The products i use in the morning are pretty much routine. From my skincare products, to self hygiene and haircare products. This is because i don't find much time in the mornings to really think about which products i will be using. Sticking to the same routine and products works well for my lifestyle, but also for my skin.
In the evenings is when i have a bit more time to relax and pamper myself - once the kids are in bed first, of course. I thoroughly enjoy my nighttime 'me time' sessions where i can indulge in some of my wonderful skincare products. I find that in evenings i have more time to plan out my skincare routines and experiment with new products, where as my mornings are too fast paced so i need products i know work, and are quick and effective. At present my morning skincare routine consists of either a splash of cool water or a quick cleanse ( i always listen to what my skin needs, and i don't like to over cleanse my skin ). I then follow up with a toner, essence, treatment serum, eye serum and a lightweight moisturiser. So here are my favourite products to use in the mornings during the summer months...Starting with cleansers...
I always opt for a cleanser i can use my hands to quickly rinse off in the mornings, no faffing about with a muslin or wash cloth. My most used cleanser is the Skinesis Rapid Radiance Cleanse By Sarah Chapman, which is a clay based cleanser. Something i usually avoid as i find most clay based cleansers stripping and dry my skin out ( Yes Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip *cough ). However the Sarah Chapman is in a league of it's own... a clay cleanser that actually clarifies and hydrates. It is the ultimate soothing, deeply cleansing and nourishing morning cleanser. As discussed here i apply it like a flash mask in the morning for two minutes then rinse off. My skin always feels super clean but nourished and soft, and looks glowy and clear. If you are someone who is also over 30 and you get congested and greasy easily, then i highly recommend this cleanser. Another cleanser i swear by is the Grown Alchemist Gel Cleanser. This is actually my second bottle. It's pretty much an Organic, gentle light-foaming cleanser that is low in PH and packed full of lovely ingredients that help to gently clean, soothe and balance unpredictable skin. If you also have skin that cannot seem to make up it's mind ( hello combination skin lovelies ) then this cleanser is a dream. It is unisex so it's great for men also. Btw Content Beauty currently have a sale on Grown Alchemist products, so grab a bargain. Both cleansers are all year round 'must have' products for me, but i do find them especially good when i am oilier in the warmer months.
Next up is toner and face mists. I actually really enjoy using toner, it's an experience i personally find calming and refreshing - especially in the warmer months. There are so many amazing toners nowadays and the angels up above heard my call about toners in spray form - woopwoop. Toner in mist form is perfection for those who enjoy a spritz throughout the day or are short of time and just want to spray and quickly move onto the next step - which is ideal if you don't like faffing around with cotton pads. The January Labs Restorative Tonic Mist is the perfect touch of cool hydration that also calms, treats and clarifies my skin. I will admit that my preferred method of application is using a cotton pad, but i revoke my right to mist if i like. I find the Grown Alchemist Balancing Toner utterly delightful soaked on a delicate cotton pad. It contains Rose, Ginseng and Chamomile - which are three soothing ingredients i adore. This toner is rich in antioxidants, minerals and vitamins to restore the skin back to its natural PH balance, calming any inflammation and balancing out the skin. I like that both toners have very light and delicate scents to them, as i am not a fan of heavy scented toners - can you say nauseous? Basically the less scent ( odourless preferably ) the happier i am. Of course i have to talk about a face mist in my collection. Though it is used throughout the day to 'touch-up', i still consider it part of my morning/daytime routine. The Farmacy Skin Dew is my favourite summer face mist ever! It is a beautiful natural, soothing and hydrating midday pick me up. I find the gentle scent invigorating which helps to refresh the senses as well as the skin. Despite containing peppermint ( an ingredient i hate ), i actually really enjoy this mist. I like that the menthol-mint scent is very delicate and not obnoxious like the Caudalie Beauty Elixir - which i really hate! The smell is incredibly strong and i found that it would sting my eyes ( and yes my eyes were closed before you wonder lol ). The FSD is everything i wished the CBE to be, it's just the perfect midday pick-me-up.
