My Skincare Steps for Clean, Clear and Healthy Skin

I thought I would pen a post dedicated to the steps I take to keep my skin in a condition that I'm really happy with, and that I have lived by for quite some time now. I tend to switch up the products that I use quite a lot, but the general routine stays the same.

I'd just like to say before I get into it, that these steps work really well for me. They might not work as well for anyone else as everyone has different skin, different concerns and different skin behaviour. Keeping this in mind, I would recommend these steps as they have worked wonders for my skin, just remember that every one is different and personal preference/skin type plays a huge role in any skincare routine!

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1.  Double Cleanse:

Every morning and every night, I always, always double cleanse. Now this might seem unnecessary to some, but after much observation over the sink with a white flannel, it has become apparent to me that my skin can't get completely clean with one wash. I always, always have more make-up and more dirt and residue on my flannel after a second cleanse and especially if you are a make-up wearer, I feel this step is essential.  At night, I normally use a cream cleanser to get of the majority of make-up and grime from the day, and the same goes for in the morning when removing all the dirt and sweat that happens at night when you sleep. I then use a cleansing balm as a second cleanse to make sure all dirt and make-up is gone and my skin is completely clean and fresh. (I always use my cleansers dry for massaging in the product and dissolving the make-up and grime, and add a wet flannel to 'rinse'). 

This step has really, really shown a difference in my skin as I used to have quite congested skin, especially in my t-zone area. Lots of blackheads and build up in the nose and micro-bumps on my forehead. Also if I just so happen to fall asleep without removing my make-up (which is very, very rare) I always wake up in the morning with a spot - I kid you not. Which signals to me just how important it is to make sure that the skin is clean at all times, and by clean I don't mean stripped and squeaky clean by using foaming cleansers or acne face washes, no no no, I stay away from those. By using a creamy cleanser and a balm, it makes sure than my make-up has been dissolved thoroughly and broken down, while providing comfort and moisture for my skin with hydrating and nourishing ingredients that these types of cleansers have. 

My favourite cleansers that I tend to rotate and re-purchase are:

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm (review),

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleasner (review),

Una Brennan Rose Hydrate Creamy Cleanser,
Fushi Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil,
Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm,

and Balance ME Pure Skin Face Wash.

2. Double Toner: 

Yep that's right, another double! I like to use two different types of toner - one that is exfolating and resurfacing called a 'chemical exfoliant', followed by a softening toner that is hydrating and plumping. I am currently using Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 as my chemical exfoliant and it is fantastic. For my softening toner I am currently using an all time favourite of mine which is the Lancome Tonique Douceur which I will again be repurchasing soon as it is nearing the end. I use the exfoliating one first to resurface my skin and help to break down any dead skin cells and create environment where spots and blemishes can't occur, the P50 in particular feels quite tingly when applied and is very concentrated, over time it has left my skin feeling smooth, supple and refined. The softening toner comes after as this helps to soften and smooth the skin ready for make-up by hydrating and calming the skin after the chemical exfoliant. This softening step is important for me as it creates a great base for moisturiser to go on top and ensures that my skin is soothed and soft ready for my make-up. I usually use both in the morning and at night, but since the weather has gotten a bit warmer in the UK, I have only been using the Lotion P50 at night as the chemical exfoliants can sensitise the skin to sun damage. I always make sure I use an SPF daily anyway, but by taking this extra precaution in the summer I am being sure that I am protecting my skin from harm. 

Other softening toners I enjoy using are:

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic (DI-VINE!!),

and Clarins Toning Lotion with Iris.

