Naturisimo Skin Radiance Box

Natural skincare is something I've been dabbling in for a while now, ever since my mum started her nutrition course I've been taking a newfound interest in all things natural. I've gotten into the habit of lunchtime perusals of the Naturisimo site, and in the interest of dipping my toes into natural waters, ordered the Skin Radiance Discovery Box. 

This box is curated by the Naturisimo team month by month, and the cost varies depending on the contents, although you're always getting a good deal. This month's box was £12.95 and there's no subscription or commitment to make, you just order one single box! 

So, what's in the box? 

Elemental Herbology Vital Glow Overnight Resurfacing Cream: Marketed as an intensive overnight treatment that will help stimulate cell turnover for a healthy glow, I'm excited to give this a go on evenings when my skin feels a little lacklustre. The full size product is worth £16, so not too pricey if I fall in love with this 15ml sample! 

Caudalie Resvertrol Lift Firming Serum: This oil free serum is formulated Revertrol and Hyaluronic Acids to help lift the skin for a more youthful look. I'm hoping I can get past the weird gone off yoghurt smell because I'm super intrigued by this. 

Aurelia Probiotic Miracle Cleanser: A creamy natural cleanser that can be used to remove makeup. It's gentle and a good sized sample for travelling! It comes with a dinky muslin cloth too, which is a nice touch! 

Argentum La Potion Infinie: An ultra hydrating, lightweight face cream that helps target wrinkles, dullness and skin stress. Sounds right up my street! I've used this twice already and I really like it! 

The Organic Pharmacy Lifting Serum: At £190 for the full size, here's hoping I don't like this one! This serum supposedly uses gene mapping to restore skin cells, giving radiant & luminous skin! 

Kae Creme Argaroyale: An anti aging day cream formulated with Royal Jelly, I've been intrigued by the use of Royal Jelly in skincare, so I'm looking forward to trying this! 

Tata Harper Moisturising Mask: A rich moisture boosting skin treatment. A useful product to have around right now in the awful cold weather!

This month's box is sold out, but it's worth keeping your eyes peeled on the Naturisimo website for next month's box, as I was super impressed with this one! 

Have you tried much in the way of natural skincare?

My Top 8 Tips for Happy Skin

Having had problem skin throughout most of my teenage years, I totally understand the importance of good skin. When your skin is acting up it can really affect your confidence, and nobody wants that. I'm a firm believer in good skin and a good skincare routine being more important that makeup, so I'm sharing my top tips for happy skin!

1. Cleanse more than you think is necessary. I cleanse in the morning, when I take my makeup off, and before bed. I love the Origins Checks and Balances  and Philosophy Purity Cleansers, because they're gentle but effective. 

2. Cut out fizzy drinks. I have the occasional cup of tea or coffee, but aside from that, all I drink is water. The difference I notice in my skin if I don't get in my usual four pints of water in a day is utterly astounding. 

3. Serums, serums, serums. Serums are basically the holy grail of the skincare world, whatever your skincare concern, there's guaranteed to be a kick ass serum to combat the issue. Right now I love the Trilogy Very Gentle Calming Serum, which keeps my skin mellow and happy.

4. Avocados and Beetroot are a must. For happy, clear, plump skin, you want as many of these bad boys in your diet as possible. 

5. Oils are not just for dry skin. Oils can do wonders for the skin, and are not something to be afraid of if you're an oily gal. Start by mixing a drop or two of something like the Trilogy Rosehip Oil into your evening moisturiser - it's a great one for getting rid of redness and helping breakouts heal faster.

6. Have a contingency plan. Hormones and poor diet choices can override even the best skincare routine, so have a plan of action for when things aren't looking so hot. For me, that means a hot shower, a go over with an acid exfoliant, 10 minutes with the Origins Clear Improvement mask, La Roche Posay Effeclar A.I. on any spots, and an early night.

7. Cut out dairy. I can never understand people who complain about their skin, or take harsh drugs like Roaccutane to clear their skin, when their diet is still heavy in dairy. Cutting out dairy will improve everything from acne to little breakouts to eczema.

8. Look into acid exfoliants. They're less harsh on the skin than gritty scrubs, and help keep your skin looking clear and fresh.

