Sephora Shopping!

I'm always hoping that Sephora will come to the UK. I mean, it's in Europe, so surely it's only a matter of time before we can parade the London streets with stripey black and white bags. However, saying that, I also quite like the fact that it's a holiday treat. I like planning my Sephora list at the airport and stocking up on products that are Sephora exclusives or far more cost effective with the exchange rate. It's part of the holiday shopping process, especially when I go to the U.S.

So here is my Sephora shop from my recent trip to America: 

Glam Glow Flashmud Brightening Treatment – $69.00 for 50g
I have always wanted to try a Glam Glow product and this seemed a better mask for my skin than others. The price suggests that it should be good...hopefully.

Marc Jacobs High Shine Lip Lacquer in Hot, Hot, Hot – $28.00 for 5.0ml
This is going to be a present and I am sure the hot pink colour will be stunning on my friend.

Algenist Advanced Anti-Aging Repairing Oil – $79.00 for 30ml
Formulated with Microalgae Oil and brown algae, which although sounds like your splashing on pond water, it is light, absorbs easily, doesn't smell weird, does not contain parabens, dermatologist tested and genuinely has improved the elasticity of my skin. Hurrah.

Ole Henriksen Brightening The Clean Truth Cleansing Cloths (travel pack) – $8.00

Anasastasia Beverley Hills Duo Brow Eyeliner Brush #12 (spoolie and angled brush) – $18.00

Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup in Light Beige – $60.00 for 30ml
Paraben free, collagen boosting, skin tightening, long lasting foundation, SPF 15

Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup in Honey – $60.00 for 30ml
Paraben free, collagen boosting, skin tightening, long lasting foundation)

Above - Honey; Top - Light Beige

La Vanilla Healthy Deodorant in Pure Vanilla x 8 – $8.00 each
All natural ingredients, no harsh chemicals, no parabens or any other nasty preservatives. Why did I buy 8? Because they work and cost a fortune in the UK!

Beauty Blender (enough said) – $20.00

Formula X The System To Go – $16.00 4 x 3ml
Travel sized, basic nails set. Includes Nail Cleanser (no idea what that is!), Base Coat, Top Coat and a nude coloured varnish.

Velour Lashes (100% real silk lashes) – $23.00

Hourglass Film Noir Mascara – $28.00 for 0.35oz
I love Hourglass products. They are beautiful products and are also mindful that consumers are more concerned with parabens, sulfates and other harsh chemicals.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer – $52 for 30ml
Paraben free, collagen boosting, skin tightening, long lasting foundation, SPF 15.

Dr. Jart + Ceramidin Oil Balm – $35.00 for 10oz
Comes with a spatula, so fingers don't have to go into the pot! The product transforms from balm to oil but is not greasy and absorbs easily. It is designed for dry skin and has refreshed my aeroplane dry skin! Cruelty free, dermatologist tested, paraben free and can be used on face, skin, cuticles and ends of the hair.

Hourglass 1.5MM Mechanical Gel Eye Liner – $16.00 for 0.002 oz
Ultra-black gel liner in a pencil. I'm going to appreciate the lack of cleaning a brush everyday!)

Formula X The Match – $16.00 4 x 3m
Travel sized polishes; red, pink, nude and turquoise.

Anastasia Beverley Hills DipBrow Pomade in Ash Brown – $18.00 for 0.14 oz
I'm so excited to try this out. It is a brow product, ideal for sculpting and defining brows. It is waterproof and humidity proof!

Hand Luggage Essentials

Hand luggage tends to be the last thing that I pack but having the stuff that makes travelling a more relaxing experience, is worthwhile thinking about. So here a few tips to get you organised.

Select the right bag:
My criteria tends to be: big, comfortable to hold, have at least one compartment and a summery colour. It is usually something that I will want to use on holiday, either as day bag or beach bag.

Anti Viral/Anti Bacterial:
Boots do a really good one and you can buy this in the terminal. I do not want to catch a horrible cold or worse, vomming on holiday, so this is a must for me.

Lip Balm:
Carmex is my go to.

Skincare:
I buy travel bottles, label them up and make sure that I have all my favourites with me on the plane. Giving yourself a little spritz of toner on the plane is refreshing and good for the skin. However, on occasion, I have accidentally sprayed the nice passenger next me! Ooops, sorry... however really they should be thanking me as their skin will look great! If you want more tips on keeping skin looking it's best while travelling you can read Jen's long-haul flight skincare routine here.

