The Ordinary and Not-so Ordinary Skincare

If you're even remotely into skincare you would have heard of the brand The Ordinary by now! 

They're well recognised for being super affordable and effective products.

If you've read my posts for a while, you will know how much I have loved this brand over the years. Like Christ, I'm even in a Facebook fan group with other skincare fanatics where everyone shares their reviews and recommendations - I think that says it all.

Over the years, The Ordinary has really helped improve my skin and taught me so much about the world of skin/beauty that I didn't even realise I needed to know. I first started to trial the brand back in 2017 and still to this day, I religiously incorporate their products into my skincare routine.

I thought I'd share my thoughts on all the products I currently use/own from The Ordinary and how they have/haven't helped with the appearance of my skin over the years.

The Skincare I'm Loving Recently

Anyone else been using this lockdown situation to really just take the time to look after ourselves more? Self-care is so important and is definitely something I have learned more of throughout this self-isolation.

Over the last month or so my skin has really changed for the better - which is surprising considering the number of homemade scones and cakes I've been gobbling away. 

Perhaps the lack of makeup really does make a difference!

I thought I'd share what current skincare products I am religiously using at the moment that has really helped my skin during this lockdown.

Pixi Rose Tonic Toner

Rose waters have been a lifesaver for my skin recently, one thing I seem to get is constant lingering redness after a spot has been and gone. This toner just really helps minimise redness and calm my skin down without aggravating it. I like to use this every other morning once I've cleansed my skin as it's quite refreshing and helps wake my skin up!

Origins Out of Trouble Face Mask

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you will know how much I love Origins skincare, especially as a teenager, it really helped with my breakouts. The Out of Trouble Mask is definitely one of my favourite face masks for when my skin breaks out. This contains both, Glycerin and Salicylic Acid, both of which are amazing for restoring skin balance and reducing redness/swelling from spots. I like to use this when I have any angry spots that just need to calm the freak down and it helps do that.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% & Zinc 1%

I love this stuff! It is so inexpensive, £5.00 - my bus fare costs more than that! I have gone through so many bottles of this stuff over the years and it has remained in my skincare routine throughout. I find this really good for reducing breakouts, redness, and scarring so I like to apply this all over my skin as an overnight treatment. My skin looks a lot less irritated the next day and much smoother. I highly recommend this, it has completely changed the appearance of my skin over the years.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

Anytime you Google gentle skin exfoliators this never fails to pop up, for years I put off buying this because of how extortionate it is. However, the beloved ASOS had this on offer in a set so I decided to finally give it a go and my goodness it is worth the bestseller label. This is so gentle on the skin that you could use it every day if you wanted to, I like to use this twice a week. It helps brighten my skin and balances out any uneven skin tone, whilst keeping my skin smooth. It is honestly an amazing product and a little goes a long way!

Ole Henriksen Walnut Scrub

I have also been enjoying the Ole Henriksen exfoliating scrub, I probably only use this once a week, but when I do use it my skin feels super soft and looks like I've drunk 2 litres of water - so good! I am always hesitant with bead scrubs just encase my skin has a bad reaction, but with this it never does. It's so refreshing and gentle on my skin I love how it makes my skin look and feel.

What skincare products are you loving during lockdown??

A Skincare Detox

New Year, rubbish skin?

I think I speak for most when I say January is a lethargic month that just needs to hurry up and end. So, you've already broken your New Year resolutions, the Christmas decorations are tucked back in the attic, the days are short and dark, oh, and all the good Quality Streets are gone. 

Could this month get any worse? Oh, yeah, your skin is taking a hit from all those shortbread biscuits you’ve had over the Christmas – well, at least mine has.

As much as I hate, that Christmas is over, my skin has been in need of some extra-TLC. So I have decided to ditch the chocolate and use this month to give my skin a bit of a detox that it very much craves.

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Here are my top tips on giving your face a skincare detox:

Facial Steaming - once a week

I can't put into words how much I love steaming my face, it's such a simple but fundamental step to include in your routine that really benefits your skin. It cleanses your pores, eliminates toxins, it allows your skin to be more receptive to other treatments, it enhances circulation and many other amazing benefits. I have been using this technique every Sunday evening and can definitely see a difference in my skin, especially when it comes to applying products afterwards, my skin is much more receptive towards products and the overall appearance of my skin has improved so much. Plus using a steamer is great for relaxing and winding down, especially if you are feeling stressed!