What are your top tips for happy skin?

Winter Skin Loving

Winter has stolen every drop of moisture from my skin, and I've been trying every trick in the book to combat the dreaded dry skin.

I've resorted to a three step pre-bedtime routine that seems to be doing the trick for now, but does anyone else's skin seem to become to immune to products after a while? I have to keep a rotation going to prevent my skin becoming resistant! This is what the current rotation looks like anyways.

Lips are being handled by the Kiehls Lip Balm #1 in Pear, a thick and oily lip balm that stops my lips from feeling like they've been attacked with a cheese grater. This stuff sinks in pretty quickly and provides almost immediate relief from sore, chapped skin. And it smells delicious. 

I've been using the Nuxe Masque Créme Fraiche as an ersatz evening moisturiser, massaging it into my skin and letting it absorb overnight instead of washing it off. Once I got past the herby smell, I really like this, and I wake up in the morning with soft, hydrated skin that doesn't feel oily or greasy. 

And lastly, I've been treating my limbs to the luxurious Laura Mercier Body Souffle in Ambre Vanilla. I never really understood why people spent so much money on this until I tried it myself, but my word this stuff is amazing. It's thick and luxurious, but the whipped texture means it absorbs really quickly into the skin. It smells bloody amazing too, like sexy biscuits, if there even is such a thing.

Have you been suffering with dreaded winter skin? What are your favourite skincare treats?

Friday Night Facial

By the end of last week my skin was feeling a little worse for wear, congested, tight, and dehydrated. I gave myself a mini facial and my skin just drank it up, and felt AMAZING the next day!

I started by giving my skin a deep cleanse with The Body Shop's Camomile Cleansing Butter, I used this twice to make sure my skin was thoroughly cleansed. I used my Lush Santa's Lip Scrub to give my poor chapped lips a little TLC, this stuff tastes like cola bottles, it's delicious! I then went in with the Soap and Glory No Clogs Allowed mask, which works double duty as a scrub and warming deep cleansing mask. I used a thick soft flannel to get every scrap of this off.

I spritzed my skin with the La Roche Posay Serozinc, and then once it all absorbed, I applied a liberal layer of the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask, which my skin just adores. It smells like orange peel, and gives my skin the most intense boost of hydration I can imagine.

My skin felt so good the next day, I had to stop myself from repeating this routine every night! 

When was the last time you gave your skin a pamper?

Getting Scrubby

I love a good scrubbing sesh, I love the way my skin feels post-scrub down, like it's made of silk. I'm not normally too fussy when it comes to scrubs, but right now I've got a three step scrub routine which is making me really rather happy. And soft. 

The Arran Aromatics Seaweed and Mineral Salt Scrub is a good mix of coarse chunky scrub, finely milled gritty scrub, and hydrating oils. It's got an incredibly fresh scent and a little goes a long way, which is handy when you're five foot ten like me and have legs that go on for days. This stuff feels like something you'd use in a spa, from the texture down to the smell, and it looks pretty good on the side of my bath.

The Lush Let The Good Times Roll Cleanser can be used on the body as well as the face, but I prefer it for the face. It's an incredibly gentle, finely milled scrub, that smells incredibly of sweet toffee popcorn. This stuff is the perfect manual exfoliant, it's scrubby enough to get rid of dead skin, but also gentle and hydrating enough to not strip the skin or leave it feeling sore or aggravated.

I always thought lip scrubs were a bit of a con, until last year when my lips pretty much fell apart in the bitter November cold. Now I always stock up on the Lush Santa's Lip Scrub when Christmas rolls around, so I can have super soft lips that taste of Cola Bottles.

What are your go to scrubs?

Skin Hydration Line Up

Around this time of year, my skin begins to require a little more TLC than usual, basically, it starts to beg for a moisture boost. As the weather changes it strips my skin of every drop of moisture, until it feels tight and uncomfortable.

This year, I'm getting in early with a combative moisture boosting routine, so I don't have to feel like that at all. I've got some seriously awesome products in this line up, products that deserve a little spotlight!

