![[shelfie] Low-to-mid budget routine for dry, acne prone skin with detailed reviews!](https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/RHabEwbTSay8phZqUEVYED5AksGyCrRKqTnK470S9ak.jpg "[shelfie] Low-to-mid budget routine for dry, acne prone skin with detailed reviews!")
https://preview.redd.it/x2rt1k9idph41.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d79f1329955dc08a7cbdcc313950b754ce600329
Thought I'd do an updated shelfie, seeing as everything has changed since my previous one. I can't shut up so prepare for this to be long.
Skin type is dry-to-normal (I think I was incorrect in my previous post lmao). Prone to acne, blackheads, and hyperpigmentation. My main skincare goals are to heal hyperpigmentation, stay spot free, and do preventative anti-aging.
I try not to spend more than £20 on any one product, but there are a couple of more expensive products in this routine. Prices are what I normally pay in Boots or direct from the manufacturer; exceptions are noted.
Routine summary
Morning (generalised): foaming cleanser exfoliator vitamin C serum 20 minute wait toner antioxidant serum moisturiser sunscreen
Morning (products): Simple Micellar Gel Wash Drunk Elephant TLC Frambroos Hylamide C25 20 minute wait Facetheory Cera-C toner Inkey List Q10 CeraVe Moisturising Lotion SunSense Ultra + Burt's Bees lip balm and/or Aquaphor
Evening (generalised): cleansing balm foaming cleanser toner retinol serum moisturisng serum moisturiser facial oil
Evening (products): The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Balm Simple Micellar Gel Wash Facetheory Cera-C toner Indeed Labs Retinol Reface The Ordinary Buffet CeraVe Moisturising Lotion The Wild Rose Soap Company Face Serum
As needed: Calamine & Glycerin cream (spot treatment), Burt's Bees lip balm, Aquaphor
Morning routine & reviews
Simple Water Boost Micellar Gel Wash - £5/150ml; key ingredients: gentle surfactants, panthenol
I love this product. Definite repurchase. It has a really nice texture, it's slightly acidic, and it foams + removes easily. No scent at all which is my preference. I got it to replace the Boots Expert Sensitive Face Wash with Aloe Vera, which is slightly alkaline and was causing serious breakouts, scaly dry patches, and a raw red patch on my cheek; as soon as I switched cleansers my face started healing.
Drunk Elephant TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum - £76/30ml; key ingredients: AHAs, salicylic acid, 12% combined concentration
Okay, so serious caveat here: I received this as a gift from a friend. It was already open and I'm not sure how long it had been open for, so if I'd got it new I might have a different opinion. Having said that, I do not like this product. The packaging is neat (you twist the top and a little spout pops up to push down on), and I like the gel texture, but it is not nearly as effective as other exfoliators I've used. It makes my blackheads smaller, but does not eliminate them the way I would expect, especially from a luxury product. My budget does not stretch to £70+ skincare, but even if it did, I would not buy this again. Before this I was using The Ordinary 7% Glycolic Toner (£7) and a Neutrogena toner (£5) layered on top of each other for better results at literally a fifth of the price. (The Neutrogena toner, btw, DID get rid of my blackheads. Although it appears to be discontinued now, because we can't have nice things.)
Hylamide C25 - £25/30ml; key ingredient: vitamin C (ethylated ascorbic acid), 25%
As far as results go, I like this product. I feel like it makes my skin glowier, and has helped fade PIH; not dramatically, but it's definitely helping. It's a little more expensive than I ideally like to spend on serums, but you only need a quarter of a dropper each time so it's going to last months. BUT - the propanediol base feels very sticky and petroleum-oily, and it lasts even after the rest of my routine. It's especially difficult to apply make up over, and gums up my make up brushes. And somewhat concerningly, it was scentless when I opened it, but with time has started to develop a slight "burnt corn" (I don't know how else to describe this) smell despite being stored in a shut cupboard in a cold room. I think it's still fine to use - I haven't experienced irritation or breakouts - but it's definitely not the "completely stable" formulation that Deciem claims it is. I would reluctantly repurchase this if I couldn't find anything better, but I'm going to seek a vitamin C serum that has equivalent results and a less annoying texture. Next on my list is the Inkey List Vit C + EGF serum.
