It's been a little while since we took a peek at what's on my skincare shelf, but having given all of the new stuff here a good go, I'm going to give you my full thoughts in this post!
- THE REGULARS -
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser* | £30 | This is a gorgeous gel cleanser that doesn't foam up and won't strip the skin. It has a refreshing cucumber-y scent and feels so cooling on the skin. I actually tend to use this as a morning cleanser but it's also surprisingly great at removing makeup when paired with a damp face cloth, so is a great option if you don't like using oil-based products. It's hydrating and leaves my skin feeling so clean and soft. Its ingredients include soy (which is rich in amino acids), cucumber to calm the skin and hydrating rose water.Drunk Elephant Oil Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil | £34 (for full size) | I was holding off on giving this a proper review until it became available in the UK. But now it's here! This oil is packed full of antioxidants and is the purest form of the oil, meaning it gives an amazing dose of Vitamin E and omega oils. The results are that my skin is left smooth, plumper and incredibly hydrated. I definitely want to pick up a larger bottle as winter draws closer!
- THE NEW ADDITIONS -
Dermalogica Precleanse* | £38.50 | Can I start by saying I love the name of this product; to me 'double cleansing' is just common sense - you need to remove your makeup before you can cleanse the skin underneath! This is an oil-based product that I've been loving for gently lifting my makeup. I work it into my skin and over my eyes to dissolve the makeup before removing it with a damp cloth. It doesn't sting my eyes and is really effective - you know I love my black waterproof eyeliner! The ingredients list is pretty much every natural fatty oil you can think of, from orange to rosemary to lavender.
REN Micro Polish Cleanser* | £22 | This cleanser contains amber microbeads as well as pumpkin and papaya extracts, so it both physically and chemically exfoliates the skin. It has quite a thick texture and is pretty intense, so I personally only use it when my skin really needs it, as opposed to on an everyday basis. It definitely does the job; giving an all-round resurface of my skin that leaves it incredibly smooth, soft and all-round better! It essentially combines your cleansing step with an intense exfoliation, making it great on those days when your skin needs a little something extra but you don't have much time to spare.
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel* | £32 | I'll keep this brief because this product wasn't for me! I think you're either someone who likes foaming gel cleansers or you're not, and this isn't ever my #1 choice of cleansing formula. It's not stripping as such on my skin but I just prefer something a little more hydrating with some natural ingredients, especially at this time of year. It does the job but for £32 I want something a bit more exciting than that!
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant* | £49.50 | This product definitely worked for me, I just don't think it will enter my skincare rotation permanently because it's a little bit faffy to use. It's a powder you have to pour out into your hands, mix in with water and then gentle massage over your skin. It contains salicylic acid and rice enzymes, which definitely eat away at the dry skin cells. It's a physical exfoliation and a chemical one, so you do get that super-smooth, 'brand new skin' feeling that I love (as it also removes the top layer of skin to give a brighter look and a more even tone). However I would personally rather use this kind of product in toner form because I just don't have the time to pull something like this out every day. However that's just personal preference; it does give the results so if you don't mind sacrificing a bit of extra time in the morning, you could really love this.
Sanoflore Certified Organic Crème Merveilleuse Light Anti-Ageing Smoothing Moisturiser* | £35 | I really wanted to love something from this range because both this moisturiser and the face oil are packed with essential oils, which often work wonders for my skin. However this just wasn't really anything to write home about. I like that it's a pretty lightweight-textured cream despite its ingredient list and it does give a bit of hydration, but for me that's about it. I just didn't see any impressive effects as a result of using this, which is a shame.
Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream* | £57 | I was really impressed with this product so I'm not sure why I haven't seen more hype around it in the beauty world! It's a very hydrating formula but isn't at all greasy. I definitely get that smoothing effect when I use this and my makeup goes on so beautifully over it. It contains fruit extracts like grape and cucumber and is packed with vitamins C (for glow) and E (for hydration). It is on the pricier side for sure, but it delivers on it's claims, so if you have more dehydrated skin like me; it's definitely worth checking out.
Freshly Cosmetics Multi-Antioxidant Concentrate Serum* | £31 | I really enjoyed this serum as a fresh, lightweight option that absorbs easily into the skin. If you're combination like me and just want a quick serum step in your routine to quench your skin's thirst; it's worth checking out. It's also designed to protect the skin from the environment and prevent ageing. Ingredients include hyaluronic acid (always great for lightweight skin-plumping), ginseng (as an antioxidant) and damask rose (as an anti-inflammatory).
Freshly Cosmetics Hyper-Concentrate Eye Contour Serum* | £31 | I wasn't really that 'wowed' by lightweight eye serum. It was fresh, hydrating, de-puffing and didn't sit on the surface of the skin, which I like (as I really don't need anything excessively rich). It also contains hyaluronic acid, along with other natural actives. However it is at a higher price-point and it just wasn't game-changing enough for me to recommend it for £31.
Dermalogica SkinPerfect Primer SPF30* | £44.50 | I know that this isn't necessarily skincare but it seemed to fit in better here than in a makeup post. This is a tinted paste-like primer that evens the skin so makeup doesn't settle into pores or fine lines. It definitely neutralises my skin tone nicely and has a hydrating (but not greasy) finish, plus the SPF is a nice added bonus. However I'm not sure I can recommend it for this price-point; my Touch in Sol pore primer does just as good of a job.