Let's start with body, I've never quite fallen in love with a body butter like I have with The Body Shop's Spa of the World Japanese Camellia Cream. It's got a thick, whipped texture, so despite being really rich, it sinks into the skin really quickly. It smells delicious, it's fresh, clean and lightly floral, and it does the job of intensely hydrating the skin, and feels pretty luxurious too.

My hands are really feeling the brunt of the cold weather, so I've been toting the Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream around everywhere. This stuff is the bomb, it's lightly fragranced of sweet grape, and it's nourishing without being greasy or oily. I don't like hand creams that leave a residue on your skin, but this sinks straight in without a trace. Good stuff.

For my face, I've got a two step product line up that does just the trick. On a daily basis I'm treating my skin with the Trilogy Rosehip Oil, which hydrates and nourishes my skin, whilst keeping it clear. I'm topping that up with twice-weekly treatments with the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask, which gives my skin an instant boost of moisture. 

And lastly, it doesn't get better than the Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm for soft and supple lips. I slather this on before bed and wake up with soft lips ready to tackle the world. Good stuff.

What are your favourite hydration boosters?

The Best Of Face Masks

I'm something of a face mask fiend, I love nothing more than treating my skin to a little R&R after a long day, and slathering it in something I know it'll love. Because of that, I've tried a lot of face masks over the last few years, but I now go back time and time again to my firm favourites. 

For moisture, there's nothing better than the Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask, a supercharged thirst quencher for the skin. I reach for this when my skin feels tight or dehydrated, it's probably my most used mask because I notice an immediate difference in my skin when I use this.

Another Origins pick, when my skin is feeling troubled I reach for the Origins Clear Improvement Mask, a charcoal based treatment that helps draw out impurities, leaving the skin clear. This is a great one for hormonal breakouts, or what I call 'pizza face'.

I keep blackheads at bay using Soap and Glory's No Clogs Allowed Mask, which scrubs away dead skin and warms up to draw out any nasties from the skin. This isn't a miracle fix, but rather a good product to use once a week or so to maintain clear skin - it's budget friendly too.

If my skin feels aggravated or in need of a little TLC, I love using the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Fix Oatmeal Mask. The soothing oats really allow my skin to repair, and feel good as new. 

And lastly, I love using the Sephora Sheet Masks as a little treat. They're great to take when you're travelling as they don't take up much room, and they're single use so you can ditch them once you've used them and free up bag space for shopping. I love using the avocado mask to nourish my skin, and the pomegranate one when my skin is looking a little lacklustre.

What are your favourite face masks?

The Best of Bath Oils

I may be a bit of a Lush fan (mmmm the bubbles), but sometimes I like to opt for something a little more luxurious. I love the feeling of bath oils, I love getting out of the bath feeling like my skin has been hugged with hydration.

I've built up a few favourites over the year, all three offer that luxurious soaking feeling, all three are packed with delicious essential oils that relax the mind, and all three will leave your skin feeling hydrated.

My AM pick is the Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Oil, packed with Rosemary and Pink Grapefruit, it's refreshing as well as being calming. I love the Neom Perfect Night's Sleep Oil for after a long day, when my muscles are aching and my brain is tired. And lastly, the This Works Deep Sleep Bath Oil, for when I need to get to sleep ASAP.

Are you a fan of bath oils?

Tired Eye Fighters

We all have those mornings where we wake up and it feels like your eyes have just given up on you. For me that's normally every day ending in a Y - getting out of bed is my least favourite part of the day.

Lucky for us though, the beauty world has developed a few products that make mornings, well, not quite pleasurable, but certainly more bearable.

I start off with a few drops of the Optrex Rehydrating Eye Drops for Dry Eyes, to get rid of the dry, itchiness not enough sleep leaves me with. I then go in with the First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy, the peachy cream helps neutralise dark circles, whilst hydrating and cooling the under eye, making them feel less tired.

I normally give that a few minutes to work it's magic before going in with make up. I love the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer in the brightener shade, but it's pretty hard to get hold of outside of North America. A good alternative is the Benefit Erase Paste, although admittedly pricier. I do find this needs setting with a good powder, but it's peachy tones and soft texture make it perfect for making the eyes look naturally more awake. 

