Skincare That Works

Finding out what skincare Is right for you is pretty much a trial and error process. It has honestly taken me years to build a skincare routine that works for me. I'm still on the hunt for products that will banish spots for good, but there are a few staples in my collection that help my skin whatever problem it is facing at the time.

Cleansers // If I had to pick one formulation of cleanser, it would have to be cream. They are so gentle on your skin and really great for removing makeup - a pretty fail safe product for me and anybody who owns a face. My all time favourite is the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, and although it is slightly pricey to use all the time - I like to make sure I've always got some in my collection for when my skin is feeling a little sensitive or dry. One of my current go-to cleansers is the Good Things Skin Manuka Honey Creamy Cleanser. OMG words cannot describe how much I love this cleanser! And even though it is well under £5, I would happily pay a lot more for it!

Toners // A lot of people don't seen the point in toners, but they are one of the most important steps for me. Caroline Hirons *the skincare GOD* emphasises the importance of an 'acid toner' instead of a stereotypical toner. Personally, I like to mix and match depending on the condition of my skin. When  I don't have many spots and have billions of the scars they've left behind, I like to opt for an acid toner like the First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads, or the Pixi Glow Tonic. The First Aid Beauty pads are a very mild form of acid and are suitable for use both morning and evening. Personally I like to use them in the evening as my skin can sometimes be left a little red afterwards, and when in a rush on a morning I don't want to be waiting around for the redness to go down before doing my makeup. If I am wanting to use an acid in the morning (or evening as it's so gentle it can be used for both), I opt for the Pixi Glow Tonic which is so good I have a backup ready and I still have half a bottle left! When my skin is in need of some soothing I like to use the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic, as it is brilliant for soothing those troublesome under the skin spots!

Scrubs // Now I don't tend to use scrubs that much anymore, as using acid toners on a twice daily basis tends to exfoliate my skin enough. But for those occasions where my skin is a little dryer or dehydrated than usual, I like to have a couple in for when I need them. My usual go-to scrub for the last two or three years has been the Soap and Glory Scrub Your Nose In It Facial Scrub, as I just haven't found anything else that compares to it. It contains both AHAs and BHAs, so exfoliates skin on multiple different levels. It really helps sort my skin out as it is quite a fine scrub so you don't need to apply any pressure to get rid of dry patches. It also doubles up as a mask which is great when you are experiencing a breakout because the acids in it help calm down your skin, and aid absorption of your other skincare products. 

Masks // I like to treat my skin to a face mask at least once a week. I aim to use a face mask twice a week, and sometimes throw an overnight face mask into the mix mid-week for good measure. I can really see a difference in my skin when I forget to use one, so I schedule a mask into my week by placing it on my to do list. My favourite type of masks are clay masks as they are great for drawing out impurities and calming down any blemishes. At the moment my go-to face masks are the Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Face Mask and the Good Things Skin Manuka Honey Face Mask. They are both quite similar, although the Good Things mask has white clay in it so cleansers on a more deeper level. 

Serums and Oils // These are a fairly recent additions into my skincare routine, as I too was under the myth that oils would make my skin oiler, and serums were pointless. But the opposite is infact true, oils balance the skin and prevent the production of excess oils leaving your skin looking 'normal'. Serums are targeted at reducing specific skin complaints, and are more effective than anything else. Oils, don't really do much for blemishes, but they help calm the skin which in turn helps to reduce the size of blemishes. One of my current favourite oils is the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, as it feels so luxurious to apply before hopping into bed. The Estee Lauder serums are also lovely. 

Moisturisers // Obviously you need a moisturiser to protect your skin, keep it hydrated, and form a barrier against the elements. I have quite a few different moisturisers that I pick and choose depending on how my skin is looking on that particular day. If my skin looks a tad oily, I like to opt for a lighter moisturiser such as the Simple Kind To Skin Light Moisturiser, whereas if my skin is looking dry and dehydrated I pick out a thicker, richer moisturiser such as the Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser for Normal/Combination Skin. In the evening I occasionally switch out my moisturiser for an overnight face mask such as the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Face Mask or the Origins Calm To The Senses Overnight Face Mask.

SPF // This is less of an essential during the winter months, but extrememly important to be using all year round. The face is exposed to the sun's rays constantly, and it is very hard to provide it with shade. The days of slathering your face in traditional suncreams are over, and new lightweight facial SPFs are popping up everywhere. I use the La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Ultra Light Fluid SPF 50+, but I've heard that the Benefit Dream Screen is also good.

