Spring Cleaning: Essential Spring Skin Care Kit…

There’s no one more happier than me to wave goodbye to the harsh winds of winter, to welcome the sunnier skies of a new season. Spring has always been one of my favourite times of the year, not only due to my love of soft pastel colours and cute garden flowers emerging; it also distinctively feels like a rebirth in many forms. The sparse winter landscape is changing into soft greens & everyone seems to be in a generally chirpier mood.

Of course this is usually the time when I start renewing my skin care regime; out with the old and in with the new! Okay, so I’m no Caroline Hirons when it comes to knowing the in’s and out’s of my lotions and potions, but I do enjoy sampling a variety of really affordable products – and of course making my selection of those that have made the final cut for my Essential Spring Skin Care Kit! Fancing finding out the stars of the show? Then get yourself comfy & let’s get started…

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Treacle Moon, Iced Strawberry Dream: This is one brand I literally can’t stop raving about. Ever since I picked up their Cinnamon shower gel back in November I’ve been hooked.. If you’re a lover of juicy strawberry scents then you’ll adore this yummy bath and shower gel. Not only does it leave your skin feeling and smelling delicious for hours after, your bathroom will smell every bit as delightful too!

Treacle Moon, The Raspberry Kiss: As most of you already know I’m not a huge fan of Shea Butter or Coconut scents – not because I’m adverse to the smell, but mainly because there are soooooo many products out there with that scent that I’ve pretty much sickened myself over the months. However this yummy raspberry scented body cream is beyond words. The smell lingers on your skin for ages and feels super nourishing and hydrating. *happy sigh*

*Click Here* to check out the Treacle Moon website so you can browse their amazing range of cruelty free goodies!

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Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water: Is there anybody out there that hasn’t fallen head over heels for this incredible cleansing water? Few and far between if I’m placing any bets! In fact I’ve literally lost count of the amount of times I’ve raved about it; but then again it is SO worth the praise. Cotton pads and a few drops of this wonder water = VOILA! Fresh skin in an instant. A must have for any skin care kit!

Olay Sensitive Daily Facial In A Box: Consisting of 30 disposable facial cloths, this is great value for money if you’re a fan of cleansing with lathered up soap. These handy little cloth wipes have always managed to leave my skin feeling super clean & baby smooth without leaving it dry or tight. It’s also one of the few soapy cleansers that hasn’t aggravated my roaring red skin, plus it’s wonderful for minimising pores. Well worth the £4 investment for an entire month of hassle free cleansing wouldn’t you say? Most definitely a daily facial in a box!

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Tesco Refreshing Toner, Night Cream and Cleanser & Eye Makeup Remover: Out of every range I’ve tried this year, this is by far the most surprising. Considering that branded supermarket skin care is often overlooked, compared to branded competition, I’m pretty sure that many are missing out on what this trio of goodies has to offer.

 Firstly, lets talk Toner… honestly, I’m not a fan of Toners per-say. Simply because they dry my skin out and leave it feeling in need of a damn good drink. However this particular toner was the first not to leave my skin looking red, patchy & slightly inflamed. Maybe it’s something to do with the cucumber extracts? I’m not entirely sure… but for a super market brand it feels, smells and performs just as great (if not better) than some of the bigger names for triple the price.

As for the night cream (to keep it short and sweet) it’s nourishing whilst not feeling greasy or overly oily. It smells incredible, is highly affordable & suitable for all skin types. Okay so the packaging isn’t smeared with scientific claims and unpronounceable ingredients, but considering it done a fabulous job of keeping my skin moisturised what’s not to like?

Lastly, the star of the show… Tesco Cleanser & Eye Makeup Remover. WOW wow wow wow. This performs like a dream for me. To be truthful it could easily be crowned as my best skincare buy of 2016 so far. YES it’s THAT good! It has been the ONLY cleanser that has been soothing beyond words, gentle on my eyes, doesn’t leave a frosted effect film that makes my sight all blurred for 20 minutes after use (unlike the Nivea Double Effect) and is outstanding at removing all traces of eye makeup… even my hefty layers of Urban Decay that is considerable long wearing. What a product! If you haven’t tried this you absolutely must.

