When I rebranded my blog back in 2016 which is already nearly 2 years ago now I wanted to write about more topics (other than parenting) one of them was beauty! If you would have asked me back in 2014 what my skincare routine was I would have answered with water and soap but planning my wedding made me realise I could take care of my skin a bit better! 3 years down the line I feel like I finally have the perfect face cleansing routine sorted for my very sensitive redness prone skin! It might help somebody with the same skin type than me of getting that perfectly smooth and glow-y looking skin we are all after! Not saying my skin is perfect but I am finally – after endless years of (badly) covering up spots and acne marks – happy with myself to go make up free most days!
To think up until 3 years ago all I put on my face was soap and some organic Calendula cream and it all changed because of my wedding day. 6 months before our big day I decided to start hunting for make up because my cousin offered to do it for me but I had to supply the products for it. On each and every Make Up counter I sat down the artists asked me for my skin care routine! I mostly received an “oh my god” or a big gasps when I told them what I am (not) doing. My journey for the quest to find the perfect (bridal) make up is a whole other story I will tell you soon!
So I got thrown into the whole world of words like double cleansing, wrinkle prevention, masks and pore minimisers. I got given samples, product recommendations and also found the famous ‘Mrs. Gloss & the Goss’ Facebook Group which is a big hub full of make up lovers to ask all my silly questions to!
Anyway let’s get to the good bit before I ramble on here are the products I use on my sensitive skin which is suffering from redness and dry patches. I suffer from what you call hormonal breakouts mainly in my T-Zone and due to being a ‘picker’ back in my teens and 20s I have visible scarring from old acne spots.
Step 1: Cleansing – Liz Earl Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser RRP: £15 (100ml)
In the mornings I wash my face with the cult product that is the Liz Earl Cleanser and wash it off with the cloth it comes with and dry it with a face cloth (It is important to keep a separate face cloth to your hand towel to keep the germs of your face!) I also make sure to change my face towels after two days to clean ones!
Why I love Liz Earl Cleanse Hot Cloth Cleanser?
It’s a cleanser with almost no bubbles. It feels just like a moisturizer and its a very gentle, sensitive skin friendly replacement for face wash, gel wash or any foaming cleansers. It is free from harsh ingredients like sodium lauryl sulphate aka SLS. It has skin conditioning ingredients like coconut oil and cacao butter high up in the ingredients list and it does not foam!
Cheaper Dupe: There is the Superdrug own range Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser – which I have tried but it made my skin break out. I think with any dupe you have to be careful even if the ingredients list is near enough or exactly the same make sure they are in the same order too!
Another little tip somebody gave me a while ago is to never clean your face in the shower. Scientific Research has proven that hot water will dilate blood vessels and capillaries that can leave skin red and it can aggravate conditions like rosacea, which ultimately leads to broken and permanently dilated vessels.
Where to buy it? You can get LA in most department stores like Debenhams, Boots and Superdrug or online on the LA website direct.
Step 2: Serum – The Ordinary. Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 RRP: £5.99 (30ml)
When I first tried The Ordinary Products it was a bit trial and error but this product stuck with me because I could see a difference in my skin after using it for a couple of months! With any TO (and other) products it is important to introduce them slowly and give your skin time to adjust before you add another product to your skincare routine! The affordable price tag of TO is another reason why I love it!
Why I love The Ordinary?
The Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 features three types of hyaluronic acid (at low, medium and high molecular weights) so this lightweight serum offers serious skin smoothing. Penetrating the skin to reach its deeper layers, it delivers lasting hydration and offers visible plumping and moisture retention so that skin looks smoother, softer and healthier. The hyaluronic acid at the centre of this super serum attracts up to 1000 times its weight in water, while a brilliant boost of vitamin B5 heals dry and damaged areas by stabilising the skin’s barrier function and promoting the growth of stronger tissue.
Where to buy it? You can buy TO products in TO Stores in the UK or online on various retailers.
Step 3: Eye Care – Boots Botanics 5 in 1 Radiant Youth Roll On (discounted) & The Body Shop Drops of Youth Eye Concentrate RRP: £20 (10ml)
Why I love Boots Botanics 5 in 1 Radiant Youth Eye Roll On?
This eye roll on has 3 little metal rollers inside the tub and you press the cream out. You only need a tiny little bit so the tube will last you for quite some time! Sadly the Boots Botanic range had a make over and they decided not to bring this product back into the range which is very disappointing because I loved it!
Where to buy it? Sadly as mentioned above it has been discounted in Boots but the Botanic Range do still have an eye product which might be worth trying out! And the Botanics range is very reasonable priced!
So instead I picked up The Body Shop Drops of Youth Eye Concentrate the other day when I went to a VIP Blogger event at their store!
