Showing posts with label Skincare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Skincare. Show all posts


The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 & Retinol Serum 0.2% boxes

I have suffered with acne for 10 years now and feel like I have tried every product the skincare industry has to offer.  There has been times when I have thought I have found the right products to eventually have them just stop working (what is that all about?!) After extensive research into The Ordinary brand, I decided to try a few of their products. I used to have very oily skin (it now sits more on the combination side), so I always thought my skin didn't really need the moisture (I was VERY wrong with this), so skipped a lot of essential moisturising. I started using The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydration Support Formula* in 2018, and I have not gone a day without this ever since. 

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% box

My face does have the occasional break-out, however, they are nowhere near as regular as they used to be before I started using this product. I use this every morning and evening after washing my face with the Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser* which is also a godsend in itself. In order to reap the full benefits, it's best to apply this to damp skin, as applying it directly to dry skin can actually cause more dehydration.  It feels so refreshing on the skin and absorbs so quickly, leaving no pesky residue. It is an absolute dream under make up and would recommend it to all skin types as it has massively improved my overall complexion. Not only is this product absolute gold, it is also a massive bargain at £5.90! You can even grab an extra 15% off on ASOS if you have a student discount code. 

The Ordinary Retinol Serum 0.2% box

The Ordinary has many incredible products for all skin types, and the Deciem website has a personal service where experts will tell you the best products for your skin after you send them a photo of your bare face. You can access this here. This service was actually where I discovered The Ordinary Retinol Serum 0.2%*. I opted for the lowest percentage as your skin needs time to adapt to it. The downside is this can actually take a few months, so perseverance is key. As you probably know, clear skin doesn't happen overnight, but the results given from using this product over time has definitely made the wait worth it. I have read some reviews where people have experienced purging after this product, to be honest I didn't really have this which was actually quite unusual for me, but it did take a few months to see my acne clear up. My pores are notably smaller when I wake up the next day, giving me a healthy glow that I have not seen for years. Another positive is my acne scars have also started to fade, which is absolutely down to this product. After using The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% serum for 6 months, I'm considering upping my percentage to see how my skin reacts, as I am so happy I purchased it.  You can also get this on ASOS for £4.90 using your discount codes to get money off!

You can grab The Ordinary products directly off the Deciem website, Look Fantastic, Beauty Bay and ASOS.

Have you tried any of The Ordinary products? Which one is your favourite? 

Why not check out some of my other blog posts -

Garnier Food Papaya Hair Mask VO5 Coconut Hot Oil Treatment Superdrug Glycolic Tonic 5%



Another lockdown, another splurge. Last payday weekend I thought I’d treat myself to a little Superdrug (and H&M) order as I’ve been feeling a little hopeless this lockdown, as I imagine most of us are, and thought I deserved a little pick me up. 

Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food Papaya Hair Mask 390ml

Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food Papaya Hair Mask 390ml



One of my new year resolutions is to take better care of my hair and try to repair some of the heat damage I’ve caused myself over the years. I’ve been desperate to try the Garnier Hair Food products for a while now, after hearing bloggers and influencers rave about it. I know most people recommend the Banana range however, as I’m trying to target damaged hair the Papaya range was the best option for me! On first impressions, this mask smells divine! It left my hair feeling SO soft and manageable. You can read my full review here. You can purchase the Papaya mask for just £3.46 on the Superdrug website.

VO5 Nourishing Coconut Hot Oil 4x15ml



I used a VO5 Nourishing Coconut Hot Oil treatment just before Christmas and my hair stayed frizz and grease free for DAYS! This is unheard of for me, as my hair has a mind of its own! I was able to go FOUR whole days without washing my hair, when I usually have to do this every other day. Superdrug is also running a 2 for £6 on selected Vo5 products, so grab yourself 8 little tubes of heaven!


Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Tonic 5% 300ml


Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Tonic 5% 300ml

Another joy of this pandemic is maskne (yay!) I have had a long, frustrating battle with my skin and just last year I had started to see real improvements, having less breakouts than usual. That was until I started wearing a mask, and my skin is not happy about it! I thought I’d give the Superdrug’s own brand Naturally Radiant Glycolic Tonic 5% a go. I will also be reviewing this soon, so stay tuned for that! This currently on sale for £4.49 reduced from £9.99.

Let me know in the comments what your lockdown splurges have been! 

Why not check out some of my other blog posts -

You could tell exam period was vastly approaching due to the excessive breakouts on my skin. I have suffered with troubled skin for 6 years. In the months coming up to exams my skin had surprisingly being on my side with redness to the minimum and the odd spot here and there. I put this down to having a couple of weeks when I didn't have many deadlines hoarding over me. On top of this, I was able to get a good night's rest and could focus on a daily skincare routine. However, once I decided that I should stop procrastinating and start revising my skin took a U-turn and drastically went down hill. 

Over the past 6 years I have tried everything for my skin, you name it I've tried it. After having a chat with one of my housemates, she recommended 'The Body Shop® Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask'* after having used it herself for a couple of weeks. As a student money is limited, so I was slightly put off by the £16 price tag just for a face mask and due to being in an exclusive range it wasn't included in the 30-40% off deals The Body Shop® regularly have on (there are lots of other amazing skincare products included in this in which I will touch upon in future posts). I took the plunge and ordered the mask. I was also enticed by good reviews (who am I kidding, I just like shopping) into buying the Tea Tree Toner which was included in the 40% deal (hooray!)


The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Mask Review


I was presently surprised by how large the pot was once I had received it, making the £16 a little more worthwhile. Of course, I never really pay attention to how many ML it says on the website (75ml). In terms of packaging, I was thrilled to discover it had a small plastic lid in between the screw on top, as this helps with the product not leaking elsewhere. The mask itself is a muddy grey (I must admit it doesn't look very appealing, but with all due respect it is a dream!) 

On the label, it is recommended to cleanse your face before use, so I went ahead and used my Neutrogena 2 in 1 wash mask and then finished with a drop (less is certainly more with this one!) of the body shop tea tree toner onto a cotton pad.

The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Mask Review


The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Mask Review


I then went onto applying the mask across my face. Almost instantly I could feel a burning sensation (I suspect this was from the tea tree within the mask) despite not applying so generously, as stated on the pot, due to being worried about my sensitive skin reacting badly. This sensation slowly turned into cooling and tightening of the skin. It is recommended to invest in a face mask brush to apply the product, as I can't imagine it would be very pleasant to apply with your fingers. If you're on a budget, then I would suggest using a concealer or foundation brush that you already own. I used a real technique concealer brush to apply the product (I mean why would I go buy a face mask brush when I already have the same thing right!?)

The mask itself dried fairly quickly, with 5 minutes in it being mostly dry. However, since using this  product several times, I had opted to apply more generous amounts with it taking a little longer to set. After roughly 10 minutes, the mask had fully set and was ready to wash off. Something I was impressed with was the exfoliation given whilst removing it, as it left my skin feeling soft and refreshed, My pores were noticeably smaller and left my skin glowing. After using the product once or twice a week for over a month, I would definitely recommend this for anybody with blemish prone, oily skin as it truly "draws out impurities and refines the appearance of pores for healthy-looking skin with a glow that shows".

  • 100% vegan
  • Tingling charcoal clay mask
  • Absorbs excess oil
  • For skin that needs extra purification to reveal a healthy, youthful glow
  • Formulated without parabens, paraffin, silicone or mineral oil
  • Ideal to create a facial at home
  • Packed with bamboo charcoal from the Himalayan Foothills, green tea leaves from Japan and organic Community Trade tea tree oil from Kenya