New Skincare Staples

For those who enjoy wearing make-up on a daily basis, a thorough skin routine is simply a must-have. As much as I love beauty products, it's no surprise that piling all these different products onto your skin can cause it a lot of distress if it's not taken care of properly. Adopting a great skin routine is great for tackling spots, redness, dullness and creates an amazing blank canvas that makes applying make-up an absolute dream. It's taken me a while to find a combination of products that work well for me as my skin doesn't react very well to change and it jumps between normal, combination and sensitive, but I think I may have finally found it! So here are my new skincare staples that I just can't stop raving about: 

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

I've been using this for so long now and I am absolutely in love with it. It's a one-step make-up remover and cleanser that's amazing for removing almost every trace of product on your skin, including waterproof mascara. It's not irritating, heavily perfumed or dry in any way and makes removing your make-up an absolute breeze. It comes in such a big bottle (400ml, which is crazy!) but remember that you really only need a small drop to start breaking down the make-up. The only issue I have with this is that the bottle is just so big that I wish it came in a mini size for when I travel1 Other than that, I have absolutely no issue with this product and I know for certain I won't be looking for anything else. 

Origins A Perfect World Deep Cleanser

I've been using this foaming cleanser since the beginning of the year and i've been absolutely loving it. I was sceptical at first as it was described to me as a cleanser for all skin types, which I immediately interpret that it wouldn't actually focus on any specifics, but I was definitely proved wrong. Containing detoxifying White Tea, it's an amazing antioxidant that leaves the skin feeling squeaky clean and expertly cleansed. I use it morning and night before applying my moisturiser so it takes off any last trace of make-up and preps my skin for the rest of my skincare routine. 

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

This is my latest addition and is definitely the most luxurious. I decided to take the plunge and give it a try after hearing about it on various Zoella blogs. Containing cooling avocado, this moisturising eye cream is super thick and extremely hydrating. Sometimes I do struggle with the amount I need to put on as a little does go a long way, but i've only been using it for about a month and I already see a huge improvement. It's designed to reduce darkness underneath the eyes as well as reduce any puffiness, which it most certainly does. My eyes feel brighter and look more awake than they ever have done! I usually put on a slighter thicker layer at night and give it the whole night to sink in and then continue with my moisturiser. 

Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturiser

I've gone through so many moisturisers i've lost count. I get really impatient that I don't see or feel the results straight away so I move onto the next one, but with this Origin's moisturiser I really feel like this could be the product. Enriched with energising GinZing and Coffee Bean, this light, oil-free moisturiser glides onto the skin and instantly brightens and refreshes. I notice especially in the morning after my evening application that my skin looks considerably more vibrant and effortlessly soft. It makes my skin look amazing underneath my make-up as it gives off just enough glow to shine through and make it look like i've had 12 hours sleep! It is quite expensive (Prices start from £23), but if your skin feels really dull, dark and in need of a boost, I would definitely recommend investing in this skin saviour. I've used it morning and night for around 6 weeks and i'm hooked! 

Let The Good Times Roll Cleanser

Another day, another LUSH binge! This time, I was looking for a gentle cleanser, due to my sudden increase in spots. I can't speak for other bloggers, but for my skin continuity is key, which isn't exactly ideal for a beauty blogger who spends her spare hours reviewing new products. I wanted something moisturising, purifying and not too heavy so my skin felt red and exposed afterwards. With that in mind, I was pointed in the direction of this little beauty:

  

Let The Good Times Roll is one of Lush's limited edition Christmas products. Packed with cinnamon, popped corn oil, maize and caramel, this cleansing scrub sounds a lot more like ingredients for a delicious dessert.

 

It has the texture of cookie dough (Which is quite fitting!), with tiny grains for light exfoliation. When I bought it I didn't think to ask whether it was recommended to use as a weekly scrub or daily cleanser due to the consistency - but its perfectly fine to use every day. This is by far the product I am most excited about using. As sad as it sounds, I actually look forward to treating my skin to a dose of this product every night, it just smells so gorgeous! A pinch of it mixed with water in the palms of your hands is just enough to rid your face of all makeup as well as provide an amazing exfoliator. I've also found with two weeks of continued use that my spots have cleared up considerably, as well as being less blotchy on my nose and cheeks.

For the bargain price of £5.95, you get a generous 100g. However, with this amount comes the only negative aspect of this review. Because Lush's products are so natural and fresh, the shelf life isn't as long as other products. This product has a 'Best Before' of 3 months, and with the amount you purchase compared to the amount you need, there would most likely be a lot of wastage. That, and the fact that its limited edition so soon i'll have to cope without this incredible (and yummy!) facial cleanser, are the only bad things I have to say about this product. 

