Toners

One thing I have't talked about in a while  is skincare. But this post on acid toners has been waiting a while to pop up. When we see the word acid we perhaps get a little scared, of course why would we want to put acid on our face?! However, the % of acid in these toners is relatively low and therefore safe enough to cause some impressive results on our skin.

The whole process of acid based toners was introduced to my by the goddess of skincare Caroline Hirons. She believes that toner should be the second step in our routine; it should balance the ph levels of your skin after cleansing, exfoliate, hydrate and, most important, help for the next steps of your routine (serum and moisturise) to penetrate more thoroughly.

Now before I learnt this information my every other day routine would be a gritty exfoliator. What I then learnt from Hirons is that this can help to spread infection if we have a spot and does not restore the ph level on our skin. Acid toners are applied on a cotton wool pad and then just smooth them over my face and neck. 

Since introducing this step I can honestly say that I've seen improvements in my skin like no other. My skin now doesn't experience crazy blemishes, it feels smoother and almost more radiant. The two toners I switch between are the Clarins Gentle Exfoliater Brightening toner and the Pixi Glow Tonic. Now I feel almost embarrassed to admit that I can't really detect anything different between these two products apart from the smell. If I was 'suffering' a period of bad skin however, I would perhaps be more inclined to use the Clarins one as, from experience, this has always helped to clear my skin. I tend to put these toners in my nightie routine, as suggested by Hirons, and I only use them about 3 times a week. 

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Instant boost

The purchase of the Clarins Instant Light was what I call a binge spree: i.e. I had intended to buy something else, they didn't have it in stock and in disappointed needed something in replacement as I had so intended for the original. Unhealthy purchase, I know.

However, I'm not going to be full of regrets here. I had read a lot about this product on ghostparties and nouvelle daily, and was very intrigued to give it a test. My skin recently (as you will have read my complaints) has been looking seriously lack lustre: dull, a little grey and stuck in Winter. It really hasn't done a lot for my mood!

Clarins Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base (as its true title) is designed to target this need. I mix mine in with my bb cream to create a dewy boost. I was instantly impressed by the results; it definitely does the trick at enhancing your base.

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January Favourites

Bare Minerals Original Foundation - I am not a huge lover of foundation but over January I fell in love with this raved about product. It sits really well on the skin, and being a of a mineral consistency it had a lovely lightweight coverage. Moreover, with spf 15 this product also acts as a moisturiser. This foundation is perfect if you are looking for a light, natural coverage.

Clarins Ombre Minerale 4 Couleurs Palette in Odyssey - I was treated to this bad boy palette for Christmas, and it really has lived up to my excited expectations. This palette was part of Clarins' Christmas collection and (unsurprisingly) sold out instantly! Being a lover of natural eyeshadows these colours create the perfect day time and night time smokey look! They are beautifully pigmented and of corse the packaging makes me feel like Im unwrapping a present every time I use it. 

Ojon Rub Out Dry Cleansing Spray - I have a love hate relationship with one. Its a fantastic product in that it does what it says on the tin. It really is a FAB dry shampoo - it instantly cleans your hair and does not leave the overwhelming white remaints. However, the smell is really not to my liking. It describes its smell as 'Soap Bark Tree', and this really is not my thing. Yet, please don't be disheartened. This product does its job, and in my opinion, is better than Batise dry shampoo.

The Body Shop Shea Body Butter - I think we can all admit that the Body Shop have had a rocky road with marketing over the past few years. I was given this product in my complimentary bag at the Company Magazine event and I really have fallen in love with it. It gives AMAZING moisturisation and lasts all day. It has made me remember why we used to love the Body Shop butters in the first place! 

Benefit Brow Zings - Im sure I mentioned about this product in my favourite products of 2012 post...I cant remember. If so, I am emphasising my brow love. In my process of trying to grow Delevigne brows (don't mock me now) this has helped create that look. More importantly, it has helped to recreate this look NATURALLY. It does not create a drawn in with permanent marker look but creates a natural finish. With a how-to-guide this is, in my opinion, the best brow product out there!

Dior Blush in Sugar & Spice - I have had this product in my makeup draw for a while now, but fell in love with it again over January. In the winter months I don't particularly like a light, coral colour for my pale tones. This Dior blush however created the perfect balance between giving me a bronze and plum look; giving my face the warm lift my complexion so needed from the cold!

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