Updated Skin Care Routine

eye cream //   //
moisturiser //  Salon Care Enzyme Exfoliant

Last week I mentioned on Instagram and Facebook that I was thinking about doing an updated skin care routine for you and I wanted to know if anyone would be interested in that.  The response was very positive so here it is!  I’ve been using a few new products since December and I’ve put them through quite a test and they’ve come out on top so I can definitely recommend all of these.  Good, healthy skin is invaluable.  It can change your confidence entirely.  Great skin is the canvas you work with before applying your makeup and if your skin is good, your makeup will look flawless.  If your skin is struggling, the appearance of your makeup will struggle too.  It’s very important to ensure that your skin care routine works for your skin and that, whatever your age or skin type, you are using skin care products that are suitable for your skin.  

I have mentioned before that as a beauty blogger I am sent quite a few products to test out and, let me tell you, this can cause absolute havoc with my skin.  I recently tried a new serum, for example, that has given my skin the worst break out I have ever had in my entire life – to the point that I haven’t wanted to leave the house.  When I find a product that gives good results, though, I make a note of them and keep coming back to them.  I have added these four products to my skin care routine and each one deserves a special mention because it takes a lot for me to adopt a product into my skin care routine.

 This eye gel has been designed for skin in your twenties which I think is fantastic because there aren’t many skin care products that target this age group but rather target skin types.  This eye gel has ceramide as a key ingredient in it which separates it from other product.  I love using this product day and night.  I apply a little to my ring finger and gently tap it all around my eye.  It’s been working so well and I can definitely tell the difference on days that I’m lazy and skip this step.  I also really love the skin hydration booster from this range.  It applies like water to the skin and it’s quite wonderful. 

So I had been researching this product for about two years before making the investment.  All my favourite YouTubers have raved about their Clarisonics for pretty much that entire time.  I decided to try a generic face cleansing brush to trial before purchasing the Clarisonic to experience what a face brush would really do for my skin.  After finding a really inexpensive (R250) one, I fell in love with the difference that it made in my skin.  The quality of an inexpensive brush is really sub-par but if you are curious as to whether you would like a Clarisonic I would definitely suggest going the same route I did.  The Clarisonic is really expensive.  I saved up for mine and bought a limited edition Mia 2 in Sephora while I was in Dubai because it worked out a little bit cheaper than buying a normal one here but you can find them in Stuttafords here and they have all the different brush heads in store too.

In all my research I had read that many people experience a ”purging” stage for the first two weeks of using their Clarisonic where their skin breaks out as all the dirt is removed from your skin (ewww).  Mine did exactly that.  I have never had bad skin and I only suffer an occasional pimple around that time of the month but from my research, I knew that it was likely to happen so I understood what was happening when it did.  Don’t stop using your Clarisonic at this stage, keep going and it will get better.  I remove all my makeup with a makeup wipe and then use my Clarisonic with a face wash (it does also come with a face wash) and your mind will be blown at how much dirt it removes from your skin after you had already taken off your makeup.  It’s actually a little bit scary!  It also very lightly exfoliates your skin.  The vibrations from the Clarisonic definitely stimulates blood circulation in my face and I notice my skin looks plumper immediately after using it.  It feels like a massage on your face.  I only use my Clarisonic once a day, usually in the evenings, and I’ve been loving the results.  Having used it for two months I can definitely say my skin is smoother and I know for a fact it is much cleaner and healthier.  I love my Clarisonic and I couldn’t go back to not using one.

Many people don’t realise but Benefit Cosmetics skin care products are made in the same laboratory as many high-end brands.  They use very similar ingredients and just as much scientific research goes into the formulation of Benefit Cosmetics skin care as brands such as Dior and La Mer.  I think most people consider Benefit Cosmetics to be a purely makeup brand but I’m here to clarify that misnomer.  The skin care products offered by Benefit are incredible.  I’m absolutely crazy about this moisturiser.  It is so thick and luxurious and yet it does not leave your skin oily.  It is absorbed so well by my skin and leaves it looking so fresh, healthy and dewy.  Often I’m so impressed by the look of my skin after using this moisturiser that I contemplate skipping foundation and letting my skin do the talking throughout the day.  I’m also seriously impressed by the eye cream that goes with this moisturiser.  It is also deeply nourishing and gives your skin such a healthy look that you are bound to have compliments on the appearance of your skin.  My only issue with the eye cream is that Benefit Cosmetics only sell it in a tiny jar and by tiny I mean that I mistook it for a sample.  I wish they had something bigger because it’s annoying to run out of a product so quickly.  The facial moisturiser, however, comes in a nice big jar so that lasts much longer.  I highly recommend trying both, though, they’re wonderful products. 

Salon Care Enzyme Exfoliant

 A facialist I went to about a year ago told me that I should never use a scrub exfoliator on my face because my skin is far too sensitive for anything that rough which would probably scratch my skin and leave it inflamed and extremely tender which is actually what I had always found in the past.  Eventually, I stopped exfoliating my face because it was so unbearable but she introduced me to enzyme exfoliators which, at that time, I had no idea existed.  I am so glad to have been introduced to these!  These use enzymes rather than course salt or sugar to dissolve and remove any dead skin and dirt from your skin.  This particular product is used as a mask and has a gel-like texture.  I apply it once a week after I’ve showered, throw on some comfy PJs and watch series while it does its magic.  After 10-20 minutes I’ll wash it off and follow with either my moisturiser or a hydrating skin masque.  You can find the link to the website here to find your nearest distributor.

You’ve probably noticed that I haven’t mentioned any face washes or cleansers in this post and that’s simply because I haven’t found anything that replaces the incredible products I included in this post on the Top Face Cleansers.  The Pond’s Spot Clear Facial Foam is easily my all-time favourite face wash (not to mention by far the cheapest product I’ve ever used).

I know this post contained a lot of information but I hope it was helpful.  I am going to be testing out a whole bunch of serums and boosters next.  Let’s hope my skin cooperates but I will be back with a full report on my favourite vitamin boosters and serums in the next few weeks.  If there is anything in particular you would like me to test out and review please do let me know.  Also, please leave a comment down below if you found this post helpful.  I hope you did and I’d love your feedback.

Here’s to gorgeous skin and to the beauty within!