Spring Tryouts + Skin Care Routine

It's Spring!! I am excited about this for many reasons- 1. I am almost done with the first year of my MA *ahhh* 2. My birthday is soon ;) and 3. It's warm! (ish).  This is normally the time that I like to switch up the products I use and I have been putting a few new products to the test in the lead up to the warmer months. I thought this would be a good time to also share my go to skin care products..

Makeup removal

Ok confession... before I got this Micellar Water thing I just used my toner to loosen up the makeup on my face before going in with my cleanser. Do not do this lolz... It makes no sense. I sometimes used wipes but I just found that, because I was using 3+ wipes each time, I was constantly buying wipes! So recently I decided to switch it up and try the Garnier Micellar Water. I know these Micellar waters are really popular and I thought they were just over hyped but trust me it actually works! I just soak my favourite cotton pads with it and everything comes off! 

Cleansing

I am not someone that has endless skin care products...I haven't changed my cleanser and moisturiser in a very long time, I literally swear by The Body Shop's Tea Tree and Vitamin E Ranges. Like my hair care.. I find something that works and stick to it! I love this cleanser and toner combo , the Skin Clearing Facial Wash gets my skin super clean - super fast after I remove my makeup! 

I am convinced that The Body Shop Skin Clearing Toner is the reason I do not get blemishes but I also 100% believe that your skin can get used to certain products so I have been switching it up with the Pixi Glow Tonic.

I am sure that every blogger and their grandma has heard about this and probably tried this. I am definitely late on the bandwagon! I haven't used manual exfoliation techniques for quite a while now as I feel like most exfoliators are quite abrasive and I am definitely that person that goes over board with the scrubbing :(  I decided to give acidic exfoliation a try instead and I must say I have been loving it! I use this roughly three times a week, day and night, mainly because I am not convinced it is safe to use AHA's every day ( apparently you can use this twice a day!). I alternate this with my Body Shop Toner and it just keeps my skin looking bright and polished.

Moisturising 

I recently stopped using The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream because I stopped seeing results :( also I don't think I really need one as my skin has been looking much brighter because of my new toner combo. The Vitamin E Intense Moisture cream however!! I love this cream so much, I always buy the intense version because I have dry skin. I use the exact same products mentioned above, morning and night except for the cream - I love using an oil at night to combat dryness. My usual go to is The Body Shop Vitamin E Overnight Serum in Oil as it just makes my skin feel soft and replenished in the morning! I've recently started trying out a new oil however...

The AMAZING Liv from FashStyleLiv was nominated to send a bottle of the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Oil* to a friend and she asked me if I was interested in trying it! I obvs said yes! lolz I was literally having a moment when I received the package from Elizabeth Arden in the post *welps* It's weird because Elizabeth Arden is a brand that I wouldn't ordinarily buy.  The brand reminds me a bit of Estée Lauder and the likes- those brands that actually do really amazing products but you tend to associate with a slightly older generation. Recently I have been loving Estee Lauder products (the double wear concealer is amazing!) so I was not hesitant about trying this out. 

I have been loving using this! The oil is so soothing and it gives me a similar effect to The Body Shop Oil.. this one smells much nicer and is a little lighter in my opinion, which I love.  It has the added benefit of being a body and hair oil too.. I have used it a few times on my body but I really like the way it makes my face feel in the morning so I probably won't use it as a body or hair oil because i want to save it lolz. Thank you so so much Liv for hooking me up with this! Guys please go check out her blog and YouTube! She does some of the best beauty posts and gives great advice!!

Other new tryouts

Urban Decay All nighter Makeup Setting Spray- no but where has this been all my life! Char from Memoirs&Musings recommended this to be during a BrownBeautyTalk on Twitter a few weeks ago and I decided to pick one up! When I put this on my makeup does not budge! I love it! I think I am going to pick up the Loréal Infallible Fixing Mist to be using as an every day setting spray and leave this one for special occasions because it costs 22 whole British pounds.

Mour Mour Creme - If you have read any of my hair posts you will know that Shea Butter is my thing! The Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter range and pure Shea Butter is pretty much all that goes in my hair. I got this cream in my MyChocoBelle box ( a beauty subscription box service for Women of Colour!) recently and I have nearly finished it!  I have only ever used Shea Butter that people have bought me from Sierra Leone, or other African countries,  because I never know which Shea Butter, in UK shops, is authentic.  I don't know where this Shea Butter is from but it is everything! The essential oils are so good for my hair too.. I will definitely be repurchasing this. 

What products are you trying out this Spring? What are your go to skin care products?

*Items marked with an (*) are PR samples or gifts. This is NOT a sponsored post :) Elizabeth Arden don't know me like that (obvs) ;) 

'Be your own kind of beautiful'