Morning Skincare Routine

A year ago my skincare routine pretty much consisted of face wipes and shower gel! I had no idea about cleansers and toners and I moisturised when I felt like, which wasn't all that often. I rarely had the time or the energy to take my makeup off before bed and I never really thought about the damage I was causing to my skin. As a young woman in her 20s, with relatively clear skin, I believed skincare was simply something I would need to invest in later on in life and it wasn't until my skin got really congested and spot prone that I decided a change was needed.  

Fast forward a year and I am in a completely different position and way of thinking. After fussing around with far too many steps in my routine, I've simplified it down to just a handful of quick and easy to use products.  I like to use gentle, mild products on my skin first thing in the morning and I find the Clinique Liquid Facial Soap in extra mild is perfect for this. It doesn't leave my skin dry or tight and I particularly love that its fragrance free and comes with a handy pump dispense. I don't like to overload my skin with too many products so I simply use a toner to remove any remaining impurities and prep my skin ready for serum and moisturiser. I currently use the Tonique Douceur by Lancôme which is a soft, alcohol free toner which is both gentle on my skin and hydrating.

At the moment I am LOVING Lancôme skincare after receiving some generous samples from the Debenhams Beauty Gala. They are now on their last legs and I will be visiting my nearest counter to have a snoop around and check out what else they have to offer. The Advanced Génifique Youth Activate Concentrate is Lancôme's No.1 selling serum and after testing for a few weeks I can see why. This serum has improved the texture of my skin and the appearance and I definitely notice a glow to my complexion after using this. The texture of the serum is so silky and a little goes a long way with this tiny 7ml bottle lasting me just over a month. I then use the Hydra Zen NeuroCalm Day Cream with SPF 15 which is perfect during summer as I don't actually use or own any SPF products so to have this built into my moisturiser is a bonus. This is quite a thick cream to touch however it absorbs effortlessly into the skin leaving a dewy, refreshed and hydrated complexion. I find this evens out my skin-tone and leaves me with a radiant, glowing complexion. 

If my skin is having one of those days where its just feeling a bit dehydrated and stressed I'll use a quick spritz of the Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray to replenish my skin's moisture level and restore balance. I don't tend to use this on a daily basis but its nice for when I need a quick refresh in the morning before applying my make up or even throughout the day when my skin feels thirsty or irritated. Eye cream is a product I have only recently started using in the last few months and after trying several different creams from high end brands this Vitamin E Gentle Eye Cream from Boots is the BEST I have found by miles! 

Lastly, I like to apply a lip balm before I do my make up to give it time to set in and really work its magic. The Dr. PAWPAW* balms are perfect for this as they repair and moisturise my lips leaving them super soft and chap free. I carry one of these around with me at all times as it's a multi-purpose balm which can be used for pretty much everything. The natural ingredients used contain healing qualities making this the perfect all-rounder that I couldn't live without. 

Whats in your morning skincare routine? 

*PR Sample