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One of my true passions in life is beauty. It completely fascinates me. I’ve been interested in it for as long as I can remember, always eager to try new products and expand my knowledge.
When I launched my website it was a no-brainer for me to include a beauty category; it feels natural to share what I’m very passionate about. Recently I’ve begun to approach beauty from a more holistic point of view -in posts such as embracing makeup-free days. I truly advocate beauty should be about embracing yourself. I’m still fuelled by a desire to share with you what I discover and all that I love, and I hope I encourage you to love it – or at least enjoy it – too!
We should derive pleasure from our skincare routine…
Beauty should absolutely feel more like a treat than a chore. I personally view it as a form of self-care investing some precious time in yourself. And as part of this, it’s important you’re happy with the products you’re using.
At the moment, I’m using some fantastic products delivering on what they promise to achieve. I appreciate not all products work for all people, but if you’re currently on the lookout for new skincare products or are thinking about making a switch then these are the products I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.
Here are my current (much-loved) skincare saviours:
L’Occitane Immortelle Oil Makeup Remover
As you’ll see from the picture at the bottom of this post, I’m running on near-empty of this product at the moment, however, it has lasted me an absolute age! I switched to this when Clarins stopped making their Pure Melt cleanser and it’s been just as good.
You apply (about 4 pumps) directly to dry skin, massage in, add a small amount of water to work into a lather, massage some more then rinse-off, and you’re done! In fact, it’s so good it even removes waterproof eye makeup too (just be sure to keep your eyes closed otherwise, ouch!) It doesn’t dry out my skin, is really effective at getting the makeup off and personally, I love the fact it’s applied dry as it kind of takes you on a much more gentle journey to clean skin, especially when I’m removing my makeup late at night.
Top Tip: I use this after my morning run right before stepping into the shower. I find it’s good at unclogging skin from sweat (or lady glow – up to you!) impurities & SPF residue.
Good to know: Enriched with anti-ageing immortelle oil, it’s non-comedogenic (which means it won’t clog your pores) and is tested under ophthalmological supervision. Now it does say suitable for all skin types but I would say looking at the list of ingredients, I don’t think it would work for the most sensitive of skin types, but that’s just my opinion rather than absolute fact. L’Occitane are generous with samples so maybe request a trial if you’re in any doubt. P.S. all L’Occitane products are paraben-free.
Find out more & try for yourself here
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
This wonderfully refreshing alcohol-free toner has certainly earned its place in my skincare saviours list. And before you ask, I have tried the Aldi dupe and it wasn’t as good. OK as a standalone toner for £2.99 it was passable but nowhere near an equal to the real thing. Liz Earle’s Skin Tonic is light and hydrating plus it brightens my skin. Admittedly, you do need to like the delicate floral scent of this one (which I do). It’s almost like adding a bit of aromatherapy into my skincare routine.
Why toner? Toners help to restore your skin’s PH balance – the acid-alkaline ratio – after cleansing. You can find out why this is important (and all the other benefits of using a toner) here
Good to know: Liz Earle products are certified under the Leaping Bunny Program, an internationally recognised cruelty-free certification. Again, it’s sold as suitable for all skin types, but I wouldn’t necessarily advise it for the most sensitive of skins.
Find out more & try for yourself here
By Sarah Organic Facial Oil
I love, love, LOVE this facial oil. I never thought with my skin verging slightly on the oily side that a facial oil would be suitable, but I was wrong, this works fantastically well. If you want to know more about the By Sarah brand, please do read One oil to rule them all which tells you everything you need to know, but to keep it brief here, let me say this…
It’s 100% natural & plant-based. Every single ingredient is listed in full on the front label, which is basically only 5 ingredients: Sweet almond oil, apricot, pumpkin seed, argan, evening primrose & vitamin E. All of which I find plumps, nourishes & hydrates beautifully. Just a few drops applied to damp skin & voilà, you’re done! Plus it’s great to use at nighttime too, so no need for a separate night cream.
Good to know: This is one product I’d say really is great for all skin types. It was designed for the founder’s sister who was undergoing chemotherapy, so being respectful to even very sensitive skin is firmly at its’ heart.
Get 10% off your 1st order of any By Sarah product (discount automatically applied at checkout.) Click here.
ARK Skin Perfector Triple Action Exfoliator
This is the first of two products from ARK. I was gifted this originally, but (as with the next product coming up) I loved it so much I went on to re-purchase. What do I like so much about this facial exfoliator? I really like how hardworking yet gentle it is. It leaves my skin feeling perfectly smooth, conditioned & renewed. Plus it’s age-sensitive, meaning you apply it in a way that best addresses your skin’s age-related needs – which for me means massaging it in and leaving it to work its magic for 2-minutes, but it could be more (or less) depending on the age bracket you fall into.
Related: For the scrub of it – why should you exfoliate & how to do it right!
Good to know: I love using this once-a-week as part of my routine, but you can use it twice-weekly. As advised, you will need a face cloth soaked in hand-hot water to remove it with, it’s optional, but I would find it tricky to remove all trace without one.
Find out more & try for yourself here
ARK Skin essential skin protector SPF30 primer
It probably won’t be a surprise to regular readers that I’ve included this on my skincare saviours list – after all, I’ve previously written about all the reasons I recommend it here. But it continues to be a highly-rated product on my beauty shelf.
It had been so difficult to find either a broad-spectrum SPF or primer that didn’t clog my pores (resulting in breakouts) or cause my makeup to slide. This angel of a product does neither. It just beautifully protects & primes all in one swoop. No wonder it’s multi-award-winning.
Good to know: ARK products are vegan friendly and free from the likes of parabens, alcohol, SLS, fragrances & artificial colours.
Find out more & try for yourself here
Nivea Hydro Care Lip Balm
I’ve been using some form of these stick-style balms for decades. I’ve also tried more expensive lip plumpers, conditioners, you name it. To be honest, I found them a bit underwhelming, especially as the basic sticks have always worked perfectly well for me. My Nivea stick has SPF15 & is more easily available than the other brand I recommend (which is Boots by the way), so that’s why it’s featured in my list.
Small but mighty this provides a decent amount of hydration for my lips every morning and evening. I take them with me everywhere. They really do embody a skincare saviour for me – our lips need attention to you know!
Find out more & try for yourself here
Related: How to get the most out of your skincare products
Have you tried any of my recommended skincare saviours? How did you find them? Do you have any to recommend of your own? Do you see skincare as a treat or a chore? If you have any questions about any of the products I’ve mentioned, just ask! I’m happy to help and I always love to hear from you. Just leave a comment in the box below.
Some really good skincare products there – I love the sound of the organic facial oil and I’m tempted to try it when my Tropic one runs out. Especially as it has been recommended by you! It’s great to find products you can count on and love isn’t it? xx
It’s hands down the best I’ve used, I’m trying out their body oil at the moment. They do a smaller version of the facial oil so you can test it out & see for yourself. One tip though, definitely watch the video of Sarah applying it, it’s like a mini facial, but helps you get the maximum benefit from the oil (I’ve linked to it in here One oil to rule them all but it’s also available on their site) Thanks for reading! xx
Ooh yes – I will do. Thanks for the tip. I think I’ll give it a go. Would be good to try out the smaller size first as you say. x
Some excellent hints and tips, Alex. I may well try the lip balm, as it looks great and I often get dry lips.
Thank you! For only a couple of £’s you can’t really go wrong with it, but the Boots own-brand one works just as well too xx