I've worked at Space NK for almost five years: here's my morning routine
- Daisy Shippey
- Mar 23, 2023
- 5 min read
Picture it: it's 2017. Anastasia Beverly Hills eyebrow pomade is the product on everyone's wishlist. Every single Youtuber is producing video tutorials on the perfect cut-crease. And somewhere along the line, I am hired at Space NK.
It's clean, white and bright. You feel like you're walking into the Mecca of make-up and skincare. When I got hired, I realised the sheer breadth of brands that they stocked and wondered how on earth I was going to absorb all this information. Five years on, I'm 22, practically managing one of the branches in London and could answer almost any question asked by any customer, of any age, gender, skin-type or star sign.
Firstly, I'll touch on my skin type. Let's not get it twisted: everyone's skin is different, and the products I write about here are purely what works for me, so you can take my advice or don't. My skin is dry, dehydrated, I have no skin conditions like eczema or acne, and I'm not particularly sensitive (well my skin isn't sensitive - I, unfortunately, am). I like oils and rich creams as opposed to water-based products for their rich textures and nourishing qualities.
So, without further ado, here are my favourite products for my morning routine and why:
Face wash - Fresh Soy Face Cleanser - £32
The Soy Face Cleanser from Fresh has become a long-term favourite of mine not only because of the natural ingredients - soy bean proteins to strengthen the skin barrier, rose water to hydrate and cucumber extract to soothe - and affordable price tag, but also because it's sulphate-free. Sulphates make things foam up, like your shampoo. This is a normal ingredient in a lot of products as it removes excess oil from the area it's applied to, however they can become counter-productive. If someone already has dry and/or dehydrated skin, the last thing you want is something that further strips the skin of its natural oils and ultimately causes further dryness and a total imbalance.
What it is: A sulphate-free, gentle face wash formulated with natural ingredients for a refreshing cleanse, morning or night.
What it does: Removes excess oil and dirt from the skin without stripping it of it's natural oils.
Why I love: I feel squeaky-clean without that horrible tightness. Although I avoid the eye area with it, it's great to catch those last dregs of make up when used PM.
Toner - Tatcha Texture Tonic - £57
Call it a toner, call it an exfoliator, call it a tonic, but whatever you call it; it's a must-have. High in Tatcha's patented complex Hadasei-3 (consisting of Akita rice protein, organic and sustainably-farmed Okinawa algae, and green tea), this tonic also contains fruit AHAs, which break-down and buff away the dead skin cells that can cause dullness and texture on the surface of the skin. With a refreshing, spa-like scent, once swept over the skin, your skin looks instantly smooth and glowing. The benefits of having this in your AM routine as opposed to your PM (I'll share a PM routine soon), is not only that this allows any product you're about to apply next to penetrate deeper into the skin, it also means there's no texture for your make up to cling to, giving you a smoother, more flawless finish.
What it is: An exfoliating tonic that uses pointed ingredients to buff away texture (AHAs), refine pores (niacinamide) and hydrate and strengthen the skin (Hadasei-3).
What it does: Short-term, it provides the perfect blank canvas for the rest of your routine to penetrate deeper, and your make up to apply smoother. Long-term, it refines pores and fine-lines and strengthens the skin barrier.
Why I love: Need I say more?
Serum - By Terry Global Hyaluronic Serum - £85
Whether you got to know By Terry for its make-up or skincare first, you'll know either way that it's great quality. When this serum launched in March 2023 along with an eye cream, it completed their Hyaluronic range, already consisting of a face cream, primer, foundation (a fave of mine! Make up faves coming soon), concealer and powder. Considering I'm a gal who favours oils, I was surprised I enjoyed this serum so much.
What it is: A serum that can be used day or night, high in hyaluronic acid, peptides and niacinamide.
What it does: Hydrates and plumps short term, reduces fine-lines and firms skin long-term, and provides a great base for make up.
Why I love: The light but milky formula feels great on dry, dehydrated skin. It instantly softens and hydrates my skin, providing a little extra grip for my make up.
Day cream - Medik8 Daily Radiance Vitamin C SPF30 - £59
The benefit of nabbing yourself a day cream with SPF included is that they tend to have an oil-based formula. What I love about this rather than a water-based cream is that this makes a great base for make-up, and it's a god-send if you find your make up tends to look dried-out and powdery throughout the day. The low amount of vitamin C (Medik8 use Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate as their vitamin C of choice due to its stability and pigment-brightening properties) used for an extended period of time, although will provide no dramatic improvement to unwanted pigmentation, will get your skin acquainted with this active ingredient and also boost and support your skin's natural production of collagen (the spider-web of scaffolding that plumps out your skin), which means a reduction in sagging of the skin.
What it is: A day cream with SPF30 and a small amount of Vitamin C in a whipped, moussey formula.
What it does: Instantly hydrates and softens the skin, with an entry-level amount of vitamin C to even pigmentation long-term, while providing daily protection against UV and aggressors such as pollution.
Why I love: Quick to absorb into the skin and with a light citrus scent, as an oil based product, it allows make up to glide onto the skin and will have you looking hydrated and glowy all day.
Eye cream - By Terry Global Hyaluronic Eye Serum - £52
This has become a recent favourite as it was only just released along with the aforementioned serum from the same brand. It comes with a massaging applicator that makes every morning feel like you're getting a treatment done. The metal tip stays cold without putting it in the fridge (but holy crap is this lovely if you can keep it in a fridge), and all you need is a rice-grain amount under each eye. Use the metal applicator to swipe the product outwards and up towards your temple and take it around the eye and even over the lid for the ultimate de-puffing morning ritual.
What it is: A lightweight serum-cream formula high in hyaluronic acid and caffeine with a metal massaging applicator.
What it does: Hydrates and plumps short term, with caffeine reducing dark circles and de-puffing the area.
Why I love: It encourages you to take a few minutes for yourself to massage and de-puff the eye area in the morning. It instantly hydrates and absorbs into the skin quickly, making it perfect before make up. This product is also refillable, so remember to remove the metal applicator and buy the refill next time (£43).
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