For the last year or so I have been very much in to my skincare, I'm now more clued up about what ingredients to avoid and I thoroughly enjoy buying skincare products. So I thought I would create a new series on the subject, from tips and tricks to do's and don't... with hopefully a few interesting interviews a long the way and lots of posts on affordable products.
Just to note, my own skin type is oily/combination that is also dehydrated so I need to make sure I thoroughly cleanse and treat blemishes but also keep it hydrated.
When looking for low cost products on the high street to treat blemishes or oily skin it can be tempting to go for harsh products if you don't know what to look for, as you feel will they be most effective. However it's probably the worse thing you can do for your skin, as harsh products will just strip your skin which will make it produce more oil. So my main tip would be to always treat your skin as a sensitive skintype. Here are a few more tips to keep in mind...
- Avoid alcohol in toners/skincare products
- Opt for a SLS-free (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/sulphate) cleanser/facial wash
- Ditch the harsh face scrubs all together
- Look for Salicylic acid in toners and moisturisers
- Use a clay face mask once a week
- Go for organic high street brands
- Thoroughly cleanse - always
Below are a few products and brands I really rate for affordable skin care on the high street...
When it comes to spot prone skin cleansing really is your best friend, you want to ditch the face wipes and foaming facial washes that contain SLS and look for a nice SLS-free face wash or cleansing milk for your morning cleansing routine and then a balm or cream cleanser with a flannel at night. Though being realistic there will be times when you can't be bothered so a Micellar water can be used.
Morning Cleanser - Organic Surge Daily Care Face Wash 200ml
Organic Surge £5.49 - here
This is my go-to face wash for in the morning used with a warm, wet flannel to remove it. It is of course SLS-free so lightly foams and doesn't strip the skin of anything. The wash does say it's suitable for all skin types but I think it's more suited to oily/combination skin types. Also smells like rose turkish delight! Other recommendations - Botanics 82% Organic Softening Cleanser 250ml (Boots £4.99 - here)
Night Cleanser - Botanics Organic Hot Cloth Cleanser 70ml (older style packaging photographed)
Boots £8.99 - here
Balm cleansers are a lovely way to remove makeup and thoroughly cleanse at the end of the day and this Botanics one has the feel and ingredients of a much more expensive balm cleanser. This comes with a muslin cloth (which I'd ditch for a nice soft flannel) and only a pea sized amount is need for the entire face. The balm cleanser melts in to a lovely oil that can be massaged over the skin to really dislodge and dissolve all makeup. This leaves the skin properly cleansed but still with a little moisture in it... you aren't wanting tight squeaky skin! Other recommendations - Superfacialist Neroli Daily Brightening Cleanser 150ml (£7.99 - here)
Quickie Cleanse and Extras
As mentioned above it is realistic that some nights the last thing you will want to do is remove your makeup but reaching for face wipes isn't the way you want to go, at all! So a great alternative is the L'Oreal Skin Perfection Micellar Water (Boots, Superdrug, Tesco etc) which will effective remove makeup without pushing it around the face and won't leave skin feeling striped or holding residue. Tip: This was also be used as a first cleanse before using a balm/cream cleanser as night.
You can apply this to a standard cotton pad but the Kleenex Facial Cloths work great as they are softer than a cotton pad and a lot larger... you can find them in most supermarkets, but Poundland normally stock them as well. Another extra would be flannels, you can pick up cheap ones from Primark but I recently stocked up in Tesco with some Finest Face Cloths which were reduced to 60p from £2.00 each. These hold on to water and hold heat so much better than a muslin cloth and they still lightly exfoliate the skin. I actually have around eight flannels so every day I have a clean one to use!
You can apply this to a standard cotton pad but the Kleenex Facial Cloths work great as they are softer than a cotton pad and a lot larger... you can find them in most supermarkets, but Poundland normally stock them as well. Another extra would be flannels, you can pick up cheap ones from Primark but I recently stocked up in Tesco with some Finest Face Cloths which were reduced to 60p from £2.00 each. These hold on to water and hold heat so much better than a muslin cloth and they still lightly exfoliate the skin. I actually have around eight flannels so every day I have a clean one to use!
When it comes to lotions and potions it can be tempting to avoid them all together if you are having a breakout or are suffering from oily skin but that really is one of the worst things you can do to your skin (after not cleansing thoroughly). You of course don't want to go for anything heavy but skin needs moisture and it can actually help your skin look brighter and repair itself quicker after a break out.
