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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Delarom Acquaconfort Creme

In the evenings, I'm all for rich, nourishing creams and oils but in the daytime I prefer something that sinks in quickly, leaves skin feeling comfortable and isn't too visible. The Delarom Acquaconfort Creme, which I've been using for just over a month now, does exactly that. 

The formula is really lightweight but still moisturises really well, thanks to the lovely ingredients it contains. Aloe vera, sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, hyaluronic acid and peppermint leaf water just to name a few. To me it's the perfect no-fuss moisturiser, it doesn't have any outrageous claims and just does what it says on the tin. It can also be used in the morning or evening so it's a great option for those who like to keep their skincare streamlined. 

After trying this creme I definitely want to try out a few other Delarom products. Any recommendations?

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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 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