The best tools and products for achieving waves in your hair (and making them last)

None of these products were sent to me.

Before I start, I'll make it clear that I'm not a hairdresser, or even a hair expert - I'm a total amateur, but over the last 12-18 months, I have found myself wearing my hair in waves more often than straight. I think since getting it balayaged, it shows the blend of colours better when it's waved (although I do love smooth, sleek hair too). It has taken me some time to be able to achieve waves that I am happy with, so I thought that I'd share what I use with you, in case any other total novices want to try to create some waves in their hair over the festive period. Remember - I'm no expert........

Fenty Skin overview

These products were kindly gifted to me, without obligation.

 I was lucky enough to be sent some Fenty Beauty products a few months ago, which I reviewed here, and I was also sent some Fenty skincare, which I was delighted about, as I had only tried the Body Butta Whipped Oil Body Cream previously (and loved it!).  It takes longer to test skincare which is why it's taken me three months since receiving the products to share my thoughts, so let's get started!

My current favourite nude lip picks

None of these products were gifted to me.

No matter what the time of year, I just cannot resist a nude lip! Yes, I'll try a coral in Summer, a berry in Autumn and a red for Christmas, but my go-to will always be a nude, because it's easy and works with all eye looks. Today, I want to share my current six top nude lip products.....

The colder months skincare additions/switch up......

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

While September's weather confused us, with some very sunny days, there is no doubting that it is Autumn now and the temperature really has dropped. Given this, I've added a few more products into my routine, to help combat any dry patches and keep my skin happy. I'm still using the majority of products that I've shown you over the past few months, but I've added a few new (or repurchased) ones in too.

Charlotte Tilbury Cryotherapy Skincare Review

 

These products were kindly gifted to me, without obligation.

If you've read any of my posts over the past 6 weeks, you'll know that I was very ill for 4-6 weeks, beginning in August. What really alarmed me was how my skin reacted, either to the illness, or the medication (it's difficult to tell which, as the meds were changed a few times to find the right combination, but also to try to get rid of the infection completely, which proved to be very difficult. My skin felt like it was on fire, from head to toe, but it was also severely dehydrated - I could not get enough water into me, my lips felt shrivelled up and my hands need constant re-application of hand cream. I even drew blood and had what looked like cat scratches on my arms, but it was actually me doing it, when I was asleep. When I was awake, I was tormented and was constantly applying oils, lotions, mists etc. It was around this time that Charlotte Tilbury released her Cryotherapy range and the P.R. girls very kindly sent me the mask, eye cream and some other products, in the hope that they would help my burning skin. There were also a lot of tears, which lead to very puffy eyes (my Father in Law died and my mother has a stroke in the space of two weeks), so I was very curious about how it would help reduce puffy eyes and a puffy face, in general. How did I get on.....

Three chemical body exfoliators and body lotions that work to get rid of bumpy, chicken skin!

Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me.

I don't know about you, but my Keratosis Pilaris seems to get worse at this time of year. For me, it's mainly on my upper arms, but some people have it on their thighs, bum, and other areas. It doesn't cause my skin to itch, but I like my skin to feel soft and smooth, so I will do whatever it takes to get rid of it. Fortunately, things have come a long way from abrasive scrubs that we used back in the day, and there are now a number of products on the market that can eliminate this irritating condition, which is essentially blocked hair follicles. It's definitely a first world problem in the grand scheme of things, but one that bothers me, so if I can get rid of it, I will!

My Armani Beauty splurge (and save 20%!)

Armani Luminous Silk is my most repurchased foundation, so when when I was buying it recently, I decided to purchase a few other products from the brand too, because for some reason, I hadn't really explored the brand very much, despite loving the foundation so much! My LYMIN code worked, which saved me 20% when I purchased on Look Fantastic, and you know I can't resist a good deal, so I bought a few things that I've had my eye on for a while. Sometimes, the brand is already reduced, but if you find that it isn't, then using my code will save you 20%.

