SUNDAY SAMPLE SKINCARE -- Saving my skin

I've not been blogging as much as I would have liked recently. I've been away from home working on an archaeological dig in Maryport, Cumbria. During my time away I've noticed that this is the best my skin has ever looked. It seems that working in the dirt is doing wonders for my pores which is ironic that my skin isn't clogged with said dirt. I'm not sure whether my new found skin is a result of my working conditions or beauty products. I've decided to share with you my top products that have helped to save my skin during my time away. I've previously reviewed some of the products before and have since developed a new skin regime. Of course the strenuous exercise, increased exposure to vitamin D and drinking plenty fluids will also have contributed to my now spotless skin.

I'm usually rushing around on a morning so I don't have time to use all my usual lotions and potions. I packed a small selection of products to take away with me choosing miniature bottles to save on weight. I've been waking up recently looking quite rough and although I'm digging in dirt most days, I still can't bring myself to go bare faced during the day. I start my regime with the noxi doxi serum-base, a recent acquisition that I've grown to love. It helps rehydrate my skin and perk it up a little. [You can read my full review here: Noxi Doxi].

After this I apply Garnier Skin Naturals Miracle Skin Cream before my minimal make up. I love this moisturiser it absorbs really quickly into the skin and feels great. It retails between £6.95 and £13 depending on the stockists. I received mine as a sample from Dorothy Perkins. I bought clothes a while ago off their website and they sent a small sample of the moisturiser inside the package. I really like this moisturiser but I feel that I can't test out the anti-aging promise just yet. It's not a greasy formula and is light enough to apply make up on over the top.

I've temporarily reverted back to the Maybelline Fit Me foundation as the 10ml sample size was convenient for me to pack. [You can read about my Maybelline review here: Fit Me foundation]. I still use my normal witch hazel concealer but I've since added green concealer to my make up bag. I'm late to the game I know but I was dubious about trying this out for a long time. I visited the Cosmetics Fairy website recently and purchased their only green concealer by N.Y.C. This was about £2 and blends easily on the face. The idea is to use a colour on the opposite end of the spectrum so for those red spots you use green to mask it rather than a skin coloured concealer. To cover up purple under eye bags you use a yellow concealer which I have to say does work. I've discovered a new way to apply concealer to the under eyes which works to disguise my heavy bags. If you draw an upside down triangle (with the base under the eye and the point facing the cheek) and dab rather than rub the concealer, my bags are far less noticeable. I'm sure there are other green concealers on the market but N.Y.C. does the job at hiding red and angry spots. The only downside is it's a little greasy but this is easily rectified with a concealer brush.

Finally, my hands and nails have taken a battering since I've been away. L'Occitane Shea Butter or Amande hand creams have helped soothe and soften my rough skin. They've helped strengthen my nails and soften my cuticles making me feel a little more human every day. I can't promise that my new regime is the answer to perfect skin as exercise and vitamin D has certainly contributed a lot. [You can read about my L'Occitane review here: hand creams].