As you know, skincare is one of my absolute favourite topics to write about. By now I have tried and tested lots of different types of products and brands, featuring many different ingredients. I love everything from at-home skin peels to overnight masks and everything in between. Of course, by now I have found some products that are real favourites and ones that I like to use time after time. However, a number of these products are not suitable for use during pregnancy due to harsh ingredients, so when I became pregnant my skincare routine changed a lot and I found myself on a mission to find some new pregnancy skincare favourites. In doing this, there are three stand out products that I discovered and will continue to use even after pregnancy.
L’Oreal Smooth Sugars Glow Scrub
I love to use facial scrubs and gentle at-home peels to help improve skin texture and get rid of any dead skin. However, most of the ones that I used previously have harsh ingredients that aren’t really suitable for sensitive pregnancy skin. The alternative I have discovered is the Smooth Sugars Glow Scrub from L’Oreal and I love it! My current one is almost empty and I have just bought a new one as I plan to continue using it even after pregnancy.
The Sugars Glow Scrub is a a 100% naturally-derived exfoliant that is suitable for all skin types. It is made from 3 fine sugars (brown, blond and white) combined with grapeseed oil which is safe to use on the face and lips for a deep yet gentle exfoliation.
The scrub contains the following brightening ingredients:
- Grapeseed oil which is packed with Vitamin E to illuminate and brighten the skin
- Monoi oil which acts as a natural moisturiser to protect skin from dullness and fatigue
- Acai powder which polishes the skin’s surface.
The L’oreal website sets out the instant and long-term visible results of the scrub as follows:
“Immediately: Skin is clean, polished and luminously glowing
After 1 week: Skin texture is refined and complexion is bright
Use after use: Skin is smoother, revived and healthy-looking with a baby-soft touch’
I try to use this scrub about 2 times a week by applying a small amount to clean dry skin. It has a thick, sugary but oily consistency that feels really nice on the skin and it also has a nice scent. I then add some warm water to massage the scrub over my face until the sugars have melted. When I rinse it off with my facecloth my skin instantly feels smooth and clean, and I really do think it looks brighter! I think this is such a lovely exfoliating product and it does a great job. It is also such a good price. Like I said, I don’t plan to stop using this any time soon. It’s great! It’s full of nice ingredients, is gentle on my skin and doesn’t break the bank.
Laneige Water Sleeping Mask
The next product that I have been using for the last few months, and have become completely and utterly obsessed with, is the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask. I first discovered the Laneige brand when I was in Hong Kong last year and at that time I got their ‘Lip Sleeping Mask‘ which I LOVE and I regretted not getting the Water Sleeping Mask. However, when I was back in London in December I was lucky enough to find the Water Sleeping Mask in TK Maxx. At that time I snapped it up and I am so happy that I did! I adore this product!!
It is marketed as ‘an overnight, moisture-recharging gel mask that quickly absorbs while you sleep to deeply hydrate skin’.
The mask contains highly concentrated hydro-ionised mineral water, which provides an intense dose of moisture to stressed or parched skin. Hydro-ionised mineral water contains 6 moisture maximising minerals that are ionised and stabilised in water to penetrate into the skin faster and deeper.
The mask is infused with orange flower, rose, sandalwood apricot and evening primrose extracts which work together to brighten and purify the skin overnight.
The mask has a gorgeous gel texture which feels so nice and cool and refreshing when I apply it to my face. I use the mask once or twice a week by applying it after serum and eye cream in the same way that I would use a moisturiser. As the name suggests, it is an overnight mask so I apply it just before going to bed. It melts into my skin overnight and in the morning my face feels soft and almost powdery as I wash the mask off. It makes my skin feel so refreshed and hydrated. I absolutely love using this product and it is definitely one that I will be repurchasing in the future.
I spoke about the Laneige lip mask in a previous blog post which you can read here if you are interested.
The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane
Last but not least, I want to talk about the Ordinary’s 100% Plant-Derived Squalane. Squalene is a substance that is found naturally in our skin. It has a very high emollience and is exceptionally hydrating. Squalane is suitable for all skin types but works particularly well on dry skin due to its hydrating properties. It claims to be able to ‘soften and smooth even the driest complexions’ by giving them a supercharged boost.
The product is 100% plant-derived squalane and does not contain any other filler or unnecessary ingredients.
I like to use squalane at night time but you can use it during the day also. I apply a few drops to my skin after water based products so this is generally the last thing that I will apply to my face on nights that I am using this. I usually add The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid before the squalane. Sometimes I will use squalane in place of a moisturiser or in addition to for an extra boost of hydration. If I am using a moisturiser on the same night I will apply the squalane on top as the last step.
The product has an oil like texture which is the kind of thing I love to slather on my face at night. It does soak into the skin quickly though so you don’t feel like you have a greasy face all night. After using this my skin feels really nourished and moisturised with no sign of any dryness. I usually alternate between the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask and squalane solution at night time and I find that this combination is working really well for me. This is another product that I can see myself continuing to use in the future. Again, for the price especially, it really is a great product.
So those are three skincare products that I have been absolutely loving over the last couple of months. As much as I miss using some of my old products it has been nice to discover some new ones. My skincare routine has been completely simplified since becoming pregnant which is probably a good thing as I’m not sure there will be the same time to invest into ‘pampering’ once baby comes along lol, so I’m looking at this as a practice run.
Let me know if you have tried any of these products or if you have any good recommendations for me 🙂
Have a great weekend everyone! x
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