Face wipes:
I typically hate make up wipes but long flights are the exception to the rule. If you really must use them Ole Henriksen is your go to brand. They aren't harsh or filled with grotty, drying properties.

Hand cream:
Decant some before you leave or buy in the airport, especially if you a bit OCD with the anti viral.

Water:
Buy two big bottles and ensure that you hydrate throughout the flight (the champagne doesn't count!)

Magazines/New Book
Pick carefully. Do some research so that you are looking forward to reading that new release that book bloggers have been recommending. It will make the flight go a little quicker. When it comes to magazines, I'm a little odd about which one I pick. I find that the ones that plaster their pages with 'Being single after the age of 35' or how everyone should have a 'Bikini Ready Body' make me roll my eyes!

Eye mask/pillow/favourite fluffy to help you to snooze:
I bring my stuffed monkey....why would I not?

Valuables:
Take them with you in your hand luggage, don't pack anything into your suitcase that could cause serious problems if your luggage goes missing. 

Snacks:
My boyfriend will tell me that he wont be hungry on the plane. Oh how funny he is! He will be and will try to eat my dinner as well as his own. I go to W.H Smiths and stock up on healthy snacks that wont cause a huge sugar crash. Things like dark chocolate covered corn cakes, dried fruit (although sugary, it's better than a box of Dairy Milk!) and Naked Bars will keep people going in between plane food.

What are your hand-luggage essentials? We would love to know!

How to look socially acceptable when you're tired!

Makeup is great and all but nothing compares to getting a good night's sleep. However, sometimes that's just not possible and quite frankly, if I've been out late the night before, I look like a swollen chipmunk the next morning!

Before.....

The following steps are everything that I do, if I can be bothered to do it all and when staying in my jammies all day isn't an option! Sometimes, I just pick and choose from these tips. I know that some of my friends who have recently had babies wouldn't have the time or inclination to do all of these things and for other friends, if they have had a night of one or two (thousand) drinkies, they might fall back asleep after the first few steps!

Step 1. When you get home, before you go to bed, take off your make up. No matter how tired you are and how good the bed looks, take off the makeup, use a serum and hydrating moisturiser. 

Step 2. The next morning, it's important to cleanse and exfoliate. I use an oil based cleanser because I have dry skin and I use a natural exfoliant but if things are really dodgy, I use the Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel. 

Step 3. Put two tea spoons in the fridge whilst you are showering and then, put them under your eyes, which cools and de-puffs them. You'll look like a total loon but it's worth it. 

Step 4. Serum, moisturiser, eye cream, tea tree oil. If you break out when tired, hormonal, over indulged or for any other reason, something natural like Dr. Organics Bioactive Organic Tea Tree Pure Oil on a cotton pad will help you out. Dab onto the dodgy areas. This will reduce redness and sort spots but it won't dry out the skin, like Quinoderm or other spot treatments. The serum that I use is the REN Vita Mineral Omega 3 Oil. It's so hydrating and feels nice even on a good day. On a bad day, it's like skin medication. However, I keep it away from my eyes. Otherwise, my make up slides everywhere.

Then, use a light moisturiser, which is hydrating to tired, worn out skin. I use Ole Henriksen's Truth Creme Advanced Hydration. Finally, I try to use an eye treatment of some kind. At the moment, I use the Aveda Botanical Kinetics Energyzing Eye Creme, which depuffs and feels luxurious without being too much. I had a treatment using that range and have used it ever since.

Step 5. Let the moisturiser soak into the skin. 

Step 6. Use a wrinkle filler, an illuminating primer and a pore filler. 

You can't close pores, it's not possible but you can make them look smoother. I use Olay's Regenerist 30 second Wrinkle Filler to blur my wrinkle lines and smooth the pores on my cheeks. 

Something illuminating for a primer is useful because skin can look sallow if tired. I use Benefit's That Gal. 

Step 7. Use a highlighting concealer under the eye, making a triangle shape, with the point of the triangle hitting the top of the cheeks. The key here is to not use too much product. I use a tapered kabuki brush to blend the product, dabbing it onto the skin. Let's face it, the eyes are probably a bit delicate! Dabbing is probably the best option! To see the brushes that I tend to use, click here.

Step 8. I will wear foundation, especially if I am looking a bit poorly, but again, less is more and I tend to use it in certain places, such as my cheeks, where I can get some discolouration. 

