When I posted a recent request online for the skincare market’s top (and most secret) products, I received a barrage of answers (inevitably) and tried several out for myself to test whether the hype surrounding each product was really worth it. The products I have chosen to feature are a mixture of independent and popular brands, all of which I have tried and tested personally and can vouch for the fact they really are must-haves (or at least must try’s!).
Antiac – Acne Clearing Spray
Whilst anything acne related should first be checked out by your GP, simple solutions that can be bought from your pharmacist (and actually work) are pretty hard to come by. I don’t have what you would refer to as acne by any means, however I do tend to suffer from breakouts on a fortnightly basis, and since my skin reacts to harsher products with lots of chemicals in (which often do clear up spots), I haven’t yet found a solution my skin could take.
Antiac is one of the first products I have discovered which works as an anti-inflammatory and a cleanser for clearing spots, whilst also containing no alcohol, parabeans or nasty chemicals. It is suitable for those who suffer from Nut, Gluten, Soya and Dairy allergies and is fine to use for those with sensitive skin. Despite the lack of nasty chemicals, this product actually works in cleansing skin and clearing spots – and gets to work in less than an hour (I sound like a TV commercial, but honestly I’m being truthful!).
Any red, angry looking spots are gently cleansed and within an hour they look far less swollen. Even if you don’t suffer from spots regularly, this easy to use spray also prevents spots from appearing (so if you have a big date or event you don’t want spots ruining – this is a great solution!), you simply spritz on and leave!
Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil
I am a huge fan of Cocoa Butter Formula anyway, so finding this product was a success was no surprise to me at all! Originally formulated to help reduce the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tones, the oil is not only moisturizing but also skin repairing – as it is absorbed by the skin quickly and you begin to see the results within weeks. I find it quite hard to stick at using products day after day, especially if you don’t see an instantaneous result. However, determined to see if this product really could improve the appearance of my stretch marks – I stuck at it and after two weeks began to see results I was pleased with.
Annoyingly, stretch marks will probably never go away completely, however with time they will fade and become practically un-noticeable. This product just speeds up the process a little and works in the same way products like Bio Oil does, in repairing the skin’s elasticity and creating a more even skin-tone. What I prefer about this product is that it smells amazing and that the moisturizing benefits last much longer than other Skin Oil’s I have tried! Also, as an added benefit – £1 from the sale of each 150ml bottle goes to Breast Cancer Care – so you are not only helping a fantastic charity, but also getting a great product for your money!
Lacura Q10 Restorative Day Cream
I have several pots of day cream sat on my shelf at the moment, but my current favourite is by Lacura (a brand stocked by Aldi) as it is affordable yet very effective – two very attractive qualities! I won’t go into detail about the ingredients of the product, as to be perfectly honest I have absolutely no idea what they do and how to spell them. However, for someone who suffers quite regularly with dry skin but doesn’t want to slap on rich day creams and clog up my pores, this is an ideal halfway solution. It repairs dry and irritated skin and is perfect for use under make-up, when you want to create a smooth base for foundations/primers. It is a relatively cheap and accessible product and I believe it is sold in Aldi stores nationwide, so if you want to get your hands on a great product – this is really worth a try!
Johnsons (The Entire Range!)
This month, I’ve been trialing several products from the Johnsons range – a brand which I feel is often overlooked.
The Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover was one of my favourite products as it is one of the very few eye make-up cleansers that doesn’t leave your lashes feeling dry. I know it’s a bit of a weird statement to make, but when I take my eye make-up off – I prefer for my eyelashes to feel soft and nourished, which is exactly what this product does. It manages to remove even the most ‘mascara coated’ of eyelashes – I even did a test run with waterproof mascara one evening to test it’s removing power! I was also lucky enough to try out the Gentle Eye Make-Up Removal Pads this month as well, which are equally as great as the liquid solution, just easier and quicker to use!
The night cream and the day cream are also two fantastic moisturizers worth giving a go if you are looking for a new face hydrating product! The day cream was probably my favourite out of the two, as it was a little lighter on my skin and sat under make-up really well (and strangely, gave what I had applied far longer lasting power!). The night cream was much richer, although I suppose this is to be expected with night cream! I have used it a few nights in a row but wanted to give my skin a break – as I tend to apply it rather liberally in a tired daze and end up with really oily skin!
Lovely Lanolips Golden Ointment
Although I hadn’t heard of this product beforehand, a quick search on Google tells me it’s an extremely popular and well used product. The Golden Ointment comes in a gorgeous pale yellow tube and can be used to soothe dry areas anywhere on the body. I usually get dry patches on my hands and feet, so tested it out over a three day period on both.
Admittedly, it is a struggle to get the ointment out of the tube initially – however once you actually do, and apply it – it really does work miracles. Whilst many soothing, hydrating ointments are greasy, have an over-powering scent and feel rather sticky, Lovely Lanolips’ ointment simply soaked in to the area of application and immediately got to work on making it feel much softer and smoother overall. There was no hideously over-powering scent either, as it smells lightly of honey and not a lot else (which I personally love).
So overall, those are my favourite skin care products for the month of October (so far). I’m sure there will be plenty more, as I am constantly trying out new products – however hopefully this will inspire some of you to try products that aren’t necessarily recognized and advertised on a regular basis. Do let me know if you decide to try any of the above!
