This Side of Paradise

So many bloggers do 'my daily routine' posts and I'm joining the hoards so...sorry for being generic! Summer is a really important time to look after your skin and I have a few great products that I wanted to share with you. Click on the photos to read more/purchase!

I'm starting a new job so unfortunately won't be blogging as much, especially about beauty and fashion, so I thought I'd do one last post that isn't a recipe!

Soap & Glory Face Soap and Clarity

I use this every morning in the shower (except when I'm too tired to function), and it really does wake me up and set my skin up for the day. It's got little pink beads which gently exfoliate and vitamin C in it which is always good, and makes your face feel super clean, like a shot of energy. It smells really fresh and soapy too, which I think works well in the morning because you don't want anything with a strong fragrance when you've just crawled out of bed. I recommended it to my housemate and now she uses it too!

Dermalogica Skin Prep Scrub

This is a pretty pricey product (check out that alliteration, spot the English graduate) but it is worth every penny - I've got a small tube that I've had for maybe 2 years and it's not running out any time soon. I use it once or twice a week and it does exactly what it promises, leaving your skin smooth and glowing. I usually moisturise after using this because it's actually designed to make your skin absorb moisturiser better. What more could you want from a face scrub? Honestly, invest in this. It doesn't have an artificial smell or colour and feels so natural and full of good stuff.

Calcot Manor The Perfect Day Body Scrub

I recently picked this up in the supermarket because I got a bit sunburnt a few weeks ago, and the sunburn inevitably turned into very peely skin! I've now got completely addicted to this body scrub and use it every day in the morning. It's got a refreshing citrusy scent and gets rid of all those dead skin cells to make you all glowy. Really good for summer skin and for those of you who fake tan, I reckon this would be good for prepping as well. You can use it on wet skin or, if you want a more intense scrub, to dry skin and then rinse it off in the shower.

Dove Silk Glow Body Wash

I got this purely because it was on offer, rather than my usual Original Source shower gel, but I really love it. It's probably the first body wash I've had that doesn't make me instantly reach for the moisturiser post-shower, because it feels like it is literally seeping into your skin and leaves it feeling soft and nourished. They aren't lying on the description! I like that it doesn't smell of anything in particular too, just a comforting soapy smell. I don't know to what extent it's making my skin glow but it's definitely making it softer. Go Dove for sticking to simple ideas and doing it well.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

My mum is responsible for getting me into Liz Earle products, and I now can't go to bed without using this cleanser in the evening. It gets my makeup off, even waterproof mascara, and has banished any spots from my face; my skin is just generally in much better condition. Using a hot cloth is so relaxing as well, which is why I only use it at night rather than twice a day - in the morning I don't usually have time and it would also make me want to go back to sleep! I also use the Gentle Face Exfoliator a few times a week afterwards for some extra cleansing, especially when I've been in London (the air is literally dirty there I swear).

Nivea Daily Essentials Regenerating Night Cream

I don't use this every night because it really does sit on your skin, so I only use it when I feel like my skin needs serious moisturisation while I'm sleeping, or to prepare for a long day wearing makeup. My skin isn't very dry in general but this is really good for when it needs a bit of TLC. Definitely worth having if you have dry skin but it's also just really good for every day hydration and it has Vitamin E, which is supposedly really good for your skin. 

So that's it! I hope you enjoyed a small insight into what I'm putting on my face on a regular basis. Feedback is welcome as always! 

Face

Nivea Soft moisturising cream. I've sworn by this stuff since it saved me from some pretty horrendous sunburn when I was younger. It's very mild and has a clean, simple scent so you can use it on your face, body or hands. It comes in the classic Nivea tubs as well but this tube is really handy.

No7 Stay Perfect Foundation. I only converted to this recently after using Revlon foundation for ages, but it is reaaalllly good and stays on even on a 10 hour shift. I have a huge amount of No7 products (as you will see!) because they're such good value for the quality, plus they have the match-made service where they use a clever digital thingy to work out your exact skin tone, and they match your foundation and lipstick to it! Genius! I personally find I usually don't even need moisturiser underneath this if I'm in a hurry, it's exactly the right texture and weight for a liquid foundation.

No7 Stay Perfect Primer. I never used to use primer, but I recently tried a sample of this and had to buy a whole tube. It is velvety soft and makes your makeup stay on for such a long time. It definitely evens out any flaws in your complexion as well. SO worth spending a bit of money on this.

Soap & Glory Hocus Focus Instant Visual Flaw-Softening Illuminator. I bought this on a bit of a whim because I liked the packaging, but it turned out to be a real gem! It brightens up your skin when it's looking dull or tired and you can use it on its own as a highlighter or under your foundation. I wouldn't say it covers up flaws completely but it does soften them a little - perhaps more of an illuminator than anything else!

Maybelline Matte Maker Mattifying Powder. It's taken me a while to find a powder that actually stays on and this is the one. Stops your skin from looking shiny and mattifies your foundation, sealing it in place. I often use it on its own instead of foundation because the coverage is so good. Make sure you get the right one for your skin tone though, especially if you're as pale as I am!

