Here at Zoella HQ, we are skincare fiends- face mask fanatics, cleanser crazed, oil obsessors, and there’s little we love more than a thorough and relaxing skincare routine at the end of a long day at work (read: wondering how we can reintroduce Regé-Jean Page into our content calendar). From dry to acne-prone and oily to combination, there’s a range of routines, cult products and must-haves amongst us large enough to occupy a small Boots store- our Advantage Points are truly off the charts.
Honourable mentions go to CeraVe, Glossier (pink pouch crew unite) and La Roche-Posay who hold a special place in our hearts as ‘can do no wrong’ brands that always have our back when our complexion is feeling chaotic. 2020’s lockdown saw little reason for us to spend our £££ (current bank balance can no longer relate) and many of us turned to skincare as both a mindful self-care activity and a means to fill those long, drawn-out evenings. As such many of us have nailed our routines and found the ride or die products that are simply chef’s kiss- that’s one good thing to come out of lockdown, eh!
Keep scrolling to shop the skincare essentials we would be lost without.
Zoe
I’ve been absolutely loving the “then I met you” cleansing balm and am almost done with my second tub! I usually like to use a balm to remove makeup or SPF and then I’ll go in for a second cleanse with my Oskia renaissance cleansing gel which has been a firm favourite for years. I tend to mix up my serums and toners but I’m currently loving “heroine” by PSA for my toner. A solid re-purchase every time I run out is the Peter Thomas Roth water drench hyaluronic cloud gel eye patches which are so refreshing and hydrating! I keep them in my fridge.
*Cult Beauty, THEN I MET YOU Living Cleansing Balm, £37 | *Cult Beauty, EMBRYOLISSE LABORATORIES Lait-Creme, £20 | *Allies, HEROINE MANDELIC & LICORICE SUPERFOOD TONER, £28 | *Cult Beauty, PETER THOMAS ROTH Hydra-Gel Eye Patches, £45 | *Cult Beauty, OSKIA Renaissance Cleansing Gel, £36
Lareese
I haven’t refreshed my makeup in months, my brushes are balding and you wouldn’t want to smell my spoolie, let me tell you. I’m hitting pan on everything, squeezing out the final blobs of my foundation but skincare – skincare is a different story. Unlike doing my makeup, I look forward to my skincare routine, especially in the evening. There’s nothing a double cleanse and a good twilight pamper can’t fix. Right now, I’ve got some faithful favourites on the go like the Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser (I love this stuff) and the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum which I repurchase as soon as I’m out. Then after reading good reviews, I caved and bought the Sunday Riley CEO Glow because I feel like my face needs some vitamin c right now and the Khiel’s activating treatment which is v refreshing in the morn.
*Cult Beauty, KATE SOMERVILLE Goat Milk Cleanser, £34 | *Space NK, CAUDALIE VINOPERFECT RADIANCE SERUM, £46 | *Feel Unique, Kiehl’s Iris Extract Essence, £39.50 | *Feel Unique, Bondi Sands Coconut Body Moisturiser, £4.45 | *Glossier, Futuredew oil serum hybrid, £23 | Boots, Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème, £33 | *Cult Beauty, SUNDAY RILEY C.E.O. Glow, £34
Danielle
This is currently what my morning routine looks like, I decided to try out some more reasonable priced serums as I find a roll through them quite quickly and I’m more likely to use it every day if I don’t feel like I’m pouring money down the drain, or into my pores in this case. I kick things off with the Cerave hyaluronic acid cleanser, always a good staple! I then blast on toner with cotton wool to have me feeling extra clean, highly recommend Scientia products and their tonic is so satisfying to squirt out. I’ll then use The Ordinary Buffet and The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid, no particular order, so feel free to tell me if one should go before the other. I recently purchased this moisturiser from Paula’s Choice as I liked what it offered and enjoy a pump, and I have to say I’m really enjoying the silky feeling it leaves on my skin without being sticky. I finish with some tanning water every other morning, especially while it’s sunny, so my face matches the tan on my body. My absolute fave is he Jamie Genevieve Utan CBD tanning water, the lavender scent brings a sense of calm to my skin.
