Budget Week - Day 4

So I'm thinking this could maybe become a regular fixture - mini-reviews of the products I show in Instagram - thoughts? It won't take the place of anything else - it'll be in addition to the other usual stuff. Let me know what you think. :)

Anyway, without further ado:

Una Brennan Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil - £10.99 - formerly known as 'the good product with the packaging from hell'. This is a great cleansing oil, it removes all of my makeup, doesn't leave any residue and doesn't sting my eyes. It is only hindered by the fact that it is a runny oil, in an open-neck bottle. No pump. The new ones at least have a snap cap but still, you have to pour this into the palm of your hand, put it down and get most of it on your face before it dribbles down your forearm like a cold lolly on a hot day. Other than that it's great. *stabby*

Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion - see previous post

Nuxe Gentle Toning Lotion - £14.00 for 200ml - this is a perfectly lovely and affordable toner for all skin types. As an aside, it has one of the worst 'ingredients' pages that I think I've seen on a website. I'm not joking. Check it for yourself. What's the point? Taking none of that into consideration because it's hardly reflective of the actual product, which is why we are here, have a look at this the next time you see it instore. You may like.

Soap & Glory Make Yourself Youthful Serum - £16.00 for 46ml - A great price for a serum containing a lot of ingredients found in much more expensive  products, albeit maybe at lower %'s as they are near the end of the inci list. Feels good on teh skin, and does give an immediate plumpness to the skin. A good budget buy.

Organic Surge Extra Care Replenishing Facial Oil - £23.50 for 30ml - taken from Organic Surge's more premium line 'Extra Care', this smells and acts very similar to a lot of other high-end oils but it does have a slightly 'gritty' feel that the more expensive oils don't. If you're an oil addict you'll know what I mean. It's a good oil, just not great.

Organic Surge Overnight Sensation Night Cream - £12.95 for 50ml - this, from Organic Surge's original line, is much more like it. Completely worth checking out if you're in the market for a night cream, as promised on the box, this does make you wake up with refreshed skin.

Budget Week - Day 1 - and an extension...

So here's the thing. I fully understand that the word 'budget' is different for everyone. I do. What's budget to some, may be unattainable to others. What's 'affordable' to XX may be absolutely extortionate to YY.
I knew budget week would be popular, what I didn't expect is people arguing amongst themselves about what actually constitutes the word 'budget' across all forms of my social media. There is no need to argue! It's all good. There are plenty of products out there in all price brackets, and as the idea of a 'week' was so popular, I've decided to just extend it and include much more 'budget' (there goes that word again) finds across all of my channels forever more.

I'll still be a fussy cow, still expect great results no matter the price and include plenty of high-end gear as per usual, but expect to see more affordable/budget/bargain finds as the year goes on.

In the meantime, I thought it would be helpful to do some 'flash reviews' of the products I'm using on a daily basis (while I can keep it up!), otherwise my 'to review' pile will never subside and nothing will get done!

So....

Vichy Purite Thermale Eye Makeup Remover - £8.07 - this is good, but I had residue this morning - even after I thought I had gotten all of it off last night. Not as good as Clarins, Lancome or Tilbury.

La Roche Posay Physiological Cleansing Gel - £12.00 - this did a surprisingly good job of removing my makeup and my skin didn't feel too tight afterwards. I wouldn't be able to use it every day, it would be far too drying long-term, but it should be fine if you are particular oily - or for summer's hot and sweaty months..

Pixi Glow Tonic - £18.00 - done and dusted, kippers and custard. (I.e. - reviewed and mentioned 400 times on this blog - search here)

Organic Surge Orange Flower Toner - £7.50 - light and refreshing, it's suited to an oilier skin than mine. Nice and fresh though..it's a second tone, not an acid one...

Organic Surge Hydrating Eye Cream - £18.00 - either I've got dog-eared dry eyes or this is again, more suited for 'normal' skins, even thought it is aimed at a dryer/more mature skin. Lovely cream - maybe for someone younger, but I need more oomph.

Nuxe Detox - £47.00 (clearly not budget) - I found this for £29 yesterday on a french to english website - and now it's disappeared. Sorry!
Aside from the price, this is a great nighttime product if your skin is dull or a little drained. It would probably be worth checking out if you suffer from continuous blemishes/hormonal lumps etc. It's available in M&S too, so you can more than likely find it in your high street in the UK.

