Showing posts with label Ponds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ponds. Show all posts

Friday, 4 April 2014

My current skin care routine feat. Garnier, No7, Lush, Epiduo, Ponds & Bio-Oil









I think it's safe to say that I'm a complete and utter skin care addict. Skin care was the reason I started blogging; I have bad skin - that's no secret - and I'd tried out a lot of products so I wanted to get my opinions out there. Since then (over four years ago) I've tried out even more products and nothing makes me happier than seeing a comment, tweet or email from you guys letting me know that my recommendation has helped your skin care woes. Skin care, in general, makes me happy. I was watching skin care routine videos on YouTube last night and I was literally like a little girl in a sweet shop. But enough of that, here's my current skin care routine. It's changed a little bit since the last one and my skin is doing well at the moment.

Make up removers:
At first, this eye make up remover seems quite expensive however with No7's £5 vouchers (and my staff discount), this ends up being a bargain. I'd compare this to Lancome's Bi-Facial as they work in the same way and get the same results. The oily formula instantly dissolves all eye make up and makes removing waterproof mascara a doddle. I don't use this daily, just on those days when my eye make up has been particularly heavy.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - £4.99 (currently £3.33)
I have fallen head over heels in love with this product. I was always a Bioderma fan but I still find it hard to get a hold of in the UK and it works out quite expensive. So when I saw Garnier's version on the shelves, I had to get it. Dare I say it's better than Bioderma? I certainly think it is. It's a fraction of the price, breaks down make up instantly (I only need one cotton wool pad to completely remove a face of make up) and leaves the skin feeling soft and nourished. This is a product that I use when I'm feeling lazy with make up removal.

On most days, this is the make up remover I use. I thoroughly believe in the double cleanse and you may know that I use to be a massive fan of Super Facialist's Vitamin C Cleansing Oil. However, since getting this cleansing cream from LUSH, I haven't gone near the oil. I adore this product as it breaks down make up exceptionally well and leaves my skin feeling incredibly nourished and soothed. A lot of people comment on the scent of this and while it's nothing to rave about, it certainly isn't unpleasant like many people say. I doubt I'll stray from this cleansing cream, it's perfect, and dare I say, a wonder product?

Cleansers:
I'm not going to lie, I bought this because of the scent. It smells like fudge and leaves my face smelling good enough to eat. However, I've now been using it a couple of weeks and it's become my favourite cleanser. All you have to do is a scoop a little bit out of the pot, mix it with water to create a paste and you have your very own exfoliating face wash. It buffs away dead skin cells and leaves the skin looking glowing and feeling incredibly soft and subtle. Since using this I've found my make up application to be flawless - foundation glides onto the skin. 

Once again, this is another product I use if I'm having a lazy day. It's not something I believe I'll repurchase once I've ran out as I can't see many benefits when using it but it's a nice little extra. I keep it next to my bed in case I'm in need of a quick pick me up throughout the day as the scent is really uplifting and soothing. It doesn't really do much to my skin other than gently cleanse it (when I use it first thing on a cotton pad) or refresh my make up.

Moisturisers:
Garnier Moisture Match Wake Me Up Revitalising Hydrating Gel - £5.99 (currently £3.99)
I've been in need of a lighter moisturiser for a while now. I originally wanted to invest in the Origins GinZing Moisturiser but I saw this gel doing the rounds on blogs. It was on offer for £3.99 in Boots and of course, with a price like that I just couldn't resist. I'm very glad I picked it up as it's lovely. It's really refreshing on the skin and feels lightweight but nourishing. It doesn't interfere with my make up but instead, creates a beautiful 'awakened' base. One of the best moisturisers I've tried.

Bio-Oil* - £8.99 (currently £5.99)
Bio-Oil is a product that I've dabbled in since my teenage years but over the past few months, it's become a firm favourite of mine. I use this as my night time moisturiser as it's wonderful for balancing the skin and diminishing any scars and redness. I have noticed a reduction in my scarring since using this and the other day my housemate commented on how calm my naked skin was looking. Bio-Oil really is the perfect night time moisturiser as it's moisturising, sinks into the skin quickly and rejuvenates the skin whilst you sleep.

