The 2020 Hall Of Fame: Discoveries

 

Most of these products were purchased by me, but if a products was gifted to me, it will be marked with a *

It's the final day of my 2020 favourites, and today it's all about products that I discovered this year and it's  the longest one, as I really discovered so many great products this year! It's also my last post before Christmas, so I want to take the opportunity to wish you all a Happy Christmas, and to thank you all for your support over the past year. My views have increased, so if anyone thinks that blogs are dying out.....think again! I appreciate my loyal readers and every single comment you leave. Now, on with the post....

The 2020 Hall of Fame: Skincare

 

Some of these products were kindly gifted to me*, but I'v also purchased them myself either before or after receiving them.

I'm a total skincare addict and I've focused on it even more this year, so it was difficult to narrow it down to my favourites. I've included only 6 products, which is amazing for me, because I could easily mention 30! Let's get into it....

The 2020 Hall Of Fame: Makeup

 

None of these products were gifted to me.

It's always really difficult to narrow down makeup favourites, but this year was easier as I have worn a lot less than any other year - like most people, I'm guessing? But on the occasions that I did wear makeup, I reached for ones that are reliable and quick & easy to use! I'd love to hear your favourites......

The 2020 Hall of Fame: Bath, body and haircare

 

Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, without obligation, but most of these are repurchases of PR products.

It's that time of year again, when I share my favourite products with you! I have four categories - skincare, makeup, discoveries and today, it's bath, body and haircare. Some of these products were initially received in PR, but I have since repurchased. I am a real bath lover and use so many different brands and products, as you'll know if you see my empties on Instagram, but these are the cream of the crop products! Some of these products were gifted (marked with *), but I have purchased all of them with my own money.

REVIEW: AHC The Aqualuronic Collection

 

This collection was kindly gifted to me.

AHC has been one of my favourite brand discoveries this year. It's a K-Beauty brand, affordable and one that everyone should try! The first product I tried was the Essential Real Eye Cream for face, which I reviewed here. I don't know if I've ever fallen in love with a skincare product so quickly, so I was absolutely delighted when I was sent the Aqualuronic collection, which is aimed at dehydrated skin. I have been using the products for around 4/5 weeks now and want to share my thoughts with you....

Tanning drops - which are the best?

 

Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, without obligation.

Without makeup, I look as ill as I feel, but I don't want to wear makeup every day, so the solution is tanning drops! A few drops added to my moisturiser, around every third night, and I have a gentle glow that lifts my complexion. You can make the tan lighter or darker, by adding more drops, or using more frequently - it's down to personal taste. The key to using any of these, is to make sure that your skin is exfoliated and prepped properly, for an even application. Also, protect your eyebrows, or they might turn a little red-toned. Here's what I'm using at the moment....

Serums in capsule form

 

All of these capsules were kindly gifted to me, without obligation.

Serums are the most essential step in my daily skincare routine, but because I'm a blogger, I often get sent products, which means I can have several serums open at the same time, which is something I'm not comfortable with, as I hate waste. The answer to this, is serum capsules. I love them because it means what's inside is fresh, until opened. They're also travel-friendly - you know, for all of those holidays I've been taking this year! Today, I'm sharing three that I'm really loving at the moment.

Luxury body moisturisers...

 

Anything marked with a * has been kindly gifted to me, without obligation.

I am one of those people who moisturises my body daily - my skin is so dry, that if I didn't, it would just flake off and feel tight all over! I tend to stick to budget body products, but around the festive season, I like to use a luxury body moisturiser, if possible! It's nice to have a treat, and this year in particular, after being ill for so long, I am really enjoying smothering myself in nice moisturisers, that smell amazing!  It's one of those L'Oreal "I'm worth it" kinda things. Today, I'm sharing my current five favourites. As always, anything marked with a * has been kindly gifted, without obligation.

'Tis the season for lip balms.....

Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, without obligation.

