What's On My Skincare Shelf: Current Picks

I've been making an effort to simplify my skincare down to a handful of great products that I know work for me as apposed to the masses of lotions and potions I usually choose between. It's been tough, but I've whittled it down to some real gems and have found a good core routine that my skin is really enjoying. I still like to supplement this with different products here and there and sometimes swap a few things around, but here's an insight into what's currently on my scaled-down skincare shelf.

La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution* | Clarins Instant Eye Make Up Remover | Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Foaming Cleansing Wash | EVE LOM Cleansing Balm* | EVE LOM Eye Cream* | La Roche-Posay Effaclar M Mattifying Moisturiser (now changed to Effaclar Mat) | Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair | Caudalie Divine Oil | Dr Jart Water-Max Sleeping Mask

* Gifted PR Samples

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Hydration Heroes

When it comes to skincare I don't think theres anything more important than packing in the moisture. Although my skin is on the combo/oily side it gets very thirsty and needs a good bit of hydration to keep it at bay. Here's a rundown of the four products that have been my saviours this month:

The Mask: If you're looking for a mega rich and intensely hydrating mask, your search ends here. La Roche-Posay's Hydraphase Intense Masque* is rich beyond all comprehension and yet fresh and lightweight on the skin. Leave a thick layer on the face and neck for around 15 minutes then either massage in the excess or splash away with water and continue your routine. The is quite possibly the closest product I've found to my number one HG item (yes sorry, I'm going to mention it again) the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. It leaves skin with that same supple glow and banishes away any hint of dryness.

The Cult Moisturiser: I'm sure you've read about this one a thousand times but there's a good reason for the cult status of Embryolisse's Lait Creme Concentrate. When I first used this there was a bit of a flat moment, partly due to the fact I was expecting fireworks to burst from the tube. It felt nice going on, quite rich but with a thin consistency and gave an almost matte finish which I wasn't expecting. I put the tube down, walked away and forgot about it but when nearly five hours later my skin still felt incredibly smooth and hydrated I was suitably impressed and from then on hooked.

The Serum: Hydraluron Moisture Boost is the odd one out of the bunch as it has a gel consistency which once applied pretty much vanishes away to nothing. The magic happens though when applying a regular moisturiser on top. Moisture Boost is packed full of Hylaronic Acid which although sounds slightly scary is the ingredient-of-the-moment for retaining moisture. Using this underneath your regular moisturiser will leave your skin ten times more hydrated deep down. Basically this acts as a magnet which keeps all the hydrating goodness from other products locked in, a great one if you feel you use half a tube of cream everyday just to feel it working.

The Balm: Balance Me is a brand I'm slowly falling in love with product after product. Enter the Stellar Face Balm* and if this top four was in order you would most certainly be looking at number one. Although this is hailed as a multi-use balm for everything from moisturising lips to banishing stubborn dry patches (which it does excellently might I add) my favourite way to use it is by literally smothering it all over the face as the last step in my evening routine. This works best half an hour or so before bed giving the product time to soak in (sticking to your pillow is never glamorous) and although it might feel strange to use a balm in this way, nothing has ever made my skin feel so hydrated and supple. Baby soft skin, here I come!

* Gifted PR Samples

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Brand Spotlight: Dr Jart

Dr Jart Waterfuse BB Cream, Water-Max Sleeping Mask & Bubble Foam
Every now and then a brand will come along that I just won't be able to get enough of, and this month it's Dr Jart that's dominating my beauty regime.

It all began with a purchase of their signature BB Cream, the first of the brands products to be launched in the UK in four different variations. I chose the Waterfuse which claims to be an Oil-free yet hydrating product, keeping the skin's water levels balanced for a dewy, fresh look and protected with SPF 25. I find this gives more coverage than the average BB and leaves the skin with a subtle glow that lasts all day. The one drawback however is that it's only available in one shade. It is slightly darker than my skin, but I find if I blend it in well and make sure I take the product down the neck it becomes very wearable. This is actually the only one of these much overhyped BB Creams that's ever impressed me enough to earn a place in my collection of most used bases.