I also like to give my lashes a few pumps with the Shu Umera Lash Curlers, which gives a little lift and curl, and makes my eyes generally more awake. I've tried a lot of lash curlers but these are by far the best I've used!

What are your top tips for soothing tired eyes?

Skincare On Trial

 For the most part, my skincare routine remains much of a muchness, you know the saying, if it ain't broke don't fix it. My to try pile was stacking up though, so I figured it was about time I started rotating a few new products in. 

Starting with the Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm, I tried using this as my evening makeup remover, but put this anywhere near the eyes and it burns like hell. So this has been moved up to my morning cleanser, and so far so good. It's thick and hydrating, and it leaves the skin feeling cleansed but not stripped. So far so good, the only offputting thing is the heavy scent.

Another Elemis product on trial, the Pro Collagen Marine Cream, which has stepped in as my morning moisturiser. It's a little richer than anything I've been using recently, perfect for the approaching colder months. I haven't been using this long enough to give a full opinion, but so far, it's going well.

In the evenings I've been upping my moisture intake in not one but two ways. The Rodial Glamtox Serum is rich and hydrating, and not too heavy on the skin either. This claims to help prevent signs of aging, and whilst I'm not sure about that, I can tell you that my skin feels softer and smoother since I used this.

And right before I put my head down at night, I like to go in with the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream anywhere I feel like my skin needs it. It's thick and intensely nourishing, it's exactly what my skin needs.

What skincare bits are you loving right now?

Exfoliating Mask Show Down

Until July, I had no exfoliating face masks in my life, and then I acquired two. I picked up the Soap and Glory No Clogs Allowed mask in Duty Free before setting off on my travels, and then the Sephora Collection Double Duty Exfoliator and Mask.

The concept of these masks is very simple, massage onto the skin and allow the gritty texture to work it's exfoliating magic, and then leave it to set, like any other clay based mask. They're designed to target oily skin or areas prone to blackheads, drawing out impurities, to leave your skin clearer. And in essence, they do what they say on the tube.

In all honesty, these two masks are much of a muchness, as far as I can tell, The only real difference is that the Soap and Glory offering warms up on the skin, which is nice, but doesn't really make a difference in terms of results. If you want something to help get rid of blackheads, then both of these are great products, it's simply a case of which product you can get hold of easier.

Are you a fan of exfoliating masks?

Minimalist Skincare Routine

Having a good skincare routine doesn't have to mean spending a fortune on tons of products. In fact, sometimes less is more when it comes to good skin, and good skincare doesn't have to cost the earth.

Recently I've been travelling backwards and forwards between my parent's house in Bournemouth and my flat in London a lot, and I've been trying to whittle down my travel essentials to as little as possible, so I'm not constantly lugging half my worldly possessions a hundred miles up and down the country. Skincare was relatively easy to strip back!

The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter was an obvious choice, not only is it a great cleanser, it also removes every scrap of makeup, even stubborn waterproof mascara. No need for a makeup remover, eye makeup remover and cleanser, just one tin to conquer them all.

Speaking of one tin to conquer all, the Trilogy Everything Balm is exactly what it says, an all natural hydrating balm you can use for pretty much everything. I've been using this as a moisturiser, mask, cuticle oil, lip balm and body moisturiser. Not a bad list for one little 30ml tin.

The result? Simple, happy, clean and hydrated skin. There's something to be said for keeping things simple.

If you stripped back your skincare routine, what could you not be without?

Battle of the Micellar Waters

Micellar Waters became a bit of a 'thing' last year, and the market became saturated with them, every brand offering their own take on the trend. And whilst that was great, it kinda became hard to work out what was good because it was a Micellar Water, and what was a good Micellar Water.

Over the last year I've tried a lot of Micellar Waters, and today I'm giving you the deets on my favourites.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water: A really good budget option. This doesn't leave a horrible residue on the skin like a lot of cleansing waters, but it does have a little bit of a smell, which is something to consider (and what stops this from being the winner in my opinion). 

Bioderma Crealine H20: The original, and my favourite. Nothing quite comes close to this in terms of being just like water, but getting the job done. No residue, no smell, it feels just like water, and it gets rid of makeup a treat.

Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water: I like this one because it tackles waterproof mascara a treat, but it does have a scent and it can leave a residue. Good for if you're wearing a lot of makeup, but not my favourite for everyday.

A-Derma Eau Micellaire Sensifluid: The closest thing to Bioderma on a budget. My only qualm with this is I seem to get through it a LOT faster than Bioderma, I need to use two or three times as much of this!

Are you a micellar water fan? What's your favourite?

A Moisturiser I Love and One I Don't

About six weeks ago I shook up my skincare routine, and switched my moisturisers out. It was a long time coming since I'd gotten into a bit of a skincare rut, and my skin really needed a change.

In the mornings, I've been using the Ole Henrikson Sheer Transformation Moisturiser, a lightweight moisturiser marketed for all skin types. The formula is incredibly light, and it feels super silky on the skin. It absorbs into the skin quickly, making it a perfect pre-makeup step. Despite being lightweight it still gives a good boost of moisture to the skin. The longer I use this stuff, the more I like it, it's helped brighten my skin and reduce the appearance of the little bit of hyper-pigmentation around my cheeks.

The story doesn't go so well for the Hydraluron Moisture Jelly though. I picked this up when I ran out of my evening moisturiser after hearing lots of good things, but I can't see why so many people like it. It's supposed to be formulated to give skin maximum moisture absorption, but this just sits on top of my skin and sets, it doesn't sink in at all. I can apply this and run my hand across my cheek an hour later and it'll roll off, kind of like when you were younger and you put PVA glue on your hands. Disappointing.

Have you tried any of these products?

Pamper Products to Make You Feel Like A Princess

I firmly believe that every girl deserves a bit of pamper time on a regular basis, but I'm rubbish at following my own rules. I've been trying my hardest to make a little more time for me recently, and I've assembled a crack team to get me feeling totally blissed out.

The first order of business is to run a big ol' bubble bath. I love having baths back at my parents house, because the bath is HUGE and it's one of very few baths where I don't have to pick whether I want my shoulders or legs submerged. I like a lot of bubbles, so I normally use a splash of the Arran Aromatics Lavender and Tea Tree Bath Gel, and also run my Lush Divination Bubble Bath. The lavender mixes with the Patchouli and Amber to create a beautiful, warm, woody fragrance that fills the room.

Of course, to set the mood before climbing in, you'll need a candle. I normally burn my Diptyque Pomander Candle with this bubble bar mixture, since the scents really compliment each other, but this time I went for the Arran Aromatics Just Grapefruit Candle, to add a little freshness to the room.

Now the whole point of a good bath is to spend a long time doing nothing, or if you're like me and you can't do just nothing, reading is normally the answer. I normally go for magazines, but I've been meaning to read The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up for ages, so on this occasion that's what I went for! 

When I've soaked and snoozed for long enough, I get into the pamper products. I'm obsessed with body scrubs right now, particularly this Seaweed and Mineral Salt Scrub from Arran Aromatics. It's thick and gritty, but not too harsh, smells amazing, and leaves my skin silky smooth. Plus, I love anything presented in Kilner Jars.

A new addition to my pamper routine is The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Body Clay Purifying Mask. Definitely messy and a little weird to get used to, but my skin looks and feels so much smoother since giving this a whirl! 

For the authentic bath time experience, a white waffle bath robe is a must for snuggling up in post-bubbles. I love this one because it's not too long, or too thick, so you can still wear it in the summer months without boiling, and for a bargain £6 in Primark, you can treat yo'self without feeling guilty!

And lastly, no pamper experience is complete without a post-bath moisturising sesh. I'm terrible at moisturising my body, but The Body Shop Japanese Camellia Cream is giving me the motivation to make it a regular occurance. This stuff is so thick and luxurious, but it absorbs really quickly, and doesn't leave you feeling sticky. Win!

What are your favourite pamper products?

Skincare for Warmer Weather

As the warmer weather (hopefully) approaches, I figured this was the perfect time to show you a few products I'll be swapping into daily rotation. This is the stuff that's a little lighter on the skin, and more warm weather appropriate.

