What's In My Shower

I know that some of you would be interested in a tour (snoop around) of my new uni flat, and I thought the best and most interesting place to start would be in my little en-suite. Often, I am asked what products I use- and if I am honest I haven't altered my morning/night-time routine for a long time. For those who are interested, here's a sneak peak into my shower, and a review of some of my current faves.

Original Source shower gels really are your best bet if like me, you need a burst of energy and zest on those cold, early mornings. I've been obsessed with both the lemon and lime products which really pack a punch when it comes to scent and freshness.  Amazingly, forty real limes are crammed into this citrus shower gel, and the zesty scent stays with you even after you've rinsed the product away. The miniature lemon shower gel I own came free as part of a 'starter kit' when I arrived at the uni. After giving it a go I was not disappointed. The products are vegan and friendly to the environment- another bonus to the shower gels which are currently unrivalled in terms of scent and quality. I've been reserving my coconut scented bottle for the evening time, as this particular body wash is creamier and more luxurious than its fruitier counterparts. I've found it to be very relaxing after stressful days running from lecture to lecture, maybe it could do the same for you! The products are available to view here, and are widely available in most high-street drugstores and supermarkets.

When focussing on skincare, I am still using my 'holy grail' combination of St. Ives Apricot Scrub and Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Wash.  If you're interested in knowing further details and a more in-depth review of these products, check out this blogpost from earlier in the year. For me, this facial scrub and daily wash seem to work together well, and keep my skin feeling fresh and noticeably clearer with regular use. Until I hear about something that works just as well, I'm planning to re-purchase these particular brands time and time again. What kind of products are you enjoying?

The priciest items in my shower are hair lightening shampoos by John Frieda (available here). These 'Go Blonder' treatments have been very effective in gently brightening the lighter parts of my hair, and have given me a naturally, visibly blonder look. I use the shampoo in isolation, as I feel my hair is soft and fine enough without need for additional conditioning. In my experience, the John Frieda products work fantastically well alone, and don't necessarily require their sister product (shampoo + conditioner combo) to have a dramatic lightning effect on your hair. I would certainly recommend these products, and believe them to be well worth their price. If you're feeling thrifty, wait for the range to be on offer, or explore shops such as Body Care to try and grab a bargain with your toiletries. 

If you'd like me to write a full post about my hair lightening experience, let me know in the comments or on Twitter. I've used three different products in order to achieve a sun kissed look, and avoiding the use of bleach had enabled me to maintain soft and healthy hair. 

As always, thankyou for reading and continuing to tweet about and support my blog. I've been tremendously busy at university, settling in and getting to grips with my course. Freshers week really took its tole on my body and skin, and I think a full detox is definitely required to get back to feeling healthy, active and well! Studying English as I do, I'm very determined to keep up to date with my blog, and keep you informed about what I'm up to! Thankyou for reading. 

How To: Flawless Skin

I occasionally get asked how I keep my skin so clear, and am always willing to tell people the steps I take to look after my complexion. The truth is, nobody is flawless- especially me, but I am lucky enough to have never suffered with acne or persistent blemishes. I have answered questions about my routine on twitter and instagram before, but I think writing it all here in one place is a simpler way to answer anyone who's interested in what products I use. Sometimes, the trick to looking flawless is good lighting and most certainly a healthy diet- but keeping your face clean and moisturised is equally important.

A product I use daily (as you can tell by my almost empty bottle!) is the Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Gel Wash, an uplifting facial cleanser which is both gentle and refreshing.  I like this product because it is reasonably priced at less than £5, and the 200ml bottle seems to last forever. Unlike other gel washes I've used such as Clearasil, there are no harsh chemicals which could dry out or inflame the skin. Instead, the Neutrogena wash is gentle and calming, as well as smelling really fruity and fresh. The pseudoscience on the bottle tells me that 'MicroClear Technology' allows for deep cleansing of the pores and the elimination of blackheads etc. Works for me! If you fancy a nosey, it's available here. 

Aswell as my daily gel wash, I like to use the St. Ives Apricot Blemish Control Scrub in 'Naturally Clear' around three to four times a week. This scrub is oil-free and uses 100% natural ingredients, and I'd certainly argue it's worth the price of around £4 for 150ml. St. Ives is the best selling scrub brand in the UK, and you can find this product in most supermarkets as well as drugstores such as Boots and Superdrug on the high street. The cleansing scrub has a thick and creamy consistency, containing small beads which exfoliate the skin- removing dead skin cells that can lead to blackheads and spots. A natural product from a well respected brand, I highly recommend this Blemish Fighting Scrub- it's available here. 

Sudocrem is usually associated with young children, and is an essential part of most mums' cabinets. However, the antiseptic cream is also very useful for healing spots and scars on the face. If I ever have a troublesome patch of skin or recurring blemish, I typically apply a layer of Sudocrem to the affected area before bed- and in the morning I usually find it to be significantly calmer and less inflamed. It works very well in drying out blemishes, and is also effective on nappy rash, sunburn, minor burns, surface wounds or chilblains. It's a staple cream, and at around £2.50 per 125g, it's available here. 

Superdrug has recently introduced it's own range of mud masks, and according to some expert reviews I have read online, it can keep up with similar products from esteemed brands such as Origins. I use the Witch Hazel Mud Mask, which is purifying and calming on spot prone skin, and I really recommend this mask if you're looking for something fun and relatively inexpensive. Witch hazel and salicylic acid in the mask target blemishes, while Dead Sea mud absorbs excess oil- resulting in a clean and radiant complexion after repeated use. A pea sized amount of the mask covers the face, and after allowing ten minutes for the product to harden and set, it washes off easily in warm water or with a wet towel. I'd advice using this mask around twice a week for normal/combination skin, more frequent use for oily complexions. At £2.59 it's a must have! Available here. 

An important aspect of skin care not to overlook is moisturising, and I recommend Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream above all others if you're looking for an effective, cheaply priced product. I smother this cream on thickly every night and morning, and find it is quickly and deeply abosrbed into the skin. I cannot imagine how dry my skin could be if I didn't use it, and I feel like this product is perfect for blurring blemishes and giving a dewy complexion with regular use. With added Vitamin E and Jojoba Oil, this moisturiser is a great one and performs well: simple and proficient. On offer now for an amazing £1.24, you can pick up this one here. 

Using all of these products systematically in a routine helps me to maintain a clear complexion, and could work for you. These products are widely available, as well as competitively priced- it's a win/win. It's important to remember though that using products alone is not always enough to maintain a flawless finish on your skin. Eating healthily and drinking a lot of water is also fundamental in keeping your skin clear. Another tip is not to touch your face too often- resist the urge to pick and prod, and try to avoid touching your face throughout the day (you'll be surprised how often you catch yourself doing it!)  

I hope this post has been informative and helpful. Please let me know if you have used any of the products I've mentioned, or whether you swear by some I've not yet tried!  Thanks guys.