Estée Lauder Skin Care Routine

I got given this set of Estée Lauder skincare goodies for Christmas and after using them for well over a month and even finishing one of the products, I thought it was about time I gave you a review. The set is a full routine of cleanser, treatment, eye cream and moisturiser. Let's start with the cleanser, shall we?

It's called their Perfectly Clean Foam Cleanser and I'd say that's a pretty good description. It has a mousse consistency and it lathers up to a nice foam on the skin and note that a little bit goes a long way with this! It wouldn't normally be my first choice as a cleanser as there is a lot of controversy over foaming cleansers and them drying out your skin so as someone with very dry skin I try to avoid them but I must admit I have really liked using this. The foam makes it feel like your skin really is getting a good clean and I haven't noticed it dry out my skin at all. I like using this after I've removed my makeup (I'm still using The Body Shop's Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter if you're curious - review here) or in the morning. One thing I don't like about this cleanser is that it's quite stingy if you get it in your eyes but apart from that I am really enjoying using it.

The next step in the routine is the treatment/serum or whatever you consider the legendary product that is Advanced Night Repair. This stuff is a best seller and very pricey so I had high hopes. It has quite a strange consistency which is like a thick oil but not at all greasy. It's feels lovely on the skin and sinks in within seconds so doesn't interfere with whatever moisturiser you use on top. This is meant to make your skin more youthful, plumped, radiant, strong, even toned... You get the drift, it's apparently some what of a miracle worker. I have noticed that my skin has felt much softer and smoother over the last few weeks and although I can't put it down to this alone, I'm sure it has something to do with it. I think I'll probably notice a difference once I run out and cannot afford a full size bottle -  my student budget doesn't account for £50 face serums unfortunately.

Next up is the eye cream and strangely enough I think this might be my favourite product of the whole process. I say strangely because before getting this set I had never used an eye cream consistently and I've really enjoyed the results. I'm not sure if it's this eye cream in particular or just that using it makes me take extra care in moisturising right around my eyes but since using this I have noticed that my under eye area is SO soft ! Don't ask me why that matters as no one apart from me is aware of how soft my under eye area is but it makes me very happy. It's the little things, eh? Although I'm sure the softness comes from being well moisturised so makeup will sit better and wrinkles will be prevented and all that stuff that's more important than having baby smooth skin. I should also mention that this cream has a slight shimmer to it. It doesn't bother me but it's worth mentioning as in bright light without makeup on it is visible. Also this little pot will last you a lifetime! I've used it most mornings and evenings since Christmas Day and am only about half way through!

Finally, we're on to the moisturiser. I've actually finished this up already and I have to say I'm quite sad as I really liked this! It had such a lovely texture. It was quite balmy but not too thick or sticky. It wasn't anything exceptional, I didn't think, but it kept my skin hydrated, sank it nicely and worked well in the morning or evening - a good basic moisturiser in my opinion.

I hoped you've enjoyed reading my two cents on Estée Lauder skin care. Overall I'm really enjoying these products and would really like to try out more of the Estée Lauder line, maybe some things more targeted towards dry skin rather than anti ageing. Let me know in the comments if you've tried anything from Estée Lauder's skin care line or what your current favourite skincare products are.

 

My Current Skincare Routine

I think it's about time I shared with you all my current skincare routine as I've stuck to the same four products for a few months so I feel like I've given them long enough to give my two cents on what I think. As a bit of background information my skin is very dry and dehydrated, mostly clear with the odd little spot here and there and is prone to being very flaky and dull. (Sounds lovely, doesn't it?) I keep things pretty simple with no fancy products, nothing that breaks the bank and nothing that takes more time than is entirely necessary when I'm desperate to get into bed or have slept in in the morning. So here you go - a step by step run through of my skincare routine.

Step 1 - Makeup Removal

In the evening the first thing I do is remove my makeup, if I've been wearing any that day, using the Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter. I massage it into my skin and well in to my eyes and eyelashes to lift all my makeup, then using a hot, damp facecloth wipe it off and then pat my face dry. I find that this cleanser is very good at removing makeup and even gets most of my waterproof mascara off but I do still need a second go to make sure everything is completely clean and makeup free.

Step 2 - Second Cleanse

Next I use the La Roche-Posay Physiological Cleansing Milk to do a second cleanse. This is a creamy lotion and feels so nice on my skin. I massage it in while my skin is dry, making sure to get any makeup off that is left around my eyes. I love that both this and the Body Shop cleanser don't sting or irritate my eyes. They both feel very gentle and soothing so I don't have to worry about using a separate eye makeup remover. After the cleanser is well worked into my skin I wash it off with a hot, damp face cloth.

Step 3 - Serum

The final two steps are all about hydration. First of all I use Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Facial Serum from Indeed Labs (btw this is a third off at Boots at the minute). This is a clear gel like liquid which is made of hyaluronic acid so is meant to be super hydrating. It dries down on the skin to a slightly tacky finish which in a way I like as it makes me feel like my moisturiser will then cling on to my skin to hydrate it more than normal. I doubt there's much truth to this but I enjoy using it and until I can afford Sarah Chapman Skinesis I think I'm gonna have to make do with the cheapy version.

Step 4 - Moisturiser
So here is where things go slightly downhill and I'm not loving what I'm using. I've been using The Body Shop's Vitamin E Moisture Cream and let me start by saying this is not a bad product - it has a lovely texture, it smells nice, it doesn't irritate my skin and hasn't broken me out. The problem with this is simply that it isn't right for my skin. I was advised in the shop that the Vitamin E range is for dry skin so thought that this would be rich enough to moisturise my dry skin which it definitely isn't. This sinks in as soon as I have finished applying it (something that might be a good thing for someone with oilier skin but for me I like something thick and rich that sits on my skin) so it leaves my skin feeling dry. I end up putting on layer after layer of this waiting for my skin to be hydrated enough that the product doesn't soak up immediately but I don't ever reach that point. Maybe the night cream or intense version of this would work better for me but I think I'm going to try another brand next time. I'm nearly finished this now so if any dry skinned girls have a better recommendations let me know.

In the morning all the steps are the exact same apart from the makeup removal (except after the odd night out when my makeup remains fully intact until the next morning but we'll brush over that for now).

So that's it - everything I use on my face to keep it clean, clear and as hydrated as possible. Let me know what your skincare staple products are and if you have any recommendations for a new moisturiser let me know :)