Beauty junkies all over the world spend huge amounts of money on the latest skincare products and makeup. Myself included! However, rather than just wasting money on the latest trend, knowing your stuff when it comes to products and ingredients can help you save money, as you’ll be purchasing products that suit your own skin and lifestyle. You’ll also be able to spot the skincare routine steps where it’s worth it to splash out and those where a budget alternative is just as effective.

Don’t assume a high price tag means quality

In a lot of cases, you get what you pay for, but not always. This is very true with skincare. Some of the best products in my stash come from very affordable brands. It’s the active ingredient formulations in products that really matter. As the hyped new discoveries in the beauty and cosmetics industry are made in terms of ingredients or how they are combined, it is often the luxe skincare products that incorporate them first, until they filter down into the wider beauty market. It’s at this point, they become more affordable. If you know your ingredients and how to combine them/how not to combine them, you are going to be better able to make a budget brand like The Ordinary work at its best for you. So do your research on ingredients. Know your retinol from your AHAs.Learn how to ‘build’ a skincare routine

Finding a skincare regime that works for you is an ongoing process. Your skin continues to change throughout your life as it ages. It also changes with the seasons and things like your diet and pregnancy. Knowing how to build your routine from the ground up can help you identify what’s working for you and remove any ineffective or unnecessary products. Yes I try so many products all the time and I have at least 100 in my stash at any one time. However, the foundations of my routine rarely change – those key steps and ingredients. As long as I stick to this, I can swap the actual products in and out all the time.

For example, in the mornings I like a gel cleanser, followed by an AHA toner, followed by a hydrating essence, followed by a Vitamin C serum, followed by a hydrating & firming serum, followed by an eye gel, followed by a light oil (not every day), followed by a gel moisturiser. At night, I use a balm cleanser, followed by a gel cleanser, followed by a soothing toner, followed by a Niacinamide serum, followed by a retinol, followed by an eye cream, followed by a rich oil, followed by a rich cream moisturiser. Then I do a lot of sheet masks and masks as my skin needs them. Similar to these two set routines, I also have a set routine for when my skin is irritated or my skin barrier has been compromised – it has it’s own series of steps but is always packed with honey, propolis & Ceramides. I know the ingredients now that work for my skin.

Get advice from someone who isn’t trying to sell you something

Many people, when trying to build their skincare routines or improve their skin, head to a department store’s beauty hall or brand store. While these people are trained to know more than the average person about skin and skin care, they also are there to sell you a particular brand. That is their prime job. Not to inform you, but to sell to you, and they often have targets to meet. In all likelihood, the best combination of products for you won’t come from the same brand. Instead, find research or recommendations from dermatologists and beauty journalists and bloggers, who are not tied to one particular brand and who are sharing their own genuine experiences. Use blogs and social media to learn from people’s skin experience – especially when it comes to things like diet and pregnancy.Learn how to apply skincare properly

Skincare can become more effective when it’s applied correctly. Rather than using rough, slapdash techniques to cleanse and moisturise your face, learn how to massage the skin when cleansing and how to press products into the skin rather than rubbing them on like sunscreen. Not only will you be improving the texture and appearance of your skin, but you’ll be using less product too. It’s a win-win.

Use sunscreen 

Protecting your skin in all seasons is vital for keeping it looking it’s most youthful for longer. Sun damage can cause ageing, pigmentation, dryness and wrinkles, not to mention increase your risk of skin cancer. Why give your skincare more to do? Never leave the house without protecting your skin, whatever the weather. Lots of day moisturisers contain SPF, but in the summer months, you’ll need a little more protection, so look for a suitable SPF-only for your skin type. Remember too, that if you work by a window indoors, you’ll also need to wear SPF and those rays come through the glass.

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