Charlotte Tilbury Super Nudes Collection: review & swatches

 

As soon as I saw the Nudegasm palette, I wanted it. I love a nude lip, so basically this collection was made for me! I already had the Super Nudes eyeshadow palette, so I just skipped the dual ended liner (which I'm still tempted to get) and two of the nude lipsticks. The idea is that there is a nude lipstick for everyone, but I still bought three and I like all three on me. They can be altered, depending on if you want to wear a lip pencil under them, so you don't really need to buy more than one, but I find it hard to resist a Charlotte Tilbury lipstick! So, is this range worth the hype.....

Some of my sickbed purchases.......

*Please note that this is pre-written and scheduled content,  before I knew what would happen family-wise in the past 2 weeks*

I'll begin by saying that I had planned on a no-spend September (!!!), but the combination of some birthday money/vouchers and basically being bedridden, resulted in this haul, plus some of it was bought in August! It's a looooooong time since I bought so many things so close together (I used to do a lot of hauls when I first started blogging!), but as a blogger, I do think that it's good to spend your own money on products, rather than just writing about products you've received in P.R. - I know that's what I prefer to read anyway - a good mixture! I suppose I went a little wild but I probably won't buy much for the rest of the year (I say as I see a lot of the holiday sets being released......!). After what I've been through, I've no need to justify making any purchases  - I'm just glad to be alive to be able to use them! So, on to what I bought and why...... (Oh and remember to use the code LYMIN at checkout on Look Fantastic to save 20% - I use it every time and it will generally work on most products/brands, unless they are already reduced).

The best solution based products......

 

I can't say that I only have one skin issue, because I'd be lying! I have several, but by keeping on top of my skincare routine, you may not notice them, but consistency is key for me. If I'm inconsistent, it shows in my skin, even more so as we age (sorry to tell all you people in your early 20s). I personally am not interested in going down the botox or fillers route - but each to their own, and never say never. Instead, I depend on effective products to keep my skin looking its best and I'm going to share some of them with you today.

Some recent skincare additions that have stolen my heart......

 

All of these products, apart from the Then I Met You Cleansing Balm and By Terry Moisturiser, have been kindly sent to me, without obligation.

I'm lucky enough to be sent products (although I do turn down more than I accept), which I am under no obligation to post about. I like that there is no obligation, as it takes pressure off, although I have no problem sharing negative reviews, if I don't like a product - I will say why it doesn't work for me, rather than say a product is just bad! Over the past few months, I've received a variety of products, which I've been testing (some for longer than others) and these are the ones I have enjoyed using  the most.

My current haircare lineup that has my hair in the best condition its been in for years.....

 

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

Since losing so much of my hair last year post-Covid, I've been on a mission to get my hair into good condition and keep it that way, and I'm happy to say that I've achieved that - I was really worried when I got infected again in August, but this time around, I didn't lose any hair. My hair has grown so much (I can see regrowth around my hairline) and I basically just need a trim when I am due a haircut, because my split ends are at a minimum. It's years since I've been so happy with my hair, and since it has been in such good condition, so I thought that I would share the products that I am using regularly with you today in case your hair is brittle, falling out or just generally in bad condition. It might look like this post is sponsored by Kérastase but it isn't (I wish!) - it's just a brand that I love and have used for over 20 years.

My most decadent at home facial featuring Omorovicza's new Queen Cleanser and Cream

 

Some of these products were gifted to me, without obligation.

At the risk of boring you all, you'll know that I have been very, very ill recently. I'm still nowhere near recovered - that will take a long time, but as soon as I had the strength to do a DIY facial, I was on it! I have two vouchers for facials, but I don't know when I'll get into the city centre to have them, so I decided to bring the spa to me! I used all products from my favourite brand, Omorovicza, including the two new releases: Queen Cleanser* and Queen Cream*. Regular readers will know how much I adore this brand, so it was a no-brainer that if I wanted to make myself look and feel better, that I'd use this brand exclusively. One day, I'll go for an actual Omorovicza facial, but in the meantime, my DIY job worked wonders! To save 15% on all Omorovicza products, enter the code SIOBHAN at checkout (not affiliated).

