WHERE — London
PHOTOGRAPHY — Sam Flaherty
IN COLLABORATION WITH — Net-a-Porter

The skincare products that are almost magic in a bottle.

The skincare scattered all over my bathroom doesn’t really follow any kind of theme or rule. I’m a Libra, so I can never just settle on a few skincare products or one regime – I like to have options. My favourite products come from supermarkets, pharmacies, beauty consignments at department stores and everywhere in-between. And even though I do have a skin type (mild rosacea and dry) I still tend to be up for trying everything and anything.

This skincare edit focuses on the heavy-hitters; the luxe products I splurge on and use extremely sparingly, but which ultimately I do think are worth the investment. But that’s not to say that you need to drop serious cash to get good skin. First off, good skin is mostly thanks to genes. And obviously diet, hydration and sun-protection are hugely important.  Lots of my go-to products that I swear by and recommend to anyone will listen are wallet-friendly. But since I’ve shared quite a few budget-friendly skincare posts, I thought I’d also do a round up of the higher-end skincare I invest in time and again.

Because I don’t wear a huge amount of makeup (plus my skin tends to feel pretty raw when I remove makeup with anything too harsh) I’ve been using Votary Cleansing Oil for years and it’s hard to imagine using anything else. Like the name suggests, it’s basically like using a hydrating oil as a cleanser. Although it’s pricey for a cleanser, it also goes a ridiculously long way. As in, I often wonder if my bottle will ever finish. The only thing I would say is that if you wear makeup, or don’t like the feeling of oil on your face, it’s best to follow up with a foaming cleanser or exfoliator. Which, considering most beauticians recommend double cleansing, probably makes sense.

Speaking of oils, I have to admit that I’m pretty lazy when it comes to hydrating the rest of my body. Hello? Yes it’s me, Lizard Legs. Anyway, when I do actually give my body 1% of the attention I give my face (haha – vain much), Tata Harper’s Revitalizing Body Oil is just what the doctor ordered. Smells incredible, super rich yet soaks right in and leaves the skin looking fresh and dewy as though you’ve just come back from Ibiza.

Of all of the new skincare options that have become popular in the last few years, I can understand the hype around Vitamin C. Because who doesn’t want brighter, fresher skin? There are a lot of incredible Vit C options out there, but Sunday Riley’s C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum is a long-standing favourite.

I’m a massive sucker for a face mask. This post could be entirely dedicated to face masks. I love ’em. Buuut if I had to pick one that I can leave on overnight, magically hydrates and plumps the skin without me doing a thing, it would be Sisley’s Black Rose Cream Mask.

Another night treatment I love and always find myself re-stocking when it runs out is NARS Cosmetics Restorative Night Treatment. It’s not a mask, but it’s also a lot richer than night cream. It goes on kind of like a serum-based jelly, which sounds weird, but feels incredible on the skin. And will leave you waking up with dewy, happy skin.

Come winter, Eve Lom’s TLC Cream is my savior – morning, noon and night. It’s incredibly rich and will leave your skin hydrated and hopefully even a little plumper (in the right places of course).

Another moisturiser that I love for maximum hydration – and one that I’ve used on and off for years – is Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream Moisturiser. Like that name suggests, it is indeed magic in a tub. I’m the first to admit that it’s an investment, but it’s so rich and the tub is so huge, it kind of lasts forever.

But, if I had to pick an all-time favourite (and as a Libra that doesn’t come naturally), I’d have to go with Omorovicza’s Intensive Hydra-Lifting Cream. It’s velvety in a way I never knew skincare could be. If you want glowing, hydrated skin in a rich yet somehow lightweight product, this is for you.