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Monday, 24 February 2014

Skincare Spotlight #1












I know I said that I wouldn't keep changing my skin care routine now that I've found one that truly works for me however, I'm a beauty blogger and an addict and if I find a new product, I have to play around with it. Although if I'm being honest, these extras are just that. Extras. Most of them don't form the basis of my skin care routine, so I'm allowed to try them. Right? I'll keep telling myself that. Anyway, I was originally going to post about a few of these separately as they're worth their own post. But then I realised that would take weeks so instead, I'm starting a "Skincare Spotlight" series. Like a little round up of skin care products I've been trying recently.

Many years ago (when I first subscribed to Glamour Magazine) I fell in love with Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant however, I then become a beauty blogger and started trying out hundreds of different exfoliators so sadly, never returned to it. This product is basically the exact same idea (except much cheaper - Dermalogica's offering is a whopping £40.30) and I do believe I'm actually addicted to the stuff. You pour out what quite frankly looks like cocaine into damp hands and then massage into the skin. The water activates the enzymes which accelerate cell renewal. The gentle exfoliator brightens the skin, gets rid of dead skin cells and over time, helps fade scarring. It really is quite the little genius and I have no idea why so little brands do their own version.

I'm not quite as in love with this as I am the Exfoliation Powder but it's still a nice product to use (and the packaging is to die for). This uses enzymes of pineapple and papaya which work to naturally remove dead skin cells to reveal luminous, smooth skin. The aloe extract included inside the mask ensures that the skin is kept hydrated and moisturised. It's a nice product, feels cooling on the skin and definitely reveals a brighter complexion however the Good Things mask further down does the same for under a fiver.

I do love me a good mud mask and this one is no different. It uses Pascalite which was used by Native Americans for its incredible healing properties and is a popular remedy for insect bites and stings. Inside this mask it unclogs the pores and eliminates impurities while the cucumber extract soothes and calms the skin and the salicylic acid gently exfoliates and renews it. After use, my skin is left feeling soft, looking brighter and my pores have been tightened. This mask doesn't dry the skin out, instead it balances it and leaves it looking and feeling "normal." However, I do find that the majority of mud masks do the same thing and you can find one similar for a much cheaper price.

Now isn't this a little expensive treat?! Yet much cheaper than actual salon chemical peels, so who's complaining. This set comes with a 20ml gel peeling masque and five wipes which work together to deeply cleanse and renew the skin by eliminating dead cells, erasing imperfections and bringing back brightness to the complexion. After just one use, I found that my skin looked much healthier and now I'm nearing the end of the treatment, my scarring has faded significantly - all while being very gentle on the skin. Working out at £11.20 per "session," this certainly isn't cheap. But the results are most definitely effective.

I have been loving my Super Facialist Cleansing Oil and Clearasil Face Wash combination for a really long time now however this cleanser by Korres has become a welcome addition to my little family. I now use this in the morning (and the Super Facialist/Clearasil routine at night) and I've fallen in love with it. The exfoliating beads aren't harsh in the slightest but do a wonderful job at buffing away the skin and leaving it feeling soft. I find that make up applies much better after I've used this, hence why it's now my morning cleanser.

First thing's first. The scent. I hate roses and I thought that I'd hate this product as a result of that. However, the Wild Rose scent is beautiful - not at all florally or overpowering. Now that's out of the way, this moisturiser comes with Corn Powder which absorbs oiliness, reduces shine and leaves the skin looking matte. The Wild Rose oil (which is a natural source of vitamin C) repairs fine lines and skin colour disorders. Imperata cylindrica desert plant extract ensures the skin is kept moisturised and hydrated throughout the day, White Willowbark extract promotes cell renewal and Turmeric enhances the formulation's brightening properties. As you can tell, there's a whole host of skin goodness packed inside this moisturiser and from first use, you can tell they work together to do a good job. Originally, I was going to get the Normal/Dry combination as Oily/Combination versions aren't usually great for my combination skin. However, this moisturiser really does keep the skin hydrated, scale-free and matte for the entire day. It's a miracle product. The skin is left feeling beautifully soft to the touch, smelling delicious, moisturised and looking bright and glowing. It's love and at £20, it's pretty affordable too.

The majority of products in this selection are quite pricey so I'm going to finish on a nice little bargain for you. Every product I've tried from Good Things has been loved by my skin and this is no exception. This 3-in-1 mask has been specially formulated for problem skin as it targets blemishes, spots and excess oil using superfruits like mango and lychee. The mask is a gel formula that absorbs easily into the skin and doesn't tighten it or leave it feeling uncomfortable.

What skin care products are you loving at the moment?
*PR Sample
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