Hello everyone!
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As you may have noticed last week, I posted my All Time Makeup Favorites post. So, I thought: why not do skincare as well? Today I am bringing you my all time favorites for my face, so I hope you’ll enjoy. Also, just a heads-up: I am probably not going to do my hair favorites just yet, since I haven’t found them and currently hate my hair, haha!
My skin
Firstly, let me introduce you to my skin. My skin is normal to dry, with some periods of dehydration. Basically, I have no issues with my skin, except for occasional hormonal breakouts and blackheads, and very occasional dry patches when I don’t hydrate as much as I should.
However, it does tend to be a bit dull at times, and seems kind of lifeless, so these are all the products to help everything I just told you.
Cleansing
Cleansing is something I definitely don’t do on a daily basis. This may sound terrible to you, but the fact is… I don’t wear makeup every day. When I do wear makeup, I take it off with some mild soap and micellar water. However, these are the products I use the day after, in the shower. Yes, I do wash my face every day, but I don’t scrub it, or use these products to wash it, because there’s not much to take off.
Silvercrest Sonic Facial Cleansing brush, which is a brush for deeper cleaning, and removing all makeup residue, some dead skin cells, even blackheads. You can find this product in Lidl for around $20, but I’m not sure they are permanent there. I sometimes see them, sometimes I don’t. So keep your eyes peeled, or go for some alternatives. There really are many of them on the market. I also wrote a review of this one, as well as compared it to a Foreo Luna Play, but that post is only in Croatian, due to some misunderstandings with the Foreo brand, so check out those posts.
L’Oreal Sublime Fresh Deep Pure Foaming Water. This is a foam actually, which promises to ‘remove all traces of make-up, deeply purify pores, give crystal pure and fresh skin’, and not to have any soap or alcohol. I love this one, but unfortunately it is no longer sold (as far as I know). However, the scent is great, it’s mild, it removes everything it needs to remove, and I’m happy with it!
Himalaya Herbals Purifying Neem Foaming Face Wash for Normal to Oily skin. Since the L’Oreal one is no longer sold, I wanted to find a good alternative. Not only to share with you guys, but to use once I’ve used up the L’Oreal one. I think I found something quite similar, with equally good cleansing power, without soap, but with alcohol. However, since this is the step of cleansing, I do hydrate right after, so it’s not that big of a deal. Also, it stings my eyes a bit. Moreover, it is free from parabens, SLS/SLES and phthalates (we’ll have to look more into this one if #FormulaFriday maybe?).
Masks
I love a good mask, I have to say that. However, I actually don’t care which one I’m using in terms of hydration, evening out the skin, toning, etc. I find them all equally good, since my skin is not too demanding.
However, these two I especially love. I have already shown you the Avon Clearskin Pore Penetrating Black Mineral Mask. Well, as everyone in this planet, I guess, I have occasional blackheads, especially around my nose area. This one does wonders when it comes to that. You apply it on the skin, and as it dries, you can literally see your gunk coming out. I am telling you, if you haven’t, you HAVE TO try this one!
Revuelle No Problem 🙂 Facial peel off mask. I mean, how cute is the smiley face? This is a black peel off mask with activated Carbon, Zinc and Silver ions Ag+. It is against acne and blackheads for deep pore cleansing, regulates the sebaceous gland function and renders your skin matte. I don’t know about the last two, but it does fight acne and blackheads, and is not as painful as I’ve seen other similar masks on the internet to be. In fact, it didn’t hurt me one bit. And it definitely took out a lot of gunk (especially from my boyfriends face, that was satisfying :D:D).
Peeling
Since I have my black masks and my cleansing brush, I don’t actually use any other physical peeling. I think that would be way too aggressive for my skin. However, I do use a chemical peeling.
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution for 10-minute exfoliating facial, pH around 3.6. This is the product that helps me fight dullness of my skin. I use it once a week, and have noticed a difference in my skin’s texture and feeling in general. You are supposed to apply it on completely dry, but clean, skin, and leave it on for no more than 10 minutes before rinsing off. It is red, so none of it is left on your skin, and you can easily notice if it does. It does sting a tiny bit at first, but you don’t feel it on after a minute or two. Amazing product!
Refreshing mists and toners
I remember, as a kid, my mom would always apply toner on her skin with a cotton round. After that, as a teenager (with the least problematic skin, just a few acne spots, which were the end of the world at the time) I got my own toner, but never really understood it. However, when I was in London, I bought one after a few years of not using it, and fell right back in love.
