Pamper sesh/Mini-facial.

Once a week I like to treat myself to a little facial, so to speak. No, I don't go out and get it done professionally, I do it by myself on myself, in the comfort of my own room. Perfectamundo.

It is one of the most pampering things you could do and your skin will love you for it, and you don't really need fancy expensive products or equipment. For example, stage 1 is cleansing. Any cleanser would do, depending on your skin type. Stage 2 is a repeat, so essentially a double cleanse, and you could use the same cleanser as before or go for a different one if you fancy. I find that my oily congested skin appreciates a double cleanse and I find this really effective at leaving skin prepped and primed. If you don't want to double-cleanse or don't feel your skin needs it - don't. I only do it because I definitely need to! Stage 3 is exfoliation. Any exfoliator will do, just make sure that the exfoliating matierial within the product isn't natural - peach kernels or nut shells aren't naturally round and therefore can scratch the skin, which isn't good. Man-made beads or crystals in exfoliating products are better because they can be refined down and rounded so they have a less harsh effect on the skin but are still effective. Step 4 can be carried out over a bowl of water. You don't have to own a steamer! Step 5 can be carried out again with a preferred cleanser. Stage 6 can be carried out with any mask you like - hydrating, chemically exfoliating, cleansing, whatever you want!. For stage 7, use your favourite moisturiser, and hey presto.
Everyone does their own facial differently, but mine is through trial and error, and this method and these products work for me!

I have written out what I normally do once a week facial-wise. Sometimes I skip out a stage if I'm feeling pushed for time, but normally I don't feel like I'm doing my skin justice unless I do the whole caboodle!

1) If I have a full face of makeup (which is rare), I take it all off with a baby wipe first and then I cleanse my face with the Neutrogena 'Visibly Clear 2 in 1' face wash to remove all the impurities and oil from my skin, leaving skin already feeling fresh and so clean.
2) I cleanse my face again with my Clarisonic and a foaming face wash (I am loving Neutrogena's 'Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash'), and then follow with Boots' Botanics 'All Bright Cleansing Toner', just to ensure I have cleaned every last trace of grime from my skin.
3) I follow the double-cleanse with micro-dermabraison courtesy of No7's 'Total Renewal Micro-dermabraision Exfoliator'. This is hands down the best exfoliator I have ever used. I haven't yet found one to beat it (yet). It removes all the dead skin cells, revealing new skin, ensuring all my products are ready to be absorbed well!
4) Then I steam my face with my own steamer - I've had it 6 years and it's still going strong! I add Boot's own 'Glycerin and Rosewater' or tea tree to the water. It really depends how my skin is feeling, if it's a wee bit sensitive I opt for the rose water, if I have a massively huge breakout I opt for the tea-tree essence just to clear out my congested pores.
5) Then I cleanse with a foaming cleanser, to make sure I have removed all the micro-dermabraison crystals from my skin.
6) I then apply a mask; this could either be the Neutrogena 'Visibly Clear 2 in 1' used as a mask (I love those multi-purpose products I do) or the Elemis 'Papaya Enzyme Peel'. I normally alternate but if skin is feeling congested, I will plump for the Neutrogena mask above the Elemis one, and if skin is looking dull and lifeless, I'll opt for the latter!
7) I then apply Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum, followed by a nice big sticky layer of Eucerin's 'Aquaphor' to ensure my skin is moisturised like hell - and I'm done!

I do think it is important not only for the skin, but also for the mind to completely de-stress and focus on yourself - I don't have much 'me-time' at the moment so this is the one selfish thing I revel in.

Cetaphil 'Gentle Skin Cleanser.'

I first heard about this brand when I was reading an interview with Scarlett Johansson, who had said that she loved this cleanser,. So of course, I went out and bought it. I'm so swayed by celebrity recommendations (apart from sheep's placenta. Just no)!



I, like Scarlett, also love this cleanser, especially when my skin is feeling sensitive, sore and just can't face a thorough Hibiscrub cleanse.
I wouldn't use it every day, purely for the fact that I don't feel like it really leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean. I do think if you struggle with the sensitiveness or dryness of your skin, you might need to use it every day (it does say 'daily cleansing' on the bottle), but I only suffer with sensitive skin once in a while, and since having oily skin and covered in spots right now (urgh), I need to make sure my skin is cleansed good and proper.
Although, like it says on the bottle, it leaves my skin feeling moisturised, 'soft, smooth and healthy'.

The product comes out of the bottle looking rather like a shampoo, and smells rather like E45, which always reminds me of the smell of PVA glue.
I use this by squeezing a blob of it into my hands, and then (without adding water), applying it to my skin and massaging it all over my face. This cleanser doesn't foam up, and it is more of a cream cleanser than anything else. I do this for a couple of minutes, and then I get a cotton wool pad and wipe the excess off my face. This means that this cleanser is great for when you don't have a sink with you, since you can put it straight on your face without water, massage it in and wipe off with a cotton pad without faffing around with water and drying your face.
However, you can use it with water, in the way that instead of wiping off the excess with a cotton pad, you would rinse your skin and pat dry. I prefer the non-water way - because I'm lazy and it seems so much easier!

This product is marketed as 'high tolerance' and has a soap-free formula, which means it would be suitable for most sensitive skin conditions. Indeed, when using it when my face is sore and dry, I experienced no unpleasant stinging or irritation, and left my skin feeling really calm and refreshed.

This product set me back £8.99 from Boots, which I think is a really good price for this type of product. I have had mine for about 2 months, and I've only used about a third! I don't use it a lot, as mentioned, but I still think that's pretty good going!

As I said, I wouldn't use this every day, since I prefer really thoroughly cleansing my skin with Hibiscrub, but for those who are having trouble finding a cleanser which is sensitive enough for your skin, I would thoroughly recommend giving this product a try.

I mean, if Scarlett Johansson uses it, surely it's good enough for us normal people?!