Wash Your Faces!

Hello my lovelies. Today's post is about my current skincare routine, morning AND evening...Oh my. 

Stuff I put on my face.

Ok, so I admit I am a little bit in love with all things that you slather on ya mush. Creams, cleansers, toners, serums, oils and all that malarkey. You name it, I covet it. I haven't always been this way, my friends. Oh no. Back when I was a young, carefree, licentious little waif, I ran around without a care in the world for the juicy collagen and elastin that I was taking for granted and battering with alcohol every weekend. And lets face it, most weekdays. My skincare routine consisted of a healthy glob of 'Clean & Clear' in the morning followed by cheap moisturiser and I was good to go. There was no pm routine...I used makeup remover if I was compos mentis. That was it. But I was one of the lucky ones. I was never blighted with acne, or rosacea or eczema etc. Even as a walking bag of hormones during the teenage years, my skin was good to me (thanks, face).

I only really started paying attention to my skin when I started becoming interested in makeup. I quickly learned that you cannot go to bed every night with a face slathered in crap, and just a wing and a prayer without encountering problems. When you get up in the morning and leave your face on the pillow, you know things have to change. Sleeping in your makeup is an absolute no no. Spots, blackheads, dry patches and puffy bags will adorn your face like sad little reminders of all fun you had/tried to have the night before. Don't do it folks...let your face breathe. Even if you've (how do the kids say it?) 'hooked up', 'gotten jiggy', 'met a super cool cat down at the discotheque'...trust me, he/she would rather see a lovely clean, polished face than Panda-eyed Penelope. So what if they thought your skin was flawless and your eyelashes could cause Tsunamis?...shit will get real as soon as they smell your jaeger breath anyway. May as well have a clean face.

I know as busy people, some of you can think of nothing worse than spending 5-10 mins at the end of the day doing the flannel fandango. But for me, since really paying attention to my facial needs (haha), my little routine actually gives me great pleasure. Knowing that I'm doing something positive for my skin is good but the main thing is the products I have been using and how grand they make me feel. It's not as much of a faff as you may think. I don't care who you are...male/female/animal/vegetable...everybody loves a little facial. If you say you don't, you're lying. Simple. I'm not going to harp on about it. You can achieve the same feeling in your own bathroom if you use the correct products. I promise. Now, don't shout at me for using products over a fiver. In the good old days, I would have much rather bought a pint than a moisturiser but then I had an epiphony. YOU ONLY GET ONE FACE! Of course, if you have shit loads of cash and are that way inclined, you can change your face. But for the majority of us, our faces are for life. So be nice to them. If you would happily splash your cash on new shoes/clothes/KFC then don't have a whinge about affording skincare. There are plenty of affordable products on the market and there are plenty of eye-watering extortionate ones too. I think the products I use are somewhere in between. I am not a skin expert, nor do I claim to really know THAT much. I'm probably doing it all wrong anyway. But I try to do my research and use appropriate products. Here are some I am using at the moment.

AM...

The morning routine goes a little something like this.

The Body Shop Nutriganics Softening Cleansing Gel Oil

Asda Skinsystem Vitamin E Face Toner

The Body Shop Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser SPF30

The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye cream (minus the screw cap...oops)

Clean, tone, moisturise. That's it. 4 products. Sometimes I use eye drops if my eyes feel tired. But all that stuff above takes about 3 minutes. None of this "I don't have time for a skincare routine" balls. The Nutriganics is a really gentle cleanser, it smells nice and leaves your skin soft and supple. It has lasted me quite a while (and I use it as my pm second cleanse too...yeah that's right...second cleanse!) so it is well worth the money! I am umming and ahhing about the toner as it can feel a little harsh for my skin. However it was £1. ONE POUND. It is a perfectly decent toner. The 'Vitamin C' moisturiser is fine. I prefer the 'Vitamin E' moisturiser in the same range, both do the same thing really, I just prefer the smell of the Vit E. It's really important to put SPF on your face to protect yourself from the harsh rays of that big 'ole burning ball of fire in the sky. You can buy SPF separately too. And the eye cream is a little more delicate for the sensitive skin around your peepers. You may think it's a little costly at around £11 but you only need the tiniest amount so it lasts for ages.

PM...

This process is a little more involved. If you have a face full of makeup (ahhhh delicious makeup) then you need to take it off. And then clean your skin. A double cleanse is important because if you just take your makeup off, it's guaranteed there are still remnants of stubborn mascara and the like. You buy the good shit for longevity, so by default you need to buy good shit to take it off! I recommend a good oil cleanser for your first 'going over'. Cue this little bottle of amazingness...

Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil

Followed by these...

Nutriganics Softening Cleansing Gel

Nivea 3 in 1 Micellar Water

Asda Skinsystem Vitamin E Face Toner

The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum-In-Oil

The Body Shop Drops Of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask

The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye cream

Phew. This may seem a bit excessive to you but seriously...it really doesn't take that long. And yes, it is all necessary. Some of the products I have already mentioned. The Una Brennan stuff...oooof. Now this stuff is what skincare wet dreams are made of. It goes on beautifully, is brilliant for facial massage (yes, it's a thing) and it smells so divine that I genuinely look forward to washing my face every night. It is around £10 but feels so much more expensive than that. A bloody bargain. The packaging is a bit crap, I would prefer a pump. But I can't really complain. Go buy it. Now. (No, this is not sponsored. I have serious lady-wood for it). The Micellar water is a simple, very affordable makeup remover. Sometimes I use it first. Even if I use it after my double cleanse, there is STILL evidence of makeup on the cotton wool. You would be surprised at how makeup lingers. Clinging onto your skin the way a toddler clings to your legs when you're desperate for the loo! The oil is nice, use sparingly to avoid feeling greasy. The overnight mask rehydrates your skin really well, It sinks into your skin overnight leaving you fresh faced, even if you don't feel it. It has the consitency of 'Flubber'...pretty cool. It's £22 but again, lasts for absolutely ages. I've had mine since Feb and am not even half way through. Pea sized glob of eye cream and you're good to go.

