Origins Make a difference+ Rejuvenating treatment & night gel cream

Origins Make a difference

Origins Make a difference

Origins Make a difference

Origins Make a difference

Origins moisturisers always were and are on my wish list. Having natural ingredients and the range make a difference is supposed to specifically help with rehydrating and repairing the skin. And let me be honest here, who doesn't have dehydrated skin these days? The air-conditioning, different temperatures inside and outside…our skin needs extra help now. 
And that was the main reason why I wanted to try these. I went specifically for the ones for combination oily/oily skin and they are definitely very light on the skin, they sink in right away and leave no residue. It is not as amazing experience in winter when it is cold as the gel texture can make you feel colder (well, that's how I feel that gel texture makes me colder and more intense texture makes me sweat in winter), but definitely I would recommend it for upcoming spring and summer. (I have used them for few months and no reaction, just hydrated, plumped skin, love it:))
As I said, light (oil-free), hydrating, repairing.
They contain nature's rose of Jericho Lychee and Watermelon hydra-sustain complex which quenches deep to help add moisture to dry, dehydrated skin.
If you have oily to combination oily skin which is dehydrated, I highly recommend these.
Check the Make a difference+ Rejuvanating treatment (£34) and Make a difference Night Skin rejuvenating gel cream (£34) on Origins website (the customer's reviews there are great as well).
Are you Origins lover as well? Which is your favourite?

Indeed labs retinol reface retinol skin resurfacer serum

Retinol has become one of beauty favourites of a lot of people. Retinol is one of animal forms of vitamin A, which increases cell turnover and makes the skin looking much younger, smoother and having less breakouts. 
I wanted to try the whole retinol thing as well, but the actual one that you can get only under prescription makes you peel and even when after the whole treatment, skin is beautiful, I need to work and I don't think I would find the time to peel. 
So when Indeed labs came with retinol that is moisturising and being non-irritating (claiming no peeling, dryness and redness), I just had to try it.
It wasn't very clear on the packaging if it is a serum or a moisturiser, but on the boots website it said serum, so I suppose that is how you should use it. You should apply it in the evening and making sure that you use sun protection in the morning. 
The texture reminds me more of a moisturiser that a serum, but didn't feel too heavy at all. The skin was  dry for me only around cheek area, but not anywhere else. 
So let me go to what Retinol reface is supposed to help with: - increasing cell turnover - reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles - restoring skin's radiance - improving skin tone and elasticity - improving skin's overall condition - reducing the appearance of signs of ageing
It contains 3 different types of retinol: Retinol RA (Rapid Action), Retinol Micro-spheres and Retinol like peptide.
I don't have wrinkles yet, just couple of fine lines around my mouth and I could see smoothness in that area, I feel that the radiance wasn't significantly changed, tone was nicer, I was hoping (even if it is not promising, but directly it should help with) that when it helps with cell turnover, it will help with my pores, which it unfortunately didn't. 
Overall judging: I like this product, it is very gentle and definitely you need to give it some time before you see results. I have been using it roughly for 3 months and skin is under good condition, but for me personally I wouldn't say it is a miracle worker. I very much love their Hydraluron, but I don't think I will be repurchasing this one, just because I think there are products that make bigger difference in radiance and smoothness of the skin.
I would definitely recommend checking boots website where you can check other reviews and people's opinion. Retinol Reface retails for £19.99.
Have you tried any of the retinol products? Any that deserve mentioning? Share in the comments:) Have a wonderful day, 

My morning skincare routine

Not a long time ago I posted my night routine. My day routine doesn't vary that much, but still has differences;)
http://luciaknowsbest.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/my-nighttime-skincare-routine.html

I was using Neutrogena 2in1 visibly clear for quite a while in my mornings, but I fell in love with Origins zero oil, that I use it in the mornings as well. Just nicely washes my skin with Clarisonic mia and I feel very fresh.

After that my Clinique anti-blemish clarifying lotion to exfoliate gently (I forgot to put this one in the picture;))

So THE extra product I have for morning is Estee Lauder Even Skintone Illuminator which helps with evening out the skintone while give very gentle nice glow to the skin. I do scar quite easily after any blemishes, so something gentle to help fade them is great. And it smells soooo nice.

After serum I apply my moisturisers: Clinique anti-blemish moisturizer (to help prevent blemishes with anti-bacterial ingredients and salicylic acid) and Biotherm Aquasource gel for putting moisture as I work in air-conditioned environment, this is a must.

As UV rays are here all the time, eve when it is cloudy, every day I apply sun protection: SPF40 City block from Clinique.

Last, but not least...my Even better eyes from Clinique. I can't wait for the real results as they should come after 12 weeks of usage:)

To be honest, I am very pleased with my routine, my skin is behaving better and these products together make a good team. Clinique is working for me well, as they are without fragrance, giving me less chance for bad skin reactions.
Very important role plays here proper cleansing, so my serums and moisturisers work better.

Lucia

xox

My night skincare routine

Recently I have decided to try some highly recommended products from youtube and blogs as my skin even after good regime didn't just look like as I wanted it to look.

Today I will start with my night-time, next time: the morning routine.

First, I mostly wear make-up (pretty much everyday, certainly 5 days per week and even on my days off if I need to sort out anything) so I am first removing that. I don't feel really bothered to have different make-up remover for eyes and for face and that's the reason I love Liz Earle hot cloth polish. I am always having a shower in the evening, so first I apply it, massage a little bit (I try not to smear my eye make-up all over my face), jump into the shower, leave it for a minute or 2 and then using the warm cloth, removing everything. And believe me when I say it removes everything.

After that I go with my Clarisonic mia and Origins zero oil to remove anything that could be left out-either oil, dirt or make-up. I absolutely love this combination as my skin feels really clean deep down. Sometimes it may feel a little too squeaky but that happens only in times when my skin is quite dehydrated from whole day in air-conditioned environment.

Then comes the biggest change I have made and I am using Clinique anti-blemish clarifying lotion and moisturizer. I really like their 3 step anti-blemish, the best is deffinitely clarifying lotion. It gently exfoliates the skin. It broke me out a little bit in the beginning, but now my skin is clearing up, has less blemishes and feels really smooth and radiant. On the bottom of the clarifying lotion is powder which controls oil, so if you have dry skin, you just simply don't shake the bottle, but get better result for your skin type.

The anti-blemish moisturizer (Clinique) felt to me first as no particularly amazing, because it didn't moisture my skin enough. But it contains salicylic acid and anti-bacterial ingredients which are for blemish prone skin crucial. So I stick with it, oh, good that I did.

As I said it doesn't moisturise enough, certainly not in winter months, I am topping it up with Biotherm Aquasource, my favourite moisturising gel of 2012. Just the best.

Last but certainly not least is my eye cream. My biggest concern are dark circles, so I am trying out Even better eyes from Clinique. So far so good, loving it. Will keep you updated about the actual results:)

My routine takes me a little time as I am used to it. I think when you make this part of your shower-brushing teeth routine, even when you were partying, you wouldn't go to sleep with make-up on. Well, I certainly don't;)

Thank you so much for stopping by my beautiful ladies. But before I leave, what is the product that you feel like changed your skin, or the trick that always work? Share the love:)

Lucia

xox