Kate Hudson skincare routine review

Nov 17, 2023

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The skincare secrets behind that glowing complexion.

Let's begin with a disclaimer of sorts – I’m not naive enough to think that trying the skincare products that a celebrity recommends (on a given day) is a route to looking like them or transforming my own face. When it comes to famous faces, I’ve no doubt that there's a lot of healthy habits and expensive products and treatments that go into keeping beautiful A-listers looking beautiful.

But, when Kate Hudson shared her daily skincare regime on TikTok and it looked so simple and so quick, this often-frazzled fan took note.

I put all of my usual products (of which there are probably too many) to one side of the cabinet and called on Kate's favourites:

All of the products say to use them morning and night, so that's what I did - for three weeks - and it was a treat to repeat the same routine twice a day, on autopilot, and not have to think about adding in or taking away extra products in the morning or specific retinols at night. I did, of course, continue with my usual SPF50 in the morning as the last step in my routine.

I’m very lucky in that I’ve never suffered with any skin issues or ailments - I’ve got close family members who had cystic acne as teenagers and I know the pain they went through and the visible scars they have today - and whenever I go for a facial treatment and they ask what I want to focus on, I always say the same: my skin looks and feels dull, so give me glow.

Glow is what I hoped to get a bit more of following Kate's routine, given that she always looks so fresh herself. I’m used to using an oil-based cleanser - I usually use a balm that liquifies when you massage it into the skin - so that was no biggie.

The first time I used the powder mask, which you have to mix with water to make a paste and apply with the brush provided, I left it on for the recommended 10 minutes and when I rinsed it off my skin was noticeably red and felt warm. Not uncomfortable, just warm - which is flagged on the product website as a potential effect, just like any exfoliant formula.

I was surprised, given that I can be quite slapdash with your usual AHA and BHA acids and barely get a reaction, so it just shows that natural doesn't mean the ingredients aren't doing something. I opted to use it twice a week, my face did get used to the formula over time and I loved the fact I could visibly see the actives getting to work on my skin.

The Dr Sturm eye cream - that retails at a whopping £110 - had a nice texture and applied easily. I will say that my three weeks of testing these products was during peak hay fever season, so my eyes felt generally tired, red and puffy; not a great advert for the product and there's loads left in the pot so I’m going to stick with it and hopefully see its true results by the end of summer. If that price tag feels way over budget, an easy replacement is CeraVe Reparative Eye Cream (loved by Caroline Hirons) which you can get for a much more reasonable £10.

But the two winners for me were Kate's two facial oils that she combines and applies together. MV SkinTherapy's Instant Revival Booster is an Aussie favourite, and marketed to treat tired, mature or sun-damaged skins, thanks to its blend of Centella and Avocado oils. The latter is known to be amazing at plumping the skin, and on researching I found the former is said to be one of the most rejuvenating agents of Ayurvedic medicine, helps to speed skin healing, reduce inflammation and increase microcirculation. Sounds like a glow-maker to me.

Then comes the Biossance oil, with squalane, a naturally-occurring mega moisturiser, paired with Vitamin C to hydrate, protect against free radicals and - you guessed it - deliver an above-average glow.

I’ve never been a fan of facial oils - it always felt icky to have a greasy face during the day or on going to bed at night, but this power pair are so light in formula and absorbed so easily, I felt the dew without the slick. After three weeks, I definitely think my skin is brighter and dare I say it a little more plump. There were some nights after particularly hot and sunny days when, if my skin felt a little tight or needed more TLC, I’d apply Honest Beauty Hydrogel Cream as an extra later before bed. It always absorbed well, proving the oils weren't sitting on my skin.

All the products felt nice to use, and an added bonus is that all of Kate's recommendations are from brands who have a focus on sustainability and cruelty-free beauty. I think the two oils delivered the most glow and that I’m adding into my skincare arsenal on a more permanent basis - something I didn't expect, certainly not at the height of summer. But hey, if they’re good enough for Kate…

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