Daily Skincare Routine | Part 1: Morning

I love being nosy into what products people use and how these fit into skincare routines, as I'm always on the look out for new tips and tricks to try! Being a student, my budget can't always stretch to the limits of a lot of bloggers' skincare items and so, I thought it would be helpful and interesting to share the cheaper products I use daily to look after my skin and show you don't always need to splash out for a good result! These products are all available in shops such as Boots and Superdrug and definitely won't break the bank! If you're just starting out in skincare and would like to build up a routine to start your day, these are some of the products I recommend!

| STEP ONE |

The first thing I do is take the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, drench a cotton pad and sweep it all over my face to remove any dirt and left over makeup from the night before. The cotton pads are use are an oval shape and I buy mine from Primark for just 90p - definitely recommend these if you are on a budget! As well as cleansing your skin, this also very cooling and refreshing so perfect to wake you up in the morning! After this I just get another cotton pad with warm water and rinse off any residue - the bottle does say this isn't necessary but I find it feels more refreshing!

| STEP TWO |

This isn't a step that I do everyday but when my feel is feeling more groggy and I'm in need of a freshen up. I take the Boots Essentials Cucumber Facial Wash, which at an amazing price of £1.50, isn't life changing but definitely worth investing in to leave your skin fresh and awake. I have normal/combination skin and find this facial wash gentle and uplifting. The cucumber scent isn't too intense and the gel like consistency is easy to apply and foams up when washed onto wet skin. As I said, this range is very basic, but a nice way to leave your skin feeling clean without being too vigorous or drying! I normally take a small amount onto my palm, smooth over both hands and massage into damp skin. Once smoothed all over my skin, I add more warm water to create a lather and then splash off the product with cold water, to awaken my skin and close pores!

| STEP THREE |

After washing my face over with a flannel and warm water, to definitely remove any product excess and towel drying, I apply my eye cream around the contours of my eyes. For over a year now, I have been using the No7 Early Defence Eye Cream (Read a review of that here!) which I love and has really helped brighten and smooth my eye area. Recently, I have changed to try out the Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Eye Cream, at about half the price, to see if there's any difference in the outcome - so far, so good!

| STEP FOUR |

The last step is moisturising my skin ready for the day ahead. My all-time favourite moisturiser, which I have used for years now, is the Ponds Hydro-Nourishing Face Cream, which is so creamy and hydrating, leaving my skin feeling drenched and smooth all day long. Sometimes, especially when my skin is feeling particularly dry, I will mix a drop or two of Bio-Oil into my moisturiser to give an extra burst of hydration. I normally do this on days when I'm not wearing makeup so my skin has a chance to fully appreciate and soak up the extra moisture! As the days become sunnier, I have also been applying SPF onto my skin to help with sun protection. The one I am currently using is the Boots Soltan Protect and Moisturise SPF50 Face Cream, which is easy to smooth over the skin without feeling as greasy as normal suncream while still hydrating and protective!

So, that's my super easy and budget-friendly morning skincare routine. Most of these products have been in my collection for a while now and I trust them all, so would definitely recommend you give them a try! Thank you for reading and stay tuned for part 2!

| Products Mentioned |

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water 
~ Micellar Water Link ~

