the cruelty-free skincare routine that is saving my skin

Developing a proper skin routine was one of my goals for this year and I think I've finally cracked it! With the help of my friend hazel with her endless skincare knowledge and the wonders of the internet, I finally managed to narrow down what I wanted to try, and all of the brands are cruelty free (some are even vegan)!.

Personally I think that a face wash doesn't affect your skin all that much, especially if you're going to be putting other serums and stuff on as well. So I just picked something basic from a brand that I trusted, the Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel. Nice and gentle on my skin and pleasant smelling. As a toner I also use their Aloe, Green Tea & Cucumber Facial Spray which lovely pick-me-up.

So for the morning I wanted to invest in a really lovely, lightweight moisturiser that would make my skin glow. All over the internet I've seen people rave about the Origins mosituriser so I thought I'd give it a go, I picked up the GinZing Ultra-hydrating Energy-boosting Cream and my god it's lovely, my skin just drinks it in!

Serum-wise, I wanted to get something affordable and pretty straight-forward. I decided to try the Ordinary as I had heard lot's of good things about them, and they're all so cheap!

In the morning I use:

Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG - used under the eyes to reduce puffiness and dark circles

Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% - a vitamin C solution used to brighten skin tone

Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 - multi-depth skin hydration

At night I use:

Retinol 0.2% in Squalene - reduces the appearance of fine lines and signs of aging

100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil - hydrates and reduces signs of skin damage

Hyaluronic Acid 2%

Along with the nourishing Mario Badescu Olive Eye Cream and the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream which is a fan favourite, so hydrating.

Weekly I try to do a few face masks. I'll use the Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution which is a deep exfoliant that help to even out skin texture and appearance. I sometimes also use another face mask like the Kiehl's Masks or a Lush Mask.

The road to good skin is a long one filled with trial and error. When I started to use all of these new products my skin definitely freaked out as it wasn't used to so many products being put on it, but after like maybe almost a month it has calmed down completely and is finally starting to look clear and glowing and I'm so thankful for it!

Courtney xx

#skincare #theordinary #kiehls #mariobadescu #moisturiser #crueltyfree #vegan #serum