My skincare routine

Looking after my skin has been a recent interest of mine. I know right, I'm 24 and only started regularly using moisturiser about a year and a half ago! My mum has always been great at skincare so she introduced me to an Australian brand called Aēsop. She knew I couldn't handle a complicated skin regimen so initially bought me two items - the Parsley Seed serum and face wash and told me to use them everyday. After using it for a few weeks, I noticed a massive difference in my skin! My skin wasn't dry anymore and I looked less tired. I continued using these two products and have slowly added to my routine.

My current skincare products:

In Two Minds Facial Cleanser:

I use this twice a day, in the morning after my shower and again in the evening before bed. I use warm water and cleanse my face for a minute and pat dry. The 'In Two Minds' collection is targeted at those with combination skin. It is a very gentle cleanser despite having Salicylic Acid. Back in my young teenage days, I remember buying cleansing products with this specific ingredient but it always dried my skin out. With this product however, it does not. It leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed, always!

Price: £23/35 (100ml/200ml)

Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Serum

I swear by this serum! I use this in the morning and evening. It is helps instantly if you have dry skin so I noticed the difference very quickly. This serum is targeted to all skin types and it is so lightweight and easily absorbed into your skin. I've tried other serums before that stay sticky on your face which I honestly really don't like (The Ordinary's 'buffet' serum comes to mind!). It gives my skin a boost and leaves it feeling rejuvenated and fresh - I believe this is what really helps my skin look less tired. It gives me a dewy look afterwards which I like. I will say though, this may not be right for you if you live in warmer and more humid climates. When I go to HK I tend to skip this and move straight onto the moisturiser.

Price: £55 (100ml)

In Two Minds Facial Hydrator

I use this moisturiser after the serum (so twice a day). I usually apply it straight afterwards because the serum absorbs so quickly. It is perfect for locking in moisture and it works well in combination with the serum. Again, it is light and easily absorbed and leaves a dewy look. I use one pump and it is enough to moisturise my face and neck so like the other products, a little goes a long way. What I really enjoy about it is that it works well on both the drier and oilier parts of my face and somehow my skin is evenly moisturised.

Price: £40 (60ml)

Purifying Facial Exfoliant Paste

I use this exfoliator once a week (sometimes twice depending on whether I've worn much makeup during the week). It's great at getting rid of old dead skin cells and leaving my face more evenly toned. It is not a harsh exfoliator as it uses finely ground quartz for a careful deep clean. I remember using St. Ives Apricot scrum with those beads as a young teen and wondering why my skin became so dry and rough afterwards. As you can see, the quartz are very fine and dissolve after a minute of exfoliating.

Price: £25 (100ml)

So that's my current skincare routine. I don't use a toner because I don't feel the need to. My skin feels very even and clean after the cleansing products. I have tried other products in the past, from Clinique to Neutrogena and more recently The Ordinary but none seemed to work well for me. I recently tried out a few products from The Ordinary for 3 weeks and have decided to only keep using the Squalene Cleanser, but only as a makeup remover. I did not like the smell or texture of their serums.

I really enjoy the smell, texture and applicability of Aēsop's products. I feel like I'm at a spa whenever I do my skin and that's just such a great feeling! Money wise, I think it's worth spending that amount of money as you won't be able to get anything else cheaper I believe. These products last me around 2-3 months so I personally think it's worth the price. Moreover, their customer service is great and if you have problems with your order, they send out a new one via next day delivery. I'm interested to see if there are any Aēsop users out there who have recommendations for other skincare brands and products - let me know in the comments if so!

So after doing my skin in the morning, I like spraying a bit of fragrance to complete my self-love skin care routine. I've been really enjoying Pure Grace by Philosophy which I received as a Christmas present, as it smells so fresh and clean - a perfect combination! If I'm heading out (to go for food shopping because it's lockdown) then I spray on my trusty Chloé Nomade which has been my go-to perfume for a few years now.

That's all for now!

Stay home, safe and well :) Denise