My After-Shower Routine

I'm a morning shower girl. I love feeling clean when I go to bed but nothing beats a shower in the morning to wake and set you up for the day. 

Although most people probably don't care, I thought I would share my post-shower skin and hair care routines. If you have read some of my older posts, you may be aware that I have fairly sensitive skin so I don't use many "fancy" products (as I like to call them). I also probably put things on in the wrong order but hey... This works for me.

Again, I apologise for the terrible quality of the photo below. I'm getting a camera for my birthday in April but until then, the iPhone will have to do!

In the shower, I'm currently using the Hair Culture shampoo from Aldi and the Alberto Balsam mandarin and papaya conditioner - both super cheap and affordable on my student budget! I can't wait to run out of the Aldi shampoo because my mother gave me a bottle of Aussi last time I went home... Eek! 

I sometimes use the Toni&Guy Nourish Reconstruction mask if my hair has been feeling extra dry. 

(None of these products are featured in the above picture)

After showering, I pat my face and body dry and then wrap my hair up in a smaller, dry towel. The first thing I applying post-shower is Bio-Oil. I've been using this for years (since I got a couple of growth stretch marks as a young teen) and it's pretty much become something that I don't think works but I like to apply it just in case. Although my stretch marks have looked the same for years, I live in hope that this Bio-Oil will make them disappear even more! The reason I apply this first is so it can dry before I put my clothes on. I have ruined many a bra by applying loads of the stuff and getting dressed instantly.

Whilst the Bio-Oil is drying, I put on my deodorant. I usually like to use Right Guard or Dove. I'm trying to steer away from spray deodorants right now. They aren't good for the environment and I always used to be anti-aerosols. Not quite sure what happened or how I got so addicted to them. So this deodorant is the Dove Go Fresh Cucumber Roll On and it is lovely! Again, I'm applying this early so it can dry. 

I then take my E45 and apply it to my legs, tops of feet, arms, tummy and as much of my back as I can reach! I love this stuff. I often use Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion but I'm on E45 at the moment. But again, I need to ensure that I apply moisturiser early so it can dry.

Ok, the next step I often forget about. I take a cotton pad and pour a little toner from Simple onto it. I pop this all over my face using small circular motions. In all honesty, I don't know what toners do (Google challenge for the day)! I was once told that they close your pores up after using warm water to wash it as well as clearing out extra dirt... But I could be 100% wrong. I always let this dry before applying anything else onto my face.

I then apply Grease Lightening from Lush to any spots or possible blemishes. If I've been feeling a little gross or feel like I'm about to have a huge break-out, then I'm a little more generous with this stuff and I put it all over my t-zone. I often find it brings out a spot that has been waiting to erupt on my face. Again, I let this dry.

The next thing I use is the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum. Ok, I know I said I'm a morning shower girl and this says "Night Repair" but I like to use it in the mornings sometimes!  I apply it by popping a little blob on each finger excluding my thumb on my left hand, lightly rubbing them with the fingers on my other hand and, starting at the centre of my forehead, lightly drawing round to my temples and down towards my mouth. I then put my fingers on my nose and sweep them out towards my ears, always avoiding the eye area. I'm not sure if this is the correct way to apply it but it works for me and I don't want to pull my skin too much. You can read a full review of this product on my blog - click here. This product dries pretty quickly so I can usually go straight onto my full face moisturiser after my next product.

The next thing I apply is the Estée Lauder Advanced Time Zone Age Reversing/Wrinkle Eye Creme. Again, you can read a full review here. I use the tiniest amount and rub it into the areas where I get laughter lines and little just above and just below my eyes. 

If you have taken a good look at the photograph above, you will see that I have four moisturisers on there. I started off buying the green tub, which is the Garnier Moisture Match in Shine Be Gone (ideal for combination/oily skin). I feel in love with the matte texture and the way it actually helps with my shiny t-zone. As I don't wear make-up often, I rely on a good moisturiser to ensure I look fresh as a daisy everyday! Anyway, I fell in love with this product so much that I simply had to buy a couple more tubes and Boots had an offer on so it would have been rude not to! I bought the Protect and Glow (yellow tub - with SPF20 and suitable for normal skin), Start Afresh (blue tub - suitable for normal/dry skin) and Wake Me Up (orange tub - suitable for dull skin). Why do I need so many? Because my skin is different everyday. I use Wake Me Up and Shine Be Gone the most. All have been fine with my sensitive skin.

I then use the Lush lip scrub in the flavour Popcorn to remove any dead skin from my lips and once I have licked it off (yum), I put on my little life saver (Carmex) to moisturise my lips. 

I will then brush my hair into a middle parting and, taking a small amount of my anti-frizz serum from Aussie, I comb my fingers through my hair, starting at the ends and working my way half way up my hair. I then take the heat protection spray, also by Aussie, spray this all over my hair and then comb it through to ensure it is evenly spread. I'll then blow dry my hair upside down to give it some lift as I have super flat and straight locks and it's completely frustrating! 

Once dried, I will spray through some Toni&Guy Casual: Sea Salt Texturising Spray whilst still blow drying my hair to bump it up a little.

Anyway, this is my post shower routine... Pretty long. I got a little carried away. 

Peace and love, my lovelies <3

I hate and love my sensitive skin

If you have sensitive skin, you'll already know how difficult it can be to maintain a fresh and glowing look.

My skin isn't quite as bad as it once was and I definitely know that other people have it a lot worse. But, if you have sensitive skin, you'll probably know which products you can use and which you can't and you will stick to those.

Having sensitive skin is the bane of my life! I recently spent a fair amount of money on Estée Lauder lotions and potions and have had to give away two of the four products! I usually don't try products because I'm too scared to part with the little money that I have on products that may cause a break-out.

For years, I have stuck to The Body Shop's moisturiser and toner from their aloe vera range, but not the cleanser because that makes my skin flare. I use the cleaner from Simple and an exfoliator from the vitamin E range in Superdrug. I have spent a ridiculous amount of money on foundation. For the first 19 years of my life, I tried every brand of foundation over the counter. I would either get instant irritation or be lured into a false sense of security, believing that I had finally found THE foundation for me, only to wake up covered in flaky red rashes all over my cheeks, chin and forehead.

About a month after my 19th birthday (bearing in mind that I am not even 20 yet), I finally tried MAC's Prep & Prime BB cream and their Studio Fix Powder Plus foundation. I can wear it for a few days until my skin starts to dry out - but I never get a red rash! It's a bonus that the BB cream is slightly tinted since I can't wear false tan either!

But having sensitive skin isn't all that bad. It took me 19 years to realise that growing up and going through your teenage years never be able to wear makeup and not being able to use any shower gels that you got for presents isn't all that bad! I'm actually almost HAPPY that I have sensitive skin now. I feel like I'm part of a rare group of girls who will happily go for weeks without wearing any makeup at all. I will go to lectures, shopping and even work without wearing even mascara. People always say I have a "fresh" look. I love that I can spend more time making my outfit look amazing instead of focusing on my face. I love going all out for events like nights out and birthdays and I get some lovely compliments when I do because people aren't used to seeing me that way.

I love my skin being sensitive for the confidence and originality it has given me. But I hate it because it costs a lot to find the right products.
The most important part is to listen to your skin. Don't over-treat any out-breaks but don't be afraid to try new products, if that is what you want (just be prepared to look a little blotchy if things go wrong).

And for those who wear makeup everyday, why not try going bare-faced for a few days?! It's not as scary as it sounds!