Thursday 15 May 2014

Complete Head-to-Toe Pamper Evening Guide

First of all, I'd like to state that these pamper evenings are a rare occurrence in my life. As much as I'd love to chill out and go through this routine every Sunday evening, I simply can't find the time. As a result, these probably happen once every few months.. at the very most!
So without further ado,
 Here is my guide to a complete, head-to-toe pamper evening!
I always like to begin with a tidy room and a candle alight, as I can't relax in a cluttered or messy environment. Lay out everything you plan to use and pick out some comfy pyjamas to throw on. Turning off your phone and laptop can also be beneficial during this time, and allows you to really de-stress without any distractions. (And prevents the whole process taking 4-5 hours.. trust me, I've been there) Also, just a note - I haven't included any hair treatments in this post, as I find they don't really have that much of an effect on me, but by all means, add some in!

Step 1 - Shower
Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub, Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm, Ultrasonic Facial Cleansing Brush (a TKMaxx find)
Grab your softest towel, line up your favourite shampoo and conditioner, and wash away. Go all out! Scrub, cleanse, shave (if you want to), and condition to your heart's content. 

At the moment I am really loving Soap & Glory's Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub to smooth and exfoliate my slightly neglected arms and legs. This really softens up my skin, and smells absolutely delicious! Another S&G shower product I am head over heels in love with is the 'Scrub Actually.' (not pictured) It's a gritty feeling pink coloured scrub which melts into a gorgeous fruity scented oil after you've rubbed it around. I find this is the perfect product to use when I'm shaving, as it exfoliates and creates the perfect silky texture ready for the razor, giving beautifully smooth results every time.
I only use my ultrasonic cleanser if I am planning on not using a mask, as I find doing too much to my skin can leave it feeling stripped of natural oils, and just unhappy. However, on days I feel like I need a deeper clean, I love to use this with my Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm. *reviewed here*


Step 2 - Post Shower Treatments
REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask, Neal's Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm, Origins United State Balancing Tonic,  Soap & Glory 'The Righteous Butter', La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water.
So, you're all soft and clean from your shower, now grab your favourite masks, toners and moisturisers.

For my face,  I apply REN's Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask and leave for 10 minutes. This provides me with shockingly good results every single time. I actually picked this up on eBay, as I was afraid to spend £30 on a product that might do absolutely nothing for me, but this has fast become my go-to mask. After gently rinsing with a warm flannel, I either use a spritz of La Roche-Posay's Thermal Spring Water, or Origins United State toner, which both give my face a really fresh feel. I then use Neal's Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm on any dry patches or concern areas. *reviewed here*

I have to admit, I am the worst at moisturising post-shower. Honestly, I think I do it about 5 times a year. Despite this, back in January, I bit the bullet and shelled out for Soap & Glory's 'The Righteous Butter'. This wonderfully creamy moisturiser is fantastic at eradicating dry areas in a flash. I quite often use this on the sides of my ankles, as they tend to get quite dry, but occasionally I will use this all over. The perfect accompaniment for freshly shaved skin!


Step 3 - General Maintenance 
Rimmel 60 Second Polish in 'Little Bo Peep', Essie 'First Base' Base Coat, Real Techniques Lash & Brow Groomer, Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat
This is probably the step which takes the longest, so if I find I am slightly pushed for time, I will usually miss out most of these things. (Hence why I'm pretty sure I've only painted my nails about three times so far this year!) 

Trim, shape and buff your nails to perfection. If they are looking bad, don't be afraid to trim off more than you'd ideally like to. You'll reap the benefits eventually. It's just like with hair - you can't leave all of your split ends in there and expect to have beautifully long, shiny locks, can you? Pick out a nail varnish - don't forget to use a base coat - and take your time applying it. Slow and steady, in a few light coats, before sealing it with a good topcoat. My favourite is Sally Hansen's 'Insta-Dri'. *reviewed here*
Tidy up those brows with a pair of good quality tweezers (it makes all the difference - I swear!) and you're done.


Step 4 - Overnight Treats
Superdrug Moisturising Gloves, Neal's Yard Wild Rose Hand Cream, this works sleep balm, La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo [+], Boots Dry Eyes Eye Drops, Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream.
Finally, time for bed. This step has to be my favourite of the lot, as they are the things you will be most thankful for in the morning. 

Sprinkle a few drops of your favourite essential oil onto your pillow, and rub some thisworks Sleep Balm onto your temples. Apply your usual evening skincare products (for me, La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo [+] is an absolute must), *reviewed here* and grab a hand cream. 
I recently invested in these cotton 'moisturising gloves' designed for use overnight. I've tried them out twice so far, and the results have been quite surprising! I like them for two reasons. One - the hand cream actually stays on your hand and properly soaks in, and two - you eliminate the risk of getting hand cream all over your face, if you happen to touch it during the night. I also use Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream on my nails and cuticles to keep them nice and shiny for the morning, especially if I've skipped the nail varnish step above.
I've also starting using dry eye drops in my evening routine, as I occasionally find it difficult to open my eyes in the morning (and keep them open!) That horrible dry-eye feeling is completely gone after using these Boots Dry Eye drops just before I drift off.


So, there you have it! These type of evenings are perfect enjoyed alone, or in the company of a good friend or two. Thank you such a lot for reading, and I'd love to hear if you're planning to give this a go, or have a similar routine that you follow! :)
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18 comments:

  1. We should do all of these (maybe except shaving - bit odd) when we FINALLY have our girly sleepover/little french trip! Wonderful post as always Hales, you certainly deserve a full pamper and may I just say you're one of the only people who makes artificial lighting look reeeeeally lovely!
    Lots of love sausage, Phoebe x

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    1. Thank you Phoebe, bless you! That's a wonderful idea, I'm 100% up for that.
      See you soon, lovely!! xx

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  2. I really should take the time and branch out of using the same old products, I really want to try La Roche-Posay's Thermal Spring Water.

    I am so bad at moisturising after a shower too, I get out of the shower - I get so hot and tired after I just wanna get in my pyjamas and chill!!

    Rebekah x

    My Delicate Heart

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    1. Oooh do try it, it's wonderful for hot days as well, because it's so cooling! :)
      And exactly! - I'll just dry my hair and curl up in bed! ;)
      x

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  3. This is a lovely little guide :) I honestly haven't had time to give myself a proper pamper but I think I really deserve one right about now haha >.<

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    1. Thank you! And yes, everybody does! :) x

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  4. Really great post! I may need a few of those things in my life... damn it!

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    1. Thanks Eve! :D and that's how I feel about your posts, haha!! x

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  5. We all deserve these pamper evenings more often in my opinion! :) This is a lovely post, it's always interesting seeing what everybody else uses.
    Amy x | A Little Boat Sailing

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    1. We do indeed! Especially coming up to summer! Thanks Amy :) x

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  6. Such a great post and routine! x

    P.S. I am currently hosting a giveaway and would love it if you could enter.

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    1. Thanks Natalia! :) and ooh, I'll have a look! x

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  7. Perfect post! I have so much love for S&G products, especially the breakfast scrub. It really does smell so so amazing!
    Eilidh x

    http://herprettystateofmind.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Thank you! Yes, they do the BEST bath products!! :) x

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Thank you for all of your wonderful comments, I try to reply to each one individually!