Our go-to gurus, Nutritional Therapist Amelia Freer (FdSc, Dip ION) and skincare expert Sarah Chapman have joined forces to give us the ultimate guide to good skin health. Amelia shares her skincare routine, favourite products and a 7-day Glow meal plan!
Skincare is also a topic I am frequently asked about, yet usually hesitant to address directly as I am so conscious that I am not a beauty expert. However, over the years I have learned a few tricks to help support skin health from the inside out – and the key products that have helped me from outside-in too. Sarah is one of the most respected and sought-after experts in the beauty industry and a fount of knowledge and expertise when it comes to all things skin health, as well as being someone I have turned to many times over the past few years to support my own glow. Sarah is also passionate about healthy eating, and a strong believer in supporting the skin from the inside out, as well as the outside in! Amelia
My Skincare routine and the products I love…
I truly believe that good skin health begins from within and a good diet, good sleep, and good hydration make the most noticeable difference to my skin health (alongside avoiding smoking and sticking to very moderate alcohol intake). For more specifics on this, take a look at my free downloadable 7-day meal plan below(with lots of extra tips), in partnership with Sarah Chapman Skinesis. This gives a starting point to see just how to put together a sustainable, skin-healthy diet. Of course, a week is just the beginning, but I do hope it’s a handy guide. As always, if you have any concerns about your skin health, please discuss this with a medical professional, and if you feel that you may have specific dietary issues that are contributing to your skin problems, I would strongly urge you to work alongside an appropriately qualified nutrition professional. Having said that, I have also learnt the importance of a good skincare routine in addition to a consistently healthy lifestyle when it comes to finding my glow.
I’m not a huge beauty buff, but I do love to try new products and revel in the opportunity I get from time-to-time to pamper myself a little bit. Over the years, I have been through different phases when it comes to beauty. While I do generally look for more natural products still, there is so much green-washing and inconsistent use of terminology, I am much more interested now in efficacy, experience and how something makes me feel while using it. My skin has changed a lot over time, and now I am focused on good hydration and support as I am not getting younger!
So, with that in mind, I thought I’d talk through my routine with you and share the products that I find myself turning to time and time again.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find some exclusive discount codes for Sarah Chapman Skinesis, Votary and Bare Biology.
Cleansing has been the biggest lesson for me with my skincare and this is what I spend the most time doing. I do one cleanse in the morning before my shower and a double cleanse at night. If I have been wearing eye make-up I will remove this prior to cleansing with Neal’s Yard Makeup Remover and reusable bamboo make-up pads. I don’t like to use soap-based cleansers as I find them too drying. So I use a good oil cleanser and I really go to town with massaging and spending time at this stage, which is something I learnt from Sarah Chapman (I highly recommend watching this video of her demoing how to properly cleanse). The cleansing oils that I turn to time and again are Ultimate Cleanse by Sarah Chapman Skinesis and Rose, Geranium & Apricot Cleansing Oil by Votary or this gentle cleanser by Trilogy if my skin is feeling very sensitive. A budget option that I really love is the Oat Cleansing Balm from The Inkey List. I have a stack of face cloths from the White Company that I generally use to remove my cleanser (I buy them in the sale).
This is my next step and has literally become my best friend over the last few years as my skin has started to age and get drier. It is light and quickly absorbed but it instantly soothes, and I notice the difference in my skin’s hydration when I use this consistently. The hyaluronic acid products that I have tried and liked are Brightening Hyaluronic Serum by Votary, Intense Hydrating Booster by Sarah Chapman Skinesis. Triple Hyaluronic Acid by Beauty Pie, Hyaluronic Acid + B5 by The Ordinary and Ideal Moisture Level Serum by Twelve Beauty. All of these make my skin feel amazing.
Next, I’ll use a serum, I really do love them! I have tried a few and will switch around what I use according to what is going on with my skin. A couple of times a year I’ll use this live probiotic serum by Esse. It’s expensive, but a little goes a long way and has made the most significant difference to my skin of any product I have tried. One bottle can last me for ages. Other serums I love are this one by Twelve Beauty, Sarah Chapman Skinesis Ultra Recovery Booster and this budget-friendly Vitamin C Serum from The Inkey List.
