Retinol & Niacinamide - A Match Made in Heaven | The Inkey List Review

I cannot believe it has been over a year since I last did a blog post. Oh how I missed it! I hope you're all well, staying at home and keeping safe.
If you follow me on Instagram (or can simply read the title of this post) you will know exactly what this post is going to be about. For all of you that know me personally (or even virtually) you'll know that my road to perfect skin has been a rather bumpy one. I suffered from severe acne in my teens and have super oily skin (the oily skin part, I can deal with). All of these struggles led to acne scars, enlarged pores, pigmentation, you name it. As I've gotten older I've learnt to really invest in my skin and do some a lot of research into the products and tools I use. We're all here for the hype around certain products but if there is anything I've learnt over the years, it's to take everything with a pinch of salt. Something that works for me may not necessarily work for you and vice versa. More recently I've been looking into Retinol and Niacinamide.

Prepare for an overload of information on both...

Retinol is like the superman of skincare ingredients. It helps with a number of issues, such as improving pigmentation, texture and tone, enhancing collagen production, skin smoothing and an overall evening of pigmentation, it helps fight the signs of ageing, reduces wrinkles, treats acne, brightens skin and increases the blood flow to the skin.

To see the full effects of using retinol it is recommended that you use it for around 12 weeks. Whilst most brands claim that the benefits of retinol will take effect pretty much immediately, this is very unlikely, unless you're using a prescribed Retin-A product which is a lot stronger than any product you can purchase from the drugstore, in which case you would see results a lot sooner but it is recommended that you only use this with the advise of a doctor. 

For sensitive skin you should use a product which has a low concentration of retinol, you can gradually begin to use products with more of the ingredient as your skin becomes tolerant.

A lot of skincare products can cause irritation to the skin, especially for people with sensitive skin (my skin can be sensitive at times), but when it comes to retinol, it is recommended that you continue to use it, just not as often or switch to a product which has a lower concentration. As your skin cells will eventually adapt to tolerate it a little better.

You may have read or heard that you should not to use retinol around the eyes (I’m someone that read this and didn’t use it around my eyes for a while), but apparently this is untrue. In fact you should use it around your eyes, studies have previously shown that people who use it around their eyes, as well as the rest of their face, see the best results (holla @ me baby faced Yogita with the bright under eyes). Whilst dark circles aren't really a concern of mine and may not be to some of you, it's always better to prevent than treat, in my opinion.

Retinoids, Retinol and Retin-A. What's the difference I hear you say? To sum this up in plain understandable English, Retinoids are basically a chemical class in which Retinol and Retin-A fall under.

Retinol is something I have been looking into for a while and I found that it was the safest option in terms of irritation or side effects. Although it may take longer to see results, I wasn’t willing to damage my skin in order to see results. Take it from someone who has used nearly every skincare product under the sun and experienced some not so pretty results. When it comes to your skincare you do not want to take risks.

I prefer to use Retinol as part of my evening skincare routine, as I know I won’t be going out in the sun and it gives the product time to sink into my skin. Retinol actually breaks down in the sun and makes your skin more sensitive. Although most of us are going absolutely nowhere at the moment (thanks a lot Coronavirus, thanks a lot), in my opinion you are better off using it at night (after cleansing your skin), although this is a matter of preference. Regardless of when I use any product or whether I am going out or not, I always use SPF. UV rays can pretty much get to your skin from anywhere, sunshine or not. Exposure to the sun can cause premature ageing and damage that isn't necessarily visible to us. It would be pretty much pointless going out in the sun without SPF and then expecting Retinol to reverse the damage you've just caused or just simply breaking down and doing absolutely nothing for our skin. Instead we can encourage them to be besties like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton and work together in helping to turn us into glowing gods and goddesses.

When it comes to products that contain Retinol, a little goes a long way. I've been using The Inkey List Retinol Serum for a while now and I honestly cannot fault it. It has made such a huge difference to my skin. My skin has never looked so good. My pores have become visibly smaller (I think Niacinamide has been a helping hand with the pore situation), the texture of my skin is smooth, I've had no breakouts and the overall tone of my skin is even. A tiny pea sized amount is more than enough to cover my whole face and neck. I started off by using it once or twice a week to start off with and slowly built up how frequently I used it because we can never be too sure about how our skin will react to new products, it's better to be safe than sorry! 

The texture of the serum is beautiful (can I use that word to describe a serum?) It is slightly more thicker and has a yellow tone in comparison to the Niacinamide Serum, which is a little more runny and looks pretty much like water. It sinks into the skin ever so quickly, isn't sticky and as far as I can see, it does exactly what it says on the tin tube. 

Niacinamide is another skincare ingredient that I think everyone needs to know about, especially because of its versatility.

It minimises pores (this was the main point that got me to start looking into Niacinamide), it improves uneven skin tone, softens fine lines and wrinkles, strengthens the surface of your skin and also helps reduce the impact of environmental damage because of how well it improves the skin's barrier (this was also a huge + for me). Another great thing about Niacinamide is that it also tackles any damage that your skin has endured in the past. We've all neglected our skin for various reasons in the past, so it's always great when a product can help repair that damage (yep, you guessed it. This was another selling point for me).

Niacinamide is an ingredient that will work incredibly well with other products in your skincare routine. It's a great product for people with sensitive skin or rosacea, because it doesn’t cause any sensitivity.

Niacinamide helps to restore and renew the surface of your skin, to prevent moisture loss and dehydration and to help improve the skin’s natural production of skin strengthening ceramides.

If you are someone that suffers from dry or flaky skin, Niacinamide is a great option to add to your skincare routine because it is extremely good at boosting the hydrating properties of any moisturisers you use and helps to retain that moisture.

Just like Retinol, you can also use Niacinamide around your eyes. You may find that it improves the look of dark circles and also helps to smooth out the appearance of fine lines around the eyes.

I've been using The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum along with the Retinol Serum. I mix a pea sized amount of both and apply them to my face and neck, I wait ten minutes before applying my moisturiser, just to allow the products to sink in before applying anything else. My biggest concern was my pores, I hated looking in the mirror and seeing these huge pores basically screaming back at me (OK, slight exaggeration). This is where I've seen the most improvement, along with the texture of my skin and overall evenness. I am someone that is pretty pale and a lot of the time this can be mistaken for for having vibrant or glowy skin; but when you see your face at least once everyday in the mirror you truly see a difference when your skin is genuinely beginning to look bright and even. You could say this difference might have come from other products I use, but in fact I've only recently began to see a difference and it's because of the two products I've added to my routine. I was kind of playing it safe prior to adding these two products to my routine.

Honestly, there are a lot of products out there that contain these two ingredients and claim to do a lot of things overnight. I would love to try all the different Retinol and Niacinamide products on the market, but for now, these have worked wonders so I intend to stick with them! 

The reason why I chose to use The Inkey List is because of their no nonsense approach to the market, their products are exactly what they say they are. There's no fancy packaging or any claims to turn you into a golden god or goddess with glittery skin overnight (with a little more dedication to my skincare, I reckon I'm halfway there). The Inkey List stand for everything that I believe in when it comes to skincare. Knowledge is power. The more research you do, the better equipped you are. I did my research, read as much as I could into these ingredients, read reviews on various different products including these and then took the plunge with what I thought would work best for me.

