I realised the other day that it has been ages since I last shared my evening skincare routine on my blog. I know many people stick with the same tried and tested formulas but because I am always testing out new products I end up swapping in new items as and when I find improvements on my previous favourites. So in this post I thought I would update everything and share with you all my essential evening products that I use daily to remove makeup, cleanse and moisturize. I have combination skin prone to imperfections so I have continual problems with a shiny oily T-zone, dry cheeks and spots around my jaw. As everyone will tell you this is not easy to treat but I have slowly managed to find what I think is a brilliant natural skincare selection to tame it………but I am sure this will change again soon enough!
Make-up removal
The best way to remove makeup in my opinion is with a carrier oil. Every night I use jojoba oil which is an excellent gentle makeup remover! It gets rid of all makeup, even waterproof ones, and is also non-comedogenic. I pour a dab of oil into my hands and warm between my fingers before massaging my face. I always complete this motion by finishing around the eyes. The oil dissolves all makeup as well as the other impurities accumulated during the day. To rinse everything off I soak an Emma Hardie cleansing cloth in warm water, squeeze out the excess and gently wipe over my whole face.
✓ Available on Feel Unique
Cleaning
To remove all the impurities and the last traces of oil I clean my face with the delicious smelling De Mamiel Restorative cleansing balm. It is one of the most pleasurable moments of the day for me getting to use this balm with its gorgeously rich melting texture!! I spend ages massaging it into my skin to make sure I take full advantage of all it’s benefits (I have already done a review of this balm here). I then also rinse it off with a warm cleansing cloth. My skin comes out soft, plump and perfectly clean! This is already my second pot and I am pretty sure there will never again be a point in my life where I don’t have one of these pots in my bathroom cabinet!
✓ Available on Content Beauty & Wellbeing
Toner
After cleaning I always use a toner or a floral water to prep the skin for moisturising. At the moment I am alternating between peppermint flower water and jasmine garden lotion from May Lindstrom. Peppermint flower water: for its astringent, purifying and refreshing properties. May Lindstrom’s Jasmine Garden Lotion: for its moisturizing and soothing effect. It’s a very fine mist that smells divine. Once or twice a week I use Eco by Sonya’s self-tanning lotion as it gives such a nice tan. This lotion is just amazing and if you are interested in seeing a before and after example then check out my review here.
✓ Peppermint flower water is available on Slow Cosmetique
✓Jasmine Garden Lotion is available on Content Beauty & Wellbeing
✓ Eco by Sonya’s self-tanning lotion is available on Purnatural
Eye Contour
To protect the fragile eye contour area and reduce my fine dehydration lines I use Lilfox Kalahari serum which is a blend of carrier oils (prickly pear, argan, watermelon, cucumber, pomegranate, rosehip, passion fruit) and essential oil (sandalwood). I absolutely love this product because it penetrates very quickly and leaves my eye contour perfectly hydrated. Since starting to use it I have found that my eyes are less marked and my eye contour smoother. The only downside however is that this little jewel costs an arm and a leg but at least it lasts for ages.
✓ Available on So Natural Beauty.
Hydration and nutrition
And finally to my last step……to moisturize and soothe my skin I apply a hazelnut sized drop of my favorite aloe vera gel, the one from Bioflore. Unlike other aloe vera gels that I have tested this one doesn’t leave your skin feeling tight at all which is probably due to the fact that it contains glycerin. It has a huge number of benefits including being healing, nutritive and protective alongside its well documented moisturizing abilities. Once the skin is well hydrated it needs to be nourished. At the moment I use Bybi Supercharge serum, a mix of beautiful carrier oils (prickly pear, watermelon, inca inchi, kukui etc …), essential oils (chamomile, geranium, lemongrass) and absolute jasmine. Its calming, healing and protective properties are perfect for evening care. I pour 3 or 4 drops into the palms of my hands to warm before applying with pressure to my face. I then gently massage everything to make it penetrate. Result: my skin is beautiful, supple, luminous and balanced.
I hope you enjoyed this article and if you found it useful then come back soon as I will be posting my morning skincare routine including all the masks and anti-blemish treatments that I use regularly.
Please feel free to share your own ritual and your most recent favourite products in comments section below :)
✓ Aloe Vera Bioflore available on Purnatural✓ Bybi Supercharge serum is available on Content Beauty & Wellbeing
