
Now Autumn is officially here, I’ve really wanted to revamp my skincare routine and test out some new products that have been sitting in my Amazon wishlist until a moment arises; this is mostly being my fiancée asking if there’s anything I would like because he needs to spend a certain amount when buying add on items.
So naturally as I’m near enough at the bottom of my huge tub of Cyclax Aloe Vera Revitalising Cream, which for a pound at my local chemist was surprisingly good. I originally bought 3 tubs from this company and this and their night cream is wonderful. In fact, I’ve strangely lost the latter since our camping trip in August so may very well have to replace. However, what I’m not 100% happy with is that I’m convinced they’ve been acting as a barrier and am pretty sure there are creams out there that would sink better in to the skin.
Ever since the last bit of my teens, I’ve had visible dehydration lines (or at least I could see them in the mirror). I have many throw back photos of me with friends on a night out where my forehead is screaming for a drink. And one thing I should tell you now is that apparently I’m good at pulling faces. Take that as you will but I’ve been told I have a frown for every occasion. Even as a child, I have memories of my mum saying, “Don’t frown! You’ll get wrinkles!”. A comment like that can scar a child (excuse the pun).
And after years of hunting for products that work, the best results I have found is to prep my skin with Decleor’s Neroli oil before moisturisng and their Essential night balm, which smell incredible by the way, but are not cheap.
I’d also recently picked up a sample of the The Body Shop’s new launch of natural serum, Oils of Life. Again, this smells amazing and it’s lightness and ability to sink in to my skin gave me a well needed light-bulb-moment above my head. Priced at £28 for a 30ml bottle, yes you get twice as much to the pound than Decleor, but I still did what I always do which is start googling for a much cheaper miraculous alternative. The last time I did this, I bought Almond oil, which is great as a natural cleanser and skin protector, but not exactly a drink for the skin.

Now my latest skincare addition is St Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Moisturizer and to use the serum oil concept under a moisturiser, I also asked for a bottle for another bottle of Bio Oil but this time to use on my face as I’ve read tremendous reviews about diminishing fine lines.
I’ve even put my new skincare treats tidily in a grey metal caddy that I bought at a jumble sale for 20p over the weekend that now sits proudly next to my desk while I work. So far I’ve found it extremely encouraging to reach for some me time in a morning while I attempt to wake up over a coffee and catch up on emails and blog.
When first testing the two products together, I realised yesterday that perhaps it wasn’t a smart move to give the Bio Oil first access to my skin first before the cream. The oil hasn’t exactly been an overnight success and over the years, but it does claim that you need to use it twice daily for a minimum of 3 months. And so I thought perhaps it was a good idea to use the oil on top instead and see how the moisturiser performed getting first hand to my skin. Now you’re talking, I thought. I had already fell in love with the lightness of its texture and it smells subtly yet beautifully of apricots. I do feel 3 month review update coming in December!

The moisturiser does visibly reduce appearance of fine lines although I’m not sure how effective it will be on deep set wrinkles, but I definitely think it is worth a try at £7.99. It feels as light as Decleor’s moisturiser too and am yet to try bio oil on top to act like a barrier and doesn’t leave you feeling tacky. The jargon bits are that it is Dermatologist Tested and Non-Comedogenic (sorry, I’m not a Scientist) and contains natural safflower seed oil, which after another stint of googling, I now know what the flower looks like!
And what’s great is that it’s not a measly little bottle, it comes in a pretty big tub so I won’t be running out any time soon!
Hopefully I will keep you posted with an update in 3 months time and no doubt I will be trying to stay hydrated and cosy this Winter with plentiful warm bowls of nourishing soup.
If you know of any budget miracle workers, then please be a pal and let me know in the comments below.
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