My SOS Skincare

There is nothing worse than waking up with an unwanted friend or two on your face, especially if you have to make contact with humans beyond your front door. Even at the age of 24 I still get unpaid rent tenants living on my face, but I think I've managed to find some zit-zapper treatments that maintains them. FINALLY.

These are my go-to emergency zit-zappers that helps get rid of those spots ASAP.


The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + 1% Zinc £5.00
Truth be told, my skin gets on more with The Ordinary's Niacinamide than the Salicylic Acid, as it's a lot less drying and harsh on my skin. This product isn't targeted directly to people with acne prone skin, but it does help reduce the appearance of blemishes and balances visible sebum activity. This is my second tube of this stuff, I love it! I apply it onto my skin every other morning and evening before moisturizing and I have definitely noticed it has helped with reducing redness and the appearance of any breakouts I may have. It doesn't necessarily get rid of the spot all together, but it is a good product for reducing the appearance of spots.

Sunday Riley UFO £68.00
Quite possibly the most expensive facial oil I have and will ever own, I definitely must of been feeling like I was rich when I purchased this! This is such an amazing product and is definitely a cult favourite. Infused with salicylic acid, tea tree and black cumin seed oil, all help with reducing the appearance of and prevents future breakouts. I apply this once a week onto my skin as it is too goddamn expensive to use every day! in the evening before bed and instantly the next morning my skin will feel plumped and dewy. I also find this product brings out any upcoming spots to its surface a lot quicker. This product isn't harsh on my skin or strips it from any natural oils, which is surprising as salicylic acid is usually quite harsh.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion £11.00
A recent discovery added to my skincare cabinet, this drying lotion is the best overnight treatment for quick-fixes. It is, as it says on the front a 'drying' lotion, so bare that in mind when you dab this onto any breakouts. It does contain salicylic acid, so I like to use this whenever a pesky white head spot appears and just dab a tiny bit over the spot with a cotton bud and leave overnight. By the next morning the spot will have reduced in size dramatically and it helps repair my complexion, as I find with spots I tend to have leftover redness.


I've been really cautious with what I apply on my skin nowadays, I've upped my skincare knowledge so much on what works and what doesn't, which has definitely helped with my skincare. I've linked a couple of 101 skincare posts below that have helped with my skincare story for anyone who is curious!


Similar Posts...
101 Skincare Mistakes | Link
101 Skincare Ingredients | Link

What zit-zapper do you swear by??

Three From Nivea

I can be a little bit of a snob when it comes to skincare, a lot of products I use in my daily skincare routine tend to be on the more high-end as I find these just work for my skin more effectively. However, one skincare brand I always reach for within drugstore is Nivea. I've used Nivea products as a spotty teenager and as a young adult and have always reached for this brand to remove my makeup and to hydrate my body. Plus it's inexpensive which is always a bonus!

For today's post, I wanted to share with you my top 3 Nivea products and why they have become a staple in my skincare regime.

When it comes to removing my makeup I have tried all the micellar waters, but only a small few don't dry or disrupt my sensitive skin. I like to use a micellar water to remove the bulk of my makeup and then go in with a double cleanse. Nivea MicellAIR Make-up Remover Wipes are great for removing long-lasting makeup and waterproof mascara without drying the skin out. I don't tend to use wipes in my skincare routine, but these are amazing for removing harsh eye makeup without drying, which is down to the black tea extract that helps reducing skin puffiness.

Once I have removed my eye makeup with the wipes I like to then go in with the MicellAIR Make-Up Remover. This lightweight formula also includes black tea extract as well as green tea extract, which is great for sensitive skin. I remove the bulk of my makeup with this water and it sweeps it away with one step. It doesn't irritate my skin or dry it out, which is why I like this brand. It's so quick and easy to remove my makeup without breaking my skin out.

If I double cleanse my skin or want something lightweight, I occasionally use the Nivea Face Cleansing Lotion. This lotion cleanses thoroughly yet mildly, protecting the skin's natural moisture balance and prevents drying the skin out. You can also use this as a makeup remover, but I have not tried it for that. I tend to use this if my skin is in need of hydration or if I have had quite thick makeup on all day and need some balance put into my skin.

