Hi Joanie, great question! I personally really like retinol, but it isn’t a natural ingredient. For me, I get great results using it (my skin looks firmer, smoother, keeps it clear, reduces the appearance of broken capillaries and redness, and evens out skin tone). But a lot of people are sensitive to it, which can cause more problems than benefits. It’s one of those ingredients you need to be careful using, make sure to wear sunscreen, and go slow. I also recommend using a BHT-free retinol (BHT is a preservative linked to health issues, so best to stay clear of it), or, you if you prefer using all natural products, you can try a retinol alternative which can have anti-aging benefits, antioxidant protection and without irritation or side effects.

Thank you Amanda for sharing your routine! Your honey-oat-milk baths sound amazing. One of my top favourite skin care ingredients is oats, I find it so soothing, hydrating and softening for my skin, it even helps my melasma. Such a simple ingredient. For me too, being gentle and protecting my skin always works best.

My skin is different though, in that I’ve never really had spots. I had the odd spot as a teenager, and a few blackheads, but nothing much else. I’ve had very dry skin since I turned about 30, but it’s not particularly sensitive, never goes red or irritated, but lots of things dry my skin out. I have very little photo-aging, because I’ve always protected my skin from the sun (and my Mum did when I was a child) because I burn so easily and never tan.

Food:
I am not veggie, but almost never eat meat. I do eat fish, dairy, etc. All the carbs we eat at home – rice, pasta, cous-cous, etc – are wholemeal. We eat a big mixture of veg and pulses. I like sugar and fat, but eating too much of either makes me feel sluggish.

Skincare:
I avoid sun directly on my skin as much as possible, and use suncream except in the dead of winter (in the UK, it hardly gets light in December….)

I always use gentle stuff, as anything harsh dries out my skin. I use micellar water (no SLS) to clean my face. I use oat-honey-milk bath, cocoa butter bath melts, and a gentle shower gel / shampoo (no SLS either).

In both morning and evening, I use a hyaluronic water-based serum – it contains hyaluronic acid (1.2%), niacinamide (4%), sodium lactate, sorbitol, camomile glycerite, Centrella Asiatica glycerite (3% of each of these). Over this I use a light day moisturiser in the morning, and a heavier moisturiser at night, then a facial oil with CQ-10.

I’m sure vitamin C serums are fab for some people, but too drying for me.