Double Cleansing - Daily

For some time, double cleansing just seemed like an unnecessary, time-consuming step to my skincare routine that I didn't really need. It's only within the past year I have incorporated this into my daily routine that I can see what everybody is talking about. On a day-to-day basis, I go in with the Dermalogica Pre Cleansing Oil to remove the bulk of my makeup, followed with either Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser if my skin is having a good day or Dermalogica Clay Cleanser if my skin is in dire need of something more targeted towards my spots/redness. I tend to only double cleanse if I have been wearing makeup all day, otherwise I will just use one cleanser. But using two, has definitely helped with keeping my skin in good condition and reduced gaining pesky spots after wearing makeup all day.

Face Masks - Twice a week

I personally love a good face mask, I actually sometimes will use a mask just after I have steamed my skin as part of a good pamper evening. I tend to use face masks targeted towards my skin type (oily, spot-prone), so any face masks with salicylic acid or have a clay-like texture, I am here for. A personal favourite at the moment, is the Blue Clay mask by Herbivore, this is a spot treatment mask formulated to help reduce existing spots while detoxifying the skin. I try to use a face mask twice a week to help treat any pesky breakouts or redness my skin tends to get, which definitely has helped with my complexion.

Face Sprays - Every evening

I don't know if this is a subconscious thing, but, spraying my face with a facial spray after a shower really helps my skin's overall appearance. I recently invested in a beauty fridge (more on that in another post!), so I keep all my face sprays in there and once I've jumped out of the shower or bath, I like to spray either the Herbivore Rose Hibiscus or Mario Badescu Spray with aloe cucumber and green tea. Both of which have reduced inflammatory ingredients in, which is why I like to use them to help calm down any redness and keep my skin feeling hydrated.

Facial Jade Roller - Every other day

Face rollers are great for helping with under eye circles, puffiness on the skin, wrinkles and helping absorb products more easily into the skin. The internet has described these little beauty tools as 'food for the skin'. I keep my roller in the fridge for extra de-puffiness, but these are great for your skin and have so many benefits to them. I like to use mine just when I'm watching Netflix or something for 10 minutes as it requires minimal effort and really helps with any puffiness my face has. Plus, I am not getting any younger, so if something as simple as this is going to help with wrinkles - I am totally on board!

What is your ultimate detox tip for your skin??

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

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 milestones. 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 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??

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 maintain 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 altogether, 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 have 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 bear 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 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??

101 Skincare Mistakes

Following up from my 101 Skincare Ingredients Guide I've decided to write a little 'skincare series' on all the beauty knowledge I have learnt. When it comes to taking care of our skin we aren't perfect, we're all guilty for sleeping in our makeup after a night out or picking a spot every now and then. It is important to take care of your skin, especially when you are younger to help benefit when you are older.

Here are 15 skincare mistakes to avoid in the hope it'll improve your skin in the long run, aka wrinkles, sunburn and ageing.

1. Picking or touching your face
Most of the time you won't even realise you're doing it, but touching your skin or picking at it can be seriously bad for your skin in the long run. I am a sinner for picking a whitehead, it's probably the most common mistake ever. Think of it this way every time you touch/pick at your skin you are damaging it and running the risk of leaving scars and holes, gross.

2. Over-Exfoliating
It might feel amazing at the time scrubbing your skin with an overly harsh facial exfoliator every other day, in the hope, it'll shift those dead skin cells. But it won't be permanent. Once or twice a week is much more beneficial than every other day. I actually avoid facial scrubs and only stick to watery exfoliating substances that require just a wipe over the face (Pixi Glow Tonic). Over-exfoliating can remove your skin protective barriers and strip away the natural oils.

3. Sleeping with a full face of makeup
Guilty as charged. Now I'm going to break this down to you in the hope it'll change your future-drunken self to stop doing. Sleeping with makeup on can cause eye infections, wrinkles, breakouts, broken eyelashes and clogs your pores. Since learning this no matter what state I am in I always make sure to remove my makeup before my head hits the hay.

