SUMMER READY SKINCARE

As summer is upon us, it’s even more important than usual to incorporate protective products into our everyday skincare routine. I like to use some sort of SPF day to day but as the sun hopefully gets brighter in the UK it’s even more vital to use different products which will shield your sensitive skin from the harmful rays. This time last year I was a month away from going on holiday to Rome. This year, I haven’t got a holiday booked as yet but it’s just as significant to defend your skin from the sun in the UK. I must admit I am lazy when it comes to SPF, I don’t like to add products to my routine which build up extra layers onto my skin. I like to try and use multi-use products that do a number of different jobs as well as providing SPF.

A new product which I have integrated into my morning skincare routine is the No7 Early Defence Day Moisturiser which contains an SPF 15 and 5 Star UVA protection. This moisturiser is super lightweight and is designed to keep young skin looking younger for longer. This moisturiser has double defence technology, doesn’t block pores and boosts skin’s natural defences. As I have combination skin I really like the gel like texture as it just sinks into my skin and it makes me look and feel great, ready for the day ahead. In the range is also a night cream and an eye cream which work together to create the best protection.

I then like to apply a base over my moisturiser. In the Summer I like to go for something lighter like a BB or CC cream, especially on holiday or days where I don’t need too much coverage. Recently I have been using the Clinique Anti Blemish BB Cream which contains an SPF 40. I love how lightweight this is, it blends so nicely into the skin and it doesn’t feel like I’m wearing make-up at all. It still gives me the buildable coverage I need for day to day wear and the high protection means I don’t have to worry about being out in the sun. I always worry that BB creams come out way too dark, but I have the shade light and I think this suits my natural colour well. You could apply this with your fingers but I like to blend it in with a buffing brush. This Anti Blemish formula is mattifying on the skin and combines oil control, so another perfect product for my combination skin. It has UVA/UVB protection for a shine-free complexion which wears up to 12 hours. I can see this product becoming a firm favourite in my summer make-up bag! You can find Clinique's full range here.

An area that can be sometimes forgotten to protect is our lips. The Carmex Moisture Plus Lip Balms are probably my favourite multiuse drugstore lip balms, I currently have two shades; pink and peach. These lip balms contain an SPF 15 as well as adding a hint of colour to the lips. I love how pigmented these shades are for a lip balm. It means I only need one product instead of using a separate SPF and lip colour. The balms are ultra-hydrating on the lips and leave a shiny, glossy finish. They’re also formulated with Vitamin E, Aloe and Shea Butter to moisture as well as protect your lips. You could even use these under or over your lipstick for added protection.

As well as applying SPF it is also important to make sure you are taking it all off your skin properly before you go to sleep. I like to use a balm cleanser with a muslin cloth to moisturise the skin as well as keeping my skin hydrated. Currently I’m using the Clinique Take the Day off Cleansing Balm which is perfect for all skin types. This cleansing balm is lightweight and quickly dissolves stubborn eye and face make-up, including those with sunscreen. I love balm type products which turn into a silky, fluid oil, this is really refreshing on my skin and completely gets rid of make-up and daily grime. A little goes a long way and it leaves my skin completely clean, super soft and its fragrance free so perfect for sensitive skin. Caroline Hirons raves about this cleansing balm and says it’s probably the best balm cleanser you will find for price, functionality and efficacy. They also have a make-up remover, cleansing milk and oil in the range. It really is that simple to include products that contain SPF into your everyday skincare routine, if you look after your skin in the short term, your skin will thank you in the long run. You can find more skincare options here.

What are your favourite products that contain SPF?

