The Skincare Additions That Make All The Difference

Following on from Thursday's post about my daily skincare routine, today I will be running you through the extra products that compliment my routine but I don't use every day. There is no pattern to when I use these products, it's purely based on when I feel that my skin needs them (which is pretty regularly with my nightmare skin!).

1) Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask

This mask is one that a lot of people rave about but I never thought it would be good for my oily skin as it is super hydrating. However I have recently learnt that intensely moisturising products are actually especially good for my oily skin as I use a lot of drying products that combat blemishes so I need extra hydration. I whack a layer of this mask on before I go to bed and wake up with plumped and dewy skin. I do need to wash the leftover residue off in the morning but that is no problem as I cleanse my face every morning anyway!

2) Origins Clear Improvement Mask
This mask is completely different to the one above as it doesn't aim to moisturise at all, but it is much better for getting rid of my blemishes and blackheads. I love this mask as it doesn't bring my blemishes to the surface to clear my skin like a lot of masks do, instead it seems to be able to calm my spots down before they even reach that stage. The best bit about this mask is how scary you look when you're wearing it, I love making my boyfriend jump when I'm wearing this as I look like a burglar in a balaclava! Quite often I will follow this mask with the one above and the combination of the two makes for great skin the next day.

3) Soap and Glory Scrub Your Nose In It

Acidic exfoliants are very popular at the minute although I am still a fan of the more old fashioned manual scrubs. You really can't go wrong with this Soap and Glory number as it combines AHAs with microparticles to exfoliate your skin. The particles in it are very fine so they won't irritate your skin but it still feels like they are getting into your pores and scrubbing the gunk out (sorry for the TMI there). You can also leave it on as a mask but I tend not to do that as my face starts to get a bit tingly after it has been on my skin for a while. At least you know it is doing something!

4) Witch Hazel Gel

This stuff is awesome for calming spots. Although it is definitely not a miracle spot remover, it really soothes my spots when they appear and makes them smaller and less red than they would have been otherwise. This is such a good option because it is readily available in all chemists and if you buy the pharmacy's own brand it is so much cheaper than a lot of expensive spot treatments. While it might not be packed with lots of ingredients for a quick fix, it is really good if you are like me and you tend to get more than your fair share of blemishes on a regular basis (and can't afford to slather targeted spot treatments all across your face)!