Alex Steinherr Shares Her Skincare Rules & Ride-Or-Dies

The Skincare Step I’d Never Skip…

It’s cleansing. Always. This is the step that quietly dictates everything that comes after. If you get it right, your serums glide in, your moisturiser actually does its job and your skin behaves. Get it wrong and no fancy active ingredient will save you. I’m loyal to a proper (and gentle) cleanse because it resets the skin, removes the pollution film we all collect, and stops congestion before it starts. It is the most unglamorous step but the most transformative. 

The Most Underrated Ingredient…

I swear by peptides, but they are no longer an underrated ingredient. So I would say PDRN. It’s hugely popular in Korea right now, and I’m certain it’s only a matter of time before it shows up in far more products here. Think of it as deep repair fuel for skin that has seen stress, pollution, hormones, all of it. It helps support regeneration, calms irritation, and gives that rebound effect where skin suddenly looks more resilient and less reactive. I rate it because it works in that stealthy, behind-the-scenes way that makes everything else you use show up better. I love the Royal Fern PN Boosting Serum for this. It’s one of those products that earns its place in your routine by making your skin feel stronger and more stable week after week. It’s not flashy, but it’s effective.  

The At-Home Tool That Will Actually Make A Difference…

The Ziip Halo is one device I consistently see real results from. It combines microcurrent and nanocurrent, which sounds very sci-fi, but what it really means is lifted contours, better tone and that fresh, post-facial tightness that normally requires a professional. What I love is its precision. It trains the muscles, supports circulation and gives that taut, awake look while also delivering long-term benefits if you stick with it. 

A Treatment I’d Recommend For The Winter Months…

Every time the seasons shift, I head straight to the Keren Bartov Clinic. There is no fixed menu. You book the time and they read your skin like a brief. They pull from a full suite of high-tech machines, building a treatment there and then. You can opt in or out of downtime. I always choose no downtime, and still leave looking lifted, bright and properly luminous. It’s bespoke skin strategy at its best, and one of the smartest investments you can make in your face. 

ALEX’S AFFORDABLE SKINCARE FAVOURITES 

The Myth I Would Like To De-Bunk…

There’s a popular idea that you need to feel something for your skincare to be working. The tingling, the stinging, the tightness. None of those are signs of efficacy. They’re your skin telling you it is irritated. The best results come from consistency and ingredients that support your barrier rather than bully it. If your skin feels calm, balanced and comfortable, you are winning.  

A ThrowBack Beauty Product I Still Love…

Sudocrem is the ultimate old-school multitasker that absolutely still deserves its place. It calms angry spots, takes the edge off irritation, and helps settle skin that is having a moment. I keep a pot around because it just works, with no fuss. 

Winter Skin Has 3 Non-Negotiables For Me…

1.  Protect your barrier like it’s your job. Cold air and central heating pull moisture out of the skin fast, so you need a proper buffer. Think richer textures, humectants and anything that keeps water where it belongs, like Augustinus Bader’s Soothing Cream. 
2. Do not stop exfoliating. People panic and strip back completely, but a gentle, regular exfoliation keeps everything smooth so your hydrating products can actually get in.  
3. Never underestimate the power of an occlusive ointment at night. A thin layer over your usual routine locks the whole thing in, so you wake up with skin that looks alive rather than wind-burnt and confused. Not one for you if you’re on the very oily side. 

Your Lifestyle Can Be Just As Important As Skincare…

I would love to be able to say I swear by a saintly diet, but I love chocolate and sweets, and I always will. What has saved me is the fact I’ve never been much of a drinker. That alone has paid off in the long run in ways I only really appreciate now. And at 50, sleep has become the real make or break. If I don’t sleep, my face simply refuses to fall into place until lunchtime. Sleep is the one lifestyle factor you feel instantly in your skin. When I get enough, everything looks smoother, brighter and more lifted. When I don’t, no amount of skincare can fake that rested, rebalanced look. 

ALEX’S FOREVER FAVOURITES

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