My current skincare ‘routine’

I’m the kind of gal who doesn’t really have a routine. I don’t know about you but I’ve tried so many times to make skincare a regular thing in my morning and night routine, but it just ain’t happening! Hence why I was pretty happy to receive The Skincare Bible by Dr Anjali Mahto to review.

I was definitely the right person to send this book to, because I guess a beauty blogger would already have their skincare routine in place, but me…nope! It’s a good book for those who wish to understand the terminology in the world of skincare, and also what works best for different skin types, as well as busting the myths on what the media often tell you.

This doesn’t mean that I don’t cleanse and moisturise etc, but it’s just not consistent enough to make a difference. Currently I have a few products in the bathroom that I pick and choose from, and they’re pretty good products to be honest. I’m not neglecting my face completely! Here’s what I’ve been using on my face in the past few months –

What I’m using on my face

The below contains affiliate links

Cleanser: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

Toner: Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner & Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic

Moisturiser: Korres Pomegranate Moisturising & Balancing Cream-Gel & Elemis SOS Emergency Cream

Serum: Liz Earle Superskin Face Serum

Face Oils: Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Eye Creams: Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado & Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye

Other (I’m not sure what category these come under!): La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo + Vichy Idealia Peeling

Okay, so as you can see, I have a lot of products that are probably not being used to the best of their abilities, or perhaps are not even correct for my skin-type (combination)! Sometimes I just get a bit over-whelmed with it all!

What I’ve learnt from The Skincare Bible

Without giving too much away, here are some things I’ve learnt since reading The Skincare Bible:

1. Cleanse EVERYDAY (Oops!)
2. Non-foaming + milk cleansers are good for my skin since it’s prone to irritation.
3. Micellar waters are good as a second cleanse but NOT a stand-alone cleanse (Who else is guilty of this?)
4. Second cleanse? Yes, sometimes it’s good to cleanse a second time but not necessary all the time. Perhaps when you’ve got make-up on.
5. An expensive product doesn’t necessarily mean a better product.
6. Some form of sunscreen should be worn daily. Yes, even in the UK!

My new routine

I’m going to take Dr. Anjali Mahto’s advice for my specific skin-type and will be switching up my routine to include:

The morning

Cleanse + eye cream + antioxidant serum + moisturiser with SPF and/ or sun cream

The evening

Cleanse (double if necessary) + eye cream + moisturiser

Exfoliation and face masks are also recommended once a week.

Why not check out The Skincare Bible to find out which routine is specific to your skin-type. The book not only includes information on routines but also helps understand scientific jargo such as ‘occlusives’ and ’emollients’, to name a few (there are loads of useful terms to know!) There’s also sections on: hormones, specific skin concerns, lifestyle, ant-ageing treatments, moles and skin cancer and finding a dermatologist.

Dr Anjali Mahto

If you were to get advice about skin from someone other than your own dermatologist, it would be from this book, from Dr Anjali Mahto. Mahto is a U.K-trained consultant dermatologist, and has worked both for the NHS and private clinics in London, beginning her career as a junior doctor. She also has written for Huffington Post, the Guardian, Good Housekeeping, Sky News, Get the Gloss, Refinery 29, as well as being a spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation. 

The Skincare Bible by Dr Anjali Mahto is available now. You can find it on Amazon for £10.49.

I was sent The Skincare Bible from Penguin for review. All opinions however, are honest and my own.