*PR Sample/gift.

What are your favourite Nivea products??

Colour Palette Transition

I love when the season starts to change and since autumn is upon us, this generally means I swap my floral dresses for knitted jumpers and nude lips for berry shades. Autumn is definitely my favourite season of all, I love the dark evenings and the chilly air, also all the festivities are almost upon us. I have started to switch up my makeup routine and decided to share what I've transitioned in my routine.


Shimmery Eyeshadow's
Shades usually associated with autumn are mustard, berry, brown and taupe. So when I am wanting an autumnal eye look I tend to reach for my Morphe Palette 350s as this palette has loads of shimmery autumn shades - just look at that burnt orange! The pigmentation on this palette is incredible, you can create some amazing looks for autumn both during the day and night. I also quite enjoy the H&M Eyeshadow's too these are much cheaper and are great for travel. They aren't as pigmented as Morphe, but H&M do have an amazing collection of autumnal eyeshadows as well as nail polish and lipsticks. I like to purchase a couple of shades from them for autumn instead of buying a full eyeshadow palette.

Blusher's
When it comes to blushers I tend to switch them up quite often, but the ones I am currently reaching for are the Laura Mercier Skin Cheek Blusher or NARS Dual Intensity. I love the Laura Mercier and Nars blushers they are definitely both good for shade range and pigmentation. I have the LM blusher in 'plum radiance' which is a gorgeous natural-looking shade that brightens and illuminates the face. I like to use this if am wanting a blusher without any shimmer, but if I am after shimmer I tend to reach for this NARS Dual in the shade 'Fervor'. What I love about this blusher is the silky, wet/dry formula that creates a healthy glow. Both blusher shades are amazing for autumn and are so long lasting!

Lips
I do love a berry shade in autumn so for those days I am feeling daring I reach for the classic MAC 'rebel' Lipstick. A creamy lipstick formula with a soft cushiony feel and satin finish. I love how creamy these lipsticks are, I personally don't like matte shades without a bit of moisture in the autumn especially. Another alternative I have been reaching for is the Topshop Everything Stick in the shade 'defiant'. Topshop does some amazing makeup that is definitely worth checking out. This is such a good multi-purpose product that is perfect for on the go and travel. You can swipe this on your lips, cheeks and even contour with some of the shades. I personally only use this on my lips, but the shade is so autumnal and the consistency is beautiful and creamy. I am definitely going to check out more of their shades.

What autumn makeup do you reach for??

End of Summer Favourites

Summer is officially at an end, we can finally say goodbye to long days and say hello to cold evenings and thick, knitted jumpers. Autumn is definitely my favourite time of the year I just love all the mustard and burnt orange colours and being able to layer up in jumpers. Even though summer is at an end *mourns* we have had a nice one here in the UK (minus those humid evenings!), so I decided to wrap summer up and share what I have loved this past couple of months.

Garnier Sun-Kissed Gradual Tan

As much as I love false tanning I just don't have the patience or the number of bed sheets to be applied every day. Gradual moisturizing tans are something I always reach for as they are just so simple to apply and give your skin a lovely colour. I find out of all the gradual tans I have tried, this one is the one I return to the most as it doesn't leave your skin with a strong biscuit scent and it doesn't apply patchily. I used this before I went to Gran Canaria and it just helped so much with looking healthy and tanned (plus it doesn't stain your sheets - bonus!).

Moroccan Oil

I have used and loved this hair oil for years I think it's fair to say as I have mentioned it numerous times you are probably bored sick of me mentioning it. But I always reach for this hair oil in the summer, especially if I want to achieve healthy-looking beach waves. This oil helps keep my hair in good condition which I think you need especially in the summer. It also gives my hair a gorgeous shine which looks amazing with beach waves on a sunny holiday. Definitely my favourite oil for keeping my hair in amazing condition and something I'd recommend to anyone with damaged hair.

Avene Thermal Spring Water

I personally only use this thermal spray when I am abroad for sunburn or to cool down with, but you can also use this for skin irritation, after removing make-up, after shaving or hair removal too. I have quite sensitive skin so this product is perfect for me when my skin is agitated as it just helps calm it down whilst moisturizing. This travel-friendly bottle is perfect to pop in your bag for on the go and in need of a refresh. Definitely been a life saver during the humid evenings!

