August Wish List

Skincare Routine for Dry & Sensitive Skin

 
Products

♥Bioderma Sensibio H20

♥No 7 Cleansing Balm for Dry/Very Dry Skin

♥No 7 Melting Gel Cleanser for Dry/Normal Skin

♥Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Brightening Toner

♥Clarins Extra-comfort Toning Lotion

♥Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Serum

♥Estee Lauder night Repair Serum

♥Avene Tolerance Extreme Moisturising Cream

 

 

The Basics

 

My skin is dry, sensitive and prone to eczema, the drier it is the more sensitive it is so its tricky to find products that work well for me. This routine is the best I have ever used so I thought I would share it and hopefully help you guys out there with sensitive & dry skin! Please let me know if you have any suggestions too!

The Cleansers

 

I use Bioderma first, I whack a bit on a cotton pad and use this to remove my mascara and most of my face makeup. This is great for sensitive skin but I find this a little too drying on its own.

 The cleansing balm is very creamy and nourishing, I actually find it too nourishing for my dry skin which is unusual. So, I use the balm cleanser first and follow up with the oil cleanser to get rid of the greasy layer the balm leaves. I use a warm flannel to remove both of these cleansers.

Both of these cleansers do contain fragrance which I would usually stray away from but they don't irritate my skin at all and are the best ones I have used (drug store and high end!).

 

The Toners

 

Usually I would then use the Clarins Exfoliating Toner which is bloody amazing, I apply some to a cotton pad and wipe it all over my face (full review here) Its so soothing and leaves my skin so smooth and soft. I love it and its a keeper in my routine. If my skin is a little bit sore or irritated then I will use the Extra-Comfort Toning Lotion instead just to give it a little break.

The Serums & Moisturisers

 

After waiting a minute or two for the toner to dry I then apply a little Hydraluron which is another favourite product of mine and a life saver for dry skin (full review here). Every 3 or 4 nights I will also treat my skin to a little Estee Lauder Night Repair Serum. This is a fantastic serum but I find it a little too much to use every night. I then finish off with my favourite moisturiser, the Avene Tolerance Extreme Cream. I've tried so many moisturisers in the past and I do sometimes stray from this but it always a big mistake and I go running back to it. Its not too heavy but its very moisturising and perfect for sensitive skin.

 

I hope this helps anyone out there with similar skin to mine! What's your favourite skin care product?

Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Brightening Toner Review

Hey Girlies,

I've got a little review on the Clarins gentle exfoliating toner for you today, Its not often that I find a product that I couldn't live without but this is certainly one of them!

If you read my blog often you know what I'm about to say write ... I have dry sensitive skin which likes to react to a lot of products! So finding one that I love and works great for me is a dream come true (well not that far but its definitely a bonus).

I'd seen a few reviews on this baby pop up a few months ago and if I I'm honest I'd always thought of acids to be far to scary and strong to put on my temperamental skin. I don't know what made me take the plunge and buy it but I'm so glad that I did!

So, this  100ml bottle will set you back £25. In my opinion its worth every single penny. Clarins say 'A fresh, fluid exfoliating lotion that brightens, smooths and softens skin. Regular exfoliation helps to strenghten the skin's resistance to wrinkles and maintain the balance between preventing a build-up of dead cells and encouraging cell renewal.' I've had this for a good two months now and I totally agree with the statement! Clarins suggest to use this once or twice a week but I actually use it most days and its absolutely fine on my skin. I've always found that gritty manual exfoliators make my skin a bit red and sore but not this beaut!

I use this in the evenings after my cleanser but before my moisturiser, it helps to get rid of those dry flaky areas and keeps my skin so smooth and soft. I've never really used a toner in the past as I find them too harsh but this is just amazing. I also use this on my boyfriend, he has oily skin and it also works really well for him so I'm sure it would work for anyone. I can see this being a life saver in the winter.

I can't recommend this enough, it really is one of my favourite ever products. I will be repurchasing without a doubt!

Have you tried this toner? What did you think?

June favourites ♥

Boots Cucumber Eye Gel 

I forgot how much I loved this stuff. Its so cheap, it lasts forever and can be used in so many ways! I use it on my eyelashes pre-mascara and I also run some through my brows to smooth them into place. It doesn't do much for my under eye circles in all honesty but it really is refreshing and for £1.49 you can't complain. Try using this before mascara, it really is amazing! 

L'oreal Nude Magique BB cream

I got this in the purple version which is for dull skin. It comes out a grey/white colour and starts to "adapt" to your skin tone as you blend it in. I don't believe it really adapts to your skin tone as it is a little too dark for me but I actually like this as my neck is always a little darker than my face so it evens it all up nicely. It has a matte finish which I usually stray away from as my skin is so dry but this isn't drying at all. It makes your skin feel so smooth and soft. It has a low coverage so it wont really cover much it just evens everything out slightly. It is very yellow toned though so try it before hand! 

Topshop highlighter

I got this in the shade 'moonbeam' which is a nice rosey gold shade. It really adds a nice radiance to your face. 

Topshop Eyeliner 

I love this eyeliner! Its so easy to use - it has a fine felt tip nib and is perfect for beginners! It lasts very well but can end up smudging a little if you touch it.

Mac Mineralize skinfinish 

I used to use the shade 'light plus' for my everyday powder and I absolutely loved it. I use this shade (medium dark) as a bronzer and its gorgeous, it has a slight sheen to it in the pan but it doesn't show up on your face. This is definitely my favourite bronzer!

