All this week on the blog, I am going to post about my current skincare routines - morning, evening and the extras, beginning today with my morning routine. I have a LOT of skincare products but after getting my skin back on track after its meltdown a few months ago, I decided that I needed to streamline my collection and just use certain products consistently. Around 4/5 weeks ago I cleared out my bathroom cabinet and kept a curated collection and now my skin is looking better than it has done in months and I'm no longer fighting breakouts and redness, my pores appear more refined and overall my skin looks more radiant. I think, for me, the key is not to chop and change my products too much as consistency has worked wonders. Some of the products were sent to me but most I bought myself and details of both are at the bottom of the post - either way, my opinion is honest. For reference, I have dry, quite sensitive skin with some texture issues and visible pores.
Cleansing:
Magnitone Bare Faced Facial Cleanse Brush: I was quite nervous about trying this brush as I had a bad reaction to the Clarisonic a few years ago but at the same time, I wanted to try it because I love the idea of a deep cleanse. Fortunately, this brush is much more gentle on the skin, making it suitable for my sensitive skin. I don't use it every morning as I don't feel the need for a deep cleanse every day but I tend to use it 2/3 times a week. Since I started using it, my skin has suffered few or no breakouts and the pores in my cheek area appear less visible. It is waterproof so it can be used in the shower and it basically does all of the work for you. I wet the brush and apply my usual cleanser (most brushes require you to use a foaming cleanser, which I don't like) and then I glide it over my face, making sure not to scrub at all and it turns itself off after 1 minute and that's it - job done! I absolutely love how gentle, yet effective this brush is.
Omorovicza Hydra Melt Cleanser: Because the weather has been quite warm, I have been reaching for this cleanser a lot because the gel-cream texture is perfect for refreshing my skin whilst cleansing it, yet it doesn't dry my skin out at all. This is a beautiful cleanser for all skin types - gentle, nourishing and refreshing.
Pestle & Mortar Renew Illuminating Lightweight Cleanser: I love this gel cleanser because it has the perfect amount of slip, which works well for my dry skin and it leaves my skin thoroughly cleansed and glowing. I am delighted that this is being sold separately rather than just as part of the Erase & Renew system because I love this but am less keen on the cleansing balm.
Acid Toner:
January Labs Daily Exfoliating Toner: I have been using this Lactic Acid toner every day since buying it. I usually use a Glycolic Toner but felt like my skin needed a change and this product really suits my sensitive skin. My pores are refined and my skin is much smoother and more even in texture without any redness. I would highly recommend this product to anybody who has sensitive skin and finds that they can't use glycolic acids on a daily basis.
Hydrating Mist:
January Labs Restorative Tonic Mist: I follow up with a Tonic Mist by the same brand - I had never tried anything from January Labs before or really heard very much about it but I was browsing Cult Beauty one day and came across it so thought I would order both products at the same time. I have a few face mists but this is the one I have been using consistently. It is alcohol free and contains aloe extract (perfect for calming the skin), witch hazel (fights spots) and olive oil (to add some moisture into the skin). I wouldn't say that it is as moisturising as Clinique Moisture Surge Spray but it definitely balances my skin after the acid exfoliator leaving it feeling comfortable.
Essence:
Omorovicza Omoressence: I then follow with an essence - I have two but my favourite is this one from Omorovicza (one of my very favourite skincare brands). I've said it before and I'll say it again - this product banished signs of dehydration from my skin within the first week of use. I pat a few drops in and then leave it to settle (I brush my teeth in the meantime) before continuing with my routine.
Serums:
I have three serums on rotation (couldn't narrow it down to just one as they're my weakness!)
Omorovicza Gold Flash Firming Serum: This serum is perfect for soothing and calming the skin as well as healing it. It is oil-free so it's non-greasy yet it is nourishing enough for my dry skin. As with all Omorovicza products, it is extremely gentle on the skin.
Oskia Super 16 Serum: This wonder product really strengthens my skin and improves the elasticity in it. It got its name from the blend of 16 nutrients and bio-actives it contains (one of which is natures answer to retinol). It is gentle to use and my skin instantly feels comfortable when I apply it. It is definitely one of my favourite products that I have discovered through blogging.
Medik8 C-Tetra Vitamin C Antioxidant Serum: This serum is the product that has made the biggest difference to my skin since I began using it. Medik8 is a cosmeceutical, results-driven brand that was previously only available to buy in Dermatologists' offices but is now available in clinics and online. This is a seriously impressive serum in terms of brightening the skin but without any of the irritation that can be associated with Vitamin C products (my skin has been burnt from from Vit C products in the past). My skin looks more even, little areas of stubborn pigmentation are fading and in general my skin looks brighter, more radiant and younger. I've been really ill recently but my skin still looked bright, which I put down to the use of this serum.
For eye cream, I have been using a very innovative range. It is from Bio-Extracts and the idea behind their products is that you personalise your base cream in accordance with your own needs. So I use the Bio-Extracts Eye Contour Age Defying Cream and I then add a booster shot of either Bio-Extracts Lift and Firm Boost or Bio-Extracts Brightening Boost but quite often, I will add a little short of both because I want to firm and brighten my eye area. The result is a plump eye area that looks less fatigued. The consistency is very light so I don't need to worry about milia developing, yet the results are like that of a rich cream without the heaviness.
Moisturiser:
Hey Honey 24Seven Honey Day & Night Cream: I have been consistently using this moisturiser from Hey Honey, which has just recently arrived in Ireland. Given the name, you can tell that the foundation of all of the products is honey, known for its antiseptic, antibacterial and healing properties - perfect for my skin after the nightmare it went through a few months ago. The consistency is very creamy but not overly slippy and it absorbs instantly but the hydrating effect is felt all day. My skin absolutely loves this moisturiser - it is calmer and feels very comfortable, also not crying out for some added moisture a few hours after application - it really does provide all day hydration. It is now a firm favourite in my daily skincare routine and the perfect last step.
I am so happy that my skin is looking and feeling so much better and I am glad that I removed all other products from the cabinet to just focus on finding the best products for my skin at the moment. Have you used any of these products? What does your morning skincare routine consist of? I would love to hear in the comments below!
All products are bought by me, unless otherwise stated. In this case, the Magnitone, Oskia, Medik8, Bio-Extracts and Hey Honey products were sent to me. Opinion is always my own.
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