Night skincare routine

My favourite time of day is without a doubt bedtime. Mainly because i get to sleep but partly because it's the only time of day that is guaranteed to allow me time to pamper my skin. Whether I've been running around like a headless chicken all day or not I will always dedicate a chunk of my evening to skincare. With so many amazing products floating around it can be hard to come up with a regular skin routine, but here's my bedtime routine that I've stuck to over the last few weeks. 

As a creature of habit I always use make up wipes to remove the bulk of my make up. I then use a eye make up remover to ensure all my mascara is wiped away. Garner Fresh essentials has been my number one choice for some time and i don't see that changing! I have very sensitive eyes which means i'm careful about the products i use but this is so gentle I've never had any problems. It also has extracts of grape which gives it a fresh and fruity smell as well as a soothing feel on the skin. Once I've removed my make up i wash my face to get rid of any leftover grime, my current bedtime face wash is Vichy Normaderm Tri-Activ cleanser. This is a 3-in-1 product that can be used as a cleanser, scrub or mask, although i prefer it as a scrub. It's very creamy and soft which makes it perfect for my blemish prone skin! I've been really impressed with this product as it's given me really soft skin without stripping all my natural oils away. Once I've done this I use a toner, Clarins Toning lotion has been a firm favourite for some time now (I'm on my third bottle!) and is one I've mentioned before (you can find the review here). I love it because it leaves my skin feeling really cleansed and fresh, Once I've done this and i feel my skin is suitably clean i move on to my moisturising routine. I've been drawn to pore refining products recently as i have some large-ish pores on my nose, and Dr Jart's Up-tighten serum has proven to be a very successful treatment. It comes in the form of a gel and slides easily onto the skin once the skin has been toned. I've been using this product for a few weeks and have definitely noticed results when applying my make up. After this i normally use an all-over moisturiser. I love Garnier's new Moisture Match range, and my moisturiser of choice is their Revitalising and hydrating gel. I adore anything for dull skin as i'm always aiming for a glowing complexion and this product is perfect for brightening. The consistency is quite thick and a little goes a long way. It's perfect for my combination skin and doesn't irritate my spots. Lastly and just before i go to bed i apply a lip balm. My favourite at the moment is  the Elizabeth Arden Eight hour cream. This is a classic balm and one that I had heard lots of fantastic things about. On initial purchase i was under the impression that it was designed for extremely dry or damaged skin, but I've found it is also a perfect remedy for cracked lips. Applying it just before sleep means that without any effort i wake up with lovely soft lips. 

Garner Fresh essentials - £3.15

Vichy Normaderm Tri-Activ cleanser - £11

Clarins Toning lotion - £18

Dr Jart's Up-tighten serum - £13

Garnier Revitalising and hydrating gel - £5.99

Elizabeth Arden Eight hour cream - £25

On my face this week #3

After a crazily busy week and with parents evening looming my beauty routine has been seriously reduced this week. With very little time on my hands (due to some ridiculously early mornings) i have been reaching for some very simple products that require absolutely no effort.

My main concern this week has been covering my huge black circles that have decided to attach themselves permanently to my peepers. For this i have been using L'oreal True match Touch Magique in Rose Beige. This concealer is an absolute life saver for covering up dark circles and blemishes (my ultimate enemies) as it not only conceals but illuminates the area. I apply this underneath my foundation and i find it really brightens my eyes. This product has a small brush attached to the end of it which makes it really easy to apply and blend. I also find this product lasts all day without drying my skin out, an absolute must have in any make up bag!

I've been trying to avoid using foundation this week to give my skin a bit of a breather as i've had a few break outs this month. Instead i have been using The Body shops all-in-one BB Cream. I'm a bit behind on the BB craze and I've only been using this for the last few months but i have been impressed with the results. The product comes out as a white pigmented cream which immediately transforms to match your skin tone. The cream is described as light-medium coverage and i would say it's definitely leaning towards the light end. It blends beautifully into the skin, and when accompanied with a concealer (on those areas that need a little more coverage) it gives a great even result. I find this to be very hydrating on my skin, which is exactly what is needed after such a harsh winter.

Since wearing lipstick on a regular basis i've been really keen to start experimenting with 'statement lips'. However i haven't been brave enough to try out a red yet, instead i've been working my way up to this and testing out some bolder pink tones. My latest purchase from L'oreal is from their Rogue Caresse Range, Colour 203 'Rock 'n Mauve'. This appears to be quite a dramatic purple, but when applied to the lips is more of a dark pink. The main reason I love this lipstick is because it's so moisturising and hydrates your lips without feeling greasy. I've worn this lipstick on a few nights and found i've only needed to re-apply it once throughout the whole evening, which at under £9 is definitely value for money.