I'm a bit of a lip balm addict - always have been! It goes back to the days before I was allowed to wear makeup (our school banned it completely),  and all of my friends had lip balms from The Body Shop on us at all times! If they were slightly tinted, all the better, as it felt we were cheating the 'no makeup' rule! Now that the temperature has definitely dropped, I'm using them more than ever and have them all over the house, in handbags, pockets etc. This isn't even my entire collection, but I wanted to share some with you as some are more intensive than others, and I'm guessing that at least some of you, will be buying balms over the coming months!

A head to toe pamper...... because, why not?

 

Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, without obligation.

If ever there's been a time for a head to toe pamper, it's now, during lockdown when we have so much extra time on our hands. Here are some of my favourite products to use when I'm really going for the full experience. Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, without any obligation to post.

Some current skincare loves....

 

Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, without obligation.

As a skincare addict, unless I am specifically testing products for the purposes of a review, I will have quite a few products in rotation. I have my main skincare stash in the bathroom, but also drawers and drawers of products that I add in, either from time to time (depending on what my skin needs at that moment), or when I finish a product. At the moment, I find that I am reaching for a number of products repeatedly and I want to share them with you today. For reference, I have very dry skin that is prone to dullness and texture,  so I need to keep on top of my routine in order for my skin to look good.

Makeup By Mario Master Mattes™ Eyeshadow Review & Swatches

 

Add caption

I hadn't really planned on buying any more palettes because, Lord knows, I have more than enough! But when I saw the Makeup By Mario Master Mattes™ palette, I couldn't resist! I love matte shadows and I loved the palette he did, around four years ago, with Anastasia Beverly Hills (I still have it!), so it just seemed like I should buy it.  Because I've had it for a few weeks, I thought now would be a good time to share my thoughts with you......

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!

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.

Seasonal skincare switch up/additions

When the season changes, my skincare, makeup and wardrobe tend to too (revolutionary!). Today, I want to share some of the products I've added into my routine (there are year-round staples but these are additions) now that the season has changed (I still can't believe that it's Autumn!). I tend to make sure that products are really nourishing so there's nothing gel textured, in terms of moisturiser or eye cream. Everything focusing on locking moisture in as we start to use the central heating and open fire. Also, don't forget that SPF still needs to be used daily, even if the sky is as dull as dishwater outside (I'm currently using Bioderma*, and don't forget your hands as they are exposed to the rays more than your body) ! Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, without obligation. I'm not going to list every single product that I use, but the ones that have been added into my routine and used more regularly than over the summer months.

Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand Dupes

We all know that Charlotte Tilbury makeup is expensive, so if you can find a product that works pretty much in the same way, at a fraction of a price, I think it's good to share! Even better, when you might actually prefer the dupes, but I'll tell you why later. What I'm talking about is her Beauty Light Wands, which I bought as soon as the original was released. I generally prefer cream or liquid products, as my skin is dry, so I was happy when she extended her line to include blushes as well as a highlight. I have only ever raved about these wands but then Sculpted By Aimee Liquid Lights Blush and Highlight Duo came along....

Is Charlotte Tilbury Push Up Mascara worth the hype?

When Charlotte Tilbury first released her collection in 2014, I was very excited and I lusted after so many of her products and eventually tried most of them (not in all shades, obviously), but in the last 6-9 months, I've found myself shunning the brand to an extent because of the constant churning out of new products every 3 weeks that are all deemed to be 'magical' and life-changing'. When a brand releases makeup so frequently, it no longer feels special and this is a real shame as I would have said that it was my favourite makeup brand a few years ago. Also, the people who handle their PR seem to get it all wrong - when you see bloggers just opening large packages on their Instastories and saying that their mother would love this and their sister would love that, it tells us nothing about the product, apart from the fact that they've received a big package that they'll distribute among friends and family and maybe do one Instagram photo of them wearing one product, out of a large number (plus it's always the same few, predictable faces who never seem to spend their own money on her products). To me, it sends out the wrong message - just have big names holding your products and that will suffice, rather than considering smaller bloggers who will actually use and review the product. I've been told privately on Instagram from someone who works in a pharmacy that products that big bloggers rave about are now very slow to sell, whereas a few years ago, if they just mentioned them, they sold out instantly - there is less trust when there are no actual reviews or only paid reviews. Maybe the PR need to re-think their strategy and I don't say this because I don't receive PR from them, I say it because I am also a consumer and I like to see a variety of actual reviews, not just photos! Also, all through lockdown, when a lot of people weren't earning, were losing loved ones or were ill themselves, the brand churned out product after product, whereas other brands were more sensitive to the fact that there was a global pandemic and delayed some releases. All of that being said, Charlotte does have some truly beautiful products, which is why I still buy some, but certainly nowhere near as many as I used to.

Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant Review

I'm lucky to have been part of the Dermalogica Skinfluencer* programme for around 18 months now, which is a real thrill, having been a fan and user of the brand for around 16 years, so I get excited when they release a new product. I love that they only send products that they think will suit your skin type, rather than just a blanket send out, which could be wasteful. I knew that their latest release would be right up my street so I was delighted when the Hydro Masque Exfoliant* landed through my letterbox! I just saw the words hydrating, exfoliating and 5 minutes and knew it'd be right up my street.....

5 current loves from MAC - 1 old and 4 new!

When I saw (last year some time) that MAC were collaborating with Sam and Nic Chapman, I was excited to see what they'd produce. I've followed the talented makeup artists for years and I feel that it's a shame that their release coincides with a time when we all need to wear masks as much as possible, as that's bound to affect sales of lip products. That said, because these are limited edition, I think that if you like the look of either of them, you should snap them up to wear in the future when we can be mask-free - whenever that is!  While I was ordering Nic's lipstick, I also ordered a few other bits that had been on my wishlist for a while, which I want to share with you today, alongside an old favourite that I've been buying for over 20 years and was actually my first MAC purchase - Spice Lip Pencil.  Sam created a dreamy red shade but as I very rarely wear red, I skipped it and decided to buy Nic's perfect nude shade.

Olaplex No 0 Intensive Bond Building Kit - worth the hype?

I mentioned in my Covid - six month update post, that my hair has been falling out (which I have seen/heard other people say has happened to them too), so I am trying everything I can to take care of my hair, slow the loss down and even (hopefully) reverse it. I've been using Olaplex No 3 for around 18 months now, and have seen great results in the structure/strength and elasticity of my hair, so when I have that they were releasing a No 0 Intensive Bond Building Kit, I ordered it immediately. It was released in the U.S. before here, so I actually ordered from Sephora so that I could get started with it as soon as possible.  

New in my skincare stash....

Have you entered my Pat McGrath giveaway here?

I probably didn't actually *need* any of these things but the lure of birthday discount codes is strong and there are some seriously good offers online anyway, so for the first time in months, I have a bit of a haul to share with you and it's all skincare! Two products were kindly gifted to me (without obligation, one more was a birthday gift and the rest, I bought myself!). So, let's get into it!

Jo Loves is fast becoming my favourite fragrance brand.....

Have you entered my Pat McGrath giveaway here?

I first wrote about Jo Loves fragrances here, early last year. Since then, the love affair has just consistently grown! If you don't know the background, Jo Loves is actually produced by Jo Malone, who sold her original company to Estée Lauder companies and then, after a period of ill-health, left the company completely. Five years later, fully recovered and ready to rebuild, she started Jo Loves and it has gone from strength to strength. During a visit to Space NK Christmas 2018, I sampled some of her fragrances and was immediately hooked - Jo certainly knows which notes blend well together. I don't have a huge collection, but I want to share what I have with you today, in case you're on the hunt for a new fragrance. I really hope I do the scents some justice as it's difficult to get across just how beautiful they are. The scents just resonate with me. You know how Omorovicza is my favourite skincare brand? Well, Jo Loves fragrances just fit with and work for me in the same way. If I could create a skincare brand that was just perfect for my skin, it would have been Omorovicza. Likewise, if I could have created a fragrance brand that represented me, it would be Jo Loves - the scents speak to me!

My DIY Image skincare facial

Have you entered my Pat McGrath giveaway here?

