Skincare Lessons I've Learnt in my Early 20s

It's no secret that skincare is a huge passion of mine, I mean, the clue is in the name of my blog. Throughout my teenage years, my skin has gone through it all with hormonal acne, inflammation, scarring, dark circles, blackheads...you name it it's probably been there. I have always been quite cautious and mindful about what products benefit my skin or what are a complete waste of money, especially now that I am in my early twenties.

Since I am almost 25, *sobs to self uncontrollably* the year of being stuck in the middle of not being close to 20 anymore, but also edging that little bit closer to hitting that 30 milestone. I figured now is a good time to share what skincare lessons I have learnt so far.

Even though there have been no signs of grey hairs or wrinkles yet, touch wood, I have started incorporating things into my beauty regime to help postpone ageing and read up on what I should be doing now for my skin.

A lot of people don't believe that creams and gels, impact your skin from ageing, which is fair enough. But if my dad who's in his 50s has no sign of wrinkles and his reasoning is down to moisturizing every day, then I'm going to think there is some truth behind it. 

"Even though your skin's appearance likely won't change much in your 20s, you're essentially living on credit until your 30s, 40s, and 50s."

1. Start Eye Creams When You're Young
I've used eye creams ever since I turned 21 and it has 100% improved the appearance of my under eyes. They're not for everyone, but for someone who unfortunately looks like death if I'd had less than 8 hours sleep or wakes up with puffy eyes, they're really good. My eyes feel really hydrated even after a night out of dehydration with alcohol. I definitely think they work for keeping your under eyes in good condition.

A few favourites:
Origins Ginzing Eye Cream
Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment

2. SPF is SO Important
Unfortunately, growing up I was one of those people who thought 'you only need SPF when it's hot outside' and I was so wrong! SPF is so important to help with not only shielding your skin from ageing (fine lines and wrinkles) but, reduces the risks of skin cancer. I am starting to sound like a doctor, but I want to look as young as possible for as long as possible!

3. Retinoids Are Your Best Friend
Truthfully, I never even heard of retinoid until The Ordinary came around and I researched the science behind these miracle workers. Retinoids stimulate the production of new skin cells, they help with fading dark spots, hyperpigmentation and acne scarring. They renew the skin and treat acne, reduce the appearance of fine lines and help with skin discolouration. I try to use this ingredient in my skincare at least once a week and I can say it does help with reducing dark spot scars, but I imagine these sorts of products won't show results they will just help prevent future fine lines etc.

A few favourites:
The Ordinary Retinoid 2%

4. Face Wipes, Cleanse
Although it may seem like the perfect thing to use when you can't be bothered to take your makeup off, face wipes do more harm than good for your skin. If I ever use them, it's to remove harsh eye makeup, but I won't ever use them for my skin purely because of how bad they can be. A lot of face wipes contain alcohol or fragrances which can strip the natural oils from your skin's barrier and dehydrate your skin. They also don't remove all layers of makeup, even though they may seem like they do, this can make your skin breakout. I like to remove my makeup with a micellar water and then go in with either my Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish or the Glosser Milk Jelly Cleanser and my skin feels 1000% clean compared to face wipes.

5. Some Products Do More Harm Than Good
I am not going to throw brands under the bus, but during my teenage days especially, I was so desperate and unmindful on what will treat my spots that I would buy into those overpriced skincare advertisements and only see temporary changes. What I've learnt from this apart from buying expensive products doesn't always mean miracles are going to happen, but also to be aware of what ingredients are actually in the products. A lot of products can contain ingredients that can worsen your skin, so be mindful of that. I always like to use a cosmetic ingredient site to tell me what ingredients are inside products and the harm they can cause before I consider trying them.

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

What skincare lessons have you learnt??

4 Days in Amsterdam | Guide

What's that Katie, you've gone away again? Yes, I know I've had a serious case of the travel bug this year, I need help. 

No more this year I promise...

Once you've had a taste of what the world has to offer you sort of become addicted to exploring different cities, learning about the cultures and trying the local cuisines. It was my boyfriends birthday recently and what better excuse than to go away, right?

This time we decided to take a long weekend break to the staggering city of Amsterdam. We didn't fancy the 12 or so hour journey on the ferry, so we hopped on a plane that took just over an hour to get there. We had 3 full days to explore this beautiful city which was more than enough time to get a taste of the Dam.

Here are a few things we got up to during our stay.

The Sex Museum
Everything in Amsterdam is relatively close by and you can cycle your way around the city or get a tram, which is what we did 99% of the time with our 3-day tram pass. We were tempted to rent a bike, but my god I wouldn't be here writing this post if I had rented one, they are crazy! One of the first things we did was took a tram to the centre and visit the Sex Museum. This is one of the most visited museums in Amsterdam and is quite interesting and...peculiar. This museum mostly contains pornagraphic imagery and sexual objects. Definitely somewhere to visit with your partner if you are curious or just fancy a giggle like we did.

Anne Franks House
This was something I wanted to explore, but because of the extortionate pricing and the fact it was so busy, we decided to just visit the place from the outside instead. If you are into your history and don't mind the waiting line to go in, definitely would recommend coming here. Apparently, the home is meant to be very moving and not a lot has been changed, so it very much feels like you are a part of that era.

Artis Zoo
Probably my favourite part of Amsterdam and not something I would have expected was definitely the zoo. I would go far enough as to say this is the best zoo I've ever been to because it's so engaging with the animals and at times it didn't feel like it was a zoo. There were lemurs running freely around your feet, monkeys within touching distance and elephants splashing the crowd. I felt like a big kid at this zoo I was forever running off from my boyfriend to see the animals. We spent a good 3 and a half hours in here, it is huge and definitely takes up most of your time. Would highly recommend coming here if you have a spare day to see the animals.

Tip: Try and come around lunch time when the elephants get fed, it is amazing!

Canal Tour
As there are over 165 canals in Amsterdam there are dozens of companies offering canal cruises or tours of the city. I wanted to book the evening tour where you could dine with pizza, but we opted for a daytime cruise around the city. I really enjoyed this tour it took the weight off my feet for an hour or so and we got to learn historical facts about Amsterdam, as well as capture beautiful photos of buildings. I think what made this canal tour so good was the crispy autumnal weather. Definitely check out these tours there are so many options to choose from throughout day and evening.

The Red Light District
Typically what Amsterdam is known for and something you HAVE to experience in my opinion is the Red Light District. It was an experience for sure and the atmosphere in the evenings is what makes the RLD so captivating. If you don't do crowds, but want to check the area out, go during the day as it is a lot less crazy. I found it really fascinating to take a peek into other peoples lifestyles.

I personally loved Amsterdam it was so interesting to experience the atmosphere and what this beautiful city has to offer. We would definitely go back as there is just so much more to do and see! 

I have a food guide post going up soon as well if you wondered where all the snaps of the food were, don't you worry it deserved a whole post to itself!

Tips/Advice:
1. Watch out for bikes! Literally almost got killed a million times
2. Don't take or buy any drugs from dealers in the streets
3. Watch for pickpockets around the District
4. Try stroopwafels they are amazing!

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Have you been to Amsterdam??

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??