This year I’ve definitely gotten more into my skincare than I ever was before.  I’ve been experimenting with new things, finding things I love, that I really don’t love, and that I can now no longer live without.

Makeup remover: 
Garnier Micellar Water – I’ve loved both the other Garnier micellar variations, and while I love this oil-infused version, I have to say that it’ll be better for winter.  For the rest of the summer I’ll go back to the sensitive one with the pink lid.  
Either way, this micellar water is right up there with the Bioderma one, which is much pricier.  I love this so much that I always buy a backup before my current one runs out.

Cleanser: 
TBS Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil – I don’t have one of these in stock at the moment.  I had to really sit down and think hard about which cleanser I have loved the most, and even though I haven’t had this one for a few months, it was most definitely the One.  I’ve been trialing quite a few since then, and yet I just haven’t enjoyed using them as much as this cleansing oil.

Picture courtesy of: http://www.thebodyshop.co.za/store/product/camomile-silky-cleansing-oil

Exfoliator: 
Esse Cocoa Exfoliator – This stuff smells incredible, like chocolate covered turkish delight.  It has just the right amount of grit to give my skin a good scrub, yet it’s super gentle.  It leaves my skin so soft and smooth!

Face mask: 
REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask – I was lucky enough to win this face mask in a competition during the year, and it definitely lives up to it’s hype.  It smells like marmalade, and it left my skin so radiant and smooth and glowy.  I was super sad when I used up the last bit.

Sheet mask: 
Skin Republic Brightening Vitamin C mask – I’ve tried so many sheet masks over the past year, and there hasn’t been one that didn’t work for me.  This one however just did a little something extra.  I often used it if I had an event to go to, just before I applied my makeup, and my makeup would just go on that much better.  They’ve recently released a new one that comes with a smaller sachet of sugar scrub, and it also works really well.  

Picture courtesy of: http://www.takealot.com/skin-republic-brightening-vitamin-c-face-mask-sheet/PLID28056425

Toner: 
Avene Thermal Water Spray – I went without this baby for a few months.  I recently picked up a new one, after getting a small travel bottle free with a magazine, because I just did not understand why I ever stopped using it.  When I use this in place of a toner, my skin is always more hydrated and much more even in tone.  I’ve stopped using both toners I own, and I’m passing them both on to friends.  This is the one for me.

Day Serum: 
TBS Vitamin E Aqua Boost Essence Lotion – I’ve been sticking with this as my morning serum, and smoothing a small amount over my face before my moisturiser and sunscreen.  It just adds that extra boost of hydration to my face, and does so much easier and quicker than other day serums I’ve tried, and at a fraction of the cost.  The bottle is also bigger than other serums, as you get over 100ml, where most serums are only in about 40ml bottles.

 

Night Serum: 
Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Anti-Wrinkle serum – I had such a good result from the night cream from this Neutrogena range, that I thought I’d give the serum a go, and I haven’t been disappointed.  I’ve been sticking to a set routine for the holidays, and most of the skincare concerns I was having have virtually disappeared.  Neutrogena features quite heavily in my routine too, as I mix the Hydro Boost Range in as well.  
I just feel that I can see results each morning after I use this, whereas I was using more expensive serums and finishing the bottle with barely any difference to my skin.

Eye cream: 
L’Oreal Revitalift eye cream – I haven’t had this eye cream since the first half of the year, and even though I’ve been enjoying some more pricey versions, they haven’t done half of what this one did.  As soon as I’ve finished my current night time eye cream, this one is going to find it’s way onto my bathroom shelf!

Picture courtesy of: https://clicks.co.za/loreal_revitalift-eye-cream-15ml/p/308775

Day cream: 
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream – I bought this after hearing so much hype in the blogging community.  I replaced my Clarins HydraQuench (which I still love) with this, as this does almost exactly the same thing for a quarter of the price!  I’ve been using the Water Gel too, but for some reason I love this one the most.

Night cream: 
Dr Dermal MicroRetinol 5 Rich Repair – I won this in an Instagram competition, and the results from this cream were INSANELY good.  I felt like I had new skin while I was using it, even though I think it would be most effective for my skin in winter, as it was quite rich.  
The only reason I haven’t repurchased this, is because I can’t quite justify the price right now, with an impending wedding.  Speaking of which, their Texture Correction Pads are out of this world.  I’m going to have to invest in some of those to keep my skin wedding-perfect.

SPF: 
Bioderma Photoderm Aquafluid Max SPF 50+ – Hands down the best facial sunscreen I’ve ever used.  It doesn’t leave a white caste, it doesn’t leave my face greasy and shiny, and my makeup sits on top of it beautifully.  I’m too scared to even try another facial sunscreen, because I don’t think anything will ever work as well as this, and I wear it every single day.

Facial oil: 
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate – I’ve finished two bottles of this facial oil now, and I’m finishing up the open ones I own, before I treat myself to another bottle.  This smells gorgeous (the lavender is great for my night time routine), and it leaves my skin soft and plump and glowy the following day, without being greasy, or breaking me out in spots.

Skincare tool: 
Wow Jude face cloth – I bought this when I went for my laser hair removal appointment, as it was being sold in the salon.  It’s basically a micro fibre cloth that helps you remove your makeup, and it’s said to be wonderful for acne and bad skin.