Current Skincare Routine

We all know that good skin can give a girl all the confidence in the world and recently, my skin has been looking so much better; less acne, less redness and overall just a better texture and I think it's down to these products. My skin is very acne prone and very oily, so if you think that you and me are in the same kind of boat, keep reading:

*I'm not saying that everyone needs to suddenly buy a bunch of skincare just for the sake of it, but i do think that if you're acne prone or have a problem with your skin, a careful routine will help. Entering those dreaded teenage years, efficient skincare is a good idea, especially if you start wearing makeup.*

1. Makeup remover
I actually haven't included these in the pictures because my makeup remover changes a lot. Just because it changes though, does not mean it is okay to just use a makeup wipe. I do, however, know a few people that literally just use a makeup wipe or two at night and they are fine, but like I said, I'm very acne prone, so any thing clogging my pores will definitely break me out. Using an oil based product will help to break down the pigment and eye makeup gently. The one I'm loving now is the Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter.£12

2. Face wash
Next step is face wash and this really depends on what type of skin you have. I have very red, irritated skin but also very sensitive so a creamy, cooling face wash is great. This one is the Body Shop Tea Tree Cool and Creamy wash £5. It has tea tree and witch hazel which balances redness and heals spots. A gel face wash is great for oily skin also but my skin is very sensitive. Creamy, buttery textures are great for dry skin as it won't dry it out.

3. Exfoliate
I know most people skip this step because, it's not a necessity but, it does leave a your skin soft and smooth and, for oily skin, it's just an extra step for making sure the face is clean. I really like the St. Ives exfoliators £4.29, this one is "Blemish fighting" because it has salicylic acid in which fights blemishes.

4. Deep cleanse
I might be starting to sound a bit paranoid now, but I'm going to again stress cleansing using something like and astringent. It basically contains strong ingredients that really go into the skin for a deeper cleanse, this could be unnecessary for some, but for me I find it really helps to remove the final traces of dirt. I use the Clean and Clear deep cleansing lotion £2.97 which contains salicylic acid which helps to reduce blackheads. *try to find one for sensitive skin as it's less stripping and harsh*:)

5. Clarisonic
Recently I purchased the Clarisonic Mia 2 £125 because so many people have gone on about it, and I was really willing to try anything to improve my skin. The clarisonic is basically like a giant electric toothbrush ^_^ which spins and vibrates quickly. There's been a noticeable difference in my skin and people have really noticed. I used to have a lot of whiteheads, like little bumps, on my forehead but the rest of my skin was always clear. Whiteheads are basically excess sebum (oil produced in the pores of the skin) or makeup clogging the pores causing bumps or redness. The Clarisonic has definitely improved these problems for my skin but i still occasionally get an angry red spot here and there but it's good to remember that acne on the forehead can be due to: poor blood circulation, dehydration, too much greasy food, stress, lack of sleep, blocked digestive system.

6. Moisturiser
Last step is to remember to moisturise. Even if you just splash your face with water, moisturiser is always important in the end. And if you don't have problem skin any moisturiser will do, but even if you think you don't need it because you have oily skin- trust me- you do. I love the Imperialis £13.50 from lush because it's a great all round moisturiser that balances combination skin and sinks in quickly to prep before makeup.

I hope this was helpful for some, any questions?

Lots of Love,
Sophie
xxx

Empties NO.4

I thought for this week, we would go for another empties post because I've not done one in agesssss.

Lush Imperialis Facial Moisturiser £13.50

This was my favourite moisturiser that I went through tubs and tubs of last year but recently, I've just forgotten about it, so when my Simple one ran out, I thought I'd try this again. I honestly forgot how good it was, it's got coco and shea butters for sensitive skin, vegetable oils for dry skin, grapefruit for controlling oily skin, basically a great all rounder if your skin can't make up it's mind. And because it's lush, it has all natural ingredients.

The Body Shop Satsuma Shower Gel £12

I actually finished this shower gel within 2 weeks, which seems a long time but it was 750ml (!) The main reason is because it smells AMAZINGGGG, satsuma is my favourite scent from the Body Shop range.