I'm switching my current morning moisturiser and eye cream for a fresh bottle of the Caudalie Vinosource Moisturising Sorbet, which you all know I love, and the Origins Ginzing Eye Cream. Both are really moisturising but are light and fast to absorb, so perfect for warmer weather. I hate the feeling of thick products on my skin when it's hot!

In the evenings I've added in the Rodial Glamtox Serum, and I'm liking it so far. It's lighter in texture than the Trilogy Rosehip Oil I normally use, so it soaks in quicker, and is nicer on my skin which is a bit more oil-prone come summer. This stuff aims to hydrate, firm and clear skin and so far, so good.

I've upped my usage of the Lush Tea Tree Toner Water in the evenings, it's so refreshing after a hot, humid day, and helps me feel like my skin's that bit more clean, especially if things have been a little schweaty.

I've also switched out my evening moisturiser for the Origins Night-A-Mins, which has a more serum/gel texture, making it altogether more lightweight on the skin.

I'm also planning on picking up a fresh bottle of the Soap and Glory Make Yourself Youthful Sunshield Superfluid SPF50, my favourite facial SPF!

Do you change up your skincare for summer?

Where to Save with Skincare

Following up on last week's Investing in Skincare post, I figured I'd best give you a quick tour of where you can afford to save too!

Makeup Removers: Cleansers are doing the good stuff, makeup removers are literally just doing that, removing your makeup. There are SO many effective makeup removers on the market for very little, so save your pennies here and splurge on a good cleanser instead. I love The Body Shop Sumptuous Camomile Cleansing Butter, and Bioderma Sensibo H20.

Toner: There's a lot of debate about the actual use of toners and whether they do anything, it all really comes down to personal preference. I personally love them, and my skin does too, but there is no need to splash out here, you're just looking for something with a short ingredients list, preferably in a spray bottle! I love Lush Tea Tree Toner Water, and La Roche Posay Serozinc.

Spot Treatment: A good spot treatment doesn't have to cost the earth, in fact, my favourite way to bust a zit is to get some good old fashioned tea tree oil on it! Don't be tempted by so called 'wonder creams' with exorbitant price tags, when there's so much good stuff at the drugstore. I love Lush Grease Lightening, The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil, Nip and Fab Spot Fix.

Face Scrubs: I personally don't use a face scrub too often, I find them a bit harsh and abrasive generally to use on a day to day basis. That being said, I still indulge once a week or so whilst in the shower, to keep my skin looking fresh, and ALL my favourites can be found in the drugstore. I love Lush Let The Good Times Roll, Boots Botanics Hydrating All Bright Face Scrub & Soap and Glory Scrubatomic.

I hope that helps some of you out, I know skincare can be so confusing, but it doesn't have to be!

The Three Step Facial

Sometimes, your skin needs a little TLC, but you just don't have time to whack out an arsenal of products for a full on pamper session. Never fear, I've whittled down the perfect facial to a quick three step routine that can be completed post cleanse in 12 minutes.

STEP ONE - SOOTHE: When my skin is having a tantrum, whether it's tired, breaking out, dehydrated, whatever, there's nothing it loves more than the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask. This mask is designed to give your skin a quick ten minute boost, just massage it into your skin and let the protective oats and antioxidants do their thang.

STEP TWO - TREAT: My skin just adores the Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant +. It drinks the stuff up. Not only do I love taking a minute to really massage this into the skin, it does so many amazing things, from minimizing the redness in my skin to keeping it hydrated. I firmly believe everyone needs a bottle of this stuff.

STEP THREE - COOL: When my skin is freaking out, my undereyes really feel the brunt of it. I love the use the back of a cold spoon to massage a thick eye cream, like the Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream into my under eyes. It's weird yes, but it really is so cooling and soothing, just writing about it is making me want it.

And there you have it! The whole thing is speedy enough to fit into your morning routine, or just before bed.

What's your go to, speedy facial routine?

Investing in Skincare

I'm a big believer in investing in skincare, at the end of the day when you take off your makeup, that's what your left with. That being said, you don't need to invest in all aspects of skincare, and it can be difficult to decide where to part with your pennies, and where to save a little.

It's worth noting that no amount of expensive skincare can help you if you have a terrible diet, don't drink enough water, and don't exercise. These three things do INCREDIBLE things for your skin, and they're worth making time for.