Korres Natural Wild Rose Brightening and Nourishing Oil* | £30 | First, I think we need to take a moment to appreciate how pretty this is! It's got quite an unusual formula for an oil in that it almost has a watery consistency. I do like that it absorbs quickly and isn't greasy. Whilst it does moisturise my skin, I'm not sure it packs enough of a punch in terms of hydration. If I'm using an oil, I expect my skin to be way more nourished and far softer and plumper than it would be had I simply used a night cream (I always apply oils before bed) and this is pretty much on par.
Skinirvana Pure Bliss Original Beauty Oil* | £45 | This is definitely more of a heavier oil, but for me it's worth waiting that extra bit of time for it to fully sink into the skin before bed. It's made entirely of natural ingredients such as neroli, rose and juniper berry oils. I love the packaging and the outer box is also gorgeous! It's incredibly hydrating and plumping; giving me everything I want from a face oil. It's also designed to help protect against environmental factors and prevent ageing - we'll see if it lives up to those claims!
Vichy Slow Age Night Cream & Mask* | £32 | This is a really interesting gel / jelly based product, so absorbs really nicely into the skin unlike the thick, rich anti-aging products I usually avoid! I won't lie; I find it really hard to call whether or not a product has helped me not age...however it has helped plump my skin up and make it soft and hydrated. It does feel like I wake up to a good skin day after using this the evening before. Ingredients include niacinamide - which is a great anti-inflammatory - and also caffeine, which is perfect for resurrecting tired skin!
True North De-Stressed Mask* | £30 | I really like this mask; it has a gel-cream consistency; you apply some, leave it for 10 minutes and then blot off the excess. It leaves my skin soooo nice and soft, as well as having a plumping effect so any dehydration lines don't appear as deep and noticeable. It's also very gentle on the skin and fragrance-free, so I think it could work for sensitive skin too. However I'm a bit confused by the price-point... it's listed on the Harvey Nichols website at £59 whereas on the True North website it's £30. It's worth £30 for sure, however the ingredients it contains like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E don't warrant a price tag of £59! I don't see how this can be marked up by retailers by virtually 100%?!
- THE ONES I'M USING UP -
The Body Shop Tea Tree Clearing Clay Mask | £11 | This is one of my favourite face masks of all time but this particular tub is getting a little old and there's hardly anything left, so I'm looking to finish it off. This is a super-intense tingly clay mask infused with tea tree. I can always rely on this to clear up my skin! Tea tree works miracles for my skin and if I use this in the evening, I know that by morning any super-angry, swollen spots will have dried out and reduced in size, and any smaller ones will be gone. I will definitely have to repurchase this one.
REN Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial | £34 | This is another one I've had a while and don't have much left of. I actually received a replacement of this from REN so I will still have it in my collection once this tube is used up. This is essentially an overnight cream with lactic and glycolic acids (so it does smell a little odd!) I use it before bed and it's actually quite a hydrating formula at the same time; my skin looks and feels smoother and healthier when I use this regularly. It's nothing too intense and doesn't irritate my skin, making it a good option if you want something you can use without worrying about redness or inflammation.
Pixi Nourishing Sleep Mask | £18 | There's barely anything in here and all the writing has rubbed off; the sign of a well-loved product! This is essentially a really nourishing cream but it isn't greasy and doesn't leave an excess on my skin. It contains hyaluronic acid and fruit and flower oils which penetrate the skin overnight so that by morning my skin is soft, soooo hydrated and far smoother. My skin just looks healthy and glowing when I use this product and I'm definitely going to pick up a fresh tube once I polish off this.
Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist | £18 | This is what I've been using before bed in place of a toner and I've very nearly finished it. I love rose as a skincare ingredient, especially at this time of year when my skin needs that extra boost of hydration. This smells amazing and does the job for me!
Skin Laundry Night Renew Treatment* | £36 | Skin Laundry has to be one of the most underrated skincare brands out there! I've almost used up this night cream and definitely want to pick it up again once I do. This is a really nourishing, lovely moisturiser that also contains a very small amount of retinol that's not going to be too harsh on the skin but builds up over time if you use this regularly. It really helps to smooth my skin, which I love.
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REN Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial | £34 | This is another one I've had a while and don't have much left of. I actually received a replacement of this from REN so I will still have it in my collection once this tube is used up. This is essentially an overnight cream with lactic and glycolic acids (so it does smell a little odd!) I use it before bed and it's actually quite a hydrating formula at the same time; my skin looks and feels smoother and healthier when I use this regularly. It's nothing too intense and doesn't irritate my skin, making it a good option if you want something you can use without worrying about redness or inflammation.
Pixi Nourishing Sleep Mask | £18 | There's barely anything in here and all the writing has rubbed off; the sign of a well-loved product! This is essentially a really nourishing cream but it isn't greasy and doesn't leave an excess on my skin. It contains hyaluronic acid and fruit and flower oils which penetrate the skin overnight so that by morning my skin is soft, soooo hydrated and far smoother. My skin just looks healthy and glowing when I use this product and I'm definitely going to pick up a fresh tube once I polish off this.
Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist | £18 | This is what I've been using before bed in place of a toner and I've very nearly finished it. I love rose as a skincare ingredient, especially at this time of year when my skin needs that extra boost of hydration. This smells amazing and does the job for me!
Skin Laundry Night Renew Treatment* | £36 | Skin Laundry has to be one of the most underrated skincare brands out there! I've almost used up this night cream and definitely want to pick it up again once I do. This is a really nourishing, lovely moisturiser that also contains a very small amount of retinol that's not going to be too harsh on the skin but builds up over time if you use this regularly. It really helps to smooth my skin, which I love.
What's on your skincare shelf at the moment?
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Disclosure - products marked * were gifted to me as unpaid advertisement for the brands / websites mentioned. All opinions expressed are my own. Please read my disclosure page for more information.
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