Primark Oval Cotton Pads
~ In-store Only ~

Boots Essentials Cucumber Facial Wash
~ Facial Wash Link ~

No7 Early Defence Eye Cream
~ Eye Cream Link ~

Superdrug Naturally Radiant Brightening Eye Cream
~ Eye Cream Link ~

Ponds Hydro-Nourishing Face Cream
~ Face Cream Link ~

Bio-Oil
~ Bio-Oil Link ~

Boots Soltan Protect and Moisturise SPF50 Face Cream
~ Face SPF Link ~

~ Becca ~ 

New Product Review: No7 Early Defence Eye Cream

For a while now, I have been contemplating adding an eye cream to my skincare routine. Your eye area is very delicate and I knew that the earlier I took care of it, especially considering I dab concealer over it every time I apply my makeup, the more I would thank myself later in life. As I browsed the shelves in all the high-street shops, I couldn't find an eye cream that covered all bases for my skin type and what I was hoping to conquer. Many boasted their 'anti-ageing' or 'hydrating and cooling' formulas that just weren't right for my 19-year-old, normal skin. My ideal eye cream was one to primarily brighten my dark circles, something I am quite self conscious about. With a limited few on the market, and even fewer in my price range, I thought I'd wait it out until either one I had seen came down in price or I found another alternative. 

The No7 Early Defence range was released shortly after my quest began and it seemed to fit exactly with what I wanted. This range was replacing the infamous 'Protect and Perfect' range from No7, which targeted anti-ageing rather than early protection against the ageing process, like this range. I have used the No7 Protect and Perfect Day and Night creams and although I did get on OK with both - the night cream more so than the day however - I still felt they weren't actually miraculously helping my skin, especially for the price tag. I was so pleased to see the targets of the Early Defence to be much more suited for my skin, age and daily life - it's concept focused of preventing and defending against the signs of ageing rather than slowing them down! I purchased the eye cream 4 weeks ago in April and have used it every day and night since.      

The consistency is much thinner than I would have imagined. I thought having 'special' ingredients to target the eye area would leave it a much heavier product but luckily it is very light, especially on such a delicate area, and absorbs quickly to save you waiting around before applying your next product. Another bonus is the product isn't perfumed and seems perfectly suited for not only sensitive skin by also younger skin prone to other skin problems like breakouts. Working just a small amount across the contours of your eye is not only quick and easy to squeeze into a busy schedule like mine but also gives an instant refreshing feeling to your eye area when applied. 

Not only have I loved the concept and the quality of this product, the results have been so impressive. Each morning, my dark circles are getting brighter and brighter and also a lot less puffy. My skin looks so much more hydrated and the eye area just seems more youthful and bright. I feel more confident about my dark circles now and have also noticed myself using less concealer than I have before. I am very glad I chose to start using this product and know it will hang around in my skincare routine for a long time! My only wish is for the tube of product to be a little bigger! Also, although this product is a bit pricey compared to other brands in Boots, No7 are always giving out '£5 off' vouchers to bring it down in price, or it might be a nice little product to splurge on! I must admit I was sceptical to pay out for this product at first. The idea to 'slow mo your skin', as the tag line suggests, seemed a bit far-fetched, but am glad I stuck by it. The results have made me feel more confident about my eyes and ready to dare to go bare and makeup-free as summer comes along! 

What eye cream has rescued your skin? 

- Becca x

No7 Early Defence Eye Cream - RRP £13.50 (for 15ml) 

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Mini Haul | H&M, Superdrug, Boots & Boohoo.com

Earlier this week, I was in the mood for a little shopping spree and so my friend Katie and I embarked on a little adventure across town and I thought I'd share some of the little purchases I picked up! I love watching hauls and reading about splurges people have made, I find it a great way to open my eyes up to some of the gems in the shops that I might not have seen myself, while also getting peoples opinions and recommendations. So, here we go!

My first purchase was something I saw a few weeks before and I just knew I couldn't leave it in the store. Second from the left is the newest, retro addition to my wardrobe from H&M. This grey, cosy sweater is covered in pastel dinosaurs doing all sorts of things like roller-skating and skateboarding. It is possibly the best print I have ever seen! I can see myself cuddled up in this sweater on what will most probably be an everyday basis. I LOVE it! 

We next ventured to Superdrug where we stocked up on face masks. From my last post, you will know I love to use face masks as often as I can for a little pamper. The range of face masks at Superdrug is so varied and, being on a 3-for-2 offer as well, it was far too tempting. I picked up 2 of my favourite, the Detoxifying Dead Sea Mineral Mask, as well as some newbies like the White Chocolate Mousse Mask and a couple of Sheet Masks too, something I am yet to try. I can't wait to give my skin a little treat with these masks and all 6 only set me back about £4.50!

