Pre-Christmas Pamper routine

This is my last post of the year so before I get into it, I want to thank you all for reading my blog this year - thank you for taking the time to comment and thank you for the support. I love that I have developed some great friendships as a result of this blog. I know that some people say that blogs are dying and that Instagram is the way to go but my blog will always be my first love! 

Today, I am talking you through my pre-Christmas pamper routine. I like to buff myself from head to toe and just prep my skin so that it's looking as clear and glowing as possible!

2018: Favourite discoveries

In the final of my 2018 favourites posts, I am talking about products that I discovered this year that have really stood out to me, so much so that I will repurchase or possibly already have!

2018 Favourites: Makeup

Today's favourites post is all about makeup and I don't have a huge number of products but they are all ones that I have used regularly throughout the year - my fail-safe, go-to products or ones that have really stood out to me throughout the year. 

2018 Favourites: Skincare

I know it's a clichéd thing to say, but where on earth has this year gone?! It honestly feels like it was only 6 months ago that I was posting about my 2017 favourites! Regular readers will know that skincare is my thing and I am lucky that I get to try a lot of products. I will be posting about my favourite discoveries of the year later this week but today I am focusing on products that I have used consistently this year (or for a number of years in some cases). 

Shine Bright Like A Diamond! The highlighter edit

If I told you that this was even half of my highlighter collection, I would be lying but these are my favourites! Highlighters are my thing - I love how they can instantly make my skin look alive and they banish signs of fatigue and dull skin. I personally don't like anything glittery or to look like a unicorn or mermaid (I am sooooo not into that trend!). I like a smooth formula that can be sheered out or built up and the texture has to be smooth and soft. I have 16 highlighters to share with you today that tick those boxes and they vary hugely in price, which proves that you don't need to spend a fortune on makeup for it to perform well.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils - the comfortable, long-lasting lip option.

Although I am a gloss girl at heart, I definitely gravitate towards matte lip options in Autumn and Winter. Matte lips don't have to mean dry, flat, lined lips - things have come a long way since the days of uncomfortable, drying lip products. Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils are a great option for those who are scared of full-on matte lips as they have a velvet matte finish, which is more flattering and comfortable. 

The hype is real #2: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair

If you missed the first post in my 'the hype is real' series, you can find it here. For the second installment, I am talking about Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II, which is a product that has been a staple in my routine for around 10 years. It doesn't matter how many other products I try (and I try A LOT!), this will always be repurchased!

Better skin in a pot: Omorovicza Silver Saviour Mask

My favourite skincare brand, Omorovicza, recently added Silver Saviour to their mask line-up, which I mentioned in this post. Now that I have been using it for around six weeks, I'm ready to share my thoughts with you!

My favourite luxury lipsticks...

Luxury lipsticks are like Pringles - once you pop, you just can't stop! It's only in the last 3 years or so that I've really gotten into lipsticks, prior to that I was primarily a lip gloss lover with the odd MAC lipstick thrown in. I think I used to associate lipsticks with dry lips and the packaging didn't excite me but things have changed a lot since then! I'm now a full time lipstick lover, particularly luxury lipsticks. I love aesthetically pleasing packaging and the lipsticks that I'm going to share with you today couldn't be any more gorgeous but more than that, the product inside the packaging is equally as beautiful!

The hype is real #1 Drunk Elephant T.L.C Sukari Babyfacial

Welcome to a new series on the blog - the hype is real! As you know, there are products that are very hyped in the beauty community - some with good reason and some because they have a big PR budget! I want to share the products that I believe live up to the hype surrounding them but would love to hear your thoughts too because obviously things don't work out the same way for everybody due to having different skin types, age, requirements etc. Today I am starting with Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder Vs Genius Magic Powder. Do you need both?

As regular readers will know, I have dry skin and that means that I avoided powders for years as they just aged my skin and generally made my makeup look cakey. I don't necessarily need a powder to make my base last longer but I do find that my base looks more polished when I finish it with a powder. I had more or less given up on the idea of finding one that would work on my skin and that I could use regularly until my lovely friends Leanne, Dorota and Dagmara gave me Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder for my birthday last year and I loved it instantly - so much, in fact, that I'm am now on my third one! When Charlotte Tilbury Genius Magic Powder was released, I didn't 'need' it but I wanted it so today I want to share my thoughts on both with you.

