EVENING SKINCARE ROUTINE IN 5 STEPS + LUXURY GIVEAWAY

Having a good routine tailored to your skin type can dramatically improve the way your skin feels and looks. Knowing your skin type is crucial. Many people think they know it based purely on how it usually feels. Many symptoms can mean the opposite in terms of skin type. For example, an excessive sebum production doesn's necessarily mean oily skin. Breakouts don't always mean acne/adult acne. Knowing your skin comes with time. Knowing your true skin type comes with great skincare that reveals the true type that you are. I always thought I was ultra dry and dehydrated. Truth be told I'm probably a little combination: normal & dehydrated on t-zone and dry everywhere else. Getting to know my skin is an ongoing process. Lately, my routine just clicked in place. Every step comes together giving the ultimate glow. My evening routine works because the formulas are not only chosen for how it feels after application but also what I wake up to the next morning. Even given recent heatwave my skin behaved well which is unusual for this time of year. Without further a'do let's discuss what products have given me a clear and even complexion that only requires a BB cream (one and only Inglot Beautifier) in the morning. Oh and there's a pretty awesome GIVEAWAY waiting for you in the foot note <3

Step 1 - double cleansing

Magnitone WipeOut The Amazing Micro-fibre Cleansing Cloth* | £14.99 for two

I've never really bought into the whole 'remove your makeup with just water' trend, so when I was kindly sent WipeOut cloths, I was dubious, to say the least. Imagine my surprise when the soaked in water micro-fibre cloth removed all my makeup within seconds. I must have stood there for a good minute with my mouth open! I had L'Oreal mascara on which is normally a dread to remove so I never thought anything that's not oil to even touch it. I think it's a cool idea and definite money (and time!) saver. The WipeOut cleansing cloth is super soft and removed all traces of makeup. It needs to be soaked in water and here I prefer warm to hot water (depending on your skin sensitivity). It removed not only my mascara, but also a foundation and a liquid lipstick, so I'm definitely a fan. Is it as the delicate process as using oils? You need to apply a little more pressure with the cleansing cloth but I find the process to be gentle enough for my sensitive skin. All the makeup residue came off the cloth in the wash too.

BUY ME: Magnitone UK | FeelUnique | Look Fantastic | ASOS | QVC UK | Amazon UK

Caolion Hot & Cool Pore Cleanser Duo* | £20.00 for 100ml (50ml each)

This morning & evening cleansing duo is formulated without parabens, sulfates and phthalates to deeply cleanse and tighten pores. I must admit, I didn't do my research when I first used the product and used both steaming and cooling cleansers and my skin was lovely, smooth and felt nourished. I now use The Pore Blackhead Steam Foam Cleanser in the evening to really open up and deep cleanse pores and leave The Pore Tightening Cooling Foam Cleanser in the morning. Caolion Steam Foam Cleanser has been formulated with brown sugar, sulfur and konjac root to exfoliate. It heats up on contact with the skin which helps open up and purify the pores leaving my skin firm and smooth. Caolion Cooling Foam Cleanser contains sea salts, eucommia bark and kaolin clay to remove impurities and dirt from pores leaving the skin soothed and calm. The cooling effect is perfect in the morning as it really wakes up the skin. It reminds me a little of Burt's Bees Cleanser in the cooling sensation aspect if you're looking for a cheaper alternative.

The Pore Blackhead Steam Foam Cleanser

♦ Ingredients/INCI

Aqua (Water), Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-150 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Kaolin, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Solum Diatomeae, PEG-100 Stearate, Parfum (Perfume), Butylene Glycol, PEG-5 Glyceryl Stearate, Isoamyl Laurate, Panthenol, Dextrin, D-Limonene, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Caramel, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Microcrystalline Cellulose, PEG-75 Lanolin, PEG-4, Linalool, Allantoin, PEG-8, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, PVP, Centella Asiatica Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Dimethyl Sulfone, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Black Strap Powder, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol

The Pore Tightening Cooling Foam Cleanser

♦ Ingredients/INCI

Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, PEG-150 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Kaolin, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Diatomaceous Earth, Isoamyl Laurate, PEG- 100 Stearate, PEG-5 Glyceryl Stearate, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide Panthenol, Eucommia Ulmoides Extract, Menthoxypropanediol, PEG-75 Lanolin, Allantoin, Sodium Chloride, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Peppermint Oil, CI 42090

