Claudia Louch | Skincare Products

When it comes to skin care, I'm all in favour of simplicity.  I have sensitive skin in the sense that if I use anything too fragranced or fussy, I'll get pesky little breakouts that are extremely tough to budge.  For this reason, I don't tend to experiment with my skincare routine too much - I stick to what I know and I avoid switching it up too often.  Whilst I don't usually tend to delve in to skincare too much, I was attracted to the Claudia Louch brand after having a read up on the website about the internationally-renowned Harley Street Clinic and product range. With a focus on skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema, acne and a variety of allergies (to name a few), Claudia Louch has a natural approach to skin care which results in gentle, healing products said to help treat and care for those with sensitive skin and all sorts of skin complaints.

Hydrating Mango Face Cream | £61.50* | Link //&// Chamomile Face Wash | £37.40* | Link

I've been using a combination of the 'Hydrating Mango Face Cream*' and the 'Chamomile Facial Wash*' for a while now. Both products are unbelievably gentle and soothing to the skin - and have very little fragrance. The Hydrating Mango Face Cream  is luxuriously packaged in a sleek, glass-effect tube with delicate silver pump.  I expected it to have quite a strong, fruity scent to it due to the 'mango' ingredients but it actually has very little fragrance to it at all - I personally like this factor as I feel it is much more gentle on my skin.  The consistency is fairly thick, but not so heavy that it doesn't leave an oily or tacky residue - it's the perfect 'in-between' moisturiser for me. It feels so soothing to apply - especially on the drier areas of my face - my skin feels instantly nourished and calmed. Once it's sank in, my skin is left feeling super soft and smooth, and stays hydrated throughout the day.  Usually, I get some dryness around my cheeks creeping back through the day but when I've used this, I've noticed that my skin feels nourished and 'plumped' hours after I've applied my makeup in the morning and my foundation stays looking smoother for longer.  The Chamomile Face Wash feels equally luxurious to use. The subtle, spa-like scent and calming effect coupled with the clear, gel-like consistency really help to soothe and nourish the skin. It didn't leave my skin feeling dry or tight afterwards and left my skin feeling suitably quenched. I definitely noticed my skin felt much more hydrated and healthy when I used these two products together and any dry areas were considerably reduced.

Although I've had a positive experience with these products, the downside for me is the price. Although I'm not opposed to spending a fair whack on skincare when I need to, I can't say I noticed huge benefits for my skin. I liked the hydrating properties and the fact my skin looked really healthy and glowy when I'd used them for a while - it definitely felt much more calm and looked more plump and radiant, but I didn't see any big differences and i've had similar results with cheaper products in the past. There's no denying the moisturiser is a good one, but for £60+, it's pushing it for me.  I reckon these would be well worth looking in to if you suffer with redness, irritation or various skin complaints as they certainly deliver in the gentle/soothing stakes (also, the hydrating properties will be fab for someone with dry skin), but for someone with fairly normal skin who suffers with a bit of sensitivity and the odd breakout, I think these products are more of a 'treat' instead of a necessity.

Have you heard of Claudia Louch products?  What's your opinion on high-end skincare?

Sanctuary Skincare | My Current Favourites

I sometimes tend to put off doing skincare posts, simply because everyone is different and what might work for me, won't work for other people - but i've been using the Sanctuary range now since the beginning of June and it's become a firm favourite of mine.  Their skincare range is actually really impressive and suprisingly affordable, and it's one that I know I will continue to go back to. Here's a quick rundown of the products from the range that i'm using religiously at the moment:

Pore Refining Toner 150ml | £9 - This is without a doubt, my favourite product i've tried from the range. I included it in an August favourites post a while back and have since caved in and bought the big bottle. It's really gentle, yet removes every trace of makeup left on my face after cleansing, and it has a really comforting smell to it that isn't overpowering. It sprays out in a mist and can be applied directly to a cotton pad for direct toning, or it can even be used as a refreshing spray throughout the day over your makeup or just to refresh the skin in general. It helps to balance the Ph of your skin, whilst helping to refine and tighten pores - all big thumbs up for me since I do have large pores around my t-zone. Dare I say it, but my skin has looked a million times better since I began using this, and it doesn't leave my skin feeling dry or tight after use like other toners i've used in the past.

Brightening Facial Radiance Exfoliator 100ml | £10.50 - This exfoliator contains 'ultra fine apricot granules and grape seed' and smells really fresh. This is great for those days when you feel as if your skin is looking a bit dull and uneven in tone. It's gentle enough to use fairly regularly, but not so much so that it doesn't make a difference. My skin is left feeling super soft and revitalised afterwards and appears smoother in tone.

Deep Cleanse Facial - Fresh Faced Purifying Wash 140ml | £9 - This gentle little facewash helps to balance the skin's moisture levels (which is great for me as I have combination skin) and contains witch hazel, chamomile and cucumber to cool and soothe. It has the same fragrance as the toner, and works really well used side by side. It leaves my skin feeling suitably moisturised and clean - all in all it's just a really nice little cleansing face wash that does what it says on the tin (or tube in this case... and a rather wonky one at that... i always manage to pick up the dodgy one out of everything!)

All items can be purchased from Boots, and it's worth keeping your eyes peeled for their 3 for 2! They also offer some of their products in the mini-range so you can try before you buy.

Have you tried Sanctuary skincare?

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