February has been a busy one and so all my blogging and ideas have gone straight out the window so, instead of jumping back into it with some bigger posts I have planned, let's get back to it with a simple, post with a few of my favourites. In January, I turned 22 and I received some lovely gifts including some new favourites as well as discovering some new loves myself! 

This is my first Glossier product and I definitely picked a good one to start with! I'm not a big one for mascara on the daily due to the fact that my hooded eyelids don't tend to like mascara and a lot of transfer seems to happen - by 12pm it looks like I've been crying and rubbing my ideas when, I promise, that's not true! Even with waterproof mascaras, I've never found one that works for the day-to-day. But now, this Glossier mascara is perfect! Great for a natural look that really lengthens my lashes and no transfer! Definitely, a new daily favourite and I can't wait to try more Glossier products soon. 

Another daily staple is this lip balm - it's so hydrating, easy to apply and the little tint of colour is definitely a nice addition. There's nothing much else to say other than this is really great for those with drier lips - it's the only lip product I have been reaching for the past few months. 

I mentioned that this has become a daily skincare staple - it's a really great toner that doesn't feel stripping or leaving my skin feeling tight but helps my skin feel smooth and cleansed. It's been such a nice addition to my skincare routine and I've definitely felt and seen a difference in my skin with this. 

This has quickly become a holy grail haircare item for my ridiculously thick hair. Before, I would never dream of even attempting to brush my hair while it's still wet but this has really worked to help my brush the knots out of my hair without just grazing over them which I've found my tangle teezer to often do. I think this is the perfect hairbrush for thick hair and I'm so glad I finally have one in my life even if it is 22 years late. 

I bought and finished this all in one day and now I can't wait to get my hands on the two next books in the series. It was such a quick read and a super adorable story that I need to carry on reading. This also has a great storyline that I could see on the big screen. If you liked the film Love, Simon I think you'll like this one! Graphic novels are always great to help me get out of a bit of a reading slump and this one especially was a great one to add to my reading list in February. 

So here was just a quick post of a few things I've been loving in my life recently. Do you have any beauty or book recommendations for me? I always love to hear them! 

Hope you're doing great, 

Sarah 

It was at the end of last year that I shared how I was streamlining my life - focussing on only products I need and basically just cutting out all the crap. This included skincare as well. I went through a period of constantly trying new products for my skin but I've realised that what my skin needs is a simple streamlined everyday routine with the basics that are gentle and all-round good products for my skin. 

I thought I'd share with you the products that I have kept in my simple skincare routine that are gentle and have really helped to clear up my skin in a more natural way without any harsh treatments and has helped bring some life back to my skin. 

This has always been my go-to, favourite makeup remover. So easy to apply and work into my skin to remove makeup. With little fragrance it doesn't irritate my skin and, even alone, leaves my skin feeling lovely and soft. This is the makeup remover that I constantly go back to. While it may seem to require a little more effort than a cotton pad and micellar water, I find this does a much more thorough job while also producing a lot less waste! This along with a muslin cloth will be a pair I will be forever using. 

This is by far the softest, most gentle cleanser I've used. It's fragrance-free and, while I sometimes feel the need for something a little more abrasive to clear any spots, this manages to still leave my skin feeling clean and help clear up a spot in a more natural way with no harsh treatments needed. 

Instead of confusing my skin by picking up a different spot treatment, I've just stuck with using this after removing my makeup and it seems to keep my spot at bay while still leaving my skin clean without feeling stripped of natural oils. 

I gave into the hype. I previously used The Ordinary Glycolic Acid (a great affordable alternative that I've shared my love for before) but after I forgot about that product during last year and then received the Pixi Glow tonic for Christmas, I've loved having this in my routine and remembered why glycolic acid works great for my skin. 

This is probably the harshest and most fragrant product I use on my skin but it doesn't seem to irritate my skin too harshly and actually helps with my skin's overall texture without drying it out. The Ordinary Glycolic acid is a perfect affordable version of this but I find this one leaves my skin feeling that extra bit nicer, softer and cleaner. Just a bit of this on a reusable cotton pad across my face is a great addition to my skincare. 

I love the whole of this range from Superdrug ever since I first tested out some of the products. I particularly love the night cream at the moment as it really helps rehydrate my face before bed. Their 2 in 1 moisturiser and serum is also the perfect day moisturiser for me - not overly greasy but hydrating enough to be applied under my make up. 

Finally, their eye cream isn't something I notice a difference when using but it's still a step I try and include just for that extra moisture and this is the perfect light under eye cream I could use. 

Apart from the odd face mask or exfoliate here or there, these are the products I've focused my attention on using. After years of confusing my skin with different products, this small number of skincare items make for the perfect simple, streamlined skincare routine. 

What are some of your favourite skincare products? 

Hope you're doing great,

Sarah