Skincare Weapons for a Glowy Skin
One of the most asked questions I usually get from my friends is how to achieve glowy skin. I have been playing around with products and mixing them together in order to find what works best for me. Today I will be sharing with you the routine that I follow in order to maintain a healthy looking glowy skin and some of my favourite skincare ‘weapons’.
Before I move on I'd like to clarify that I’m not a certified beautician or a dermatologist, so today I will be talking about products that have worked great for me and for the people around me who have tried them. I have tried my best to list products that work well for different skin types, so I hope you find this useful!
My skin used to be on the oilier side, but when I moved to Newcastle it switched to combination to dry (I’m guessing from the harsh cold and wind in this city). Because of that I try to cleanse my skin very well from any impurities that the wind blows on my face and maintain a good level of moisture.
Morning Time
In the morning I like to follow 3 simple steps to prep my skin for the day or for make-up.
1. I start with cleansing my skin with a gentle cleansing soap. I avoid products that make my skin stretched and dry because I have noticed that I break out a lot after using them. My favourite cleanser is Micellar Cleansing Gel Wash by Garnier. This is a very gentle cleansing soap, that removes all makeup residue and oiliness without drying out my skin. It’s super affordable and there are different options for different skin types, so there’s definitely a product for your skin type.
2. Next, I apply a brightening serum to really plump my skin and make me look more awake. The Bright + Pearly™ Vitamin C Radiance Boosting Cocktail by Soap&Glory really makes my skin feel nourished and it adds a nice sheer glow. What I like about this serum is that it’s in a form of gel-like cream instead of an oil, so after applying it you feel very fresh instead of oily.
3. Finally, I finish off with a moisturizer. For the mornings I prefer to use something with hyaluronic acid, as it gives an awesome plump and moisture to the skin. I usually use a hidden gem I discovered in Greece. CollaZen is a company based in Greece that offers a growing variety of products. For the last couple of years, I have been using their Hyaluronic Cream and I swear by it. It gives me just the right amount of moisture and it smells incredible. This line also has an even heavier moisturizer with collagen in case you’re looking for something that is more heavy duty.
If your skin is very oily or acne prone, I would pick up a gel moisturizer. When I had oilier skin, I found that cream moisturizers made me break out a lot so I switched to a gel one.
Sometimes I like to use a tinted moisturizer to give a more refined look to my skin. My favourite one is the Tinted Moisturizer by Laura Mercier. It is very hydrating and has an SPF20. Of course, some liquid highlighter is my preferred way to give my glow a natural looking boost that will last me all day.
Night Time
On to my night time routine. Before I go to bed I like to give my skin a little more extra attention.
1. I start off by removing all make up that is on my face and then I cleanse again. To remove my make up these days I use the AfterSpa Magic Makeup Remover Cloth. I am amazed at how well it removes my makeup, although, I’m not crazy about the idea of rubbing my skin with a cloth cause, well.. wrinkles! But it is the fastest, cheapest and most pleasant method I have encountered. I follow that with my cleansing soap and pat myself dry.
2. About once a week or more, I like to exfoliate my skin just to remove any dead skin. I do that by using a gentle scrub.
3. After cleansing and exfoliating I follow with a toner. By now you should all now that my favourite thing to use as toner is the Facial Spray by Mario Badescu. I have seen this product work on so many people with different skin types and I strongly recommend it.
4 Finally, I finish up with moisturizer. Currently, I’m using the Speed Plump Overnight Moisture Mousse which I have been loving! You can read my review of this product in our previous post. I follow that with an eye cream.
And that sums up my night time routine. I have chosen a rather simple one to make sure that I follow it like a ritual every night. Staying committed to a routine will really bring great results, so keep that in mind when you're too tired to apply some cream on your face!
Bonus
In general, do try and stay hydrated as it will really help with your skin. Also, face masks are very important to add here and there. One that has permanently made my routine, is the Aztec Secret Amazonian clay mask. I do this mask every 10 days to deep-cleanse any impurities from my skin. I have tried several purifying masks, including Glamglow's, but have found that this one works the best for my skin.
Do not forget about the rest of your skin. It is important to hydrate your skin all over not just the face. I always use a body lotion after a shower, whether it is a butter or a quick spray. One product that I would recommend trying out is The Righteous Butter by Soap&Glory. This is a fast absorbing super hydrating body butter. Its texture feels whipped and light and not at all oily when applied to the body. It also smells very fresh which makes me love it even more!
There you have it, a full list of my secret weapons and how I use them to achieve glowy skin! If you have any products you love and swear by, do comment down below!
