Current Skincare Favourites

Following a skin mishap, I took it upon myself to seek a handful of new items to put into my routine. Surprisingly, I've come across a few staples that I don't see myself giving up on any time soon.
For reference my skin is combination - oily, with the occasional dry patches around the nose and mid forehead. However, following a trip to the beautiful city of Prague, my skin seemed react awfully to the colder climate, leaving me with a bad episode of xerosis. This resulted in my skin becoming extremely dry and visibly scaly all over - no amount of heavy duty moisturizer seemed to relief the issue.

Product 1:
The first product I used after my trip was The Body Shop Camomile Cleanser - you can understand why I initially gravitated towards this item - dry skin + oil cleanser = better skin? Although oil cleansers are not usually solely targeted just at dry skin (they work wonders on oily skin too!) But this product did inject some well needed moisture back into my face.
How to use this product:
The directions for this product are pretty basic, pump the product into your hands and massage onto your dry face, gently massage it around your eyes and into the lashes to break down and remove your mascara fully. The oil is slightly runny in texture and emulsifies around the face like a dream. I then use a hot muselin cloth to wipe off any excess.
Results:
This cleanser does not leave your face feeling like a greasy mess, and neither does it leave you with a tight feeling dry face. Thanks to the camomile ingredient, it's a gentle formula and leaves your skin feeling fresh, hydrated and silky smooth. 

Product 2:
I found this facial soap after one too many trips to my local Lush store, and was attracted to the fact that it's supposed to exfoliate (with extracts of wholemeal bread) and revive the skin whilst maintaining moisture (with organic coconut oil) and hydration, using the best essential oils (such as wheatgerm and hop oil).
How to use this product:
With a touch of water, lather the soap in your hands and work into the skin in circular motions to really allow the wholemeal particles to spread and exfoliate your skin. Although I haven't come across any negative reviews of this product, I like to use this only 2-3 times a week to really give my skin an exfoliating cleanse. I also find that using the same 'wow' factor product every single day can run the risk of your skin becoming 'used' to the pampering - therefore eliminating the glow factor results.
Results:
This soap is amazing! It has dramatically improved the condition of my skin, transforming my dull looking and feeling skin into a healthy and glowy wonder. I found that my oilier t-zone area has become less greasy, allowing makeup to sit and last longer on my face. My pores have also definitely minimized since using the Movis bar - absolute bread winner!

Product 3: 
Hyaluronic acid has been the ongoing buzz in the beauty world as one of the favourite skin enhancing cosmetic ingredients. Skin care junkies swear by HA because of it's ability to retain water 1000 times its weight - therefore helping your skin to remain moisturized from within, smoothing out any dullness and fine lines and helping your skin appear fresh, plump and hydrated. HA comes in many forms of serums, masks and moisturisers - most of which also come with an expensive price tag.
Balance Active, a popular skin care range, known for it's high quality products with more affordable price tags offers this 30ml HA Max Hydration serum for £4.99.
How to use this product:
I use this product twice a day, everyday, just before applying my day/night moisturizer. Using it's pipette dispenser, I place a large pea size amount in the palm of hands and massage all over my face. The product does not leave a greasy residue on your face but sinks into your skin rather quickly - much like water on skin!
Results: 
This product is beauty sleep in a bottle. My skin looks and feels rejuvenated after use, helping my moisturizer and makeup to sit better on my face. It has also eliminated the dry patches of skin around my chin and nose.

Product 4:
Now I'm sure I've raved about this product before, but I wouldn't forgive myself if I couldn't mention it once more!
How to use: I use this twice a day as my sole moisturizer. I also use this as the final step in my nighttime skin care routine, and as a the base to my daily makeup application - the gel like formula works as a great foundation primer!
Results: 
La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo - where do I begin? This is a single skin care solution to all your skin imperfections . Does you find that your skin becomes clogged? Do you suffer from acne? Or perhaps you are prone to whiteheads or blackheads? This product will combat all of these issues by removing bacteria, dead cells and excess oil. The moisturizer then hydrates and soothes your skin with it's healing ingredients such as Linoleic Acid. 

Long-haul Beauty Survival Kit

 

We've all seen the likes of Kim Kardashian, and Victoria Beckham being papped at international airports, looking superbly fresh-faced and picture perfect, and we've all wondered just how they do it. A plane is not the most glamorous of settings, but with help from a few cult favourites, you can transform that cramped seating and musky recycled air into your very own pamper sesh.  Today's post is a little snippet of my beauty regime on long-haul flights, which is quite fitting as I'm due to go to Canada this week. Here's my list of tips and recommendations: 

Hydration - Although I'm quite good when it comes to drinking enough water on a day-day basis, I take extra precaution before and during a flight. This not only avoids me from feeling dehydrated and rather travel sick, but also maintains hydration for my skin. Make sure your body is well and truly hydrated before boarding your flight, but also ensure you grab yourself a big bottle of water for throughout your flight! 

Cleanse - I'm a big fan of not wearing any makeup during flights (especially long ones for that matter), and therefore brave the bare face through security until I am tucked away in my seat (or bed for the next few hours). However, I'm sure many people prefer even a light coverage, and that's why I reccommend you taking an effective cleanser. I prefer the Bioderma Sensibo H20 - it's perfect at removing every trace of makeup and dirt, and you do not require water with this product. I also reccomend you take both some face, but also eye makeup remover wipes with you, I'll be taking these Witch cleansing wipes as I've used them before and my skin has not reacted to them (not usually a fan of face wipes). I also highly recommend the Halo travel size makeup remover wipes if you intend on wearing eye makeup before your flight. These do an excellent job at removing every trace of eye makeup!

Moisturize - I've chosen to take this Neal's Yard Power Berry moisturizer as it does a perfect job at your boosting your skin's radiance, and its rich antioxidant ingredients (such as acai, bilberry and goji berry) protects your skin. Of course, I don't go anywhere without my La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo, this holy grail product will act as my lightweight moisturiser and makeup base, which I apply half an hour before landing. Any eye cream is better than no eyecream (or so I like to tell myself). This Balance Snake Venom eye cream will be used generously around the eye area, which is incredibly prone to drying and creasing whilst on flights. Another beauty must is my Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm, this is not only one of my faveourite lip balms, but I also tend to use it as a lip scrub too. My first application acts as a slight scrub, and a second layer as a heavy duty lip moisturizer. This is perfect to layer on before you go for your mid-flight nap, as you'll wake up with beautiful soft lips. I know some people are not a fan of this products scent, so I've also included another faveourite lip care product - the Balance Me Rose Otto Lip Salve. Finally, I'm taking this Body Shop Coconut hand cream to ensure my hands are nice and moisturised throughout my flight. 

Sleep - I've never been able to sleep whilst traveling, whether that be a car, train, plane etc. I just cannot seem to do it. However, during my last trip I decided to pick up these Kalms Natural Remedy tablets - the natural plant extracts used help relieve elements of anxiety and irritability. Although these tablets didn't help me in getting 5 hours sleep, but what they did was allow me to become more relaxed by bringing relief to any periods of worry or stress. This time, I've also decided to take this cute eye mask with me in hopes of getting at least an hour or so of sleep! (please, please, please). 

I really hope this post is of use to somebody, and I would love to hear if you have any recommendations.

Saina
xo