I use a Real Techniques Stippling Brush to buff the product into my chops! My foundation of choice is Georgio Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation because it's light, leaves a beautiful natural finish and covers any discolouration. 

Step 9. This step is a bit of a weird one. Before I add anything else, I will use a moisturiser again. Yep, I know, odd. I press the moisturiser between my fingers and then, press it into my face and allow it to absorb. Again, not loads, just a top up of hydration. It makes the skin look perkier and somehow, helps the product settle into the skin. 

Step 10. Eye primer. A must because my eyes water when I am sleepy or hungover and feeling very sorry for myself. 

Step 11. I brush my brows and apply a brow product, either powder or gel. Again, less is more but definition will help you to look more pulled together. 

Step 12. On my eyes, I make sure that I use a light, brightening colour that counteracts the redness. I will also use some kind of neutral colour as a base. Some people use paintpots or eye shadow sticks. I tend to go for something that is cool toned. I suit cool toned colours, especially if I have redness around my eyes. I also avoid any dark, sultry eye looks. My eyes just can't pull it off at this point! 

Step 13. I contour. When tired, my chops get crazy! I use the Hourglass Ambient Light Palette. With an angled contour brush, I apply the subtle warm shade (Radiant Light) and I make sure that I have some definition. I also use Sigma's Tapered Highlighter (F35) brush to apply the highlighting shade (Incandescent Light) on the brow bone, down the nose, above the brows, on the cupid bow and just below the contour line, above the jaw line. Here comes some definition! Hurrah. 

Step 14. Now my eyes have gotten over the fact that they have product on and hopefully, stopped watering, I do winged eyeliner. This gives my puffy eyes some shape. I set that with some light setting powder, usually Laura Mercier. 

Step 15. I use mascara that gives long, voluminous lashes without clumping or depositing too much product. I am a big fan of Armani Eyes to Kill. I used to use some natural mascaras but they ended up half way down my face. Not great! 

Step 16. Spray a setting spray or even something like the Caudalie Beauty Elixir. I know it's not meant for setting but it hydrates, seems to illuminate the skin and for me, it has actually helps makeup look revived on dull skin. 

Step 17. Try and nap during the day! Everyone loves a power nap! 

Step 18. Drink lots of water. Hydrate. 

Step 19. Make a smoothie with veggies and fruit to nourish body and skin. 

Step 20. Remind yourself that tomorrow is another day and enjoy life...even if you're feeling a little under par. A wonderfully, happy personality is far more fabulous! 

After....

I Do Not Want a Sweaty Sheep on my Face!

HOW HEALTHY ARE THE INGREDIENTS IN YOUR BEAUTY PRODUCTS?!

Beauty products can be filled with 'nasty ingredients' that cause skin irritations and link to an increased chance of developing cancerous cells. This is something I have been researching in recent months as I have had to make some changes to my diet etc. for health reasons.

To cut a long story short, my good bacteria was killed off due to taking several courses of antibiotics last year, leaving bad bacteria to rave and party it up. To help with strength and stamina, I decided to cut out sugar and yeast based food. Uhhhh, it was dull, but worth it when I started feeling better after just one week. That had a knock on effect and I started doing some general health research. Hence, this is all fairly new to me but I am paying far more attention to what is in the stuff I eat and slap onto my face and body.

Before I begin, it's important to mention that although it is good to aware of these issues, this post is not designed to encourage paranoia. Using a small amount of the so-called 'questionable' ingredients that I am about to discuss probably isn't the end of the world, but it is certainly a good thing to be aware of what is in the products that we use. Especially when 60% of what we put onto our skin is absorbed into our blood streams. To me, that's quite a high percentage.

So, which are the less than favourable ingredients?

Petroleum, carcinogenics and parabens.

Why are they used?

They are used as fillers, to bulk the product and to preserve the shelf life, which tends to be seven years. That seems a tad long to me. 

Which beauty products contain them?

Multiple brands use them, so it is worth checking the labels. (I have actually stopped using Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream because it contains mineral oil. It's not necessarily harmful but it doesn't react too well on my skin).

 

THE 'NOT SO GREAT' INGREDIENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR:

Parabens: There are several names that all apply, the clue is to look for the paraben bit in the name. It is used to preserve a product, however, it mimics the oestrogen hormone, which has been linked to breast cancer tumours. Parabens have been found in multiple cancerous tumours. 

