Daily Make Up Routine: The Essentials

Today I'm going to provide a step-by-step guide of how I achieve my daily make-up look, detailing my top 9 beauty products I use to do so. Please note this specific routine is tailored to me personally, but certain products I use come in a wide range of colours to suit varying skin tones; I encourage my readers to go out and experiment with colours if you feel the products will be a great addition to your own make-up bags!

Firstly, before you begin purchasing any make-up products you need to establish two vital things:
1) What look am I trying to achieve? 
2) Will this product suit me (and the look I'm aiming for)?

To answer 1, you should have a clear idea of what you want out of your make-up: which elements of your face are you intending to highlight? Are you going to accentuate your eyes or your lips? Is your look inspired by anything that you can use as a template? These questions are some of the many you can ask yourself when you are looking for your essential daily products.

Question 2 ensures you are purchasing things that will work in harmony with your skin, and allow your make-up look to achieve it's full potential. This could be in the form of ensuring your foundation is the right match for your skin colour, or making sure you don't purchase products which will irritate or harm your skin. Sometimes this is achieved on a trial and error basis, but to save money on buying unwanted products, spend a lot of time in the 'tester' areas of your local cosmetic store, or don't be afraid to ask a consultant for help! Certain products and/or stores now offer services in order to 'colour match' foundations to your skin, so this can be a useful service if you are unsure of what you should be buying. Even if you've used a foundation for years, I'd recommend going to have this test done just to see if you've been using the right product to get the best out of your look. You might be surprised!

Once you have a clear understanding of what you want out of your make-up, you ensure that all purchases are necessary, and this way you avoid spending money on products you won't use just because they're on offer. Remember, when it's TimeToFaceTheDay in life's daily grind, you deserve to look and feel your best! Finding your handful of essential daily products is so beneficial in enabling you to achieve this; you won't have to worry about experimenting with new products when you're in a rush, and the more you use a product the more familiar you become with it so you'll be able to achieve your beautiful Daily Look quickly and easily!

For my own Daily Look here are my objectives:
1) What look am I trying to achieve? 
I'm very inspired by vintage styles, and particularly love the 50s inspired eyeliner flick, giving a sultry cat-like appearance. My eyes are my most prominent feature on my face, so I aim to accentuate these with bold eyeliner strokes and long lashes, whilst playing down my lips in a neutral tone.

2) Will this product suit me (and the look I'm aiming for)?
My colouring is very much a cool tone - I have dark hair, pale skin and light blue eyes - so I can use black products on my eyes as it works harmoniously with my face; alternatively, dark brown products suffice but they don't quite give the dramatic look black achieves.
As I intend to keep my face pale and accentuate my eyes, I don't want to appear washed out so I've incorporated some blush into my daily look in order to give me a splash of colour, whilst also helping to contour my cheekbones. Bronzer is normally used for contouring but because my daily look is so pale this doesn't really suit me, so I forgo using bronzer in this look.

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Now that I've established what I'm hoping to achieve, it's on to applying the make-up!

I have separated my products into two sections: face and eyes. This is to make things easier when explaining this tutorial but I also find it helpful as it enables me to work on and complete one area of my look at a time, without trying to take on too much and once and neglecting certain aspects.

Part 1: Face. 

Products. 
Listed in order of picture. Colours of products given parenthetically.
1) No7 Airbrush Away Primer. RRP £19.50
2) Garnier Caffeine Anti-Dark Circles 2-in-1 Tinted Eye Roll On, (Fair). RRP £10.49
3) No7 Stay Perfect Liquid Foundation (Calico) RRP £14
4) Bourjois Je T'Aime Blusher (34, Rose d'Or/Golden Rose). RRP £7.99

Also in picture:
No7 foundation brush RRP £14
Bourjois blusher brush (came free with a blusher I bought a while ago so unfortunately no idea of the price!)

Note: Recommended Retail Price is based off the results of boots.com and is subject to change depending on store/limited product offers.

[I am aware that these products are not exactly cheap, but after testing numerous different products over the years I find that these are the best for my skin. They also last a very long time so despite them being the medium end of the scale price wise, they are a good investment.
Also I have to laugh over the very limited brand choice in my products! Basically I must admit I'm quite stubborn in the fact I find what I like and I stick to it! Also No7 and Boujois often have offers on in my local cosmetic store (3 for the price of 2, for example) so I tend to buy a variety of their products to try when I can to save money!]

