If there's one thing we really love, it's having a big old nosy into other people's skincare routines. In fact, we even created a whole podcast on it because we love it so much.
Every Tuesday on You Beauty podcast, The Formula speaks to some of the biggest names in beauty and asks them absolutely everything they put on their face.
And you know who we recently dragged asked on the show? Mamamia's very own beauty wizard, Leigh Campbell.
Watch: Throwback! We also once went on an intimate date with Leigh Campbell and asked her ALL of the things. Here's how it went. Post continues below.
With more than 20 years' experience in the industry, Leigh has built a loyal following by helping us sift through the confusing world of beauty, sharing her honest thoughts on what's worth spending your cash on. So, we asked her to come and spill all her skincare secrets.
And look, as someone who's forever switching and swapping between products, we knew she'd hate it. But we made her do it anyway. So, after trying eleventy million products a week, here's Leigh Campbell's (current) tight, effective skincare routine.
1. Bioderma Micellar Water, $32.99.
If you have to know one thing about Leigh Campbell's skincare routine, it's just how much she loves micellar water (heaps) — and it's been a staple in her routine for yonks. More specifically, this guy: Bioderma Sensibo H20 Micellar Water. Have you tried it?
"I don't always cleanse in the morning," she shared. "It kind of depends on how humid and sweaty I've been in the night and what I've worn the night before, but I am a Bioderma Micellar Water stan. I've just loved it forever.
"Oftentimes, it's my only cleanse and everyone's copied it, and I think Garnier is a good alternative but a lot of the micellar waters just don't do anything. So this one was the original, from France."
And it's not just water, you guys. As Leigh goes on to explain, there are tiny micelles in there that are like little oil particles, so it is actually cleansing your skin. "Granted I don't wear huge layers of makeup, particularly in the morning, if I'm just kind of getting off grime or the night cream or whatever."
2. Naturium Niacinamide Cleansing Gelée 3%, $35.
If you haven't tried anything from the Naturium skincare range yet, add it to the list! Because this is one brand Leigh Campbell LOVES — and we can totally see why. The good news? Most of the products are pretty affordable too.
"Sometimes if it's been humid, I'll use this morning and night," shared Leigh. "It looks like a gel-foam but it doesn't foam. It's just beautiful. It's full of niacinamide — I'm obsessed. The texture is essence-like and it leaves your skin feeling prepped, smooth, balanced and not overly cleansed to the point where you then have to put all the nutrients back in."
Because there's nothing worse than that stripped, dry feeling!
3. SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum, $242.
Next, the all-important serums. First up on the list? Vitamin C. "Every morning I'll do a vitamin C," said Leigh. "Of course I'm going to say SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, but I love it."
And there's a good reason you keep seeing this serum everywhere — experts and beauty editors always rate it. With an impressive 15 per cent vitamin C, the cult product packs a serious punch when it comes to skin brightening.
The only drawback? The price. *Cries.*
4. No7 Radiance+ 15% Vitamin C Serum, $34.99.
If she's not using the spendy SkinCeuticals number, Leigh said her alternative is No7 Radiance+ 15% Vitamin C Serum. "It's beautiful, and it's good for my combo skin because it doesn't give me too much sort of weight or shine," she said.
So, if you're looking for a more affordable vitamin C alternative, give this a whirl!
5. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel, $35.
When it comes to moisturiser, Leigh told us she's a fan of ones that are lightweight as opposed to those thicker, richer formulas.
"I'm a combo girl through and through," she said. "The Neutrogena HydroBoost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel is currently in my routine and it's just literally like a juicy drink of water and hydration, but not thick. It doesn't leave you with that suffocating feeling — it absorbs and plumps the skin and is just so good."
The best part? You can grab it from the chemist and you can usually catch it on sale. We love a good savey!
"You can also get the little refill pouch, which is good for the environment. I use it year-round but definitely more in summer during the humid months."
6. The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum, $39.
"I am 42, and have fine lines and wrinkles and dry skin around my eye area," Leigh said. "I'm obsessed with The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum. It's super lightweight and feels like a face serum. I just do a few dots under my eyes and pat [the formula] in."
In case you missed it, peptides are having a huge moment in skincare — and this gem is full of them.
"The peptides just feed your under-eye area. It's meant to be for wrinkles, eye bags, puffiness and dark circles, but for me, it's the lightweight texture that I love, and how it absorbs. I don't like thick eye creams because they travel into my eye and make my eyes blurry and makeup doesn't sit well on top of them."