Cleansers: I mean actual cleansers, not makeup remover. I think a few people will disagree with me here, a lot of people have the belief that if you're washing it off it's not worth the money, but I've seen first hand the difference great cleansers make to your skin. It's so important to really get every scrap of dirt and makeup off the skin, without stripping your skin. I love Origins Checks and Balances, and First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Red Clay Cleanser.

Moisturisers: So many people skip this step and I honestly think it's one of the most important. A good moisturiser keeps your skin hydrated, soft and supple, and helps prevent signs of aging, as well as making your makeup sit nicely on your skin. I love Trilogy Ultra Hydrating Face Cream, and Caudalie Vinosource Moisturising Sorbet.

Eye Cream: As you know, I recently had a wake up call regarding the importance of eye creams. Your eyes are one of the first places to show signs of aging, and so it's important to keep them well looked after. I've tried a lot of drugstore eye creams but none have impressed me! I love First Aid Beauty Triple Duty Eye Remedy, Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream and Benefit It's Potent.

Serums and Oils: Your serum is what's doing the work, fixing any problems you have with your skin. In all honesty there aren't a lot of serums on the drugstore market, not ones that do a good job anyway. It's worth spending a bit more on a serum targeted at your skin concerns. Ditto with oils, there's a misconception that oils are only for people with dry skin, but honestly I'm a big believer in what oils can do for your complexion. I love Rodial Glamtox Serum, Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant +.

Masks: I've tried a lot of masks in my time, and all the ones that I've really noticed a difference from have been a little more pricey. I always think of masks as a skin treat, and if you're going to pamper yourself, why not spend a little more? I love First Aid Beauty Oatmeal Repair Mask, The Body Shop Drops of Youth Bouncy Mask, all the Origins ones!

I hope that helps any of you still trying to tackle the skincare world!

Do you agree with me?

Project Eye Maintenance

So the day before my 21st I went and had my hair done, and as I was looking through the photos after, I realised something horrible. I had under eye wrinkles.

Now logically, I know I'm 21 and have nothing to complain about, but what I did know was that forgetting to wear my glasses, not using eye cream, bad diet choices and generally putting my undereye area through a lot of strain was starting to show up. Well it definitely gave me a swift kick into motion because, whilst I'm happy to grow old gracefully, I'm not quite ready to do that yet. So, over the last month, Operation Eye Maintenance has been in full swing, and I thought I'd share what I've been doing with you, since I've already seen an improvement.

First things first, being better about wearing my glasses. If I'm reading, sat at my computer, watching TV, writing, I need them. I can definitely feel my eyes straining to see if I don't, and one thing I definitely don't want to be doing is putting my eyes under unnecessary strain. I've also been keeping The Body Shop's Eyes Cube on hand at my desk to soothe the skin on my orbital bone when my eyes start to get tired.

Secondly, drinking more water. I know I bang on about this a lot, but water is essentially your body's most important fuel, and not getting enough H20 in your system has a lot of immediately obvious effects. I picked up some hydration stickers for my planner, so I can cross off each time I drink a glass of water, which is definitely helping me to remember!

Eye cream. I was already using the First Aid Beauty Triple Remedy Eye Rescue in the mornings, which is great for cooling, soothing and masking dark circles, but I needed to introduce something a little more hydrating in the evenings, to keep the skin looking plump and good. I've been alternating between the Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream* and the Benefit It's Potent, I think I prefer the latter slightly more, but they both get the job done good. Thick, creamy, soothing and hydrating, I'm actually starting to look forward to this step in the evenings.

I've been making a conscious effort to be more careful with the products I use on my under eye in general, keeping masks, scrubs and anything stripping or drying away from the area. I've been sticking with The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter for removing my eye makeup, because it's incredibly gentle and soothing on the eyes. I've also been keeping cleansers and moisturisers away too!

I've been careful to have a lighter hand with products too, using less concealer around my undereyes, and skipping powder, just because I find the more I use the more likely it is to crease or settle anyway!

I've definitely noticed an immediate improvement, and it just goes to show, you're never too young to look after your eyes!