Mix 'n' Match Skin Care Regime for my Combination Skin

I have very combination skin and have struggled for a while to find a skin care regime that meets my needs. My forehead and nose are very dry, yet my chin is oily and prone to breakouts. So for me skin care is a bit of a balancing act, trying to moisturize one area whilst minimizing oil in another, but I think I've finally cracked it. After some trial and error I have found a basic routine that works well for me when used both morning and evening. 

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Oily Skin Formula:
Because of my combination skin I had to make some compromises, I couldn't use a routine that was purely for oily skin, as it would work well for one area of my face, but not another. So whilst cleansing I decided to use an oily skin formula to target the areas of my face prone to oiliness and breakouts. Clinique's Liquid Facial Soap Oily Skin Formula is, as the name suggests, for combination oily to oily skin types. The facial soap lathers up really nicely and is gentle, but provides a deep cleanse. After using the product, my skin looks clean and doesn't feel tight, as other oily products have have left it feeling in the past. The menthol in the facial soap leaves me feeling refreshed and invigorated, so is great to use in the morning. However, it does dry my nose and forehead out a tad, which I combat by using the 7 Day Scrub and my moisturizer so it's not much of an issue. 

Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream:
I use this exfoliator 2-3 times a week to help remove dry patches and prevent my skin from looking tired and dull. It is a cream based formula with fine grains which is suitable for all skin types and like all of Clinique's products, is allergy tested and 100% fragrance free. Personally, I find that a lot of exfoliators scrimp on the exfoliating beads, but this product doesn't which I really like. It contains lots of small grains, but isn't harsh and is very effective at keeping skin looking smooth and radiant. 

Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+: 
Because I use my cleanser to combat oily areas in my face, I use my moisturizer to target dryness. Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ is for very dry to dry combination skin and has recently been redeveloped give all-day hydration and strengthen the skin's own moisture barriers. Even though the formula is for dry skin, it's still light weight, non-greasy and doesn't make my chin oily. The texture of this product is lovely, it smoothes onto the skin easily, absorbs quickly and makes my skin feel soft and plump. Previously I was using Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, recommended for oily skin but found that it was not providing enough hydration in my forehead area. 

Price wise, I'd say these products are mid range. The Liquid facial wash is £15.50 for 200ml, 7 Day Scrub £18.50 for 100ml and DDML+ £29.50 for 125ml. On a student budget they can seem pretty pricey though, but I feel that my skin is worth the investment. This time I bought them myself, but I'd usually pop them on my Christmas list and hope that my relatives are feeling generous! 

I'm currently looking for a reasonably priced face mask and moisturizer with SPF to complement my routine, any recommendations?

Ellie xo

Lime Crime Suedeberry Velvetine review

Ever since discovering Lime Crime on instagram I've been lusting over their products and couldn't wait to get my hands on some. Lime Crime are a US company and their products are highly pigmented, vegan and cruelty free, which really appealed to me. I found an online company in the UK called Cocktail Cosmetics who stock Lime Crime products (which you can find here) and decided to treat myself to one of the Velvetine range. I ordered Suedeberry which is described by Lime Crime as a "matte coral red" and was really impressed by the speedy service from Cocktail Cosmetics.





















As for the Velvetine itself, I was definitely not disappointed! The packaging is really nice, I find the sort of frosted glass effect on the tube and the pretty pink roses on the lid rather attractive. It is small and light, so easy to pop into your hand bag or pocket for makeup on the go. The applicator is fairly petite, making it easy to follow the shape of your lips accurately when applying the colour which I like, as I'm not the most light handed of people and usually end up with lipstick smeared around my lips as well as on them! 

What's interesting about the Velvetines is that they are applied as a liquid and then dry to a matte, waterproof finish as demonstrated by the swatch below. 

(left: freshly applied, right: dried)

Once dried, I found Suedeberry to be extremely long lasting. Through eating, drinking and chatting it didn't budge and only needed topping up around the corners of my mouth every 3-4 hours. The colour payout is fabulous, it's very vivid and bright yet I still find it wearable and love the coral hues which seem to be in this spring/summer. When wearing this product, I  get really positive comments saying how lovely the colour is, which is always great to hear! 

My only minor complaint about this product is that I find it tends to be a bit drying. My lips are very dry anyway and are prone to unsightly cracking unless I religiously apply lip balm throughout the day. Before using my Velvetine, I try to condition my lips by exfoliating and moisturising a few days before, so when I apply the colour I get a smooth finish. If I feel that my lips are in danger of drying out whilst wearing the lipstick, I take it off, apply a bit of balm until my lips are feeling more nourished, and then reapply the colour, but I generally only need to do this once if I am wearing it all day. (Note: it is best to remove this colour using an oil based makeup remover, I use Clinique's take the day off makeup remover for lids, lashes and lips)

Overall, I'm in love with this product and am planning on adding more to my makeup bag, which at £13.50 each won't break the bank. I think the colour is stunning and look forward wearing it, whether in the evenings or as a summery daytime look. I'd definitely recommend! 

Ellie xo