Treatments:
Epiduo - prescription only
I won't go into too much detail about this product as I've mentioned it a few times before. But if you don't know, this is my daily spot cream that I use every single night on top of Bio-Oil without fail. A combination of this and Yasmin (the contraceptive pill) has really helped to clear my skin up no end.

Ponds Eye Contour Cream* - £7.99
I don't have any problems with my eyes - the only area of my skin that's actually decent - but I do believe that prevention is better than cure. I use this eye cream every morning and every night as it isn't heavy and sinks into the delicate eye area nice and easily. The long term benefits include: reduced puffiness, smoothed out wrinkles and nourished eyelashes.

What products are in your skin care routine? Do you use any of the above?
*PR Sample

Monday, 3 February 2014

SKINCARE | Updated Routine (with before/after photos)





The top image on the left is my skin last year with no make up on and the bottom image on the left is my skin last year make up. The top image on the right shows my skin how it is now with no make up on, the bottom image on the right shows my skin how it is now with make up on.


The main reason I started blogging was because of my bad skin. It's no secret that I've been cursed with what can only be described as "nightmare skin." Since those awful teenage years, my skin and I have been at a constant battle with each other. I've tried literally hundreds of products, mixed and matched, splashed out money on "must-haves" and shed many tears. However more recently, my skin has cleared up. And I do believe it's because of my current skin care routine. The images above is what my skin currently looks like - to you, it may not seem like much but when you think about how my skin has looked in the past it's a beautiful miracle.

Oh I could talk about this all day long. Whenever people ask to be recommended a pre-cleanser, I always recommend this one. It's completely changed my skin care routine. Not only is it great value for money (£10.99 for 200ml and it's almost always on offer) but it does an exceptionally good job at dissolving and removing every single trace of make up. It smells like oranges and leaves my skin clean, clear, refreshed and glowing.

I bought this on a whim when I was going through a rough patch with my skin. I'd used Clearasil as a teen but steered clear when it bleached my eyebrow. However, I was at my wit's end and needed to clear my skin up quickly before Freshers Week. This was on offer and I'd read a few reviews saying it was decent. The reviews were right; it's fabulous. It's a creamy face wash that I spread all over my skin and leave for a few minutes while brushing my teeth. Once I've removed it with a hot flannel, my skin is left feeling beautifully soft and not dry at all. It helps to keep my spots at bay and ensures that any nasty marks that have been left behind are removed asap.

I've owned this treatment since the end of 2012 and despite using it daily, I'm only just starting to run out of it. You need the tiniest amount all over the skin and you're instantly given a boost of hydration. I think it's similar to Hydraluron (but much prettier) and feels like jelly to apply to the skin. It's quite expensive - the most expensive thing in this routine - but like I said, it's lasted me absolutely ages and ensures that foundation doesn't cling to any dry patches.

I've chopped and changed my daily moisturisers more times than I've been to McDonalds. But this one seems to have stuck with me. I do mix it up every now and then but most of the time, I reach for this one. Massaging it into the skin feels like silk and instantly the skin is blurred and almost perfected. It's also very lightweight so perfect for everyday use yet extremely hydrating and nourishing. I have combination skin so I tend to get dry patches but this (and the Oasis Treatment) sorts those areas out like a dream. Oh and the cream itself is pink and the packaging is bright pink, a girl's dream!

Epiduo & Yasmin - prescription only
My two prescription saviours. After years of begging the doctors to help me, they finally prescribed me some wonderful things. Epiduo is a gel-cream that I apply after Bio-Oil at night. It never made my skin dry (although I know a few have experienced irritation around the eyes) and it never made me break out further. It's been an absolute godsend and something that I use without fail. The contraceptive pill is controversial but when you think about the millions of women on it, it can't be that bad, ey? For me, it's worked well in terms of my skin. Apparently this is the pill to go on if you're wanting to sort your skin out and considering I can't take tablets (seriously, I still struggle with this tiny pill now and won't take any other form of tablet) this is one that I refuse to miss.

