
Product Review: Clarins Blue Orchid Face Oil

Paula’s Choice Hydralight One-Step Face Cleanser – No surprises here. This has been my favourite cleanser for many years now. It’s gentle on my sensitive skin, and helps to keep breakouts at bay. I like using this with the Eve Lom muslin cloth in the mornings, it’s a small step that makes a big difference.
Paula’s Choice Healthy Skin Refreshing Toner – Again, not a big surprise as I’ve mentioned this as my favourite toner quite a few times now. It’s light, gentle, and gets the job done.
Dermalogica Active Moist – I have two favourite daytime moisturisers, and this is one of them. I tend to alternate between this and the Paula’s Choice Hydralight Moisture Lotion, but as the weather has been a bit colder lately I’ve been using Active Moist as I feel like it’s the heavier and more moisturising of the two.
Paula’s Choice Shine-Free Daily Mineral Complex – Always wear sunscreen! I thrive on people telling me I look younger than my years, and I probably owe most of it to never going out in the sun. When I do go out in the sun, however, I always make sure I’m wearing sunscreen and this is my all time favourite facial sunscreen. I have oily(ish) skin, and this somehow makes everything look nice and matte. It also wears nicely under makeup, and doesn’t leave a white cast to the skin (although that can be hard to determine with a ghostface like mine).
Paula’s Choice Resist Ultra-Light Super Oxidant Concertrate Serum – I was always scared of using serums during the day because I thought they might enhance the oilyness of my skin, but this one is divine, and does no such thing. I honestly feel like this makes a noticeable difference in the state of my skin, so it’s now a regular in my daily skin care routine.
Skinceuticals C + AHA – GIMME ALL THE SKIN ACID! I’ve been using this every other day for a couple of weeks now, and the biggest difference I can see in my skin is that it has really evened out my skintone and reduced a lot of my natural redness.
Skinceuticals Clarifying Clay Masque – I am confident in saying this is the best clay mask I’ve ever used. No word of a lie. I bought this on a bit of a whim because I wanted to try some things from the Skinceuticals range, and I ended up loving this. It’s a little bit on the expensive side, but I think it will last long enough for me to get my money’s worth. It’s a very light mask, unlike any of the clay masks I’ve tried before. It’s easy to wash off, and my skin is left feeling soft and smooth and not irritated in any way.
Skinstitut Hydrating Mask – Another really wonderful mask, this gives an instant hydration boost to my skin. I know I’ll be using this a lot as the colder weather really starts to set in.
Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Wipes – I had a bit of a skincare splurge around Christmas last year, and this was one of the products I picked up. I’d used this a few years ago (and loved them), but the price tag does make them hard to just throw into a basket. They’re really worth the cost though, as great chemical exfoliation that plays nicely with sensitive skin can be hard to come by.
Nivea Fragrance-Free Facial Cleansing Wipes – Yes, these little bad boys again. I use these every night to remove my makeup before cleansing my skin. I’m also naughty and sometimes use these in place of all other skin care on nights that I really can’t be bothered.
Paula’s Choice Hydralight One-Step Face Cleanser – My ultimate face cleanser. This feels extremely gentle on my skin (great for my sensitivity issues), helps keep any sneaky breakouts at bay, is not at all drying, and is fragrance free (my preferred style of cleanser). You’re probably sick of hearing me rave about this, so I’ll leave it at that.
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant – My skin really struggles when I don’t exfoliate it regularly. It’s a real refresher for me, and this is my all-time favourite exfoliant. I keep it in the shower, and use it in the mornings every couple of days. My skin is instantly brighter.
Paula’s Choice Hydralight Healthy Skin Refreshing Toner – I think toner is the hardest thing to measure as far as performance goes, but this is my ‘holy grail’ for the following reasons. It feels light and refreshing on my skin, my skin tingles after use but never goes red or looks irritated, and it’s Paula’s Choice so immediately it’s in my list of favourites. Sounds fair, right?
Dermalogica Active Moist – This is a recent re-discovery for me. I used this as a daily moisturiser for maybe two years in a row prior to my Paula’s Choice obsession, and my love for it is clearly back in full-force. This feels like the perfect blend of hydrating and lightweight for me, which is great for my combination/oily skin. It also has a very faint lemony kind of scent that reminds me of summertime.
Paula’s Choice Hydralight Shine-Free Daily Mineral Complex – This is a new product for me, so I don’t feel like I know it well enough to give it a recommendation. However, I do know that wearing facial sunscreen daily is a huge step in my routine that I’ve been skipping way too much over the past few years. I’m excited to try this one out, as it’s from my favourite skin care brand, and the Paula’s Choice range that I like best.
Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid – Guys, if you’re not using BHAs in your skincare routine, the time is now. This is probably my number one product for (nearly) instant results. I use this once or twice a week in the evening, and it really shows on my skin the following day. I imagine that using it regularly over time will only do wonderful things for my skin.
Kosmea Rosehip Oil – I’ve tried a lot of rosehip oils over the years, and I always come back to this one. Like with the 2% BHA Liquid, this is a product that gives results the very next day. My skin looks plumper and feels softer. Rosehip oil is a bit of an acquired taste, but if you can move past the smell, it’s definitely something worth introducing into your routine. I use 2-3 drops of this as a serum and in place of my moisturiser every few nights. Some people can use this during the daytime, but my skin is far too oily for that.
Skinceuticals Clarifying Clay Mask – I was so pleasantly surprised with this product, it became an immediate favourite for me. Clay masks have always seemed a bit harsh to me, but this is so incredibly gentle on the skin. If you’re looking for a face mask that will help to clear your skin, but not leave it feeling stripped and ‘tight’, definitely check this one out. It’s on the pricey side, but I think it’s worth it.
Skinstitut Hydrating Mask – This is another new product in my routine, but one that I already really love using. I only really use a face mask maybe once a week (if that), and if my skin is in need of a moisture boost this is the one I reach for. Great for sensitive skin.
* If you’re interested in picking something up from Paula’s Choice, using this link will give you $15 off of your first order. Happy shopping!