The Inkey List website is a great tool if you are unsure about what products might work for you. I recently discovered their skincare recipe tool, you can pop all your skincare issues into their questionnaire and BOOM, The Inkey List will answer your prayers, along with all the information you need about their products and what they might help with. Safe to say I have an Inkey List shopping list in my notes now (sorry not sorry).

I purchased my Inkey List goodness from Cult Beauty, but they are also available at Feelunique, Boots, Lookfantastic and Selfridges.

I really hope you enjoyed this post as much as I loved writing it, it has been a long time coming (mainly in my mental to-do list). 

Any questions, as always pop them in the comments or catch me on my socials!

Stay at home, stay safe and I'll see you all again soon!

Yogita x

HiMirror Mini Premium | Review

Has it been a long time or has it been a long time?! I hope some of you are still with me and keeping well along the way. Since I last posted on here, not only have I been super busy but I also went to India! As always, it was incredible, but as you all know, I hate the heat so I was more than happy to come back home to a sunny but cooler London.

I recently posted a story over on my Instagram and had quite a few of you sliding into my dm’s requesting a review on the HiMirror Mini Premium. After using it a fair bit (and my sister threatening to take it when I'm not looking), I think it’s safe to say that this is a beauty gadget that every single human being should own and that is no exaggeration. This nifty little thing is incredible! When they said it was the world’s smartest mirror, they were not playing around. 

The thing that most appealed to me was the skin analyser, which basically uses the built in camera to capture your face, analyse your skin, recommends the best products for you and also allows you to track the progress of the products on your face (it’s like having a skincare specialist at home 24/7). It looks at a number if things on your face:

• Complexion
• Roughness
• Pores
• Dark spots
• Wrinkles
• Fine lines
• Red spots
• Dark circles

Another thing I loved about the mirror was the ‘My Beauty Box’ feature, which allows you to scan your favourite beauty products and track their progress (it reminds you when they’re about to expire too).

The next feature is something that you makeup junkies will love; you can adjust the lighting on the mirror to reflect the surroundings you’ll be in. For example, if you’re going to be in direct sunlight, you can adjust the light settings on the mirror to see what your makeup will look like outside. No more ghost face for us! 

You can also zoom into your face to make sure your eyebrows look like sisters and your eyeliner is as ‘fleeky’ as possible.

If you’re a music lover (like me) and an avid user of social media, the next feature will definitely blow your mind. You can play music, watch youtube videos, keep up with your social media accounts and the news whilst you get ready! Yep, Spotify too! It’s basically like having your phone in your mirror.

I’m honestly so blown away by the mirror, I use it pretty much everyday and everytime I use it I discover it does something new. I’ve been scanning away on my beauty box feature, to store all the products I'm currently using and listening to music whilst applying my skincare.
As you all know I am someone that suffered from acne for a very long time and still have some scarring, which is my main concern when it comes to my skin and it’s also the reason I love using this mirror so much, it means I don’t waste time using products that are doing nothing for my skin, or even doing more harm than good to my skin. My skin concerns were the main reason I looked into the mirror before receiving it. I honestly had no idea it would be as amazing as it is.
A lot of the time, your skin problems aren’t visible to the human eye, so it’s extremely useful to have a gadget like this to keep an eye on your skin, to see whether there are any changes or improvements. I cannot recommend it enough. I’ve just highlighted the bits I love about the mirror and my thoughts on it, but there is so much more this mirror can do, it also has a body and fitness feature for all you gym junkies (I've promised myself that this feature will motivate me to go to the gym more and eat healthier, I say this whilst eating a Mars ice cream). It's such an incredible mirror, I actually look forward to using it!
It's super easy to use and set up with it's touch screen and user friendly interface (I spent about half an hour playing around with it after setting it up, I was like a kid in a toy store). It's such a great size and I love the simple design. It looks great on my dresser too!
The amount of features it has, I thought it would take absolutely ages to set up but it honestly took me about 5 minutes and once you've created your profile, you're pretty much ready to roll.

You can head on over to the HiMirror Instagram page to see more videos and posts on the mirror. 

For the month of October you can use the code OCT18 to get 15% off your order (you're welcome).

HiMirror Mini Premium | Available here

If you guys have any questions on the mirror, please leave them in the comments section or head on over to my Instagram page and I will do my very best to answer them.
I hope you guys enjoyed this post and I'll see you in my next one (sooner rather than later this time!)

Yogita x

*The product featured in this post was kindly sent to me, however, as always, my opinion is 100% honest.

Beauty Bay Haul | Skincare

Hi guys! Today‘s post is a quick Beauty Bay (or as I like to call them, Beauty Bae) haul. They had a promotion, where it basically meant the more you spend, the more £££ you get off your order, this was for a show on tv called ‘Survival of the Fittest’, which Beauty Bay are sponsoring. Now, I don’t watch the show but boy am I grateful it brought along this promo! I took full advantage and bought a few things that I’ve wanted to try for a very long time and a repurchase.

 

It is a little bit of a skincare heavy haul, but I’m someone that likes to invest more in my skincare than in my makeup. I did however, pick up one haircare product and that is the Living Proof No Frizz Humidity Shield. You can never rely on the British Weather and that means my frizz ball is prone to going crazy in the rain and humidity and I read some great reviews on this product so I thought why the hell not?! I’ll give it a try. 

I also picked up the Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre, now this is a moisturiser that is a little pricey but bloody amazing and well worth every penny. I had totally forgotten how much I loved this and I am sure you have heard a lot about this product because everyone and their cats love this. It’s a great base for makeup and a great moisturiser on bare skin. It keeps my skin looking healthy and keeps my skin hydrated pretty much all day. I love using this after cleansing in the evening and leaving it on overnight.

Now the next two products are the ones I am most excited about because I’ve read some great reviews and I’ve heard nothing but great things about them, not to forget the wonders they claim to work. So I purchased the NIOD Sanskrit Saponins which, with continued use claims to ‘target all forms of build up, blemishes, congestion and impurities. It is suitable for all skin types. After the first use, SS leaves the skin looking nearly pore-free and its surface exceptionally cleaned, as if its radiating from within’, now if that doesn’t sell it to you, I don’t know what will. The fact that this product is made with unrefined ayurvedic ingredients is a massive selling point to me (that’s the Indian in me coming through). This is in no way a makeup remover, makeup should be removed before using this. I love that this product is kind of multi functional because it can be used as a mask (that’s my Saturday night sorted). I honestly cannot wait to use this because who the hell wouldn’t want pore free skin that looks like it is radiating from within?! 

