Read an extract from Caroline Hirons' book, 'Skincare: The Ultimate No-Nonsense Guide'

Take a sneak peek inside the (already) best-selling new book...

Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know that beauty expert Caroline Hirons has just published her first book, Skincare. It's a jam-packed guide to all things skin, from working out your skin type and condition to building an effective skincare routine.

It went straight to number one in the book charts during launch week, and is already UK's best-selling skincare book of all time. (All. Time.) Luckily for you, if you've still not got your hands on a copy, you're able to read a short extract right here – on Caroline's top tips for great skin, no less.

And when you're done here, please also check out her Beauty Backed campaign, which is raising vital funds for those in the beauty industry who have been unable to earn income during the pandemic.

Skincare by Caroline Hirons, £10, Amazon

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Top Tips for Great Skin

Extracted from Skincare by Caroline Hirons, out now in hardback, eBook and audiobook.

Obviously everyone is different, but, in general, these are your basics if you’re wondering where to start.

Cleanse your skin every night without fail – cleanliness is next to Godliness. Double cleanse if you are wearing makeup or sunscreen, or both (which applies to most of us).

A little tip for those of you that say you have no time: either take your makeup off as soon as you get home OR take your makeup off before you take your bra off (if you sleep in your bra or don’t wear one, then follow the first tip!).

Cleanse your skin every morning. It obviously doesn’t have to be as intense as the night-time cleanse, but a quick warm flannel and milk/balm/gel wouldn’t go amiss to get rid of the overnight shedding. I know some brands say you don’t need to cleanse your skin in the morning. That’s okay. They’re wrong.

Wash your face properly. A clean canvas makes everything better. There is no point in spending your hard-earned cash on expensive serums if you are using wipes or winging it when it comes to cleansing.

Do not smoke. That’s really the beginning and end of it.

Get some sunshine. The term ‘everything in moderation’ really applies here. I work indoors all day and live in the northern hemisphere. I don’t get a lot of sun so I supplement with vitamin D (under doctor’s advice). I don’t use skincare with SPF: I apply it separately in between moisturiser and foundation or primer. SPF is too active an ingredient and can interfere with other anti-ageing ingredients, making all of your expensive moisturisers potentially redundant.

Yes, obviously too much sun is damaging to the skin, but so is too much chlorine. And too much pollution. Get out there and get some sunshine. Some brands would have us believe the sun is the ultimate enemy. That’s only true if you don’t respect it. Get some sun. Not a lot, some. Just don’t be stupid about it.

Use a high SPF (30+) and encourage your kids to use it. You will save them a lot of time trying to repair sun damage in later years.

Use good-quality skincare. I’m not talking about creams that cost more than your monthly food budget; I’m just suggesting you step away from the cheap packet of wipes and moisturisers in the chemist or supermarket and step it up a gear.

Equate your skincare spending to what you would spend on a handbag or shoes. I’m not saying you should – I’m saying you should be willing to.

Get enough sleep. When you are not getting sufficient rest, it shows on your face.

TITTTs: take it to the tits. Your neck and décolleté, which is a fancy French term for your upper chest and shoulder area, are part of your facial skincare, too.

Try to eat well. I’m not being a killjoy – a little of what you fancy definitely does you good – just don’t go overboard. Gut health is linked to healthy skin function: for example, taking probiotics is thought to support a healthy skin.

Drink enough water. This is important not only for the normal functionality of your skin, but for your general good health, too. If your urine is dark and you suffer from a lot of headaches, you would do well to up your H2O levels.

Try to avoid stress. I know it’s much harder than it sounds, but do whatever you need to do to keep your stress levels low.