L'Oreal Paris CC cream £9.99 (CC CREAM has rubbed off; its the tube)

This is an interesting one: it basically comes out as a green pigment which then breaks up and turns into your skin colour when you rub it in. This one is green because it is anti-redness, I think there is also an anti-fatigue one too. This does such a great job at evening out skin tone, so use it as a primer or, like me, use it on its own with a bit of powder. If you have unwanted redness, definitely try this out.

Goat Milk Brush Shampoo £16

I think I've mentioned this on my blog before but this is a great brush shampoo that cleans the brushes but leaves the bristles nice and soft. It's quite a simple concept really, just warm up the brush in water, swirl it around in the solid shampoo, rinse and then just leave to dry. It's a great one that's not too expensive like some others out there and it's guaranteed to give your brushes a good clean.

Clarisonic Refreshing Gel Cleanser £21 

(for 177ml- almost 6 times the one of the sample above!)

So I recently purchased a Clarisonic Mia- very exciting news- I will probably do a post sometime soon. Anyway, this little mini came in the pack and I've been using it, this only lasted me a week and a half, but that's after using it night and day and it was only 30ml to start with. I'm not sure how great this is, probably not the best but it did the job fine. 

Have any of you got a Clarisonic?

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx

How to Control Oily Skin: Tip #4

Tip #4: Astringents as deep cleansers as exfoliators

Astringents are really great because the contain strong cleansing ingredients like salicylic acid which will leave your skin super clean. Even on my rather irritable and sensitive skin, I find that I can just about stand this if it's a small amount on a cotton pad. I do,  however, recommend to use this sparingly; on a nightly basis. Cleansing with this in the morning might be a bit harsh and it would be stripping away all the good stuff your skin has worked so hard to rejuvenate over night! 

I know what you're thinking: "astringents as exfoliators?" 

Well, if some of you rather common types had read my last post, it was about exfoliating to unclog pores. That was a great way to prevent blackheads, but if you, like me as well as many others, have allowed your skin to get just a smidge on the bad side of things, then a physical scrub probably isn't in your best interest. Advantages of a liquid form means that it will unclog pores and chemically make new cells come to the surface without irritating spots or spreading bacteria.

I would definitely recommend using this regularly, even if it's just for prevention- don't leave it till it's too late- right? I mean, I've used a whole bottle, as you can see, and I plan to purchase more. It's affordable and easily accessible in Boots.

Clean and Clear Blackhead Clearing Cleanser £3.50

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx

How to Control Oily Skin: Tip #2

Hey everyone,

I'm back with another tip on How to Control Oily skin; today's contender- moisturising.

A lot of people who have oily skin feel like they should scrub their skin squeaky clean and then just leave it; completely avoiding moisturiser. This will dry out the skin; causing it to produce more oil and, if they have sensitive skin, the skin will become angry and irritated.

I like to use an oil-free moisturiser like this one by Neutrogena: this is oil-free which means it doesn't clog pores while hydrating the skin. This is quite thick but applies easily and skins in quickly. Under makeup, it stays matte and gives an almost velvet texture; perfect for controlling shininess. Grapefruit is a fruit which has the perfect acids for counteracting oily skin and so cleansers with grapefruit are also great. This means that as well moisturising the skin, it combats acne under the surface.

The main thing to take away, is that it's important to moisturise, no matter how oily your skin is.

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx

How to Control Oily Skin: Tip #1

Hey everyone,

So I today, I wanted to address something that affects me, and probably many others.

I have very oily skin, especially on the forehead and t-zone (basically above your eyebrows and down your nose; the T shape down your face)

It becomes a problem because:

1. The oil clogs my pores which can result in many whiteheads appearing on the skin (basically small, colourless bumps on the skin) which are a pain to get rid of. And when you have oily skin, they are pretty much unpreventable because they just keep appearing.

2. Makeup looks fine in the morning but as the day progresses, it either gets shiny or just disappears. When makeup gets mixed with oils, it blocks pores even more and can cause more painful; more red spots on the skin.
If you have oily skin, you will probably always get some blemishes, and I know for me: I never don't have blemishes to worry about. Even if you don't wear makeup, during those teenage years as people call them, skin will just get oilier, creating more blemishes.

