I've never really considered myself as having much of a 'routine', I tend to just switch and choose between products and hope they work for me - a simple makeup wipe, or at the very most a cream face wash. However, lately I've been a lot more interested in taking care of my skin and have finally found a set of products that I am really impressed with. I have quite sensitive skin which is prone to blemishes and oily patches, and this is what works for me!
I'll start by removing my makeup with a makeup wipe. The ones I am currently using are the "4 in 1 gentle facial cleansing wipes" from Primark. I am not particularly fussy in which makeup wipe I use, and tend to just grab these by the till in Primark as you get 2 packets for £1. They are suprisingly good. I don't tend to wear heavy makeup and I don't wear waterproof mascara so they are perfect for what I need. I know I will be giving my skin a good clean afterwards anyway, I purely use these to free my face when I get home from school or before a shower to ensure I don't get panda eyes... or when I'm just being very Lazy!
Once my makeup has been removed, I will jump in the shower and use a facial scrub. I have previously used facial washes, however, I personally prefer scrubs as the exfoliants make it feel more "like it's doing something" for me. I know it sounds strange, but I feel like I get a deeper clean as I can properly scrub at my skin. The facial scrub I love is this "St. Ives - Naturally Clear Apricot Scrub", the "Blemish Fighting" one. I fell across this in Superdrug, and just fell in love with the scent. It claims to lift away oil and dirt that lead to blemishes and blackheads, and I have to say, I think it works! Since I started using this scrub I have noticed a dramatic improvement, especially in the discoloration and number of blemishes on my skin. It definitely does what it says on the bottle, and if this one doesn't sound suited to your skin type, they have a wide range of scrubs to suit everyone.
I like this scrub as it is creamy, yet the exfoliants make it abrasive but not harsh. It does not irritate my sensitive skin or add more redness, as some particularly abrasive scrubs have done in the past! It also seems to last forever as I only need a pea size amount to scrub my whole face and neck.
Now this product is a beauty! It's the L'Oreal Paris SKIN PERFECTION "3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution". I'd heard in the blogosphere that this claims to be a dupe for the cult beauty product "Bioderma" which, being a student, I cannot afford to buy on a monthly basis. So, when I saw this on offer in Superdrug for £3.99 I was desperate to give it a try! It works as a type of cleansing water/toner and claims to dissolve makeup, unclog pores and tone and soothe skin. I use this with one extra large cotton wool pad, every morning and night and I believe this is my wonder product!
Since I introduced this to my routine my skin has felt softer and appeared clearer. I also tend to get quite dry skin after I shower, yet since I've used this I have not noticed that tight, sore feeling I used to experience when my skin was very dry. I also have only had 1 spot! When I first used this, I found it is quite watery, and I didn't like the fact that it made my face feel wet, but what I have come to realize is that a little bit goes a long way! I do not know if it compares to Bioderma as I have never tried it, but at £3.99 it's a steal and I think it's definitely worth it if you cannot get your hands on Bioderma. Garnier also have brought out a micellar lotion, so I look forward to trying out that when this one has finished, and comparing the two!
That is the skin care I will use on a daily basis. The next two products I tend to use when I'm having a really bad skin day, sort of as an extreme skin care routine!
These are bloody brillant! The "Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Pads". I found these when I was having one of those mopey, pooey, really bad skin days and kind of bought them as a spur of the moment, emergency purchase, thinking "anything can be better than how my skin looks today!", and once I started using them, I have continued to repurchase them ever since. They are small, nail polish remover-esque pads which are textured to be slightly abrasive, and I use these both morning and evening instead of the micellar lotion if I am having a bad skin day. What I love about these is that they really do give that "deep cleaning" feeling and leave your skin smelling clean and feeling truly scrubbed. The smell is what I would describe as "hygenic" that sterotypical "clean" smell? So that might not be for everyone, but if you can get past that and truly are in an emergency, these will clear up your skin in about 2 days max!
I'll also pop a bit of this on my spots before bed or if I'm having a lazy day, if my skin is really bad. This does sting a little as it contains tea tree oil, yet I look past that with a kind of "no pain, no gain" mind set. I would like to find something that works a bit better. I usually use the Clearasil 4 hour spot treatment that is from the same line as the pads, but I haven't been able to repurchase that in a while! That is fantastic though and reduces spot size dramatically overnight, so that is my preference when I can find it in a Superdrug!
So, this is what works for me! I'd love to know if you use any of the same products or have any recommendations? Especially for spot treatments or make up wipes!
See you soon!
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