Botanics Ultra Calm Skin Relief Serum 30ml
Boots £7.99 - here
As I've got older (though I'm only 25) my skin has stayed oily but become dehydrated (not to be confused with having dry skin) so I feel a serum is needed both morning and night. This serum is a light runny consistency that soaks into the skin and make it feel a little more plump and allows my moisturiser to soak into my skin better. There aren't many amazing serums on the high street but this is a great one for anyone with an uneven complexion due to redness or acne/spot scaring or like me needs something to hydrate their skin after cleansing. Other recommendations - None that I have found to be suitable for oily skin on the high street, sorry!
Organic Surge Eye Gel 15ml
Organic Surge or Ocado £8.49 - here
This isn't a recommendation for oily skin as such however I have tried so many eye creams over the years but they have all left the skin under my eyes congested so that I develop actual spots?! So I almost feel this is a recommendation for sensitive skin that can't take a moisturising eye cream. Also eye gels are great if you get puffy eyes ( from lack of sleep, hay fever, contact lens wear etc)... which is something I do have a lot of the time. This gel has a lovely soothing/refreshing effect when applied and soaks in a lot faster than an eye cream, also you have the reassurance that it only contains good ingredients due to it being organic. Other recommendations - Boots Essentials Cucumber Eye Gel 15ml (Boots £1.50! - here)
Day Moisturiser - Superfacialist Deep Clean Mattifying Moisturiser 75ml
Boots £12.99 - here
I have found Una Brennan skincare range nothing short of amazing and this mattifying moisturiser that contains Salicylic acid doesn't disappoint. It you have super oily skin this may not be right for you (though see my other recommendation) but it you have temperamental combination skin that is oily and prone to blemishes then this may be a god send. I don't feel this prevents breakouts however it's great for skin that is having a breakout as it won't congest the skin but hydrate it and also treat it slightly with the salicylic acid. This of course also creates a good matte base for applying makeup on to, hence why this is my morning moisturiser.Other recommendations - Garnier Skin Naturals Pure Shine Control Moisturiser 75ml (Boots/Superdrug £4.05 - here)
Night Moisturiser - Avene Cleanance K Cream Gel 40ml
Boots £10.50 - here
This contains two of my favourite ingredients for preventing and treating spotty skin - Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid whilst still being a product suitable for sensitive skin. The Glycolic acid (which is in the AHA family) chemically exfoliates the skin to prevent blocked pores and future breakouts and the Salicylic acid treats actual blemishes, so this is a bit of a multi-tasker. The consistency of this is quite a thick gel cream that does leave the skin slightly tacky so for that reason I prefer to use this before bed and also to let it get to work by not applying makeup over the top of it. This isn't an instant fix though it is an effective product that will give visible results after a month or so. Other recommendations - Organic Surge Blissful Daily Moisturiser 50ml (£8.49 - here) this is a day cream but can be used as a night cream for oily/combination skin
Even with oily skin a little extra pampering from time to time is needed and my favourite thing to do is apply a clay based mask and then spritz my freshly washed face with a hydrating toner mist. Clay face masks are great for problem skin and as long as it contains Kaolin you can pretty much go for anything on the high street.
Amie Spring Clean Cooling Clay Mask 75ml
Boots £4.95 - here
I have mentioned this so much on Makeup Savvy in the past few months as I really feel this is the best face mask you can find on the high street for the price. This mask is great for reducing the oil levels of the skin and helping spots to clear up without drying out the skin. Also the mask has an amazing cooling effect that makes the skin feel amazing. This really does feel like a mini spa treatment for the face.
Lush Breath of Fresh Air Toner Water 100g
Lush £3.95 - here
After applying any clay based mask I like to pat my skin dry and follow up with a hydrating toner water/mist so that I don't need to moisturiser my skin or use a serum. I have been using the Lush toner waters for years now and this specific one is ideal for soothing skin and slightly hydrating it. Lush also do a nice Tea Tree Toner Water for more oily skin if you feel that is what your skin needs.
As I knew this would be a super long post I decided to leave out spot treatment products so I will be doing a whole post on the best ones available on the high street and some more expensive options at a later date.
Hope you enjoyed this post - blog post ideas for this series would be amazing!
Fee xo.
