The Best & Worst Skincare Products from Waitrose A little while ago I delved into the beauty section at Waitrose to investigate their Pure range. With a 1/3 off price promotion, and being able to claim partner discount on top, I decided to pop a couple of their products into my shopping basket to see what the range had to offer. I'll admit that I bought each of these three products on a whim and hadn't read any reviews on the range so had no idea what to expect, nevertheless, I've given them a go and want to share my thoughts.

FACIAL OIL WITH COTTON SEED OIL (£5)

This oil is gentle on the skin and unscented. Packaged in a glass bottle, complete with handy pipette, this is quick and convenient to use. I do find that this takes a little time to sink into the skin so opt to use this in the evening, an hour or so before bed, as otherwise it is greasy on the skin. As a result of using this, however, my skin is left soft and nourished and this soothes any irritation or dryness I have.

I'd never seen a product like this before, so it was more intrigue, than the need for exfoliation, that I bought this. Made with waterlily to help soothe and calm sensitive skin, I use this micro exfoliant as a way to exfoliate and soften my skin, after it has been cleansed, and not as a way to remove makeup or cleanse as others may use this. 

Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream is one of those cult multi-tasking products that are spoken about all over the blog-o-sphere. No doubt likely to gain similar positive press, their latest offering in the form of their Eight Hour® All-Over Miracle Oil is a versatile, multi-tasking formula for the face, body and hair. Infused with Tsubaki oil, an ultra-hydrating ingredient that works to deliver long-lasting moisture, it claims to reveal radiant, healthy-looking skin with a firmer appearance. Unlike the funky smell of  Eight Hour Cream, the Eight Hour oil, on the other hand, has a much more pleasant citrus scent that is much more likeable and nicer to use.

Though this is advertised to have three main uses, on your body, face and hair, I find the first my preferable method. Packaged in a spray bottle, the oil sprays a fine light mist that makes application on your body,arms and legs quick and easy, and makes you less likely to apply too much, leaving a non-greasy oil that sinks in quickly to your skin leaving your legs smooth and nourished. I've recently started trialling the CelluBlue cellulite cup ( review to follow) using this oil and found the two products compliment each other really well. 

As for use on your face, I find the best method, instead of spraying the oil directly onto your face or neck, is to apply one spray onto the palm of your hands, rub them together and then apply to your face. Though I opt to use this as a moisturising oil, this multi-tasking oil would, too, work well as a cleansing oil using a similar method and warm flannel.

My least favourite use of this product is as a hair oil. For me, this oil isn't fine enough and is unsuited for my mid-length fine hair without making it look or feel greasy. For thicker, or more coarse hair, however, I'm sure this would work fine.

Overall I've loved this as an alternative to thicker body butters; the spray makes the oil easy to use regularly and no doubt in the summer months will be one I get daily use.

It appears long overdue that I chat about my current skincare regime, however, I have recently found myself reaching for the same 4 products lately that I want to share with you today.The first being the much raved about Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil. Since I jumped onto the cleansing oil bandwagon when trying the Una Brennan Vitamin C oil, I love reaching for this Body Shop oil as it is gentle on the skin, even if burnt or chapped. I tend to use a couple of pumps of this into my hands and rub it onto my makeup covered face, including my eyes and, albeit messy at times, it will easily melt your makeup before rinsing with a warm flannel. The pump bottle makes it easy to get the right amount of product for your face, but it will pump precariously so be wary when near light bed linen or getting it on your clothes.

The second - the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water -  is a product I featured in my recently repurchased post ( LINK) and is a sure fire way to take your makeup off quickly and easily without stinging or irritating your eyes. Just add to a cotton pad and swoosh all over your face and a couple of cotton pads later you're good to go.

The third cleanser is one I prefer to use in the shower, after removing my makeup, to get a deeper clean and to remove any remaining traces. The Australian Bodycare Company Tea Tree Oil Gentle Cleansing milk, due to its tea tree ingredients, makes it less gentle than the oil and micellar water but more suited toward Oily/ Combination skin types. Nevertheless, this is great if you want a deeper clean without being harsh and stripping due to the lightly exfoliating texture and the tea tree has great anti-bacterial properties so is great to aid breakouts but avoiding the eye area.

The fourth step in my cleansing routine is the Dr Organic Manuka Honey face mask. This is great, especially after a night out or ahead of a big event, as it draws impurities from under the surface of your skin to come to a head. Though this may gross some people out, by doing a few days before an important event, and allowing the spots/ breakouts to calm down, the mask deeply cleans your skin and leaves it feeling less congested.I'll definitely be checking out more from Dr Organic in the future.

What are your current cleansers? Let me know below!

Beth xx

This was the first Micellar Solution I had tried and was very disappointed. Unfortunately it took far too many cotton pads to remove only part of my makeup and in doing so left a residue on my skin instead of leaving it soothed and toned. I also think that this broke me out instead of clearing up impurities.

The packaging and price I am not a fan of either. For around £5, this cleansing water lasted a few weeks at most and the rectangular bottle and plastic cap made application difficult. It also meant lots of product was wasted.That being said, this was gentle on my sensitive skin and eyes but gentle strokes alone were not enough and rubbing my skin to get my makeup off was therefore necessary. I shall not be repurchasing and instead shall continue to buy my much preferred Garnier alternative.

Beth xx

Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean was a product I was fortunate to receive as part of the large gift set I received at Christmas but one that I have only recently gotten round to using due to owning far too many skin care products and finding them hard to use up.

Cleansing balms seem to be all the rage at the minute but for me this strikes a hard competition. The No7 Melting Gel Cleanser works by dissolving your make up as the gel changes to a balm that can then be rinsed by a flannel or muslin cloth, the best way for me being in the bath with hot steam and a face flannel however I have found it equally effective over the sink and in the shower.

Hello! Today I have another Skincare review for you (It would seem I have lots to show you as of late), this time from Sublyme Cosmetics - their facial toner. For those familiar with my blog, you may have read my recent review of the Pure Facial Cleanser you may have seen me mention that I didn't recommend the Pure Toner, fortunately my review of this have changed and I don't despise of it like I did.

This range, I believe, is sold in Co-op pharmacies and cheap shops (i.e B&M, HomeBargains) for around the £1 mark which makes this very affordable. True to its price, this is very much a no-frills product which I tend to use following my cleanser, current Amie 2 in 1 cleanser, and find that it removes a surprising amount of dirt and make-up without irritating my skin.

Where it does claim to nourish delicate skin, I don't think it does 'nourish' but on the whole doesn't irritate delicate skin. In saying this, however, occasionally I do find that this can sting my skin.

On the whole this does work great as a toner and I do think that this is a great alternative to my favourite Skinetica toner, as it is cheaper, but isn't quite as gentle. If you don't have sensitive skin however this should be perfect for you!

Have you tried this?