4. Skipping Moisturizer
I have oily/combination/acne/whatever it wants to be kind of skin, therefore using a moisturizer is crucial. I did however use to fall into the trap of 'adding more cream to my face will make it worse', until I realised how important it is to moisturize. My Dad has amazing skin and he told me all he does is moisturise! I've noticed so many older people with amazing skin and they all say its off moisturizing. I am for sure a believer that what you do for your skin now will benefit in the long run. Hopefully doing this will postpone wrinkles!

5. Not using SPF in your skincare
It's been drilled into our head from our family to wear sun cream and even though we listen, we never really think about applying sun cream on days it's not sunny - or at least I didn't. This article really opened my eyes on how important it is to apply SPF even on days you don't think you need to. My primer has a high SPF so my skin isn't at as much risk of sun exposure.

6. Not washing your face
Seems like such a simple thing to skip out of your routine, but it is so important on how your skin appears. I wash my face every morning and evening and it's becoming a routine for me to do. Think of it this way you wake up with dead skin cells, sleep on your face and if you were to go outside your skin is then hit with pollution and germs! If you don't wash your face you are more prone to breakouts, premature ageing etc.

7. Not changing your bedding often
I think because I've suffered from bad skin since I was around 14-15 I've had the basic skincare tips drilled into my brain and one of which is changing your bedding often. I change my bedding either once or twice a week and I am forever swapping my pillowcases around. A bit similar to No.6, your skin produces dead skin cells overnight as well as your hair, therefore it's important to change your bedding and keep your skin away from bacteria.

8. Not using the right products for your skin type
Your skin could be dry one day so you apply a thick moisturiser and the next week, it's oily so you don't use any. Your skin needs balance and it's important to know what your skin type is before you think about what products to buy. Price doesn't always determine quality, I've bought products in the past after reading highly rated reviews that are not even targeted towards my skin and end up doing absolutely nothing. It's worth reading up or getting your skin checked out on what your skin type is.

9. Having hot showers
Having a shower that is too hot can dry out your skin and make it increasingly prone to irritation. I always try to wash my face with cold water to help tighten the appearance of my pores. If water is too hot my skin actually goes sensitive and very red, so I always try to avoid this as much as possible.

10. Using products with toxic ingredients
It's always good to check what ingredients are in your skincare, hair care and makeup before you apply to your skin. I might do a post all in what products to avoid in depth, but as an overview avoid parabens, phthalates, fragrances if you can. I still use products with these in, just not as much as I used to.

11. Good night sleep
I mentioned in my 13 Things I've Learned in 2017 post that I much prefer my early nights juxtapose to 2am sleeps. Not that I wake up with flawless, fresh face skin, but I do find my eyes don't look tired, my skin doesn't look dull and I've also noticed my skin is much more plumped than it would be if I was to sleep early hours.

What is your skincare 101 mistake to avoid??

Top 5 | French Pharmacy Skincare

Last month I took a spontaneous, last minute trip to Paris and during my time there, I noticed on almost every single main street there were French Pharmacies. It got to the point where my boyfriend and I would count how many we saw on our travels. I wish there was a French Pharmacy at the end of my street, it would be great for those 'oh. I've run out of Bioderma water' moments. Instead, I have to get a 20-minute bus journey to my nearest drugstore...clearly, I need to move to Paris.

Anyways, as I went into these pharmacies I noticed so many familiar brands such as Bioderma, La Roche Posay, Caudalie, Eucerin etc, that I already use and love on a daily basis. So I decided to put a little post together on what French brands and skincare products I love and to check out if you visit France. P's they're a whole lot cheaper too!

Caudalie Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil
I have briefly mentioned my love for this oil already here, I should have known it was a French brand just by the name. This cleansing oil has made me want to try more beauty products from this brand, as I always see products getting four or five-star rating. This cleansing oil is such a quick and easy way to remove all your makeup (even the hard stuff like mascara), without leaving your skin feeling dehydrated. I just love how moisturizing it feels on my skin and although it is around £18 per 100ml and I consume it fairly quickly, it's worth it.

