cleanse

Just like 99% of the teenage population, I am obsessed with having perfectly glowing, clear skin. Unfortunately, not many (if any) of us are blessed with this quality and after adding hormones into the mix, the chances of having ‘perfect’ skin are very, very slim. So, of course this means we have to do EVERY teeny weeny thing possible to try and reach this somewhat unrealistic goal… You name it, it’s probably been tried as a method for having clear skin. As I am not so great with make-up and I much prefer to wear minimal amounts, skin care is more my forte. I have probably tried pretty much every product from every high street skin care brand and a fair few of the luxury brands and yet I’m still searching, still improving, my routine. It’s a never-ending process. Today, I’m going to give you the in-depth detail of my skin care routine as present; read on if you wish, leave now if you think this is bollocks…

Morning

In the morning my skin goes one of two ways; I either wake up looking pretty refreshed and like I only really need a few dabs of concealer, or I wake up looking TERRIBLE with red marks everywhere, glaring pores and shine that could rival a MAC lip gloss. Either way, I stick to this:

Loreal Paris Skin Perfection Micellar Water. (If any makeup from the previous night still needs removing.) In my opinion, this is the most effective and refreshing micellar water on the market. It effortlessly removes makeup whilst simultaneously unclogging pores and acting as a toner – excellent.
Neutrogena Pore and Shine Daily Scrub. After being a massive fan of non-scrub cleansers for many years due to my STUPIDLY sensitive skin (if you’re interested try Comfort Zone Active Pureness Cleansing Gel or The Organic Pharmacy Rose Facial Cleansing Gel), I recently decided that it was time for more than this as my teenage skin was becoming more and more unruly. However, finding a scrub that suits sensitive skin is incredibly difficult… Eventually I came across the Neutrogena scrubs and discovered that whilst they scrub away all the necessary dirt, they are not drying in the slightest and do not irritate my skin! Hurrah! This particular scrub combats shine extremely well (more so than the ‘spot stress control’ scrub by Neutrogena), but still without drying out my skin. The only thing I dislike about it is the smell. Whilst tangerine and lime definitely wakes you up, I’d prefer a more subtle scent like the Clarins products.
Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Pads. After my boyfriend recommend these little things to me for ousting spots, I had to give them a try. And it’s fair to say they do exactly what it says on the tin; rapidly kills those nasty little spots and any redness. On first application, I noticed that these pads have a very zingy and refreshing feel to the, which could be a little too much for some people, but they really do give the feel of a deep cleanse. Also, this product is meant to be ‘left to soak in’ not washed off, hence why I apply it after cleansing.
Clarins Oil Control Hydra-Matte Lotion for Combination Skin. Although I have sworn by the Clarins Daily Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin for the past few years, I was recently told by one of the Clarins consultants that the purpose of this is to use it for a few months to desensitize your skin before moving on to a normal moisturizer. So, I asked for a few testers of the Clarins moisturizers and this is the best one that I’ve found. Incredibly hydrating, but oil-free and a shiny-forehead warrior, I LOVE THIS! In addition, Clarins products ALWAYS smell wonderful.

EXTRAS:

-If I’m feeling spotty, Dr.Spot by Soap and Glory (a fab recommendation by Evie Oliver) is applied to those zits after moisturising and BOY does it do the job.

-If you’re a fan of toners, I used to swear by Comfort Zone Active Pureness Tonic. Because, well it does something and in my opinion, most toners don’t.

-If your skin is sensitive all over and not just on your face, I massively recommend Sanex Body Wash for Sensitive Skin. I won’t use anything else.

Night

My night-time routine is slightly different, but none-the-less superbly important. Night-time routines are the place for serums, stronger moisturisers and Sudocrem, as you’re about to discover…

If my skins oily, Comfort Zone Sacred Nature Bio-Certified Gommage. If my skins not oily, Comfort Zone Active Pureness Cleansing Gel. Both of these products are from the [comfort zone] range (which they use at my favourite spa); this brand is my go-to, purely because their products are made with such natural ingredients. The Bio-Certified Gommage can be used as both a body and face scrub, but it smells so lush, I don’t think I’d waste it in the shower (use Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator). It removes dirt with it’s jojoba particles to exfoliate the skin, but still moisturises with shea butter – two in one!
Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Pads.
Clarins Mission Perfection Serum. I ordered this as one of my complementary testers from the Clarins website when repurchasing my moisturizer recently as it is a new product of theirs. Mission Perfection Serum claims to remove dark spots and marks on the skin, without altering your skin tone, whilst rejuvenating the skin to achieve luminosity. My verdict: It sure as hell does all of that. I have fallen in love with this serum, which may be bad for my bank balance as it’s £53, but I just have to have more of it. With an adorable pink colour and a smooth-as-satin application, you HAVE to try this. I recommend you ask your local Clarins store/stall for a sample, as Clarins are usually happy to give you samples of anything.
Clinique Overnight Turnaround Revitalising Moisturiser. A rather thick cream, this moisturises beyond belief, which is just what is needed for night-time. This ensures that you wake up with refreshed-looking skin so goodbye tiredness. Also, this really works for oily skin. If you’re looking for a cheaper version, one of my closest friends swears by a similar cream, but it’s actually meant for horses! In disbelief, I tried Botanica Natural Herbal Skin Cream, and you know what, she isn’t nuts, this multipurpose cream does the trick for around half the price!
Sudocrem. Even though I look ridiculous going to sleep with this painted all over my face, I know many other girls who also swear by the use of Sudocrem (nappy rash cream) to soothe redness and kill spots. I have truly never found a spot or redness treatment that works as well as a simple pot of this magical stuff. Believe me, it works.

EXTRAS:

-If you’ve been wearing make-up, don’t forget to remove this first with the Loreal Micellar Water.

-If you like to scrub in the shower try Clarins Exfoliating Body Scrub

-If you have a really nasty spot, pop some toothpaste on it.

Weekly

I try to use a face mask at least once a week, and although I’d like to try more before giving you the true verdict, my current favourite is by far Clarins Pure and Radiant Face Mask. It smells great and you actually notice the radiance it gives the next day. If my skins extremely oily and I’ve totally run-out of that, I use Garnier Pure 3-in-1 Wash as a face mask, but this does have the tendency to dry out my skin.

Yearly

Once or twice a year, my mum and I love to take a trip to Ickworth Hotel Spa for a [comfort zone] facial, a pedicure and a back massage. It really is pure heaven and the surroundings of Ickworth House are stunning! Dine in the gorgeous conservatory, go for a walk in the perfectly preened gardens or take a swim in the indoor pool… Or you could even stay the night!

Other Tips for Clear Skin

The simplest tip is to just drink plenty of water. But for those of us who aren’t great fans of constant water chugging, why not try peppermint tea, red clover/roobis tea or green tea, as these are all meant to assist healthy skin. My current favourite is jasmine tea; it reduces stress, helps weight loss and helps to prevent cancer, pretty wonderful eh? If you are a tea-hater (god forbid) why not try this smoothie:

Hot Potato Smoothie:

100g potato, 100g radish, 100g carrot, 100g cucumber.

Additionally, make sure you apply a primer (I use No7 Stay Perfect Shine Free Primer) before make-up to prevent clogging pores, regularly cleanse your make brushes (MAC brush cleanser all the way) and make-sure to give your skin a few make-up-free days each week, as no skin can cope with constant make-up. And always wash your face post-exercise.

Soldier on in your missions for perfect skin, my fellow skin-care soldiers.