Liberty Presents: The Perfect Basic Skincare Routine
Back to basics skincare is trending. But which are the skincare steps you really shouldn’t skip?
By: Team LibertyRead more
Liberty Presents: The Perfect Basic Skincare Routine
Back to basics skincare is trending. But which are the skincare steps you really shouldn’t skip?
By: Team Liberty
Acids. Masks. Mists. Essences. Balms. Lotions. As indulgent as a super laborious skincare routine can feel, sometimes your skin could do with a rest and a reset. A moment to strip it back to the most basic skincare routine, providing skin with a welcome chance to repair, rebalance and recover.
In fact, many experts will warn against overly convoluted regimes. “A simple but effective skincare routine [is all you need],” says consultant dermatologist Dr Thivi Marauthappu. “You don’t need a ten step programme, you just need products that work for your particular skin concern.”
Many of us are guilty of overloading our faces every morning, using every dead-skin-nibbling acid and brightening serum our bathroom cabinets have to offer. But layering on too many separate formulas, mixing and matching the wrong ingredients and massively varying your routine day to day can wreak havoc, disrupting the skin barrier, triggering an onslaught of breakouts, inflammation and sensitised skin.
That’s not to say you want to go completely cold turkey, and cut the skincare entirely, either. Instead, you might just need a skin cleanse – a reprise from throwing everything at your face and seeing what sticks, and instead allowing yourself the chance to figure out what really works for you.
So, what is the most basic skincare routine that’ll give your skin a chance to ‘breathe’ while still meeting its very basic needs? Below, we unpack the four simple steps that make up the ideal simple skincare routine, perfect for beginners. Because sometimes, it pays to be basic.
Step-by-Step: The Perfect Basic Skincare Routine
Step One: A Revitalising Cleanser
A skincare non-negotiable, a good cleanser removes makeup and pollution as well as dirt, grime and excess oil, plus it allows for better absorption (read: increased efficacy) of the rest of your skincare steps. “Double cleanse at night with a cleanser that suits your skin type,” says Dr Thivi, who recommends Kate Sommerville's Goat Milk Cleanser for most skin types. But should you have acne prone skin? She suggests using Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel a couple of nights a week to start with, before increasing to nightly use.
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Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare
Alpha Beta AHA/BHA Daily Cleansing Gel 225ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Skin Rocks
The Cleansing Balm 100ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Omorovicza
Cleansing Foam 150ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Augustinus Bader
The Cleansing Balm 90g
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Paula's Choice
Clear Cleanser 177ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Wildsmith
Active Repair Nourishing Cleansing Balm 100ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Step Two: Targeted Serums and Treatments
If you have a particular skin concern, fine lines, uneven skin tone or breakouts, for example, then now is the time to introduce a treatment serum that contains ingredients targeted towards your particular skin goal. You can target fine lines with Emma Lewisham Supernatural Vitale Elixir, address an uneven skin tone with Skin Rocks's The Antioxidant or if breakouts are bugging you choose something with pore-purging salicylic acid or exfoliating AHA’s such as REN's Daily Glow Tonic.
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Emma Lewisham
Supernatural Vitale Elixir 30ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Paula's Choice
Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant 118ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
NEURAÉ
Harmony the Serum 50ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Votary
Night Star Serum 30ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Augustinus Bader
The Retinol Serum 30ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Sunday Riley
A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum 50ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Step Three: Focus on Hydration
Even oily skin can get dehydrated, which is why hydration is key for preventing moisture loss and keeping your skin barrier healthy and happy, no matter your skin type or concern. Choose a moisturiser with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin as a starting point, while formulas packed with ceramides and essential fatty acids will help to strengthen the skin barrier and lock in moisture. We love Dr Dennis Gross’s Moisture Cushion and Sunday Riley’s ICE Ceramide Moisturising Cream.
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Augustinus Bader
The Rich Cream 50ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Sunday Riley
C.E.O. Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Gel Cream 50g
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Votary
Super Seed Nutrient Cream 50ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Skin Rocks
The Moisturiser 50ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
La Mer
The Rejuvenating Night Cream 30ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Trish McEvoy
Beauty Booster® Advanced Repair Retinal Night Cream 30ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Step Four: SPF and Sun Protection
Daily SPF application is at the top of every dermatologist’s to-do list. It’s the best way to protect skin from the harmful UV rays, the root cause of many concerns like premature fine lines and hyperpigmentation, not to mention skin cancer. Be smart and choose an SPF with broad spectrum protection, that shields against both UVA and UVB rays and offers SPF30 protection as a minimum. Always apply as the last layer in your skincare routine, and be sure to reapply throughout the day; every four hours is optimum. Sunscreen brand Ultra Violette’s Mattifying Skinscreen doubles up as primer, too, so won’t hinder your makeup.
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Ultra Violette
Supreme Screen SPF 50+ Hydrating SKINSCREEN™ 50ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
MZ Skin
Expert UV Protector SPF 50 60ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Kiehl's
Ultra Light Daily Defense SPF 50 Lotion 60ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Dr. Barbara Sturm
Sun Drops SPF 50 30ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Sisley Paris
Facial Sun Care SPF 50 40ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100
Dermalogica
Prisma Protect SPF30 50ml
Free UK Standard delivery within 5 working days on all orders over £100