We finally moved to Boots, where my first purchases were boring things like moisturiser, after which I got to move on to some little treats for myself! As I am starting to take much better care of my hair, I thought it was about time I swapped my old and well-loved teenage hairbrush for a new, much larger brush for my growing hair! I picked up a Boots own-brand large, oval brush that is the perfect size and shape for what I wanted. It doesn't feel cheap either considering it isn't a branded item! It glides through my hair easily, without tugging on any tangles, leaving it soft.

Moving towards the makeup aisles led to my next few purchases. Whenever I go out, be it for drinks with friends, hitting a night club or a house party, I love to do sparkly and dark smokey eyes. I feel like it's so different from my everyday looks and is really glamorous for these types of occasions. The eyeshadow trio I had previously used I received in a set a good couple of years ago and was starting to look a touch sorry for itself. I found this gorgeous quad 01 Grey and Night by Bourjois Paris (far left picture). It has three perfect shades for a dark yet subtle smokey eye as well as an amazing glitter in the centre to dazzle the most special of occasions. I know I will get a lot of use from this and am so glad to have it in my makeup bag! Following this gem, I was on the hunt for a bright orange shade to begin sporting on my nails as we roll into the spring. I found a couple from Rimmel London and Barry M, but they were all too overpowering and neon. I found a beautiful, soft orange-toned coral with a subtle shimmer by Natural Collection. The shade Antique Coral screams spring and, as the sun starts to make an appearance, I know it will be the perfect colour to welcome it. I haven't yet used it and I'm not sure what to expect as it was on the cheaper side but nonetheless, I'm excited to try it! As Natural Collection was on an offer, I also picked up a Juicy Lips Gloss in Turkish Delight, another one of their products. I have glided this natural darker pink shade over my lips almost everyday before work as it looks so natural and suits every shade I wear on my eyes. It's a subtle way to complete a look and suits my fair skin.

To finish up this mini haul is a little purchase made before my shopping spree from Boohoo.com, that I thought I would just add at the end. Every summer, a pair of converse-style white pumps seem to be permanently glued to my feet. I have been on the search for a new pair ever since my last pair fell apart last summer. After trying many shops on the high street, I turned to Boohoo, where I found just the shoes to fit the bill. As soon as any sunny day comes along, I guarantee I'll be wearing these!

That's everything I've spent my money on over this little shopping spree. I am really pleased with everything I picked up, as well as glad to have had a girly afternoon doing some retail therapy! Have you fallen in love with any new products or purchases recently?

- Becca x

Grey Dinosaur Sweater - RRP £14.99
Superdrug Face Masks - RRP 99p (for 15ml packet)
Superdrug Sheet Masks - RRP £1.29 (for 1 sheet mask)
Boots Essentials Large Oval Hairbrush - RRP £5.49
Bourjois Paris Eyeshadow Quad in 01 Grey and Night - RRP £7.99
Natural Collection Nail Colour in Antique Coral - RRP £1.99
Natural Collection Juicy Lips Gloss in Turkish Delight - RRP £1.99
Boohoo Cady Canvas Lace Up Trainer in White - RRP £12.00

♡

Current Fave Five

I have been very absent from here recently, my time occupied predominately by work, and I really have missed writing on here! The whole reason I set this blog up was to continue my passion for writing and I really hope I can find more time at such a busy time to write a lot more than I have been! Due to the lack of posts, especially the Fave Five posts which I would normally write monthly, I have chosen to do a more generic version today, updating you on five things I am currently loving. Do read on and share with me what you have loved over the last few months!

