Summer Fridays Soft Reset AHA Exfoliating Solution

I own a lot of acid products and I really wonder how I managed before I ever started using them (probably only around 7 years ago), so when a new one comes on the market, I find it hard to resist  buying it, particularly if it's from a brand that I already enjoy, or intrigues me. That is all basically me trying to justify why I bought Summer Fridays Soft Reset AHA Exfoliating Solution, when I already own so many acid products! I've tried two other products from this brand and have enjoyed both. I like when a brand doesn't just keep churning out products - this is a start up (well, relatively new) and they are gradually adding products to their line up. I have to say, at the outset, that this is a pricey product, at £49 for 100ml, so my expectations were high......

L'Occitane Limited Edition Shea Collection Review

 

These products were kindly sent to me, without obligation.

I feel like that there are some brands that I consistently say the same things about, but what can I say? If I love a brand, a new release excites me and I will want to try it. If I don't like any of the products I'll say so, but I know what I like and I'd be doing you, the brand and myself, a dis-service if I pretended not to like a product, just for the sake of (false) balance! Why am I saying all of this? Because one of my favourite brands, L'Occitane*, has released their festive collection*! If ever there was a collection made for me, this is it - their classic shea range is combined with mandarin and verbena, both of which are right up my street. I love uplifting, invigorating scents, but the thing with these is that they aren't too sharp and there is a hint of woodiness. I love everything about Christmas, however despite doing all of the baking of cakes, puddings, mince pies etc for my family, I'm not actually fan of anything cinnamon or clove scented, but I do associate mandarins with Christmas, because we always had one in our stockings as children and a big bowl of them in the kitchen, to try to balance the sweets and chocolates! They are so perfectly juicy at this time of year, and being a fan of anything citrusy, these L'Occitane* ranges are perfect for me! All products are available individually, but there are also some beautiful gift sets available too and I can tell you that I would love to find them under my tree!

Halloween isn't cancelled......

These nails were kindly gifted to me, without obligation.

I keep seeing people online saying that Halloween is cancelled because of the Covid restrictions, but it really isn't - it's just going to be different this year. And, actually, the people moaning most about it being different are possibly those responsible for the fact that we are still in the position we're in - those who won't wear masks, those who have flouted the rules. What they don't grasp, is that the longer and more often they do that, the longer we will be in this position! As a person who has been ill and had her life restricted for over 20 years, I have some tips on staying sane with restrictions in place here, - there have been many times when I could have declared my life as being 'cancelled', due to the number of occasions I have missed, but if you want to celebrate something, you will find a way. Why am I saying all of this? Because, when I was growing up, we lived in a rural area, so there was no trick or treating, but we still had amazing Halloween celebrations....

Products I received in PR that I love so much, I either have already, or will repurchase....

 

Today's post is a little different. As a blogger, I'm very lucky to receive PR (but also very choosey in what I'll accept - it has to be a good fit for my readers, for me, and something that I'd be happy to spend my own money on). Not everyone acknowledges when a product was sent to them, but I always do. I don't do sponsored posts, so if I receive a product, it is without any obligation. Today, I want to share the products that I already have repurchased, or will repurchase as soon as I finish the product, which was originally received in P.R. There are many many more product than just those mentioned in today's post (Sunday Riley and Dermalogica are just two brands that spring to mind), but these are the products, which I currently have at the moment. If I have any discounts, I will include them, in case you want to buy anything I mention!

Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser with Rose Super Size, exclusive to QVC throughout October!

 

This was kindly gifted to me, without obligaition. 

Earlier this year, I was sent a limited edition Rose version of the Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser and I fell in love with it so quickly, that I immediately bought a backup! The original version was one of the first products produced by the brand, so to celebrate its 25th anniversary in business, they have released a Super Size (500ml) bottle of the Rose version, in collaboration with QVC*. This is strictly limited edition and only available for the month of October, or until stocks last, with a price tag of £32, reduced from £39.

Cult Beauty Brand Of The Month: Dr Dennis Gross - get ready for the smoothest skin of your life!