So grab it while you can, but try not too get too hooked - it's not around for long!

You can purchase Let The Good Times Roll for £5.95 (100g) at your local Lush or online here.

Montagne Jeunesse's Blemish Mud Face Mask

It's got to the stage now where vegetarian skincare brand Montagne Jeunesse doesn't need an introduction or explination. I have done many reviews in the past of their various products, but I always get excited when i'm introduced to something new of theirs.

Blemish Mud is part of their Mud spa range and aims to brighten the skin whilst combating imperfections. As you've noticed I have pale skin, so any small blemish is noticeable so this masque is perfect for me.

Containing soothing Aloe Vera and Willow along with Witch Hazel and Rosemary, this product has a thick consistency (hence the word 'mud') which makes it quite difficult to remove from the packaging. It doesn't have a particularly nice scent, but to be honest this masque's aim is to target your problem areas, not to be fruity and fragrant so it didn't really make a difference. I'd also found that the masque was so thick that you could get away with stretching the packet to two applications. Instantly cooling, at soon as it was applied it felt as though it had been left in the fridge for hours in preparation - it definitely woke me up and the thickness felt really luxurious and indulgent on my skin!

After the 15 minute application time, the mud had transformed into a hard clay that made me look like a character out of 13 Ghosts when I tried to smile and loosen up the masque. It was relatively easy to remove, and my skin immediately looked brighter, felt smoother and was squeaky clean. It had definitely brought the redness out in my blemishes, but since application more blemishes have actually appeared - it didn't seem to help reduce them in any way. It is advised to be used weekly, but i'm not convinced after my first application that it has actually done anything. For just £1.09 its great for a general pampering masque, but i'm not overally satisfied with the results it promises.

I have been advised by Montagne Jeunesse to follow up this deep cleanse with a Cooling Cucumber Peel-Off Masque - so stay tuned to see whether this next product lives up to expectations!

You can purchase the Blemish Mud Face Masque for £1.09 at your local supermarket, Boots and Superdrug or on their official website here.

The Beginners Guide To Skincare

If you would have asked me about my skincare regime a year ago, I would have only listed one product: A baby wipe. I complained about bad skin and break-outs for years, but was never educated as to why and how to ensure that my skin remained in top condition. There are so many cleansers, toners, scrubs and masks around that it's almost intimidating  as well as impossible to find a regime that's suitable for you, so here's my guide to skincare essentials so you get to grips with the basics:

1. Cleanser. 
This is the first step in a daily skincare regime. Cleansers aim to remove makeup, excess sebum (oil), dirt and more from your skin. They come in many different forms, they can be creams, milks, waters, foams, gels and lotions (there are also cleansing wipes, but I would advise using a proper cleanser before opting for a wipe!). These obviously do the same initial job, but different types of cleansers work for different types of skin. If you have dry skin you need to go for a slightly heavier cleanser (Like a cream or lotion) that remove less oil and aim to rejuvinate and moisturise the skin, whereas people with oily skin should opt for an extremely light cleanser (I tend to go for cleansing water as it was the lightest on my skin) and the product will remove all of oil and will add no extra to the skin. Everyone's skin is different, and depending if you want something that you need to wash off, or let it absorb in or leave to foam - the choice is yours.

When choosing a cleanser, you need to ensure that it contains to fragrances, harmful chemicals, parabens or alcohol as this could just irritate the skin and defeats the object of 'cleansing'. When choosing your cleanser to need to ensure that it's not too harsh and robs you of your skins natural moisture and oils. Your skin should feel quite bare are refreshed after proper removal of makeup with a cleanser, it shouldn't feel dry or overally sensitive, and definitely not irritated.

The proper way to use a cleanser is to apply onto a flat cotton pad (That way you can cover a wide surface area and you won't get the excess fluff from a cotton ball sticking to your face!) and gently apply in circular motions upwards and outwards. Obviously, it depends on the individual cleanser but be sure to have extra cotton pads at the ready to remove excess product or stubborn makeup and dirt that didn't quite budge the first time round.

2. Toner.
 Toner is used after cleansing the skin, and basically continues to cleanse and purify the face as well as reduce pore size and prep the skin for moisturising. I like to think of it as a base coat or a primer for moisturiser! These also come in different forms, as some are a liquid that is applied via a cotton pad, some are light sprays. Just as before, it is important that whatever toner you use is light, fragrance free and doesn't contain any drying-agents that will basically undo everything that your cleanser has achieved. Toner sprays are especially ideal for people with sensitive and drier skin as it hydrates, however if you want to ensure that you are completely clean and makeup free, a liquid toner is right for you.

