My Nighttime Skincare Routine

I have been doing a lot about skincare and developing a routine now that I am entering my late 20s. I want my skin to look youthful for as long as possible, so I have been testing things in order to make them part of my skincare routine, especially at night time. 

My Nighttime Skincare Routine

After a payday trip to Superdrug's I was heavily interested in discovering new products in order to develop a skincare routine for nighttime. I have recently started a part time job, which means I am tired and my skin often looks dull and needs perking up - seeing as my shifts are usually late in the day into the evenings. I also wanted products that did not break the bank, seeing as a lot of good skincare products can be more of a high end budget. So after going along the entire skincare aisle, I discovered some real gems which have now become part of my nighttime routine. 

Tea Tree Skincare Micellar Water

Firstly I wanted something that was refreshing at the end of the day, to make my skin feel cleansed at the end of the day. I have combination skin, so at the end of the day my skin can feel quite oily. I discovered the Tea Tree Skincare Micellar Water in Superdrug's. It feels amazing when applied to the skin using cotton wool pads. I use it on two cotton wool pads, drenched in the micellar water and apply it all over my face. I use it whether I have make up on or not, and after applying it my skin feels amazing, awake and cleansed for the nighttime. The smell is also amazing, if you are not a fan of the Tea Tree smell, then this is not for you. I really like the smell, cause it not only makes my skin feel refreshed, it makes me feel refreshed. It is also really good for sensitive skin and I feel no stinging or any allergic reactions. I also enjoy that it is not an overly complicated product, especially when I come in from work tired and I do not want something complicated when I just want to go to sleep! I am definitely repurchasing this, it has become a permanent feature in my nighttime skin routine. 

Tea Tree Skincare Cleanser & Toner

I had heard a lot about the benefit of using a Toner as part of your skincare routine. I am all for using a product which is to help promote a healthier complexion, especially as I am still prone to break outs even in my 20s. When I picked up the micellar water, I saw this cleanser and toner from the same brand and decided to see what would happen to my skin if I used them together. I use this the same way as the micellar water, I drench two cotton wool pads with the cleanser and toner and apply it all over my face. It helps to make sure I have completely cleansed my face, made it feel fresh but also to help reduce to the redness and size of my pores. Since using it I have discovered that I break out less, that my pores have become smaller and my skin in the morning looks fresh and ready for the day. Again, I do not experience any stinging or any allergic reaction. I like how it works alongside the micellar water and it definitely a permanent feature in my nighttime skin routine. 

Simple Kind to Eyes Soothing Eye Balm

I have started using an eye cream properly. After doing my research I discovered that 24/25 is the right time to start using an eye cream as part of your skin routine. This lessen your chances of getting wrinkles and the skin underneath your eyes becoming thinner the older you get. Again, I did not want an eye cream that broke the bank, so I picked up the Simple Kind to Eyes Soothing Eye Balm. Simple is really good for sensitive skin, which is good because the skin underneath your eyes is really sensitive. I apply this underneath my eyes, using a small amount on my ring finger, as this applies less pressure and I gently dab it into my skin. Since using this, I have noticed the skin under my eyes looking a lot brighter and my eyes look more awake - which is really good as we are coming into the winter months. I really rate this product, I have no reactions to it and a little does go a long way. I have also started to incorporate it into my morning skin routine. 

Lush Dream Cream Hand & Body Lotion

Now I am not going to go on about this product as I have written a whole blog post about it which you can go and read by click the link above. However, I have been using this product since 2014 to control my eczema prone skin. Dream Cream has always been part of my skin routine and alongside the other products mentioned it works really well alongside it. I must be on my 50th tub! 









I am really pleased that I have discovered products that work on my skin type, make my skin feel amazing and allow my skin to stay the way I want it to be for a long time. I do not know if this will work forever as my nighttime skin routine or what I might have to add to it in the future in order to keep wrinkles and fine lines at bay! I also enjoy that finding these products have allowed myself to pamper myself of a nighttime just before a drift off into dreamland. 

Until next time, 

Becky xxx

T-Zone Charcoal & Bamboo Black Peel Off Mask

I think I am really late to this beauty tend, but Charcoal Black Peel Off Masks have been doing the rounds with everyone trying them. Having seen them on Instagram and people raving about how good they are I wanted to get my hands on one. I finally picked up one in Superdrug's by the brand T-Zone and I have finally gotten around to testing it out. 

