MY SKINCARE ROUTINE

For me, personally, I would choose skincare over make-up any day. A good base creates a good canvas, and therefore a better piece of art. I'm really into skincare products as there are so many out there to try, and it can always be a hit and miss situation. It really helps if you know your skin type because you can then search for products that suit you and your needs, but whatever I've been doing to my skin right now has been working like a charm. ( I could do with that extra glow, but maybe I just need more sleep! ) 

If you're a regular here you will already know that I'm a huge supporter of trying to use natural products, or as natural as you can get, and a lot of the products you see featured in this post are. This is mainly because, not only do I suffer with extremely sensitive skin, but there's also nothing better than trying to avoid nasty chemicals.

First up is a new addition, one that I've purchased recently. It's the Burt's Bees Coconut & Argan Facial Cleansing Oil. I wanted to switch up from my Garnier Oil Infused Micellar Cleansing water, and I'm so glad I did. I'm absolutely in love with this product. It's extremely gentle, glides effortlessly on the skin and removes make-up so incredibly easily. A little goes such a long way! There is a slight scent, but it's fragrance is nothing too toxic and is quite pleasant – smells very similar to Johnson's Baby Oil. The packaging is sleek and minimal with a pump, which means no mess and more effective distribution. I picked this up on a whim in Marks & Spencer's and I'm so pleased with the outcome. I also find this leaves my skin luminous in the mornings.

If I have a day when I'm wearing make-up I will then follow up and double cleanse with my Burt's Bees Cotton Extract Facial Cleanser. I featured this product in a faves post last year, and I must admit, it's still one of my favourite skincare products. Both the cleansing oil and facial cleanser work together wonderfully, and I feel totally refreshed when using both. If you would like to know more about the product, read here.

Using a toner would be a skincare step, that I would always find myself skipping. I never really understood the point in using one, and I'm still slightly apprehensive to what a toner actually does and whether it's worth the effort, time and money. That being said, the NAOBAY Equilibria Face Mist Toner has managed to slip its way into my routine. NAOBAY is a Spanish natural and organic skincare brand using certified organic ingredients, are vegan and cruelty free. They aren't a well known brand but you can find their products on the likes of LookFantastic, Amazon and Ecco Verde. The Equilibria Face Mist contains aloe vera, açaí and cinnamon extracts to bring freshness and cleanliness to the skin. I find this mist to be very cooling due to the aloe and I feel that this product would work amazingly in hot weather. I enjoy that this toner is a mist which means it's easy to use. It's quite a harsh spritz to the skin but I find this leaves my face looking plump and nourished.

For moisturiser, I literally just use Aloe Vera Gel. This may seem odd but its super nourishing. I also find that a lot of cream moisturisers can either be too drying or too oily for my skin. Aloe Vera Gel is not only great as a moisturiser but it has so many other uses too. For example: adding into home made beauty rituals such as hair masks, using as an eyebrow gel ( which I do from time to time ), helping with sun burns, inflammation and more. You can purchase Aloe Vera Gel almost anywhere, either your local health food store or online, you can even invest in an Aloe plant, which in affect would be cheaper than continuously buying products.

To scrub away the day, I occasionally use the Sukin Revitalising Facial Scrub. The facial scrub is vegan and cruelty free, contains no sulphates, parabens, synthetic fragrances, or artificial colours. It's ingredients combine bamboo and ground walnuts to gently exfoliate, with aloe vera, rose hip, and chamomile to soothe skin. This is a very soft exfoliant, that does not strip my face away from its natural oils. It has a gorgeously sweet fragrance of vanilla, mandarin, lavender and tangerine.

When I feel as if my skin is really lacking moisture, before bed or coming out of the shower I will pat my face with some argan oil. I was previously using the Arganic Beauty Oil which I also featured in last year's faves ( read here ), but as I've recently run out, I wanted to try The Ordinary's 100% Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil. As I've just started to use it, I don't have much to say about the product, so I will keep you updated, but so far so good. I find that incorporating oils into my skincare routine creates a much more luxurious and spa-like feel. Argan Oil as a whole is extremely rich in beneficial nutrients including fatty acids and Vitamin E, therefore being really hydrating for both the hair and skin. If you're searching for a multi-use oil or product to add into your routine I would totally recommend investing in a good quality argan oil.

Have you tried any of these products? What are your thoughts?
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*Picture and products featured above are mine.