An obvious solution would just be to keep washing your face throughout the day - if you don't wear makeup but, if like me, you have sensitive skin on top of that, then your skin can feel tight and irritated and uncomfortable.

Oil absorbing sheets are a good solution: you can get them from most Boots or Superdrugs. They're basically thin sheets, sometimes soaked in salicylic acid (which can kill bacteria and clear skin). Because they absorb the oil, they will instantly remove the oil and any shininess on the face. These are great for a quick fix in the day and will keep the skin clearer and less oily.

I will be writing some more posts on how to keep the skin clear if you have oily skin.

Lots of Love,
Sophie
xxx

Disappointing Product: Garnier Micellar Water

I don't normally write posts like this; I had originally planned to write a "rave" post about this much hyped product, but here I am, unfortunately, rather disappointed.

Many high street brands have to tried to formulate a "dupe" for the Bioderma, for example, the L'Oreal Micellar Water. I absolutely LOVED the L'Oreal one, and maybe thats why my expectations were higher for this one, but I just did not enjoy using this at all. Maybe it's because I've used better makeup removers since the L'Oreal but still...

I haven't used much of this at all, I have found that this is far too stripping and leaves my skin feeling tight and I get that stingy feeling when I used harsh chemicals on my skin; not like a water at all. This doesn't remove eye makeup very well; I've found that I've had to rub really hard to get my mascara off. When I do use this, I feel like I have to use another cleanser after to really clean my skin, because even not wearing makeup, this does not clean your skin at all.

Wouldn't recommend this- and I had such high hopes for it :/ ah well

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx

October Favourites

The end of yet another month, and almost the end of my favourite season :(. Wow I'm going to have to do something special before the end of autumn...

For now though, lets talk about what I've been loving this October:

 

Neutrogena Visibly Clear Moisturiser £4.99

This has been my moisturiser of the month and although I got it recently, I've been saying differences in my skin. This is oil-free so doesn't clog my pores overnight but still moisturises my skin enough that I don't get dry patches. This leaves a kind of velvet/matte finish, so it's great to put makeup on top. This has grapefruit extract and salicylic acid which helps fight acne so I would recommend this to anyone with oily and acne-prone skin.

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip balm £9.50

This lip balm has been much loved throughout the entire beauty community, in fact, I don't know anyone who doesn't like this, and I can see why. Since the days turned colder, my lips had been so chapped and dry but then I used this and saw results overnight. This is nice and thick and kinda tastes like lemons...

L'Oreal Telescopic Clean Definition Mascara £10.99

This mascara is AMAZING. It builds volume and length without leaving any clumps at all , and stays on all day. Trust me, I've worn this for the whole day, not even remembering that I had mascara on and it didn't judge one bit. Definitely definitely try this out!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Mineral Foundation £22.52

I used to love this back in Spring but since I've been using liquid foundation for ever, I thought I'd try this out again, and I have to say that this does not disappoint. I still love this, it gives a natural finish but makes the skin look that bit healthier and has brilliant coverage that lasts the day. The only sad part is that I think I'm running out, I need to get some more, and fast.

Bath & Body Works French lavender candle £13

This half-term, I've been hiding out in my bedroom, watching netflix or reading my book, and this candle tops it all off. The lavender scent is so relaxing and basically makes you want to sleep but it's really strong, so don't go for it if you don't love Lavender...

...that is, if you can find it, i can't seem to find it anywhere. the link is to the website but I think that it might have been limited edition because I've had it a while. Bath and Body works candles are all amazing so definitely go try one of the other scents, especially the Christmas ones :o

Lots of Love,
Sophie
xxx

Empties NO 3

   

Clinique Anti-Blemish solutions clearing gel £20

This is definitely a good one for reducing down those horrendously red spots and helping them on their way but I don't see a huge difference when using this so I probably won't be repurchasing.

