This is the biggest of my yearly favourite posts, surely?
Favourite/most used etc of 2013 ... Facial Skincare
Cleanser - Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3 in 1 cleanser - This is the best non-specific cleanser I have come across, ideal for my normal/combination skin I used it in conjunction with my Clarisonic and together they clean the skin like nothing else, without leaving it dry or any residue or feeling rough. It does have a very slight smell, can't put my finger on it, like cardamom? All I know is I didn't like it at first and pretty soon I became unaware of it. Also, it's not one of those cleansers you need to pre-remove your make up, unless you really like to pile it on, although I do prefer to sort my eyes out before using this.
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Make up Remover - Garnier Simply Essential 2 in 1 make up remover - This is one of those bi-phase products, as in there are two different types of liquid in the bottle, when you shake them they get all mixed up and suitable for putting on to a cotton pad and wiping off all of your make up, particularly eye make up, even waterproof. It is best to place it on your eye lids for a few seconds before gently wiping away, but it is effective and of the many that I have tried in the past year, this was the one I reached for most. Great budget buy that does what it says on the bottle - which I threw away a while back so here's a picture.
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Exfoliater - Nutrogena Deep Clean Invigorating Scrub - Again ran out of this so long ago, because I took it away and my partner used it, and then he took it away from me. Happy to share the joy and to replace his tube when it ran out and another on standby for myself - but then I gave it to my nan so here is a pic.
Clarisonic Mia 2 - I wasn't sure whether this should be classed as a cleanser or a tool instead but it really adds to any gentle product by lightly exfoliating the skin and getting anything out of your pores. Recently I've switched to a creamy cleanser and I've massaged the stuff into my skin 2 or even three times, but when you use this you still see all the stuff that's still left behind. Not recommended for us with exfoliating or abrasive cleansers, but I have a few gentle creamy ones and this just ups the game. The real proof is in what happens when you don't use this for a bit - I can be a bit lazy with charging it and my skin soon tells me off.
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Mask - Garnier Pure Self- Heating Sauna Mask - I've not really tried that many dedicated mask products this year and I've not been too impressed by the ones I have tried but this is perhaps the second mask I've ever ever tired and I keep coming back to it. It is fantastic for clearing out the pores (see the theme here) and it feels like it's actually working. I'm just so disappointed it doesn't come in a tube any more - unless anyone has see some? The good thing about the sachets is you don't overdue it by using it too often, and there's so much product that you remember to use it on your neck! Although, even then I still have some left over and like to save it for a mini mask another time. I do have a thing for self heating masks and this is the best one I've tried by far - although the first one I tried was a brilliant No 7 sample and they discontinued the product :( I used half of this so here's the full product.
Alpha H Liquid Gold - a brief mention of this one, although it could have been in the above or below category because it's an exfoliating toner meant for use no more than twice a week really and only at night because its full of glycolic acid. It feels like it's working, skin looks fresh and bright the next day, spots are zapped and it speeds up the healing of any hyperpigmentaton. Just make sure you use a good spf the next day and don't use it in the morning. Unless you are going to be living in a cave.
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Toner - No 7 Sensitive Skin Toner Some years ago my mother went to Boots and bought herself this product and never used it. No idea why she bought it but she really only relied on a soft soft for her face and either Nivea or Oil of Ulay. So it was given to me some time later. Had it been open all that time? Probably. Should I have thrown it out instead of using it? Hmm most likely. However, the hoarder that I am, I used it and it was so good! Stopped my skin from feeling dried out on day when the cleanser I had used was too harsh, closed my pores up after I spent all that time opening them, and was gentle enough to use around the eye area - some toners send my eyes streaking. Best of all, it felt clean and no residue. I've many other toners having finishing this (caudalie, simple, nSpa) so who knows what my new everyday toner will be, I'm always on the look out, but if I ever try No 7 again this one seems to be a close match.
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Serum- No 7 Protect and Perfect Intense Serum - brilliant stuff and always in some 3 for 2, or available in bulk on the Boots website, I've gone through 2 tubes which is saying something. Probably all in 2013, baring in mind I don't do a full skincare routine daily and never nightly (doubly naughty aren't I). Don't know how it works or what it's got in it, I bought this on a recommendation from a friend that it helps restore skin that has acne scarring and believe it or not, it did. I'm no fool, I feel that exfoliating and regenerating skin regularly is going to get rid of light scarring but this definitely speeds the whole process up. It does make your skin softer than just moisturiser and I could be delusional but fine lines do flatten out with repeated use. I fully intend on using this twice daily next time as I have a backup ready, but I've other serums and samples to try. Not a great fan of the tube, only because if you cut it in half you'l find about a week's applications left if not more.
