When you spend years testing skincare products, it is very easy to assume that the next new serum, trending ingredient or expensive launch will be the thing that finally makes the biggest difference to your skin. I have certainly been guilty of this over the years, especially when you work in beauty and are constantly surrounded by new products to try.
However, after more than 15 years of running MissLJBeauty and testing hundreds of beauty products, I have realised that the biggest changes to my skin have not come from one particular miracle product. They have come from the small habits I have gradually built into my routine and, perhaps more importantly, the habits I have managed to stick with.
My lifestyle also means my skin has to deal with quite a lot. I spend a lot of time mountain biking and outdoors, as well as walking the dogs and doing indoor training. Depending on the week, my skin can be exposed to wind, rain, sun, sweat, changing temperatures and plenty of time outside. That means my skincare routine needs to work in real life rather than simply looking impressive on my bathroom shelf.
Over the years, I have also become much more interested in keeping my skin comfortable and supporting the skin barrier rather than constantly adding more and more active ingredients. These are the ten skincare habits that have made the biggest difference to my skin and the ones I continue to come back to.
1. Wearing SPF Every Day
If there is one skincare habit I would recommend making part of your everyday routine, it is wearing SPF. It has become such a normal part of my morning skincare that I rarely think about it anymore. It is simply the final step before I move on to makeup.
Because I spend so much time outdoors, particularly when I am mountain biking, protecting my skin from UV exposure is especially important to me. I also think finding an SPF that you actually enjoy wearing makes a huge difference because there is little point buying one that you dislike using and then leaving it in the cupboard.
I have tried lots of facial sunscreens over the years, including Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF50+ and La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF50+. I like lightweight formulas that sit comfortably on my skin and work well underneath makeup, as that makes daily use much easier.
If I know I am going to be outside for a long period, I also make sure I think about reapplication rather than assuming the SPF I applied in the morning is going to protect me indefinitely. It is probably not the most exciting part of skincare, but it is one habit I am very glad I have made consistent.
2. Choosing a Cleanser That Does Not Strip My Skin
Cleansing is another part of my routine that has changed quite a lot over the years. I used to think that my skin needed to feel really clean after washing, and there was definitely a time when that slightly tight feeling made me think a cleanser was doing a good job.
I now know that my skin much prefers something that removes makeup, sunscreen, sweat and everyday dirt without leaving it feeling uncomfortable afterwards. This is particularly important after spending hours outdoors or exercising, when there can be quite a lot sitting on my skin that needs to be removed properly.
I have tested plenty of different cleansers over the years, including CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, Fenty Skin Total Cleans'r and Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser. They all have slightly different qualities, but I have become much more interested in how a cleanser leaves my skin feeling rather than simply whether it produces lots of foam or gives that squeaky-clean sensation.
For me, cleansing should prepare my skin for the rest of my routine rather than leaving it feeling as though it needs rescuing afterwards.
3. Making Hydration a Priority
Hydration has become much more important to me as I have learned more about my own skin. My skin is combination, so I used to assume that because I could get oily in certain areas, I did not necessarily need to concentrate on hydration.
Spending so much time outdoors has made me think about this differently. Long bike rides, wind, changing temperatures and exercise can all leave my skin feeling less comfortable, and I have noticed that my skin generally looks and feels better when I am consistent with hydrating products.
I have been enjoying Rhode Glazing Milk, which fits nicely into this part of my routine, and I have also been testing The Inkey List PDRN Serum. I like having products that add hydration without making my skincare routine feel unnecessarily complicated.
I have also realised that hydrated skin is not necessarily about applying the richest moisturiser possible. It is about finding products that work well together and keeping that hydration going consistently rather than waiting until my skin feels particularly dry.
4. Looking After My Skin Barrier
One of the biggest skincare lessons I have learned is just how important the skin barrier is. When you are constantly seeing new skincare launches, it is very tempting to keep adding another active ingredient, another exfoliant or another treatment whenever your skin is not behaving exactly how you would like.
I have become much more cautious about doing that. If my skin feels irritated, uncomfortable or generally unhappy, I am far more likely now to simplify my routine and concentrate on supporting it rather than immediately looking for another treatment.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 is one of those products I like having available when my skin needs some extra support, while CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment is another product I have found useful when I want something more intensive.
These are not necessarily the most exciting products on the beauty shelf, but after years of testing skincare, I have realised that the products I am happiest to have around are often the practical ones that I reach for when my skin actually needs them.
5. Introducing New Products Carefully
This is a habit I wish I had been better at when I first started experimenting with skincare. When you love beauty products, it is incredibly tempting to open several new products at once and immediately add everything into your routine.
The problem is that if your skin reacts, you have no idea which product caused it. It can also make it much harder to work out whether something is actually benefiting your skin because there are too many changes happening at the same time.
I now prefer to introduce new skincare gradually, particularly when I am trying products containing more active ingredients, even lip treatments. This is also important for me as a beauty blogger because I want to give products a fair test rather than simply throwing five new products into my routine and then trying to work out which one I liked.
