Night skincare routine

My favourite time of day is without a doubt bedtime. Mainly because i get to sleep but partly because it's the only time of day that is guaranteed to allow me time to pamper my skin. Whether I've been running around like a headless chicken all day or not I will always dedicate a chunk of my evening to skincare. With so many amazing products floating around it can be hard to come up with a regular skin routine, but here's my bedtime routine that I've stuck to over the last few weeks. 

As a creature of habit I always use make up wipes to remove the bulk of my make up. I then use a eye make up remover to ensure all my mascara is wiped away. Garner Fresh essentials has been my number one choice for some time and i don't see that changing! I have very sensitive eyes which means i'm careful about the products i use but this is so gentle I've never had any problems. It also has extracts of grape which gives it a fresh and fruity smell as well as a soothing feel on the skin. Once I've removed my make up i wash my face to get rid of any leftover grime, my current bedtime face wash is Vichy Normaderm Tri-Activ cleanser. This is a 3-in-1 product that can be used as a cleanser, scrub or mask, although i prefer it as a scrub. It's very creamy and soft which makes it perfect for my blemish prone skin! I've been really impressed with this product as it's given me really soft skin without stripping all my natural oils away. Once I've done this I use a toner, Clarins Toning lotion has been a firm favourite for some time now (I'm on my third bottle!) and is one I've mentioned before (you can find the review here). I love it because it leaves my skin feeling really cleansed and fresh, Once I've done this and i feel my skin is suitably clean i move on to my moisturising routine. I've been drawn to pore refining products recently as i have some large-ish pores on my nose, and Dr Jart's Up-tighten serum has proven to be a very successful treatment. It comes in the form of a gel and slides easily onto the skin once the skin has been toned. I've been using this product for a few weeks and have definitely noticed results when applying my make up. After this i normally use an all-over moisturiser. I love Garnier's new Moisture Match range, and my moisturiser of choice is their Revitalising and hydrating gel. I adore anything for dull skin as i'm always aiming for a glowing complexion and this product is perfect for brightening. The consistency is quite thick and a little goes a long way. It's perfect for my combination skin and doesn't irritate my spots. Lastly and just before i go to bed i apply a lip balm. My favourite at the moment is  the Elizabeth Arden Eight hour cream. This is a classic balm and one that I had heard lots of fantastic things about. On initial purchase i was under the impression that it was designed for extremely dry or damaged skin, but I've found it is also a perfect remedy for cracked lips. Applying it just before sleep means that without any effort i wake up with lovely soft lips. 

Garner Fresh essentials - £3.15

Vichy Normaderm Tri-Activ cleanser - £11

Clarins Toning lotion - £18

Dr Jart's Up-tighten serum - £13

Garnier Revitalising and hydrating gel - £5.99

Elizabeth Arden Eight hour cream - £25

On my face this week #3

After a crazily busy week and with parents evening looming my beauty routine has been seriously reduced this week. With very little time on my hands (due to some ridiculously early mornings) i have been reaching for some very simple products that require absolutely no effort.

My main concern this week has been covering my huge black circles that have decided to attach themselves permanently to my peepers. For this i have been using L'oreal True match Touch Magique in Rose Beige. This concealer is an absolute life saver for covering up dark circles and blemishes (my ultimate enemies) as it not only conceals but illuminates the area. I apply this underneath my foundation and i find it really brightens my eyes. This product has a small brush attached to the end of it which makes it really easy to apply and blend. I also find this product lasts all day without drying my skin out, an absolute must have in any make up bag!

I've been trying to avoid using foundation this week to give my skin a bit of a breather as i've had a few break outs this month. Instead i have been using The Body shops all-in-one BB Cream. I'm a bit behind on the BB craze and I've only been using this for the last few months but i have been impressed with the results. The product comes out as a white pigmented cream which immediately transforms to match your skin tone. The cream is described as light-medium coverage and i would say it's definitely leaning towards the light end. It blends beautifully into the skin, and when accompanied with a concealer (on those areas that need a little more coverage) it gives a great even result. I find this to be very hydrating on my skin, which is exactly what is needed after such a harsh winter.

Since wearing lipstick on a regular basis i've been really keen to start experimenting with 'statement lips'. However i haven't been brave enough to try out a red yet, instead i've been working my way up to this and testing out some bolder pink tones. My latest purchase from L'oreal is from their Rogue Caresse Range, Colour 203 'Rock 'n Mauve'. This appears to be quite a dramatic purple, but when applied to the lips is more of a dark pink. The main reason I love this lipstick is because it's so moisturising and hydrates your lips without feeling greasy. I've worn this lipstick on a few nights and found i've only needed to re-apply it once throughout the whole evening, which at under £9 is definitely value for money.

What lipsticks have you been wearing this week?