I haven't posted one of my weekly DIY facial posts in a while so I thought I'd show you my most recent one, where I decided to use all Image Skincare* products. Most of these current products were kindly sent to me at various times (denoted with *) but I have also purchased some products from this brand myself over the years - regular readers will know that I swear by their Total Pure Hyaluronic Filler! Let's get into it....

Omorovicza Gold Collection Review

These products were kindly sent to me, however, I have bought most of them myself previously.

Have you entered my Pat McGrath giveaway here?

It's been well established here on the blog that Omorovicza is my favourite skincare brand and I regularly review their products, but I thought it might be a good idea to review their collections so that if you wanted to get started with the brand, you'd know which collection might suit your needs best. I already reviewed the Silver collection here and today, I'm going to talk about the Gold Collection. I'm focusing on the facial collection as there are two products in the line from body care but I have already discussed those on the blog here.

Pixi Clarity Collection review

Regular readers will know that I'm a big fan of Pixi skincare - they're probably the best mid-budget brand that I have tried and they have come a long way from their original Glow Tonic, which you had to phone the store in London to order, way back when! They now have ranges for many skin types and issues, the latest being the Clarity Collection, which is exclusive to Look Fantastic for 1 month. The Clarity Collection is aimed at congested skin but is actually suited to all skin types, as although it contains a number of acids, it isn't harsh on the skin. My LYMIN code works on this collection so don't forget to use that at checkout if you plan on buying any of the products. I want to make it clear that this is pretty much a first impression post after a few uses, rather than my usual 4-6 week trial time, because I wanted to get it to you before the month's exclusivity was up, plus, as luck would have it, I got a spot on my chin so it was the perfect time to test it!

My DIY Emma Hardie Facial

Anything gifted to me is without obligation and is marked with a *

I told you that I've been doing a lot of pampering during my blogging break and one brand that I've been using a lot is Emma Hardie. I first tried the Moringa Cleansing Balm around six years ago and have loved the brand ever since so I thought I'd try to replicate one of the brand's facial and then did it several more times. Let me talk you through it.....

Weekly DIY Facial #6

Weekly facial time again! This week, my skin didn't have any major issues - just needed some brightening and plumping (no change there!) so I used products that I know I can rely on - nothing new to me here but all product loves!

AHC Hydrating Essential Real Eye Cream Review - love at first use!

Being a beauty blogger, I am lucky enough to be sent some products (although please know that I am fussy with what I accept as I hate waste). The great part of this is that I sometimes get to try products from brands that I might not have heard of before. Today's product is from one such brand, although I'm sure if I'd read about this product, I'd have snapped it up. The brand in question is AHC, which is Korea's fasted growing skincare line and the product in question is AHC Hydrating Essential Real Eye Cream*. This was a love/obsession at first use product and I've already ordered a backup! This is not something that happens very frequently with me.

Which Omorovicza Serum is best for you?

Anything market with a * is a press gift but I actually bought all of them previously myself!

Have you entered my NAYA skincare bundle here? It ends tonight!

I think that it's been well established at this stage that I am a HUGE fan of Omorovicza skincare, in fact, I'd go as far as to say that it is my favourite brand. I first started to use it around five years ago and have repurchased many of the products several times, so even though some of the serums in the photo above look quite new, believe me when I tell you that I have used them previously and also since taking the photo. The reason I love the brand so much is that everything just works - the products are effective and they aren't at all harsh, due to the Thermal Healing Concentrate™ that runs through many of the products. I'm loyal because the products suit my skin perfectly. I have tried all, but one, of their serums and wanted to share my thoughts today, in case you were thinking of buying some of their skincare. I have always maintained that serums are where you should invest your money as they will penetrate the skin more deeply than any moisturiser etc. 

Weekly DIY Facial #5

Anything that has been gifted to me is marked with a *

Have you entered my NAYA skincare bundle here?

You'll notice from the photo above that this week's facial is mainly Omorovicza products and that's purely because it's my favourite brand and it would be a dream to have an Omorovicza facial - until that's possible, I decided to try to do it myself! This week (as with most weeks), I focused on trying to achieve bright and hydrated skin.

My favourite discoveries from the first six months of 2020

Have you entered my NAYA skincare bundle here?

