Cleanser

Skincare products I have used up 2025

- Vicki Leave a comment
skincare empties june 2025

*Samaya Ayurvedic Pitta Renewing Exfoliant

This creamy exfoliator is great if you have sensitive or redness prone skin, the lightweight formula combines natural fruit enzymes and Botanical actives to gently remove dirt, makeup and grease to promote cell renewal and even out skin tone without irritation. The Samaya exfoliant requires no scrubbing which is fantastic, simply apply, leave on for 20 minutes, and rinse off, so if you are prone to irritation this is the perfect non-abrasive exfoliator. There are such a wide range of wonderful, natural and effective ingredients in this exfoliator, this is well worth the price tag, think spa quality at home.

  • Jasmine flower extract – to soothe sensitive skin, reduce redness, and tone gently.
  • Gotu kola oil – boosts collagen, supports healing, and strengthens sensitive skin
  • Neem oil – purifies, calms irritation, and helps prevent breakouts.
  • Saffron extract – brightens skin tone, improves radiance, and supports even pigmentation.
  • Aloe vera leaf juice – soothes, cools, and replenishes moisture.
  • Vitamin E – softens skin, offers antioxidant protection, and supports repair.

The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum

This is the cool looking pink serum, if you haven’t seen it before it looks so fun and unusual (it gets its pink colour from vitamin B12). As with a lot of my skincare, I’m always looking for products that help calm redness and protect my skin, and I think this serum is one of the best I have found. It has so many ingredients which are all focused around being gentle, protecting, soothing, strengthening for your skins’ barrier whilst reducing irritation and redness. I really loved this serum and will be getting another bottle ASAP. I always forget how affordable The Ordinary products are.

  • Vitamin B12 – reduces visible redness and dryness.
  • Gallic acid derivatives – calms and soothes irritated skin.
  • Bisabolol – alleviates redness and discomfort.
  • Soothing complex – eases tightness and irritation.
  • Centella asiatica phytotechnologies – protects against external irritants and supports calms skin.

Super Facialist Vitamin C Brightening Polish Wash

This took me a while to use up, because you need so little product, a little bit is very effective. I would say this is a gentle exfoliator, with a lightweight gel texture, packed with biodegradable microbeads that exfoliate away dead skin and daily grime. I used it at least 2 times a week, it’s been perfect for keeping my skin smooth. It is enriched with ferulic acid plus vitamins C and E, it helps brighten dull skin and smooth rough patches, especially around the nose and chin. My complexion has looked fresher and more radiant, and my makeup goes on like a dream after using it – my skin feels soft, clean, and glowy. A great, affordable exfoliator, it doesn’t irritate or strip the skin. I highly recommend it.

Aveeno Nourishing Oat Cleanser

I thought this product was just OK, didn’t blow me away, and I really didn’t look forward to using it up. I wear SPF every day, and I felt like this cleanser left behind a residue and made my skin feel like it wasn’t properly cleansed. I know this is a gentle formula, but I think it is lacking in being able to clean your skin if you are wearing makeup or SPF. I am sure it would be better if you used it as a morning cleanser, but I like a deeper clean and this didn’t cut it.

Garnier Rose Toner

You can’t go wrong with Garnier toners. They’re affordable, effective, and there’s a version for every skin type. I’ve used loads over the years and liked them all. I get redness on my cheeks, especially in colder months, and this rose toner is always gentle and calming. It’s one I keep repurchasing – a forever favourite

We can see that I like gentle products that soothe and calm my skin, as well as brighten. If you have any recommendations of products you have been enjoying.

*this post contains affiliate links, If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. All products mentioned were purchased by me and not gifted or received as PR.

Backup Skincare

- Vicki 1 Comment
backup skincare beauty

I can’t be the only person that has backups of their favourite skincare / beauty products?! I consider myself to be quite low-key when it comes to hoarding products or buying new things, even though I love beauty and skincare. There are just a couple of items that I will always have a spare of so that when I run out I have one to replace it straight away. I wanted to share with you the 3 items that I have religiously repurchased and recommend time and time again.

Q+A Oat Milk Cleanser

This Oat Milk Cream Cleanser is my go to hot cloth cleanser. It is a lovely rich cream and I like how gentle it is on the skin, but that it also removes makeup.