** Before applying make-up make sure you have cleansed your face! You need a clean canvas!**

Step 1.
Primer.
This primer is amazing! As you're aware by now if you're a regular viewer of my blog, I'm very particular about skincare, and despite me looking after it every day and ensuring I have a hydrating and gentle foundation, I still believe you should go the extra mile to protect it. Make-up (despite the claims on products) can, and often will, clog your pores, so it's best to put a protective barrier between your make up and skin. This primer is very expensive for its size, but it's quite a liquid consistency so a little goes a long way! It comes out clear and doesn't leave your skin feeling too dried out. I ensure to cover my entire face with it before applying my make up.




Step 2.
Under Eyes Concealer.
Despite looking after my skin I always have (and unfortunately always will!) suffer with dark circles under my eyes, mainly due to the colouring of my skin. Therefore I ensure that my daily product includes caffiene to give my skin that little bit of a boost and wake it up in the mornings! The roll on applicator gives a soothing sensation to tired eyes, and enables you to apply the product liberally and easily. I focus under my eyes and then blend outwards into my skin using my foundation brush.
If I was going out I would tend to use a heavier concealer but for my Daily Look this one is just perfect.



Step 3.
Foundation.








This foundation is very hydrating and its liquid consistency enables you to blend it perfectly.
















 I apply it in four main parts (cheeks, forehead, and chin) and then using my foundation brush blend outward from my face in order to get a clear complexion.

Step 4.
Blusher.

This smells gorgeous! It's such a lovely compact little product to own! It comes with it's own applicator brush too which I use to initially put the product on but then blend it with my other Bourjois brush.









I'm going to look a bit silly next but it's a trick which really works...




Do your best pout! It allows your cheekbones to stick out more prominently so you have a better idea of where to apply the blusher.

I put it on very lightly with the brush provided in the packet,and then blend it with the Bourjois blusher brush.













 I now have a healthy glow about my cheeks which breaks up the pale cool tones of my skin and subtly accentuates my cheekbones.The colour isn't too obvious - I'm going for a healthy, natural glow.The best type of Daily Look is when people think it's effortless! Who said natural beauty can't be faked? ;)

                                                   Face complete.... it's on to part two, the eyes!


Part 2: Eyes.

Products. 
Listed in order of picture. Colours of products given parenthetically.
1) Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer. [The reason this is so small is because I bought it in a 'primer tester pack' which also included foundation primer. The pack was £14 so I don't know how much this product would be on its own. It's very good for keeping your eyeshadow/eyeliner in place! I hope I'll be able to find it as a stand alone product once I run out of this one. I'll keep you posted.]
2) Bourjois Paris Little Round Pot Eyeshadow (Colour number 90, Blanc Diaphane) RRP £6.99
3) No7 Exceptional Definition: Mineral Enriched Mascara. RRP £11
4) Bourjois Liner Feutre Black RRP £6.99
5) Soap and Glory Archery: Brow Tint and Precision Shaping Pencil (Brownie points). RRP £10

Step 1.
Eyebrows (Soap and Glory Pencil).


This product is double ended, with a wet pen nib on one side and a dry muted pencil on the other. You use the product by starting with the pen end, filling in your eyebrows with small, delicate strokes, following the direction of your hair growth. This fills out the eyebrows naturally and the strokes of the pen give a hair like appearance. Then, switching the pen around, you use the pencil to fill in your eyebrows to give them a more even coverage and better colour.

Be careful not to put too much pressure on the pencil as it will come out really dark! I'm not personally a fan of the scouse brow!


Because I'm naturally dark anyway, I only use this pencil mainly to get my eyebrows looking more shapely. The colour pencil I use is called 'Brownie Points', which is the darker of the two colour options the product supplies (the lighter colour being 'Love is Blonde'). I bought the lighter colour pencil for my mother as she is a much fairer complexion than me, but it is very faint so I would recommend the darker colour for most people - the strength of the colour depends how thickly you apply it.

To get the shape of my eyebrows I follow their natural shape, but move the pencil outwards from the beginning of my eyebrows, thinning it out towards the end to get a nice arch.

Step 2.
Eyebrows continued (Bourjois eyeshadow).





This is ultimately an eyeshadow but I bought it primarily to help accentuate my brows.














Using the applicator provided, I follow under the shape of my eyebrow with a bit of this product, being careful not to use too much. It looks ridiculous when you first apply it, but it blends in seamlessly!















