Hi everyone! This is the first official 'beauty' type blog post on this site! Now, this is routine is based around what I do currently to keep my skin in a fairly good condition. Obviously, it always changes (as I buy new and different products) but for now, this routine has really helped!
My skin isn't the best, it is incredibly dry and I do gain a number of breakouts each month. I always try to tame the break outs and gain moisture in the skin & this leads to different products being tried and tested. If you struggle with break outs and dry skin (like me) I recommend this routine as it has really helped a lot! Now, lets get into the routine!
BEWARE: my bare face has an appearance throughout...
My skin isn't the best, it is incredibly dry and I do gain a number of breakouts each month. I always try to tame the break outs and gain moisture in the skin & this leads to different products being tried and tested. If you struggle with break outs and dry skin (like me) I recommend this routine as it has really helped a lot! Now, lets get into the routine!
BEWARE: my bare face has an appearance throughout...
So first, this routine starts with a face full of make-up. I was wearing foundation, concealer, eyeliner and mascara here. This is just my basic everyday make-up look, and I will share what products I use in the near future for you all!
Next I apply Body Shop Vitamin E cream cleanser to my face. When it comes out of the bottle, it seems like a moisturiser and that you should let it sink into your skin. However, you apply it lightly to the face and I normally leave it on my skin for around 30 seconds. The cleanser (and most of the Body Shop products I'm using) contain Vitamin E which really helps your skin gain/retain moisture! This product comes in two different sizes: 60ml costs only £2.50, which I think is extremely reasonable as it is an effective product and you don't really need a lot to cover your face! Or for 200ml, (which I own) costs £8. Again, fairly reasonable and it lasts quite a long time!
After the moisturiser had sank in, I grab around 2 - 3 cotton pads or wool (you can find them in any drugstore or supermarket) and wipe around my face where the cream has been placed. It kinda works like a make-up wipe, but to me it's so much more entertaining! As you can see the results are amazing and all of my foundation comes off smoothly!
Next I begin to wash my face, with one of my favourite products in this routine! I use Body Shop tea tree skin clearing foaming cleanser (that was a mouthful!) When I first used this product, I was very surprised that it came out as a foam (yes, I should've realised from the bottle's name) but it seems really fun to use! As its a face wash, you do the usual: wet your face and scrub it madly! As this product contains tea tree oil, it really helps taming down spots and breakouts which is something I definitely need! This product is 150ml and costs £5. Again, I believe that it's a great price for a great product. It has really helped my skin calm down and I definitely recommend to everyone who may have a small breakout! After washing my face with this, my skin feels so refreshed and cleansed which is my favourite feeling!
After washing my face, my eyeliner/mascara does run down my face and I don't think I can rock the 'panda' look (personally!) So to remove this, I use Body Shop Vitamin E hydrating toner. Again, another vitamin E product so it helps with moisture in the skin. I pour the liquid onto another cotton pad and remove all my eye make-up that remains on my face. This only comes in a 200ml set and costs £8.
After removing my eye make-up from my eyelids, I fold the cotton pad so it creates a corner. I use this corner to go under my waterline and across my lower lash line. This gets rid of the excess make up that may have fallen in the process.
After removing my eye make-up from my eyelids, I fold the cotton pad so it creates a corner. I use this corner to go under my waterline and across my lower lash line. This gets rid of the excess make up that may have fallen in the process.
Then after all my make-up has been stripped from my face, I use a spot gel to calm down any large break outs that may be annoying or extremely obvious. They only occur in the T section of my forehead and they're the ones I want to leave!
So for these past few months, the spot gel I have been using is Freederm fast track gel. It tames the redness and size of the spot in just under 3 hours. I would use this at night time or a few hours before applying make-up as foundation doesn't stay on in the same place when this gel is applied. I bought this 25g gel from Boots for around £5 (however, it was cheaper as it was on offer!) But it is definitely a great product as really does work!
So for these past few months, the spot gel I have been using is Freederm fast track gel. It tames the redness and size of the spot in just under 3 hours. I would use this at night time or a few hours before applying make-up as foundation doesn't stay on in the same place when this gel is applied. I bought this 25g gel from Boots for around £5 (however, it was cheaper as it was on offer!) But it is definitely a great product as really does work!
(I only do this step once a week) Then I place a pore strip across my nose, which is where I get clogged up pores (graphic, I know!) These pore strips are from Boots and cost around £3. They contain tea tree oil and as I said helps with break outs. These strips are good for their price, however I recently tried out some different strips called Bio Strips which were so much more better! However, they were fairly expensive (£8 for only 5 strips) so the Boots version are the next best thing!
Before applying the strip, I dampen my nose by using another cotton pad. Then I place the strip along my nose and fit into place and get into the nooks and crannies! I leave the pore strip on for around 15 minutes or until it feels like paper maché. I love taking these off, its so relieving!
Before applying the strip, I dampen my nose by using another cotton pad. Then I place the strip along my nose and fit into place and get into the nooks and crannies! I leave the pore strip on for around 15 minutes or until it feels like paper maché. I love taking these off, its so relieving!
The final step: moisturise. For this I use another Body Shop Vitamin E moisture cream. This is another Vitamin E product and yep you guessed it, helps retain moisture!
I apply this along my cheekbones, chin and forehead then I rub into the skin. It sinks in so quickly and leaves a lovely smooth finish!
After moisturising my face I place a little blob on my ring finger and moisturise my eyelids and under eye area. This product is sized 50ml and costs £10. A little bit pricier than the rest of the Vitamin E products, however yet again a little goes a long way. This has really helped retain moisture in my skin overnight making my make- up stay on my face!
I apply this along my cheekbones, chin and forehead then I rub into the skin. It sinks in so quickly and leaves a lovely smooth finish!
After moisturising my face I place a little blob on my ring finger and moisturise my eyelids and under eye area. This product is sized 50ml and costs £10. A little bit pricier than the rest of the Vitamin E products, however yet again a little goes a long way. This has really helped retain moisture in my skin overnight making my make- up stay on my face!
And now, we're done! As I've said this routine has really helped my skin and I definitely recommend to you all. I hope this has helped you and helped with how much you would be spending if you bought these products!
Thank you ever so much for reading, I'll see you in the next blog post!
Thank you ever so much for reading, I'll see you in the next blog post!