What lipsticks have you been wearing this week?

L'oreal True match Touch Magique - £8.19

The Body shops all-in-one BB Cream - £12.00

Rogue Caresse Colour 203 'Rock 'n Mauve' - £8.19

February favourites

As February has drawn to a close and we're finally getting some warm(ish) weather I have decided to write about my most reached for products this month.This has been a big month for new products (sorry bank balance) and some new firm favourites have been established. 

I'm going to start with my most used product which has without a doubt been Rituals brightening face exfoliator. Anyone who's been around me in the last month will have heard me rave about Rituals and they are definitely my favourite skincare brand at the moment. As someone who suffers with blemishes and rough skin, exfoliating is really important. However i often find that exfoliators can be quite harsh, and leave me feeling like i've washed my face with a scouring pad. Rituals have put a stop to this with their creamy exfoliating scrub which leaves my skin feeling soft and looking bright. It's really gentle, so perfect for people with sensitive skin and can be used everyday if needed. I've teamed this with Rituals intensive moisturising mask, which i've been using twice a week. This winter has left me with really dry skin so it's needed rescuing and this face mask has helped to hydrate my skin, leaving it really supple. 

I've teamed my Rituals products with Clarins Toning lotion which has quickly become a staple in my beauty routine. This toner is absolutely gorgeous and does exactly what it says on the bottle! I'm always wary of toners as sometimes they can make your skin feel tight, however this toning lotion leaves skin feeling fresh without sucking all the moisture out. This is perfect for oily skin as it leaves moisture where it needs to be whilst cleansing away excess oils. It may seem steep at £18.00 but it's worth every penny, and a little bit definitely goes a long way. 

Now on to lips! I've only started using lipstick in the last year and this has meant i've started to take better care of my lips. Every girl knows that exfoliating your lips can be a chore, but Lush have found a way to take the effort out of having beautifully soft lips. Lush popcorn lip scrub is a scrummy exfoliant for lips that can be applied before using other lip products. Simply take a small amount, gently work into lips, lick away the excess and ta-dah! I really enjoy using this as i like the result and the taste. I have found some people that dislike the taste and find it too sweet, but if this is the case it's easy enough to wipe away the excess using a cotton pad. I would recommend using a mirror to apply this, as you can end up looking like you have sugar around your mouth!

My most used lipstick this month has been MAC Cremesheen in Coral Bliss . This has shot straight to the top of my most used lipsticks with no competition  It's a beautiful light coral which looks almost pink. I've found this lipstick to be quite subtle, so perfect for everyday use. It has a really rich, thick texture so it lasts without fading and easily glides onto lips. I find with cheaper lipsticks that they can show up every imperfection on your lips, unlike the MAC cremesheen which gives a very glossy finish. I'm definitely going to be trying out more of the colours in this collection.

My last face favourite this month is another MAC product (my obsession is definitely growing) but this time it's a blusher (surprise surprise!) The MAC mineralize blush in Dainty is a pretty pink with a slight shimmer. Shimmer is something i normally steer clear of, for fear i may look like i've been covered in glitter. However the shimmer in this blusher is so subtle it simply deepens the pink tone, giving a really healthy glow to cheeks. It blends well with foundation without looking too heavy, making it perfect for an everyday look.I love this blusher because it is so pigmented it lasts all day without needing to be reapplied, definitely a plus when you're working without breaks all day!

Last but not least is a Nail Varnish which i've been waiting for quite a while to try. Essie Nail varnish has a great reputation and has recently been launched in retail stores such as Boots and Superdrug in the U.K. It's taken off with a bang and i can definitely see why. I tried it in Guchi Muchi Puchi, a bright pink perfect for the spring and it lived up to my expectations! It was really easy to apply, and only needed two layers to give great coverage. The colour is gorgeous although i found it to be slightly too pink for an everyday varnish (i had some clashing outfits!) I was quite disappointed with it's lasting power as i needed to re-apply after about 3 days because it was really chipped. However the varnish was easy to take off and once re-applied dried really quickly. I would definitely use Essie again as their colours are beautiful, although i may go for something slightly less pink next time!

What have your beauty favourites been this month?

Rituals brightening face exfoliator - £10.50

Rituals intensive moisturising mask - £13.50

Clarins Toning lotion - £18

Lush popcorn lip scrub - £5.25

MAC Cremesheen in Coral Bliss  - £14

MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty - £19

Essie Nail varnish in Guchi Muchi Puchi - £7.99