There are many things I like to think I inherited (or am still trying to) from my mom. Her badassery, her work ethic, her humor, and her great skin.
Although my mom wasn't hugely into makeup when I was growing up (she didn't need much more than eyeliner and mascara) — she definitely knew the importance of a good skincare routine, and it's something I picked up from her early on. She's the first person to raid my skincare stash and is always up for the bizarre beauty trends I'm instructing her to try (at-home microneedling, anyone [1]?) So who better to experiment with? Thankfully we both have very similar skincare types: sensitive and dehydrated.
My mom has always been an avid user of skin care. She told me that at around age 13 she started using water and "cheap soap" to cleanse, but that (unsurprisingly) gave her rashes and dryness, so she found Ann French cleanser as an alternative. She explained to me that, "I used to 'borrow' my mum's Olay — but back then it was called Oil of Ulay, and I used Simple skincare products. Around this time The Body Shop was founded so I used their products. They were ahead of their time, as you used to be able to take bottles back in and have them refilled. Because I had skin problems, when I was younger I'd read "Jackie" and "Blue Jeans" magazine and do research in the library reading beauty and nutrition books — that makes me sound so bloody old. I've always looked after my skin by cleansing and using cream day and night."
During the three-day experiment, my mom realized that it's worth spending more on skincare products and combining these with less expensive products for the perfect combo. I realized that sometimes I don't need to use quite as many products as I do, and understand even more so that a consistent skincare routine means for life, not just for a few months. After swapping our products, my mom messaged me via text and said, "I'd like to thank my supplier — Tori fabulous Crowther — without whom I'd have a very limited skin routine." So, I guess it's a joint effort. Read on to see what we learned when we swapped skincare regimens.
My New Routine
Can you guess what my mom's favorite brand is by looking at this photo? It doesn't come cheap and she definitely stole it from me, but woman's got good taste.
My skincare routine at the moment is quite extensive, as someone who tests lots of products on a regular basis, I'm constantly chopping and changing (it was actually very hard stripping down the amount of products to swap with my mom). My skin type is sensitive and dehydrated, and I'm prone to hormonal breakouts. The main challenge when switching to my mom's routine was the lack of wash-off cleansers. As I wear more makeup than her, I had to ensure I was removing all of my makeup properly. I also cheated a little and added a product. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream is the secret to a perfect makeup base, and I just couldn't go without it.
My new routine in the evening consisted of: Avène Extremely Gentle Cleanser [4] ($24) (non-rinse), which I'm not quite used to yet but my skin definitely felt less dry after using, followed by Garnier Rose Water Toner [5] to ensure all my makeup was removed. I then used Beauty Bioscience Nightly Serum [6] ($95) alternating on and off days due to the retinol, followed by one of the three creams, No7 Triple Action Day Cream [7] ($24), SuperFacialist Hyaluronic Acid Firming Night Cream [8] ($23).
For the morning, I used the Beauty Bioscience Protector SPF 30 [9] ($40) followed by my Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream [10] ($100) prior to makeup application.
My Mom's New Routine
As you saw above, my mom's skincare routine is definitely not beginner level. She looks for products that are non-irritating, reduce puffiness and lines, and do not disturb or worsen her eczema. Her new routine, courtesy of me, consisted of Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Cleanser [11] ($63), which she said was refreshing, very clean, and left the skin feeling soft; Eve Lom Moisture Cream [12] ($150) (a product that is definitely on the higher end of the moisturizer market but sometimes worth it, according to my mom), which she described as soaking in straight away, slightly tingly, not greasy at all, and lovely. Top marks in my opinion. This was followed by the Herbivore Jade Roller [13] ($30) used around the jowls and unsuccessfully around the eyes. She said it was cooling, soothing, and relaxing but was a little awkward to use.
For the morning, she used the Tropic Smoothing Cleanser [14] ($21), "the smell reminded me of a spa, which was lovely, velvety texture, and the cloth was extremely soft and refreshing." This was followed by Nuxe Night Recovery Oil Balm Crème Prodigieuse Boost [15] ($43): "I imagined it to be more greasy so was surprised that it was a smooth pink cream. It soaked in easily, left no residue, and was more scented than I expected. It felt like I was on holiday due to the lovely smell and felt like a treat to use."
Other products used were Bioderma Sensibio H2O Make-Up Removing Solution Sensitive Skin [16] ($5), followed by eye patches, which she said were bigger than others she's used and much easier to place and didn't slide down her face. Bonus.
My mom texted me saying, "I was so focused on the products that I got to work and realized I had no eyeliner on!" The sign of a great skincare routine.
The Result
The verdict? My mom said, "I loved doing it. I was a bit nervous, as my skin can be so sensitive, but all the products were fab, and I might keep them. I would add these into my routine rather than stop using any of my current products. I really enjoy having a range of products because each day skin is so different, so having a selection of products means I can use the appropriate type of product, depending on the time of day too. Previously, I have avoided cleansers that need to be washed off with water but having tried it during the experiment, I may use these cleansers a couple of times a week."
Least favorite thing about the routine? "I guess having to think about it, hence why I forgot to put eyeliner on. My old routine was so automatic. But it wasn't a bad thing having to think about it as I sometimes get into rut and don't look for alternate products."
Sometimes, more is more when it comes to skin care. "Using the products made me realize how it is worth spending a bit more to have a couple of very good creams and cleansers. Even if it's not affordable to use them every day, I can at least use them couple times a week. That's genuinely been an eye-opener for me, and all thanks to you."
The Result
Verdict? I mean, my skin was visibly glowing. I was pretty surprised at how much my skin could glow from a reduced amount of products used. I was also surprised how much my mom had her skincare routine down to a fine art.
Least favorite thing? The cleansing situation was a little hard to get used to, but given the results, it's definitely something I'll keep doing. The main thing I took away from the experiment was how important it is to be consistent with a routine, not for days or months but years, and always adapting the routine to suit the skin's changing needs. After this, I'm going to strip down some of the products I'm using and be mindful about not overdoing it in the product testing department. And I'll definitely be using an eye roller more often to get rid of puffiness.