20 minute wait
Not a product, but I definitely think that leaving a 20 minute wait after my low pH products has helped them work better. Definitely think I'm glowier since I started doing this! Can be hard to fit in in the morning; I normally use the time to eat breakfast in. (NB - Hylamide C25 doesn't have a traditional pH as it's a water free formulation, but in water ethylated ascorbic acid has a pH of 3 - 5 so I treat it like a low pH product.)
Facetheory Cera-C Toner - £15/200ml; key ingredient: niacinamide, 5%
My main interest in incorporating this product into my routine was the niacinamide. It also has ceramides and a little bit of vitamin C, but I'm not so fussed about that. And it's fine! Perfectly nice toner. No scent, slightly viscous, slightly oily texture but not in a bothersome way, goes on best with fingers rather than a cotton pad. You only need a few drops each time so the bottle lasts forever. Pleasantly soothing after cleansing. There is nothing wrong with it and if it were the only toner in the world I would happily repurchase it indefinitely, but as is I'm getting a little bored. Going to try the Muji Toning Water or Hada Labo Hyaluronic Acid Lotion next, and get niacinamide in a separate serum.
The Inkey List Q10 serum - £5/30ml; key ingredients: antioxidants, especially Q10
This is a lovely little serum. No scent, goes on easily with fingers. I don't notice a major change from this, but then I wouldn't expect to from an antioxidant serum. It's slightly moisturising and I do think it helps support my sunscreen and prevent further PIH. And it's a great price. The only thing wrong with it is that the packaging is very irritating; I normally store it upside down or I can't get the product out. Really needs a pump or something (I suspect the Niod pumps would fit so some Frankensteining might be in order). I've repurchased it a couple of times but I've realised that the Niod Survival 0 serum is only £20 (i.e. within budget) and has a much more exciting antioxidant profile, so I'm going to try that next. If you have £5 rather than £20 for a serum, then this is definitely a good option.
CeraVe Moisturising Lotion - £9.50/236ml; key ingredients: ceramides, fatty alcohols
I know this sub is all about CeraVe in the tub, but can we have some love for CeraVe with the pump? This is light, nourishing, and just gorgeous. No scent, no fuss, and no getting your grubby fingers in the product. Sinks in easily and sits well under make up. Possibly not quite heavy enough for the nighttime, but that's what facial oils are for. I often layer this on my lips as well. Have repurchased this once already and intend to do so again. One day I might want to play around with other moisturisers for variety and to satisfy my curiosity, but honestly I'll have trouble setting this aside.
SunSense Ultra - £23/500ml from The Suncare Shop; key ingredients: niacinamide, SPF 50 (I used to get this for £20/500ml but it's gone up, boo)
I am not about all these tiny fiddly sunscreens in 50ml bottles that will create mounds of plastic waste, especially as I use sunscreen on my body as well as my face. SunSense Ultra is a runny milk that sinks in easily, and one 500ml bottle will last me almost a whole year. It isn't sticky once it's on, but I do still notice it if I'm paying attention and it occasionally escapes into my eyes (although I do put it on my browbone underneath the eyebrow). I vastly prefer it to any drugstore sunscreen I've tried and have repurchased before. However, now Alturist comes in 200ml bottles I'm going to switch to that - Altruist is the best sunscreen I've ever tried and feels like nothing once it's on. I've long kept a 100ml Altruist bottle in my gym bag, but didn't want to make it my go to sunscreen and go through tons of plastic bottles. Bigger bottles means that Altruist is going to become my everyday sunscreen.
Evening routine & reviews
The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Balm - £11/90ml
This is fine. It's a cleansing balm. Sometimes I get grits with it which is cool. Has a nice, silky texture which is good for an oil massage. I'm struggling for anything else to say about it - honestly it bores me. The main ingredients are ethylhexyl palmitate and synthetic wax which are the most boring ingredients imaginable. I'm going back to Lush Ultrabland - it's more expensive, but that almond oil+beeswax mix is much more enjoyable and nourishing.
Simple Water Boost Micellar Gel Wash - as above
Facetheory Cera-C toner - as above
Indeed Labs Retinol Reface - £20/30ml; key ingredients: retinol, hydroxypinacolone retinoate (AKA granactive retinoid), palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7
I... think I like this? I'm not sure if it's making much of a difference to my face; the fine lines on my forehead (I'm 27 so they are very fine) seem like they're softening a little, but not much. I got better results with The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% but I didn't really want an oil format anymore. I do like that this one is mild enough to go all around my eyes, but part of me wants something stronger. I might repurchase, but I'd like to try a few more retinoids first and see how it goes. There aren't many well-reviewed retinoids out there for £20 or less though - recommendations welcome.
