Current Cleansing Heroes

You've probably noticed that I've been a bit absent from the blog recently, but what can I say? Sometimes life just gets in the way and things are just too busy. Anyway, I'm back now with a fresh mind and a long list of blog post ides for the upcoming weeks so I thought I'd get stuck right in and talk about a couple of cleansers I've been using constantly and loving.

The first is from super clean skincare brand Nude and it's their Perfect Cleansing Oil for Face and Eyes, this one is my first stop in the evenings, particularly if I've been wearing makeup. I just massage a couple of pumps into dry skin, it completely breaks down all makeup, including mascara. I then splash my face with water and the rich oil turns into a milk and rinses away, taking the makeup with it. It contains lots of natural, skin nourishing ingredients and my skin always feels healthier after using it. 

The second in my rotation is Aurelia's Miracle Cleanser, another cleanser packed full of great ingredients from an all clean and natural brand. This one contains lots of essential oils like camomile, rosemary and bergamot which, as well as doing great things for the skin, smell absolutely amazing. This one is my go to first thing in the morning as well as in the evening as a second cleanse after the nude one. I just scoop a bit out, massage it all over my face, inhale the lovely scent, then remove it with a flannel. 

The two work in combination with each other brilliantly well and my face feels baby soft after I use them. I'm already onto my second pot of Aurelia and the Nude cleansing oil will also definitely be repurchased when it runs out!

What cleansers have you been using recently?

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Cold Weather Skin Saviours

If ever there's a time when my skin feels a bit dry, dehydrated and lacklustre it's at this time of year. The bitingly cold weather and central heating are recking havoc on my skin not to mention the after effects of one too many late nights in December. My skin has a tendency to get very sensitive in the cold but over the last few years I've managed to come up with an arsenal of products to keep it in tip top condition. 

Cleansing is so important in the cold, anything foaming will just strip the small amount of moisture there is in the skin. I've been using the Nude Perfect Cleansing Oil in the evenings and the Aurelia Miracle Cleanser in the mornings and as a second cleanse at night. The combination of the two have left my skin feeling fresh and clean but still plumped up, nourished and soft. 

The Clarins Special Eye Contour Balm is one I seem to come back to every winter, I spoke about it more in my Morning Skincare Routine Video which you can see here. It's rich and moisturising but still sinks in easily and sits well under makeup. I've also upped my usage of Time Bomb's Youth Juice Secret Oil from a couple of times a week to 3 or 4, I've also been piling it on on at-home, no makeup days. It too sinks in easily and the lovely scent makes it such a pleasure to use. 

I generally moisturise my body all year round but in winter I love an oil or a super rich body butter. The Bliss Lemon+Sage Body Butter is so thick it's almost solid, it takes a bit of rubbing in to get it to sink in but boy is it worth it! I've been quickly working my way through this deluxe sample tube but a full size purchase may be in order! 

Two things I definitely couldn't forgo are hand cream and lip balm, Soap & Glory Hand Food is everyones favourite for a reason, it smells lovely, is lastingly moisturising and most importantly doesn't leave a reside on the hands. The Body Shop's Coconut Lip Butter is thick and moisturising enough to heal even the most cracked lips but unfortunately does leave a bit of a pale cast on the lips. For that reason, I reserve it for overnight use and I always have super soft lips come morning!

What are your favourite cold weather products?

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Top 5 Skincare Discoveries of 2014

I've discovered quite a few products in 2014 that I absolutely love, particularly skincare so I thought I'd share 5 of my favourites with you today and let you know why I love them so much! 

1. The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil (full review here)

I absolutely love this oil, it's so effective at removing makeup, cleansing the skin and leaving it feeling soft and plump. It's just as good as some high end oils which is great because not only is it half the price, it also contains double the quantity!

2. Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Night Cream (full review here)

From the budget to the not-so-budget! This one certainly isn't cheap but is most definitely worth it. It's hands down the best night cream I've ever used. It manages to deliver a huge amount of moisture to the skin but still sinks in easily. The consistency is just great and it smells good too. 

3. Good Things Manuka Honey Radiance Face Mask (full review here)

Whenever my skin feels a bit dull or grotty I reach for this. It's a clay based mask which unclogs pores, contains fruit acids to brighten and exfoliate and manuka honey to moisturise. It's a great all rounder that I'd recommend to everyone. 

4. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ (full reviews here and here)

I don't get very many spots but I like to keep this to hand for when I do. A small amount applied to any areas with spots, clogged pores or blackheads help get skin back to normal in record time. The face wash and toner from the range are pretty good too, I spoke more about them here.

5. Indeedlabs Pepta-Bright (full review here)

If you're wondering why this one isn't in the main picture it's because I ran out of it a while ago and threw away the tube! The only reason why I haven't repurchased it yet is because I already had another serum in my stocks that I thought I'd use first. Anyway, onto the product. It has what indeed labs describe as a cream-serum formula which I'd definitely agree with, it's surprisingly moisturising for a serum and oily skin types can probably get away with using it on its own. The reason why I love it so much is because it's absolutely phenomenal at getting rid of pigmentation. Whether it's hormonal, from sun damage or as in my case, old acne scarring. By the time I came to the end of the tube my pigmentation was almost all gone!

