Hello all, here are my current favourites as you asked for it! I will divide into categories.
My skin type: Combo/oily (very acne prone and sensitive).
Climate: UK weather (cold/windy in the winter and hot in the summer).
Now – Onto the products!
Favourite Powder Cleanser: Iope enzyme powder cleanser. I think this version is discontinued 😦 HOWEVER There’s an updated version HERE
Favourite Gel Cleanser: This was the COSRX Good Morning Cleanser, but I’m not really a fan as much anymore due to the addition of tea tree oil – it’s very potent, and also I find tea tree oil, as with a lot of essential oils, to not be so compatible with my skin. So thus far, I haven’t found a favourite gel cleanser as of yet.
Favourite Cleansing Balm/Cream: The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser: REVIEW HERE
Genuinely a really nice cleanser, no essential oils, no fragrance and so gentle! Recommended more to dry skins or dehydrated skins.
Favourite Foaming Cleanser: Iunik Centella Foaming Cleanser HERE Very gentle. Lathers well and cleans well.
Special Mention: I think the Hada Labo Foam cleanser (HERE) is also very gentle and good (this strips the skin even less than the Krave Hemp Hydrating Cleanser) –
Full Review HERE
Cleansing oil: The DHC Cleansing oil HERE – love it. I have many Youtube videos including this as part of my routine or as a recommended cleanser/double cleanser.
Full review HERE
Runner Up: The Neogen Cica Micellar Cleansing oil (Review HERE) and Yesstyle Discount Link HERE
Favourite retinol: La Roche-posay Redermic R HERE – absorbs so fast and is very strong for me so I space it out every 3 days.
Runner up: Paula’s choice Retinol HERE – This is paired with vitamin C – hydrating and moisturising.
Favourite STRONG Vitamin C (i.e. not a derivative): Timeless C E Ferulic serum HERE – this absorbs fast into the skin, isn’t sticky and doesn’t smell.
Full Review HERE
Favourite Vitamin C Derivative: I think the Typology Vitamin C serum (Blog Post HERE) has been good as it’s unfragranced. Review (coming soon).
Favourite Eye Serum: Niod FECC HERE – This is like water, not sticky at all. Absorbs fast.
Full review HERE
Runner Up: Hylamide Eye serum HERE – this is more moisturising than the above serum. Hydrates and wakes my eyes up. It does contain less peptides/actives than the FECC, but this does contain Retinol.
Favourite Eye Cream(s): Glossier Bubble Wrap HERE – excellent under makeup (doesn’t ball up), hydrates my eyes. Absorbs nicely too. Very good and great under eye makeup.
Runner up: The Cosrx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream: REVIEW HERE – Very Nice lightweight and cooling texture – has that slight snail mucin runniness, but it adds to the cooling effect on the skin.
Favourite Lip Balm: I use the Laneige Lip sleeping Mask as both a lip balm and a sleeping mask HERE
I honestly really like this – I think it plumps up my lips and feels great on the lips too. It’s got a unique texture I haven’t witnessed with other lip-type balms.
Favourite SPF Lip Balm: Blistex SPF 50+
Full Review HERE
Favourite Hyaluronic acid serum: Niod MMHC HERE – Really good serum. Instantly absorbs, doesn’t smell great but hey. Great absorbance and texture, hydrates my skin. Doesn’t pill or ball up.
Full Review HERE
Favourite peptide serum?: Even though I’m not entirely sure of the effect, I find myself constantly using the Argerilline solution from The ordinary HERE
Full Review HERE
Contender: The Hylamide Peptide serum is also good as it’s like an upgraded buffet/matrixyl serum from the ordinary.
Another Contender as I can’t decide: The Niod CAIS2 (Review HERE) – although like the above, it is difficult to tell if they are having an effect, I tend to use all peptide serums or products as preventatives rather than a cure. The reason why I like this serum is because it’s extremely lightweight, has a high % of copper peptide and is unfragranced.
