SEPHORA SOFTENING FACIAL MIST

During my recent trip to Madrid in a local Sephora, I spotted what could possibly be a summer essential, and for a few euros I couldn't pass it up, and so decided to give it a whirl.

Generally I don't tend to buy into the 'cooling face mist' concept as it is just water in a spray can, but the Sephora Softening Facial Mist has Lotus Extract included so it made the purchase more justifiable as there was a little more added to it. In the heat of Madrid this really did come in handy to spray on my face and sometimes even chest when I was getting a little flustered.

There isn't any alcohol in this so it doesn't dry out the skin, and has a light fresh scent which is quite comforting when you spray it. The spray nozzle dispenses just the right amount of product as a light fine mist - nothing too vigorous or heavy, and absorbs into the skin in a matter of seconds making it perfect for on the go.

I have been using this occasionally when the heat picks up in the UK, but sparingly of course because once again I have found a product I can't purchase here and at the moment as I'm saving for a trip to the US, a Sephora order is just not on the cards...

NEW SKINCARE ADDITIONS

I think it's safe to say that I have an addiction to buying new skincare products. The amount of cleaners I have is unhealthy, and my eye cream collection is overflowing, but I always see myself buying more, and trialling more. Some have been good, some have made my skin go absolutely cray, but these are the products I have recently added to my stash. 

As the weather is warming up I decided it would be wise to incorporate a facial SPF into my routine. I have the Proactiv Daily Protection Plus Sunscreen SPF30* which I have only tried once but it isn't too bad. I feel like it could sink in a little better, but other than that it worked well under my makeup, so we'll see how it goes. 

A few days back I popped into Boots with my No7 voucher in hand, and I came out with the Melting Cleansing Gel. Don't be fooled by 'gel' - this is more like a balmy texture which once you massage it into the skin transforms into an oil, and rinses off as a milk. On first impressions, I really like this. 

As you know, I have troubled skin. I got the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ from Escentual in the hope that it would clear up some of the problems, as the original formula did good for me. After using this for a few days I have already noticed that my skin is looking clearer, so I am hoping it'll keep working further. 

If you are a regular reader, you will know that I got these two products in my 'Post-Spending Ban Buys' post. They belong to the Boots Botanics All Bright range, and they are the Night Cream and the Cleansing Toner. I think these work towards that whole 'chemical exfoliant' thang, and so I have been using these almost every night I think. 

What has your skincare routine included recently?

POST-SPENDING BAN BUYS

As my spending ban came to a close, I was browsing the aisles like no other. Luckily my ban ended just before the Boots 3 for 2 came to an end so I managed to get in on the deals, which I can't complain about. I definitely enjoyed spending some money on what I love after having such a break.

In the clearance of my local Boots, I spotted the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Timeless Black for £2 and I thought it would be a good choice for a gel liner-esque product. For another small £2 I found the Revlon Colorburst Lip Gloss in Bellini which is a milky peach-nude. The other 2 items on the makeup front were a repurchase of the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, and a Rimmel Lasting Finish Blush in Santa Rose as a lot of people rave about this guy, and the colour is stunning and natural, perhaps a new everyday favourite?

Onto skincare, I got another Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser as it was on offer for £2.98 and I love this as my go-to cleanser. To prove my love for it, how about I tell you that this is my third bottle of the stuff. On the radiance path, I got 2 items from the Boots Botanics All Bright range. The first was the Cleansing Toner, as the whole 'chemical exfoliant' thang interested me and I thought I would start at the budget side of things. As well as this I got the Night Cream, and on first impressions this looks to me really hydrating as it is so thick, so I cannot wait to incorporate this into my routine properly.

Finally, I got the L'Oréal Studio Line #TXT Volume Supersizing Spray, as I am practically begging for some texture and volume in my hair, and from the first use I really like this, and for a budget price of £3.79 I don't think I could choose any better way to start getting into these products.

It's typical for me to have only just gotten off my spending ban and have a nice shop/splurge in Boots. Well... there isn't much that can separate a blogger from buying products...

BEATING THE BREAKOUTS

My skin is something that drives me crazy. Some people worry their skin looks bad because they have a one single blemish on their cheek, in their hairline, or on their chin, and it makes me quite conscious of how they think mine looks, if theirs is 'awful'. I take various steps to keep the breakouts at bay, a stop to the spots if you will, but nothing really works.

My skin is problematic, and oily in most areas, bar the cheeks (lets say combination). Spots everywhere, at least a handful a day (not new ones, my spots linger for days), and scarring more purple than the worst dark circles I have ever seen. I know it is a teenage thing and I cannot wait for the days I will have clear skin again (fingers crossed), but frankly, I see less and less fellow blemished people by the years...just me being paranoid?

Masks are the way to do it with blemishes. The first offering for me is the Super Facialist Tea Flower Pore Purifying Clay Mask which is a budget friendly £8.99 high street option. This just smells like it is clarifying, but not stripping on the skin in the slightest. The other is basically the same, which is the A'kin Express Purifying Facia Masque*, just more expensive at £16.50, so opt for the Super Facialist one if you can. I am hoping to get the Origins Charcoal Mask soon too, so hopefully that'll work wonders for my skin.

To be quite honest, the Lush Tea Tree Toner has been in my collection for quite a long time now, and I am just trying to finish it off. I'm not sure what this does blemish-wise, but it does feel quite refreshing to spritz on the skin before moisturising day or night. It costs £3.95, and has mainly natural ingredient too.

Treatments are where it is at currently in the skincare world. As much as I would lust over that glorious bottle of Esteé Lauder Advanced Night Repair on my shelf, my tight budget won't allow it, so for now, I will bear without. For me, it is the all famous La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo which is a light, yet moisturising gel which unclogs pores and all that jazz. Then, it is the recently acquired Spa Find Perfect Purity Dermabalance Spot Treatment*, which I wouldn't recommend for dry skins, as this kind of dries on the blemish and pulls out all the nasty stuff to the surface. This is a brilliant overnight treatment.

That was your tour around my breakout busting squad, but lets just hope the bad skin will be gone soon and these won't get picked off the shelf so regularly. 

 

Lush Tea Tree Toner Water

Hi guys!

So after reading Megan's post earlier, it spurred me on to write about some sort of skincare product. As you know, I am a lover of LUSH, but until about a month ago, I had never tried any of their skin products. Being someone with combination skin, prone to blemishes, I wanted something to try and stop that, and tea tree is a high contender for the blemish-fix. I hear great things about the LUSH toners, and this one is doing a pretty good job for me so far, and I think the larger size is on my list on my next trip. 

This is really refreshing. I like to spray it on in the evenings after the whole skincare routine (post coming soon!), and then let it soak in, and then I go in with a moisturiser. I usually use about 3 sprays to cover the entire face, and I have no idea if that is too much or not, but it works for me. 

I've been very lucky recently, as my skin still has a heck of a lot of scarring, along with a few freckles on the forehead which makes it look worse, and they aren't going to budge. I also have my unwanted redness, but concealer fixes that. This has prevented me from having any large blemishes, and has calmed my skin a lot *Touch Wood*, but I am definitely nowhere near any confident-without-makeup stage. Hopefully one day that will happen. 

I really am loving this toner, and as I said, a repurchase is bound to be in sight. Such a simplicity in the bathroom, but such a staple too. 

Have you tried any LUSH toners? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to follow via Bloglovin'!

Lauren x

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