Skincare. It’s a jungle out there… so many premium brands, illusive promises, high profile endorsements (hello, Estée Lauder – who doesn’t want skin like a 20-year-old Kendall Jenner?!) – and, oh, all the pretty packaging and scents! But how do you really know which route to take? Which brand is really the best? Who literally knocks the wrinkles out of the park on the scientific front? Who knows. Because everyone’s different, there’s no easy answer. Just like I’m sure there’s no one solution to those problematic fine lines, dark spots, breakouts, uneven skin tone, wrinkles, oily zones, pigmentation and/or dryness complaints just about every girl has about her skin.

I’m yet to find one woman I know who is truly happy, perfectly blessed and on-top-of-the-world confident with her skin. Think of a girlfriend who you think has the best skin of anyone you know. Got her in mind? Okay. First up, tell her the next time you see her. You’ll make her day because, and this leads to my second point, I’ll bet you she has hang ups about her skin. Irony in a 50ml bottle right there.

I have my skin insecurities like everyone else. For me, I worry about the pigmentation which decided to party on my face since it came into contact with the brazen Aussie sun – despite my best efforts of rigorously applying SPF50 sunscreen and zinc to my face whenever I leave the house. I worry about dark circles and fine lines around my eyes… and then worry that it is perhaps my worrying that is causing the fine lines and if I wasn’t so worried about them they probably wouldn’t be as bad. Hmm.

I have always mixed my skincare up across several brands, some premium, some not, some organic, others not. Because I know what works for my skin in the day, overnight and what it demands of me seasonally. But when you really think about it, there is so much more to skincare than what you simply put on your face. Diet, stress levels and disrupted sleep can all contribute to ‘unhappy skin’. These are all life’s little challenges we all endure which are so often out of our control – hell, even something as simple as not cleaning your make-up brushes as regularly as you should can lead to unruly breakouts! Our skin works so hard for us, enduring the harsh Australian sun, lack of hydration and daily environmental stresses, pollution and toxins. It’s time we started accepting, loving and cherishing the skin we’re in – starting with the practice of a good skincare regime…

“No matter how tired, busy (or drunk!) you may be, take the time to treat your skin right – especially at night.
Nothing beats waking up to fresh, hydrated and glowing skin!” – Beauty in Bloom blog, June 2016

A few months ago I reviewed some skincare for Jurlique on my Beauty in Bloom blog. They really related to my sentimental and ritualistic approach to skincare and asked if I would collaborate with them again, to feature a blog on my skincare regime.

Before I go any further, I get it. I do. Skincare is an effort. It takes precious time out of your evening, when sometimes all you want to do is chill after a long day of work, errands, socialising, kids, cooking, housework, etc. It’s easy to feel too tired to practise good skincare – especially when it’s coming up to 11pm and all you want to do is have a quick facial rinse and skip everything else in favour of diving between the sheets. Because of this, I always maintain a simple cleanse/nourish/eyes routine to make it an easier process to sustain, however once or twice a week I make time for a full nightly ritual and it is just heavenly. Trust me, the positive wellbeing that comes from taking the time to unwind and look after your skin is something that can’t be bought in a 75ml tube.

First up, I always, always remove my make-up. I never, ever sleep in it. I enjoy the feeling of sweeping away the day on big fluffy cotton-pads – and also keep my cleanser and misting sprays in the fridge to give my skin a nice cooling cleanse. I enjoy exfoliants once a week, usually on my t-zone as the rest of my face can be quite sensitive and delicate. I like to try different masks, sometimes peels, other times clay/mud – depending on how my skin is looking. My favourite part of any face mask is the removal, which I always try to turn into a mini facial massage, cleaning out those pores and getting a glow in my cheeks! I then use a face wash, rinsing with a hot linen cloth to ‘steam clean’ my face. I don’t actually use toner every day – usually a couple of times a week as it can feel quite harsh on my skin – but it’s great for clearing up breakouts! Mists are a great alternative to toners and a good prelude to a nourishing anti-aging gel, serum, oil or moisturiser to finish. I tend to rotate these based on the seasonal stresses put on my skin. A light eye cream is always the pièce de résistance (and my ultimate skincare staple) – before sealing the deal with a fruity lip balm. Usually by the time I’m done, it’s taken 15-20mins and I’m feeling relaxed and glowing, both inside and out.

Feeling good about yourself radiates a special kind of beauty that no amount of celebrity endorsement or scientific research can sell – it comes from within (and after twenty indulgent, uninterrupted minutes in the bathroom). It’s all about finding a skincare routine and mindset that works for you. We can’t always spend 20mins on our faces at the end of each day, but we can take time out once or twice a week to have a little ‘me’ time and treat ourselves to a facial.

Jurlique recognise the importance of taking time out to look after your skin and have developed their own DIY facial you can enjoy home called the Jurlique Ritual. I’ll leave you in the capable hands of Sigourney Cantelo, founder of Jurlique Beauticate as she takes you through the Jurlique Ritual… You’re welcome!

Thank you Jurlique for sponsoring this post!
Images: Jurlique Australia & USA