L'oreal True match Touch Magique - £8.19

The Body shops all-in-one BB Cream - £12.00

Rogue Caresse Colour 203 'Rock 'n Mauve' - £8.19

February favourites

As February has drawn to a close and we're finally getting some warm(ish) weather I have decided to write about my most reached for products this month.This has been a big month for new products (sorry bank balance) and some new firm favourites have been established. 

I'm going to start with my most used product which has without a doubt been Rituals brightening face exfoliator. Anyone who's been around me in the last month will have heard me rave about Rituals and they are definitely my favourite skincare brand at the moment. As someone who suffers with blemishes and rough skin, exfoliating is really important. However i often find that exfoliators can be quite harsh, and leave me feeling like i've washed my face with a scouring pad. Rituals have put a stop to this with their creamy exfoliating scrub which leaves my skin feeling soft and looking bright. It's really gentle, so perfect for people with sensitive skin and can be used everyday if needed. I've teamed this with Rituals intensive moisturising mask, which i've been using twice a week. This winter has left me with really dry skin so it's needed rescuing and this face mask has helped to hydrate my skin, leaving it really supple. 

I've teamed my Rituals products with Clarins Toning lotion which has quickly become a staple in my beauty routine. This toner is absolutely gorgeous and does exactly what it says on the bottle! I'm always wary of toners as sometimes they can make your skin feel tight, however this toning lotion leaves skin feeling fresh without sucking all the moisture out. This is perfect for oily skin as it leaves moisture where it needs to be whilst cleansing away excess oils. It may seem steep at £18.00 but it's worth every penny, and a little bit definitely goes a long way. 

Now on to lips! I've only started using lipstick in the last year and this has meant i've started to take better care of my lips. Every girl knows that exfoliating your lips can be a chore, but Lush have found a way to take the effort out of having beautifully soft lips. Lush popcorn lip scrub is a scrummy exfoliant for lips that can be applied before using other lip products. Simply take a small amount, gently work into lips, lick away the excess and ta-dah! I really enjoy using this as i like the result and the taste. I have found some people that dislike the taste and find it too sweet, but if this is the case it's easy enough to wipe away the excess using a cotton pad. I would recommend using a mirror to apply this, as you can end up looking like you have sugar around your mouth!

My most used lipstick this month has been MAC Cremesheen in Coral Bliss . This has shot straight to the top of my most used lipsticks with no competition  It's a beautiful light coral which looks almost pink. I've found this lipstick to be quite subtle, so perfect for everyday use. It has a really rich, thick texture so it lasts without fading and easily glides onto lips. I find with cheaper lipsticks that they can show up every imperfection on your lips, unlike the MAC cremesheen which gives a very glossy finish. I'm definitely going to be trying out more of the colours in this collection.

My last face favourite this month is another MAC product (my obsession is definitely growing) but this time it's a blusher (surprise surprise!) The MAC mineralize blush in Dainty is a pretty pink with a slight shimmer. Shimmer is something i normally steer clear of, for fear i may look like i've been covered in glitter. However the shimmer in this blusher is so subtle it simply deepens the pink tone, giving a really healthy glow to cheeks. It blends well with foundation without looking too heavy, making it perfect for an everyday look.I love this blusher because it is so pigmented it lasts all day without needing to be reapplied, definitely a plus when you're working without breaks all day!

Last but not least is a Nail Varnish which i've been waiting for quite a while to try. Essie Nail varnish has a great reputation and has recently been launched in retail stores such as Boots and Superdrug in the U.K. It's taken off with a bang and i can definitely see why. I tried it in Guchi Muchi Puchi, a bright pink perfect for the spring and it lived up to my expectations! It was really easy to apply, and only needed two layers to give great coverage. The colour is gorgeous although i found it to be slightly too pink for an everyday varnish (i had some clashing outfits!) I was quite disappointed with it's lasting power as i needed to re-apply after about 3 days because it was really chipped. However the varnish was easy to take off and once re-applied dried really quickly. I would definitely use Essie again as their colours are beautiful, although i may go for something slightly less pink next time!

What have your beauty favourites been this month?

Rituals brightening face exfoliator - £10.50

Rituals intensive moisturising mask - £13.50

Clarins Toning lotion - £18

Lush popcorn lip scrub - £5.25

MAC Cremesheen in Coral Bliss  - £14

MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty - £19

Essie Nail varnish in Guchi Muchi Puchi - £7.99

On my face this week #2

This week has been the long awaited half term which has allowed me a little more time in the mornings to carry out my beauty regime as well as giving me an opportunity to try out a few new products. 

The first product I've been using this week is Topshop's cream blush in Head over Heels. I picked this product up about a month ago as an impulse buy but due to the fact i have a slight blush obsession (and a collection that could give most girls a run for their money) I hadn't had a chance to use it until this week. It was well worth the wait - this product is fantastic. I was worried that this would look orange on the skin but it is a light coral that gives cheeks a really healthy glow. The creamy formula glides onto the skin and can easily be blended without the need for a brush. I am always dubious about using non-powder blushes as they don't always last the day but this lasted without me having to reapply. The look was very fresh and pretty - perfect for spring days, and at the small cost of £6 it's an absolute bargain. 

