WINTER LIP BALMS

When it gets to Winter I think all of us crack out the more intensive skincare, the nourishing masks, and the thick body creams, as well as the lip balms. If anyone is like myself, the balm section of your lip drawer is overflowing and you aren't quite sure which ones you should reach for. I have 2 budget friendly recommendations that I use constantly to keep my lips ready for whatever weather (and lip stick) is thrown at them.

The first is one I've used numerous tubes of - Nivea Milk & Honey. It's thick, smells really natural and almost somehow cosy, and does one hell of a job at keeping the lips nourished. I use this in the morning before makeup application, as well as in the evenings among my skincare routine upon makeup removal. This is usually about £3 so doesn't break the bank and lasts quite a while.

The second is the Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, in just the regular formula/scent. It's minty and refreshing and isn't as thick as the Nivea offering. This is the one you could use during the day when we want a bit of a kick of nourishment as well as a minty flavour. This is £4-5 and so isn't that expensive either and could do well as a little stocking filler this Christmas.

Honestly, lip balms are one of my biggest necessities in Winter as the feeling of sore chapped lips genuinely makes me shudder.I know the Nuxe Reve de Miel is on my wishlist but until then, these serve me more than well.

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'...

 

NIVEA 'DAILY ESSENTIALS' DOUBLE EFFECTS EYE MAKEUP REMOVER

Being a waterproof mascara kind of a gal, I am always on the hunt for an eye makeup remover - a cheaper one that is. I can't afford Clarins, bareMinerals, or MAC, so I'll settle for drugstore for now.

Nivea have a consise collection of mascara removers, some better than others (I will opt for the 'one sweep' option when there is one), and I much prefer some with some sort of oil base in them, to really melt away the product, I try to avoid morning panda eyes as much as possible.

It costs about £3.59 if I remember rightly, and you get half of an oil solution, and half aqueous.

The best way for me to use this is to shake, pour onto a cotton pad, and then hold onto the eye for a few seconds, wipe away and the makeup is pretty much gone.

There is a little bit of an oily residue left over, but nothing I can't handle at all, if anything barely noticable - besides, you cleanse afterwards.

For a cheap drugstore one, I can't sing it's praises enough. One reason I love it? I am secretly fascinated, no matter how you move this around, the different solutions don't mix - I do know the science side of things, I just think it looks cool.

A short and sweet review, but overall, for the price you pay, if you want something drugstore based, and something that will get all that stuff off those lashes, this is the one to go for - and I have tried quite a few solutions which haven't worked in the same way. This is good, I recommend it.

You can even get this cheaper in places like Savers for £1.69, an even better deal, and it wasn't even going to break the bank in the first place!