New To My Collection | Skincare First Impressions

Hey everyone, How are you all doing? You may have recently seen my post New To My Collection | Makeup First Impressions and now I’m doing a similar post, but all about skincare I’ve recently added to my collection! As with the last post, the vast majority of these products I received from a work beauty conference. These are first impression reviews as I haven’t used most of these products all that much yet. But if there’s anything you’d like to read a full review on when I’ve tried & tested them a bit more, then let me know in the comments below!

WISHFUL Honey Balm Jelly Moisturiser 50ml (£43)
I received a few moisturisers from the work conference this time, so of course I haven’t used them all properly yet, but I have used this one about twice, just to get a feel for it! It has a lovely creamy texture which feels super moisturising, but it seems to soak in so fast for such a creamy consistency, which is really nice. It has an iridescent purple glow, probably due to the Mica in there. Of course, this moisturiser does contain honey, which is known to be a lovely hydrating ingredient amazing for the skin. I have only ever used one other product containing honey and it sadly broke me out, so I hope it wasn’t the honey to blame as I am excited to try some more honey products! The only thing I’m not sure about with this product is that there is Lavender Oil in the ingredients. Essential oils can really irritate the skin, and I have broken out from what I think was the essential oils in the Origins Mega Mushroom treatment lotion. I don’t mind too much if they are in cleansers, as you wash them off immediately, but with this being a leave on moisturiser… I’m not sure! I will have to wait and see how it suits my skin.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Cream 50ml (£23)
At a little more of an affordable price, but still high end, I have the Liz Earle light cream. I have been using this one more than the other moisturisers I received. I’ve definitely used it enough to share my thoughts! I have a normal to dry skin type, and I do tend to go for richer moisturisers, however sometimes my skin doesn’t need something super thick and after other serums etc, a light cream is ideal. This one has a cream texture, it soaks in quickly leaving my skin feeling so refreshed and not heavy at all. I think if you have a normal skin type and need some good hydration, and love a refreshing feeling, you will love this! I have been enjoying it a lot for those mornings my skin isn’t feeling too dry. It does contain a few oils such as borage seed and avocado, so it’s still nice & moisturising. I would definitely be tempted to purchase this one again in the future.

Clinique Moisture Surge Intense 30ml (£25)
I was so pleased to see this Clinique moisturiser in my goody bag after the work conference this time. I have been a big fan of the original moisture surge for a while, particularly in the Summer when I want something hydrating, but still light on the skin. I find that in Winter I generally prefer something a bit thicker and richer, so I thought this intense version could be ideal. I have only used it a couple times so far but I do think this is really nice. The name ‘intense’ does imply this moisturiser is going to be very thick, but it isn’t, it’s actually just a bit thicker than the original, and it is a cream-gel not a full cream. This hydrates the skin so nicely and appears to plump up the skin, as the original does! I feel this has given me results similar to a thick rich cream, but it feels lighter and soaks in faster, so if your skin is very dry and you like something that doesn’t soak in straight away, it mights not be what you’re looking for. It contains hyaluronic acid, such a great ingredient for hydrating on a deeper level, and aloe water which also hydrates so well! I will have to use this a little more to see if I prefer this or the original. I do feel that this one (as with the original moisture surge) will work best with continued use as the hydration on the deeper level really starts to show in the skin overtime.

Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream On The Go 10ml (£18.50)
One thing I have to say about this eye cream is that I am not a fan of the sponge applicator – I find that these kinds of products get messy so quickly and it does put me off using them. I know this eye cream also comes in a little pot too, which I’m sure I’d prefer. I have only used this a couple of times, but so far it is just okay. It does brighten the eye when you apply it and leaves it feeling more hydrated and fresher. I can’t comment on the ‘de-puff’ element as I don’t struggle with puffiness. For me, this just doesn’t feel quite hydrating enough as I do have particularly dry under eyes, and I just love my Clinique all about eyes rich too much. If you are looking for an all rounder eye cream, then you might really like this and I’d say it is worth trying. I am going to continue using this one for a while longer to see if it gives me any longer term affects.

Liz Earle Calming Botanical Drops 15ml (£26)
It isn’t a secret that I have been really loving these Liz Earle drops.. they’re probably one of my favourite things in this entire post. I have also spoken about them in my October Favourites 2020. These drops are a lightweight gel that instantly calm irritated skin and ease redness. Sometimes my skin can get irritated, specially in colder weather and these drops feel so soothing on the skin as soon as I apply them, and it’s a step in my skincare routine that I really enjoy. They are also hydrating, so it is a nice extra step for my skincare routine that I apply before moisturiser. Unless you get irritated skin, you don’t necessarily need these, but if you do then definitely give them a go! Liz Earle also have other botanical drops – balancing and brightening. I haven’t tried them but basing it off these calming ones, I bet they’re really nice.

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum 30ml (£53)
I like incorporating vitamin C into my morning skincare routine and a serum seems like an ideal way to do so. I began using this one at the end of last week. I like the immediate affects this serum has on my skin, it brightens the skin and makes it glow. These immediate affects are likely due to the banana powder inspired pigments. For £53, this serum would have to amazing for me to actually repurchase, and from my first impressions it isn’t worth the price tag. I think cheaper products can do the same thing! And the ingredient list has me a little worried as it has a lot of citrus essential oils such as orange oil, orange peel oil and lemon. As I said earlier, I think essential oils have broken me out before, and they can definitely irritate the skin. So I would be a bit worried to continue using this daily. However, I will see, because if it doesn’t bother my skin, then I’m sure I will enjoy to use this up.

