My Summer Beauty Favourites

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It's that time of the year again, when I share my Summer beauty favourites. Some are new to my routine and some have been mentioned already and repurchased. There aren't many makeup products on my face lately, as I've been keeping it very simple and letting my natural skin glow, so it's all about skincare and SPF these days.

 First, let's talk about these three incredible Skinceuticals products. The SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque* (60ml £52.00) has been a favourite of mine for years and I recently received a new jar from Skinstation along with the other products. The mask is honestly the best soothing treatment I have ever tried and it calms down my skin, even when it is extremely irritated and red and it works instantly. It is a miracle worker and worth every penny. Whenever I have any redness, the SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Masque helps to soothe and replenish blotchy skin and any temporary skin reactivity. It contains highly-concentrated Botanical Extracts, a Calming Dipeptide and Hyaluronic Acid to cool on contact with the skin and restore natural radiance, hydration and smoothness. It can be applied as a post-workout skincare treatment, or after exposure to the sun, hot baths, excessive wind, salt or chlorine or IPL treatments, easing blotchiness, tightness, redness and dehydration. a 10/10 product I can't stop raving about.

Next we have the SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser* (150ml, £29.99). I have been using this cleanser as my second cleanse, after removing my makeup and  also in the mornings for a quick wash of my face. It is designed for congested skin with signs of ageing (Hi, thats's me!) andit does exaclty what I am looking for, giving my skin a proper, deep cleanse and leaving it nice and fresh. It is a foaming formula, so you get that extra clean feeling when you're done, but it doesn't leave any tightness or dryness. It helps to promote a brighter, more youthful complexion thanks to glycolic and phytic acid.

The last SkinCeuticals product I have been loving is the SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial UV Defense Sunscreen SPF50* (30ml, £38.00). I wear SPF 50 daily, so I am always looking for new formulas to try and this one did not disappoint. It is ultra light and feela undetectable on the skin, unlike thicker formulas. It's like a magical potion. It doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes and it's fragrance free, so should work for senstive skin. I just wish you got more than 30ml, as I apply SPF generously. Fantastic product!

Speaking of SPF, I cannot forget the IMAGE skincare PREVENTION+® daily ultimate protection moisturiser SPF 50* (91g £59.00). I almost used it up, since I received it at an event at PURE spa. It is a lovely formula and I really enjoyed using it. With most SPFs, I tend to breakout, but this one has been fantastic. It offers SPF 50 broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, plus Digital Aging Defense™ and I like using it on my makeup free days. It works well under makeup too, but I just love how glowy it makes me look and how nourishing it feels on the skin. It also smells incredible, as it is enriched with a hint of citrus essential oils. Pricey, but it is very nice and effective.


The only makeup product making it into my Summer favourites this year is the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Illumination SPF 50* (32ml, £33.00). I just love how natural it looks on the skin and the glow and coverage it gives me. You need a small amount to even out your skin tone and it is my favourite base of all time. I love their original base too, but the illumination one just gives my face that extra boost and makes it glow like nothing else I have ever tried. I am becoming so boring lately, mentioning the same base over an over again, but it is just too good! And it's SPF50 too. PERFECTION! If you haven't tried it yet, you must! 


I also got a very exciting delivery from LUSH recently and let me tell you... What a treat! The cult Mask of Magnamity* (315g, £18.00) is a skin saviour for someone like me, who's skin breaks out randomly and often. It's one of the brands self preserving products, which means that it stays fresh without any artificial preservatives. Magic!  The mask is designed to deep-cleanse your skin of environmental pollution and leave it luminous and fresh. Perfect for congested, dull, breakout prone skin. And absolute pleasure to use with the refreshing peppermint scent. It contains kaolin and bentonite gel to reduce shine and anti-inflammatory honey to sooth any breakouts and attract excess oil. The little bits in it are a mixture of ground aduki beans and evening primrose seeds to help gently exfoliate to remove dirt and encourage skin regeneration. LOVELY!