The second NIOD product I purchased is the Mastic Must. This product is ‘a transparent masque for efficient, yet inocuous, cleaning and visible refinement of pores and impurities, resulting in immediate and maintainable visible reduction in both the number and the size of pores’. I think it’s pretty obvious that pores were the selling point for me when purchasing both these NIOD products. The way this one works is a little bizarre, which just makes me want to try it out even more. You need to apply this product to your face in the morning, leave it on for 10 minutes, rinse with warm water and although not essential it is recommended that you dry your face with a blowdryer, apparently this will help enhance the results of using this product. Crazy right? As crazy as it sounds, I will try this out and let you guys know how I get on. To say that I am excited about this is an understatement.

I also purchased The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%. This is a product I was meaning to try for a very long time. Less for the anti ageing properties and more so for the brightening properties. I’ve used it twice already this week and I can already see the difference, my skin is definitely a lot brighter and it hasn’t caused any sensitivity or breakouts. The Ordinary is such an inexpensive yet effective skincare brand as it is and I’ve never used a product from their brand that I don’t love. This has definitely got a thumbs up from me. So far so good!

And last but not least. I purchased the Mario Badescu Glycolic Eye Cream. I’m not someone that suffers from wrinkles or dark under eyes so when I purchase eye creams, I usually just purchase them to avoid getting any problems with my under eyes in the future. This cream claims to target visible signs of ageing, smooths the look of fine lines and wrinkles and encourages brighter, younger looking under eyes. I use this before I go to bed because it does make my eyes water a little. My Mum has been testing this out with me and she loves it because she has quite a bit of dryness around her eyes and she has said it’s the best eye cream she has ever used (she has tried a lot to target the dryness around her eyes, so that says something), and to be fair I can totally see the difference around her eyes. Dry skin around the eyes can be a little ageing so if you suffer from dry skin around the eyes, I would totally recommend this, plus it’s Mum approved. My skin is the total opposite to my mum’s and although my skin is oily, I still like to keep my skin hydrated and this has helped keep my eye area hydrated and bright. A little goes a long way with this one!

I had to pop this photo on here because packaging is a huge thing for me (call me sad), but can we just appreciate the packaging of the NIOD products? I mean HELLO.

NIOD Sanskrit Saponins - available here

NIOD Mastic Must - available here

Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre - available here

Mario Badescu Glycolic Eye Cream - this is sold out, sorry guys!

The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension - available here

Living Proof No Frizz Humidity Shield - available here

I hope you guys enjoyed this post as much as I loved writing it and I shall see you sooner rather than later. 

I hope you guys enjoy the rest of your weekend! 

Yogita x

Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant | Review

Hi guys! Has it been a while or has it been a while?! Firstly I’d like to wish you all a very late happy new year. To say that 2017 was super busy for me, would be an understatement, hence why I have been so inactive on my blog. BUT I promise to be a lot more consistent with my blog this year. Especially with Instagram being such a let down in terms of interaction and the whole order of how posts are displayed, I just don’t get what they’re doing but I am using that as motivation to be a lot more consistent with my posts on here.

Thank you to all the lovely people that have stuck with me!

I have a pretty exciting post today. I was sent a bunch of things from Dermalogica and Influenster to test out and I was so happy when the package arrived because Dermalogica have been my absolute ride or die. If you read my very first skincare post, you’ll know that their Clear Start range had a huge hand in clearing up my severe acne years ago.

I was kindly sent their Daily Superfoliant, Precleanse Balm, Special Cleansing Gel and the Skin Smoothing Cream.
I knew pretty much straight away that I’d love the Special Cleansing Balm because it is very similar to their Clear Start Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash (that was a right mouthful), so I won’t bore you with saying how great it is (again) because I love it just as much as I loved the Clear Start one, so if you would like to know my thoughts on that, check out my good old skincare post.

If you’re a fan of double cleansing like myself, you will absolutely love the Precleanse Balm. This stuff is incredible at getting deep into your pores as well as taking all the gunk off the surface of your skin before you do your everyday cleansing routine. It is a balm that turns into an oil, but isn’t heavy at all. This product comes with a cleansing mitt, which is just incredible. Now, I know there’s a tonne of different mitts on the market, but this one is very gentle on the skin. I can’t fault this product, it’s gentle enough to use around the eye area, it doesn’t strip your skin of it’s natural oils and it even gets rid of waterproof makeup!

The Skin Smoothing Cream is the perfect everyday moisturiser. It does exactly what it says on the tin (or tube in this case). Once applied this cream pretty much keeps my skin hydrated all day or until I cleanse again. I have very oily skin but this didn’t feel heavy on my skin and it didn’t cause any sensitivity or breakouts. This wasn’t a product that I had used before, so as always I was a little hesitant. I have very sensitive skin so when I find products that work for my skin, I usually tend to stick with them. And I can confirm this will be one of those products.

I have been using these products for a while now and although most of the time I used them together, step-by-step; I did ocassionally mix and match them with other skincare products and they worked just as well as they did together.
But there is one product that was my absolute favourite out of the lot (although that is a bold statement because the love I have for Dermalogica is very real), if you read the title of this post, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about and that is, of course, the Daily Superfoliant. I am beyond obsessed with this and I have been using it religiously ever since I received it. It is absolute magic in a bottle. My skin has never looked as good as it does today. Having suffered from severe acne in my teen years, I had scars and an uneven texture to my skin where I had picked my spots (don’t ever pick your spots kids!). The way this product works is incredible, its a powder that you basically rub between your hands and it turns into an exfoliating paste, it activates with a little water. A lot of people think that exfoliating everyday isn’t great for your skin, which in most cases it isn’t. That’s where this product comes in. It’s gentle enough to use daily, but if you have skin that is even more sensitive than mine you can use it every other day. It contains charcoal, which is known for it’s purifying properties. It also contains Niacinamide, Red Algae and Tara Fruit Extract, which shield your skin against the damage that pollution causes.
Dermalogica were not messing around when they said this products resurfaces your skin to the smoothest it could possibly be. You can pretty much see the effects of this product after one use, so you can only imagine what it could do for your skin after a while.
My skin not only feels smooth but it also looks smooth. This product has helped make my acne scars a lot less visible and it hasn’t caused any breakouts, redness or sensitivity. It isn’t drying and it doesn’t strip your skin of its moisture. My skin tone is even, which was a huge concern of mine because of how severe my acne was and although I don’t wear makeup daily, I can see that I wouldn’t need a lot of coverage when wearing it ocassionaly. The Daily Superfoliant is a product that I will definitely be repurchasing, it has worked absolute wonders on my skin. I’ve tried products that have cost me double the amount this costs, but didn’t do anything for my skin, so in my opinion, this stuff is worth it’s weight in gold. If you haven’t tried anything from Dermalogica before, this is the perfect product to start with, especially if you’ve already got a pretty solid skincare routine but you’re missing that little something!

Dermalogica is a brand that is gluten free, vegan, paraben free, cruelty free and they don’t use artificial fragrances or colours (what’s not to love?!)

