SKINCARE STANDOUTS #2

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After successfully finishing up some products and choosing a few new interesting ones from my PR pile to try (as well as making a couple of purchases myself) - I decided it was about time I did an updated post featuring my skincare standouts!

As my morning cleanser - I’ve been using an oldie but a goodie: the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel* | £33 | full review. This is a gel-to-oil-to-emulsion cleanser, so needs to be used on dry skin. Some people really like it for removing makeup - I personally find it ineffective for that purpose and it really stung my eyes, so I use it as a hydrating skin perk-up in the morning, as it also contains fruit enzymes to gentle exfoliate the skin and give it that glow. I then follow this up with a face mist - I just find it quicker and easier in the morning when I’m rushing around. I used up my other Mario Badescu face mists last month, so thought I’d finish off this one as well, given that I already have a backup of it ready to go. This is the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater | £11 | full review. This is so soothing and gives my skin hydration that lasts.

As my serum, I’ve been using the Embryolisse Elixir Eclat Booster Serum* | £16 | full review. This is a lightweight, gel-based serum with a very subtle sheen to it that contains Hyaluronic Acid. It plumps and hydrates the skin whilst giving it a natural, healthy radiance. After that I apply my moisturiser - the Dr Roebuck’s No Worries Hydrating Face Moisturiser* | £30 | full review | and I’d almost forgotten how much I love this stuff! It’s a lightweight, non-greasy but very nourishing and smoothing moisturiser formulated with macadamia oil, Vitamin E and Hyaluronic Acid. It’s the perfect balance for my combination-dehydrated skin. Finally for my morning routine - I’ve pretty much finished up the Ordinary’s Caffeine Solution | £5.80 | full review | over the past few weeks. It’s a lightweight eye gel that helps depuff my eye area and makes me look fresher and more awake.

When I get home from work - one of the first things I do is remove my makeup and I recently picked up the Alessandra Steinherr x Primark Sleep Spa One Step Night Cleanse | £5. Despite the name - to me a cleansing oil is a first cleanse so that’s how I use this product. I massage it into my skin to loosen and lift up my makeup - including my mascara and eyeliner. I then remove it and my makeup with a damp cloth. It’s formulated with Hyaluronic Acid, baobab oil and chamomile so is really nice and nourishing without leaving a film or excess on the surface of the skin. It’s gentle on my sensitive eyes and really works - for a fiver I really can’t fault it! On days when I’m wearing heavier makeup and just want to ensure every scrap is off, or on days when I’m feeling a bit lazy or I’m only wearing light makeup; I use a micellar water. This is a big deal for me because regular readers will know that I’ve used the Bioderma micellar water for many years, however I’ve been trialling a new one and I really like it! It’s the Embryolisse Micellar Lotion 3 in 1* | £15.99. Firstly; it smells amazing and botanical - it’s formulated with witch hazel, chamomile and corn flower, so it’s lovely and softening on the skin, as well as gently removing makeup. This works really nicely - I never feel like I’m tugging or pulling at my eyes and it doesn’t irritate my eyes in the slightest.

I follow this up with the Fourth Ray Cloud Bank Milky Cleanser | $12 | which is something I picked up in my latest ColourPop haul (which I’ll be posting soon) as Fourth Ray is their skincare sister brand. It contains jojoba protein, argan milk (rich in nourishing Vitamin E) and hydrating rose water. It has a light hybrid formula - milky but also very slightly gel-like. It foams very mildly, so keeps my skin feeling clean but without stripping it - exactly what I want from my second cleanse. Finally for my bathroom skincare - I tone on an everyday basis I’ve been trying to use up my Pixi Rose Tonic* | £18 | full review. This soothing, softening, hydrating rose toner really saw me through the winter months, so although it’s about to be goodbye for now - I will definitely buy it myself when the colder months come back round again.

There are also a couple of products I use once or twice a week. Whilst the Niod mask I mentioned last time is still on rotation, I wanted to add something less intense and more hydrating into the mix so am using the Caudalie Moisturising Mask* | £22 | full review | a 2-3 times a week / as often as I can! It’s a cream-based mask I slap on, leave for 15 minutes and then rinse for extra hydration and softer, smoother, plumper skin. It’s formulated with Caudalie’s own grape water and grape seed extract, plus Hyaluronic Acid. The other product I’ve added to my arsenal is the Alessandra Steinherr x Primark Pollution Solution Dual Texture Exfoliating Pads | £5. I’d been looking for these for ages (you can only buy Primark Beauty in-store) and finally snapped them up when I attended the new Primark Birmingham launch a few weeks back. These were also just £5! I’m seriously impressed with these so far - they do give a mild tingling sensation but I really don’t mind that given how smooth and even my skin has been looking. These pads chemically exfoliate the skin with PHAs and Lactic Acid (an AHA) to reveal fresh layers of new skin and reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Just be sure to use these in the evening or follow them up with a sunscreen.

Before bed I like to use a face oil and I’m really enjoying the all-natural Beuti Skincare Beauty Sleep Elixir Face Oil* | £47 | at the moment. This isn’t the most fast-absorbing face oil I’ve ever used, but it doesn’t leave too much of a greasy excess on my skin either. It’s antioxidant-rich featuring Vitamins A, B and E and Omegas 3 and 6 in the form of various fruit and plant oils including pomegranate seed, camellia, neroli, sandalwood and more. I use about 3 drops to cover my face and neck and find it to be so beautifully hydrating, it doesn’t break me out and I just wake up the next day with softer, plumper and healthier-looking skin.

What are your skincare essentials of the moment?

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