Modest Mix: skincare

What's in my shower #2

4.10.16

Lush Cosmetics Jason and the Argan Oil solid shampoo

Garnier Ultimate Blends Marvellous Transformer Honey Treasures

A good year after my first 'What's in my shower' post, it is time for another roundup of bath and body products I've been liking. I am back with an overview of the treats that have been ruling my shower routine for the past four months or so.

HAIR CARE

♢ Garnier Ultra Doux 'Marvellous Transformer'
For shampoo, I've been liking argan oil based products a lot lately. I started using liquid shampoo again around March-April after washing my hair with solid shampoo only for over a year. The Ultimate Blends collection (branded as Ultra Doux in Belgium) from Garnier has been well-loved in our family. The Marvellous Transformer shampoo with a blend of Moroccan argan oil and Japanese camelia oil intensely nourishes my dry, dull hair and boosts shine.
♢ Lush Cosmetics Jason and the Argan Oil
I have two backups of Jason and the Argan Oil by Lush Cosmetics, so I think it's safe to say it has grown to be a favourite! This bright purple solid shampoo is packed with argan oil and rose absolute to strengthen and soften hair, and add a lustrous shine. It smells like the popular Rose Jam shower gel too, which is a cool extra.
♢ Garnier Ultimate Blends 'Honey Treasures' & 'Marvellous Transformer'
New in my hair care routine is leave-in deep conditioner. The ones by Garnier are awesome and come in a useful pot of no less than 300ml. Honey Treasures, with royal jelly, honey and propolis extracts, is a repairing mask for damaged hair, while Marvellous Transformer is a multifunctional treatment that leaves (dry) hair feeling supple and nourished.

BODY CARE

♢ & Other Stories 'Steel Garden'
Probably my number one favourite bath product of the moment is this sugar-based body scrub from & Other Stories. Buffing away dead skin cells once or twice a week not only boosts healthier and brighter skin, it's also a very relaxing treatment. Since the formula transforms into a milky lather when mixed with water, I like to double the product as a shaving cream as well. Nothing but good words on this one! Read my *full review* here.
♢ Yves Rocher 'Mango Coriander'
The (fairly) new Mango and Coriander line by Yves Rocher is absolutely worth checking out! The bath & shower gel is so refreshing to use in the morning and comes at a very reasonable price too! I can't stop sniffing the bottle though, the combination of sweet and herbal in this fragrance is something I've never found before.
♢ Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion
On days when I'm too lazy to moisturise after showering, I'll opt for in-shower body lotion. They are super easy as you apply the skin conditioner in the shower and rinse off immediately. The ones by Nivea offer 24h+ care and don't leave a greasy residue. Another go-to is Ro's Argan Body Conditioner by Lush Cosmetics.

Post-shower:
♢ Ever since I started using coconut oil as a body moisturiser, my skin has been much softer and smoother. Coconut oil calms and hydrates, and is therefore a great natural remedy for very dry skin. Another tip is to use it on new tattoos (but only after they have healed!) or as lip balm.
♢ Caudalie's Divine Oil is a luxurious body oil that hydrates skin and leaves it smelling beautifully. I use it for an extra pick-me-up or on special occasions. I also like it as a base to layer perfume on top of, too.

Extra:
♢ Every once in a while - ~~or more often than I'd like to admit~~ - I enjoy a relaxing bath. So far this year I have had a lot of new products to try, which is why I'll be discussing them in detail in a future blog post. One I do want to mention today is the Fizzbanger bath bomb by Lush Cosmetics. I never expected to like it so much and especially recommend getting it for the Autumn season, because apple and cinnamon. I promise you won't regret it!

One thing I'm particularly curious about is if any of you use coconut oil as a beauty product. If so, what for? Feel free to share in the comments!

Friday tip: & Other Stories Steel Garden Body Scrub

20.5.16

The skincare routine switch up

16.4.16

Lush Ultrabland Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance serum Enzymatic Peel mask Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey

Let's do a throwback to October of last year, when my skin decided to have a very unexpected freakout (thanks again for that). I went from a normal, somewhat sensitive skin type to clearly dehydrated combination skin in just a matter of days. There is no way I could know for sure what caused it; it could have been the seasonal changes or maybe I became intolerant of any product(s) I was using at the time. Still, I decided to simplify my skincare routine and cut out anything that might further irritate my skin. This change basically meant I would get rid of any harsh products, including a number of makeup products, and would focus more on keeping my skin hydrated. I even kept a skincare diary for a while! Five months later, I see major improvement in its balance. This allowed me to introduce a couple new products - including a small French skincare haul recently - and get to an effective skincare routine.

CLEANSE: Lush Cosmetics' Ultrabland cleansing balm was recommended to me as a product that would gently cleanse the skin without stripping it from its natural oils. Ultrabland does not only do all that, it also gives skin a hydration boost as it's packed with great ingredients. Ultrabland has a thick consistency that takes some time to work into the skin and remove the dirt that builds up during the day or overnight. At first, I used it exclusively in the evening to remove a full face of makeup, but now I'm okay with using it in the morning too.
TONERS AND ALL THAT: To exfoliate, tone and soothe my go-to's are Eau Précieuse and pure rose water. Both can be swiped across the face with a cotton pad. This doesn't irritate my skin at all. As for facial scrubs, the Antipodes Reincarnation exfoliator is still much loved, I do skip it more often than I used to. Eau Précieuse is a water-based lotion that purifies and exfoliates skin and keeps it smooth. Only when I feel like it needs some extra care, I'll go in with the facial scrub. Finally, I've just added Caudalie's Beauty Elixir to my routine. So far I'm really liking it! I'll probably write a more detailed review on this glow-inducing facial mist later on.
MOISTURISE + TREAT: La Roche-Posay Hydréane Légère has been my most-loved moisturiser in the past few years. I can't miss it anymore! I apply it morning and/or evening, sometimes layered over a serum such as Caudalie's Vinoperfect Radiance serum or Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. Right at the beginning of my skincare switchup, I decided to give La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ a go. It's an acne-fighting and scar-fading moisturiser that can be used as a spot treatment or applied as a regular moisturiser all over the face. Back in Autumn, I'd use it all over to calm down the breakouts and prevent scarring. Now that my skin has been better, I only use it once every few weeks. I also try to include weekly skin pampering into my routine by doing regular face masks. I wrote about my favourite face mask combo in *this* post.

Have you recently introduced new products into your skincare routine?