The light colour  of the product enables it to act as a light reflector, so it accentuates the arch and definition of your brows. It also covers up any stray hairs giving you a smooth, perfect eyebrow look.

Step 3.
Lid Primer.
Cover your eyelids with this product and blend it into your skin. This serves as a base for your eyeliner.

Step 4.
Eyeliner.

This bit is tricky, and I've had a lot of practice! Don't panic, the more you attempt it the better you'll get at it. I can't really give step by step instructions on how to do this because everyone does it differently!



I tend to start at the outer corner of my eye and try to follow my lashline as closely and as evenly as I can, with a very thin stroke.










The product has a solid pen nib so it makes drawing a line much easier than some of the wet, flimsy brush ends you get on some eyeliners! I find the solid state of the product allows for an easier and more effective line. I then flick outwards on the outer corners of my eye to get that 50s inspired look!

Step 5.
Mascara!
For the final touches to my face, I get my trusty No7 mascara and apply liberally to my lashes. The brush is split into three sections, with a thicker brush on the top, a thinner underneath and a spiky ball on the end.

I start with the thinner brush to spread my lashes out evenly, thicken them out with the thicker end and use the spiky ball to get the corner lashes to stand out, flicking them outwards in the same direction as the eyeliner flick in order to get that cat-like appearance.








I also use the thin side of the applicator brush to do a quick stoke over my bottom lashes to give them even separation and a splash of colour.













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And that is my step-by-step to my daily make up routine! Sorry for the lengthy post, it only takes about 10 minutes in total to complete this look in real life - perfect for a busy morning rushing to get ready! I hope you've enjoyed reading this post, and stay tuned for more updates!

                                                        For my finished Daily Look:

Love Sophie; x.

Real Life Intervenes

I've neglected my poor blog so much recently! Real life has been pretty busy as of late.
I am primarily keeping this blog as one based around cosmetics, including reviews of products, recommendations, etc... but this post is going to be about me and where I am with my life at the moment. It's just going to be a brief introduction about me, why I've decided to write this blog and list some of the reasons I've been so neglectful of it!

For a very brief explanation of me: I'm a Welsh 20 year old university student studying English Literature in Cardiff University.

I love reading and writing (one of the main reasons I'm doing English Literature) but my course doesn't really give me the opportunity to write creatively as much as I want to, instead focusing a lot upon textual analysis and essay writing. I have always loved creative writing from a young age, and as my university course doesn't allow me to express myself creatively as much as I would like, I decided to start this blog as a way to enable me to do so. It allows me to not only practice and develop my writing skills, but will hopefully enable me to interact with and offer advice to people who are also interested in cosmetics.

As well as university being one of the main reasons I started the blog, it's also been involved in why I haven't posted much lately. Term time runs from September to June, and I started this blog after my assessments but before my results, and before the official end of Year 2. I was still living away from home (I moved out for university) but technically my course had finished so it allowed me enough free time to get this blog up and running. Since my last post, I've received my results, passed, officially finished my second year and have been in the process of preparing for my third, and final (gulp!) year. Towards the end of June I had to move out of my university accommodation to move home for summer before the start of Year 3, so initially I was busy with packing and unpacking; moving back in to live with my parents. I also had to decide what modules I was going to undertake in Year 3, so there was a lot of deliberation, choices, and online enrolment I had to take care of.

Once the move home was complete, real life continued to interfere with my blog  in numerous different ways: I caught up with school friends, we had amazing weather (the hottest summer in Britain for around 70 years!) so I admittedly spent the majority of my time outside soaking up the sun and catching up with people I hadn't seen all year. It's still summer here (although the weather now suggests otherwise) but I'm missing writing and I feel like my blog really deserves to get back on it's feet, so this is my official promise to begin with regular updates! I'm still busy with friends and preparing for the start of my third year of university (I have a lot of dissertation preparation to take care of over the summer!) but I'm going to attempt to post a blog update at least once a week, just to keep myself writing regularly and filling you in on all the cosmetic purchases I've made over summer!

Think that's about enough of an explanation given, (justifiably more for myself than any one else!) but I feel that now I've explained the hiatus I can finally get back to posting normally. Thanks to those of you for taking time to read this and I promise the next post will be in keeping with the theme of my blog!

Spot of Bother?

