For all that time, I shrugged it off. It seemed like a boring and mundane task to do!! Why did I need to do ALL of those things? What does a toner do that is so different to a cleanser? If I run out of cleanser can I not just use toner in it's place? At the age of 13 what is moisturiser even doing, it's not like I have wrinkles!! And, seriously, does chocolate really affect how many spots you get, or is that just something that people tell you to stop you having so much sugar?
Well, all I can say is, my mother was right.
Since we are still early on in January I thought that this was the best time to make this blog post because, for those of you that make them, now is the time to make and decide on New Years resolutions and if you don't already have one, why not let a good skin care routine be one of them?
For the record this post is not about telling you what products you should use and what you shouldn't use, you need to use what products you can and what products you can afford. There isn't one magical product that works wonders for everybody and if there was it would probably cost a small fortune! Just because I use something and it works for me doesn't mean it's 100% going to work for you. If anything I want this post to encourage you to take the time to get to know your skin, don't get stuck in a rut with products, unless they are delivering perfect results, allow yourself the chance to try things that might do something better for you than what you are using.
Okay let me take you on my skin care routine journey of the last year or so...
I used to only use face wipes, they were quick and easy and required next to no effort. I had found that cucumber based products worked fairly well with my skin, resulting, in what I thought, were minimal breakouts. I used a Tesco's own branded range, I can't remember the exact name, it was the one up from the value products and they are/were all £1-£1.50 , so they weren't breaking the bank which was perfect for me because at that point I wasn't fussy. I also used the moisturiser, day and night, and exfoliating scrub.
That's an entire skin care range coming in at about £5. Happy days. Now, there is nothing wrong with a cheap affordable skin care routine, this worked for two years, maybe more, like I said if it works for you and your skin, who care's where it's from or how much it costs?!
That's an entire skin care range coming in at about £5. Happy days. Now, there is nothing wrong with a cheap affordable skin care routine, this worked for two years, maybe more, like I said if it works for you and your skin, who care's where it's from or how much it costs?!
I had always been hesitant to try new products, because much like my scalp, it's hit and miss whether my skin will accept a product lovingly or throw its toys out of the pram and breakout. However, last year I got to a point were I was bored of my routine and bored of the products so I decided to change things...
It was around the time when all of the brands were bringing out micellar water, I decided to go with the Garnier one because it comes in a nice big bottle and at the time it was on offer. I loved it. It took make-up off really well (just use a cotton wool pad) it was gentle, didn't have a scent, just amazing! I also got some Garnier Micellar Water Cleansing Wipes, for the evenings and also for mornings if I was in a really big rush and also the Garnier Clean and Soft Moisturiser.
All of these products were amazing, my skin never became irritated or broke out so I carried on using them until Garnier brought out a Matifying Micellar Water.... I have oily/combination skin so when I saw this it was perfection, I also decided to ditch the wipes, the last few packets I'd had the wipes were soapy and I barely used them so I cut that bit out! I also switched my cream to Garnier Moisture and Matte. The two products together constantly prevent my face from looking shiny and getting oily during the day which is what I love about them.
More recent products that I have also added to my skin care routine are:
Garnier Spot Fighting Moisturiser
Garnier Pure Active Charcoal Scrub
(I talked about these products in my November favourites post)
And since Christmas...
The Body Shop Camomile Sumprious Cleansing Butter
It was around the time when all of the brands were bringing out micellar water, I decided to go with the Garnier one because it comes in a nice big bottle and at the time it was on offer. I loved it. It took make-up off really well (just use a cotton wool pad) it was gentle, didn't have a scent, just amazing! I also got some Garnier Micellar Water Cleansing Wipes, for the evenings and also for mornings if I was in a really big rush and also the Garnier Clean and Soft Moisturiser.
All of these products were amazing, my skin never became irritated or broke out so I carried on using them until Garnier brought out a Matifying Micellar Water.... I have oily/combination skin so when I saw this it was perfection, I also decided to ditch the wipes, the last few packets I'd had the wipes were soapy and I barely used them so I cut that bit out! I also switched my cream to Garnier Moisture and Matte. The two products together constantly prevent my face from looking shiny and getting oily during the day which is what I love about them.
More recent products that I have also added to my skin care routine are:
Garnier Spot Fighting Moisturiser
Garnier Pure Active Charcoal Scrub
(I talked about these products in my November favourites post)
And since Christmas...
The Body Shop Camomile Sumprious Cleansing Butter
How I use all these products...
Morning
I cleanse with the with the micellar water and then follow that with the moisture and matte moisturiser. If I'm having a no make-up day, which are really important to have, for your skins sake, then I will use the spot fighting cream instead, I also use this in place of the moisture and matte one if I am suffering a really bad break out.
Evening
I cleanse with the charcoal scrub, I make sure that I really work this into the skin, scrubbing for a good couple of minutes, just to make sure that all my make-up (if I have any on) comes off and to really get the dirt out. If I have been wearing make-up I will follow that by going over my face again with the micellar water, this is more to get rid of panda eyes than anything else! Then it's on to the spot fighting cream (despite the name, this is just a moisturiser!) If I do have a few spots or red marks (from spots) I go over them with T-Zone Rapid Action Spot Zapping Gel, you only need a small blob of this product because it spreads really well. Even if I don't have spots, I'll make an effort to remember to use this anyway, in my problem areas, which for me is just my T-Zone!
Luxury
It's important to remember to treat your skin every now and again, whether that be with a specific cream, a face mask or taking yourself for a facial! I try and remember to do a pore strip as often as I can, I just use the T-Zone ones but I've used ones from Wilkinson's and the £1 shop and I find they all work the same.
My favourite face mask to use is the 7th Heaven Manuka Honey Peel Off mask. It leaves my skin feeling super soft and smelling gorgeous plus I much prefer peel off masks I find them so much easier to use but if not a peel off one then I really enjoy the heat up ones.
My luxury product is the Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter. I got this for Christmas and it's amazing. I use this on a Sunday, it's a really nice, end of the week, treat to my skin! I only use it once a week because it's quite an oily product and so with me having oily skin it just wouldn't be good to use it everyday (in my opinion).
I use this when I'm in the bath but you could use it whenever and wherever you like. I take a lump of the product in my fingers and start massaging it into the skin, with this you can even rub it over your eyes, just be careful to not get any IN your eye, I leave it for a few minutes so that it can break down the make-up and dirt and then wipe it off with a warm face cloth. It works a treat removing make up, I know because I go over again with micellar water and there is never anything on the cotton wool pad, not even eye make up! My skin also feels really soft after using this and the product has a lovely fresh smell too it!
So as you can see what I use and how I use things has changed quite a lot over the last two years but now I'm really happy with everything I use and the results that I get. I've never been one for eye creams or night creams but who knows maybe at some point I will find a use for them. Finding a skin care routine that I'm happy with that makes my skin feel just has happy has been a massive confidence boost so I don't even think twice now about leaving the house without make-up on!
Hopefully you have found this useful!
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