my blog is devoted to beauty, so with that in mind you'd probably think i would be able to answer the straight forward question that is 'what is you're skincare routine?' ah. to me, what should be a simple answer really is not, and it's all due to the awkward age i am at now. being sixteen means that my hormones are crazy, changing my skin frequently from one day to the next. at some times of the year my skin is extremely oily, whilst at other times of the year it is very dry. i have found it is never the same for more than a few weeks which makes buying products difficult. i am constantly trying new products to review and have been buying skincare products since the age of ten when i began to develop mild acne. however, having my bipolar skin type means i have found products that work for all types of skin. i have my general products which i use everyday, and then a few additional products if my type of skin for that week is in dilemma.
my general products are the products i will be talking about in this post. i have aimed to keep them as chemically free as i can as i prefer products that are fairly natural as they won't irritate my skin. in addition, by keeping the products consistent, if i try a new product and my skin goes crazy, i know who the culprit is.
my skin type
as mentioned above, throughout my teenage years i have never really had a consistent skin type, however i'd say my most usual skin type is combination with oily t-zone. i am prone to hormonal acne, especially on my chin, near my hair line, near my eyebrows, and weirdly behind my ears.
i often experience spots that are under the skin and have dealt with them for years, this i referred to as mild acne. unfortunately, this is not due to my diet or anything else i could change but genetics and relative to my ethnicity.
onto the products
my skin care products
Cleanser - Cetaphil
when i was in america, this product was raved about and i had seen many beauty bloggers loving this product and so i decided to buy it. at roughly £7 a bottle, it's not cheap, but completely worth it. this product is soap free, fragrance free and non comedogenic. it's so gentle on the skin whilst effectively removing all make up (even waterproof mascara) with one pump. it cleanses whilst it maintains the skin's natural protective oils and natural pH. i adore this product. i use it both morning and night.
Cleansing Water - Garnier Micellar Water
i was completely skeptical about this product as it literally looks just like water. however, it's brilliant. i use this after cleansing my face to make sure all of the product on my face is removed. it's great at it's job. it is hypo allergic and has not perfume, but i find it really irritates my eyes and so i have to avoid that area completely for fear of being blinded. i use it both morning and night.
Cleanser - Lush's Coalface
i got given this product as a sample from lush along with other purchases. but since, i have loved it and repurchased. this product is primarily used for my t-zone and oily periods as it absorbs oil, cleanses and clears. some it's ingredients include charcoal (obviously), rosewood and sand wood (which are antiseptic) and coconut oil (to replenish moisture). this product is brilliant for at the end of the day to ensure all make up is fully removed. i use it after a long day with a face full of make up.
Exfoliator - Lush's Let The Good Times Roll
this product was recommended to me by a lush worker. firstly, it smelt incredible! to describe it's smell, i'd say its toffee, honey, buttery popcorn - basically sweet heaven. it is a two in one product as lush claims it also cleanses, though i find it to be a product more suited to exfoliation. i love that this product isn't too harsh on my skin whilst also doing it's job properly and leaving my skin silky smooth. i use this product three times a week.
Face Mask - Lush's Mask of Magnanimity
this is the holy grail of all skin products. no matter your skin type this product is perfect. it cleanses, exfoliates and clears the skin. this is my go to product for when my skin is breaking out. i wrote a review on this amongst other lush face masks here, check it out. i use this product twice a week and during breakouts.
Natural, Organic Tea Tree Oil
i bought this product from a herbal and health shop. tea tree oil is well known for being a natural alternative for getting rid of spots. it is naturally soothing and antiseptic. i only use this occasionally as it is quite strong and only to be used for extreme spots or to help spots surface.
Sudocrem
i use this product for just about anything. it is antiseptic and used primarily for babies and therefore soft and kind to the skin. i mainly use this for when i've been naughty and popped a spot, it helps clean the skin and calm it. i use it on just about anything. i also find that it is a very effective moisturiser overnight. i use this pretty much everyday.
*products not included: moisturiser (i had ran out), toner (which i've never found effective) and my favourite surface skin spot treatment Grease Lightening from lush.
i hope this post has been useful.
what are your favourite products?
