My Skincare Routine (Updated!)

I realised it's been literally YEARS since I did any kind of skincare routine on my blog or channel. Infact, I looked at my last skincare post on here from about 4 years ago and cringed so badly! Thankfully things have changed for the better especially since discovering Caroline Hirons and meeting her in the time that has past since that post.


My skin has long been a source of self consciousness for me as it has long been blemish prone whilst being very dry at the same time. Thanks to learning about how to put together a routine and the types of products to use (and avoid!) things have gotten much better and I can now wear less makeup without worrying.

Garnier Micellar Water


I use this to remove makeup to avoid wasting my cleanser and as a brush cleaner. I remove with a warm face cloth and watch the Mrs Doubtfire-eqsue imprint appear on the cloth!

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Cleanser


One thing is for certain, you better be bloody sure your product really is amazing before printing it on the packaging! EH doesn't disappoint and this is a wonderful luxurious balm cleanser which is perfect for the winter weather.

I like to let this sit on my skin for a few minutes before removing which is great when my skin is feeling dry due to central heating. I know it's been around a while on the Blogger circuit but that doesn't mean it's any less effective than the newer crazes. Caroline Hirons personally recommended it to me when we met back in 2015 and she was spot on.

Foaming cleansers are an absolute no-no for me. Oil and balm are where it's at!

Nip & Fab Pads



These are my toner stage and after trying a few other acid pad brands I find these work the most effectively. I use the night version which I find helps keep my skin clear yet aren't harsh or stripping at the same time either.

I like to sprinkle on a few drops of Pixi Glow Tonic so that I am getting the best of both Worlds, without using Glow Tonic up too quickly as I used to do when I used traditional cotton pads. I now only buy Glow Tonic around once or twice a year yet use it everyday!

Hydraluron



One of only two products to survive my original skincare list! This is a product which can hold 1,000 times it's weight in water. It plumps your skin full of hyaluronic acid and it pefect in between a toner and your other serums and or moisturiser.

I've tried competitor versions but I always return to this and it's very noticeable when I run out as my skin doesn't feel as supple or hydrated. It's often on 3 for 2 at Boots so I always stock up when it is! An absolute must to slip into your routine if you suffer from any dryness or dehydration.

Sunday Riley Good Genes


It wouldn't surprise me one bit that if the Hollywood Walk of Fame was opened up to skincare this would be first on the list. I just can't even begin to think of adjectives to tell you what this has done for my skin and in turn my confidence, but let me tell you it's the most incredible thing that even gets me compliments of total strangers.... yes it's that good!

A lactic acid treatment for when you need your skin to wow and amaze. So good I often ditch foundation when I have this on and this is coming from someone who has had a lifelong struggle with skin issues and confidence as a result. I'm about to finish up my 3rd bottle of this and I have no regrets!

Aveda Botanical Kinetics Light Lotion



Anything Aveda you just have to love, I'm going to be honest! Whether you are visiting their salon or trying out their skincare everything is wonderful and offers something that little bit different to your typical drugstore brands.

Unlike most moisturisers this comes in a huge bottle that will take you months if not over a year to work through. Works brilliantly as a top up if you are feeling particularly dry or find your current moisturiser doesn't work deeply enough.

Medyskin Vitamin C Oil


This is a facial oil perfect for anyone with dull skin and pigmentation issues. I have alot of scarring from past breakouts, and being pale doesn't help! This is a product that is affordable yet really works to help combat unwanted marks on the skin and also hydrates well too.

I like to drench my skin in this at night and add a tiny drop in with my moisturiser for daytime use without looking greasy. A fabulous find from the skincare aisles of TK Maxx!

Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrate



Mine wasn't in the best shape for photographing having being squeezed to death, but that's only because I love it so!

I first discovered this moisturiser after Pixiwoo used in their videos and I have to agree it's fantastic under makeup. It doesn't peel or irritate or make foundation slide off the face. It's one of those reliable staples everyone should own in their collection.

Kiehl's Avocado Eye Cream


Everyone needs an eye cream and with me being pale this is no exception as us fairer folk are more prone to premature ageing including fine lines around the eye area so every drop of hydration helps! 

This would make for a great starter eye cream for those not ready for "anti-ageing" yet still want to protect and have something which will sit well under makeup too.

P.S: There are a few more products to mention but I will save these for a separate post!

Sunday Riley Luna Review

This post should really be entitled “Ooops I did it again!”.... as if you remember earlier in the year I won 3 Sunday Riley products at a Caroline Hirons event. I casually entered another Sunday Riley competition on Sunday's instagram page and well... you know the drill. Luna winged it's way to me and 11 other people all the way from sunny Houston about 6 weeks ago now and I've been testing it every night since.