Vichy Masque Argile Purifiant Pores
Vichy is a skincare brand I've always enjoyed using, but always forget about when I search for new products to try. I do love their Purete Thermal Cleansing Oil which is also really good for makeup removing and cleansing the skin. However, one of my favourite products that I reach for when I fancy a treat, is their Purifiant Pores Face Mask. A paraben-free clay mask containing Aloe Vera, Kaolin and Bentonite which absorb impurities and sebum. I love this face mask it's my go-to for whenever my skin is in need of a luxury treat. It dries out any pesky spots I have and just brightens up my complexion.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo
This French brand has really helped my teenage skin over the years and especially the iconic Effaclar Duo, which I have bought so many times it just had to be mentioned again. Containing ingredients such as Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid and Glycerin, which all help reduce the appearance of spots and blackheads, controls shine and helps protect the skin from discolouration. This product has helped me a lot with nasty breakouts that it's my go-to emergency product that never lets me down, I'd definitely recommend it to anyone with spot prone skin.

Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray
The perfect travel-friendly water spray to take on your sunny holidays to help keep your skin feeling soothing soft and cool. Perfect to use on skin irritation, facial redness, sunburn, rashes as well as a good follow up after makeup removal, shaving, exercise and hair removal. I always have a bottle of this in my bag for on the go as it is perfect for everything and it is essential for the summer if like me you get irritated skin from the heat. A very refreshing and calming, travel-friendly product. 

Nuxe Shimmering Dry Oil Huile Prodigieuse
What a mouthful to type, let's just call it Nuxe shimmer oil for the face, hair and body for short. This is such an amazing oil that I reach for in the summer to get that instant natural, healthy glow. A bit sceptical to use on my face, but I heard it makes a great illuminator for the eyes and cheekbones. I like to apply this if I have a tan or if I am going out somewhere nice and have my legs on show. Containing Macadamia oil, Argan Oil, Almond Oil etc, this little beauty leaves your skin feel silky soft and smelling of vanilla and orange. It is a bit pricey for what it is, but it is probably the best body oil I have ever used that is perfect for a healthy summer glow.

What is your favourite French Pharmacy product??

A Skincare Reshuffle

After devouring countless amounts of sweet pastries in Paris and Quality Streets over the Christmas, it's fair to say my skin has broken out on/off these last few months. It's no secret that I like to spend my monthly paychecks on new skincare, but since I had a major room declutter ~post here~ I decided to strip back to basics and stop spending my wages on new products until my skincare cabinet is near-on empty and ready to rent some newbies.

Here in the UK, the weather has been awfully cold and snowy, which has had a huge impact on my skin needing an extra bit of TLC. I've been reshuffling my routine up a lot as well as upping my knowledge on skincare ingredients ~post here~ and, I think, *touch wood* I've managed to keep my skin at sort-of bay.

Here are a few products I have been using religiously lately that have made a bit of a difference to my skin.

Caudalie Makeup Removing Cleansing Oil

From a lazy girl's perspective, I've always used cheap micellar water to remove my makeup, which is great for quick getaways, but my skin always felt unsatisfied and occasionally dry. I do love the Liz Earle Cleanse&Polish, but I found it quite rich on my skin so I popped into Space NK and decided to try a brand I would never think of trying out. The Caudalie Cleansing Oil has been amazing on my skin and removes all traces of makeup within a couple of minutes, it even removes harsh makeup. This is my second bottle now, which speaks for itself as it really is just so nourishing for my skin, I feel as though it has brightened my complexion and doesn't dry my skin out at all.

Dermalogica Breakout Kit

Only recently have I rediscovered this and have been using it all the time. I love all the products in the kit, but the ones that have really made a difference to my skin are Cleansing Wash and their SPF15 Matte Moisturizer. Dermalogica is a bit on the pricey side, but I think it's worth it if it has the key ingredients that your skin craves. 

Cleansing Wash contains salicylic acid, which is obviously great for spot prone skin. I use this cleanser once a day as a double cleanser after I have used the Caudalie Cleansing Oil as my makeup remover. I then pop on the moisturizer and my skin is all prepped and ready for the next day. They've both been amazing for keeping my oiliness at bay and drying up any pesky breakouts, I am definitely considering buying the full-size bottles once I've run out.

Sunday Riley UFO (Ultra Clarifying Facial Oil)

I have had my eye on this product on Cult Beauty for ages, but it's either never in stock or I just can't justify spending £60 on a facial oil. Until I found myself in Edinburgh in Harvey Nichols on my birthday splurging on this, in desperate need of a skin update. Honestly, this is probably one of the best products I have ever splurged on and I will be heartbroken when I run out. It contains so much better for the skin, ingredients like salicylic acid, tea tree oil, chamomile, black cumin seed oil - just so much good stuff! I only use this once or twice a week as a fancy-ass treatment, but when I do use it the next day my skin feels brand new. This has helped so much with redness, breakouts, blackheads, hydration and adding radiance back into my skin. I mean it doesn't smell the nicest, but the results I've had from this are incredible.

