an oil cleanser or balm. These babies will make light work of makeup, breaking it down easily leaving nothing behind except soft, cleansed skin. Oils and balms are the best makeup removers, even for oily skin. If you’re not using a good oil or balm cleanser you should definitely give it a try!

I’m not a fan of cream cleanser, they just can’t break down makeup like balms or oils. So please don’t be put off by oils. I’m a good cleanser to try is Beaty Pie JapanFusion Pure Transforming Cleanser. This is a gorgeous gel-to-oil-to-milk cleanser that completely removes all traces of makeup, even waterproof mascara.

 

 

I always remove cleanser using a flannel. A flannel will help remove all traces of cleanser while giving a gentle exfoliation. My current favourite is the outstanding Evolve Gentle Cleansing Melt. You can read the review of this fantastic cleanser here.

That’s it for cleansing, it’s quick, effective and deeply nourishing. Alternative budget/drugstore cleansers to try are the amazing Simple Cleansing Oil, Clinique Take the Day Off Balm and the vegan friendly The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing oil or the Sumptuous Butter version. All are amazing cleansers that completely remove makeup without irritating your skin.

 

The Best Chemical Exfoliators

 

Glycolic acid is an AHA which chemically exfoliates the top layer of skin to refine pores, even skin tone, reduce the look of minor skin blemishes and just give your skin an overall glow. I also love lactic acid. Lactic acid is an AHA that’s better suited to sensitive skins. I use The Ordinary’s Lactic Acid 10% a few times a week as an overnight treatment. This is one of my absolute favourite skincare products. You can start with The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% and use a couple of times a week. I think this exfoliator is one of the best products I use on my face.

I use occasionally The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution and I think this is my favourite AHA chemical exfoliant. It removes dead skin cells to reveal a brighter and more even skin complexion. It also helps serums to work better. If you have very sensitive skin I’d go easy on this as it can be a bit tingly.

 

 

An alternative to the quite powerful The Ordinary Toning Solution is the gentler Naturally Radiant Glycolic Tonic from Superdrug. It contains 5% glycolic acid similar to Pixi Glow Tonic, however Superdrug’s version actually has glycolic acid further up the ingredients than Pixi’s. Plus Naturally Radiant Glycolic Tonic is a fraction of the price and is currently on buy one get one free (which I’ve just filled my bathroom cupboard with).

 

 

That’s it for my morning and night stage of my skincare routine. A good cleanser will help transform your skin. One of the benefits of a balm or oil is that they melt your makeup and grime with little irritation to your skin’s barrier. Rough scrubbing, especially with a manual exfoliator like a scrub, will tear your skin and cause damage that can be difficult to repair.

So be gentle to your skin and remember to drink your water, eat your fruit and veg, and get your sleep too kids. (Here’s my skincare routine, I’ll update this soon too)

 

PIN FOR LATER!

 

Do you always remember to cleanse properly?

 

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Tags: cleansing routine, disability, self-care, skincare, skincare routine, wellbeing