Buying cruelty free skincare can seem a little daunting at first, especially if like me you decide to switch out your entire beauty cabinet for a whole new skincare routine. After years of trying out different brands, and I mean years I’ve decided to put together a list of my favourite cruelty free brands to help ease you in to making the switch over. Originally I was going to write one big post about all my favourite brands but instead this is going to become a monthly feature where i put the spotlight on one particular brand. I really hope you enjoy reading as much as i enjoyed writing it.
The Ordinary
First up I wanna talk to you about The Ordinary. Aside from the fact that the whole range is super affordable, this brand has very quickly become one of my go-to’s when it comes to shopping for some good quality products. The ordinary has completely stripped back all those unnecessary ingredients that get added to our everyday skincare products and instead focuses on using quality ingredients at an impressive price point. If this is your first time shopping from the range I suggest going for some of the brands top sellers. Below is a quick guide of some of my tried and tested favourites that I always stay well and truly stocked up on.
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
This for me is the holy grail and at £5.90 it’s easy to why. As you may already know hyaluronic acid is super hydrating for the skin hence why it’s my holy grail product. I’m at that age now (28) when I’m starting to think about ingredients that are going to make my skin appear plumper and firmer, and this does exactly that. I can honestly say that whenever I use it my skin just instantly feels boosted, like it’s had this injection of hydration. This one has the addition of vitamin B5 which means that it’s giving your skin that extra boost to help repair any damaged areas. It’s also super lightweight so it doesn’t leave a sticky residue on your face, which I personally love because it feels like the product is actually soaking into your skin rather than sitting on the surface. Lastly you can use this product as part of your morning and evening routine. A little really does go a long way so you don’t have to worry about stocking up every month on a new bottle (bonus).
Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
Second on my list is caffeine solution. Now if you follow us on YouTube and have watched our skincare hauls you will know how much I rate this product. So it’s basically like a serum but it’s water based so again doesn’t feel too heavy or sticky on the skin. it features a high concentration of caffeine which helps to target puffiness and dark circles. If you think about it caffeine is what we drink in the morning to make us feel more awake and alert so it only makes sense that we put this around our delicate eye area to basically create the same effect! Again this one can be used as part of your morning and evening routine and you can get it for just £5.80 a bottle. As per all The Ordinary products I’ve tried a little goes a long, which makes this product all the more worthwhile.
‘Buffet’
Another product I wanted to talk to you guys about is ‘Buffet’. This is another water based serum that targets signs of aging and helps to make your skin more firm. Buffet has a mix of hyaluronic acid and Matrixyl 3000, which together stimulates the collagen in your skin to create a more youthful appearance. I’ve just come to the end of my first bottle and I must say I was very impressed with how it left my skin after using it just a few times. This is another product that can be used morning and evening and is to be used before your oils and creams. This one is a little pricier at £12.70 but still super affordable when comparing to other brands. Definitely give this one a go if you’re looking for a good introduction into The Ordinary.
High Adherence Silicone Primer
Now moving onto makeup, primers tend to be one of those products that I get extremely fussy about. I personally think a good primer can really help your foundation sit nicer on the skin if you choose the right one. I first bought this primer purely based on the fact that it was only £3.90 and I was already a fan of so many products from this range so I thought why not give this one a go. As I expected it did not disappoint. This particular primer has silicones in it that help minimise pores giving a smoother appearance to your skin and a nice base for your foundation to sit on top of. It gives your skin an almost airbrushed look and although it mattifies the skin it also hydrates at the same time. What’s not to love about that!
Coverage Foundation
Lastly I wanted to talk to you about the coverage foundation. This foundation came highly recommended to me by a number of people after I was looking to change from the foundation I was using. At £5.90 it was a huge step down from the previous £27 I was paying, so that was already a little win for me! For me I like to go for a foundation that has full coverage so I don’t have to use a lot of product. I do suffer from acne scarring on my cheeks and that’s definitely something that I’m conscious of when looking for a suitable foundation. This one has a really nice coverage, and a little really does go a long way. I find this foundation to be a bit more watery so it spreads nicely over your skin. I found that it never sat it any creases and made my skin look cakey which is an important part for me when choosing a foundation. I 100% recommend this product to anyone who is looking for a cheaper alternative to their current foundation, I promise you will not be disappointed!