My second product that I've fallen for this week is the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer. I've been trying to get my hands on this for a while but it always seems to be sold out! However my sister managed to pick some up for me on a recent trip to New York and it's very quickly become one of my favourite concealers. I am a big fan of MAC products and it's where most of my regular bases and powders come from, even so this surpasses many of the MAC products i own as it delivers in all areas. As someone who suffers from blemishes and dark circles (mainly from teaching small children!) I wear concealer on a daily basis. This means i need something that gives me coverage yet still looks natural  This product is perfect for this as it is very lightweight and almost dewy in it's appearance. It covers even the darkest of circles with it's creamy texture without becoming blotchy and has definitely made my eyes look brighter. The other impressive factor is this concealers staying power. In my experience it's lasted all day and partway into the evening without showing any signs of wear. This product definitely gets my seal of approval and I have no doubt it's going to be part of my everyday beauty routine for a long while yet. What's your favourite MAC product?

Topshop's cream blush - £6

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer - £14.50

Milk_shake conditioning whipped cream

When it comes to hair care I am very lazy and if the choice is an extra 15 minutes in bed or a session with the curling tongs I'll choose bed every time. Because of this my morning hair routine is military, which means i stick to the same faithful products that i know won't let me down! However last month i discovered a completely new product which i decided to take for a whirl and I am officially addicted.  

Milkshake conditioning whipped cream is a product in a huge range that aims to be healthy food for your hair. The products contain milk protein (hence the name) and the desired effect is to help give your hair a healthy boost leaving it soft and shiny, which this product definitely does. The first thing that hits you about this product is the smell, it is absolutely heavenly! This smell lasts all day and has certainly resulted in me receiving a lot of compliments. Surprisingly this conditioning cream comes in the form of a moose, which i must admit i was slightly dubious about. Having used moose before and been left with crispy, wet-look locks i was concerned this would result in me looking (and smelling) like i'd dipped my hair in candyfloss. However the texture is so light it soaks right into the hair leaving nothing but a whiff of milkshake behind it. I found the end result of this product to be fantastic, leaving me with extremely soft hair which seemed to be easier to style. I also discovered this product to be a excellent way of adding texture to my hair. My hair isn't flyaway but it's not as thick as it once was, and a little bit of this moose helps to boost it straight from the roots giving a much fuller effect. This product is definitely a firm favourite and something that will be staying in my morning hair routine. I also like the look of the other Milkshake hair products, which would you try first? 

Milkshake conditioning whipped cream - £11.69

On my face this week #1

As a busy Primary School teacher who has little time during the week to spend on applying make up, i find that using good quality and reliable products is the only answer. In order to get a fresh faced look every day without spending a long time applying make up i believe a good primer and mascara are essential. I spend a great chunk of my time testing and changing my beauty products (in fact this is where i spend most of my wages!) and in the last two weeks I've discovered a primer and mascara that i absolutely love.

Clarins Instant smooth perfecting touch make up base has been an essential in my make up routine for the last month or so and since discovering it i have not been able to stop using it. It's definitely going to become a permanent fixture in my make up bag. I find some primers to be quite greasy and heavy, but this is absolutely fantastic. It has a very smooth texture which feels very light when applied to the skin. A little bit goes a long way and the small spatula that comes with this product gives you the perfect amount to use on your skin. I use a small amount of this underneath my foundation, and i find it really brightens my skin. It helps my make up to glide on without clogging up my pores. I have also found on days where i'm in a real rush (after snoozing the alarm several times) or i'm feeling lazy i can wear this product without any other make up and my skin looks instantly fresher. I'm a big fan of Clarins products but this is one i would definitely say is an essential to any girl with little time on her hands.

Chanel Inimitable Mascara is my next beauty love, and this was definitely my big purchase of last week! At £23 for this product i was expecting big things and i was not disappointed. With most mascaras i find that it takes me a little while to get used to them and i spend the first few days pining for my old mascara. However as soon as this product touched my eyelashes i forgot all about my other mascaras. Rather than concentrating on one aspect as most mascaras do, this product promises 'Volume, length, curl and separation' and it delivers all four. I only need to apply one layer of this mascara for it to do it's job and the effect is dramatic. I prefer a slightly thicker lash as i don't wear any other eye make up but this often means i end up with clumpy lashes. However the very thin bristles on the brush means there's no chance of that happening. This product stays on all day without flaking or fading away, and it doesn't give me panda eyes!

Clarins smooth perfecting touch - £26 

  Chanel Inimitable Mascara - £23