I am also absolutely OBSESSED with the Skin's Shangri-La Self Preserving Moisturiser* (45g, £40.00). I go for lighter formulas during the day, but prefer more nourishing face creams for night time. This moisturiser feels very luxurious and extra hydrating and it glides onto the skin, melting with the warmth of your hands, leaving your face looking plump, glowy and feeling ultra soft. The formula features nourishing wheatgrass, mineral rich seaweed and beautifying almond oil with a touch of beeswax. It is possibly the most luxurious feeling moisturiser I have ever used and I was worried it might be too rich, but it is just incredible! 


For my daytime moisturiser I have been using the AURELIA LONDON CELL REVITALISE DAY MOISTURISER* (60ML, £58.00). It is the perfect way to to give my skin the nourishment it needs in the morning, filled with omegas, baobab extract,  Kigelia Africana and hibiscus, the formula helps to repair existing damage, re-energises sluggish skin cells and provides protection from the ageing effects of the environment. It is suitable for all skin types and leaves my combination skin feeling incredibly soft and provides long lasting hydration and a healthy glow. I adore the scent of it as well, with notes of jasmine, plumeria, tuberose and mandarin. If you are looking for something light, but very nourishing, this day cream would be absolutely perfect. Fantastic under makeup as well. If you love natural formulas, be assured that all Aurelia products are completely free from synthetic fragrances, parabens, mineral oils, silicones, sulphates and other synthetic ingredients. And let's not forget the stunning, sustainable packaging! 


Some old favourites here, because I keep using these and can't get enough. 

La Roche-Posay Serozinc (150ml, £10.00). Always repurchasing this one. Perfect for hydrating and soothing your skin, reducing redness and irritation. A Summer must have. Cannot live without it. I use it after my toner and anytime during the day, when I feel like my skin needs it. So good!

Hyaluronic Acid is a constant in my routine and I reach for these two daily/twice daily. The mini Typology 15ml bottle* (£13.20) is perfect for travelling and The Ordinary 30ml Hylauronic Acid (£6.50) is an absolute bargain and I always buy it from Asos. My skin doesn't know life without HA and that's how I ma planning to keep it. My secret to plump, radiant, hydrated skin. 

But it would not make any sense to use hyaluronic acid without a good serum to go with it, right? That's the whole point. And my favourite serum at the moment is the Vibrant Skin Hydra B5 and Hyaluronic Acid Serum* (50ml, £40.00). Doubling up my HA game with this one! The ultimate hydration! This serum is so lovely to use. It feels extra hydrating and soothing, firms and tightens the skin by repairing its layers, prevents premature aging and gets rid of dryness with intense molecular level moisturisation. I have two other serums from the brand as well and they are all great, but this one is definitely my favourite.

An honourable mention to 99p Arnica cream from Home Bargains, because I bruise like a peach and use this on my legs all the time. Cheap and cheerful, but I really notice a difference when I use it on my bruises, they seem to heal quicker. 


I also have to mention my current fragrance picks. The Blackberry & Bay EDP (100ml, £5.99) from ALDI smells just like the Jo Malone original, but I can spray it head to toe without feeling guilty about the price tag, haha. I use it as a room spray as well. I got the matching diffuser too and it smells incredible!

And for the ultimate dupe... The Essence Vault 112 (100ml, £24.95), inspired by Love Don't Be Shy by Kilian. Let's not discuss the eye watering price tag of the original... Wow... The fragrance features top notes of Neroli, middle notes of Orange Blossom and a Marshmallow base and it is sweet like candy! Oh my... it is intoxicating, warm, seductive, intense... Definitely a head turner and it last so well on the skin and clothes. I will definitely order more dupes from The Essence Vault to try. Such a good price for 100ml!


What products have you been loving this Summer?

Sandra xxx


*products marked with an asterisk are gifted



  
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