My Current Skincare Routine

So today I thought I would go through my skincare routine with you guys! For me this is a bit of a sore subject because my skin is something I'm pretty self conscious about. I've never had perfect skin but in the last year I suffered really bad with break outs, which I'm 90% sure was down to being stressed as I went through a pretty rough time and I guess my skin just reacted to it. However, my skin is now so so much better, it's not perfect and I do get the odd break out but no way near as bad as it was this time last year.

Now the only thing I have to deal with is uneven skin tone and scarring, which is kinda frustrating because when I have no make up on I look like I've got loads of spots when I actually haven't it's just remainders of damage caused previously. Also as a bit of a background I have combination skin - it can get oily in my T-Zone but also gets very dry, so yeah pretty high maintenance unfortunately!

Anyway so my first tip is pretty obvious but I can't stress how important it is to remove your make up at night time! Even if I've come back from a night out or even if I get home late and I'm super tired, I always remove every last scrap of my make up. I have a love/hate relationship with wiping my make up off, I love doing it cause I know it's good for my skin and sometimes it's nice to just be in your natural state. However I hate it when I feel like I've had a good make up day and it comes to the time where I have to wipe away my work of art.

So for the last 4/5 months I have stuck with the same skincare routine and I feel like I will continue to stick with it because it works for me and also because I'm scared to death of trying anything else in case I break out. I remember when I went to Milan about a year and a half ago and my skin just completely broke out and that was when I first starting using Clarins skin care products, so when it comes to skin care that brand is a big no no for me. Although I know it works for a lot of people it definitely doesn't for me!

So every evening I cleanse my skin using the oval double faced cotton pads (very specific I know, but that's my preference). If you've seen my skincare stash, you will know that I usually have about 10 packs in my draw at any one time! They're just so convenient and cheap, I genuinely could not live without them. I am obsessed with using cotton pads because for me, they're the most hygienic way to clean your face because you use them once and then dispose of them. Again, I know lots of people use flannels and muslin cloths but these just don't work for me.

I cleanse my skin using the Peaches & Clean, which I think I've harped on about for the past two years on and off. I tend to double cleanse my face as I want to remove every last bit of make up! I tI then apply my Kiehls Blue Herbal Moisturiser. This moisturizer is everything, it works so well on my skin! I apply this in the evening and wake up in the morning and my skin still feels plump & hydrated! It also dries quite matte and is a great based for make up. It is targeted towards skin that suffers with blemishes and I honestly think this is the product what has saved me!!  It's a little steep at £26 a bottle but it is so worth it.

Another step in my skincare routine that I don't do every day but maybe 2-3 times a week is to exfoliate my skin. A fairly recent discovery which I absolutely love is the Kiehls Skin Pearl Exfoliator, this just evens out your skin and removes any dry skin etc to make you get that natural glow! I also occasionally use the Kiehls Midnight Recovery Serum, although I only have samples at the moment but I find it to be super hydrating so this is something I will probably invest in soon!

May/June Empties

Morning all! Sooo today I thought that since it was the end of the month I would do my very first 'empties' post!

I've had this planned for a while now and have purposely been keeping hold of empty products. Normally like any other person I would just chuck the empty packet straight in the ol' bin but for this purpose I thought it would be acceptable to hoard empty packaging.

So with no further ado' please welcome my very first empties post with love - If this post is popular I might consider making this a regular post. I mean, it gives you all the opportunity to have a snoop around the products I've been slapping on over the past few weeks and also will hopefully give you an idea of whether you'd like to purchase any of my stuff for your self.

First up is the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclait Foundation - This has quickly  become a staple in my face of the day. Well I say this, although I haven't actually used it in a while. I reckon this is just because I'm really into this whole contouring look at the moment which is obviously heavier make up and well the YSL Foundation is light on the skin, sheer and gives your skin a lovely radiance and glow. I love this Foundation, I mean it's pretty expensive (around £30) but it really is worth it and when I went through a stage of wearing it all the time a bottle lasted me more than 2 months. Another thing that I love about the Touche Eclait Foundation is the bottle and packaging, it's such a big bottle which looks really luxurious and I'm just in love with it! If you're looking for a look that is natural but beautiful this Foundation is really worth giving a whirl, there is definitely a shade for everyone.

