3 High-End Skincare Favourites

I know what you’re all thinking – ‘what have you done to Claire and where have you hidden the body?!’

But no, it is me. The girl who is notoriously both a) cheap and b) not really arsed about skincare has become quite the high-end skincare convert. Due to my job at a beauty brand, I’ve been lucky enough to attend a few shows and events in the last few months where I’ve been able to get my grubby mitts on a few nice freebies and discounts. This has given me the chance to try some brands I wouldn’t have otherwise, and what can I say – I’m impressed!

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm*

I usually use a mix of face wipes (don’t shoot me) and micellar water to remove my makeup, followed by some sort of bog standard face wash before bed or in the shower. The concept of this balm, then, was quite new to me. With a mix of oils and waxes, it promises to dissolve makeup and leave skin cleansed, nourished and smooth. At first it felt quite weird applying something so waxy to my face, but it does feel really luxurious when on. I was then amazed at how brilliant it was at removing all of my makeup – even stubborn eye makeup, which I usually have to get the micellar water out for, just melts off. Despite it being quite a ‘heavy’ product, it’s also really kind on the skin – I’ve recently had a lot of dry skin around my eyes following an allergic reaction (non-stop glamour here) and this didn’t irritate it AT ALL. If anything, I think this has helped to improve the skin. At £39.50 for a 105g pot, it’s certainly not in everyone’s price range. There is a travel sized 30g version available for £14 though, so if you’re interested in trying it then this one may be a better option.

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch primer

I wouldn’t usually class a primer as skincare, but this one comes in a pot and so is apparently skincare in my mind. I picked up this sample-sized version of the Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch in a gift set when I bought the Clarins Be Long mascara, and have been so impressed with it. It’s a very light mousse formula, that absorbs beautifully and leaves a nice velvet feel to the skin. Straight away my pores seem more filled in, and my skin feels makeup-ready. I can’t really comment on whether it helps prolong my base because I’m back using my Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H Foundation which DOES NOT BUDGE anyway; but it does give a lovely base for you to start working with. It’s also pink. So what more do you want in life, really?

 Gazelli Ultimate Firming Serum*

At a whopping £75 for a 30ml bottle, this is definitely the most expensive skincare I’ve ever used. It does feel super luxurious, from the weighty silver bottle to the richness of the serum. I wasn’t expecting to like the serum itself – firstly, it’s milky white in colour and gloopy – so, without being too crass (for once), isn’t the most appealing thing to put on your face if you get what I’m sayin’. Secondly, its quite heavily perfumed and the smell really reminds me of nans. Not that I go around sniffing people’s nans all that often, but if I did then I imagine they would smell like this.

However, I ended up REALLY liking how soft this left my skin feeling. The following morning, my skintone also looks a bit more even and generally feels in nicer condition. I don’t know if this is necessarily made for younger skin as it is primarily anti-aging, but prevention is better than cure after all. While the chances of me re-purchasing this are absolutely zilch it has been a very nice addition to my regime, and if you’re the sort of person to spend £75 on skincare then you’re mad then this might be of interest to you.

So, those are my 3 current high-end faves. What are your favourite skincare products? Do you ever splash out or prefer to stick to budget buys? Let us know below!

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