Skincare with Instant Results

Sometimes you just want your skincare to fix things fast! Today I'm rounding up the products I reach for when I need those instant results - if I've been eating and drinking a bit too much and sleeping not quite enough my skin usually suffers as a result, or sometimes I have an event coming up that I want to look my best for.

Brighten and Exfoliate

Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask* | £55.50 | This mask isn't for the faint-hearted but I absolutely love it! It's the first thing I reach for before a special occasion; it contains both micro-exfoliation particles (to physically buff away dead skin cells) but also pumpkin enzymes to exfoliate the skin chemically. I also looove that warm spiced pumpkin scent! This leaves my skin so incredibly smooth, taking care of any dry patches and making my complexion look clearer, fresher and more radiant.

Ordinary AHA 30% & BHA 2% Peeling Solution | £6.30 | Can you believe that one of the most effective products in my skincare arsenal costs just over £6? This is a really unusual product - it has a scary warning on the packaging and has a watery consistency that somewhat resembles blood... However, you simply apply this for 5-10 minutes and rinse to get a nice dose of AHA and BHA magic. AHAs are amazing for brightening the skin and BHAs have the added benefit of helping any blemishes disappear (though obviously that might not kick in until the next day following use). It also has an amazing clarifying effect and makes my skin look nice and new in an instant! Needless to say; this probably won't be great for sensitive skin but I do have some gentler options coming up...

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Treatment* | £33 (as part of a set) | ...However this also isn't one of them! This is a seriously intense mask-treatment product that you only need to use for two minutes to get the effect. It comes out in a sort of paste that gives an instant tingling sensation on the skin once applied. It chemically exfoliates the skin with pumpkin, pineapple and papaya extracts and it honestly looks and feels like I have new skin after using it. It gives me that fresh, bright skin that's much needed when things are dull and spotty, as it does also clarify the skin at the same time.

Pixi Peel & Polish | £26 | When I want manual exfoliation; I reach for this product. It's a cream with micro-exfoliation particles - it's nothing overly harsh on the skin like some of the other products I've mentioned here, but does give that super-smooth finish. It gently buffs away any dead skin cells so there are no dry patches and my makeup applies evenly.

REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic* | £25 | This maaaaay be overtaking the Pixi Glow Tonic as my fave... This is both a long-term product as well as an instant product. Essentially it's an acid exfoliator that you use once a day or once every other day as a toner. Over time it helps even out your skin tone and complexion, which is especially great if you have hyper-pigmentation. However in the short-term the Lactic Acid gives your skin a boost of radiance and makes things nice and smooth. It's great if your skin is just looking a bit lacklustre and you want to perk things up in one step without having to faff around with face masks.

Anti-Blemish

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil | £12 | This is a product I've repurchased several times and I think I'll always have in my collection because it just works! If I have a pesky spot or an active breakout, I just dab a bit of this onto the affected area before bed and in the morning, any small spots have vanished and any large, sore ones have shrunk and calmed down considerably. It's just a great simple, effective treatment if you have occasional breakouts.

Super Facialist Salicylic Acid Pore Purifying Clay Mask* | £9.99 | This another budget miracle-worker of my routine! If my skin is breaking out and looking a bit tired and dull; I can trust this to turn things around. This is a clay mask which does harden on the skin and feels quite intense, so if your skin is sensitive, this could aggravate it a little. This is an amazing, concentrated hit of BHA that leaves my skin smooth, bright and clear.

Hydration and Glow

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater | £11 | If my skin is a bit dry, lacklustre or irritated - I reach for this face mist to instantly calm and hydrate things. With some face mists you spray them and they provide superficial hydration that doesn't really last, however this isn't like that at all! My skin stays nice and soft even when I'm applying my makeup.

Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil* | £24 | This is an amazing overnight solution for dry, tired skin. It's a lightweight oil that never makes my skin feel greasy and doesn't clog my pores. It softens and smooths my skin by morning and gets rid of any dry patches. It leaves my skin looking fresh and healthy really quickly and I love that. If you use this over a longer period of time it also helps to even the tone and texture of the skin.

Caudalie Moisturising Mask* | £22 | I reach for this mask a lot before special occasions when I need my skin to look fresh and hydrated. It's like a super-intensive softening moisturiser that sinks into the skin and I rise off after around 15-20 minutes so it can work its magic. It just gives my skin a plumper appearance and a healthier look overall. It contains their grape water and hyaluronic acid, which I find so amazing and hydrating!

Lixir Vitamin C Paste | £32 | This is a great quick fix if you just need a glow boost. This gel-textured product can be put on dry skin (with slightly damp fingertips), left for 3-5 minutes and then rinsed off. I notice instantly that my skin looks dewy and luminous after use!

Clarify and Renew

Dr Roebuck's Uluru Purifying Mask* | £25 | I always have a deep-cleanse clay mask in my arsenal for when my skin is congested and tired. It really helps clear up my skin and immediately makes it feel cleaner and look fresher. It feels quite intense and does dry down on the skin, however I don't mind because it really works for me! It also helps with any texture and imperfections.

Niod Copper Amino Isolate Serum 2:1* | £60 | This is definitely an investment, but there is a smaller version you can try and I've actually picked up a similar product from the Ordinary that I'll let you know how I get on with! This is a watery serum that's blue in colour. It has this amazing renewing effect that's unlike anything I've really tried before, evening the tone and texture of my skin, just making it look fresh, radiant and its absolute best!

Which beauty products do you reach for when you need instant results?