Hi everyone, and Happy New Year! I haven’t been posting anything for a while… Having a super busy time, and I expect that to continue for a few more months. But I’m really excited about the prospect of having a bit more down time after that, and posting more frequently.
For now, I want to share a few goodies I’ve been loving in 2017. You might already know about some of them, and some might be a bit more unusual. Here they are, under various categories they seemed to fit under naturally:
Cleansing and controlling skin issues:
1. Origins Clean Energy Gentle Cleansing Oil
Great consistency – this cleansing oil isn’t too runny, it’s just right. It’s totally indulgent to massage this over your face for a couple of minutes and then rinse it off. The ingredient list is really nice, and I did find it removed my makeup very well. It also refreshed my skin and did not leave it feeling tight. Thumbs up from me!
2. FOREO Luna Mini 2
This is a very popular exfoliating device, so I don’t think I need to go into too many details. But, I will say that it does its job amazingly well, and it’s also great to stop (re)purchasing products with exfoliating beads suspended in them. Be warned though – it’s deceptively powerful. It might seem at first that it’s barely doing anything, but rest assured, it is doing plenty. I only use it 3-4 times/week, and that also includes exfoliating my lips. After a cold they were super chapped and flaky, but the Luna Mini 2 rubbed/buzzed the flakes off completely in seconds…! Amazing product, which I’ve only had to charge once in about 5-6 months…!
3. Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser
This is my fav cleansing foam to pair up with the Foreo. It’s very fluffy and delicate, almost like rubbing liquid silk around your face. Especially when exfoliating, you want something very gentle paired up with the procedure, so this really works for me because it’s so harmless and soft.
4. Differin Gel, from Galderma
This is a prescription-only product in the UK, as far as I know. But if you have issues with congested skin, like me, then try asking your GP for it. It’s really helped me out with calming inflamed skin and spots, and also preventing clogged pores. When I first started using it, my skin did shed, but after that initial reaction (which lasted maybe 2 weeks), things calmed down and now I can use it with no side-effects. It’s great and I always travel with it!
Caring for drier, winter-y skin:
5. Abeille Royale Youth-Watery Oil (Huile-en-Eau Jeunesse)
Following my review, I’ve kept on using this, and it’s continued to prove its worth in winter. Whenever I overdo things with exfoliation (again, caution when using the Foreo), or my skin is tired and dried out by the winter wind, this Youth Watery Oil has been a skin saviour. And after months of use, it still hasn’t broken me out, so I’m really happy with this product.
6. Pomegranate Seed Oil
Now, this is a treat for the skin. It’s super caring and nourishing, and when I use it in the evening my skin looks very rested and healthy the next morning. It is on the thicker side and the smell is… quite unusual, but the benefits are real – and despite the rich, thick consistency, it hasn’t broken me out either. I just wouldn’t be without it, especially in winter! I like to buy it from a seller I’ve come to trust: Biopurus. It comes in a 100ml bottle which I then decant into a glass dropper bottle of my own (you can spot it in my pictures).
7. Raspberry Seed Oil
Another great find from Biopurus. This oil is much lighter in consistency than the pomegranate seed oil, so it’s easier to use in the day time / all year round. It gets absorbed fast, and has given my complexion luminosity and a very healthy, smooth structure. It also smells delicious too, and didn’t break me out. Please try it, I’m sure you’ll love it!
8. Antipodes Joyous Protein Rich Night Replenish Serum
The comfort bringer. This serum actually falls somewhere in between an oil and a serum. I use only about 3 drops for my entire face. It smells lovely, but also unusual, probably due to the mushroom extract in it. It relieved any skin tightness and calmed down some redness. My partner regularly steals some from me. Yep, it’s that nice.
9. Farmacy Honey Drop
This has an incredibly light texture and it feels amazing to let it sink in. It replenishes your skin and also has a very nice configuration of ingredients – with honey, propolis, royal jelly & hyaluronic acid being high up in the ingredient list. It’s found a place in my routine (and heart – aww…) because it seems to work so, so nicely with my skin oils. I tend to apply them together as a skincare power cocktail, and the water in the Honey Drop formula helps the oils get absorbed faster at the same time. Try it!
Hand care for cracked, dry hands:
10. Antipodes Jubilation Ultra Nourishing Hand and Body Cream
This is genuinely the first hand cream (I don’t use it as a body cream – too expensive!) I’ve ever tried which is both very rich and nourishing, and also penetrates the skin super fast. No more cracked hands, but no more oily, sticky hands either! Plus, it’s bursting with natural ingredients – which you can even tell from the smell: it’s a very natural, beautiful scent instead of industrial added perfume. I totally recommend it and bought a backup within days of first trying it!
Thanks for reading & see you next time,
Lex
The Cat's Eye 
1 Comment