January Beauty Essentials

January is a tough time for skin – that’s why it is important to have a good skin care routine in place. After watching hours of youtube videos and reading beauty blogs – I have a crafted beauty routine the suits my lifestyle (relaxed) and my budget (small) perfect for January. I want to share with you in this post.
I hit the big 4-0 this year and it (finally) dawned on me that I need to take better care of my skin. For the best part of my 20s and 30s my skin routine was minimal. I’ve noticed that my skin texture has changed and I can no longer get away with using hand cream on my face or not taking my makeup off properly.
I’ve tried and tested lots of lotions and potions and these are my must-have beauty buys for this time of year.

Serum

Does central heating and the cold leave your skin feeling flaky and dry? What was missing as part of my care routine was a serum – which has now become my first step in my morning routine.
After trying a few different brands at around the £10 price tag, I happily discovered this gem by Boots from their Time Delay collection. Unlike other serums which have a consistency of oil, this one is a creamy finish which easily soaks into my skin without leaving it shiny looking.
I’ve noticed over the past few months that my skin is feeling dewy, and I notice when I skip out this step out of my skin care routine.

Moisturise

My skin routine know-how was pretty poor until very recently – and I’m ashamed to say that I never bought a face cream with SPF. In April, I had some minor skin treatments done. The nurse showed me extreme close ups of my skin on a large computer skin. On my cheeks, I had dark blemishes caused by sun damage. Let’s just say after that experience, I upped my skin game.
My skin is dry so I love a rich face cream – and Boots Time Delay Youth Moisturiser is perfect. The cream leaves my skin looking less thirsty looking. I also love the £5 price tag (look out for the multi-buys and special offers).  And of course, it has a SPF15 which is ideal for the winter sun. I would go higher SPF in the summer months.
Until May this year, I have never used eye cream. I know! I know! I splurged on £31 in Origins ‘Eye Doctor’ cream. I’ve never spent that much on a product in my life. I was assured by the sales girl that the tiny pot would last me at least 4 months. She was right. Nearly 5 months in and it’s still going strong. You need the tiniest amount – which I apply first thing. I’d say the difference isn’t that dramatic but my eyes are less puffy and sore as a result.
I’m making eye cream part of my daily morning routine but I would look for a less expensive one to save on dollar.

CC and BB Creams

I first heard about CC and BB creams from beauty blogs and tbh I didn’t 100% understand what they do and how to use them. Then blogger Kate La Vie introduced me to Korean brand – Erborian – and I was smitten.
CC and BB creams were invented to improve the appearance of skin, making it look luminous and soft, and reducing the appearance of blemishes. They have colour correcting pigments which match your natural skin tone. Think of them as a fancy tinted moisturiser – where the effect is make my dull skin look fresh and dewy but not ‘made up’.
I bought the Erborian BB Cream first – and loved the natural look and light coverage. I’ll often apply the BB cream just to my under eyes, across my nose and on my checks. It covers most of my blemishes and gives a smoother complexion. I would say as an alternative to foundation which can feel too much on dry skin, this is my new go-to.
If I’m heading out – I’ll use the CC Cream Clair mostly as an illuminator on my cheeks. It has a fine texture which I can apply like a foundation for days when I don’t feel like wearing heavy make-up. My skin feels velvety soft afterwards and looks very natural. I have to be careful where I apply it because it’s a light colour – but for the winter is ideal when my skin is pale.
If I was going to buy just one of the two – I say it would be the Erborian’s BB cream as it combines moisturiser, sun protection and foundation. This one is perfect when I don’t have much time to do my makeup but I want to leave the house looking good.

Skin Treatments

I also make other tweaks in my routine – so when my skin is tired looking, then I give it a deep cleanse before applying my serum base.  I found this balm which is 98% organic and costs £9 by Botanics. It even comes with a linen cloth to remove after cleansing.
It smells delicious and my skin is now black head free and very soft. I fell in love with this product so much – I bought it for my sister and my mum.
Once every other week, I take time out to apply Catastrophe Cosmetic (£7.50) face mask from Lush and leave it on until it goes crispy! It’s packed with blueberries which are anti-dexoting. It lifts my skin when I’m feeling run down. As it is freshly made mask with no preservatives, I keep it in the fridge like face food.
I spotted Caudlie in a Paris drug store on April (£12), and now I carry it around in my handbag for when my hands feel sore.

My winter skin routine takes hardly any time but does deserve a bit of dedication. I will switch it up again in the Summer as the weather changes and has an impact on how my skin looks.
What do you think of my beauty products? They are all good prices so I’m hoping you will be tempted to try a few of them.
In the meantime, you’ll find me on youtube until next time.
Maxine

** Disclaimer. I was given a few samples to try but all opinions and photos are my own.