Acid exfoliators.. where have you been all my life?!

I have spent many years of my life thinking my skin would only be really clean by using an abrasive exfoliator. Until only quite recently, I have realised that it has actually been doing my skin more harm then good. Whenever I used an exfoliator with beads/particles, my skin was nearly always left red and irritated. I don’t have particularly sensitive skin so I never really knew why that happened. It was also the reason that I had little bumps just under my skin, I would continue to use the exfoliator to try to get rid of these… a never ending cycle really! On top of that all that, scrubbing my skin made any existing blemishes more tender which nearly always lead to scarring as a result… great(!)

 A little while ago I just stopped using abrasive exfoliators altogether. I finally realised that more gentle, but effective, cleansers would make my skin feel clean and refreshed but never left feeling stripped or tight. Balm and oil cleansers removed with a muslin/flannel in the evening and cream or gel cleansers (some foaming cleansers.. not all!) in the morning are now my skincare routine essentials. It took me a while to get used to not literally scrubbing my face, years of habit I guess! I have to admit, I did recently buy the ‘indeed labs powdered exfoliator’ and even though this is a very gentle exfoliator I have noticed my old skincare concerns starting to appear again.

 Nowadays I choose to exfoliate my skin by using liquid products which contain AHA’s (glycolic and lactic acids) and BHA’s (salicylic acid). If you have read my post on Alpha-H’s Liquid Gold (containing glycolic acid) you will know how much this has transformed my skin. I still continue to use it every other night and definitely notice a difference if I don’t use it for a while. Everyone who reads Caroline Hiron’s blog will know how much she raves about acid exfoliators.. and she is never wrong! They really are the most effective way of brightening and smoothing skin by sweeping away dead skin cells. As some acid exfoliators can be quite potent, your skin may feel quite tingly but should never feel burnt. Therefore, if you do have sensitive skin then I would suggest using mild versions of BHA’s to begin with.  It’s also really important to hydrate the skin after use as well as using an SPF on top during the day (this should be done anyway!). Below are some products that I have used and/or would recommend;

 

Alpha-H’s Liquid Gold (obviously!) - £31 for 100ml/£45 for 200ml

Clearasil daily clear superfruit refreshing pads (I like to press these pads on my skin as opposed to swipe it across my face.. they are a bit scratchy!) - £3

Clinique’s mild clarifying lotion (a very gentle but effective exfoliator, keeps the skin balanced) - £16.50

Biologique Recherché's Lotion P50 - £52 (the ultimate acid exfoliator! Quite hard to get hold of, but you can order it through BR’s UK website)

 Nip+Fab's glycolic fix night pads extreme - £15 (currently on offer ar Boots for half the price)

Pixi's glow tonic (an afforardble but highly rated product) - £18

Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner  (to be used once or twice a week) - £25

First aid beauty's facial radiance pads (can be used daily) -  £22 for 60 pads 

Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant - £18

I hope you found this post helpful! As always I would love to read your thoughts and comments! :) 

Xoxo 

Current Skincare Favourites

Welcome to my very first blog post!


I'm really excited to share my skincare obsession with you, I hope you find my blog informative, honest and if you're like me, feed your skincare obsession too! I thought I would start off by sharing some of my current beauty favourites that I am loving right now. So here goes!....


Since my Biotherm Blue Therapy Day Cream ran out (which I adored but it's so difficult to and more expensive now) I was on the hunt for an equally amazing moisturiser. Whilst on my frequent lunch break visit to Boots, I walked by the Estée Lauder counter. The beauty consultant was really helpful and talked me through several of the products and which one would be most suitable for me. As I have normal/combination skin and being in my late 20s I wanted a product which would help with the first signs of ageing as well as perfectly hydrating my skin. I therefore decided to go for the Estée Lauder Daywear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme (wow that's a mouthful!). It claims to use its anti-oxidant power to fight the signs of early aging such as dullness and fine, dry lines as well as safeguard the skin.

I have been using it for about 3 months now and it's still a pleasure to use every day. It is calming on the skin and hasn't irritated my skin or caused me to have any major breakouts. While the jar says 'DayWear' it can actually be applied in the evening as well as in the evening. It has a refreshing cucumber scent which I love and it instantly smoothes and plumps up my skin. Whilst it does a great job at hydrating my skin, it doesn't feel sticky or greasy and I find it works really well under foundation. It also has SPF15 which is an added bonus to someone who is very lazy with sun protection! I would love to try the other products in their skincare range, is there any that you would recommend?

My second product is the Mild Clarifying Lotion by Clinique. To be honest, I have never really been a huge fan of the brand and used any product of theirs which did wonders for my skin. However, I was in need of a toner to use after cleansing which wasn't too harsh on my skin but still effective to use in order to get rid of the last traces of makeup and other grime which ends up on my face! I heard that the other clarifying lotions in the range were not the best and after reading some good reviews on this one I thought I would give it a go. The formulation is free from alcohol and contains 0.5% salicylic acid which is proven to help with reducing blemishes. The product is actually aimed at those with very dry skin and gently exfoliates and de-flakes the skin to reveal clearer skin. Unlike most toners, it has quite a thick consistency similar to a light gel. I wasn't really looking for any miracles with this clarifying lotion but it has done a good job of keeping my skin free of the odd dry patches I used to get occasionally and keeps my skin balanced and happy. I would recommend this product if you are looking for a simple, gentle but effective product which can be incorporated easily into any skincare routine 

Lastly, I have to mention my current favourite mask. I have tried several facial masks from own-branded Superdrug and Boots masks which do a decent job in decongesting my skin, to the likes of GlamGlow (I really don't understand why that product is so raved about??). A while ago, after watching too many YouTube videos by my fav beauty bloggers, I decided to try some Michael Todd products. I got the skincare discovery kit which contained the Cleanse and Tone One Step Cleanser, Organic Lemon AHA + DMAE Toner, Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub, Citrus Cream Moisturiser and the Pumpkin Nutrient-Rich Facial Mask. I really wasn't impressed by the moisturiser as it left my skin quite greasy after use and the toner, cleanser and scrub were ok but not stand out products for me. 

However, I can't get enough of the pumpkin mask! This product contains active pumpkin enzymes as well as glycolic acid which work together to really brighten and smooth the skin. It also claims to refine pore size and loosen dead skin cells with sugar cane and maple sugar extract.  You simply apply the product onto a clean face and wash off after 10 to 15 minutes (you get used to the weird pumpkin smell, my husband can't stand it haha!) Unlike some other masks, it doesn't dry out my skin and actually leaves it feeling super soft. It also makes my skin look ultra glowy after use so I like to use it when my skin needs a pick-me-up. I have yet to come across a facial mask which works so well at giving instant results. It's work mentioning that you may feel a tingling sensation and while some reviews have said it's quite intense, it is bearable for me. However, I would definitely NOT try this on sensitive skin types! So if you have normal to combination skin like me then I would say give this product a go if you are considering trying out the Michael Todd range. 

I hope you enjoyed my first post, I would love to read your comments, tips and suggestions too! 

Until next time.... Xoxo