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Simple Soothing Eye Balm:  Eye Balms are relatively new to me, and I have to admit I’ve been loving this one so much that it has me hooked to explore more. After a long day in front of computers my eyes usually end up tired and puffy. This is the perfect addition to my skin care routine to help tame the tiredness and leave my eyes feeling totally soothed.

Oz Naturals Hyaluronic Acid  Serum: Bizarrely enough, I didn’t actually realise just how beneficial this formula was until I STOPPED using it. If you have skin that is in need of hydration & suffers from dry patches then I’d highly recommend you giving it a go. Read my full review on this product by *Clicking Here*

Pure Cucumber Eye Roll-On: Yet another nifty little tool for taming tired eyes. All I do is simply roll the ball just underneath my eyes for a cool & soothing sensation that brightens up tired eye areas. Bye Bye extra baggage!

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W7 Lip Bomb: As much as I adore my beloved EOS balms, I can honestly say that this is thee most moisturising (and yum tasting) lip treat I could recommend – and believe me I’ve tried ALOT. It’s handy domed shape means your lips easily get a full coating in this nurturing formula that leaves your pout looking just as beautiful as it feels!

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub: Regardless of the season, Lush lip scrubs are always top of my favourites list when it comes to lip care. Not only is it incredibly tasty, it removes all that horrid build up of dry/dead skin, leaving your lips supple, soft and totally kissable!

What’s your favourite Spring Skin Care recommendations? Do you have any essentials in your Spring Cleaning kit? Whatever your thoughts I’d love to read them in the comments below, so do stop by for a quick chatter 🙂

Wishing you all a fabulous Easter weekend!

Cheerio chums…

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Battle of the Micellar Waters… Which Works Best?

As much as I quite often adore my nightly cleansing regime, there’s some evenings that (let’s be honest gals) I just can’t be bothered with going overboard with the facial scrubs, or have decided upon a make-up free day and all I want to do is reach for my Micellar Water for a quick freshen up. The great thing about always having a bottle of Micellar Water close to hand is besides the fact that it’s a quick & easy peasy way to cleanse your face, it’s also widely known to be gentle on sensitive skin, a quick way to invigorate your face after a gruelling gym session or just for those lazy days…like the one’s I have much too often!

But which brand is best to buy? With Micellar Waters really taking off in recent months it seems every household name (supermarkets included) are jumping head first onto the cleansing water bandwagon. So with that in mind my mission began as I scoured the skin care shelves of my local stores to see what was on offer that was both affordable and easily picked up should I need a top up.

If truth be told, I wasn’t actually expecting much of a difference, after all how diverse could bottles of water really be? Surely they’d all be much of a muchness, right? Wrong. Comparing costs, with overall results I was pretty surprised by some of my findings. So if you’re on the hunt for a stash of Micellar Water then get yourself comfy and keep reading as I attempt to uncover which works best…

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Brand:  Boots Botanics All Bright Micellar 3 in 1 Cleansing Lotion

Description:  “This cleansing solution feels as gentle as water on the skin, to dissolve make up, unclog pores and remove impurities. Skin feels toned and smooth in one easy step. No rinsing required for use on the face, eyes and lips.

Hibiscus is nature’s brightness booster and a wonderful hue of pink. Natural AHA’s from the flower act as mild exfoliators to help leave skin smoother and brighter.

Our beauty scientists have worked with the world experts in plant science at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (England), to bring you beautiful, plant powered skin care that’s proven to work.”

 (Source: Boots Website)

Size of bottle:  250ml

RRP:   £4.49

Pros & Cons:  Initially it was the pretty packaging that initially caught my eye. I love the clear bottle very subtly detailed with pictures of flowers, embracing that it’s been created alongside Kew Royal Botanical Gardens. This felt incredibly fresh on my skin and left no obvious signs of agitation whatsoever. It also done a wonderful job of removing my make-up quick and easily, without any residue.

Just be careful when opening, the bottle neck is quite open so a much higher chance of spillage!

Works Best For: Dull skin that needs a little bit of cheering up.

