The threesome that saved my skin

In my younger teenage years (not that i'm that old already with eighteen) i never really paid attention to skincare. And at the beginning of the year my skin wasn't in a good condition. I don't know if it was the colder weather in Canada or my skincare routine or the lack of one, but my skin was looking dull and dehydrated. I freaked a bit out when i saw some lines on my forehead and cried in my head, that i lost my nice young skin with the age of eighteen. Drama aside, i got into skincare. Read and watched a lot about skincare and bought quite a few products. And i sticked to my skincare routine everyday, every single day. I didn't skip a day, ever. And it saved my skin. My skin looks better than ever before and it made me realize that i should never skip skincare routines ever again (some evenings i do though, shame on me).

You will probably know the three products i will mention now, but i just have to mention them again. Sorry for that.

The serum that gives you an instantly umph of hydration is the Body Shop Vitamin-E Moisture Serum. At first i only used it in the morning under my moisturiser, but now i also use it in the evening. After cleansing my face i slap a pump all over my face. It is quite cooling on your skin and it calms my skin a bit down. It is supposed to help the moisture get deeper into your skin (if that's even possible...) and lock it into your skin. One thing i know is that it helps to moisturise my skin and keep it that way longer.

Next step i only use in the evening (for now) is the Body Shop Vitamin-E Overnight Serum-in-Oil. I use 6-8 drops of it and sweep it all over my skin. It is more of a oil formula, but isn't too heavy on the skin. You can use it under your moisturiser like i do or you can mix it with your moisturiser and apply it then. It's not heavy at all and sinks into the skin quite quick and it nourishes the skin so good and makes it all look healthy and glowy. Love it!

Last but not least my favorite moisturiser the Clinique Moisture Surge (full review here). It is more a gel than a cream and it goes on so smooth, it sinks in within minutes. It feels light on the skin and my skin drinks it up like nothing else. Some evenings i apply a light layer and sometimes i apply a thicker layer and let it sink in over night. I have to buy a new pot of this soon, because i am more than halfway through my first one.

Those three together completely changed my skin. It looks so healthy and plump and glowy, i can't believe it when i look into the mirror. My skin never ever looked that good before and i won't part with those before something even better comes my way. If you need the ultimate hydration kick and want your skin to look healthier than i definitely recommend those three products.

Do you have any favorite skincare products?

PM Skincare Routine

My skincare routine in the evening is more fancy than the one in the morning and i am doing it everyday (guilty, there are some days i don't). I have more time in the evening and the products can work overnight.

#1 Double Cleansing

Double Cleansing seems to be something everybody in the beauty world swears by and practices at the moment. There a reasons, because it does make a difference. First you cleanse your face to remove makeup and second you cleanse the actual skin of your face. For the makeup removing part i use mostly cleansing oils like the Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brighten Oil or the Body Shop Camomile Cleansing oil (yep, again). For the second step i prefer a cleansing balm like the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm or when it has to be quick i use the Loreal Sublime Soft Micellar Solution on a big cottonpad and sweep it all over my face. Cleansing done. A more detailed review about my cleansers here.

#2 Exfoliater

How often and intense you exfoliates depends on your skin, if it needs it and how sensitive it is. I use the Body Shop Aloe Gentle Exfoliater (very nice for sensitive skin) about every second or third day only on areas where i have pimpels or blackheads (mostly the nose). Plus once or twice a week all over my face to get rid of the dead skin cells.

#3 Facial Oil

At the moment i am using the Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil. Five to seven drops of it applied all over the face. Facial Oils and Serums are a great way to target a specific problem you have with your skin: dehydration, redness, blemishes, there is something for everything.

#4 Moisturiser

Hydration is key so be sure to pick the right moisturiser for you. I love the Clinique Moisture Surge at the moment. A very nice gel like texture, sinks quickly into the skin and leaves my skin feel soft, smooth and really hydrated.

If i think i need it, i use an eyecream over the face moisturiser. Currently i am using the First Aid Beauty Dual Repair Eyecream.

#5 Pimpel treatment

For any pimpels i use (as you maybe already read here) the Dr. Eckstein Azulenpaste. It looks and smells strange, but it does the job, so i can look over that.

