Skinetica

Skinetica Anti-Blemish Skincare Treatment*

When I have a good skincare routine in place I tend not to get too many spots anymore. However it all went to pot recently when I was poorly and it was a struggle to get dressed let alone look after my skin properly. This resulted in the appearance of several unsightly blemishes all at once, not good! It was however the perfect time for me to put a new anti-blemish treatment to the test. Skinetica is a clear liquid that claims to banish spots within 3 days of use.

You apply the product almost like a toner. First of all you just wash your face with your normal cleanser. Then you soak a cotton pad with Skinetica and apply it to any affected areas. It will even work on blackheads so sweep it over your nose & chin too. The most important part of application is to make sure it has air dried properly but that only takes a couple of seconds. Then you can apply any serum, moisturiser, primer & makeup on top. Make sure you repeat the process at night because Skinetica works best with two applications per day.

I wasn't too sure if it would do anything at all considering it seems more like a toner rather than a traditional spot treatment but it actually did get rid of any active breakouts I had within a few of days. Any pain & redness in them had disappeared after the first day and the affected area had completely cleared after the third. I'm really impressed by how quickly it works & how easy it is to integrate into your normal skincare/makeup routine. The only problem I had with it was that it made my skin feel quite dry & tight but that soon went away with a good dose of moisturiser. Theres only 4 ingredients in it so that might be due to the alcohol & fragrance it contains. It does smell really nice but I prefer to use unperfumed products on my face. Its nothing like the dryness you get from most anti-blemish products, especially ones containing harsh chemicals like benzoyl peroxide. Other than that initial dryness, Skinetica is actually really kind to skin.

I have to admit I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to skincare. After years of trying drugstore products by the likes of Clearasil, Clean & Clear, Witch & Neutrogena with little success, I generally believe that the more you pay for skincare the more it'll do for your skin. But every now and then there comes a real gem that doesn't cost the earth. One bottle of Skinetica retails at just 9.99 including UK postage. You can even request a free sample bottle from the Skinetica website so theres no excuse not to try out this brilliant blemish buster.

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer

Primers are something I consider to be an essential step in makeup application. Anything that can help my makeup to look better & last longer is welcome in my collection. After reading several glowing reviews on this Clarins product I decided it was something I needed to try out for myself & I certainly wasn't disappointed with the results! I've written in depth before about some of my favourite primers but this is now the one that I find myself reaching for on a daily basis.

Instant Smooth is a pink silicone based primer that helps to give the illusion of flawless base. Don't worry, it becomes clear once applied on your skin! Theres a primer out there for everyone depending on your personal skin & makeup concerns. This product is a brilliant one to try if large pores are a problem for you. It fills in fine lines & pores with such ease. I tried it on the back of my hand when I was in Boots and was amazed at how it made even the tiny hair follicle pores disappear instantly. Naturally it works even better on your face! It comes with a tiny spatula so you can scoop out the product but I find that using my fingers works better or I end up with too much product on my face. One of the best things about this primer is how little of it you need for a flawless finish. It makes my pores look airbrushed without makeup & it feels wonderful on the skin, like velvet. Its so light and my makeup glides over this product. It makes my foundation last a lot longer, especially in the t-zone area which is where my combination skin is oiliest. I like to use it under my eyes too which helps to stop my concealer from creasing. Its also lovely to use over drier areas. The skin around my nose gets a bit dry & flakey when I have a cold but Instant Smooth really helps to minimise this. Its the perfect primer for anyone with combination skin. My skin type is slightly blemish prone & whereas other silicone based primers have broken me out in the past, this one has only helped the appearance of my skin.

The other primers I would consider to give a similar finish to this one are my other two favourites - Benefit's The Porefessional and Philosophy's The Present. However in my opinion Clarins Instant Smooth is actually better than the both of them. The Porefessional feels a touch greasier on my skin and isn't very cost effective. The Present is probably equal to Instant Smooth in terms of how it makes my skin look & feel and the effect it has on my makeup. However The Present is quite a thick primer and you have to wait for it to settle on your skin for a minute before applying your makeup. With Instant Smooth the results are, well, instant. You only need to use a tiny amount and you can get on with applying your makeup right away. I highly recommend getting this primer because it will last you such a long time & will make your foundation look truly flawless.

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Lift & Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Natural Lift & Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm

When it comes to cleansers I've always been an advocate of the gel variety. I find that gel cleansers have always left my face feeling freshest and looking brightest. However during the Winter months I feel the need to use something a bit thicker & more moisturising on the skin. I've totally fallen out of love with Liz Earle's Hot Cloth Cleanser & I ran out of my Botanics cleansing balm which has now been reformulated anyway. Thats why Emma Hardie's cult Moringa Cleansing Balm has found its way into my skincare routine and I really don't know how I went without this product for so long! I first tried this product a month ago when I was lucky enough to be sent a sample pot by What's In My Handbag. I received a tiny 15ml pot and one of Emma Hardie's Dual Action Professional Cleansing Cloths. Since then I've purchased the full size tub despite the £27 price tag because I really do love it that much.

The cleansing balm itself is such a wonderful formula & an absolute pleasure to use. It feels so luxurious & smells divine. Its thick enough to add moisture to your skin yet light enough to clean your whole face with the tiniest blob. To use this product you just scoop a small amount out of the tub, add a few drops of warm water to the palm of your hand and mix together before massaging it all over your face in circular motions. The full sized tub comes with a leaflet showing you how to do some of Emma Hardie's signature facial massage techniques. I've found that these really help to relax your facial muscles & stimulate the skin. You can even leave it on for 10 minutes as a hydrating mask to let your skin really benefit from all those lovely natural ingredients.

To remove the balm you just massage it off using a cloth soaked in hot water. The Emma Hardie cloth I received with my What's In My Handbag sample is double sided. One side is like a traditional muslin cloth which you can use to gently exfoliate any dry or congested areas and the other side is made of soft micro fibre which is more suitable for delicate & sensitive areas. Although the cloth is nice, its definitely not a necessity. I find that my old Liz Earle muslin cloths & even bog standard Primark face cloths work just as well with this cleanser. The Emma Hardie cloths aren't even included with the full size cleansing balm so honestly I wouldn't bother with them.

The one qualm I have with this product is the packaging. The tub looks very posh & grown up but I'd prefer it if it was in a tube just for convenience & to make it more sanitary. Otherwise this cleanser is such a dreamy product. I've never tried anything that manages to remove even the most heavy duty makeup with such ease. It even gets rid of every last trace of mascara & liquid eye liner without irritating my eyes whatsoever. I used to have to clean off my eye makeup with Bioderma before using my Botanics cleansing balm but its no trouble at all for this Emma Hardie cleanser. It leaves my skin feeling super soft & perfectly cleansed, not dry or tight at all. It also helps to minimise pores. This product is suitable for all skin types but would work especially well on anyone with dry or sensitive skin. I used to hate taking my makeup off because it was so much effort but I really enjoy using this cleansing balm and it does make such a difference to my skin. Is anyone else an Emma Hardie convert?