After discovering Dr Jart had brought out a range of skincare too, albeit a highly priced one, I went a little mad and purchases two products on a whim. The Water-Max Sleeping Mask jumped out to me as (need I explain again) I'm already a big fan of the Origins version. I find this isn't quite as hydrating but is great for layering on top of serums when you want to stick to your normal evening regime but add some extra moisture into the mix. I also find this works exceptionally well when mixed with another product that I've been using liberally this month (post to come soon!).

Last of all the Bubble Foam, a rich foaming cleanser which aims to deeply cleanse and refine pores, has probably become my favourite of them all. I mainly use this along with my Clarasonic as the consistently is perfect for giving enough product for the brush to work with without overwhelming my face with bubbles! It's packed with Sage and Witch Hazel extracts which help to calm the skin and leave it mattified without any drying or tight feeling.

I think I should also add, as it is one massive criteria for me, that not one but all of these products smell amazing too. Fresh and fruity, and all extremely pleasant to use on the skin. I highly recommend Dr Jart to anyone that want's to try it. I'll be hopping over to Boots to stock up on the rest of the range!


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Twelve of the Best From 2012

This year I've managed to find some absolute gems of the beauty world, and although it was proabably the hardest blogging related decision I've ever had to make, I've come up with twelve (I thought that was quite fitting..) of the very best products from 2012. Enjoy!

Bioderma Crealine H20 (full review here), Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask (full review here), La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo, NUXE Reve de Miel Lipbalm, Topshop Whimsical Lipstick, Topshop Beguiled Lipstick, Topshop Ohh La La Lipstick, Topshop Mischief Lipstick, Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation, Benefit Dallas, Urban Decay Naked Palette, Essie Absolutely Shore (full review here), Essie Fiji, Essie Bordeaux, Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover, Real Techniques Buffing Brush (from the Core Collection), Real Techniques Stippling Brush, Real Techniques Contour Brush (from the Core Collection), Real Techniques Setting Brush, Real Techniques Deulux Crease Brush (from the Starter Set), Moroccan Oil


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Winter Skincare Routine

Emma Hardie Moringa Foaming Wash, Liz Earle Eyebright, La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo, Hydraluron Moisture Booster, EVE LOM Eye Contour Cream*, Estée Lauder Daywear Moisturiser, Bioderma Crealine H2O Cleansing Solution, Philosophy Purity Cleansing Oil, EVE LOM Cleansing Balm*, Clarisonic Classic, Superfacialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Cleansing Wash, Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, Klorane Eye Make Up Remover, Origins Never A Dull Moment, LUSH Mask of Magnaminty, Superfacialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Clay Mask, Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel, Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair, Origins Night-A-Mins, Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, Bio Oil, Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm.

* Gifted PR Samples

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New Origins Purchases

Origins Never A Dull Moment & High-Potency Night-A-Mins
Origins is a brand that always excites me. I've loved everything I've tried from their range so far and wouldn't mind buying the whole lot to be honest! These are my two most recent purchases and although I haven't quite tested them out to the fullest, I though I'd do a little post on my first impressions.

The High-Potency Night-A-Mins is something I've been after for a long long time. Its a mineral enriched radiance booster that's full of vitamins and moisture replenishers to help reduce the appearance of dullness. I went for the regular Night-A-Mins, however there is an oil-free version as well. The first thing I noticed when using this is the beautiful orange smell it has, very soothing to use right before bed. Used alone I did find it quite hard to work into the skin, but when applying my usual night time Serum, Estée Lauders Advance Night Repair, it became a lot easier to smooth on. The product feels very hydrating at first but by the time I wake up this tends to completely sink into my skin leaving it feeling slightly tight and uncomfortable. I've actually been using a thin layer of the Origin's Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask on top to give it a bit of a boost, so I think this is going to be better for those with a normal skin type whereas mine is quite dry at the moment.

