Trying a bit of skincare!

As a teenager the only skincare routine I had was washing my face with soap and water and if I was feeling a bit fancy I might put a bit of moisturiser on. I am in my mid 40's now and up until recently nothing much had changed. I swipe at my face with a makeup wipe or slather on some random moisturiser when my skin felt particularly dry but a proper routine? Nope.

Fine lines have appeared, my complexion has more of a tired look than a natural glow and don’t even get me started on the random dry patches that have popped to taunt me. Clearly it was time to take action and just before Christmas I did just that adding some skincare bits to my Christmas list and this is what I have been using since Christmas day. Now I stand in front of my bathroom mirror with more bottles than a science lab, wondering if I accidentally became a chemist. lol

Cleansing!

I got a the Simple Refreshing Facial Wash that promised to wash away make up, dirt and other impurities without leaving your skin feeling tight or dry. I lathered up, rinsed off and was happy. My skin didn’t feel like silk, but it also didn’t feel like sandpaper so I counted it as a win! I still use the cheapo wipes from Primark for quickly washing off make up before I cleanse.

Moisturising!

This one felt easy. I’ve used moisturiser before how hard could it be? Except now there are moisturisers for day and night, ones with SPF, one's with hyaluronic acid and ones that cost as much as my weekly food shop. I picked a couple of night one's that were on offer in Poundland of all places.

The Biovene Vitamin C Night Boost is Anti-Aging and hydrates skin overnight with Vitamin C and Organic Mango for optimal age support to instantly moisturise skin, assist in recovery and introduce a beautiful glow for the next day.

The Biovene Retinol Night Lift is an tightening overnight moisturising cream with powerful Retinol and Organic Strawberry to help restore firmness and support in minimizing the appearance of fine lines.

I alternate these each night before I go to bed and I can say my face has been feeling smoother and looks better each morning. During the day I have been sticking with the Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream for Face, Hand and Body which I've been using for years and it's a brand that works for me or the Tesco Kind & Pure Fragrance Free SPF30 Moisturiser for a bit of protection from the sun if I am going out.

When I had covered the basics I went down a rabbit hole of reading about serums! Did I even need them? Apparently I do according to my youngest. She seems to know more about skincare than I do. Do I need vitamin C? Retinol? Niacinamide? (Niaci-what?!) I chose a few things.

The Aura Balancing Face Serum is packed with nourishing Jojoba Oil and Vitamin E, helps strengthen your skin's natural barrier for a happy, glowing you. I got this from Home Bargains and from Poundland I got the Body Stories Fresh N Dewy Face Serum which is infused with Vitamin C and Niacinamide to help give a beautiful and glowing complexion. I can't say I have noticed much difference during the day using these but I feel all boujee and good about myself so that's a bonus that I wasn't expecting.

As a bonus I got the Biovene Vitamin C Eye Boost! This is an age correcting eye boost moisturising day and night treatment for skin rejuvenation under the eyes with Vitamin C and organic mango that helps minimize the appearance of dark circles, fine lines and refresh tired looking skin.

It was just what I needed, I always look tired around my eyes and I don't even think it's an age thing, the dark circles have always been there. I think this is something which will take time to work but I am persevering. 

Starting a skincare routine after years of winging it is hard. For the first few days I felt like a self care goddess. I was cleansing, moisturising and putting serum on then life got in the way. One late night turned into me staring at my face wash thinking do I really need to wash my face or can I just skip it this one time? Spoiler: I skipped it. My new skincare routine hasn't really changed my life but it has changed how I think about taking care of myself. There’s something satisfying about taking five minutes to focus on me even if I’m fumbling my way through it. My routine isn’t perfect, but it’s mine. 

Do you have a skincare routine, what products would you recommend?

Our weekly meal plan! 20th - 26th January! #MealPlanningMonday

These Mondays seem to be coming around quickly! Last weeks meal plan went brilliantly! We loved the mushroom pie and the tomato soup was such a treat. It was nice mid-week to have a break from cooking a proper meal and just open a tin of soup and makes some sandwiches to go with it.

This week is going to be confusing, Stu is working today instead of having his usual day off but does have a day off later in the week. It's going to make me think today is a Tuesday and his day off will feel like a Sunday or a Monday! I feel like I have just got back on track with what day it is and now I am going to be confused again.

Last week the weather did warm up a little, at least the temperature said it was higher but it didn't feel it. I couldn't bring myself to go and sort the garden out. There didn't feel much difference in temperature between 3°C and 10°C, I blame that the sun wasn't shining. Hmmf. It's set to be grey, gloomy and misty this week. It's not going to ruin my mood, I am staying positive! The January Blues are not going to get me!