Talc: Advice to all you dry shampooers – do not breath it in! The talc is a carcinogenic. Carcinogenic = causing cancer in living tissue. 

Mineral Oil: It's the top bit of petroleum when it is distilled. It's scooped off (I'm pretty sure that is not the correct term). It is difficult to get rid of and so, is sold to cosmetics companies as a filler. It clogs pores and causes skin reactions, acne and can emphasise signs of ageing. It's used in baby oil and having done some research, there seems to be some controversial issues starting to arise. The other school of thinking is that it is ok to use mineral oil in cleansers, but only if they are ones that you wash off immediately. It's definitely not a product that you want to leave on your skin.

Petroleum: It does not allow the skin to breath and absorb oxygen into the blood stream, potentially resulting in premature ageing. Also linked to tumours, acne and breast cancer. 

Animal bi-products: Imagine this if you will... everything that humans will not eat from an animal is put into grinders. This is alongside road kill and animals from shelters that have not been adopted. Horrid. The remains are steamed and cooked. The fatty material on the top is refined and used as a cosmetic filler. A quarter is fecal matter. Now, I know that there has been a surge of unique facials using bird dropping masks but at least with that you have made the conscious decision to have poop put onto your face. 

Lanolin: I would really prefer sheep kept their own sweat to themselves. This is from wool and is a sheep's perspiration. It can cause skin irritations and poisonous if ingested. Quite frankly, it makes me feel a little queasy.  

With that being said, it would seem natural products are the way forward. However, organic/natural/botanical products are probably better for us but can cause havoc with the skin. Breakouts, acne, redness, as the skin struggles to break down the natural ingredients.

So, if I'm honest, I have been trying to find a happy medium. Products that are have fewer fillers etc. but will actually show results and will not leave my skin looking lumpy and bumpy.  

My happy mediums include: 

Coconut oil Good for you and reminds me of cocktails

Liz Earle products Thumbs up!

Ole Henriksen I use the Truth Creme and serum

Yu-be Moisturising Skin Cream

REN The Omega 3 Optimum Skin Oil serum is excellent and has a clean skincare certification

Do you have any suggestions for products we should try? Please let us know! 

Long-haul Flight Skincare Routine

As you may have noticed, I have been a little quiet on the blog front lately, having taken a much needed getaway to Florida for some fun and sunshine. A big thank you to Kay for holding down the fort and reviewing some great products in my absence. I definitely want to get my hands on that Benefit Majorette blush!

Now normally I don’t give my skin too much thought on aeroplanes and then I wonder why I land looking red-eyed, dehydrated and generally in need of some TLC. So this time I did my research and put together a selection of products to protect my skin from the nasty re-circulated air.

The result? For the first time ever, I got off the plane with skin that looked considerably better than when I boarded! My husband was giving me some strange looks as I made him touch my face, saying “seriously, I’m not being funny but look how great my skin is!” He might have thought I was crazy but ladies, I know you'll understand my excitement, so here is my new routine:

OLE HENRIKSON 'THE TRUTH TO GO' WIPES

I don’t wear makeup to get on a flight (well maybe I whack on a bit of concealer and fill in my brows but that doesn’t count right?!) but I still start by giving my face a quick cleanse. I know face wipes are generally a massive no-no but these ones are great. They are gentle on your skin and infused with brightening Vitamin C and firming micro algae. They have a delicious vanilla-orangey smell too! 
Currently £25 for 100 on lookfantastic.com, (half price) 
Note: I believe they have now been re-branded as The Clean Truth Cleansing Cloths.

CLINIQUE DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT MOISTURISER

I then give my skin a quick moisturise using my old faithful Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, which you can read a bit more about in my July Skincare Routine here.

£17 for 50ml, www.clinique.co.uk

CAUDALIE BEAUTY ELIXIR

Next up is a spray of Beauty Elixir. This product is a bit of a cult classic with an impressive following but one that I hadn’t tried before. It was inspired by the centuries old ‘elixir of youth’ used by Queen Isabelle of Hungry and a quick spritz adds an instant burst of radiance to your complexion. I wasn’t sure if it would live up to the hype, but the 30ml was perfect size for a flight so I thought I’d give it a go. My verdict? I love it! The scent doesn’t really do it for me but it is refreshing and it certainly perks up my complexion. Very happy with this one! I also used it regularly after a tiring day on holiday before putting on makeup for the evening and it definitely rejuvenated the ol' face.
Currently £9.50 for 30ml from www.feelunique.com 
Note: Usual RRP approx. £11.50

ESTEE LAUDER RESILIENCE LIFT FIRMING/SCULPTING EYE CREAM

This is a long name for a little product! It’s a nice, hydrating, quickly absorbed eye cream, but as always I haven’t seen any spectacular differences. I have only been using it for a couple of weeks though, and while I was on holiday I was sporadic in my application of eye cream to say the least, so the jury is out until I’ve given it a fair trial. It did the trick nicely on the plane however and kept the skin around my eyes well moisturised.

