The skincare products I won’t be making...

Before I delve into today's topic, I just wanted to say the biggest thank you, as this post marks the official 1st birthday of our BASE Blog! Having you here with me each week truly keeps me motivated and inspired as I honestly feel as though I’m writing to my pen pals! Thank you for being here with me, for reading along and for all your continued support.

I’m also super grateful that you helped to choose tonight’s post over on Instagram! This evening we’re talking all about skincare products I’d never create and why. Despite being someone with a slightly obsessive passion for products, believe it or not, there are some that just don’t float my boat…And here’s why!

#1. A Toner

This is a product I probably get asked about most frequently as it’s still part of the famous, yet slightly outdated, cleanse, tone and moisturise system. But the thing about toner is that the reason it was initially developed is now null and void.

Toner was a key part of early skincare routines because it helped to balance the pH of your skin. This was important as decades ago, most people washed with soap which is renowned for being extremely alkaline. The toner would help to offset this and rebalance the skin so that it wouldn’t become irritated after washing.

Fortunately, product development has come a long way since then and well formulated cleansers like our Hot Cloth Cleanser, are now perfectly pH balanced for you. This means they cause no disruption to the balance of your skin and therefore the role of a toner is totally redundant.

In my opinion, it’s now an unnecessary step in your routine and you’d be better off investing in a great cleanser instead.

#2. Single Ingredient Products

This is a skincare trend that has grown drastically over the past few years, but not necessarily for the right reasons…

Making single ingredient products enables brands to lower the cost of individual items because the formulas are more basic. However, it then forces the customer to buy multiple bottles if they want to achieve any kind of result…Which eventually costs far more!

It also leads to an issue with application. I met a wonderful lady at an event I attended with BASE last year who was using 5 (?!) individual serums as instructed by a brand. She wasn’t sure which one went where, how much to apply and it also left her face feeling heavy and sticky.

The thing is, there is only so much your skin can absorb, so applying layer upon layer of individual ingredients is completely ineffective. A bit like over-watering a plant, eventually the excess liquid just sits on the surface providing no benefits whatsoever.

Instead, my personal preference is to create exceptional blends of ingredients that target multiple concerns in one bottle. For example, our Super Serum contains Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid and Peptides to intensely hydrate, instantly brighten and deeply rejuvenate in one pump. Our Eye Complex works much the same, using multiple active ingredients to reduce dark circles, fine lines and puffiness simultaneously.

These formulas not only accelerate results, but they save precious time and money too. So, no one hit wonders from me!

#3. A Face Scrub

I feel that face scrubs are a bit like marmite, you either love them or you hate them. And I can clearly see why some people find it hard to let them go.

Scrubs instantly leave the skin feeling smoother, softer, and more even…All things which I love too, but in this case, it comes at a price!

Unfortunately, the scrubby particles in these products cause micro tears to the surface of your skin. Over time they break down your protective skin barrier and create problems such as redness, irritation, and inflammation.

It’s for this reason, I always recommend exfoliating with AHAs instead. AHAs are light, naturally occurring, exfoliating acids that remove dead skin cells effortlessly without any need for scrubbing at all.

I popped 5 of them into our Exfoliating Cell Renewal Serum that works as a liquid exfoliant. All you do is apply a few drops each evening after cleansing and it works through the night to clear your pores, smooth the skin, and tighten and brighten your complexion, so you wake up glowing each morning.

All the results of a face scrub and more, with none of the side effects!

Once I get going on these blogs I could genuinely write for hours! But rather than continue discussing products I won’t be making any time soon, I’d love to hear any ideas you have or products you’d like to see from BASE in the future! As always, my inbox is always open, and I love hearing from you!

Amy x