How I use the products:
I start off with the Precleanse Balm. I wet my face and rub a small amount of the product between my hands and rub it all over my face and eyes. I then use the cleansing mitt to really rub the product into my skin and into all those places our hands wouldn’t necessarily reach. I then wash the product off and use the Special Cleansing Gel and rub some product between my hands and then all over my face and neck. Once I’ve rinsed this off, I tap some of the Daily Superfoliant onto my wet hands (a little goes a long way) and rub my hands together to activate the product and turn it into a paste, I then rub this all over my face and neck in circular motions, avoiding the eye area. I do this for about a minute. I then rinse this off and pat my face dry with a clean towel. I finish off with the Skin Smoothing Cream.

I really hope you guys enjoyed this post. I shall see you in the next one!

Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant - available here
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel - available here
Dermalogica Precleanse Balm - available here
Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream - available here

Yogita x

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. But as always my opinion is 100% honest.

DermaQuest | Review

I am going to start off by apologising, I know it has been quite a while since I last posted and I am making no excuses but I have been extremely busy (busy may be an understatement) and this may be the case for the coming few weeks, although I will try my very best to post as often as I can.
Today's post is one that I have been extremely excited to write. A few weeks ago I was sent a bunch of stuff from DermaQuest and of course I wasn't going to tell you my thoughts until I had tried the products out and that is exactly what I've been doing for the past few weeks.

I wasn't expecting any miracles but around the time I was sent these products I had a painful breakout and I had an inkling that this pesky little thing was going to turn into a mountain overnight if I didn't do something about the unwanted guest pronto! I applied the BHA Spot Treatment on the breakout before I went to bed and I am telling no lies, I woke up to a totally dried out spot, of course it was still slightly visible but it was totally dried out and wasn't causing any pain. If there was one product I could compare to this it would have to be the Mario Badesco Drying Lotion and I have sworn by this product for years! It's main ingredient is Salicylic Acid, which, if like me you've suffered from acne in the past, you will be extremely familiar with.

Another product I was sent was the SheerZinc SPF 30. If there's one product you NEED to have in your skincare routine it's SPF, regardless of whether the sun's out or not, the UV rays will always find a way. I have absolutely loved using this. It is a cream formula but it is extremely light on the skin, now I have really oily skin but this hasn't made me excessively oily or left any white residue, which is great because the last thing you want to do is look like a zombie out in the sun. This offers UVA and UVB protection. Also if you're someone that uses acids on your skin, whether it's hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid or any other acid, SPF is always a must!
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun (UVA and UVB) damage the skin, age it prematurely and increase the chances of skin cancer, which is why SPF is so essential in your daily skincare.
As you all know I am someone that has suffered from severe acne in the past, which is why I try not to use new products because you never really know how your skin will react. None of the products I was sent have made me breakout or caused any irritation.

Lastly I was sent the Essential B5 Hydrating Serum. Now I know you guys must be thinking why on earth is this girl using so many hydrating products when she already has oily skin. Just because you have oily skin doesn't necessarily mean your skin is hydrated. Your skin will always need hydration, whether it's in the form of a cream, serum or just you drinking water regularly. I love having a serum in my skincare routine and this little gem contains Hyaluronic Acid, Ferulic Acid and Vitamin B5.
Vitamin B5 is known to hydrate the skin but is also a natural healer and protector of the skin.
One gram of Hyaluronic Acid can hold up to six litres of water and as we age our skin loses it's natural ability to retain moisture and that's where Hyaluronic Acid can help. As well as hydrating the skin, Hyaluronic Acid revitalises the layers of your skin and improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Ferulic Acid is naturally found in seeds of fruits such as apples, oranges and even in some vegetables, nuts and grains, where it plays a vital role in the plants' protection and self preservation. It helps fight against the free-radical damage that contributes to ageing. It basically helps slow down the clocks when it comes to ageing.
The Essential B5 Hydrating Serum from DermaQuest contains all three ingredients, so you know it's a load of magic in a bottle. This product has made my skin extremely smooth and so naturally glowy (and I am bloody loving it). It really is hydrating but very lightweight at the same time. The serum has a pump, which is always useful because it means you won't waste any product, one pump of this is more than enough to cover your whole face. It's also won the Best Daily Serum Award at the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2017 and I can't say I'm surprised, because it is incredible. Definitely my favourite out of the lot.

Honestly, I can't praise these products enough. I genuinely wasn't expecting any miracles when I received these products, but they really have helped transform my skin and have become such an essential part of my skincare. I will definitely be purchasing the SheerZinc SPF 30 and the Hydrating Serum once I run out because I am obsessed! Another thing I loved about the products was the packaging, I am a sucker for anything minimal. DermaQuest caters for a whole range of skincare concerns, whether it's ageing, acne, pigmentation. They literally have a product for everything.
When it comes to skincare, everyone reacts differently to products so it is extremely important to do your research and avoid any products that contain ingredients that you may be sensitive to. Finding products that work perfectly for you is an ongoing journey, some things may work and some may not but doing your research and being patient is essential to your own personal journey.

DermaQuest Essential B5 Hydrating Serum - available here
DermaQuest SheerZinc SPF 30 - available here
DermaQuest BHA Spot Treatment - available here

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Yogita x

*Products featured in this post were kindly sent to me. Please refer to the Disclaimer page for more information.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo, Serozinc Spray & Thermal Spring Water | Review

Hi all! I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I know I say this all the time but honestly, I had an incredible weekend but then again you can never complain about a weekend spent with family. I know it's only Monday but I am already looking forward to the weekend. It's Mother's Day on Sunday. I hope all you kids have something extra special planned. My sister and I are being little daredevils and getting our Mum's presents towards the end of the week, as we're working all week (we're all about that busy lifestyle). We're also taking her out for dinner. I think we're more excited than she is, but then again she has no idea of our plans. Hopefully she isn't reading this!

Today I will be talking about one of my favourite skincare brands, La Roche-Posay. This brand has been such a huge part of my acne journey. I first came across the brand whilst shopping in Boots and picked up the Effaclar Duo out of curiosity, when my sister came over to me and said she had read a tonne of great reviews on the product from people that had suffered from acne/scarring, so of course I had to purchase it and see what all the fuss was about. Now this was a really long time ago and I have been using it ever since and have really seen a difference on my acne scars, they are barely visible. I try not to use it as regularly as I used to, rather every few days as I don't want my skin to get used to it and then have the product stop working altogether. I would really recommend trying it out, if you are someone that suffers from or has done in the past from acne/scarring. 

What it says on the box:

• Clinically proven to correct the appearance of blemishes
• Unclogs blocked pores
• Helps to refine skin texture
• Controls the appearance of shine
• Fights against the appearance of marks

I've never come across a product that does everything it says on the packaging, but the Effaclar Duo is definitely one of those rare products that do exactly what they claim to do. 

Before I went on holiday last year, I was on the lookout for some face sprays that would not only help cool me down in the hot weather but also help with my skin (and hopefully not break me out). Of course I went straight on to the La Roche-Posay website to see what I could find (I'm a loyal customer). I came across the Serozinc Spray and the Thermal Spring Water. 

