I’ve made some quite significant changes to my skincare routine since Christmas and so I thought it might be time for an update. This wasn’t the easiest update video to film, mostly because the issue of the hero product’s price-tag was hanging over me like a spectre the entire time I was talking about it!
But I have had really quite brilliant results from this particular wonder cream and so I managed to get over my fear of being pelted by rotten eggs – or whatever the online equivalent is – over the price. I like my skincare routine updates to be genuine and accurate recordings of the products I’m using and what they seem to be doing to my skin and so it would actually be quite weird for me to not mention a high-performing product just because it’s out of the usual budgetary range…
I’m going to let you watch the video to find out what I’ve been using (strong strong retinol and less of the other types of active ingredient) but before you tune out, thinking, “I don’t want to listen to a video”, hear this: I’ve actually got proper, professional closed captions on this video. I’m trying it out to see whether people find them useful and actually turn them on – Youtube do caption their videos automatically, I think, but the transcriptions can be very hit and miss and are often woefully inaccurate.
So, if you’re in the office/feeding a baby/pretending to be on the toilet and can’t listen aloud, just set the video running with your sound off and click the little CC symbol on the bottom of the screen. That’ll bring up my painstakingly transcribed captions. (Full disclosure: paid someone else to do it, I barely have time to edit the videos let alone caption them. It takes bloody ages.)
Anyway, let me know whether it’s useful – or, should I say, more useful than the standard captioning – if you regularly make use of the subtitle functions. You can find a (spoiler alert) list of the products I’ve been using if you scroll down past the video screen, but please do take a moment to watch, because that’s where the magic happens!
I’ll be back with a full, standalone review of the Medik8 retinol product because the results warrant it and the pricing is sure to be a talking point…
My Current Skincare Routine
Morning – Cleanse, Hydrating Serum, Moisturiser
Cleanse Products I’m Using:
Skinceuticals Cream Cleanser, £31 here*: http://bit.ly/2H6Vw6L
Bioderma Micellar Water, £19.50 here*: http://tidd.ly/e9f2529
Murad Pre-Biotic Cleanser, £38 here*: http://bit.ly/3bo2hPj
Serums I’m Using:
Alpha-H Skincare Hyaluronic 8 Serum, £38 here*: http://bit.ly/2vjOJnK
La Roche-Posay Hyalu-B Serum, £38 here*: http://tidd.ly/16cfb4b1
The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid, £5.99 here*: https://amzn.to/3boRJiY
Inkey List Collagen, £8.99 here*: https://amzn.to/3boRHrm
Moisturisers I’m Using:
The Body Shop Carrot Day Cream, £14 here*: http://bit.ly/2Hje7Nb
Dr Sam Bunting Flawless Moisturiser, £25 here: https://drsambunting.com/products/flawless-moisturiser
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Fluid, £16.50 here*: http://tidd.ly/facc95e1
SPF I’m Using:
Elizabeth Arden Great 8 SPF35, RRP £36 but is currently £24 on Amazon here*: https://amzn.to/3bmfd8z
PM – Cleanse, Hydrating Serum, Moisturise
As above but no SPF and a proper balm cleanser, I’ve been using:
Emma Hardie Moringa Light Gel, £34 here*: http://tidd.ly/99e8c9bc
Pestle and Mortar Renew Gel, £38 here*: http://tidd.ly/1c6393b6
PM Treat
Every three or four nights (I’m working my way up to every other night!) I use the R-Retinoate below. Sometimes I follow with a bit of moisturiser, often I just use it alone!
Medik8 R-Retinoate Intense, £210 here: https://www.medik8.com/r-retinoate-intense.html
Medik8 also do the Crystal Retinal in different strengths, the 10 is MEGA! I used the 6 without any fallout (as in my face falling off) whatsoever and thought it was brilliant – it’s £59 here: https://www.medik8.com/crystal-retinal.html
For an incredibly strong retinol (1%!) without the humungous pricetag then do look at PaulasChoiceUK here*: http://bit.ly/2ScPYhn It’s £12 for the smallest bottle or £53 for the 30ml size and it’s really bloody potent.
With all of these, please start off slowly and with a moisturiser first if you’re being extra cautious – the moisturiser acts as a sort of buffer. I use the retinol products above straight onto clean skin, but only once every three nights. Once I want to increase the effect I will use every other night but with a hyaluronic acid serum beforehand or even a moisturiser beforehand!
I’m a sucker for skincare products, and this was super interesting, Ruth!
Like you, I’m 39 (name changed to protect identity, will deny all if ever found it) and I’m trying to up my retinol game. I’m currently using DE A-Passioni, which initially made my face fall off but it’s back now, albeit in slightly smoother condition. I’ve got a Murad and LRP Redermic lined up to try out next, but I’m starting to think I should just go all out for a prescription-strength retinoid, which you can get online these days. The Medik8 product sounds good, but, irrespective of price tag, a retinoid would be stronger and more effective. Have you thought about trying tretinoin?
Yes, but I can’t be arsed with the fallout. Life’s too short. I get great results from what I use and I’m not really prepared to have side effects!
Have been. Member of Beauty Pie since its early days. Hard to explain to others but I don’t care, for me it’s a delight. I am nearly 80 now and have been a cosmetics junky all my life. Trailing round the shops and snapping up the GWP offers is a thing of the past so this fills a gap.
Agree with you about the Japanfusion range and also love the Jeju one. My hero product is the Body Moisturiser. Absolutely divine! Slather my aged limbs with it every morning and it’s like putting on silk stockings.
Love reading your beauty blogs. Like the new format. The links so that I can purchase from my iPad are just great. Keep it up and keep a old beauty junkie happy.
I really need to try the body lotion!!
Hi ! It’s 3.30 am & still up so no beauty sleep ! Just wanted to say I am really enjoying reading all your
posts & the effort therein !
So a big Thanks & I shall give my feedback with ( I hope ) valuable info; You sound like a very together
young lady…I am 63 ! Wish I had been that diligent at your age but well done really cheered me up,going to watch video now ! X
Great skincare routine!
I’m currently into retinols at night because I find they assist with clearing blemishes and evening out skin tone. I fully agree with you about using moisturizers with these because they do go hand in hand! Thanks for sharing your faves.
I really like subtitles for when I’m working, as limited sound is a must. But, sometimes I just enjoy reading subtitles and hearing audio together, maybe that makes me weird, but oh well :)
Another Rachel here. Ditto her comment — I sometimes skip videos because I can’t have the sound on —not during work though :). So adding subtitles is great. I always use subtitles for watching tv shows on my phone even w the sound on. I may be getting old.
Great! Not the getting old part, the subtitles! xx
I’ve seen Emma Hardie products in TK Maxx and I’m tempted to give them a go.
Ooh have you?! Snap those the hell up!
Have you ever tried tretinoin? Thanks :)
No, I’m scared of the fallout!! It sounds quite intense…
I don´t really watch with captions, I tend to have my earphones in covered by my hair, but I found from my own videos that they are actually quite popular.
Anne from “Doctor Anne”
As someone who usually skips videos because I do a lot of my internetting when I should be working, the captions are brilliant, and so much better than the rubbish standard ones.
I think I’m going to try the Medik8 retinol, not the £210 one (bit pricey for me!) but the crystal one looks interesting and it’s my birthday next month so I’m going to treat myself I think.
Yes the crystal is a good compromise. x
Absolutely love good subtitles. I catch up on blogs when feeding/holding the 9 month old for him to go to sleep, so can’t have audio on.
Good to know! x