Swatches of all Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerise

 

I own  A LOT of eyeshadow palettes, but I have fallen for cream shadows for a quick and easy look over the past few years, and it's hard to find any to beat Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerise. In fact, I love them so much that I have every shade (except some limited editions that I was gutted to miss out on!). The reason I love these particular ones so much,  is that despite the fact that I have oily lids, they don't crease on me and are pretty much budge-proof for the day. That, and the fact that they are ridiculously quick and easy to use and look put together, even when you don't have the time/energy/enthusiasm to make an effort! They also seem to make lids look smoother than they actually are - ideal if your lids aren't line-free, and they even feel cooling when applied. They're all round winners to me, so if you have yet to try them, I really urge you to and maybe these swatches will help you to find your perfect shade.

Where have I been? A catch up!

 

Just some of the medication from one of the weeks I was off. We had to try several types to eventually get me on an even keel.

Well, hello! Long time, no blog! I have never taken so long away from posting before, but despite having lots of draft posts, I was far too ill to finish and publish any (some I have scrapped!). August was one hell of a month for me - at one point, I thought I might actually have to say my goodbyes. My health was horrendously bad - I have never experienced anything like it, and if you've been around here for a while, you'll know that I've been ill for over 20 years and have been through a lot, but the past month was the worst ever. I am double vaccinated, before anybody might think that I'm not, and that's what saved my life. If you are on the fence about getting vaccinated still, I would urge you to reconsider, as it protects those around you, who are medically vulnerable, as well as yourself (please read this article if you are in two minds as it may help you to understand the importance of being vaccinated, if you can do so: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-08-17/vaccinated-covid-doctor-shot). I'm not going to go into all of the detail of what happened to me or what happens next, but felt I should explain my absence, as I've never gone this long without posting since I started my blog around 7 years ago. I'm nowhere near fully recovered, but blogging gives me something else to think about and I need that right now, plus I feel like I have so much to chat to you about!

That said, there were also some positives in August. It was my birthday, my niece's birthday and we celebrated our wedding anniversary, so I will always love the eighth month! This year is whizzing by and I'm already thinking about whether or not to do Christmas Gift Guides.......? Would love to hear your thoughts on that! I'm going to catch you up on some lifestyle favourites (I say lifestyle - I was in bed for weeks!) - tv, food, accessories etc. Also, I  would love to hear how life is with you? I've chatted to some of you in DMs, but I've missed this little community.

Dermalogica Smart Response Serum Review

 

This was kindly sent to me, without obligation.

Regular readers will know that one of my top three skincare brands is Dermalogica*. I used the brand exclusively for 6 months prior to our wedding, and have had some products from the brand in my stash for the past 17/18 years. It was the first high end skincare brand that I used, with the famous Daily Microfoliant being the first product I purchased, which is still a staple in my skincare cabinet to this day. All these years later, I still get excited when they release a product, and they are getting better and better all of the time! I'm lucky enough to be part of the Skinfluencer programme, so I was kindly sent their latest release: Smart Response Serum*. I have been using this serum for just over two months now, am over half way through it, so thought that it was about time that I did a review.

New brand overview: Refy

 

I recently came across Jess Hunt's brand, Refy, on Instagram and was instantly intrigued. I know that big, bushy brows are very in at the moment and I used to have those back in the day.......when they weren't on trend! I look at Jess' brows and wish I had never taken a tweezer to mine! Jess has created the brand so that others can create the full brow look that she rocks, and also some cheek products to re-create the glowing skin look that she is also renowned for. They can be bought individually, or in sets, so I went for the Summer Skin Collection and Brow Collection, which is available in three shades - Light, Medium and Dark. 

L'Oreal Steampod 3.0 review - worth the hype/price?