In keeping with the skincare theme of my first post, today I'm going to talk about what to do when your skin decides to become a little spotty.

Once again it should be noted that your skin is entirely unique to you, and the reason behind spots could be down to a number of different factors such as: environment, diet, hormones, age, different products etc. Your skin's spottiness could be due to one, or a combination of these different factors, and it is up to you to monitor your skin in order to detect any changes. Only when you know your skin's 'neutral state' (the state your skin is in the majority of the time, day to day) can you recognise when your skin is going through changes. By keeping track of this you are able to have a better idea of the reason behind any changes, and can attempt to rectify the reasons for your problem skin.

Before I review a product which to me personally is a spot saviour, I will first give a few tips on how to eliminate your chances of getting spotty skin.

Rule number one: keep hydrated!
This rule is not only crucially important to ensure your overall health, but it is also extremely important in trying to keep your skin clear. Drink lots of water to flush out impurities from your body, and try to use products which are not too oil based, as these will clog your pores which can lead to blackheads and other spots. 

Rule number two: exfoliate!
You should incorporate exfoliation into your weekly skincare routine as it helps remove any build up of dead skin-cells and trapped dirt which can lead to dry skin and spots. I would not recommend exfoliating as a daily skincare routine, as you don't want to risk removing healthy skin and natural oils if you over do it. About twice a week is probably best, depending on your skin type and the overall condition of your skin. I would recommend a gentle face scrub with exfoliating beads inside it to gently remove any impurities.
Remember your body needs exfoliating too! You can buy shower scrubs or even exfoliating gloves to help keep your skin nice and healthy, but avoid gloves for the face as they are too harsh on the more delicate skin. 

Rule number three: vitamins! 
Like rule one, making sure your body is healthy reflects in the health of your skin. Ensure you're getting all the correct vitamins and nutrients in your diet in order for your skin to be at its best. Avoid greasy foods as I find these tend to make you more spot prone.


Rule number four: check ingredients!
I'm not suggesting you stand there and read every single ingredient used in making your product, but check for certain key words which give you an indication of what type of product you are using on your skin: hypo-allergenic, mineral, alcohol free, suitable for sensitive skin, are to name but a few. This applies both to skincare and make-up. A lot of cheaper products use harsher chemicals which can irritate your skin and leave you with angry spots. Don't be afraid to spend a little more on products you know are going to be kind to you.

And remember if you do get a spot...
Rule number five: leave it alone!
The worst thing you can do when getting a spot is to try to squeeze it, cover it with a number of different things, despite how tempting it is. By all means apply a product which you know is going to help with the reduction of the spot, but don't put too much pressure on yourself trying to remove your spot. It will go away on its own eventually. If you squeeze it and then attempt to cover it up with loads of concealer you're more than likely going to make it worse, as you're clogging up the surrounding pores and potentially putting make-up inside a wound in your skin. Be patient, it's not going to be around forever... and if you leave it alone it will clear off much quicker!

Those are my main points to consider in order to reduce the risk of spotty skin. These will work for everyone to a certain degree, but some people are more spot prone than others due to the nature of their skin, and so they may need to go to extra lengths in order to reduce their chances of spots, depending on their skin type.

Also remember that hormones have a huge part to play in whether or not you're sporting some lovely spots! If you're a teenager and are suffering from a lot of spots, just remember that your body is still developing and getting used to the new hormones it's producing, so don't worry too much as you'll probably grow out of it!

Girls:
- Periods affect your spots due to differening hormone cycles, so remember this and don't be too harsh on yourself if you get a lovely bump alongside PMS. If a spot is hormonal there's not much you can do other than wait for it to go.

- Going on the contraceptive pill also affects your skin and its potential for spottiness, once again due to the different hormones different pills provide. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you are on the pill and are finding it is making you more spotty than usual, and they will normally provide you with an alternative. Trial and error eventually leads you to the best solution for you!


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Before I recommend my favourite spot- reducing product, here's a brief heads up on the spottiness of my skin. I'm pretty lucky with my skin... it's relatively clear about 85% of the time, but now and again an ugly spot rears its head! Due to the sporadic nature of my spots, I searched for a product that I wouldn't really have to commit to by using it daily, and something financially suited to this casual use. I eventually found the perfect product... The Witch Blemish Stick!

