I have never had serious issues with my skin and I truly feel for people who have. The main problem I’ve got is that in its natural condition, my pale skin does not look much like porcelain, more like greenish-grey clay. Also, to paraphrase Chris Hadfield: there is nothing that can happen that a human being cannot make worse. And so it is with my skin – when the occasional pimple emerges, I immediately replace it with a bloody crater thrice the size of the original pimple. So one of my main skincare aims is to lighten the scars and brighten the face in general.

With skincare, I find it very difficult to make sure what actually works. I am simply unable to test something for 6 weeks and keep the rest of my routine the same. But I’ve got a set of products that I’ve been using for a while and things are improving, so SOMETHING in there is working.

For reference, my skin is slightly combination, always dehydrated, but not sensitive and can tolerate acids well. I am not going to dwell too much on the ingredient lists, but have included links to some more in-depth reviews by the usual suspects. And if you have questions, don’t be shy.

1. Alpha-H Liquid Gold. This is a powerful resurfacing treatment, based on glycolic acid (acids are not to be feared, especially if you want that exfoliationg and illuminating effect). If you like to feel your skincare working, this one is for you. But even better, you can see it working, too. Just don’t over-use it, 2-3 times a week is plenty.
2. Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion. This is a much gentler liquid and can be used every day, morning and evening, to slightly clear the skin. Very nice, has salicylic acid, not crazy expensive.
3. Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment. I was very, very suspicious of this brand, but this treatment is in fact one of the very few mud-based masks I like and use. I’m pretty sure this is because it combines the clay with a coctail of different acids. I tend to use this one during the weekend, when I have time for a bath and some sereious mask action. It cleans very thoroughly and brightens, too.
4. Mizon Good Night White Sleeping Mask. This is relatively new, as I’ve been trying out some Korean skincare lately. They sure know about brightening. It’s reasonably priced and therefore not quite SKII, but when I leave it on overnight, my skin looks more radiant and feels well hydrated in the morning.
5. Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector. I would not identify myself as a major Clinique fan, but I have been using their toner and this serum almost daily. I think I saw a difference in my sun spots/scars almost immediately after I started using the latter. But beware, the texture is really, really silicon-y, so make sure you are OK with that, first.
6. Odacité Hyperpigmentation Serum Concentrate. The newest addition, a lovely oil with papaya seed and geranium. Brightening and exfoliating products can sometimes be a little drying, so it’s good to have an oil in the mix. I don’t care about the all natural claims (not against them either), I just enjoy using it.
7. Eve Lom Brightening Cream. I’m going to confess right away that I bought this because Sali Hughes recommended it. Fortunately, I love it. It leaves the skin well moisturized and glowy and perefect for make-up. Although you cannot, of course, proceed directly to make-up, because:
8. You need sunscreen. I really don’t like wearing sunscreen. At all. But I have come to accept that it needs to be used, even in these sun-less lands, and that if I’m spending a lot of money getting rid of my sun spots and scars, it would be exceedingly silly to not use sunscreen and make them return twice as fast. Zelens Daily Defence Sunscreen SPF 30 is my favourite, there aren’t many better ones out there. But even this cosmetically elegant formulation is not entirely perfect under make-up: it’s very moisturising and if you use the correct amount, I feel the things on top can move a bit.

Actually, there is one more thing, but I think it deserves its own post.