The Review | The Body Shop Camomile Collection

So these have been worming their way into a number of bloggers hearts, so when I popped into my local Body Shop and saw there was an offer I snapped both of them up. My skin is going through some weird stages at the moment so it definitely needed it. I've been trialing these for over a month now and I have to say, I'm not sure how people are going to feel about this one... I've tried using these as a double cleanse so let's see how it goes

So instead of my usual micellar water I substituted the Camomile Silky Cleaning Oil, now I tend to stay away from oils and after using this for good reason - but we'll get to that. Basically I massage this into my face and remove all make up. It is an incredible make up remover, I will give the product that. It just cuts through the layers and really cleans the face. However, for me I find that it does irritate my eyes so I can't use it for eye make up. Also, I do have oily skin and this just seems to exacerbate that. Not good and really it's just made my skin worse. So yeah, not great. Anywho, after the oil I've been using the Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter. I was really excited to use this and yeah, it went the way of disappointment. I found this so greasy to apply and it was just really cringy to use. My face did look lovely and clean afterwards, even glowing. But I just can't get past the greasiness.

I think if you have dry skin these products would be amazing for you. However for oilier skinned gals like me it's a good idea to stay away from these... It's such a shame as they are both great at cleaning the skin and brightening as well, unfortunately I just can't get past the oil/grease. Sad times. 

Have you tried the camomile collection?

The Review | Ren Clearcalm3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser

REN CLEARCALM3 CLARIFYING CLAY CLEANSER

I've heard a LOT about Ren ever since I started blogging but it's taken nearly two years for me to actually bite the bullet and order a product. I asked you guys on Twitter what product I should choose from blemish prone skin and a load of you came back with this little beauty, as did the Ren guys themselves. 

I've been using this since the end of January now and I'm not looking back at all. It's a gorgeously creamy cleanser. It's incredibly gentle on the skin. Up until this I was using the Origins Zero Oil Cleanser, which is a gel one, so compared to this it's so light and just sinks into the skin. I use this as my evening cleanser as it's very relaxing for the skin. I don't use this to remove make up as I feel it's a waste of a nice cleanser. It's the perfect second cleanse. 

Since I've started using this my skin has really done a complete 180. My skin has never looked cleaner or clearer. I would definitely recommend trying Ren out - I'd love to try more of the Clearcalm3 products. If you want to give them a go it'd be worth asking the lovely Ren team on Twitter what they recommend for you, I did that and they were very quick at replying and their recommendation was exactly what I needed!

What Ren product would you like to try out?

Skin Care | Gel Cleansers

Gel cleansers seem to be a bit of a marmite product. Some people swear by them, others avoid like the plague! I think the stigma around them is that a lot of versions are incredibly harsh, contain alcohol so strip the skin, whereas other cleansers such as cream and balms don't seem to do this.

I have tried a multitude of cleansers, really a lot, most of which hasn't done a thing to my skin, but the one cleanser that's really made a difference has been a gel cleanser - so for me this was a major thumbs up in terms of this form of cleansing. I have oily skin and I find that cream cleansers can be a bit too gentle in that they don't take way the oil and grease from my face that the gels seem to do. So for me, the fact that gels are a tad harsher works well in my favour. They help to really strip the excess oil from my face to get to the dirt underneath and give it a really good clean. 

My personal favourite is definitely Origins Zero Oil cleanser - a gel cleanser through and through this is the one I always go back to. With most skin products I usually notice my skin getting worse before it gets better, with this is got better almost instantly and hand on heart it is the only cleanser I can say this about. It's incredibly fresh and doesn't dry out my skin. There is no stiffness afterwards, which is definitely another result of some gel cleansers, and my skin still feels soft. Want to know why - no alcohol, big thumbs up all around.

I'm not going to lie, I have used some gel cleansers that aren't my cup of tea. The most recent being this offering from Nip + Fab, their Clean Gel Fix. I was incredibly excited to use this, however I used this before checking the ingredients and it had a very chemically smell to it and left my face feeling overly stripped and stiff afterwards. When checking the ingredients I found the main difference between this and the Origins offering was that this contained alcohol. Don't get me wrong, it does clean my skin, however this does fall into the harsh gel cleanser stereotype for me. I had to use a ridiculous amount of moisturiser after using this - which we all know is not great for a foundation base (can anyone say slippery base!)

I think you have to be of a certain skin type to appreciate gel cleansers. I've used many and  there are some I hate and others I like. My pick would definitely be the above from Origins. If you have oily skin like me it is definitely worth looking into a gel cleanser - but do your research on the ingredients. My skin appears to love Salicyclic Acid (which is in the Origins cleanser) so if you are like me definitely look for that. But do avoid those with alcohol contained as it can be incredibly harsh for you skin.

If you have dry or sensitive skin I wouldn't go for a gel as it will irritate and be way to harsh for you- definitely go from something like a cream cleanser as it will be more gentle on your skin.

What type of cleansers suit your face? Are you pro or anti gel?

