My Best Skincare Finds of 2017

I've been meaning to sit down and write this post for a week now, but I keep on finding excuses not to! During December I wrote three blog posts a week for almost a month and now I find myself being too lazy to write even this one, oops. I hope you all had a good break and that you returned to work (or will be returning to work) refreshed and well-rested. My holiday felt very short, but I did manage to rest a bit and take it easy. I'm normally not someone who can lay on the couch or the bed for hours on end reading or sleeping or "taking it easy" - I'm always busy with something, be it organising a cupboard or cleaning the floors or cooking/baking something new, so now that I'm seven months pregnant I find it difficult to just sit on my butt and do nothing! That being said, I do realise the importance of relaxing, especially now that I find it difficult to bend down or get off the couch on my own!

I thought I'd start off the blog post writing for this year with a "Best of" post - today will feature my best skincare and body care finds of 2017, and the next post will feature all my favourite makeup finds of the past year.

Since I've been three months pregnant I've used Bio-Oil diligently every single day after showering. It keeps my skin soft and supple and it helps a lot with the itchiness that comes along with being pregnant (your skin starts to itch as your belly expands and the skin becomes thinner). I'm currently on my second large bottle and I can see myself repurchasing this again and again.

As for shower cream: the Palmolive Gourmet Spa Shower Cream in "Mint Shake" has definitely been a highlight of my skincare year! It is extremely affordable (think around R40 for a big bottle) and doesn't leave my skin feeling dry and taut like some other cheap shower creams or gels. It's very cooling and smells exactly like a Peppermint Crisp chocolate bar!

I've always been bad with applying sunscreen, but The Body Shop's Skin Defence Essence (SPF 50) for the face has really helped. It's not your typical thick and gloopy formula, it's actually much more watery than I anticipated, but it sinks into my skin quickly and easily. My makeup goes on smoothly afterwards and I've had no breakouts like I've had in the past from thick, pore-clogging sunscreen products. I've almost finished my bottle and I will definitely be repurchasing.

Clinique has really impressed me in 2017. I used to love their products but I felt like it stopped working for me after university. I don't know if it's because of the drier air in Pretoria or if my skin changed, but I had to switch over to other brands. Then they released their Pep-Start range and I was immediately intrigued: the packaging and products were fresh and new and after trying this 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser, I was hooked. It reminds me of their 7 Day Scrub Cream, but it's a bit more gentle and includes a cleanser, so you only have to use the one product. I can highly recommend this, especially for combination skin, as it leaves your skin silky smooth although it's not so rough that you're left with red cheeks after using it.

My last skincare find for 2017 is the hydrating facial oil by Skin Creamery. I love everything about this oil from the packaging to the scent to the way it makes my skin feel. I've tried it many different ways, but my current favourite way is to mix two to three drops of it into my serum and apply it at night. I find the scent extremely relaxing and comforting, the perfect thing to end off my day.

What were your favourites for 2017? Let me know in the comments section!

Until next time!

Hildegarde
xoxo