The difference between my hair this year compared to just after getting Covid, is huge. Last year, my hair fell out non-stop for quite a few months - there was literally hair everywhere in the house. Now that it's in better condition, I want to keep it that way - see post here. I still use heat on it, but generally only wash and dry my hair once weekly. I know that some people like to use heat on their hair daily, to keep it straight, but I resist doing that. I have a Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer (review here), GHD Curling Wand and GHD Platinum Straightening Irons, but in the back of my mind for the last few years has been the L'Oreal Steampod, as it's supposed to be less damaging on the hair. It looked quite fiddly with the separate water holder, so when I saw the new 3.0 version, which looked much more sleek, I wanted it and then when I saw that  it was reduced by 20%, I decided to buy it as it is rarely reduced - I've been keeping my eye on it for ages and had never seen a reduction in price before. I always love to make a saving where I can! Now that I've been using it for a while, I wanted to share my thoughts with you, in case you were thinking of buying one, because they're pricey.

Easy summer makeup....

 

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

I don't know about you, but when the weather heats up, I like to wear less makeup, or at least quick & easy makeup! When I watch Love Island and see some of the girls wearing full coverage bases that don't match their skin, it just makes me crave a lighter look. I have freckles, and like them to show through. Of course, it's a case of each to their own and you do you, but if you're craving a light base and easy to apply makeup, this post is for you!

Two new releases from Omorovicza: Queen Of Hungary Evening Mist and Gentle Buffing Gelée

These products were kindly went to me, without obligation.

When my favourite skincare brands releases new products, I sit up and take notice straightaway!  Omorovicza released two new products in June and I was absolutely delighted to be sent both to try, given that I would have bought them anyway, and they arrived at the perfect time, as they were here when I got out of hospital, in need of a good pamper and I just wanted to get the "smell of hospital" off me!  The two new additions to the range are a cleanser in the form of a Gentle Buffing Gelée and an evening version of the Queen of Hungary Mist (one of my all time favourite products). Now that I've been using the products for over a month, I want to share my thoughts - I could easily have done it after a few days, but I always like to test skincare products for at least 4 weeks, sometimes 8, depending on what the product is.

Five stunning summer fragrances....

I've mentioned several times on the blog before that I'm a perfume addict! I sometimes wish that I could just have one signature scent, but I just love too many! I tend to rotate my fragrances seasonally, so today I want to share my top five fragrances for summer!

The products I use when I'm feeling really rubbish and want to go from drab to fab (ish!)

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

Regular readers will know that I have Chronic Lyme and M.E., which are invisible illnesses, so just by looking at me, you may not think that there is a war going on inside my body, which has seen me bedridden at times, and feeling ill all of the time. Since being in hospital a few weeks ago, I look and feel even worse than usual. I know that we are our own worst enemies at times, and hard on ourselves, but even my husband and mother, who would usually say that I look fine (even when I don't), have agreed that I just look so exhausted and jaded by everything that has happened me over the past 16 months (we won't mention the other 20 years!). So, when I'm feeling at my worst, I'll enlist my husband to help me, if needed, and do a few things to make me at least look better, even if I don't feel better - although I always feel a little bit better when I know that I look better, if that makes sense! Here are some of the products I use and things that I do....

The best products for ultra sensitive skin: face & body

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

 

My skin has always erred on the side of sensitivity, but even more so since becoming ill. I also grew up knowing that my mother had sensitive skin, so she had to be careful what she used.. Thankfully, my skin barrier seems to be getting stronger these days, and some ingredients that used to make my skin react previously (shea butter and Vitamin C), don't appear to at the moment. That said, I still always have a selection of products to use, should my skin flare up. I also remember very clearly periods when my skin would feel burnt, or possibly break out in cystic spots, which were so painful. If this sounds like your skin, I have some great recommendations for you.

Three favourites from Tatcha

 

I really wish that Tatcha was more accessible for those of us on this side of the Atlantic, because I pretty much love everything I try from them. If you don't know much about the brand, it's Japanese and focuses on the principle that less is more. The foundation of their products is Hadasei-3™, which is a trio of anti-aging superfoods, present in the Japanese diet; green tea, algae and rice. Every product that I have tried has been delicate, yet effective. Those with sensitive skin, or who want to simplify their routine, will love this brand.