The Huda Beauty products worth the hype & those that deserve more hype!

Huda Beauty is Cult Beauty's November Brand Of The Month, which means that there is free international shipping on all orders - the perfect time to place an order if you are lusting after a Huda product. Huda Kattan is the lady behind the brand who has turned her passion for beauty into an international makeup empire through dedication and hard work. I love reading stories about when she started out with her first product, which was her lashes - she and her sisters packed them for shipping themselves and her sister invested some savings to help Huda get the brand going - I personally love hearing success stories like this. I know that it is a very hyped brand but I feel that some of her products can be overlooked. I have tried most products from the brand so today I want to share with you what I think is worth the hype and the products that deserve more hype!

My current most reached for makeup

Despite having a ridiculously large makeup collection, I have been sticking to the same products repeatedly recently. I've had a real dip in my health in the last while so I haven't really had the energy or enthusiasm to play with makeup and I'm just sticking to the products that I know I love and I can create a quick and easy glowing look that hides how crap I'm really feeling! It might seem like a lot of products but it honestly takes me under 10 minutes to apply everything.

My current most worn perfumes

Literally not a day passes where I don't wear perfume - I really am a fragrance addict! Even on duvet days, I will still wear perfume because it always makes me feel better and perks me up. I was one of those kids that tried making perfume from rose petals and other flowers in the garden and I loved if my Mam let me have a spray of her perfume! I own over 30 bottles, which I know is ridiculously excessive but I always receive perfume for my birthday and Christmas and because I wear it daily, none go to waste as I finish a number of bottles every year.   Today I want to share the perfumes that I am reaching for most often at the moment. I finished two summer fragrances at the end of August and am not quite at the rich Winter fragrance stage yet so these are perfect for in between seasons - who am I kidding, they're gorgeous no matter what time of year it is! 

Want a honeymoon glow? Farmacy Honeymoon Glow Review

People talk about a bridal glow and honeymoon glow but I can tell you that I certainly wasn't glowing on my honeymoon! We went to Italy for just over 3 weeks and I had a full relapse in my health a few days in so we had to cancel and leave after around a week when it was obvious that it wasn't just a blip, so to say that I was far from glowing is an understatement! Maybe if I'd had Farmacy Honeymoon Glow in my collection at that time, I would have at least looked well even if I didn't feel it!

Five face masks that give instant or overnight results

With most skincare products, results can only be seen with consistent use over a number of weeks/months but I find that face masks can give instant results. Undoubtedly, the results are improved over time but I find that there are some face masks that I can depend on for a 'quick fix' if my skin is looking dull/congested/dehydrated and I want to share them with you today!

The best Alpha-H products for sensitive skin! Cult Beauty Brand Of The Month

When Alpha-H Liquid Gold hit our shores, everyone went crazy for it and with good reason - it gives overnight results, but lots of people hear the word 'acid' and their toes curl, especially those with sensitive skin. I have dry, reactive/sensitive skin and I have been using Alpha-H products for a few years without any problems or reactions so I thought I'd share my top picks with you today. Alpha-H is Cult Beauty's Brand Of The Month for October, which means that there is free international shipping on all products until the 31st so if anything catches your eye, now is the time to order!

Sleep in a bottle? L'Occitane Overnight Reset Serum

Sleep is something that really makes a noticeable difference to my skin but it's something that most people don't get enough of. If I have a few late nights or restless nights/broken sleep etc, it always shows in my skin so if a product claims to mimic the effect of a good night's sleep, I need it in my life! When I heard about L'Occitane Overnight Reset Serum, I was instantly intrigued.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Liquid Concealer VS The Retoucher

A couple of months ago when Too Faced released a second concealer, I did a comparison post (here) so when I bought Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Concealer, it occurred to me that I should do a similar post because most people will purchase one, but not both concealers. Because Charlotte Tilbury is Cult Beauty's September's Brand Of The Month, there is free worldwide shipping on all products so I thought it was a good time to do this post!

Charlotte Tilbury skincare review - Cult Beauty's Brand of The Month

I think we've established at this stage that I'm a huge fan of Charlotte Tilbury makeup (posts here, here and here for example) but I rarely talk about her skincare products. Because Charlotte Tilbury is Cult Beauty's Brand Of The Month for September, which means there is free international shipping on all orders, I thought it was the perfect time to discuss her skincare range.