The Never a Dull Moment Scrub was also slightly different than I was expecting. I did mention in a recent haul video that this was ridiculously priced at £31 - astronomical for a face scrub, but it seems that I've been overcharged as everywhere except Boots is selling it for around £24 (which angered me just tad). The exfoliating beads in this are very small and sparse in the thick gel formula. I was a bit worried at first thinking I'd wasted all that money on something that barely touched my dry patches, however after a quick scrub I left this on for about five minutes, letting the Papaya enzymes work away at removing the top layer of dead skin cells very gently. I've used this two or three times now and each time my skin has looked radiant afterwards with little effort at all. I think this is going to turn out to be very similar to the Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel, one of my favourite exfoliating masks!

Have you bought anything from origins recently? What are your favourite products from the brand?


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LUSH Collection & Favourite Products

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The Sunday Pamper Part 2: The Facial

I had some really great feedback from my first Sunday Pamper post, so as promised here's the second in the series and tonight it's all about skincare. It's not all that often that I give myself a full on facial, but when the time comes I get down to some serious business. I really love to run a hot bath, pop in a Butterball (my all time favourite from Lush, but that's another Sunday post altogether!) and let the steam work some extra magic.

I make sure I've thoroughly removed all makeup with a good micellair lotion and then take a palm full of Philosophy's Purity Cleansing Oil evenly all over my face. I spend a few extra minutes working this into the skin gently with my fingertips, ensuring that every scrap of make up is gone and also boosting circulation to help flush out any nasty toxins lurking away. The great thing about using a cleansing oil for this is that unlike regular massage oils, once splashed off with some warm water it doesn't leave any residue on the skin.

After that it's on to exfoliation. I like to use a good deep scrub and No7's Total Renewal Micro-dermabrasion is great for this. It's made up of tiny rough crystals which are quite abrasive. I'll only use this once every couple of weeks but that's really all it takes to see the benefits. Not only does this slough away every scrap of dead skin it also stimulates cell renewal to work against fine lines and uneven tone, just make sure you're wearing a good SPF the day after you use this!

I make sure I give my skin a quick rest after exfoliating so I take a trusty muslin cloth, soak it in warm water and lay it over my face for a few minutes. Not only is this super relaxing it also opens up the pores ready for a good deep cleansing mask. At the moment my favourite is the Super Facialist by Úna Brennan Tea Flower Clay Mask (isn't that a mouthful) which you can see a full review of here. This takes every drop of excess oil out of clogged up pores and leaves skin feeling zingy fresh.

The last part of the in-bathroom routine involves another of my all time favourite products, the Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel which I paint on with an old foundation brush (an odd tool you may be thinking but believe me using one will change your life) and leave on for about fifteen minutes (this is when I usually hop out of the bath and get those cosy jammies on). I find this mask works best at getting rid of any really dry patches so I concentrate it on my forehead and nose. It uses fruit enzymes to exfoliate without the need for abrasive beads and I always notice how well my make up goes on after using this!

Once that's all wiped off, again using the muslin cloth, I pat my skin dry and move on to the final part of my mini facial: hydration. For that I use a recently discovered wonder combination of Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask and Bio Oil. The Overnight Mask is like an intensely rich night cream that keeps on working even into the morning. On top of that I pat a few drops of the Bio Oil and gently work them together on the skin. I have quite a few facial oil's rattling around in my draws but recently I've been choosing Bio Oil over them every time. This unlikely beauty product gives my skin the most amazing glow and once washed of in the morning leaves it plumped up and moisturised. I let that sink in for about half an hour before going to bed, just enough time to snuggle up with a good book (or in my case a good blog or two) and a few relaxing candles!


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Super Facialist by Úna Brennan

Super Facialist Tea Flower Pore Purifying Clay Mask £8.99 & Anti-Shine Pore Minimiser £12.99
I seem to have the isles of my local Boots memorised these days, so when something new pops up I'm usually straight on it. Úna Brennan, a well known facialist to the stars has launched her own range of products designed to give you a DIY salon experience at home. The line consists of three different ranges; Rose Hydrate, Neroli Firiming and Tea Flower Deep Clean. I went for Tea Flower as my skin has been quite oily and congested recently, deffinitly in need of a deep cleanse.