Link to Purchase:  http://www.boots.com/en/Botanics-All-Bright-Micellar-3-in-1-Cleansing-Solution_1493104/

Overall Rating:  

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Brand:   Nivea Sensitive 3 in 1 Micellar Water

Description:  “It helps protect against the 3 main signs of sensitive skin when used together with a NIVEA® Sensitive care product:

1) Redness

2) Tightness

3) Dryness

The caring formula with Dexpanthenol & Grape Seed Oil:

Cleanses deeply thanks to its extra effective yet mild cleansing complex

Moisturises and refreshes the skin

Is free of parabens, colours and perfume”

(Source: Boots Website)

Size of bottle:  200ml

RRP:   £3.69

Pros & Cons:  I’ve been a huge fan of Nivea for quite some time now, and have to say they’ve rarely disappointed in quality and affordability. Their Micellar water worked a treat for me, removing my make-up quickly and effortless ease. My skin felt always felt really refreshed and smooth after cleansing. Overall a great water and well worth trying out!

Works Best For: Those with normal/dry skin, however can feel a little tightening on super-sensitive skin

Link to Purchase:  http://www.boots.com/en/NIVEA-Daily-Essentials-Sensitive-3in1-Micellar-Cleansing-Water-200ml_1454148/

Rating: 

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Brand:  Superdrug Simply Pure Micellar Water

Description:  “Simply Pure Micellar Water. Developed purely for sensitive skin, Simply Pure products are mild, gentle and 100% fragrance free.

Hypoallergenic. Dermatologically Approved”

(Source: Superdrug Website)

Size of bottle:  150ml

RRP:  £2.69

Link to Purchase:  http://www.superdrug.com/Buy-1-Get-2nd-1-2-Price-on-Own-Brand-Products/Superdrug-Simply-Pure-Micellar-Water-150ml/p/954358

Works Best For: Possibly those who wear very little/no makeup.

Pros & Cons:  As much as I hate to admit it, I’m really struggling to find positive feedback on this product. Firstly the packaging just doesn’t cut it for me. Compared to other products it looks outdated, bland and suspiciously like a bottle of nail varnish remover.  As for the formula it really wasn’t much better as it felt oily, greasy and had a hint of perfume (which I assume is the chemical ingredients) even though it claims to be fragrance free. Not great at removing eye make-up either though it did an okay job at removing foundation. Sorry Superdrug, back to the drawing board with this one!

Rating:  

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Brand:  Boots Time Delay

Description:  “This gentle Micellar cleansing water dissolves make-up and impurities in one easy step. It is gentle enough to use around the eyes, removes eye make-up and leaves skin clean, soft and hydrated.

Removes eye make-up

Contains soothing aloe vera.

Suitable for all skin types.

Fragrance and colour free.

Contains soothing aloe vera.

Fragrance and colour free and is suitable for all skin types.

Dermatologically tested.

For best results follow with Time Delay toner and your favourite Time Delay moisturiser.”

(Sourced: Boots Website)

Size of bottle:  200ml

RRP:  £4.49

Link to Purchase:  http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Time-Delay-Daily-Cleansing-Micellar-Cleansing-Water-200ml_1440680/

Works Best For: The brand seems directed at a more mature customer base, with it’s elegant packaging and classic typography. Best suited to those with combination skin that don’t wear heavy eye make-up or lashing of waterproof mascara.

Pros & Cons:  Lovely packaging, adore the clear bottle – always gives an obvious indication of how much is left before hitting empty. Seemingly marketed for the slightly more ‘mature’ customer, however great for skin of any age in my opinion. Done a reasonably decent job of removing make-up, though struggled a little with mascara and darker coloured shadows. Also noticed that my skin felt a little tighter than usual after using.

Rating: 

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Brand:  Simple Kind To Skin Micellar Water

Description:  “Water is natural and good for you, so Simple has decided to harness the power of water. Introducing the next generation of cleansing.

Simple’s unique triple-purified Micellar Cleansing Water enriched with minerals and multi-vitamins is especially designed to give the most effective cleanse, whilst hydrating the skin.

