I had no idea that Beauty Bay had their own skincare line, so I bought a few things to try out. It is very affordable and although the packaging is quite basic and no frills, the products themselves are very good. It reminds me of brands like The Ordinary with their focus on delivering great products but not wasting money on overpriced packaging, and I like that! Simple packaging but good quality…

It seems that the sun has come out to PLAY lately in the UK! My family back home have been telling me how delightfully warm and summery the climate has been there, and that it’s bringing them one step closer to (hopefully) a normal summer season. But with changing weather comes changing skin concerns, and it can be a minefield to know how to adapt your skincare routine to deal with this. I’ll be doing a series on how to look after every skin type in hotter temperatures, starting with how to look after acne in warmer weather ☀️

1. Go easy on the moisturiser

It’s vitally important that those of every skin type moisturise to keep their skin healthy, but a careful balancing act needs to be struck if you have acne-prone skin. Combining moisturiser with a sunscreen in the warmer weather can leave you feeling like a hot, greasy mess, which is something we all want to avoid at every cost! You can either skip your moisturiser during the day if you’re using a nourishing sunscreen and go ahead with your usual night cream at night, or simply use a gel-based moisturiser for a fresher skin feeling. 

2. Spritz away sun damage

If heavy, creamy sunscreens aren’t your thing, there are plenty of formulas on the market that are suitable for breakout-prone peeps. Garnier and Piz Buin have light face fluid sunscreens that are designed to feel non-greasy on the skin, or you can take your pick out of the numerous gel-based options Korean beauty brands have to offer. A mist-based sunscreen is also a fabulous way to quickly and effectively give your complexion the protection it needs, all while feeling absolutely weightless on your skin and make-up. 

3. Use gentle products at night

After a full day of wearing sunscreen, it can be tempting to throw the kitchen sink at your face at night to get rid of any residue. But overdoing your skincare routine can actually make matters worse, and cause more inflammation and redness in the long run. Have a gentle double-cleansing routine at night, and limit active ingredients to the absolute minimum - pick only one serum or exfoliating toner to clear out your pores however often your skin is happy with.

4. Calm down with a mask 

If, like me, you’re a lover of face masks, opt for ones that actively calm down and soothe your skin. Ingredients like green tea, chamomile and aloe vera are all great for reducing irritation, soothing sunburn and gently treating breakouts without exacerbating them. Many face masks available also have a cooling effect on the skin, which is great for those sticky, sweaty self-care nights! If you have no other strong ingredients or products in your skincare routine, you can also decide to use an exfoliating mask to deeply cleanse any built-up grime. 

I made a post called quick recap on double cleansing on exactly how to do it but this will be on what it does for your skin.

Double cleansing (oil based cleanser +water based cleanser) removes oil based impurities and water based impurities. The oil based impurities being makeup, sunscreen, excess sebum, and pollution. The water based impurities being sweat and dirt. When removing all of this you're left with a perfectly clean face. Cleansing is essential in having an effective skincare routine because if you still have stuff left in your pores the rest of your skincare products won’t work as well.

Benefits

It’s for all skintypes

Leaves pores completely clean

Leads to clear skin

Oily/combo skintypes will produce less sebum (oil) because your pores won’t be clogged.

Note *

CLEANSING IS ARGUABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT SKIN CARE STEP. With the double cleansing method, you have an oil-based cleanser followed by a second, water-based cleanser. This post focuses on that second cleanser.

Feeling sunny with the Camomile Cleansing Butter by The Body Shop ☀️  

I hope you’re all having a fab Saturday! My plans went a bit awry this afternoon when me and my family wanted to walk some of the Pembrokeshire coastal path in this delightful sunny weather, but the wind swiftly put an end to those hopes 😅 So instead we had our picnic in the car, did some reading and had a nap while being safe from the gales outside 😂 Not what we planned but it was so relaxing regardless! 

In brighter news, this cleansing balm by The Body Shop is truly divine. My brother’s girlfriend gave me this sample a couple of months ago when she had it for free during her Christmas shopping, and my goodness what a treat it has been to use. I know it’s a cult favourite in the skincare community and I can see why now!

This balm melts in your hands quickly, has a lovely slip to it which makes sure there’s no tugging or rubbing, and it has a gentle, floral scent that I find so relaxing. Make-up is dissolved in seconds, and there’s no greasy film left on your skin which wouldn’t matter too much during a double cleanse, but it’s still nice to know there’s no weird residue from using this product.

Even my eyes cope well with this - my whole eye area is hideously sensitive in general and this is one of the better products I’ve used on them. There’s still a slight sting if I’ve used too much, but most of the time mascara is broken down painlessly and easily 👌

This balm doesn’t seem to aggravate my reactive skin either - it just feels soothing, calming and an easy way to wipe away the day!

It’s a bit pricey for a student comme moi as it’s £11 for 90ml of product, but in terms of quality I have no complaints. I have the No7 cleansing balm to try out when this is done which works out cheaper, so let’s see how that stacks up against this beauty! It could be a tight race 👀

Choose your fighter ⚔️ 

Today I’m going to be comparing two drugstore cleansing oils that I’ve used/been using over the past year. Cleansing oils have the reputation of being costly and sometimes inaccessible, which is why I want to tell you about two options that are not only cheap but which also do an amazing job at melting away make-up, all without irritating sensitive skin. I don’t tend to use cleansing oils to remove mascara as my eyes are extremely delicate and I do fear that I’ll go blind if oil goes anywhere near them, so keep that in mind! 

First up: the Revolution Skincare Overnight Cleansing Oil ✨

💖 Made up of sunflower and evening primrose oils as well as squalane - all of which are well-tolerated by all skin types.

💖 Contains lavender oil to give a therapeutic experience before bed - this does not cause me irritation as it’s at the bottom of the INCI list and is diluted with other oils, and is delicate enough to help me unwind before going to sleep without being too over-powering.

💖 Gets rid of make-up in seconds, without stripping my skin of any moisture.

💖 Skin feels cleansed and softened after use, and ready for a second cleanse!

💖 Vegan formula that’s also cruelty-free.

💖 Costs £10 for 150ml - this bottle will easily see me through to the end of the year and I’ve already been using it for a couple of months. Winner winner. 

Next: the Simple Hydrating Cleansing Oil ⭐️  

💗 Made up of grapeseed and sunflower oils - grapeseed oil is particularly beneficial for acne-prone and oily skin!

💗 Contains no perfume, alcohol or mineral oils, making it great for sensitive skin too. 

💗 Vegan formula and the brand is cruelty-free.

💔 Instructions claim you only need 2-3 drops for your entire face - I definitely needed much more to get a satisfying ‘slip’ to my skin and to thoroughly remove heavy make-up. 

💔 I found this formula far less hydrating than the Revolution Skincare one, which is surprising considering this one is marketed as being nourishing more so than Revolution’s. 

💗 Better suited towards oily, breakout-prone and sensitive skin rather than dry skin, as skin feels like it needs extra moisture after use. 

💗 Costs £6.99 for 125ml, but Superdrug often sells this for far less. 

My conclusion? Revolution Skincare wins! 🏆 Not only will the bottle last ages, but I adore the scent of lavender as it’s a wonderful way of unwinding during my nighttime skincare routine. It makes make-up removal so effortless and I look forward to using it every night!