A Skincare Routine For Fatigued Skin

The honest truth is I’m 45 and I get tired. Really, really tired. So I need skin products to work miracles. With chronic fatigue, depression and fibromyalgia, often what’s happening on the inside, shows on the outside. It has a direct impact on my skin and my appearance.

I’ve always taken my skincare seriously. From a young age I was taught to take care of my skin and watched with wonder as my grandmother cleansed and then massaged her face with luxurious creams. So I always followed a simple routine and in the very least I always cleansed and moisturised.

I’ve tried a lot of new products over the past year. But I think I’ve found the perfect routine now. This routine has definitely improved my appearance. My skin is more luminous, less lined and the signs of fatigue around my eyes are definitely improving. 

On an aside, the daily ritual of skincare has been something that I really look forward to. It is so relaxing to me and I enjoy taking that time in the morning and evening to care for my skin the best way. The bonus is that it is time for yourself. It may seem like a lot of steps, but honestly the whole regime takes me around 5 minutes every morning and night. Its now become my relaxation ritual.

My skin is combination. But sensitive too. It can also be prone to hormonal breakouts, and gets oily in places and dry in others. But since following this regime, for the past three months, my skin and appearance have approved remarkably. So I guess the question is, what am I using?

DAILY MORNING ROUTINE

Step 1: Cleanse Alternate with Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Balm or for a simple and fragrance free cleanse that works so well, then use YourGoodSkin Nourishing Hot Cloth Cleanser which is available in boots for only £7. Apply to the entire face, neck and décolletage. Remove with a warm muslin cloth.

Kiki’s View: I love both these cleansers. They are both cleansers that you massage in and remove with a cloth and this is always my preference. They are not foaming cleansers that can strip the skin. The Emma Hardie is a cult product throughout the beauty industry and with top skin care bloggers. Its a hard balm that you melt and massage. The smell is divine and it feels like luxury, but it is pricey.  The YourGoodSkin cleanser is beautiful. At times my skin can be sensitive and react to fragrance and aggressors. This is a calming and beautiful cleanser. And for the price point it is amazing  It reminds me a lot of the Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser that I swore by for many years. Also Great for sensitive skin.

Step 2:  Tone with Avène Thermal Spring Water. Spray liberally all over face to soothe and comfort. Im also obsessed with Mario Badescu Rose and Aloe Spray. 

Kiki’s View: The Thermal water is not a toner per-se, but my skin can become easily irritated and red. So I always have a can around to spritz on my face even after make-up. The thermal spa water used is calming and soothing and adds extra moisture. The rose spray is also so calming and soothing with the added smell of rose.

Step 3: Serum #1 Anti-Aging – Apply No 7 Protect and Perfect Advanced Serum all over face, eye area, neck and décolletage.

Kiki’s View:  This serum has really made a difference to my skin. Its the advanced formula so its aimed at older skins, but because of the stress put on my skin, it is perfect. It’s anti-aging, repairing and protecting your skin.

Step 4 : Serum #2 Acne – Apply La Roche-Posay Effacler Duo + all over face and eye area.

Kiki’s View: I use this serum to combat acne and breakouts. I have had an ongoing problem of bumps under my skin. But this has worked miracles to stop them. It works to diminish spots, unclogs pores and refines the surface of the skin. Since I began using this my breakouts are definitely less, and if I do get a spot, it works quickly to heal and the bumps are virtually gone.

Step 5: Moisturise With a small amount of Nivea Soft Moisturiser to the entire face, neck an décolletage.

Kiki’s View: I have used every type of moisturiser. A lot of very expensive ones and those more on the reasonable side. But I always come back to this. Nivea cream has been around for decades and my grandmother still uses it. It makes the skin soft and supple and I have never had any reaction. For the price its a great moisturiser.

Step 6: Eye cream Apply Nuxe Crème Prodigieuse Yeux Anti Fatigue Cream in a tapping motion to the entire eye area.

Kiki’s View: This eye cream has been my saviour. Prior to this the lines and dryness around my eyes were really visible. This was recommended and I haven’t looked back. Its slightly higher priced but worth every penny in my book. The anti-fatigue is true to its name. I cannot be without it. It is perfect for underneath makeup too.

Step 7: Sun protection Apply a light layer of La Roche-Posay Anthelion XL SPF 50+.

Kiki’s View: I have tried lots of facial sunscreens. But this is the one that I come back to. Its light and the fluid consistency means that it does not clog pores and sits fine under make-up. It is a lot like the Kiehls Ultra Light Daily Defense, which is an industry favourite, but the Kiehls is expensive, so my advice is try the La Roche-Posay.

