As someone who has spent over a decade formulating natural, vegan skincare, I’m often asked what really makes a difference to skin health. I always say the same thing – take care of the basics and you’re taking care of your skin’s health. This starts with understanding what your skin genuinely needs and then doing your skincare routine – even a simple one – twice a day.
Here are six facts I come back to every time, both with my own skincare routine and the products I recommend and create.
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Hydration starts from within
We all want plump hydrated skin, but I want to remind everyone that no serum can replace water. Drinking plenty of liquid (the NHS recommends six to eight glasses of water a day) supports circulation, helps flush out toxins, and keeps skin cells plump and functioning properly.
I always tell people that your moisturiser is only doing half the job if you’re not hydrating from the inside too.
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Know your skin type
Every skin type has different needs, and there’s no such thing as a universally “best” product. Understanding whether your skin is dry, oily, combination or sensitive means you can choose formulations that actually work with your complexion, rather than against it.
It also means that you’re protecting your skin barrier, which helps prevent irritation and even skin conditions such as perioral dermatitis, which can occur if you use products that are too harsh for your skin.
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Nature does it better
I always favour natural, if not organic, ingredients in my skincare, and I founded a brand to make them affordable for others too.
Natural and organic ingredients tend to be gentler, less likely to irritate, and even better, they’re kinder to the planet through sustainable sourcing. What I love most is that plant-based ingredients often arrive already rich in the antioxidants, vitamins and minerals skin needs to support its own natural functions.
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A regular skin routine beats expensive products
It’s better to have a daily skin routine, where you cleanse, nourish and protect your skin, than to sporadically put expensive products on your face.
Your skin will be smooth, hydrated and with regular use of SPF and exfoliating products such as AHAs and retinol, you’ll slow premature ageing too.
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Sleep is skincare you can’t buy
We all know that skipping sleep leaves us feeling tired and with dark circles under our eyes. But it can also make skin appear dull and feel dry, as sleep deprivation affects your skin’s ability to retain moisture which, in turn, impacts collagen and elasticity. This means that sleep deprivation accelerates the very signs of ageing that most of us are trying to prevent.
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Exfoliate gently, and let oats do the work
A good exfoliation step reveals brighter, softer skin and I always recommend products containing oats (such as YNNY’s Exfoliating Face Mask With Anti-Aging Properties), as they are a fantastic, natural ingredient for deep exfoliation.
They provide mechanical exfoliation, which means their fine texture gently lifts away dull skin cells from the very top surface of the skin, but at the same time, oats clear pores without the micro-tears that can be caused by harsh physical and chemical scrubs. Oats are also full of natural saponins, compounds that dissolve dirt and remove excess sebum without stripping the skin’s natural oils.
