I recently received an email from a lovely reader called Kerrie asking me to share
my skin care routine - what I use and why and as it has been a while since I've done anything
in this vain I thought why not!
Most Mornings
In the morning most days I quickly jump in the shower and wash my face using a muslin flannel
and a quick squirt of Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash, I have tried various
facial washes but this one seems to work best with my skin type.
It cleanses deeply, doesn't dry out my skin and helps keep the blemishes at bay - what more do you need?
I did used to swear by Boots Botanics Pore range but I can not find this in store for love nor money,
on-line it says currently out of stock which leads me to believe it may have been discontinued?
(Update - in the comment section it has been mentioned that the Botanics range has been re-branded
also a few have mentioned that my fears may be in fact real...the pore range has been scrapped!)
(Update - in the comment section it has been mentioned that the Botanics range has been re-branded
also a few have mentioned that my fears may be in fact real...the pore range has been scrapped!)
I don't apply moisturiser in the morning instead I find I get enough moisture from my sunscreen,
daily I slap on the factor 30, my sunscreen of choice is a cheapy from Asda.
It's non greasy, offers sun protection (both UVA and UVB and leaves a non sticky matte base to apply make-up on top off! If you are looking for a good facial sunscreen I do highly recommend giving this a whirl.
Twice a Week - Mornings Continued
I know some like to use a facial scrub daily but this system does not work for me,
I found that exfoliating was encouraging my skin to produce more oil and in return producing more blemishes
and this was regardless of what scrub I used and how I applied it to my face.
What works best for my face is a light scrub twice a week, which I do on a Wednesday
and Sunday using St Ives Apricot Facial Scrub, this removes any dead skin cells and buffs my skin smooth
of any dry patches should they appear.
Throughout The Day
In my bag I keep a mini bottle of Mac's Fix + spray, I don't use this to set my make-up.
I simply use it to keep my skin refreshed and to perk it up every now and then,
Personally I don't find it to do much other than refresh (brilliant in the warmer months)
without leaving my skin looking wet or removing my make-up.
There is lots of alternatives on the market in terms of facial refreshment sprays but this is the one I favour
as it is aerosol free so it can be popped into any bag including carry on luggage at the airport.
Mac Fix + comes in two sizes I buy the largest bottle and use it to fill my mini bottle as I find the smaller
more travel/handbag friendly.
You can also make your own refreshing facial spray by watering down your own facial toner,
I'd use a 50/50 ratio to do such.
When I Get Home
After a full day of make-up wear I look forward to removing it all, I actually day dream about it haha!
I used to use make-up wipes but I found them too harsh and not to cleanse effectively
so for a little while now I have been using Biodermea Sebium H20 to quickly cleanse to let my
skin breathe in a moments notice, I swipe a few cotton pads soaked in this solution and wipe the majority of
my make-up off before settling down to my evening meal.
It is also at this point that I remove my mascara and the rest of my eye make-up, for a long while now
I have been relying on Boots Cucumber Eye Make-Up Remover Gel, it cools the delicate eye area
I have been relying on Boots Cucumber Eye Make-Up Remover Gel, it cools the delicate eye area
and removes any eye make-up swiftly and gently.
One bottle is less than £2 and lasts for what feels like forever, well worth the pocket change.
Each Evening
Before I go to bed I thoroughly cleanse, tone and moisturise my skin.
I again use my Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Face Wash but I use it with the Rio Sonicleanse,
initially I was using the Sonicleanse twice a day but I find once a day is more than sufficient for my skin type.
I ensure that the Sonicleanse has removed every little scrap of make-up (this includes my neck).
Next I use Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic soaked on cotton pads and gently swipe it over my face,
this not only ensures that no traces of dirt or make-up have been left behind but it also calms and soothes
my skin, I have tried many toners but I do have to admit that this by far my favourite.
I earlier mentioned constructing your own facial spray for refreshing purposes,
well this toner would be more than ideal to spray on to cool the skin.
I earlier mentioned constructing your own facial spray for refreshing purposes,
well this toner would be more than ideal to spray on to cool the skin.