 

Some products, kindly gifted, without obligation, marked with a *

I remember the first time that I purchased some Dr Dennis Gross* products, and I really hesitated because they are expensive, but my mother has told me all of my life that skincare is an investment and she is right. No expensive makeup will look good, if your skin doesn't, plus when your skin looks good, you need less makeup so you make a saving there anyway! The first products I bought were the Alpha-Beta Peel Pads in Extra Strength* and I can't tell you how many times I have gone on to repurchase them since. I call them texture and blackhead erasers, but more about that later. I wanted to let you know that Cult Beauty's Brand Of The Month for October is Dr Dennis Gross (which means free international shipping on all orders), and talk you through some of my favourite products. Some of these products were gifted to me and are marked with a * but the rest were bought by me and some have also previously been bought by me. Dr. Dennis Gross is a U.S. based dermatologist and you really cannot beat a doctor's range as it's almost like a prescription for your skin (as long as you know your skin type).

One of my non-beauty loves: Handbags

Saint Laurent Uptown Clutch

 

My intention in 2020 was to include more lifestyle posts but Covid put a stop to that, and pretty much everything else! I know lots of people were able to go on staycations, or even abroad, but I've been too ill to go anywhere. Hopefully 2021 will be the year that I start to introduce some lifestyle, but for now, I thought that I'd share with you one of my biggest loves, outside of beauty (although they are things of beauty!) - handbags! I'm not a fashion blogger and tend to spend most of my time in pyjamas these days so these are not styled posts, nor do I have a massive collection, but as both of these things change, I will share them on Instagram. I don't go for 'trend' bags, purely because I prefer classics that I will use time and time again. The Bottega Veneta clutch last year is one example of the kind of bag I wouldn't go for because it was very expensive but also, pretty obvious that it would date quickly. I can understand why fashion bloggers buy them because they are probably either gifted them, receive a press discount, or, simply, because it's their job to show the latest trends. The small number of bags that I own are ones that I will wear for years. If I can find any discounts, I will add them at the end, in case you are interested in buying any of them.

REVIEW: Ameliorate Skincare

 

All of these products were kindly sent to me.

You will have seen me often mention Ameliorate body products on the blog - they are the best products that I have found to get rid of bumpy, chicken skin on my arms, legs etc. Using lactic acid, they gradually buff away the dead skin cells and keratosis pilaris, to leave skin baby soft, but consistent use is required. When I heard that they had moved into skincare, I was very intrigued, given the great results I had experienced with the bath & body range. I was kindly sent all four products and I have been using them for around 5 weeks now, so I am ready to share my thoughts with you today! You can save 20% on anything from the brand until October 31st, by entering the code SIOBHAN20 at checkout!

What I like and dislike about blogging.....

Image Source: We Heart It

I've been blogging for quite a while now and although blogs are less popular than they used to be, thanks to the rise of Instagram, which I don't really get because I you learn nothing about seeing a person remove their makeup on Instagram and you can't search for a review on there. Added to that, the fact that it's plain to see that a lot of people buy their followers, I really don't get the attraction and don't see why PR companies and brands cannot see that! Anyway, today I want to share what I like and dislike about blogging and would love to hear your thoughts!

How I'm dealing with post-Covid hair loss

When I first got Covid, I didn't notice hair loss as being one of the symptoms (I was too busy trying to breathe and stay alive!) but it was around 8 weeks in that I started to notice clumps falling out ( it had probably been happening for a while, but it was only at this point that I noticed it being a regular thing). I didn't know if it was the illness, the medication, or something else that caused it. Some people say it's stress but whilst my body might be stressed and shocked at what has invaded it, I didn't feel consciously stressed as I was in good hands with my GP and felt safe at home. When I first became ill with Lyme, 20 years ago, my hair volume halved in a few months - luckily, I had a lot of hair in the first place (something that all of the women in my family have - we almost single-handedly keep our local salons in business). It bothered me a lot then, less so this time around, although I have less to start with. Every time I wash my hair, the plug would be really full, then more would come out when I'd comb it and again, each time I brushed it, a big handful would come out. There was hair on the furniture, all over my pillows, the floor - basically, everywhere! I decided that I had to try to do something about it before I had patches, which couldn't be concealed. It was at this point that I started to read about so many others who had the same issue. I've been trying a variety of products for a good number of weeks and want to share them with you, in case you or someone you know is in the same position. If anything has been gifted to me, without obligation, it will be marked with a *