What a six months it's been, eh? Never in our wildest dreams/nightmares would we have believed 2020 would be the way it has been. As always, I try to keep things positive and am sharing all of the great beauty products that I have discovered so far this year! Get comfy, because there are quite a few! I'll link to reviews if there are any and if anything was kindly gifted to me, it will be marked with a *. I narrowed it down to my top five in each category (yes, there were more!). Remember, these are all products that are new to me in 2020.

Weekly DIY Facial #4

If a product was kindly sent to me, it will be marked with a *

I mentioned in my first DIY Facial post that I'm really enjoying taking care of my skin, dedicating more time to my skin as I rarely go out for facials and that a Hydrafacial or Omorovica facial would be my dream treatments, so I bought a voucher for a 6 step Hydrafacial as something to look forward to when it's safe to leave the house again and I'm feeling a lot better. It had a 33% saving and there is no expiry on it so I took it as a sign as it's something that I have wanted to get done for a few years and I need a treat to look forward to as it's been 14 weeks since I have had a relapse due to contracting Covid and some days, it takes its toll as there is no improvement at all in my health. It's also one of the things that is on my '101 things to do in 1001 days', which I started last year on my birthday. That was a bit of a tangent for the start to this post! Anyway, I wanted to share the products that I used in my most recent facial. My skin wasn't haven't any particular issues apart from the usual - dull and dry! I wasn't in the mood to multi-mask but did want to ensure that my skin would be plump and radiant afterwards. Regular readers will see some usual favourites here!

Five Liquid Liners for watery eyes and oily lids

The Beauty Bakerie Eye liner was kindly sent to me.

I've mentioned before that I have the delightful combination of dry skin, oily lids and watery eyes, which means that my eye makeup products need to work extra hard and I'm extremely fussy abut what I use. I've tried so many liners on the market - some start out well but within a few hours have either disappeared, smudged or flaked off and it always tends to be on one eye more than the other, for some strange reason. Part of the reason that I love lash extensions so much is that I don't bother using liquid liner when I have them as the lashes give my eyes enough definition, but without the lashes (as I have been since lockdown started), I feel naked without some liner. I always wear mascara that gives dramatic, voluminous lashes and I use lash serum, which has made a huge difference to them, but I've worn liquid liner since I was around 16/17 so it's jut part of me now. Given that I've had to go back to wearing liners, I thought I'd buy some new ones as the two I had were almost finished anyway and with having such sensitive eyes, I have to bin my liners every few months. I thought I'd share my top five with you today, one of which will come as no surprise as it has featured on the blog many times!

The brand I can't get enough of at the moment: Neom

For me, a real treat is a nice bath product, a candle, hand cream body lotion etc. People tell me that I am difficult to buy for but it's honestly simple things like these that I love the most! I spend a lot of time at home, due to illness, which is why lockdown hasn't been too difficult for me, but even if you are a person who leads a very busy life, there's something so nice about coming home to a beautifully scented home or even just applying a nice hand cream. One brand that I have tried a few products from before, is Neom and in recent weeks, I have bought quite a few products because my LYMIN code works for 20% off on Look Fantastic. It's valid until the end of June so I'm taking advantage of the code before it expires (although I am going to ask for it to be extended!). I want to talk you through some of the products today and why I'm so obsessed with them!

Fenty Beauty cream cheek products - worth the hype?

When Fenty Beauty launched on to the market, they changed the game and so many other brands have been playing catch up ever since. The brand is inclusive but also pretty budget-friendly, given the quality. Usually brands that are owned by a celebrity aren't the best quality but it's the name that sells them, not so in this case. Rihanna has done a fantastic job with her beauty brand, which was initially exclusive to Harvey Nicholls but is now (thankfully) available in Boots in the UK and Ireland and also in Sephora. When I heard that the latest release was going to be cream cheek products, I didn't even think twice about ordering or even waiting until the stores were open gain to swatch because I'm in lockdown until August 10th, due to my health condition. So I took my chances and ordered a bronzer and blush, which I have been testing to share my thoughts with you!

My Weekly At Home Facial #3 The hormonal edit!

