THE SKINCARE STARTER KIT

Today I wanted to share a post that I can't believe I've never done before! It's going to be a 'skincare starter kit' - so the products I would recommend for virtually any skin type and that cover off almost all of the bases if you're only just getting into skincare and want to invest a bit more but you're not sure where to start. I also think these are the products I'd repurchase first if (god forbid!) I ever lost all of my skincare and had to start again from scratch.


Fresh Soy Face Cleanser* | £30 (for 150ml) | This is a lovely, gentle gel-based but non-foaming cleanser that I like to use as a morning and / or second cleanse (though you can use it to remove makeup too if you want). It's very gentle, you can use it around the eye area and it leaves my skin feeling clean without stripping it of moisture. It's lovely and softening and I really think it would work for near enough any skin type. Its ingredients include rose water to hydrate and soothe, soy protein with amino acids to help with overall skin health and elasticity, and cucumber extract, again to calm the skin. 

Mario Badescu Facial Spray With Aloe Herbs And Rosewater* | £7 | I tend to find it quicker and easier in the morning to reach for a face mist over a bottle of toner and cotton wool pads. This one from Mario Badescu is an old favourite of mine! It has a nice, fine mist that isn't at all sticky on the skin. It softens, hydrates and soothes my skin nicely. If you suffer from dehydration - I really recommend adding this to your routine for instant, lasting relief.

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst-Quenching Serum* | £29 | I was considering including the Ordinary in this post, however on reflection I appreciate that their products can be pretty hard to navigate and they're single-ingredient, whereas I think as a beginner you probably want to use one product and have it do everything for you! So, if you think this is more on the expensive side: those are the reasons I included it in this post anyway. This is a really lightweight, watery serum so it absorbs into the skin really quickly without leaving it tacky - so if you are more on the oily / combination side but your skin still needs some hydration, I think this can still work. It contains Caudalie's own grape water and hyaluronic acid to inject the skin with some moisture and give you a softer, more plumped complexion. 

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre | £19.50 (75ml) | This is one of my all-time favourite moisturisers and you can pick up this large tube of it for under £20!  It's just a fantastic all-rounder; I use this as a day cream, an overnight mask and even to prime (as it creates such a lovely base for makeup). What's special about this cream for me is its light whipped texture; it's so nice and nourishing without being greasy or leaving an excess. It has a lovely softening and smoothing effect on the skin, making my complexion look fresh, healthy and radiant. It contains fatty acids and vitamins. 

Saturday Skin Wide Awake Brightening Eye Cream | £36 (for full size) | This is just a really nice eye cream that will depuff the eye area and provide some light hydration with various fruit extracts. A lot of eye creams can be a bit rich and greasy for me, but this isn't at all! I think this is a really cute brand for younger skin and skincare beginners - I got this mini in a little set similar to this, which I'd recommend checking out if you want an introduction to the brand.

Glossier Coconut Balm Dotcom | £10 | I really like a multi-purpose skin salve and this one from Glossier isn't shiny or greasy and it smells amazing (like coconut macaroons!) I use this as an everyday lip balm but it can also be used on dry patches to soften and smooth the skin.    

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser* | £15.50 | This product is a classic for a reason! It's a lightweight cream cleanser - again you can definitely use this as a morning or second cleanse but I have my own preference, which is using this one for makeup removal. You simply massage it onto the skin (including over the eyes) and then remove it (and your makeup) with a damp cloth. It's so gentle on the skin and eyes, it hydrates without being heavy and it removes makeup effectively. It's still such an affordable product too! Its ingredients include eucalyptus oil, cocoa butter and chamomile.

Pixi Glow Tonic | £18 | I absolutely love this stuff and I've converted so many people I know in real life to this product! I recommend using this toner as part of your evening routine but if you do want to use it in the morning - be sure to apply sunscreen afterwards. It's a chemical exfoliator formulated with 5% glycolic acid (an AHA) that will remove dead skin cells without the need for a harsh scrub. I'd advise starting by using this once a week and building up to once every other day over time, as it can make your skin a little sensitive if you aren't used to acids. It balances out the slightly harsher nature of the glycolic with soothing aloe and witch hazel. It smooths the skin, removing patches of dryness and over time helps to fade scarring from blemishes. It's honestly transformative!

Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Face Mask* | £22 | I'm a face mask junkie so it was hard to choose just one, however I've gone with this Antipodes product because it's a great treatment for both hydration and breakouts. It has a runny honey-like consistency and sort of melts into the skin as you leave it on (I go for a good 15-20 minutes). It softens, smooths and hydrates the skin and the antibacterial properties of honey help keep any blemishes at bay. It's just an all-rounder and something that most skin types will enjoy for a bit of TLC.

Which products would you put in your skincare starter kit?

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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.