The products that have me *almost* excited for Autumn!

Can you believe that tomorrow is the first day of September? In some ways the summer has flown by but in others, it feels like we really had a long summer as the good weather pretty much started in May. Regardless, we can't stop the hands of time and with Autumn almost upon us, I have been thinking about the products that I want to put into rotation over the coming months (not too soon though because I go on holiday next weekend!). I have a selection of nails and makeup and when I look at these colours, I am *almost* excited for the change in season!

My updated Charlotte Tilbury lipstick collection with swatches

Hands up if you're a member of #charlottetilburyaddictsanonymous?  I am but I guess it isn't very anonymous given that I'm sharing my lipstick collection with you today! This idea really only came to me when I bought a Charlotte Tilbury lipstick holder during her summer sale and realised that I should have bought two because they don't all fit in one! I'm only talking about traditional lipsticks today because I only own one of her liquid lipsticks and if I'm honest, I never wear it so it's going into my clear out pile that I'm gathering this week as I know that somebody will like it and wear it more than I do.

Forget botox! Four brilliant Hyaluronic Acid Serums

Hyaluronic Acid is a powerful humectant, which makes it a key ingredient for all skin types as we age to keep skin looking firm and plump. I use hyaluronic acid products on a daily basis and couldn't imagine what my skin would look like without using H.A. products! I always maintain that it is better to pay more for your serum than moisturiser as serums do more work as they penetrate the skin more deeply. I have four Hyaluronic Acid serums to share with you today, with prices ranging from £36 to £75. Obviously, you don't need all four - I'm a skincare junkie and enjoying trying lots of products!

Post heatwave skin recovery featuring Omorovicza, Charlotte Tilbury & more!

Now that the intense heatwave has finally left us, it's time to deal with the consequences! Congestion, dullness and dehydration are some of the issues that we are left to deal with so I wanted to share the products that I find most effective in dealing with these issues.

The foundations for dry skin edit

When you have dry skin, finding the right foundation can be tricky because some can accentuate the dryness, which in turn ages the skin. Some foundations go patchy where they cling to dry patches, leaving a mottled look on the skin and others sink into the crevices of the face and highlight fine lines. I've always had dry skin and have bought so many foundations that just didn't work for me but I have a nice selection to choose from now that I'm sharing with you today with varying degrees of coverage and types of finish. Of course, primer plays a part too but I know not everyone likes to use primers so I will do a separate post on those.

MAC x Patricia Bright & MAC x Jamie Genevieve limited edition lipsticks

After the success of their previous influencer collaboration, MAC have teamed up with two new beauty youtubers to release two new limited edition lipsticks. They go on sale today and are exclusive to Selfridges, MAC Freestanding Stores and online. The two youtubers involved are Jamie Genevieve and Patricia Bright. These lipsticks are bound to sell like hot cakes so if you like the look of either (or both), you need to act fast! Read on for my thoughts on the lipsticks and swatches.

Five favourites from Hourglass

Every month, Cult Beauty has a Brand Of The Month, which means that there is free worldwide delivery on all products from that brand. This month, it's Hourglass - a brand that I love so I wanted to share my five favourite products with you. It wasn't easy to narrow it down to just five, especially as some amazing new products were released recently but because they are so new, I couldn't legitimately call them favourites.... yet!! This post isn't sponsored - I just wanted to share because I think the free international shipping is a good deal!

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA - a dupe for Sunday Riley Good Genes?

I've raved about Sunday Riley Good Genes a few times previously on the blog (here and here, for example!) because I find it so effective on my skin. I can feel it eating away the dead skin cells and my skin is always left feeling smooth with refined pores and looking radiant when I use it. When I finished my recent bottle of Good Genes, I found that I couldn't repurchase it as it has been taken off the market to be reformulated to comply with EU regulations. I have to admit that I was gutted and I only have a few sample sachets left. I looked into what I might be able to use as an alternative and decided to give The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA a go. Is it a dupe? Read on! 

Do you need both Too Faced Born This Way Concealers?

When I saw that Too Faced were releasing a second concealer in the Born This Way line, I was very curious. At first I thought that the original Naturally Radiant Concealer might be discontinued but it isn't and the two concealers are pretty different so I want to share my thoughts on whether you need both with you today. 

