The Body Shop's Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil

Make up removal is absolutely one of the most crucial parts of my skincare routine. Anyone that has slept in make up knows the horrible feeling the next day, and I know that my skin will break out almost instantly if I let this happen. This means that I now always make a conscious effort to remember to take my make up off after late nights when all I want to do is go to bed. Until now, I was yet to discover something that did everything all in one which meant my routine was much longer. Before finding this cleansing oil from The Body Shop, I was fairly happy using Garnier's Simply Essentials 2 in 1 make up remover to take off my eye make up, followed by Garnier's micellar water which I still also really like, and then a final wipe using Simple's cleansing wipes. However, this process always felt like a lot more effort to try and get everything off, and I would go through around 7 cotton pads to do so, after which sometimes the next day there would still be some residue around my eyes. I still do this when I'm being lazy after a night out for example as it still does do the job, however on a day to day basis I have been loving using this cleansing oil which removes absolutely everything. Before this, I had never tried cleansing oils due to my oily skin which I thought would be a nightmare combination, but this is great for all skin types and leaves my skin with a post facial feeling. You only need around two pumps and you simply rub it into dry skin until the make up melts away. I use this on my eyes first and then use whats left on my face, then simply rinse and use a washcloth to wipe everything away. It is amazing at getting waterproof mascara off all at once without irritating your eyes which is something that would happen to me using only micellar water after too much rubbing. It leaves your skin feeling completely refreshed, clean and make up free which is everything I want from a cleanser. What's more, its oily texture is completely removed with water so there is no residue. This will ultimately help prevent spots in the long run and keep skin clear which is perfect for problem skin. Moreover it smells lovely and is only £11 which I think is great for delivering a result which is comparable to much higher end cleansing oils.

Have you tried this or any other similar cleansing oils?

xox

SKINCARE STAPLE: Superfacialist Cleanser By Una Brennan

I discovered this exfoliating cleanser from Superfacialist by Una Brennan on a whim last month on the hunt for something new. Skincare is something I find difficult to get right as I am always changing what products I use and haven't found any items that remain staples in my routine. As far as this cleanser goes, it has become the only one I use every day. 

I have had difficulties with my skin for a few years now. I never had much problem with acne as a young teen, yet it seemed to kick in during my late teens and I still have it today at age 20. It is something that I have been self-conscious with as, although I feel good about my skin with make-up on, I dislike my natural skin as it is never completely clear. Although I go through phases of it being particularly bad or relatively fine, I have never been the kind of girl who can just throw on no base makeup without feeling self-conscious. Understandably, this can really damage self-confidence as some girls with acne feel like they can't go make-up free without being stared at or judged. I have done a lot of research to try and find as much about it as I can and I'm always trying to improve my skincare. I have been prescribed creams for my acne yet this has only alleviated it for a short amount of time. It isn't something that gets me down too much these days as I understand that a lot of people have it much worse. I have blemishes on the lower part of my face; my chin, cheeks and jawline. Fortunately now, I feel like it is more under control and I only have to deal with scars and a few blemishes which make-up can cover, yet my skin is never fully clear which is something I am always trying to improve.

A really important piece of advice for anyone with acne is to try and establish a consistent skincare routine which your skin can get used to. Skin can become irritated if you are constantly switching and bombarding it with different products. I have oily skin which leads to a lot of spots if pores are clogged, which means I need to cleanse twice a day to reduce any build up, although everybody of any skin type should also do this. I have been using this cleanser for a month now and I love everything about it. It is specifically marketed as an anti blemish face scrub with salicylic acid- one of the best ingredients for deeply cleansing pores and helping to clear skin. It is really gentle and has tiny micro beads, cooling menthol and Niacin (Vitamin B3) which helps to tackle acne prone skin. Although people with acne may avoid scrubs as they can be too harsh, this is a really creamy cleanser that is also great at eliminating dead skin cells which is essential for acne to improve. Every time I use this my skin feels instantly smoother and refreshed and I have honestly felt a huge difference in my skin through this alone. It creates a smooth surface which is essential if you want make-up to look flawless so that it doesn't cling and draw attention to any dry patches of dead skin. This has now become a staple in my routine and I am excited to try more products from this range. You can get hold of this in boots for £8.99.

