What a makeup artist actually uses on her skin

If there’s one thing makeup artists appreciate it’s good skin. Masters of makeup trompe l’oeil, they can turn overwrought epidermi into flawlessly compliant complexions, so what they don’t know about skincare quite frankly isn’t worth knowing.

A-List favourite Caroline Barnes (clients include Ruth Wilson and Kylie) just so happens to know more than most. ‘Skincare is so important to me as I’ve always had rubbish skin,’ she says. ‘I suffered from acne for 15 years and while I was pleased when it went, I was left with pretty dull, bumpy skin.’ Barnes attributes her now enviably glowy complexion to a little laser and a whole load of skincare knowledge. ‘Because of my vlogs and all the additional on-camera work that’s required these days, I’ve had to sit down and really learn about skin health, especially as skin has always been my Achilles heel.

‘My skin is super lazy and basically needs a personal trainer at all times so I need to keep it on its toes with skincare. Being in my late 40s I’m also interested in the ageing gracefully aspect of skincare as I’m determined not to completely freeze and fill everything. I want to look my age but I want my skin to look good too.’

‘In the morning the first thing I do to my skin is cleanse it. I’m a total convert to FOREO cleansing devices which I combine with the Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm in the winter or a salicylic acid-based face wash (we love Origins Zero Oil Deep Pore Cleanser with Saw Palmetto and Mint) in the summer months when my skin is a bit more cloggy. I was always an avid user of flannels so I wasn’t a hundred percent sold on the FOREO but when I actually tried it I was genuinely blown away. I use it in the shower and it just makes my skin so beautifully soft. I even use it on my lips to clean off any dead skin so I never have dry lips any more and it also means that they absorb any hydration I put on top much better. 

‘I’m a big fan of exfoliators as they really can transform your skin. If I’m tired my cell turnover just grinds to a halt so I would use a physical exfoliator; I love Zelens ones, or I’ll use an AHA to gently lift away dead skin cells. My favourite is Ren’s Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic, which I love as it has one of those pump dispensers you get in the nail salon so it’s super easy to use. I tend to exfoliate once or twice a week but if I’m tired or I’ve been filming so I have a truck load of makeup on I’ll do it more often as it’s great for getting everything off which means that I can hydrate my skin better too.’

‘After cleansing I apply my targeted skincare. I follow a C, S, A approach (vitamin C, sunscreen and vitamin A or retinols) so vitamin C is always my starting point. To me, using an antioxidant is vital as I have sun damage from trying to burn my acne away when I was younger which means I’m going to be a very speckled old lady. I always remember going to a product launch where they applied a vitamin C serum to the cut surface of an apple and the part with the serum on didn’t turn brown which shows how it slows down the rate of oxidation, so hopefully it’s doing the same for my skin. (Try Omorovicza’s Daily Vitamin C Serum.)

‘Next is a hydrating hyaluronic serum. I love the texture of Evolve Organic Beauty’s Hyaluronic Serum, as some of the HA products are too watery for me. If my skin needs more moisturiser I’ll use Murad’s Nutrient-Charged Water Gel, and they also do a beautiful SPF called Murad Perfecting Shield SPF30, which almost works like an amazing primer for the skin as it looks so nice under makeup [word of warning: you may need to add this to your wishlist as it sells out extremely quickly]. I don’t generally use eye cream as a rule because I tend to think that the products I use on my face should be decent enough to be used around my eyes too, but now that I’m of a certain age, sometimes I need a little something extra so I may add a little eye cream after lunch or before I go out in the evening if I’m not coming home to keep my skin looking dewy.’

‘My evening routine is similar to my daytime one but I’d typically use a salicylic face wash to make sure I get my skin really clean. The next step is a retinol which is one of the ingredients that’s totally transformed my skin. In the past I’ve tried Tretinoin which is a prescription-only retinoic acid but I just wasn’t patient enough to get past the scaly stage so now I use a retinol which also contains hyaluronic acid (try This Works My Wrinkles Midnight Moisture). I started using retinol about 18 months ago and it’s been the highest viewed video on my platform as it was the product that was most transformative in terms of skin quality. I’m not vain but I’d never really looked at myself as much as I have since since doing my channel – you suddenly become really aware of what your skin looks like. I’ve tried various gadgets but never seem to be able to find the time to commit to doing them properly.

‘I do do a bit of gentle at-home microneedling and I like to treat my skin to a mask every now and again. I love the Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask, which feels deliciously indulgent and if I can get away with sleeping in it I absolutely will. It’s also something I’ll use if I’ve got something special; I’ll pop it on after my skincare and just wipe it off before I go. There’s another amazing mask that I love for travel and also for my clients to give their skin instant radiance. It’s called Murad Age Reform Hydro-Glow Aqua Peel Mask, and it comes in two parts; a swab soaked with AHAs and then a full-on hyaluronic acid-packed cellulose mask. It’s perfect for my kit as it’s so lightweight it means I can instantly polish up the skin and then drench it in hydration.’