…including the product I’ve turned all my mates onto.
*This post features a collaboration with Allies of Skin
It’s rare that I fall so head over heels for a skincare product that eight months later I’m *still* banging on about. We’ll get to that in a bit and I’m sure it will be a MASSIVE surprise to regular readers of the blog, but first let’s intro Allies of Skin. It’s a brand that I was first introduced to, way back in 2016, when it first launched in the U.K. In a packed hotel lobby I met the mild-mannered, kind founder Nicolas Travis – who with their background in pharmaceutical science, created the brand after struggling to find a products for his acne-prone skin (and yes his skin was GLOWING!). The range was small (three products if I remember correctly), but his ethos is still the same now as it was five years ago – minimalists at heart, but with sophisticated, smart and most importantly, effective formulas with an emphasis on transparency in the beauty industry. It’s just an all round good-egg brand (as is their newly launched little sister brand PSA!).
There are many reasons to love Allies of Skin, but I thoroughly enjoy a scroll of their website. You know what to know the nitty gritty of each formulation? They have you covered. When I first decided to purchase the Promise Keeper Blemish Sleeping Facial, I took the online quiz to work out what other products from the range would work best with it to overcome the breakouts, redness and sensitivity I was struggling with at the time. I love me a quiz. Then I browsed each suggestion, looking at the key ingredients and reviews. Once everything arrived the boxes were so info-packed you’ll want to keep them all – the pH, when to use, how to use, what to pair it with – knowledge is POWER, you know?
MY CLEAR SKIN MENU
After years of playing around with different routines and formulas I found what worked for me. Simplicity. Parring it back and sticking with the basics that proved themselves to be effective on the daily, sorted my skin right out after two years of being on a wild ride.
In the mornings I kept it simple – and still do. With a cleanse, mist, hydrating serum, moisturiser, then SPF. In the evenings I use even less product. I remove my makeup with a reusable mitt, I cleanse using the same cleanser from the mornings and then I use the Allies of Skin Promise Keeper Blemish Sleeping Facial – you know the one. I first introduced it into my routine last August and have done the same evening routine ever since. It took about a month for the results to kick in, but since then my hormonal breakouts have been few and far between. I can often go months without a major blemish in my chin region, and if one does ever crop up it’s far less angry than before and waves goodbye without too much of a fuss.
Basically I love it. Can you tell!? I’ve used it every evening since then and won’t stop anytime soon. It did an incredible job of clearing up my breakouts, maintaining that and then also hydrating – a step that so many spot-clearing treatments just don’t cater for. HOW DOES IT DO IT?! Well, the ingredient list is basically a who’s who of antibacterial, blemish-fighting, skin-soothing and brightening ingredients, like Mandelic and Lactic Acids, Organic Rosehip Oil, Silver, Niacinamide, Manuka Honey and Hyaluronic Acid to name just a few. It’s a marriage of effective ingredients, in a luxe-feeling formula and we’re in it for the long-term.
MY TOP TIPS
Be prepared for it to get worse before it gets better. As it says on the website, I found that there was a two week period where things got worse before I saw an improvement. This is due to increased antibacterial activity and cellular renewal rate and within a month things had started to turnaround.
Opt for 2-3 pumps every evening. I’ve personally found that three pumps is my sweet spot. It gives me the right amount of hydration, without feeling heavy on the skin.
Apply with plenty of time before bed. Be mindful that the formula contains Manuka Honey, so there is a slight bit of ‘stick’ when first applied. I find it best to do my skincare a few hours before I go to bed to avoid feeling like I’m losing my skincare to my pillowcase.
Look at it as an investment. One tube lasts me approximately three months. It’s £115 to buy, so that equates to about £38 monthly and just under a tenner per week. For me personally, that’s worth it, especially because I’ve cut down on my use of skincare products in the evening; using just a cleanser and this – it’s a one-stop shop.
Always use SPF. It’s so important to apply SPF the morning after using this treatment. So slather it on liberally, all over your face and down your neck – you can never use too much.
MY ALLIES OF SKIN FAVOURITES
Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist. This mist has it all – antioxidants, probiotics, niacinamide, silver, zinc and mango extract – making it a punchy hydration-boosting cocktail for your skin. Of course a cooling spritz is always a luxe-feeling part of your routine – especially in the warmer months – but this one is packed with actives too. I use it AM and PM, immediately after cleansing.
Allies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster. I *love* this serum. After doing a deep-dive into niacinamide I decided I needed an extra boost of it in my routine (FYI it helps to lighten discolouration, improve the appearance of large pores and increase your skins ability to retain moisture – it’s a win, win). It’s a light texture that’s immediately absorbed and a special mention goes to the bumper 50ml size. I use it in the AM after misting.
Allies of Skin Peptides & Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment. I was never much of a moisturiser lover, I’d use my SPF post-serum and call it a day. But my skin is dehydrated and needs as much moisturise these days as possible, so last autumn I started to incorporate this into my routine after serums, but before SPF in the AM, and let’s just say I was scooping it out of the tube until the very end. It’s a daily leave-on treatment with a 16.5% repair complex to firm and repair damaged skin.
Photos by Mark Newton