FOOLPROOF WELL-AGEING

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The world of well-ageing skincare can be a confusing place, especially with the amount of products on the market making unrealistic claims and touting poorly-researched patented ingredients. Today we're talking through the essential building blocks of this type of routine featuring brands that make beneficial ingredients and formulas easier to navigate!

Cleansers are the basics of your routine, but you want basics that work. I personally recommend having an oil-based cleanser that emulsifies with water and a gel cleanser if you're oily or a cream or lotion if you're dry. The oil-based cleanser I've chosen is the Trinny London Be Your Best Enzyme Balm Cleanser* | £32 | full brand review. This is a functional, travel-friendly cleansing balm in pump packaging. It comes out almost like a gel, but it melts down into an oil as you massage it onto dry skin and lifts up all any makeup and sunscreen. You can then emulsify this with water so it turns into a milk and can be removed with a damp cloth. It also smells great; I've chosen fragrance-free products on the whole for this post, but even if you're not a fan of it in leave-on products, most people can enjoy it in a cleanser. You can then go in with your second cleanse (which can also be used in the morning); I've chosen the Skingredients PreProbiotic Cleanse* | £26 | full brand review. This is a non-foaming creamy cleanser with prebiotics and probiotics to help keep the skin barrier strong and healthy and PHAs to very gentle hydrate and exfoliate. As our skin gets older, it can feel drier and skin cell turnover can slow down so something nourishing and non-stripping is ideal and the exfoliating benefit speeds up skin cell turnover.

As I mentioned, skin cell turnover slows down as we age, so I recommend using a leave-on exfoliant around 3 times a week to help keep your skin smooth and radiant. Trinny London do some really great formulas, all of which I reviewed here. Which one you choose really depends on your skin type and concerns but there's a perfect fit in here for everyone (which is why I love this line). If you're sensitive and don't want to overdo things then go for the Tiptoe In PHA Exfoliant* | £34 | because PHAs are really the gentlest and most hydrating chemical exfoliant on the market and this also contains moisturising ingredients and lactic acid in a lower concentration, and this is also a gentler acid. The Reveal Yourself AHA Exfoliant* | £38 | is for experienced acid users who need the punchiness. It has a stronger concentration of lactic acid counterbalanced with hydrating and soothing ingredients, so it's still not a harsh product at all. Then, if you're spot-prone, the Find Your Balance BHA Exfoliant* | £36 | is for you! This is formulated with salicylic acid, which is oil-soluble so is able to get right into your pores and clear out spot-causing debris. There's also mandelic acid in here, an AHA that's gentle and also great at treating hyperpigmentation left behind after breakouts. It's not harsh, it's not dry and it works!

Retinoids (Vitamin A derivatives) are the gold standard in well-ageing and Skin Rocks currently have two strengths depending on how experienced you are with retinoids and I reviewed them in depth here. They're amazing because they can boost collagen production, helping to keep the skin firm and plump, they can help with sun damage and discolouration / scarring and they increase skin cell turnover so your complexion stays softer, smoother and clearer. They're not only preventative but can help with existing fine lines, which is what makes retinoids unique. Just note you can't use retinoids whilst pregnant or breast-feeding.

Retinoids can have some side-effects if you haven't used them before, or if you're moving up to a stronger formula; namely, a little dryness and irritation (potentially a breakout here or there for some people). Whilst these shouldn't bother you for more than a few weeks, it's always a good idea to combine your retinoids with nourishing ingredients that also help keep your skin barrier healthy. Skin Rocks helps take out some of the guesswork by formulating their retinoids with lots of these ingredients already. Retinoid 1* | £65 | is your entry-level formula, with a gentle but effective 0.2% HPR (an innovative form of retinoid). Retinoid 2* | £75 | is for those with a little more experience, formulated with 0.5% HPR and 0.05% retinal, which is one step up from the more famous retinol. I love how much education and information was put out with these formulas and how straightforward it is to find the right retinoid for you. The formulas are gentle and well-rounded so you can just use them as a serum in a straightforward skincare routine.

Antioxidants are the preventative element of your well-ageing routine, protecting your skin from free radicals, which can cause premature ageing in the skin. They also work synergistically with your sunscreen to boost the efficacy of both steps, meaning an antioxidant should be an AM routine staple. I love dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting's skincare line; it's simple, easy to navigate and focuses on proven actives. The Flawless Brightly Serum* | £44 | is the AM serum from this line and it's a gentle multi-active that you can use alongside your sunscreen to cover off all your skincare needs if you don't have the time, patience or knowledge for numerous steps in your routine. This light-but-creamy serum contains four ingredients with antioxidant benefits, but they do so much more than just protect your skin! The Vitamin C derivative in here has the added benefit of helping to treat discolouration, bakuchiol might have some retinoid-esque benefits (whilst being gentler, pregnancy-safe and suitable for daytime use), azelaic acid can help treat discolouration but also redness and rosacea and niacinamide additionally boosts up ceramide production in the skin (a component of the skin barrier our skin produces less of as we age) and prevents the spread of discolouration in the skin. It's just a brilliant, irritation-free all-rounder to keep your skin glowing and protected.

Lastly, we obviously need to talk some basics that will do the background work for you every single day. Sunscreen is obviously the most important step in a well-ageing routine because the sun is what causes accelerated skin ageing. Plus, with all these actives in your routine, your skin can get a little more sun-sensitive. Either way; it's never too late to start protecting your skin from harmful UV rays and I personally apply sunscreen every day, other than perhaps if I'm not leaving the house and it's the depths of winter! Some people say mineral sunscreens are best for well-ageing, as they can be a little less irritating; personally, I think you should go with whatever you can use daily and apply enough of. However, if you want to try a mineral formula then a great, lightweight option that also acts as a moisturiser is the Skingredients Skin Shield Moisturising and Priming SPF 50 PA+++* | £51 | full brand review. This doesn't pill, it isn't thick or heavy and it doesn't leave a noticeable cast on my skin. I also love the moisturising base and the lotion texture of this product. It's a great everyday option and also works really well under makeup.

I also have a non-sunscreen moisturiser that can be used overnight for most skin types. The Trinny London Energise Me Moisturiser* | £42 | full brand review | has that little bit of richness and nourishment but isn't too thick or healthy. It's gentle, it's going to help with discolouration and ceramide production without you having to apply a separate moisturiser and serum step. Perfect for busy evenings and people who just don't have time for an extensive routine. 

Let me know - have you tried any of these brands or products? 

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Read more posts from this series here!