UPPING THE MOISTURE

Even being an combination skinned gal, I love to amp up the hydration more recently than I ever used to, and my skin most definitely thanking me for it - shout out to Megan for complementing my skin while in our Business lesson. These are the products that have been seeing me through winter with that extra helping of moisture...

After reading my rave review the other week, I think you all know how I feel about the Origins Drink Up Intensive Masks, and these have been my ultimate go-to for any time when my skin is feeling a little lacklustre and needs some plumping, nourishing action.

For a cleanser, the Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm* has been seeing me through the dull skin days (this 10ml mini is almost out), and you can almost feel your skin drinking up the moisture as you massage it into the skin - I feel a full size purchase coming on...

Then, there is the Dr Jart + Most Moist Water Sure Gel, which basically has the same function as Hydraluron in a pot in my eyes. I use this daily under my moisturiser. It is packed with hyaluronic acid which just does the best job at holding in all the moisture it can (it is known for holding 1000x its weight in water), and my skin has really been seeing the difference. I think that once this is run out, I will purchase the full size.

Finally, I have the Akin Unscented 24HR Moisture* which is a moisturiser that I use lightly in the day to offer hydration and a good base for my makeup, and then I apply it a little more generously in the evenings and I find it still offers enough hydration to last me throughout the night.

If you have any moisture boosting companions, so let me know in the comments... I am always open to new members in the skincare cupboard...

                                                        

BEST 5 OF 2013: SKINCARE

This year, my skin has been the worst I think it has ever been, and as we come to the last day of the year, it doesn't look much better if I am honest, but there have been a few improvements. This has also been the year in which a lot of us discovered that foaming cleansers weren't all that good, and that you can buy face masks that aren't in sachets. Brilliant. Today is the day I will be going through my top 5 skincare picks from the year.

So, the Super Facialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Deep Clean Pore Purifying Mask got a lot of hype this year, being a good quality, low priced face mask, and I must say, all the hype is true. I absolutely adore this mask, as it calms any blemishes or sore areas almost overnight, and I wake up feeling fresh faced every time I use this.

Another hyped product this year has to be the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, a treatment product designed to unclog pores and get rid of all your impurities, and basically clear the skin. It does that, and pretty well. I think I will need to repurchase this soon, as I have that weird paranoia that if I stop using it, my skin will get worse.

The Dr Jart+ Water Sure Gel has been plumping my skin, and locking in the moisture these colder months, and I am definitely feeling more hydration in my skin. Concept wise, this is Hydraluron in a pot, and that one plans to be my next purchase after this has been used up.

An extremely budget offering is the Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover, and this must be my 3rd or 4th bottle of the stuff. For a lower end eye makeup remover, this does the job very well, and costs about £3 so isn't even going to break the bank.

The final skincare item which has been rocking my world in 2013 is the Superdrug Naturally Radiant Hot Cloth Cleanser. I am on my second tube of this now, but I have discovered more in my older one after cutting the top off. For an own brand, drugstore hot cloth cleanser (retails for £5ish, but is generally on offers anyway), this is so thick and creamy, isn't stripping on the skin at all, and really does a good job at cleansing.

So, no moisturisers/day or night creams involved here, and that is where you guys come in handy. I would like you to suggest some of your favourites, for combination skin, as I am still looking for something I can be faithful to, so maybe 2014 will be the year for that discovery.

 

WHAT'S ON MY SKINCARE SHELF?

After watching tons of videos, reading blog posts and buying new things, I have finally found a good skincare collection/routine which works for my skin, and it is time to give you a tour of my most-used products, gaining a place on the shelf. 

Removers: I would never go a day (or night), without removing my makeup. The first of my favourites in the Nivea Daily Essentials Eye Makeup Remover, which I did a full review of here. This is my number one high street eye makeup remover, and you get get waterproof mascara off your lashes in a matter of one sweep. Then, for face makeup, is the L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution, which is a really nice, high street (apparent Bioderma dupe) makeup remover, without going anywhere near the wipes. 

Cleansers: After realising foaming cleansers were one of the worst things I could be using (although I have one lingering in the bathroom which I need to finish), I have 3 main creamy cleansers which I use. The first is the No.7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Balm, which is a cream more than a balm. It claims to be for dry skin, but mine is combination and I haven't had any issues. The other I have is the Spa Find Renewed Radiance Energizing Cleanser* which is a huge bottle, and the cleanser itself is really lovely, and it also removes waterproof mascara, but it stings the eyes so I use this after removing makeup. I also have a Ren Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk Mini there, which is nice too. 

