I’m quite fussy with skincare. I love beauty, obviously, but I’m also not someone who wants a 14-step routine that requires its own spreadsheet. If something is making it onto my shelf, I want to understand what it’s actually doing there.
My main concerns are hydration, brightness, keeping my skin looking alive when I’ve had approximately four hours’ sleep and generally trying to be a little more sensible about looking after it now I’ve just turned 30.
ZO Skin Health Gentle Cleanser
Cleansing is the one part of my routine where I really don’t want drama. Give me something straightforward that gets everything off and leaves my face feeling properly clean without turning it into the Sahara. ZO’s Gentle Cleanser is designed to remove impurities and excess oil, and this is exactly the sort of unfussy everyday product I gravitate towards.
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
Possibly one of the most famous vitamin C serums on earth, and therefore naturally the one I’m going to be drawn to. I’m very into anything that helps with brightness because tired, slightly grey London skin is unfortunately a recurring theme in my life. It combines vitamins C and E with ferulic acid, so this is my serious morning skincare step before I inevitably ruin the health-and-wellness illusion with another Diet Coke.
Alumier MD AluminEye
The eye area is where lack of sleep immediately grasses me up, so anything targeting dark circles and puffiness has my attention. AluminEye is specifically made for the under-eye area, and I like having one proper targeted product here rather than expecting my normal moisturiser to somehow fix absolutely everything.
Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream
I’m interested in retinoids, but I’m also wary of anything that’s going to make my face furious. AlphaRet combines a retinoid with an AHA and is designed to deliver the benefits you’d want from retinol while minimising the irritation often associated with it. For me, that makes it feel much less intimidating than going straight in with something nuclear.
Epionce Renewal Facial Cream
I absolutely love a great moisturiser. I want something that feels like I have actually moisturised my face, particularly at night, and this is the rich one on my shelf. It’s formulated around hydration, radiance and the visible signs of ageing, which basically covers everything I want from a moisturiser without requiring another three products on top.
Medik8 Advanced Day Ultimate Protect SPF 50+
SPF is the boring answer that everyone knows is correct, but I’m far more likely to actually use it consistently when it doesn’t feel like an additional chore. This combines SPF 50+ protection with a daily moisturiser, so it earns its space by doing two jobs at once - I support efficiency.
ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense
And finally, I want something that sits in the everyday maintenance category rather than attacking one incredibly specific problem. Daily Power Defense is all about supporting the skin against everyday environmental stress and visible ageing, which feels particularly relevant when you live in London and regularly spend your day bouncing between the Tube, shoots, offices and whatever event you agreed to attend three months ago and completely forgot about.
My general skincare philosophy is basically this: fewer products, but make them earn their spot. If I can understand exactly why something is on my shelf, I’m considerably more likely to actually remember to use it.
If you need any help or guidance on products or a skincare routine builder, book a free consultation below with one of the Skin Pharmacy Concierge team.
Mared Parry
Mared Parry is a multi-award-winning TV presenter, journalist and Editorial Content Lead at Betches UK, where she leads the brand’s British editorial and social content. A long-time beauty obsessive, she covers everything from new launches and industry trends to the products actually worth making room for in an already overcrowded bathroom.