Skin Care | L'Oreal Micellar Solution

L'OREAL 3 IN 1 PURIFYING MICELLAR SOLUTION £3.33

I seem to be developing an addiction to micellar waters. I blame Bioderma, I really do. Bad French skin care brand! Now another French brand have done it again. I saw this on Estee's blog (www.essiebutton.com - go see it) and was intrigued. So off I went, and luckily it was in Sainsburys in a 3 for 2 deal. Yay!

So anywho, was it worth it? I find this a lot more watery - or viscous to be more scientific - than the others. It literally pours out the bottle, so it does have some wastage.  It's a very gentle cleanser, that removes foundation, power and blusher very easily. It's not as great on eye make up or bright lipstick, but for light make up it's perfect. Also for those with more sensitive skin it's gentle enough to work. 

Overall I do like this, for me it's not as tough on make up as others like B.Pure or Bioderma, but it's perfect for light and sensitive skin.

What's your favourite micellar water?

Skincare | Origins Zero Oil Cleanser

ORIGINS ZERO OIL CLEASNER £18.00

Day two of Lisa gushing about products. This beaut of a cleanser has appeared in a couple of posts, such as Cleansers and June Faves, but I hadn't realised I've not done an actual post dedicated to just it. My new love, the product that has changed my skin completely - and for that I owe it at least one gushing review. So get the sick buckets ready...

Okay, so as you all know I have oily skin, it's the bane of my life. So when I saw that Origins did a zero oil cleanser I knew I had to try it. Yes a tad on the pricey side, however well worth it. It's a gel cleanser, that I pop on a wet face and massage into the skin. Once covered, wipe off with a flannel. My skin feels refreshed and light. It contains Salicyclic Acid, which I've heard before is amazing for oily skin as it acts as a chemical exfoliant that deep cleans pores; and saw palmetto inhibits excess oil production. 

Since using this morning and evening, my skin has significantly improved. I've even been able to use products that used to break me out, now they don't. Yay! Honestly, the best cleanser I've used and I'm never looking back. I would recommend this collection for anyone with oily skin.

What cleansers do you swear by? Do you have oily skin?

Skincare | Cleansers

Continuing on my mission for a great skincare regime, I have recently shaken up my cleansing routine and really commited to it, and to be honest I have seen the biggest difference because of it. I've gotten rid of a lot of "treatments" like La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo - as much as I love it I wanted to go back to basics - and honestly I haven't had to use it.

So, cleansing is basically cleaning your face. Simple I know, but like me you may not have really registered the importance of doing so. When I said to my boyfriend "since I've been doing it properly my skins has really cleared up" and he looked at me like an idiot - for him it just seemed like common sense. So what have I changed?

Well, I now have a proper routine. I cleanse in the morning, and double cleanse in the evening. After reading Rebecca's post on double cleansing I am now addicted and feel a bit eugh if I don't.

So in the morning I use my Origins Zero Oil cleanser, it's a gel cleanser that was recommended by Kate from gh0stparties for oily skin, which is exactly what I have. I pop a bit in my (clean) hands, and then apply to the face using my fingers in a circular motion until it covers my entire face. Then using a flannel, I remove with warm water - again in circular motions. I use a flannel instead of a muslin cloth as I just cannot get on with the cloths, I just tend to find them dirt catching and harder to rinse, and a flannel works perfectly for me anyway.

Then, in the evening I use a micellar water to remove my make up as my first cleanse. I've been switching between Bioderma and B.Pure. Both are great at removing make up, personally I prefer Bioderma but it's a little harder to get hold off so I use that when I've been wearing a lot of make up, and B.Pure for everyday make up.

For the second bout of cleansing I go back to my Origins Zero Oil to get rid of any excess dirt or rubbish on my face.

Since using this as my everyday cleansing routine my skin has significantly improved in appearance. I've used the micellar waters for ages already, so I am putting this mainly down to the Origins cleanser. A tad pricey but absolutely essential for me now - I couldn't live without it.

I would definitely recommend reading through Rebecca's post on double cleansing as it's a real eye opener, you can see it here.

What cleansers do you swear by?

Disclaimer: Please remember that all skincare is subjective. This review is based on my personal experiences with the products and based on my skin type. 

Skincare | B. Pure Micellar Water

B. PURE MICELLAR WATER £3.99 (available from Superdrug)

I am a big lover of Bioderma and their products have been raved about and highly anticipated to be launched in the UK. It has now been launched, but while I was waiting I was on a hunt for a micellar water that was more readily available.

This is described as a "super water"; it cleanses, removing impurities and make up, tones by restoring the pH balance in the skin and refreshes with cucumber extract. I use this in the evening to remove my make up, the idea being that it breaks the make up down as opposed to just wiping it off.

I've found that this solution is great at removing my make up quickly and easily, you just need to saturate a large cotton pad and wipe your face. It doesn't tend to dry out my skin and it leaves it looking fresh and I feel refreshed. It's a very nice product at an incredibly reasonable price.

Compared to Bioderma, I still think Bioderma is the better product in terms of make up removal, but B.Pure is still a really great product and I definitely wanna try some more of their products.

What micellar waters do you use?