MINIS

Clarins One-Step Gentle Exoliating Cleanser (125ml for £22)
I would definitely consider this an exfoliator, not an every day cleanser as it has exfoliating particles in it. They are small particles, but I still wouldn’t use something like this every single day. After using this my skin feels really clean and fresh. As a physical scrub, this is nice as it is gentle and not too harsh on the skin. It smells nice – a clean fresh scent with hints of orange. As this is a wash off product, I don’t mind the orange oils and fragrance. I definitely think Clarins is a brand I want to explore more, a lot of their skincare products are intriguing and what I have tried, I have enjoyed.

Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant 30ml (£10)
This product I actually purchased for myself as I have been wanting to try this for a while after hearing such great things about this brand, and this product in particular. I haven’t tried a lot of liquid exfoliants and I definitely want to try a few more as I know many people much prefer them to physical exfoliators, and I know so many think these are more effective. I decided to just get the travel size to try because I’m not sure if I’ll love it or not, but if I do I will 100% purchase the full size. I have only used it twice so far, so this is very much a first impression. My skin felt smooth both times after using this and I liked the experience. It didn’t make my skin tingle at all which is good but I hope it is doing enough! I guess I will find out with continued use. I really want to introduce salicylic acid into my skincare routine as even though I don’t get many breakouts, I do get some blackheads so I’m hoping this could help with that. I will likely do a full review of this one if I feel it’s worth it, as I know it’s a popular product.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Hyaluronic Acid Capsules (30pc for £45)
Elizabeth Arden have a few different versions of these capsules, and I have tried samples of the retinol ones and the advanced ceramide ones. I have a small pot of these hyaluronic acid ones to try, but I haven’t tried them yet so I can’t really give a review! However, £45 is a lot of money to spend on 30 days worth of skincare capsules, and hyaluronic acid (though an amazing hydrating ingredient) is super cheap but great from The Ordinary. I know I should reserve judgment but I can’t see myself thinking this is worth the price no matter how good they are. The capsules are a great idea though because the product inside the capsule will stay 100% fresh until opened, whereas with a generally packaged product, as soon as you open the bottle, the product will continue to get less fresh overtime, and this can affect the effectiveness of the product.

Bare Minerals Skinlongevity Long Life Herb Serum (30ml for £35)
Again, I have only used this one a couple of times. It feels lovely on the skin, but I haven’t used it enough to see any long term results. I was glad to receive this little serum as I have been using a Bare Minerals moisturiser that I really love, so I want to try a bit more skincare from the brand. This serum is meant to reduce wrinkles and resist signs of ageing. At 23, I’m not yet delving into anti-aging skincare, so this range isn’t one I would pick out for myself, however, the ingredients in this one seem nice. It contains Niacinamide, an amazing ingredient to protect and strengthen the skin barrier and soften the look of fine lines and reduce blemish scarring, dark spots and uneven skin tone. It also has the long life herb, which the product is named after, this smooths skin texture and fights against visible ageing. The final ingredient Bare Minerals boast about is California Poppy, an antioxidant to protect skin against free radicals and environmental damage. For me, an antioxidant is so important.

Clarins Re-Boost Refreshing Hydrating Cream (50ml for £22)
I have used half of this one already (it is only a mini) and I don’t think it is anything super special for my skin, though it is nice and for the right person I really think it would work amazingly. If you’re just starting out with experimenting with skincare, this is a nice moisturiser which hydrates the skin but is light so soaks in really quickly and doesn’t leave the skin feeling sticky or greasy at all, yet adds some glow. I think this would be best for younger skin which needs a basic but effective cream. Clarins do have other moisturisers for other age ranges to check out.

Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser (150ml for £18)
I am a big fan of lots of Clinique products, quite a few of them work so well for me! Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m getting on too well with this one. I think this one would be more ideal for an oilier skin type. It feels a bit too stripping for my skin, leaving it a bit tight, and I prefer something more gentle. It definitely cleans the skin really well, and foams up into a thick foam. Clinique say this will work for a dry skin type, but I much prefer other cleansers, and would recommend this one for someone with an oily skin.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (50ml for £82)
This product is definitely a popular one with a huge following… it is very pricey too! This night serum targets signs of ageing and helps with radiance and skin tone. I have used this in the evening for the last few nights and my skin feels smooth and soft in the mornings! I genuinely feel like this serum works, I think it plumps the skin and makes it firmer and smoother, as Lauder claim it will. I just don’t know if I would want to spend SO much on it. Maybe when it is on offer if I wanted to treat myself, because I have been enjoying it and I can see why it is popular. A little also goes a long way, so I suppose it may be more worth the price than other products than you need to use a lot of.

That’s everything! Wow that was a lot of skincare products to discuss. What’s your opinion of these skincare bits? Have you used any before? Let me know in the comments below if you’d like any full reviews on any of these products!

Thank you sooo much for stopping by.

Jazmin xx