The Ordinary Buffet - £24.10/60ml; key ingredients: amino acids, several forms of hyaluronic acid, sugars, urea, glycerin, PCA, oh yeah and I guess some peptides
Giving the price for the larger size because that's what I buy because I love this. It's so good. It smells (faintly) like glue but I really could not care less because there is so much good stuff going on in here. I guess it's technically an anti-aging peptide serum, but that's not what I'm here for: I'm here for that good good moisturisation. Buffet really excels at that.
CeraVe Moisturising Lotion - as above
The Wild Rose Soap Company Face Serum - £12/30ml; key ingredients: squalane, grapeseed oil, cacay oil
This is a facial oil. It says it's a "face serum", and if you consider oils serums then that is accurate. But I would call it an oil. Moving on - I picked this up on a whim when buying shaving soap from the company, and I like it a lot more than I was expecting. The base is grapeseed which gives it a very light feel, and it smells faintly nutty (I guess from the cacay oil). It's pretty moisturising, and if it were available on the high street I would repurchase - but I don't like it enough to make a special order from the company each time. Intending to replace with Facetheory's Q10 oil.
As needed reviews
Burt's Bees Lip Balm - £4 each
What is the point of this product. It leaves my lips no more moisturised than Vaseline. I got it as a gift and I hate it. Not sure if I'll even use it up. Next up for me is Nuxe Reve de Miel or Dr Pawpaw depending on how flush I'm feeling.
Eucerin Aquaphor - £9/45ml; key ingredients: petrolatum, lanolin, panthenol
I tried this after reading about it on The Acid Queen Blog and... I love it. It's so much better than Vaseline. It's fine on lips (especially over a different moisturiser), but I think it really shines on small wounds and especially on damaged cuticles. My cuticles are prone to being flaky nightmares and this has really helped me fix them. I also used it as an occlusive layer when I was fixing my skin from the Boots Expert face wash, and it really helped heal my red, sore skin. I balked at the price at first, but this tiny bottle has lasted me several months thus far. Going to rebuy forever.
Calamine & Glycerin cream - £1.60/35g; key ingredients: zinc oxide 5%, calamine, glycerin
A while ago everyone on this sub was buzzing about nappy cream and other high zinc oxide creams for spots, and I happened to see this in Boots so thought I'd give it a shot. Friends. It's so good. I put it on active breakouts and it brings the inflammation and redness right down. It's occlusive and high in glycerin, so it doesn't dry out or irritate the skin surrounding the spot; it just works. Especially effective on whiteheads which it dries right out. When I have an active whitehead, I dab a thick layer on right before bed and wipe off any reside in the morning. I also put a thin layer on shaving rash, which it works wonders on too - I think it would do well on any inflamed skin. And it's one. Pound. Sixty.
And now for a bunch of stuff that isn't pictured.
Tools
Reusable cotton rounds - I cannot remember where I got these from or how much they cost but I like them a lot. They have a somewhat scrubby surface that exfoliates wonderfully. Nothing in the above routine requires them, but I miss them; I need to find something that works with cotton rounds!
Facetheory bamboo cloths - £7.25 for 3 - I tried some cheaper face cloths and they were inadequate. These are good. Very good. Especially after a few washes when they get delightfully soft.
Body care
Bioderma Atoderm Nourishing Cream - £18.50/500ml - my current body moisturiser. I use it daily. It is great. Hasn't 100% cleared up, but definitely very much helped, the keratosis pilaris on my arms. The pump is efficient. The price is reasonable. It does exactly what I want a body cream to do without making a fuss.
Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil - £8.80/200ml - I've never used a shower oil before so this has very strong novelty value. It's quite fun, but I feel like I'm getting through it quickly and it's kind of pricey. Going to switch back to regular shower gel.
Hands and feet
CCS Foot Care Cream - £8/175ml - I put this on my feet every night before I go to bed and it helps keep the hard skin at bay. It has 10% urea which I think is a major part of this, as well as lactic acid.