This product contains the natural ingredient witch hazel formulated with an anti-bacterial ingredient which helps to fight spot-causing bacteria, as well as breaking down any excess oils which contribute to spotty skin.
It comes in a little tube about the size of a lipstick, and is easily portable; it can pretty much be taken anywhere, whether that's popping it in your make-up bag for use at home, or placing it in your handbag on a night out.

How do I use it?
The top unscrews, and underneath the base of the product there is a gap for your finger to push upwards, and the product pushes up out of its case. It kind of feels like a glue stick in its consistency, and is a transparent blue in colour.
It's very simple to use, you literally apply it like a lipstick to any part of your face which is suffering from a spot. This product is very strong, I would not recommend using a lot of it as it dries out your skin almost immediately. It's drying quality is why it is so effective on spots, which are normally oil based. A tiny dab of it directly onto any spot, and some of the surrounding skin of the spot is enough for it to work effectively.
Within a couple of hours my spots are drastically reduced in size and hurt less.
This product is able to be applied whenever you feel like you need another application, but I normally stick to a maximum of three applications in one day, as not to completely dry out my skin.

Is it alcohol free?
No, this product is not alcohol free. It contains ingredients 'alcohol denat' and 'cetyl alcohol' and smells very strongly of alcohol when you first open the product. It's like sniffing a bottle of vodka! Due to its strong chemical smell and the presence of alcohol in it, it dries out the skin so quickly, and so I would not recommend using this product on anything other than your spots. It's small but it packs a punch.

Price?
Not only is this product niftily portable and extremely strong for its size, it's also extremely affordable, making it a must have for any skincare bag! At RRP of around £2.90, it's an essential product for anybody prone to the odd spot now and again. The strength of the product also makes it even more cost effective, as you only need a little bit at one time, so it lasts you ages!

I don't know where I would be without this product... now when I get a spot instead of worrying about how long it's going to be there, I dab a little bit of this product on and let it do its magic. In a couple of hours the spot is drastically reduced in size, dried out and able to apply cover-up over it simply and easily. Within 48 hours the spot has almost gone completely,and I can get on with my life without worrying about anybody noticing my skin misbehaving. A must have product for a quick and simple solution in removing spots!

Daily Skincare Routine

Before adorning a house with pretty decorations, you need a good foundation. The same can be said for make-up and skincare. Despite being a cliché metaphor, it is entirely true; there is absolutely no point in applying the best make-up in the world to your face  if your face isn't at its best. You need to display make-up to its full potential. Skincare is essential. When it's TimeToFaceTheDay, your first concern should be ensuring your face is as healthy as it can be.

As skincare is an essential, I thought it pertinent that my first blog post should showcase this. This post will provide you with my essential products in my skincare routine, and how they work for me. It is important to acknowledge that each and every individual has different skin, and what may work for me could provide completely different results for someone else. I can't provide you with a universal miracle product for perfect skin, but I can share with you what I have discovered that demonstrates my skin at its best.

Before I delve into what products I use and why, here's a few pointers when it comes to choosing your products.

Rule number one: less is more.
Again with the cheesy clichés, but honestly, I can't stress this enough. Over the years I have tried numerous different products on my skin, and I don't claim to be any sort of scientist, but I find the more products you combine in your skincare routine, the worse it is for your skin as the different chemical combinations react with one another. I would recommend your daily skincare routine to consist of no more than five products, and to incorporate any other products you wish to use into your routine about once a week or fortnight. Your skin needs to become familiar with what you're putting on it, in order for you to obtain maximum results.

Linking to the point about ensuring your skin becomes familiar with your products, is
Rule number two: don't get lazy!
It can be a chore to incorporate something like a daily skincare routine into your normal, everyday routine... but don't think that way! If you convince yourself that your skincare routine is just as essential as brushing your teeth, you're already halfway into getting the best out of your skin. Getting good skin is realising that you need to work at it regularly in order to achieve and maintain beneficial results. Just take 5 minutes out of your daily schedule in order to ensure you're looking after your skin properly - this is where rule number one comes in handy as you have less products to get through! Remember, you deserve to look and feel beautiful every single day, and so does your skin.

