A Cruelty-Free Guide to Event-Ready Skin

Your skincare may seem like the most daunting task to take care of before an event, which is why it's often put on the back burner in favour of a quick fix - like makeup. But the faster you establish a basic, no-fuss routine, the less makeup you’ll need & the better you’ll age! Win-win. At the end of the day, skincare doesn't have to be complicated - just remember that ingredients & formulations are key + should always take precedence over marketing hype.

1) Cleanse 
Choose a non-foaming, gentle cleanser for both the AM & PM. If you are battling acne, avoid an overly-abrasive cleanser, which will only irritate matters further. If you wear makeup or SPF on a daily basis, you’ll want to double cleanse at night to ensure the full removal of these products.
Cleansers I love:
$ Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel Cleanser (All Skin Types)

2) Tone
A gentle exfoliating toner is recommended for your PM routine, but can be skipped in the AM. Choosing toners with a low percentage of beta or hydroxy acids will address issues including fine lines, congested pores & pigmentation, while allowing your serum (the next step) to penetrate better & thus, work more effectively.
Toners I love:
$ Cosrx AHA/BHA Calrifying Treatment Toner (All Skin Types)
$ Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner (Normal-Oily Skin)

3) Serum
Applying a serum targeted to your specific concerns is recommended in both your AM & PM routine. For AM, regardless of skin type, a hydrating serum will plump up your skin & create a great base for makeup. For PM, opt for a serum with ingredients that pack a punch. If pigmentation & fine lines are your number one concern, choose a serum with a stablized form of vitamin c in it, a powerful antioxidant that will aid in brightening + collagen building. If congested pores & active breakouts are your number one concern, choose a serum with niacinamide & zinc or azaelic acid in it. If dehydration & flaking skin is your number one concern, use your hydrating serum from the AM. My personal preference is a retinol serum at night, which targets fine lines, breakouts & pigmentation - basically all of the above.
Serums I love for AM:
$ Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum (Pigmentation)
$ The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum (Oily or Problematic Skin)
$$ Cosmedica Hyaluronic Acid Serum (Dehydrated Skin)
Serums I love for PM:
$ The Ordinary Retinol 1% In Squalane (Breakouts & Anti-Aging)
$$$ Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil (Breakouts & Anti-Aging)

4) Moisturize + SPF
I combine these two steps for ease in the morning & recommend never skipping SPF. It is our greatest anti-aging tool & it’s absolutely necessary if you are doing exfoliation of any kind. Don't forget your ears, neck, chest, hands & lips too - the first areas to show aging. At night, skip the SPF & choose a cream-based moisturizer if your skin is normal-dry & a gel-based moisturizer if your skin is combination-oily.
Moisturizers I love for AM:
$$ Jack Black DoubleDuty Face Moisturizer SPF 20 (Normal to Dry Skin)
$$ Murad Oil and Pore Control Mattifier Broad Spectrum SPF 45 (Combination to Oily Skin)
Moisturizers I love for PM:
$ Belif Aqua Bomb (Normal to Oily Skin)
$ COSRX Hydrium Green Tea Aqua Soothing Gel Cream (Combination to Oily Skin)
$$ First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration (Dry to Ulta-Dry Skin)

5) Spot Treat (Optional)
If breakouts are a concern, this is where you’d spot treat with a benzoyl peroxide or sulfur-based treatment. Spot treating after moisturizing will prevent flaky skin which can sometimes coincide with these products. After spot treating, I love applying pimple patches to affected blemishes to heal up the speeding process & eliminate scarring. They’re a life saver before any event!
Spot treatments I love:
$ Benzagel 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Gel
$ Jacquie K. Moonlight Pimple Patches
$$ Kate Somerville EradiKate Sulfur Treatment

Once Per Week:
I'll never go a Sunday night without doing a lactic or glycolic acid peel followed by a hydrating mask, though in saying this - tread lightly in peel territory at first, starting with a lower strength peel & working your way into the more intense ones as your skin becomes used to them! Peels are incredible for anti-aging, unclogging pores & lightening hyper pigmentation.
Peels I love:
$ The Ordinary Peeling Solution AHA 30% + BHA 2% (Combination to Oily Skin)
$$ Peter Thomas Roth Lactic Acid 30% (Normal to Dry Skin)
Masks I love:
$ Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay (Combination to Oily Skin)
$$$ Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque (Normal to Dry Skin)