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CLINIQUE SUPERPRIMER - DULLNESS

I have been wanting to try one of these Superprimers since they first came out. I am a big primer user and will try anything that claims to help keep my make-up on for longer, my oily skin needs it. Clinique have six different shades of colour correctors in the range. The one that I chose was for Dullness but you can also get Superprimers for Discolourations, Dullness for Deeper Skin, Redness, Swallowness and a Universal shade. The primers are all priced at £20.00, but I spotted this at Bicester CCO for £14.00 which swayed me to try it. The formula itself is lightweight, oil free and preps skin for foundation. The primer feels just like the texture of the Benefit POREfessional, silky, smoothing and absorbs straight into the skin. The Dullness primer is suitable for all skin types and colour corrects the skin making it look brighter, I’m into anything that can make my skin glow and I think out of the six primers this is the most suited to me and my skin. The primer comes out a pale pink tone but after evening out your skin tone, you can’t see it on the skin. This evens out pores, fine lines and blurs imperfections. I would say that this product does make my make-up stick around for longer. After a full day at work my make-up is still in place, I wish I could say the same after going to the gym in the evenings. If I was to go out in the evening I would touch up my make-up. Overall, The primers are fragrance free, silicone based which leaves a velvety touch to the skin and echances radiance but at the same time leaves a matte finish. But it’s not going to do the job of a concealer so you won’t be missing out any make-up steps by using this. A little goes a long way and I like that you get 30ml the same size as a standard foundation. I have even been enjoying mixing this with my foundation first to create more of a natural finish, definitely worth a try!

What are your Clinique make-up recommendations?

AUGUST UK MAGAZINE FREEBIES - PRODUCT REVIEWS

August was the month of magazine beauty freebies. I managed to get my hands on a few, but there were so many more to choose from. Here’s what I thought of the ones I picked up.

Instyle - Neal's Yard Remedies Geranium & Orange Hand Cream – I don’t get overly excited when I see hand cream freebies as I have so many hand creams to use up but it’s nice to try something else from the Neal Yard’s brand. I have really been enjoying orange scents lately, my love for this came from The Body Shop’s Satsuma range and Soap & Glory’s Orangeasm range. This hand cream nourishes, moisturises and softens skin, like any hand cream should. I like to apply this after washing my hands or as a refresher throughout the day.
Glamour - Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion+ – I picked this moisturiser as I could only find the mascara or the cream with magazines instores. Two different coloured chubby sticks are also available but every store I have been in hasn't had them available. I have used this moisturiser before, so I know I get on with it. It’s great as a morning base, it has a silky texture and keeps my skin refreshed and hydrated until my night time skin routine.

Marie Claire - Balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm – I am a big fan of Balance Me products. You could get this product or a moisturise rich face cream from the range. I picked this as I knew I already liked it and it’s a great cleanser to travel with. I love the natural scent and the glossy balm texture. It’s great for most skin types and really polishes and adds radiance to the skin. It’s 100% natural and a great sized sample.

Enhancing the natural radiance of normal to dry skins and balancing normal to oily skins.

Key benefits: Revolutionise your daily cleansing routine with our calming cleanse and smooth face balm. This deliciously fragrant balm is perfect for normal, dry or sensitised skin. It’s packed full of powerful anti-oxidants such as Arctic cloudberry and fine oat powder to soothe, smooth and add radiance to skin, without irritating. The sophisticated mix of pure active extracts such as camellia, kukui nut and rosehip oils with cocoa, mango and shea butters will dissolve daily grime and make-up to leave skin soft and clean, whilst a bespoke blend of English camomile and red mandarin essential oils soothe and soften.

Enhancing the natural radiance of normal to dry skins and balancing normal to oily skins.

Key benefits: Revolutionise your daily cleansing routine with our calming cleanse and smooth face balm. This deliciously fragrant balm is perfect for normal, dry or sensitised skin. It’s packed full of powerful anti-oxidants such as Arctic cloudberry and fine oat powder to soothe, smooth and add radiance to skin, without irritating. The sophisticated mix of pure active extracts such as camellia, kukui nut and rosehip oils with cocoa, mango and shea butters will dissolve daily grime and make-up to leave skin soft and clean, whilst a bespoke blend of English camomile and red mandarin essential oils soothe and soften.