The Serozinc Spray is specially formulated for oily and blemish prone skin. Now if you know me you will know that I haven't had a break out in absolutely ages but I do suffer from really oily skin and in countries with hot weather, oily skin is an absolute nightmare and I definitely didn't want to look like I had just enjoyed my Mum's amazing curry a little too much (to the point where I dunked my whole face in the pot). This really helped to keep my skin look as matte as it possibly could and it didn't break me out which was a huge plus. 

The Thermal Spring Spray is mainly just to soothe sensitive skin, refresh your skin after cleansing and hydrate your skin in warm weather. Both these prays worked extremely well together. After cleansing I would use the Serozinc spray because it does a little extra for your skin and the Thermal Spring Water was something I kept in my bag, so I could use it on the go to soothe my skin in the hot weather. Both these products are huge, 150ml to be accurate, so they will last you absolutely ages, just make sure you use them before the expiry date.

Both the Serozinc and Thermal Spring Water are hypoallergenic and don't contain any perfumes. The Thermal Spring Water is just pure thermal spring water, so it doesn't contain any other ingredients (how insane is that?).

La Roche-Posay is an extremely affordable brand, which is great especially if you're someone that is on the hunt for skincare products that are effective but won't break the bank.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - available here

La Roche-Posay Serozinc Spray - available here

La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water - available here

Please note that what works for me may not necessarily work for everyone. Just like clothes, what fits me may not necessarily fit you, but we all try things on! This is just what works for me and therefore I am sharing with you. I have used a lot of products in the past that were recommended by others but they didn't always work for me, which is fine. It takes a lot of time, trial and error to find things that work perfectly for you, so just be patient and always do your research!

Yogita x

L'Oreal Pure Clay Glow Mask | Review

Today is going to be a face mask and good book kind of day, so I thought I'd share the mask I will be using and my thoughts on it as I have used it a few times before and reach for it quite a lot when my skin is in need of some pampering.

I am a huge fan of the fairly new L'Oreal Pure Clay Masks and couldn't possibly choose a favourite out of the three but I love anything with the word 'glow' on it, so of course I reach for this one the most. It doubles up as an exfoliator as it contains small beads. I absolutely love the exfoliating element of this mask because it leaves my skin feeling so smooth and extremely clean. I find that with a lot of other masks that don't contain any exfoliating ingredients in them, even when you wash them off they leave a not so pleasant feeling to the skin. I find that the beads not only help exfoliate your skin but they also help by making sure your skin is thoroughly clean and no residue from the mask is left on your skin.

I have extremely oily skin and I find that skincare products that contain clay really help keep those deep frying pans that live inside my pores at bay.

This mask genuinely leaves my skin looking so radiant and it smells incredible, the smell kind of reminds me of saffron.

The mask contains three different types of clay, Koalin, Montmorillonite and Ghassoul. It also contains Red Algae Extract which is known for it's brightening properties.

• Koalin is an effective natural clay which helps absorb impurities and excess sebum and is known to give a soothing effect on irritated and sensitive skin.
• Montmorillonite is very rich in minerals and helps eliminate imperfections.
• Ghassoul is a pure clay high in vitamins and helps clarify your complexion.

The pot will last you absolutely ages and it's pretty inexpensive at £7.99 (it's currently on offer at Boots for £5.99). I try to use a face mask at least once a week usually on the weekend and apply it using a flat foundation brush. It's the perfect pick me up for your skin after a week's worth of gunk (that your daily cleansing couldn't tackle) sitting in your pores from the jam packed trains and heavily polluted air clouding over my beautiful London (or wherever you live).

I hope you guys have a great week ahead!

L'Oreal Pure Clay Glow Mask - available here

Yogita x

L'Oreal Fine Flowers Gel Cream Wash | Review

I always get uber excited when the weather is amazing in London and today is one of those days, so I will start off by talking about the weather, as we all do in awkward situations (not that this is awkward). It's Monday guys, only a few days until Friday (ha!).
I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I had a pretty fantastic weekend. I went for a spot of shopping and lunch with my Mum and sister. Is it me or does everyone feel like a child again when they go shopping with their Mum? I bloody love it! Obviously she didn't get me the scented glittery gel pens I wanted, but whatevs, her loss.

Today's blog post is on the L'Oreal Fine Flowers Gel Cream Wash. I have become a huge fan of L'Oreal's skincare range especially since they came out with the whole clay mask range, those masks are incredible! I was even more excited when I spotted the Fine Flowers range in Superdrug. I had run out of my trusty Boots Botanics All Bright Cleansing Foam Wash (available here). If you have read my skincare post, you will know exactly how much I love this Foam Wash, so this was the whole point of my shopping trip, to stock up on some more which is when I conveniently came across the Fine Flowers range and instantly picked the Gel Cream Wash up, it contains Rose and Jasmine so I was really excited to smell it (out of all things to do with a cream wash), plus it's pretty inexpensive at £3.99 (currently on offer for £2.65 at Superdrug), so I couldn't not pick it up!

I have been using it for around 2-3 weeks now and I actually really like it; I mean it hasn't done anything incredible for my skin, it pretty much works the same as my Boots Botanics Wash, although I prefer the Boots Botanics Wash because it really helps brighten my skin. It hasn't broken me out or caused any irritation which is a massive win for someone who has previously suffered from severe acne and has extremely sensitive skin, if you have the same sort of skin problems as me or have done in the past, you will know exactly how daunting it is to try something new not knowing what the outcome will be. I think the fact that the wash does not contain soap or alcohol really helps. It's a runny gel consistency so you really don't need a lot, which also means it will last absolutely ages (providing you use it before the expiry date). It leaves my skin feeling really soft and gives it that really clean feeling (does that even make sense? you guys know what I mean).
The only thing I absolutely hated about the wash was the smell, it does not smell like Roses or Jasmine in the slightest, now I'm not sure whether it's just the one I bought or whether they all smell the same but mine smelt like washing up liquid, which is great for washing the dishes but not so much for my face. I was really disappointed with the smell because it was one of the things that initially drew me to the product considering it contains ingredients that should really smell incredible. For this reason I won't be repurchasing it but I will be picking up the Toner on my next shopping trip because I've heard it smells a lot better and it's pretty good, so I shall keep you guys posted.

L'Oreal Fine Flowers Gel Cream Wash - available here

I'm now off to my white board to master a plan that will trick my Mum into getting those scented glittery gel pens for me, wish me luck, she's a tough little cookie. I hope you all have a lovely week ahead and I will see you in my next post. Toodles.

Yogita x

Superdrug Vitamin E Hydrating Mist | Review

Today's post is on this little gem. This has been all over Instagram and I am a sucker for facial sprays so of course I had to get my hands on this pronto. I am a huge fan of the Superdrug Vitamin E range, but never really came across the Hydrating Mist until a few weeks ago.

I have been using it ever since and the first thing I noticed was the delicious scent, it smells so lovely.
It contains vitamins E, A, B, F and H and also horse chestnut extract and aloe vera. All the ingredients combined help to care for dry skin, protect against environmental damage and prevent premature ageing by combating the harmful effects of free radicals.
Vitamin E has been known to treat wrinkles by promoting new skin cell growth and speeding up cell regeneration.
I have extremely oily skin but it doesn't stop me from moisturising or using oils/serums on my skin, in my opinion the more moisture you can apply to your skin, the better!
This hydrating mist has made my skin so radiant and smooth. It gives an extremely refreshing feeling to the skin. I apply it to my face straight after cleansing, moisturising, applying eye cream etc; kind of like the finishing step to my skincare regime, to lock everything in and work it's wonders on my skin.