3. Treatment/Serum: 

After I have cleansed and toned, I make sure I follow with a treatment/serum to inject a little extra repair into my skin. Serums work from the bottom of the skin up, while moisturisers work from the top of the skin down. By using both I am making sure that my skin is getting maximum replenishment and repair. In the daytime, I use a pore minimising serum which is the Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimising Skin Refinisher serum and it is seriously, seriously good. This makes my skin feel silky smooth and has lots of retexturizing and hydrating benefits which help to keep my make-up looking fresh all day and my skin looking smooth in texture. I sometimes use my Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronised Recovery Complex II  (post) in the morning also, but I have mostly been using it as my night time treatment. These treatments work to target concerns that I may have with my skin, which mainly include texture, even tone and hydration. Serums and treatments should be chosen suited on your particular skincare concerns so that you get the results that you want. Of course, I always follow these with a moisturiser. Other serums I really love are:

Hydraluron Serum by Indeed Labs (review here),

and Lancome Genefique Serum.

  4. Eye Cream:

I always use an eye cream, every day, every morning and night. As the eye area is 40% thinner than the rest of the face, it is important to use eye creams as they are specifically designed for that delicate area. I find this step essential for helping me look awake and hydrated under my eyes and help to diminish fine lines and darkness. I especially make sure I have eye cream on if I am wearing make-up, particularly concealer as it tends to look dry and scaly under the eye if the area isn't properly moisturised and hydrated.

My favourites include:

Emu Oil Well Moisturising Eye Cream,
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye,
Estee Lauder Advanced Time Zone Eye Cream,

and Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Infusion.

5. Lip Balm:

I always apply lip balm in the morning when I am doing my morning routine, during the day liberally and at night time too. Hydrated lips are really important, and I make sure that if I'm out in the sun, I'm using one that has an SPF in as lips can burn too and are prone to sun damage like the rest of the skin. It's important not to neglect the lips and regular application of a hydrating lip product can keep them from looking chapped and feeling dry resulting in lovely soft and smooth lips... mmmm :-)

Lip balms that I use are:

Blistex MedPlus Balm,

Blistex Intensive Moisturiser,
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream,

and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Lip Protectant Stick SPF 15.

6. SPF:

On the daily, I tended to use my foundation as an SPF and my Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation has an SPF of 10. I am also a fan of Clinique City Block Sheer SPF 25 as it goes on really nice under make-up and doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy. However recently, I picked up No7 Anti-Dark Spot Sun Protection in SPF50 (for face), predominantly for my holiday at the end of this month, but I have been using it daily under make-up and I must say I am very impressed. I always have some kind of SPF on my face, every day. (I shall review the No7 soon).

7. Face Masks:

I always like to have a couple of face masks on the go to use once or twice a week to give my skin a little treat or a boost. My favourite face masks to use are by Lush and are always a pleasure to use. They give great results and contain natural ingredients which help the skin in different ways depending on which one you go for. I tend to always go for Brazened Honey which I have reviewed here, although I had been enjoying Ayesha a month or so ago.. Another face mask I really enjoy using is the Alba Botanica Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask which contains Papaya to eat away at dead skin and leave a smooth surface without impurities.

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So those are the steps that I take to keep my skin looking clear and healthy, and I hope/think that in the long run it will keep my skin looking tip top even when I'm 90 *fingers crossed*.

There is a quote by the famous and beautiful Coco Chanel that has always stayed with me, and that is:

"Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have to fifty"

Did you find this post helpful? 

What do you do to look after your skin?

Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint SPF 15 & My Liz Earle Experience

So I thought I would share with you my experience with Liz Earle and the delivery I got from them as well as the product I discovered and now love! 

I decided to order a new bottle of one of my favourite cleaners, Cleanse & Polish, as I was about to run out and Liz Earle were doing free delivery for a limited time only - and I'm a sucker for free delivery! 

I had previously ordered my Cleanse & Polish and Skin Tonic from QVC so I had no idea what the difference would be in ordering from Liz Earle's actual site. 

When I received the package I expected it to just be in a bog standard box with some bubble wrap maybe, but I was so pleasantly surprised when I opened the bag to find a clearly hand-wrapped package sealed with a Liz Earle sticker. The package was done so neatly I couldn't believe it! I love touches like that, as it shows that the company really cares.

