Carolien's beauty routine

Often I get the question or comment on Instagram about why I almost never wear makeup and how I dare to go out the door like this. I honestly think that more ladies would do this if their skin is in top condition. The basis for this lies in a well-cared-for skin.

As a little girl, I learned from my mother that cleansing your face is number one priority for beautiful skin. Even if I came home quite tipsy in the middle of the night (sounds like an old lady, but I was never really drunk, oddly enough) or had barely any time in the morning to get dressed and get to school on time, I never skipped my cleansing ritual . Nowadays, there are a few more steps added, but the basis is still good cleansing: you can apply whatever you want, but otherwise those creams won't be absorbed by the skin. Then I apply a serum for some extra hydration and finish off with a nice day cream with SPF. Most skin aging occurs due to sun damage, so always make sure to apply a factor, even in winter.

Now I find nothing more fun than testing new facial brands and I have had quite a few; from products that are completely natural to extremely expensive jars and very affordable versions. I have also realized that the most expensive does not necessarily mean the best. These three brands are now favorites and there is something for every wallet.

Budget: La Roche-Posay. In France (but now also in the Netherlands) you can find this nice skincare brand in almost every pharmacy, specially developed for sensitive skin and super nice to use. Plus: they have developed a beautiful line for babies. Quanta costa? You can find a facial cream for 11 euros.

Mid-range: Hannah, Dutch pride! Hannah focuses on effective and sustainable skin improvement with her products. Recommendation: visit one of the Hannah skin coaches (across the country) for tailored advice, so you know exactly what your skin needs. The 24-Hour Skin Balancing cream costs 42 euros.

High society: La Mer. On my mother's bathroom shelf, there was always a jar of Crème de La Mer and the scent still reminds me of those times. The healing properties of the sea (called ‘The Miracle Broth’) form the key ingredient for all products and everything feels very rich on your skin. For a jar of Crème de La Mer, you pay 155 euros.