Taking care of my balayaged hair....

 

As soon as the hair salons opened, I was booked in for a cut and balayage - my hair hadn't been cut since last July, so it was badly needed. The photo above doesn't really do justice to  the blend and how many tones are in my hair. I'm in love with it. This time last year, it was very dark brown, bordering on black, so it's a huge change and suits my complexion so much better. I had my first session of balayage done last summer, but it needed redoing, so the lift in colour wasn't done in one go, as that would probably be too damaging to my hair. In order to keep it in good condition and to prevent it from going brassy or too warm, I have a good selection of products. It's probably not necessary to have all of these, but I'm happy to invest in my hair - the way I look at it is that I wear it every day, plus I spend a lot getting it done, so I think it makes sense to use good products to maintain it.

My Sunday Riley Top Picks - Cult Beauty Brand Of The Month

 

May's Brand Of The Month on Cult Beauty is Sunday Riley - one of my favourite skincare brands, so I thought that I would share my top three products from them with you and also remind you that if you spend £150 on the brand, you will receive a free full size Pink Drink Essence (worth £45). I love that they sell products in two sizes, so you don't have to spend too much if you are unsure if you will love a product.

Prepping my body for summer...

 

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

Because Spring has been pretty cold (and rainy/snowy), I'm really hoping that we get a good summer, so I'm prepping my limbs for being exposed, instead of panicking at the last minute! I'm not a person who thinks you need to be a size zero to have the perfect body, I'm more of the opinion that we should love and appreciate our bodies - especially due to being so ill, but also I believe that a person't beauty shines through when they're happy and that's more important than the "perfect body" - what even is that anyway?So today, I'm sharing with you products that I'm using to get my skin as soft and smooth as possible, for when I can eventually wear sleeveless tops and show my legs! If this is not your thing, you do you!

Dior Forever Natural Nude Foundation review

 

Dior is a brand that I don't buy a lot of beauty products from, but they do foundation so well that I couldn't resist their new offering - Natural Nude Foundation. There are six foundations in the Dior Forever range and I have only tried one other - the Forever Skin Glow, which I reviewed here. I loved that foundation, but like the sound of this nude version, as I like the look of a natural complexion these days, particularly when we're approaching the summer months. I've been using it for around a month now and am ready to share my thoughts with you.

PIXI Remedy Masks Review

 

The Vitamin C Mask was kindly gifted to me, but I bought the other two.

Pixi is one of my favourite mid-budget brands when it comes to skincare, so when I saw that they were releasing a new line of masks, I was very excited! I was lucky enough to be sent the Vitamin C one as part of a pamper parcel from Cult Beauty, but I love the Milky and Rose ranges too, so I. had to buy the other two. I've been using them for around two months now and I'm ready to share my thoughts with you.

Where is my place in the blogging world?

Photo source: Pinterest.

 

This post is inspired by Jasmine's recent post, and it really got me thinking. I started to blog because it was a distraction from my illness, I have always been hugely interested in beauty (my thesis even included it and the lack of racial diversity in the community), and also because being ill can be isolating, so it was nice to be part of a community. I genuinely wanted conversations with other people who had similar interests. I had no desire to be the next Zoella - I just wanted to have something else to focus on, other than my illness. I have made some great friends/connections with like-minded people and also seen others who started around the same time as me, just drop off the radar, as well as others sky-rocket, whether through buying followers on Instagram, or changing direction, which is only natural, as interests change as we get older (but please, enough of the gardening!!). I'm still blogging about beauty (although I do want to incorporate more of my other loves - handbags/shoes!) - both skincare and makeup, although more of the former. I've never actually shown my face on my blog or Instagram, which I feel has definitely affected my growth, but when I look in the mirror, I see the ill version of me. When I am better, you'll see me (if I'm still blogging!). Others may not even be able to tell that I'm ill - it's invisible after all, but I can, and that's what matters to me. So where does that leave me......

