5 Skincare Products I Use Every Day

When it comes to skincare, it’s important to do what works for you. We live in a society where everyone has an opinion. Beauty enthusiasts such as influencers and even bloggers have played their part in revolutionising skincare routines. Gone are the days when you’d use a product just because it was the first one you saw at your local beauty store. Now, we all pay extra attention to ingredients, ethics, packaging, reviews, value for money etc, the list goes on. What are some of the things you take into consideration before you decide to purchase a skincare product? Feel free to leave a comment below.

In today’s post, I’m going to be telling you all about the 5 skincare products I use every day. This post is a little different from posts like Skincare Saviours and Melanin Beauty Live because I’ve had to switch up my skincare routine over the past few months, as I felt that some products just weren’t working for me. It takes 12 weeks to determine if a skincare product is doing what it says it will on the packaging. I have oily/combination skin and there isn’t a mandatory guide on how to build a skincare routine for oily skin. When it comes to skincare for oily skin, I think most people’s goal is to use as many mattifying products as possible, but this really isn’t the only way forward. It doesn’t matter how oily your skin is, it does need moisture. This goes for all the other skin types too.

Below are a few products that really work for me at this present moment in time. A lot of us have been conditioned to believe that a good skincare routine only comprises of the following: cleansing, toning, and moisturising. This is true, but for those of us with skin types that aren’t classified as normal (dry/sensitive/combination/oily), we have to do a bit more work in our quest for perfect skin. Here are the skincare products I use every day:

Urban Skin RX Even Tone Cleansing Bar – It’s my third week using this product from Urban Skin RX and I’m really impressed. It has started to clear my skin and even out my complexion. I have stubborn hyperpigmentation and I’ve yet to find a product to eliminate it completely, but this is definitely a contender. It has some powerful ingredients such as Kojic Acid and Licorice Root. Another thing I like about it is less is more: the bar comes with two sponges, so you put a bit of warm water on the sponge and rub it in the bar using a circular motion to create a lather and then massage it onto your face. In addition to its cleansing properties, the bar also exfoliates and tones the skin, so Urban Skin RX do encourage all users to leave it on for two to three minutes, but this isn’t mandatory.

I’m glad this product tones the skin too because I haven’t used a toner in ages. Speaking from a place of experience, I don’t think they are compatible with oily skin. I have used a lot of toners in my time, but I just haven’t been happy with any of them. Overall, the Urban Skin RX Even Tone Cleansing Bar is one of the best skin cleansers out there in my opinion. The brand are melanin experts, so I recommend their range to WoC. They also have a Clear Skin Cleansing Bar and a Combination Skin Cleansing Bar. A lot of skincare brands try to fix a variety of skincare issues with one product, and it just isn’t possible. It’s great to see a brand addressing different skincare needs, particularly for WoC. In terms of longevity, the bar could last for 4-6 months, even more if you don’t rub the sponge across the bar too hastily.

…And Urban Skin RX range isn’t just loved by their fans, celebrities have also given it the seal of approval too. Singers Cassie and Fantasia have nothing but great things to say about the range.

Side note: If you are using any of ‘the acids’ as part of your skincare routine, please don’t forget to use SPF and try to stay out of the sun if you can. ‘The Acids’ (kojic, lactic, mandelic, salicylic etc) increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun.

Urban Skin RX Even Tone Cleansing Bar is priced at £15.60 and is available from House of Beauty World.

Medik8 Super C30 – Whatever your skin type, I do recommend using at least one serum as part of your skincare routine. Depending on what your skincare needs are, serums give your skin a fresher, healthier and younger looking appearance. Moisturisers can only do so much, so if you really want to get the best out of your skin, use a serum or face oil. I’m not going to talk about ingredients you should be looking out for, but I would say doing your research is important: check the list of ingredients, read reviews, watch videos etc. Over the past few years, Vitamin C has become a very welcome addition to my skincare routine. I started off by using Superdrug’s one but for the past year or so, I’ve been committed to the Medik8 brand.

If you have been thinking about introducing Vitamin C into your skincare routine, then bear in mind that it needs to be listed within the first five ingredients on the packaging. Too many brands are selling Vitamin C serums and you’ll find it’s the 10^th or even 15^th ingredient on the list. That’s not a Vitamin C serum. Also, pay attention to concentration as well. I like serums with 10% Vitamin C or more as I can see an improvement almost instantly. As I approach 30, I’m taking skincare seriously, so I’ve taken it up a notch by using Super C30. I’ve been using the serum for almost a month and I’m happy with it: it smells lovely, it absorbs into the skin instantly and my skin is a lot clearer. If you are thinking about using this serum, you will experience a tingling sensation on the first few applications, so warm the product up using your hands and then pat it onto your face and neck before you rub it in (avoiding your eyes of course). It can be used once or twice a day. For the time being, I’m using it in the daytime. At £44, it is the most expensive skincare product I own, but it’s worth every penny.

Medik8 Super C30 is priced at £44 and is available from Look Fantastic. It is currently out of stock, but the C-Tetra is a great alternative.