I hope you've enjoyed reading about my favourite skincare discoveries from 2014, what were yours? 

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La Roche Posay Effaclar 3 Step Anti Blemish System

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of La Roche Posay's Effacer Duo+ I spoke about it in great detail 1 tube in here and 2 tubes in here. When I heard that they were bringing out a 3 Step Anti Blemish System containing a much hyped toner I was very excited to give it a try. Here's what's in it and what I thought!

First up is the Purifying Foaming Gel, I have to be honest and say I haven't even tried this. I'm not a fan of foaming cleaners at all, they just don't agree with my skin so I passed this along to the boy to try and give me his verdict. Suffice to say he loves it! He said it doesn't foam too much but still leaves his skin feeling clean but not dried out (he has combination/oily skin). Since using it for the last couple of months he hasn't had a single spot in spite of having a terrible cold. He said he likes that it's an unfussy product in practical packaging and that he'll continue to use it and repurchase it indefinitely! 

The Clarifying Toner is only available as part of this set and it's the product I was the most excited about. It contains lactic and salicylic acid in a glycerin base so it's exfoliating but also moisturising. I've been using it for a couple of months twice a day and really like it although it doesn't tingle the skin as other exfoliating toners do. I'd definitely recommend it, particularly to those who have never used an exfoliating toner before. 

Last up is the Effaclar Duo+, I won't talk about this one too much as I've spoken about it in detail in previous posts, make sure you check those out if you want more info. In a nutshell it's a cream - serum hybrid that can be applied all over the face or just to specific areas. It's incredible at taking down spots in record time and also helps fade any scars they leave behind. A brilliant product that I'll always have at hand just incase!

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Current Favourites

As you've probably noticed, I've been a bit late getting together my november favourites. I thought about scrapping the post all together but then decided last minute to rename it 'current favourites' instead! Here's what I've been loving.

I still can't believe it's taken me so long to get a tangle teezer. I got mine about a month ago and it has quickly become an essential. I'm starting to wonder what I ever did without it! 

I've noticed that my skin has become a lot drier in the last few weeks because of the horribly cold weather so I've had to take my skincare up a notch. I've been using The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil (full review here) both in the morning and evening rather than just in the evening as I had been doing previously. I've also been using the Time Bomb Youth Juice Secret Oil (full review here) every night and on no makeup days. I've found that using more oil has been amazingly helpful with keeping moisture in my skin and keeping dry patches at bay. 

Another skincare love is the Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Tonic, an amazingly hydrating spritz on 'toner' that I've been using both morning and night post cleanse. It has a lovely subtle scent of roses thanks to the rose water it contains and is a great product to stop skin from getting dehydrated. Full review coming soon! 

I've been keeping things pretty simple on the makeup front recently. I recently bought the Estee Lauder Pure Colour Shadow Paint in Chained and I've been wearing it almost everyday since. It's a great everyday shade that is so quick and easy to apply. 

Another recent purchase is the Smashbox Full Exposer Mascara, I wasn't completely sold on it when I first started using it as it was a bit wet but now that I'm a couple of weeks in and it's dried out a bit I absolutely love it. It adds lots of volume and length and is quickly becoming one of my favourite ever mascaras. 

What beauty products have you been loving recently?

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Travel Skincare

I've always been one to stash away any samples or minis I get my hands on so come holiday packing time I can do some serious downsizing. If I didn't do this I'd probably need a whole suitcase just for my beauty stuff! I also find it's a great way to try out new things and decided wether or not I'd want to buy the full size in the future. 

On the cleansing front I'm taking 3 options, some of the Garnier Miceallar Water decanted into a little Muji Bottle, a travel size Vitamin E Cream Cleanser from The Body Shop, which I've used on and off for years and love, and a sample of Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel, which I'm really looking forward to trying. 

For toner I'm taking 2 options, an exfoliating one and a hydrating one, the former is a sample of Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner and the latter is Anatomicals Spray Misty For Me decanted into a Muji Mini Spray Bottle. 

To moisturise eyes I'm taking a sample of Ren Vita Mineral Active 7 Eye Gel which cools, refreshes and moisturises. For the rest of the face I'm taking the Clarins HydraQuench Cream for night and HydraQuench Lotion SPF15 for day. I've had a full size of the cream before and will definitely buy it again, it's such a nourishing but easily absorbed moisturiser.

I'm taking a few serums and treatments, some of which I'm sure I won't get round to using but it will be nice to have them just incase! Clinique Turnaround Concentrate is an overnight exfoliating serum and The Body Shop Vitamin E Serum in Oil is supposed to plump and hydrate. I'll also be taking the Clarins Pure and Radiant Mask to use incase I have any breakouts or if my skin just looks a bit lacklustre. Late nights and long lie-ins on holiday usually mean my eyes can get a bit puffy so I'll be taking the Wei Correcting Eye Treatment Pads, I've never tried anything like these so I'll be interested to see if they work! 