I hope this reassures those of you on tight budgets that I am trying to cater to everyone, including you. And please don't argue amongst yourselves. After last week, I'm enjoying the calm. :)

Baby It's Cold Outside

I'm a Leo. In case that wasn't glaringly obvious - but nonetheless, I love the sun. A lot. I don't do well in the cold. Makes me moody. Grumpy. Kind of how I feel right now truth be told in case that also isn't glaringly obvious.

So if, like me, you pray for the day when you see the crocuses starting to show themselves in the ground - here are a few of my friends that carry me through until the clocks go forward.

Water
Sounds simple enough - but I don't know anyone that drinks enough. I drink at least two pints an hour throughout the day (more in the Summer). When I don't drink enough, I get headaches, dry skin and moody. *pauses to go get water* *no, really*

Vitamin D
I have posted previously about the importance of Vitamin D here. Read it. Make your own mind up. But it does make a difference.

Moisturiser
Top-to-toe, every day. I have listed some of my favourites for the body previously, but some facial must-haves for me now are:

Alpha-H Essential Hydration Cream

The fact that I first received this cream back in the Summer and still find it hydrating enough when it's snowing is a testament to its regulating properties. I love an intelligent cream that allows your skin to take what it needs when it needs it. It works for all skin types in all weather and is a feast of sea minerals, essential fatty acids and peptides along with ylang ylang, arnica and peppermint. I use it AM and PM and it is a fabulous base for makeup. This is around the £30 mark and is worth every penny.
 
Organic Surge Overnight Sensation Night Cream

I'm enjoying this at the moment - a little goes a long way and it's incredibly light yet still moisturising. The essential oil scents are not overpowering which makes a refreshing change for a natural/organic product. Contains aloe vera, shea butter and grapeseed oil - suitable for all skin types and frankly at £7.99 it's an absolute bargain. Albeit a luxurious one.

Trilogy Age Proof Replenishing Night Cream

Smooth to the touch, fabulous texture, lovely smell. Contains evening primrose, marula seed, olive and avocado oils along with rosehip and hyaluronic acid. Leaves the skin feeling plump and really soft in the mornings. Around £31.50

Balms

A good balm is an absolute essential year round must-have but especially in Winter.

My favourite is Neals Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm

You cannot go wrong with this. Although it is multi-purpose - you can use it as a cleanser, a mask or the way I use it, a super emolliating, nourishing balm.  I LOVE this balm. It contains high levels of rosehip oil which is an antioxidant that helps firm and repair the skin - along with jojoba, hemp, starflower, beeswax, rosemary and frankincense. It's around £36 and will literally last you over a year if you use it occasionally as a night time treat. When my skin is having a particularly bad flare-up (acne rosacea - welcome to 41 and the land of the Raging Hormones) I give it a really good double cleanse and then smother my face in this. Works wonders.

Important: Don't think that if you are oily/combination you must avoid oil. Just avoid bad oils (mineral etc). Stick to oils that you could call edible (or could take as a supplement) and you'll be fine. If you starve your skin of oil it will make more and you'll never break the cycle.  I rub the Wild Rose Balm all over my face - spots and all. It softens the skin and not only aids the swift removal of the spot (if you're a popper) but takes down the redness.

Wake Me Up

Getting up at 6am in the pitch black when everyone else is still asleep is not my favourite thing. I need help. These shower gels give me a kick up the backside or a full on slap in the face depending on my needs:


Aromatherapy Associates Revive Body Wash

Aromatherapy Associates are experts in their field. Always copied, never bettered.  This is the gentler option of the shower gels, refreshing with neroli, pink grapefruit and bergamot. Has a lovely gentle cleansing action - SLS and SLES free so you don't get that really 'Fairy Washing Up Liquid' foam. Derived from oat and coconut so really softening on the skin. A little goes a long way. 1-2 pumps does the whole body, I also use it on the younger kids in their baths.

Kneipp Shower Washes in Juniper or Rosemary

Sleepless nights? Late nights? Need an extra boost in the mornings to go to work/do the school run? The Kneipp products are like blow torches to the nasal cavity. In a great way. In the middle of winter I prefer the Rosemary or Juniper versions. Invigorating and stimulating, they really clear your head as well as cleaning your body. If you like a bath you have to try their bath salts too, especially in Eucalyptus and Spruce. A-ma-zing. You'll never look back. This is also great for smelly teenagers.

What are your Winter Essentials???