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My summer skincare routine took an unexpected turn this year, thanks to an almost unprecedented situation. A couple of months ago, I had to completely rethink my beauty regimen. You might be curious about the mishap, and while it wasn’t a full-blown disaster, it was a close call. The culprit was the weather—who would have expected a month-long heatwave in the spring? I spent a lot of time outside in my garden, from morning until evening, without adjusting my skincare routine. I didn’t think to switch out my usual spring products for summer-appropriate ones, and soon, I began noticing some pigmentation on my upper lip and cheekbones.
This might be a bit anticlimactic for those anticipating stories of severe skin issues, but thankfully, it was just some troublesome pigmentation starting to appear, something I’d never experienced before. Initially puzzled, I realized I had continued with my usual retinol and hydration routine without giving much thought to what my skin needed during the day.
It’s unlike me to let such things slip, especially regarding my face. But I was a bit distracted with the lockdown, world chaos, empty supermarket shelves, the constant concern of health risks, and two energetic kids at home nonstop. When those freckles showed up, I immediately revamped my skincare routine. For the first time, I incorporated high-powered antioxidants twice a day to counteract the discoloration. I eased off on the retinol, not so much due to the dark spots, but because when I encounter beauty dilemmas, my instinct is to simplify my regimen. Though many dermatologists claim retinol is safe in sunnier seasons, others advise caution, suggesting lots of sunscreen and perhaps some shade. Hearing such mixed advice, my gut told me to hit pause on retinols for a bit. Safety first is my motto, especially with today’s intense beauty treatments that seem ready to cause unforeseen skin reactions.
Focusing on antioxidants, I chose products from Skinceuticals, a brand famous for its antioxidant effectiveness. While their CE Ferulic is highly regarded, I opted for Resveratrol BE at night and the newer Discoloration Defense in the morning. I’ve had great results with Resveratrol BE before, so it was an easy decision, and I’d wanted to try Discoloration Defense but hadn’t had any discoloration until now.
A quick note: these serums aren’t cheap, with Resveratrol BE priced at £135 and Discoloration Defense at £85. However, Skinceuticals consistently impresses me with their rigorous clinical standards and formulations that don’t irritate my skin. With plenty of antioxidants waiting for me at home, I’d still buy the Discoloration Defense again. Always a positive sign.
I alternated the BE at night with DD in the morning, though using DD both times could have saved money. Did this change fix my skin? Absolutely. It looked brighter and more radiant. One thing I did miss, though, after cutting back on retinol, was the plump, elastic feeling my skin had—while it was glowing and more even-toned, it lost that bounce.
In an ideal world, I’d juggle antioxidants in the morning, retinol at night, and always wear a large hat outdoors. In reality, my hat tends to double as a fairy garden or picnic basket, or even as my dog’s water bowl on any given day. But this autumn, I plan to get back into my antioxidant-retinol-hydration routine and finally perfect my skincare approach.
For now, I’ve shared my skincare routine in a video, with the products listed below for those who prefer reading over watching. Feel free to reach out with any questions!