Bio-Oil* - £14.99
As a young adult, I dismissed Bio-Oil. I believed it made my skin worse when I was younger however that could've been my hormones or my lack of cleansing routine. 6 years later, I've gone back to this stuff and it's sorted my skin tone out spectacularly. It's working hard on my deep, old scars and I am seeing minor improvement in them. But before using Epiduo, I had a massive breakout on my forehead (something I never experienced before) and it left behind many red scars/marks. Since using Bio-Oil, those scars have all disappeared and now, my forehead is completely blemish free. As far as skin tone goes, it's perfect. I use this as a nightly moisturiser; a couple of layers is enough and it hydrates my skin and leaves it glowing the next morning.

Now I'm 21 and quite frankly, getting old, I decided it was about time I used an eye cream. This one is fragrance-free and formulated with Vitamins A, E and B5 which all work together to improve the skin's structure and its hydration levels. I use this morning and night and after a few minutes, my eyes are de-puffed and hydrated. It's nice and affordable and does exactly what I want it to.

Link me to your skincare posts!
*PR Sample
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Tuesday, 14 May 2013

REVIEW: Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser





A couple of weeks ago I reviewed the Pond's Triple Action Moisturiser* and since then, I've continued to use it and I still love it as much as I did back then. I've been trying out the Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser* for a few weeks now and I've really been enjoying using it. The Cold Cream Cleanser is a cult product and has been loved by many for years - the brand has been going for over a century now. This cleanser is described as being a "multi-tasking beauty essential for all skin types." The cleanser is applied to the skin like the Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser - you massage it into dry skin and then wipe away with a damp flannel. After you've done this, you're left with clean and beautifully soft skin. It removes eye make up particularly well and it's extremely soothing and calming after a long day of work and a full face of make up. It can also be used as a hydrating face mask and hand cream although I haven't tried any of these. I can really see why this cleanser has become a cult beauty product for many. It does the job well and it's extremely affordable. You can buy this cleanser here and it retails for £4.07.
 xxx
*PR Sample
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Friday, 26 April 2013

REVIEW: Pond's Triple Action Moisturiser



























Ponds is one of those cult beauty brands that everyone seems to have tried out and used. The brand has been creating secret beauty weapons for over a century now and they have recently revamped their collection. Each of their creams offer a more effective and specialised treatment for individual skin types and concerns. I've been using their Triple Action Moisturiser* for a little while now and it's quickly become my favourite moisturiser. It's aimed at "mature skin" as it's an intensive moisturiser that has been developed to restore vitality and improve the appearance of mature skin. However, don't let that put you off. I'm 20 years old and I have combination skin and I haven't had any problems with this moisturiser breaking me out or providing me with too much moisture. It sinks into the skin nice and easily and creates a beautiful, soft base for make up. It contains vitamin A and E which help to stimulate cell renewal which reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. The Soy and Glycolic Acid helps boost collagen production which aims to firm and  tone the skin. It also contains sunscreen which protects the skin against nasty UV filters which helps to prevent and reduce the appearance of age spots. Age spots are what I have - hyperpigmentation basically. And since using this moisturiser I've noticed that my overall skin tone has improved dramatically. My skin not only feels healthier and softer but it looks it too. My make up applies like a dream and the moisturiser smells lovely too which is always a bonus. I'm just shocked at how affordable the moisturiser is. But I guess Ponds has developed a cult beauty status for a reason! You can buy the Ponds Triple Action Moisturiser* here and it retails for £4.49. Have you tried anything from Ponds before? I'm currently trying out their Cold Cream Cleanser too so look out for a review of that pretty soon.
xxx
*PR Sample
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