Clinique Anti-Blemish all over clearing treatment £19







I actually used this up really quickly but didn't really see any differences with my skin. I felt that using this as just a moisturiser wasn't enough and left my skin feeling very dry.

Soap and Glory Righteous Butter £10.50

This is a pretty nice hand cream, just to have on your desk, does the job and has a really nice scent, but... I did only get this as a birthday present so I probably won't be repurchasing this.

The Body Shop Cleansing Butter £12

I must have mentioned this a million times on my blog by now but honestly, this has completely converted me to cleansing butters. This completely breaks down makeup while moisturising and softening the skin. I actually can't wait to get another one of these.

St Ives. Apricot Scrub £4.29

This is one of the few exfoliators I've tried because it's lasted me absolutely ages. I'm not sure whether it's this exfoliator, or just any, but I find that they reduce blackheads because they help unblock pores and also smooths the skin. I think I want to try some more exfoliators so I won't be buying this one again but this one has no bad qualities for your skin and definitely does the job.

Any exfoliator recommendations?

Lots of Love,
Sophie
xxx

Clinique Anti-Blemish | Skincare

So I went in to Boots, as one does, in search of a new cleanser, and I was approached by one of those Clinique counter girls in their immaculate white coats. They asked me if I wanted to take a skin quiz and find out what Clinique recommends, and i thought " why not? "

It was really quick, about 2 minutes and basically asked me things like: what's your biggest concern for your skin? (acne blemishes) how often do you get blemishes? how does your skin feel in the morning/after a shower/ throughout the day? etc...

As I said, acne is one of my concerns for my skin, especially those red irritated spots and whiteheads. (I might do a post on the different types of breakouts) And so it only made sense for me to try the anti-blemish solutions. They actually have a 3 step-system but the "questionnaire" said that I don't actually need step 2, the toner/exfoliant. Anyway, enough rambling, this is what I bought on the recommendation of the "questionnaire"

This is the anti-blemish solution cleansing foam. £17.00 I have to say that I wasn't overly impressed with this. In fact, when I first started using this, I swear it made my skin more blemish-y but after about two weeks, my skin started to clear up and haven't had any major breakouts since. This is a nice foam that leaves the skin nice and clean. (this is step 1 in their 3 step system)

This is the anti-blemish solutions all over clearing treatment. £19.00

This is step 3 for this treatment and so, you're not supposed to put anything on top of this, but after using this and the other products day and night, my skin felt really dry and dehydrated. Under makeup, this takes all excess oil off my face and at night, makes sure that the skin stays clean and bacteria-free at night. This is okay, but I don't know if I'm going to purchase this again.

Clinical clearing gel £14.00

This is my top favourite from their range, even though, technically this is outside of the "3 step system" that I've not really been following anyway. The lady said that I should take some of this and put it all over my face to treat spots but also to prevent spots. This kind of stings my skin, so maybe just concentrate it on the forehead and nose and not the cheeks. I also use this in the mornings because it sits really well under makeup and does have that weird peeling texture that you get with other spot treatments. With this, I have noticed a definite difference and improvement in my skin and would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for spot treatments or prevention. 

I really want to try more Clinique products and I think their new skin-type questionnaire is genius so I suggest that you all try it. Just casually stroll into a Boots, and see what you end up buying.

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx

Lost and Found NO.2 ~found cream cleanser

Welcome to another LOST AND FOUND post where I basically talk about products that I'm looking for and good ones that I've found.

Last time I was looking for a cleansing balm- bad news is I still haven't found a great one.

I have, however, found a great cream cleanser.

This is the Murad Refreshing Cleanser £29.00.

I say this is a cream cleanser but this is basically a gel cleanser that turns into a creamy consistency when you apply it to a damp face.

It removes makeup easily except it can sting the eyes so I recommend taking off eye makeup with a  cotton pad first. Even if I'm not wearing makeup, I'll use this and it doesn't strip my skin leaving it tight and dry, it refreshes my skin while nourishing at the same time.

I would recommend this for all skin types because it's so gentle but so effective at the same time.

I know that Murad have a whole step by step range , so is there anything else I should try?

