How to Get Glowing Skin WITHOUT Expensive Products and Procedures

Many of us spend an incredible amount of money on skincare products during our lifetime, always looking for the next miracle product that will give us the healthy, glowing skin we want.

Most of time the majority of these products end up on our shelves or in our drawers where they gather dust as we move on to the next one. I can completely relate - this was exactly me not too long ago!

Despite being obsessed with skincare and products since I was about 13 I still didn’t have the skin I wanted by the time I was close to my 40th birthday.

In fact, I was struggling with over-oily combination skin with dry, dehydrated patches, more and more fine lines and wrinkles showing up, pigmentation and discolouration, large pores - and hormonal breakouts that made me want to hide when they happened. I must admit that I didn’t like what I saw in the mirror, especially first thing in the morning.

Of course there is no such thing as one product that can do it all, and there are no shortcuts and quick fixes for healthy, glowing skin long term.

What it really takes is the right routine at the right time, the right products, the right way of taking care of your body inside and out - and also taking care of your heart, mind and soul - every single day.

All I knew was that I wanted to have healthy, radiant skin again. I also wanted to strip everything back, simplify my routine and not feel overwhelmed by too many products anymore.

Around the time I was celebrating my 40th (2016) I was hearing a lot about Face Oils - natural, plant-based products that have been around for centuries, but to me this was new.

I was very sceptical though - why on earth was I going to put oil on my already oily face? It seemed really counterintuitive to me. 

What was a ‘natural’ product going to do for my skin that my ‘high-tech’ expensive products didn’t do - and what does that even mean?

Fortunately I was intrigued (and maybe even a little desperate enough) to at least try.

I was in South Africa on holiday at the time and bought a single oil called ‘Babassu’ Oil. This has now become a very special memory to me because Babassu Oil is actually harvested from the southern part of Africa - and that moment didn’t just change my skincare routine, but also my life. 

That was the start of Ané Skincare, I just didn’t know it yet. I still have that little bottle and will keep it forever.

Within a week my skin was starting to look more glowing, more lively even - and I as soon as I got back home I started experimenting with all sorts of oils at my kitchen table and as part of my routine. Single oils, blended oils from different brands and at different price points - and I quickly learnt what I was looking for and what I didn’t like.

I had some tough criteria - my perfect face oil had to: 

1. Have an ultra-light consistency and absorb very fast 
2. Be light enough and nourishing enough to be used both day and night, even under makeup 
3. Have a natural, clean ingredient list 
4. Be pleasant to use, smell good and create a little moment to look forward to every day

Instead I found too many oils that were simply too heavy, felt too sticky and is if it overloaded my skin. Others felt better, but I found many of the smells unpleasant and couldn’t tolerate it on my skin, especially not overnight. Some price points were also very high and for many of us not a sustainable part of a long term skincare routine.

I simply couldn’t find what I was looking for - and decided to create my now. That is how Glow in a Bottle Radiance Face Oil was born. And of course it has Babassu Oil as one of its 11 powerful plant oil ingredients.

What has happened to my own skin? 

Over time my skin has transformed. The severe oily-combination skin type is now completely in what I consider the ‘normal’ rage. My makeup now lasts all day and doesn’t slide off my face by mid-morning any longer. My skin looks glowy, feels soft and nourished and I feel confident enough to have a lot more make-up free days. Fine lines and wrinkles have not increased hugely. I have a good skincare routine in any case, and I believe my face oil has been the game changer in my skin not visibly ageing that much over the last few years.

What I love about Face Oils?  

Amongst a lot of other plant-base goodness plant oils are packed with Omega-3 and Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids that our bodies are not able to produce naturally. Omegas (fatty acids) are building blocks for healthy cell membranes, protecting our skin barrier and keeping skin hydrated. In our daily lives we would typically ingest Omegas through our diet (ie. avocado, salmon for healthy fats), and when it comes to skincare we can give our skin what it needs through including a plant-based Face Oil like Glow in a Bottle in our routine.

Our skins naturally produce fats/oils that are essential in keeping our skin barrier healthy and to minimise water loss, as well as to prevent environmental irritants and damaging free radicals. But as we age we may be producing less of these natural oils and need a little bit of help in the process. Plant oils are also packed with antioxidants, vitamins and have anti-inflammatory products. They can’t do it all, but this may just be the missing link in your skincare routine.

Over the last year we’ve had the most wonderful feedback and reviews from our gorgeous customers, many of them who are on their second, third or fourth bottle of their beloved Glow in a Bottle. Customers from their early 20’s to their lates 60’s and everything in-between, with all skin types and all kinds of skin concerns use and love Glow in a Bottle.

This is not something I could’ve predicted when we started out. When it all started Glow in a Bottle was more targeted at my own skin type at the time - but I’m from the bottom of my heart happy that so many amazing customers finally have the glowing skin they wanted.

Since then we've launched our beautiful Vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid Radiance Serum, the perfect sidekick for Glow in a Bottle and we have 4 more products in development to complete our capsule Radiance Range. 

Stay tuned! 

Love and Glow Always 

Ané