Footner Exfoliating Socks - £20/pair - for when CCS is not enough! Every couple of months my feet spend an hour in this bag of alcohol and acid, and then over the next week all the dead skin peels off. It's gross and satisfying and gives me beautiful feet. I've tried a few cheaper options; Footner still reigns supreme.
Sweet almond oil - £5/100ml from Holland & Barrett - I put this on my cuticles when I get out of the shower and rub it in. It's moisturising and good and helps prevent my cuticles returning to hangnail hell. I was using squalane which I think is slightly better but also several times more expensive; so I'm going to stick to the almond oil.
Shaving
I'm currently using a double edge razor with Gillette Platinum blades. I still get some shaving rash though. :( For shave soap I have The Wild Rose Soap Company Fragrance Free Shaving Soap (£8/130g), and I don't rate it. It doesn't foam up as much as I'd like and even though there's water in it there aren't any preservatives?! This gives it a preposterously short shelf life, which I think it's already surpassed even though I haven't used all that much of it. I suspect this is contributing to my shaving rash, which has been getting worse recently; I'm likely to throw it out and try something else. Probably going to keep the tin and put a different brand's shaving puck in there.
Something which does help is Lifeplan Aloe Vera Gel (£8/200ml). I apply it immediately after shaving and before the Bioderma, and it helps soothe the skin.
Haircare (scalps are skin, right?)
I'm using a cheap misc shampoo from Boots which I don't like much and will replace when it runs out. My hair's quite short so conditioner tends to make it quite limp; instead I'm using grapeseed oil (£4/100ml from Holland & Barrett). I slather on a good handful before washing it, and then add just a few drops immediately after washing when my hair is still wet, massaging it all through my scalp and hair. Keeps it soft and happy.
Mindfulness
Not a product, but I don't think this is an aspect of skincare that gets discussed enough. I use my evening routine as a time to do mindfulness meditation, and focus very deeply on the sensory experience of doing skincare. The sound of running water. The feel of my hands on my face. The different colours in the packaging of my products. If my mind drifts, that's okay; I simply bring it back to my routine when I can. I definitely feel better for it - even though it's only 5 or 10 minutes a day, doing it regularly gives me a core of tranquility and peace. There is so much evidence that mindfulness is good for you, and if you've never tried it then I strongly recommend you do.
If you got to the bottom of this then well done you! I hope it was useful. I enjoyed typing it even if no one reads it. :D
submitted by Tansy_Blue to SkincareAddiction [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/x2rt1k9idph41.jpg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d79f1329955dc08a7cbdcc313950b754ce600329
Thought I'd do an updated shelfie, seeing as everything has changed since my previous one. I can't shut up so prepare for this to be long.
Skin type is dry-to-normal (I think I was incorrect in my previous post lmao). Prone to acne, blackheads, and hyperpigmentation. My main skincare goals are to heal hyperpigmentation, stay spot free, and do preventative anti-aging.
I try not to spend more than £20 on any one product, but there are a couple of more expensive products in this routine. Prices are what I normally pay in Boots or direct from the manufacturer; exceptions are noted.
Routine summary
Morning (generalised): foaming cleanser exfoliator vitamin C serum 20 minute wait toner antioxidant serum moisturiser sunscreen
Morning (products): Simple Micellar Gel Wash Drunk Elephant TLC Frambroos Hylamide C25 20 minute wait Facetheory Cera-C toner Inkey List Q10 CeraVe Moisturising Lotion SunSense Ultra + Burt's Bees lip balm and/or Aquaphor
Evening (generalised): cleansing balm foaming cleanser toner retinol serum moisturisng serum moisturiser facial oil
Evening (products): The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Balm Simple Micellar Gel Wash Facetheory Cera-C toner Indeed Labs Retinol Reface The Ordinary Buffet CeraVe Moisturising Lotion The Wild Rose Soap Company Face Serum
As needed: Calamine & Glycerin cream (spot treatment), Burt's Bees lip balm, Aquaphor
Morning routine & reviews
Simple Water Boost Micellar Gel Wash - £5/150ml; key ingredients: gentle surfactants, panthenol
I love this product. Definite repurchase. It has a really nice texture, it's slightly acidic, and it foams + removes easily. No scent at all which is my preference. I got it to replace the Boots Expert Sensitive Face Wash with Aloe Vera, which is slightly alkaline and was causing serious breakouts, scaly dry patches, and a raw red patch on my cheek; as soon as I switched cleansers my face started healing.
