Current Skincare Favourites

I've recently embarked on a huge skincare overhaul after the bulk of my severe acne clearing up and being left with relatively managable skin that just needed a bit of brushing up and some general tender loving care to keep balanced and under control. After splashing out a fair amount of money, being generously gifted with a few bits and pieces, a whole lot of trial and error, I think I've finally found the perfect bundle of products that's working for me and my face. It's important to bare in mind that everybody's skin is different, so these may all work differently for you than they do for me, but my skin is quite volatile and one application with a product that disagrees with my skin and I'll be still suffering with an angry breakout two weeks later. (Yes,  that is very frustrating!).

Here's what I'm working with at the moment and seeing great results:

Caudalie Cleansing Water Make Up Remover (£9.00 / 100ml)

After hearing from Kayleigh numerous times that this Caudalie Cleansing Water is a superior version of Bioderma and far more gentle on the skin, I decided to give it a try after finding that continuous use of Bioderma was making my skin quite dried out. Well, she was right and this Caudalie version puts Bioderma to shame! It still takes make up off with the same ease (maybe not as good at waterproof eye make up) but it feels nourishing on the skin, as opposed to stripping. This has been my go-to for taking off make up at the end of the day.

N Spa Hot Cloth Cleanser* (£7.00 / 250ml)

I was gifted this mini size hot cloth cleanser by N Spa to help promote their Beauty and Bathing Rituals ranges and this one was an unexpected impressive little gem. I won't be the only person to claim that this is better than the hot cloth cleanser from Liz Earle, and in my eyes it really is. I've sung the praises of Liz Earle C&P before, but I now prefer using this option from N Spa at a fraction of the cost and I definitely reach for it more. I'd highly recommend trying to hunt this brand down in your local Asda store. I use this as my part 2 of a double cleanse in the evenings after removing my make up with the Caudalie Cleansing Water (part 1). It helps to give a deeper and more thorough cleanse of the skin, while adding nourishment from the cocoa butter and removing the cream with a warm muslin cloth also gives the skin a gentle exfoliation too. 

REN ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser (£18.00 / 150ml)

I use this REN cleanser either as my morning cleanser, or on days when I haven't worn make up (so instead of doing a double cleanse with the above two products, I will use this one alone). This has fast become my favourite cleanser ever, and for anybody who gets oily skin and is quite blemish prone then I would highly recommend this. This creamy clay formula helps to absorb excess oils and impurities that can cause spots, leaving the skin refreshed, purified and balanced. I love how it's targetted for oily/blemished skin but has never caused any drying like a lot of others can do.

St Ives Invigorating Apricot Scrub (£4.29 / 150ml)

Arguably the only budget product in this post, and I'm sorry if it seems like I have expensive taste, it's not intentional (because of course who wouldn't prefer to use cheaper products) but I think that it's better quality ingredients in the higher end brands that are working well for me. St. Ives is an exception, and I actually bought this tube for less than £2 when it was on offer and it is amazing. It has quite large, and fairly abrasive grains within the soft creamy wash and it really scrubs like no other. Around once a week I use this and focus around my nose and chin where the blocked pores are help to shift away any dead skin cell build up.

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner* (£25.00 / 125ml)

I've been using this exfoliating toner more and more recently as it really finishes off a thorough cleanse. It's quite a thick and gel-like lotion that moisturises the skin as it sweeps away any remaining cleanser on the skin, but it also contains AHAs to chemically exfoliate the top layer of skin. It's a good multi-purpose product that I've been enjoying using a couple times a week. I should be more regimented with using a toner, but for me they're a bit of a 'meh' step and I like to use this to exfoliate as well as tone.

Murad Osmolyte Tonic (£9.95 / 15ml)

A relatively new addition after being one of the contents of my September Love Me Beauty Box but I instantly had a feeling that I'd like this, and I do! One thing I don't like is the spray dispenser isn't very fine and no matter what distance you spritz from it still leaves your skin a bit 'wet' and sometimes dripping! But the tonic itself is very impressive - Imagine simply putting water on your face and it working to hydrate your face to the same extent as your most intense of moisturisers. It soothes, nourishes, plumps and hydrates and works instantly with long lasting effects. A handy quick moisturising spray to use after cleansing/toning and before any treatments.  

Origins Make A Difference+ Rejuvenating Treatment (£34.00 / 50ml)

(15ml sample when purchasing Gin Zing from Origins) Out of all the products in this post (aside from the REN clay cleanser), this is my number one! I'm reaching the last little bits in this sample tube and I'm definitely going to repurchase the full size, despite it being a pretty expensive skincare item. I've never used something and noticed such dramatic results, so quickly. I've really seen a change just from using this small bottle and I'm very, very impressed. This treatment intensely moisturises but also treats the skin deep down through the layers. I've noticed redness reducing, dry patches disappearing, oily patches balancing, spots fading, skin generally looking plumper, clearer and more refreshed.

Origins Gin Zing Energising Moisturiser (£23.00 / 50ml)

Everybody's favourite product of the moment! I described this on my Instagram as 'coffee for your face', and it really is like a wake me up boost to your face. It's oil free and very light on the skin so it sinks right into the skin but adds and instant boost and a glow to your skin, to take you from zombie to 'ready to face the day' in about 30 seconds. Since I got this, there hasn't been a morning when I haven't used this.

Origins Plantscription Eye Cream (£36.50 / 15ml)

(5ml sample when purchasing Gin Zing from Origins) I don't see a great fuss with what's a good eye cream, and what's not a good eye cream, and I doubt I'd even notice a difference if I didn't use one at all. Well, until I'm 40 and it's too late then. This was a sample with an order and I've been using it twice daily and I have to say it gets a thumbs up. I probably wouldn't buy the full size, but I'm liking this at the moment as it's nice and rich but sinks in quickly without any residue so it makes a good base for concealers etc. around the eye.

I hope you enjoyed reading what's working for my skin at the moment.

What's working well for you at the moment?

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