Skincare Routine in Action

As promised my week of skincare posts is ending with my 'Skincare In Action' video that went live yesterday. For those of you that haven't already seen it.. here it is...

Miss BB

Skincare Switch-Up

Above are all of my old skincare favourites. My go-to face mask, cleanser, toner and moisturiser. They had been recommended to me and I truly believed they were giving me my best possible skin... not so!
Here's a run down of what I spent on my skin care...

Clinique Pore Minimizer Refining Mask - £16.50
Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - £13.75
Botanics Pore Perfecting Toner - £3.05
Clinique Clearing Moisturiser  - £16.50

For the past few months I've been using this combination of products instead and have absolutely found the right regime for me. Happily I discovered them all at drugstore prices...

Avon Clear Pore Thermal Mask - £4.20
Garnier Pure Active Exfo-Brusher Wash - £5.99
Tea Tree Cleanser & Toner - £2.99
Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturiser - £2.99

Let's not forget my separate daytime moisturiser

L'oreal Triple Active Day - £5.12
Clean & Clear Morning Energy - £3.99

Overall my every day routine used to cost me £54.92. It now costs just £20.16, that's a saving of £34.76!!!

But how do the products compare?

***************************

I'll start with the masks. These are not technically every day skin care items but I do use them two or three times a week so close enough. They don't claim to do the same job so it's hard to compare but I realised that clearing my pores was more important for me than shrinking them so I think the Avon version works better for that reason. I will say the Clinique mask is effective and if you have enlarged pores I'd recommend giving it a go.

On to the cleansers, I do like the hugely hyped Liz Earle Hot Cloth but it's so much effort! At least a couple of times a week you need to wash the cloths which is fine but just another thing to remember. I like to know that everything I need to wash my face, hair etc etc is ready and waiting for me when I get in the shower. I love that the Garnier cleanser has the exfo-brush attachment built in, very effective and a time saver.  

Toners... I thought a toner was a toner, again I like the Botanics one just fine and the idea that it includes oil-absorbing clay really does appeal but I had forgotten the wonders of Tea Tree Oil. When I was pregnant with Ella I was addicted, I carried a bottle of it wherever I went and smothered my face in it every night, in hindsight I probably had my best skin then.. I don't know why I ever stopped. I love the smell and it gives me such a squeaky clean feeling. This is definitely the one product I've switched up that's made the most difference to my blemish problems.

Everyone knows how much I love my Clean and Clear. I don't really know why I ever thought anything would do a better job. I hated the smell and the taste (it migrates to your mouth, I'm not crazy) of the Clinique moisturiser. It seemed to make my skin feel smoother and more moisturised but it did absolutely nothing for my blemishes. The Clean and Clear is miracle lotion that I will never stray from again!

The daytime pre-makeup moisturisers are totally different. The loreal is thick and rich and not ideal to sink in to skin directly before applying makeup/primer. The Clean and Clear is oil free and dries quickly, ideal if you are going to use it to prep your skin before a tinted moisturiser and don't want to be left too oily. 

***************************

So I've found a routine that works for me, don't let that fool you I will never be satisfied and am always on the look out for bigger and better things but now I know what works for me I am looking for variations on what i have already. I will not change my night-time moisturiser unless Clean and Clear release a new, improved version because I just love it so much but everything else.. you never know!

What are your holy grail skincare products?  

New Skincare

I've been watching MANY YouTube videos on skincare today.. I spend so much on makeup and have such a large collection but I don't really have a skincare routine.. that changes now.

Here are some of the videos I watched in case you're interested..

 

I realise I need to watch my diet.. now I don't feel nauseous anymore (pregnancy) I can choose what I eat a little better. I also need to drink more water (although I have stepped that up massively in recent months) and I would literally DIE for a Clarisonic but I may settle for a facial bush if the Cleanse and Polish doesn't do the job well enough for me.

I looked at everything I have and everything I need and figured the below stuff will constitute my regime

(I will update when I have the missing pieces and let you know how it goes)

I would love your skincare suggestions, what are your Holy Grail products?

No Rest For The WICKED

Is your "beauty sleep" ruining your SEX LIFE???

First and foremost I LOVE overnight skin treats!

Anything that works for me while I'm asleep is fabulous as far as I'm concerned.

The promise of perfect, clear, glowing skin is an attractive proposition for many of us. If someone tells me that I can slather something (maybe anything) all over my face and wake up looking fantastic I think I can safely say I'd try it. It's the dream really isn't it? We would all love to think that these little beauty routines we go through each and every night are actually making a difference... We primp and polish and scrub ourselves within an inch of our lives to look better... but at what cost?

Am I alone in thinking all these miracle overnight beauty wonders do nothing for the nightime naughties?

You go to bed covered from head to toe in expensive concoctions hoping to wake up more appealing for our partner (yes yes we do it for ourselves too... whatever!)

But it's hardly sexy is it?

We make ourselves up to go off to work looking fabulous and when you come to bed you look, well quite frankly you probably look dreadful!

Hair undone, makeup removed and in it's place some greasy/sticky cream that would almost certainly get in the way of "love making" 

He should take one look at you and think, why bother? You may aswell put up a sign saying "not tonight"

But for many of us that's a nightly ritual, so what's the solution?

Well it's a tricky one,

I would say, it's us girls that hold all the power, if you want some action then you know you're gonna get some! So on those occasions perhaps put off the regime until "after"...

This is a problem women all over the world face every day (or night as the case may be)

so girls...

whats your sexy-time secret?

xoxo

miss bb