The Skincare Advice I Give Everyone Who Asks

I spent my twenties working for luxury skincare brands. I know how the industry works - the beautiful packaging, glossy ads, the complicated routines, the ten-step systems that promise to transform your skin overnight. And I'll be honest with you - most of it is a marketing ploy.

In 2019 I started formulating for my own brand, and one of the things that motivated me was how much confusion surrounds even the basics of skincare. There are so many buzzwords flying around, and it's just assumed we all know what they mean. Sometimes we don't, and that's completely okay, that's what our corner of the internet is for.

So let's start at the beginning of your routine.

1. Your Cleanser Might Be a Problem

If your skin is breaking out, feeling dry, or just not quite right — before you overhaul your entire routine, look at your cleanser first. It's one of the most overlooked causes of skin issues, and it's often the simplest fix. We are taught that squeaky clean skin is the foundation of our routine, but actually our skin barrier needs to be treated with care if we want radiant, healthy skin and too much cleansing, or too much exfoliation, can damage that barrier.

There are two main types of cleanser worth understanding. Oil and balm cleansers are your best friend if you have dry or sensitive skin. Oil attracts oil, so they're phenomenal at dissolving makeup without disrupting your skin's natural balance. Used with a warm cloth, the cleanse feels genuinely lovely — nothing stripped, nothing tight. This is exactly why I formulated my Blue Tansy Cleansing Balm the way I did — Blue Tansy is naturally calming and the balm is gentle enough to remove mascara without any of the sore eye harshness often associated with make up removal.

Surfactant cleansers foam with water and pull impurities away from the skin. If you're oily, you'll love the clean feeling these give you. That said, skin type isn't a rigid box — a dry skin person can use a surfactant cleanser if they find the right formulation. It's about paying attention to your skin, not following a rule.

I genuinely don't think you need to spend a lot on your cleanser. That's not me saying buy the cheapest one on the shelf (always be led by the ingredients), but you're washing this away. It's preparing your skin, not treating it. Save your skincare budget for what stays on your face.

On double cleansing: it's not a trend to follow blindly. If you wear heavy makeup, it makes sense. If you don't, you likely don't need the extra step. I double cleanse myself, but only because I wear SPF 50 every day and top it up — and my evening cleansing is deliberately mild. To compensate, I only use water in the morning. No cleanser. My skin genuinely thrives with this approach. 

Here's a simple test: cleanse, then wait five minutes — no toner, no serum, nothing. How does your skin feel? If there's any tightness at all, it could be that your cleanser is too harsh. Either find a much milder version of what you're using, or make the switch to an oil or balm.

2. Hydration Fixes A Lot.

Dehydrated skin is one of the most common skin concerns I see, and one of the most overlooked. It makes fine lines more visible, texture more pronounced, and every other product in your routine less effective. You can be oily and dehydrated. Hydration and moisture aren't the same thing.

Water-based serums with skin-kind ingredients — hyaluronic acid, panthenol, niacinamide — work at a deeper level to draw water into the skin and keep it there. A good moisturiser then seals everything in and supports the skin barrier. Because all of my formulations are natural, organic, and freshly made, I've been able to build these kinds of results without any of the synthetic fillers or irritants you'll find in most high street products — the Skin Form Serum and Soft Halo Cream work beautifully as a pair for exactly this reason, layering lightweight hydration under barrier-supporting moisture to suit all skin types.

3. SPF. Every Single Day.

I'll keep this brief because there's no debate to be had.

UV exposure is the number one cause of premature skin ageing — not stress, not sleep deprivation, not diet. And it's happening on cloudy days, through car windows, on your walk to the shops. Daily SPF is not a summer holiday thing. It's an every day, full stop, no exceptions thing. Using an SPF (even once a day, but top it up if you can) is protecting the money you are spending on the rest of your skincare.

4. Consistency Beats Complexity Every Time

The skincare industry profits from convincing you that more is more. More products, more steps, more actives layered on top of each other. But skin doesn't want complexity... it wants nourishment and consistency.

A simple routine followed faithfully every morning and evening will outperform a complicated 10 step one, every single time. Give products a proper chance - weeks, not days. Notice how your skin responds. Adjust gently. This is part of why I keep my formulations simple and natural — fewer ingredients, all of them chosen with purpose, doing exactly what your skin needs without the extras it doesn't.

If you're looking for a good place to start with that final nourishing step, my Recovery Oil is a hard-working facial oil with minimal ingredients — perfect for evening use or as a final treatment layer when your skin needs a little extra support.

Having your best skin is a journey. Start simple, stay consistent - and I promise your skin will thank you for it.

As always, I'm here if you have questions.

Abi x