Step 8: Lips Apply By Terry Baume De Rose.

Kiki’s View: This is a pricey lip treatment but its so good and lasts for so long, I think its worth the investment if you can. As we age the our lips shrink back and lines appear around the lip line. By using this on a daily basis, my lips remain nourished and fuller. A cheaper alternative is Nuxe Révè de Miel Lip Balm. Its incredible, especially for really dry and chapped lips.

DAILY EVENING ROUTINE

Step 1: Cleanse #1 Take makeup and the day off using Bareminerals Oil Obsessed Cleansing Oil. Massage all over face and neck then add warm water and the oil will become milky.  Wipe away with a warm cloth. Cleanse #2 Alternate with cult product Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Balm or YourGoodSkin Nourishing Hot Cloth Cleanser. Apply to the entire face, neck and décolletage. Remove with a warm muslin cloth.

Kiki’s View:  I love the cleansing oil for a really effective way of removing makeup. It literally takes everything off with hardly any effort. And particularly the eye area. There is no need to rub and pull at the delicate eye skin as the oil lifts even waterproof mascara away. The YourGoodSkin cleanser is just simple, creamy and beautiful. 

Step 2:  Tone with Avène Thermal Spring Water or the Mario Badescu Rose Water and spray liberally all over face to soothe and comfort.

Step 3: Serum #1 Apply No 7 Protect and Perfect Advanced Serum all over face, eye area, neck and décolletage. #2 – Apply Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Water Gel Concentrate for added hydration but in the lightest form.

Step 4: Moisturise With a small amount of Nivea Soft Moisturiser to the entire face, neck an décolletage.

Step 5: Eye cream Apply Nuxe Crème Prodigieuse Yeux Anti Fatigue Cream in a tapping motion to the entire eye area.

ADDITIONAL STEPS

Depending on how my skin is, I use a variety of exfoliants, masks and oil  in rotation.

Exfoliate: Exfoliation works to remove dead skin cells that your normal cleanser can’t reach. Every other morning I wash with Garnier Pure Active Expo Brush whilst in the shower. This helps combat hormonal breakouts and pigmentation. Its made a huge difference to the texture of my skin and the amount of break outs I get.

Three times a week I apply Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant on a cotton pad and sweep over face. This is a chemical exfoliant and is much more gentle on the skin. It has active acids to sweep away dead skin cells and leave the face clean and soft ready for moisture.

If I feel I need a physical exfoliant, then I opt for something gentle. I love the Caudalie Gentle Buffing Cream. Its sensitive enough not to irritate even the most sensitive skin. 

Masks:  Twice a week I use Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask for an added moisture boost.

Twice a week I use the Origins Skin Retexturising Mask with Rose Clay. This is a wonderful mask that you apply thinly to the whole face. You leave it for 10 minutes and then wash away. It leaves my skin smooth and glowing. It seems to work miracles on the surface texture of the skin to reveal new, fresh, smooth skin.

Oil: Every other night I use Pai Rose Hip Bioregenerate Oil to help with pigmentation and scars. Its a beautiful oil that is deeply nourishing and moisturising, but because of the regenerative properties, it works miracles on scarring and surface texture. It smells beautiful too.

ADDITIONAL THINGS TO NOTE

Remove Make-up: ALWAYS remove your make-up at the end of the day. Sleeping in your make-up and grime of the day is a definite no-no for clear and youthful skin. If you don’t have the time for a full cleansing routine, then even using a cleansing wipe occasionally is fine. I love the Johnsons Make-up be Gone Moisturising Wipes, especially when travelling.

Massage: I have read a lot about the many benefits of facial massage. I recommend doing some research online and look at many of the techniques around. I use either my hands or a Rose Quartz Facial Roller. When you are tired, fatigued, you can find yourself puffy and the skin dull. Facial massage brings life back to skin and also, when done correctly, can drain the lymphatic system. I highly recommend it. If you don’t feel equipped then maybe a treat to yourself would be a professional facial. And once you have been, maybe ask for some tips on how best to massage the face in the comfort of your own bathroom. 

Hydration: Drink enough water. This is an age old remedy for keeping the skin clear and youthful and it works.

Supplements: Take an Omega 3 supplement. The oil you take internally but it has a definite impact on the skin, hair and nails. I have used Omega 3 for many years with great results. Plus it is fantastic for the heart and brain.

Sun: Too much sun is aging. Always use an SPF, even in the winter.

Nutrition: Pay attention to foods and anything that has an effect on your skin and could cause breakouts.

I hope this has given you some food for thought about your own skin care regime. Even if you want to keep your routine simple, using the right products makes all the difference.

Onwards,

Kiki x