New Skincare on Trial #2

It's time to share with you the skincare products I've been using for the past month or so, and I have to say that they're pretty much all big hits with me! I have some amazing brands in this post, as well as some that may be new to you, so let's get into the products...


Cleansers & Toners

Skin Laundry Nourishing Cleansing Oil* | £26 | If you've been following my blog lately, you'll know I'm obsessed with this oil! I still wanted to give it a proper review here though. It comes from the brand Skin Laundry, available online and in-store at Liberty. I've been using this near-enough every evening to remove my makeup because it's just so gentle (I have pretty sensitive eyes so can't use anything that might sting them) but is very effective at lifting up all of my makeup. I then remove it with a damp muslin cloth and it gets rid of everything! It doesn't leave an excess and my skin never feels greasy after use. It's just a great, simple cleansing product that will work for most skin types.
Ingredients include: tea tree oil, jojoba oil, macadamia nut oil

Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant Cleanser with White Tea* | £22 | This is something I'd personally use as a morning cleanser, or perhaps as a second cleanser after removing makeup. It has a cream-gel texture but doesn't foam up too much unless you over-apply it.  It makes my skin feel soft and clean without being overly stripping, but I just don't think it's a product I feel strongly enough about to spend £22 on when there are ones I really love that cost the same or less.
Ingredients include: white tea, coconut, oat amino acid

Origins A Perfect World Age Defence Treatment Lotion with White Tea* | £24 | This is essentially a toner to be used after cleansing but before moisturising. It would take me many years to comment on its anti-aging properties, but I can tell you that it softens and smooths my skin. It feels both refreshing and hydrating and I love the white tea scent. Will it transform your skin all on its own? No. Is it a nice step to have in your routine? Yes.
Ingredients include: essence of silver tip white tea, trehalose, bergamot fruit oil

Moisturisers, Serums & Eye Creams

Skin Laundry Night Renew Treatment* | £36 | This is branded as a treatment but personally, I think it works well as a night cream to use every evening before bed. It contains 0.2% retinol, making it perfect for newbies or for regular use (there is research to suggest that the 'little and often' approach will give you the best results). You can read more about retinol here but essentially, this is Vitamin A, which is scientifically proven to prevent ageing and also reduce redness and hyper-pigmentation. The formula itself is cream-based and comes in hygienic, opaque pump packaging. It's nice and moisturising so as well as all of the amazing retinol benefits, it's just a really nice night cream. I've been using this most nights for the past few months (essentially whenever I've not been using a more intense treatment) and the quality and texture of my skin has definitely improved. I can't recommend this product enough.
Ingredients include: retinol, shea butter, sodium hyaluronate 

Bioderma Hydrabio Light Moisturising Gel-Cream* | £14.80 | When summer comes around, I generally want something simple and fuss-free that will hydrate my skin without smothering it or leaving it looking greasy. This is a really great option with its fresh-feeling gel-cream formula. It's kind of like the moisturiser equivalent of splashing your face with cold water on a hot day! The packaging is very functional and again, you have the pump, so you don't have to stick your fingers into a pot and spread germs all over your face. It's also fragrance-free and non-irritating, so if you're sensitive this could be a really great option. For my combination skin, it's exactly what I need for the summer.
Ingredients include: Vitamin E, salicylic acid

Embryolisse Hydra-Matte Emulsion* | £21.24 | I think the perception by a lot of people with oiler or spot-prone skin is that you don't need to use moisturiser, however by not moisturising your skin, you may be causing it to produce more oils which in turn worsens the issue! Instead, you just need something that's both matte and moisturising, and this is a fantastic option. I'd recommend the Bioderma if you have dehydrated skin that's normal or combination and this one if you want something to lightly moisturise but still give a matte finish. I don't know how it softens and hydrates my skin whilst leaving a satin, shine-free finish, but it does! It's a great option for the summer because moisturising is important but you're just going to look a bit greasy if you cake on something thick and heavy.
Ingredients include: apricot oil

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG | £5.80 | This blend of ingredients is designed to de-puff and wake up tired eyes. It comes in an unpretentious bottle with a dropper to apply it (note: I personally find it hard to get the last bit out of products from the Ordinary in this packaging). It's a semi-clear gel-like formulation that won't do much to intensely hydrate the eye area, but if your main concern is tired, puffy eyes then this is perfect for making you look awake and alert.
Ingredients include: caffeine, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid

Treatments & Masks

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Clay Mask* | £11 | This seems to have become one of those understated hero product in my routine; it's not the one you slap on when you're breaking out and need your skin clear for tomorrow, instead it's the product you incorporate into your routine and use 3-4 times a week to maintain clarity. Although it's a clay mask, it has a slightly more fluid texture than most I've tried and doesn't harden on the skin in a way that feels like it's sucking the moisture out of your skin (we've all been there...) Instead it's soothing and calming, helping to clear up my skin and absorb excess oils whilst being incredibly gentle. For me, this is a must-have for spot-prone skin.
Ingredients include: argilla, kaolin, Panthenol B5

Pixi Glow Tonic To Go* | £20 | This must be the last product I hadn't yet tried from the Pixi Glow collection! Of course I'm a huge fan of the Glow Tonic and what could be more handy as I head off on various summer travels than pre-soaked pads? I find that these perform in the same way as the Glow Tonic and give the skin an instant boost of radiance, as well as helping to fade scars and pigmentation. This is at a relatively low level of glycolic acid (5%), which is a chemical exfoliant you can read more about here, so is beginner-friendly and something you could use most days if you wanted. Just be sure to use sunscreen afterwards. 
Ingredients include: witch hazel, glycolic acid, aloe vera, ginseng

The Ordinary Advanced Retinoid 2% | £8 | I'd advise that you start with something like the Skin Laundry product before you graduate to a 2% formula, but this essentially gives all of the benefits but to a greater extent. My skin is smoother, brighter and just seems to look better in every single way when I use this product! It has a runny, milky consistency so you dispense this with a dropper. I use it before bed and don't apply anything intense (like glycolic or salicylic) when I'm using this, as it would just be too much. You might experience peeling when you first start using this if your skin isn't used  to retinol, which is why I'd suggest not going straight for the jugular... For me this is one of the most game-changing skincare products I've tried this year.
Ingredients include: retinol

Have you tried any of these products? What's on your skincare shelf at the moment?

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Disclosure - products marked * were sent to me for consideration however all opinions remain my own. 

Read more posts from this series here!