Antonia Louise

My Holy Grails

Products I personally repurchase and use the most! I have combination - dry - sensitive skin! I use prescription tretinoin which is why you won’t see my holy grail Retinoid 🫶🏼

LED Masks

The best masks on the market - I personally use qure 🫶🏼 I use EVERY night after cleansing!

Cleansers

Gentle cleansers for a happy skin barrie! There’s ZERO need to strip your skin of its natural oils. This can make inflammatory skin conditions worse. Below are cleansers I have tested & approve for reactive/sensitive 👍🏽

Oil/Balm Cleansers

The best way to makeup, SPF & dirt from the day! PM first cleanse. Apply to dry skin, massage for 60 secs, apply water, rinse & follow with a gentle cleanser (double cleanse)

Serums - Happy Skin Barrier/Hydration

Serums for a healthy skin barrier! I personally use every evening - after an exfoliant before moisturiser or straight to damp skin after cleansing before retinoid then moisturiser!

Korean hydrating/barrier serums

Top k-beauty hydrating/barrier serums I’ve tested so far. Apply to damp skin post cleansing (apart from exfoliation night) & follow with a treatment + moisturiser/SPF

Peptides

Pair with retinoids for a healthy ageing duo in the evening! Sensitive skin tip: Double cleanse, peptide serum (to damp skin), Retinoid (to dry skin), moisturiser!

Retinols

Beginner retinols! Use up the whole product then move onto Retinaldehyde if you want to amplify your results 🫶🏼

Retinaldehydes

More potent than retinol, less irritating than prescription retinoids (tretinoin/Retinoic acid)! Use up the whole tube then move onto tretinoin if you want more results 🫶🏼

Azelaic acid

Hyperpigmentation, rosacea, inflammatory acne! Azelaic acid is the trick of all trades 🫶🏼 you can use this alongside your retinoid or in the morning before moisturiser/sunscreen!

Vitamin C Serums

The top 5 products are L-Ascorbic Acid (the most evidence-based form of vitamin C)! The last 3 are THD ascorbate a lipid soluble derivative of L-AA with less data but more suitable for sensitive skin 🫶🏼

Antioxidants

Alternative antioxidants to use AM if your skin does not like L-Ascorbic Acid

Hyperpigmentation - Tyrosinase Inhibitors

Use AM to prevent & improve hyperpigmentation/acne scars. Either use azelaic acid after (acne) or an antioxidant (vit C) serum before (hyperpigmentation), follow with moisturiser/SPF.

Exfoliants - Salicylic Acid

Oily/combi/acneprone/blackheads. Use x3 times per week NOT when using retinoid. Double cleanse, exfoliant, barrier serum (look for green tea/niacinamide/centella in the inci), gel cream

Exfoliants - GlycolicAcid

Best for dry, dull skin, age management & hyperpigmentation (avoid if you have sensitive skin). Use 2-3 times a week. Apply to dry skin post cleansing 🫶🏼

Exfoliants - Mandelic acid

Great exfoliant for sensitive and dry acne prone skin! Use 3x per week PM. Apply to dry skin after cleansing & follow with barrier serum, then moisturiser 🧴

Exfoliants -Sensitive Skin

PHA & lactic acid - sensitive/dry/textured skin. Use 1-2 times a week & DO NOT use a Retinoid in the same routine. Double cleanse, exfoliant (dry skin), hydrating/barrier serum/peptides, moisturiser! 🫶🏼

Eye creams

The only time I recommend an eye cream is a retinol based eye cream if you can’t tolerate your facial retinol around your eyes! Use after cleansing PM 🫶🏼

Moisturisers - Combination/Oily Skin

Moisturisers - Dry Skin

Or when using active ingredients to reduce irritation

Sunscreens: Combination - Oily Skin

Sunscreens: Normal- Dry Skin

Hypochlorous acid

An antibacterial & soothing tonic. I skip my AM cleanse and use this instead (sensitive/compromised/dry skin I recommend doing the same). Acne/oily/rosacea skins use after cleansing AM & PM 🫶🏼

SOS spot treatments

Products 3-5 are benzoyl peroxide based. Don’t use if you have SUPER sensitive skin

Body acne

Keratosis Pilaris - Strawberry Skin