BUY ME: Boots 

Step 2 - the exfoliating toner

Merumaya Gentle Exfoliating Toner | £17.50 for 128ml | POST

My first non-glycolic based exfoliating toner is working up a dream. This 15% AHA concentration facial tonic is still gentle enough to use on a daily, but I prefer to use it every other day. I love AHAs but I want to ensure I don't overdo it.  Exfoliating toner is an important step for me, I find it's best for brightening and it gives me that incredible glow next morning. Here your AHAs are lactic, citric and tartaric acid working together to reveal a brighter, more radiant complexion whilst diminishing dehydration lines and dullness. With the addition of hyaluronic acid and natural betaine which are great at regulating water balance in your skin, making sure it's hydrated and happy. I soak a cotton pad in the product and apply it to the skin of my face (even around the eyes), neck and decollete in circular motions. I find that my skincare regime just works better if I don't skip the toner. I always leave 10-15 minutes minimum allowing the product to work before moving on to serum and other steps in my regime.

♦ Ingredients/INCI

Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Polysorbate 20, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Cellulose Gum, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Citronellol, Parfum (Fragrance), Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Benzyl Alcohol, Isoeugenol

BUY ME: Merumaya | Amazon Luxury Beauty | Fabled

Step 3 - the power serum

Merumaya Iconic Youth Serum | £38.50 for 30ml | POST

Once you try Iconic Youth Serum it may be difficult to ever go back. The super soft formula glides on the skin and offers hydration, smoothing, firming and calming in one go. My sensitive skin is prone to redness, here biodynes TRF (yeast extract) & chromocare soothe irritation, reduce redness and brighten pigmentation. Echium Oil has a unique fatty acid profile with Omega 3, 6 and 9 fighting free radicals, smoothing fine lines and improving skin elasticity. There's so much to this serum and I find that it works beautifully both evening and morning. In the evening I tend to apply 1.5 pumps to the whole face, neck and decollate. The smoothing effect is instant and I find the serum to prepare my skin beautifully for the next steps. It doesn't roll and sinks in instantly. If there's one Merumaya product I recommend you try now, make it this one.

♦ Ingredients/INCI

aqua (water), glycerin, dimethicone, dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, echium plantagineum seed oil, thermus thermophillus ferment, cyclopentasiloxane, butylene glycol, glyceryl polyacrylate, phenoxyethanol, citronellyl methylcrotonate, globularia cordifolia callus, curcuma longa (turmeric) root extract, cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone, sigesbeckia orientalis extract, saccharomyces lysate extract, garcinia mangostana fruit extract, parfum (fragrance), rabdosia rubescens extract, polymethylsilsesquioxane, sodium hyaluronate, ethylhexylglycerin, propylene glycol, citronellol, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, limonene, hydroxypropyl bispalmitamide mea, rhodiola rosea root extract, linalool, saccharomyces/magnesium ferment, potassium sorbate, geraniol, saccharomyces/copper ferment, saccharomyces/iron ferment, caprylyl glycol, benzyl alcohol, isoeugenol, saccharomyces/silicon ferment, saccharomyces/zinc ferment, benzyl benzoate, chlorphenesin, tetrasodium edta, hexylene glycol, pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate

BUY ME: Merumaya | Amazon Luxury Beauty | Fabled

Step 4 - the moisturiser

Etern'l Age Prevention Contours of the Eyes Serum* | £25.90 for 15ml

This high-end heavy glass bottle with a pump hosts gel eye serum which wowed me from the very first use. I have been testing it alongside my mum for a month and will share our joint opinion on it soon, so watch this space. I couldn't not shout about it before, as it's brilliant. Tightening and firming formulas tend to be a little drying, this gel-like formula is anything but drying. It contains a unique blend of helichrysum oil and hyaluronic acid. helichrysum oil is also known as immortelle (immortal or everlasting) oil known for it's anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and healing properties. It's a rare ingredient extracted from everlasting flowers that never fade. There's definite poetry in that. Together immortal oil and hyaluronic acid work at hydrating and lifting the delicate eye area and diminishing lines. I was intrigued by it, especially given my natural hooded eyes, I try and use products that will slow down further dropping of the hood of the eye. So far so good, the lifting effect can be felt almost immediately and it's a great eye serum, that can be used on its own or under an eye cream. The only slight minus is the pump which is quite stiff. The whole pump is actually a lot of product which means some is wasted. This may be just my packaging, so I'm unsure if that's the case for all.

