Skincare expert Dija Ayodele on her best beauty buys

The award-winning skincare expert, 38, founded the Black Skin Directory in 2018 to advocate for inclusivity across the beauty industry. As she launches her debut book, Black Skin: The Definitive Skincare Guide, she shares her favourite buys.

Dija Ayodele current favourite buys

1. Superstay Matte Ink Liquid in 20 Pioneer, £9.99, Maybelline at Superdrug: I never have enough time
   to do a full face of make-up, plus my eyeshadow skills are lacking, so this is my go-to to add effortless drama.

2. Deep Cleansing Oil, £21.50, DHC at Amazon: I’m a big fan of double cleansing in the evening and this cuts through make-up, sunscreen, dirt and grime with ease, and sets the stage for me to properly clean my skin.

3. UV Face & Scalp Mist SPF50, £18, Ultrasun: Daily sunscreen is by far the cheapest and easiest way to prevent premature ageing and hyperpigmentation. This spray is easy protection and black-skin-friendly with no white cast.

4. Herbal Whey Bath Nourishing, £33, Susanne Kaufmann: Switching off can be a challenge, but this knocks me out. It’s heady without being overpowering and so soothing on the skin.

5. Nutriplenish Curl Gelee, 26.50, Aveda: I love my Afro hair, but a hairstylist I am not, so I use this to define my curls and make them pop. The trick for the best curls is to apply the product when your hair is very wet.

6. Tropica, £90 for 50ml edp, Maya Njie: I was born and bred in tropical Sierra Leone, so this scent reminds me of home – lush greenery, sweet fruits, pink bougainvillea and blue skies after the rains.

Dija’s top tip

For major glow before a big event, layer a vitamin C serum under moisturiser consistently for a fortnight in the lead-up. The effect is that your skin looks lit up from within.

My go-tos for this are No7 Radiance + 15% Vitamin C Serum for the face and Beauty Pie Superdose Vitamin C Bio-Vitamin Brightening Lotion for the body. Both are derivatives of pure ascorbic acid, which makes them more user friendly.