The Ordinary Niacinamide

A cult favourite of mine that I just cannot ditch from my skincare stash. This little beauty has changed my skin the most in terms of clearing up my pesky spots and redness. Containing zinc to help balance the aspects of sebum and Niacinamide to help reduce the appearance of blemishes and congestion. Both ingredients have done exactly what they've said to my skin, I pop a little bit of this on every other night when I don't use the UFO and wake up the next morning with healthier looking skin. I would go as far to say this is a game changer that will remain in my skincare regime for a very long time, yep shocker!

Kiehl's Avocado Eye Cream

Yep, I use eye cream and have done for a couple of years now, I heard if you start when you're young you're in a better position to avoid wrinkles as early, so I mean of course I am going to do this! I love this eye cream it is so moisturizing under my eyes and really absorbs into my skin. I pop this on every evening before bed and wake up as though I have slept for 12 hours and have drunk litres of water. Bit pricey, but out of all the eye creams I have tried this one has been a favourite, followed by Origins.

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream

I have definitely mentioned this on my blog before, it is such a staple piece in my skincare routine and it tends to come everywhere with me. It is amazing for not just moisturizing your lips, but for hands, elbows anywhere that gets dry. I would be lost without this stuff and god knows what the state my lips would be without it.

What skincare products are you enjoying atm??

101 Skincare Ingredients Guide

Despite not writing as much beauty content last year, my skincare addiction is still intact and thirsty as ever to try more. I am a bit of a geek when it comes to skincare, therefore I have spent a great deal of time with my head buried in beauty dictionaries and upping my skincare-ingredients knowledge.

Skincare is evolving and brands are beginning to offer more honest, stripped-back unnecessary packaging and misleading ingredients. The Ordinary is a prime example of this, when this brand first came about I honestly didn't have a clue what terms such as 'Niacinamide' or 'Matrixyl' meant. It was because of this brand that I decided to properly get into skincare.

I decided to share the knowledge I discovered, some of which you may be familiar with, on what certain skincare ingredients do for your skin. I am also considering making this into like a 'skincare guide series' of what I've learnt, the dos + don'ts.

AHA/BHA

What is it? It took me a while to get my head around this, but to give you it straight AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) and BHA (beta hydroxy acid) have very similar benefits for different skin types. If you use the wrong one for your skin type you will realise it won't be doing much good. If you have normal to dry skin AHA exfoliants are best for you as these products love water and if you have combination/oily skin BHA exfoliants will work best as they love oil.

Glycolic Acid

What is it? So this little wonder worker is a form of AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) that exfoliates the skin, reduces pigmentation, uneven skin tone and dark spots. It is suitable for all skin types, but from personal experience it works best on normal to dry skin. 

The brands I like: Alpha H Liquid Gold or The Ordinary Glycolic Solution.

Salicylic Acid

What is it? This one I have been familiar with throughout my teenage years and it has come in handy over the years. Salicylic acid is a form of BHA (beta-hydroxy acid) aimed at oily, combination or acne prone skin types. Which basically helps with clearing pores, reducing breakouts and builds collagen (which is the main structural protein found in skin).

The brands I like: The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% or Origin Super Spot Remover.

Hyaluronic Acid

What is it? I had always heard of Hyaluronic, but never really knew what it did, until now. It hydrates and plumps skin by drawing in moisture. It is suitable for pretty much all skin types, but best for dry or acne-prone skin that needs an oil free option.

The brands I like: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid.

Retinoid/Retinol

What is it? Retin based skincare products are worth understanding because of their ability to reduce wrinkles, reduce acne and boost collagen. Retinoids work by correcting pigmentation and killing old cells in order to boost new ones Whereas, Retinol improves lines and discoloration issues. Both very similar products and can be used on all skin types, preferably aging skin. Best to start young right??

The brands I like: No surprise The Ordinary Retinol 1%.

Niacinamide

What is it? This is a very effective skin-restoring ingredient that offers multiple benefits to help improve the appearance of enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, fine lines and weakened skin. I find this great for my skin, which is oily/combination/acne, but I can imagine this would be great for all skin types.

