I’m a beauty-gal through and through, and I just can’t live without these skincare and health buys…
Skincare
I’ve always loved skincare, even when I was growing up. My Mum’s really into skincare as well (it was absolutely heavenly growing up around beautiful products) and to this day, I still remember receiving my first cleanser, exfoliant and moisturiser.
My current routine is far from simple I must admit, but it works for me.
I’ve got acne-prone skin so I use Neutrogena’s Deep Clean Revitalizing Pink Grapefruit Foam Cleanser, $13.99, in the morning and night. It smells zingy and refreshing, and the alpha-hydroxy acid formula helps to clean away grime and to effectively take my makeup off. If I’m wearing heavy eye makeup, I pop a few drops of Bobbi Brown’s Eye Makeup Remover, onto a cotton pad and press down with my eyes closed before using the foam cleanser – it’s really good at just melting eyeliner and mascara away so you don’t have to rub the area violently.
Once a week, usually on a Sunday, I pop on a face mask such as Ultraceuticals Ultra Clear Purifying Mask, while I catch up on some reading or TV shows. It helps to soothe and replenish my chapped winter skin and leaves it feeling baby soft.
Twice a week I use a gentle scrub on my face, CR Formulations Pearl and Bamboo Face Polish, – the pearl and bamboo extracts are really finely milled and aren’t too abrasive. I like to concentrate on using the product on my nose as this is where I get congestion the most and little nasty blackheads – they’re always so hard to get out!
When I get out of the shower, I spritz my face with Jurlique’s Rosewater Balancing Mist, $52; I love the gorgeous rosy scent and it also gets absorbed by my skin really quickly. Sometimes I’ll use Estee Lauder’s Micro Essence Skin Activating Treatment, $150, instead; it’s just like a skin drink – the texture is watery and light, it adds moisture to my skin and prevents fine lines.
I’ve got lots of freckles across my nose, and I used to love them… but now I’ve changed my mind! I’ve been using Lancome’s Blanc Expert Melanolyser Intense Whitening Spot Eraser, for a few months now and it’s a true game-changer – I can say my freckles have faded about 70%. I use it twice a day – morning and night.
My serum of choice is La Prairie’s Anti-Aging Rapid Response Booster. It works wonders on tired-looking skin and pigmentation, and leaves me with a lit-from-within glow to boot. Think of it as James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5; it’s flashy, practical and an all-round classic. As for my moisturiser? I love Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Night Concentrate – the gel-like texture just melts into my skin and doesn’t dirty my pillow like a lot of other heavier night creams. It’s a winner in my eyes.
Exercise and sleep
Working out is vital to me as it makes me feel more focused at work after a big session. I get bored of ‘slow’ exercise like yoga, so I go to F45 four times a week and mix it up with weights and cardio classes. Classes go on for (you guessed it) 45 minutes, and are different every time you go, so you don’t get sick of the same routine. The sessions are really tough but I see it as a challenge I can chip away it. Right now, chin-ups are absolutely crippling me, but I hope to be able to get a few out unassisted by the end of the year!
I used to find it hard to sleep at night, but since my new routine, I’m able to fall asleep the moment my head hits the pillow. The best thing about exercising for me is how it just completely tires me out, meaning there’s less tossing and turning (and even counting sheep) when it’s time to doze off. From a good night’s rest, I feel that I can just switch on better at work. In fact, sometimes I even wake up before my alarm!
Diet and nutrition
I’ve been trying to eat more healthily this year and it’s really shown – my energy levels are much higher and my skin is looking clearer than ever. I don’t follow a strict diet at all and love to go out for dinner, but I try and mix up my meals with veggies, meat or fish and some carbs – be it pasta, rice or bread.
I do take supplements from time to time in the morning after breakfast – it’s usually a mix of Swisse’s Women’s Power Ultivite and Ultiboost Grapeseed to help with collagen production.
If you get to the stage of feeling thirsty, then your body is well and truly dehydrated. I always have a big bottle of water of water on my desk, and at home I really like using a SodaStream to fizz things up a little. Sometimes I even add a handful of mint leaves or a twist of lime to make the taste of water more interesting.
This is a sponsored post by Neutrogena. All opinions expressed by the author are authentic and written in their own words.
