Now is time for the second part of my beauty must haves which entails a look at my skin care regime what I do and don't do to look after my skin!
Above are the products that i love and always replace before they run out. I should mention I have fairly normal skin, I am more prone to oiliness but I do have dehydrated skin as well. This means that although my skin is a little over oily it does not have enough water present on the surface. So we have;
Clinique Take The Day Off Make Up Remover £16
What else can I say other than this make up remover removes all of my eye and lip makeup with leaving a greasy residue like others can. It does exactly what is promised without leaving eyes sore or looking red, and without forcing the user to rub at the eye area.This product tends to last me a fair amount of time as I very rarely have to use it as my foaming cleanser is fab at removing most of my make up.
Clinique All About Eyes £24
This eye cream promises to reduce circled and any puffiness, that is all well and good but I would prefer an eye cream that also promised to help prevent signs of aging since I am a very happy person crows feet are a very real threat to me. To be honest this eye cream is nothing special yes its not awful and yes it feels nice going on and does leave the eyes feeling cooled and fresh but I want more than this. I have tried multiple eye creams and gels from Ren, Benefit, Clarins, Dior, Lancome and even used Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair eye cream for a while but none of them have left me amazed. Except one I adore Geurlain Orchidee Imperial Eye and Lip Cream, whilst using this I swear I could see visible differences around my eyes. I know I'm only 23 so there is not much damage yet but it did seem like those little fine lines I do have were decreasing whilst using this wonderful product. My lips were also made fabulous they were smooth and silky and did not chap no matter what the weather was. However, I only had a couple of 2ml samples, and although I treasured them and rationed them to only being used at night time they have now gone. I would love to be able to afford this product but at £104 for 15ml I cant. Maybe one day.
Benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion £19.50
I use this oil free moisturiser in the morning before applying my make up and I love it, not only is it refreshing when applied it doesn't leave the skin feeling sticky or greasy (perfect for applying make up on top of). I think the price is really reasonable as well I use this product every morning and it lasts me at least 6 months, it also has an spf 15 in it as well to protect us from all that terrible sun we get here in Scotland.
Benefit Foamingly Clean £16.50
This product is fab, if you buy one thing from all these products it must be this. Before Foamingly Clean came into my life I always felt that after cleansing my face it often felt dry and tight, I was always dying to cover myself in moisturiser to get rid of that feeling. Well not any more Foamingly Clean actually moisturises whilst cleansing, I am sure this is due to it containing amino acids but do not quote me. As I said above it removes all of my make up, it doesn't nip my eyes and it leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth really people what else do you want from a cleanser. This is a great bf product too, my bf often uses it when having a sleepover at my house and my friends bf uses it religiously. She actually steals his!!!
Benefit Refined Finish £17.50
I think it is important to exfoliate the skin, as I always say no point moisturising dead and dry skin. I like refined finish as it does the job without leaving me feeling like I have just used sand paper on my skin as some defoliators can do. The gentle little refining beads are just touch enough to smooth away any dead skin within causing red or soreness. I always notice after using this that my skin seems to drink my moisturiser like it can really penetrate the skin better. Also this lasts me at least a year as we should only be exfoliating up to twice a week and I use this product only once each week after a long bath whilst my pores are open and its healthy acids can cleanse deep down into the skin.
Benefit Moisture Rich £26
Moisture rich is a beautiful rich luxurious night cream that feeds the skins first. Our skin can lose up to 40% of its moisture while we sleep so its really important to lock that moisture in with a fab moisturiser such as this one. A little goes a long way too and again this product is lasting me at least 6 months.
Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil £29
Have you tried a face oil yet? Before I had I thought what no way I have oily skin surely thats just for people with mega dry skin, wrong! I could not be without a good face oil now I have went between this product and Liz Earle's Super Skin Concentrate but I always return to the Clarins Blue Orchid. I use this product after applying my eye cream before my moisturiser and I even love appluing it it is like giving yourself a mini facial every night. I noticed last week whilst I stayed at my bf's for a week and didn't take this prodcut that my skin broke out alot round my chin, now I am home just a few days and my skin is almost completely clear again. This is the product that puts the hydration back into my skin but I also beleive it heals I really cant say enough good things about face oils. I am dying to try the
Philosophy When Hope is not Enough Omega 3.6.9 Replenishing Oil.
Clarins Gentle Peeling £24.50
This product is fab fab fab, one of those products that makes your skin feel like you have just had a facial. I use this once each week along with Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Brightening Toner and Clarins HydraQuench Mask. I have a little routine I begin with the gentle peeling I apply it all over the face and allow it to dry then with my finger tip I rub the skin to remove the product I then give my skin a quick cleanse with the Water Conform Cleanser. Then I use the Hydra Quench mask for around 15 minutes by which point it has usually all conpletely disapeared into my skin I then remove this with the Exfoliating Toner and wahla my skin is glwoing, smooth and wears my make up a million times better.
Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightning Toner £24.50
This toner is different from most, it exfoliates therefor I don't like to use it every day instead I keep it for my little routine detailed above.It is fabulous on its own though too I prefer this to most toners that feel like just another liquid cleanser.
Clarins Water Comfort One Step Cleanser £19
I use this everymorning to cleanse my skin before starting to apply my make up, it is very refreshing and leaves the skin feeling clean and ready to build upon.
Clarins Hydra Quench Cream Mask
I love this mask whilst using in the routine I have told you about above I can actually feel the product sinking into the skin and locking the moisture in deep down. It really does do what it promises to, really helping me to keep my dehydrated skin glowing.
One thing I forgot to mention that I also love and use every night after applying all my other skin care products is Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick. This is fab girls especially in winter when the risk of chapping is at its worst and the need to not be chapped is at its highest as you single ladies are desperate to impress in time for Christmas. It forms a non sticky protective layer over the lips and heals any existing chaps. This product is a bargain at only £20 my Mum carries it in her handbag and has recently started using the brand tinted versions to also give her lips some colour whilst keeping the healthy and happy.