  • Oat Seed Oil – rich in fatty acids, omegas and oleic and linoleic acid, this moisturising oil is easily absorbed into the skin. Vitamin E and ceramides help to lock in moisturise, promoting a healthy skin barrier.
  • Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids – which are gentle and less stripping, they leave your skin feeling less dry. They protect the skin barrier and reduce water loss for a deeply moisturising and gentle cleanse.

The Q+A skincare range is very affordable and great quality. I have been through countless tubes of this. I just need a mini version to take away on holiday.

 

Garnier vitamin C Brightening Night Serum

This serum has been years in the making from Garnier and contains, 10% Pure vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid. It is of the best, affordable products I have tried for achieving glowing, fresh skin. It is great at reducing sunspot and uneven skin tone and rejuvenating tired skin, which is just what I need.

  • Vitamin C – A potent antioxidant with brightening properties
  • Hyaluronic Acid –  A humectant that retains moisture to hydrate the skin

I have to say that I like the day serum too, they make a wonderful skincare duo.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream 125ml

Both my husband and I swear by this cream, especially in the colder months. It is so hydrating and perfect if you have sensitive skin. It is non-greasy, lightweight and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. It is what I reach for if the weather is cold, my skin is feeling dry or my makeup is not going on as well as usual. Fantastic at giving you that boost of hydration, and I travel everywhere with a mini pot of this.

  • Glacial Glycoprotein – Sourced from Antarctic sea glaciers to deliver intense hydration
  • Squalane – A natural moisturising agent and antioxidant
  • Pro-Ceramides to smooth skin and help boost hydration!

I would love to know what products you always stock up on.

 

New Skincare for Spring 2019

- Vicki Leave a comment
Spring skincare

I always like to add a few products to my skincare regime at the beginning of a new season. It is the perfect time to assess your skin and revamp your skincare, I love organising and decluttering my products on a regular basis. It is always good to remember that what your skin needs in the depths of a cold Winter might not be the same during spring. I have been on the lookout for some new cleansers as I have used up my beloved DHC Cleansing Oil & my Superdrug Scrub, I bought both my new additions from Boots and noticed that Garnier had this new Fresh Lemongrass Collection which is labelled as being both Vegan and Organic. I also bought a product from one of my favourite skincare brands SuperFacialist, their skincare is always such incredible value or money and great quality. I needed a scrub and this vitamin C Scrub sounded like it would help brighten my skin after winter!

I have been using both products for a couple of weeks now, and I am pretty pleased with my purchases.

Skincare for Spring

Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Brightening Gentle Daily Micro Polish Wash

This face scrub smells like citrus fruits, zesty and fresh. I love it, and it reminds me that the warmer weather is on its way! This is a gentle scrub that you can use daily, I have been using it every two days and that’s been working well for me. It has a lightweight gel texture which is infused with biodegradable microbeads to softly remove dead skin cells & daily impurities and dirt. It is boosted with antioxidant ferulic acid and vitamins C & E to promote brighter looking skin. So if you have quite dull skin and get a little texture where dead skin forms around your nose, chin area then this is perfect for addressing that!

Packed with vitamin C and natural skin brighteners, it encourages skin’s renewal and energises the complexion to keep it looking fit, radiant and youthful. I also like how well my makeup applies after using this and that my skin is smoother and super soft!

Vegan-friendly, paraben & SLES free.

Garnier Organic Fresh Lemongrass Detox Gel Wash

So Garnier now has a range of Organic & Vegan products, who knew! I loved the smell of the Lemongrass collection and opted for the Gel Wash but I think I’m going to pop back and get a few more bits because the whole collection was on offer in Boots (I think it was a save 1/3 deal).

This has such a refreshing, uplifting scent, it smells so luxurious and like a high-end spa (very fancy indeed).

  • Cleanses away dirt, oil and pollution residues without drying skin out
  • Formulated with organic lemongrass essential oil, Organic cornflower water, botanical glycerine and a 100% natural

It feels cooling on the skin and the gel texture is super lightweight, I like to massage into my skin for about a minute before washing it off with a warm flannel. It leaves my face feeling very fresh and clean (but not squeaky clean). Lemongrass is known for its purifying properties, it purifies and mattifies the skin whilst removing all the day’s dirt, oil and pollution residues without drying skin out. It has really impressed me, and now I want to get their Konjac Sponge (which I have heard great things about) and also the Moisturiser. 

