Skincare is an area of the beauty industry that really fascinates me. I’m by no means an expert but I love keeping up-to-date with the latest trends and releases, developing my understanding of different ingredients and how they work, exploring skincare myths and essential learning more about the topic with the hope of tailoring a skincare routine that works with my skin to give the best possible results. My understanding of skincare has definitely improved over the years. I used to completely buy into the belief that natural skincare was infinitely better for my skin, that chemicals and parabens were the devil, that double cleansing was a complete waste of time and that you have to spend a fortune to achieve noticeable results. I cringe at how I used to vigorously rub a moist wipe all over my face and call the job done, how I’d purchase tube after tube of my favourite walnut exfoliator, skip moisturiser and even sleep in a full face of makeup. It’s safe to say things have improved dramatically but I still have a lot to learn and here are a few books, Youtubers and products that had a positive impact on my current routine…
First up, Susan Yara of Mixed Makeup has become my go-to skincare guru on YouTube. She debunks skincare myths and ‘controversial’ ingredients as well as trying out the latest peels, masks and treatments such as microneedling, the Dermalogica Digital Detox Facial and the “Vampire Facial” that Kim Kardashian made famous. My favourite videos are her reaction videos, where she watches and critics celebrity ‘Get Unready With Me’ style videos such as the ones from Harper’s Bazaar. She basically watches the video and discusses the products, the formulas, the ingredients, the techniques and the order in which they apply them. It’s a pretty new series but so far she’s looked at the skincare routines of Jackie Aina, Michelle Phan, Desi Perkins and more recently, Debra Messing. She also recently gave her thoughts on Kylie’s infamous collection too, it’s not particularly difficult to guess how that worked out.
There are also three skincare-related books I’ve read recently that I found really interesting and helped me a lot when choosing the right products for my skin…
The Skincare Bible by Dr Anjali Mahto | There’s nothing incredibly groundbreaking within its pages, however, if you love skincare and have a passion for makeup but lack a basic understanding of skin types, ingredients and treatments, Dr. Mahto, one of the UK’s leading consultant dermatologists, cuts through the nonsense and provides clear and concise insight into the world of skincare. One of the most interesting sections of The Skincare Bible was Skincare Jargon. Here Dr. Mahto breaks down common beauty jargon and the misconceptions surrounding them. What do manufacturing claims such as ‘hypoallergenic’, ‘clinically proven’ and ‘non-comedogenic’ actually mean? Do brands have any scientific evidence to back these claims and is there even a legal definition to base them from? Are ‘natural’ ingredients safer and more effective than synthetic? Should we avoid Parabens like the plague? It’s all here and frankly, I could read about it for hours.
Pretty Iconic: A Personal Look at the Beauty Products that Changed the World by Sali Hughes | This book is a comprehensive guide to over 200 iconic and influential beauty products that were and are industry game-changers from the humble Dove Bath Bar, the Bonne Bell Lip Smackers that no 90s girl could live without to the iconic Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair and my personal favourite, the REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask which I discovered thanks to Sali. The book is divided into ‘icons’, ‘nostalgics’, ‘rites of passage’ and ‘future icons’ and is a fabulous read for beauty lovers who want to reminisce over slimy metallic bath pearls from The Body Shop, vanilla-scented Impulse Body Spray and, my teenage perfume of choice, Glow by J.Lo; whilst also discovering new products that are shaping the future of makeup and skincare today.
The Little Book of Skin Care: Korean Beauty Secrets for Healthy, Glowing Skin by Charlotte Cho | This has been one of my favourite reads of 2019 so far. Charlotte Cho is the founder of Soko Glam, a leading Korean beauty and lifestyle website. She is also an esthetician and beauty expert who has poured all of her knowledge of Korean skincare into a fascinating read that explores influential K-Beauty trends, debunks the infamous 10-step skincare routine and explains how to achieve that flawless ‘chok chok‘ glow. The book inspired me to invest in an Essence, further fueled my obsession with sheet masks and encouraged me to invest more time into my nightly routine as well as discover new brands and techniques along the way.
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