Winter Skincare Routine

Over the last month or so I have added a few new products to my routine so I thought it would be a good time to write an update about what I'm currently using and enjoying. I also wanted to mention a product that hasn't been such a success, which is probably just as useful to share.

MORNING

Nuxe Micellar Foam Cleanser
Before anyone tells me off, yes, yes, I know current wisdom suggests that it's a bad idea to use a foaming cleanser. However, my skin always feels rank if I completely stop using a foaming cleanser as part of my routine. I'm certainly not advocating them for everyone but I do like this one very much. I find the Nuxe similar to the Emma Hardie foaming cleanser in formula but the Nuxe foam feels a little creamier. I bought this from Escentual.com during a 1/3 off French Skincare promotion.

Nourish Radiance Refreshing Toning Mist*
I use this to dampen my face post cleanse, before using either the MuLondon moisturiser or Suti oil. It has quite a powerful spritzing action, a bit too powerful to be honest and it makes me miss the very delicate mist of the Live Native MSM toner.

MuLondon Organic Rose Moisturiser*
I thought it would be nice to revisit this moisturiser as my skin was feeling a little dry and weather beaten. You can find my original review here. It has a solid balm texture which melts with body heat. I tend to scrape up a small amount, melt it between my hands before massaging into my face and neck, which I dampen with toner beforehand. I prefer to dampen my skin as I don't need as much of the moisturiser that way and it makes it easier to spread. 

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm*
I'll sometimes use this in the morning if I didn't get opportunity to have a thorough cleanse the night before (see below for an explanation). It always leaves my skin feeling lovely and clean when used in conjunction with a hot flannel.

EVENING

The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover
I finally allowed myself to re-purchase this old favourite after finishing off all my half used bottles of eye makeup remover. I've dabbled with bi-phasic and micellar removers but I much prefer this light cream formula. It's quick and effective, I also find that it can double as an all over makeup remover when I'm feeling very lazy.

No7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser
I've returned to using this cleanser as it's very nearly empty and I'm still on a major drive to use up products. Although this was also an old favourite (I've been through several tubes in the past), I think the love affair is definitely over. I still like the creamy texture but the fragrance is too synthetic and I suspect it irritates my skin very slightly. I much prefer the Pai cleanser and Emma Hardie cleansing balm to this. I'm actually tempted to do the unthinkable and throw it away before it's empty. 

Bioderma Crealine Micellar Water
I've had to use this as a makeup remover quite a lot over the Christmas period. It's not ideal but unfortunately our bathroom backs on to my daughters room and if she's stirring as we go up to bed, running lots of water often wakes her up. I'll take a sticky face over getting her back to sleep any day! As I mentioned above, I will use the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm in the morning to make up for it.
 
Suti Rejuvenate Organic Facial Oil*
Although facial oils seem very popular in the beauty community, it's not something I use very often. I don't think I've ever managed to review an oil as I am incapable of applying daily for a 28 day period. However, an excellent guest review of the Suti Rejuvenate oil on London MakeUp Girl encouraged me to give this a proper try. I apply this in a similar way to the MuLondon moisturiser, I ensure my skin is thoroughly dampened with the toner spray before massaging in several drops of oil. When I use it in the evenings, I find I wake up with beautifully soft skin without a trace of greasiness.

Before I started using the Organic Rose moisturiser in the mornings, I often used the Suti oil and found it an excellent prep for foundation. I find that in winter, foundation can sometimes accentuate dry patches (even when you thought you had none) but both the MuLondon and the Suti oil are very good at counteracting this. The Vapour Soft Focus Skin Perfector is also very good for this.

OCCASIONAL

I noticed there was a bit of theme to these three supplementary items. The short days, winter winds and central heating all do an excellent job of making my skin look rather dull and grey. I use all of these products in the quest for more radiant skin.

Live Native Essential Earth Exfoliating Cleanser*
This lives in my shower and I use it a couple of times a week. It has quite a gentle exfoliating action so it doesn't feel over the top to have this and the exfoliating mask in my routine.

Omorovicza Radiance Renewal Serum*
Before I switched to using the Suti oil, I used this serum to supplement my moisturiser in the evenings. The moisturiser I had been using wasn't sufficiently hydrating on its own and I felt that the  serum helped to counteract this.

Sjal Pearl Enzyme Exfoliating Mask*
I used this on Christmas day and before my night out at the beginning of December. It's an expensive item that I can't see myself replacing, so I feel the need to eke it out! It smells very odd (and not in a good way) but the pay off is smooth, glowing skin. A cheaper, less smelly alternative is the Dr Darren McKeown Mask from Superdrug. 

