My Daily Skincare Regime

There is alot to be said for taking care of your one and only face. I am of course no skincare expert, however, I love watching others talk about their routines on youtube, and it's something that fascinates me. So today, I thought I'd share mine with you.

I think finding what works for your skin, is comparable to solving a mathematical formula: it takes time, research and definitely alot of trial and error. I'm not saying my skin is perfect, however it's definitely the best it's been for a long time, and I believe that amongst watching my diet, stress and other factors.... the skincare I use has played a massive part in this.

Reading the product ingredients is something very important to me, and it's something not enough people do. For me, I avoid anything that's not oil free like the plague... although I do allow some natural oils but with caution. Any perfumed/harsh products also don't make the cut with me. 

I almost never ever use a face scrub either. My skin is quite dry/sensitive, and over scrubbing skin with an exfoliant is one of the worst things you can do to make this problem worse. No matter how frustrated you are with your skin, being harsh with it is never the answer, trust me.

Finally, if you do suffer from any kind of skin complaint or just want to clue yourself up more on your own skin needs, I can't recommend Caroline Hiron's blog enough. I think it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking the most advertised product on tv/magazines will answer all your prayers and clear your skin and make it look A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, but it's often not the case. It's not about spending the Earth or going overboard either, it's really about listening to your skins needs and treating it with care, afterall you only get one face! 

I'm not saying my skincare regime will always stay exactly the same, but for now these are the products I am loving the most...



1. Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - Hot Cloth Cleanser

  
I recently did a post on this which you can see here for more details. In short, I love this cleanser because it's like a facial in a tube. Make-up remover alone will not fully cleanse your skin and remove all traces of daily grime, pollution, mascara traces etc.... so a good cleanser is essential for everyone. 

This cleanser is one I have bought time and time again, as it contains no nasty ingredients, and doesn't irritate my skin. It comes hand in hand with the supplied Muslin Cloths, in which I use to remove the cleanser and any masks/treatments I may use.



2. Garnier Essentials Make Up Remover 

I am a little less faithful with make up removers, I tend to prefer this one and the L'Oreal cleansing milk. I do however buy the Garnier one quite reguarly, as it just melts away my foundation. I find it really easy to work with, and best of all it doesn't try out my skin. Simply shake together before use, for one unified liquid and apply all over the face.




3. Sanctuary 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask 

This is a very clever mask... for starters it heats up once it is exposed to oxygen, so as you apply it on the skin it warms your whole face. Products that heat up are great for getting deep into pores, because they help open them up... giving a similar effect to when you "steam" the face during a facial. It doesn't get too hot or burn though, so it is very safe and effective to use on the face.

I use this product once a week, and use my Muslin Cloth soaked in warm water to remove all traces. I then finish off with some of my Liz Earle Cleanser afterwards, to ensure all traces of the mask have been cleaned off.

 

4. Rose & Almond Vaseline

A bit of a controversial choice, as some argue Vaseline dries out the lips, however I have been using this Rose & Almond flavour for years now. This is a great product for those days when you don't want to wear a lipstick, yet hate bear lips and at the same time hate lip balms. The smell will bowl you over, and of course the little tin is perfect for even the smallest handbags!

 
5. Nivea Oil Free Moisturiser

Strangely, this variety is for oily skin types and my skin is dry/sensitive. However, I find the richer version too rich for my skin, and the normal version doesn't sink into my skin at all and makes my make up sit terribly. The green version however, sinks in beautifully and works really well underneath my primer. It's not too heavy, and being oil free will not cause breakouts. 

I find this is often the cheapest of the 3 varieties too, even though this is what works the best!

 
6. Antipodes Kiwi Seed Oil Eye Cream 

Fresh from New Zealand, I first found out about the Antipodes range after seeing a video by Essiebutton. I feel an eye cream is very important, as I want to prevent wrinkles and dark circles in the future as much as possible. As the eye area is also extremely delicate, it's important to use products that specify they are for the eye area.

I keep this product in the fridge, and delicately apply it at least once a day. It sits really great under concealer, providing you don't cake it on. One of the great things about this cream, is the first time you use it you do feel a tightening, and there is a visible difference when I look in the mirror.

 
7 - Hydraluron  

Hydraluron is the newest addition to my skincare regime, and is a product to be used after cleansing but before moisturiser. It claims that it "Increases skin hydration from below the surface, with an ultra-high quality hydraluronic acid, that holds up to 1,000 times it's weight in water".

I'm only a week into using Hydraluron, but I have already noticed a difference in my overall skin hyrdration... particularly in regards to how soft it feels. It has a clear gel like formula, and sinks very easily into the skin, although works best if you don't over apply it.