Once I've done that I use a facial serum, I will level and say i'm not all that fussed when it comes to serums
I will use whatever I have hanging around and at the moment I am using Nip + Fix No Needle Serum,
I have only recently been a convert to serums but I have it on good authority that they help to ensure
that your moisturiser works properly which sounds good to me and my skin.
Admittedly I haven't noticed any difference but if it helps in the future then I shall stick with it.
I often chop and change moisturisers but more often than not I favour a light formula
that is oil free as this agrees more with my oily skin type.
I do not apply moisturiser all over my face as my t-zone and cheeks
get more than enough moisture from the serum so I only apply a light coat of moisturiser to the very rim
of my face, my neck and décolletage, then I massage the remainder into my hands.
As with my skin I use a serum and follow up with a cream product on my eyes.
I use Clinique All About the Eyes Eye Serum and The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream,
I find both help with my dark circles and keep the skin around my eyes hydrated.
Before popping into bed I slick on a quick coat of Carmex lip balm and off to the land of nod I go!
Once A Week
As a weekly treatment I slap on a thin layer of Soap and Glory's Facial Peel Mask,
this is by far my favourite mask, it leaves my skin glowing and deeply cleansed.
I adore it so much that I have went through a good few tubs and recommend it to all!
The sexiest thing in my skin care routine is my pore strips ;)
I slap one of these bad boys on to my nose and let it extract all the nastiness from my pores,
I know it is pretty disgusting but I really enjoy looking at the aftermath on the strip haha!
So that is everything I use on a weekly basis and why!
Thank you for the request Kerrie :)
Disclaimer - This shouldn't need a disclaimer but skin care and skin for that matter
is such a personal and diverse topic that I felt I should stress that simply because the above mentioned products work for me doesn't mean that they will for you.
i have oily skin like you so am definitely gonna try some of these products! i used to use the pink grapefruit wash but stopped using it. i have just bought a new bottle the other day so am hoping it really works again :)
ReplyDeleteGlad this has helped :) ah I love it...fingers crossed for you!
DeleteDo those pore strips really work? I was using the nivea ones but they were quite rubbish!
ReplyDeleteSome more so than others, I didn't like the Nivea ones either. have you tried making your own? I fancy doing it but never seem to have the time haha!
DeleteI've been wanting to try the Soap and Glory Fab Pore mask for a while now and seeing your post has just cemented it for me - definitely next on my shopping list!! Great post as always :) x
ReplyDeleteI swear by it :)
DeleteLooks like a really good routine! I am so bad a sticking to a routine, I always change products!
ReplyDeleteCourtney xx
www.overtherainbow-xo.blogspot.com
It is difficult isn't it :)
Deletethat is long!
ReplyDeletewww.queenzain.blogspot.com
tell me about it haha
DeleteI think I'll have to try that brand on nose strips as the ones I've tried in the past have done absolutely nothing, they come off clean even though I know for a fact there's dirt as I get plenty of blackheads to remind me! Great post, I love this kind of thing :-) xxx
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean some are better than others but these ones are really good, I have heard the best ones are the homemade ones but i have yet to rustle some up :)
DeleteI BELIEVE the Boots Botanics range is having new packaging, so that may be why it is absent from stores/online. I saw it on a blog somewhere! x
ReplyDeleteI hope that is the case :) but some have said that pore line has been discontinued :(
Deletewow that is one massive weekly skincare routine haha... i'm loving Bioderma at the moment but im so tempted by a Caudalie cleanser when i've finished this bottle, i never thought id move away from facewipes but I have now because i think its much more hygienic to use cleaners and cotton pads! As bad as it may sound i never apply SPF on a normal english day because i can never find one that doesn't make my face shiny and greasy! good job I have a little SPF in my foundations!
ReplyDeletexx
Beauty Butterfly Blog
I used to be like that but I'm terrified of sun damage so I slap it on in abundance now haha :) the asda one dries to a matte finish and works fine with my oily skin if that is any help :)
DeleteI just bought the Niveo Ğrapefruit facial wash today! Going to use it now to see if it's any good!