Next up is the winner of all the empties here this month...the Lush Cupcake Face Mask. Oh my god I just love it! This is the first Lush Face Mask I have purchased (I mean I've had samples of the Oatifix but never gone ahead with the purchase). I am SO pleased with this product,  at first I thought well it's a little expensive (£6.25) and I will only get a couple of uses out of it. WELL boy was I wrong, I've used this lovely face mask at least 15 times this month and I haven't been scrimping neither. Every time I've used it I've slapped on a whole load of product on my face. The benefits don't end here neither...if you want to get a chocolate fix but don't want to have a horrific calorie intake this will be right up your street. Why eat chocolate when you can smother it on your face and inhale the glorious smell for 10 minutes? Mmmmm. Another thing I like about the Cupcake Face Mask is the fact you have to keep it in the fridge. If you're anything like me and feel as though you're going to faint when you get in the bath, this will cool you right down, it's so refreshing to put on your face it really is. Lush also have an incentive for loyal Lush-ees in which, if you return 5 full size empty Face Mask Pots you will get one free of your choice, what a fabulous idea!

 I know I'm totally preaching all of these empty products right now but  I wouldn't preach anything to you if I wasn't happy with it just saying guys :)

Another sweet smelling scent I would like to share with you guys is the Victoria Secrets Magnolia Spray. I bought this amazing body spray for £2.50 when Victoria Secrets had a (very rare) sale on. I got this back in January along with a couple of other sprays, lotions, potions and PJ's and how I wish I just purchased a thousand more! Normally the sprays are on offer 5 for £30 so getting one for £2.50 is great value and the added bonus is that they last forever. This VS Spray has quickly become my signature scent, along with Love Spell & Coconut & Passionfruit. They just smell incredible, I am now quickly running out of VS sprays so will have to stock up on new ones soon but I just thought this was a lovely floral scent I had to share with you. I got so many compliments when wearing it and would describe it as a light sweet floral scent.

Y'all already know what my thoughts are on Hand Food. I will preach about Soap & Glory until the cows come home and this little pocket size product is no exception. I have both the travel size and full size version of this product and always re-purchase. It has a sweet scent of Marshmellows and mositurizes your hands on cold winter days. I've found that I haven't had to use Hand Food as much now that the sun is shining but always keep it on hand just in case.

Last but certainly not least is the MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator. I am in love with this product! I was a little skeptical about this at first but when I actually started using it, it was like love at first sight. Now I have obviously ran out of this product now but definitely intend on re-purchasing. I usually use it around 2-3 times a week to give my face a good scrub. This Exfoliator makes your face look as though you've completed an Army Obstacle course but seriously this stuff works wonders for your face!

Have you used any of these products before? What products did you use up this month?
 

Soap & Glory Haul

As with the majority of beauty fanatics in the UK - I am soooo obsessed with Soap & Glory and have been for years, every Christmas without fail my lovely nanny seems to buy me a huge hamper of Soap & Glory products that tend to keep me going a while and then it's up to me to keep topping up on my fave items!

Some of the products I have well and truly fallen for are:
Sugar Crush Body Wash £6.50
Sugar Crush Body Scrub £8
Orangegasm Body Wash £6.50
Hand Food £5
The Righteous Butter £10.50
Peaches & Clean 3 in 1 Face Wash £8
Butter Yourself Moisture Lotion £10

I use all of the products every day without fail - perhaps with the exception of the Sugar Crush Body Scrub as you don't need to exfoliate every single day. Also, I tend to mix and swap about with the Sugar Crush and Orangegasm Body Wash depending on my  mood. One thing is certain about all the S&G range is the fact they all smell beyond amazing and really do make you feel scrubbed up and squeaky clean. I believe their products do the world of good for my body and I couldn't be without them now.

I think another reason I am drawn towards Soap & Glory is 1 - because the packaging is so pretty and girly and maybe a little bit gimicky and 2 - because they're against testing on animals!

Now I know everyone has a different idea of how much they're willing to pay for something and at first Soap & Glory might scream 'little bit expensive' but they're sooo worth that little bit extra, they last ages and they smell out of this world. Also, they may seem expensive but remember your getting probably 3x times as much product as you would do with standard body washes etc in Wilkos and Boots. PLUS they're normally all on offer on 3 for 2 and you get your Boots Advantage Points as well so everyone is a winner!

I am obsessed with hand food and have it at my desk so I can moisturize my hands throughout the day at work as it is something I struggle with. I use the Peaches & Clean face wash daily and then moisturize with either the Butter Yourself Lotion or Righteous Butter depending on how much TLC my skin needs. The Righteous Butter is a lot thicker than Butter Yourself - I tend to use that if my body is in need of deep moisturizing but if my skin is fine I just use Butter Yourself to maintain that lovely softness - you're supposed to use it when you've just got out of the bath or shower when your skin is still a little damp and oh my it works treat.