When skin is reactive, the temptation is to keep adding products. We suggest the opposite. Three steps, done gently and consistently, give skin the best chance to settle. It is the routine I have suggested at the studio counter since we opened in 2017.
Step one: cleanse without stripping
Start with Oat Milk Cleansing Balm. Massage a small scoop onto dry skin to break down make-up and the day, add warm water to turn it milky, then lift it away with a warm cloth. A balm cleans thoroughly but leaves the skin comfortable, never tight. If you wear a lot of make-up, follow with a gentle second cleanse, then stop there.
Step two: one serum, not five
On damp skin, press in two or three drops of Barrier Repair Serum. One serum is plenty for reactive skin, and this one is built to help skin feel calmer and stronger over time. Give it a moment to settle before the next step. Use it morning and night.
Step three: moisturise, then SPF by day
Lock everything in with Calm Water Gel Cream, a light gel cream that holds moisture without any heaviness. In the morning, finish with Daily Veil SPF 50 on your face, ears and neck. UVA reaches skin through cloud and window glass all year, so this step matters even in winter. Reapply if you are outdoors for long.
If you are new to all of this, start with just the cleanser and the moisturiser for a fortnight, then add the serum. It is slower, but it is the kindest way to find out how your skin responds.
Give it four weeks
Introduce one new product at a time, and patch test behind the ear for 48 hours before it goes anywhere near your face. Give the routine a full four weeks before you judge it, because skin takes time to settle and settle again. Tightness, stinging or flaky patches are a sign to strip back to these three steps for a week. If you are unsure where to start, book a free 20 minute consultation at one of our studios, or reply to hello@mallowskin.co.uk and we will help.
