[unpaid] I’ve wanted to take my skin care routine down to the very bare, highly affordable basics for a long time but the life of a beauty reviewer means there is little space or opportunity to do it. As I have nothing that can’t wait or any looming sponsored content regarding skin care (I test sponsored products for a minimum of two weeks usually) – I think actors might call this a ‘resting’ period (ahem) – I decided at the beginning of the week that I could commit at least a week and maybe a bit longer to just using Vaseline and Boots Glycerin & Rosewater. Old fashioned skin care revisited, if you like. On my Instagram channel, my post has brought up lots of comments about Nivea and Astral and the like.
Passing this bottle in my local Boots is what prompted me to make time for traditional skin care. It was £2.39. There’s no way in the world you would call this natural although it sounds innocent enough. I’ve already had comments about the alcohol content. The ingredient list reads: Aqua, Glycerin, Isopropyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Eugenaria Carypophyllus Leaf Oil (clove) and Rosa Damascena Flower Oil. I’m struck at just how ‘rosy’ it smells. Otherwise, it feels softening and as glycerin is an excellent humectant, not in the least bit drying. The toning element is predominantly the alcohol and clove although it doesn’t astringent in the least.
So, onto the Vaseline. I really don’t have any qualms about using this highly purified form of petroleum jelly, any more than I do using Vaseline Intensive Care body moisturisers which are great. It’s naturally occlusive so will prevent any moisture leaving my face during the night – more so than my usual products. It’s basically a mix of oils and waxes and even if you’re not willing to using it as your moisturiser, it’s a useful ‘sealer’ to lock in other products. It feels more tacky than any usual moisturiser so you have to do a bit of a sensation adjustment and I’d suggest tying your hair back because sleeping on freshly Vaseline’d skin will lead to transfer and you do not want Vaseline in your hair. The ingredient in Vaseline Original is 100% triple purified petroleum jelly. It cost £3.15.
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I’m using the Vaseline at night and the Glycerine and Rosewater in the morning, essence-style on a cotton wool pad. I’ll be back in a week or so to update you but this is really an extreme experiment to satisfy what I think I already know – skin care shouldn’t be as prohibitively expensive as it is and nothing bad will happen if you can’t afford Creme de la Mer. I should also say that I’ve just spent over a month using And Begin (sponsored) so my skin is in good condition to start with.
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