The Balm Mary Lou Manizer Highlighter

I have tried a lot of powdery highlighters and out of them, this is my favourite by far heartbroken I hit pan though. This product is a smooth and extremely pigmented highlighter that gives your skin a beautiful champagne colour (perfect with a tan). I find with powdery highlighters that they tend to fall off my face by the end of the day, but with this one, it doesn't budge! Plus, it picks up amazingly in photos and natural light which is why I absolutely loved it when I was on holiday.

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lipstick

CT lipsticks are so beautiful not only on the outside, but on the inside as well. Pillow Talk is the perfect nude pink matte lipstick for every day and for a special occasion. Enriched with soothing orchid and Lipstick tree extracts, lips appear fuller and wider. It is such a long-lasting, moisturizing lipstick for a matte texture. I am yet to try the lip liner that pairs with it, but I have heard amazing things about that as well.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Perfume

My cult staple summer scent has got to be the classic Marc Jacob's Daisy perfume. If you like fresh, floral, succulent scents definitely give this a whiff if you haven't already. It is my go-to summer fragrance and I always feel heartbroken when I am near the end of a bottle.

What has been your summer staple this year??

4 Cult Beauty Picks

I have spent more money than I care to admit on Cult Beauty's website over the years. There's something ever-so special about spending time scrolling through their website and treating yourself to a brand new beauty product. It's quite difficult to get your hands on a lot of these cult-loves, which is what makes spending your pennies on this website that little bit more special. I've loved everything I've ordered from Cult Beauty, but if I had to choose my top 4, these would be those.

Alpha H Liquid Gold £33.50

I was recommended to try this product years ago and still to this day it fits into my skincare routine, which to me is a cult favourite. I have ordered numerous bottles of this stuff from CB and will continue to do so. This exfoliating, overnight treatment delivers so much goodness for your skin! I find exfoliating gels/scrubs quite harsh on my skin, so I tend to sway away from those and only use exfoliating acids, that you apply with a cotton pad. This product contains 5% glycolic acid (which is a great ingredient for discoloration and pigmentation). It's amazing for those dark spots that leave redness, acne scars and anti-aging! I've definitely noticed a difference in my complexion when I've used this product. My skin looks much more glowing and I've definitely noticed this has helped with acne scarring. Definitely worth the 5 stars on their website!

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel £31.00

I've always found cleansing gels a lot more beneficial for my skin type and Oskia's Renaissance Cleansing Gel has really helped strengthen my skin over the years. Containing vitamins C, B2 and E, pumpkin enzyme and much more goodness. This isn't my daily cleanser, but I do like to use this when my skin is in need of brightening or calming down. My skin always feels so smooth and radiant when I've used this product, which is why I only like to use it when my skin is having a freak-out. It probably is targeted towards people with more dry-normal skin, but because I use quite drying spot treatments, this helps to restore balance into my skin.

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation £29.00

I was a bit hesitant to try this foundation out, as I am quite picky with how I want my foundation to look, but I took a gamble and gave this 'I woke up like this' foundation a go. First off, this foundation gives you a medium-to-full coverage which is perfect for those long days or as more of an evening foundation as it doesn't give you flashback in photos! This is such a natural, dewy looking foundation that sits on my skin so nicely and is so easy to blend out. I like to use this as my going out foundation because of how flawless, it makes my skin look and how amazing the coverage is. Its definitely up there with my Double Wear as a cult favourite foundation.

Morphe 350S Nature Glow Eyeshadow Palette £23.00

I have been after this palette for so so so long and finally, I joined the waiting list and impatiently waited for that Cult email to say it's in stock. Containing an array of warm neutrals, this 35-pan palette is a must have to be added in your makeup stash. You have every shade you could ever want and can create so many amazing looks for both day and night! These shadows are so pigmented and long lasting! - A little tip I like to wet my eyeshadow brush before applying they shimmery shadows to my lid, just to enhance the colour even more. Definitely a one to buy if you are really into your shadows.

What is your one Cult Beauty skincare and makeup favourite??