LOCO FOR COCONUT

Organic Virgin Coconut Oil £6

I've recently introduced coconut oil into my skincare routine. That's right, coconut OIL! It's found in large jars and hidden away amongst the oil/seasoning aisles in supermarkets. You're all probably thinking that I've gone incredibly mad; I am mad but after scrolling through Caroline Hiron's instagram one night, I actually noticed that she had dedicated a post to coconut oil which she uses as a cleanser (see here) and I doubt any of you are going to argue with the queen of skincare? Incredibly curious, I made my way to Tesco the following day and bought a £6 tub of the stuff. I had two thoughts running through my head; if this works then I will be laughing and can start using the oil as an affordable alternative to my Emma Hardie cleansing balm. My second thought: I am an idiot to be so easily drawn in and persuaded by an instagram post.  Three weeks on and I can confidently say that I am not an idiot and have now found a holy grail skincare item that I will use for as long as I can.

So what is coconut oil? It's an edible and fatty oil extracted from a coconut. There are different types of coconut oil, but the best for our skin is pure organic virgin coconut oil. A natural oil containing absolutely no chemicals or additives; it removes makeup, cleanses, moisturises, protects from the sun and helps damaged skin. An all round winner. I have to say I was dubious at the thought of applying an oil to my already oily-combination skin. But have no fear, it is safe! Coconut oil helps to get rid of the bad oils in the skin, ultimately attacking the bad toxins, dirt and black heads that can cause breakouts. I use the oil every morning and night; taking a scoop and warming it in between my fingers before applying to my face (with or without makeup.) Massaging the oil for approx. 30 seconds, I then remove the cleanser with a warm cloth; opening the pores and leaving the skin incredibly smooth. I've really noticed a difference in my skin since using the oil and have had no bad breakouts or reactions since introducing it into my regime. Can you really complain at the idea of lovely moisturised skin and a better base for makeup? If you can, then I'd still recommend buying the oil to cook with (chicken fried in the oil tastes 100x better), but the benefits for your skin are just astounding. Have you ever used coconut oil, if so, what was your impression?

SKIN SAVIOURS #2

Lush Tea Tree Toner Water £7.50/250g | Bioderma £14.50

Lush's Tea Tree Toner water has made a huge difference to my skin ever since I began using it almost two years ago. I have combination to oily skin so do suffer from the odd breakout here and there. Tea tree is antibacterial and antiseptic, so you can rest assured that it will help to fight the most overpowering breakouts; say goodbye to those spots and pesky red marks! I use the product as intended, as a toner. Once my face is freshly cleansed, I'll dispense as much or as little water onto a cotton pad and sweep it over my entire face; the amount I use tends to change depending on the fate of my skin. But dispensing the water is made easy due to the products spray pump. As this is a Lush product, there's the confidence that all the ingredients are completely natural and nothing unpleasant has been added when making the toner. I wouldn't dream of purchasing another toner now, and that's no exaggeration; my skin feels fresh, soft and smells great after every use! A great little tip: put the bottle into the fridge before using, that way you have a cool, refreshing product to really help rehydrate and replenish your skin. 

Bioderma, Bioderma, Bioderma. If you haven't already heard of this wonder product, then where the hell have you been?! I gave into this beauty hype far too quickly, I actually feel embarrassed at how little persuasion it took for me to buy it. But ohhhh man was it worth it. Three bottles down and it's still sloppy puppy love. Bioderma is essentially a cleanser/make up remover; like the Lush toner, Bioderma is applied onto a cotton pad and then rubbed all over the face. Free from alcohol, the solution cools and soothes the skin as it cleanses, leaving it perfectly clean. It removes everything, every last scrap of makeup; foundation, waterproof mascara, eye shadow, EVERYTHING! I have sensitive skin and have had no trouble with Bioderma, I can even sweep it over my eyes without risk of irritation. It is hands down the best makeup remover around. Stop with the makeup wipes and please grab yourself a bottle if you're lucky enough to come by it. Although the availability of Bioderma is a pain in the arse for those who don't live within the London area where it is predominantly stocked; you can still find it fairly easily on Escentual or eBay! Do you have any must have skin saviours?



SKIN SAVIOURS #1

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo + £15.50 | Hydraluron Moisture Booster £24.99

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo has been my favourite spot treatment for over a year now. The cream claims to reduce the appearance of imperfections and diminish pores; and it does so brilliantly. This product is my lifesaver, I'm left with clear and smoother skin after every use. I suffer from the odd bad breakout here and there (often due to dairy, damn you cheesy goodness), but after introducing this treatment to my skin, my breakouts are kept to the absolute minimum. Recently La Roche-Posay have introduced an improvement on the iconic original, Effaclar Duo +. I've been using the new solution for over a month now and it really works as promised. With it's new 'anti-mark action', Effaclar Duo + has helped to reduce my scarred marks left over from any aggressive breakouts. I didn't think this product could get any better, but I've been pleasantly surprised. Safe for sensitive skin, I use the cream day and night; especially before I apply my make-up for a flawless base.

Again, a product I use daily; Hydraluron Moisture Booster. A serum to be applied post toner and pre-moisturiser; the clue is in the name, the serum can be used in order to boost your skin's moisture levels and I'd advise anyone with dehydrated skin to seriously consider purchasing it. For best results I'd say to use the booster for a lengthened amount of time to really gain from it's benefits, (once a day for around a month) I've done so since buying and have noticed that my skin feels incredibly hydrated and looks a lot healthier! One of the great effects of Hydraluron is that over time the skin's ability to retain moisture will increase, meaning you can slack a bit on applying moisturiser but not skip the step overall. I know the price tags will evidently put some people off purchasing but both items I've mentioned are regularly on offer at Boots and if you save up your advantage points - even better!