Every once in a while (or not such a while in most cases) it's nice to give your skin a good pamper with some great products that leave you with soft, clean, beautiful skin. As is often the case, I have quite a few products that could fall into the 'pamper' category, mostly in the form a face masks. It's hard to resist them with all their promises of rejuvenating the skin and making you look bright and fresh. This offering from N Spa is the latest addition in my stash. Sold at ASDA, it's hard to resist when doing the weekly shop, especially when it's on two for £8 - what a bargain. I picked up two products from the range, the 5 Minute Magic Mask and the Skin Renewal Gel. 

Back with another skincare routine today, this time the morning edit. There a less products and less treatments here - it's all about getting things done quick so I can get out the door on time. Up until probably my second year of uni I was one of those terrible people that didn't wash their face in the morning. Looking back on it I can't imagine how I did it because the thought of not washing the oils that have been produced overnight off makes me feel distinctly horrible!

Vichy Normaderm - I like to use a pretty simple cleanser in the morning, I switch between the Clarins one that I featured in my Evening Skincare Routine and this Vichy Normaderm one. I picked it up a while ago when my previous Clarins cleanser had run out to give something new a go and I like it a lot. It's paraben, soap and alcohol free, which 'cleanses sebum and impurities, without over drying'. It also has salicylic and glycolic acids in which helps to very mildly exfoliate. It leaves the skin feeling refreshed and ready for the day.

Boots Botanics Rosewater Toning Spritz - After this, I will occasionally use this toning water. I bought this ages ago and it's still going strong, although that's probably because I go through phases of not using it at all. I don't think it does much and I wouldn't repurchase, but it smells nice and, again, feels refreshing on the skin.

Effaclar Duo - Once I'm done with cleansing, I often move on to the Effaclar Duo. I tend to use this in the morning mostly because I use other treatment type things in the evening, but also because it leaves absolutely no residue and is therefore perfect to wear under make up. I haven't had any of the amazing results from this as some other bloggers and YouTubers seem to have, but for some reason I still really like it.

Effaclar Mat - After this I will follow with either one of the two moisturisers pictured. Depending on how my skin feels, I will either use the Effaclar Mat for days when I feel a bit more oily, or the Clarins Daily Energizer Cream-Gel, for when I feel I want a bit more moisture. I was looking back and I can't believe I haven't reviewed the Effaclar Mat before because I've used it for around a year and a half now and absolutely love it. When I first purchased it I was a bit underwhelmed, but after about three weeks of using it every morning I noticed remarkable improvements in my skin. It looked smoother, my pores seemed reduced and it just looked really rather good, if I do say so myself. I repurchased it a couple of weeks ago after not using it for a couple of months, and I absolutely love it.

I'd love to know if you've used any of these products, or let me know what you use in the morning! 

Sophie

Evening skincare routines are always highly anticipated in the beauty blogging world, as they're often the beefiest part of any beauty obsessives arsenal and something that I over here at D&E get rather excited about. The ritual of spending those fifteen or so minutes taking care of your skin and getting it ready for those crucial restorative hours at night is, for me, relaxing and enjoyable. The skincare included in my evening routine is, for the most part, stuff that I've used for quite a while, although there are other things I use fairly regularly that aren't included, the Neutrogena 2-in1 wash and mask and the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, for example. 

I always do a double cleanse to make sure every scrap of make-up is removed, and for that I start of with the absolute cult beauty product, Bioderma. Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know that this mild micellar solution is the fave for removing both face and eye make-up and makes a perfect first step to any cleansing routine. Once I've completed this step, I move onto my good old Clarisonic Mia, which more often than not I'll use with the Clarins Daily Energizer Gel cleanser. An absolute HG product of mine, this leaves my skin soft and refreshed, without feeling overly dry. 

Once I'm happy that all my makeup has been removed, I'll move on to a relatively new step in my routine, which is this Botanics All Bright Cleansing Toner. I've been looking to add in a toning step to my routine, and I was actually going to get the Clarins exfoliating toner, but saw this in Boots and thought I'd give it a go. It has natural AHA's from the hibiscus flower in it, giving the skin a gentle exfoliation, as well as preparing it for moisturiser. So far I'm impressed with it, although I'm not sure if it has been drying my skin out a bit. I'll keep you posted. 

After that, it's on to the best bit - treatments. Not included in this post is the Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight mask, mainly because I use it very infrequently, but I'll pop it in just here to let you know that if my skin is feeling particularly parched I will use it (I should probably use it later, but unfortunately I left it at home whilst visiting the boyf). If I'm not using that, however, I'll start off with the bareMinerals Skin Rev-er Upper, which is a concoction of skin-loving vitamins as well as salicylic and glycolic acids, which really do work overnight to make your skin look glowing and refreshed. I've been using this for about two or three months now and it is definitely a keeper. I'll warn you that it doesn't have the best scent in the world, but if it works then it's worth it eh? I'll follow that with a moisturiser, and if you read my March Beauty Favourites you'll know the Clarins Daily Energizer Cream-Gel is my moisturiser of choice. This is a sample I have because I'm away and didn't want to lug around a huge glass jar with me, but seriously, you should try it! After I've let that sink in for a few minutes, I'll go on to use either the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate or the Clarins Liquid Bronze face tanner.  I'll use each one pretty much every other night and I find that this routine works really well to maintain a healthy glow without looking overly orange-faced. 

Another product that isn't pictured here which I use in times of need, is the Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Spot Treatment Gel, for when you get a pesky spot that won't budge.

So, there we have it! A rather long post, but all necessary of course. I'm sure all you beauty-nuts out there will agree! I'm pretty happy with my routine at the moment, but of course that urge to try out new products will never go away, so let me know what your routine is and I might have to look into it! 

Sophie 

Bioderma 

Clarins Daily Energizer Cleanser and Moisturiser

Boots Botanics All Bright Cleansing Toner

bareMinerals Skin Rev-er Upper

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Clarins Liquid Bronze

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Spot Treatment Gel

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This was another purchase from when I was down in Egham recently. I went over to Windsor for a little day trip because I had been reliably informed the shopping there was very good. 

As soon as I go off the train I spotted the Kiehl's store and was lured in with the thought of the Midnight Recovery Concentrate firmly in the forefront of my mind. Skip forward to chatting with the saleswoman (mostly in an attempt to gain reassurance for what I already knew I was going to buy) and BAM, there goes £36 out of my account. To be fair, I have heard great things about this product and don't often (ahem) treat myself to skincare, so I feel that it was perfectly justified.

Using only a few drops a night of this paraben free, 99.8% natural blend of essential oils, this promises to restore skin's moisture levels ensuring radiant, supple skin by morning. The 'elixir' (as they call it on their website) sinks in to the skin much quicker than I thought it would, and doesn't leave an oily residue, which I initially thought it would. Once applied it almost instantly makes the skin feel softer and I have found the scent to be extremely relaxing - so perfect for using before bed. 

This is only a first impressions post, as I haven't had it for long, but so far so good. My skin feels extremely soft after using this and I am enjoying the luxury of applying it by gently pressing into the skin at night. I'll keep you posted on my thoughts once I've been using it for a bit longer, but if you're desperate to know more there are loads of reviews out there in the blogosphere to help. 

Have any of you tried this? I'd love to know what you thought about it.

Sophie

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate is £36, available from here

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