Next, when I opened it up, there were plenty of goodies inside for me to get my hands on - as well as the cleanser being concealed in it's own Liz Earle cosmetic bag which I now use to carry skincare bits in!

As I ordered the starter kit, because it comes with more muslin cloths, I also received this instruction card talking you through how to use the cleanser properly - another nice touch.

The goodies I recieved: Samples of all shades of Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint SPF15, Instant Boost Skin Tonic 50ml and Liz Earle cosmetic bag. 

A little message hand signed by the person who beautifully packed and wrapped my order - how nice?!

A little 'how-to' guide on toning to go along with the Instant Boost Skin Tonic.

My mini sized Skin Tonic along with my big sized one that I already use. The 50ml bottle that was gifted to me is worth £5.25! So handy for me to take on holiday and travelling.

On the left is a very thick and beautifully printed catalogue of all Liz Earle's products which I had fun drooling over!

I just couldn't believe how much effort was put into my order and I was so grateful for the samples and the literature they sent along with it. I know it's not much, but little touches like this really say something about a company and how important their customers are to them. After using the sample of the Sheer Skin Tint in 03 Beach, I am now definitely going to buy the full size - samples are powerful! 

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I really loved using this tinted moisturiser, and was quite upset when I had used up my sample! It's such a lovely consistency, its not too thick and not too watery - it gives a great medium coverage. 

The thing I loved most about this tinted moisturiser was that it really hydrated me all day but didn't make me oily. I love that it's made by Liz Earle as you know there are some great skincare treats inside as well as makeup (Vitamin E, Avocado & Borage). 

The SPF meant that I didn't have to worry about adding one underneath and I'm happy knowing that my skin is being protected by a medium protection SPF. 

I applied this with my Real Techniques Buffing brush instead of fingers as the consistency is like a foundation. It gave my skin such a great dewy glow and with a bit of powder on top, I was good to go and it lasted quite well on my skin. It felt light, and like I wasn't wearing make-up but was enough to even out my skin tone and hide mild redness around my nose and mouth.

I love this for everyday as it's so quick and easy to apply and looks natural and like skin, I wouldn't choose this as my base for a night out simply because I like a bit more coverage and something I know will last all night.

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If you have quite clear skin and are looking for a light, easy base then I'd definitely try out the Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint, it comes in 4 shades and I'm shade 03 so I'm not sure how well deeper skin tones would find the 4th shade. 

You can pick this up from Liz Earle's website or visit John Lewis to find your correct shade match! The Skin Tint retails for £21.00.

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I hope you liked this post! Have you ordered anything from Liz Earle before?

Review: My current cleansers of choice! - Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish & Bravura Purifying Gel Cleanser

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser and Bravura London Purifying Gel Cleanser

I have come across the most spectacular cleanser I have ever tried! I have tried quite a few over the years, some were good, some did absolutely nothing to my skin. This one however, I look forward to using it every morning and evening - yes, it is the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. This cleanser receives so much praise and hype in the beauty world, and well deserved! I bought it having read various raves and reviews, and I wasn't disappointed. I've been using it for a good few months now, and it has already become THE staple item in my skincare routine (skincare routine post soon).

My second cleanser of choice at the moment is by a company called Bravura, based in london, and it is their Purifying Gel Cleanser for oily/problem skin. Now, I wouldn't say my skin is 'problem', however I have inherited my Mum's oiliness (Thanks Mum!), and am quite prone to oiliness in my T-zone and stubborn blackheads in my nose (Ew!) This cleanser is perfect for deep-cleansing as it uses topical exfoliants such as various acids and enzymes, which have really helped my skin. 

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish - 100ml

The Liz Earle Cleanser is nothing short of miraculous, this cleanser is so moisturising and although I have combination/oily skin, I hate the tight, dry feeling that some cleansers give the skin but this makes my face feel supple and smooth when I use it. 