What skincare products do you take away with you?

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The Body Shop Tea Tree Cool & Creamy Wash

I recently spoke about The Body Shop's Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil, which I use in the evenings as it's really great for removing makeup, read all about that here. In the mornings I've been using their Tea Tree Cool & Creamy Wash and I've really been loving it. 

As you'd expect it contains Tea Tree oil which in combination with menthol smells amazing and leaves skin feeling unbelievable cool, fresh and tingly with out stripping it of moisture. It's perfect for anyone who lives in a hot climate or in a country currently experiencing a heatwave! 

It's a cream cleanser so it doesn't foam, something I really like about it as I tend to avoid foaming cleansers. I massage it into my skin and then usually remove it using a warm flannel/washcloth, this leaves my skin feeling really clean and soft. If I have time I sometimes leaves it on for a couple of minutes before removing it, I'm sure there are no skincare benefits to doing this but I just love the cooling sensation it has on my skin!  

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The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil

When it comes to cleansers I tend to pass on the foaming ones and stick to cream, oil and balm formulas. I made the switch a few years ago now and my skin is definitely thanking me for it. I found foaming formulas left my skin feeling tight and uncomfortable whereas creams/oils/balms leave my skin feeling soft and nourished. 

I've been using The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil for a while now and I'm loving it. It's a really lightweight oil that you massage onto your dry, fully made up face and it completely dissolves makeup, including stubborn mascara. When it comes into contact with water the whole lot turns into a milky liquid and just rinses off making makeup removal incredibly quick and easy. You can also remove it with a damp flannel/washcloth which I sometimes do and this gives the skin a slight exfoliation, leaving it feeling even softer. 

I find one pump of product is plenty to do my whole face and as I only use it in the evening this bottle will last me a long time. I tend to follow it with another cleanse, just to make sure all my makeup is definitely gone and my skin in super clean, for this I prefer a balm cleanser or coconut oil as it's richer and leaves my skin feeling plumped up. I've heard great things about The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter too so that one's next on my list to try! 

The Body Shop Haul

Every time The Body Shop have a 40% off code I get seriously tempted to put in an order. They just have so many great products! This time I gave in and ordered a few bits although I still seem to have a wish list the length of my arm! Here's what I got.

Ultra Fine Bath Lily White

Not all bath lilies are made equal! In my opinion The Body Shop and Sanctuary Spa make the best ones. They're slightly more expensive than your bog standard cheap ones but they're much more tightly packed and last a lot, lot longer, so they end up working out cheaper in the long run. 

Tea Tree Cool & Creamy Wash

I love the scent of tea tree, I find it so refreshing and awakening. When I saw that there was a cream cleanser added to the range I just had to pick it up. I haven't tried this out yet but I have high hopes, I'm thinking it will be perfect for hot summer days.

Tea Tree Pore Minimiser

This is probably my third (or forth?) tube of this stuff. It's just so darn good! I never need it in the colder months but as soon as the weather warms up this is a staple in my routine. I use it more as a primer rather than a skincare item. I just press a small amount into my t-zone pre makeup and it keeps the shine at bay well into the day without the need to reach for the powder. I also use it to touch up during the day. I really can't recommend this stuff highly enough! You can see my full review from last summer here. 

Vitamin E Moisture Cream

Another one I've gone through endless amounts of. It's a really basic no frills product that plumps the skin full of moisture, leaving it feeling nice and soft. It also has a really light texture that is just so easily absorbed. It's a great moisturiser that works as a day or night cream and it great for all skin types. I've lost count of how many people I've recommended this stuff to.  

Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil

I'm a huge fan of oil and balm cleansers, they're great at removing makeup and leave the skin feeling soft and plumped up rather than dry and uncomfortable. I've recently read lots of reviews saying that this was comparable to many of the high end equivelents so I had to give it a try. It was the first thing in this haul I tried out and I already love it. I'll be sure to do a full, in depth review once I've been using it a bit longer.

Vineyard Peach Shower Gel & Body Mist 

I was a huge fan of the limited edition Vineyard Peach range the last time it was out so when I saw that they brought it back I just had to get a few more bits from the range. I absolutely adore the scent of fresh peaches so this one was a no brainer for me! 

Have you tried any of these products before?  

40% off code - 19804

REVIEW: Sephora Gentle Exfoliator Cleansing Cream

Yesterday I spoke about a cleanser I really dislike so I thought it was about time I turned the tables and spoke about one that I love. It's the Sephora Gentle Exfoliator Cleansing Cream which I brought in Sephora when I went to France last summer.

It has a thick creamy consistancy which you massage into the skin and wipe away with a warm damp flannel. I contains exfoliating fruit acids (AHAs) which gently rid skin of dull surface skin cells without the need for using harsh grainular products that can often irritate sensative skin. 

I tend to use it as a mask rather than a cleanser, I just smooth it on and leave it for about 10 minutes, that way all the ingredience have a chance to work for a bit longer. When I remove it my skin feels really soft and smoother and looks a lot brighter. I'll definitely be repurchasing this next time I'm in France!