Caroline's blog: https://www.carolinehirons.com
Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinehirons/?hl=en
Her book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/skincare/caroline-hirons/9780008375522
Seeing as I'm a little bit obsessed with skincare I thought I'd share some of my favourite products. For reference I have dry/combination skin which can sometimes be a bit sensitive.
1. CLEANSE: Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm
This product was honestly a game changer for me. I used to get clogged pores that would mean makeup often wouldn't sit right on my skin, particularly on my nose. But even after using this cleanser to take my makeup off the first time - I saw an improvement in my skin's texture. This stuff removes makeup easily and smells divine, plus you only need a tiny bit for your whole face so it lasts ages. Apply to dry skin, massage in and then remove with a warm flannel. This is my second tub and is definitely my go to cleanser. Once you try it you'll never it look back, plus it is so much better for your skin and the environment than makeup wipes!
2. DOUBLE CLEANSE: Beauty Pie Japanfusion Cleanser
For in the morning, no makeup days or for a second cleanse (Caroline is an advocate of double cleansing if you wear makeup/SPF), this cleanser by Beauty Pie is perfect. It's a gel like texture that quickly melts into a balmy milk texture once applied and I always remove it with a warm flannel.
3. EXFOLIATE: Kate Somerville Liquid ExfoliKate
Forget the scrubby exfoliators which make for a joyless experience as they basically feel like rubbing grit or sand on your face... A liquid exfoliator is so much nicer to use and you're likely to get better results. This uses a combination of a few different acids to get rid of the dead skin cells which is another useful step for ensuring makeup applies better. So far this is the best one I've found for my skin, I tried the Pixi Glow Tonic which gets rave reviews but I found it to be a little to strong for me because I have slightly sensitive skin. I use a couple of pumps of this on a cotton pad and wipe it over my face (avoiding the eye area) or specifically apply it to spots as it helps them clear up quicker.
4. EYE CREAM: Dr Dennis Gross Triple Correction Eye Serum and Pestle & Mortar Recover Ultimate Eye Cream
I may only be 25 but I'm already starting to see some pesky fine lines around my eyes so I'm definitely an eye cream fan. The Dr Dennis Gross serum is light and contains some retinol which is proven to help improve the appearance of fine lines over time, so I often use this one at night. The Pestle & Mortar eye cream is probably my favourite overall though, especially as I have slightly hooded eyes, it helps lift the eye area and keep it hydrated without being too heavy and so is fine under makeup - definitely recommend it if you're looking for a new eye cream or have never tried one before. I believe the bottle recommends using a pump or two (?!) but I find one pump to be plenty.
5. HYDRATE: Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator and Kate Somerville DermalQuench Liquid Lift
I think thin layers of moisturising and hydrating products work better for me than using one heavy cream. Hyaluronic acid is your best friend when it comes to hydration and the Liquid Lift product is the best hydrating product I've found - it diminishes the '11' (frown) lines on my forehead right in front of my very eyes (thank goodness). Having said that, the Indeed Labs Hydraluron Serum (not pictured) gets an honourable mention as it's a more affordable option. I then layer the Josh Rosebrook spray on top because hyaluronic acid works best when it has some extra moisture to cling onto. The spray has a very fine mist, smells lovely and is super refreshing on hot days too.
6. VITAMIN C: Sunday Riley C.E.O Serum and C.E.O. Glow Facial Oil
If you're after glowy skin then Vitamin C is for you. Some skincare products take time to work and you need multiple applications before you start to see a difference but these two give instant results. For days where my skin looks a little dull and needs a boost I'll reach for the C.E.O. serum, mostly in the morning as it's fab for no makeup days but also works as a nice base under makeup as well. It has a lovely orange scent which dissipates once applied and I only use one pump per application. Whereas I use a few drops of the oil on evenings where I want the added hydration of the oil as it has more time to sink in overnight.
7. OTHER SERUMS: Alpha-H Vitamin B Serum and Zelens Power D Treatment Drops
It's worth noting that I wouldn't use all of these serums every day or in every routine. For example, if my skin isn't looking super dry or dehydrated I'll skip the hyaluronic acid step. If I don't use a vitamin C, I might use one of the two serums below instead - it really depends on what my skin is like that day.
The Vitamin B serum is good for giving radiance to a sensitive skin. It's hydrating, enhances the natural skin barrier and has antioxidants in. Vitamin D is good for repairing. If you have super dry skin or struggle with a skin condition such as eczema then these treatment drops are for you. For months I had a super dry patch of skin on one of my eyelids which would flare up, go bright red and then flake off and seemingly disappear before returning again. Nothing would budge it, even creams recommended by doctors but I started using these drops after hearing Caroline talk about it and it completely cleared up. It's pricey but you only need a few drops for your whole face and it's not something I use daily so I always get the smallest bottle.
8. MOISTURISER: Murad Hydra-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture and Clinque Moisture Surge
I'm still on the hunt to find my perfect moisturiser but need to work my way through all the ones I currently have open before buying any new ones to try!
These two are a couple of my favourites so far though.
I prefer the Murad one for the Winter months as it's a thicker texture and gives more intense hydration. Despite this, it still sinks in easily and makeup applies nicely on top of it. I think it would still work well for people who don't have drier skin like me too though, as it's not a super rich heavy cream.
For the Summer I prefer something lighter such as the Clinique Moisture Surge which is a gel texture that doesn't sit on top of the skin when applied and isn't greasy. I also use the Clinique Dramatically Different Lotion (the yellow one - not pictured) which is always a safe bet all year round, especially for when my skin is sensitive or a bit angry for whatever reason.
9. SPF: The Body Shop Skin Defence Sun Protection Lotion
This SPF is designed specifically to use on your face. It's a relatively thin texture and isn't greasy like normal suncreams that are used on the rest of the body. It's a SPF 50 and gives UVA/UVB protection. As someone who has a lot of moles generally, as well as a few on my face, I've always used suncream but I definitely recommend investing in a more specialised one like this for your face because it gives a much nicer finish than normal suncream, especially if you want to put makeup on top of it.
10. EXTRAS: Glossier Futuredew and Fresh Rose Face Mask
Futuredew is described as an 'oil serum hybrid' and I apply a pump of this right at the very end of my skincare routine. Although it claims to have various skincare benefits, I mainly use it for the instant brightening glow it gives - perfect for no makeup days or as a base under foundation. It can also be used on top of makeup as a highlighter.
The Rose Face Mask is my favourite mask product. It has a subtle rose scent and it's lovely and hydrating. It's almost a gel/jam like consistency but isn't at all sticky. I also like it because you only leave it on for 5-10 minutes. I'm pretty impatient when it comes to masks and can't be bothered to sit around with something on my face for ages! I only use this every now and then, usually on a Sunday evening or during a bath for a bit of added 'self care'.
So that's it, those are some of my current skincare favourites. I've tried to put them in the order I would use them in a routine in case that's helpful to anyone, but you can find Caroline's recommended skincare routines and how to layer products in her book/on her blog/on her social media.
Taking care of my skin and having a proper skincare routine not only helps my makeup apply better and will hopefully keep my skin it good nick as I inevitably age (how am I already 25?!) but I also like the ritual aspect of it. Applying skincare in the evening can be really calming and is an important part of 'self-care' for me. Plus is there anything better than taking your makeup off once you get home?!
If you aren't into skincare I hope this might have inspired you to try some and if you're already a skincare fan then maybe you've got a couple of new recommendations to go away with.
Take care,
Laura.
Song: Never Break by John Legend