I have raved about the Su-Man Rehydrating Toning Essence for what seems like forever over on my Social Media accounts and of course on my blog. However i decided to put it aside for a few weeks to see how i get on with the *Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, and i must say it's now the only essence i reach for in my morning skincare routine ( for the summer at least ). Jenna highly recommended this to me after i mentioned that i was intrigued, and i must say that her recommendation was spot on! This gel textured essence packed full of 96% snail mucin filtrate has become a permanent fixture in my skincare routine. It really helps to hydrate your skin but also protect the skin from moisture loss, leaving you with smooth and hydrated skin all day. It doesn't feel at all heavy on the skin, though it applies slightly sticky the tackiness soon dissipates. Anyone with combination skin knows that adding the 'hydrating-essence' step to your routine is key to ensuring that we don't end up looking super greasy after a few hours. I have also noticed that my serums work much better after using this, and i apply less moisturiser too.
Serums are my biggest addiction in skincare but they are also the priciest - ouch! I have two amazing serums that i rotate. My most used and holy grail serum is the Kypris Antioxidant Dew. This antioxidant-rich, lightweight, milky-serum is hydrating and soothing, delivering a smooth and weightless finish. I love that it completely absorbs into my skin without leaving behind any kind of residue or tackiness. Containing an array of Botanicals rich in vitamins C & E it helps to protect, hydrate and brighten the complexion. I like to call it my medicine in a bottle, as it always helps to calm my skin when its acting out. Since introducing this into my skincare routine at the beginning of the year i have noticed my skin is a lot stronger, less sensitive and i get much less breakouts. I honestly could not live without this. The other serum i have on rotation is the anti-ageing Oskia Super 16 Serum. As someone who is rather sensitive to strong fragrances or smells, i find that a lot of the Oskia products to be a bit too potent for me. However, i really like the results their products give so i put that issue aside. The Super 16 serum is a retinol equivalent that helps with the signs of ageing and boosts collagen production. It contains Hyaluronic Acid to attract and retain moisture, and Vitamins C and E for daily defence against the elements. Though this seems like it's aimed at women already with signs of ageing ( i would say over 35 ) i find this is fantastic at preventing ageing. I have used this for most of the year and have zero lines or wrinkles at 32. Recently i introduced the Oskia Renaissance Brightlight Serum to the mix, but as it is fairly new to my regime so it has not been included in the post, however i will update on my Instagram shortly i am sure.
Eye products are the hardest products to find, at least for me they are. Too many eye creams either do nothing, or they sit too heavy under my eyes and create milia and fluid build up on my lids - not a pretty site. I have since found that i get along much better with lightweight serums that have more of a watery or thin gel consistency - which i have my friend Kelly to thank for the recommendation last year. The eye serum that started the obsession is the Aesop Parsley Seed Antioxidant Eye Serum. This is so soothing and after the first week of usage i really saw a difference in the hydration of my under eyes. Then after two weeks there was a reduction in darkness. Now i only have darkness in the inner corner of the under eyes and i don't have to use a corrector anymore. My eyes are extremely sensitive and they feel much less sore now. The instructions suggest massaging three to five drops around the eye area, but i found that to be way too much! Just one drop does the job. I will say that if all the Aesop parsley seed products smell as amazing as this, i want to try the entire line! The other lightweight eye treatment on rotation is the *Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment ( a Kelly recommendation ). This is the most thinnest, watery consistency eye product i have ever used. I find it perfect for days i need a major boost of hydration under the eyes. It literally is like a glass of water for your not-so-designer under eye bags. It's super soothing and absorbs really quick, making it perfect for underneath makeup. It also layers well underneath an eye cream at night. I occasionally like to use the Bakel Cool Eyes eye treatment in the mornings, but i've noticed that it can make my eyes sting - which sucks as i see almost instant results with it. *sigh.