3. Moisturiser. 
Words cannot express how must of a neccessity a good facial moisturiser is. With the world we live in today, our faces are constantly exposed to a huge variety of harmful toxins and pollutants, and our skin (being the sponge that it is!) absorb these toxins, robbing it of its hydration. Much like needing water to hydrate on the inside, your skin needs moisture on the outside too. This is where you have the opportunity to explore a lot of different ranges of moisturiser. Practically every makeup brand has a moisturiser, as well as drugstore ranges the choice is practically endless. It's hard to narrow it down, so all I can say is ensure that you have the right strength of moisturiser for your skin type - you want it to absorb into your skin, not sit on it and make it greasy. Once again, perfume and alcohol free is the way to go - you want to flush out the harmful toxins, not add any more!

Moisturiser is best applied after cleansing and toning as it means the skin is still damp and the use of the previous products ensures that your skin can absorb as much moisture to maximum capacity, keeping you moisturised even longer.

4. Scrubs & Masks.
Last but certainly not least are facial scrubs and/or masks. These are helpful additions that are to be used sparily, i.e. once a week or twice for oiler skin. They're not neccessarily harsher treatments, but scrubs aim to gently remove dead skin cells, and masks cleanse a lot more thoroughly and are a great treat at the end of a busy week, but overuse could be generally too much for your skin to take. There are countless scrubs and purifying masks, so you can really have fun with this one (peel-offs, self-heating and muds are some examples). Lush and Montague Jeunesse are favourites of mine, as they use natural ingredients such as fruits (which have endless benefits!) meaning that once again you're not piling unwanted chemicals and additives on your skin. 
Most scrubs and masks take minutes to apply and the effects are incredible. There are masks and scrubs for different types as well as other desired outcomes such as clearing blackheads and reducing pore size. They are especially great if you live in an area with higher pollution, such as London or Manchester, as your skins exposure to harmful pollutants is far greater - so a deep cleanse and purify is a must-have. They're generally the most enjoyable part of caring for your skin - I can't tell you how relaxing it is to get into your pyjamas and put on a face mask in the evening! 


So there you go! It's really not that intimidating, it's just a case of knowing what you want and what to look for. Skincare products range in price, and sometimes it is a case of trial and error, but once you find one that suits you you'll see the benefits in no time.

Review: Etat Pur Prescription

I recently entered a giveaway on Holly Arabella's blog, with the prize being a personalised solution from skincare specialists Etat Pur - and guess what? I won!

Etat Pur provide skincare products that are tailored for specific types of skin, and by using their personalised solution questionnaire, it allows customers to be educated on what types of products they should be using in their daily (and nightly) routine. To be honest, i'd never heard of this company before reading Holly's review, but I was instantly intrigued by the idea of being personally guided through hand-picked products as there are so many different skincare products out there it's enough to make your head spin. Etat Pur can recommend products targeting at different skin problems, ages or skin types - which means you really can find what suits you.

I was absolutely thrilled, purely because I never win anything. I was told to go onto their website and complete their questionnaire, which looks like this:

 

(The questionnaire is longer by the way, my screen just isn't big enough to view it all at once!)

From there, I was given a list of different products ranging from cleansing waters to spot treatments, and within a week or so I received this in the post:

Clockwise from top left: Purifying Cleansing Gel | Express Purifying Mask | Micellar Purifying Cleansing Water | Salicylic Acid 70 | Salicylic Acid 300 | Enoxolone | Oat

As you can see from the products I was sent that I focused quite a lot on cleansing, which is what I chose to be of great importance to me on the questionnaire. This is because I am obsessed with having clean and clear skin at the end of the day, as there is no greater beauty sin than leaving your make-up overnight (Seriously, you're asking for trouble!). I also find that my nose and general T-zone area gets quite red easily and I hate having spots, so I wanted to focus on those aspects too as well as ensuring that all the product were suitable for oily and sensitive skin. A tall order, right? You'd like to think so!