Bourjois Paris Blusher in 41 Bonne Mine. Bourjois was the first blusher I ever used, and after a long stint using Estee Lauder and then Chanel I just went back to them with this gorgeous peachy shade 'Bonne Mine' or 'Healthy Mix' in English. The smell of it brings back memories and I love the little pots with a mirror and brush inside! It's a lot more blendable than other blushers and they have a great range of shades to suit everyone. Definitely something to treat yourself to.

Side note - I use Chanel brushes for everything except foundation, but I can't remember where my foundation brush is from. 

Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturiser. I really like this moisturiser for the face - it does the job without being heavy and it doesn't have a particular scent. A bit more suited to everyday use than Nivea Soft which is better for more intensive moisturising. 

Eyes

Soap & Glory You Won't Believe Your Eyes - Tired Eye Brightening Moisture Serum. Over the Summer I was working a lot in the heat and my eyes were suffering, getting really puffy and itchy when I woke up in the morning and I was also getting huge bags under my eyes from the early starts. This serum really helped to make me look human again and the metal roll-on balls are about as soothing as you can get. Great for hangovers and 9am lectures.

Maybelline Cover Stick. I've been using this since I was a teenager to cover up spots but nowadays it's more useful for those pesky dark circles from late nights. They've changed the packaging and the texture since I first started using it and both are really improved; it's creamier and less goopy than before so it doesn't feel like you're clogging up your pores as much. Nevertheless a timeless classic!

L'Oreal Paris Color Appeal in 151 Pure Gold. I only ever wear brown, green, grey or gold eyeshadow on a regular basis because I have green eyes and nothing else really matches! This gold eyeshadow from L'Oreal is SO GOLD and looks like Christmas, but you can wear it all year round for a glamorous party look. It actually stays on as well.

No7 Stay Perfect Metallic Eyes Pencil in Purple. Purple eyeliner makes green eyes look greener don'tcha know. I got this for free in a No7 gift bag and it is probably the best eyeliner pencil I have ever used. It's really soft and creamy and there's a sponge thing on the other end to blend with, plus it stays on for hours. I think I might have to get it in black as well!

No7 Stay Precise Liquid Liner in Black. I usually prefer felt tip-style liquid eyeliners but this is pretty good as far as the brush ones go. It's easy to apply (as easy as liquid eyeliner gets, anyway) and stays on well, although if you rub your eyes it does come off. I do really like how black it is though, particularly for a 60s look.

No7 Extreme Length Waterproof Mascara in Black. I wasn't lying when I said I have a lot of No7 makeup! I've tried so many different mascaras over the years and I think this is the best I've ever used. I don't have massively long eyelashes so the lengthening ability is really important, and this stuff really does its job. It volumises as well, and is really pigmented so you get a proper black. It's not waterproof to the extent that it completely stays on in the shower but it doesn't run when I cry at Paul O'Grady's For the Love of Dogs. 

Lips

No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in Rose Blush. I've never been a big lipstick wearer because it comes off so easily and I hate worrying about whether I need to run off and put more on when I'm out. Sometimes, though, a girl just needs to put on some lipstick for a confidence boost and this is the best I've ever used. It's a darkish rose pink colour, and it doesn't come off much at all, even on wine glasses. It's called Moisture Drench for a reason - it feels really nourishing, even edging towards the texture of a lipbalm. I'd definitely recommend No7 lipsticks if you haven't already tried them! And no, they're not paying me!

No7 BB Lips Beauty Balm in Berry Rose and Blink Pink. These are great because they're halfway between a lipgloss and a lipstick with all the moisturising and SPF properties of a balm. I actually think these stay on better than lipstick does and they're not as intense so you can blend them in to the level of colour you want. Basically a matte lipgloss without the stickiness.

Chanel Lipgloss in Shade A12. I've used this so much that all the writing on the bottle is worn off so I can't give you the full details but let me tell you, this is the ONLY lipgloss I've ever used that isn't painfully sticky and gross. The colour lasts for longer than you'd think and it's really moisturising as well - exactly what you'd expect from Chanel! Even though this shade is bright orange in the bottle, when it's on it comes out as more of a coral. 

Carmex Cherry Lip Balm. So, I have literally been using this tiny pot of lip balm since I was about 15. It's amazing. It will solve all your chapped, dry lipped problems in life. It has some magic ingredient in it, which I think is probably menthol, that makes your lips tingle amazingly when you use it, and it smells soooo goooood. Get it, thank me later.

Malin + Goetz Lip Moisturiser. This stuff is a much more recent find and it's also really good. It's a citrusy-smelling transparent goop that leaves your lips looking plump and shiny while moisturising them, and has a really cool silky texture. Doesn't tingle like Carmex but then again, you probably don't always want tingly lips. Because it's clear, rather than a more vaseline-like yellowy colour, you can wear it instead of a lipgloss. 

Hands

Crabtree & Evelyn Avocado, Olive and Basil Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy. This will rescue your hands from that awful Winter dryness and it smells amazing. I don't even like avocado that much but this just smells so good. And it really does leave your hands feeling super soft. 

I hope you enjoyed this insight into my makeup bag! Leave me a comment if you try any of the products mentioned or if you use them too!