DIDN'T LOVE

I really wanted to love the Antipodes Rejoice Light Facial Day Cream and my initial impressions were good. It smells beautiful and the texture is lovely but much richer than you would expect for a light cream. Despite the rich texture, I found it behaved oddly on my skin. Rather than being absorbed or leaving a film, after a couple of minutes it would begin to dry on the surface of my skin. Whilst it didn't exactly make my skin tight, it was an uncomfortable feeling. I would also need to use something else before applying foundation as this left my skin too dry to apply directly. I'm hopeful that I can make it more servicable by adding a drop of oil as I apply it.

Have you discovered any new skincare favourites over the last couple of months or have you been re-united with your old winter favourites?

* The items shown here are a mixture of items purchased by me and PR samples. The samples are all indicated with an asterisk.

Current Skin Care Routine

I've been in a non-testing phase with skin care for the last month or so. I don't expect it to last, and I already have a few new things I intend to test for review, but sometimes it is nice to have a break and use things that I already know suit my skin. I'm also keen to use up some of my opened products.

This is just a general overview of the products I'm using. I have reviewed quite a few of the items mentioned and I will include the links where available.

Morning Routine

Face Wash - Själ Balans Deep Pore Cleanser* or Lise Watier HydraSmart Foaming Wash. It's important to mention that foaming face wash DOES NOT suit everybody. However, I like to use one as part of my routine and never use one that makes my skin feel tight or stripped. Neither of these are my favourite but I'm determined to use them up.

Toner - A spritz of Mineral Källa Energy Tonic* or Pai Bioaffinity Rice Plant & Rosemary Toner before moistuiser. I was a little disappointed by the Pai Toner, I wanted to love it but I think it doesn't suit my skin type. It has a slightly odd smell too which I don't get on with. I imagine I would have had more success with the hydrating version.

Moisturiser - I had been using the Emma Hardie Hydrating Lighter Lotion* but finished this up recently. I purchased the Avene Antirougers Jours SPF 20 as a replacement.

Eye Cream - Perricone MD Hypoallergenic Firming Eye Cream*. I'm on the fence about this cream, but I do think I have particularly fussy eyes. It feels nice and is fine if I apply during the day. If I apply at night, I wake up with a swollen undereye area. This is a problem I have experienced with most eye creams and the Zelens and BcomBio Serum are the only ones I have found so far that do not do this.

Evening Routine

Eye Makeup Remover - Gemey Eye makeup remover or Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover. I used up my first bottle of the Gemey and am on to my second bottle. The Botanics is not to my taste, it's a bi-phase oil based remover, but I feel duty bound to use it up. It does remove heavy eye makeup swiftly which is in its favour.

Makeup Removal - Bioderma on lazy days, Zelens Radiance Cleaner* for most days and Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm* and a hot flannel when I feel like I need a thorough cleanse. Sometimes, I use the Moringa balm the morning after the night before. I'm not confessing to sleeping in my makeup but I will admit to being slap dash on occasion.

Second Cleanse - Face Wash, as above.

Moisturiser - Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturiser. Now that I've finished this completely, I'm having a go with the Suti Rejuvenate Organic Facial Oil*. If you want to know what prompted me to give it a try, please read the excellent guest review on London MakeUp Girl.

Eye Cream - Zelens Advanced Eye Cream*

Extras

Exfoliation - It's a long time since I routinely used a physical exfoliant but I received a little sample of the Pai Kukui and Jojoba Bead Exfoliator with an order. It's really enjoyable to use and feels a lot like using a cleansing balm but with texture. The first time I used it, it felt like it left a slight film on my skin after rinsing, so on subsequent uses I removed with a warm flannel. I've used up my sample now and I am considering buying the full size.

Glycolic Acid Treatments - Now, before I start worrying you by writing about two different products, I promise that I am not overdoing it with AHAs. I never use a glycolic acid treatment more than three times a week. I've ended up switching between two different products because I'm forgetful and the time of day that I remember dictates which product I use. If I remember in the morning, I use the Perricone MD Advanced Face Firming Activator, and if I remember in the evening, I use Alpha H Liquid Gold*. Texture wise, my preference is for the Perricone Serum but the Liquid Gold is very quick and allows me to skip moisturising in the evening.

As usual, what seems like quite a simple routine, looks quite product heavy when written down like this. I hope it's useful, even if it is a little ramble-y. What products are you using at the moments? Do you have any recommendations or products you've found disappointing? 

