Skincare Junkie: The Ten Commandments We Should All Follow For Good Skin

At this stage, you’re probably well aware that I could preach at you about specific products all day every day. I love lots of things for very specific reasons, but now it’s time to put together my own skincare bible for you to follow.

This will be my last Skincare Junkie for a while as I’m jetting off to the States for the summer (lucky me!), so I thought I’d leave you with my ten skincare commandments that you can live by until I’m back.

Never ever sleep with your makeup on!

Honestly, I feel like I would have to be completely incoherent to not take my makeup off at night. Whether I’m hammered, sick, or even dying, you best believe we’re going full skincare routine. There’s nothing worse for your skin than rolling around your bed in your makeup at night, not to mention it’ll destroy your pillow cases! If I ever don’t do a full routine before bed I’ll wake up with a breakout in the morning without a doubt. You know I’m right… just do it.

Makeup wipes are the devil

In my opinion, there’s nothing worse than taking your face makeup off with a wipe. They’re almost always scented and packed full of ingredients that are way too harsh on your skin. What you should be using your makeup wipes for is cleaning up any liner mistakes and wiping foundation off the back of your hand. Makeup wipes won’t even remove your makeup properly, so don’t harm your skin for no reason.

If I can’t use a cleanser around my eyes, it’s a no from me

I’ve talked about how much I love the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser, and one of the main reasons for this is that it can be used around your eyes as well as your face. I know some products are only meant for your skin, but if it’s stinging when it goes anywhere near my eyes I can’t help but wonder how strong and potentially harmful the ingredients are.

Lip care = skin care

I haven’t given much time to lip care on this column, however we can’t forget how important it is. Nobody likes dry, crusty lips, do they? Lip scrubs are a god send – I love the L’Oreal Smooth Sugar Scrubs. A good lip balm is also essential. Glossier’s Balm Dotcom is my fave and it comes in loads of yummy flavours.

Anti-ageing products aren’t just for old people

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, anti-ageing products aren’t just for when you’re getting on in life and spot a wrinkle or two. It’s great to start thinking ahead with your skincare, you won’t be young forever y’know, but anti-ageing products are great for firming and brightening the skin as well.

Know your skin type

There’s really no point in spending a bomb on expensive skin products if you don’t know what type of skin you have. What works for your dry skin won’t work for someone with oily skin and vice versa. Get to know your skin, your oily and dry parts, before you start splashing the cash or visit a dermatologist for an expert opinion.

Makeup remover and cleansers go hand and hand

Despite common misconception, your cleanser and makeup remover don’t do the same job. Removing your makeup with a cleansing balm or micellar water (because I know you’re not using wipes) just wipes the surface layer of makeup off your skin but doesn’t do any deep cleansing. Pair your makeup remover with a nice cleanser and you’re good to go.

Acids are your friend

I feel like facial acids are something people are a little afraid to try, however if you’re using them correctly they won’t have any negative impact on your skin, only good! Some necessities are salicylic acid, for drying out sore spots, lactic acid for skin brightening and glycolic acid for toning.

Treat your skin with some face masks

I’m not the biggest face mask addict, however I do enjoy a nice one every few weeks before a big night out. It’s nice to treat your skin to some extra hydration and a good face mask can help remove excess oils, improve the appearance of your pores and pull out impurities.

Great skincare means great makeup

You know what’s coming. It’s a saying I can’t swear by enough – your makeup will only ever look as good as the skin underneath. You should be spending as much time and care with your skincare routine as you would your makeup, they’re sisters, they go hand in hand. If you’re not satisfied with how your foundation is looking, get back to the basics and get to know your skin again and switch things up. Your makeup will thank you in the long run.

• skincare junkie