The Probiotic Micellar Water

I've always been slightly skeptical towards Micellar Waters. If you are a regular reader of this blog then you will know I take Caroline Hirons words as gospel: 'micellar waters belong backstage.' However, my other skincare goddess is Glamour Beauty Director Alessandre Steinherr - a lover of micellars. On her most recent Sunday facial Snapchat (you've got to check these out!) she featured this - the Super Facialist Probiotic Micellar Water. I love Unna Brennan's Super Facialist range; she creates great skincare for an amazing price tag so I was curious to give it a try…sorry Caroline. 

What immediately struck me about this Micellar Water is that it contains hyaluronic acid: an unusual addition to a simple cleansing water. Now we shouldn't be scared when we see the word acid in our skincare ingredients. Hyaluronic acid is great for keeping skin hydrated. It's also a key anti-ageing ingredient as it helps to plump and firm the skin.

As a result of this addition, after use my skin is left feeling soft; it doesn't feel stripped or tight like it has sometimes felt with other micellar waters. The addition of echinacea and cucumber also helps to leave my skin feeling refreshed. For these reasons I will therefore say it is one of the best micellar waters I have tried. 

Whilst I'm definitely giving this product a big thumbs up I still don't think micellar waters are for me. You need to use so many cotton pads until you can't see your foundation on them and, in my opinion, that's not a great sign of cleansing. I therefore think I will always be a cleansing oil kinda gal. However, this will definitely be a travel favourite.

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The Facial Detox

Last month I had a pesky, blackhead situation occurring on my left cheek. It was not a pretty situation guys. As my friends will say, I regularly told them how I couldn't get rid of a particular bugger which even my mother had attempted to squeeze out under a magnifying glass… was too much information?! The story was that my skin wasn't particularly happy. I therefore began my search for a clay mask that was going to help in the process of extraction. 

A trip to Space NK saw me purchase Elemental Herbology Facial Detox Purifying Facial Mask. I had read quite about of this brand on the likes of gh0stparties and The LoveCats Inc (thoroughly recommend checking these two bloggers out if you haven't done already).  I love skincare brands that use the best of nature and so was particularly interested by Elemental Herbology's approach: made of plant compounds, botanical oils and essential fatty acids they take a holistic approach to skincare. 

The Facial Detox Mask alone contains 3 Patents (antioxidants), 14 actives and 6 Bio-Oils. But it is the Amazonian white clay that particularly helps to extract toxins - aka, evil blackheads. In the past I have often struggled with clay masks, especially charcoal based ones; after removing the mask my skin is bright red. The Facial Detox, however, contains Manuka Honey which really soothes and calms my skin. This mask is particularly good for all you oily skin gals, I always notice an immediate difference on my T-Zone after use. 

Now, the main outcome of this story is that the blackheads are no longer there - yes, it is a miracle! This mask definitely helped in this process, and I am really looking forward to trying more products from this brand. 

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Super Oils

After running out of my evening serum, and making a wise decision to not repurchase (and save some pennies!), I decided to pay more attention to my Oil collection.

The Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate is a trusted favourite in my skincare cabinet: hydrating, soothing and calming, it is a lovely oil. The lavender scent helps to aid relaxation.

The Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate is a new and wonderful discovery. It contains high, natural sources of vitamin E which really help to nourish and protect the skin whilst the neroli provides a wonderful, relaxing aroma - perfect for a great night sleep. Since using this I've found that my complexion has looked more even and brighter in the mornings, which has been a lovely surprise! I would also recommend ordering from their website - the service is incredible!

The Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Facial completely differs in texture to the other two. It is described as a serum-oil so it is almost glossy in consistency. The smell  is just divine: it really does feel like a spa when you apply this. Like Liz Earle, this contains Vitamin E and Omega Oils which really help to hydrate and plump the skin.

All of these oils have provided me with instant results.  I couldn't recommend them enough! There's just something extra lovely about evening skincare when we can afford a bit more time, relaxation and care in our routines.

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Hydrating Toners

After experiencing five days of extraordinary heat in London I thought it was necessary to share with you one of my summer skin essentials: the hydrating toner. All of these have multiple purposes: They can be used after cleansing to hydrate and purify the skin, to help set makeup or for a top up in the afternoon to help 'revive' the skin. 

The Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic contains naturally active, botanical ingredients including a pure source of Vitamin E. These help to revitalise and refresh the skin. I find this 30ml bottle so handy to keep in my bag, ready for those vital 3pm spraying sessions. 

As you know from previous posts, the Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist is not only a luxurious item but one that I could rave about for hours. The first time I tested this product I had never experienced so many compliments about my skin! It looked noticeably healthy: glowing and dewy, just what I like. The only annoying thing about this product is the price. I am nearly on my last few sprays and I'm not sure if a toner is worth £46 (I know, I hang my head, and purse, in shame!).  Nevertheless, it does probably have the most instant results of the trio.

La Roche Posay Serozinc, however, is the most refreshing of them all, mainly due to its spritzing power. If you're on a budget then I would put my hands up and tell you that this is the one! Whilst it is 'targeted' for oily and blemish prone skin I would advise to ignore this. I would not put my own skin under this category but it has still helped my skin. This product is especially great if you're a city girl as it kills bacteria. 

Another tip, leave these in these fridge and you will have an extra cooling experience!

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Evening Skincare Routine

Following up from my Morning skincare post (here) it is now time to share my current evening skin care routine. Whilst I love applying my makeup I will always say that my favourite time of the day is taking it all off before bed. Just like my morning skin routine, the evening has developed into a rather obsessive procedure. 

Firstly, it's step one of cleansing. If you are a regular reader then you will know that this has been The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil for a while.  This is a firm favourite in my skincare cupboard. When they say silky, they really do mean silky. It is such a soothing, gentle oil that quickly removes makeup. I don't think I would ever pay more for a cleansing oil as this does the job perfectly. Sometimes if I have waterproof eye makeup on then I will also go in with the Camomile Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover which, again, has a big thumbs up from me. It doesn't irritate my eyes, or leave them feeling oily, it just quickly does them job. 

I then cleanse my skin. PLEASE, note the difference between the oil cleanser to take off my make up and the cleanser to cleanse my skin. For this second step I use Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - a trusty cleanser that I have been using for over six years now. I love its creamy texture; it never irritates my skin; and is really soothing after a long stressful day.

Now, this is then when the routine gets exciting. About three times a week, or every other day (if its a bad skin week) I go in with an AHA toner. As you will have read from a previous post, this is my preferred form of exfoliation. I find that it provides better results and is less irritating than an exfoliating scrub with beads. After a few seconds I then spray over a hydrating toner. My favourite one for the evening is the La Roche Posay Serozinc. It soothes my skin and ALWAYS solves my bad skin days. 

The rest is then simple. I moisturise, with the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream,  and then apply an oil over the top. In the past I have loved using the Origins Night-a-Mins moisturiser. I really do miss that from my current routine, as it is so rich and moisturising. However, applying the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Oil over the top has made me notice some encouraging results. I seem to have had this in my skincare stash for a while, but only ever used it occasionally. After a routine of application I have noticed in the morning that my skin looks plumper and my complexion much more even. Perhaps I shouldn't have dismissed it so much.

What are you holy-gail evening products?

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The Moisturiser

After quite a few months of using the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream I thought it was time to give you some feedback. First things first, lets start with the basics: simple, lightweight packaging makes this great for travelling. It's fragrance free so there is nothing too sickly or sweet to endure. 

When it comes to texture it is very light. It is therefore very easy to absorb into the skin but still extremely moisturising. I've so far found this very easy and simple for balancing out my complexion and leaving my skin feeling comfortable. By that I mean my face doesn't feel heavily caked in moisturiser and I can straightaway move on to applying my makeup for the day. 

Now, at the moment I have been using this day and night. Weirdly I have LOVED it for the daytime, but not so much at night. When it comes to evening skincare I do like a thick, rich texture.  Something like the Origins Night-A-Mins for example, which feels like it will do wonders overnight! However, as a daytime moisturiser that has been great, especially in the warmer months when I want something lightweight.  Then again, this is not claiming to do the specifics of a night cream. It is a simple all-rounder. 

The only negative about the cream is the lack of SPF. I assume that Kiehl's choose this so that it can be applied morning and night. Moreover, Kiehl's do other SPF specific products which can be applied after the cream. Nevertheless, if you are looking for something simple that's going to do the job of moisturising your skin then I would definitely recommend this product. 