I shall keep you posted with my progress, but so far I am quite impressed. 



 

Budget Busting Beauty Buys!

Today sees the day of the Chancellors budget here in the UK, but what about budgeting when it comes to make-up and beauty buys? I noticed that coincidentally, the items I tend to repurchase the most tend to the cheapest, not simply because they are the cheapest, but actually on quality and performance.

I have tried a myriad of £40 moisturisers, hair masks and the like, and I have also tested what is available in Boots and Superdrug. It's so easy to believe that the most expensive product is best, but I believe this is not always the case. What about students, teenagers on limited pocket money and those who have been made redundant? Do any of us really have the money to only use high end products? I have mixed and matched with many brands in my time, both High Street and High End, so let me tell you, never fear if you want to indulge but you don't necessarily have the cash to do so. 

Here is my top 5 products. You could buy all of them and still have change from a tenner. Take than Redken!

1. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Colour Treatment Mask - 99p

If you are looking to give your hair an extra special boost, then Aussie are a great brand for their sachet's which come in a variety of different treatment options. I have long thick hair, and can easily get 2 uses out of 1 sachet, focusing on the mid-lengths to ends. This is a great buy if you have a special event coming up and want your hair to look and feel smooth and sleek, but don't want to fork out for a huge pot of treatment, which even in Superdrug averages at about £6 across all brands. Sachets are also great for weekends away and short breaks as they weigh virtually nothing, and are less likely to leak in your bag than traditional bottles or tubs.

2. Boots Coconut and Almond Conditioner - £1.29

When I was really young I had naturally long, blonde hair. My Mum used to buy me Boots chamomile conditioner, and I remember how smooth it used to leave it. About a year ago (and now Brunette) I decided to try another conditioner from the Boots range, just to see if it was any good or not. It turns out it was, and I now find I can't live without it. Everytime I use it up (a little really goes along way with this so that's not too often), I find I have to go repurchase it. The smell is devine, and it leaves my hair quite smooth. It also washes out easily and works well in conjunction with other hair products I may occassionally use. I honestly think this product is an absolute steal, and when I got my hair cut recently my hairdresser commented on how my hair was in such good condition. Apart from stopping colouring my hair which I did two years ago now, the only conditioning treatment I have been using recently is this product. For a mini tropical holiday in a bottle, you can't go wrong.

3. Dove Soft Peeling Exfoliating Bar - £1-£1.27 for Two bars

Everyone loves soft, exfoliated skin right? However exfoliators can get ridiculously expensive, even in Boots. The beauty about this bar, is that is not a heavy duty loose scrub, meaning it is gentle enough for everyday use. The smell also fills the whole bathroom, and it's a really lovely classic smell that can only mean it's Dove. I used to have little bumps on the tops of my knees which I had for years, and I was never sure why either. After using this soap everyday in the shower, within a week all the bumps had completely gone and the texture of my skin was really smooth, this is something which didn't happen with other scrubs so I was really impressed. This is not a product that you will see a massive change in within the first use, but give it a few uses and honestly you will be amazed. It's not harsh or scratchy either which means you can use it everyday. Each bar tends to last me about 4 weeks, so £1 or so for 8 weeks of use really is brilliant value.

4. MUA Primer - £1

MUA are a great, low on price but not low on quality brand. I have been using this primer almost on a daily basis for well over a year now, and amazingly I'm yet to finish the tube! I have since tried another primer costing £5 and from the first use it wasn't a patch on the MUA primer, so I shall definitely be repurchasing this once the tube is finished. It spreads well over the skin, and you don't need alot to cover the whole face either. Give it a couple of minutes to settle into the skin and apply your base, it holds the make-up all day and doesn't move. I can't ask for more!

5. Boots Cucumber Eye Gel - £1.50

I think the greatest testament I can say about this product, is that I'm on about my 8th or 9th tube of this. Granted, it's not an all singing and dancing wrinkle buster or dark circle corrector, however it is an incredible cooling and soothing eye gel that has a number of uses. It can be used under make-up as a priming base, as well as over the face in areas of dry/irritated skin. It is also great if you get your eyebrows waxed and are left with red, sore patches that need instant soothing (this was my Mum the other week, don't tell her I included this!). The product is clear and sinks in perfectly, it's not sticky or thick and gloopy. It just works, and again a little does go a long way. There are also a range of similar priced items in the Boots Cucumber range, from moisturizers to exfoliators and clay masks, so I would definitely recommend checking the range out. Out of all the products listed, this is definitely the one I can't live without the most.

What are your beauty bargains? Leave a comment and tell me!