I’ve put off writing a post about skincare as I have always felt as though I have to have perfect skin in order to do so. I have recently come to the realisation that that is definitely not the case. I have beauty spots, a few freckles and blackheads and pimples that come and go. However certain products help with these issues and contribute to the general well-being of my skin, which is what I want to share with all of you. I am by no means an expert regarding skincare (nor anything else I write about!) but I do love the beauty sphere and trying and testing different products to find the best on the market is an ongoing love affair for me. The list of products I use is neverending and ever changing, but I managed to narrow it down to my top 5 favourite products which I simply couldn’t live without.
In no particular order:
1. Bioderma Photoderm Max SPF 50
I have my Mom to thank for this one. From a young age she has always instilled in me the importance of skin protection and the damage that the sun can cause. I learnt this very quickly after my holiday in Thailand where I insisted on coming back a dark shade of crispy brown. My method to achieve this look was to simply skip out on sunblock altogether! A few months down the line (tan faded and all) I noticed numerous new moles appearing all over my body and face, as well as my skins appearance to be flaky and dry. I have accepted that that is what my skin type is prone to and so it is important to take the necessary preventative measures now. Everyday I apply Bioderma with its SPF 50+ coverage to ensure my face is protected; even the days that are overcast and miserable, your skin is still at risk and it is vital you look after it. What is so great about Bioderma is that it is high in protection yet doesn’t leave you with that ultra greasy look so many sunblocks seem to, as well as being a soft and smooth easy application. It leaves my skin feeling supple and fresh. Bioderma also offers a tinted sunblock which is another alternative to use, I just remember that the packaging was considerably smaller for double the price so I went with the original instead.
2. Neutrogena Visibly Clear CC Cream
A CC cream should be an essential product in everyone’s vanity case. Before I started using Bioderma, I used a BB cream that had SPF protection as well, but I found it very greasy and left my skin oily, causing numerous breakouts. I also wanted a higher coverage than SPF 15/20 which is what the majority of BB creams seem to have. In the past I have used many different Neutrogena products and have been very pleased with them which is what lead me to try this specific product. After all there are SO many different brands you can chose from with things like this, I find the best way to narrow it down is to stick with what you know or go by a referral. This cream focuses specifically on coverage, so dark spots, imperfections, that kind of thing. I use it during the day as a primer as it preps my skin nicely for makeup application and does provide a lot of coverage, lessening the amount of foundation needed. Overall it stops me from caking on layers of foundation and leaves me with a more natural, fresh finish. It’s also great for days when you don’t want to apply makeup at all. It’s important to let your skin breath from time to time, so on those days off I will use my Neutrogena CC cream as a substitute for foundation. There are certain occasions where I don’t use this product – for a big night out I will rather use a makeup primer as I can get away with having heavier makeup.
3. Celltone Snail Extract Gel
This product I recently started using and am so obsessed with it! It was part of a Christmas gift from my sister (because these are the strange gift requests I ask of my family members) and I have used it everyday since. I actually found out about this product through other local bloggers that I saw posted about Celltone on their Instagrams.
On a side note; one of the reasons I started blogging and believe in it so much is specifically for that reason alone. I am someone who reads other people’s blogs and will then go out and try a product based off their recommendation. I trust bloggers and their opinions and am always eager to try something out so I can add my 2 cents. I love blogging because I believe it is very effective.
Back to this product! Snail gel does not sound very inviting, especially the thought of applying it to your face, but I had heard wonderful things about it’s healing properties and how good it is for your skin so I had to give it a try. The Celltone range in general is apparently very impressive so that is next on my list of products to use. The snail gel is very cool on your face and immediately is absorbed into your skin. It does leave your skin feeling a bit tight and dry which is why you need to put it on before your moisturizer and after your cleanser. When I do get the irregular outbreak on my face with a few spots here and there, they don’t usually last very long. The issue is that once the spots are gone they leave a mark on my skin which can take 2-3 weeks to get rid of. However since I started using the Celltone Snail Extract Gel I noticed that within 2-3 days my skin is back to normal. It has helped with the dark circles under my eyes and overall improved my skins complexion. Yay for no more uneven skin tone or dark spots!
4. Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel
Most people are aware of Dermalogica as a brand so I don’t think I need to get too in depth regarding this product. What I will say is that if it is good enough for dermatologists – it’s good enough for you! One pump from the bottle provides more than enough per use and foams up to give your skin a deep clean. It removes impurities without disturbing the skin’s natural balance. Compared with other brands where you find yourself scrubbing at your face to get that fresh and clean feeling, the Dermalogica Cleansing Gel has specific calming agents that soothe and purify your skin. Since I switched to Dermalogica my skin has really felt the benefits. This product is great to be used in conjunction with a sonic system brush. For great value for money have a look at the Sorbet Sonic System Brush.
5. Garnier Micellar Water Makeup Remover
There is a huge misconception that washing your face at night serves as a form of removing your makeup. Yes your makeup will come off, but not only will you leave a large amount of it on your towel and on your face but your skin is not getting all of the muck that is clogging up your pores off of it. This is usually the cause of spots and pimples appearing. I know it’s such a hack and requires an extra 2-3 minutes in your evening regimen, but your skin will thank you for it in the long run. Before I discovered Micellar Water Makeup Remover, I would use makeup remover wipes; which isn’t necessarily bad for your skin, especially if you are feeling extra lazy, it just doesn’t cling to the residue left on your face the way this product does. Similar to the Bioderma Cleansing Water this product is great because micelles are attracted to dirt, grime, and oil, and they draw out impurities without drying out your skin. It doesn’t necessarily work the best for removing heavy eye makeup, so maybe keep that on hand still, but for someone like me who doesn’t wear a lot of eye makeup on a regular basis I have had no problems. When you consider value for money and the quality of the product, you should definitely add the Garnier Micellar Water to your shopping list.
Choosing only 5 products to share with you all was such a challenge for me as there are so so many other products I use regularly (eye-creams, face masks, face peels, night creams etc) but I will save those for another day and another post. Keep in mind that while there are many amazing brands with amazing products, each person’s skin type is different and reacts differently to different products. Make sure you have tried and tested them to know which is right for you. If there is anything else you would like to know regarding these products feel free to let me know in the comments below. Have a happy week!
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