The first product that caught my eye was the Anti-Shine Pore Minimiser. This feels like a smooth, silky primer as it goes on and I've been using it under my make up on areas of larger pores and shine (nose and forehead especially!). This instantly reminded me of Benefit's Porefessional which I do really like but can't use as it dries my skin out terribly. This product however feels hydrating as well as mattifying and definitely makes my pores look smaller under foundation.

I've been looking for a new clay mask ever since they changed the formula of my beloved Botanics one so the Pore Purifying Detox Mask was another obvious choice and is actually fast becoming one of my favourite beauty extras. The formulation is quite thin compared to other similar masks which saves a lot of drying time and it tingles slightly as the Tea Flower works into the skin, clearing out impurities and unclogging pores. My favourite thing about this product is that after it dries you can see tiny dark spots where all the excess oils have been drawn out of the pores which really gives you an idea of how much it's working.

I've really enjoyed using these two and I think I'm definitely going to be looking into more products from Úna Brennan. The double cleansing regimes look quite intriguing too and as the whole of Super Facialist is a third off at Boots at the moment, I think I'll be trying a few more things very soon!

Have you tried anything from the range?
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The Sunday Pamper: Part 1

I've started making it a bit of a habit to spend an hour or so on a Sunday evening giving myself a mini pamper and I thought I'd do a little series over the next few weeks all about the things I use and my favourite indulgent products. I like to concentrate on one specific area, either skincare, nails, hair etc. and this week its all about body care.

I like to start in the shower with a good exfoliator to slough off any dry, dead skin. At the moment I'm using Soap and Glory's Pulp Friction, a fruity body scrub that foams up as you massage it in. Although it might seem a minor detail, I've noticed this lather helps get so much more out of the product. The foam sticks to the skin and ensures a great bit of exfoliation from the beads locked inside, leaving my skin soft and invigorated.

Next I like to use L'Occitain's Almond Shower Oil. This is a great for thoroughly cleansing the skin without stripping any moisture away. I like to pat my arms and legs down after exfoliating and really massage this in. On dry skin it's just a pure oil, but once introduced to water it emulsifies into a lovely thick lather. If you've never used a shower oil before I seriously recommend trying one out! No7 do a great cheaper alternative, although it doesn't smell anywhere near as good!

Next comes the combination of three wonder products that are going to make all the difference. I've never come across a product like Lush's King of Skin before (although we all know them for their unique concoctions). It's basically a solid body butter that you smooth over skin like a bar of soap right before coming out of the bath or shower. The excess water on the skin helps this glide on effortlessly and after one last quick splash you're ready to pat yourself dry. Full of Shea Butter, fresh bananas and various organic oils this makes for one beautiful smelling and extremely moisturising product.

Once I'm all dried off I take the Garnier Ultimate Beauty Oil and spray it liberally all over my legs where I suffer from the most dryness. I love these dry oil sprays as they really are the quickest and simplest way of getting moisture into the skin. I mainly use them at night to give the oils time to sink in while I sleep, but if you're going out and you want those supermodel legs, this gives them the ultimate sheen.

Last of all I use a nice rich lotion on places like my knees and elbows. Although being ridiculously pricey the Kiehl's Creme de Corps really is the best for this. It's full of Cocoa Butter which leaves stubborn dry areas smoother than you can imagine.

So there you have it, skin as smooth as the day you were born with five amazing products and an hour to spare! What are your ultimate body pamper picks?

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Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask - £20
When I first walked up to the Origins Counter in my local John Lewis a few weeks ago, I was desperately after the Drink Up 10 Minute Mask. Unfortunately they didn't have it in stock, but being the impatient and impulsive person that I am I had to walk away with something so the assistant recommended my the overnight version. I was a little bit miffed but after using this for a few weeks I'm so glad I went away with it instead!