It actively works to attract make-up and impurities whilst unclogging pores and allowing your skin to breath.

Our Micellar Cleansing Water won’t leave skin feeling tight, but amazingly clean, refreshed and hydrated.

Designed for sensitive skin but loved by all skin types.”

(Source: Boots Website)

Size of bottle:  200ml

RRP:   £4.49

Link to Purchase:  http://www.boots.com/en/Simple-Kind-To-Skin-Micellar-Cleansing-Water-200ml_1657099/

Works Best For: Anyone with sensitive skin or prone to occasional breakouts.

Pros & Cons:  This seems a great brand for younger or troublesome skin – in fact my 10 year old daughter loves using this regularly as she has incredibly sensitive skin that flares up with most face soaps, yet Simple’s skin care range has never given her anything to grumble about. However for me (with non trouble-some pores) oddly enough I didn’t take to this as well as some of the others. Don’t get me wrong it done a great job at removing make-up effectively however there always felt like a slight residue on my face afterwards. Otherwise it was great to use, and I’d certainly recommend it to those looking a nifty cleanser for highly sensitive skin!

Rating: 

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Brand:  Asda The Skin System Micellar Water

Description:  “Deeply cleanse dry and sensitive skin with Asda Skin Systems’ Micellar Cleansing Water. With added Chamomile Extract to gently and effectively cleanse without leaving skin feeling dry or tight. This mild and caring formula is specially formulated with Aloe Vera, Pro Vitamin B5 and Vitamin E to help nourish and care for skin. Hypoallergenic and Dermatologically Tested. Can be used on all skin types.”

(Source: Asda Website)

Size of bottle:  200ml

RRP:  £1.50

Link to Purchase:  http://groceries.asda.com/product/facial-cleansing/asda-the-skin-system-micellar-cleansing-water/910002014376

Works Best For: Hmm, tough skin that’s pretty resilient to sensitivity (?) Hard to recommend this brand as it was quite harsh after multiple uses.

Pros & Cons:  Didn’t like this at all gals. Firstly, another bottle that looks almost twinned with my Tesco nail varnish remover. Formula seems harsh and very ineffective at removing both my mascara and full coverage foundation, ended up using it as a second stage cleanser after washing my face with Olay facial scrub. Almost always left my skin feeling tight & sensitive in patches.Would probably be better used as a cleanser if just wearing BB cream or something a little lighter, such as nothing at all!

Rating:  

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Brand:  Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

Description: “A super efficient and gentle way to cleanse, remove makeup, soothe the feel of skin and hydrate in just one step – it’s not magic, it’s Garnier Micellar!

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water contains micelles which act like magnets, gently lifting away makeup and impurities from the skin, without the need to rub or rinse. The result?

Beautifully cleansed and refreshed feeling skin in an instant. The formula is suitable for the face, eye area and lips, has no perfume and comes in a generous 400ml size.”

(Source: Boots Website)

Size of bottle:  400ml

RRP: £4.99

Link to Purchase:  http://www.boots.com/en/Garnier-Micellar-Cleansing-Water-400ml_1440752/

Works Best For: Pretty much everyone and anyone! Great on a multitude of skin types however if you’re prone to breakouts or have super sensitive skin opt for the Green Bottle version as it’s targeted for use with those issues.

Pros & Cons:  I absolutely LOVE the Garnier Cleansing water. It’s such good value at a huge 400ml bottle for under a £5, however be sure to look around as often either Tesco, Superdrug or Boots will have it on offer. They also have a tiny travel bottle size which is ideal for popping into your gym or travel bag! This water does an outstanding job of removing all types of make-up & daily general build up, leaving skin feeling totally refreshed without any tightness, dryness or typical sensitivity reaction. Such great value & love the pretty packaging too. No cons for this clear winner. Woo hoo!

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Are you a fan of Micellar Water? If so what’s your favourite brand? Or is it something your still yet to try… maybe you’re just not keen on the idea of using a cleansing water in replace of your daily skincare?

Whatever your thoughts I’d love to read them in the comments below so don’t forget to stop by and say a quick hello. Wishing you all an awesome weekend 🙂

Cheerio Chums…

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