Anti-Ageing Hero Products

I want to start this post by saying that I am not anti ageing - I believe that ageing is a privilege. That being said, I like to keep my skin looking as plump and youthful as possible. I personally don't have botox or fillers but don't judge anybody who does have those treatments - never say never, but for now I am happy to keep the signs of ageing at bay with effective skincare products. I want to keep my skin looking its best for as long as possible and so far, so good.  Today I want to share some hero products with you - products that actually make a difference and are worth the money. This is going to be quite a long post as I have lots to share with you!

The bronzer edit featuring theBalm, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Becca, Marc Jacobs and more!

I actually didn't realise how many bronzers I had in my collection until it came to writing this post and this doesn't include those in palettes - I guess I'm a bit of a bronzer addict! For years, I only ever used either one of two bronzers: Nars Laguna or MAC Refined Golden. I honestly couldn't tell you how many times I repurchased those two. Since then, curiosity has gotten the better of me and I've also made new brand discoveries and once I like one product from a particular brand, I then want to try more so I will usually go on to try a highlighter or bronzer as they are two products that I use daily throughout the year. I love how a touch of bronzer adds warmth and dimension to my face - some I use to contour, some to add some life and some to bronze when my foundation is a little too light for my skin. I also love to use bronzer on my eyes on lazy makeup days! Today I want to share my collection with you and my thoughts on each one. I know my collection is excessive and I basically don't need to buy another bronzer for the rest of my days and I'm definitely not saying that you need this many in your collection - one or two would really do the job but it is what it is! I would love if you could recommend your favourite bronzer brush to me as I don't have that I love!

Review & Swatches: Charlotte Tilbury Bar Of Gold Palette

I'm a highlighter addict and a huge fan of Charlotte Tilbury makeup (see Brand Focus post here) so it was inevitable that I would buy her newly released Bar Of Gold Palette. I've used all of her other highlighters: Filmstar Bronze & Glow, Hollywood Beauty Light Wand and Flawless Filter but every year when she released the individual limited edition Bar Of Gold, I somehow missed out. Therefore, I went into this purchase without any knowledge of whether that shade and formula would suit my skin but given that I love all of her other highlighters, I thought it wasn't too much of a risk.

Light summer base picks featuring Natasha Denona, IT Cosmetics & Omorovicza

Although the skies have been a bit overcast at times this week, it has still been warm and humid. Whether the days are sunny or cloudy, when it's warm, I will also go for a lightweight base because I don't want anything that feels heavy or looks too full in terms of coverage. I have three products that tick these boxes and that I will reach for when I want to wear some makeup.

My favourite discoveries of the year so far!

I cannot believe that it is June already - this year really is flying by! I like to do a mid-year check in with my beauty products and see what has really stood out to me over the past six months. As you can imagine, I try a lot of products so any that make it on to the list really have to be impressive! Surprisingly, I have more makeup than skincare products in this list but I guess that's because I have a good number of staples in my skincare routine so it takes a lot for something to overtake those.

My top 5 cleansing balms for all skin types!

Regular readers will know that I have dry skin and my favourite type of cleanser is a balm - they just suit my skin so well, leaving it soft, deeply cleansed but not stripped. I also find them nourishing and just an all round pleasure to use - I enjoy taking the time to massage them into my skin. I have tried so many over the years but have five favourites that I want to tell you about! All are available from Cult Beauty but this post is not sponsored.

How to buy luxury skincare for less!

Skincare is my thing and I don't mind spending on products that are effective. I get my love of skincare from my mother who has looks a lot younger than her 60+ years and she has had many compliments on how young her skin looks over the years. I don't think that you necessarily 'need' to use luxury skincare brands because a high price tag doesn't automatically mean that a product will work well or suit your skin, however I do find that luxury skincare brands tend to suit my skin very well in terms of effectiveness and with less irritation than some budget brands (due to less filler ingredients and more active ingredients). That being said, I do love a bargain or any kind of saving to be honest and I rarely pay full price for any skincare so I want to share my tips on how to buy luxury skincare for less with you today! This post is not sponsored - these are sites I use and also just what I do when I need to buy some skincare.

My Jo Malone collection

If ever there was a brand that screams luxury, it's Jo Malone. I adore the classic cream and black packaging that is featured on the bottles, bags and boxes and the scent combinations make the brand unique and special. I am lucky enough to have built up quite a collection (thanks to my generous husband and savings in Duty Free!) and I wanted to share it with you today!