It might take a little more patience, but it gives me a much clearer idea of what works for my skin and what does not.
6. Listening to What My Skin Needs
After more than 15 years of testing beauty products, I think one of the most useful things I have learned is to actually listen to my skin. There is no single routine that is going to feel exactly right every day of the year because our skin can change with the weather, our lifestyle and what we are exposed to.
For me, this is particularly noticeable because of how active I am. A week spent outside mountain biking can leave my skin needing something quite different from a quieter week when I have spent more time indoors.
I have become much better at recognising those differences rather than automatically assuming that I need another new product. Sometimes I need more hydration, sometimes I need something richer and sometimes I simply need to strip my routine back and give my skin a chance to settle.
I think learning your own skin is one of the most useful things you can do. It is far more valuable than trying to copy somebody else's ten-step routine exactly.
7. Being More Careful With Exfoliation
Exfoliation is one of those areas where I think it is very easy to overdo things. There is something satisfying about using a product that leaves your skin feeling incredibly smooth, but that does not necessarily mean your skin needs more of it.
Over the years I have become much more conscious of how often I exfoliate, particularly if I am also using other active skincare. I do not want my routine to contain several products that are all trying to do the same thing while potentially making my skin feel irritated.
I now see exfoliation as something that should have a purpose within my routine rather than something I need to do simply because it is another step. If my skin is already feeling sensitive or stressed, I would much rather concentrate on hydration and barrier support.
It has made my skincare routine feel much more balanced and, importantly, much easier to maintain.
8. Using Targeted Treatments Without Making Them the Whole Routine
I still love trying new skincare technology and targeted treatments, particularly because testing new beauty products is such a big part of what I do. However, I have become much more realistic about where these products fit into my routine.
For example, I have been testing the LUSTRE® ClearSkin LED Mask, which is an interesting addition when I want to incorporate a targeted treatment. I see products like this as something that can complement a good skincare routine rather than replace the basics.
I would much rather have a solid routine that includes cleansing, hydration, moisturising and SPF before adding something extra. There is little point investing in a skincare device while ignoring the everyday habits that keep your skin comfortable.
For me, treatments are the extras rather than the foundation, and I think that distinction has become much clearer as I have gained more experience with skincare.
9. Giving Products Enough Time to Work
One of the difficult things about being a beauty blogger is that I am constantly surrounded by new products. There is always another launch to test and another ingredient that suddenly everyone is talking about, so it would be very easy to become impatient.
However, skincare does not always produce dramatic results overnight. Some products will give an immediate cosmetic effect, particularly hydrating products, while others are much more about supporting the skin over time.
I have become much better at giving products a fair amount of time before deciding how I feel about them, provided they are suitable for my skin and are not causing irritation. This is particularly important when I am testing products such as serums, where I want to understand how they fit into my routine rather than judging them after one application.
It has also made me much more realistic about skincare claims. I enjoy a good before-and-after as much as anyone, but I know that healthy-looking skin is usually the result of consistency rather than one dramatic overnight transformation.
10. Remembering That Expensive Does Not Automatically Mean Better
After testing hundreds of beauty products over more than 15 years, one thing I have definitely learned is that a higher price does not automatically mean a better product.
I have tried plenty of luxury skincare that I absolutely love, but I have also found products at much more accessible price points that have become staples in my routine. What matters to me now is whether a product suits my skin, whether I enjoy using it and whether it actually fits into my everyday life.
A good cleanser, comfortable SPF, hydrating product and something that supports the skin barrier can be far more useful to me than a bathroom shelf full of expensive products that I rarely reach for.
I still enjoy trying luxury skincare and discovering new launches, but I no longer feel as though the most expensive option must automatically be the best one for my skin.
What I've Learned After More Than 15 Years of Skincare Testing
Testing new skincare products is still one of my favourite parts of running MissLJBeauty, and I am sure that will not change anytime soon. There is always another ingredient that catches my attention, another formula I want to try and another product that makes me curious.
However, the biggest difference to my skin has not come from finding one miracle product. It has come from becoming more consistent and understanding what my skin actually needs.
Wearing SPF every day, cleansing without stripping my skin, keeping it hydrated, supporting my skin barrier and being more careful about what I introduce have all made a much bigger difference than constantly chasing the latest skincare trend.
After all these years, I think my biggest skincare lesson is that you do not necessarily need more products. Sometimes you simply need to find the habits that work for your skin, give them time and make them part of your everyday routine.
About the Author
Laura is the award-winning UK beauty and lifestyle blogger behind MissLJBeauty. With over 15 years of blogging experience, she shares honest skincare reviews, beauty advice and real-world beauty routines based on years of testing products herself. She is also qualified in beauty, makeup, skincare and facials and has an active outdoor lifestyle, including mountain biking.
Photo by Fleur Kaan on Unsplash
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