Brand Focus: Olaplex

 

I bought all of these products.

Before I first tried Olaplex, around two and a half years ago, I really did wonder if it could possibly live up to the hype. At that stage, it was mainly a salon treatment (numbers 1 and 2), but then No. 3 was released, which is a pre-wash treatment. I was skeptical, but so many people were praising it, so I decided to give it a go, because my hair is naturally dry and prone to frizz, is coloured, I use heat on it and I have a long-term illness, which affects my hair (as does the medication I take) - so I thought I was pretty much the best guinea pig you could get for it! Obviously, I loved what it did for my hair or we wouldn't have a post dedicated to the entire brand! If you want to buy any of the products, my LYMIN code works on some of them to save you 20% on Look Fantastic. I'll indicate which ones in the post.

Dermalogica Melting Moisture Masque - my favourite skincare discovery of 2021 so far!

 

This product was kindly gifted to me, without obligation, as part of Dermalogica's Skinfluencer campaign.

It takes a lot for me to say that a product that I have only been using for 3/4 weeks, is my favourite skincare discovery of the year so far, but this mask has blown me away! For reference, I have dry skin, which is also dehydrated at times, I'm also ill and I'm on a lot of medication, so I need to be very consistent in taking care of my skin. That said, there are still times when my skin goes through bad periods of dullness and  dry patches, regardless of how diligent I am. If you have skin like mine, you are going to LOVE Dermalogica Melting Moisture Masque*!

Charlotte Tilbury Super Radiance Resurfacing Facial & Magic Serum Crystal Elixir Review

 

I know that I'm quite late to the party on these products and you will probably have read a lot of reviews when they were first released, but quite often, they are more a case of first impressions, rather than actual reviews. I was lucky enough to be sent these products around 5/6 weeks ago and want to share my thoughts on them with you today.

Omorovicza Midnight Renewal Review

 

This product was kindly gifted to me, without obligation.

It will come as no surprise to my regular readers that I get very excited when Omorovicza release a new product, because the brand is basically made for my skin! I just adore everything they produce and everything suits my sensitive skin so well. Although the products all contain their patented Healing Concentrate™ and are suited to sensitive skin, they work for all skin types, because they are effective and really deliver results. Today I want to talk to you about their latest release - Midnight Renewal*, which was kindly gifted to me.

Rosacea month - the best products to use from IT Cosmetics to treat and hide it

 

All of these products, apart from the CC cream, were kindly gifted to me. I have repeatedly repurchased the CC cream for five years, since I first bought it on a trip to the U.S.

In case you weren't aware, April is Rosacea month, and I was kindly invited to a presentation on the best products to treat and cover the areas of redness, by IT Cosmetics, which really does appear to be the best brand to use if this is an issue for you, as they have thought of everything! 1 in 10 people have rosacea, which means that they suffer from redness of the skin, flushing, skin that is hot to touch, and also texture that looks like spots, but they aren't actually spots. Because IT Cosmetics was created with sensitive skin in mind, it aims to troubleshoot any skincare concern, not just through makeup, but also skincare, and was developed in conjunction with plastic surgeons in the U.S. It tries not to use any fragrance in its products, as this can be a trigger for reactive skin. Whilst I don't have rosacea, I do have reactive skin, which can become inflamed and red. I actually asked my doctor once if he thought I might have Lupus, because the redness mainly occurs across my cheeks (and a butterfly shape of redness is sometimes indicative of Lupus), so I think I'm in a good position to test these products.

L'Oreal Paris Dream Lengths Wonder Water - how does it compare to Kérastase K-Water?

 

Sorry for my unexpected break from the blog. I'll be honest, I just didn't feel like posting and I never want anything to be forced, so I just took the week off! But I'm back now, with the rest of the month's posts planned and I'm excited to be blogging again. 

