I'm a Beauty Editor, and These Are the Skincare Products I Share With My Mum

When it comes to carrying out my twice-daily skincare regimen, I’m absolutely militant. The first thing I do when I wake up is cleansetone and moisturise, and I don’t think I have ever fallen asleep with my makeup on. And it’s safe to say that although as a beauty editor I take skincare obsession to the next level, I think I get my passion for great skin from my mum. From the importance of cleansing and exfoliating to making sure you always moisturise your neck, the core foundations of my skincare knowledge were ingrained in me from a young age by my mum.

Before we get into this, I’d like to clear up that my mum looks really great for her age. She has recently turned 60, and on holiday we recently had to explain to a very confused passport control officer that the reason there is a 35-year age gap between us is because she is in fact my mother and not my older sister. While he was of course being very charming (although we’re not entirely sure whether or not he thought she was closer to 25 or I was closer to 60—likely a bit of both), it’s obvious that my mum’s lifelong skincare regime has really worked a charm.

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(Image credit: @SHANNONLAWLOR)

And it’s funny really, because as the years have gone by, the tables have started to turn. Now, as I learn more and more about products, I’m the person teaching my mum new things. But while I’m preaching intricacies, such as how often to use retinol and whether hyaluronic acid is worth giving a go (it is), there’s no doubt that my mum has been my biggest skincare influence.

If I hadn’t have spent my childhood watching my mum religiously cleanse and moisturise every evening, I probably wouldn’t care very much for skincare at all. From a young age, I assumed that if my mum did it, it must have been important. When the initial fascination developed, everything was rather cliché I’m afraid. I started snooping in her skincare stash and applied it all in one go in front of the mirror. When I hit my early teens, we started shopping for more skincare products for me, and that’s where it all started.

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(Image credit: @SHANNONLAWLOR)

Call me nostalgic, but even to this day there is something quite wonderful about going through my mum’s skincare collection. Whenever I visit, I have a snoop through her shelves and sneak a go of the odd thing that I haven’t tried. And she does the same back to me, too. Out of fascination, she won’t leave my house without having a rifle through my own skincare stash. And, after years of snooping, we have both discovered that actually we have quite a lot in common when it comes to skincare.

So forget the marketing slogans that tell us we need a different cream for every birthday we encounter. Take my word for it: Some classic beauty products are totally ageless. From moisturisers to masks, keep scrolling for the 13 classic beauty products that have just as a much of a place in my skincare regimen as they do my mum’s.

Next up, these are the hair trends that are going to be everywhere in 2021. 

Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous.

Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics.

While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best.

When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.