Skincare Favourites

Hey Everyone,

So i recently did a poll on Instagram asking what you wanted to see first and Skincare won by a big percentage - so my Current Make Up Favourites will be up next week!

Today I wanted to speak about my favourite skincare products that I've been using for the last few months, whilst pregnant and whilst my skin has been changing a little. A few years back, I came off the pill (I can go into more depth about this on another post if anyone is interested) and for about a year or so my skin was extremely bad and constantly full of spots or scars from them. After trying loads of different products and spending a lot of money on high end brands, I finally accepted that it was purely just hormonal acne and nothing was going to help or stop it. The only thing I could do was to stop using so many different products and strip back my skincare routine due to this irritating my skin making it red and looking even worse.

These products are affordable and easy to get your hands on and for me I can see how each individual one has helped keep my skin looking clear and brighter over the last few months. The images are also linked to the product if you want to shop any of them. Let me know if you do!

Starting off both my Morning & Night Skincare routine is the - Garnier Micellar Water - I think I have spoke about this product farrrrr too many times on my blog. It's just a necessity in my every day life now. I love it so much and I have noticed a difference when trying another brands version, the Garnier one is the best one! I use it day and night, whether i'm taking make up off or not. It just makes me feel clean and refreshed and i know for a fact its a product which helps keep my spots away. I think its such a delicate formula so perfect for anyone with sensitive skin and I've just recommended it to a friend who's having a hard time with her skin and she loves it! It calms down any redness, is 10x better than using make up wipes and i got a big bottle for £4.99 in Savers and it lasts months! Please, if you take anything from this blog post, try this product, I am so confident that you will love it!

Next up, I had started hearing a lot about Vitamin C in skincare and starting reading up the benefits about it. Vitamin C has anti-oxidant properties which help with pigmentation in your skin. It helps produce collagen and brighten your complexion which over time will help reduce ageing and keep you looking fresh! I saw someone on Instagram recommend this product, the Balance Vitamin C Serum and t was £2.99 from Home Bargains so I thought I would give it a go. I apply it most mornings and evenings before my moisturisers and the smell is amazing. I have been using it for over a month now and I can see a big difference in my skin looking clearer and brighter. Will be re-purchasing this!

Aldi Night Cream - I was in need of a new night cream as my skin has got used to having 2 different moisturisers on a morning and night and I came across this one in Aldi on my weekly shop. I had heard good things about their Lacura Range and for £3.49 I thought i'd give it a go! Having a very Nourishing and thick cream for on a night is something I love. I like to go to bed knowing my skin is benefiting throughout the night and being pampered so making sure it has the right ingredients is so important. This one claims to rejuvenate your skin by hydrating and firming over night and also helping with the signs of ageing. As I am only 23, i understand that anti-aging products aren't always the right thing for my younger skin, however, I have also been told that having it in a less concentrated formula (instead of going in with pure retinol straight away), will only benefit you as you get older. If you like a very thick cream then try this however, it is very slightly scented, which hasn't broke me out or irritated me but just be aware if you have sensitive skin, this might not be for you! Another plus is that its cruelty free! They also have other night creams and day creams in-store so next time you're on a weekly shop have a quick browse! Let me know if you try anything else from Aldi Skincare!

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm - I bought a travel size version of this product over a year ago now and I am only just coming to the end of the pot. You only need the smallest amount and it smells incredible. A lot of people use it to remove any make up but I like to use it more as a mask about 2-3x a week. I just find it makes my skin so soft, leaves it feeling fresh and during, smells like you're having a pamper at a spa. It's very soft on the skin and you can also get it in Rose formula which I haven't tried yet but I have heard great things. This cleansing balm includes ingredients which firms and plumps your skin, maintains its moisture levels and improves its hydration whilst softening and having an anti-ageing aspect also. I love it and will be buying another travel mini as its only £9 and lasts sooooo long!

The Ordinary - I had heard a lot about this brand and was desperate to try it with all their products being raved about. I ordered the Full Coverage Foundation, Silicone Primer, The Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% and The Natural Moisturising Factors + HA. I will talk about the Primer & Foundation in another post.

I needed a new daily moisturiser and this one was targeted to skin with a need of hydration and it is non-greasy. It's made up of amino acids, fatty acids, ceramides, hyaluronic acid and other compounds which are already present in our skin which protects it and keeps it hydrated. An easy way i learnt about how important it is to include many of these compounds in our skincare is this - Our skin is made up of cells which are constantly exposed to harsh environments and chemicals. In general our skin tries to keep the cells which hold ceramides and other elements to keep it looking fresh and bright however over time, after being exposed to these harsh conditions, your skin naturally looses the elements and by topping them up by using certain products, it means our skin can take them from the moisturisers and help our skin repair and continue to work whilst being in the sun or being exposed to pollution. This Moisturiser has a 'supercharged boost of the hydrating compounds' and definitely has been giving my skin an extra shot of hydration underneath my make up! Its also only £4.90!

The Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is designed to be a blemish-buster. I have been using this on the odd flare ups i have been getting on my cheeks and I have noticed within 1/2 days that they have been disappearing. It also claims to help with enlarged pores and uneven skin tones. By regulating sebum production to minimise the look of pores it also reduces bacteria building up which therefore reduces blemishes. It states that it boosts the skin's immunity and improves the moisture retention whilst repairing damaged skin and promoting creation of collagen. Leaving your skin replenishing and hydrating as the day goes on. I have been using it around 2/3 times a week depending on how my skin looks each day and its been great so far! Would highly recommend and its only £5.

I think its super important to know what you're putting on your skin and to know what's right for your skin type. There are plenty of videos on You Tube which explain the different types and please remember these are the products that work for me. Your skin is different to mine & these products may not be right for yours.

If you try any of these let me know how you get on!

Thank you for reading!

Until next time,

Chloe x