2012 Favourites - Part 5: Skincare and Haircare

Okay, I know this is possibly the least exciting post of the 2012 Favourites series, but I wanted to do it anyway because now that I'm getting older, I'm finding it increasingly important to have a good skincare routine. Mine isn't really complicated, especially because I'm always so late going to bed, I never have the energy to do a lenghty routine. I do have a good cleanser and make up remover, and also a good serum, night cream and eye cream, with the occasional scrub and mask thrown in, so that's fine. In the mornings I just use a face cream having washed my face in the shower with clean water. I don't have time for more, it's as simple as that.

I did a video about my skincare routine back in April and although some products I'm not using anymore (have run out or have decided to change), it gives you a good idea about which products I enjoyed using in 2012. Check it out here. 

I'll start with cleansing. I usually use Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover (old style, this has now been rreformulated) followed by Simple Kind To Skin Facial Cleansing Wipes. The two together work very well for removing make up and dirt from my skin. I haven't found a cleanser I am that chuffed about, I just can't really get excited about a cleanser, but every one I've used so far does a good enough job. I'm currently using a L'Occitane cleanser with the longest, most complicated name that I refuse to copy. I also really like Lancome Bi-Facil and will probably use it instead of the Boots one because I've heard that the new, reformulated version isn't very good.

See which other products I loved in 2012 after the jump!

Simple Kind To Skin Facial Cleansing Wipes

After finishing the Primark Tea Tree Cleansing Wipes I decided to try something else, and on a trip to Boots I picked up these Simple Facial Wipes.I didn't like the smell of the Primark ones, but luckily these Simple ones have no scent.

They contain pro-vitamin B5 that "actively restores, softens and smoothes", and have no alcohol, oil, perfume or colour, so should be suitable for sensitive skin. They work well for me, although my skin isn't actually sensitive. They clean well and I like it that even the last one is well soaked through with cleanser, so 25 days after opening the pack the last one still feels as moist as the first one did (I do store them upside down to make sure the top one doesn't dry out either).

All in all, I like these cleansing wipes and have already replaced the packet. They cost quite a bit more than the Primark ones, you get 25 wipes for £3.20 (although there's currently a 2 for £5 offer on at Boots) which is still very reasonable.

See more pictures after the jump!

Primark Oil Balancing Cleansing Wipes With Tea Tree

I like shopping in Primark, everything is so cheap. I buy a lot of my children's clothes there as they only need to last through a couple of seasons since they grow out of them so quickly anyway. On a recent trip to Primark I found these cleansing wipes, and since they were 2 packs (of 25 wipes) for £1 I thought I'd pick them up and see what they're like.

I'm sorry about showing you the empty pack, but I never got around to taking a picture before they were all gone. So what are they like? Meh. As far as cleansing wipes go they are fine, they cleanse my face fine, taking off all the make up. They don't dry out quickly, so even the last one was as moist as the first one which is good. The smell, however, is just so strong and unpleasant, I will not be buying these again. I can't really describe the smell, but it reminds me of insect spray, that sort of strong, chemical, yucky smell. I guess since they're not scented, this is just the smell of the chemicals in them? I don't know, but it's really strong and not nice. So in this instance, cheap is definitely not cheerful.

See the list of ingredients after the jump!