Superdrug Vitamin E Refreshing Toning Mist is not only the first toner after quite some time, but the first toning mist ever. I was so heads over heels for this one. It refreshes me in the summer, but gives extra hydration, shine and fights dullness in the winter. Overall amazing product, and I’ll have to find someone who’s going to the UK soon, because I’m running out!
L’Occitane Essential Water from their Immortelle line. This is a similar concept, but it is not a toner per se, but it has kind of a similar effect. It is not as hydrating as the Superdrug one, but it does fight dullness and is a great refreshment in the summer. I have to say, I do prefer the Superdrug one, which was 2 pounds 😀
Serum
Serums are something I’ve started using about a year ago. Up until then, I knew they existed, but I either couldn’t afford them, or didn’t feel the need to have them. Now I have two, that are quite similar, and I’m quite sure there are more like these on the market.
Balea Aqua Serum has a very liquidy consistency, but it absorbs into my skin very quickly, and hydrates it beautifully. It contains Hyaluronic acid, and works wonders. It’s great for prepping your skin for makeup, but you can also use it at night under your cream for even more hydration! If you don’t remember, I’ve written a post on Hyaluronic acid, so read it to know what does it exactly do.
Afrodita Hydra Active Concentrate from the Hydra Thermal line is not really a serum, but I mostly use it like one. It also contains Hyaluronic acid, but is a creamier consistency. It also absorbs very well, and I use this one when I need a bit more for my skin. This one is just a tiniest bit better, in my opinion. But I have to say, they are basically the same.
Creams
Up until quite recently, creams were the only hydrating products I used on my face. However, each time I found one I liked, after I bought 1, 2 or 3 of them, they would get discontinued, and I had to find a new one. That was super frustrating, so now I don’t really pay much attention to them. However, these 2 have really stuck out.
The Afrodita Hydra Thermal nutritive moisturizing cream for dry skin is from the same line as the Active concentrate above. It is a very thick cream, also contains hyaluronic acid, and I use it almost exclusively in the winter. It gives me so much hydration, and my skin feels so good. It’s never dry when I use it. However, it’s way too thick for the summer for my skin, and I don’t really need that much hydration during the summer. But, now it’s a total life-saver!
Eveline Argan & Goat’s Milk Anti-Wrinkle Smoothing Day Cream with UVA and UVB is much thinner consistency. It absorbs very fast, and still leaves your skin hydrated and extremely smooth. This is my first bottle/tube/container or whatever this is, but I’m pretty sure I will buy more of them (if they don’t discontinue it, of course). As for wrinkles, I’m pretty sure a $3 cream can’t do much, so I won’t get into that.
Oils
I have introduced oils into my skincare regimen a while ago. It started with my hair, then with my body and now I use them for my skin, as well. This is a part of my night time routine, almost every day, but especially when I need a bit more for my skin.
First is a Croatian product by Mala od lavande and it is actually a serum with Immortelle. I don’t use it as a serum, but alone, instead of a night cream. The smell might be repulsive, but I kind of like the immortelle smell, so I don’t mind it. I have also used one by L’Occitane and it was just as amazing.
Next is Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil. I stupidly confused this with the famous concentrate the first few times I used it, but then realized it was actually a cleansing oil. I loved it both ways, but it may not be smart to leave it on, not sure. The smell of the entire line is divine and luxurious, and I am in love. It leaves my skin super soft!
Last is Jasön Vitamin E 5,000 IU skin oil. This is an all-over body nourishment with a blend of oils, which is gorgeous for my skin. My skin feels really soft in the morning, smooth and moisturized. If you want to read more about it, or buy it, you can do so here (it’s on sale, not an affiliate link).
Eye cream
Eye creams is something I never really got into. I just can’t seem to get into the habit of applying them every evening. So that is going to be something I am going to concentrate on this year. However, the next two are the ones I’ve been using here and there and I enjoy both of them.
Simple Kind to Eyes soothing eye balm is an eye cream I also got in London for extremely cheap. It is a very light texture, soaks in very quickly, nourishes my under eye area really nicely and overall feels good.
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye is another Kiehl’s product I use, and I really love it. Especially because of that signature Midnight Recovery scent, which makes me feel like I’m in a spa. Amazing line, and I definitely recommend it!
And that’s it for this post! Do you use any of these products? Are any of them your favorites? Are there some products you think I should try? Or would you like to hear a more in depth review on some of these products? Let me know in the comments!
Thank you for reading!
See you soon x
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