This review will be in two parts, the cleansing treatments and then the problem skin treatments, purely because with the skin treatments results are expected after days of ongoing use, so I cannot give an accurate review. But here's a few words on some of the products I did receive:

Purifying Cleansing Gel

 This light cleansing gel gently foams, removing excess subum (oil) and purifying your face without drying it out. It's great for sensitive skin as it's so fine and doesn't include any nasty chemicals. I like to use this in the morning because after rinsing off it feels as though you've just applied a face mask - your skin feels so nourished and ready for the day. It doesn't contain any soap or alcohol, so if you accidently get some in your eye it won't sting! This is great as it doesn't leave your skin feeling too heavy, so i'm not afraid to continue to tone and moisturise afterwards.
Purifying Cleansing Gel is priced at £7.70.

Express Purifying Mask

I was really excited about this product as i'm such a huge fan of face-masks. This 5-minute clay mask removes excess sebum as well as absorbs other harmful toxins, and unblocks pores. You only need a thin layer so 50ml goes a long way, and afterwards my skin felt rejuvinated and well moisturised. It's suitable for all skin types, but is recommended twice a week for combination to oily skin, and once a week for normal to dry. It leaves your skin feeling silky smooth, and without a single trace of dirt or make-up.
Express Purifying Mask is priced at £7.50.

Micellar Purifying Cleansing Water

This has been by far the most used and loved product that I received. It removes make-up and cleanses the face in a single wipe, which basically eliminates a step in my nightly skincare routine! It's alcohol and soap free, removes excess sebum, and is even suitable for removing eye make-up. It makes your skin feel clean and refreshed, as well as prepped for your toner and moisturiser. I can say nothing but good things about this! I tend to use this at night as it removes my make-up, and then use the gel in the morning, but they're both equally as great so it really depends on whether you feel like running to the sink to rinse or not.
Micellar Purifying Cleansing Water is priced at £7.40.

Like I said, once I have tested the spot and redness treatments as directed I will post my review, so stay tuned! But for now, click here to visit the Etat Pur website and fill in your personalised solution questionnaire. I highly recommend trying out some of their products, whether your new to skincare or you feel like your current products just aren't cutting it - trust me, these will!

Thank you so much to Holly Arabella, Etat Pur and Wizard PR for this amazing giveaway gift - I'm so pleased with it and I can't wait to try out some more of their products once it's time to stock up again!

How I Tackle Oily Skin!

I never really realised I had oily skin until I used 'Take The Day Off' Cleansing Milk by Clarins. It was amazing at taking off my make-up, but I wasn't informed by the salesperson that it was for people with particularly dry skin so it was really oily. After that, I realised that my skin was naturally red and oily and it was very difficult to make my foundation stick for more than a few hours.

I will say this now, and no doubt I will say it again: Lush Cosmetics.
I cannot get enough of this shop! I went in there and asked what they recommended, and I ended up purchasing two products that I can no longer live without:

Photograph taken from Lush Cosmetics website

I usually do my cleansing routine in the shower, because it can get kind of messy! Firstly I use my Fresh Farmacy cleansing bar. They sell it at £4.50 for 100g (Which I think is enough!), and it's basically a calamine lotion in a solid form. It's ingredients include tea tree oil (Which is renowned for battling oily skin) and lavender oil which soothes the redness. What's great about this product is that it doesn't actually include hardly any soap, which they have intentionally avoided to reduce the impact it has on the skin. I use this bar by wetting my hand and lathering it up with it until my hand is totally covered. I then cover my face with it, massaging as I go and then wash it off with warm water. I love feeling my face afterwards, because it feels as though all the dirt and rubbish has been washed away! I use this every time I shower.





The next product I use for every other shower I have, because it is technically a scrub which can be harsh on your face. It's called Dark Angels and can be purchased from Lush for £5.95. This is excellent value for money because there is so much compacted in the pot and it definitely does the job! The scariest thing about it is that it is jet black, and doesn't smell particularly pleasant. That is thanks to the charcoal, Rhassoul mud and black sugar "which together make a very absorbant and exfoliating cleanser".
Before you use this, please make sure you don't have anything white or lightly coloured e.g.: A bath mat or towel lying around, as it can stain!After i've used the Fresh Farmacy, I take a small amount in my hand (On the container it says 'penny-sized') and lather it up with some water so it forms a paste. I then massage it into my skin until it is completely covered. I then wash it off with warm water, leaving my face feeling tight and clean, with all the excess oil washed away. The only negative comment I have about this product is that it's shelf life is only three months, and for the amount you are supposed to use and the amount of times it's recommended to use it you end up wasting a fair amount.

I've found that this routine has reduced the redness on my face, and that the loss of oil has made my make up stay on longer. My skin feels healthier, cleaner and is extremely soft! These two products are definately two of the best that Lush has to offer and I don't think i'll ever try anything else!

What are your cleansing routines?