I don’t dare say it… the word, the season, the weather we are all waiting for…. we get a glimpse of warmth and sunshine and then boom the cold and snow comes huffing back into the room. Well even the slightly warmer days my skin is thankful for at the moment. The constant central heating and icy chills outside have dried it up so much. That coupled with the fact I foolishly ploughed into a 1% retinol treatment without the recommended build up. Whoops.
So I thought now would be the perfect time to give you a bit of a beauty update. The products I am still addicted too – a few new ones I have discovered over the past months and anything else I think you simply need to know about beautification wise.
I started this as one post but there are so many new bits I want to tell you about I’ve had to split it into two. So I am starting with the basics, skincare and body. Part 2 will cover all the gorgeous new makeup finds I’ve discovered over the past few months, what works and what I now cannot be without!
Facial skincare
Peter Thomas Roth cleansers – glycolic acid and salicylic acid. I have used both of these for years now and always rave about them. The Salicylic acid I use at night to help stop spots and blemishes – its a BHA and unclogs pores and clears impurities. The Glycolic acid wash is a rapid exfoliant that sloughs away dead skin cells – I use it in the morning to exfoliate my skin ready for my serum and moisturiser.
Simple – eye makeup remover. I have used this forever and although I’ve tried others across all sorts of budgets – for me this is the best. Everything comes off with ease, no need to rub or be harsh around your eyes. Perfect. I buy it at Boots usually 3 for 2.
Elixseri – smooth player serum. This is new for me and I so far so (very) good. A really easy to apply, creamy serum that really delivers moisture into dry skin to help with those fine lines. It’s not the cheapest on the market but you don’t need much to get the results just continuous daily use.
Sisley eye contour mask. This is a real treat mask for me – when I have had a few disturbed sleepless nights with teething or sick children… I really notice it around my eyes. The lines get deeper and dryer and I just look a bit meh. This is instant. Feels incredible on and delivers results.
Sunday Riley – Good Genes. I have used this for a year or so now and still love it. I don’t use it every day or even every week now but when I do I wake up noticing a difference. It uses lactic acid to exfoliate and instantly brightens the skin. I would highly recommend!
Talika – Eye Dream. Another new product I love – this is a gorgeous nighttime eye mask that promotes skin regeneration for your eye contour. It also has soy protein to reduce dark circles. Addicted.
Paulas Choice – Skin perfecting 2% BHA liquid. This is another exfoliating salicylic acid product. Different from the cleanser you leave this on the skin so it really helps to help renew skin, minimise your pores, reduce any redness and help blemishes.
Glossier Solution. Similiar to the above I swap these up. I am have read different reviews on this product but I like what it does to my skin. Perhaps its the pairing with the cleansers. I personally don’t have any reactions but maybe patch test first. It contains a lot of the acids in the other products I use – Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid. So can be too much for some.
Medik8 Retinol. I am very new to this sort of retinol and after starting low I got impatient within a week – went full strength and regretted it instantly so have gone back down to this. 0.3%. I would do your research first and read all about it but this make is affordable, highly recommended by those in the industry and proven to work.
Sunday Riley – Luna. This was my first foray into retinoids. Very low, and mixed with tonnes of super moisturising ingredients. Its a gorgeous product I would always recommend and a great way to start using Vit A.
Sisley – Black Rose Cream mask. Pure luxury – at a cost. But if you can afford to treat yourself or ask as a gift its so worth it. Just bliss for the skin.
Tata Harper – resurfacing mask. I try and do this once a week – it offers deep cleansing and revitalisation, pulling impurities from pores and eliminating dull and blemished cells. Very natural, no dryness or tightness but an instant glow for the skin.
Tata Harper – regenerating cleanser. This is aimed at tired skin which is definitely me. Its very luxurious, skins left feeling clean but not tight at all. It encourages the regeneration of healthy new skin cells for a youthful glow getting rid of that top level of dead cells. I use this every now and then when I don’t want to use one of the harsher acidic cleansers.
Swiss Clinic – needle roller. Ok so I was going to start this last night but then realised I didn’t have a steriliser for afterwards so its been put on hold. So excited to try it though and I am going to write all about my experience and the before and after effects. If you’re going down this route then the serum you use afterwards is of upmost importance!
Sisley self tanning hydrating facial skin care. Always rave about this. Pricey but oh so good!
Elemis – Superfood day cream. I love the marine cream so when they launched this new range I was very excited. Its currently my everyday moisturiser I love it. Lightweight and packed full of goodness.
Tata Harper – Illuminating mousitriser and eye cream. These moisturisers are amazing. I am trying to use them slowly as love them. I have been mixing a bit in with my foundation too – they have actual diamond dust within! Your skin glimmers!! The eye one is amazing if you are worried about dark circles and dull tiredness. Great for tired mums!
By Terry – Baume de Rose face cream. Pure luxury in a tub. Perfect for when you need all the moisture asap.
Sunday Riley – CEO rapid flash brightening serum. Just finished my tube of this – I used it religiously. So easy to use, no greasiness and soaks right in. I think using a VIT C serum is very important before moisturer especially when using a retinol. I am trying two more brands in the next few months so will keep you updated. One is a much cheaper version and then other of the higher end of the market.
It – confidence in a cream. I was sent this as a gift and hadn’t heard of the brand before but a few people messaged me saying how much they loved it. Its gorgeous, quite thick but if I have had a night out this is my go-to in the morning.
For the hair…
Sachajuan – ocean mist volume shampoo and conditioner. Makes your hair look fuller, love love love!
Josh Wood colour – game changer – uplifting shampoo for blonde hair prone to frizz and the epic ‘Everything Mask’ – colour locks, slows fade, glosses hair and gives it a deep conditioning treatment. Boom!
Hair by Sam McKnight. Lazy Girl and Cool Girl. These actually come in the most gorgeous packaging too (make a great gift), they smell insane and I love how they give my hair that rough slept in sort of texture. Gorgeous products! The pink bottle ‘Cool Girl’ is my favourite…
For the body…
REN – anti-fatigue body wash – love this stuff! Always in my shower I need it in the mornings to wake me and my skin up. Lathered with a big poof.
Connock – famous for their incredible scents they also created this incredible scrub. I am always in search of a good body scrub and this you use before the shower with this skin smoothing body mitt. So lovely and would make a gorgeous gift.
Vita Liberata 2-3 week luxury tan. The best tan I have ever used.
Thank you so much for reading – part two will be live tomorrow with all my makeup buys.
Ashley x