Natasha Denona Glam Palette Review & Swatches

I told myself that I'd bought enough eyeshadow palettes this year and then I saw this beauty from Natasha Denona. I already had her mini Glam palette so, naturally, I wanted the big one when I saw it. I don't have many cool toned shadows but when I wear them, I really like them - they're good for creating a soft look and I enjoyed using the mini version of this palette....... any excuse really! This palette is cool toned, but some shades lean more neutral, which is probably why I get along with it.  I love that she has now decided to release palettes in this size with a £60 price tag, rather than all being over £100, because if we're really honest with ourselves, when do we finish a whole palette (although I almost did on Naked 1 back in the day!). It's still a pricey palette, but definitely a more accessible price point for most people. I like the plastic case and that the names are written under the shadows, but  if there was one thing that I would take from the bigger palettes, is I would add the plastic sleeve, to protect the shadows, but that's just my personal opinion! I've been buying Natasha Denona palettes for around 4 years now (I have tried most products from the brand and eyeshadows and highlighting products are what she does best, everything else is just ok, in my opinion), so you know that I love them, but does this one live up to my expectations?

Wearing face masks - trying to keep makeup on but also deal with Maskne

Wearing masks, which we all must do in public, brings with it its own issues, but it's vital that we do it - out of respect for others, but they also provide some protection for us too. I believe that it's our civic duty to wear one and it's preferable to buy reusable, now that we know that Covid will be sticking around for a while. It infuriates me to see gangs of teenagers ( and older) not wearing masks and snuggling in for selfies but that's a post for another day. Today, I want t talk about two issues - the first is getting your makeup to last, while wearing a mask and the the second, is dealing with 'maskne'. But before all of that, I would recommend buying a mask that you feel comfortable wearing - yes, they feel alien to us, but we have to wear them. I bought a Slip Silk Reusable Face Covering, which my LYMIN code works on, to give a 20% discount. It's available in four colours and I love it, because it feels comfortable and the strings are adjustable, so I can ensure that it is covers my nose and mouth, but that it isn't too tight behind my ears. You can even make one at home, so you don't need to spend a lot of money. If you find that the men in your life are a little reluctant to wear them, tell them to check out their team's shop (if they are into sport), as most of them sell them now and it should encourage them to 'show their colours', while wearing a mask. If anything has been gifted to me, without obligation, it will be marked with a *.

My top picks from the Omorovicza Moor Mud Collection

If you've read my blog for any amount of time, you will know that Omorovicza is my favourite skincare brand. I have reviewed the Silver Collection here, the Gold collection here and the Hydro Mineral Collection here. Today, I'm sharing my top picks from the Moor Mud Collection. There are six products in total in this collection but my absolute favourites comprise of three - I do like the other three products but these are what work best for my skin. I am lucky enough to receive products from this brand from time to time but probably buy as much as they send me, if not more! Anything they have sent is marked with a *.

My DIY facial #8

It's a while since I shared one of my DIY facials with you - to be honest, when I got pneumonia, I fell off track a little and whilst I did my regular skincare routines, I had no energy for extra effort but I missed the extra pampering and I'm back on track with my at home facials again. I had booked a facial for Monday last but didn't feel well enough to attend, so I've postponed it. I gave them plenty of notice and they were very understanding, given my circumstances but I'm determined to have the two that I have vouchers for, before Christmas, as long as the pandemic doesn't get any worse! Anyway, back to my most recent DIY effort! Anything marked with a * has been kindly gifted to me, without obligation.