GETTING THE GLOW | SKIN

As we inch towards spring, I just want my skin to look fresh and radiant, which can be a challenge with the cold weather. I have a two-parter on the products I use to make my skin glow! Part 2 is about makeup and I'll link it here once it's live, but today: let's talk skincare...

- EXFOLIATION -

Exfoliation is a no-brainer when it comes to getting that radiant, healthy look to your complexion. It removes the top layer of dead skin cells to reveal fresh, new skin. Whilst I wouldn't particularly recommend using all of these products at once; I recommend incorporating one of these steps into your routine to ensure your skin glows (also be sure to use a sunscreen after any of these products, as these exfoliators can increase your skin's sensitivity).

As a cleanser, I really recommend the Pixi Glow Mud Cleanser* | £18 | which is back in my life now after having used an entire tube of the stuff! This a mud cleanser with an unusual, almost gel-like paste texture. It not only deeply cleanses the skin with the mud ingredients but contains the acid exfoliant AHA Glycolic Acid at a 5% concentration (which you'll be hearing a lot about in this post!) It blends these ingredients with botanicals and avocado to add a soothing quality, which means this product doesn't irritate my skin despite the decent shot of AHA. It leaves my skin soft, smooth and glowing after use and is gentle enough for daily use, helping to give you a clearer, more even complexion.

Amongst my all-time favourite face masks is the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask* | £50. This combines physical and chemical exfoliation in a gorgeously autumnal-scented mask. It contains micro-exfoliation particles, so I tend to massage this onto my skin to lift those dead cells, leave it for 15 minutes and then rinse it off. The combination of AHAs, pumpkin enzymes and super-fine manual exfoliation is a game-changer for me! This leaves my skin looking brand new in less time than it takes me to walk from my house to my closest convenience shop! I think it's as close to the effects you get from a chemical peel as can be achieved at home without excessively harsh products.

It's also great to use an acid toner, as it's a quick and easy step in your routine. My favourite at the moment is the REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic* | £25. This is a lactic acid toner that resurfaces my skin and leaves it clarified, smooth and healthy. It has a nice, gentle formula that still cuts through the dry skin to brighten my complexion.

As a hydrating serum or cream, I use Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment* | £85. What I love about this product is that it gives me that hit of acid exfoliation to smooth my skin, but it's also so nice and nourishing. At the same time as gently exfoliating, it softens my skin and just makes it look its absolute best!

- VITAMIN INJECTION -

Vitamins aren't just good for your health when you eat them; your skin will appreciate a good dose of them too! My favourites for a glow-boost are Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Vitamin C is an antioxidant so protects the skin from environmental damage, encourages collagen production and leaves skin looking vibrant. Vitamin E is a protective antioxidant too, and also an anti-inflammatory and all-round-amazing hydrator. As it penetrates deeply into the skin, it can also be used with other ingredients to increase their effectiveness.

My go-to vitamin-enriched cleanser for healthy, radiant skin is the cult classic Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel* | £31. I personally don't really rate this for makeup removal as some do; I use it as my morning cleanser on dry skin. It has a gel-to-oil consistency and contains Vitamin C, Vitamin D, magnesium, fruit enzymes and Omega 6, amongst others. It resurrects my dry, dull winter skin and gives my complexion its vibrancy back. 

As a serum, the first product I've been loving is the Omorovicza Daily Vitamin C* | £85. It isn't cheap but I don't think I've ever been disappointed by an Omorovicza product and this is no exception! Along with Vitamin C, this serum contains zinc and niacinamide - to calm the skin and reduce redness and blemishes - as well as hyaluronic acid to hydrate (think of it as a splash of water to the face that your skin actually retains). My skin is looking smooth, radiant and clear and this product is a big part of that. I'm currently using it every single day and it's amazing for giving my complexion that healthy glow and Vitamin C can also correct and brighten any dark spots or hyper-pigmentation you might find you suffer from.

The other serum I have here is the Alpha-H Vitamin E* | £29. This is such a lovely, soothing formula, making it perfect if you want radiant, healthy skin but you're more on the sensitive side, so some of the exfoliating products I mentioned could be a bit too much for you. This hydrates and protects the skin's barrier, leaving it soft and dewy. I've been loving this product during the winter months.

- ROSE -

Hydrated skin is definitely going to look healthier and more radiant. One of my favourite skincare ingredients for intense moisturisation (particularly when the weather is cold) is rose and all of its oil and water based derivatives!

I tend to go for a face mist instead of a toner in a bottle in the morning, as it just feels quicker and easier, and the one I've been using for the past several months is the Pixi Rose Glow Mist* | £18. As well as being used as skincare, it can also be used on top of makeup to give it a dewy finish or freshen things up during the day. This contains various flower oils that feel so hydrating and give your skin that gorgeous glow.

In terms of a moisturiser - I really love the Pixi Rose Ceramide Cream* | £24 | for a healthy, dewy look. This combines ceramides (which protect the skin's barrier and retain moisture) with rose oil, so is intensely nourishing. My skin has been so dry lately, this has really helped to restore some of the lustre and plumpness to make it look healthy again. This is also gorgeous under a lot of the light bases I like to wear and helps create that luminous skin look.

I also really rate the Herbivore Pink Cloud Rosewater Moisture Creme | £42. It has a lighter texture - sort of like a water-cream - so I can see myself using this even as we head into the warmer months of the year. It melts into the skin and gives it a beautifully dewy finish. If my skin is tired, dry or dull; this makes it look like I've had 8 hours of sleep and 2 litres of water to drink!

- ESSENTIAL OILS -

I use a face oil more or less every night during the winter months so I have some recommendations if you want to wake up in the morning with healthy skin that glows!

The product I've been using for a while now is the Ra Oils Eternal Radiance Face Oil* | £65 | and I've really started to see some effects. This contains almond oil, evening primrose oil, rosehip oil and other essential oils in their purest form. This is amazing for plump and hydrated skin - it's really helped smooth out those fine lines and make my complexion look fresh and healthy. I also really feel like the tone and texture of my skin has been really great since I started using this oil. It's just a great all-rounder for soft, smooth, radiant skin.

An oil-serum hybrid that I actually sometimes use during the day is the Odacite Radiance Effect Serum Concentrate (Green Tea + Lemongrass)* | £34. You can really customise how you use this - a thick application overnight, a couple of drops in your moisturiser, a thin layer as a serum and so on. Although it's an oil, it does have a slightly more gel-like consistency, which makes it daytime-appropriate for me. It really helps clarify the complexion so your skin looks perfected and radiant - it has helped stop my blemishes from scarring and turning into hyperpigmented dark spots, which is one of my major skin concerns. The plant seed extracts and essential oils are also nice and nourishing.

Which skincare products do you recommend for getting glowing skin?

Don't forget to follow me on:

Twitter | Bloglovin | Instagram

Disclosure - products marked * were gifted to me as unpaid advertisement for the brands / websites mentioned. All opinions expressed are my own. Please read my disclosure page for more information.