Finding the right moisturisers in the summer can be extremely tricky if you are at all oily. I get so hot and find that i sweat easily. When i apply a traditional cream moisturiser my skin feels suffocated, resulting in my face excessively sweating and my skin becoming congested - well hello there pimples. I have found that i can get away with wearing just the Kypris antioxidant followed by sunscreen or a water based gel moisturiser. The Blithe Crystal Iceplant Pressed Serum has become my favourite moisturiser of all time! Once again another Renee influenced purchase ( pretty much expect to see her beautiful & intelligent self mentioned in most of my blogposts lol ). BPS Crystal Iceplant is a unique concoction of a serum and moisturiser mixed into one. Making it easy if i choose to skip serum and go straight for this when im really strapped for time. It is incredibly lightweight and intensely hydrating! I love that it feels nice and cooling on the skin, literally making you feel like you splashed cool water all over your face. I'm utterly obsessed with this moisturiser and will have an in depth review coming up shortly. The other moisturiser i rotate in my regime is the *Aromatica Sea Daffodil Aqua Gel Cream. Another hydrating moisturiser, but is more of a cross between a gel and a lotion. It helps to balance the skin, nourish and hydrate, whilst feeling light on the skin. Over this past week i introduced another new moisturiser into my skincare routine, however with the weather being so freakishly hot at present, i find it's a bit much so will revisit is again in a few weeks - hurry up cool weathered Autumn.
Of course after i have completed my entire skincare routine i follow up with a sunscreen, all year round but especially so in the summer. There are three sunscreens in my rotation, two with an SPF of 30 and another with a higher SPF of 50. The Radical Skincare Skin Perfecting Screen SPF30 is my most used sunscreen. It has a nice flesh-toned tint to it that helps it blend into the skin nicely, no white cast. The Bioderma Hydrabio Moisturising Anti-Uv Mist is fantastic for applying over top of makeup, which makes it great for retouching throughout the day. This is also perfect for those who lose a lot of moisture in the warmer months with dry skin. If im going to be out for the day and need stronger protection i opt for the La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL, which has an SPF of 50. I love that its made for those with sensitive and sun intolerant skin. Its so delicate i use the childrens Anthelios for my kiddliwinks.
A couple of my routines:
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Products Talked About
Grown Alchemist Balancing Toner - £22 / $29
Muji Unbleached Cotton Pads - £1.95 / $7
Farmacy Skin Dew - $44 Not Pictured
Caudalie Beauty Elixir - £32 / $49 Dislike! Not Pictured
Su-Man Rehydrating Toning Essence - £37 / $62 Not Pictured
Muji Unbleached Cotton Pads - £1.95 / $7
Farmacy Skin Dew - $44 Not Pictured
Caudalie Beauty Elixir - £32 / $49 Dislike! Not Pictured
Su-Man Rehydrating Toning Essence - £37 / $62 Not Pictured
Kypris Antioxidant Dew - £52 / $67
Oskia Super 16 Serum - £82
Oskia Renaissance Brightlight Serum - £85 Not Pictured
Bakel Cool Eyes - £80 / $122 Not Pictured
Oskia Super 16 Serum - £82
Oskia Renaissance Brightlight Serum - £85 Not Pictured
Bakel Cool Eyes - £80 / $122 Not Pictured
*Elemis Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment - £42.50
*Aromatica Sea Daffodil Aqua Gel Cream - £30 / $45
*Perricone MD OVM - £135 / $170 Not Pictured
Radical Skincare Skin Perfecting Screen SPF30 - £38 / $55
Bioderma Hydrabio Eau De Soin - Moisturising Anti-UV Mist - £9
La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL - £16.50
*Perricone MD OVM - £135 / $170 Not Pictured
Radical Skincare Skin Perfecting Screen SPF30 - £38 / $55
Bioderma Hydrabio Eau De Soin - Moisturising Anti-UV Mist - £9
La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL - £16.50
People Mentioned
Content Beauty Wellbeing: Website - Instagram - Twitter - Facebook
Jenna of Buttermilk Skincare: Website - Instagram - Facebook
Kelly of Kellilash: Blog - Instagram - Twitter - Facebook
Renee of Gothamista: Youtube - Instagram - Twitter
So that was my current Morning skincare routine of summer 2016. What products can't you live without during the warmer months? I would love to know
Thanks for Reading Lovelies
Jamey xo
*This post may contains some PR Samples which are marked with an (*)
*Disclaimer - I only add links to websites i personally recommend or use.
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