It comes in a spray bottle, which works really well. It doesn't hit you like a tonne of bricks or run down the bottle, it applies evenly all over my face (I use 2-3 pumps). 

Honestly, I cannot recommend this product enough, it hydrates your skin and gives it a beautiful glow.

I have heard that some bottles say 'Toning Facial Mist' and some say 'Hydrating Mist' but they are exactly the same product so don't be alarmed if the label on yours does not resemble the one I have. 

It is extremely inexpensive at just £2.99 and currently buy one get second half price (mix and match, so you can purchase some other favourites whilst you're at it!).

I'm not someone that wears makeup everyday but I will definitely be using this under my makeup and possibly to set it all in place, I'm pretty sure it would work really well as a primer/setting spray and I shall keep you guys posted on how I get on. You can also pop it in the fridge so it stays super cool for a colder soothing spritz on the skin, especially when the temperature is a little high outside; hardly likely in London, but I look forward to doing this in the summer. I really hope Superdrug come out with a mini version that you can just pop in your handbag to use on the go.

Superdrug Vitamin E Hydrating Mist - available here

What are your favourites from the Vitamin E range?

Yogita x

Superdrug Black Seaweed Peel Off Face Mask | Review

Happy Friday all, we've made it to the weekend! *throws all work off the desk before picking it all up again*

I thought I'd do a quick review on this AMAZING face mask. It's the Black Seaweed Peel Off Face mask from Superdrug's own brand. I mentioned this on my skincare post. It is also my choice of face mask for tonight.

This is only 99p and currently on offer at Superdrug so you can get 3 for the price of 2, which is insane considering how good it is. Like I mentioned in my skincare post I do not have the patience or time to make my own peel off mask and I'm not too keen on putting kids glue on my face regardless of what the ingredients are, that is not what it was made for.

This inexpensive mask works wonders on my skin. I use a face mask once a week, usually on weekends or on Friday night, which is the plan tonight along with my Mum and sister (they love it too).
It makes my skin so smooth. and it genuinely feels like it's sucked all the gunk out of your skin. Peeling this off your face is highly satisfying. It's also suitable for oily skin. Seaweed contains anti-inflammatory compounds which help with acne and is rich in vitamins and minerals. Both the Seaweed and Buckthorn help cleanse and detoxify your skin. It literally does what it says on the packaging. I can't recommend this face mask enough!

I pour the product into a small bowl and apply it on to my skin with a flat foundation brush, make sure the bowl and brush are both clean. If you choose to apply this with your hands then make sure your hands are clean as you don't want bacteria spreading from your hands to your face. Do not apply this directly from the sachet, as it can be very messy. I leave it on for about 30 minutes or more, depending on when it is dry and ready to be peeled off. I apply quite a thick even layer, avoiding the eye area. There is quite a lot inside the sachet so you can definitely get a good amount all over your face. After it's dried I peel it off upwards, so towards my forehead. Any excess I rinse off with warm water and pat my face dry with a face towel and follow up with my usual skincare bits (serum, eye cream etc).
I really want to try the Superdrug Manuka Honey Peel Off Face Mask next because I am massively impressed with this one!

Superdrug Black Seaweed Peel Off Face Mask - available here

Superdrug Manuka Honey Peel Off Face Mask - available here

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Yogita x

How to Maintain/Grow Thick Eyebrows

It's Wednesday. That means we've made it through half of the week and we are well on our way to the weekend! (wake me up when it's Friday).
I hope you're all doing well this wonderful evening. It's actually not wonderful at all in London, the weather is so gloomy, the sun came out for a hefty 5 minutes today, which is no surprise for us.

My post today is about my eyebrows and how I maintain their thickness. What I am about to tell you will also help with the growth of your eyebrows or even your hair!

My eyebrows are naturally very thick and very black. I never fill my eyebrows in because it looks ridiculous on me and I'm not a fan of it in general and as my eyebrows are really black in colour, I find that a lot of brow products aren't black enough and can make my eyebrows look like they have a red/brown shadow, which is very visible. The only brow products I own are clear brow gels. My favourite one is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel (available here and here).
Now, my Mum always said leave your eyebrows as they are for as long as you can because you will regret it otherwise, so I got my eyebrows done for the first time a little later than most. If there's one thing that I learnt along the way it was to NEVER change your eyebrow lady (loyalty is key) and don't get your eyebrows done too often, this will make them sparse and will make your hairs grow back faster.
There has been times where my eyebrow lady was absent from work (I have never been so disappointed in my life) but I made sure to wait instead of settling for a not so talented lady, because the one time I did let someone else do them I was left so horrified, she basically halved them (by that I don't mean she took the tail off because that would have killed me, but I'm still here). It took me ages to grow them back; That was a very long time ago so I'm pretty much over that ordeal. I have had the same lady do my eyebrows for absolute years and I have genuine love for her not because she's so bloody good at it but because she's become a really good friend of my Mum's and she's genuinely a really lovely lady (this makes me sound like a psycho, sorry not sorry). She is the same lady that does my Mum's eyebrows and my Sister's, not my Dad's because he has naturally fleeky ones.

My favourite oils to use on my eyebrows are Castor Oil, Coconut Oil and Mustard Oil. Most of the time I keep a little container that has the Castor Oil and Mustard Oil already mixed because otherwise things can get a little messy. I use the Coconut Oil on it's own when I'm not using the mixture. I use cotton buds to apply the oils directly on to my eyebrows, just because it's a lot less messy, a lot more hygienic and the castor oil has a thick consistency so you don't want to get this on your hands or on any surfaces. The Johnson's Baby Cotton Buds are my favourite because they don't come apart very easily (you will most probably have these lying around at home but if you don't they are available here).

Using these oils have really helped make sure my eyebrows don't become sparse and that my hair doesn't start thinning. If you're someone that wants to make your eyebrows grow faster or make them healthier/thicker then this will definitely help. You can also use these oils on your hair for the same benefits! I always apply the oils onto my eyebrows after cleansing my face and usually apply them at night, leaving them on overnight and washing them off in the shower/bath the following morning.

Castor Oil carries Ricinoleic Acid and Omega 6 essential fatty acids, which accelerate blood circulation to the scalp, which in turn increases hair growth. It nourishes the scalp and strengthens the roots of your hair, so essentially it's working on the strands of your hair as well as on the inside by soaking into your scalp and strengthening the roots.

Mustard Oil works in pretty much the same way as Castor Oil but it has some other pretty impressive benefits too. It contains high amounts of Beta-Carotene. The Beta-Carotene converts into Vitamin A which helps with hair growth. It also contains Iron, Fatty Acids, Calcium and Magnesium, all of which also help with hair growth. Now for the really impressive things: Mustard Oil prevents hair loss, premature greying and it naturally darkens your hair (say goodbye to eyebrow tints). I have no idea whether it actually darkens your hair because my hair is really black, but I have read that a lot of people found it did darken their hair.