No 7 Youthful Eyes Serum - brilliant again, before I bought this I was going through a dry and creasy under eye phase which hasn't been back since. I use this most days especially under make up and I'm not sure what I'll do when it runs out, I might try a few other brands or products. Both of these serums were the first I've tried but there must be some good other ones out there.
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Moisturiser - No 7 Protect and Perfect Intense Day Cream - these No 7 products are really having a moment aren't they? Used this all year round, it has spf in but I don't believe it's the one that stays all day, and I don't exactly remove my make up and reapply cream throughout the day so this has recently been swapped out with spf specific product recently, but I didn't get any issues from being in the sun with this moisturiser either. It hydrates fully, but not too much, it doesn't leave skin greasy, all the product sinks in and I love it so much I have a new tub waiting, but I do have lots of other products to try first. The tub takes AGES to finish by the way. I also have this in a much richer night cream but I barely use it so can't comment - it hasn't caused me any problems though.
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Eye Cream - Clinique Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream - this was actually a gift with purchase with the Even Better Eyes dark circle correcter which I've barely used, and I'm surprised I like a 5 ml "freebie" better than any of the many I've actually paid for. I use it over the eye serum but sometimes I use it without and it still really hydrates my under eye area. I haven't been using it at night so it seems to have lasted forever - I know it's been a staple since at least August, I think with the serum I've needed less of the cream too. I notice there are a lot of reviews saying this is too greasy and makes eye make up run or smudge or crease but I've had no such issues, maybe because I have normal skin in that area, or maybe the amount I'm using - I can't believe it was a 5 ml sample when it started - plus I apply before getting dressed and then I apply make up, so it has time to sink in. The same product doesn't seem to be available any more, so this is the closest thing they currently offer.
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Spot or blemish healing - Neutrogena Visibly Clear Rapid Clear Treatment does exactly what it says on the bottle. The one I'm talking about claims to reduce spots in 4 hours which I can't comment on because I haven't checked after 4 hours, I've checked after a night's sleep and it does definitely reduce the size of a spot, if not make it disappear altogether. Like magic, be weary of an 8 hour version that's available in some shops too, not sure what that's about!
Likewise, Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Stress Control Ultra-light Spot Treatment Moisturiser does wonders, especially in conjunction with the above. It's like a runny gel consistency which gets soaked right into the skin, hydrating like your skin would be under running water - pure moisture, not grease. It gets deep into the skin and seems to work from within, whereas a creamy moisturiser probably stays on the top layers. It's supposed to be soothing but I do find it tingly, not in a bad way, just in a gentle zit zapping way - that'll be the salicylic acid I suppose. I also feel I need to give a shout out to Garnier Pure Serum Control Moisturiser which is similarly light, but not as much as the Neutrogena one, so I'd reach for it if I was having a long term acne phase. The same/similar product worked for me in my teens when I first ventured into real skincare so I have faith!
Garnier Pure Active Toner is the best toner I've tried for acne prone skin, again thanks to a travel sized trio set I got as a teen, and I've not really had any reason to step away from it. It gets it done. I think the one I originally used was a bit gentler and from the elusive Pure range, this Pure Active one in the white opaque bottle seems to be stronger and even more effective, it even helps get rid of the marks - just don't take it near your eyes or go out in the sun without spf! It's so cheap too, happy solution to a nagging problem.
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Of course I do have other favourites from the past year, I just can't think of them right this minute, or the past week, other than:
Boots Cotton Buds - they're about 60p for 200 and suitable firm and cottony for a multitude of uses. I think you can find them in the baby section.
Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Face Wipes - they really are kind to skin and are very good at removing make up, as long as you use a proper wash after - although a separate eye make up remover may be necessary at times.
Contact lens cases - you weren't expecting this. You know those hanging basket in a tub type cases you get with every single contact lens and solution delivery you get, what happens if you take the lens basket bit out of the lid (they're just slotted into place)? You get the smallest travel bottle you ever did see! Well, it's probably about as small as a little round pot but isn't it great? It's at no extra cost, you can label it with a Sharpie (or those surplus travel container labels you get with the normal sized sets) and it fits about a week load of facial skincare products. I use them for my day cream (enough for WEEKS), toner, eye make up remover, night cream. Best idea I have had of late!
Try. Don't Try. But do share your thoughts by all means!
