Working in beauty is a blessing and a curse.
Largely, a blessing. Truthfully, the only way it’s a curse is that my “I’ll Be Ready in a Sec” morning routine and “Coming to Bed in a Moment” evening routine takes more time than what feels legal.
I love beauty, I love health, I love skin, and I love the science of all of those things. What I love most about beauty is the ritual element- working through a routine feels meditative to me, and I treat it as such. By virtue of my job and how long I’ve worked in this industry (we’ve clocked up over a decade together, me and beauty, at risk of ageing myself) I’ve tried just about every product, every skin hack, every inner beauty supplement there is. I’ve had plenty of time to hone a really, really good routine, so I’ll share it for you now.
Here’s how I maintain glowing, healthy, hydrated skin- from the inside, out.
Hydration 101 - Does Drinking Water Really Help Your Skin?
If we’re specifically talking about skin hydration, my most frequently asked question is, without question (I had to, sorry), “Does drinking water actually do anything for your skin?”
It’s a contentious issue and, based on what the experts have told me, drinking the recommended 2 ish litres of water a day won’t hugely impact how hydrated, plump, and dewy your skin looks.
What we can say, definitively, is that water is absolutely essential for just about every bodily function. It helps to flush out toxins, it aids with circulation, and (if you’re consistent) it can help the strengthen your skin’s barrier function.
Personally, I drink 3L of water per day for those reasons. I also love adding collagen, biotin, and hyaluronic acid powders to my water. Regardless of what the research says, I really do see a difference in skin clarity when I’m being diligent with my water intake. And it makes me feel good! I love adding something like a yuzu flavoured powder to one of my water bottles, because it’s delicious so it encourages me to drink more, and it’s also just a great way to ensure I’m getting a nice dose of collagen and other beautiful skin-foods, despite the majority of our skin’s hydration coming from our topical skincare routine. Which brings me to…
What else can we do for glowing, hydrated skin?
On the hydration front, our topical skincare routine is more important than anything.
In my opinion, there’s no ingredient with greater skin hydration benefits than hyaluronic acid. When applied topically, hyaluronic acid has the ability to hold up to 1000 times its own weight in moisture, turning the skin into a bit of a sponge and allowing it to draw moisture in and hold onto it. Now, imagine that sponge getting wet and swelling up- it’s a watered down explanation (again, I’m so sorry), but that’s why your skin looks plumper and more hydrated, and fine lines look slightly “filled,” when you use hyaluronic acid.
Because of its ability to help moisture absorb into the skin, hyaluronic acid serums are best applied to ever-so-slightly damp skin, before your moisturiser- the moisturiser will help to “seal” it.
What does the rest of my wellness and hydration routine look like?
I firmly believe that the best beauty, skincare, and wellness routines are the ones you actually want to do. If you, like me, enjoy working through many, many, many steps, then go for it. If you don’t, then you shouldn’t. It’s all about working out what works for you. There’s absolutely no point having dozens of products on hand if you aren’t going to use them. Beauty is supposed to be fun!
The big one, for me, is fresh air and movement. If I’m stressed, I’ll get some fresh air. If I’m feeling lousy about how I look, I’ll get some air to clear my head. Skin looking a little puffy after a bad night’s sleep? A brisk walk outside (and maybe a cryo-mask- icy cold spoons and facial massage work well too!) will bring me right back.
I take a lot of supplements, as advised by my doctor (it’s always advisable to speak to a healthcare professional before adding and changing your ingestible beauty, supplement, and vitamin regimen). I take vitamin D, omega 3, zinc, (more) collagen, vitamin B12, and pre and pro biotics for my gut health, my skin, my hair, my nails, my energy levels and cognitive function… you understand.
I also love dry body brushing and saunas (not at the same time- I go to a public sauna so the thought of hauling my dry brush in there is just… socially unacceptable). Both of these are great for boosting circulation, which in turn helps the body’s natural detoxification process- I find my skin, head to toe, just looks brighter and healthier when I’m being consistent here. That said, these practises can also dry out the skin, too, so one of my 2025 beauty resolutions was to be as diligent with my body care routine as I am with my facial skincare. So far, so good!
Again, the best routine is the one you actually look forward to doing. Pick and choose what makes you happy, and build it out from there. You glow brighter when you’re enjoying yourself!