Rule number three: become familiar with your skin type.
Much like you know what shoe size you are, you should also be aware of your skin type. This is pretty simple, and is normally categorised into one of four types: normal, dry, oily or combination. Determine which skin type you belong to, and ensure to purchase products which are suited to your skin. Ignore brand names and recommendations by friends, you need to buy for you individually.
'How do I know if I'm using the wrong product for my skin type?'
It's pretty simple if you just take note of how your skin reacts after an extended period of time of using a specific product. For example, if you are using a thick moisturiser and find you are getting a lot of spots, it's probable that your natural skin type is more on the oily side, and so you need less moisture as someone with particularly dry skin. Just pay attention to what your skin is showing you and you'll find that makes things a lot easier on you when deciding what products to purchase, as you eliminate a lot of what isn't suitable for you. For me personally, I have a combination skin type of normal to dry, so I look for products which are aimed at drier skin but not for very dry skin, as this would be too oily. It took me a while to realise this, but now it makes shopping  a lot easier!
Something extra to consider:
As well as your skin belonging to one of the four skin types as listed above, you should also be aware of the sensitivity of your skin. As a very pale person, my skin is particularly sensitive, in comparison to many of my friends. The sensitivity of your skin should also factor into your purchasing of products, as certain products can be too harsh. This again is a period of trial and error! I try to purchase things which are alcohol free, as past experience has taught me I have an almost allergic reaction to products containing strong chemicals.

Rule number four: be aware your skin can change.
Very similar to point number three, ensure you listen to what your skin is telling you at all times. Different factors affect your skin type: changes of your skin can be brought upon by moving into different environments, hormonal fluctuations (particularly around your period) and many more... basically your skin is susceptible to change. The majority of the time, once you have defined your skin type, you remain this skin type indefinitely. But still be aware of little changes... it is unlikely you will completely change skin types, but your skin may be slightly different on one day in comparison to another. For example, I am always going to have combination skin of normal to dry, but some days my skin might be drier than usual, and so I would have to factor this into my routine when applying my moisturiser - opting for two coats, rather than one. In other cases, sometimes my skin is far more on the normal side (particularly around my period) and so applying moisturiser for drier skin can result in my skin being more oily than usual, due to the thicker moisturiser. In cases like this, I may forgo my moisturiser for the day in order to stop my skin becoming spotty, if it's producing the right amount of oils on it's own. It sounds simple, but as easy as it is to fall out of your skincare routine, it is just as easy to become complacent and continue your skincare routine on days your skin is telling you it doesn't need it. Basically, listen to your skin; sometimes it's kind to you and gives you the day off!

They are the main points I consider when purchasing products for my skin, and knowing when to apply them. Now on to the products themselves!

1. Nivea's 'Daily Essentials' range. Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes for Dry & Sensitive Skin. (The pink and white packet).
Attributes?
I personally favour face-wipes for my daily cleansing routine, as I think they are much less high maintenance than worrying about cleansing lotions etc (which I have also tried in the past). They provide the same result - if not better - than some cleansing lotions I have previously tried, and they're much more mobile than lugging a big bottle of lotion around with you. Just pop them in your bag and go. Also I find I prefer when my cleanser is in individual wipes, rather than being in a big bottle, as it limits me to the amount of cleansing I do on my face - I aim to use one wipe in order  to make sure I'm not 'over-cleaning' my face and harming it's production of natural oils.
Alcohol Free?
Yes, these wipes are alcohol free, which is so important to my (very) sensitive and very pale skin. (Recalls horror story upon lending my cousin's 'cucumber scented' face wipes at a sleepover and my face developing a huge, red lumpy rash as a result of the alcohol in them).  I find Nivea a really good brand for my skin as none of their products are too strong, and they seem to provide me with good results without being too overpowering, or, on the other end of the spectrum, too weak. Other friends with stronger and tougher skin than mine find that the products are too weak on their skin, and once again it's about listening to your skin and finding what works for you.
Price?
These face-wipes are  reasonably priced. In the UK a packet of them ranges between £2 t0 £3, which isn't on the cheap end of the scale in comparison to competitor products, but I don't mind the extra cost when I know that I'm not going to waste my money on trying other things (because I know for certain how much these work for me). Also, if you shop around you can normally find better deals on them - certain pharmaceutical shops offer deals on packs of two, which I normally buy.
Skincare routine?
So easy. Literally when I get up in the morning, open a packet and rub all over my face. So low maintenance and makes my skin feel rejuvenated, fresh and clean, without the after sting of chemicals you tend to get from stronger face-wipes.
Versatility?
As well as using them as my daily cleanser, I also find these face-wipes indispensable when I'm applying my make-up. I often use them to correct any untoward smudges, and they remove the make-up quite easily without any need for hard scrubbing or the risk of destroying make-up you want to stay on.

