A few months ago I decided it was time to start properly taking care of my skin as I had been majorly slacking up until then. I have been using these products for a few months now and thought it was time I finally did a skincare routine post. I love all of the products I'm about to list and would recommend them to anyone but only if you have the same skin type as me, just because I love them doesn't mean you will too! Also note that I don't use ALL of these products on my face every day some are pamper treatments and I switch between others :)
Make Up Removers
I use three different products to remove my make up:
1. I use the Bioderma make up remover on a daily basis to remove my base make up, I've reviewed this before on my blog so won't go into too much detail but I love this product, it's so worth the money and does an amazing job at removing make up without making the skin feel oily. It leaves the skin feeling really fresh, it's like you've washed it using only water.
2. I swear by the No.7 eye make up remover and I also use this every day, the tiniest bit removes even heavy night-out make up and I have noticed my eyelashes have become a lot longer and thicker since switching from face wipes to this. It doesn't leave an oily residue on your eyes which is one thing I really can't stand with eye make up removers, this is the perfect product and it's so cheap and lasts forever!
3. Johnsons face wipes used to always be a staple in my routine but I rarely use them anymore, I thought I would add them however because when I do use them they do do a really good job. it's usually after a night out when I'm being lazy before bed that I use them, they get make up off really well however like any wipes I wouldn't recommend using them every day because they really dry out the skin and tugging at your eyelashes will weaken them. Since I've stopped using these my skin hasn't been anywhere near as dry as it used to be.
Face Scrubs
I use two different face scrubs because my skin rarely does the same thing and I think switching them up is good.
1. The first is the Olay radiance enhancing cream wash, it is really creamy and has tiny little beads in. I use this for when my skin isn't particularly oily but needs a good clean. On average I use a face scrub 2-3 times a week depending how dirty/oily my skin is, which is usually dependent on what make up I've been wearing and I use whichever scrub is suitable.
2. The No.7 Purifying Exfoliator is for when my skin needs a good scrub. After using this it feels really clean and fresh. This scrub has quite large beads in comparison to the Olay scrub but they're not so big that they're painful. I really like this product, it's quite cheap and a little goes a long way.
Cleansers
This is one step in particular that I really regret not starting earlier. I don't know how I lived without a cleanser in my life for so long. I have two, both are different but essentially do the same job.
1. I have the caudalie foaming cleanser which I really love, some people say foaming cleansers aren't actually good for your skin as they leave a residue but I haven't noticed this from this one and I really like it. One pump is enough to cover your whole face. It's such a luxury product, it makes my skin feel so refreshed and soft and it smells amazing which is a bonus! I love Caudalie as a brand and would love to try more of their products.
2. I bought this cleanser to go with my cleansing brush. It's a melting cleanser and feels so amazing on the skin. It's a gel-like consistency and when you rub it into the skin it really feels like it's melting into the skin especially mixed with a dash of warm water. Although it feels nice on the skin it doesn't feel like it's very good at cleaning which is why I only use it with my cleansing brush. It smells really nice too.
Toner
This Olay 'Refreshing Toner' is the only one I have ever used and I love it! It's so cheap and does such a good job. There are days where no matter what I do my skin just doesn't have that really fresh feeling and I cringe putting make up on without that feeling. If I use this it instantly goes away, especially if this is applied when it's cold. A small bit goes a long way with this product, it just makes the skin feel so clean and removes the last remnants of make up that the cleanser or make up remover may have missed. Highly recommend for all skin types!
Moisturisers
This is one product that I have difficulty finding one to suit my skin type. I have a few here that I have been using for a long time now and they seem to be ok with my skin luckily!
1. My most used and daily moisturiser is the Olay Instand Hydration Anti-Wrinkle moisturiser, I believe this is for people aged 20-30 but it's never too early to start using anti-wrinkle. This moisturiser is light on the skin but you can feel it's working and it really sinks into the skin it doesn't just sit on top!
