Beauty Report: creating a bespoke skincare routine

There is something deliciously indulgent about wearing all your skincare products at once and using products in conjunction with one another to create a bespoke skincare routine is the most efficient way to keep skin in fine fettle.

Gone are the days of throwing a spot of Pond’s at your unloved visage, following up with a harsh alcohol toner, slapping on an emollient cream and going about your business. The volume of skincare on the market is unprecedented .

Yet layering skincare can seem rather baffling. Knowing which order to layer products on for maximum efficacy isn’t immediately obvious.

Identifying which products will sit on the skin happily with others can also be an issue. The “balling” effect – where the product forms little balls on your fingers as you massage it into the face – is vastly irritating. Researching and choosing your skincare, not to mention spending significant amounts of money on a collection of products, only to have them literally crumble on your face, is incredibly frustrating.

Balling is essentially caused by excess silicone in the combination of products you are using. There are lots of simple ways to prevent this from happening, but layering products in the correct order is key.

Despite its historical status, moisturiser is the least potent and effective skincare product and should be applied last. It’s essentially like a raincoat for the face, trapping serums and oils beneath its barrier to improve their efficacy as you sleep. You can spend a lot or a little on moisturiser, depending on your preference, but don’t rely on it to do too much work.

First, cleanse thoroughly to remove all traces of foundation and eye make-up before bed. Traces of makeup on the face will prevent proper absorption of your skincare. Omorovicza's Thermal Cleansing Balm (€58) is a great soothing treatment cleanser for congestion or redness. Follow with an exfoliating toner like Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Brightening Toner (€31) to optimally prepare skin for the next and most effective step – serum.

Serums are designed to solve skin issues, and are always the most potent product in any skincare regime. An all-rounder such as NUDE’s Advanced Renewal Serum (€82) is always a good option, though if you have a particular issue, such as dark spots or rosacea, a treatment serum targeted at that issue is most effective. NUDE don’t include silicone in any of their products, so sticking to products without this ingredient will eliminate the effect of balling altogether.

Follow with a good quality oil designed for your skin type. Clarins Blue Orchid Oil (€39.50) is a rich, nourishing option for protecting drier skin, particularly at this time of year. It acts to seal in the skincare you’ve already applied and despite what you’ve heard, oil is great for all skin types, even oily!

[ @loorakennedy ]