The Face + Hair Products I Won't Be Without

I'm all about that face (and, ya know, scalp too)! Which is why getting the basics right is SO important.

This week I am away from Wellington in Auckland City (Hello New Zealand!). I want my skin to feels its bestest of best. Every day is busy, with work and blogging stuff, and I don't always get time for pampering. However, if I use a couple of these products I've recently been testing and adore (signed up, bought the tee, subscribed etc), I feel like I'm doing that little bit to take care of myself. They're tres high quality and a mix of international and local brands.

So why have I moved onto getting re-enforcements? Why isn't the damn supermarket skin and hair aisle good enough for me anymore? Well, when it comes to getting older and wiser, skincare matters. The same goes with investing in a half-way decent shampoo. Yes, of course, we always have weeks where we run out of money and then it is back to Head 'n' Shoulders or a bit of soap, but on the whole, it pays to make hay while the sun shines when it comes to in your basic beauty bits. I know I can rely on these products before and I'll be re-purchasing when they hit the bottom of the jar.

Just a little disclaimer about my skin. Always make sure that you check whether products are suitable for you before leaping into anything by patch-testing on your skin. I have normal skin so don't get overly dry or oily. Sometimes (aka right now) I get the odd breakout when I am tired or haven't eaten that well. However, the brands below are pretty amazing so I'd be surprised if they let you down (*cue The Beatles song "Dooon't Let Me Dooooown!"*).

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Series

This is the grand-daddy of Anti-Aging ranges (although I hate that word). It is famed by Beauty Editors the world 'round, and for a reason. It's damn good. I've found that this series is perfect for when I need a bit more grunt in my regime, especially now I am getting older. I really like the Estee Lauder range for the luxurious packaging (not that I'm superficial or anything *eyes looking up emoji* and their excellent products.

The Advanced Night Repair series is one of the most famous ranges of skin care and one that I tried when looking to buy something in Duty-Free when travelling that felt a bit spesh. The slightly sticky Synchronized Recovery Complex II serum tightens and brightens my skin, and when I use it I wake up in the morning looking like I've been on holiday. I'm also a fan of the dropper applicator which is fun to smoosh and squirt. I use just a pea sized amount on my skin before bed. I follow this with the Synchronised Recovery Eye Concentrate Matrix for some extra hydration under those dark circles, (applied using the wandy-thing that dips in the bottle) patting around my socket using the pad of my finger. 

As a weekend treat, I've been enjoying the Advanced Night Repair Concentrate Recovery Powerfoil Mask. Yes, Matt fell about laughing as I wandered around the house looking like the tin-man (this mask is silver and foil like), but it is like giving your face a big drink of water. The mask has a floppy wet texture which is a bit weird, but once you slap it on your face it starts to seep into the skin and dries. After 10 minutes, you remove the mask, and hey presto, a brand new me! It can be nice to chase this with the eye concentrate mask if you're feeling super fancy.

My favourite goody in this range is the Micro Cleansing Foam, which as I mentioned in this post here I've been using in combo with my normal facial cleansing oil as a 'double cleanse' (a term I picked up from YouTube). This light and airy product slips onto the skin and doesn't sting your eyes. It really leaves the skin feeling well scrubbed of makeup and oils, leaving it ready to absorb in new goodies.

This EL series is a bit more pricey, but it is worth it if you're in or approaching your thirties or beyond and want to give your skin an extra bit of a kick. I see this as a slight nod to the fact I'm now over 25 and need to be taking better care of my skin. A good serum can work with your other products in your skincare regimen, almost like adding vitamins into your diet. Mmmm, delicious vitamins. 

Shampoo: Care Keratin Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner

I have quite the wild mane of hair at times (which Luca look after a treat). However, quite often after a while not visiting my hairdresser, it can get damaged and rough looking (not in a sexy french bed-head way). Enter my new power hero, Keune Keratin Smooth Shampoo and Keune Keratin Smooth Conditioner! Keune are originally a Dutch company, but nowadays they have incredible products stocked all over the world. My hairdresser uses them, which is how I got onto the idea of trying Keune at home.

This line works wonders for all types of hair, but especially dry or damaged. Amazingly, its promises appeared to come to life after just one wash. It leaves my hair silky, stronger and easier to manage. Keratin is a fibrous protein is kind of like your hair’s building block. It diminishes when your hair is damaged. Keratin Smooth products claim to restore the hair and replenish keratin by injecting it into the outside of the strands as well as deep inside it. I don't know whether that's what's going on here, but I do know that it has improved the condition of my hair dramatically. It is very nourishing and has helped it feel shinier and need washing less often (it doesn't seem to turn into a grease ball as fast!). Really, I am a big fan of this stuff and I'd certainly recommend it to those who need to take their hair care regime more seriously. 

Tailor Skincare Mini's

This week I am in Auckland for New Zealand Fashion Week and while I'd love to lug my life with me, I have to take into account the fact I do not want to pay for extra luggage (also, I don't have a bag bigger than a carry-on anyway). Fortunately, I have a stash of Tailor Mini's on hand. These are pint-sized powerhouses for your face. Tailor Skincare is natural and not tested on animals. It is also a Wellington founded skin care line which I adore.

I LOVE Tailor and have had it as part of my skincare for the last 2 years. The Tailor Mini Kit has the best of the best - the greatest hits of Tailor if you will - all in very convenient travel sizes. Oil Cleanse Mini washes and nourishes your skin formulated with antioxidant rich, cold pressed New Zealand grown hazelnut oil and organic coconut oil and Polish gives it a wee nudge, removing the dead skin from the surface (and of course with no micro-beads or nasties), doubling as a mask. Moisture makes your skin as good as new, hydrating with heavenly natural scents creating a barrier between your skin and the world. This holy trinity is the way to go if you need to get your skin back on track. 

These Mini's are a great way to have a little set of products all ready to go for a trip away, without the annoyance of decanting other products into smaller bottles or fiddling around with empties.  I mean, frankly, who can be bothered with that kerfuffle (*not bothered*).