PRODUCTS MENTIONED

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish // First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads // Pixi Glow Tonic // Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic // Good Things Skin Manuka Honey Creamy Cleanser // Soap and Glory Scrub Your Nose In It Facial Scrub // Simple Kind To Skin Light Moisturiser // Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser for Normal/Combination Skin // Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Face Mask // Origins Calm To The Senses Overnight Face Mask // Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Face Mask // Good Things Skin Manuka Honey Face Mask // Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate // La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Ultra Light Fluid SPF 50+

Follow

Facebook  /  Twitter  /  Instagram  /  Pinterest

January Favourites

How has January been and gone already? It only seems two minutes since we were popping open the bucks fizz at the start of the new year. But with the new year comes new beauty products, so there have been a few new bits I have been enjoying using - mainly skincare, but there has been a few other things (including a book) that I have loved throughout January!

First up is a skincare product that I have used at least once a week throughout January. I'd never tried an overnight face mask before, but I'd heard incredible things about it so picked it up halfway through December. The Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Face Mask, has become somewhat of a staple in my skincare routine, and even though my skin isn't dry - I am prone to dehydrated looking skin that refuses to absorb anything to help sort itself out. Whilst I have been using this on the regular I have noticed that my skin is a lot smoother and hydrated, so I think that it is worth checking out if you suffer with dry skin or if the winter weather is wreaking havoc on your face. One thing I don't like about it is the smell - it has that sort of fake fruit smell that I find quite sickly with regular usage, but I can look past it for the brilliant results! Another skincare item that has been working wonders on my skin is the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. This face oil feels so nourishing on the skin and it feels as though your are treating your skin to pamper evening without having to go through the effort of washing something off later on. I really want to get the daytime version to apply alongside it in the morning, but we'll have to see what my student budget will allow for in February. 

Last Sunday, my post talked about 'The Life Changing Magic of Tidying' book by Marie Kondo and how it had well and truly changed my life. Of course I had to include it in my favourites post for this month as it has well and truly been a favourite. Although I technically finished it at the start of the month, throughout the first week I was excited to pick it up and read another section, and the effects of reading it have lasted since picking it up at the end of December. It has changed my outlook on living and has made me kept my bedroom clean and tidy for an entire month!! That is absolutely unheard of for me and the only explanation must be this book! At the beginning of January a follow up book called 'Sparks Joy' was released by Marie, and I'm enjoying that just as much! 

For lips we'll start with  new NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams that have swept the UK like a storm over the last month or so. In my last post I mentioned that NYX has become more readily available in the UK and you can now buy it in Boots and on Feel Unique amongst a few other places. I picked up the shades Antwerp and Prague, and have been wearing them both quite regularly throughout January - but my favourite has to be the shade Prague as it's a gorgeous berry pink shade that is perfect for winter. They'd be ideal for those of you who like the idea of a matte finish but don't want anything to feel too dry on the lips, as they appear matte but feel incredibly creamy on the lips. There are tonnes of different shades available, and I absolutely love how they are all named after capital cities! I have also been enjoying wearing the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Love Liberty, and even though I mainly bought it to wear on Christmas Day, I have transitioned it though into the start of 2016. I adore the shade and will most definitely be wearing it regularly throughout the year! 

What have you been enjoying this month?
Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

Follow
Facebook |  Twitter |  Instagram | Pinterest

The Skincare Range That Saved My Skin

If I'm honest this post should be titled "The Skincare Range That Is Saving My Skin", but that doesn't sound half as much as gripping now does it? If I could go back to this time last month and hand myself these products, I will have saved myself so many tears. I'd not heard of the Brand Good Things until the start of the month where I saw the makeup wipes featured on someone's blog. So whilst browsing the supermarket aisles, when I spotted a few of their products - I picked up everything I could find except the moisturiser (as I'm happy with my current ones). 

The first thing that I tried out were the Total Wipe Out Cleansing Wipes (£3.49). I used them prior to cleansing to take the bulk of my makeup off, and wow I was impressed! I usually use the Garnier Micellar Water at this stage, or if I'm tired or being really lazy I use the Simple Skincare Wipes - cutting out the whole putting the product on a cotton pad step. Although I'm not so keen on the sickly raspberry and cranberry scent, they have quickly replaced my Simple wipes as they are more moist (ew I hate that word). After seeing how good the makeup wipes were, I was so excited to try out the Manuka Honey Creamy Cleanser (£4.99). Although being slightly worried that it was going to have a really sickly smell like the makeup wipes, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really like the smell. It smells really fresh and is incredibly soothing on the skin. Within a couple of days of using the cleanser, I noticed that my skin had calmed down loads and my blemishes seemed to be fading. At first I thought that it was just coincidence and that my skin was just having a 'good skin day', but with continued use I realised that it was actually the cleanser that was banishing my blemishes!

