Skincare diaries – Chloe’s journey to blemish-free skin

Chloe’s routine

Age: 33

Skin type: Oily, spot-prone

Trinny London’s Video Production Manager (and star of Friday Twinning) Chloé, 33, has always had a bumpy relationship with her skin. It has a mixture of good and bad days, with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) triggering cystic acne. Her skin goals are clear skin with no spots and redness, achieved through a quick and easy routine.

Chloé’s main gripe when it comes to skincare is how time-consuming it can be – especially when it feels like such a chore. She’s looking for skincare that feels like self-care, with gorgeous scents and luxurious textures that turn her routine into more of a ritual. Chloé is also keen to see results, and won’t commit to a product if she can’t see it working.

Step 1: Cleanse

To kickstart her skincare journey, Chloé began cleansing with Trinny London Better Off AHA/PHA Gel Cleanser. So much more than your average cleanser, it takes a 360° approach to cleansing. The texture is gel-like, which lathers into a soft-yet-satisfying foam on contact with water. Natural cleansing agents and amino acids whisk away daily grime from the surface of your skin while prebiotics work to balance and calm. There’s the addition of exfoliating poly and alpha-hydroxy acids too, nibbling away at the bonds that hold onto dull, dead skin cells.

Step 2: Exfoliate

Now her skin is clean, it’s time to take Chloé’s quest for clearer skin to the next level with the addition of a liquid exfoliant (also known as acids). Trinny London Tiptoe In, our PHA exfoliant, is the perfect choice for anyone new to liquid exfoliants. The larger molecule size allows poly-hydroxy acids to break down the glue that holds pore-clogging dead skin cells to the surface without penetrating the skin too deeply. That means no irritation, and maximum reward.

“I have always been scared of acids, and because of the name I never wanted to try them,” says Chloé. “Now I see they are the same thing as liquid exfoliants and they actually work, I’m not scared anymore. My skin is glowing and I cannot imagine my routine without it now.”

One final tip? If, like Chloé, you struggle to find time for skincare, try washing your face and applying your nightly skincare as soon as you get home. That way, you can enjoy the rest of your evening without the dread of needing to carry out your routine when you’re ready to roll into bed.

Step 3: Serum

Retinals might be more commonly associated with anti-ageing than blemish-busting, but did you know that retinoids as a category were originally used to tackle acne? Their impact on fine lines only came as a welcome side-effect.

Hence why Overnight Clarity, our retinal and niacinamide serum, is perfect for Chloé. Both actives work in tandem to clear and balance skin, so you can experience more good skin days.

“I have been using Overnight Clarity for a while now and I am loving it — my skin has dramatically improved,” says Chloé. “Overnight Clarity was the game changer of my whole routine. I did not expect these results and cannot believe that my skin is finally clear.”

If you have oily skin, it’s important that your skincare provides hydration without driving oil, and Plump Up, our advanced peptide and hyaluronic acid serum, does just that. Peptides work to retain skin’s plumpness, while hyaluronic acid quenches its thirst. “I’ve never used peptides in my life but after using this serum I want to use them every day,” says Chloé. “My skin is firmer and plumper.”

One final tip? If, like Chloé, you struggle to find time for skincare, try washing your face and applying your nightly skincare as soon as you get home. That way, you can enjoy the rest of your evening without the dread of needing to carry out your routine when you’re ready to roll into bed.

Step 4: Moisturise

When you have oily or blemish-prone skin, there’s an understandable tendency to shy away from moisturiser. Many people think that their skin doesn’t need it, and that adding moisture into the equation will only amplify their breakouts.

In reality, everything works better when it's hydrated – our skin included. A good moisturiser will also do more than just moisturise, bringing additional benefits to the skin. Energise Me, our lightweight gel-cream moisturiser is powered by niacinamide, an ingredient known for its skin balancing abilities. With continued use, skin becomes better equipped to deal with daily stresses, leaving it looking clear and feeling healthy.

“I absolutely love it – my skin feels so good,” says Chloé. “It’s really gentle on my skin and it feels like a treat to apply everyday. I’m super happy I finally found a moisturiser that is lightweight yet effective. Adding Energise Me to my skincare routine has been the cherry on top of the cake.”

One final tip? If, like Chloé, you struggle to find time for skincare, try washing your face and applying your nightly skincare as soon as you get home. That way, you can enjoy the rest of your evening without the dread of needing to carry out your routine when you’re ready to roll into bed.