Issue #21 - How I re-imagined my skincare routine
... and how I'd been getting my SPF all wrong ♡
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Hello lovely people,
How are things in your corner of the world?
Overwhelm is big for me right now. I haven’t cried yet this week but trying to get my head around quotations for removals and shipping back to the UK brought me pretty close. On balance, it’s straightforward - some strong, helpful guys come armed with boxes and industrial bubble wrap and package up everything I own. Then they squeeze it all (hopefully) into a container and it gets shipped across the ocean to the UK shores and then onward to my new home. Except I don’t have a new home yet and this uncertainty means there are at least 10 different scenarios to work through - Plan A to Plan J, in case you wondered. It’s a lot AND it’s filling every corner of my head. Plus, there are no more episodes of The Traitors as my respite for a few more days which is quite the disaster. No spoilers here, but that was quite the cliffhanger at the end of Episode 3…
So I am stepping away from freight costs and All Risks Marine Insurance and packing lists and self-storage options to write about something more grounding and positive and where I have not a smidgen of overwhelm. It’s a topic where I have been through the trials and tribulations and have settled on a solution that ticks all the boxes and feels both beautiful in its simplicity and splendid in its ability to deliver, ‘How I reimagined my skincare routine’. As always, take what you like, share what you love and leave behind the rest. ♡
In the early days of ‘Oh my word, I have to re-think my whole life’ and when I was still mostly hiding away from the world, skincare seemed like a good mini-project to tackle. This was something gentle and potentially nurturing that I could explore in the privacy of my own bathroom and with low stakes should I take any wrong turns. I have always had OK skin but have largely ignored it. My aim was simple; to make sure that I was taking care of my skin properly and to give it the highest chance to look its best.
My aim was simple; to make sure that I was taking care of my skin properly and to give it the highest chance to look its best.
I did my research, identified some of the big hitters in the industry and followed their advice. There was ‘double cleansing’, much use of flannels, the purchase of serums and creams and the end result was a routine that, with the benefit of hindsight, not only ate up too much time at the start and end of each day but also gobbled up significant amounts of money.
I then stumbled upon Dr Natalia Spierings, consultant dermatologist based 50% in London and (fortuitously) 50% at a hospital very local to me in Dubai. Initially, I took Hella to see her (acne was becoming an issue and Dr Natalia cleared it up highly successfully) but then I saw her myself for some dermatitis and a touch of menopausal acne, which she handled with her trademark no-nonsense approach. You may have seen her on the TV (Skin A&E on Sky) - I haven’t watched it but I imagine that she is excellent. To be honest, I only had a couple of appointments with her but then started following her work on Instagram and that was when I saw the skincare light. She does a lot of LIVE Q&A sessions on Instagram and you might find them useful.
Keep it simple.
Use a cleanser you like that doesn’t leave your skin feeling super tight or dry afterward.
Use an SPF that you like during the day - the best SPF is the one that you will use EVERY DAY.
Use a moisturiser that is as greasy-feeling as you can stand at night.
If you have a skin condition then get a targeted treatment from a doctor.
If you like buying and using skincare products and your skin is normal with no irritation, then go ahead and add in whatever serums/toners/magic potions that you want to, but know that these products are totally unnecessary to keep your skin healthy. Keep it simple.
This felt like an approach I could get behind and from this point, I ditched the flannels, the highly marketed creams in fancy bottles and returned to basics. Here are the products that I have been using for the last 2+ years and I would anticipate that I will be loyal to them for the foreseeable future.
Cleanser - either micellar water (on cotton wool) or this oily cleanser, which I apply with my hands and then rinse off with water (it’s not the cheapest, but it is really very good and a little goes a long way).
SPF - I have lived in Dubai for the last 17 years but I have only recently realised that I have spent much of that time simply not applying enough volume of SPF to my face. A quarter to a half teaspoon is what’s recommended for your face and this turns out to be quite a lot - much more than I had been using! So in order to use the correct amount, I like a product that I can layer up without feeling like an oil slick. This SPF 50 by La Roche-Posay is light and goes on easily, giving me a slight luminous glow without being alarming. I would highly recommend it. I wish I had realised years ago that I was under-applying (AND that I was not paying attention to my neck), so please don’t make the same mistake as me.
Lips - I am obsessed by these little Vaseline pots. I have one in every bag and they last ages.
Foot moisturiser - this is not a Dr Natalia recommendation but I have been using this Body Shop Peppermint Foot Rescue for 15+ years and it is unbeatable at bringing dry, cracked heels back to life and then maintaining them. I slather my feet in this after every shower.
IF I COULD SHARE ONLY ONE SKINCARE RECOMMENDATION, IT WOULD BE THIS. ♡
Body moisturiser - I have suffered from dry, bumpy skin on my upper arms (known as Keratosis Pilaris and often referred to as “chicken skin”) for as long as I can remember and considered it to be something I just had to endure. I have discovered that a moisturiser containg 10% Urea applied daily (after showering) does a spectacular job of minimising the symptoms on my arms and maintaining smoother skin. At the moment I am using this Eucerin product which is a bit pricey. Sometimes I can find cheaper alternatives (like this one) and as long as they have 10% Urea, I am not picky about the brand. I use it on my legs as well but more out of a desire to minimise the number of products that I use.
Face moisturiser - as per Dr Natalia’s advice, I go for the most basic moisturiser with the fewest ingredients. Currently, I’m using this QV cream.
In the morning -
Cleanse face - I use this Micellar water if I’m dashing out the door, or this oily cleanser if I have a little more time.
Moisturise body after shower - I use this Eucerin cream on my arms and legs and this Body Shop cream on my feet.
SPF on my face and neck - I use this SPF every day, instead of moisturiser.
In the evening -
Cleanse face - I use this Micellar water because I’m normally removing makeup and I find it easier with cotton wool. I only wear light makeup and often nothing on my eyes, so this is adequate.
Moisturise face and neck - I use this QV cream.
Of course, my skin will be different from yours and we all have personal preferences but perhaps there will be something useful here.
Here are a few things that have made me smile this week -
I love an ‘only in Dubai’ moment - this week I was driving in very slow traffic along the main highway and I glanced into the car to my right, a big 4-wheel drive type vehicle. In it was a driver + 5 Emirati men, each one holding a falcon on his arm! I giggled at the absurdity of the scene all the way home. ♡
We are not even out of January and already Mini Eggs and Creme Eggs are in the shops. I do love the seasonality of these treats and am always happy to indulge but is it a bit early? Not complaining, just pondering + wondering how many Creme Eggs it is acceptable to eat between now and Easter!
Building on my open declaration of love for strength training, I loved this quote from @thiswomanlifts on Instagram -
Today’s skincare post has been a little different from usual. Was it helpful?
Do let me know what matters to you in 2024 and beyond and please, please share this email with anyone who might be even a tiny bit interested. ♡
I hope that there has been something useful here for you today. As always, take what you like, share what you love and leave behind the rest. ♡
Sending you all the hugs,
Note - This newsletter may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through any of my links, I may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. I recommend only products that I genuinely like. Thank you for trusting me ♡
I must admit- I'm not a skincare person and will use any old moisturiser-in fact I am bemused by my daughters' lotions and potions and what they are for! BUT that said I so agree about the neck!