My skin is bordering on the oily side, but I still feel I get tightness and dry patches in places so I prefer using really moisturising treatments to heavy creams. I've been using the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask instead of my moisturiser about twice a week and waking up with glowing, radiant skin thats fully moisturised and not at all greasy.

The mask is quite rich but it glides on very easily. I like to put as thick a layer as I can on and wait about half an hour for it to sink in before I go to bed. It smells delicious too, kind of fruity thanks to its lovely natural ingredients such as rose water, sweet orange oil and blackcurrant seed extract to name a few.

I also thinks its quite good value for money for a high end skincare product at only £20. I'd probably pay double for it though as I absolutely adore Origins! Everything from their philosophy to the fact that they're a skincare based brand pulls me in. Surprisingly though this is only my fourth purchase from them but after the success of this mask I don't think I'll be able to say no. Next on the list is the Night-A-Mins moisturiser or the Out of Trouble 10 Minute Mask, I can't decided!

Have you tried any Origins products? What are your favourites?

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Evening Skincare

Botanics Prganic Facial Oil, Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair, Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream, Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream
I'm not usually one to stick to a certain routine when it comes to skincare, but recently I've found myself reaching for the same products every night and I've really noticed a change in my skin from doing so.

After I've fully cleansed and removed my make up, I apply a few drops of Estée Lauder's Advanced Night Repair all over. This is a beautiful silky serum that's been a firm favourite of mine for years. It helps repair the skin from environmental damage before the effects become permanent while at the same time improving uneven skin tone and locking in moisture. I find that whenever I use this I always wake up with fresh, supple skin that feels healed, working especially well on any stubborn breakouts or blemishes.

Eye cream has become quite important to me ever since I stared noticing my concealer just wasn't sitting right. I get quite bad dehydration lines around my eyes which my concealer just loves to sink into and it ages me terribly, so I make sure I always use a rich cream in the evening to keep the moisture in. Benefit's It's Potent is one of the best I've found, and although it doesn't offer much in the way of anti-aging and other such wonderful things it's just a really great eye cream.

Despite having fairly oily skin I like to use quite a rich moisturiser at night. I find that if I use something more suited to an oily skin type it never feels like enough and I get a dry, tight feeling. I've been using the Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream for about a month now and have to say that it's the only moisturiser I've ever used that my skin doesn't drink up immediately. Not so great for the day as I imagine this would be a disaster under make up (for me at least!) but I like to feel that richness on my skin at night.

If I still feel like that's not enough however, I use a few drops of facial oil on top and massage it in to the moisturiser. I'm sure you've heard me rave about these far too many times but I really think oil products give the most amazing results. A current favourite is the new Botanics 100% Organic Facial Oil which is enriched with nourishing rose hip. My skin never fails to feel plumper, energised and practically glowing when I use this in my routine.

What products do you use in the evening? I'd love to know what everyone's favourite night cream is too!

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Avène Micellar Lotion

Avène Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Make Up Remover £12.50
As much as I know we all hate taking our make up off at the end of the day, ever since discovering the absolutle holy grail that is Bioderma Crealine H2O Cleansing Solution I've actually come to enjoy it. A few squirts on a cotton pad, sweep over the face, cleanse and it's done. Much to my dismay however, last week I completely ran out of the huge 500ml bottle I got back in March. Not wanting to wait a few days for a new one to be shipped from my regular seller I went into Boots and found the Avène Micellar Lotion Make Up Remover. I had actually had my eye on this for a while after seening Tenneil's post about it. The word 'micellar' got me very excited because as of yet I'm haven't found any brands other than Bioderma and Taaj selling a remover that uses this technology to litterally dissolve away make up.

As for how Avène's offering lives up to the name, I can't quite say it outdoes Bioderma. It takes off all my foundation beautifully and leaves my skin feeling refreshed but not tight. It also dissolves away the majority of my eye make up, but I've been finding I need to use a second product to remove the last traces, where as the Bioderma takes everything away in one go.