Lots of Love,
SOphie
xxx

Empties NO.2

Another empties post... my last one was a while ago so, here we are again, not too many but  I just like to keep you guys updated :)

PANTENE PRO-V SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER
+recently loved this because doesn't harm hair
+keeps hair smooth/not frizzy
+nourishes hair and leaves it SO SOFT

LUSH IMPERIALIS MOISTURISER £12.95
+yes yes talked about it before but I've gone
though yet another tub
+just great all round moisturiser, suitable for
balancing combination/dry skin

BOURJOIS HEALTHY MIX SERUM
FOUNDATION £9.99
+lightweight, great for summer
+light coverage but still evens out skin tone
+moisturising and dewy

BATISTE DRY SHAMPOO £2.99/200ml
+takes away excess shine
+great for adding volume
+makes hair easier to style
+smells AMAZING :)

Rimmel STAY MATTE POWDER £3.99
(I couldn't take a photo because all the writing had rubbed off so there was no point)
+takes away shine
+still looks natural/not cakey
+sets makeup well

Lots of Love
Sophie
xxx

Grease Lightning

A whole post dedicated to ONE product? Yes... Partly because I've did a post just yesterday, but because GREASE LIGHTNING is so amazing.

GREASE LIGHTNING lush spot treatment £6.25

Summer months are coming...which means the weather is getting hotter, oilier skin and more breakouts :| oh dear me... i've resorted to old school key board faces...

anyway, this is great for preventing spots, helping existing breakouts heal up faster
+it's from lush so it has all natural ingredients that don't harm your skin
+it contains witch hazel which is great for calming redness
+it contains tea tree extract which is an antibacterial
+you can put it on as much as you like but does        tend to make makeup sit unevenly

I would definitely recommend this for anyone who has problems with breakouts in summer

Lots of lOVE
sOphie
xxx

St Ives Apricot Scrub | Skincare June

St Ives Apricot scrub £3.99

This is one of my favourite exfoliators and it is SO affordable. I use this once or twice a week and it leaves my skin feeling softer and looking brighter. 

This is the one for fresh skin but there is also a formula targeted for problem skin which has healing elements, I've tried that too and would really recommend it. It comes out like a paste and it feels like it's going to be really abrasive but it's not at all. 

Another thing I like about this is that there aren't any harsh chemicals and most of the ingredients are all natural. 

I would say that this is perfect for anyone who wants to have brighter, smoother skin of any skin type.

I haven't tried much from the St Ives brand, what would you recommend?

Lots of love,

Sophie

xxx

Micellar water | Skincare June

Hey everyone,

I'm back with another Skincare themed post for June. 

I have been really enjoying this MICELLAR WATER By l'oreal. It's a 3 in 1 solution which claims to:
1. Dissolve make-up-no rubbing, no rinsing
2. Purify and unclog pores
3. Tone and soothe skin

I'm not really sure about the other stuff but I mainly use this to take off eye makeup or heavy makeup. it's just easier before I go in with my actual cleanser. This gets even waterproof makeup off and is really fast and effective. It doesn't sting eyes and can be used on the lips too. It's suitable for sensitive skin so is really soothing and cool.

This is also really good for a quick fix during the day because you don't need water.

I have tried others but this is by far the best and at £3.32 for 200ml, you really can't go wrong. I would definitely recommend this for a makeup remover or everyday cleanser.

Any other recommendations for micellar waters?

Lots of love,
Sophie
xxx

Cosmetic Warrior| Skincare June

I'm back again with a SKINCARE post for June…

Today, I thought I'd review the lush cosmetic warrior face mask.£6.25

I have to say that this was quite a disappointing product for me. I previously tried the LUSH CUPCAKE face mask which smelt so nice and was nice on my skin.

This, however did not smell so nice. I think it was the fresh eggs and garlic but even after I got past the smell, it left my skin feeling stripped and it made my cheeks sting.


