Morning skincare routine

This is one of my favourite posts to view of my go-to beauty bloggers as they really know their stuff.

I tend to wake-up bleary eyed at about 8am at the moment, schedule permitting, and automatically reach for my phone. After dabbling in various social media apps while struggling to remember what day it is, I fall out of bed and start the day feeling a tad sloth-like. These are currently the products I use to make myself feel a little more human each morning:

1) Before you even consider reaching for make-up it is essential to properly clean your skin from the antics from the night before. This is essential to avoid dodgy blocked pores which lead to blemishes. Luckily I am generally good at washing off my makeup the night before, unless I'm horribly drunk, as getting into pj's with a made-up face feels so so wrong.
I wash my face using REN's Clarimatte T-Zone Control Cleansing Gel which is for, in my case recently developed (lucky me), combination skin. My skin tends to become oily as the day progresses so this is great to refresh your skin after waking up so it feels squeaky clean without verging on dryness. After slightly stalking Salli Hughes's articles on the Guardian after recieving Pretty Honest for Christmas, she has become my new favourite beauty guru. As I see her as a slightly bossy but extremely caring friend or older sister, of course I was going to take her recommendation on board and this brand has been great for sorting out my combination skin.


2) Immediately after cleansing I use REN's Clarimatte Clarifying Toner to clean my skin by simply blotting some on a cotton pad and wiping it over my face. This product also promises a lot, from unclogging and minimising pores, removing dirt and balancing general oiliness, it is a wonder so much promise can squeeze into  a 150ml bottle. This stuff is great because it's also anti-bacterial and completely free of parabens and all other nasties. However, I can confirm that it makes my skin feel great and removes all final traces of oil and make up in the evenings.


3) I then moisurise using the Seaweed Day Cream by the Body Shop. This product is a recent discovery of mine. It has a lovely refreshing quality without feeling like you've just wiped your face with something questionable found on the beach. As a self-confessed moisturising addict, I love applying it generously to my skin and spending some time giving myself a lil' massage. Why not?

4) I have recently delved into the world of eye creams after getting a free No.7 sample. It's still early days, however I will continue to use it. As I have got into a bad habit of staying up late scrolling mindlessly through social media, I often wake up feeling puffy-eyed and groggy. I know prevention is better than cure so will be making a conscious effort to get a proper nights sleep.


4) Finally, I use the Body Shop's Tea Tree Pore Minimiser. Recently my skin hasn't reacted well to the cold, and along with the usual hormonal problems related to being a girl, has become quite oily and spot prone if I'm not careful. I just feel this is a useful anti-bacterial agent and a final skin defense against the dirt of the outside world. It helps to create a matte base for easy and long lasting make up application.

Over recent months in particular, I have learned it is generally worth splashing out on a few high quality products which give amazing results rather than buying one item repeatedly simply because it's affordable but horribly average. When I first ventured into the world of skin care I was completely daunted by the vast array of products, but after doing my homework and finding out what works through product reviews and recommendations of others, you can build a strong routine to make the most of your skin. I must also add that the beauty of skin means that as it changes over time, you really learn about yourself and what works. I still haven't found the perfect regime and don't think I ever will, but feel content with the products I currently use.

When faced with the prospect of buying an expensive skin care item, you don't think of the long term use you usually get from it, so in the end I do believe that a higher price justifies both the quality and length of time will receive with it.

As a result, I definitely don't own an extensive range of products, but what I do have I love and can easily adapt to day or night depending on the occasion. I keep my skincare together in a drawer by my mirror for easy access when I'm bleary eyed in the morning. On the other hand, my makeup is stored in my makeup bag, my current one is a lovely Ted Baker one bought for me for Christmas from my uni friend, which is compact enough to slip into my handbag if I need to touch-up at any point.

Phew - this is a tad lengthy!

Holly x