Lazy Girl Guide to Skincare

I'm ridiculously lazy when it comes to skin care. My philosophy tends to be the less time the products take me, the happier they make me. So, this is my skincare regime at the moment - or as I'm putting it, my lazy girl's guide.

Morning
So, my alarm goes off, I hit snooze, it goes off again, snooze - this goes on for a while until I drag myself out of bed and grimace at my face in the mirror. O joy! The first thing I do is use my Natio Gentle Cleansing Wipes* to give my fave a quick refresh and cleanse. It's full of natural products such as green tea and chamomile and it just helps to get rid of whatever make up residue may be left from the day before.
Next comes my La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo - I know, it's not on the picture (I left it at the boys like an idiot) but this has become a real staple is spot busting for me. I pop it on everyday in the morning and it works at cleaning my pores as well as minimising the blemishes I do have. Not only that but it works as a fab make up base. Then I moisturise with my Fade Out White Original Moisturising Cream* to replace all moisture that my Effaclar Duo has taken out and to brighten up my face, ready for the war paint.

Evening
Here comes the laborious task of taking my make up off. I hate doing it and it always makes me a bit sad. The best make up remover I have found has to be Bioderma Crealine H20, it's a micellar(?) cleaner, so water based, great for your skin and a genius at removing make up. I use this with a huge baby cotton pad so not to waste pads - one will do my entire face. If I need an extra dose for eye make up I use the usual round pads.
Then comes the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, just to double cleanse and remove all horrible grit and dirt. I don't double cleanse every night, mainly every other otherwise I feel it's a bit harsh on my skin so I try to keep it to a minimum. Again, an all natural cleanser and probably the most hyped in blogger world. Then lastly I pop some more of my Fade Out White Original Moisturising Cream to pop some much needed moisture back into my face. Poor face!

So that is my routine, it's not a huge one and it's definitely not a religious one - hence the lazy girls guide! This tends to be working really well for my skin at the moment. The Natio Cleansing Wipes* are a new addition that have restored my faith in face wipes. They are really gentle and really fab at cleaning your skin and keeping it nice and refreshed. I would definitely recommend them.

I do use other bits and bobs every now and then, for example every two weeks I use Origins Out of Trouble Mask and the weeks I don't use that I use an exfoliator, such as The Body Shops Vitamin C Microdermabrasion. Just for those times my skin needs an extra bit of help.

What's your tips for speedy yet fab skin routine?

Best of 2012.... Etc

These are all those other bits that don't necessarily fit into a particular category, but those I still absolutely love!

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette
A brand new fragrance and my favourite at the moment. It's a fab everyday scent, subtle yet incredibly pretty. Floral (which is quite obvious) and incredible cute bottle. I love Marc Jacobs scents and have a review of Dot coming up soon as well!

Soap & Glory Whipped Clean
I couldn't live without this stuff now, which sucks when it's £8 eek! But it's so moisturising and it smells amazing and it lasts for quite a while as well. Would definitely recommend this as a shower cream/shaving cream.

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub
Another can't live without product. My lips get ridiculously dry and this has definitely saved them this winter. It takes scrummy and is a very easy product to use. Definitely highly recommended.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo
An everyday, morning, pre make up spot buster. My skin has never been clearer than when I use this stuff and it has honestly lasted forever. Definitely worth the price tag.

Fade Out White Moisturising Cream
I was always a bit meh about moisturising creams, but this is amazing stuff. It brightens my skin and moisturises before make up. It doesn't aggravate my oily skin either! Thumbs up!

What's your favourite all time products of 2012?

Winter Warmers

I've been wanting to write this post for a while, but was waiting until I settled on my favourite products that have actually made a difference to me this winter... Every year I think "right - this year I will find my perfect combination" but it never happens - this year however I feel I have come pretty close!

Lips
Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub (full review here)
Love this little post of miracle magic! Leaves my lips feeling lipstick ready and removes all the gritty dead skin and scabs left over from me biting my poor little lips. Tastes scrummy too!

Nivea Lip Butter in Raspberry Rose (full review here)
A nice little product. No sticky residue on fingers and leaves my lips feeling lovely and moisturised  despite the winter chill. A perfect partner for my lip scrub.

Face & Hair
Fade Out White Moisturising Cream (full review here)
A gift from a PR company and I love it. It's my everyday facial moisturiser and it's made such a difference the past month or so. I forgot to take it to NY with me and my face felt horrible - until I got home and rejuvinated with this baby!

VO5 Hot Oil Moisture Soak Elixir (full review here)
To begin with I was a bit iffy about this product, but I am now in no doubt that this is definitely saving my hair from being left dry and brittle with this weather. A definite hair saver - I just wish it lasted longer!

Hands & Body
Soap & Glory Hand Food (full review here)
Love this little hand cream. Not just for winter, but all year round (when you work in retail anyway). It gives my hands a new lease of life and the smell is incredibly scrummy!

Soap & Glory Whipped Clean (full review here)
This shower cream has saved my body, my legs especially, from this cold weather. I don't know what I did before it and I don't know what I would do without it either! A definite must in my shower from now on!

These products are all my little winter savers - it's taken me a couple of months to choose my favourites and these definitely are the best of a bunch (and I mean a great big huge bunch of products). Hope this helps you in some way - I definitely feel I have finally found the ingredients for healthy winter skin!

What's you winter warmers?

Winter Warmers: Fade Out Moisturising Cream

Fade Out White Original Moisturising Cream £8.16*

This is the first in my little series of winter warmers! With going to New York I've been on the lookout for products that are gonna help me with the cold weather and this is one I was kindly sent to try.

It's a moisturising cream which has "clinically" proven to significantly lighten and brighten skin as well as moisturising. I've been using it for around three weeks now every morning and I really do like it. My skin started to look brighter after just a week and my dry winter areas stay moisturised thoughout the day.

It targets the dark areas and brightens them, while making my skin seem more toned.I really do like this product. My only niggle with it is that I'm not 100% keen on the smell, I don't know what it smells like, I can't put my finger on it, but it makes my noise wrinkle slightly. But it is something I can get over for the quality of the product!

I had never used "Fade Out" before, but I will definitely look into more of their products! This will be coming to NY with me to keep me nice and moisturized, and get rid of all the darkness stemming from jet lag!

Have you tried Fade Out products before? What "Winter Warmers" would you suggest?