Even though my skin can get oily and is prone to blackheads, it is dry, and I can get rosacea breakouts as well as very sensitive and sore if I get very stressed and run down or when the weather turns colder. So, I rely on a good oil to soothe and calm, which I gently press into my skin. I might use a facial massager or this cooling rose roller if I have time. There are so many lovely oils to use. I adore this one by Slow Ageing. The seasonal oils by De Mamiel are utterly gorgeous. I love that they are seasonal, although this does mean there is sometimes a bit of a wait until the next batch is available. This oil by Votary is a favourite as are the morning and night-time oils from Sarah Chapman Skinesis. The one that I probably have used the most over the years is Trilogy Rosehip Oil because it is a bit more affordable. Oils can be pricy, but you just need a couple of drops, so I find they last well.
I have found that using a good facial cream is the step I most need to lock everything in and keep my skin hydrated. Sarah Chapman Skinesis Comfort D-stress Cream is the best one I have used and once again, it lasts for ages as I only need a tiny amount. I also love this one by Slow Ageing and Beauty Kitchen’s Really Radiant Moisturiser. I am a huge fan of this brand and it was the winner of the sustainable product category that I chose for the Natural Health Beauty Awards.
I don’t get along at all well with eye creams, so I tend to not use them. My eyes are very sensitive and can get really puffy with creams, so I just lightly massage instead. If I need a little extra de-puffing, a teaspoon kept in the freezer does wonders to wake up my eyes and I always use these eyelash curlers, even if I am not going to wear eye makeup.
I’ll finish my routine with some of this lip balm which really is the best one I have used and it lasts and lasts. It’s such a brilliant product. I keep one in my make up bag, one on my desk, one in my handbag… I can’t recommend it more.
In high summer when I know I’ll be outside outdoors, I’ll add Heliocare SPF 50+ Face Sunscreen after my cream. This brand was recommended to me by Sarah Chapman and it has been the one product that doesn’t trigger outbreaks for me in the same way that some other sunscreens have. As I am out in the garden a lot, I also always wear a sunhat. But read on to the make-up section as I also use make up with SPF all year round.
Once a week I’ll do a face mask. I love them and consider them a real treat. Mostly, I want extra hydration and plumping and other times I want a bit of exfoliation, so I have several on the go that I use as and when I need. Evolve Miracle Mask and the 5 Minute Miracle Mask from Beauty Kitchen are both good value and really make me glow. Otherwise, I absolutely LOVE the Votary Intense Overnight Mask and these ones from Sarah Chapman Skinesis.
Of course, I am a huge advocate of beauty blossoming from the inside, supported by a consistently healthy lifestyle and good hydration. However, I do intermittently take a few supplements to try to support my skin, as and when I feel I need them. Hyaluronic Acid by Wild Nutrition has been reported to reach the skin surface in clinical trials, helping it to stay soft and supple. If I’m not eating much oily fish, or my skin is very dry, I may take an Omega-3 supplement too, such as Life & Soul from Bare Biology or the new Biomega 3 from Beauty Pie. I have also recently started taking Ultimate Collagen from Ingenious Beauty which was sent to me to try.
As always, please speak to your GP or an appropriately qualified nutrition professional prior to starting or changing any supplements. My personal supplement regime may not be safe or appropriate for you.
I have barely worn make-up over the past year, but even before that, I definitely lean towards a more natural look. Having an enthusiastic little one to look after in the mornings is also not conducive to an elaborate make-up routine. But, I have to say that since trying Trinny London make-up, especially this BFF Skin Perfecting Cream which has SPF in it, I have been pretty blown away by how quick and easy it is to quickly do my face. I am a total convert (and this is absolutely not an ad). Take a look at their online Match2Me service to find your recommended products and colours. Brilliant!
Click here to download Amelia’s Glow Plan.
With the most wonderful time of the year fast approaching, it’s time to start Christmas shopping! We know how tricky it can be to find the perfect pressie for your loved ones so whether you are looking for stocking fillers, festive treats, the one who loves self-care or the one who has everything, look no further!
These little beauties are so delicious and extremely easy to make. Great for an on-the-go breakfast or mid-morning snack – releasing energy slowly to keep you going until lunchtime. They will keep in the fridge for a week, but we doubt they’ll last more than a couple of days!
We have had Moon Roast Coffee at Lime Wood and in Raw & Cured for 3 years now, we sat down with the founder Francis, to find out more about them…
