My Skincare Routine: Donna Bartoli
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In The Morning…
My morning routine is all about protection. My focus is getting those important antioxidants onto my skin to create a shield against environmental stressors like pollution and sun damage.
It all begins with a thorough cleanse. For me, it’s important to freshen up your face first thing and wash away any product reside from the night before. It’s always a gentle gel cleanser like Susanne Kaufmann’s which doesn’t strip my skin. I then follow that with a hydrating toner to replace any lost moisture and to prep my skin. My favourite is Paula’s Choice Advanced Replenishing Toner – I can’t be without it. Then come the antioxidants. Lately I’ve been loving Murad’s Vita C Glycolic Brightening Treatment and immediately after I’ve applied that, I’ll layer a hyaluronic acid serum on top; it’s so important to keep as much moisture as possible locked in. Hyaluronic acid gives you that dewy plumpness we all want, so find a good one and use it every day. I seal all of that in with the new Elemis Pro-Collagen Morning Matrix moisturiser which has become a favourite for protecting my skin against blue light emitted from our phones and laptops.
SPF always comes last. Sun protection should be the last step in everyone’s routine. I love Beauty Pie’s Featherlight UVA/UVB SPF50. It’s invisible, works so well underneath make-up and is only £12 for Beauty Pie members – it’s the best.
I love to set my make-up with an SPF spray too. When I need to top up my SPF throughout the day, I use Kate Somerville’s Uncomplikated SPF50 Spray. It doubles up as a setting spray for any make-up you’ve applied – it isn’t sticky and gives skin a soft glow.
Consistency is key. My morning routine doesn’t change – I repeat the same steps every day, just switching out the products occasionally. As a skincare influencer, I’m lucky to try lots of different products, but I believe in simplicity and using only what works best for my skin.
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In The Evening…
The evening requires a different approach. My focus is a thorough cleanse and to repair any damage done during the day. Hydration at night is essential, too.
I love a double cleanse at night. I start with an oil or a balm to break down the dirt, make-up and SPF that’s still on my skin. Then, I’ll repeat the cleanse with a gel or cream cleanser. I love the Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil followed by Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser – both are so gentle but get the job done. To finish off, I love Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Serum. Whether I’m exfoliating or using a retinol, this repairs and hydrates my skin every time.
Once or twice a week, exfoliation is a must. I don’t like to overdo it, so I’ll use either Dr Dennis Gross’s Alpha Beta Daily Peel Pads – which contain AHAs like glycolic and lactic acid – or the Sunday Riley Good Genes Exfoliating Serum which is equally gentle but effect.
Using a mask at night is a great way to boost hydration. I never do it more than one evening a week, but I enjoy taking the time to use one to up the moisture levels in my skin. I love sheet masks and my go-to is the Decree Skincare SOS Revitalising Mask. Not only does it feed my skin with intense hydration – and important antioxidants – it’s also the UK’s first fully sustainable mask, so I can enjoy using it without of the guilt of harming the planet.
On nights I don’t exfoliate, I’ll use a retinol. A good over-the-counter one is Beauty Pie’s SuperRetinol. It’s high strength but very kind and gentle on my skin. Retinol is a tricky ingredient to use – I’ve tried and failed with a lot – but perseverance is key. To help with the process, try using niacinamide before you apply any retinol. Niacinamide is an ingredient that can be used with any skincare product and on any skin type – it’s so versatile. It’s main benefit though is that it strengthens the skin barrier, so it makes a perfect partner for retinol.
Finally, at night I have a bath to switch off. Being a social media influencer means a lot of time spent on my phone and laptop, so I am strict with turning them both off after a certain time. I’ll shower in the morning, but always take a bath at night. It’s a little moment of quiet and calm. Just recently I’ve also been sleeping without any electrical devices in my bedroom which has helped enormously. It stops me from picking my phone up and scrolling endlessly.
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