I'm not suggesting that you all run out and spend all your well earned pennies on this stuff. This is just the stuff I like to use. And I bought it over a period of time, not all in one go. It may take a while for you to find a skincare routine that suits you and your lifestyle. But it's so worth having a dedicated routine. The proof is in the pudding. As I said, I've never had problematic skin but since taking an interest in skincare, I really have seen a difference. I am 28...and using all this stuff has made me look at least...27!

No makeup! (just a sweep of mascara)

Obligatory selfie pout

I am not bragging. I don't have the best skin in the world by a long stretch. But the point of this was to tell you about the products I use. They work for me. They may not work for you. But once you find the right products for you, the dreaded routine can actually become something you enjoy.

Some other stuff I likes...

The Body Shop Sumptuous Camomile Cleansing Butter

Yes to Grapefruit brightening Facial Wipes

Nspa Hot Cloth Polish (A total dupe for the 'Liz Earle' cleanser I reviewed before, at half the price)

Seriously though, it's not about providing magic solutions to your tired skin (that your kids will be smearing their banana paste breakfast on anyway!), or about winding back the clock and looking youthful...embrace your age, own it and be proud of the skin you are in (easier said than done, I know) But at least bloody take care of it! You can have gorgeous skin, just wash your faces, bitches!

Thanks for reading! Let me know the products you love (or hate!)

Till next time, take care.

Katie x

Review; Liz Earle 'Cleanse and Polish'

Liz Earle ‘Cleanse and Polish’

Under normal circumstances, my skin is reasonably clear. Fairly dry with the occasional blemish. I would describe my complexion as ‘ruddy’, like a little farmhand from a Dickens novel.  In the heat I go red, not gloriously and deliciously tanned as I would like. In the cold I go red and blotchy and sometimes I get breakouts around the time my period is due.

From around 6 weeks pregnant, the skin on my face went crazy! I had strange dry patches, spots on my cheeks and a slightly greasy nose. Changes in skin during pregnancy are completely normal due to all the hormonal changes going on inside your body but whilst it may be normal, it doesn’t stop you looking and feeling like a bag of crap (for want of a better word). And if you’ve felt anything like I did during the first 12ish weeks of pregnancy, your skin going doo-lally does not help matters. So I have been looking for products to balance my skin and just generally make me feel a bit fresher. Cue this little tube of loveliness...

I have been wanting to try this product for a while now. I can’t remember specifically who recommended it but I think it may have been one of the few YouTubers I subscribe to. Previously, I had been using the Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm. Now, there was (and still is) so much hype surrounding the EH. Although I don’t like to think of myself as a bandwagon type girl, I do like to know what’s out there and what it’s about. I have to say, I did enjoy using the Amazing Face, but due to its mega expensive price tag, I used it very sparingly. I was pretty sad to get to the bottom of the tub. I know that many beauty bloggers would not use the term ‘mega expensive’ to describe this as there are many other products that are way more expensive, and for the price and quality, it is cheap compared to other things. But I am above all else, a realist and I know that your average lady does not have a spare £40 to spend on skincare, but if you do…I would recommend it…or if you have a birthday or the like coming up and can ask for something like this.

But on to the Liz Earle…

I haven’t actually finished using this, I still have at least half of it left. I wanted to begin a review though, as I am sure I will feel the same about it when it is finished. So far, I have really enjoyed this product. At around £14 for 100ml, although still pricey, it wont break the bank. It has a pump which I like as it isn’t too fiddly and you don’t waste it by getting it everywhere or spilling it when you knock it over with your expanding belly (ahem).

It has a smooth consistency that thickens slightly as you work it into the skin. It is gentle on the skin, it does not sting or have an overwhelming scent. It smells like peppermint which is pleasant. I have a funny relationship with smell, which I will write about in a pregnancy related memoir at another time, suffice to say I had a strong sense of smell, and the smallest odor could turn me on or make me gag. This product smells and feels very refreshing. After rinsing the product off with a muslin cloth (or flannel, as I use) if you splash your face with cold water, it honestly leaves you feeling clean and refreshed, ready to face the day or climb into bed!

I have been using the product in the morning and at night, it is suitable for both. I follow up by using a decent moisturizer. My skin has always been dry so this is a vital step for me. I have been using The Body Shop Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream which I will happily review if anybody would like.

So to sum up, I would recommend this product. The only negative I have to report is that it can be tricky to get hold of. I was looking for it for a good few weeks before eventually buying it on eBay. Not all Boots stock it, and as I am pretty stingy with money (largely due to me not having a great deal) I do not want to fork out on the Liz Earle website for p&p. But if it were readily available in my local Boots, I think it would  have the potential to become a firm favourite of mine! I would love to try out some different Liz Earle products and will be keeping my eyes peeled for any offers.

I hope you have enjoyed this review. Please let me know in the comments if you have tried this or any other Liz Earle products. Or just let me know what you are using at the minute!

Take care,

Katie x