*ASOS, CeraVe hydrating hyaluronic acid cleanser, £9.50 | *Cult Beauty, SCIENTIA Pure Clarity Purifying PHA Skin Tonic, £34 | *Cult Beauty, THE INKEY LIST Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £5.99 | *Cult Beauty, THE ORDINARY ‘Buffet’, £12.70 | *Cult Beauty, PAULA’S CHOICE Omega+ Complex Moisturizer, £32 | *Beauty Bay, UTAN UTAN X JAMIE GENEVIEVE CBD TANNING WATER, £18
Charlotte
My makeup routine stays very much the same throughout the year but skincare is the part of my routine in which I go to town and tend to switch things up. I’ve repurchased the La Roche Posay Serozinc spray a couple of times now and although I can’t say I notice a crazy difference when using it or not, I really enjoy how refreshing it is (especially during the summer) and love using it after a hot shower. The Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser is a bit of a cult classic and is probably my favourite make-up removing cleanser at the end of a long day- it leaves my skin feeling super duper clean and hydrated. Highly recommend!
I was introduced to Scienta Beauty via Zoella and their Rescue Mask is one of the best I’ve ever used. I love trying CBD skincare and I would repurchase this one in a flash. Finally, this serum from Beauty Bay’s own range is surprisingly great and so affordable. I really want to try more of their range!
*Glossier, Milky Jelly Cleanser, £15 | Scientia, CBD VEGI-TOX™ RESCUE MASK, £26 | Boots, La Roche-Posay Serozinc Face Toner Mist, £10 | *Beauty Bay, BY BEAUTY BAY SKINHIT HYDRATING SERUM, £5.95
Darcey
I LOVE skincare and I really have tried everything, so my firm faves have been really put to the test. Cerave foaming cleanser for oily skin is so good and if there are any other fellow oily people out there looking for something new, you need to try this! Cerave’s moisturiser is fantastic as well, it can be used on your face and body too. The Inkey List Vitamin C serum is the best one I have tried so far, but it’s strong so if you have sensitive skin use carefully as it will tingle! Mallows Beauty Enzyme Peel Mask is vegan and SO GOOD, if you have acne honestly give this a go it has such amazing results and has been really great for acne scarring especially for me. Lastly, I had to include my fave SPF the La-Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF50, I wear it all year round due to using a lot of acids/exfoliants etc on my face which means I need to protect it every day (we should all wear SPF on our face every day though reallyyyy), also sits well under makeup!
*Beauty Bay, CERAVE FOAMING CLEANSER, £14.95 | *Beauty Bay, CERAVE MOISTURISING CREAM, £8.95 | *Cult Beauty, THE INKEY LIST Vitamin C Serum, £7.99 | Mallows Beauty, Pineapple & Mango Enzyme Peel Mask, £17.95 | *Look Fantastic, La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF50+ Sun Cream 50ml, £18
Maddie
I recently left my whole makeup bag in Cornwall and insisted I could cope without it for a few weeks… Skincare is a whole other thing and there are a couple of products that I genuinely NEED. The first one being my eye cream. Estee Lauder advance night repair eye is a repeat x10 product for me and I honestly have never found another eye product that comes close to it. I would probably look 500 years old without it. A good cleanser is also essential and I have a couple that I really rate, Cerave hydrating cleanser is my current favourite, it works so nicely and is so affordable which is great for a wash-off product. I have a couple of treatment products that really help protect my skin which I’m becoming more and more conscious about, the Allies of Skin Peptides & Antioxidants firming treatment and the body shop SPF 50 I would also include in my essentials.
*The Body Shop, Skin Defence Multi-Protection Lotion SPF 50+ PA++++, £22 | *Beauty Bay, CERAVE HYDRATING CLEANSER, £9.50 | *Estee Lauder, Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex, £48 | *Cult Beauty, ALLIES OF SKIN Peptides & Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment, £105
