Skincare Routine

From a very young age, my mother consistently reminded me that I was only going to live in one skin for the rest of my life. She taught me that preservation, no matter how young or old, was key to healthy, beautiful skin. This is a lesson that I not only practice, but often force upon others (sorry, friends).

I just wanted to share some of my skincare favourites, both for readers and for my future reference, in case I ever were to stray from a skincare routine that I am certain works for me.

Firstly, I have dry/normal/combination skin. The centre of my face is often dry, however, I have oily eyelids. One of my main concerns is redness around the cheek area and also dry patches, which create an uneven, patchy appearance when using a foundation.

I'm on the lookout for a good eye cream, so if anyone has any recommendations please let me know.

Cleanser: Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam
Any Shiseido counter $65 AUD
I have used this product for around a year and a half and I love it. It is excellent at removing makeup as it gets all the foundation and is quite thorough at removing waterproof mascara. It will leave some mascara residue, however, I am not concerned because most, if not all cleansers will do that. I genuinely notice that my skin is much brighter after using this, I have no idea what's in it that does this, but it's great. I only squeeze a pea-sized amount into the palm of my hand, mix it with a little water to create a thick lather, and gently massage all over my face. For a year and a half (day and night), I've only gone through one sample size and am almost at the end of one full-sized product.

Serum: Moreish Glory Serum
Priceline $30 AUD
I am fairly new to the world of serums, but I am happy that I have found the Moreish serum. I had never heard of Moreish before, and discovered that it was a skincare line formulated in New Zealand, which focuses on natural ingredients. This "glory" serum is made from Argon, Manuka honey and Goji berry. I apply it nightly before using my moisturiser. It sinks into the skin instantly and the manuka honey has really helped calm my redness. I am not deadset on this serum, but am happy to continue using it until I find something that I really enjoy.

Moisturiser: Origins Make A Difference Plus +
Mecca Maxima/Mecca Cosmetica $55 AUD
This "rejuvenating moisturiser" is heaven to dry skin. The Mecca website also claims that it is perfect for oily and combination skin because of its oil-free formula, which also provides intense hydration. It is infused with Rose of Jericho, lychee and watermelon (it smells bomb), which seek to target your skin's everyday thirst. I use this day and night (as recommended on the packaging) and I love it. It really helps combat my redness, especially after showers when my skin is feeling tight and looking tomato red. I feel like it works best as a night cream because of its thicker formula, however, it makes my skin look fantastic under makeup. When applying it before makeup, I will leave a good two minutes for it to thoroughly sink in, and then apply primer.  You also need the teeniest amount of product for each use because it is quite thick, so the $55 price tag isn't a major concern for me.

Masks: Egg White Mask & Shiseido Benefiance Pure Retinol Mask
Organic Free Range eggs 
The egg white mask is something I go to when I'm running low on $$$ or I'm too lazy to repurchase. I separate egg whites and egg yolks in two separate bowls, however, I still leave a large majority of egg whites with the egg yolk (so I can reuse the egg - you don't need that much egg white for this mask). After opening my pores with a warm damp cloth,  I use my Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush to equally disperse the product throughout my skin. After one layer, I will separate a tissue so that it is only one ply,  cut/tear it up into strips and cover my face with it (creating a mask). I coat each layer of tissue with egg whites as I go. I then leave the mask to dry and peel it off when it is completely hard and dry. Upon gently removing, you can really see the dirt that was clogged in your pores (especially around the nose and chin areas) on the tissue and your skin feels lovely and smooth. This technique also works as a makeshift pore-strip for your nose area.
I would recommend using organic, free-range eggs because I've read some horrific stories where eggs with steroids/added hormones were used, which lead to severe acne breakouts and scarring.

Shiseido Benefiance Pure Retinol Mask
Any Shiseido counter $72 AUD 
The Shiseido Benefiance Pure Retinol Intensive Revitalising Mask (major mouthful) is reserved only for special occasions. I use it a night or two before a special occasion (e.g. wedding, formal, graduation) and it leaves my skin glowing. The sheet mask comes in two parts; an upper half and bottom half, which makes it super easy to get into each and every crevice of the face. There is an instant and noticeable difference after using this mask, plus makeup glides on beautifully. Retinol is a form of Vitamin A which helps the skin produce collagen, that therefore combats dullness, wrinkles and dehydrated skin.  If there is anything at all I would recommend from this post, it is these masks because they amazing and suited to all skin types. Each box comes with four masks, and whilst it is quite pricey, to me it is worth every penny.

Exfoliators: Lush Love Lettuce & Lemon and Sugar Scrub
Lush Love Lettuce Fresh Face Mask
Lush $16.95
Okay, this baby is a two in one. This is one of Lush's infamous face masks, which comes with exfoliating particles, so after I leave it on for 10 minutes, I will exfoliate my skin in the rinsing off process. It is made up of 100% natural ingredients, including almond oil, seaweed gel, lavender essential oil and Fuller's Earth - all products known to enhance the skin. Because it is 100% natural, there is an expiry date, which is three weeks from the date it was made. I love it and hate it for that reason. I love it because I know I'm putting fresh ingredients onto my skin, and it encourages me to actually exfoliate by the expiry date, but I hate it because my closest Lush store is around 30 minutes away. On the other hand, I do love that I can return five empty containers and get another mask for free, so I suppose the good outweighs the bad. The Lush website recommends this product for normal to oily skin, but my dry/normal skin loves the soft, fresh feel that this mask gives.

Lemon and Sugar Scrub
The Lemon and Sugar Scrub is a classic that I turn to as an alternative when I am too lazy to run to Lush. I'll have a plate of sugar (white sugar is fine, pictured above is coconut sugar - doesn't make much of a difference really) and half a lemon set. I dip the lemon half into the sugar and then proceed to run it all over my face. The sugar grains aid in the removal of dead/dry skin cells, which therefore creates a smoother and softer skin surface. Exfoliating is also great for removing post break-out marks, unclogging pores and overall improving the appearance of skin. Lemons are natures skin brightener because they are infused with Vitamin C and citric acid, which overtime, will brighten the appearance of your skin. They're also bomb for whitening your teeth! This lemon and sugar scrub mix never fails me.

Lip care: Lucas Paw Paw Ointment 
Any pharmacy or major retailer ~$5 AUD
Need I say more? I've been using this for years and its fantastic. I know not all people love this product, but with lip exfoliation it works wonders on my lips. They feel immediately nourished and will stay nourished. I always carry a tube of this with me wherever I go, because the package claims that it is also good for boils, burns, chafing, cuts, crackled skin, gravel rash, splints, open wounds, insect bites and nappy rash. I love it. It's amazing. That is all.