My skin is a bit like a horror movie. Like a slasher, one to shock and scare you unexpectedly; with elements of gore too, when it's having a breakout. I mean I'm so sexy, can we just? Hahahahaha. But no, anyway; when I was a teenager, my skin [bar the one massive chin spot that I named Boris and who STILL visits me from time to time - f*cking 15 years later] was always pretty alright... but now I'm like, an 'adult' it's all started to go a bit west.
Although I think a lot of my skin woes are down to stress [and probably my very caffeine fuelled diet], for the past 5-6 years or so, I've developed a really oily t-zone. I'm sure you'll have heard me moan about it in the past, comparing my gleamingly greasy complexion with that shiny, oiled up photo of Kimmy K that broke the internet or whatever. It isn't fun, it has been difficult to contain sometimes and it's cost me a small fortune in matte face powders and setting sprays - just to keep me looking semi-acceptable socially.
MONU Skin Natural Skincare [who are a brand I've featured before here and here] offered to send me some products tailored for my skin type, to see if they could help - and I jumped all over this opportunity to tame my oily fiasco-face. It also helps that this brand are against animal testing and use natural active ingredients in their products - two things I'm big on.
Well... they must have known just how dire my fod gets in the Summer, cos just look at all the goodies they sent me to help! The MONU Skin Micro Exfoliant* and the MONU Skin Facial Oil* came in their own individual boxes; but the MONU Skin Clarifying Toner*, Clarifying Cleanser* and Mattifying Lotion* came as part of a lux Oily Skin Gift Set; which was wrapped to perfection with paper & ribbons and made me feel proper posh. Just for a moment, like; before I went back to my Smart Price pasta and lifestyle of picking pennies off the floor.
I love MONU Skin's minimal packaging and branding - if I was to ever launch my own skincare, I'd aspire to be just like them. Here's a few hundred pics of the amazing products I've been testing morning and night for the past few weeks; before we head into the meat of this post - the review.
How beautiful is this skincare, pls? My bathroom has never looked so stylish. I've been using these products morning and night* [*well, most nights; when I've not nodded off after a combo of codeine and pasta] and my skin is actually glowing. The combination of these products actually seemed to see Boris the massive lingering chin spot off when he made a surprise visit recently - which is nothing short of a miracle. My fod does still get a bit oily when it's hot, but I've noticed that my makeup lasts much longer after cleansing, toning and using the mattifying lotion. Hallelujah; I'm no longer a walking oil slick!
This amazing Essentials Oil Skin Trio Pack from MONU opened up to reveal a bottle of the MONU Clarifying Cleanser 180ml, MONU Cleansing Toner 180ml and MONU Mattifying Lotion 50ml.
As with most skincare regimes, I start off with the Cleanser first and once this part of the regime is done, I'll then whack a bit of Toner on; to refresh my face and tighten pores. In a morning or when I'm about to put makeup on, I'll use the Mattifying Lotion - but I swap this out at night with the Facial Oil before bed.
I love the other two items that MONU threw in this surprise blogger mail for me just as much as the set above. The five items I was sent work really well together and have allowed me to devise a consistent skincare routine; as all bases are covered with their products.
As I mentioned above, the luxurious MONU Refining Capri Facial Oil, 30ml is lovely when warmed in the palms of your hands and applied to freshly cleansed and toned skin before bed; for a nourishing, softening facial treatment that works as you sleep. Again, this product is made for oily / combination skin types - so although you may worry that putting oil on oily skin might make the problem worse [like I initially thought] this isn't the case.
Finally, we come to one of my favourite products from the selection above - the MONU Micro Exfoliant, 100ml. I use this product usually twice a week, to exfoliate my skin without overdoing it. It feels so, so good as you rub it on your face - the exfoliating particles in its lovely natural formula are so small and fine, your skin feels amazing after you've had a good scrub with it. Dead skin cells and dullness are buffed away and your skin is left feeling fresh and able to breathe again - I genuinely heart this stuff. Big time.
MONU Skin's range is so vast that no matter what your skin type, they'll no doubt have the perfect product for you nestling on their website somewhere. But if, like me, you do have oily / combination skin, I cannot recommend the products in this post enough! They've definitely helped me in my constant battle against shine.
Make sure you try out some of MONU Skin's fabulous natural skincare products for yourself - check out their website, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts for more information!
What's your favourite skincare product? What does your skincare routine consist of? I still have much to learn, so all comments are appreciated!
*This post contains items I was gifted for the purpose of review, but as always; all opinions and rambling swearing is all 100% written by me
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