Elle - Malin & Goetz Beauty Travel Kit - Grapefruit Face Cleanser, Lip Moisturiser and Vitamin E Face Moisturiser – I am subscribed to Elle, so it was nice to see a little extra in this month’s issue. The cleansing gel is gentle it purifies without drying and leaves skin balanced, hydrated and blemish-free. I really like to use this with my Clarisonic as it’s great at deep cleansing and leaving my skin feeling fresh. The lip moisturiser helps to keep my lips hydrated throughout the day, it’s great underneath lipstick and also worn on its own as it gives a glossy look. The Vitamin E face moisturiser is suitable for all skin types, its gentle and balances the skin without blocking pores. I like to use this in the morning as it wakes up my skin and is lovely and light underneath foundation.

Also available this month was; Rodial Stemcell Super Food Galm Lip Balm from Red Magazine, one of three Lip Crayons or Black Mascara from Cosmopolitan and a choice of four L'Occitane fragrance samples from Harper's Bazaar.

Did you manage to pick any Beauty Freebies up?

CURRENT EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE

Here is my evening skincare routine and the products I am currently enjoying. I have oily/combination skin, so I like to use products that will keep blemishes and shine at bay. Some products might work better for some people than they do for others, this is just what currently works for me. I also use exfoliators and masks once or twice a week, but I will go into that in a separate post.
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution, 250ml £9.99 – I use this to take the bulk of my make up off before cleansing. I wet a cotton pad and use this over the eyes and another one for the rest of my face. There is a lot of hype about this product, but I have tried out other micelle waters and always come back to this one. I have also tried the one for oily skin, but I seem to get along better with this version. 
Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel With Marula Oil, 125ml £17.60 – I have liked this cleanser for a while now, it’s great for using day to day to get the rest of my make-up off. The gel formulation turns into a milk and is great at taking off even waterproof make up, great for all skin types. If I have applied more make up than usual I will go back in with a second cleanser like The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter to moisturise as well as cleanse. I also enjoying using my Clarisonic Mia with my cleansers, as this helps to get every trace of make-up off and exfoliate my skin at the same time.
Origins Zero Oil Toner, 150ml £18.50 – This product is a great toner for more oily skin types. It has pore purifying properties which leave the skin with a smooth, matte finish. I like the mint scent and feel, it really refreshes my skin before moisturising.

Origins Make A Difference Plus+ Rejuvenating Treatment Lotion, 150ml £20.00 - I then like to apply this treatment lotion, which prepares the skin for intensive treatments to follow and leaves the skin feeling refreshed and hydrated.

Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Jelly, 30ml £24.99 – This is a new product which I have incorporated into my night-time routine. I am a big fan of the original hydraluron serum and have really enjoyed using this so far. It helps to provide instant and sustained moisture to the skin. Indeed Labs skincare is currently on offer at Boots.

Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral-Enriched Oil-Free Renewal Cream, 50ml £34.50 – Origins has to be one of my favourite skincare brands. I swap between this and the Make A Difference Skin Rejuvenating Treatment. They both have heavenly scents and seem to do wonders to my skin. I like to use the oil-free gel more than the cream formulas for my oily skin as these seem best suited to me, I would highly recommend.

http://www.origins.co.uk/products/reviews/create.tmpl

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Soap & Glory Supereyes, Supereyes Moisturising Eye Gel, 15ml £9.00 – I have nearly finished up this eye cream, but I think Soap & Glory have since revamped the packaging or changed the name of this product. Instead of a cream this is more of a gel like formula which I find really soothing on the skin. I want to go on to the Indeed Labs Eyeslix next which I have just purchased.

Clinique Anti-BlemishSolutions Clinical Clearing Gel, 30ml £20.00 – This is also a newish product to my routine. I have before used the Origins spot gel but heard good things about this one and wanted to try it out for myself. I haven’t seen fantastic results, but I want to stick with it. I would really like to try the mask in the range.
Clinique All About Lips Cream, 12ml £19.00 - This cream helps to keep my lips smooth and moisturised to prevent chapping. It also helps to prevent fine lines around the lip area and a good base to apply before using lipsticks. It is pricey but this tube has lasted me ages!

What products do you use in your night time routine? What are your recommendations?