£46 for 15ml, www.esteelauder.co.uk

ORIGINS DRINK UP INTENSIVE OVERNIGHT MASK

Next I slap on a layer of this mask. When I purchased it in Selfridges, I asked if they had any samples and they gave me a small travel size to take on the plane. (Always ask for samples when you're making a purchase ladies, they'll happily hand them over and the small sizes are perfect for travel.) It’s a clear mask which is exactly why it’s ideal for a flight (you’re going to get some funny looks if you slather on something white or green). It’s pretty thick but exactly how quickly it absorbs depends how much you put on. Don’t be afraid to apply a generous amount on a flight though, it really does prevent your skin from drying out! A little goes a long way and you would normally only use this a couple of times a week, so the full size tube will last a long time.

£23 for 100ml at www.selfridges.com

COCOA BUTTER VASELINE

It might be an idea to use something a bit more hydrating on a plane, but as I was just trying to protect from dehydration I felt Vaseline was enough, so I packed my favourite cocoa butter. As we all know, Vaseline's useful for everything from moisturising cuticles and removing makeup smudges, to taming brows and highlighting cheek bones, so it's a useful multi-tasker to have in your hand luggage.

£2.18 for 20g, www.boots.com

EOS HAND LOTION

This came in a bargain of a Selfridges Beauty Box I purchased a while back (£120 worth of products for £30? Yes please!) and was a nice size to pop in my hand luggage. It absorbs quickly, has a 96% natural formula and is hypoallergenic and paraben-free. The packaging isn’t very glamorous but it has a nice scent and it does the job so no complaints here. It's now on my desk and I enjoy slapping it on throughout the day.
£8 from www.topshop.com, although I’m pretty sure you can get it for as little as $1.99 in the US!

And that's about it! I topped up the Beauty Elixir, Eye Cream, Mask and Lip Balm mid-flight, used another face wipe before landing, moisturised and put on a bit of concealer and I was good to go. Like I said, my skin was better when I arrived in Orlando than when I left England! It might seem like a long list of products but it really isn’t, they only take a matter of minutes to apply and the results were really worth it. The Origins mask and Caudalie Beauty Eixir kept my skin looking good all holiday and are now firm favourites.

There is one other secret to looking good when you get off the plane. Don’t touch the plane food! I took all my own healthy snacks and it was the best long haul flight decision I’ve ever made, I can't tell you how much better I felt for avoiding all the nasty pre-packaged processed food. Lastly, remember to hydrate your skin from within and drink plenty of water. If you end up being that annoying person that has to go to the bathroom 10 times then so be it... And on that delightful note I'll wrap things up! But if you have any of your own recommendations for in-flight skincare then please do let us know, we'd love to hear them.

Kay's Beauty and Skin Care Routine – April 2014

So, finally, I have stopped looking like a craggy old hag. Thank goodness for that. Hurrah all round. I've updated my skin care and makeup routine and my skin looks healthier and far more radiant, which, quite frankly, is about blooming time. So this is a routine review, including all products that I am currently using. The prices are what I paid for them and so they might change depending on where and when they are purchased.

CLEANSER

No7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser, £9.50 for 150ml

The No7 Cleanser is good but not as good as the Clarins Pure Melt. However, the price tag is much nicer and it does a very similar job. Massage into the skin and wash off with warm water, preferably with a wash cloth.

REPURCHASE? Yes, but I prefer Clarins. 
www.boots.com 

Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Hydrating Cleanser (a gift but approx. £17 for 125ml) 

This Elizabeth Arden Cleanser is creamy but not foamy. It is designed for dry skin and leaves a smooth finish.

REPURCHASE? Yes.
www.elizabetharden.com

EYE MAKE UP REMOVER

Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make up Remover, £8 for 250ml

The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make up Remover is just what it says, gentle. I apply a little on a cotton pad and swipe over the eyes. It removes make up effectively but if there is too much product on the pad, it can be a little overwhelming. Camomile everywhere!