The main active ingredients in the cleanser are Rosemary, Chamomile, Cocoa Butter and Eucalyptus essential oil. The Chamomile soothes and calms the skin, so it is perfect to use if you want to strip your skincare back to basics through those breakout periods (Hormones!). The Cocoa Butter provides the moisturised feeling after cleansing without clogging pores and the Eucalyptus essential oil provides skincare benefits as well as a gorgeous aroma that is slightly addictive!

The bottle comes with this really convenient pump that allows you to control how much product you pump out. This pump format is available with the 100ml bottle, the 200ml comes in a squeezy tube. ( I prefer the pump!)

You don't need tons of this cleanser because it is very thick and creamy as you can see from the photos above. You massage it onto dry skin, working it into your skin for a deep cleanse, it feels really smooth and silky on the skin. Then comes the amazing part - the muslin cloth! Now, I'd never used a muslin cloth before this, but ohhhh man my life will never be the same again! The muslin cloth is thin and provides just the right amount of exfoliation for every day use - I don't want to be scrubbing my face within an inch of it's life every day! By using the cloth with hot water after massaging in the cleanser, it scruffs away any dead skin and leaves your face smooth and radiant. I don't think I could ever go back to using anything else!

Now for the Bravura cleanser...

Not the greatest of photo's as it was hard to get a non-shiny one due to the packaging!! - Sorry

After watching a video by Wayne Goss (gossmakeupartist on YouTube - and if you haven't watched his videos, you need him in your life!) about how to get rid of black heads (Video link here) where he mentioned a cleanser by Paula's Choice containing BHA Salicylic acid. 

A little lesson on BHA's (Beta-hydroxy acids) if you don't want to watch the video - Salicylic is the only acid of this type, it is perfect for the elimination of blackheads because it goes INTO the pore and 'pops the plug', as it were, cleansing deeply into the pore and flushing out the blackhead completely. They also have an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory action if you are particularly prone to breakouts. Amazing right? Well, I went to purchase the Paula's Choice Exfoliant which comes in a gel (2% BHA for Combination/Oily Skin) and a lotion (1% for Normal/Dry/Very Dry Skin). At £21.50 for 100ml, the price point wasn't too sad, however when I got to the checkout, the postage was almost £5! - for a bottle of cleanser, really?! So I decided to look around some more, possibly for a product that was cheaper and that did the same thing. 

That is when I stumbled across the Bravura cleanser - a cleanser containing not only BHA Salicylic acid for those pesky blackheads, but AHA Glycolic acid for exfoliating the skin's surface, perfect for sun-damaged/dry/sensitive skins as they aren't as harsh and they improve moisture content. The cleanser also contains Lactic acid, another AHA (Alpha-hydroxy acid), these acids are derived from fruit and milk. It also contains 'Papain' - an enzyme present in Papaya, don't even get me started on Papaya! This magical fruit exfoliates the skin by eating away at all the dead skin on the surface, leaving you with a smooth complexion. So, this cleanser has MORE active ingredients than the Paula's Choice one, and at less than half the price, it does the job very well!

The active ingredients speak for themselves and leave my skin feeling smooth, renewed and very, very clean! The BHA ingredient has done wonders for my blackheads as well as making the pores on my nose look much smaller and less 'wide'. 

The cleanser is a clear gel (made from Aloe Vera) and I will be honest and say the smell is quite strong and "chemically", nevertheless the smell isn't off-putting and doesn't linger on the skin. When applied to the face (dry!), it becomes less gel-like and more like a lotion, becoming white before sinking into the skin. Use it fast and efficiently to get the best results! Again, I use my muslin cloth to remove the cleanser and I use it in conjunction with the Liz Earle (either before or after) as I always double-cleanse!

Overall, I am very happy with these cleansers and what they have done for my skin, I would definitely recommend the Liz Earle for anyone with any skin type, and the Bravura for anyone with combination/oily/congested skin that needs a good clear out!

The Liz Earle (100ml pump and 2 muslin cloths retail at £14.25) can be purchased from the official UK site or at QVC and the Bravura (100ml retails at £8.39) can be purchased from the Bravura site.