The Best Skincare Tips I've Ever Learned - The Practical

I think about skincare a lot. I read about it, watch videos about it and, when I'm indulged, talk about it ad nauseam. In fact, I recently went into a store to restock on toner and sunscreen and ended up chatting to one of the women working there about skincare for over an hour and a half. I'm not even exaggerating.

As a result of all this thought and research, I've come across some skincare tips and tricks that have really helped me and that I stand by. I thought it would only be fair to share in the knowledge. Here are the best skincare tips I've ever learned.

1. Commit to Sunscreen.

No matter how often I say this, most Irish women laugh me off, even women who are reasonable, even women who wear sunscreen on holidays and rarely let themselves get burned: sunscreen must be worn every single day. Every. Single. Day. 

Your skin may look fine now but, I promise you, it will remember how you treat it. Damage is happening whenever sun touches unprotected skin. Even through glass. Even if it is cloudy outside. Start protecting it now because I wear factor 50 every day and scans I had done at an event showed I had damage. You can only imagine how unprotected skin is faring. Plus, this isn't just a cosmetic thing, it is a health issue as well. Aging isn't fun but skin cancer is far worse.

2. No towels.

Another thing I get looked at like I'm crazy for: I do ever not use towels on my face any more. Ever. First of all, if you have to use them, make sure to pat not rub. The fibres are coarse in a towel and rubbing against the skin can cause damage, even if you can't see it. The skin on your face is delicate and needs to be treated as such. But I forgo using towels at all and, instead, carefully pat my face dry with cotton pads, avoiding any germy little camps that might develop even on supposedly clean towels.

3. Toner.

"What is toner? Why do I even need it? It's just another step."

These are things I often read and hear people saying and I used to be confused about it myself. Toner is basically used to rebalance the Ph of the skin after it has been cleansed and, often, is the first step in ensuring the skin is rehydrated. Avoid any toner with alcohol as this dries out the skin and is too harsh and be sure to apply as soon as possible after cleansing so that the skin isn't left thirsty for too long (it doesn't like that). Some people say that there's a 3-5 second window to do this but introducing any uber-stressful limitations on your skincare routine is likely to be more of a hindrance than a help.

4. The power of Massage.

Just slapping on products is a waste. A big tenet of Asian skincare is massaging products in, in order to increase bloodflow and relieve tension. I can say, personally, as possibly the tensest person in existence; massaging my skincare across my forehead helps ease the expression lines that crop up after a long day. Just remember to make sure your hands aren't completely dry when doing this, as you will drag the skin. Only massage when your hands are amply coated in a serum, cream or oil.

5. Don't forget to Exfoliate.

Exfoliating 2-3 times a week is a necessity for keeping the skin clear and smooth. However, do bear in mind that exfoliating should not be a daily thing (daily exfoliating face washes are the devil incarnate), should be done with a gentle chemical exfoliant rather than a super-gritty physical exfoliator and should never be done with washes with microbeads (also the devil incarnate - in this case, bent on ruining the planet).

These are the practical tips I've gleaned over the years but I've also gained a sort of philosophy and outlook on skincare and the idea of "perfection" that has been just as helpful in creating an effective and healthy routine for myself and my skin. This, I think, deserves its own post and the space necessary to properly elaborate on my thoughts. Look out for my second post in this series to read all about, perhaps, the greatest skincare tip of all that I have to offer.

(Some of my all-time favourite products)

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REVIEW: Lancôme Énergie de Vie Liquid Moisturiser

Up until about a month ago, my skin was incredibly dull, lifeless and sad after the long winter months of little-to-no sun and central heating. A combination of skincare targeted at brightening the skin, trying to force myself to drink more water and some controlled and protected contact with the sun, has seen colour come back to my face, a sprinkle of freckles across my nose and a general, but noticeable, glow to my skin.

While I always battle acne, the main thing I was looking for in skincare products lately was anything that might brighten or revive my skin. Which was why Lancôme's Énergie de Vie line intrigued me upon hearing about it. I popped along to the Irish launch a little over two months ago and was gifted a sample of the Liquid Moisturiser (€37 (30ml), €55 (50ml)). After a couple months of use, I feel as though I am now ready to properly give my opinions on it.

The whole Énergie de Vie line was developed in Lancôme's Korean research labs which was an immediate bonus to me as, if anyone knows skincare, its Korean scientists. Made from natural anti-oxidants such as goji berries, lemon balm, gentian root and others, the range is designed and targeted at a younger audience - millennials with busy and hectic lives, building careers, meeting friends, exploring the world and finding their place in it - and is designed to give your skin a burst of energy and moisture – leaving it glowing, healthier, brighter and energised. This new audience, the next generation of loyal Lancôme fans, have been also considered in the packaging, which is sleek and chic, as one would expect, but also bright and colourful, in vibrant green shades that evoke the natural ingredients found in the products. Furthermore, the line is at a somewhat lower price point, as well, taking into consideration the age and earning power of the customers.

All of these things were expressed to us at the launch and I was impressed by just how considerate they were in the making, designing and selling of the line. The campaign, too, was impressive; fronted by the beautiful Lily Collins, who looked so great in the ads that it convinced me to finally bite the bullet and cut my hair shorter.

Aside from all this, though; what did I really make of the product?

Immediately, I really liked the design and enjoyed how luxurious and pretty it looked on my bedside table. The first impression of the actual product was good, too, with a pleasant smell and instantaneous visible brightening of the skin when I tested it on the back of my hand. The difference between the two hands was actually kind of staggering. Day to day, it does become difficult to notice minute differences in your skin and, as I mentioned, my skin did come back to life but for a variety of reasons. However, I do think its safe to say that the moisturiser played its part. It leaves the skin looking dewy and glowy immediately after use and it lovely as a base for makeup. During the day, it is a perfect moisturiser and I often use it at night as well. When my skin was feeling a bit drier, however, it didn't quite cut it and I think if you have very dry skin, it would need to be layered under something else, at least at night.

If you're after glowy, summery, healthy-looking skin, this might be what you've been looking for. It's not too heavy, absorbs quickly, provides a good base for makeup and makes you look like you definitely drink enough water and sleep a lot better than I do.

(This product was given to me as a press sample but I have not been paid for this review and all opinions are my own.)

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