REPURCHASE? Maybe not, my eyes are fed up of drowning in camomile.
www.thebodyshop.co.uk

EXFOLIATOR

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel, £25.00 for 50ml

I love the Enzyme Peel. This type of exfoliator works much better for my skin than anything with exfoliating beads. Apply it like a mask and leave for 10-15 mins. It smells AMAZING. It reminds me of Petit Filous yoghurts.... Smells edible and makes me peckish.  

REPURCHASE? Yes, tis excellent.
www.elemis.com

MASKS

Elizabeth Arden Hydrating Mask, £12 for 100ml

The Elizabeth Arden Hydrating Mask is a thick, pinky cream. Its consistency and texture looks and feels like it's doing marvellous things. It's meant to be left on for 5-10 minutes but sometimes it can get quite tingly, especially around the lips...perhaps because it shouldn't be on the lips. What am I trying to do, eat it?!

I usually use it 2–3 times a week and I do notice the difference in my skin when I don't use it. I just don't like the stinging, tingly issues! It applies like any other mask but be really careful not to get it in your eyes, even washing it off, as it will sting if vaguely near them. 

REPURCHASE? No, the tingly stinging doesn't thrill me.
www.elizabetharden.co.uk

Clarins Skin-Smoothing Eye Mask, £30 for 30ml
The Clarins Eye Mask is so gentle and soft and I definitely notice a difference to the texture of the skin around my eyes when I don't use it. It's keeping those crow's feet away, a mask at a time!
The Eye Mask is to be applied around the eye area (shocking, nobody would have guessed...) and I also use it on the lid. It's very gentle and actually, acts as a barrier between the Elizabeth Arden Mask and the eyes.
REPURCHASE? Yes.
www.clarins.co.uk

TONER

Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Gentle Hydrating Toner (birthday gift – approx. £20 for 200ml) 

I don't really have an opinion on this toner. I'm a bit so-so but it isn't drying and it is refreshing, so actually I do have an opinion... it works for me but isn't amazing. I spritz it onto the face. This means decanting because it doesn't come in a spritzy bottle.

REPURCHASE? Meh.... No real opinion. I'd rather try the Pixi tonic.
www.elizabetharden.co.uk

EYE CREAM 

Ole Henriksen Total Truth Eye Crème SPF 15, 3g

( A very lovely birthday gift from la big sister, which came with the Truth Serum and Truth Crème Advanced Hydration – approx. £40 for the set). 

The Ole Henricksen Total Truth Eye Crème is thick but absorbs quickly. Smooth and creamy. A little goes along way but get even a tiny bit of product in or too near the eye and it stings like you would not believe. Dab under the eye. To be fair, I do one long swipe (that sounds rude) which can pull the delicate skin, so note to self... probably best not to do this.

REPURCHASE? Yes.
www.olehenriksen.com

SERUM

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster (15ml- from set) 

The Ole Henricksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster smells amazing and I have noticed a visible difference from using it. Love it.

Apply straight onto the face. Do not waste product by warming between the hands. Slap it on.

REPURCHASE? Yes but want to try the REN Omega 3 serum first. 
www.olehenriksen.com

MOISTURISER

Yu-Be Moisturising Skin Cream, £13 for 37ml 

I have no clue if the Yu-Be product should be used on the face. It's from Japan and, like a lot of Asian skin care products, it's awesome. It is vitamin enriched and according to SpaceNK, it is Japan's number one selling skincare cream. It contains antioxidants and camphor, which calms my redness and protects the skin. In the morning, my lines are visibly reduced, make up applies so much smoother and doesn't cling to fine lines. The texture of the skin has improved and it is smooth and hydrated. This is the best (and cheapest) moisturiser that I have ever used and nothing comes close to it. Sorry Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Refining Moisture Cream Complex, you have been replaced.
Gently dab on and blend. I put extra on my forehead and the temple area, as this is where lines are starting to set up residence.
REPURCHASE? Yes and I have done so, three times. The best beauty find in a long while. Thank you Glossy Box UK for the samples. I would never have found this without you.
www.yu-be.com 

I apologise for the smirk, I was laughing at myself for taking a selfie. Although I will not win photographer of the year, the routine above has massively helped to reduce fine lines and improve the texture of my skin, especially the redness on my cheeks. No filter used here...again, poor photography on my part.