We’re going back to basics and getting old-school today, and next week you’ll find out exactly why. Today, I just wanted to get cosy and chat about summer skincare, because it’s one of the very few pillars that’s keeping me feel almost focused during lockdown.
Having a great skincare routine is something that’s been ingrained in me since I was 14. I remember Mum coming home from a shopping session with a friend, a bundle of Lancôme LCM skincare in a prestigious paper bag. That was my first foray into skincare, a three-step routine that I religiously kept to. Over the years, I moved into seven-step skincare, learned about the ingredients my skin liked, the formulas that were kind to my skin. And here we are today, over two years in to committing to cruelty-free, vegan products. Throughout the winter months, I was devoted to my beloved Dermalogica routine. The cleanser, exfoliator and SPF were mainstays every single day for my Normal to Dry skin. I found them perfect for my busier lifestyle commuting to London and back, sweating at the gym, and generally surviving everyday stresses in my late twenties, and these are still in my rotation.
In the summer, however, I tend to change up my skincare routine in favour of lighter formulas to suit a different lifestyle. I don’t wear much makeup in the warmer months — and I’m not wearing any in lockdown! — so my cleanser is gentler, I layer on more serums or masks, and I always make sure there’s SPF in the kit. Without further ado, let me take you on a whistle-stop tour of what I’m reaching for each evening…
Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Clearing and Nourishing Hot Cloth Cleanser
If you’ve read Daisybutter since its earliest days — I’m talking when ya girl was still at Uni! — then you’ll know I’m a practically life-long fan of Boots’ Tea Tree & Witch Hazel collection. I recently picked up their Hot Cloth Cleanser, as the one I use was out of stock, and it is bliss. It’s similar to the Liz Earle one, but as a fraction of the cost, and with refreshing and antibacterial tea tree oil. I’m a big fan!
Buy now.
Dear Klairs Gentle Black Sugar Facial Polish
I’ve spoken about this exfoliator time and time again, so I won’t bore you again, but this polish leaves my skin baby soft and with the most wonderful lit-from-within glow. I’ve no qualms with going makeup free, even on important Zoom meetings, thanks to this handy scrub. Whilst I’ve really missed all of my favourite K-beauty and East Asian beauty brands since going vegan and cruelty-free, this exception ticks all of the boxes.
Buy now.
Glossier Solution
A Marmite product in the beautysphere, Glossier’s Solution receives a bit of a bad rep. And I get it. When I first picked it up, I recall being horrified at how much it stung my skin. Surely this wasn’t normal? But a few uses in, and I could see a palpable change in the texture and clarity of my skin. It creates that milky, clear, ‘glass skin’ effect for me, and I always look forward to pampering my skin with this for a full detox.
Buy now.
Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque
Another years-long faithful product, this masque has been in my routine ever since I started working in London. I find it’s brilliant at clearing my pores and making my skin feel like it can fully breathe again. Now that I’m home all the time, I use it less frequently — about once a fortnight — but it’s still a joy to use throughout summer.
Buy now.
Pixi Milky Tonic
The Pixi Glow Tonic has attained high prestige in the beauty blogging community, and for good reason. It does what it says on the tin. As a previous fan of formulae like the Kiehl’s Washable Milk Cleanser, I wanted to break loose a little and try the Milky Tonic instead. I really like it so far; it’s softening, soothing and my skin feels lovely and extra clean after swiping it over my face. I’m using it every evening at the moment, and going to bed feeling like the most nourished, pampered baby!
Buy now.
Girl Undiscovered Stars Aligning Face Elixir Oil
I’m on my second (maybe third?) bottle of this gorgeous Face Elixir Oil from Girl Undiscovered now, and I couldn’t praise it my highly. Made from all-natural ingredients, this oil pumps skin with hydration and seals it in too. I find it sinks in fairly quickly, meaning that I can quite happily pop my glasses back on soon after to get on with my evening reading session. Although fairly expensive, I’d say it’s 100% worth the price tag.
Buy now.
Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream
And now for the pièce de résistance… I caved and splurged on some Drunk Elephant. After plenty of careful research on Cult Beauty, I decided to opt for this velvety cream in a bid to undo or aid some of the damage caused to my skin from not even bothering to do my skincare routine. Made with soybean folic acid ferment extract and pygmy waterlily stem cell extract, the cream is a treatment that repairs areas of damage, restores skin, and reveals a more radiant look. So far, my skin is already feeling smoother and looks brighter, and it is a true joy to apply before bed.
Buy now.
What are some of your vegan skincare mainstays?
