The ABC (And SPF!) You Need To Follow For Your Best Complexion Ever
Image by: Beauty Pie
According to this celebrity dermatologist, 6 letters hold the key to unlocking your most amazing skin yet – discover what they mean and the products you need to add to your routine now.
Beauty can be complicated. Finding a consistent and simple skincare routine can be overwhelming and practically impossible if, like me, you’re extremely easily swayed by a buzzy new product. Add to that the volume of hyper scientific – and therefore all the more exciting - ingredients and I’m fighting for space in my bathroom cabinet with not many results to show for it. Something I’ve come to learn over the years is that more isn’t always more, and that the glowy skin or anti-ageing benefits I long for can get completely lost in the volume of lotions, positions, acids, oils and masks I’ve slathered on my face. In fact, using fewer products alongside a couple of targeted treatments is the way to go, allowing each product in the routine a bit of breathing room to actually work.
Granted, I didn’t quite come to this conclusion alone – dermatologists have been saying it for some time, with one in particular – Dr Andrew Markey – leading the charge to curate our beauty routines into a few simple and powerful steps. Using his role as Consultant Dermatologist for Beauty Pie, he developed a skin-transforming routine with the brand to start anyone off on a full-blown healthy skin overhaul, at any time. It's a 6-week program that's set to become your skincare alphabet: ABCSPF™.
“If you think about ageing skin, what’s at the heart of it is damage,” Dr Markey explains. “And there are three skincare ingredients which work beautifully together to help slow down the ageing process. And conveniently they just so happen to be called A, B and C. Add in an SPF every single day - and your ABCSPF™ routine is complete.”
For those who don’t know Beauty Pie (but really, where have you been?), it’s a beauty editor's best kept secret for nabbing luxury skincare at everyday prices. It offers products from the very best suppliers and labs in the world without the hefty mark-ups often seen in the industry – you just have to become a member from as little as £4.91 a month with their annual option. But unlike your gym contract, this is one membership you’ll actually use. You only need to peep its founder Marcia's glassy skin to know that these products really work. It's seriously easy to fall down a rabbit hole of editor and customer loved products – especially if you have specific skin concerns - which is why the ABCSPF™ routine is a great starting point. “Every step builds collagen” says Dr Markey. “Of course you’ll still need cleansers and serums and moisturisers - but these actives are your ‘must-haves’.”
A is for…Vitamin A
Super Retinol (+Vitamin C) Night Renewal Moisturizer
Beauty Pie
£16.00
Good ol’ Vitamin A – or retinol as you’re more likely to have heard it raved about by every beauty buff out there. This superstar ingredient is the gold standard for anti-ageing, but it can prove strong for many skin types. This particular moisturiser from Beauty Pie, however, uses encapsulated retinol that resurfaces the skin without causing sensitivity. Add to that Ficucell Vita (antioxidant), Shea Butter (nourishing), vitamins E and C (elasticity+) and Ferulic and Hyaluronic Acids (plumping and hydrating) and you’ve got one of the highest quality – yet totally affordable – retinols out there. Use nightly and watch fine lines diminish, starting with applying once or twice a week if you’re particularly sensitive.
B is for…Vitamin B (aka Niacinamide)
Superdrops Brightening Niacinamide (10%)
Beauty Pue
£14.50
Want brighter, clearer, smoother, softer, even-toned and re-energized skin? 3 or 4 drops of this will do it! With 10% Niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3), 2% Oxygeskin and 3% Evermat (which makes large pores look like they’ve shrunk), this brightening blend is the key to preventing breakouts.
C is for…Vitamin C
Superactive Capsules Pure Vitamin C + Vitamin E
Beauty Pie
£15.00
Want visibly brighter, energised skin? Vitamin C is the way to go. Beauty Pie’s super-targeted ‘one-shot’ capsules get 5 star reviews from its loyal fanbase thanks to its high doses of stable Vitamin C (twice what you’d usually find) so you can supercharge your routine with a simple twist, squeeze and tap. Each little capsule also contains Vitamin E for moisture and antioxidation, known to work in synergy with Vitamin C. Together they help firm, smooth and brighten, minimise the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and even out skin tone. Plus, each capsule is made from a seaweed skin so they’re totally biodegradable!
SPF is for…. Well, exactly that!
Super Healthy Skin™ Featherlight UVA/UVB SPF50 Sunscreen + Primer
Beauty Pie
£12.50
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times – do not skip SPF! Yes, even on overcast days. The sun’s UV rays are the single biggest factor in ageing your skin, so its pays to protect. This particular formula is a godsend for anyone who usually finds SPF to cause spots as it is non-comedogenic, super lightweight and should not clog pores. Boasting factor 50 with light-absorbing DNA SHIELD + Chromophores to help fight inflammation and sun damage and Vitis Vita Grape Extract for skin detoxification and rehydration. All of this is particularly important when using Retinol in your routine, which can make skin more sensitive and in need of extra hydration.
ABC + SPF Skincare Supplies Kit
Beauty Pie
£58.00
Yep, that’s right – Beauty Pie put all of Dr Markey’s skincare saviours into one easy-to-use starter kit. Easy peasy.
Discover more Dermatologist-approved starter kits right this way...