If anything was gifted to me, I will mark it with a * but I buy a LOT of skincare.

This week's facial was based around the fact that my skin was suffering a little due to being hormonal  (I didn't actually have any spots but you know when your skin is threatening to break out) and I had no patience to use gentle products because I feel so crap (flu, Covid, flu again, then tonsillitis and now a full Lyme relapse - not looking for pity, just explaining why I feel so rubbish!), that I just wanted my skin to at least look a little better than I feel! So I WENT IN! Nothing gentle here, but my skin can handle it as it's well used to acids - this is not something I would do every night, but when needs must, I don't mind putting my skin through its paces and using hardcore products that will help to reduce hormonal breakouts and generally improve the dullness of my skin and it worked!! Honestly, I think a good pamper is good for the soul! 

Hourglass Veil Eye Primer VS Nars Pro Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base

I know! Another new Hourglass purchase but, in my defence, my Nars Pro Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base is almost finished so I decided to try the Hourglass Veil Eye Primer out of curiosity. I've been using the Nars one since it was released and it is, without doubt, the best eye primer I've used. I have the delightful combination of oily lids and watery eyes so I need my eye products to be hard working and I never, ever apply shadow without primer because if I don't, within a few hours, my shadow will have either creased or disappeared! There are other big name primers out there that other people swear by but they just don't work for me. So I wanted to put the new kid on the block to the test and compare it to my usual favourite.

Budget VS Bougie - which is best?

Anything gifted to me is marked with a *

Does expensive always mean more effective? Not necessarily, in my opinion. One example that immediately springs to mind is Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream ( I love her makeup, in general,  but I could easily give her skincare, apart from her Clay Goddess, a miss, and can think of numerous, more effective moisturisers for half the price. Today, I thought I'd do a post on this exact subject - Budget VS Bougie - which is best? We all know I'm a fan of luxury beauty products but there also quite a few budget gems in my collection so I thought I'd do a showdown today! At the end of the day, buy within your budget, this is just for fun!

My Weekly At Home Facial #2

I might be behind in posting my weekly facials, but they are happening! I highly recommend to all of you to just take some time for yourself and gather up your favourite products and take the time to give yourself a facial. It doesn't have to be fancy products, in fact, taking the time to really massage products into your face is probably just as, if not more, important than the products you use. Here's what I used this week. My skin was looking dull but also thirsty so I wanted to banish all signs of that! As always, if any product was gifted to me, it will be marked with a *

The Spring beauty edit - the lockdown edition!

If a product was sent to me, it will be marked with a *

Ordinarily if I were posting a seasonal edit, it would be full of palettes, blushes, lipsticks etc but given that we're in lockdown (and I will be cocooning until August due to my pre-existing illness), this edit will look a little different! I will still wear makeup occasionally but it certainly won't be an everyday occurrence! That said, I will keep up with my weekly tanning ritual, simply because it makes me feel good. That's actually the whole focus of this edit - products that make me feel good because it's so important when in lockdown to take care of yourself both physically and mentally and I believe they are intertwined.

My weekly at home facial #1

Any gifted products are marked with a *

I say weekly facial as though I use the same products on a weekly basis but I definitely don't - I use products based on what my skin needs that week (actually, it's probably more twice weekly at the moment) but I just thought I'd show you what I used in my most recent DIY effort. I actually rarely go out for facials (I did regularly before our wedding) but that is something I'd like to get more into and I especially want to try a Hydrafacial or (the dream) an Omorovicza facial! Anyway, back to what I used this week... (Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me).

Products I wish hadn't been discontinued

Don't just you just hate when you find your perfect product and keep repurchasing it only to find that the brand has decided to discontinue it and you never quite find another product that lives up to it? Yes? Well, That's what today's post is all about - products I'm still not over being discontinued up to 10/12 years later and I really want to hear what products are on your list?

