It feels weird to be writing up a yearly favourites for a year that’s been pretty sucky. Let’s be serious, there’s not been a lot of good to come out of 2020! I still feel like I’m stuck in March last year. 2020 has been a year of self care for me with lots of pamper nights and skincare treats, got to make the most of staying home, right? I put myself on a no buy for 2020 so I didn’t actually try out an awful lots of new things.
Skincare
Fresh’s Rose Face Mask has been an ultimate fav throughout the year, I bought this back in 2019 and I’ve almost run out of my current tub and I’ll definitely be repurchasing. I love to apply this (to freshly cleansed skin) just as my toddler is getting into his bath and then leave it on for the duration of bath time. This gives the mask enough time to work it’s magic and leave my skin soft, soothed and hydrated. Rose is a natural antibacterial so it helps to minimise spots too. This mask makes me want to try more from Fresh.
Botanical Lab’s Aloe & Niacinamide blemish serum has become a skincare staple. At only £7 a bottle it’s an absolute bargain and is cruelty free and uses natural ingredients too. It doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin, though I do use it more as a targeted spot treatment rather than an all over serum. I apply this to my chin and t-zone area (where I’m prone to breakouts) before applying my day or night moisturiser and it helps to keep blemishes to a minimum.
I couldn’t have a 2020 round up without mentioning Phytomer. A late 2020 find but I’ve truly fallen in love with the brand. All of their products are cruelty free, vegan and as natural as possible. I fully reviewed Phytomer’s Cyfolia range towards the end of November, check out the post if you’d like more details but it’s a truly gorgeous skincare range and has worked wonders for my dry and sensitive skin. I cannot wait to try more from them.
Finally Antipodes Baptise H2o Ultra-Hydrating Water Gel has been my favourite moisturiser for popping on while pottering around the house which let’s be serious, we’ve all been doing a lot of! It’s a cruelty free dupe for my beloved My Clarins Re-Boost Refreshing Hydrating Cream. Packed full of Hyaluronic Acid it’s ultra hydrating and the gel texture makes it soothing for those with skin that’s prone to regular irritation.
Makeup
I haven’t really branched out makeup wise this year, staying home parenting a toddler 24/7 hasn’t left much time to experiment with new products. I’m still as Charlotte Tilbury obsessed as ever and a large majority of my makeup bag essentials are from CT. Other than Urban Decay’s Ultraviolet Naked palette, which I was kindly gifted, I actually haven’t had any new makeup for the whole of 2020! I put myself on a ‘make up no buy’ in an effort to try and use up as much of my old makeup as possible, I have drawers full of products that just aren’t getting the love they deserve. I’ve still got a long way to go in using up the products I’ve got at home but I might treat myself to a few new make up bits this year.
I have to say, most of my makeup bag is CT too ahhaha they have the best staples