2. No.7's 'Beautiful Skin' range. Day Cream, for Normal/Dry skin. (The pink band)
Attributes?
This moisturising cream is perfect for my skin. Aptly named, it literally makes my skin feel beautiful after I use it! It's creamy without being too thick, so it absorbs nicely into your skin without sitting on it and feeling too heavy for your face. The creaminess also enables you to only need a tiny dab for your entire face, so it's an effective and long lasting product.
Alcohol free?
I'm not entirely sure whether this product is alcohol free or not, I think it contains an ingredient called 'Cetearyl alcohol', but it is still delicate and kind to my skin. Particularly geared towards dry skin, it's not harsh at all, and is even advertised as hypo-allergenic, which could explain why my sensitive skin likes it so much! Also, as something which should go under the attributes heading, but is linked to it's hypo-allergenic quality, is the fact that this cream has an SPF 15, and so gives you minimal sun protection if worn under your make-up, as well as being a good moisturiser.
Price?
This moisturiser is more expensive than most, but by far isn't unaffordable. As previously stated, a little goes a long way, so at RRP £12.50 a pot it's a skincare investment. Available at all boots stores, No.7 products also normally come with a promotion (often 3 for the price of 2) so if you shop tactically, you can get even more for your money as well as purchasing some really nice products.
Skincare routine?
Once again, easy peasy! (I'm a low maintenance person when it comes to routines!) After cleansing, dab a little on to your finger and apply to your face, concentrating mainly on your forehead, down the the bride of your nose and out on to your cheeks. Smooth in an outwards motion, starting from the centre of your face. I also apply this moisturiser to my neck, although not daily like I do with my face (depending mainly on how much time I have to incorporate into my routine).
Versatility? 
Mainly just a facial moisturiser, although depending on their dryness, I sometimes apply just the tiniest of dabs to my lips to use as a makeshift lip balm. Also works for your hands too.

3. No.7's 'Protect and Perfect' range. Intense beauty serum. 
Attributes?
Like the facial moisturiser, this serum works wonders with my skin. It's primary advertisement is as an anti-ageing product aimed at reducing lines and wrinkles, but rather than using it for that purpose, I just use it in the areas of my skin which need a little extra TLC. You can purchase this product as just the 'Beauty Serum', or as the 'Intense Beauty Serum', and I have used both and find they both have the same results, they are just marketed at different age groups. Hardly any of this serum needs to be used at one given time, a little goes such a long way. It's clear in consistency, and rather than being creamy like the moisturiser, this product feels a bit more watery, but don't be fooled by it's delicate appearance! This product is very strong, and you can feel the results it has upon your skin almost immediately after usage. Your skin feels rejuvenated and baby smooth. Honestly such a good find, but use it sparingly because it is expensive for it's size.
Alcohol free?
Unsure if this is alcohol free (much like the moisturiser), but it is also advertised as hypo-allergenic and is very kind to my sensitive skin. A different consistency to the moisturiser, but the same gentle yet effective results.
Price?
This one is expensive! From a boots store it's RRP at £23-£24, depending on whether you purchase the intense or the normal (the intense is about a £1 extra). It is a lot for only a 30ml amount, but use it sparingly and it will last you ages! As for whether or not you need the intense or the normal one, personally I find they both have the same results, it just so happens when I came to purchase mine the intense one was the only one available at the time, so I spent £1 extra than I normally would have.
Skincare routine?
Use a little bit in the areas I feel need a little bit more care, in particular the thinner skin under and around my eyes. As it's aimed at targeting wrinkles by reducing their likelihood to appear and the prominence of them if you already have some, I tend to use it in areas which are more 'wrinkle prone'. At 20 I obviously do not suffer with wrinkles yet, but by dabbing a tiny bit of this serum onto places like my forehead and around my mouth, I hope to postpone the development of future wrinkles! It doesn't hurt to start looking after your skin from early on!
Versatility?
Due to it's expense, I'm rather reluctant to try using it for any  purpose other than the main one it's suited for, but it does serve as an extremely good hand saviour when they're feeling that little bit drier than usual.

Thank you for taking time to read my assessment of my daily skincare products, and my top 4 rules in order to achieve great, healthy-looking skin!

As a visual example of how beneficial my regular skincare routine is to my skin, here's a picture of me make-up free! Let your skin do the talking for you.