In terms of availability this is a lot easier to pick this up from your local chemist that having to order online, but at roughly the same price you'd be paying for the Bioderma if you're looking to save this might not be the best option. I do still think it's a great product though and one that I'll definitely be using up!

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Skincare Travel Essentials

I'm going away for a conference day with work this week so I though I'd take the advantage while packing my bag to show you a few of the products that I take with me when travelling. Instead of bringing my entire skincare collection which in itself needs a whole suitcase, I whittle it down to a few essentials.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir: The beauty product of the moment and something I've come love. Its a great multitasking product which I can use as a toner/serum/makeup freshener, perfect to perk you up after a long groggy car journey. I'm on the last drops of my second bottle now and will say that the one down side of this product is that it doesn't last very long. I probably use about 3-5 sprays of this a day and I'm getting through a bottle every three weeks at the moment. Might have to invest in the full size!

This Works Clean Skin Daily Wash: I usually double cleanse with a hot cloth cleanser then a foaming one but to save space I take something I know is going to remove all my make up and clean my skin in one go. I have so many miniature products from various beauty boxes and free samples that I'm always trying to use up and at the moment I've been trying the This Works Clean Skin Wash. It's a bit of a hybrid between a creamy cleanser and one that foams up. Gentle enough to use on the eyes and it has a lovely lavender herbal smell that's very soothing if you're trying to fall asleep in a noisy hotel room.

Clinique All About Eyes Serum: For some reason I always get puffy eyes in the morning when I sleep somewhere that isn't my own bed so a cooling rollerball is essential if I'm gong to look presentable. This little one from Clinique has an almost instant effect that you can feel de-puffing right away.

Benefit Total Moisture: I'm still scraping out the last little bits of this mini tub of whats fast becoming my favourite moisturiser. I got this in one of Benefit's miniature skincare packs and have been lusting after it ever since. This is quite heavily scented which I thought would be a problem for my sensitive skin, but its lovely and rich and really keeps my skin moisturised right through to the morning.

Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate: I had to get at least one Liz Earle product in here! I started to regret buying the Superskin Concentrate Oil in the rollerball but its actually perfect to take away without the fear of opening your bag to find a gloopy mess. How many times have we all been through that? Skin oils never fail to leave my skin feeling super soft looking fresh in the morning!

The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector: As you can see this ones pretty battered as it gets taken everywhere in the bottom of my bag. It may have a funny smell but I don't think any other hand cream could compare!

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream: I'm not sure theres anything 8 hour cream can't do. Perfect for lips, cuticles, dry skin patches, eyebrows, cuts, burns and even as a moisturiser this is one thing I'm never without anywhere I go.

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Philosophy Purity Cleanser

Hello there everyone, yes I'm still alive and I do realise it's been an actual decade since I last blogged! Naughty me. I've been so uninspired lately and pretty much think I'm boring you all with my rambling but hey ho, hopefully not!

As avid readers will be aware I've been stuck in a bit of a rut with my Clarisonic ever since I started using it nearly a year ago. I've gone through a very strained relationship with this nifty little tool, loving the way it made my skin feel but never really getting into a routine of using it properly and therefore never seeing it's true benefits. I decided it was down to the fact that I was yet to find the perfect cleanser to use with it which surprised me seeing as I'm a bit of a cleansaholic. I wanted something that foamed up, but not too much, was refreshing but still substantial and that really cleaned my skin without leaving it feeling tight and dry. It got to a point where I didn't thing such a cleanser existed until I was came across Purity. I'm not sure why I don't own any other Philosophy products considering how beautiful they all smell but I'm sure I'll be investing in a few more after trying out this cleanser!

It claims to be a 3-in-1 gel which removes all traces of make up but I still like to use a hot cloth cleanser like Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish before hand to take away the majority of what's on my face. It comes out as quite a thin white liquid which foams up just enough to feel like it's working and leaves my skin clean, fresh and moisturised at the same time. It smells amazing too, almost lemony. Ever since I got this I've been sticking to my Clarisonic and actually enjoying using it every night!

