Let's Talk About Serums ...

 

Serums are one of the latest additions to my skincare routine, but one of my favourites. Throughout lockdown, I've been loving doing full-on skincare routines. Whether that's trying new products as well as having the time to do a full routine. Part of my current skincare routine, I mix The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA and Dermalogica Biolumin-C Serums. 

The first serum that I bought was The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA serum (full review), it feels lovely and hydrating on the skin. The Lactic acid is a natural exfoliate which stimulates cell regeneration to reduce pigmentation and diminish acne scars. With the hydraulic acid adding moisture to my skin which has really helped my skin. I have combination skin, and recently my cheeks have been especially dry so this serum has really helped. The serum also contains Tasmanian pepperberry which protects your skin from UV damage and a natural antioxidant which is perfect for the summer warmer months. The Ordinary is also an affordable brand so this serum was only £6, I need to try more from the brand. 

This is my latest serum, the Dermalogica Biolumin-C Serum*, I'm a big fan of the vitamin C range so hydrating and brightening on the skin.  This has given my skin a lovely dewy glow, which has been perfect for the no-makeup day. This serum I apply day and night, using it in the morning really helps to plump up my skin and smoothes it out. Similar to The Ordinary serum, it also contains lactic acid to help with skin cell turnover so acting like an exfoliate. It also has antiageing properties, which to be honest at 20 years old it's not my highest priority but it always a bonus. 

Both the serums have a pipette applicator so a small pipette of each goes a long way. I usually apply it to my face as well as down my neck, as applying skincare to my neck is usually something I forget to do.  I would highly recommend both serums, so nice and hydrating on the skin. Also, perfect adding a glow to your skin. 

Does anyone have any serum recommendation??  As I'm always on the lookout on trying more skincare. 

Hope you have a lovely weekend,

Sarah X

20 Things To Do In Isolation

Hope you are all well and staying safe!! As it's nearly the end of the second week of lockdown, I thought I would suggest 20 things I have been up too/suggests of things to do in isolation.

1. Help others and Clap for NHS!!! This time is great for bringing the community together; so whether that getting food for the elderly or in quarantine or clapping for the NHS every Thursday at 8 pm.  Always nice to give back.
2.  Binge-watch Netflix, Disney +, Youtube and Amazon Prime series and films. Got to love a new series, I do have to admit I have been obsessed with watching old Disney on Disney + like HSM and Camp Rock.
3. Live Workouts; one of my favourite things to do at the moment is to work out, especially live stream workouts on Instagram. My go-to ones are RWL ones which are usually 6:30 every evening and Happy Body Plan at 10 am every weekday morning. They have been great mentally as well as trying to lose some weight before summer. 
4. Got to love a bit of baking, it's the perfect time to try new recipes and make yummy sweet treats.  
5. One thing that has become big is Tiktok!! The dance routines were quite addictive, and the pet videos are cute. Haven't tried to make one yet haha...
6. At the moment I love singing at the top of my lungs to songs on Spotify. At the moment it's a lot of musical songs especially 'Dear Evan Hansen' and Niall Horan latest album. 
7. I do love a pamper; nice skincare, paint the nails or a face mask. Pamper evening is one of my favourite things to do.
8. Learn calligraphy, I love the font that is on pretty cards or posters or titles of things. So I thought I would practice and hopefully get better.
9. Take a walk, get some fresh air really helps and we are allowed one form of exercise a day. 
10. I do love being sociable and talking to friends so facetime, house party and social mediaing friends really help to catch up with people and check-in to see how people are. 
11. As we are in for all 3 meals of the day it's a good opportunity to practice/learn how to cook. I love looking in the cupboards seeing what food we've got and to see what dish I can create out of them.
12. Even though uni work and exams are up in the air at the moment, I have been writing notes for all my modules with some show in the background. But it does make me feel productive. 
13. Similarly, write a blog post like this one. I love that I have now got time to write this post hopefully more to come. 
14. Read a book/magazine; more of a magazine for me. I do love looking at Vogue, Cosmopolitan magazines seeing all the clothes and accessories for the upcoming season.     
15. Watch Instagram Live, quite a lot of celebrities are doing live streams at the moment. My favourites are artists like Niall Horan, Marisha Wallace and John Legend who are doing mini-concerts which are amazing. 
16. Staying at home is the perfect time for family time! Spending time with them; games, meals and watching TV. 
17. Having a lot of time is the perfect opportunity to learn an instrument, for example I'm learning to play the ukulele. Some websites are giving free online courses are on how to play the ukulele/guitar or piano. 
18. Feelings and emotions can a bit all over the place at the moment, so journaling can really help. Personally writing everything down can help my brain process everything a little easier. 
19. A lot of unknowns and uncertainty are happening at the moment, so taking 5 minutes to meditate and staying calm can really help. 
20. Staying up to date on the News is important so you know what's going in the world but don't make it control your life as it can be quite sad and negative.

What have you been up to recently???

Hope you like this post.

Sarah Xx

Self-Isolation Skincare 2020

WOW! It's been a while since I last sat down and wrote a blog post. With the UK being in lockdown I have had more time than usual, so I thought every Friday I would write a little blog post (Lockdown series).  Talking of, I hope you are all well and staying safe in this very weird time.
So today I wanted to share my skincare routine which I've been doing this past few weeks of being in self-isolation. It's a perfect way to try new products that I've been meaning to use and try and old favourites. As well as having a nice little pamper before bed and wake up with lovely clean skin. I do have to be honest that my skin is the best it's been for a while, probably a mixture of this skincare routine as well as wearing less makeup due to not leaving the house.

One of my favourite little gadgets at the moment is the PMD Clean Pro*, I have previously tried the original PMD Clean which is lovely. But the Pro version is the additional combination of SonicGlow and heat to have a full-on facial spa experience. So on the days, I do wear makeup I either use my Nivea MicellAir Makeup Remover with a cotton pad or my trust Dermalogica Pre Cleanse and Cleansing Gel Duo using the PMD Clean Pro. Followed by a small amount of the Nivea Exfoliating Scrub on the PMD and using circle motions exfoliate my post cleansed face to make sure all the makeup and dirt from the day has gone. And on the days I don't wear makeup I still use a small amount of the Dermalogica cleansing gel to clean my face followed by the Nivea exfoliating scrub   

At least once or twice a week, post-cleanse I will apply a face mask by go-to at the moment are the Nivea ones*, Garnier sheet masks or the  L'Oreal Clay masks.
Following taking the mask off or the scrub, I use the Pixi Rose Glow Toner on a cotton pad to smooth out my skin and added a lovely glow. My go-to serum is The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% and HA Serum, to help with the redness of my skin and to add some hydration back to my skin. I use one pipette on my face and some on my forehand, both cheeks, chin and neck, like they do in Instagram makeup videos.
The final touches are my bedside skincare products; the trio of Dermalogica Sound Sleep Cacoon*, Hair Burst Lash and Brow Serum* and Dermalogica lip treatment* to get my skin all prepared for bed. The 'Sound Sleep Cacoon' is my all-time favourite night cream, so nice on the skin and the gel-cream formulation which contains a variety of nourishing oils; tamarind seed extract to help hydrate the skin, wu-zhu-uu Extract to brighten the skin and Persian silk tree extract to help with skin fatigue.


What's your go-to skincare routine at the moment???

Stay safe!

Sarah Xx

Some of the products mentioned in this post are Nivea, PMD and Dermalogica which I was kindly gifted. (*)