Coconut Oil makes your hair a lot more healthier and prevents the loss of hair. It helps reduce the loss of protein in your hair as it is so naturally rich in protein. It soaks into your scalp/skin very easily as it is low in molecular weight. It retains moisture, helps prevent grey hair and sparseness. Coconut Oil can be used for a tonne of different things because it is natural and really good for your hair and skin in general.
It can also be used on your teeth, this is called oil pulling. This method removes bacteria and makes your gums and teeth healthier, I love doing this. After brushing my teeth, I take a spoonful and swirl it around my mouth for 20-30 minutes and then spit it out, it has made my teeth and gums a lot more healthier.
You can also use Coconut Oil as a moisturiser or as a cleanser as it is natural so it isn't harsh on your skin. I love the smell of coconut oil so I use this as much as I can!

Fushi Castor Oil - available here If you sign up to their newsletter you can get 10% off. I love this brand for all their natural products.

Fushi Castor Oil - available here Get 10% off with the code FIRST10 and Free Shipping Worldwide. This is where I get it from.

Holland & Barrett Perfectly Pure Coconut Oil - available here Currently half price. The tub is huge so it will last you absolute ages!

Mustard Oil - I get mine from Tesco, so I'm guessing it's probably available in most supermarkets.

I really hope you guys found this post helpful!

Yogita x

My Favourite Foundations

Hi guys! I hope you're all having a lovely weekend. Apologies for not posting last week, honestly I just didn't have the time to write a post and I really didn't want to write a post that I'm not really into or haven't given 100% to.

I thought I'd do a post on my favourite foundations today, along with a little review of each one and my thoughts on them in general.
For a little background information on my skin; I have very oily skin, I previously suffered from severe acne and still have some very light scars. I am pretty pale with a yellow undertone to my skin, which can be a struggle when it comes to finding the right foundation shade for me (for example with the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation I am in the shade Fiji, which is a perfect match for me).

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation - available here

This foundation is my holy grail! It doesn't matter how many foundations I use and love, I always end up going back to this one. It is my most used foundation. The coverage is buildable without it looking like a mask but I prefer the light coverage that this foundation is able to give. I generally don't like the feel of heavy foundations on my skin and to be honest I don't really think I need the extra coverage (especially after my acne cleared up a few years ago). I like my skin to look like skin even with makeup on. I prefer people to compliment the look of my skin rather than my makeup and this foundation definitely helps with that.
I have really oily skin and although this foundation has the word 'glow' on it, it isn't something that makes my skin look like a deep frying pan full of oil by the end of the day. It doesn't oxidise (atleast it doesn't on me). It genuinely gives you a radiant finish.
On their website description of the foundation it states that the foundation has skincare benefits. When you cleanse your face at the end of the day after having this on your face, it's like this foundation has done something to your skin to make it look more glowy (is that even a word) and even, now I had no idea that this foundation contained turmeric until I first used it, took it off and my skin looked amazing, so I thought I'd look it up and to my surprise (a good surprise) it did contain turmeric. Turmeric is known for it's antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It helps with acne, scarring and also reduces the production of sebum.
The shade range of this is incredible, especially for skin that has a olive/yellow undertone. NARS is a brand that I really love for their shade range.

EX1 Cosmetics Invisiwear Liquid Foundation - available here

I have no idea why I tried this foundation. I spotted it on the lookfantastic website and they always have some sort of discount code, so I thought I'd try it out. I've been using this for about a year and I really really like it. Like the NARS foundation this is also buildable. You only need a small amount, it's super blendable and it works wonders. It is very lightweight, you can't feel this on your skin at all, which I love!
Initially they only had 5 shades and I purchased the shade f200 which was a little dark for me and the shade f100 was a little too light so I mixed the two. More recently EX1 came out with a whole new bunch of shades, so in total there are now 13 shades.
I've seen this foundation being used on so many celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears and Adele for magazine covers, photoshoots and on the red carpet, which would make you think it probably costs an arm and a leg but it's only £12.50. Yep, you heard £12.50.
I have sensitive skin so I'm very careful when using foundations. This foundation hasn't broke me out or caused any irritation.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation - available here

For all you lovely ladies and guys that prefer heavy coverage this is the perfect foundation for you. The coverage of this foundation is incredible! A little definitely goes a long way. I mix this with my moisturiser as I prefer a very light finish.
It stays in place and lasts all day. Although it is a full coverage foundation it isn't a foundation that feels uncomfortable on the skin or looks unnatural.
Like the NARS foundation, the shade range is huge!

Chanel Mat Lumière Foundation

I believe this foundation is discontinued *sad face*. I used to love the look of matte foundations and this one was my favourite. I never had to set it with powder and with my oily skin, that was one less thing to carry around in my handbag. I thought I'd still mention it as I love Chanel foundations in general and they smell amazing!

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick - available here

When my acne first started clearing up I still had some very visible scars, which were very hard to cover up without my makeup looking very heavy and unnatural, which I hated. I did some research and found that a lot of people loved the Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick as it gave great coverage without looking heavy. So I thought I'd try it out and I loved it. I still use it sometimes and it looks lovely on the skin. I don't wear makeup on a daily basis but when you want something thats light on the skin and doesn't look like makeup, this is the foundation I reach for. You can apply it lightly or build it up. Bobbi Brown did update the formula of the stick foundation and I much prefer the new formula it's a lot more blendable and creamy. The old formula dried out very fast and became hard to blend, which basically meant it had to see the bottom of my bin sooner than it probably had hoped for. The new formula also has tone correcting pigments.

I use a Beauty Blender (available here) with all my foundations as it gives a light flawless base, without streaks, which I find you get with using a brush. If you haven't used a beauty blender to apply your foundation I would totally recommend it. It will change the way your makeup looks.

The Chanel and EX1 Foundations both come with pumps, this makes it easier to take the product out and it means you don't end up pouring out too much and wasting it. I believe the MAC Foundation Pump (available here) fits on both the Estée Lauder and NARS foundations and it's a total steal at £4.50 especially considering it will prevent you from pouring out too much of the product.
I have the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation and the MAC Face & Body Foundation on my list to try because I've heard and read some amazing things about them.

I really hope you guys found this post helpful!

Yogita x

My Skincare Routine - Acne, Scars + Oily Skin

Hi everyone! I hope you're all having a lovely Sunday. I've decided to do a post on my skincare routine as I get asked about how I got rid of my acne a lot. I have a feeling this will be a lengthy post, so I'd grab some snacks if I were you!