ReplyDeleteOh that sounds lovely :)
DeleteI use Bioderma sebium too :)
ReplyDeleteI'm curious of Liz Earle toner and that Montagne Jeunesse pore strips... Do they really work for that dark awful ones?
They do to some degree :) but not quite deeply enough to remove really stubborn blackheads
DeleteThat's really interesting, you dedicate alot of time to tour skin which is great think I'll borrow the idea for a post :-)
ReplyDeleteAs courtney said above, Boot botanics are having a rebrand, I bought toner and cleanser yesterday. I don't like the new packaging :-(
Rachel x
Http://thereluctantbumpkin.blogspot.co.uk
I really hope so as I loved that range, I'll try again :)
DeleteI need Liz Earle in my life, I have never tried any of her products yet!
ReplyDeleteYou sure do :)
DeleteI love the Sonicleanse! :)
ReplyDeletewww.whatabeauty.co.uk
It is a bit rank but looking at the aftermath on pore strips in horribly fascinating! Haha xo
ReplyDeleteAlso, do you use anything on your nose after you've used a nose strip? I use my moisturiser but was wondering if there is anything else that might be better... Xo
DeleteJust a splash of cold water to help shrink my pores :)
DeleteGreat post! i love nose strips too lol. It's nice to see a product work ;)
ReplyDeletexx
Isn't it...gross as they are haha :)
DeleteWow there's a lot of stuff in there! This post was really helpful, I think I'll be getting the Neutrogena wash. Also with pore strips does the price/brand matter much or do they all do the same thing? Becuase I use really cheapy ones, thanks x
ReplyDeletehttp://theredoneblog.blogspot.co.uk/
I don't think so personally some of the more expensive ones did nothing for me, which ones do you use out of curiosity?
DeleteI really enjoyed reading this and it has introduced me to a good few products that i would love to try out seeing that some of my skincare that are higher end breaks me out or doesn't do its job that well. So i need to invest in a little version of the MAC Fix+ because summer is coming and i will need it to freshen up :) Thanks for sharing~x
ReplyDeletewww.beautypicknmix.blogspot.com
So glad I could help :) skin care is such a hard thing to get right isn't it!
DeleteThe Botanics Pore Perfecting Moisturiser SPF 15 has been discontinued so they may have discontinued others as well!
ReplyDeletethebeautymist.blogspot.com
Noooooooooo
DeleteIf anyone says they don't like looking at the aftermath of their pore strip is lying!! It's terribly gross but it gives me a sense of satisfaction to be able to see that I've removed crap from my face lol xx
ReplyDeleteHaha it's like car crash viewing you know you shouldn't look but you do haha :)
DeleteYaaaaaaaaay, love CARMEX.
ReplyDeletexx
this looks a lot of work! :O
ReplyDeleteI have oily skin and slight acne :(
I really like the soap and glory fab pore mask! but all I do is eye makeup remover and a makeup wipe on a night followed by a gel scrub whilst in the bath.
Would you say thats not enough? :/ x
I would say avoid the make-up wipes I stopped using them in favour of a cleanser of any sort and my skin improved almost instantly (very similar skin type to you) but other wise stick with what works for you :) we all have different skin types and needs :)
DeleteWOW! now that is a detailed routine! i really need to establish one. i am so inconsisetent!
ReplyDeleteBoots Botanics has updated it's range so maybe the pore one has gone now! I'm currently designing my own skincare product which i think is right up your street! Can i email you about it when it's ready to be launched? :) x
ReplyDeleteI think it has sadly :( and yes of course :)
DeleteI should do a skincare routine post too! But for now, I'm at my parent's and finishing products, so don't have a routine really!
ReplyDeleteThe boots makeup remover sounds fab, I will check it out when I'm back in the UK!
Will you be posting your three month review of your Sonicare soon? I'm desperate to purchase but holding out for your final say!
ReplyDeleteHey :) yes I will be so sorry I completely forgot I will get that up by the end of the week...sorry again! :)
DeleteThank you! Now I've read your verdict I think I'll definitely take the plunge :)
DeleteI love that soap and glory facial peel, definitely one of the best around! I've heard so many horror stories about that neutrogena wash though, not sure whether to try it or not!
ReplyDelete