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Gousto meal - Curried Winter Veg Soup With Parsnip Crisps & Yoghurt. A new recipe for us and it sounds like a great one to start our week.

Tuesday - Gousto meal - Saucy Onion Gravy Beef Meatballs & Crushed Potatoes.

Wednesday - Gousto meal - Oven Baked Pork Belly & Winter Veg Pot Roast. I will cook this in the slow cooker instead of the oven.

Thursday - A help yourself type of tea meaning we will all have something different that we fancy. It's a good way to use random bits up out of the freezer.

Friday - Pizza.

Saturday - I am not sure yet, Stu is off work so I don't know what we have planned. We have to do something, he rarely gets a Saturday off work.

Sunday - Toad in the hole, mashed potato and veg.

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 12th - 18th January. Week 3 of #Project365

I have found the best way to get through January, keep that busy that you don't know if you're coming or going and you soon forget about it being the longest feeling month. lol I don't seem to be getting through my to do list each day because I keep adding more things to it or just doing random jobs not even on my list. I have been full of motivation this past week, I'm worn out and I'm looking forward to a lazy today today doing nothing much at all. My to do list today is have a shower, change my pj's and play The Sims 4!

Stu has had an interesting week at work, they had the big bosses in looking around and they decided to change things and move people from one department to another. Stu was in digital sales and is now working in retentions which means when people phone up to cancel their account he convinces them to stay by offering deals. He has just been giving everyone what they want. Yeah, have 3 months with 50% off your bill or here you go you can have faster broadband free for a month to see how you get on. He's loving it. lol

Now for a photo every day!

12/365 - 12th January

We had football on the TV for most of the day, I actually enjoyed it. It was FA Cup matches so there was a real point to it, they had to win or it went to extra time and penalties and the losing team was out of the cup!

13/365 - 13th January

A new Gousto meal to us. Umami Portobello & Chestnut Mushroom Pie, it looked nothing like the picture on the recipe card and I added mashed potato but it tasted good!

14/365 - 14th January

I sorted out the shelves in the dining room, I really should have taken a before picture! Yes we do need all of the sprays and deodorants, it's where we keep them for the whole family.

15/365 - 15th January

Ellie urgently needed a text book for college so I rushed to order it, paying extra for next day delivery only for her to say she didn't need it until next week! Kids!! 

16/365 - 16th January

I did a facemask, I am making time to pamper myself a bit more this year. Yes I had the facemask on while I was sorting the washing but who cares my face felt better for it. I am an expert at multitasking. hehehe

17/365 - 17th January

Just me! I've just noticed I need to wash my coat, it has make up around the collar. Oops.

18/365 - 18th January

Does anyone else have loads of leftover chocolate from Christmas? We are still working our way through it. We have loads of crisps and treats too. It feels like we're saving money by me not having to buy any with the weekly shop!

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This week my Word of the Week is: Motivation! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

What is happening to January? It's flying over, well for me it is. I have been keeping myself busy and for once I have so much motivation that I feel like I am running out of hours in the day to get everything done that I want to. I don't know if it's a new year thing, fresh starts and all that or the fact that I have been sleeping better so have been waking up feeling energised or eating better but whatever it is I am taking it and running with it.

My family keep coming into the house asking where things are as I am still on a decluttering mission and if things are dumped in places where they shouldn't be I am finding a new home for them. Not the bin yet but if I find one more set of fake eyelashes or nails in the living room I will be binning them, a certain little lady has been warned. hehehe I am sat here looking at a set of drawers in the living room and thinking about sorting them out but I have other things on my to do list which need to be done first including writing this blog post.

I had a phone call from college early in the week and I could have just took it and then talked things over with Ellie and that would have been it but no, I decided when it comes to college I am not letting things just happen. Learning from the mistakes of last year gave me the motivation to go to college and speak to the staff that I wanted to, had Ellie speak to the staff members and even though it was nothing serious it is now all talked over and we are all on the same page.

As I am writing this the sun is shining and that always gets me motivated. I've just unpacked the food shop and ended up having to take my jumper off as I was so warm and I am sat in a t-shirt. It's hard work dragging the bags from the front door to the kitchen. It feels so strange having bare arms, it feels so long since I sat here without a long sleeved top on. Our house isn't cold, I just like to be cosy. It felt like a reminder that warmer days are coming and I can't wait for the spring. My family and I have also thought further ahead and are making plans for the summer and even Autumn. Those plans have given me the motivation to be even more careful with money and start adding to our savings pot again after spending up before Christmas.

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one! I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay for her Word of the Week linky!