Nip + Fab Overnight Glycolic Purifying Gel £14.95

I was really excited to see this new product from Nip + Fab launch, aimed at dull and oily skin helping to clear breakouts as well as reduce fine lines, revealing a more radiant and clear complexion. The perfect all-in-one product right?

The gel contains Salicylic Acid to help unclog pores and combat blackheads and reduce the size of existing spots. I have noticed in the last week I have been using the gel the pores on my cheeks seem less prominent and the dreaded blackheads on my nose don't seem as big. Another ingredient, one I've never heard of is Niacinamide, an anti-inflamatory which helps reduce production of sebum which causes pores to enlarge, ultimately reducing acne from forming on the skin. Of course we have the star ingredient, Glycol Acid which is the secret to reducing fine lines and wrinkles and help leave skin looking more firm and radiant. 

I really love the effect this product has on my skin, in the morning my skin feels firmer and pores appear tighter. The only down side to this product is application, i've not quite mastered this yet. The instructions for application merely state to smooth over skin after cleansing, I've tried applying before my moisturiser and after but the product seems to ball up and I end up with lots of dried bits of gel to rub off my face! 

Once I've mastered application this will be my favourite overnight treatment, for a mere £15 the results are fantastic. 

Garnier Ultralift 14 Day Challenge - Day 7

So, I'm halfway through my 14 day trial of Garnier Ultralift Complete Beauty Day Cream and I thought I'd check in and let you know how its going. First off a nod at Garnier for actually making sample sized sachets that cover your whole face and décolleté, a lot of companies give you the tiniest amount of product to try and you can never really judge fairly how well it will work based on that. 

Although I've been sampling a day cream I've actually had to use it at night as the cream is quite rich and my oily skin just can't take something that heavy in the day so I've been applying last thing at night, they say lotions and potions work best when we're sleeping right? The cream has a quite thick and almost oily texture to it, it does sink in well although I do wake a bit shiny but this isn't an issue as I cleanse first thing in the morning. The cream has that generic cream smell to it that most high-street creams have, you know that part baby wipe and part botanical smell? The pack comes with a 'wrinkle-reader' which is not much use to me as I don't have wrinkles anywhere as deep as the example pictures, we're just talking a few fine lines around my mouth and forehead. At present I can't see those lines have faded at all, but hey we're only on week one right?

I'm looking forward to seeing if there are any noticeable changes to my skin once the trial is up, I'll check in next Tuesday to let you know!

If you want to put Garnier Ultralift to the test click here for your 14 day trial pack.

Garnier Ultralift 14 Day Challenge

An anti-aging cream that guarantees to give visible results within 14 days is a bold statement to make, right? When Garnier offered a free 14 day free trial pack of their Ultralift Day cream I set aside my *ahem skincare snobbery and thought I'd give it a shot. With 23% of women seeing an improvement in skins firms within two weeks and 24% seeing fewer wrinkles in 4 weeks it had to be worth a try.

Now I don't have any major wrinkles but I am all for preventative measures when it comes to anti-ageing, anything has got to be worth a try, who wants to age gracefully?

Check back next week where I'll fill you in on my first week of using the cream!

My Top 4 Masks For Problem Skin

Unless you're one of those absolutely blessed people (which I envy/hate for it) who rarely get spots then we're all from time-to-time going to experience congested skin leading to an outbreak. I only ever get the occasional hormonal break-out on my chin and jawline (thanks to PCOS) but I do struggle from quite oily skin which I have to keep in check, so here's the once-a-week treatments I use to keep congested skin at bay.

Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask £15.75

This is my favourite mask for helping to balance my skin and regulate oiliness. I tend to smooth this over my t-zone only as I don't suffer from oiliness all over my face and my skin really feels as though all the excess oils and impurities have been drawn out, leaving my skin smooth and mattified. This mask isn't advised to be used on sensitive skin so I don't tend to use this on a breakout.

Yes To Tomatoes Clearing Face Mask £11.99

Over the last couple of years this mask is the one I've reached for when I'm having a particularly troublesome breakout as it does an amazing job of getting those nasty inflamed spots down. As well as treating existing spots it help balance skin and absorb excess sebum, leaving skin feeling deeply cleansed and calmer.

Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Anti Blemish Clay Mask £9.99

This one is fairly new to my collection but I can say after only three or four uses that it works, for me at least. As its name indicates it contains spot fighting Salicylic Acid to help clear out congested pores and Dead Sea Mud to absorb oil. I used this mask over the weekend as I had a corker of a spot on my chin and the next morning after using this mask it had shrunken in size quite considerably. The only thing I don't like about this mask is the scent, to me it smells quite overwhelmingly of burnt plastic, this will have to be the price to pay for something that works so efficiently.

Quick Fix Facials Exfoliating Scrub Mask £4.99

This little gem has quickly become my favourite mask. Aimed to treat stubborn blackheads and blocked pores and balance skin. Its recommended to massage the mask into skin to exfoliate and then leave it for 5-10 minutes before removing but I have found the best results doing the opposite. I leave the mask for 10 minutes and then with damp fingertips spend a couple of minutes massaging the scrub into my skin and then remove with a damp muslin cloth and all I can say is wow! My skin feels super clean, smooth and rid of any excess oil. You'll get 10+ masks from each 100ml tube, at less than 49p per mask and incredible results this is one I am sure to repurchase.

Talkin' About Toners - For Problem Skin

Firstly let me start off with an apology for the poor quality photo, the weather is pretty gloomy and it's really overcast here today *sad face.  I thought I'd do a little post on my favourite toners as I use these three regularly but for different purposes.

So we'll start from the left shall we? La Roche-Posay Serozinc Spray is my morning toner, I use it straight after cleansing and it's designed to mattify skin and leave it less shiny and greasy. I love the fact this toner comes in a spray bottle, it's really cooling and wakes your skin up. I've been Serozinc for about 3 weeks now and I'm really enjoying it, I find my skin is less oily throughout the day.  

Next up is one you must have seen before, Pixi Glow Tonic. I use this toner pretty much every morning (before Serozinc) and again in the evening. It's one of those products where you don't see the gradual change in your skin but all of a sudden you'll start getting compliments from other people. I think I've mentioned before that I'm addicted to anything that contains Glycol and that's what drew me to this toner. If you have skin that's a little lacklustre and you want something that will exfoliate whilst toning then this is for you.

Last but certainly not least is Caudalie Beauty Elixir. This is the toner I like to use after having my twice-weekly face mask or when I'm having a break-out. Imagine someone with a mouth full of mint blowing on your face, that's how refreshing this stuff is. It's cooling, soothing and instantly tightens my pores after cleansing. Although I use this as a toner you can use it to prime skin and set makeup, it's truly a marvel.

Do yo see any of your favourites here?

May Skincare Favourites

My monthly favourites posts are usually about makeup so this month I thought I'd share my favourite
skincare products, two of which are old favourites and two of which are great new discoveries.

First up we have Clarins Double Serum which I have been using for around 7 months and have noticed a considerable change in my skins texture and tone. Having oily skin has kept those wrinkles at bay and I bought this more as a preventative measure as I turn 27 this year. I had some fine lines (or laughter lines) around my mouth which have faded a lot and the once large pores on my cheeks have shrunken considerably. I winced a little as I handed over £55 for the 30ml bottle but as it lasts (with daily use) for nearly 6 months I can live with a justifiable £10 per month for an anti-ageing product which works for me.

Next up we have Dr LeWinn's Overnight Exfoliator which after searching for a link to the product I have just discovered has been discontinued *sad face. I have been suing this amazing product 3 nights a week for the last 12 months and my skin has never looked better. I suffered with a terrible bout of acne a couple of years ago and this overnight Glycolic peel has faded my scars and evened out my skin tone. Finding a similar product with the same amazing results will be difficult...leave me a comment if you can recommend something!

I had read quite a few posts on Pai BioRegenerate Fruit & Seed Oil Blend and last month decided to take the plunge and add it to my routine. I am a fan of Rosehip Oil, after my acne bout it healed my skin and combined with a couple of other treatments really aided the fading of scars and brimging back the glow to my complexion. This facial oil helps fade acne scars, stretch marks, fine lines and UV damage. I use this 3 nights after cleansing and before my night cream and my skin feels soft and radiant by morning.

Last but by all means least we have my second new skincare product for May, Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. I had been dying to give this cream a try for as long as I can remember but was always put of by the price, luckily this cream came to me via a more affordable alternative to the regular £80 purchase price (via the You Beauty Discovery Box) and I have to say I'm impressed with the results so far. I have noticed a little goes a long way and I do find I have to massage quite well as it doesn't absorb instantly but my skin is guaranteed to be soft and supple in the morning, I'm looking forward to seeing the long term benefits of using this moisturiser.

Which are your current skincare favourites?