* PR Samples

Själ, So Good

My 'me' time has been very limited recently and this has the effect of making me more grumpy than normal. I have hit upon a new technique for making sure I do find time to pamper my face. I know it isn't novel and I'm probably the last person to catch on, but I've taken to slapping face masks whilst I do the cleaning. It's Mum multi-tasking at its very best.

The products that I have been pampering myself with for the last couple of weeks are from the Själ Skincare line. This premium, mineral based skincare brand contains some rather interesting and expensive ingredients. This is my way of preparing you for the prices. You may want to start buttering up your Sugar Daddy now!

The Själ Holiday Essentials set that I was sent to try contains both the Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask and Pearl Enzyme Exfoliating Mask (it also contains their Balans Deep Pore Cleanser). I tend to apply these masks one after the other: I apply the exfoliating mask first to a freshly cleansed face, followed by the perfecting mask. It is recommended that you leave both masks on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off.

The Pearl Enzyme exfoliating mask is my favourite of the two in terms of results. It has a similar feel and effect to the Dr Darren McKeown mask that I have reviewed previously, however the grains are more refined and less scratchy than the Dr Darren version. The Pearl Enzyme mask also dries down on the skin a little too. The exfoliating mask does have a bit of a strange and not entirely pleasant odour. I've tried and failed to pinpoint exactly what it is but it is worth putting up with the smell for the super smooth skin it reveals once rinsed off with a damp cloth.

The Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask is a thing of beauty. It looks and smells divine, it also contains some rather impressive ingredients. According to the blurb on the packaging, it contains 'Chinese herbs, silk proteins and blue lotus to protect, soften, calm & tone while increasing oxygen uptake. Gold, platinum & GABA amino acid for firming; sapphire and bio-tissue salts for cell regeneration & pore minimization'. Although it promises much, I think most of these benefits are pretty hard to judge on a personal level. Certainly, the improvements to my skin aren't as easy to see and feel as the Pearl Enzyme.

The two other items from Själ that I have been using are not new to me. As I mentioned above, the Balans Deep Pore Cleanser is included in the Holiday Essentials set and I have been reunited with my old favourite, Mineral Källa Energy Tonic. The Mineral Tonic has been reformulated and it's still as good as ever. The refreshing and hydrating feel of this mist is just as I remember. I'm not a big toner fan generally but this is definitely the mayonnaise in my chicken sandwich (analogy shamelessly stolen from the Beauty Mouth).

Although no one has said so, I suspect that the Balans Deep Pore Cleanser has also been reformulated. I find this formula doesn't foam at all and it has lost that chilly menthol after-zing. I haven't used this as much as the other Själ products as I had anticipated the cleanser would be too 'strong' for my skin based on previous experience. As this seems to be a more gentle formulation, I will continue to use this and report back.

I don't necessarily think you need to be going on holiday to appreciate the items in the Holiday Essentials set, of course, combining it with housework is strictly optional too. I can't find this set online but individually the items cost: £124 for the Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask, £128 for the Pearl Enzyme Exfoliating Mask and £47 for the Balans Deep Pore Cleanser. My favourite Själ product remains the Mineral Källa Energy Tonic (£47) and it's something I would feel happy replacing when I run out. Previous experience tells me that it lasts months. As nice as the masks are, I really struggle once prices go above my £50/60 threshold for skincare items.

Själ is available from Zuneta and Harvey Nichols in the UK. You can find details of other stockist Worldwide on the Själ website.

Disclosure: These items were sent to me without cost for review purposes.

20% off weekend at Zuneta

It's 20% off this weekend at Zuneta, so it's the ideal time to buy that Edward Bess or Rouge Bunny Rouge item you've been holding out for!

If you're an old hand and fancy trying something new take a look here at the newest arrivals. I'm particularly interested in the new Rouge Bunny Rouge lacquer liner. There's also the Naked Disguise Glide Concealer which lipglossiping reviewed as a guest post. The Edward Bess Sheer Satin cream foundation is definitely worth a look too. I've seen it in action and it gives a lovely natural finish. You can watch the man himself apply it to London Make Up girl in the video on the product page.

If you're a fan of Sjal and Found skincare this is a great time to stock up. I'm told these lines never get discounted. They really are the Rolls Royce of skincare and if you like a bit of luxury these are perfect. 

I'm after Abyssinian Catbird by Rouge Bunny Rouge, I also fancy the liner that I mentioned and I might just pick up a new lipstick. For blog research purposes of course!

To get the discount, enter the code WEEKEND. The code is already live, so race you there.........


Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with Zuneta and the links are not affiliate links. I'm just a big fan and a lover of discounts!