The most common question I get asked as a Make-Up Artist and Beauty Editor is ‘what products do you use?’ This question seems strange to a certain extent as a skin care and make-up regimen is so unique to a woman’s personal skin type and style, that the products that someone else uses may not suit you. However, I do also understand the logic in this question. With the overwhelming beauty industry out there, people want a sense of security that if they follow exact suit in what I am doing, that they will somehow be on the right track.
So it is with that thought that I am going to offer you my idea of your basic skin care and make-up needs. This will not only include the products that I have personally tried, tested and loved, but also those which I recommend for various skin types.
I personally have extremely dry skin, partly hereditary, and partly due to the fact that I used to suffer from Acne, and subsequently dried my skin out in a bid to stop break outs. Due to the age old tradition that we always want what we can’t have, therefore, I am on the constant search for products that are going to give me that lovely dewy look to hide my dry skin.
As the list is fairly long, I am going to break it down into two weeks. This week is Skin Care.
Step 1 of your basic routine is Cleansing.
This should be done morning and night and my personal favourite for all skin types is Cetaphill Cleanser. This product not only removes make-up and dirt, but also lathers slightly to give that lovely clean feeling. You can use it with or without water, and is fantastic for sensitive skin. Cetaphill is available widely from pharmacies for $11.95 for 500ml. Some follow this step with a Toner, however, personally I don’t believe that toners do enough for the skin to justify this extra step.
Step 2 is Moisturizing.
Anti-Aging, Hydrating, Oil Control, Collagen Boost, Lifting and Firming. These are all claims of moisturizers on the market aimed at different age group and skin types, however, my personal view is that only one of these is necessary. Hydration. This is the key to nearly all our skin concerns, and is also a key in the fight against aging skin. Dry or Oily, skin needs hydration, all that varies is the level of moisture. I love the idea of natural products for a moisturizer. I find that they smell and feel luxurious and tend to cost less than scientific based products as they are cheaper to make. In my experience, the companies that offer some of the best natural products are Australian owned Jurlique and Aesop. All of their products are very reasonably priced and smell amazing. I am currently using Jurlique Day Care Face Cream, retailing for $82.
As I stated earlier, I have extremely dry skin, so I also find that under my moisturizer I need a face oil to boost hydration. This is only necessary for dry skin, and my favourite is Fabulous Face oil by Aesop for $49.
Step 3 is Sunscreen.
This is by far the most important step of all. Summer AND winter, a sunscreen needs to be worn, and personally I believe in our harsh climate it should be SPF 30+. Most women’s main concern is aging; little do they know however, that only 20% of aging is chronological. This leaves 80% to the environment! This is astounding yet fantastic news. This means that we have control over 80% of our skins potential aging. Research has shown that the number one cause of skins aging is the sun, especially in our climate in Australia. This is why sunscreen is imperative. I love Megan Gale’s invisible zinc SPF 30+ for every day over my moisturizer, under make-up. This product protects us from UVA and UVB rays, which is important, yet lacking in may products on the market. It is available at David Jones and selected pharmacies for $28 and has lasted me well over 6 months. It does however leave the skin fairly white. So if you don’t wear any make-up over the top, I would suggest Sun Sense Matt formula SPF 30+. This is around $8 in pharmacies and the cream is a skin tone colour, so you don’t look like a ghost after applying it.
Finally Step 4 is Exfoliating.
Depending on the texture of your skin, this should be done 1-3 times a week. Exfoliating is simply a gentle scrub designed to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin to promote a silky feel, even tone and clarity in the skin. If you are prone to break outs, it will also help unclog your pores. I personally love this step, as it is one step that you’ll really notice an immediate different in the feel of the skin. I also love it because it is one of the cheapest steps possible. All that is required is your cleanser, water, and some Home Brand Table Salt and I bought some the other day for 91 cents! All you need to do is to make a little mixture in the palm of your hand with the cleanser and salt. Rub it on your face gently in a circular motion for about 1 – 2 minutes, and then rinse with water. So easy, yet so effective.
This is my basic skin care routine which I stick to religiously (even on those late nights when all you want to do is go to bed with your make-up still on. DON’T!). Next week I will cover Make-up and ill show you once again that you don’t need to go into debt to get that celebrity, glowing skin. Just be diligent and you’ll see results.
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