Drunk Elephant TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum - £76/30ml; key ingredients: AHAs, salicylic acid, 12% combined concentration
Okay, so serious caveat here: I received this as a gift from a friend. It was already open and I'm not sure how long it had been open for, so if I'd got it new I might have a different opinion. Having said that, I do not like this product. The packaging is neat (you twist the top and a little spout pops up to push down on), and I like the gel texture, but it is not nearly as effective as other exfoliators I've used. It makes my blackheads smaller, but does not eliminate them the way I would expect, especially from a luxury product. My budget does not stretch to £70+ skincare, but even if it did, I would not buy this again. Before this I was using The Ordinary 7% Glycolic Toner (£7) and a Neutrogena toner (£5) layered on top of each other for better results at literally a fifth of the price. (The Neutrogena toner, btw, DID get rid of my blackheads. Although it appears to be discontinued now, because we can't have nice things.)
Hylamide C25 - £25/30ml; key ingredient: vitamin C (ethylated ascorbic acid), 25%
As far as results go, I like this product. I feel like it makes my skin glowier, and has helped fade PIH; not dramatically, but it's definitely helping. It's a little more expensive than I ideally like to spend on serums, but you only need a quarter of a dropper each time so it's going to last months. BUT - the propanediol base feels very sticky and petroleum-oily, and it lasts even after the rest of my routine. It's especially difficult to apply make up over, and gums up my make up brushes. And somewhat concerningly, it was scentless when I opened it, but with time has started to develop a slight "burnt corn" (I don't know how else to describe this) smell despite being stored in a shut cupboard in a cold room. I think it's still fine to use - I haven't experienced irritation or breakouts - but it's definitely not the "completely stable" formulation that Deciem claims it is. I would reluctantly repurchase this if I couldn't find anything better, but I'm going to seek a vitamin C serum that has equivalent results and a less annoying texture. Next on my list is the Inkey List Vit C + EGF serum.
20 minute wait
Not a product, but I definitely think that leaving a 20 minute wait after my low pH products has helped them work better. Definitely think I'm glowier since I started doing this! Can be hard to fit in in the morning; I normally use the time to eat breakfast in. (NB - Hylamide C25 doesn't have a traditional pH as it's a water free formulation, but in water ethylated ascorbic acid has a pH of 3 - 5 so I treat it like a low pH product.)
Facetheory Cera-C Toner - £15/200ml; key ingredient: niacinamide, 5%
My main interest in incorporating this product into my routine was the niacinamide. It also has ceramides and a little bit of vitamin C, but I'm not so fussed about that. And it's fine! Perfectly nice toner. No scent, slightly viscous, slightly oily texture but not in a bothersome way, goes on best with fingers rather than a cotton pad. You only need a few drops each time so the bottle lasts forever. Pleasantly soothing after cleansing. There is nothing wrong with it and if it were the only toner in the world I would happily repurchase it indefinitely, but as is I'm getting a little bored. Going to try the Muji Toning Water or Hada Labo Hyaluronic Acid Lotion next, and get niacinamide in a separate serum.
The Inkey List Q10 serum - £5/30ml; key ingredients: antioxidants, especially Q10
This is a lovely little serum. No scent, goes on easily with fingers. I don't notice a major change from this, but then I wouldn't expect to from an antioxidant serum. It's slightly moisturising and I do think it helps support my sunscreen and prevent further PIH. And it's a great price. The only thing wrong with it is that the packaging is very irritating; I normally store it upside down or I can't get the product out. Really needs a pump or something (I suspect the Niod pumps would fit so some Frankensteining might be in order). I've repurchased it a couple of times but I've realised that the Niod Survival 0 serum is only £20 (i.e. within budget) and has a much more exciting antioxidant profile, so I'm going to try that next. If you have £5 rather than £20 for a serum, then this is definitely a good option.
CeraVe Moisturising Lotion - £9.50/236ml; key ingredients: ceramides, fatty alcohols
I know this sub is all about CeraVe in the tub, but can we have some love for CeraVe with the pump? This is light, nourishing, and just gorgeous. No scent, no fuss, and no getting your grubby fingers in the product. Sinks in easily and sits well under make up. Possibly not quite heavy enough for the nighttime, but that's what facial oils are for. I often layer this on my lips as well. Have repurchased this once already and intend to do so again. One day I might want to play around with other moisturisers for variety and to satisfy my curiosity, but honestly I'll have trouble setting this aside.