Alongside the creamy cleanser, I have also been using the Manuka Honey Radiance Face Mask (£5.99) and all that needs to be said is it does exactly what it says on the tin (or tube in the case).  As soon as you wash it off your skin looks so much brighter and radiant! I've never really thought my skin looked particularly dull, but I was surprised at how much it illuminated my face! I've found that it is pretty similar to the Antipodes Manuka Honey Mask. Obviously the Antipodes mask is a little more luxury, but the Good Things one does the job perfectly. The manuka honey in the products has brilliant antibacterial properties and I'm putting this down to my improving skin!

As far as I can tell, none of the products contain any parabens, sulphates, mineral oils, and other nasties! And the best part? They don't break the bank! The anti-wrinkle day cream/moisturiser seems to be the most expensive product from the entire brand at a bargain £8.99, so at this pricing I will definitely be trying out more things from the brand! One thing I should point out though, is that people who are allergic to bee/wasp stings can't use any of the products from the Manuka Honey range - however there are a couple of other ranges that you might like (including the rest of the products from the makeup wipe range).

Have you tried anything from Good Things? What were your thoughts?

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

Follow
Facebook |  Twitter |  Instagram | Pinterest | Youtube

Another Lush Cosmetics Haul

Hi Friends! So after I posted a photo of my many Lush bags on Twitter the other week, a few of you asked if I would do another 'haul' post. Judging from my stats, most of you seemed to really like my last Lush haul! I was trying not to do any shopping due to the fact that I am trying to save up to buy a new phone. But as my sister's birthday was coming up I needed to get her a present and she loves Lush almost as much as I do. And of course, I couldn't help but pick up a few treats for myself too! In the end I came out with 3 of the large bags!

I was actually in Lush for over 45 minutes! Probably the longest time I have ever spent in Lush! And I came out with some colourful new products that I've never tried before. The star of the show has to be The Comforter Shower Cream! I wish I had a photo of my face when I saw it in the shop - I got so excited when I saw it in Leeds rather than on Oxford Street in London where it was exclusively sold! Although I didn't realise how expensive it was till I was checking the price to go in this post! This 500ml bottle apparently set me back £15.95! Although I suppose if you compare it to the bubble bar at £4.75, I suppose it works at quite a bargain! You can buy it in 100ml, 250ml, 500ml and even 1 litre bottles - I didn't see any 1litre bottles but I bought the biggest as the scent is my all time favourite!

Another of the new products I picked up was the Cosmic Warrior Fresh Face Mask. I've never tried any skincare from Lush and many people rave about their facemasks. The past few times I've been in I've browsed their skincare products, but been so overwhelmed I've just left. But this time Inwas determied to make a decision and choose one. I read all the product descriptions and decided to opt for the Cosmetic Warrior as it was the only one that mentioned 'spots'. Something I tend to look for in a facemask. Since buying it I've used it once and my skin really seemed to like it! When I was at the till, one of the assistants mentioned that it was 'too aggressive' for her skin and that 'if I could get past the strong smell of garlic' I might like it. This worried me a lot, but In reality I can hardly smell the garlic - only tea tree oil, which I love the smell of. I'm currently loving it, but it does kind of annoy me that you have to keep it in the fridge as thats not somewhere I tend to keep my beauty products haha!

Like I said, I've never tried anything other than bath and body products from Lush so I thought I'd try some of their gorgeous looking soaps. I purchased the 'Bohemian' soap and the new 'Sea Vegetable' soap as I liked the scent of the two and thought the colours would look nice in my bathroom. The Bohemian' soap (the yellow one) has a subtle lemony scent. I don't really know what else to say about it as how descriptive can you be about a bar of soap? The 'Sea Vegetable' soap is a gorgeous dark green/navy blue colour. I think it smells like ginger and mixed spice although as the name suggests its supposed to smell like sea vegetables. Although having never smelt a sea vegetable (I've eaten seaweed at a chinese restaurant, does that count?)  I cannot comment on this whatsoever.

As I was picking out a few bath bombs and bubble bars for my sister, I decided to treat myself to another 'Floating Island' bath melt after using my last one the night before. I briefly talked about this in my last Lush haul, and although it looks extremely unimpressive, it leaves your skin silky soft and smelling beautiful!

And finally, on an impulse as I was feeling particularly generous that day (I mean come on, I bought 2 bags of Lush for other people), I bought one of the little charity pots at the till. I'm yet to try this but for £1 you can't really complain.

What have you all been buying recently?

Thanks for reading!

Love Charlotte x

Follow
Facebook |  Twitter |  Instagram | Pinterest