Classic Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm

A constant battle of mine is against dry and chapped lips. I have tried so many different products and brands to combat this, from Vaseline to Nivea, yet nothing I have ever used compares to this product. My Mum purchased the Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm for me about a month ago, the '#1 Pharmacist Recommended Lip Balm' standing out to her on the packaging. I had heard of it, but having tried the Cherry flavour before, wasn't really sold. I must admit the flavour of the Classic Carmex isn't something worth raving about, but the soothing and healing nature of the lip balm is incredible! It tingles your lips to let you know the product is working (something I did have to Google when first applying!) and it leaves my lips hydrated for hours before I have to reapply it. I, personally, would recommend this product to anyone who struggles with chapped lips like me. It used to cause me so much pain and I'd hate applying lip balm so often. They also have different flavours, so if you really can't tolerate the odd flavour of this (which, I guess, I have grown to like!), why not choose the cherry or even strawberry flavour! 

VO5 Nourish My Shine Miracle Mist

This next product I used to adore and was an absolute staple in my haircare routine. I strayed away from it a few years ago, but on a recent shopping spree, believed it a good idea to revisit it. The VO5 Miracle Mist is a life-saver for my frizz-prone hair. Just spraying a little on frizzy hair can immediately make your hair look more tamed and sleek and when used before blow-drying can make a real difference to the general appearance of your hair. Most products claim to work wonders but often require to be teamed up with lots of other products to make a great deal of difference. It doesn't matter what shampoo or conditioner you use, a little spray on dry hair is a quick and easy fix for frizz and flyaways. I don't know why I ever let this slip from my collection! This is a got-to, handbag product that does exactly what it says on the bottle and what's more, it smells gorgeous too! 

Poppy Shearing Trim Lace Up Ankle Boot in Tan

My third favourite is a fashion fave rather than the beauty products that normally control these posts. I recently saw these adorable little boots on Boohoo.com and completely fell in love. These boots are laced with a soft and cosy fury inside that flaps over the edge, complimented with little buckles. These are the perfect winter boots, keeping my feet nice and warm against the British weather and looking lovely with all my winter outfits. I think the tan brown is a shade that fits with any jeans, leggings or tights and I have already worn these boots with pretty much every outfit since I bought them! 

Radox Herbal Bath Soak Relax

Thanks to the chill in the air at this time of the year, I have been treating myself to more and more baths, the perfect way to relax after a busy day. The Radox Bath Soak in Relax is such a soft and gentle scent of Lavender and Waterlily and has been my favourite product to bubble my bath up with. I chose this over some of the other scents because it isn't floral or overpowering. Of course a scented bath is wonderful, but when all you can smell is a strong and powerful scent, it can be a little too overwhelming and distract from the bath you're trying to enjoy. Radox have formulated this particular bath soak to help relax your mind and ease stress, something I can very much agree with. Lavender can be a difficult scent to get right but I love this fragrance and how at ease it makes me feel, so, if you're feeling the stress at this time of the year, this would definitely be something I would recommend you give a go to treat yourself and enjoy a little pamper!

Finally, I couldn't write this without mentioning CHRISTMAS SHOPPING! Christmas is one of the best and most exciting times of the year and the fun begins with shopping for all your friends and family. I absolutely love choosing presents for all my loved ones. As a very sentimental person, I try to put a lot of thought and effort into my presents. I very often don't plan my shopping adventures and just stumble upon the perfect gifts, seeing something and thinking 'they would love that!'. With just a month until the big day, I am so pleased with all my gifts so far and can't wait to keep on shopping!

I hope you've enjoyed reading my current favourites and I'll try my hardest to keep on top of the blogging! 

- Becca x 

Classic Carmex Lip Balm Tube - RRP £2.69

VO5 Nourish My Shine Miracle Mist - RRP £4.39 (for 150ml)
Poppy Shearing Trim Lace Up Ankle Boot in Tan - £20 from Boohoo.com
Radox Herbal Bath Soak Relax - RRP £2.00 (for 500ml)

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