The brands I like: La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo or The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%.

Rosehip Oil

What is it? This oil is full of vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids that are known to correct dark spots and hydrate dry, itchy skin. It also helps reducing scars, fine lines and is known to help with treating a cold. Can be used on all skin types, I like to use this maybe once a week.

The brands I like: Trilogy Rosehip Oil

What skincare advice have you learnt??

My Heatwave Essentials

Unless you have been living in an ice cream van for the past few weeks, in which case I want ice cream with a flake asap, you'll be well aware here in the UK we have had what can only be described as humid-hell. The UK has been hit with some lovely sunshine as well as very humid air which makes girls like me who wear makeup every day, want to rip my face off and jump into a bucket of ice cubes, not even being dramatic.

Since the weather has been incredibly humid I have been reaching for products that will help keep my skin under control as well as my mood - Give me winter over summer any day.

Hawaiian Tropic Dry Oil Sun Tan | One of the first things I do on a daily basis whether the sun is out or not is apply a suntan lotion on my body. I have been reaching for the Hawaiian Dry Oil for the past year now as I love how easy it is to blend into my skin without that sticky feeling. It also smells amazing and the oily texture just makes my skin look so hydrated and healthy. I also use Bioderma SPF on my face to stop my face from burning/getting wrinkles as quick.

The Ordinary High Spread-Ability Fluid Primer | For £5.00 I wasn't expecting much, however, this lightweight serum-like formula is amazing for my complexion. It helps avoid unnatural and uneven accumulation of pigments, especially around my eyes. I LOVE this primer, this is my second bottle of this stuff it is amazing during this heatwave as it completely blurs out any imperfections and keeps my makeup at bay, without any touch-ups. I just love how healthy my skin feels when I wear this and I am not as self-conscious about my makeup melting off as quick when I wear this. Full Review here.

NYX Matte Finish Spray | Ideally, I would reach for the Urban Decay Setting Spray, but times are hard and I'm having to adult by watching my spending. A setting spray is great for this humid air, it just helps keep your makeup looking fresher for longer and it's a good little refresher throughout the day. I always spray this on my face before I leave the house just to keep my makeup at bay.

Avene Eau Thermale Spring Water | A handbag staple has got to be this spring water, I spray this all the time to refresh my skin and keep me from melting. It has been a lifesaver during this heatwave and it's not only amazing for sunburn but for rashes, irritations, razor burns, to set makeup and even great for travelling. Definitely, a must have!

What has been your go-to product during the heatwave??

Trialing The Ordinary Skincare

If you haven't heard of the skincare brand The Ordinary, then you need to get yourself out from under that rock and venture onto Deciem website. This cheap and cheerful brand is all over the internet so I let curiosity get the better of me as always and decided to see what all the drama was about.

This skincare brand is abnormal and offers active ingredients at drugstore prices. It offers quality skincare formulas such as Salicylic Acid or Retinol, at a price so cheap you will be wanting to add them all to your medicine cabinets, or at least I do. I like to think of this brand as erratic, as they don't use any random ingredients and they don't test on animals. In fact, there are hardly any ingredients in most of the products, it's very 'back to basics'. I was kindly sent two of The Ordinary's Primers to trial and was really impressed I decided to buy two more products from ASOS, as they also stock the brand.

High-Adherence Silicone Primer* £3.90

As I have oily skin, silicone primers tend to keep my base in place a lot longer than a creamy primer would. This formula uses advanced adaptive silicone's to act as a matte, hydrating, blurring primer for makeup that looks higher in a definition. You can also use this formula alone as a non-greasy Hydrator that reduces the appearance of pores and imperfections. Whilst I think this primer definitely reduces the appearance of any imperfections and large pores, I personally don't think it keeps my makeup blurred on a long day. On days where I am wearing makeup for 4-5 hours, my base is flawless and blurred without having to touch up. However, I have trialled this primer on 12-hour makeup and after a while my makeup starts to melt around my nose and on my chin. This could just be my skin type as so many people rate this product, so I am going to continue to try this out on good skin days.