SunSense Ultra - £23/500ml from The Suncare Shop; key ingredients: niacinamide, SPF 50 (I used to get this for £20/500ml but it's gone up, boo)
I am not about all these tiny fiddly sunscreens in 50ml bottles that will create mounds of plastic waste, especially as I use sunscreen on my body as well as my face. SunSense Ultra is a runny milk that sinks in easily, and one 500ml bottle will last me almost a whole year. It isn't sticky once it's on, but I do still notice it if I'm paying attention and it occasionally escapes into my eyes (although I do put it on my browbone underneath the eyebrow). I vastly prefer it to any drugstore sunscreen I've tried and have repurchased before. However, now Alturist comes in 200ml bottles I'm going to switch to that - Altruist is the best sunscreen I've ever tried and feels like nothing once it's on. I've long kept a 100ml Altruist bottle in my gym bag, but didn't want to make it my go to sunscreen and go through tons of plastic bottles. Bigger bottles means that Altruist is going to become my everyday sunscreen.
Evening routine & reviews
The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Balm - £11/90ml
This is fine. It's a cleansing balm. Sometimes I get grits with it which is cool. Has a nice, silky texture which is good for an oil massage. I'm struggling for anything else to say about it - honestly it bores me. The main ingredients are ethylhexyl palmitate and synthetic wax which are the most boring ingredients imaginable. I'm going back to Lush Ultrabland - it's more expensive, but that almond oil+beeswax mix is much more enjoyable and nourishing.
Simple Water Boost Micellar Gel Wash - as above
Facetheory Cera-C toner - as above
Indeed Labs Retinol Reface - £20/30ml; key ingredients: retinol, hydroxypinacolone retinoate (AKA granactive retinoid), palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7
I... think I like this? I'm not sure if it's making much of a difference to my face; the fine lines on my forehead (I'm 27 so they are very fine) seem like they're softening a little, but not much. I got better results with The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% but I didn't really want an oil format anymore. I do like that this one is mild enough to go all around my eyes, but part of me wants something stronger. I might repurchase, but I'd like to try a few more retinoids first and see how it goes. There aren't many well-reviewed retinoids out there for £20 or less though - recommendations welcome.
The Ordinary Buffet - £24.10/60ml; key ingredients: amino acids, several forms of hyaluronic acid, sugars, urea, glycerin, PCA, oh yeah and I guess some peptides
Giving the price for the larger size because that's what I buy because I love this. It's so good. It smells (faintly) like glue but I really could not care less because there is so much good stuff going on in here. I guess it's technically an anti-aging peptide serum, but that's not what I'm here for: I'm here for that good good moisturisation. Buffet really excels at that.
CeraVe Moisturising Lotion - as above
The Wild Rose Soap Company Face Serum - £12/30ml; key ingredients: squalane, grapeseed oil, cacay oil
This is a facial oil. It says it's a "face serum", and if you consider oils serums then that is accurate. But I would call it an oil. Moving on - I picked this up on a whim when buying shaving soap from the company, and I like it a lot more than I was expecting. The base is grapeseed which gives it a very light feel, and it smells faintly nutty (I guess from the cacay oil). It's pretty moisturising, and if it were available on the high street I would repurchase - but I don't like it enough to make a special order from the company each time. Intending to replace with Facetheory's Q10 oil.
As needed reviews
Burt's Bees Lip Balm - £4 each
What is the point of this product. It leaves my lips no more moisturised than Vaseline. I got it as a gift and I hate it. Not sure if I'll even use it up. Next up for me is Nuxe Reve de Miel or Dr Pawpaw depending on how flush I'm feeling.
Eucerin Aquaphor - £9/45ml; key ingredients: petrolatum, lanolin, panthenol
I tried this after reading about it on The Acid Queen Blog and... I love it. It's so much better than Vaseline. It's fine on lips (especially over a different moisturiser), but I think it really shines on small wounds and especially on damaged cuticles. My cuticles are prone to being flaky nightmares and this has really helped me fix them. I also used it as an occlusive layer when I was fixing my skin from the Boots Expert face wash, and it really helped heal my red, sore skin. I balked at the price at first, but this tiny bottle has lasted me several months thus far. Going to rebuy forever.
