One, Two, Three, Sleep Skincare Routine

I feel like I've mentioned it before, and I'll very likely say it another hundred times, but I love my bed and making things as simple as possible so that I can stay in longer/get into it sooner.

The Lazy Girl Skincare Routine

I've become pretty lazy with my skincare routine. 

My mask a week is more like a mask a month, and I find myself drawn to my bed more than I am drawn to the sink. But I still want my skin to look presentable. (I know, I ask a lot.) So here I present to you my lazy girl skin care routine.

AM 

In the morning I want little to come between my bed and me, so I can get up and ready in about 15 minutes. I've mentioned before that I no longer wear make-up in the week, which helps, but my simple streamlined skincare also really helps.

To wash off the nights grime and get me feeling ready for the day I use the Origins Make A Difference Cleanser which I really love. I then dry my face off and then apply the Origins OverNight Mask with a drop of the B. Oil.

PM

Most days I do try to do a full evening routine, but if I'm barely keeping my eyes open the Avene Cleanace K. This stuff rocks. It's an exfoliating and hydrating hyrbid that leaves my skin looking clearer and brighter come the morning. 

You're welcome for the extra sleep you're going to get now.

Current Skincare Routine

Over the last couple of months I've changed my skin care routine slightly and I have noticed a massive difference in my skin. I'm getting a lot less spots and my skin has stopped being so flakey and oily at the same time. 

My morning routine is pretty much the same as here, so this is just an evening routine.

I start by removing my make-up. I always remove the eye make-up first with this remover from the Boots Botanics Range. I then follow with this La Roche-Posay gel cleanser on a cotton pad. This removes the most of my make-up and doesn't dry my skin out either.

Then one day I'll use this Loreal exfoliater, which is so fun to use, and then the other day I'll just use this face wash with a muslin cloth, as I don't want to be too harsh with my skin, but it also makes sure my skin is thoroughly clean. 

I then cleanse and tone. To cleanse I use this gel wash from Avene, which I presummed you could use on dry skin like the La Roche Posay one, however you have to use water with this, so right now I'm double cleansing, but I quite like that as I know my skin is clean and rid of make-up, and the gel formula isn't drying or over oily. I then spray on this toner from n-spa, which was only around £2 which is great as I don't know how good for you toner is, so don't want to spend lots of money on one.

I then run the La Roche-Posay Effaclar over my face, I got it because it said that it would reduce my pore size, which is hasn't so I won't be re-purchasing this. I also use this in the morning after washing my face. I then run this Garnier Roll on under my eyes, and pop my Super Spot Treatment on any active blemishes.

Now these are the two products I think are really helping my skin. The lovely Shen sent me a sample of this Sanctuary Facial oil, and I really liked it. I bought the Loreal Youth Code on a whim as it was on offer, and wasn't that blown away by it, but together these guys are brilliant, two pumps of the Youth Code and two drops of the oil rubbed together is beautiful. I think though, that when they run out, I may replace them with the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum, as the total of the two of these would be the same price.

And finally I finish with the Garnier Youthful Radiance Night Cream. I really love this moisturiser, but they seem to have changed the packaging from a lovely sleek glass pot to this tacky plastic one, with no extra benefit? Or drop in price? Ah well, I like it, it works, just doesn't look as pretty.

So if you made it through this well done. I know it seems like  a lot, but it really isn't to be honest, it doesn't take very long and my skin is so thankful for it.

What's you must have skin care item? 

Laura xoxo

The Body Shop - Vitamin E Face Mist

I've been wanting to try something like this for a while, I don't really know why, it just always looked cool (such a good reason to by something, yes?) It is meant to give you some added moisture and help prolong the wear of make-up.

As you can see, I picked it up from the Body Shop as they were doing a three for two on skin care, however I never realised that the Body Shop wasn't exactly cheap (maybe it's just me?) Anyway, this is the first of three things I'll be showing you, but decided on this first as it was the main reason I was in The Body Shop in the first place.

So I spray this on top of make-up and it makes me feel like my skin is able to breathe, and my face feels nice and fresh. I wouldn't say it helps my make-up last, but it does give it a slightly dewy finish (very slight) and my face feels nice and fresh.

I think it is a great thing to have in your bag if your feeling slightly sluggish or need freshening up throughout the day. It's not the nicest smell for me, personally, and make sure you keep your mouth shut 'cause it don't taste too good either, but overall it's a really lovely product and a nice little pick me up!

Do you use this, or something like it?

Laura xoxo

Morning Skincare Routine

So last week I showed you my evening skincare routine, so now it's the turn of the morning skin care routine. Now I am quite a morning person, in the sense that this is when I have the most 'get up and go' and feel the most alert. However I wouldn't try and have a conversation with me at that time, as I'm not a cheerful morning person.

