Skincare - my products

If you've been reading my blog for a while you'll know that I've had an ongoing battle with my skin for years, now that I'm approaching my 29th birthday I finally seem to have got to grips with what it likes and what it doesn't. I thought I'd introduce you to the products I'm currently using to keep it in a half decent nick, I'll never have perfect skin and I doubt I'll ever feel completely happy about going foundation free but using these products is certainly helping me feel better about my skin.

Pre cleanse

Super Facialist Vitamin C Cleansing Oil. REN Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser. Clinique Take the Day Off Balm

I use three different pre cleansers on rotation, although at the moment I'm mainly using REN's hot cloth cleanser. It smells wonderful and it really gets everything off, although it struggles at waterproof mascara. I take them all off with a flannel soaked in hot water.

Cleanse

REN Mayblossom T-Zone Control Cleansing Gel. REN Clearcalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser. REN Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk

 You could say I'm slightly obsessed with REN, and you'd be right. Their products are amazing, they sorted out my skin after a particularly awful breakout last year. I use the T-Zone Cleansing Gel only once in a while when I feel that my skin is more oily than usual, I need to re-purchase it soon. The Clay Cleanser is my newest REN purchase and it is freaking amazing. About two or three weeks ago I had a cluster breakout on my forehead, a place I've never suffered with spots before, and this helped so much. It smells great and leaves my skin really smooth and clean, it's definitely going to get re-purchased. The Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk was the first REN cleanser I bought (although it had a different name back then), this is the product that helped calm my skin after it had broken out and generally gone all crazy on me. Another re-purchase will be needed soon, it'll be my third bottle. Again, they all get taken off with a hot flannel.

Exfoliate

No 7 Total Renewal Micro-dermabrasion Exfoliator. Urban Veda Radiance Exfoliating Facial Polish (from Birchbox)

 I don't tend to use exfoliators all that much, maybe once or twice a month. I've had the No 7 exfoliator for maybe coming up two years, that's how infrequently I use it as it's very harsh. The Urban Veda exfoliator was in a Birchbox in February and I really do like it, it does a good job but is gentle. It also smells lovely.

Tone

Botanics Rosewater Toning Spritz. Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic. L'Oreal Age Perfect Refreshing Toner

I use two toners morning and night, since Christmas I've been using the L'Oreal toner followed by Liz Earle. The L'Oreal toner is really refreshing and gets rid of the last scrap of anything that may be left on my face (which is rarely anything to be honest), I follow it with the Liz Earle toner which soothes my skin and plumps it up.

Mask

REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask. Super Facialist Rose Hydrate Intense Moisture Mask. Super Facialist Tea Flower Deep Cleanse Pore Purifying Clay Mask. Liz Earle Intensice Nourishing Treatment Mask

Now that I'm writing this I have realised that I've missed a mask out of the photo, try and imagine a tube of Dr Organic Manuka Face Mask sitting up there too. I try and use REN's Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask once a week, it really plumps out my skin and leaves it looking fresh. The two Super Facialist masks get used when I need them, same goes for the Dr Organic mask. The Liz Earle mask I use very infrequently, mainly because it's a giant pain in the backside to get out of the tube and I don't feel like it actually does anything for my skin, it's the only one I wouldn't re-purchase.

Serum

Botanics Skin Relief Serum Ultra Calm. No 7 Youthful Eye Serum. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

I use the Botanics Skin Relief Serum every morning as part of my morning routine, I suffer from red marks in areas I've had spots as well as my nose (seriously, it's glowing at the moment - if you have any tips/products I can use please let me know) and this helps to calm the areas down. The No 7 eye serum is used twice a day, I've suddenly become hyper aware that my age is starting to show around my eyes and I'm battling to try and get rid of fine lines. I use the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair every night, it feels like a luxury to use it and it makes my skin feel great.

Moisture 

Body Shop Nutriganics Smoothing Night Cream. Ridiculous amount of REN samples and one Clarins sample. REN Hydra-Calm Global Protection Day Cream

So many samples! Can you tell I buy my REN products direct from them?

At the moment the moisturisers I'm using are the REN Keep Young and Beautiful Anti-Ageing Eye Cream (morning and night), REN Global Protection Day Cream and Body Shop Smoothing Night Cream. I've been getting on with the Global Protection Day Cream long enough that I've nearly run out but I don't think I'll re-purchase, lately my skin hasn't liked it for some reason. The Smoothing Night Cream I've only used for about three nights so it's too early to tell if I like it yet, I know I'm not fussed on the smell though!

So there we have it, my skincare collection. This post was inspired by a chat I had with two of my work colleagues who were amazed at my morning and evening routines, no doubt if they see this they'll think I'm mad but that won't stop me!

Do you have any products you think I should try?