Hey everyone! 


So a few weeks back I wrote an opinion post about how I felt that toner was basically unnecessary; that in modern days with modern cleansers, the pH balancing purposes of toners aren’t entirely needed, and that our soaps don’t contain lye anymore which can leave a scummy film on the skin.... 

In addition to this, modern hydrating and exfoliating toners seemed pointless to me as I had several other serums to do the same job. 

Well I had wanted to prove myself right by adding a hydrating toner into my routine...

🧐 In the first week I was ready to announce victory: that while I enjoyed the extra step, I did notice a difference at all 🤷🏼‍♀️ 

BUT 

🤓 I had been reading into the 7 skins method a bit, and wanted to give it a little try...

💡 I began layering on toner in several thin layers, as opposed to one generous layer 

🤯 And guess what! I noticed a difference almost immediately! 

⭐️ Straight after the first time I did it, and since then, my skin has felt SO much more hydrated and plump 

⭐️ It has probably been the most positive step I’ve made in my skincare in years 😮 

✍🏻 So I think I can conclude that toner is now a necessary step in my routine 🤩 

⁉️ Anyone else go through anything similar? 

- Aoife 💛

I was wrong 🙈

Hey everyone! 🙋🏼‍♀️ 

So I’m obsessed with skincare and trying out new products... but I have a few that I just keep going back to. So what constants do you have in your routine? 🤔 

Although I have repurchased many items eg. The Ordinary 0.2% retinol in Squalane and the iUnik Snail Serum and Beta Glucan cream... 🥰

My 3 products that I will probably buy forever are: 

⭐️ The Ordinary 5% lactic acid - I have dry skin which is prone to dead skin buildup around the forehead area... so once a week I need to clear that out to allow my products to penetrate properly... and this stuff is effective yet non-sensitising to my easily irritated skin! 

⭐️ Cerave Moisturising Cream - I will try out new creams here and there, but this one always remains. When my skin is irritated and thirsty it just drinks this up! I also like to use it on my body, especially my arms where my eczema is worst! 

⭐️ La Roche Posay Toleriane Cleanser - this is my HG gentle cleanser. I love how simple yet effective it is. It’s so hard for me to find a cleanser that both doesn’t strip my skin, but also leaves me feeling clean (your girl likes to wear makeup... and SPF of course)! 

⁉️ So what are yours??

Most repurchased item?

Am I the only one who has never really felt the difference when using toner vs when not? I just don’t find it’s something I automatically reach for and 8/10 times I just forget, and don’t notice a difference 🤷🏼‍♀️ 

I’ve also read a lot of articles stating that with most modern cleansers toning to “balance ph” isn’t actually entirely necessary. So they can be great for other benefits like hydrating or exfoliating, but when I have other solid products in my routine for these purposes, I just don’t always feel the need. 

The real reason I use a toner when I do, I just I like having the extra step in my routine 😂😂

Is toner really necessary?

Yay! I was selected. Now folks I know there are 2999 more of you out there. Who’s in the club? 😂👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏼👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏾👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏾👩🏿‍🤝‍👨🏾👩🏼‍🤝‍👨🏾👩🏼‍🤝‍👨🏾👫👭🏽🧍🏽‍♀️etc. 

- Aoife 💛

COSRX Giveaway!

Who else doesn’t use a cleanser in the morning 🙋🏼‍♀️ 

I have dry/sensitive skin, and unless I’m slugging, I just splash my face with water in the morning. My skin finds the cleansing process quite stripping so I try to keep cleansers to a minimum 🥰 and when I do feel like using one, I go for my FAV, LRP Toleriane 💛

It popped to mind as a discussion because when I entered my morning routine into the picky app it seemed alarmed that I didn’t include a cleanser 😂

morning cleanse

Nothing at all! For me personally, it’s not thick enough to be my PM moisturiser, but I bought it for the morning anyway 🥰

I love this product so much!! Amazing, lightweight texture which is ideal for my morning routine a it sinks into the skin so quickly. SPF and Makeup layer on easily woth no need to wait before application, and its the perfect texture for summer! I love that it contains centella for my sensitive skin, and also niacinamide! It’s a winner!

Nothing is bad. When I have an eczema breakout, it works well alongside my other products to soothe my skin. It is not a miracle worker, as the only things that truly make my eczema vanish are my medicated ointments, but it for sure feels nice and is calming to my irritation

I love this serum. It’s lightweight and sinks in quickly with no stickiness - so it can be easily used in both AM and PM routines. It is definitely soothing to my eczema (right at the top of the ingredient list we see Tea Tree Leaf Water, Centella Asiatica and Niacinamide, which can all help calm down redness and irritation). It’s also super affordable!

Sometimes I find it leaves an annoying film on my face. It’s also not my favourite morning moisturiser during hot summers as it can feel heavy in very hot weather.

This stuff is my go-to! Its super rich and thick, and my dry, eczema-prone skin just drinks it up! It helps me survive the winters and I use it day and night on my face and body 🥰

I love this product! It’s my go-to for the dead skin on my forehead. I’m never left feeling stripped or sensitised, and it’s still so effective!

A lot... I dont feel like it applies well. Other cleansinf balms would melt easily in your hands, but this one went on chunky. It emulsifies fine with water... but it cannot clean off makeup very well. Not once did i use this and not have panda eyes. I don’t wear a crazy amount of makeup, even sometimes just mascara. It wouldn’t remove it!! I was always left tugging at my eyes to remove every trace of makeup.

Unlike other cleansing balms, this one didnt leave me feeling stripped after using it.

faffyskin