Hydrating Skincare: From Winter to Spring

The weather may be getting warmer, and the evenings longer and lighter, but that doesn't always mean you can slack off on the skincare front. In fact, a sudden change in the climate, and weather that can't make up its mind can wreak havoc on the skin, making it more important than ever to ensure that it's taken care of.

When it comes to hydration, I have a few trusty favourites that I know I can reach for whatever the time of year, and they will always get things sorted in no time. A common mistake a lot of people make is to think that if they haven't got any dry or flaky patches, then their skin is not dehydrated, but actually, this is a long way from the truth in many cases. Personally, I don't tend to suffer from the former, but I'd definitely put a tick in the latter box from time to time. Usual triggers for me are leaving makeup on for too long or skipping on exfoliation (I tend to use AHA toners rather than manual scrubs), but often, an unstable climate is to blame.

The Elemental Herbology Cell Food Serum* is a favourite of mine when I feel that my skin could do with a boost. Containing a powerhouse of proteins, vitamins and minerals, a couple of drops of this applied after my toner and before my moisturiser in the mornings make all the difference when it comes to radiance and vitality. On its own, it doesn't pack enough of a moisturising punch though, so I follow up with my go-to morning and evening moisturiser, Origins Make a Difference Rejuvenating Treatment Plus. With a deliciously orangey fragrance, this is a gel-cream, so although it's incredibly hydrating, it won't feel heavy or greasy on the skin like some products can. It sinks in like a dream, leaving my skin soft and plump, and I know it's a product I can always rely on to keep things in check.

The Balance Me Radiance Oil* is an extra little night time treat, and if my skin is feeling particularly out of sorts then I often mix a couple of drops of this in with my night cream. With a divine herbal scent, it sinks in fairly well - but I'd always recommend pinning your fringe back if you don't want to have to wash it in the morning. The Radiance Oil really does do what it says on the tin, and my complexion looks brighter and healthier after a couple of uses.

I really do find that hydration makes the biggest difference to the appearance of my skin as a whole, as when it's in need of a little extra moisture I look tired and drawn by comparison. It doesn't take much to get things back on track, and it's always worth the extra effort.

What are your go-to products when it comes to giving your skin a moisture boost?

Have you added any new products to your skincare arsenal of late?

xx

Balance Me Radiance Oil review
Elemental Herbology Cell Food Serum Review

The Weekend Beauty Wishlist

Well, there's a surprise - as per usual, my beauty wish list is packed full of skincare and not a lot else. It's not that I don't like makeup - I really do. But the quest for normal skin has got the better of me, and I just can't rest until I get it back! It's so ironic that back before I got into blogging, and (brace yourselves) would often go to sleep with a face full of makeup after a night out, relying on face wipes far too heavily the rest of the time, I had absolutely perfect skin with rarely a spot in sight. And yet now that I take care of it meticulously and have a healthier lifestyle in general, it basically hates me, and I hate it.

Anyway, enough of my moaning - we've been there, done that enough times already. But today I thought I'd put together a little list of the products that have been playing on my mind of late, one or two (!?) of which I'm hoping to pick up on my way through duty free. You may remember me doing a specifically duty free wish list a couple of weeks back, but times are a-changing and so is my shopping list. Saying that, I'd still love to get my hands on the majority of products featured, so I'm not really that fickle. Just greedy, perhaps.

A lot of the products on my list this time are for Clarins, a brand which is really, really appealing to me at the moment. I have always liked them, and grew up sneaking bits of my mother's products here and there, but it's only since trying their Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner that I've really been bitten by the Clarins bug. 

I'm in need of a new cleanser, so first on my list is the Pure Melt Cleansing Gel with Marula oil., which turns into an oil and then a milk upon application, melting away every last hint of makeup while leaving skin nourished and hydrated. I've also got my eye on the Lotus Face Treatment Oil for oily/combination skin. I do have a bit of an uncooperative t-zone, so a soothing oil which also aims to balance the skin and tone the pores would definitely come in handy. I've heard a lot about the HydraQuench Cream-Gel for normal to combination skin, and I find it notoriously difficult to get my hands on a good moisturiser for any skin type other than normal to dry, so I'm really intrigued by this one. Last of all, I quite fancy trying the Instant Smooth Self Tanning to add a bit of colour to my face, and the One-Step Facial Cleanser with Orange Extract, which sounds handy for travel as well as delicious-smelling.

It isn't just Clarins that's been calling my name lately. I'm already a big fan of the Ren Clearcalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser, which does a fabulous job of keeping oil at bay in the mornings, but I feel that I need to add something more to my routine in the fight against blemishes. The Ren Clearcalm 3 Clarity Restoring Mask will fit nicely into my current routine, and hopefully will produce the desired results. I really trust in Ren skincare, as I have loved everything I've tried from them so far. If you haven't given them a go yet then I highly recommend starting with one of their masks. I'm also planning on testing out the Origins Make a Difference + Rejuvenating Treatment, which is supposed to be great for problem skin. I got a gift set from the Make a Difference range for Christmas, and was really impressed with the quality of the products and all that they did for my skin. Sadly though, this one wasn't included in the kit, and the ultra-rich moisturiser that was proved to be a bit oo heavy for my skin.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronised Recovery Complex II is new on the block, and in a nutshell claims to make you look younger overnight. Well, who wouldn't want that? Sadly, I fear this might be a slight exaggeration, but with fine lines and crinkles already beginning to appear around my eyes I'm not really in a position to argue. Frankly I'll try anything.

What's on your beauty shopping list this week?

xx