PSA: Alicia Keys just shared her strict 5-step skincare routine
We've all laid off the makeup recently in favour of a more skincare-focused morning routine. From face-de-puffing hacks to skin-saving moisturisers, it's fair to say lockdown has made us all a little skin obsessed.
Alicia Keys was known for shunning make-up pre-lockdown, and who wouldn't with her lit-from-within complexion?
But it turns out the singer hasn't always been so confident in her own skin, and even wrote a piece for Lenny Letter a few years back, touching on the daily insecurities women face trying to look perfect:
"Every time I left the house, I would be worried if I didn't put on makeup: What if someone wanted a picture?? What if they POSTED it??? These were the insecure, superficial, but honest thoughts I was thinking. And all of it, one way or another, was based too much on what other people thought of me."
Now, it seems Alicia is in an entirely different place with her skin, which she admits has a lot to do with her new strict skincare routine. She did a bathroom tutorial for Vogue recently, listing the five products she claims have got her skin looking so good.
We're all ears, Alicia...
The post-workout cleanser
First up, Alicia applies the Osmosis Deep cleanse, £17.99. She likes to use it when she's feeling sweaty after a workout, and when her skin requires "a little more strength" during cleansing. She lathers it up on damp skin, using upward stroking motions when she reaches her neck. When she's done, she rinses the residue off with water, patting her face dry with a flannel. The cleanser contains "coconut surfactants," which offer a deep clean without stripping the skin, like other lathering sulfates can do.
The DIY mask
Alicia uses a simple aloe vera gel as a base for her two-ingredient calming mask, squirting a few pumps into her hand before adding the Epicuren Bulgaricum Probiotic Mask Powder, $42. She gently massages the mixture into her skin using circular motions, like you would a normal exfoliating scrub. "What I like about it is that it smells like there's food on your face," she jokes. "And secondly, it kind of has a grainy texture, which feels good sometimes." She then waits 5-to-20 minutes before washing the mask off. Probiotic skincare has been proven to support the skin's healthy bacteria, and is available in all types and textures if you're not a fan of powder-based skincare.
The rose water mist
"This smells amazing, gosh it's so good," sighs Alicia as she mists the Sacred Rose Water Spray, $25 over her face and upper body. She goes on to explain that what she loves about rose (or the scent of it) is that it's a heart opener, which is why we give roses to the person we love. "It really does open your heart," she says. "And don't we all need that?" In more technical terms, rosewater is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and can help balance the skin's PH after a deep cleanse.
The eye cream
Alicia likes the eye-wateringly-expensive Lancer Legacy Eye Treatment Duo, £450 because it comes with a day and night version. But if you want to try something slightly more affordable from the brand also loved by Victoria Beckham, we recommend the Lancer Skincare Eye Contour Lifting Cream, £80 (pictured). "My mother never put anything under her eyes for a hundred years," she jokes, "and I feel like, let's start now!"
The SPF
You know a celeb is skincare savvy when they round off their skincare routine with a good SPF (UV exposure is responsible for a shocking 80% of ageing, you know?) Alicia uses the Epicuren X-Treme Cream Propolis Sunscreen SPF 45 in place of a normal moisturiser, which is fine if you feel your SPF offers enough hydration for your skin type. Alicia loves the texture of her Epicuren SPF, commenting on how lightweight it feels. This is so important when choosing sun protection, because if you don't enjoy using it, the likeliness is you'll slowly phase it out of your routine.
Throughout the video, the star also lists the big lifestyle changes she's made in order to improve her complexion, such as drinking more water and cutting out dairy, bread and fried foods. She also stresses the importance of taking time for yourself. "If you feel overwhelmed, escape to your bathroom and take some deep breathes in," she tells viewers with a smile.
Out of office on, bathroom here I come...
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