Bodyshop Aloe Skincare Haul and First Impressions

I know I seem to switch up my skincare quite often these days, but I've been struggling with skin redness for a while now and I'm determined to get to the bottom of it. After I stopped using perfume in my skincare and makeup I have less flare-ups, but my skin is still more flushed than the average person even after makeup. I decided to start investing in my skincare properly. I can definitely justify it - unlike makeup, skincare is the one thing I will probably use up if my skin agrees with it, and if it improves my skin I won't have to spend as much time putting makeup on in the morning. With that in mind, I ended up taking advantage of some recent sales at The Bodyshop and purchased most of the things from their Aloe Skincare range. They contain no perfume or alcohol, and have rave reviews on their website from people with rosacea, eczema and other skin conditions, so I figured it was definitely worth a go.

I got the Aloe Calming Facial CleanserCalming TonerProtective SerumSoothing Night CreamSoothing Moisture Lotion SPF15Gentle Facial Wash, and the Protective Restoring Mask. I've been using them for a week or so now and so far I really like the Cleanser and Toner, they get the job done but with zero irritation. I've only used the Restoring Mask once as it's a weekly treatment, I think I left it on for too long as it got a little tingly but my skin felt soft afterwards. The Night Cream is lovely, I was really struggling to find one that felt moisturising but didn't irritate my skin and this is perfect. The Serum is nice to use before moisturiser during the daytime, but I seem to be getting through it at an alarming rate, not ideal for a £12 product. I don't think the serum is hydrating enough for evening use and prefer a facial oil. If there was a facial oil in the Aloe range I would have bought that, but as there isn't one I'm using a few drops of Rosehip Oil.

The SPF 15 day cream feels rich and absorbs quickly, though I think a higher SPF would be better for someone as pale as me. I think in future I'll just repurchase the serum and use a cheaper day cream with better SPF on top, unless I notice a huge reduction in redness while I'm using this.

I'm not keen on the Gentle Facial Wash, I'm not sure why they made a foam wash for the dry skin range as foam washes are notoriously drying, and this product isn't an exception. It's supposed to take off makeup, but it's really not ideal for eye makeup, it stings quite a bit and doesn't shift mascara even though mine aren't waterproof. One good note is that my skin feels very clean afterwards, and ready to absorb the oil and Night Cream. I'm going to keep my eye out for a cleansing gel or balm instead as I generally prefer them. Can anyone recommend one without perfume?

I'll keep you posted throughout my skincare adventures... Let me know what kind-to-skin products you love.