I have, (and I know im not alone in this), spent a small fortune over the years in the pursuit of finding the perfect skincare products/routine to have healthy, glowing skin. I have always had sensitive skin and been prone to outbreaks depending on the climate I find myself in, stress etc. So finding a product that doesn’t irritate my skin, cause breakouts and make my skin look worse, is quite a feat. This post today features the products that iv used, tried and tested and that I have found to work the best.
I have researched at length each product before buying, including all reviews, ingredients, costs etc. There are a few skincare products and ingredients in skincare that have been trending and are causing much hype around the world and I wanted to find out why and are they worth the hype? Could these be the holy grail of skincare products that would change my skin? My hope is that my experience and what I have learned from using these products, will help you to better decide what you would prefer to spend your time and money on, and that this will help transform your skin and boost your confidence even more.
Cleanser
When I first discovered products from facetheory, I did have my doubts, I must admit. Compared to some other cleansers that I have tried, this seemed very reasonably priced (GBP 11.99), the reviews were amazing and their promises seemed too good to be true. But boy do they live up to them:) I was really pleasantly surprised by the quick, helpful customer service, from recommending products for my skin (via email), to delivery and most importantly, the results. The clarifying cleanser is one of facetheory’s bestselling products and contains a trifecta of acids at a low pH to clarify oily, congested, blemish-prone skin. I found that it exfoliates my skin gently so as to not agitate it and leaves it softer, smoother with a brighter overall complexion. I love the fact that a little goes a long way so this jar can last 2-3 months. It really has become a base for the rest of my skincare routine and I would say that if you are looking to either help with breakouts and blemishes or something to gently cleanse and exfoliate your skin to improve overall health, glow and appearance of your skin, try this out. It wont break the bank and works from the inside out.
Garnier Micellar Water
I LOVE this product and now cannot live without it. I always felt like even after cleansing (especially after a day of wearing heavy makeup), there was a fine layer of residual makeup left on my face. I saw a small bottle of this in store one day and I thought ooh only about GBP 1.25, why not. And I’m so glad I did. Every morning and night I use this to double cleanse my face and it removes any residual makeup, creams etc beautifully, while also hydrating my skin. I find that it also allows for any products that I use to better absorb and work on my skin. Again it doesn’t cost a lot but makes a world of difference.
The Ordinary Mandelic Acid
I am obsessed with this product and is a MUST as part of my skincare routine. Mandelic Acid is such a buzzword in the beauty industry these days and after reading and hearing so much about it, I had to find out for myself if it was as good as everyone said. In 2 words “HELL YES”!. Many active serums have acids, like Salicylic Acid, in them which is magic when it comes to targeting spots/breakouts and calming the skin to eventually give you smooth, healthier skin. However active serums and these acids can be quite strong for some skin types especially sensitive skin and can cause purging (which is normal but very annoying). Mandelic acid is a much milder acid that exfoliates and gently dissolves the top layer of the skin to reveal healthy, “newer” skin that’s healthy, bright and blemish free. I use this with a few other products so im not sure if this alone will give you optimal results especially if you have problem skin, but it does make your skin look and feel better even on its own but ideally I would say use with a serum (mentioned below). RSP: GBP 5.75
Neutrogena Refreshingly Clear Moisturiser
Iv always been a fan of Neutrogena and their line of products. The grapefruit line in particular as its light, easy to apply and specifically formulated for oily and sensitive skin. Its one of the only moisturisers that I have been able to use day and night that doesn’t clog my pores and keeps it feeling and looking fresh and healthy. GBP 5.19
The Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream
I stumbled upon this cream when I ran out of my usual moisturiser that I get brought in from South Africa (Dermafix if anyones interested, it is brilliant. I saw changes in my skin within the first week of using it.) With Covid19 hitting the world and borders shutting down including South Africa, I couldn’t get the cream delivered to London. So I thought I’d look for a cheaper cream to tide me over. I went onto Marks & Spencer website, as I generally like and trust their products, and found the Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream. It has rave reviews and has been hailed as one of the best anti ageing products out there, and at GBP 23.00, I thought definitely worth giving it a try. Its worth every penny. I use it mainly under my eyes to stave off those ugly crows feet and wrinkles as well as on my neck. I notice a huge difference under my eyes, which seem smoother, brighter and fewer crows feet even when iv had little to no sleep. I use a serum (still to come below), at night so I don’t use this as my night cream however it is a night cream so you can absolutely use this as your everyday night cream as part of your routine.
Regena C20 Serum
I discovered this serum when my usual serum (below), ran out and I was also looking for a cleanser at the same time. I found the Facetheory cleanser and while on the site, I read about the Regena C20 serum. After reading all the fantastic reviews, I mailed them as well to find out what they would recommend for my skin. They responded in less than 12 hours and were quick, friendly and helpful. They also kindly reminded me of their very generous 365 day guarantee: if you are not happy with your purchase, you can return it within 365 days of purchase date and get another product or a full refund. It was a must try moment for me and iv not looked back. This serum is packed with antioxidant benefits of vitamin C (20%) with hyaluronic acid, liquorice and dill. These ingredients come together to increase skin firmness, lighten age spots, help fight acne-causing bacteria and brighten skin. I found that this was so gentle on my skin and left it feeling smoother, less/no inflammation and tighter/firmer. It is a one stop shop for your skin and if you need to choose 1, a good serum is it. It is well worth investing a bit more in a good serum as they work to correct your skin problems rather than simply camouflage or mask them. Having said that though, this serum is a very surprising GBP 18.99 only, which if you’ve been using or have looked at serums generally, this is a bargain.
IS Clinical Active Serum
This is hands down, hand on heart, one of, if not, the best, acne targeting serum you could ever get your hands on. I found that this worked best for me for targeting affected ares where I had a pimple(s) but when I used it on my entire face, my skin purged quite a lot and it went on for quite a while so I think it could be a bit too harsh to apply all over my skin, causing breakouts. I then switched to the other products mentioned in this post and used this just for targeting spots when they pop up. I don’t think, with the other products, you will really need to use both serums, especially as this one has quite the price tag at GBP 65 for 15ml (it does last forever though). It does everything it says on the tin…and then some. Its a big miracle in a little bottle. So while I don’t think when using the other products, you will need this as much, it is definitely worth the hype and glory it gets and every bit deserved. It targets ageing, heals and renews skin from within and quickly gets rid of that pesky pimple that you need gone FAST.
Thats it, my top 7 must have skincare products that will have your skin and confidence glowing in no time:)
let me know how you find the products and what your recommendations for skincare products are. id love to hear from you.
Love
Arita X