Bourjois Cream Blush 

I love love love this blush! I've worn this every day since I got it and i'm totally converted. I love the colour, its a gorgeous peachy apricot shade which is perfect for when the sun is out or not. It really adds a pop of colour to your cheeks and brightens up your face nicely.

Garnier Eye Roll On 

This is the first thing I apply in the mornings and it's lovely. It's so refreshing and really soothes tired eyes. The coverage is surprisingly good too. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder 

I've been using this in place of my YSL radiance powder (review here) as the YSL powder is a little too light for me now. I think every blogger has raved about this powder and it really is so good for the price! 

What was your June favourite?

Eyebrows | Mac Omega Eyeshadow Review

I really hate my eyebrows.

What ever I do with them I'm never happy and can never get them to look even! I've been growing them since christmas and they are thicker than they were but I just find one is much more curved than the other.. does anyone else find this with their eyebrows??

I've been using this in conjunction with my Clinique fine liner brow pencil which I also really love and they work really well together. Its a nice soft matte brown which is perfect for my light mousey brown eyebrows. I love that this doesn't have a red/orange tinge to it which I find with most 'light brown' colours - I'm looking at you Rimmel eyebrow pencil!

If I have enough time then I try to even out my shape with an angled brush if not then I run some through with an eyebrow comb and it just darkens them up a little. I have to fill in the bottom of my eyebrow more as this area is a little more sparse. I find that this is quite a versatile colour, its quite a light brown but it is very buildable which is nice if you prefer a more dramatic brow.

What is your favourite eyebrow product?

Top 5 Moisturisers for Dry / Sensitive / Irritated Skin

Hey Lovelies, 

So, I have tried tones and tones of different moistuisers, lotions & oils to soothe my dry sensitive eczema prone skin and these are the ones that I find really help to get my skin back to normal .. 

Aveeno Moisturising Creamy Oil

Hate that sticky greasy feeling? Then this is for you! This is the lightest of the bunch but really soothes irritated skin. I find that this isn't quite enough moisture when my skin is superly dry but its lovely when the weather is warmer. It sinks in immediately and leaves you feeling so smooth. I like to use this one if my skin is more on the normal side.

Aveeno Cream

This is so silky and soft and really nourishes your skin. Its a medium consistency but sinks in pretty quickly considering!  I sometimes use this on my face if its feeling especially dry and it works nicely. Its thicker than the moisturising creamy oil but it isn't too heavy. 

Curel Itch Defense Lotion
This stuff is amazing for dry, rough skin. If my eczema is playing up this is what I opt for. It has a very thick consistency and it does leave a slight layer on your skin but it really does get rid of any dry flakeyness. This is not the best for warmer weather as it can feel a bit clammy but if you want a very moisturising lotion then this is perfect! I use this after a shower before bed and by the next morning 80% of the dryness has improved. I find this too heavy for when my skin is more on the normal side.

The Body Shop Aloe Vera Body Butter
This is the thickest cream of the bunch and it does leave a layer on your skin so if you don't like that feeling then this isn't for you. 

 

Khiels Creme De Corps Body Lotion
If you're not on a budget then this lotion is a lovely treat for dry skin. It has quite a light - medium consistency  but sinks in almost immediately. It leaves your skin feeling so so soft!

What is your favourite moisturiser?

Another haul... naughty

 

Bourjois  Magic Nail Polish Remover

There has been so many rave reviews on this that when I saw it in Boots I finally caved! To be honest I'm sort of on the fence with it - It it quick to use although removing red nail polish was a complete fail and I ended up with pink fingers!

 

Aveeno Moistuising Creamy Oil (full review)

This is my second bottle of this bad boy, its very moisturising but not greasy in the slightest. It has a runny consistency so it glides over your skin and doesn't require any rubbing in which is nice.

 

Hydraluron Moisture Booster (full review)

 This is also another repurchase! I wont bore you too much as I have written a full review but to summarise I love this stuff and I cant recommend it enough. Amazing product.

 

Estee Lauder Disappear Concealer

I bloody love a concealer me. I hate my dark under eye circles and I havent found that perfect under eye concealer yet so if i ever walk by a counter then there is sure to be trouble! This is one of the more expensive concealers that I have tried but so far so good! I think I prefer liquid concealers for under my eyes and this one is just the right consistency. It blurs my dark circles but isn't dry and cakey which I like.

  

Avene thermal Spring Water

If you read my blog then you will know that I have sensitive skin so a lot of products tend to iritate me. I use this as my toner after cleansing and I find that its nice and soothing. I do agree that it is just a glorified water but it works for me. If your skin isn't on the sensitive side then it's probably not a product that you need (lucky sods!)

 

Lush Honey Trap Lip Balm

I am already in love with this product! I love the smell of it, the taste, the texture and the results it gives. I purchased the lip scrub too try but I havent needed it as this lip balm is just so good! If you like honey then you will love this!

  

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub

 I've always wanted to try the Lush lip scrubs so I took the plunge and brought the bubblegum flavour. I haven't tried this yet but I am looking forward to giving it a whirl!

 

Mac Mineralise Skin Finish in Medium Dark

 I had this in Light plus and it was my favourite powder. It was light and sheer so great for dry skin. As the sun has started to make an appearance every now and then I wanted a bronzer so I opted for the MSF in medium dark. Really love these powders!

 

What products do you love and recommend?