A new video for you here, but as it’s proved to be such a popular one already I’ll give you a bit of an extended blurb. The Five Beauty Products that Changed My Skin has a slightly confusing title, I suppose, because it’s more about the five “types” of product that have changed my skin.
Each product in the video holds a special place in my beauty-lover’s heart; Emma Hardie’s Moringa Balm was the first cleanser that truly made me think of cleansing as a luxurious experience, Effaclar Duo helped me greatly with my adult acne many years ago, Liquid Gold was the first high-performance product that I tested thoroughly (it blew my mind), Medik8’s Crystal Retinal 6 paved my way into a more clued-up retinol-testing era and Hydraluron was the first serum that made me research (and fully appreciate the powers of) hyaluronic acid.
So they were the products that opened my eyes, if you will, to certain skincare techniques and ingredients. Cleansing balms for getting that thorough, silky, beautiful cleanse. Salicylic acid (Effaclar Duo and Paulas’s Choice Skin Perfecting Liquid) for treating acne and breakouts in a very soothing and effective way. Glycolic acid (Liquid Gold, Pixi Glow, lots of different peel pads and masks and creams) for that overnight glow that just blows your mind. Retinol (Medik8) for the most comprehensive hit-every-sign-of-ageing-with-it solution you’ll probably ever try. Hyaluronic acid for hydrating and plumping without having to add any heavy oils or overly rich creams…
All of the details are listed below the video screen, but it’s well worth watching me talk through the skincare choices (if I do say so myself!) to get more of an idea as to whether these types of ingredients might be something you’d like to try. Do leave your comments and questions, whether you type them below or underneath the video on Youtube – I’d love to know which products you think have had a great effect on your skin…
(links marked * are affiliate links, for more info see disclaimer below post)
CLEANSING BALM
Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm, £47 at FeelUnique*
see also:
Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm, £24 at Clinique
SALICYLIC ACID
Paula’s Choice BHA Skin Perfecting Liquid:
Trial Size, £8 at LookFantastic*
Full Size, £22.10 at Paula’s Choice*
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo, £10.66 at Escentual*
GLYCOLIC ACID
Alpha-H Liquid Gold, £33 at Cult Beauty*
see also:
Pixi Glow Tonic, £14.40 at Lookfantastic*
see also:
L’Oreal Glycolic Peel Pads, £14.99 at Amazon*
RETINOL
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 £59 at Medik8
see also:
First Aid Beauty Retinol Serum, £48 at FeelUnique*
HYALURONIC ACID
Indeed Labs Hydraluron Serum, £24.99 at Boots*
Great article
Thanks for sharing this great beauty products
Hi Ruth Really late to this but felt the need to comment. This has to be the best explanation of these products I have ever read. Simple and to the point. Thank you -thank you.
Cheers Karen! x
Azelaic acid made all the difference for me and my redness + acne prone skin.
Specifically from the Polish brand Hascoderm Lipogel.
That and a decent hydration routine.
Still need to try that Alpha H brand!
So many products that I still need to try!
I love Medik8. I use it too.
I recently tried Alumiers retinol at the lowest % they create and I looked burnt. Which is odd for me as I have had peels and the like and never had a reaction like this. Regardless, it took me 5 days to look less hot mess pink. As such I wonder what % of retinol in in your picks
thanks!
My whole skincare routine is comprised of Korean skincare products but I think I’ll make space for the paulas choice one haha it’s also a decent price. Thanks for the recommendations!
Need that Hyaluronic acid in my life now!!
I’m absolutely obsessed with pixi glow tonic, it’s a classic for me!
http://www.themakeupaficionado.com
Dear Ruth,
Thank you for this post. I have purchased the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo. Do you use this together with oils and/or the hydraluron. Love the hydraluron but now am a bit confused how to combine.
Many thanks in advance,
Elsa
never heard of these, but will surely gonna try ’em out.
I am going to have to make a note of these and try them out for myself!
Danielle xx
I was using a retinol product until recently, as I had heard such great things about it. It did work well to treat the wrinkles around my eyes, but I started noticing some darkish patches like freckles appearing around my eyes. I never connected the two things until one day when I realised that the dark spots were only appearing where I used the retinol cream! I googled it and apparently, the inflammatory response that retinol causes, can cause the skin to produce dark hyperpigmentation. It’s not very common but I still think it should be something more people are aware of! Thankfully my spots are not too noticeable and I’m hoping they will fade in time.
I love this post! I first came across your blog when I started with adult acne a few years ago and I immediately went out and bought the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo on your recommendation. I have since been through numerous tubes of this and have recommended it to so many people. Thankfully my skin is much better now and I love trying out new skincare products (a *slight* obsession which my husband really doesn’t understand!). I have tried every product mentioned on this blog, apart from the Medik8 Crystal Retinol, which I am keen to try. The Clinique take the day off balm is one of my absolute favourites (I have 3 currently in reserve), as is the Paula’s Choice BHA liquid. Thank you for all your recommendations and honest reviews xx
Emma Hardie, Effaclar Duo and Liquid Gold are products that helped me so much too.
Anne|Linda, Libra, Loca
Yikes! Hydraluron is expensive in the UK!! Here it is about 20 Canadian dollars (=12 pounds). Yeah Canada! Helps that Indeed Labs is a Canadian brand… UK and European brands are quite expensive though… try buying Elemis here.