After countless requests, I'm finally sharing the secret skincare routine that transformed my damaged skin in just 3 weeks
Reparative and radiance-boosting, this routine has taken my skin from dry and dull to healthy, even and bright
I get asked about my skincare routine more than almost anything else I write about - on socials, in texts from my friends, by colleagues cornering me in the office kitchen. And while I’ve obviously never been one to gatekeep, I never really thought my routine was anything worth sharing.
But after a recent dryness and hyperpigmentation flare-up had me overhauling the whole thing - focusing on the very best moisturisers for dry skin, my favourite trusty vitamin C serum, and even including some of the best skincare devices of the moment - the results that came with my new routine now make it feel genuinely worth sharing.
L-R: Before new routine / 1 week in / 3 weeks in
My skin has gone in the complete opposite direction from where it was a few months ago: barrier repaired, tone even, and - most tellingly - looking healthy and bright even on the days I'm not wearing a scrap of makeup. I've had so many messages asking what I'm doing differently, and so many compliments in person, that I've decided it's time to stop keeping it to myself. So here it is - the full routine, product by product.
The reparative skincare routine that gave me the best skin of my life - in just 3 weeks
While I had very specific two-product emergency kit that helped my flare-up and were brilliant at firefighting in the moment, once I was back in my own bathroom, I knew I needed to properly rebuild my skin barrier - not just manage the symptoms. So, I put together a stricter, more targeted routine, layering in proper hydrators and actives, to really get me the results I wanted to see. I've shared what I use step-by-step, so you can swap them out for similar alternatives where needed.
A milky, barrier-focused essence formulated with beta-glucan and lactobacillus ferment, designed to hydrate and calm compromised, easily irritated skin. It's the kind of soothing, cushioning first step I'd been missing when my skin flared up, sinking in quickly to prep skin before serums without adding any extra irritation.
A watery, fast-absorbing serum combining PDRN to repair and stimulate collagen, with hyaluronic acid, formulated to flood skin with lightweight hydration while supporting the skin's repair processes. Designed to plump and replenish without feeling heavy, even on compromised or reactive skin.
A dermatologist-favourite antioxidant serum combining 15% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) with vitamin E and ferulic acid, formulated to brighten dull, uneven skin and help fade the look of hyperpigmentation over time. The trio also works to protect skin against everyday environmental stressors, making it as much a preventative step as a corrective one - best introduced once skin is calm and settled enough to tolerate it though.
A cult-favourite Korean serum pairing propolis and niacinamide, formulated to hydrate, soothe and brighten while helping to even out tone. Lightweight and glow-giving, it's designed to calm redness and irritation while gently working on overall radiance - a gentler alternative to harsher actives when skin is under strain.
A concentrated serum combining PDRN with peptides, formulated to support skin regeneration, firmness and barrier repair. Designed for compromised or ageing skin that needs an extra nudge to bounce back, it's built to be layered into a repair-focused routine alongside more hydrating, soothing steps.
A handheld device designed to help skincare absorb more effectively, using a combination of sonic vibration and heat to encourage active ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin rather than sitting on the surface. I've really seen a difference in the efficacy of my serums after starting to use this - plus I love the microcurrent and EMS settings for firming and sculpting.
A genuinely rich, ceramide-packed moisturiser that somehow never tips into greasy - it sinks in fast, leaving skin cushioned and nourished rather than sitting heavy on top. Deeply comforting for dry or compromised skin, but light enough to layer under makeup or other skincare without any tacky residue.
Honestly, I feel like any semi-decent facial oil will work for this step, but I love the feel, consistency and results from this Elemis favourite. A nourishing facial oil formulated with marine and plant extracts, designed to support skin's natural collagen production while deeply replenishing moisture. I blend this easily into my Illiyoon cream to loosen the texture and help it spread more evenly, while stretching out its nourishment.
A lightweight, hydrating sunscreen formulated with rice extract and panthenol (vitamin B5), designed to protect compromised or sensitive skin without the tightness or white cast associated with heavier formulas. A gentle, non-negotiable final step for skin that's already under strain and needs SPF that won't aggravate it further - one of my favourite facial sunscreens for comfort, hydration and layering.
Just a few weeks of this new routine left my skin healthy, radiant and with my hyperpigmentation so faded that I could go about my day with just a very light layer of makeup (see below) - more to even out my skin tone than anything.
Alongside, the above routine, I also included a few other products and habits to really get the most out of it.
Once my skin had settled down a little, I noticed there was still a layer of dead, dry skin sitting stubbornly on my chin - the kind that was arguably still contributing to the blotchy, uneven texture, even once the worst of the irritation had calmed. So I introduced weekly sessions of Dermaflash Dermapore device to really exfoliate away all of the dead skin. Since using it, my skin has felt genuinely fresh and healthy, like it's soaking up all the goodness of my new products properly instead of them sitting on top of dry patches - basically a reset button before I layered everything else back on.
The other unexpected hero once my skin started to heal was a primer. Makeup simply wasn't sitting properly on my face for weeks - it would cling to the dry, blotchy patches and look patchy and uneven no matter what I did underneath. The Kate Somerville HydraKate Power Plumping Primer not only smoothes things out enough for makeup to sit evenly again, but it adds an extra layer of hydration that lasts all day.
Not skincare, but the base I've come to love alongside it on my makeup day. This plumping, hydrating primer smoothes and prep any uneven texture before makeup application, helping product glide on evenly rather than clinging to dry or rough patches. A useful bridge product for skin that's mid-recovery, when makeup would otherwise sit unevenly across compromised, dehydrated areas.
This first thing I reach for every morning when I wake up (genuinely, I keep it by my bed), I've seen a marked improvement in the hyperpigmentation and dull skin around my lips and on my chin (where it's always worst) after using this. A targeted LED device, it uses light therapy to help target concerns like fine lines, dryness and uneven tone around the mouth. An invaluable option for anyone dealing with hyperpigmentation or texture concerns in a spot most facial devices don't reach.
Since my previous skin flare-up, I have found the dull, uneven and dry skin on my chin to be so much worse than it was before. This fixes that. A handheld ultrasonic device designed to gently exfoliate away dead skin cells and clear congestion from pores, using sonic vibrations rather than abrasive scrubbing. A useful step for buffing away residual dry, flaky skin post-irritation, so serums and creams can absorb properly instead of sitting on top of rough patches.
