'Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty' – Coco Chanel.

The power and pains of skincare. . . 

My skin type: Normal to dry skin, but dry to very dry in the winter and extremely dry under-eyes throughout the seasons.

It wasn't until recently that i came to no longer loathe skincare. I have, granted, always been blessed with rather unchallenging skin - never really experiencing the hardships of acne or any other skin conditions. This made me believe i was an exception to the 'necessities of skincare' propaganda that floods todays society and forces us to buy (or me anyway) what seems to be extremely overpriced lotions and potions that doesn't really add anything to our faces. However; i am here to tell you first hand. I was wrong.

After falling smitten with putting make-up on my face, one would presume a love for skincare came hand in hand. This is not the case. In actual fact, trying to take waterproof mascara became such a burden that i stopped doing it. Yes. You heard. I stopped taking my makeup off.

This as you can imagine bought about the complete ruin of my once oh so clear complexion - leaving me with blocked pores, both oily and dry patches of skin, styes (eye infections) - the works. This is when i realised there was a desperate need for change; and at the time i was still in sixth form (or some may call it college) and was also working meaning i could splash the cash a little in order to fix the mess that was my skin.

Therefore, i sat down at my laptop and began my search for the perfect skin and oh boy was it a quest. But nearly 2 years down the line i have found a plethora of products which make my skin look at its best. I thought it would be easier to go through both a daytime and a nighttime routine; explaining the products, how i use them, what they do for my skin, there benefits and maybe even things i don't like about them.

DISCLAIMER: everyones skin is different, just because i like these products doesn't necessarily mean you will. However, if you have similar skin to me, i may be your saviour.

Daytime Skincare Regime:

STEP ONE:

Hot water on a fresh flannel to open my pores

STEP TWO:

I use the 'Garnier Micellar Oil-Infused Cleansing Water' to make sure my face has no makeup on from the night before. The oil in the micellar water also adds a small amount of moisture back into my face.

STEP THREE:

If i am not applying makeup to my skin that day then i follow with the 'Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber De-Tox Bouncy Hydrating Gel'. I like this one for no makeup days as it leave a fairly matte finish despite being a moisturiser as the worst thing on a no makeup day is having a shiny layer on your skin making you look slightly sweaty!!

If i am wearing makeup then i also want a bit more of a heavy moisturiser on my face to prevent my makeup from looking cakey (especially as i am partial to a full coverage foundation!) For this i use 'Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream'. PLEASE BELIEVE THE HYPE! ITS REAL! Super moisturising, weightless feel and my makeup sits really nicely over it.

STEP FOUR:

For my problematic under-eyes i use the 'Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Eye Balm'. For me this is a real winner. Firstly it helps with my concealer as with my dry under-eyes my concealer can stick to the dry patches, especially when i set it with powder but it also has a peachy tint to it which i think helps slightly with colour correction. Obviously it doesn't make me look like i have had 20 hours sleep but i have definitely noticed the difference since using this product and swear by it now.

STEP FIVE:

On my lips in a morning i use the 'Charlotte Tilbury Lip Magic'. This is especially good in making your liquid lipstick last longer. If you are like me and sometimes struggle with liquid lipsticks cracking this is going to be your ride or die lip product. 

Nighttime Skincare Regime:

STEP ONE:

If i am wearing makeup i take it off using the 'Simple Micellar Cleansing Wipes'. I know many people hate using makeup wipes to take off their makeup but i have never had a problem with it and to be quite honest i only really use them to take away the majority of my makeup because then i go in with the 'Garnier Micellar Oil-Infused Cleansing Water'. This takes any makeup that the makeup wipes didn't get. I focus a lot around my eyes and hairline because personally this is where i don't cover with the makeup wipes.

STEP TWO:

I have a hot shower which opens my pores so then i can clean them with my 'Formula Radiance Cleanse Facial Cleansing Brush' with the 'Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash'. These two products together save my life. Since using these my skins has hardly had any breakouts and it is 100% down to using these. As i don't have particularly problematic skin when it comes to breakouts then i don't see a need for a harsher cleanser only 2 times a week as i don't think it has as greater effect as these two do. I don't necessarily use this everyday as some days my skin simply doesn't need it. If that is the case then i just use a flannel and check that i have nothing on my face. 

Top Tip: use a white flannel as you can really see if anything comes off your face and change flannels everyday if you can as you don't want to be putting the bacteria back onto your face!! 

STEP THREE:

If i have cleansed my face in the shower, when i get out i use the 'Elemis Rehydrating Ginseng Toner'. This balances the pH levels on your face which is especially important if you wear makeup. 

If however i didn't use the cleanser in the shower i go in with my 'Clarins One-Step Facial Cleanser' which is a very gentle all in one cleanser and toner. The only reason i don't use the Elemis one for when i haven't cleansed with the rotation brush is to make sure i am still cleansing my face but this is the most gentle way of doing so.

STEP FOUR:

 For moisturiser, i use the 'Elizabeth Arden Good Night's Sleep Restoring Cream'. There isn't anything bad i can say about thus product. I love it. Simple as. It moisturises my face and doesn't leave a residue on my face.

STEP FIVE:

This product has saved my life. 'Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado' is the best product i have ever tried. Since getting this i have never looked for an eye cream ever again. You need so little product... trust me, a little goes a LONG way! It has done wonders with the dry patches that i sometimes get under my eyes and i rarely get them at all now!

STEP SIX:

Then i go in with my 'Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil' although it says it is for oily skin i really like it. Obviously i go to bed looking slightly like a basted turkey but i wake up in the morning and the oil does not leave a residue on my skin, which i found happened when i used oils made for dry skin. My skin still feels hydrated after using this. I did stop using it for a while to see whether it was actually making a difference and after two weeks of not using it my skin was looking a lot less plump and my makeup didn't sit as well as when i did use it.

STEP SEVEN:

Finally i go in with the 'Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips'. Now, i know what you are thinking... nipple balm?? Seriously Courtney??? But it is hands down the most moisturising lip balm i have ever used. Now I'm not going to lie, it smells a bit bizarre and it comes out in a weird gel/paste type thing but i love it.

If i have been wearing a liquid lipstick in the day i will top this with the 'Tarte Maracuja Oil' as liquid lipsticks have alcohol in them in order for them to dry matte and so this just puts all the moisture back into my lips

Face Masks I Swear By:

Under-eyes: 'Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks'
Once/Twice a month

Problematic Skin: 'Clarins Pure and Radiant Mask with Pink Clay'
When the spots first appear - only use this if i have multiple breakouts and i tend to only need to use it one or twice in a week and the spots are basically gone.

Dry Skin: 'Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask'
This is probably my most regular mask and i try to use it bi-weekly.

Very Dry Skin: 'Elemis Exotic Cream Moisturising Mask'
If my skin is very dry, especially in winter i will use this instead of the Peter Thomas Roth one and i wear it overnight to moisturise my skin the most.

Hungover Skin: As a student i can't deny being one to party and it isn't just my body desperate for hydration the next day. For this i use the 'Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask'; this mask makes a massive difference to my skin and really boosts my skin

I know on paper this seems very eccentric but you skin has to last a lifetime so it is just beyond important that you start looking after it! I hope this helps some of you!

- C x