Current Skincare Routine - January/February

I posted on Wednesday about the changes I have consciously made to my lifestyle, diet and skincare routine. The upshot of it for me is that organic/natural has had to take a backstep. I still love my balms and oils but as treats. For day-to-day maintenance this is my current routine: I'm starting with the evening because that is the most important stage to me:

P.M. Start with dry skin!

1st cleanse with my staple: Emma Hardie 2nd cleanse with Perricone's Nutritive Cleanser.

This is new to me and I am LOVING it. Firstly, it smells of Johnson's Baby Powder (score!) and it feels really, really luxurious. This has helped my skin tremendously and I would like it on tap in my bathroom please. A little goes a long way. I alternate this with Alpha-H's Balancing Cleanser - another recent find.

This leaves the skin really soft yet definitely cleansed...

Toner/tonic stage Depending on the day I do one of two things: Day One: I wipe over the skin with Alpha-H's Liquid Gold and then leave the skin bare for the night as directed.

Hard for me as I am ingrained with covering the skin with something afterwards but no! I am doing as I'm told! This is some serious stuff and has made a clear, definite difference to my skin. Day Two: Either P50 or a standard toner depending on whether I feel dry or am flaring up. Eye Cream - currently Alpha-H's Absolute Eye Complex On days I am not using Liquid Gold I apply toner and then go straight in with Perricone's Cold Plasma

followed by their Face Finishing Moisturiser.

A.M. Again start with dry skin. Cleanse either with Nutritive Cleanser or Balancing Cleanser and a fresh hot cloth Tone with a toner that suits my skin on the day. Can be anything from Guinot to Dr. Lewinns Apply Cold Plasma Apply Perricone's Face Firming Activiator

Again - new addition to my regime but loving it so far... Apply Face Finishing Moisturiser on top. Note the above 3 products are used in small quantities and leave the skin feeling soft and hydrated, not greasy and heavy.

Added extras: Vitamin E Serum from Alpha-H, Darphin Purifying Balm, Payot Speciale 5 Drying and Purifying Gel are all in rotation and I use them like a buffet - as and when I need them... That's it. As you can see it's two things:

hardcore - there is nothing organic/natural about my current routine - I still use all the natural products I have at home on my teenagers but for me, at the moment, bring on the chemicals...
expensive - some of these products are not cheap. In fact they're borderline mortgage payments. But I'm telling you if they keep working the way they are at the moment it's worth it to me. I'll have to do without something else. Some people buy designer shoes/handbags/clothes, not me - skincare is my crack. And I can't just throw any old cream on my skin anymore and get away with it...

Other things that have helped me:

keeping my skin hydrated with spray toners. Treating acne rosacea in any form is incredibly drying when you are used to big fat moisturisers and I have a decanted spray toner on my desk and two at home. It calms my redness. Soon as I feel that telltale 'heat' coming I spritz myself. Bliss.
Going in with a second round of moisturiser after the first has absorbed. I make sure my face feels comfortable all the time.
Cut down the spicy foods - sad but true. Jalapenos are a distant memory for me at the moment...

If you do have acne and/or rosacea and you want to just start with one thing? Go for the Liquid Gold. That has given me the biggest, quickest, noticable difference. And its not extortionate. You can currently get a supersize on QVC for around £33 which I will be ordering... If anyone has any suggestions for anything that has really worked for them I would love to hear about them. Will keep you posted on my progress.... Here's hoping...