ACCORDING to beauty writer and broadcaster Sali Hughes, building a skincare routine is a bit like getting dressed. Meanwhile, those less cautious get in touch to say their skin is suffering - going red, flaring up, becoming too dry and sore or too oily. My friends straddle both camps, too. It’s madness to me that so many already overstretched women are being expected to combine skincare ingredients like some biochemist! Ampoules are everywhere now, but Elizabeth Arden pioneered individual, active skincare with the original ceramide skincare capsules, and this Vitamin C version proves they still lead where others follow. These potent ingredients must be used with caution however, as they can cause irritation, redness or flaky skin at first. Start with a low concentration such as 0.1% or 0.2% and work your way up to higher doses once your skin has acclimatised. Used at night (never in the morning) in tandem with daily SPF, vitamin A derivatives such as retinol and retinoic acid stimulate collagen production and increase cell turnover, meaning they target the signs of ageing and can help reduce acne scarring.

Beauty expert and journalist Sali Hughes has teamed up with Revolution Skincare to create “a simple, low maintenance but active routine for busy beauty lovers... great skincare, made easy.” I've been blessed with good genes but I also have been a skincare anti aging addict since my early 20s and I'm 39 now. My skin looks great even if I do say so myself! I've used so many different things over the years but my current routine is You do what you can when you are at the less expensive side of the market. Everything is recyclable but one of the products has a pump which is impossible to recycle. The jars and tubs are made out of 50% post consumer plastic. It’s more sustainable to have a formula rather than single ingredients. We manufacture in the UK so the products don’t have to travel far and we are supporting local infrastructure. I was adamant that I wanted it made here." Finally - what’s your favourite product from the range? No7 protect and perfect eye serum then Boots Collagen moisturiser with SPF 30. I then follow with a foundation with SPF factor 50. - I don't cleanse in the morning. In terms of serum formulas, Hughes says: “Vitamin C is the single most important ingredient to me. It’s great for brightness and antioxidant protection.”

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After using the best Vitamin C serums, you'll notice your face looking brighter. It's also one of the best hyperpigmentation treatments that you can safely do at home. How does all of this brightening, protecting magic work exactly? Often lighter in texture than moisturiser, serums are formulated with potent active ingredients that deliver skin benefits as well as hydration – often in the form of hyaluronic acid – and can be applied morning and night. If you're wondering how to apply serum, it's always onto clean skin after cleansing, before your moisturiser. What does a vitamin c serum do to the face? And while many skincare pros advise against foaming face washes that can strip the skin of moisture, Hughes isn’t so prescriptive: “The most important thing about cleansing is that you do it. Actually, loads of people like a foaming cleanser. I personally don’t, I don’t think it’s the best thing, but if that’s what you need to make you cleanse every day, you do you.”

After noticing how confusing skincare was becoming for consumers, Hughes, 47, decided to partner with affordable beauty brand Revolution on her first product range. Following your morning serum or nightly retinol, moisturiser will leave your skin feeling hydrated and healthy. What should a decent moisturiser contain? There’s a wisdom and confidence that comes with ageing. It's not arrogance. Part of it is having children and you’re not prepared to take any nonsense and you become a tigress about things. I’ve had incredibly long friendships and that also gives me confidence - because I know that I am loved and understood and there’s a loyalty there and that makes me a stronger person. It’s still a work in progress." Who do you look up to and learn from? For evening, she recommends a cleansing balm, which acts as “a make-up and sunscreen remover. Massage it into your face, add a little bit of water, it immediately turns into a milk and comes clean away with a flannel.” This was one of the serums we, as a team, all agreed on. We're big fans of this brand for their high-tech formulas and (as this sort of active skincare goes) affordable pricing. This serum is the hero of the range and would be the first product we'd recommend trying.Sali says, “I've worked with great formulators, and proven active and supporting ingredients, to create a 100% cruelty-free and vegan-friendly core range of two cleansers, one exfoliant, one serum and two moisturisers, all fully compatible, to be applied in four simple steps over just four minutes.” Drench a washable cotton pad with that and sweep it all over,” Hughes says. “I’m a daily exfoliation [fan]. If you’re not, you can use it less frequently, say once or twice a week.”

Easily-irritated skin should proceed with caution, as you would when you're introducing any new product to your skincare routine for sensitive skin. An award-winning health and beauty writer, stylist and creative director, Lisa Oxenham is one of the UK’s top beauty editors and the Beauty and Style Director at Marie Claire UK. With 20 years of editorial experience Lisa is a brand partnership expert, and a popular speaker, panelist and interviewer on a range of topics from sustainability to the future of beauty in the digital world. She recently spoke at Cognition X and Beauty Tech Live and is on the Advisory Board for the British Beauty Council’s Sustainable Beauty Coalition.

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verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Chances are, if you're a beauty obsessive, you'll know who Sali Hughes is. The beauty journalist, author and influencer is known for her fuss-free approach to skincare, so there was a big buzz when she launched her minimalist skincare range with the affordable brand Revolution.Even if you don't necessarily know who Hughes is, it's worth paying attention to her incredibly democratic, hardworking collection.