When I wake up I usually look, well, a mess. I look dull and tired which isn't the best look to be honest. So what I like to do is use products that wake and brighten up my skin.

Now I never really used to take much care in the morning, a spot of moisturiser, a dash of make-up then I was done. I now have an actual routine, go me!

Clean and Clear Morning Energy Face Wash: This is the first thing I use in the morning. It smell gorgeous and brightens up my skin. It lathers up quite well, and is just a nice simple face wash that wakes you up in the morning. My skin feels nice and fresh afterwards, and did I mention it smells amazing?

Clean and Clear Shine Control: I use this lotion with a cotton wool ball after I've washed my face to ensure that all unwanted oil is removed and my skin does stay shine free throughout the day.

 Nivea Visage Radiance Boosting Moisturiser: I haven't been using this moisturiser for that long, but plan to do a review on it soon so look out for that. But I just put this on after my shine control and it works as a base before my make-up.

Good Things Eye Cream: I use this after my Nivea moisturiser as I suffer from really bad dark circles and like to know that I won't get puffy dark eyes throughout the day. If you are wearing make-up be sure to powder around the eyes as it does aid creasing.

Lush Lip Scrub and Carmex: It is best to use the scrub before moisturiser as the sugar can stick to your skin. I love this scrub though, it really does leave you with smooth lips. I like to apply Carmex/lip balm before I put on my make-up so it can sink in a bit before I put on any lipstick.

I should also say that if I have any large spots than I will put a bit of my Origins Super Spot treatment on it before my make-up, but only a tiny drop as it does go slightly crusty if too much is applied, which isn't attractive, trust me.

So it's not the most complex routine, but I think it has really helped my skin and helps my make-up apply better and stay on better. It is also a good way to freshen up in the morning.

What's you morning skin care routine? Do you have one?

Laura xoxo

Evening Skin Care Routine

I'm not going to lie, for a very long time all I used to do was get a make-up wipe, rub it over my face and then say that my make-up was off. I have since learnt, thank you massive breakouts for bringing it to my attention, that it is really not enough. So, I thought I'd do a little evening skin care routine post to show you what I use, and the methods I take in the evening to make-sure I got to bed nice and fresh faced.

First off that I should say that the routine I follow is one that I now stick too, the products I use, however, are interchangeable and just the products I'm using at the moment.

Nivea, Daily Essentials, Eye Make-up Remover: I like this eye make-up remover, it does the job and doesn't sting my eyes. I will say though, if I've been on a night out and have lots of eye make-up on, or if I have waterproof mascara on I use baby oil before this. Now I like to take my eye make-up off first because I read somewhere that it is better to do this so that the mascara doesn't run all round your face, and your face will be cleaner.

Face Wipes: At the moment I'm using an Asda's own face wipe. This is mainly because they're cheap and I don't see the point in splashing lots of cash on something that will be on my face for a matter of seconds. So yeah, after I've used my eye make-up remover I then take the rest of my make-up off using this.

Face Wash: At the moment I'm using a Clearasil face wash, which I like. It foams up nicely and leaves my skin feeling nice and fresh. I do this to definitely make sure that any trace of make-up is removed from my face.
Every other day I like to use my Garnier Brush Exfoliater to make sure I'm getting rid of all the dead skin cells and giving my skin a deep cleanse.

Cleanser: I'm still using my No7 Foaming Facial Cleanser which I mentioned in my January favourites, and I still love it. It really cleans my face and leaves it feeling, clean, soft and dewy which I really like.

Toner: I simple just go over my face with this Simple Toner, just because I feel like I'm supposed to (cleanse, tone and moisturise after all.) I can't tell you what it does, but I can tell you it makes  my feel happy so that is why I use it. (Gosh this is going to be such a helpful post!)

Spot Treatment: Again, I am still a massive fan of the Origins Spot Treatment. It really works at reducing spot size, and you can feel it working. I like to apply this to any breakouts I have, or feel like are appearing.

Eye Treatment: I have been using this for ages and it still hasn't run out. It is the Garnier Roll On. It does a really good job as I have naturally dark shadows under my eyes and it really helps keep them under control.

Moisturiser:I like to finish off with a good moisturiser that I like to feel still is working when I wake up in the morning. I only got this Garnier Night Cream in the week, so I'm thinking of doing a full review on it later in the week, but at the moment, I've got to say, I'm loving it.

So there you go, my evening skin care routine. I'm sorry it's not that helpful or scientific, but I know I like reading these types of posts because it gives me an insight into the products people use and how they use them.

What are your favourite products?

Laura xoxo