Chic Mummy: My skin care routine

Skin care is one of the most important parts of self care, in my opinion, and my skin care routine reflects that. As well as the immediate benefits, a small investment in time now will pay off great dividends in the future. I keep my skincare routine relatively quick and simple. I don't use a lot of products, but I've picked products that will give me the biggest bang for my buck.

I'm starting with the night routine because this is the most important time for you skin. Your skin goes though it's regeneration process overnight, so this is when you should be focusing the majority of your time and money. I usually double clean at night, the first to remove my makeup, and the second to cleanse my skin . Firstly I use Shu Uemera's Anti Ox Cleansing Oil, which is fantastic at removing every last trace of makeup without stripping your skin. I then cleanse with a very gentle gel cleanser, Grown Alchemist Facial Cleanser, in conjunction with my Clarisonic. I pat dry gently, then apply Chanel La Nuit Cream, followed by a few drops of Rosehip Plus Oil, and Clinique's Repairwear Laser Focus Eye Cream. Three nights a week I use Skinceuticals 1% retinol about half an hour after I've put on the rest of the routine.

The most important thing in any morning routine is protection. Your skin needs to be protected from the sun's damaging rays (all year round) and from free radicals. I give my skin a light clean in the morning, currently with Chanel Eau Douceur cleansing water on a cotton pad. This is more to freshen up my face, rather than any deep clean, since I have my face a double cleanse the night before. Next on is Ultraceuticals Ultra C10 serum, a powerful antioxidant to help prevent free radical damage, followed by Chanel Le Jour serum, which contains salicylic acid, a gentle daily exfoliant. Lastly, I gently pat on Clarins White Plus Brightening Emulsion (SPF 20). Over the winter months, this is enough SPF for me, since my makeup is at least SPF 20 as well, but come spring and summer, I will also use a separate SPF 50 sunscreen, currently La Roche Posay Anthelios XL.

Twice a week I will give myself a mini facial by using the gentle Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Scrub after cleansing, and adding in an overnight hydrating mask (Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask) after the rest of my night routine. On the weekends, I swap out all of my skincare (except for eye cream and sun protection) for Chanel Le Weekend, which is like a Glycolic acid mini peel that you use morning and night on two consecutive days.

Now that I've written it all down, it seems like a lot! It actually is a super quick routine that I have down pat and both day and night routines take only a few minutes each.