My skin is extremely sensitive and oily. I suffered from severe acne in my teenage years and I tried everything you could possibly find to treat acne but nothing worked, if anything a lot of the products I used made it worse. If you know me you’ll know that I hate going to the doctors (even when it’s not for me). My Mum had to physically drag me to the doctors (my Mum may deny these allegations lol) because at one point I was finding the acne extremely hard to deal with and painful. This is when my doctor prescribed a topical lotion for my acne. This was in the form of a roll on for your face, I don’t remember the exact name of it but if you ask your doctor, he/she will be able to help. The topical lotion played a huge part in treating my acne. After using that for a while, I started using the Dermalogica Clean Start Breakout Clearing Foam Wash, which you can purchase here and used this for years. It worked so well for so long, but I find that when you use a product for too long it kind of stops working (although I alternate between this face wash and the one I am currently using to prevent this). Below are the products I have been using for a while now and can officially say they have become a permanent fixture in my daily skincare routine (along with the Dermalogica Clean Start Wash and a few other discoveries).

Boots Botanics Mattifying Cleansing Mousse/Botanics All Bright Cleansing Foam Wash - available here

I started using this Boots Cleansing Mousse about 3 years ago. I randomly picked it up whilst shopping at Boots with my sister and haven’t stopped using it since. It hasn’t made me break out once, which is amazing. If you suffer from acne or have done in the past you’ll know how hard it is to use something new not knowing what it will do to your skin. Experimenting with products can be a little scary, but this was a risk worth taking. I take a pump of this and spread it all over my face, I then put a pump of this on my face brush and use that to exfoliate my face in small circular motions. I believe this has been discontinued but I have switched to the Botanics All Bright Cleansing Foam Wash and use it the same way I used the Cleansing Mousse. It works just as well (thank God).

L’Oreal Men Expert Black Charcoal Wash – available here

Yes I am aware that this says ‘Men Expert’ but currently there are no laws that prohibit women from using skincare products that are targeted for men lol. I can’t praise this charcoal wash enough, it is amazing! It contains charcoal which is known to have antibacterial properties and helps draw out impurities. It also helps tighten pores. I totally recommend this for anyone that has sensitive/oily skin. I use this the same way that I use the Boots Foam Wash. Occasionally I spread this all over my face and leave it on for about 5 minutes (like a mask), I do this whilst I am in the shower/bath. I feel like this gives the wash a little more time to work it's magic.

Boots Glycerin & Rosewater Toner & Moisturiser – available here

I was drawn to this product as soon as I saw Glycerin and Rosewater on the label. I have been using this toner for years and absolutely swear by it. I use this after washing my face. I pour some onto a cotton pad and swipe the pad all over my face. It moisturises and tones the skin at the same time. I also use this as a base for makeup. It contains Glycerin and Glycerin makes products stick to it and it definitely helps keep your makeup in place for longer. Just make sure you let it settle into your skin a little before applying any makeup.

Soap & Glory A Brush with Greatness – available here

This brush is so inexpensive and does the job just as well as any other face brush. I have used electric face brushes before and occasionally switch back to one every now and then, but I always end up using this one because you have more control over it in terms of movement and how much pressure you apply. One side has soft brush bristles which gently exfoliate your skin and the other side has tiny silicone bristles which give you more of a deep cleanse. 

Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream - available here

This is such an incredible product, it helps with a tonne of different things including nappy rash, surface wounds, minor burns, sunburn and acne. You will most probably have this lying around the house anyway but just make sure it isn't out of date. Whenever I feel like a spot is coming up or has already become a mountain on my face I use a small blob of this and apply it directly onto the spot and leave it on overnight. It works wonders and you'll see your breakouts heal a lot faster.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo - available here

On the directions it says to apply this product all over the face, which you can do but I prefer to target this directly onto breakouts. As soon as I see that a breakout is healing I apply this to prevent it from darkening my skin or leaving a scar. It definitely helps to correct the appearance of blemishes and refines the texture of my skin.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads - available here (currently half price!)

This does exactly what it says on the label. The glycolic acid retextures and resurfaces the skin, the hyaluronic acid moisturises and refreshes the skin, the blue daisy soothes and calms the skin and the witch hazel tones the skin. I use these pads straight after cleansing my face and absolutely love them. I have very little scars left on my skin from when I suffered from severe acne and these pads have definitely helped lighten them and have made my skin a lot more even.

Lancome Hydra Zen Cream - available here

This smells AMAZING! It has such a lovely smooth texture, it absorbs into the skin really fast and it's suitable for sensitive skin. I first tried this cream in a sample size because, as I said before, anything can make me break out. This however, didn't make me breakout. It makes your skin look so beautiful and radiant and it moisturises (which is helpful lol). It is my favourite moisturiser. I have unfortunately run out of the cream, hence why it isn't in the picture above (sad face) but I will definitely be repurchasing.

Loreal Pure Clay Glow Mask - available here 

Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask - available here

I use face masks once a week (on weekends) like a treat for your skin. I have been loving the Loreal Pure Clay Glow Mask and the Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask. 

The Loreal mask contains a blend of 3 different clays: Koalin, Montmorillonite and Ghassoul. All of these help absorb impurities and excess sebum, they also help eliminate imperfections. You will notice your skin look a lot more brighter immediately after using this mask. I use a flat foundation brush to apply the mask and leave it on for about 20 minutes.

The Garnier Mask is perfect for the Winter time. It's the perfect pick me up for when your skin feels a little dehydrated. I have extremely oily skin but that doesn't stop me from using moisturisers or oils on my skin because a lot of moisture is better than no moisture at all. It contains pomegranate extract, hyaluronic acid, and plant serum which help rehydrate and brighten your skin. It is a sheet mask so it is a little less messy too!

I also recently used the Superdrug Black Seaweed Peel Off Face Mask (available here). This is so inexpensive and works incredibly well. I've seen a lot of people make their own peel off masks but I just don't have the time or patience, so I was more than excited when I spotted this in Superdrug. It contains seaweed and sea buckthorn which help cleanse and detoxify the skin. It's definitely an underrated gem!

Water

Drink lots of water! I can't say this enough. Water helps flush out toxins, it also helps maintain the balance of your body fluids. Your skin contains water which functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss. I hardly ever drank water in my teenage years instead I drank bucket loads of fizzy drink (Dr Pepper is still a favourite, but this doctor is no good for your skin), which definitely didn't help my acne. I noticed a huge difference in my skin and overall health once I started drinking water regularly throughout the day. It is so important to drink water and eat as healthy as possible because this will affect the way your skin looks.

All these products have worked so well for me. I hardly every break out and my skin is pretty much acne free and has been for years. If you have acne scarring, then exfoliating is a great way to help with that. I found that it helped massively to lighten any scars that I had. Whatever you do never pick your spots. I can’t say this enough, this is how scarring can occur and if your hands are dirty it can make your acne worse. I don’t wear makeup on a daily basis, but whenever I do, I make sure that I follow my skincare routine regardless of how lazy I feel.

Please note that what works for me may not necessarily work for everyone. Just like clothes, what fits me may not necessarily fit you, but we all try things on! This is just what works for me and therefore I am sharing with you. I used a lot of products that were recommended by others but they didn't always work for me, which is fine. It takes a lot of time and trial and error to find things that work perfectly for you, so just be patient and always do your research!

I really hope you found this post helpful. 

Yogita x