I first mentioned Kérastase K-Water on the blog last summer (post here), and, although expensive, I was happy to pay the price for the mirror-like finish that it gave my hair, plus a little goes a long way.  My only criticism was the dispenser - I felt that there was a lot of wastage and that a spray bottle would be more effective and easier to use. Earlier his year, people started to rave about L'Oreal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths 8 Second Hair Treatment, and mentioned that it was similar to K-Water, but a hell of a lot cheaper, so of course I had to try it and compare.

Five fab Spring fragrances

 

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

I absolutely love Spring (even though we've has both sun and snow in the past week!) and I love fragrance, so I thought I'd combine the two and tell you which fragrances I am really enjoying wearing at the moment. I wear perfume every day, even if it's a duvet day and I even wear it to bed! It makes me happy & lifts my spirits. I have quite a large collection, which I'm trying to curate to just my favourites, but it's tricky because I love so many. Sometimes I wish I had a signature scent that I never strayed from, but that's just never going to happen!  Here are the ones that are currently on rotation most frequently.

My night-time post-skincare routine....

 

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

I've shown you my night-time skincare routine on here many times and it changes regularly too, but today I thought I'd share what I routinely do, once I've done my skincare, to ensure that I wind down and get a good night's sleep. Sleep is so important to help us to repair, heal and renew - even more so when we're ill.

The 6 best foundations for dry skin featuring Pat McGrath, By Terry, IT Cosmetics and more!

 

Having dry skin makes it quite tricky to find the right foundation, as it can cling to dry areas. Skincare is key, no matter what the skin type, however with dry skin, the wrong foundation can age you, plus dry skin is naturally dull, so generally foundations that add some luminosity or dewiness are best. My all time favourite foundation was Armani Hydra Glow, which was discontinued years ago, and it was been tricky to find one that has lived up to my forever love! I have tried so many foundations, and have a line up of six that work beautifully on dry skin.

Essences - are they necessary or gimmicks?

 

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

The first essence I ever tried was gifted to me - had it not been, I'm unsure that I would have tried one as I wasn't sure that I actually needed one in my routine - how wrong was I? You can read that post here. I have gone on to repurchase Omoressence many, many times and am still using it almost five years later! So what is an essence and do you really need it? An essence is a kind of toner-come facial mist-come serum, so why would you need to use one if you already use these products? It kind of sandwiches the products together, which enhances the protection of the skin barrier and helps to banish dehydration. It's probably not what most people would consider an essential step, yet if you use an essence regularly, your skin will thank you in the form of looking plump and juicy. I have three that I love and want to share with you today.

How to deal with backne and bumpy skin

 

Both of these products were kindly gifted to me, however I buy from both brands myself too.

We hear a lot about maskne at the moment, which for a lot of people is hard to avoid, if they have to wear masks all day for work - or for some, it's for any amount of time. (Just remember to wash your mask if you've worn it for more than 20 minutes, or at the very least, as Luke O'Neill says "treat them like your underwear and wash them daily". But you don't see people talk about backne very much, even though it affects a lot of people. So, what is backne? As the name suggests, spots on the back, which may not bother you now, as we're all covered up (it has been sooooo cold here, recently!), but it probably will bother you in Spring/Summer. Also, a lot of people suffer from spots on their chest. I tend to use my skincare from the boobs up, so my chest is fine, unless I am extremely run down, in which case, I may get a spot or two on my neck. Back to backne (excuse the pun!) - I have two brilliant products, which will help to treat backne and bumpy skin, in general.

21 Questions: Makeup Edition

 

Tags were so popular when I first started blogging, but not so much nowadays, however when the lovely Parie from Class & Glitter tagged me to do this, I knew I had to, because the questions are fun (and I'm nosy, so I enjoyed reading her answers, and Hannah's too). I'd love to hear your answers to any of these questions!

Shopping online since Brexit began for those outside the UK......

 

I don't think that I'l ever forget the morning I woke to hear that the Brexiteers had won the referendum! I thought that anything could happen in this crazy wold after that (and it did - Trump was president for four years - will it get any crazier than that because I don't know if we could cope with it, on top of Covid?!). My first thought was "what the f*ck?", my second was that surely there would be a second referendum - surely this couldn't happen, but on December 31st last, it did. For those outside of the UK, this now means that purchasing from UK stores/sites, means that the buyer may now have to pay additional import charges and VAT (depending on where the product is manufactured and if the value of the product is more than 22 euros including delivery). It also means that your EU rights are void. There are so many things to consider, which I want to discuss today.

