It's been a long time coming, but I feel like I've finally found a skincare routine that works for me.
Don't get me wrong, it hasn't been an easy road. It's been a journey littered with bad reactions and some conveniently timed breakouts, but after years of trials and tribulations (and more money than I care to admit) I've finally found an edit of products that I feel completely happy with.
There have been some new additions since I last invited you to riffle through my skincare collection, as well as some old favourites that I doubt I'll ever part ways with.
As Sundays are often the best time for some lazy weekend reading, I thought I'd talk you through some of the products that I'm currently loving.
Over the years, I've been swayed by some of the fancier cleansers on the market that promise to slough away your makeup, sprinkle your face with pixie dust and immerse yourself in a cloud of rose tinted goodness - but in reality these products jut don't work well with my skin. Anything with too much scent, or too many ingredients tends to send my skin into a frenzied state of panic.
Since discovering the Kiehls Ultra Facial Cleanser a year ago, I haven't looked back. It's simple straightforward and does the job better than anything else I've tried.
I've always had a strange relationship with eye cream. It's something I've always wanted to try, but the reality is often a million miles from the bright under eyes that I've always dreamt of. I'm often left with sore, irritated skin, but after hearing some rave reviews about Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye, I decided to give it a go.
I have to say, I've been suitably impressed. I use this day and night and find that it leaves the whole
area feeling really bright and fresh.
The thing about toner is that it always seems to be a bit of a faff, but can actually make a huge difference to how your skin looks and feels.
I pop this onto a cotton pad and sweep it over my face morning and evening. I find it really smooths and calms my skin and leaves everything looking much more balanced and refined.
Finding the right moisturiser for me has been a real learning curve. I've battled with some super greasy formulas that have left my skin feeling oily and congested. I felt like I'd never find the right product for me.
I stumbled across this Clinque moisturiser one Christmas and thought I'd give it a go - I've never looked back. It absorbs quickly into the skin and has got some kind of magic ingredient that helps to improve the appearance of my skin throughout the day. I go into a melt down if I'm ever without this.
This is a product that's been in my collection for quite a few years, but is one that I doubt I'll ever part ways with. I use a couple of drops of this in the evening before bed and when I wake up I always notice a difference in the appearance of my skin. If I have blemishes, they're calmer. If I've got irritation, it's soothed. If my skin's tired and dull, it's always looking suitably perkier by morning.