Masks: I love the Una Brennan Tea Flower Pore Purifying Clay Mask, as you already know, and it works wonders for any blemished skin I may have, and instead of rambling, click here to read the full review. Another I have is the A'Kin Express Purifying Facial Masque* which I find also works really well for my blemishes. I use a mask twice a week, so I alternate between the two of these, one on Sunday, the other on Wednesday. I must say, I love the packaging of the A'kin one, and although the bottle is small, you don't need much. 

Treatments: Almost halfway through the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, this is something I probably can't live without anymore. I do notice difference, and I love how it can be used in many different ways; by itself, on problem areas, or all over the face under (or over) moisturiser. You can read my full review here. Then, I have the Spa Find Perfect Purity Dermabalance Spot Treatment*, which is incredible. It is what I describe as liquid clay in a bottle, and you take some on a cotton bud, and put it directly onto the blemish, and feel it tingle for a while, and then, go to bed and in the morning it will have improved the area dramatically, I swear by this nowadays.

Moisturiser: So, to start off with, I have the Dr Jart+ Most Moist Water Sure Gel which I use daily underneath my moisturiser, as it is basically Hydraluron in a little tub, designed to lock in the moisture from whatever day cream you put on top. It is incredible, and I may whimper at the price when this runs out (£26.00, but I found it in a clearance at £6.50...).
After that, we have the Lancome HydraZen Neurocalm Moisturiser which I love, but when this mini sample runs out, I will not be repurchasing, which is a shame, as it really soothes the skin overnight if you have any blemishes or redness, especially after using a mask. I also have the Ren Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream which apparently protects you from pollution, which is strangely cool?

Eye Creams and Gels: For a daytime eye gel, I use the Ren Vita Mineral Active 7 Eye Gel, which is a really cooling eye gel which absorbs quickly to the under eye area, which is why I like using it in the mornings. For night time, I prefer a more creamy, hydrating offering, and in this case it is the Fade Out White Anti-Shadow Brightening Eye Cream* which is also really nice. It offers hydration whilst still fading darkness and puffiness a tiny bit overnight (trust me, my bags are genetic and they ain't going anywhere).

I am really pleased with my current skincare, and that is something I am prepared to spend a little more on, I'd say, higher end of the drugstore stuff, because as the skincare goddess Caroline Hirons says 'You only have one face, so why mess with it'...

 

MY RECENT BARGAINS

It would appear that I have been doing some shopping recently, but haven't managed to pay full price for anything you see in the image above. That makes the hauling sound a little better...right?

Starting off with skin, I purchased 2 items. The first being the Dr Jart+ Water Sure Gel, a hyaluronic acid based gel which locks in moisture, hence why I use it under moisturisers daily. Basically Hydraluron in a tub, and this cost me £6.50 a month back in a Boots clearance, unusually reduced from the £26.00 they still charge on the website. 
Secondly, I picked up the Garnier Moisture Match Wake Me Up Gel Moisturiser, which I have wanted for a while now, and what better than when it is over half off at £2.37 in Tesco - brilliant. Look forward in the next few weeks of what is ruling the skincare shelf, and you may see one, or both of these featured. 

Onto nails, I accidentally stumbled into TkMaxx, and found a pack of 3 OPI Nail Polishes for £6.99 - What?! I couldn't not pick this pack up, as it was almost half the price of one, for all three. I got A Roll In The Hague, which is a vibrant, slightly red orange, I Don't Give A Rottadam, a dusty, periwinkle with some iridescent, leaning on holographic glitter - and both of these are from the Holland Collection. The other, is called Stranger Tides, a slightly dusty, murky, pale greenish, nudish, hybrid, which belongs in the Caribbean Collection I believe.

Back to makeup. In tesco, on the same trip, I managed to find myself a wee bargain, when spotting this Maybelline Eyestudio Mono in 750 Chocolate Chic, which I thought was matte at first, but in depth, this is a slightly reddy, plummy, dark brown, which is matte in the 'base', but then it has some larger, sparse amounts of iridescent shimmer, and still looks smashing in the crease. This was reduced to 79p, as I think they were decreasing the stand. 
For the same reasons, I found a Maybelline ColorSensational Lip Marker in Wink Of Pink on a whim as it was £1.49, but I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. I don't know whether it has dried already, or the colour payoff or maybe it isn't as pigmented as I remembered on the first use.

Finally, on Saturday, I was waltzing round Boots, as you do, and in a clearance, I found the Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss in 040 Crystal Water, which I have wanted for so long, and the sticker said £3.50, which I thought was a good deal anyway, but as the lady scanned it through, it came to £1.50 - what a bargain! 

So, a bit of a long one for me, but this haul should have cost a total of £86.06, but instead, I paid... £19.64, and something tells me that is a great deal...