The Creme De La Creme Of My Skincare Routine Right Now

Skincare isn't something that I've written about in a while as I haven't been using anything new really. Something that I've been making a conscious effort with is not to flit back and forth between products which is hard when there are new things coming into my life on a weekly basis. Which is the epitome of a first world problem if I ever heard one but something my skin relies on to stay balanced and calm is structure. Whilst I'm very lucky not to have incredibly sensitive skin so it can handle a certain amount of change I prefer to keep things consistent. That also allows me to really see how a product is working with my complexion as chopping and changing constantly doesn't give you the chance to see that. Anyway enough rambling, here are the standouts in my skincare routine right now;

PIXI MUD CLEANSER*

I mentioned this cleanser in a recent post about fighting spots and the more I use it the more I love it. It's a cleanser that can really only be used in the morning or as a second cleanse as it can't remove makeup. Like most Pixi products it contains that amazing ingredient which is glycolic acid and from what I can remember this is the first time I've used a cleanser which includes it. As well as glycolic acid which is a natural chemical exfoliant that works to slough away dead skin cells so we can be left with a healthier brighter looking complexion. It purifies and cleanses the skin but as it contains glycerin, aloe and hyaluronic acid it doesn't dry the complexion out at all. If you've got a particularly sensitive complexion then you might want to build your tolerance up to this as it might be a little strong upon first use. But as I've been using glycolic on my skin for years my skin is well adjusted and can handle it. For keeping on top of textural issues and brightness this is without a doubt one of the best cleansers I've ever used.

MEDIK8 BLEMISH CONTROL PADS*

I've gone through a whole host of chemical exfoliators in the past and this is the latest on the docket. I'm lucky enough that my skin reacts well to glycolic and salicylic acid, I find glycolic is awesome for making the skin brighter and slough away at any scarring that might be left over. And then salicylic I find is better for tackling breakouts and stopping them in their tracks. My skin is in the best condition it's been in a while and even though I'm still getting the occasional breakouts that are mostly hormonal or if I've eaten some not so great food it's very much under control. I've been using the Medik8 pads in the evening after cleansing and they're very gentle but they're still highly effective. I've found them to be awesome at stopping breakouts before they really come to a head and soothing any active ones. To get more than one use from these or to happily use them AM & PM you can cut them in half.

ALPHA H LIQUID ROSE GOLD*

Even though I use a chemical exfoliant every night I've been using the Alpha H Liquid Gold every few days to seriously brighten the complexion. It contains glycolic acid which we know by now is something that I love to work with in terms of refining the texture of my skin. This is quite strong when it comes to how much glycolic it contains and even though I'm quite seasoned in the acid stakes I can't use this alone quite yet and do need to follow up with something quite hydrating otherwise my skin feels a little tight and dry. This is a cult skincare product which can be found at QVC and it's not hard to see why as it leaves my skin feeling absolutely beautiful and it's something that I imagine if you've not been treating your skin the best will be a wonderful treat.

PIXI MILKY MIST*

I hadn't been using a hydrating mist for a long time as my skin just didn't need it. But as I haven't been using an exfoliating toner in the morning I've been missing that little step. The Hydrating Milky Mist from Pixi feels incredible on the skin. It's by no means a necessity in a skincare routine but lightly misted on for that extra hit of hydration due to the hyaluronic acid is truly wonderful. It's something that I like to use as part of my AM routine but also something I love to reach for throughout the day if I'm not wearing makeup or my skin is feeling a little meh. I've also used this over makeup and it's behaved wonderfully and didn't cause any product to breakup at all. I imagine if you have really dry skin then this is going to work so well for keeping your complexion feeling plump and fresh.

BAREMINERALS SKINLONGEVITY SERUM*

My serum choice goes back and forth between something that is directly targeted towards breakouts and scarring and then just something that can boost the complexion overall. The bareMinerals Skinlongevity aims to add radiance, replenish anything that might be missing from the skin like hydration which then leads to more supple skin. As well as help with any texture issues in the skin and support the complexion to become more resilient. It's such a lightweight serum, probably the lightest that I've ever used and it sinks so quickly but your skin still feels the benefits of it which makes it so good for the warmer months.

BIO EXTRACTS FACE CREAM & GLOW BOOST*

I don't think I've ever used a moisturiser which has such a fun awesome concept. It's two part system, there is your standard moisturising cream which helps to hydrate and replenish moisture. But then there is glow boost which comes in a syringe [so fun to use] which you squirt one drop into your moisturiser and it allows you to customise how much you want of each. The booster can not only be added to the moisturiser but you can add it your foundation too for a real hit of glow and it really does add a lot of radiance to the skin. The formulation of the two together is more on an oily serum rather than just your bog standard cream which is something I'm preferring as of right now as my skin doesn't crave the comfort of a cream as much and would rather have the glow. But it doesn't make my skin feel overpowered or too slippery and it's completely sunken in within a few minutes. It's something that might look a little gimmicky but it's working wonders on my skin.