Howdy Y’all,

I am writing this from a rainy Texas after having two weeks of wonderful weather. With the prospect of a very hot summer rapidly approaching the idea of getting outside and enjoying Spring is a must so blogging might be a little on the back burner. One of the questions I get asked quite a lot from friends is about my skincare. I had been thinking about what is the best way to produce this post without it turning into an essay, it seems to make sense to break it down into each element and maybe vlog the whole process later. So today I thought I would start with cleansing. I am very fortunate that the skin (on my face) has never given me many problems, it is on the dry side but I suffer with few breakouts (except last week I had two!) and have never had acne. If I have areas of concern they tend to be dryness and redness (English skin.) I do think genetics and a healthy approach of lots of water and plenty of sleep contribute hugely to your skins welfare. You can seize control to ensure you give your skin a great foundation with an effective skincare routine and this for me this starts with cleansing. Finding great cleansers that work for you, can totally transform your skincare routine. I do like to try different cleansers from time to time but I have two which I absolutely love and would literally cause me to have a complete meltdown if I didn’t have several in backup.

Cleansing is so important because it cleanses (obviously.) It also prepares the skin for further skincare/ sunscreens/ makeup or masks. I always cleanse first thing in the morning, it wakes me up and helps me face the day. I have a morning cleanser by my sink and another in the shower depending when or where I am. This helps remove any skin care from the night before that has not been absorbed, sweat and altogether makes my skin feel clean and ready to receive makeup.

In the evening I am a strong advocate for the double cleanse, whether you are a makeup wearer of not I love to use an oil cleanser first, I enjoy the feel of it on my dry skin and nothing breaks mascara down like it. I have tried sampled many different oil base cleansers both high end and drug store and I have always come back to The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil. My relationship with The Body Shop makes me smile because it is where I started exploring skincare and makeup in my early teens and now in my thirties I have gone full circle and I find I am drawn back to the brand. I love the natural aspects and the products are gentle and very effective. I must do a post on my favorite Body Shop products. It has a fabulous price point and they run amazing deals on their website which I always participate in. I get nervous if I don’t have three of these in stocks. It would be on my skincare must haves. Sure you can pay more for a fancier brand (which I do when I feel it is necessary, but this is a must have.) I use a muslin cloth which you can also purchase through them to remove.

After I have finished my first oil cleanse I always turn to my trusty faithful Liz Earle’s Cleanse & Polish. If you have followed my blog for sometime you will know how much I love the Liz Earle brand. This for me is the hands down the star of the fleet and beauty insiders agree with me. It has won over 120 awards and I am never without it. A pump of the cream on your skin sooths and removes any remaining oil or makeup. The removal with warm water and muslin cloth works as a gentle exfoliator and really cleanses the skin. I really feel after I have removed this that my skin is clean, soft and brighter. If I have no other cleansers to sample or my skin feels drier than normal it is this I reach for as my morning cleanse also. This again is a wonderful price point and contains no chemicals or nasty’s. This is a product I recommend everyone to try.

I do not have huge emotional attachment to other cleansers but thought I would mention a few other I have been sampling or I grab if I see them on special at the store. Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser This I tend to always have in my shower, it has the most amazing smell and is so invigorating for the face first thing in the morning. Origins is another terrific brand and the quality across the line is fantastic. The reason I don’t use this everyday is because it is a scrub and is a tad abrasive to use daily on my sensitive/dry skin. I do use it at least twice a week and Mr L has been know to reach for it, as the smell is unisex. So if real estate is tight in your shower this might work well. Another great price point, if you were to purchase you wouldn’t regret. The reason I don’t have any at the moment is because I am waiting for a delivery from Sephora.

Yes To Cucumbers Soothing Daily Gel Cleaner. If you have very sensitive skin than this I would recommend. It might also be for you if you are not a fan of heavily floral fragrances as the cucumber is a subtle cooling fragrance.  This again is lovely and I tend to reach for it if my skin is feeling very sensitive or if I have been in the sun. It does soothe the skin. The reason it is not a must have for me is because honestly I am not a huge fan of gel cleansers. They are thick and I don’t love rubbing their texture into my face. I also don’t love the way they lather. I prefer oil and cream, that being said this is one of my fav gel cleansers I have tried. It is also drug store and a more than reasonable price point. So if you are on a budget this might be worth a try.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser I have been trying this one out as I received it in my Birchbox last month. Kiehl’s again is a well respected brand and I had high hopes. Firstly there is nothing wrong with the cleanser, it removes your makeup but for me it is a gel and therefore I am not a mad fan of the texture. I also don’t love the fragrance. I probably wouldn’t purchase again simply because I have other products which suit my skin better.

Hope your skin is feeling squeaky clean now, the world of cleansing is a complex one as there are so many to choose from depending on your skin type and your texture preference. Some simple things to remember, don’t let your water get too hot, and change your muslin/wash cloth regularly (everyday if you can.) What cleansers do you love? Let me know.

Ta ta for now.

TLL x