Hope this helps anyone with skin struggles, and any tips/products are greatly appreciated,

Love,

Lucy

xox

My Summer Skincare Essentials

1. Neutrogena Visibly Clear oil-free moisturiser

Oil-free moisturiser is an absolute necessity for me in the summer due to my oily skin which becomes even more of an annoyance in the summertime; I therefore do everything I can to keep excess oil and bay and keep my skin looking matte. This one from Neutrogena is hands down my favourite one; it keeps my skin clear and feeling fresh and it smells unbelievably like grapefruit which is perfect for summer. It isn't heavy on the skin and absorbs quickly leaving me free to apply my make-up instantly. The best thing about this moisturiser is how it leaves a tingly feeling on the skin; you can feel that this product is doing your skin wonders as soon as you apply it which I love. It does not clog pores due to how it is oil-free, thereby leaving your skin blemish free for summer. This lightweight formula has a delicate hint of pink grapefruit to not only uplift your senses and make you feel fresh and fabulous, it leaves your skin feeling invigorated and fresh. 

This moisturiser is available at around £5 and you can get hold of it here: 

http://www.boots.com/en/Neutrogena-Visibly-Clear-Pink-Grapefruit-Oil-Free-Moisturiser-50ml_1253356/

2. Nivea Daily Essentials Express Hydration Primer

Another summer necessity for me is primer. I tend to wear a primer most days anyway because I feel it keeps your make-up looking fresh and in place for much longer, but in summer I regard it as essential due to the excess heat, (if your lucky to get some sun this summer!) This primer from Nivea is absolutely fantastic. I could not feel more confident in recommending a better primer to you guys as I have tried and tested this for months now and I still absolutely love it. I love everything about it from the fragrant fresh smell, to the smooth appearance it gives to my skin, to how it hold my make-up in place all day. Foundation goes on so much better when I apply this as it creates such a smooth canvas for make-up. I feel like pores are minimized and any imperfections are smoothed out; make-up will no longer cling to stubborn blemishes or dry patches of skin if you use this. I think this is an all round great, reliable primer for everyday wear for all skin types, if your oily like me, or if you have dry skin. This product also functions as a moisturiser as it hydrates and replenishes your skin whilst also priming your skin. It is instant absorption so there is no waiting for make-up application which, for me, makes this a fantastic, no-fuss product. This is perfect for summer as you can be assured that your make-up will hold up in the heat. This is available at £4.99 here: 

http://www.superdrug.com/nivea/nivea-daily-essentials-hydration-primer-normalcomb/invt/556851

3. Garnier Simply Essentials Soothing toner

I love using this toner after I have cleansed my face in order to remove any excess oil on before make-up application. This one is my favourite toner because it is incredibly soothing and thereby perfect for even sensitive skin. It refreshes and cleanses impurities which makes it perfect for removing any residue of make-up whilst also controlling the oils on your skin. It combines water lily extract and pro-vitamin B5 in a gentle, non-irritant formula to provide an intense fresh sensation on the skin. Skin is therefore left feeling soothed, supple and fresh. This is perfect for the summer when skin is most oily, perfect to cleanse your face after you have been out in the heat and keep your oil production under control and shine at bay. This is available for £3.99 here:

http://www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&productId=1160762

4. Dove Summer Glow Gradual Self Tan

Before trying out this tan myself I had heard so many recommendations from friends and fellow bloggers that this tan was the best around. I finally decided to try it out a few weeks before my prom to see if it really lived up to the hype. Before this my experience with false tan had never been fuss-free; it had always resulted in a streaky tan that was obviously false and stained hands. This is without a doubt the best gradual tan I have ever tried, and I have tried a lot of them now. It applies just like a body lotion and it has a very distinct smell which is fruity and exotic and I actually really like it. It builds a natural looking tan gradually without looking at all streaky. What I found most remarkable about this tan was how it didn't erode completely in the shower, something all the previous tans always seemed to do which kind of defeated the point of building up a tan gradually. This one remained just as dark but more natural looking, and didn't start to peel/flake away to leave that fake tan residue. I therefore built up a nice tan for my prom which left me with a subtle tanned glow. I used the medium to dark formula to get a more intense tan, but the colour was by no means orange, it was the colour of how I usually tan in the sun which makes this my favorite tan for a natural glow. I also stopped reapplying this after my prom, and even though I tried to exfoliate it off afterwards, I was still left with a nice subtle tan for at least a week after applying. You can get hold of the tan that is voted No.1 gradual self-tan body lotion in the UK for just £2.50 at Boots:

http://www.boots.com/en/Dove-Summer-Glow-Medium-to-Dark-Skin-250ml_1329537/

xox