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A beauty editor’s four-step morning skincare routine
This hardworking combination tackles dehydration, redness and dullness without requiring an elaborate multi-step routine.
As soon as people find out that testing beauty products is part of my day job, the conversation invariably turns to one of three topics: mascara recommendations, whether LED masks are worth the investment, and if my skincare routine consists of 15 carefully curated steps. And they’re always surprised when I tell them that, actually, it’s the opposite
After spending years testing, writing and reviewing hundreds of cleansers, serums, moisturisers and sunscreens, I’ve learned that more isn’t always better. As tempting as it is to throw everything at my skin (and the urge to try something new every day is so real), my skin responds better to simplicity and consistency. My complexion is prone to redness, I still get breakouts at the grand age of 36, and my skin can get quite dehydrated, which is why I tend to gravitate towards products – and ingredients – that work hard and play nicely together.
So, while what I use does change more than the average person, I always make sure I finish something up before introducing something new, and these are the four products I’m currently reaching for each morning
The newest addition to my routine is Medik8’s Total Moisture Cleansing Gel, and while I don’t always bother with a proper morning cleanse (sometimes a quick swipe of micellar water is enough), this is making me want to use it multiple times a day. My cleanser is always gel-based, and I love how this creates a soft, gentle lather that gets rid of any remnants of overnight skincare, while leaving my face feeling comfortable and hydrated.
Packed with hydrating ingredients like fermented rice extract and glycerin, it also uses the brand’s ‘Smart Surfactant System’, which helps to thoroughly cleanse while supporting the skin barrier, leaving skin prepped for the next steps in my routine.
I’ve lost count of how many bottles of this I’ve been through over the years, and it’s well-loved among my fellow beauty editors. I mist it over my face immediately after cleansing – while my skin is still slightly damp – and it gives me an instant hit of hydration, while helping everything I apply afterwards absorb better
It’s especially great for mornings when my skin feels a little tight or dehydrated – or during a heatwave when I’ve had my fan pointed at me all night. Because it’s so lightweight, it never leaves a sticky residue behind, and the mist itself is super fine and dispenses evenly across my face, which is reason enough to love it
This is a serum I’ve loved and recommended for years, but it’s one I haven’t had as part of my routine for a while. Coming back to it recently has reminded me exactly why it was such a staple in the first place
It’s formulated with azelaic acid, which is an ingredient I’ve championed for years because it really does make a big difference in terms of helping to keep post-breakout marks, uneven tone and general redness in check. But that’s not all – this serum also combines antioxidant protection alongside barrier-supporting ingredients, so it ticks multiple boxes in one step, saving me from having to layer multiple products each morning.
I love how lightweight and hydrating it is, plus it sits well underneath sunscreen and make-up, which makes it the kind of hardworking, fuss-free product that I appreciate more than ever these days.
There’s one category where I’m incapable of sticking to just one product: sunscreen. I always have a few on rotation, mostly because there are so many good ones these days (including a new discovery in the form of Charlotte Tilbury’s Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer SPF50, £42), but the one I’ve been reaching for the most is iUnik’s Beta-Glucan Barrier Sunscreen, £16
The beta-glucan-infused formula feels genuinely hydrating. It disappears into my skin within seconds, and it leaves a healthy glow behind without tipping into greasy territory. I love how it layers with make-up, which is a non-negotiable for me. There’s no pilling, no white cast and no traditional ‘heavy’ sunscreen feeling. And it never stings my eyes, either.
Images: Lucy Partington; courtesy of brands
