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It's been a hot minute since I've been sat at my desk typing away at my laptop. I decided to take a short break away from being online to press pause and reset.
I go into this in more detail in this chatty video, as I've really missed doing those types of posts and videos along with my usual travel, beauty, fashion and lifestyle.
The break has done me good, as I feel full to the brim with ideas, and with the craziness of Christmas coming up, it was perfect timing to get myself back into the blogging mojo again.
That being said, let's crack on with some beauty talk!
I can finally say that I'm happy with my skincare routine and collection (again, something that I will go into more detail another time) but it can get a bit excessive on the bank balance if you love your high-end products.
With that in mind, I decided to take a look at my skincare collection for the gems that do the job all while being under £20. Over the past few months, I've really discovered the wonders of quality luxury skincare, but when I started out I was all about budget skincare.
My skin is currently going through a combination of being oily and sensitive so most of the products will be tailored for that.
My skin is currently going through a combination of being oily and sensitive so most of the products will be tailored for that.
If you're on a budget too but want to have products that work just as hard as the higher priced products, read on.
CLEANSING
First up we have the cleansers. If you don't end up taking all the makeup and dirt off of your face properly, then this can really affect how the other products that you apply sink in and do their job.
When taking off my makeup I've been using SVR's Sebiaclear Micellar Water* (£15) as my first cleanse and it works just as hard as the more expensive micellar waters I've tried. I can't use it on my eyes as they can be quite sensitive, but it works like a dream on my skin by reducing any build up of oil and sebum without causing irritation.
For my second cleanse, I've recently been having a moment with foaming cleansers. The two cleansers I'll be telling you about are at opposite ends of the price spectrum (still under £20) but both work so well in their own right.
SVR's Sebiaclear Foaming Gel* (£11) is the perfect partner to go along with the micellar water, and I honestly can't believe that this isn't more pricey for the quality you get. This is lightweight yet doesn't feel like it's stripping the skin of its natural oils.
As well as lathering up nicely, it also leaves my skin feeling fresh. I haven't noticed a huge difference in oil reduction with this, but I think that comes with long-term use.
The second cleanser that is a great option for those with combination skin is the L'Occitane Pivoine Pure Perfecting Purifying Foam* (£19). I used this during the summer and it was a real joy to use.
This cleanser will leave your skin feeling silky smooth but doesn't leave a residue like some cleansers do. I would probably end up using this one in the summer months when my skin is more sweaty, and the SVR cleanser in the winter to make sure my skin gets a bit more moisture.
SVR's Sebiaclear Foaming Gel* (£11) is the perfect partner to go along with the micellar water, and I honestly can't believe that this isn't more pricey for the quality you get. This is lightweight yet doesn't feel like it's stripping the skin of its natural oils.
As well as lathering up nicely, it also leaves my skin feeling fresh. I haven't noticed a huge difference in oil reduction with this, but I think that comes with long-term use.
The second cleanser that is a great option for those with combination skin is the L'Occitane Pivoine Pure Perfecting Purifying Foam* (£19). I used this during the summer and it was a real joy to use.
This cleanser will leave your skin feeling silky smooth but doesn't leave a residue like some cleansers do. I would probably end up using this one in the summer months when my skin is more sweaty, and the SVR cleanser in the winter to make sure my skin gets a bit more moisture.
DETOXIFYING
On the days that my skin needs a bit more TLC, I normally reach for a mask or some kind of exfoliator to really detox my skin. I try and keep in the habit of doing this at least once or twice a week, and it really makes all the difference to the quality of my skin.
An old favourite mask that I've been using for the past few years is the Vichy Pore Purifying Clay Mask* (£15). Nothing really detoxes my skin like clay- whenever I use it, it makes me feel like I've been given brand new skin!
This mask works like a dream at unclogging my pores and in just 5 minutes I'm left with super soft skin. I use this in the evening, and the next day my skin is super glowy and bright looking.
The other thing I love about this is that if I have any dry patches or irritation, it doesn't aggravate it, meaning I can continue to treat my skin regardless of whether I'm having an oily or sensitive skin day.
Now, these next two products are a bit of a cheat because even though they are under £20, they are minis. Don't @ me.
This duo from Dermalogica are fairly new to me but I have really been enjoying using them. Firstly, we have the PreCleanse Balm* (vegan, £11.50 for 15ml, £44 for 90ml) which has become one of my favourite discoveries this year. This goes from a balm to an oil when applied to the skin, and with the help of the cleansing mitt that comes with the balm, it melts beautifully into the skin. After washing it off, my skin already feels super smooth and that's before my second cleanse!
I was really impressed with how this enhanced the rest of the products I used afterwards, leaving me with glowing skin.
If I feel like my skin needs some extra love for to get it back to normal, then I switch out my cleanser for the Daily Microfoliant* (vegan, £13.50 for 13g, £49.50 for 75g). This gentle exfoliator removes dead skin cells while treating my skin with green tea and colloidal oatmeal (which sounds a bit like an interesting breakfast choice - wow can you tell I've not had my breakfast yet?!).
By adding a small amount to water this turns into a lightweight paste, and like the Vichy mask, it works really well even if I have patches of sensitivity.
A big selling point for me is that this is super travel-friendly- as it's a powder it doesn't count towards your liquids if you're travelling with hand luggage. This will most likely be coming with me to Berlin along with the balm to make the perfect detoxifying duo.
MOISTURISING
As we get more towards the winter months (ew) I'm turning to moisturising products that will keep my skin happy despite the cold winds and indoor heating.
Bioderma's Nourishing Cream for Dry and Sensitive Skin* (£12.10) has definitely been achieving that for me, with its luxurious moisture that means you only need the tiniest amount.
As the name of the product suggests, this is definitely more suited to those with dry and sensitive skin, so if you're more on the oily side then you might want to skip down to the next product. But if your skin is in need of more moisture in certain areas then this will be perfect for you.
This cream's main purpose is as a moisturiser, but in fact, it can also be used as a multi-use balm as it's suitable to be used on the body as well as the face. This is a product that will benefit your skin in the long run, as over time it builds up a barrier against irritants while maintaining the skin's moisture.
When I'm having an oily day, however, I switch over to the Formula 10.0.6 Night Perfector* (£7.50) which is my current night moisturiser. For me, this will be a definite repurchase as my skin can't get enough of it.
This moisturiser gives the perfect amount of moisture without leaving too much excess on the skin while leaving my skin bright and refreshed in the morning.
If you've been keeping up with my posts and Youtube videos, then you will have seen that I have flareups of eczema around my eyes every now and again. It has taken a bit of trial and error to find an eye cream that doesn't irritate my skin, but I've finally discovered that the Simple Kind to Eyes Soothing Eye Balm (normally £4 but currently on offer for £2.68) is one of the only ones that does its job without irritating my eyes.
This eye cream normally lasts me a good couple of months and is lightweight yet keeps my skin hydrated sufficiently. As well as in the morning and evening, I also apply this before doing my makeup as a barrier against any irritants- especially good if I'm patch testing any concealers to see if they irritate my eyes.
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Do you have any picks that you love that are more on the budget side? Let me know as I'd love to try them out.
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