As for the price, its pretty steep at £28.50 for the full size, although you do get a huge 450ml bottle. I picked up this little 90ml bottle from boots for only £8.00 which I think is great if you just want to try it out. I've been using it for about two weeks now and am yet to make much of a dent, so I think its going to last a good long time!

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Skincare!

Morning: Clinique Liquid Facial Soap, Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam, Liz Earle Skin Boost Tonic, Sanctuary Pore Refining Toner, Clinique Clarifying Lotion #2, Estée Lauder Idealist Serum, Origins GinZing Eye Cream, Clinique Moisture Surge.

Evening: MAC Cleanse Off Oil, Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish, Sanctuary Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser, Soap & Glory Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser, No7 Melting Gel Cleanser, Botanics Organic Cleansing Balm, Clarisonic Classic, Bioderma Crealin H20, Simple Eye Make Up Remover, Liz Earle Skin Boost Tonic, Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair, Origins GinZing Eye Cream, No7 Beautiful Skin Dry/Very Dry Night Cream, Boots Viatmin E Facial Oil, Sanctuary Therapist Secret Facial Oil, Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate.
I uploaded a video of my entire skincare routine last week, but thought I'd do a blog post along with it too! I can't seem to get enough of skincare these days and probably own more cleansers than make up products put together. My routine changes quite frequently but these are all the products I've been loving recently.

In the morning I don't always feel like using a lot on my face, so Clinique's Liquid Facial Soap is my go to as its quick, light and easy to use. It might be a little too drying if you don't have quite oily skin like me but it leaves it squeaky clean. If I'm having a particularly spotty day I'll use their Anti-Blemish Foam instead which, although I wouldn't reccomend using for more than two days in a row as it can again be quite drying again, really does clear away any angry blemishes.

After those I'll the Liz Earle Skin Boosting Tonic which is the most refreshing, heavenly smelling toner I've ever used. I've recently discovered Sanctuary's Pore Refining one though, which is brilliant equivalent if you don't want to pay as much. It smells very similar and does pretty much the same thing, although I have found it to be a little more tightening which is great as I do have a few large pores around my nose and chin. Occasionally I'll use the Clinique Clarifying Lotion which is an exfoliant as well to get rid of any dry skin patches.

I've been trying to look after my skin for the future a little more recently (its never too early!) so I invested in a few serums from Estée Lauder. In the morning I'll use their Idealist pore refiner which has a gorgeous silky texture, almost like primer, which smooths over any little pores and fine lines and makes a great base for make up. I'll then pop on some Origins Ginzing eye cream which brightens and gets rid of any puffiness and is the only one I've use for years, then finally Cliniqe's Moisture Surge, an amazing moisturiser for oily skin as its oil free but still hydrates so much!

In the evening I start by using a few pumps of MAC Cleanse Off Oil which I'll massage all over to melt away any excess make up. When it comes to cleansers, I'm a bit of a hoarder (if you've read this post, you'll know!) and have quite a few that I go between depending on how I feel. I mainly like to use hot cloth ones as I think they're great at taking everything off and moisturing at the same time. We all know and love the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and if you've not yet tried it, I seriously reccomend doing so as it really is worth all the hype! A few cheaper but similar alternatives that I use from time to time are these two from Sanctuary and Soap & Glory.

If I want a cleanser that's really luxurious, I'll use something oil based. The Botanics Cleansing Balm has a very hard waxy consistency in the pot but when massaged all over the face it turns into a silky oil which melts away every scrap of makeup and is then polished away with a cloth. This smells beautiful and completely rids the skin of impurities but what I love about it most is how refreshing it is, despite being such a moisturising cleanser. I've been trying out the new No7 Melting Gel Cleanser as well which is very similar but not quite as rich. If I still don't feel my skin is clean enough I'll sometimes use my Clarisonic with the same Clinique cleansers from the morning. I know these are a little pricey but nothing will ever make your skin feel so clean!