Calamine & Glycerin cream - £1.60/35g; key ingredients: zinc oxide 5%, calamine, glycerin
A while ago everyone on this sub was buzzing about nappy cream and other high zinc oxide creams for spots, and I happened to see this in Boots so thought I'd give it a shot. Friends. It's so good. I put it on active breakouts and it brings the inflammation and redness right down. It's occlusive and high in glycerin, so it doesn't dry out or irritate the skin surrounding the spot; it just works. Especially effective on whiteheads which it dries right out. When I have an active whitehead, I dab a thick layer on right before bed and wipe off any reside in the morning. I also put a thin layer on shaving rash, which it works wonders on too - I think it would do well on any inflamed skin. And it's one. Pound. Sixty.
And now for a bunch of stuff that isn't pictured.
Tools
Reusable cotton rounds - I cannot remember where I got these from or how much they cost but I like them a lot. They have a somewhat scrubby surface that exfoliates wonderfully. Nothing in the above routine requires them, but I miss them; I need to find something that works with cotton rounds!
Facetheory bamboo cloths - £7.25 for 3 - I tried some cheaper face cloths and they were inadequate. These are good. Very good. Especially after a few washes when they get delightfully soft.
Body care
Bioderma Atoderm Nourishing Cream - £18.50/500ml - my current body moisturiser. I use it daily. It is great. Hasn't 100% cleared up, but definitely very much helped, the keratosis pilaris on my arms. The pump is efficient. The price is reasonable. It does exactly what I want a body cream to do without making a fuss.
Bioderma Atoderm Shower Oil - £8.80/200ml - I've never used a shower oil before so this has very strong novelty value. It's quite fun, but I feel like I'm getting through it quickly and it's kind of pricey. Going to switch back to regular shower gel.
Hands and feet
CCS Foot Care Cream - £8/175ml - I put this on my feet every night before I go to bed and it helps keep the hard skin at bay. It has 10% urea which I think is a major part of this, as well as lactic acid.
Footner Exfoliating Socks - £20/pair - for when CCS is not enough! Every couple of months my feet spend an hour in this bag of alcohol and acid, and then over the next week all the dead skin peels off. It's gross and satisfying and gives me beautiful feet. I've tried a few cheaper options; Footner still reigns supreme.
Sweet almond oil - £5/100ml from Holland & Barrett - I put this on my cuticles when I get out of the shower and rub it in. It's moisturising and good and helps prevent my cuticles returning to hangnail hell. I was using squalane which I think is slightly better but also several times more expensive; so I'm going to stick to the almond oil.
Shaving
I'm currently using a double edge razor with Gillette Platinum blades. I still get some shaving rash though. :( For shave soap I have The Wild Rose Soap Company Fragrance Free Shaving Soap (£8/130g), and I don't rate it. It doesn't foam up as much as I'd like and even though there's water in it there aren't any preservatives?! This gives it a preposterously short shelf life, which I think it's already surpassed even though I haven't used all that much of it. I suspect this is contributing to my shaving rash, which has been getting worse recently; I'm likely to throw it out and try something else. Probably going to keep the tin and put a different brand's shaving puck in there.
Something which does help is Lifeplan Aloe Vera Gel (£8/200ml). I apply it immediately after shaving and before the Bioderma, and it helps soothe the skin.
Haircare (scalps are skin, right?)
I'm using a cheap misc shampoo from Boots which I don't like much and will replace when it runs out. My hair's quite short so conditioner tends to make it quite limp; instead I'm using grapeseed oil (£4/100ml from Holland & Barrett). I slather on a good handful before washing it, and then add just a few drops immediately after washing when my hair is still wet, massaging it all through my scalp and hair. Keeps it soft and happy.
Mindfulness
Not a product, but I don't think this is an aspect of skincare that gets discussed enough. I use my evening routine as a time to do mindfulness meditation, and focus very deeply on the sensory experience of doing skincare. The sound of running water. The feel of my hands on my face. The different colours in the packaging of my products. If my mind drifts, that's okay; I simply bring it back to my routine when I can. I definitely feel better for it - even though it's only 5 or 10 minutes a day, doing it regularly gives me a core of tranquility and peace. There is so much evidence that mindfulness is good for you, and if you've never tried it then I strongly recommend you do.
If you got to the bottom of this then well done you! I hope it was useful. I enjoyed typing it even if no one reads it. :D
