Tried and tested products

[TiredButDancing]

I watched a Sali Hughes video a couple of weeks ago where she listed the products she uses over and over again. And I can't get it out of my head! .

I realised I have a few of these myself - products that really are standard for me. If I share mine, please share yours as maybe there'll be some new tricks for the rest of us.

In order of longevity....

1. On my bathroom shelves, consistently, for 30+ years - Bio Oil.

I love bio oil. Originally used it to help with some scarring but now mostly use it as a fantastic bath oil. Skin feels soft and moisturised, scent is pleasant but subtle enough I can add essential oils without clashing etc. My DC have had it in their baths regularly practically since birth. It works on weird chaffing or rashes - eg when your nose is all red from blowing it during a cold or DS's hands get chapped in the winter. I love it and am never without it.

1. 15-20 years? Clarins Tonic Body Polisher and also Clarins smoothing facial peel. Just products that make me feel better as soon as I use them. The facial peel one in particular perks me up when I feel I look haggard while the body polisher does the job, has a luxurious scent and makes my skin feel fabulous after. They're treat products that instantly make me feel pampered.

1. 3-5 years: Almond oil

I started cleansing with Almond oil a few years ago and am not sure I'll ever look back. It's effective but also just the most pleasant face cleansing experience I've ever had. I don't feel the same at night if I haven't been able to cleanse with oil anymore.

1. My newest discovery which I suspect will become a staple is Cera Ve Moisterising cream. I can't believe how it makes my skin feel and I love that there's just no residue. I've never had a body lotion I like as much.

Hit me with yours.

I switch things around all the time but have used Nivea soft for 20+ years. Always have a pot on the go.

I always have a tube of nipple cream to use as lip balm at night (only discovered nipple cream when I had my first baby so about 5 years so far)

I always have a tube or pot of Udderly Smooth to tackle dry skin on hands, shins and feet. Also discovered when I had my first baby.

Have recently been introduced to Clarins double serum and can totally imagine it being on my shelf in 10 years time... I love Clarins body lotion and beauty flash balm too but don't feel like I've repurchased them enough times for them to officially make my list!

Interesting re the Udderly Smooth - I could do with something I like for my feet. I might look into that! Thank you!

@TiredButDancing my hands were so dry around the knuckles that they were chapped and bleeding. I tried every hand cream going. They had completely healed within about a week of using this. At first I used it multiple times a day, then once a day, then went to about once a week and now I just use it whenever I can be arsed. It would definitely come with me to the desert island!

I typically go for stuff that smells nice as well as being effective....
L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil
Nuxe Lip Balm
Sweet Bee Organics deodorant (only recently started with this but can't see myself going back to a roll on)
Clarins Beauty Flash Balm (smells divine)
Origins ginzing range (although not the gel since the recent reformulation)
This Works In transit
L'Occitane liquid soaps

Oh and Clarins peach cleanser

No. 7 Protect and Perfect night cream, I've used it for at least 15 years.

L'Oréal extraordinary oil with coconut oil. Brilliant for my slightly dry, occasionally highlighted, fine-but-lots-of-it hair. I apply a 20p piece blob to damp hair (long bob length) and it takes care of moisture and shine without losing body. Wash, bung this on, and go.

Nuxe lip balm - the stick and the pot
Palmers body lotion (fragrance free)
Philip Kingsley elasticizer

Recommended these so many times but Retin A ( I got mine overseas but app available from Dermatica). It is the only skin care regime I have, teamed with Neutrogena moisturiser. No serums or balms
Garnier Banana Hair Food for v thick and coarse hair
Carmex lip balm
Coconut oil left overnight on hair

[quote FreshFaceTime]@TiredButDancing my hands were so dry around the knuckles that they were chapped and bleeding. I tried every hand cream going. They had completely healed within about a week of using this. At first I used it multiple times a day, then once a day, then went to about once a week and now I just use it whenever I can be arsed. It would definitely come with me to the desert island![/quote]
We use bio oil for chapped/bleeding hands and it helps a LOT but it only really works as something you put on at night.

But my feet are just generally quite dry and lots of hard skin so might be worth a try.

Toms of Maine deodorant
IT cosmetics CC cream
Zoya nail polish
Dessert Essence Almond hand & body lotion
Urban Decay Matt eyeshadow in Laced
Live Clean liquid handsome
Thank you Farmer Spf 50
Retin A

Hand soap...

Oh yes to Carmex
And Origins Lip Remedy for chapped lips

La Roche Posay Anti-Helios SPF 50 - stick for face and spray mist for body
Leaves skin soft and calm as well as (seemingly) great protection from the sun. I've used it for years after a recommendation and free sample from a plastic surgeon. I have the stick in my handbag all the time.

Batiste dry shampoo. I have oily hair and don't much like washing and drying it every single day but this makes it looks clean and gives me volume. It saves so much time in the morning and I like some of the scents they do too, especially Rose Gold.

Collection ink pot eyeliner. It's the easiest ever to use as it's like a wet felt pen in an ink pot. I'm on my ninth.

@Happy36

Oh yes to Carmex And Origins Lip Remedy for chapped lips

La Roche Posay Anti-Helios SPF 50 - stick for face and spray mist for body
Leaves skin soft and calm as well as (seemingly) great protection from the sun. I've used it for years after a recommendation and free sample from a plastic surgeon. I have the stick in my handbag all the time.

I keep hearing that la roche posay SPF is good. I did try their moisturiser with SPF and it didn't make my skin break out but I am too committed to my vitamin c moisturiser. I have been meaning to look into their options for carrying around with me. This has reminded me. Thank you.

TiredButDancing See if you can get a free sample of LRP Anti-Helios, from a counter or dermatologist, to check whether you like it.

Sun cream is so very personal. Hard to recommend for someone else. I dont usually wear make-up and when I do it's only typically eye make-up so this means I just put on as much sun cream as I want, when l want, but this wouldn't work for someone who often wears foundation.

@TiredButDancing Please can I ask where you buy or what brand of almond oil you use? And how do you remove the oil from your face once it has lifted the makeup off, do you use cotton wool?

Pure almond oil you can buy from a pharmacy or most Asian ethnic shops. It's cheap.

I buy it from Holland and barret. I remove it with a warm.wet face cloth.

Having said that, I moved from almond oil a year or two ago (after saying I woukd do it forever!). I loved it and still do but the lack of scent got to me eventually. So now i mostly use an oil based balm - the farmacy one. Having said that, I would happily use almond oil if necessary at any time.

@TiredButDancing and @Moonshine5 Thank you both very much for your replies. I prefer something unscented for my face as my skin can sometimes react to perfumed products😀

Then Almond Oil will be your friend. Totally scent free, and feels really good!

Incidentally, I briefly looked up different types of oils for face cleansing when I was using almond oil. My skin is very dry hence almond oil is a good choice for me. From memory, other oils are better for different skin types. Castor oil for combination or oily skin I think and a couple of other options. I quite liked Castor oil as it was thicker, but using that one made my skin break out.

So might be worth doing a tiny bit of research based on your skin type before you commit to almond vs some other similar oil.

A good SPF 50+ will work. I would suggest a cerave one or la roche posay one.