Favourite moisturing GEL/watery cream (my favourite type of cream absolutely): Tony Moly The Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Cream HERE
Full Review HERE
This texture is to die for. For my particular skin which doesn’t feel good with heavily creamy products, this has been a lovely watery and light cream. When I was on retinol this didn’t even seem to irritate my skin so what a plus! The fact that this is a favourite when it contains essential oils just shows how much I love the texture.
Runner Up: The Cosrx Advanced Snail Peptide Moisturising Cream (Review Coming Soon) + (Blog and Video Post HERE!)
Favourite moisturising cream when skin is EXTREMELY SENSITIVE/ANGRY AND WEAK (i.e. during retinol): Innisfree the minimum Moist Cream HERE
Full Review HERE
No bells and whistles, just a straight-up gentle cream. This is the only thing that did not sting or burn when I had really sensitive skin after over-doing retinol. This has more of a ‘creamy’, ‘oily’ texture to it.
Favourite regular lightweight moisturising cream AND PRIMER: Glossier Priming Moisturising Cream HERE
Full Review HERE
The unscented version is of course what I use. It’s a mix between an oily cream and a watery cream. Very light and really does prep the skin well for makeup.
Runner up! Krave Beauty Oat So Simple Water Cream Review HERE
Really nice mix between water and oil (similar to the Soon Jung Emulsion but it has more of a nice watery/cooling effect)
Favourite Sleeping Mask: The Laneige Water Sleeping Mask HERE
Very light, very watery. Has fragrance but I don’t care – that’s how much I like this! Really does form an occlusive layer on top.
To be honest, with how gel-like and watery the Cosrx Advanced Snail Peptide Cream is, I could easily put it in this category as well (i.e. to be used as a sleeping mask) – Blog Post + Video HERE
Favourite Sunblock: Missha Aqua Sun Gel HERE – My Favourite Sun block hands down. This is just great – Full review HERE (Also included in my SPF Video HERE)
Favourite Western Sunblock: The Nivea UV Face Shine SPF 50 UVA/UVB (Review HERE)
Favourite Shampoo and Conditioner: John Frieda Weightless Wonder – Really good for hair that is thin/fine. Doesn’t weigh my hair down
Very, very light and weightless – great for very fine hair that gets flattened instantly by heavy shea butter creams and oils!
Favourite Hair Serum/treatment: Initialiste Scalp & Hair Serum HERE
Really great for helping strengthen the hair and helps grow baby hairs! the only thing (other than Deciem’s HIF Growth support which is now discontinued…) to work on my hair!
Favourite Body Wash: Eucerin Dry skin urea repair plus wash fluid 5% HERE
This does not strip my skin, it helps keep my skin barrier in tact. No crazy foaming or oil-stripping. I think it really helps with the bumps on my arms and legs.
Favourite Body Cream (great for chicken-skin/bumpy skin): Ameliorate Fragrance Free transforming Body Lotion HERE – Now this lotion really has helped the roughness on the backs of my arms and also shaving bumps!
Contains Lactic acid so it’s great for gentle exfoliation and who doesn’t love fragrance free?
Acids: I try not to use too many especially all at the same time as it’s far too much for my skin.
However for spot treatment, my go-to is from The Ordinary, it’s their AHA BHA Peeling Treatment (Review HERE)
But if I had to recommend 3 acid products, it would be:
1.The Ordinary Salicylic Acid (to spot treat) HERE – I’m sure this would ball up/pill under makeup and such so this is a better PM treatment.
2. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toner – to resurface the skin. No added fragrance or essential oils etc, so I think it’s very good. HERE
3. A gentler AHA than Glycolic Acid, Unscented and I find, very effective. I would say even sensitive skins may find this tricky as it does sting especially if you are acneic (lots of painful/open sores). Review HERE
Just be careful with your skin and chemical exfoliation! It is so easy to overdo!
I hope you guys have enjoyed reading 😀
Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.
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