Standout Skincare From 2017 So Far...

This year has probably been the best year for me in terms of skin and keeping up a regular routine. Long gone are the days that I chopped and changed things constantly as I finally realised that my skin just couldn't handle that and it needed consistency and routine. As well as my skin needing that routine I also wanted to make sure I was using products to the end otherwise it's way too easy for things to get lost and then only discovering them when they might have gone off which isn't something that I ever want to do as it's such a waste. As my skin is much more under control I've not needed so many products that are dedicated to spot fighting. So I've been able to be a little more adventurous with what I've been using and here are some of the best product from this year so far...

CLEANSERS

PIXI MUD GLOW CLEANSER*: When this first arrived I had no idea what to expect as from its name I imagined it to be a little more of a mask than a cleanser [sometimes I do leave it on a little longer to work like a treatment and it works beautifully]. And this isn't something to reach for if you want it to remove your makeup because this won't do that and is much better as a second cleanse or an AM cleanser only. If you're someone who is a lover of Pixi Glow Tonic and find that works well with your skin then you will more than likely love this. It contains some wonderful ingredients like glycolic acid, aloe vera and glycerin. The glycolic brightens the skin gently, the aloe is soothing and calming whilst the glycerin is something that is softening on the skin which is perfect as can counteract any drying effect the glycolic acid has. Whenever I have been a little more spotty [which is rare these days] this cleanser has worked wonders, especially on hormonal little zits. It does say that you might want to build up a tolerance to this but personally, I've not had any issues with it although I do use some sort of acid on a daily basis so my tolerance is pretty high.

REN EVERCALM GENTLE CLEANSING MILK*: I've dabbled in a number of formulas over the years when it comes to cleansers but I think anything milky or creamy will always be my favourite. Having something that is kind, soothing and hydrating to the skin as well as being able to get rid of any dirt and grime is perfect for I would say the majority of skin types. Because typically anything that is milky and cream is never too harsh or disrupts the balance of the skin which is something I definitely strive for in my routine. This cleanser doesn't work the same brightening miracles on my skin as the Pixi cleanser but for a really good solid cleansing milk that can remove a light layer of makeup, softens and purifies it's ideal. So often we expect miracles from our cleansers when really their main job is to simply cleanse the skin and remove all dirt and impurities from the complexion.

MOISTURISERS

CLARINS MULTI-ACTIVE DAY & NIGHT*: This duo was a PR sample and I wasn't quite sure I was going to like to be honest, even though on the whole Clarins is a brand that I absolutely love. The Multi-Active range aims to help minimise the stress that we put our skin through on a daily basis without even realising. I like to think I'm pretty kind to my skin but then when I really think about it I'm actually pretty rough on it and these two moisturisers are so kind and soothing. The formulation is absolutely beautiful they're a thick buttery cream that feels instantly comforting upon application but they're not so heavy that it makes the skin feel greasy. And that's the best way to describe this moisturiser, it's just so kind on the skin, they don't work wonders when it comes to scars and spots [although they certainly help rather than hinder]. But they're a truly great product and I'm really sad that I'm finally at the end of them which is when I know I've really loved an item when I can feel myself missing it.

EMBRYOLISSE LAIT-CRÈME CONCENTRÉ*: I'd always heard such a lot about was this cult classic moisturiser from the French Pharmacy and my hopes were pretty high when it came to trying it. It's a thick, rich moisturising lotion that can not only nourish the skin but it can also act as a primer which is why I think I loved it so much. It gave my complexion the big boost of moisture that it needed but it also made my skin feel like it was ready for any products that I was going to apply over the top. So even when I wasn't going to be wearing makeup my skin just looked that little bit smoother like I've used some sort of primer. Some people really don't like this due to the mineral oil but as I have no aversion to that I don't mind it being in there. For the price, I will definitely be going back to this as I absolutely adored what it did to my skin and how it made it look. And I can completely understand why it's such a cult item in the skincare world.

TONERS

MEDIK8 BLEMISH CONTROL PADS*: This isn't a brand that I'm familiar with at all but their blemish pads have completely ruled my skincare routine when it comes to an acid toner for over a month [and I'm a floozy with my toners]. Typically throw away pads aren't really my thing as I don't know how good they are in terms of cost per use and they're quite bulky to travel with. But these work absolute wonders on my skin due to the salicylic acid which is my favourite ingredient for tackling blemishes directly and then the glycerin makes the skin feel so soft. You could cut these pads in two to get more than one use out of them but as I'm only acid toning once a day right now I've got a good few weeks from them which makes them more than worth the money. As they don't contain alcohol they're not at all drying and so many toners do contain that it can be an issue when it comes to drying out the skin.

ALPHA H LIQUID ROSE GOLD*: I feel like I can't possibly mention this product again as everyone is probably sick of me waxing lyrical about it. But I suppose at least you know that's when I truly love something and actually use it more than a couple of times when I can't shut up about it. To keep it short, it's an acid resurfacing product that makes my skin feel and look absolutely incredible and I can't believe it's taken me so long to use this cult item. So worth all the hype and praise that it's received over the years.

OTHER

BAREMINERALS SKINLONGEVITY EYE GEL CREAM*: For a long time, I flitted back and forth with eye cream and it's not until I've got to the later part of my 20's that I've really started to care about it and this new release from bareMinerals is a firm favourite. First, of all the formulation is absolutely lovely, it's not a thick heavy cream which is usually the case. It's a cream gel hybrid which means you can still get the comfort of the cream but the lightweight feeling of a gel. As I'm pretty tired right now [what's new really?] I've got quite bad bags and it feels so kind and comforting on them as well as helping to brighten the area and calm things down. Eye cream isn't something I mind splurging on as you only use such a small amount that you get a really good cost per use ratio.

BEAUTY PIE ÜBER YOUTH SERUM*: I've used some really lovely serums this year that's for sure but this one from Beauty Pie has gone straight to the top of the list. And I've not been using this too long to really comment on the long term effects it has but as of right now it's making my skin feel absolutely lovely. It's a serum that is designed to help with ageing which isn't something that I'm all that concerned with right now but prevention is always easier than cure in my eyes. The ingredients for this go a little over my head [although always interesting to read about] but they're clearly agreeing with my skin as my complexion always feel so plump and hydrated after using this. The formulation isn't anything like I've used before, it's not a gel and it's not a cream it sits in the middle which is something I really like as it almost feels like a silicone primer that is really good for your skin.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

FIGS & ROUGE SPOT TREATMENT*: A spot treatment that helps clear up any spots without drying out the skin at all.

PIXI PEEL & POLISH*: An enzyme peel to brighten the skin without the use of harsh chemicals, it's designed to be at home chemical peel and it works wonders for helping reveal a more radiant complexion with minimal effort.