Hear, hear!
7. James Cosmetics 24K Gold & Collagen Crystal Eye Mask, $35.
"If I'm going somewhere really fancy or I'm really exhausted, I use the James Cosmetic biodegradable eye patches," said Leigh. "They are so good."
Chances are you've seen these doing the rounds on social media — and while you might wonder if they're actually worth your cash, according to Leigh, they're a very good time for tired under-eyes.
"People probably think they're a bit gimmicky, but they are so strong and so potent and full of active ingredients. I'll use any of them and I just apply them under the eye and go about my [day] doing something else. You take them off and you're so plump under there."
Yeah, look — we'll take 10.
8. ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, $118.
"I'm devastated that I'm in love with the ELEMIS Cleansing Balm. When I first started using it, I was using, like, a big scoop. And then the more I fell in love with it, I realised you honestly only need a tiny bit. You massage it into a dry face, then emulsify it with water."
After rinsing it off, Leigh said she then uses her microfibre cloth to remove it. "It's just the most beautiful cleansing balm."
If you don't want to drop $118 straight up, we recommend trying the smaller version first to see if you like it.
9. A313 Vitamin A Retinol Cream, $35.
"When I was in Paris late last year, I bought the cult pharmacy A313 cream," said Leigh. And YES, you can get it in Australia!
"After I bought it, I did a lot of research about it in terms of strength — and compared to prescription, it's not that hardcore. But I still really wanted to ease into it. I don't believe in skin purging. I don't have the time, I don't want to go through the flake, and I feel like technology has advanced to the point where we shouldn't have to go through a purge."
For this reason, she said she likes to use this as a mask once a week. Smart!
10. Ole Henriksen Transform Double Rewind Pro-Grade 0.3% Retinol Serum, $105.
On the other nights, Leigh said she's also been using and loving the OIe Hendriksen Transform Double Rewind Pro-Grade 0.3% Retinol Serum, adding that it's relatively new but really good because it doesn't cause irritation.
"I'm doing the mask, if I'm a good girl, every Sunday, and then I'll use this other retinol, maybe one other night. And then the other nights I'm just focusing on hydration."
Which brings us to...
11. TBH Skincare Rebound Serum, $60.
For all-important barrier support, Leigh said she reaches for this guy, which is a strengthening, hydrating and skin-supporting formula that's perfect for any skin type. We love!
In case you missed it, skin scientist (and You Beauty Collective member) Hannah English teamed up with TBH Skincare to create this serum — so you know it's going to be good!
12. Ole Henriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturiser, $70.
"What I put on top is really just a lucky dip. It also depends on what I'm trialling and a lot of products don't lay well together. So I really kind of focus on my actives."
As well as wallet-friendly (and skin-friendly) brands like QV and CeraVe, Leigh said she's currently using this one from Ole Henriksen. "It's a really beautiful peptide moisturiser," she shared.
13. Jurlique Nutri Define Cream Mask, $89.
"A mask I've been loving and I reach for very sporadically is the Jurlique Nutri Define Cream Mask. If I'm working from home, sometimes I might put it on at 11am on a Wednesday, or sometimes I'll do it at night."
"It's supposed to help lift and firm the skin — it's definitely for my demo, but it's super nourishing and delightful. It's like this creamy, balmy texture. I use way too much and I work it all over my face. It's full of antioxidants, and then you're supposed to tissue it off later. I swear my skin just drinks most of it."
Is anyone else's wish list getting longer and longer? Because SAME.
14. Medik8 Press & Glow, $60.
"If my skin is feeling a bit of build-up, I really love the Medik8 Press & Glow," shared Leigh. "It's like a chemical exfoliant."
While it's marketed as a daily treatment, Leigh suggests spacing it out and not using it that often. After all, it's an exfoliant, and exfoliating your face every day can end up being very hurty on the skin barrier.
"It has PHAs in it — which is the most mild form of chemical exfoliant. It's really beautiful and this lazy girl loves it because you just literally pump it with a cotton pad on top. There's no picking up the bottle. There's no pouring. You just swipe it on. I focus on sebaceous filaments on my nose and the oil on my chin and my cheeks."
Do you use any of the above products in your routine? Share with us in the comment section below.
Feature image: Instagram/@leighacampbell.
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