What is Luna? It's a sleeping oil just for night time as it contains trans-retinol ester. It's a bluey-green colour as it contains blue tansy. It also contains German Chamomile, Avacado and Chia seed oils as well as Cape Chamomile. It's not suitable for daytime use or pregnant women.

So how did I find it? I think Luna is one of those products you love the more and more you use it, instead of straight away as with Good Genes. It has a light liquidy texture which makes it ideal for sandwhiching between serums/moisturisers. I've heard it's also amazing when mixed with said Good Genes however mine had ran out. Although from previous SR mixing, I've found you can indeed make your own concoctions from the different products and they all work amazingly together.

I've found that with continued use my skin has gained a nice clarity to it, and I can always see a difference the next day which for me is important. It also has not irritated or broken my skin out which is equally important! It's worth noting there is no sting or “tingling” with this product it just goes on like a regular serum/oil. It also does leave a slight blue tinge to the skin well it did on my skin anyway! But this is gone the next day.

Luna costs £85 and is available from Space NK or can be shipped from Sephora if you are not in the UK. If that amount is a comfortable amount for you to spend on skincare or if you are looking to treat yourself/a loved one then go for it. However if this is outside your budget go for an alternative instead. 

I personally find that high potency products are great for night time skin repair, where as in the daytime I go for more hydrating products. Luna certainly fits the bill and I am really enjoying using it. 

Have you used Luna and what did you think?

Meeting Caroline Hirons!

I am writing tommorow's post completely overwhelmed at the day I've just had! I was lucky enough to meet Caroline Hirons today (Monday) at a Sunday Riley event in Space NK, Belfast. Like most of you out there I have been a fan of Caroline's since she did that video with Pixiwoo way back when. Her blog is something I rely constantly upon for advice and I'm always going on about it to friends and well, whoever will listen!

When Caroline announced last week she'd be doing an appearance here in Belfast I was completely beside myself! No, not because it would give me the chance to “meet someone famous” in the blogging world at least. I have met famous people in the past, seen them in the flesh and that's great and all but there's something really special about having a conversation with someone whose advice has genuinely helped you and your skin when almost everything else has failed.

For years I have struggled with my skin and the worst part apart from the effect on my confidence is actually what bad advice I have had over the years from “experts” and professionals alike. Caroline is different, she knows her stuff but best of all she cares and is bloody lovely. 

I got to the Space NK store just before 1pm when the event started and there was already a queue forming right around the shop. During this time the representative from Sunday Riley got us to fill out a prize draw to win a goodie bag of products. The staff offered us champagne and the atmosphere was really lovely and calm. Then halfway through the lady decided to do the first draw, and my name was read out! The whole shop applauded me and I was genuinely dumbfounded! I could barely speak when she came to give me the products and demonstrated how they work. I love skincare but there's so way I could ever have afforded all those products so I was genuinely blown away! I said to her “This cannot be real”. She said “It's reality, believe it!”

I got the Ceramic Slip Cleanser, Good Genes Serum and Juno facial oil. I had only this morning been watching a video with Zoella demonstrating one of these products thinking maybe one day I will be able to afford it. It's true that you never know what's in a day!

It took a couple of hours before I was in the hot seat as Caroline was being really thorough with everyone which was nice because it showed how much she cared. I had written a list of the products I currently use for her approval along with my non made up face so she could see my concerns up close (lucky her!) ;)

It was a little gut wrenching to have Cleanse & Polish crossed off my list as I've been using it for years now. However I found her explanation quite informative and she recommended two other cleansers she felt would better suit my skin. She also suggested a few products I had heard of and also told me that some of what I was using was unnecessary for my age and skintype. She also gave me a telling off for using Sudocreme on my scarring and I then accidentally gave her a telling off for offering me a sweet (sugar is the devil as it says on her blog!)

Also had a funny moment when she confused my use of fresh cucumber within my routine for some kind of toning lotion from ASDA. "Noooo, I mean cucumber. Like actual cucumber"... "Ohhhhhhh!!" 

Overall the day was just incredible and quite overwhelming. I got to meet someone I genuinely have a lot of respect for and whose advice has really helped me, and hopefully will continue to help me get better skin. Not only that but I won some incredible products which was totally unexpected! Thankyou very much Sunday Riley and most of all thankyou Caroline!

P.S: No judgement if you did finish off that bag of sweets! ;)