Why I love The Body Shop Drops of Youth Eye Concentrate?
Similar to my previous eye product this one has one ball roll on to manage the product into your skin. It is enriched with edelweiss, crust marine and sea holly plant stem cells and with the roller ball applicator it instantly refreshes the eye contour and smooths the appearance of lines, bags and fatigue for younger-looking eyes. It is 100% vegan enriched with organic babassu oil from Brazil. Apparently it reduces the appearance of eye bags and your eyes appear to look less tired! Anything that helps my eyes look less tired is good for me!
Where to buy it? In any Body Shop or online. Sadly that range is never on offer but if you get yourself a Body Shop Points Card you can earn some points to get money off to make it cheaper!
Step 3: Moisturise – Bioderma Sensibio AR Anti Redness Cream RRP: £ 15.50 (40ml)
Why I love Bioderma Sensibio AR Cream?
Created for those with aggravated skin in mind, the formulation is fragrance-free, colourant-free and hypoallergenic. So if your skin is prone to redness then this is the perfect moisturizer for you! The non oily cream makes it also a perfect make up base and you don’t need a lot of product at all! The daily hydrating cream is formulated to reduce the intensity of redness and prevent its appearance with a wealth of perfectly tolerated active ingredients. Instantly soothing upon application, Sensibio AR reduces the ‘overheated’ feeling experienced in skin that is prone to redness.
Bioderma also have a thicker cream in their Sensibio AR range which I like to use in the cold winter months.
Where to buy it? I always get it from Essential.co.uk which have the best offers with mostly 1/3 off.
Step 4: Sun Protection – Ultrasun Anti- Ageing Face SPF 30 Cream RRP: £20 (50ml)
Why I love Ultrasun Anti- Ageing Face SPF 30 Cream?
It is very important to use SPF but even more so in your face! with the Ultrasun Face Anti-Ageing Formula SPF30 you get an all day protection in a lightweight formula. It is very hard for me to find a suncream which works for my face due to my sensitivity and best of all its water-resistant too!
Ectoin stimulates cell production for plumper and more youthful looking skin, as well as the enzyme S.O.D. which neutralises free radicals stimulated by sun exposure. Boron Nitride reduces fine lines and reduces moisture loss, so that skin retains its hydration level.
Where to buy it? I got this small sample from a monthly beauty box subscription but I have seen them for sale on Ebay and online pharmacy retailers. I like it in the small packaging because its perfect to travel and you do not need to use a lot!
Step 5: Toner – Pixi Glow Tonic RRP: £10 (100ml)
The next product I use has been a ‘Cult Product” for quite some time now and yes I admit I got drawn into buying it and trying it for myself. I ditched the organic witch hazel to try out the Pixie Glow Tonic within my routine and so far I like it. I haven’t seen drastic changes yet but it takes time and I only have been using it for a couple of weeks every evening!
Why I love Pixie Glow Tonic?
The Glow Tonic exfoliating toner perfects skin tone and texture, resulting in a healthy glow. Aloe Vera, ginseng and botanical extracts work together to soothe and treat skin while 5% glycolic acid accelerates cell renewal. It is alcohol-free and gentle on all skin types.
You can use it AM and PM but it’s recommend using SPF in the daytime (due to it including glycolic acid) I personally use it just at nighttime after my cleans with LE Hot Cloth Cleanser and before I moisturise.
Where to buy it? M&S is the place to go for Pixi Products but I have heard they are now stocked in Boots stores with some great offers too (up to 1/2 price)!
Step 6 Night Cream – Weleda Skin Food RRP: £12.50 (75ml)
The last product I apply before seeking the comfort of my own bed at night is the Weleda Skin Food! I am a huge Weleda fan and have been using it on myself for decades and have been using a lot of their Calendula children range ever since the kids were born intact Weleda Calendula Oil is the only moisturiser I use on the kids faces and bodies after a shower (and that goes for my body too).
Why I love Weleda Skin Food?
The Skin Food just works for me! I have been using it daily ver since I discovered it about two years ago, it’s very thick and feels a bit like a mask when you first put it on but it sinks into your skin quickly and it leaves you with the smooths face in the morning! Skin Food has extracts of gentle viola tricolor, Calendula and chamomile, in a rich, thick base of oils and beeswax and as Weleda rightly said: “Skin Food loves your skin back to its best!”
Where to buy it? I mostly get my Weleda Skin Food from Amazon but you get it on many online retailers or at a Holland and Barrett store.
So these are my 7 favourite products I have been using on my daily skincare routine! Do you have a skincare cleaning routine? Which product do you swear by? Do you go out and buy products because they have a cult status or get mentioned a lot or so you stick with what you have been using for years and are happy with it? I would love to hear your thoughts!