Have any moisturisers to recommend? Please leave a comment. 

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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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An Overnight Hero

Receiving a Space NK £5 incentive usually results in a lot of planning in my books. I can't waste a voucher and so I take time in researching what will be the best investment. For me, this means high-end skin care. After reading a lot of praise (seriously, nearly on every blog) about the Sarah Chapman Overnight Facial I decided this would be the one.

This isn't like any oil I have tried before. It has a much thicker consistency unlike something like the Kiehls Midnight Recovery Oil. This texture helps to massage it deep into the skin and the product comes with an instruction booklet of how to do your own facial.

This product produces instant results. My skin feels plumper, brighter and it soothes any redness on my skin. Also, the smell is just heavenly! It has that clean, spa scent about it, you know what I mean? These effects continue on to the morning where my skin really feels like its had an overnight miracle. At the moment I'm using this product about everyone other week, when my skin is looking a tad dull and blemish dotted. But I would seriously rate this product up at the top in my skincare. 

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Intensely Moisturising

After a good month of using the Sarah Chapman Intense Hydrating Booster its fair to say I am more than ready to share my opinion. I'm not going to be dramatic or anything as I'm suuuure it wont come as a surprise when I say I have fallen in love with this little skin serum wonder. Not being dramatic, I promise. 

I have been using this every morning as my pre-moisturiser step. In the past I have tended to have some charming dry patches on my cheeks and thought investing in this may help to solve an embarrassing nuisance.   Adding two drops of the serum from a rather snazzy pipet I gently massage this all over my skin. The moisturing results of this have been so good that sometimes I've completely forgotten to put a moisturiser on and, haven't even noticed! I always notice that my BB cream/foundation blends better afterwards too. 

Whilst it's a rather pricey number (please remember I got this on discount) it seriously lives up to its value. I would thoroughly recommend this for dry skin gals or those who are looking for a boots of intense moisturisation for the up and coming winter months. 

Next on my wish list is the Sarah Chapman Overnight Serum...guess I better start saving my pennies!!

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Night Time Moisturising

I think that part of my favourite time of the day is getting ready for bed. Verging on a little sad and boring I'm sure, but there really is nothing I love more than getting my 'night-time-skin-routine-ooooon'!  

So when I recently ran out of my Origins Night-a-mins there was nearly a breakdown in my bathroom.

After feeling rather spendy in the month of July (you can check that damage out here) I had to find a plan B to make myself not repurchase the rather pricey Origins tub of evening magic.  Seriously, it does wonders.

I've heard quiet a bit about the Super Facialist by Una Brennan range so I decided to choose the Rose Hydrate Peaceful Skin Night cream, mainly because it claimed to nourish, rejuvenate and protect. 

So far I've been quiet impressed. I definitely noticed a glow after application and it it provides a thorough moisturisation. It's quiet a thin texture which makes it very soothing and easy to apply and absorb into the skin. In the morning my skin still feels moisturised. The only thing is I seriously miss the smell of the Origins...Yes I know, I'm weird. I'm not a huge fan of the rose scent but I do suppose that is is 'calming'. For the price I'd definitely say this is worth it. However, I think Night-a-mins is my main love.

What are your favourite moisturisers? 

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The silky cleanse

I think I owe you all an apology for not telling you about my love for this product sooner. 

When the knowledge of double cleansing first came about I couldn't get over the price of some of the oils bloggers were using. I know I can be known to spend a bit but I'm not going to spend £28 on a product just to take my makeup off! So when I heard about the wonders of the Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil I quickly set off to purchase.

I had previously used the Camomile Eye Makeup Remover, which does a blooming good job (see my post here), so I was no surprise that the silky cleansing oil was going to come out on top too. It really does what it says on the bottle. It feels so silky and comfortable to massage in to the skin and does a fantastic job of removing all my makeup and leaving my skin feeling soft and clean. I use this as stage number one before going in with a second cleanser.  The only negative thing I can say is it's not the easiest thing to travel with...if they ever make a portable version I will be very grateful. 

As you can see I have been loving using this oil and think I will have to go out soon and purchase another! Are there any other Body Shop skincare products you think I should try?

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