T-Zone Charcoal & Bamboo Black Peel Off Mask

Firstly, I am really pleased with how much product you get in this tube of the face mask, it is a 50ml tube, which I think is really good for the price of the product. The currently retails for £4.99 - and I have just checked they have increased the size to 60ml. So following the instructions on the back of the bottle, I firstly cleansed by face and made sure it was dry before applying it. It then says to apply a medium thick layer onto your face - which is good  because you need a thick layer in order to peel it off once it has fully dried. Once I applied the mask, it said to leave it to dry for 30 minutes - which I would suggest setting a timer because as it starts to dry in parts quicker than others and it can be tempting to start pulling bits off before time is up. 

I like how this applied. I have seen other similar mask to this one and the consistency of it has been a lot thinner which is difficult to apply and ends up running down your fingers before you get a chance to apply it to you face. This one, the consistency is thicker, which really helps to make sure you apply that medium thick layer onto your face. I applied it to my entire face, and even on places they recommend you do not. I wanted to see the strength of the product in regards to small hairs on my face. I then left it set for 30 minutes and I set a timer to make sure I left it for the full time. 

Once the 30 minutes was up, I noticed that there were parts ready to be grabbed in order to start peeling the mask off. Now there was a part of me that wanted the whole mask to come off in one piece, but I do have to admit when you start to peel this mask off - it does hurt slightly. Now I have a higher pain threshold that others so to me the pain is the same as popping a painful spot, but it does not last longer after the mask has been peeled off. Even though most of the mask dried and peeled off really easily, there was still parts that did not completely dry but I found it came off really easily with warm water - which I would recommend to do once you have peeled the entire face mask off. 

After the mask came completely off, my skin felt really soft. I have combination skin of oily and dry and I suffer with eczema so my skin is rarely soft unless I have really good skin days - so this face mask as really helped to make it feel really soft and even hydrated. I also did not have to do a lot afterwards, I simply put my normal face moisturiser on. However, I have found some downsides to this face mask. This mask claims to pull out the gunk from your skin, mainly blackheads, however I did not find that a lot of blackheads came out of my skin. I do not know if I did not put a thick enough layer on or because this mask is cheaper than the others I did not work in the same way. However I am impressed with how soft my skin feels and the redness afterwards is only temporary. 

They recommend doing the mask once to twice a week and I will definitely give it another go and maybe seen if the second time I do it, more gunk comes out of my skin. 

This mask is currently on sale at Superdrug's for £4.99 and they currently have an offer of buy 1 selected T-Zone product, get another half price on selected T-Zone products which is really good! 

Until next time, 

Becky 

P.S This is not sponsored, all opinions are my own and I think it's fair to tell you about offers! 

Theatre Review: Follies at the National Theatre

One thing you should know about me, I love the theatre. I have been going since I was 9 years old - with the first production being The Lion King. Since then I have seen loads from musicals to plays, amateur to big productions. I love it. This year, I have been really lucky to see several shows, including last week on Tuesday 26th September 2017 I went to see Follies at the National Theatre. 

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Follies at The National Theatre

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Follies is a musical written by James Goldman, with the music and lyrics written by the genius that is Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim is my favourite composer and I have been lucky to see several musicals that he has composed the music for. When they announced that a production of Follies was to be at the National Theatre, for the first time - my uncle got us tickets to enjoy the production. I got even more excited when it was announced that Imelda Staunton  was to be the lead role of Sally. It is set in New York, in 1971 and all set during one party, one night where the Follies girls have come back together for one last time as the Weismann Theatre is due to be demolished the following day. It has been 30 years since their final performance, but things that should remain in the past have come back to the surface. 

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This is the first production I have seen which does not have an interval, the running time of the whole performance is 2 hours and 10 minutes. I have to be honest, the whole production moves seamlessly that I did not release that two hours had past. The entire cast were phenomenal portraying the storyline of Follies. This production including the well known songs Broadway Baby, Losing My Mind and I'm Still Here. The showstopper for me had to be Broadway Baby, performed by Di Botcher which even had some of the audience members on their feet even before the curtain came down. 

As a designer, I have to touch on the set and the costumes. The set was phenomenal - it is on a revolve with part of the Weismann Theatre still standing and the rest already knocked down. I also liked that the other members of cast - who were the dancers, also doubled up as the people who moved part of the set, seeing as most of the set was on the revolve. The entire production was amazing, and well deserved the stand ovation at the end of the performance. 

If I got the chance, I'd see it again and if you are a fan of musicals, in particular Sondheim musicals then you should really go and see Follies which is on until the 3rd January 2018 at the Olivier Theatre, National Theatre. 

Until next time, 

Becky xxx