Sali Hughes X Revolution Skincare review: 'I tried the new affordable skincare routine' (2024)

Over the past year we’ve seen a lot of new skincare launches, even for a beauty editor it can be overwhelming. And trying to figure out what (if at all) you need to splurge on can be confusing.

So, when there’s a new launch that’s super affordable and streamlined, my ears instantly perk up – and that’s exactly what happened when I heard beauty heavyweight, author and journalist, Sali Hughes, was launching a skincare range with Revolution Beauty.

Want to know if it's worth the hype? I put every formula from the new Sali Hughes X Revolution Skincare collection to the test...

But first: what is Revolution Beauty?

Makeup Revolution was the first brand thought up by the beauty giants and is best known for its inexpensive make-up offering. In fact, I spent a lot of my youth stocking up on the brand's eyeshadow palettes and lipsticks but it was the infamous Baking Powder that sent YouTube abuzz back in the day when it launched. Why? It was a near perfect dupe of the Ben Nye Banana Powder given that the original was hard to get hold of in the U.K.

Next, the brand delved into skin (Revolution Skincare), body and haircare with a line-up of hardworking formulas that won't break the bank. Amongst other hits, their Plex hair structure repair range is often spoken about as a great money-saving alternative for the coveted Olaplex range. 

What is the Sali Hughes X Revolution Skincare collection?

Firstly, I know it’s not what’s on the outside that counts but I do really love the packaging. It’s so simple but the pastel colour-coded bottles are a lovely touch and there is no guesswork when it comes to products, so even skincare newbies will be able to navigate.

The range itself is really streamlined with just 6 products in the initial line-up; two cleansers, a serum, an exfoliating acid and two moisturisers. While there will be further launches in the range, Sali is keen to keep things to a minimum.

'Simplicity was paramount for me. I wanted this range to be like the perfect white T-shirt and jeans of skincare. We need less confusion in skincare now, not more,' she says. 'There are different types of products coming down the line, but I said from the very first meeting that I would never, ever be telling people they needed anything more than this line-up, aside from sunscreen, which I’ve no plans to launch (they’re too personal a preference, I think).'

Sali Hughes x Revolution Skincare: a step-by-step guide

Cleanse

Clean Sheet Morning Cleanser, £10 & Butterclean Makeup Meltdown Cleansing Balm, £15

I love that the range comes with a choice of two cleansers. The morning cleanser is a lighter texture, good for refreshing the skin to kick off your AM skincare routine, while the cleansing balm is a richer texture that melts away makeup.

The Cleansing Balm is a new favourite of mine. The texture is so delicious to melt into the skin and it was the perfect cleanser to remove my makeup and SPF after a long day. It has a gentle, inoffensive floral scent and rinses without residue. You can use it as a first cleanse in a double cleansing routine however Sali doesn’t think this is always necessary.

'Honestly, I don’t think it always is,' she says. 'I know, I know - ban me from beauty club! I tend to give my face a once over with a microfibre disc to remove the bulk, then do one cleanse with a balm. I think that if you’re wearing light makeup, one product-cleanse is usually fine. Life is short and finite and there’s a lot more to it than skincare.' Noted. 

Exfoliate 

Placid 5 Acid Daily Exfoliant, £14

Using an exfoliant daily sounded scary to me. No matter how non-abrasive the formula, surely we don’t need to be using 5 acids every single day? The name of the product is a giveaway on just how gentle the formula is.

I used it straight after cleansing as a toner. I can’t say that I saw loads of change with this (perhaps the formula is too gentle for my skin that is hardened to clinical peels?) but I think as an entry level acid it’ll work well. 

Serum

Must-C Anytime Daily Serum, £15

I use a vitamin C serum every day without fail. It’s my favourite ingredient and I see the biggest difference with my skin when I use one – it looks brighter and more even-toned. But I also find it’s the step that can ruin my routine too if I introduce a new one and the texture doesn’t sandwich well between my toner and face cream.

This serum, which includes vitamin C, niacinamide plus hyaluronic and ferulic acids, layers well under moisturiser and SPF and I found my skin felt plumper and retained moisture well. 

Face Cream 

Cream Drench Rich Anytime Moisturiser, £14 and Gel Quench Light Anytime Moisturiser

The best thing about the rich cream is that it's nourishing without being too heavy. I honestly would say that if you have dry skin or just skin that finds the transition from winter to Spring tricky, this is a good pick for you.

If you want to amp up the cream in the daytime (pre-SPF) Sali says: 'add some glow drops (like Tan-Luxe Super Glow, a firm favourite here at WH) into your moisturiser, mix together and apply as normal. In a couple of hours, all skin tones have a more golden tinge and any post winter dullness or ashiness is gone.'

My verdict: final thoughts on the new Revolution skincare x Sali Hughes collection

All in all, this is a great, pared back range for anyone whether you're a skincare newbie or a beauty obsessive. I think that if you are used to more active ingredients you might struggle to see a big difference in your skin but it’ll still enjoy the mild formulas.