Let me know if you have tried anything from these new Organic Collections from Garnier & if you have any recommendations.

Eloquence Skincare Review

- Vicki 3 Comments

Eloquence Skincare Products

Luxury skincare brand Eloquence is a new brand to emerge onto the UK skincare scene and its already getting some fantastic reviews. Its a natural premium brand that’s dedicated to giving their customers the very best products with a real emphasis on value for money. So you’re getting products that are affordable and that deliver great results.

Eloquence products include the very best ingredients in their products, with a focus on anti-ageing, skin hydration and skin health. A common ingredient that features heavily through their range is Sachi Inchi Oil, its a superfood which comes from Peru and is found in seed form. Its known for its high levels of vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids and its oil has a unique blend of

  • Omega 3 which helps to restore the skins elasticity
  • Omega 6 helps to combat skin dehydration
  • Omega 9 helps against premature ageing by intensely nourishing and protecting the skin from environmental stress.

Eloquence skincare comprises of a four step daily routine that is so easy to follow, each product comes in elegant green packaging with its step 1 – 4 clearly marked so this will help you keep your skincare steps in order. There is also a nourishing treatment oil which a multi use product.

Eloquence Skincare Review

Step 1 Purifying Facial Cleanser*

This is a refreshing cleanser thats infused with Sacha Inchi Oil, Cucumber and Coconut Extracts. So its gentle and extremely hydrating. I massage a small 5p sized amount on to dry skin then I dampen my fingers and massage for a further minute just to make sure I’m breaking down all my makeup & grime from the day, then I use a hot cloth. It removes my makeup with ease and it leaves my skin feeling lovely and smooth, soft and most importantly (for me) not tight or stripped of moisture.

Step 2 Firm and Tone Serum*

The Firm & Tone Serum with Glycerin and Coconut oil will illuminate the skin and give it a flawless appearance. Added Hyaluronic Acid will give a boost of Collagen, which will keep your skin plump, smooth and supple. This is an extremely lightweight serum & if you’re someone that worries about having too many steps in your routine or that the products feel heavy on your skin then this isn’t like that at all. I felt like it almost evaporated once it touched my skin (in a good way). It 100% left it feeling velvety soft and almost like it had a soft focus element to it. I adore this serum & I feel like its helped my skin beat the January blues.

Step 3 Firming and Moisturising Eye Gel*

The Firming & Moisturising Eye Gel targets dark circles and puffiness, and with added Hyaluronic acid will keep your eye area plump and will smooth out fine lines. It feels cooling when you first apply it and its not greasy at all but helps wake up my tired eyes each morning. I find my concealer sits well on top and a little goes a long way, the gel is so easy to pat in around the orbital bone. I am an eye cream addict and never go a day without using one, I have tried very few eye gels and I am smitten with this one. Its just so lightweight and nourishing.

Step 4 Protect and Repair 24hr Cream*

This cream  can be used either am or pm (or both if you wish). It contains added Hyaluronic Acid making it an intensive moisturiser and UVA & UVB protection so your skin is protected from the harmful effects of the sun. Its a lovely moisturiser and I have found it helps keep my skin blemish free and also feeling supple. I like how it wears under foundation, as my base looks smooth all day. Its been a welcomed addition to my skincare regime and think this product from the range will appeal to people of all skin types and ages.

Nourishing Treatment Oil

This is one of those multi purpose products and I love those, this has been getting a lot of love these past few weeks. I have enjoyed massaging it into my dry cuticles just before I go to bed, I like to use the excess as a hand treatment and I wakeup to the softest healthy looking hands. Its instantly nourishing and it is an oil that absorbs quickly too. This product is blended with Coconut and Sweet Almond Oil which will help to Renew, Repair and Revitalise skin, hair and nails.

All Eloquence skincare products contain no Artificial Perfume or Colour, no Parabens, no Harsh Chemicals and are Cruelty Free, which makes them suitable for all skin types, even dry and sensitive skin areas.

This is a fantastic skincare brand and when I first started testing out these products at the start of the new year I didn’t for one minute think I would enjoy using them all. There is normally one product I like least or that didn’t really fit my needs but this skincare regime is simple, effective and jam packed full of ingredients that nourish, replenish and rejuvenate your skin. This is a brand to keep your eye on & if like me you enjoy skincare then you need to add these products to your shopping  list asap.

Eloquence Skincare is available to purchase via their online shop