A week in my skincare routine

If a product was gifted to me, it will be marked with a *

As regular readers will know, I post about skincare very often and I sometimes get DMs asking how often I use the products or what a week in my routine looks like. To be honest, it varies, depending on how much energy I have, how inflamed my skin is, the time of the month, if I've used anything new that has irritated my skin, if I'm experiencing texture - you get the gist! It changes depending on so many factors so I just took one random week to show you what I've been using and I'll do it again occasionally in the future. I definitely am not one to show my skincare daily on Instagram, at least not at the moment when my energy levels are so low but I do enjoy seeing other people's routines so if you let me know if this is something that you do! The lighting varies in some of these photos are they were taken at different times of the day and night. I also want to say that I have an unnatural amount of skincare products and assume that non-bloggers have a regular routine with a few extras thrown in so please don't think that I'm recommending having this huge number of products! Also, I always wear SPF but I let my moisturiser absorb fully first, which is why it isn't in any of these posts. I also wanted to mention that I apply Eyelash serum, neck serum and lip balm daily as part of my routine but didn't always remember to photograph them! For reference, I have dry skin that has some texture and is also quite sensitive but is very used to acids at this stage. I am on a lot of medication at the moment and am very ill so some nights, it's as basic as you can get! At the end of the post, I have some discount codes that will help you to save some money if you are interested in buying any of the products.

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter VS Nars Tinted Glow Booster

I bought both of these products.

I have declared my love for Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter several times on the blog - it's one of my very favourite products ever because it takes me from zero to pretty healthy looking in a few swipes! Many people thought that it was a foundation when it was first released but it isn't - it can be used as a primer or a highlighter and I use it in both ways. When Nars recently released a Tinted Glow Booster, I wondered if it would be a competitor or dupe for Flawless Filter so I couldn't resist buying it and comparing. I have been wearing half on each side of my face to compare and want to share my thoughts with you today.

Lockdown purchases....

I bought these products myself.

I've left the house once since February 22nd and that was for medical reasons so doing a bit of online shopping has kept me both happy and sane! I know that there are differing opinions on whether we should still be shopping and each to their own. If sites are still open and shipping, then I am happy to support them as it's keeping people in their jobs and it's up to the employer/courier company to ensure the safety of their staff. There have been some amazing sales and discounts available so that combined with the fact that I've been very ill for the past two months made me feel that treating myself was justified - not that I need to justify myself to anyone! If you are interested in seeing what I bought, read on and if you think people shouldn't be shopping in the middle of a pandemic, then come back another day. If you think that I'm not taking the virus seriously, you couldn't be more wrong and I'd urge you to read posts here and here.

Makeup products that work well on textured skin

None of these products were gifted.

When you have textured or porous skin, as much as you might want to use them, dewy or highlighting products are not really your friend and there are times that we all suffer from some texture issues, whether due to blemishes, reactions to products or just age! I have a post here, which details the skincare products that are excellent in helping to deal with textured skin but today's post is all about the best makeup products to use on days when you want to hide or, at least blur, areas of texture.

Want firmer skin? Try one of these serums......

Ageing is a privilege, so please don't think that I think that I am actually 'anti-ageing' but that doesn't mean that I'm happy at the idea of sagging skin or jowls. That being said, I personally don't want to go down the road of fillers or botox (never say never and each to their own) so I just do what I can to keep my skin looking firm and youthful for as long as possible. As I have said previously, I personally think that if you are going to invest in any product in your skincare routine, it should be your serum as that will penetrate the skin more deeply than moisturiser, which in turn means that the active ingredients can actually get to work, which is especially important in firming serums. As you can tell from the photo above, I take skincare that promises to firm the skin seriously and I want to share some of my favourites with you! As always, any marked with a * were kindly gifted to me but without any obligation to post. This is not an ad. If I have previously reviewed any product, I will link to it.

Review: Bioderma skincare

Some of these products were kindly gifted to me and I also won some in a giveaway late last year.

Bioderma* is one of those brands that was elusive years back when Pixiwoo used to talk about it (well unless you lived in France, that is!) and we all wanted it! I even paid extortionate shipping just to get my hands on the original micellar water back in the day! I was kindly gifted some products and I also won some on Irish Beauty Fairy's page late last year so I thought I'd put them all together and share my thoughts with you.