Sarah Jossel

Sarah Jossel
The Sunday Times Style Beauty Director and #BeautyBoss gives us a sneak peek into her beauty routine, including which innovative cleanser she rates and what her big bath-time obsession is.

Sarah’s Approach To Skincare

I always wear makeup, I don’t have very good skin and I don’t feel confident without some sort of base because I’ve got lots of acne scarring and it is something I’m working on. The skincare I use on my own skin is so results-driven that I don’t care what it looks like, smells like or if I can put it on Instagram; I am so precious with my skin because I have had such a long and difficult journey with it. There’s been many moments of thinking, how can I be a beauty director if my skin isn’t good, but my motto with my skin is about consistency and making sure it’s behaving so that I don’t get any big flare-ups.

Her Gentle Cleansing Routine

Taking off my makeup is always the first step in my evening routine. I don’t like anything with oils, I can’t have oils anywhere near my skin, so I’ll use an oil-free micellar water and then I’ll cleanse again. Sisley-Paris Gentle Cleansing Gel with Tropical Resins is my go-to cleanser. Generally my skin tends to be dehydrated so I take a bit of extra time and do a quick massage - it’s probably the only minute where I’m not looking at my phone!

I always have a hairband on while I’m cleansing as my hair frizzes instantly if my hairline gets wet and it stresses me out so much. When I’ve massaged my cleanser in, I get a nice warm flannel or a Konjac Sponge, and wash it all off and really use the flannel as my first step of exfoliation.

Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Extra Strength Formula have been a constant in my routine for a while, they’re just so good. It’s like if you were to hit a bag of dusty clothes in the attic and you can see all the dust come off; that’s what I feel like they do to my skin, they just zap that top layer of dust.

Her Speedy Hydration Cocktail

I can’t be bothered to do serum and then moisturiser, so I cocktail the two together and massage them in. Usually I use a hyaluronic serum like Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum together with Kate Somerville Oil-free Moisturiser.

Learning to read ingredients has been so important for me. Growing up it was all like Latin to me and now that I know the key ingredients that don’t work for my skin. During the winter, I like a hydrating mask like the Sarah Chapman Skinesis 3D Moisture Infusion Mask or a calming mask to ease any redness.

Sarah’s Hair Essentials

Once or twice a week I have a blow dry, so I don’t have to think about my hair much. I tend to have a blow dry on Tuesdays as I film This Morning on a Wednesday, and then again on a Friday morning.

On the occasions that I do style my hair myself I opt for sulphate-free formulas because I’m addicted to my keratin treatments, which I get done with Amir at Hershesons. If I wash my hair at home, Virtue is my number one and once a month I treat my head like my face and use really nourishing treatments that help to tame my thick, frizz-prone hair. I use the Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt, it’s so menthol-y and fresh. Followed by Virtue Smooth Shampoo and Smooth Conditioner. I then apply Living Proof No Frizz Intense Moisture Mask on the mid lengths to ends and put my hair in a ponytail to make sure I don’t go near my roots, wait 20 minutes or so, and wash it out.

After washing my hair, I use IGK Hair Good Behavior Spirulina Protein Smoothing Spray because it makes my hair really manageable and then I like to apply Virtue Split End Serum. I also cheat and just blow dry the front, tie my hair into a low pony and when I wake up in the morning it has a nice wave in it.

Her Weekly Bathing Ritual

On Sunday nights I like to take a bath. While there are lots of great bath oils, I find myself going back to Aromatherapy Associates. I find them really comfortable and unlike a lot of others, they don’t irritate the sensitive areas if you know what I mean. Lots of them, I’ll be frank, irritate the balance of one’s vagina. My favourite is Deep Relax Bath and Shower Oil. Susanne Kaufmann oils, especially the Oil Bath For The Senses, are also fabulous. I find it funny cleaning myself in a bath with oils, so at the end of the bath I’ll jump in the shower and use a traditional soap or Malin + Goetz Bergamot Body Wash.

Posted: Thursday, 11 March 2021