And these miracle-workers are having a magical effect on my complexion right now
My skin has been in need of some TLC lately and I know I’m not alone in that. These products have been coming to my rescue…
Left:Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir (£60, charlottetilbury.com) Right: Murad Environmental Shield Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum (£72, murad.co.uk)
1 Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream Moisturiser is currently the UK’s second biggest-selling face cream and I love it for a quick skin boost and refresh before make-up. But now it has a more active companion with Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir (£60, charlottetilbury.com).
The lightweight formula includes replexium to plump skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, vitamin C to even skin tone and polyglutamic acid to hydrate.
2 Vitamin C is also a key part of Murad Environmental Shield Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum (£72, murad.co.uk) to help reduce pigmentation. The potent form of stabilised vitamin C is easily absorbed and helps uneven skin tone issues, while glycolic acid sloughs away skin cells so the vitamin C can get where it needs to. I’m loving this.
3 Summer Fridays Overtime Mask (£39, selfridges.com), a newer addition to the brand, is great for congested or dull skin. With pumpkin enzyme and apricot seed powder to gently exfoliate and oat kernel protein for anti-inflammatory and moisturising, this is a fabulous twice-weekly mask that really helped my skin to get back in shape.
4 Super Facialist Rose Hydrate Brighten & Refine Facial Scrub (£8.99, superfacialist.co.uk) is gentle and creamy with a hint of a rose aroma – great for a quick exfoliating step in your routine.
Left: This Works Morning Expert CBD Booster + Vitamin C (£38, thisworks.com) Right: Oskia Nutri-Bronze Adaptive Sheer Tinted Serum (£58, spacenk.com)
5 If you’re going to go down the CBD skincare route (CBD being cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive compound derived from marijuana or hemp, believed to help with skin health and balance) then make sure the formula uses CBD isolate, which is the purest and most potent form, and is present in This Works Morning Expert CBD Booster + Vitamin C (£38, thisworks.com). Use alone or to ramp up your current skincare. There are more in this range, including an Evening Detox to slough off dead skin.
6 Oskia Nutri-Bronze Adaptive Sheer Tinted Serum (£58, spacenk.com) has quickly become one of my own classics. This is a two-in-one wonder: the serum bit contains collagen production-boosting bakuchiol and works on fine lines. Hydration comes from hyaluronic acid but it also has an adaptive bronzing tint that gives a beautiful natural glow (and it’s formulated to work across skin tones). A wonderful skin-enhancing creamy bronzer.
7 The Inkey List C-50 Blemish Night Treatment (£12.99, cultbeauty.co.uk) is a nifty little number. When a recent cluster of breakouts would not budge no matter how much I asked them to socially distance themselves, a few nights of regular application of this gel-texture mask had them wending their way. It uses a form of vitamin C to help even and brighten skin tone as the salicylic acid exfoliates and unclogs pores.
Put your hands together for these
After seriously upping my hand washing (haven’t we all), the state of the skin on my hands was rapidly deteriorating in front of my eyes – a bit like She in the Hammer movie, when Ursula Andress walks into the blue flame for the second (and very unwise) time. Despite slathering on a wealth of creams, nothing helped. Until I tried Sisley Sisleya l’Intégral Anti-age Hand Care Anti-Ageing Concentrate (£104, sisley-paris.com) and, seriously, wow! After just a couple of applications my skin was back to normal. It was such a relief. I realise this recommendation is an expensive one and I’m sorry for that, but the turnaround on my hands was astounding.
Prior to all this, I also had a touch of eczema on my hands and had taken to using Curél Intensive Moisture Facial Cream (£19.50, boots.com). Great for sensitive skin and rich in ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier. I usually have this on standby.
For a far more affordable and still trusty option there’s always the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Concentrated Hand Cream (£3.99, boots.com). A classic with a balmy texture, it’s usually very dependable.