Five moisturisers that are perfect for dry skin in winter (plus a bonus product!)

 

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

Regular readers are definitely aware by now that I have very dry skin, but by keeping on top of my routine, it doesn't necessarily always cause me problems. I have curated my skincare stash and know what to do for my skin to keep it soft, supple and plump. Of course, there are times when it needs some extra help - most of my regular readers will know that I have suffered badly since contracting Covid last year - illness, medication and lack of energy/motivation can cause my skin to suffer, but there are some products I know I can rely on to get the moisture back into my skin. Rather than run through my entire skincare stash, I thought I'd share five brilliant moisturisers for dry skin, and one bonus product, that has really helped my skin over the past few months.

Express Tan Comparison: St Tropez VS Tanologist

 

I bought both of these myself.

I don't know about you, but I love applying some tan as a pick me up - I just feel better when I'm tanned, healthier even? And I need all the help I can get in that department at the moment! I'm generally a weekly tanner - #tanthursday is a thing in my life! That said, there are times when trying a new tan, I find that it doesn't last as long as my usual one and I'll need a top up - this is where express tans come into play. I'll say upfront that, in general,  I'm not the biggest fan of express tans because I just don't believe that they will give a deep tan in 1 hour, but they are useful if you have a last minute occasion (in 2022!!), and you have forgotten to tan. I can't fathom how people can get dressed and go out wearing them, because no mater what people say, they smell like biscuits as they develop! The only exception is the St Tropez Purity Gel, which smells like a fruit cocktail, but that isn't marketed as an express tan. Today, I'm comparing Tanologist 1 Hr Express Tan Mousse in Extra Dark with St Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Gel. Will either of them win me over?

Brand Focus: Summer Fridays

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

Over the Christmas break, I was looking back at what were my most popular posts, not just last year, but it previous years too, and standing out overwhelmingly, were my Brand Focus posts so naturally, I've decided to bring them back! I've done a lot of mainstream brands, so this time around, I'd like to do some newer brands, starting today with Summer Fridays, which is a brand that was created by two bloggers who had tried almost every product on the market, but wanted to create their own streamlined range of effective products, so they teamed up with experts to do just that! It started with just one mask and has steadily grown, which I personally love, because I'm not a huge fan of new brands releasing a whole line at once - I feel that focusing on one product and doing it right, is the best way to go and then add further products when you know that the first is a success. I've tried all but one product from the brand and want to share my thoughts with you today. I'l start by saying that I love the aesthetic - simple, pastel colours with the logo and product names. Simple, but pretty. Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me without obligation, but I bought most products myself.

Winter bodycare loves

 

Anything gifted to me, without obligation, will be marked with a *l

I wear body lotion every day because if I didn't, my skin would be so uncomfortable, itchy and scaly! I also apply fake tan weekly, which means that I have to exfoliate regularly. Even in winter, when my limbs are not on show, I like to take care of the skin on my body. Today, I want to share some of my current loves. If a product was kindly gifted to me, I will mark it with a * but I have also repurchased some of the products that were previously gifted.

The products to use when you want super-soft skin FAST!

If a product was kindly gifted to me, without obligation to post, it is marked with a *

I think that we all want super soft skin - products apply more evenly on it and it tends to be smoother. I'm not talking about flawless, filtered-looking skin, as most of us have texture and pores - I'm talking about realistic skin that is as soft as it can be! I  find that I use less makeup when my skin is really soft. Keeping skin smooth and soft is something that requires consistency, but what happens if you don't have time? You have an occasion (remember those?!), or reason to look at your best, and know that soft skin is the best place to start, so you need something that will work quickly? I have the perfect products for you! Obviously, you don't need them all but I'm a bit of a skincare addict!