After watching YouTube gurus all summer I've come to know a few more things, but more importantly I know more about my skin. I think that's probably the most important thing to know of all.
My routine has changed frequently, mostly due to slow but steady improvements and the occassional plateauing. Has anyone else ever noticed that before? I've never heard anyone mention it, but I occassionally would show great improvements with a product for a few weeks, but then it would stop. I would have to move on to something else to see my skin get better again.
I'm still improving, so there are likely to continue to be changes in the products I use, but will likely stick to the Caroline Hirons school of skincare. I encourage you to have a read, she's my kinda lady: ballsy, smart and no nonsense.
Anyway, my basic skincare is cleanser, exfoliator, toner, arnica gel, eye cream for dark circles, calming serum, moisturiser.
Here's the list of products I used in the last 24 hours:
- Cetaphil
- Super Facialist by Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil - for when I wear makeup
- Boots Botanics All Bright Eye Soothing Eye Makeup Remover
- Yes to Carrots Exfoliating Facial Cleanser - I know Hirons isn't keen on manual exfoliators, but I have a lifetime of roughness I need to polish off before I'm content with just a chemical exfoliator. This one has a gentler, fine grit to it.
- Clarins gentle exfoliator - This is a nice exfoliator that would be great on its own as a maintenance product
- Clarins Toning Lotion - I get the dry/normal one since I find the oily one way too floral, and Hirons doesn't see much of a difference in the two, from her own use
- Avalon Organics Lavendar Luminosity Hydrating Toner
- Arnica Gel - sold and branded by my local health shop
- Garnier Caffeine Eye Roll-on - I just got this as my previous Boots Botanics roll on did absolutely nothing
- S5 Calm Serum - I got this in a beauty box and fell in love. It has an immediate effect on my redness, though I have yet to notice any long term benefits. I'm seriously considering spending the money on the full size product
- Matriskin Technology Collagen Serum - Just got this in my most recent box, and though I would try it out on my nasty forehead stress lines. Looking up this link is the first clue I had of it's retail value. Migawd. It had better give me Jennifer Lawrence's forehead if I'm gonna spend that much on it. This is really the only link I could find for purchasing it.
- Avocado Oil - Any cosmetic/aromatherapy brand will do. I use this in a lot of DIY skincare and apply it directly to the drier areas of my face at night.
- Garnier Moisture Match Shine Be Gone moisturiser - This is also brand new, but I loved the texture in the shop and it absorbed right away this morning. It's replacing using the Avocado Oil all over and during the day, which was just too much for my face. Before that, I used Avalon Organics Vitamin C day cream, which I really like, but I want to keep my treatment in the serum/cream phase and use a moisturiser that's focused on being a moisturiser.
It's a lot, isn't it? Whatever, I'd throw the kitchen sink at my face if it would make my skin clear.