BIODERMA Sébium Mat Control Shine-Control Moisturiser – I’ve been using this moisturiser for almost a year and I love it. There’s a lot more to oily skin than just having a shiny T-Zone by lunchtime. Whatever your skin type, it will produce oil in some capacity. If your skin produces too much oil, then this means that your sebaceous glands are overactive. This could be due to a variety of reasons, there isn’t a specific cause of an overactive sebaceous gland. What I like about the entire Sebium range is that its sole purpose is to reduce excess sebum and mattify the skin. If you have oily/combination skin, then opt for a moisturiser that has shine control properties. A bonus that comes with this moisturiser is that it can also be used as a primer. It is very drying, so if you don’t like using primers that are slightly less thick in texture, then you’ll like this moisturiser.

Side note: Use skincare products that are formulated specifically for your skin type. Also, when you apply moisturiser, don’t plaster it all over your face. Apply it in sections so it can really absorb into your skin and so that you reap the benefits.

BIODERMA Sébium Mat Control Shine-Control Moisturiser is priced at £12.80 and is available from Look Fantastic

Ultrasun Face Anti-Ageing Lotion SPF 30 – I’ve been using this multi-purpose lotion on and off for over a year now. Like many WoC, it feels like an uphill battle to find an SPF that doesn’t leave me looking like Casper two minutes later. It took me a while to find one that could work for me. This lotion is very light in terms of texture. It’s not as heavy as other SPF’s. Also, it blends into the skin effortlessly, and can also double up as a moisturiser. If you are planning to spend some time in the sun, then this lotion should be applied at least 15 minutes before. Dermatologists recommend an SPF of at least 30, so if you are looking for sunscreen, do bear this in mind. Any sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more will give you the protection you need from UV rays.

Side note: SPF should be worn every day, regardless of whether you will be exposed to the sun or not. Any exposure to light can do more harm than good to your skin, so protecting yourself is essential.

Ultrasun Face Anti-Ageing Lotion SPF 30 is priced at £22.00 and is available from Look Fantastic

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Original Solid Formula – You may be surprised to see cocoa butter mentioned in this article, but yes, cocoa butter is currently one of my skincare staples. For a lot of WoC, any Palmer’s product must have been a bodycare staple at some point in your life. Over the past few years, the brand has turned their attention to haircare (they have a coconut oil hair mist that smells amazing btw!) Did you know that Palmer’s Cocoa Butter can be used as an overnight treatment? What I love about this cocoa butter formula is the addition of Vitamin E. Vitamin E prevents signs of ageing and it also reduces the appearance of scars. Because cocoa butter is quite thick in texture, less is definitely more. All you need is a very small amount. When I use this at night, my skin looks radiant in the morning and it feels super soft too. Sometimes, you don’t need to break the bank to find a beauty product that works for you.

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Original Solid Formula is priced at £3.65 and is available at Superdrug

I know this post is titled ‘5 Skincare Products That I Use Every Day’, but I wanted to share two additional products that I use as part of my skincare routine.

NARS Cosmetics Pore & Shine Control Primer – This primer saved my life. When I was travelling to Amsterdam in February last year, I went through security and realised that I’d forgotten my primer. After freaking out for a minute, I was hoping there’d be a NARS concession in duty free. I had heard good things about their primer, but I was so loyal to Milk of Magnesia (don’t judge me, it does work). I bought the Pore and Shine Primer and I have nothing but good things to say about it. You don’t need a lot of product at all, the primer dries very quickly, and it doesn’t tighten the skin in an uncomfortable way. My makeup looked flawless all day. I was in Amsterdam for four days and I spent most of that time out and about, trying to visit as many attractions as possible. The primer was a God send.

Side note: Everybody applies primer in different ways, but with this one, I recommend using your middle finger. Lightly dab the primer onto the parts of your face that tend to get oily and wait for a few minutes for it to settle in. You can also use it when you go au-natural but spend a few minutes making sure it’s blended in properly. It can leave white marks on the face, so don’t use too much of it.

NARS Cosmetics Pore & Shine Control Primer is priced at £29.00 and is available from Look Fantastic

Science for Skin Solution for Scars – As mentioned, I have some hyperpigmentation that I haven’t been able to get rid of for years. Luckily, using a serum has helped because it’s evened out my skin tone, so the hyperpigmentation is less visible. After doing some research online, I came across Solution for Scars. This product has 4-5-star reviews on most websites, so I decided to purchase it. It’s smells and feels like an ointment. I use it after I apply my Medik8 SuperC30 serum. After 3 weeks of usage, I can’t say I have seen a dramatic difference. I think it will take another month or two before I can see any significant changes. When it comes to skincare, consistency is key, so I will continue to use this cream.

Science for Skin Solution for Scars is priced at £18.99 and is available from Science for Skin

It’s been a while since I’ve written a beauty post, so thank you for staying with me through what was an incredibly lengthy post. Which skincare products do you use every day? I love to hear from you all, so please feel free to leave a comment below xo

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