Google Reader --> Bloglovin'

As I am sure many of you know by now,  Google Reader will be no more from tomorrow, so I thought I'd  put out a quick little post on how to follow me after its gone! (^__^)

Bloglovin' is my favourite way of keeping up to date with my favourite blogs! Click here to follow me on there ;D 

It's easy peasy to set up an account, and you can import all the blogs you're following on Google Reader to Bloglovin'! It'll save you a lot of time, trawling through your blog list trying to find their Bloglovin' button (if they have one)

So yeah.. get on it guys! Please *wide eyed, pleading kitty face* it'll mean the world to me! ^^

Updated Skincare Routine for S/S 2013

If you remember a couple of months ago, I posted a Chitchat post on how bad my skin had gotten. Just to refresh your memory, or for those who don't know about it.. it was so painful I could not sleep because of it.

I got various comments on that blog post, but the general theme was to go to the dermatologist and to stick to natural things. I haven't really been to the dermatologist (mine is useless) but I did end up going for more natural things, less harsh things, and things intended for sensitive and blemish prone skins. 

And now that my skin has almost recovered from that awful breakout, Alhamdulillah, I thought I would share  my skincare routine again (^__^)

[Clockwise from left]

Cleanser:
The Body Shop's Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash
I've used this cleanser for years. It's really good for oily skin, and I decided to go back to it to eliminate all the excess sebum that was clogging up my pores. It works everytime, and I will always go back to it.

Scrub:
St Ives Naturally Clear Apricot Scrub (Blemish Fighting)
This. Is. Amazing. It's MILES better than the one I tried before, which was a bit meh. Its granules are much rougher which is exactly what I like in a facial scrub - I think this has got to be the best exfoliator I have ever tried, and yes! It is better than the original formula! It's texture reminds me of this superdrug mask I reviewed ^^
This helped to slough off all the dead skin cells and random dry patches that also clogged up my pores. It left my skin as smooth as a baby's bum. I use it every other day now. :D

Moisturisers:
Holland & Barrett's Aloe Vera Gel
This saved my whole face. This has got to be the single most important thing in my skincare routine. It healed all my spots, it calmed down my redness, it moisturised and softened my skin really well. I thoroughly recommend this if you had a bad breakout like I did, it will save your skin - I just cannot live without it now.

Simple Kind to Skin Light Hydrating Moisturiser
I don't love this as much anymore, but I have been using this so I thought I'd put it in. It's really good if you have oily skin but my skin just isnt that oily anymore. I'm thinking of trying the rich version of this when it finishes.

Skin Wisdom Youth Protect Eye Treatment
I've already put up a review of this eye cream, which you can read here. It's a pretty good eye cream for its price, better than the simple one anyway. Can you guess who made this? :P

Lipbalm:
Nivea Lip Butter in Caramel Cream
Sigh. I jumped on a bandwagon. My Nivea Hydrocare was running low when I bought this that's why, I swear! *shifty eyes* Sigh. I just wanted to know why everyone was dying over it, okay?
I still don't see it though. I mean it's alright.. it does the job. The smell reminds me of caramel popcorn *drools* which is a bit of a pain in the bum because when I put it on before bed, the smell always makes me crave it!

So yeah. I decided to keep it simple and gentle. I haven't been using any masks either. Although that will soon change, I do miss using them. Also, apologies for the long hiatus (yet again) I needed a bit of a break :o) Glad to be back though! (^__^) Missed you guys ;D

Disclaimer: All products featured were bought with my own money. All opinions are my own, etc, etc, etc.. ^^

Sample Sundays: L'occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream

Woo I am finally slowly getting through my little stash of samples! Can I get a woop woop? ;D I decided I should switch up my body butter choice for a bit (I love my papaya body butter but sometimes you just need a change!) so I looked through my little box of neglected samples and came across this^^

I think I got this when I bought some hand cream from L'occitane and they gave a couple of free samples with it. So generous (^__^)

Let's see what the website says~

'The Ultra Rich Body Cream is a complete body care treatment for dry to very dry skin. Exceptionally concentrated in shea butter (25%), it intensely nourishes and protects the skin and helps to restore the hydrolipidic film. Enriched with moisturising extracts (linseed, marshmallow, sweet almond and honey) and softening apricot oil, it durably hydrates for 24 hours and makes skin soft and supple.'

[source]

I don't know why I'm showing you the back of the packaging. but there it is. :P Also the writing in the middle is Japanese if anyone is wondering.. not Korean xD Yeyuh for being able to tell the difference between Chinese, Japanese, and Korean writing! (^________^)

Anyhoo. The cream is of a really nice, not-too-thick but not-too-soft consistency (technical terms. Ahem.). It absorbs into the skin quite easily unlike some other rich body creams I've tried. The scent is faint and doesn't really linger, so this could be one for those that don't really care for scents in their body products. ;D

I'd say that the website's description of the cream is pretty darn accurate. I used it on the more drier patches on my body, e.g. my elbows, knees and hands (I have incredibly dry hands) and it really did leave my skin soft and supple. My skin stayed moisturised all day, which is saying something because I wash my hands about twenty times a day (I have a bit of a germ phobia..).

I think it was probably because of the perfect combination of moisturising ingredients in this - 25% shea butter (that's A LOT), linseed (aka Flaxseed,  rich in omega 3 essential fatty acids), marshmallow (hydrating, moisturizing AND anti-inflammatory), sweet almond oil (more of an emollient than a moisturiser; it softens the skin rather than hydrates it, so acts more as a humectant and prevents loss of moisture from the skin) and honey (absorbs and retains moisture).

I'm really glad I got and used this sample, because now I know that when I run out of my usual hand cream, I know which range to buy from L'occitane. Woohoo for shea butter!

I'd definitely recommend this body cream if you have incredibly dry skin - if your skin is as dry as my hands' is, then this is DEFINITELY for you! It costs £29 from the L'occitane website, but you can get it for a couple of quid cheaper from ASOS for £27 (^__^)

Disclaimer: Free sample I got with a purchase. But you'd already know that if you read the post hehe. (>.<)