Summer Skincare Routine

This summer I’ve been all about low-maintenance beauty. Air-dried waves in my hair, a hint of a (faux) tan, and taking good care of my skin so that I can keep my makeup as minimal as possible – just a little tinted moisturiser, mascara, cream blush + lip balm and I’m good to go.

When it comes to my skincare routine, I look for uncomplicated products with potent ingredients to help hydrate, brighten, and protecting my skin from premature damage + fine lines. Although I’m always testing new products to see what’s deserving of a spot in my permanent rotation, these are the best skincare products I have been reaching for on a daily basis the past few months:

Cleanse

Whether it’s my AM or PM skincare routine, I’ll always make sure I’m starting with a clean base. Although it may sound counterintuitive in the summer months (when skin is more prone to oiliness), an oil cleanser is perfect for balancing every skin type and thoroughly cleansing without stripping or causing irritation the way a foaming version might. I’ve been using the Elizabeth Arden ceramide range for probably a decade, and I use this cleansing oil both for a gentle cleanse in the morning, as well as a double-cleanse in the evening to remove every last trace of SPF and makeup.

Exfoliate

Regular, gentle exfoliation is the key to radiant + even skin tone. My sensitive skin does not like a physical (abrasive) exfoliant, so I prefer to use a gentle chemical (acid) exfoliator 2-3 times a week. These ThisWorks exfoliating pads are one of my holy grail beauty products; I use them in the evening a few times a week as the first step after cleansing and before serum, and they gently sweep away any pore-clogging dead skin to minimise breakouts, improve texture and radiance, encourage cell turnover and allow the rest of your skincare products to properly sink in and do their job.

Target

If you’re only going to invest in one skincare product, make it a serum. Whereas moisturiser essentially targets the superficial outer layers of the dermis to protect your skin and make it feel good that day, a decent serum will actually penetrate the deeper layers and make your skin look good and age better over time. The two things I look for in my serums are hydration (to avoid premature wrinkles and fine lines caused by dehydration) and skin-repairing anti-oxidants (to help mop up the free radical damage our skin encounters every day from pollution, sun damage, blue light and even the effects of diet and stress). Two of my long-term MVPs are Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (PM) and Elizabeth Arden Vitamin C capsules (AM), which lately I’ve been alternating with Clarins Plant Gold – a new favourite introduction to my morning routine.

Moisturise

During the day, I always look for something with an added SPF. I’ve been using the Elizabeth Arden Prevage City Smart for years, but this summer I’ve been reaching for the Great 8 Daily Defence everyday and it’s a new favourite – lightweight hydration + sun protection in one. In the evening, my usual go-to is Origins High Potency Night-a-Mins which repairs and brightens while you sleep to keep my skin radiant and nourished.

Don’t Forget The Eyes

Much like my face cream, I prefer a lighter eye cream in the warmer months which will hydrate without feeling heavy. This Origins Ginzing eye cream is super lightweight, helps to de-puff eye bags, and doesn’t cause my eye makeup or concealer to melt off during the day.

Protect

Although my day cream contains SPF, I’ll always finish with a generous spritz of SPF face mist as the final step + throughout the day on days when I’m spending anything more than 10 minutes outside. This Vichy SPF spray is my current go-to and feels virtually invisible – even over makeup – and doesn’t cause my sensitive skin to break out.