AM Skincare Routine

In the morning i am a very lazy and sleepy person, so i don't have any motivation for a long fancy skincare routine. So i try to keep it simple but effective. I am not doing this routine every morning (although i should), because i'm always in a rush and never awake enough to motivate myself.

#1 Cleanse

Just a quick cleanse to remove leftover skincare products from the evening and any traces of sleep. A quick sweep with my favorite micellar water (L'OREAL Soft Sublime Micellar water) on a cottonpad all over the face. Done. If i have more time i use the Neutragena visibly clear Pink Grapefruit everyday face cleanser on it's own or massage it in with a facebrush.

#2 Serum

No facial oil or intense serum, because i need the products to sink in quickly so i can carry on with my makeup. The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Serum helps to get the moisture into the skin and lock it there. So it's good for the morning to do it's work throughout the day.

#3 Moisturiser

Moisturiser is in the morning the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion + . Hydrates my skin but isn't to thick so it sinks into the skin quiet quickly. I haven't tried it for too long by now, but at the moment i think i will repurchase the big version when this little guy is gone.

For me it is more or less essential to use a eyecream in the morning. I use the First Aid Beauty Dual Repair Eyecream at the moment, but it doesn't seem to work under foundation. I have to give it a few more trys and maybe let it sink in a bit more, so my skin absorbed more of it before i put on foundation.

Top 5 Body Shop skincare products

Before last year i was never really into The Body Shop and never walked into the shop and bought something. But i wanted to try it, so i got a body shop gift card. went in, bought some products and since then i am hooked. I like the philosophy of the body shop, that their products are not tested on animals and that the people who make the products get a fair vage. Something that shouldn't be overlooked is, that they have really amazing products for good prices. Today i will show you my top 5 skincare products from the body shop (a hair or makeup related post might happen at some point). Lately i am really into skincare and trying a lot of new products and a bunch of the products i use are from The Body Shop.

#1 Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil - here

When i was buying this the lady in the store was telling me how much she loved this product. I have to say, that she was right indeed. It's one of the serum/face oils that won't burn a hole in your purse and still work. I use it nearly everyday under my moisturizer after the cleansing part of my routine (more about which cleanser i use here) and it makes my skin feel so much more moisturised and plump and just really really nice.

#2 Aloe gentle Exfoliater - here

One of the few exfoliaters that i actually like. Most exfoliating products are to harsh or not making a difference. This product does make a difference but is stll nice and gentle that i doesn't make my skin look red. It is so gentle that you could probably use it as an everyday exfoliater if you like, but i wouldn't recommend doing that for multiple reasons (drains moisture, skin needs time to recover,...). You should use your exfoliater every two or three days at the maximum.

#3 Camomile Cleansing Oil - here

I am hooked on cleansing oils and balms after a lot of years only using micellar water. The Cleansing Oil from the Body Shop is the only good cleansing oil that is still affordable. If you know another one tell me in the comments. It removes all your face and eye makeup without rubbing and it leaves your skin feeling clean, but still nourished. I have mentioned this so often that you propably don't want to hear about it anymore.

#4 Seaweed Iconic Clay Mask & 3-in-1 Honey Oat Srcub Mask - here and here

I'm cheating a little bit on this one, but mask is mask. The Seaweed mask purifies your skin and cleanses clogged pores, but it doesn't seem to help against the blackheads on my nose. The mask is nothing for people with sensitive skin, because after i removed the mask after five minutes my skin was a bit red and felt tingly. The feeling disappeared after a few minutes and with my serum and moisturiser on top.

The honey mask exfoliates your skin and makes it smooth and soft (and helps with hydration a bit). It doesn't purifies as good as the seaweed maks, but it seems to help more with my blackheads. This mask is also more something for you if you have sensitive skin. It's not as aggressive as the other mask.

I really like both mask for cleansing and purifying purposes.

#5 Vitamin E Moisture Serum - here

Another Serum, but this one is supposed to help the moisturiser do it's job even better. It is supposed to get the moisture deeper into your skin and lock it in afterwards. The only thing i know is, that when i don't use it, i have the feeling that my skin isn't as moisturised as with using it. Plus my skin tends to get dry more quickly throughout the day without using the serum. You can use it under your morning or evening moisturizer or both.