My skincare regime hasn’t quite changed for the last few years. I’ve always kept the basic steps, but have just experimented with brands and products as I replenish the ones used. I’m a firm believer that consistency and quality items – not necessarily more steps – work best on my skin and keep it simple for me to stick to.

Products generally last me about 4-6 months, so there’s no real need to stock up. Plus, it’s so easy to end up with a lot of half-opened ‘goo’, so I usually go by the concept of ‘an heir and a spare’ – one being used and one as backup. Theres so much good products out there now that I still switch things up even after finding something that works. In fact, I think switching products actually helps improve my skin as I feel products lose effectiveness if I use it for too long. I feel my skin eventually adapts and the product loses its efficacy.

Current products being used:

DAY

Morning serum – LACURA Caviar Illumination 7 Days Intensive Treatment Serum

This pack had both day and night serum in little vials. Certainly lasts me longer than 7 days as I only go through about 1 vial every 3 days. This was something I bought from Aldi and as they were so popular at the time (and prior to my minimalist movement), I have another 5 boxes to go through!

Day moisturiser – Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Cream

Quite a rich moisturiser, but blends and abosrbs easily into my skin with a faint, pleasant fragrance. I’m not that attached to it, despite all the claims of its ‘magic results’, so it is unlikely that I will repurchase.

Sunscreen – Biore UV Aqua Rich SPF50+ and PA++++ Watery Essence Sunscreen

Gone are the days of slapping on greasy sunscreen that also makes me appear ghostly! This one is a very light gel that I apply as the last step in my morning skincare before makeup. I haven’t quite tested the sun protection effectiveness of this as I always wear a hat going out, but the cooling sensation is quite enjoyable.

Body lotion – Byredo Pulp Body Lotion

This fruity, sweet/sour scented lotion is what got me hooked. The texture is light and almost watery, so one pump goes a long way. Not too convinuced on the moisturising properties, but I just apply in the morning to my belly, elbows, and knees as extra hydration.

Body spray – The Body Shop Juicy Pear Fragrance Mist

Something I bought on a whim as this was a limited edition Christmas scent that I loved at the time. However, the scent dissipates extremely fast and on prolonged use, I decided it wasn’t as nice as I originally thought. This is why it’s so important for me to use a fragrance for a few days to fully decide if I like it. Right now, I just use this bottle to layer under my perfume in order to finish it off.

NIGHT

Cleanser – Lancome Lait Galatee Confort

A gentle, milky cleanser for sensitive skin. This one doesn’t really lather and tends to leave a bit of a residue on the skin. I think it’s advised to use a muslin cloth to clean it off, but I just wash it off with warm water and happy to have the extra ‘layer’ remain. It hasn’t clogged my skin or anything, and I appreciate the extra hydration.

Body oil – Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil

This came highly recommended on a lot of pregnancy forums to treat and minimise stretch marks. Although in the past I rarely used body oils, I’ve been consistently applying this straight after my shower every night. The herbaly-green scent is a hit and miss for some people, although I don’t mind it at all. I haven’t yet seen obvious results, but consistency is key, so I’ll revisit this later.

Night serum – LACURA Caviar Illumination 7 Days Intensive Treatment Serum

I don’t particularly feel any difference in the day or night serums although I do feel the solution has a more viscous consistency than other serums I’ve used. I don’t mind this serum as both the price tag and results are pretty acceptable and I do feel my skin is a lot more hydrated.

Night moisturiser – Philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Overnight Moisturiser

A great moisturiser that seems to plump up my skin overnight. The formulation feels rich, smooth, and blends easily. Has a very light, pleasant scent. I like to have separate day and night moisturisers as I prefer a heavier product for night time. Love waking up to see hydrated, glowing skin!

OTHER

Face exfoliator – Goldfaden MD Doctor’s Scrub

Honestly not a fan, but just wanted to use this up. While they market this as containing micro round ruby crystals, I find it quite scratchy on my face. I have to apply it gently so as not to over-rub my skin. Usually I focus this on my forehead, sides of the face, and nose area, avoiding the more sensitive cheeks.

Body exfoliator – Clarins Exfoliating Body Scrub For Smooth Skin

Bought this to go with the Clarins Body Oil for stretch marks and have been loving it so far! The exfoliating beads glide over the skin without being too scratchy, and I do see instant results after application. Feels damn good on a stretching, itchy pregnant stomach. I’ll be continuing to use this even after delivery as both the scent and feeling of it is just so nice.

Face Masks – Dr. Morita Masks

I stocked up way too much on these masks after a recommendation from a friend who swore by these for her perfect skin. They’re not available in Australia unless imported by specific asian stores. The blue one is for hydration, and the orange one contains marine collagen. These are perfect for an extra injection of moisture and a great weekly skin pick-me-up.

Overall, I think my skincare routine is quite minimal, but it works for me and I’ve not grown a new pimple in ages (fingers crossed!). Maybe pregancy had something to do with it too, as they do all talk about this ‘pregnacy glow’. My skin does seem like the best it’s ever been in the last few years!