What We're Using

[ 19 January 2008, 13:52 ]

I thought it would be interesting to do a periodical round-up on the beauty products we’re all using & how well they’re working for us. It’s a good way to trade information & find products you might like to test out yourself.

Here’s my current line-up:

FACE

Cleanser: Simple Purifying Cleansing Lotion
I bought a really interesting book at the Daylesford Book Barn (!) called Supermodel’s Beauty Secrets, which actually turned out to be quite a good read. The best part of the book, though, was where the author gave product suggestions. She named a few different products that she claimed were “model staples”, among them Vaseline Lip Therapy, Nivea Crème, Astral Moisturiser, The Body Shop Elderflower Eye Gel & Simple Cleansing Lotion. I have been so frustrated with my skincare routine lately, so I did some research (Make-Up Alley, I love you!) & decided to pick up the Simple cleanser. It’s really lovely & gentle & I feel like it gives me a thorough cleanse. I will definitely buy this again. My skin isn’t perfect right now, but I think that is mostly due to the fact that I am still detoxing — I can feel it.

Toner: 1/5 apple cider vinegar to 4/5 purified water
I made my own toner using apple cider vinegar & purified water. It sits in a little blue glass bottle & I just shake it up before I use it. Apple cider vinegar is great for treating individual spots (undiluted), but all over the face it’s very drying & a bit much. Mixed with water, it is a very effective toner & I’m pretty sure it’s contributing to my good skin at the moment!

Moisturiser: Nivea Crème
Nivea Crème is another one of the products recommended by Supermodel’s Beauty Secrets, & I like it. However, it’s very thick & heavy, almost too heavy for my skin. I use a miniscule amount on my face & I’m still finding I look quite shiny under my make-up. I like the brand though, so I might switch to Nivea Light.

Serums: Christian Dior Capture Essential serum (face & eyes)
Yet another product recommended by the book! Okay, I love these serums a LOT. I use them morning & night, after toning but before moisturising. They make my skin look so good that I feel like I could skip foundation & still look great. That is pretty much the highest praise I’m ever going to give a skin product! They have quite a strong smell but it’s really not a big deal. They were expensive, too, but I find that the pump dispenser gives the exact right amount, so you never feel like you’re wasting any, which is a bonus.

...I have heard amazing things about the Babor cleansing system, but if this current routine keeps working for me, I’m not going to change! Of course, it’s hard to know whether my skin looks great because of the products I’m using, or whether it is mostly due to the fact that I am eating raw, but I think it’s probably a combination of factors.

HAIR

Shampoo: Healthy Hair Sexy Hair Chocolate Soy Milk Shampoo
I bought this because the girl in the haircare shop told me that she used it on her coloured hair & that it worked wonders. I should have read the reviews on Make-up Alley before I plonked down $30! First of all, this shampoo smells divine. It’s so good that I always take a deep inhalation of it before using it. Unfortunately, it also makes my hair quite fluffy, which is really disappointing. I like my hair sleek & flat unless I tell it otherwise. So, while the smell is fantastic, the fluffiness factor is totally bunk. I will be buying something else next time…

Hair treatment: KMS Colorvitality Color Protect Spray
My old hairdressers recommended this for protecting my colour. I just spray it in when I get out of the shower — it helps to lock in the colour & de-tangle my hair. Well, this stuff is incredible! I will definitely be buying it again, it has done wonders for the vitality of my hair colour! Brilliant!

OTHER

Nails: Dr Lewinn’s Revitanail
I have heard great things about this product, so I finally bit the bullet & bought some. It contains formaldehyde — eep — so they don’t recommend you use it forever, just in short bursts. You basically reapply it every day for five days & then take it off, give your nails a rest for a bit & go through the process again. While this is slightly tedious, I have seen an enormous improvement in the strength of my nails, & they are also longer than I’ve ever seen them. YAY!

So, what products are you using on your face, hair, body? What do you think of them? What’s your holy grail — the products you keep returning to? Tell us your secrets!