It’s been a long, long time since I posted on here, and many of you know that’s because I’ve been up to my eyeballs working with Sali Hughes on our online launch, salihughesbeauty.com.

Last week we launched a video that Sali made on layering products. It’s a very worthwhile watch if you’ve ever been confused which of the plethora of products available that you actually need, and how the hell you are supposed to use them. As I love nosing at other people’s beauty regimes, I thought I would document my current ones here.

Daytime

I start the day every day with a wash off cleanser. My skin is pretty oily, but I am not twenty either, so I compromise and go for a fairly gentle one. Twice a week I use this with a Clarisonic. I had a few blackheads lurking before I got this and I am convinced this has helped shift them. Also my skin feels like a baby’s bum when I’ve finished, so that can only be a good thing, eh?

Next up is eye and lip. At the moment I am using Origins Plantscription eye cream, which is a nice, easily absorbed base for the day. Lips I am currently using By Terry Baume de Rose. I bought this because I was lucky enough to interview Nicky Kinnaird and it’s one of her hero products. The next time I was in a Space NK I picked one up and I can totally see why she loves it. It’s incredibly rich, smells beautiful and feels like such a treat. It’s also hugely pricey, and for that reason when this one runs out it might be an every-other-time purchase. But yum, all the same.

Serum next, and I use a brightening serum in the morning. I have been a devoted user of Clinique’s Ultra Clinical serum for about 18 months, and have tracked my hyperpigmentation using their little chart. I saw a really good reduction in the depth of colour and it’s a winner for me. I thought I would give something else a go for a bit, so am trying Pepta Bright at the moment. It’s too early to tell if it is fading my hyperpigmentation further, but my two observations are that it leaves my skin feeling quite moisturised and it smells horrible. I’m at an age now where if it goes on my face I want it to be really effective but also smell nice – why pay big money for skin care and not enjoy using it? On that basis, I won’t get this one again but I will explore other brightening serums.

Finally, day cream. I’m on the dregs of Clarins Multi Active day cream, which I often come back to as a staple. When this is done I will be swapping to Clinique Even Better for oily skin.

The only other product that I sometimes add is a Clarins SPF lotion – I add this on sunny days in the UK. On a cloudy day I rely on the SPF in my regular moisturiser and base, and if I am in sunnier climes I use a proper sun screen / skin care cream, like the ones from Clarins.

Evening

I know many people do a double cleanse but I tend not to. Sometimes, if I have been in London and feel particularly grubby, I will take off my make-up with a Micellar water (La Roche Posay) when I get home. Otherwise I do the whole routine at bedtime. I’m currently using Clarins Extra Comfort Cleansing Cream, which truth be told is probably a little rich for my skin but I absolutely love the feel of it, and it’s such a treat at the end of a long day. I also use Liz Earle C&P from time to time. I follow the cleanser most nights with the Clarins Exfoliating Toner. Nighttime serum is invariably Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair, which needs no explanation. Been around forever, I’ve used it for years. Lips I am using the By Terry Baume de Rose again, and eyes I am currently using Lancome’s Genifique serum. This comes with a little wand with a bead on the end that you are supposed to use to massage round the eye. I didn’t find that particularly helpful so I just wipe a bit on the back of my hand and pat it round with my ring finger.

So that’s my routine – it’s a big step up from where I was two years ago, but the addition of a morning serum, Clarisonic and exfoliating toner to my regular routine has paid dividends for my skin, and at my age I need to be really looking after it.