Glowing Skin Guide

Glowing skin is something we all want isn't it? Wouldn't it be lovely to leave the house makeup free without having to worry if the person next to you on the train was wondering about squeezing that spot on your skin or if your dullness was making people worry if you're ill. Whilst these products & tips might not give you a superstar glow immediately and we have absolutely no control over hormonal breakouts (boo) making sure you take really good care of your skin can get your well on your way to your clear skin dreams.

Now, we're not perfect. I don't think I know anyone with truly perfect skin. We've all got our flaws & we've all got things we don't like about ourselves and wish to improve. Whilst products can't do everything we wish they could, having a good skincare routine that you stick to can massively improve your skin. Alongside sticking to a good diet (my downfall), getting enough sleep & drinking lots of water; you know the drill. 

I'm writing this just in time for Valentine's Day, so you can get a good ol' pamper in before the big day. I personally don't celebrate Valentine's Day so it'll be just another hungover Sunday for me. However, I do like giving my skin a really good pamper before any event or if I'm having a quiet day in, so this will fit in nicely with whatever you have planned. I've also got a really exciting Valentine's Day collab post coming up in a few days so keep your eyes peeled for that too!

Here's the routine:

1. Cleansing.

First rule - NO MAKEUP WIPES. I won't go into just how awful they are for you, I'll let Caroline Hiron's, the skincare messiah, explain that for you.. I simply remove my makeup with micellar water, then go in with a good balm or gel cleanser and a massage. You can read about my favourite cleansers here.

2. Acid Toning.

Again, Caroline has the best advice when it comes to acid toning so I'll leave that one to her. However, I use Pixi Glow Tonic every day & swap it for Alpha H Liquid Gold once or twice a week for a real boost. I feel like acid toning is the key for me for glowing skin, it makes such a big difference!

3. Toners.

After a good acid tone I tend to go in with a regular toner or some kind of spritzing mist. Some of my favourites are La Roche Posay Serozinc, Lush's Tea Tree Water & Caudalie Beauty Elixir. This step isn't necessary but boy does it feel nice.

4. Serum.

Here's where you need to tailor it to your own skincare needs. Got dry skin? Pick a hydrating serum. Got spotty skin? Aim for one that targets breakouts (I love La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo for this). Skin feels like it's ageing? Try one that targets anti-ageing. You should listen to your skin here, if it's telling you it needs something; give it to it. Serum's are often quite expensive though which is a bit of a bummer, I'm on the hunt for an inexpensive one though so if you know of any let me know in the comments!

5. Oil.

Everyone could use a little oil in their life. Yes, even if you've got oily skin. Whilst I don't use it every day, I love adding it into my routine a few times a week to give my skin a bit of extra oomph. It's a really nice step perfect for a pamper evening as it feels really luxourious and spa-like massaging it into your face. Clarins do some great facial oils and so do The Body Shop.

6. Moisturiser.

Again, here's where you need to tailor it to your own skin. Also, you should consider how your skin is at certain times of the year too. For example, around this time of year my skin gets really dry and flaky and requires a rich moisturiser. However in Summer, it's nowhere near as bad so a regular moisturiser will do just fine. I think a lot of people forget just how much the weather can affect your skin but it's definitely something to consider and pay attention to. 

7. Extras.

Here's where to add all your little extra bits in. For example, eye cream, spot cream, lip balm, lash serum, brow serum, etc. I often forget to use eye cream but spot cream is something I need quite often as they are something that seems to haunt me. My favourites are the Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions Spot Gel, Origins Super Spot Remover or Malin + Goetz Sulfur Paste. All of these three do a great job at reducing the damage that it would otherwise do if left alone.

8. Masks.

At least once a week, more often if I have time, I like to truly pamper my skin with a face mask or two. I start with a deep cleansing mud or clay mask and then move onto one that targets radiance. My favourites for this are the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask or the Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask, both are a little pricey but both work a treat. You can really see the difference after one use.  

There we have it, some tips to get you well on your way to better looking skin. Writing this post has made me want to give my skin a pamper so badly! I'm off to slather my face in oil.

What are your favourite tips for glowing skin?

Laura xx