Skincare is not something I really ever spent time over when I was a teenager. My mum used E45 moisturiser and so I followed suit. When I left home for university though and had spare time to wander the aisles of Boots, I really began to test different things out. I started off with a need to cure my immensely dry skin, but once I'd got that sorted, I needed something to stop acne taking over. I found it very difficult to get the right balance and routine, but eventually I got myself there.

I stayed in this routine until a year ago when some ill-health made me question not only the things I was feeding my body, but also everything that came into contact with it. I saved up some money and bought myself a set from Burt's Bees and from this day I haven't looked back!

Natural skincare is now something I feel quite passionately about. I still use some products that aren't completely natural and I'm ok with that, but I now think before I buy a cheap hand cream or lip balm, because who knows what half of those ingredients are?

Since natural skincare is a little thin on the ground still, and I struggled to find any reviews to help me pick what to go for, I thought I would let you know my favourites from the past year.

Lip Balm: Burt's Bees and Lanolips

I am a self-confessed lip balm addict and I always need to have one on me! I also have to have a super moisturising one that really feels like it's doing the job. The best by a mile in my opinion is the ultra conditioning Burt's Bees. It's unscented, ultra-moisturising and a reasonable price. Overnight I like to use Lanolips, which is super thick and really lasts and leaves your lips feeling silky soft in the morning! This is slightly more pricey at £12, but I've been using this since October and am not even half way through yet.

Hand Cream: Kind Natured

Hand cream is another thing I can't live without, and I can't stand a sticky consistency! Kind Natured is some of the best I've found. It comes in gorgeous scents like Coconut and Monoi, it's moisturising, it sinks in nice and quickly and it's again a great price.

Serum: Boots Botanics
I picked this up as it was being discontinued and was about £1. Admittedly, I didn't need a serum - I'd never used one before. I find that in the winter months this does me no favours, but in the summer it works wonders for naturally glowy and dewy skin!

Shampoo & Conditioner: The Body Shop Banana

I wasn't sure whether to make this switch with hair care since my hair is hard to tame and when I find something that works, I hold onto it like my life depends on it! I decided to branch out though and went for The Body Shop banana range, which by the way, smells incredible! Not only that, it leaves my hair feeling lovely and soft, more hydrated than other brands and I really would recommend it.

Moisturiser: Sukin and The Body Shop Vitamin C

Moisturiser is something I struggled to find, with brands either being too pricey, or breaking me out. I've finally found a couple that suit my skin-type and are now my holy grails. The Sukin moisturiser is thick, creamy and great for dry skin, while the Body Shop one is lighter, more of a gel texture and something I find useful in the summer months, especially with the zingy vitamin C/orange scent. 

Face Mask: The Body Shop Skin Clearing Clay mask

I tend to only use a face mask when my skin gets dry, but I've tried a couple from the Body Shop and neither have disappointed. I have been using the tea tree range for years and find this face mask to be amazing for moisturising your skin, but also for refreshing it with that tingly fresh feeling that tea tree gives. The acai one is perfect for exfoliating and is so fun to put on!