I'll still have a little bit of eye make up left over after all that cleansing but that's taken away in one sweep with the Bioderma Crealine H20 (see full review here) which although hard to find is incredibly good at removing make up without scrubbing away. The Simple Eye Make Up Remover is a great alternative though if you're looking for something a little cheaper and easier to find!

I'll then use the second of my Estée Lauder Serums, this time the Advanced Night Repair which I really couldn't be without. Some people might think something like this is only for anti-aging but as the name suggests this acually repairs your skin overnight. I find that if I have any break outs or dullness it really sorts those out and leaves my skin practically glowing! As far as night creams go I'm yet to find anything that amazes me. Although I have oily skin it still gets dry in places and can feel tight when I wake up so I like somehting thats really rich. I've been using the No7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream which does the job, but if anyone has any recommendations of love to hear them!

Last of all, my absolute Holy Grail products are facial oils. I'll use a drop or two with my moisturiser at night to give it an extra boost. My favourites are the Boots Vitamin E Oil, Sanctuary Therapists Secret Oil and Liz Earle's Superskin Concentrate. Ever since I started using these on my skin about a year ago it's never looked so fresh and radiant and I can't reccomend trying them enough!

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Cleansers: Best and Worst

Cleansers! I can't seem to get enough of them. I think they're up there with foundations as my most purchased items. I've bought some that I love, and some that have just been a complete waste of money, so I thought I'd share the best and worst with you.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish: I don't think I need to go into too much detail with this one. I've mentioned it in a post before and everyone and their mum seems to have raved about it. I've tried a lot of other hot cloth cleansers thinking they'd be just as good, but nothing really compares to this one. It smells beautiful and although it's a thick, creamy cleanser, it leaves skin unbelievably refreshed and takes away every scrap of make up!

Botanics Soothing Cleansing Balm: This is similar to the Liz Earle as you wipe it off with a cloth soaked in warm water, but as the name would suggest,it has the consistency of a really thick balm, something I've never come across in another cleanser. You massage it on and it melts away any make up and impurities on the face and leaves skin super soft and radiant after its polished off.

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap: In the mornings I prefer to use more of a lathering cleanser to really wake up my skin and the Liquid facial soap is one of the few I've found that doesn't dry out my skin. It takes away everything without leaving that horrible tight feeling. Really need to buy a new one of these as I'm down to squeezing out the last of a sample tube!



And on to the worst...

Nivea Daily Essentials Refreshing Cleansing Lotion: I bought this thinking it would be a really quick and easy cleanser to pop on a cotton wool pad and take everything off. However, when I tried it it basically did nothing. It was heavy, smelt horrible and didn't take off any of my make up leaving my skin feeling anything but refreshed. I never really understood cleansers that aren't used with water and after trying this I'll be staying away from them in the future.

Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser: I had such high hopes for this as I love Burt's Bees as a brand and had heard a lot of good reviews. But when I used it, it didn't lather up as I expected it too and just felt sticky and oily on my skin. It was hard to wash off as well and left my skin with a really greasy residue that wouldn't come off until I exfoliated it away. I was so gutted because it smells heavenly, but it just didn't do anything for me.

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam: I'm really on the fence about this cleanser as I do still use it occasionally. A few months ago my skin got really awful and I invested in the whole Anti-Blemish range from Clinique. After about a week of using them though, it was even worse. I have quite oily skin most of the time, but it was becoming dry and flakey, and the blemishes weren't even much better. I stopped using it right away and my skin went back to normal and actually cleared up on its own. Also, because it comes out as a foam, there was nothing substantial to it and it pretty much just dissolved away. Because of this, I really don't believe spots and blemishes should be treated with really strong and abrasive skincare that's designed to strip every last drop of oil away. In fact, I've found that adding oil to my routine helps even out the tone and imperfections better than something acne-targeted. I do use this every now and then for a few days after my Cleanse & Polish if my skin is becoming overly oily but I wouldn't reccomend this as a main cleanser.

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