♦ Ingredients/INCI

AQUA (WATER), GLYCERIN, HYDROLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, PHENOXYETHANOL, LYSOLECITHIN, SCLEROTIUM GUM, XANTHAN GUM, PULLULLAN, PARFUM, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, SODIUM PHYTATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, CETYL HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, POLYGLUCURONIC ACID, HELICHRYSUM ITALICUM FLOWER OIL, LECITHIN, POTASSIUM SORBATE, SODIUM BENZOATE, SILICA, CI 60730

BUY ME: Harmony Life

Etern'l Anti-ageing & Re-modelling Night Cream* | £34.90 or £67.80 in Day/Night Set

I took an immediate liking to this rich yet light formula housed in heavy glass packaging. It's surprisingly light given how rich it feels when applied. I use it all over my face, neck and decollete and I'm surprised how much I like it. In fact, I was chatting with my friends few days in testing, already praising this night moisturiser. It's enriched with immortelle oil responsible for lifting, firming and healing of the skin as well as majestem acting to actively fight any environmental damage to our skin and preventing further changes. Whilst I cannot comment on the long lasting effects of using this night cream, I love how my skin looks in the morning. It's radiant and nourished, without any sign of dehydration. This is, of course, a combination of products working together. However, I didn't experience any of the usual skin purging, or even slight changes. The light formula should also work for combination to oily types. I'm usually drier, so I never leave the moisturiser without following up with oil, but I have with this cream and I wasn't left with uncomfortable dryness. I wouldn't say any dry types won't, especially if you're used to oils in your routine.

♦ Ingredients/INCI

WATER (AQUA), BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, GLYCERIN, PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS (SWEET ALMOND) OIL, ISOPRPPYL MYRISTATE, CETYL ALCOHOL, POLYGLYCERYL-6 DISTEARATE, DIMETHICONE, GLYCERYL BEHENATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, JOJOBA ESTERS, XANTHAN GUM, LEONTOPODIUM ALPINUM CALLUS CULTURE EXTRACT, PARFUM, POLYGLYCERYL-3 BEESWAX, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, HELICHRYSUM ITALICUM FLOWER OIL, CITRIC ACID, CI15985, SODIUM SULFATE.

BUY ME: Harmony Life - night cream only | Harmony Life - day and night cream set (offer!)

Step 5 - don't skip on oil

The Hero Project Glow Drops | £24.00 for 30ml | POST

I've been singing praise to this lovely bottle lately and for good reason. Hosting the most impressive ingredients list I've ever seen in a facial oil at very affordable price. The outer packaging, the bottle, even the pushdown dropper/pipette are also well designed. It all comes together to deliver the most pleasurable experience. I mentioned it in the post recently but today, I want to concentrate on details. The main ingredient is a mixture of coconut oil and glycerin known to replenish skin's surface and resist moisture loss. The formula is enriched with a combination of hemp oil (talked about it HERE), sacha inchi oil, argan oil, geranium flower oil, rose flower oil, vetivert root oil, majrojam leaf oil, carrot seed oil, lemon peel oil, bergamot fruit oil and cedarwood bark oil. Hemp, sacha inchi and rose flower oils are well known for their anti-ageing, brightening, healing and soothing properties. This is truly remarkable product hosting 98% natural ingredients. The precious oils work tirelessly to refine the skin, smoothe out lines and wrinkles and improve the elastacity. Adding vitamin C to the mix in the form of tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate fights free radicals and improves skin's radiance. From my personal experience, using this oil is pure joy. I haven't experienced any discomfort, but sensitive types should be cautious of the potent blend of essential oils in the formula. The scent is lovely but doesn't linger. I use 3-5 drops and warm the oil first then apply in upward strokes onto the chest, decollete, neck and face. The dry oil absorbs almost instantly, especially when applied sparsely (2-3 drops). I prefer adding a couple of extra drops in the evening, but that's just me.

♦ Ingredients/INCI

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Flower Oil, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides (Vetivert) Root Oil, Origanum Majorana (Marjoram) Leaf Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Linalool, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Geraniol, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Limonene, Cedrus Atlantica (Cedarwood) Bark Oil, Citronellol, Citral.

BUY ME: The Hero Project | Look Fantastic (offer) | Amazon UK | All Beauty | QVC UK

Luxury skincare giveaway!

I teamed up with Harmony Life to offer my readers a chance to win the Etern'l Anti-wrinkle Day & Night Cream set worth nearly £70.00! 

The giveaway is open to UK and all EU countries and will end on midnight 1st August 2017. 

Winner will be announced within 3 days of the giveaway end. 

You have to be 18 and over to enter and follow me on Bloglovin' and comment under this photo explaining why you'd like to win. 

Winner will be chosen at random from all the valid entries (I'll be checking!). 

This giveaway is sponsored by Harmony Life. 

Please enter via Rafflecopter below. 

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Love