2. My eye mosturiser is this teeny one from No.7 I love applying this cold it feels so nice around the eyes. I am so happy I found a moisturiser that doesn't irritate my skin especially the sensitive area around the eyes. Despite this tube being so small it has actually lasted a long time and there's still loads left, you need the tiniest amount per eye which is great in a product especially one that only costs £15.
3. This moisturiser is labeled as a 'Day Fluid', I can imagine this will be my moisturiser of choice come summer beacause it has a really thin consistency that's not heavy on the skin at all but leaves it feeling quenched and soft. I use this one when my skin is being particularly oily but I do have the one for normal-dry skin because my skin is the definition of combination and I need that extra moisture boost around my cheek area.
4. The last one is my Night Moisturiser; I am awful at remembering to use this so it is quite full still, I only really use it if I've been outside during the day and my skin is feeling a bit weathered. It's for dry-very dry skin and so it's very thick and can make my skin feel a bit clogged up if it's not having a particularly dry day. I need to buy this product again but for normal skin and see if that works better. I love the smell of the No.7 moisturisers and products in general, you can tell they're not ridden with heavy perfume scents as they smell very clean and subtle.
Treatments
These are just a few of the treatments that I use regularly and coincidentally they're all from No.7. I have face masks and things that I use as a one-off but these are in my regular collection.
1. My cleansing brush was sent from Heaven not Boots. I don't know how I ever lived without it! I use it twice a week and when I do my skin feels incredible, it really cleans every inch of my face and makes my skin feel so refreshed and awake afterwards. I wouldn't recommend using this more than 2-3 times a week especially for those with dry skin as it can irritate the skin. I managed to get this for £10 as it was £10 off and I had a £5 voucher but if I'd known how well it was going to work I probably would've paid full price a long time before.
2. Another product sent from Heaven is this No.7 Rapid Spot Rescue gel. I sometimes get an oily T-zone which results in breakouts but a tiny bit of this gel clears it up in literally hours. It reduced the size of any spot in half easily and if used regularly the spot will be gone in around 2 days (depending on the size) and that's without prodding it and irritating it, that way the spot goes and there's no scar to show there ever was one. Brilliant product that I will repurchase.
3. Again another fantastic product, the No.7 Hot Cloth Cleanser is my favourite skin treatment by far. I love this product, the first time I used it I was so amazed just how soft it left my skin afterwards. It's a typical pamper product and is a great pick-me-up especially for bad days. For anyone who doesn't understand the concept basically you put the hot cloth cleanser all over your skin and lay a muslin cloth that has been soaked in hot water over your face for around 5 minutes, the steam from the cloth opens up your pores and the cleanser gets in them and gives them a good clean, removing any trapped dirt and/or oils. After you've relaxed for 5 minutes with the lovely soapy smell and warm cloth surrounding your face you use the cloth to rub in the cleanser then clean it off. When your face is clean but still wet run the muslin cloth under ice cool water and reapply to your face for a further few minutes. This quickly shuts your pores so that no dirt can get in them. Your face is left feeling SUPER soft and your face feels so clean and lovely. This product was £10 including one muslin cloth which I don't think is too bad for a product of this high quality!
4. Lastly is a face mask for when my skin is feeling very dry and dull. Depending on how dry it is I apply the product accordingly and let it sit. This product is half cream half gel so it feels really soft on the skin, I have suffered from eczema in the past on my face and this doesn't irritate it further but gently helps improve it. After a few minutes you wash the cream off with a warm cloth and pat dry with a towel and your face is left feeling so soft and refreshed.
Let me know if you've tried any of these products and what you thought of them, I hope you enjoyed reading this! Despite my abundance of No.7 I don't actually work for them I just really LOVE their products. I think they're great starter products and they're kind on the skin especially sensitive skin like mine. I'd really encourage anyone trying to build up their skincare products to go and look at No.7 in boots as they have a wide range of products for all skin types at very reasonable prices :)
Bethan x
