My Skincare Routine

This past year my skin has been wonderful. I have had countless compliments on it and as someone who suffered from severe acne in their teens, it's nice to have my face clean and clear. I do get a pimple or two every couple of months but that's something I can live with. I've been loving my skin care routine over the past year and have found it works, and well at that! I find that the products I'm using work in with my routine of getting ready and getting un-ready without too much fuss and without an excessive amount of products.Let's start with the Morning of the cycle. In the shower I am currently using the Puretopia Smooth and Renew Gentle Exfoliating Face Scrub. There's a few reasons as to why I like this product so much. 1 - it's affordable. At $9.99 at Priceline and lasting me about 4 months I can most definitely afford this product! 2. I love the fact that it's gentle on the skin; too often we use such harsh products on our skin which can cause break outs and damage. 3. The smell! So often face scubs smell... well... not so nice, and sometimes even toxic to be frank! This has a delicious fruity smell which makes it an enjoyable experience to use. 4. My face is left nice and smooth thanks to the gentle exfoliating beads in the scrub.Straight after the shower, I apply my moisturiser. I am currently using the Skin 79 Super Plus BB Cream VIP Gold Collection. I have been using the Skin 79 BB Creams for about two years now and most definitely notice a difference when I am not including them in my skincare routine. I purchase mine from ebay for about $15 and it might last me around 3 months. This leavs my skin feeling smooth and soft within a week of using it. When applying it, it does seem to leave a grey cast on your face however this combats the redness while giving so much moisture to your skin without leaving it greasy. The grey cast is not noticeable once it has been on your skin for a few minutes (it just makes it look better!) and definitely not noticeable when you have makeup on. It has quite a thick consistency and also has an SPF of 25 which is great for daily use on your face and neck for sun protection.One huge change up in my routine is taking off my makeup. I never used to take my makeup off before bed and it honestly never used to affect my skin that much. However I have noticed after taking it off religiously the few times that I have left it on I have woken up extremely uncomfortable and feeling dirty!One of the reasons it is so quick and easy for me to take my makeup off is due to the Makeup Remover that I use. I have been in love with the Garnier Clean Sensitive Makeup Remover 2 in 1 for the past year and a half. This product comes with the blue and clear solution that you have to shake which activates the formula and makes it work. I put two Makeup Remover Pads together and soak them with the Makeup Remover and use one on each side of my face, the back and the front. I place them over my eyes for a few seconds and then begin to wipe the makeup off. I find that with this product, my makeup just MELTS off. It is seriously amazing. I purchase mine in the grocery shopping from Woolworths forless than $10 on sale.I take a two of the Home Brand Makeup Removal Pads to use with my Makeup Remover. I like to use these ones as they are $1.49 from Woolworths and come in a packet of 80 which gives me close to a month's supply. I'm not fussy when it comes to these types of pads, I obviously only use them once and throw them away. I have used the Swisspers and Pricleine brands of these types but I feel like the Home Brand ones really get more product off of my face and soak up the Makeup Remover better.As the Makeup Remover leaves my skin feeling quite oily from the solution, I like to cleanse it and the perfect product for this purpose that will remove any makeup that is somehow still on my face is the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. I do already have a blog post on this product, however I have found it personally works better for me to use it after I have already removed my makeup as it isn't amazing at removing waterproof mascara. You would be surprised at how much makeup and dirt is still left on your face after you've already used a Makeup Remover! The Micellar water leaves my skin feeling fresh and no longer greasy, as if I have used a cleanser or cleansed it with water. This is another produt that it super gentle on the skin and it also has no smell and feels just like water.The last step in my skincare routine is to coat my skin generously with the RoseHip Plus Rosehip Oil. I get mine from Chemist Warehouse when it's on sale for less than $20.00 for 50ml. I feel as though this has been the product that's changed it all for me. I love using a natural product on my clean face and letting it sink in over night. I feel like my skin gets the moisture and nutrients it needs and is glowing because of it. Between using Rose Hip oil and taking my makeup off every night I have seen such an imporvement in my skin.I used to never be able to step out of the house without makeup on but I have finally felt comfortable in my own skin enough to not wear makeup every day. Of course I do wear makeup to work as I work in an office, a professional environment in which I feel it would be inappropriate to be well presented. I certianly feel so much more confident with healthy, glowing skin, I'm sure we all do!I guess a lesson to us all is to spend a little extra time on our skin if we want it to look good. It certainly doesn't mean you need to spend an arm and a leg either. I have found using more gentle/ natural products and putting plenty of moisture into my skin has improved it so much and I believe it is less oily than it was several years ago.oxo Crystal