My Simple 3 Step Self Care Skincare Routine

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Obviously things are pretty uncertain and quite anxiety inducing at the moment so I feel like it's extra important to practice a little self-care. Whatever you do to relax or ground yourself, now is the time to do it.
You've probably guessed that I find a lot of comfort in the ritual of caring for my skin and just the simple acts of cleansing, masking and treating rarely fail to make me feel human.
In my opinion, whether you choose to use your hands, a flannel or a facial cleansing brush, quite literally washing the day away can make a world of difference. Follow that with your favourite mask and top things off with a treatment and/or moisturiser and, if you're anything like me, you'll feel at least a little bit like you've got it together.
Here are a few of my current favourite products to cleanse, mask and treat, which is my simple, fuss-free way of practising some self-care in these uncertain times.

Cleanse

I like to have a couple of cleansers on the go at the same time. Of course, you can get by with just one, but hear me out! I usually have a balm cleanser, a milky cleanser and a gel cleanser to switch between, depending on what I think my skin needs at the time. Balms, or oil cleansers are perfect for removing make up but they also offer the best formula to give yourself a bit of a facial massage, because of the ‘slip’, so they’re perfect when you want to take your time and really show your skin some love. I find washing my face incredibly relaxing and therapeutic. Especially when I take my time and use a lovely balm, really working it into my skin, before removing with a warm damp flannel. A few of my favourite balm/ oil cleansers at the moment – REN Perfect Canvas Jelly Cleanser, Elemis Pro Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm and Your Good Skin Comforting Gel Cleanser. For a deep clean and exfoliation in one, I'm quite partial to a facial cleansing brush - Panasonic do a good one.

Mask
Masking is an extra step that I usually only do when I'm needing a little extra comfort, or if I have a particular skin concern. I like a clay mask when I'm a bit congested around my chin or sides of my nose (usually due to hormones) but in general, an exfoliator/ exfoliating mask is my go-to followed by a hydrating mask to soothe my skin after the exfoliating or deep cleansing of whatever mask I've used first. There are plenty of cheap and cheerful clay masks about which generally do a fine job but I like the REN Clarimatte Invisible Pores Detox Mask. If I'm going down the exfoliating route, my current fave is the ARK Triple Action Exfoliator. I follow this up with the ARK Hydration Masque and the result is bouncy, happy, glowing skin that feels and looks like it’s just had a big drink of water. I’ve written about both ARK products here.


Treat
I use retinol products on and off but when I'm doing the self care three step, I'll skip it that night and opt for something nourishing and pampering. I basically give my skin what I feel it would benefit from, which is usually something rich and luxurious-feeling. I think the most glorious cream I've put on my face lately is the Sisley Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream (just a small sample unfortunately that's now gone) but I love the La Mer Renewal Oil, Aurelia Cell Repair Night Oil (the most amazing scent) or May Lindstrom's Blue Cocoon.I realise these are all high end products but I’m just being honest – I like a lot of budget products too but these are my most recent favourites. If my skin is feeling irritated at all, I've been enjoying the Your Good Skin Cica Repair Sleep Paste, which you layer onto the skin and leave it to do its thing while you snooze.

Do you find comfort in taking care of your skin? I think there's a lot to be said for keeping up with routines during strange times - even if that routine happens to be a skincare routine.

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