I know, I know, you’ve heard it all before. I would forgive you for reading the title of this post and being tempted to tune out before you even started reading. Because let’s be real, there are way too many bloggers and influencers out there, claiming that XYZ product has changed their life. And of course #spon #ad has absolutely ‘nothing’ to do with their sudden enthusiasm for some obscure $47 soap you’ve never heard of. Yeah, right.
But please humour me and set aside your millennial cynicism for just one moment, because the products on this list have genuinely changed my life and transformed my skin for the better.
I’ll be the first to admit that badass skincare isn’t going to cure world hunger or solve the housing crisis, but you don’t have to be a genius to understand that the condition of our skin is closely linked to our confidence and mental health.
I’ll be the first to admit that badass skincare isn’t going to cure world hunger or solve the housing crisis, but you don’t have to be a genius to understand that the condition of our skin is closely linked to our confidence and mental health. In fact, studies have even found that people with skin problems are more likely to experience psychological distress, social anxiety and even depression.
Simply put, when we look our best, we feel our best and while we can’t expect to have perfect skin 24/7 because we are mere humans, we can look after our skin the best we can and give it what it needs. Here are four of my old faithfuls.
Moving to London about 5 months ago, I had no idea how much of an impact environmental factors and pollution would have on my skin. Coming from clean, green New Zealand, my skin had never experienced the level of air pollution that exists in London and I soon started to see the impacts. For the first time in years I had proper acne and I started to feel uncomfortable without makeup on. I had seen Glossier Solution (a chemical exfoliant) all over Instagram, so decided to give it a go since I was kind of desperate. And boy, am I glad I did! After just a few days my skin felt softer and my pores visibly smaller. Acne would only last a day or so before drying up and scarring was decreased. I couldn’t recommend Solution enough and after a few months of hard slog, I am finally starting to get my old skin back.
2. Rosehip Oil
For years I avoided putting oils on my face, assuming that it would make my skin even oilier. But after a conversation with a friend who is also a beauty editor, I decided to give rosehip oil a try and started adding it into my nightly routine. I ditched my expensive night creams and instead started using a small amount of the oil on my face before bed. If you’re not familiar, rosehip oil is derived from the seeds of wild rosehips and has been used for thousands of years to care for skin. Rosehip oil is rich in omega 3, omega 6 and fatty acids, which assists with cell renewal and reduces the impacts of lifestyle factors. After using rosehip oil every night for over a year, I can honestly say it is one of the best things you could use on your skin. It reduces dryness like no night cream can and honestly, it feels good to use something so simple and natural on your skin.
3. Sans [ceuticals], Goji Cleansing Oil
I received a bottle of this for my birthday at the beginning of this year, slightly unsure of what it was and how to use it. Basically, this is a cleansing oil enriched with goji berries that can be used on the face and body. You can use this in place of your normal cream cleanser and also use it to take makeup off. Because it’s pretty expensive I chose to mainly use it on my face instead of on my whole body and honestly, I hand-on-heart swear that it is one of the best face products I have ever used. Not only did it leave my skin super soft, it minimised my breakouts (Note: I had run out of this stuff when I moved to London, which may be another reason why I started to get breakouts), and left my skin feeling so fresh and clean. It’s not a cheap product, but it is totally worth every cent.
4. Coconut Oil
Okay, I know people have been going on about coconut oil for about a billion years and we are all a bit over it, but honestly, I will never stop loving it. I use coconut oil for everything, from hair treatments, to body moisturiser, to lip balm. It’s cheap, natural and always does the job. In my opinion though the real benefit of coconut oil is its anti-fungal properties. As somebody who works out regularly, I struggle with athletes foot (gross, I know), but coconut oil is a super-effective natural cure for fungal infections. Is there anything coconut oil can’t do?
