As the season’s change, it’s not totally necessary to swipe all the contents off your skincare shelf and start again, no matter what some websites might tell you. But, as the weather is set to change and so too might your lifestyle, it is a good idea to revisit what you’re using and making sure every step is optimised for the seasonal skin shifts you can likely expect. That’s why Lion/ne founders, Ksenia and Megan, have been adjusting their routines and waving goodbye to some long-loved empties. Want to know the changes they’ve made? Here’s what’s coming in (and going out!) of their bathroom cabinets this month.
First – does your routine need a seasonal update? Book a Holistic Skin Session with your personal Skin Mentor to make sure your regime is still working.
KSENIA’S EMPTIES
OUT: Paula's Choice Niacinamide Booster 20% IN: Apotcare Paris Vitamin B3 Serum 15% "I used Paula’s Choice Niacinamide Booster all summer to work a little bit more on my skin texture and hyperpigmentation. During my pregnancy, I have experienced unusual breakouts and post-inflammatory erythema, red pigments that stayed – not kidding – from the beginning of my pregnancy (in February) and they’re still there now! I have found that niacinamide has helped me a lot to address this concern and of course, so did protecting my skin with an antioxidant serum and sunscreen. I chose to continue with it as it is gentle on my skin and effective, and as I am pregnant, I don't want to experiment with loads of different ingredients. But I did want to try a new formula. I liked the Apotcare Paris Vitamin B3 Pure Serum 15% and thought it would be nice to trial it."
OUT: Monday Muse The Juice Daily Serum IN: Barbara Sturm Clarifying Serum "Sadly, I finished my Monday Muse serum which was great to target inflammation related to unusual breakouts and as an excellent treatment at night. It's been 2 weeks now that I am getting more congestion than usual on my chin (thank you, hormones), so I wanted to try something more targeted for my t-zone. Barbara Sturm’s Clarifying Serum is pregnancy-safe and has a different blend of ingredients that helps to work on gently purifying the skin. I've been using it for the past week and already see a change in my skin. The price point is CRA-ZY, but for my skin right now totally worth it."
OUT: Odacité Montana Harvest IN: Frances Prescott Tri-Balm "I absolutely loved the Odacité cleansing oil. It smelled divine, was easy to remove with lukewarm water and muslin cloth and felt great on my skin. There's maybe one application left, but I can't wait to replace it with the Tri-Balm from Frances Precott. It was sent to me by the brand, but I have tried it in the past and remember loving it. Normally, it’s the kind of product I would keep for travelling as it is a solid cleanser, but since I am not planning to go anywhere for the next few months, I thought it would be nice to reintroduce it to my routine."
MEGAN'S EMPTIES
OUT: Face Gym Electrolyte Cleanser IN: Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser "I am SO sad to have emptied this cleanser. I still cannot for the life of me decide what the texture is: kind of gel-like, but also sort of like a cloud? It says that it is gel-to-foam, but I really didn't really get the foam, it was ever so slight. I felt clean after, but not tight. I have dry skin and stripping the skin back would be horrendous for my Rosacea. There isn't added fragrance, but I could eat it because it smells so good. Also, it does a good job of removing make-up, but I still needed to go under the eyes with a towel to get excess mascara off (I go heavy on my mascara, so probably not an issue for some). Bottom line, I love it. Great cleanser for summer months for those that are not as dry during that season, and for normal to combo skin I think this would be great year round. It is cruelty-free and vegan, not to mention the packaging is plant based and 100% recyclable - so I have been recommending this one to clients A LOT. I have banged on about this one because I love it so much, but you can read more about it here.
But with cold weather looming, I switched it out to trial the coveted Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser. This more creamy option contains seed oils and as the name suggests, goat milk, to remove make-up and SPF gently. It does contain small amounts of AHA lactic acid as well, so there will be an ever so slight exfoliating benefit as well, which I plan to pair with my new Medik8 PHA exfoliant. Very excited to try this one!"
OUT: SkinCeuticals B5 IN: Monday Muse Serum "Skinceuticals' hydrating serum is one that I always go back to for summer months, but for cooler/more dry weather it isn't quite enough for my mega dry skin. I will be switching this one out for the Monday Muse, but may also get my Pestle & Mortar Hyaluronic Serum back on the rota too! I do think that of the hydrating serums we recommend (Medik8 HyaluB5, Pestle & Mortar, La Roche Posay, and Vichy to name a few) this one does feel the lightest on the skin making it great for combo skins and those that don't love the feeling of anything 'sticky. I'd been patiently waiting to start trialling the Monday Muse one as I have been slightly congested, so have needed to up ingredients like niacinamide. This product contains vitamin B3 (niacinamide) and hydrating ingredients like red marine algae, pentavitin, and lots of seed oils! It is also water based, and so will likely soak in to the skin pretty well - but watch this space!"
OUT: Inkey List PHA Toner IN: Medik8 Press & Glow "Inkey List's toner is great budget friendly option for those that have sensitised skin. The only thing I will say about this one is that you definitely can still overdo it, which I accidentally did a few times. It is no frills and one that I continue to recommend to those who are looking for gentle exfoliation on a budget!
PHAs are my favourite skincare ingredient, if you don't believe me then go listen to The Skinterview Episode with Pamela Marshall. We all know that exfoliation is an important part of the skincare regime, but of course it is VERY easy to overdo it, and for those with sensitive skin this can be a dangerous game. PHAs are great for skin that is more sensitised and I am very excited to try out this 'toner with a twist' from Medik8. It doesn't have an overly lengthy ingredients list, but the heroes here are gluconolactone (PHA), Aloe Vera (anti-inflammatory), and Prickly Pear extract (exfoliating). Very excited to try."
Want to know which products are right for you and your unique skin?
