Skincare Diary #5
By the time you read this post I'll be three days into my trip to sunny (hopefully) Scotland. For this reason I started keeping track of this week's skincare habits a day earlier than usual, so as to have the post written and scheduled before my departure (our cottage is an Internet free zone, so I may be quiet on the commenting front this week). I've had a lot of new skincare bits and pieces landing on my desk this week, so please forgive the profusion of asterixes. I've tried not to bombard my skin with too many newbies and to balance them out with my failsafes, and as usual you can be 100% assured that I have given them my most honest and unbiased of reviews. I got a bit lax with my evening skincare this month, so this week I've been trying my hardest to get back into the swing of applying a serum and oil under my moisturiser every single night (A+++ on this account), and remembering eye cream (more like a B- ?).
Sunday Morning - Dead Sea Spa Magik Gentle Cleansing Face Wash, La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo +, La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I. Evening - Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser*, Sisley Radiant Glow Express Mask*, Hydraluron, Antipodes Divine Face Oil*, Aesop Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream*.
My biggest skincare focus right now is clearing up blemish scars (full post to come soon), and this Murad exfoliator looks like it will be perfect for the job. Rich in salicylic, glycolic, and lactic acid this is the most gentle but effective exfoliant that I have ever used. A definite repurchase. This luxe Sisley mask became a favourite after just one use. It leaves my skin feeling clarified and deeply cleansed but not at all dry or tight (it's a small tube so from now on I'm on rations). Truly all you need for radiant skin.
MondayMorning -Dead Sea Spa Magik Gentle Cleansing Face Wash, LRP Effaclar Duo +, LRP Effaclar A.I. Evening - Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser, Pixi Glow Skin Tonic, Hydraluron, Antipodes Divine Face Oil*, Aesop Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream*.
As regular readers will note some of these bits have been regulars throughout this series. The Antipodes Oil has replaced my Trilogy one which ran out a few weeks ago. It's very similar, if a little lighter, and I'm relishing the effects of having a face oil back in my life. It really makes such a difference! I'm also a big fan of this Aesop moisturiser. The smell isn't the greatest but I've noticed my skin looking much calmer and clearer since I incorporated it into my routine. It's a very light cream that takes a short while to sink in, but doesn't leave my skin looking or feeling greasy come sunrise.
Tuesday Morning - Dead Sea Spa Magik Gentle Cleansing Face Wash, Clarisonic Aria*, LRP Effaclar Duo +, LRP Effaclar A.I. Evening - Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser, Pixi Glow Skin Tonic, Hydraluron, Antipodes Divine Face Oil*, Aesop Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream*, Dead Sea Spa Magik Age Response Eye Cream.
You may remember that I featured a budget version of the Clarisonic on my blog a few weeks ago, however, I was recently sent the Clarisonic Aria to review so I've been using this in the mornings three days a week. I haven't used it enough to warrant it a full review (as of yet), but so far I'm full of praise - it's uber gentle and doesn't aggravate my skin in the slightest. I've also found that my DSSM face wash is perfect Clarisonic material.
Wednesday Morning - Dead Sea Spa Magik Gentle Cleansing Face Wash, LRP Effaclar Duo +, LRP Effaclar A.I., Eucerin Even Brighter Day Cream*.Afternoon - Bioderma H20 Micelle Solution, Antipodes Grace Gentle Cream Cleanser*. Evening - Eve Lom Cleanser*, Lush BB Seaweed Fresh Face Mask, Hydraluron, Antipodes Divine Face Oil*, Aesop Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream*, Dead Sea Spa Magik Age Response Eye Cream.
I am insanely obsessed with this Eve Lom Cleanser (definitely up for winning the most luxurious product ever award). It's like a cream, balm, and exfoliating cleanser all mixed into one and leaves my skin feeling beautifully smooth. Followed up with one of my favourite Lush face masks (BB Seaweed is cool and refreshing, perfect for calming mid-week skin), and my usual night time bits and pieces made for a luxe evening indeed.
Thursday Morning - Dead Sea Spa Magik Gentle Cleansing Face Wash, Clarisonic Aria*, LRP Effaclar Duo +, LRP Effaclar A.I., Eucerin Even Brighter Day Cream*.Afternoon - Bioderma H20 Micelle Solution, Antipodes Grace Gentle Cream Cleanser*. Evening - Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser, Pixi Glow Skin Tonic, Hydraluron, Antipodes Divine Face Oil*, Aesop Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream*, Dead Sea Spa Magik Age Response Eye Cream.
This Antipodes cleanser is ideal second cleanse material if you have particularly sensitive or dry skin. It's incredibly light and gentle (I think of it as a thicker, creamier alternative to the Avene one that I use in the evenings), perfect for removing the day's build up or those pesky traces of makeup left behind by Bioderma. And it's called Grace, so what's not to love?
Friday Morning - Dead Sea Spa Magik Gentle Cleansing Face Wash, LRP Effaclar Duo +, LRP Effaclar A.I., Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum. Afternoon - Bioderma H20 Micelle Solution, Antipodes Grace Gentle Cream Cleanser*.Evening - Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser, Pixi Glow Skin Tonic, Hydraluron, Antipodes Divine Face Oil*, Aesop Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream*, Dead Sea Spa Magik Age Response Eye Cream.
A very standard day skincare-wise. I'm running low on my bottle of the Avene lotion so don't use it everyday but am hesitant to finish it up. I have a few day creams to try out but this is one of my all-time favourites and nothing else comes close to it's capabilities as a makeup base. It will definitely be a future repurchase. I've also been trialling a new eye cream in recent weeks but I'm so near to the end of this one that I decided to put that on hold to finish it, and it just keeps coming! Eye creams may be pricey but they seem to last forever.
Saturday Morning - Dead Sea Spa Magik Gentle Cleansing Face Wash, Clarisonic Aria, LRP Effaclar Duo +, LRP Effaclar A.I., Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum.Evening - Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, Aesop Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Mask*, Hydraluron, Antipodes Divine Face Oil, Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask.
Ahead of my week away (where I'll be streamlining my skincare collection to the bare minimum and lots of minis), a final evening of intensive skincare. I've got a couple of pesky breakouts and this Aesop mask is my BFF where they're concerned. It's definitely the most effective spot-fighting mask that I've ever used and I often use it as a spot-on overnight treatment. I never feel that it's particularly drying but I do like to follow it up with this Origins mask for an extra boost of moisture, just in case.
Stay tuned for details on my travel skincare bits and pieces, coming next week.
Which skincare products have you been using most this month? To stay updated on future posts you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Bloglovin.