"List of ingredients

• Kaolin
• Fresh Green Grapes
• Fresh Organic Free Range Eggs
• Honey
• Cornstarch
• Glycerine
• Fresh Garlic
• Tea Tree Oil
• Limonene*
• Perfume"

The garlic is supposed to deep cleanse and as I have oily skin, I thought it would be good but I am also very sensitive which may have been the problem. The grapes are meant to cleanse and clear the complexion as I have redness on my cheeks but I didn't really notice a different. The honey is meant to condition the skin and calm any spots but I didn't really see a difference. The tea tree is antiseptic and I suppose while using this for a few weeks, I didn't have more breakouts but I don't know if I can put it down to this.

Overall, I just did not enjoy using this so wouldn't really recommend.

On a happier note, there will be a post about a skincare item I have been LOVING so I'll be posting that on Wednesday.

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx

Una Brennan Face mask | Skincare June

Hey everyone,

So this month, I thought I would do something different and put all skin care posts in this month.

First, to start it all off is this SUPER FACIALIST BY UNA BRENNAN TEA FLOWER DEEP CLEAN PORE PURIFYING CLAY MASK. 

This is one of a few face masks I've been trying recently. I picked this up in Boots for £8.99 which is a pretty good price. 

I have to say that this product immediately called out to me because it says " a detoxifying mask to unclog pores & restore skin balance". I wanted this is to help get rid of blackheads and make my skin feel really clean. It also helps if your skin is sometimes oily, sometimes dry because it has plant oils like avocado oil and flower oil. It also has salicylic acid which helps calm spots and redness. It's a clay mask so it will draw out any impurities and you basically leave it on for 5 minutes and then wash it up.

It is great especially if you have oily skin but my skin is a bit sensitive so it kind of stung but it was bearable. A tip would be to just focus this on problem areas like the nose so it doesn't irritate sensitive parts of the face.

Any specific posts I should write this June?

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx

Empties #1

Here it it, my first EMPTIES post.

I'm sure most people know what an EMPTIES post is, but for those of you who don't, it's basically where I tell you about the products that I've used up and tell you whether or not I liked them…

This photo is probably not the most helpful as on some of the lush products, the writing has rubbed off… but still…

The ones at the back are:

Clean&Clear blackhead clearing cleansing lotion, this is actually a new bottle but I have gone through quite a a few of these. This is really strong and leaves your skin feeling definitely clean, I have sensitive skin and sometimes it feels like my face is BURNING but then again, everything does that to my face. £3.50 click here 

The next one is the l'oreal SKIN PERFECTION 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution. This says that it dissolves makeup; clears skin and unclogs pores; tones and soothes the skin. I like this because it is really gently and it's kind o like the BIODERMA but loads cheaper. £3.74 click here to buy

I've almost come close to finishing my SIMPLE MOISTURISING FACIAL WASH. I use this every morning because it's more gentle than the cleanser but still refreshes and cleans my face. It also hydrates and moisturises my face for the day…£3.25click here

The writing has completely rubbed off on this one but this is the LUSH TEA TREE TONER. This is the tall bottle on the left. It comes in a spray bottle and is supposed to soothe skin and prevent spots because of the tea tree in it. This is really nice and I'll definitely be getting it again. £7.50 click here

The writing has also rubbed off on this one, this is the: LUSH GREASE LIGHTNING. This is one of the lush spot treatments that are supposed to prevent spots if you feel like you're about to get one, but can also help any existing blemishes on their way. This is really really effective and I would recommend it to anyone who know that they are prone to acne. £6.25 click here

More lush…this is the IMPERIALS face moisturiser which I have mentioned in many posts before…I don't know if I would recommend this to everyone as moisturisers have specific ingredients suited to different people. For example, this has cocoa and shea butter and not too many oils for sensitive skin and also lavender oil to balance combination skin… etc, I may do a separate post on ingredients for different skin types. This is, however, an all round great moisturiser if you don't really know what your skin needs. £12.95click here

Final product, the LUSH RUB RUB RUB shower scrub. This is basically a salty grainy mixture acting like a body exfoliant. This has many minerals and effectively cleanses the skin. I got this as a gift and so  I enjoyed using it but I don't think I would by it again. £8.50 click here

How often should I do these posts?

Lots of Love,

Sophie

xxx