High Spread-ability Fluid Primer* £5.50

This lightweight serum-like formula increases the spread-ability of subsequent complexion makeup to help avoid the unnatural and uneven accumulation of pigments especially around the eyes and on dry skin. The formula also acts as a light, non-oily surface hydration for a natural dewy look. I LOVE this primer, it has quickly become a new favourite of mine knocking down Laura Mercier and The Body Shop. This primer has a thick fluid texture, that glides onto the skin so smoothly. It does what the Adherence Primer claims to do: blurs my makeup, hydrates and mattifies my makeup. If I am wearing this primer all day, after a couple of hours I start to see a dewy glow, which just makes my skin look so healthy and flawless. I personally prefer this primer to the Adherence as it has changed the way my makeup looks.

Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG £5.80

Have you ever heard of eye contour? Nope me either, but this light-textured formula contains an extremely high 5% concentration of caffeine, supplemented with highly-purified EGCG from green tea leaves. This formula can help reduce puffiness and dark circles in the eye contour. Additional studies have shown that caffeine can also reduce the appearance of cellulite, which makes sense when you read about coffee body scrubs reducing cellulite. I have been applying this both AM and PM and can really see a difference in my eyes. I've noticed on those nights I get a rough sleep, my eyes don't look as though I've been beating up in the morning. I've surprisingly not applied as much concealer under my eyes thanks to this product, which is amazing as this has never happened before!

Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% £5.00

Niacinamide or in simpler words Vitamin B3, is indicated to reduce the appearance of skin blemishes and congestion. A high 10% concentration of this vitamin is supported in the formula by zinc salt to balance visible aspects of sebum activity. I bought this when my skin was having a bit of a breakout, in the hope it would help calm it down. I have only used this product a couple of times before bed and it definitely helps calm down my skin. I don't like to use this too much so every other evening I will apply this directly onto spots and by morning they have visibly reduced in pigmentation and size. I can't really say this is a miracle worker but for £5.00 it definitely is worth trying.

Overall, I would definitely say The Ordinary Skincare has created such a difference to my skin, especially the Eye Contour and the Fluid Primer. The price is amazing and always leaves my banks heart unbroken. I am wanting to try the Rosehip Oil next!

Have you tried The Ordinary? What would you recommend??

5 Body Essentials For The Colder Months

Usually, I get a little lazy with keeping my body hydrated during the colder months, simply because it is just too cold to be standing around half naked for 5 minutes applying products. I'm now a changed woman. Lately, I find myself reaching for body products more frequently and have now got myself into a little routine.

Today I am sharing what my top 5 body essentials are that do wonders during the colder months.

Grounded Chocolate Orange Coffee Scrub

I am sure you are all aware of coffee scrubs, they are something original and unique that is very beneficial. This scrub is available from Boots and they come in a variety of flavours, I, of course, went for chocolate orange purely because Christmas is upon us and I want to be using exciting, nostalgic products. As you take a shower/bath you apply this scrub all over your body/face and let it sit for a while before you simply wash it off. These are incredibly messy scrubs, but the results are amazing, my skin always feels incredibly smooth after I have used this.

Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturizer*

If I can double up having an extra layer of hydration then I will do it. The Nivea In Shower is the perfect product for upping moisturizing. If I am having one of those 'I can't be bothered' days, then I will go ahead in the shower use a normal shower gel and then apply this all over my body and rinse off. I love this product as once I am towel dried I don't feel the need to apply lotions. This product sets me off for the rest of the day and I just love that you can use it in the shower.

Fair Squared Shower Gel*

I like to reach for the Fair Squared Shower Gel before I apply the Nivea In Shower, which smells amazing. I love shower gels that smell yummy and leaves your body nice and hydrated which this product does. I also really like using the Shaving Soap* for shaving, some products leave my skin feeling dry but this doesn't and it again smells amazing. Fair Squared is a great brand to check out if like organic products that don't contain all the good stuff.

Nivea Cleansing Lotion*

For those days I can be bothered to moisturize my body after a shower I like to reach for this product. This smells so lovely and really helps not only keep my skin hydrated but relaxes my body too. I like to apply this just before I hit the hay and I always wake up with smooth skin.

LUSH Coconut Hand Scrub

This coconut hand scrub is something else; I don't even think I've got a hand scrub in my collection. I love anything coconut and this just screamed at me for whenever my hands are feeling a bit on the dry side, I like to wet them and scrub them with this. I am left with very smooth and coconut-smelling hands and I cannot recommend this product enough if you suffer from dry hands, you could probably get away with using this on your feet too.

What are your body essentials for the colder months??