My favourite overnight skincare products

Beauty sleep is not just a myth - night time is when our skin renews and repairs, so what we put on it is important! There is no SPF or makeup to compete with so the products we use can really get to work. Being the skincare junkie that I am, I have a number of products that I love to use and I want to share them with you today. For reference, I have dry skin with some areas of texture that is prone to being dull if I don't keep on top of my skincare routine!

My top picks from MAC & an amazing Gift With Purchase from Debenhams!

MAC was one of the first high end brands that I tried - maybe not as high end as YSL, Dior etc, but definitely a step up from the budget brands that I had previously used and all these years later, I still have a real soft spot for the brand! There is something about a MAC lipstick that gets me every time and I have quite a few in my collection. Today, I want to share some of my favourite products from the brand and also let you know about an amazing gift with purchase available from Debenhams when you spend £60 or more on MAC. 

The products worth placing a Sephora order for!

Up until a few years ago, those of us in the UK & Ireland could only dream about shopping in Sephora. Around 2015, they began shipping to the UK but there were restrictions on the brands that could be shipped. Since then, some of the previously U.S. only brands have hit our shores - Kat Von D, Too Faced and Anastasia Beverly Hills, to name a few, which means that there aren't very many brands that we can't get our hands on. That being said, there are still some brands that I think are worth placing a Sephora order for and with the Spring Sale returning this weekend, I thought I would share some of them with you today.

Aromatherapy Associates Bath & Shower Oil review

I've mentioned before on the blog that whilst I spend a lot on skincare, I tend to use budget bath and body products the majority of the time. However, when it's been one of those days (or weeks!), I feel that I deserve a little treat and I always reach for the most luxurious products in my stash and give myself a good pamper. This will always start with a bath because I find that is the best way for me to switch off and relax. An essential component of this is a nice bath oil and they don't come better than Aromatherapy Associates Bath & Shower Oils. This Miniature Bath & Shower Oil set would make an amazing gift because who isn't in need of a pamper every now & then? Also, it contains a variety of oils - some to help you relax, some to help decongest and other that help to revive so there is an oil for all issues! I want to talk you through my thoughts on the oils today and let you know my favourite that I will be purchasing the full size of.

My top five Pixi makeup products

Following on from Thursday's Top Five Pixi Skincare products post, I wanted to share my five favourite makeup products from the brand today! Now I will admit that I have tried more skincare than makeup from the brand so it wasn't too difficult to choose five! The packaging is very similar to the skincare products, which is green plastic with a clear lid when it comes to powder products - it's not particularly aesthetically pleasing but with the prices of the products, it's difficult to criticise! I also want to mention that Pixi is Cult Beauty's Brand Of The Month, which means that there is free international shipping on all products for the month of April.

My top five Pixi skincare products

Every month, Cult Beauty feature a Brand Of The Month, which means that there is free international shipping on that particular brand. For the month of April, Pixi is the Brand Of The Month so I thought that I'd share my top five skincare products from the brand! 

Budget beauty products that have really impressed me

Life is all about balance, right? I use a lot of high end products but sometimes, budget beauty really impresses me and today I want to share some of my favorites with you!

The Spring Beauty Edit

Apparently it's Spring - the weather just needs to catch up! With the change in season, I always like to switch up my makeup and I've been going through my stash this week, picking out products to put in my Muji drawers for everyday use. It's nice to put the berry lips and heavier base products away in favour of lighter, softer shades!

The best fake tan I have ever used: Loving Tan Deluxe Bronzing Mousse

I've been a fake tan fan for years and have tried almost every brand on the market from budget to high end, with very mixed results. Because I have dry skin, I tend to favour lotions over mousses as the latter are generally more drying. I always like a guide colour so that I can see where I am applying the product and I always make sure to exfoliate well before application to ensure an even colour. I'm pretty fussy when it comes to tan because I don't want to look orange (or green toned!), I want it to be easy to apply, to fade evenly and last a good 5 days. I have found a tan that ticks all of those boxes, and more! Loving Tan Deluxe Bronzing Mousse is the answer to all of my tanning prayers!

Holiday makeup picks: the New York edition!

Visiting New York has been on my bucket list for years and it's finally happening! We are flying out tomorrow morning, so today I want to show you the makeup that I'm bringing with me. I'm trying not to bring too much as I'm bound to buy some makeup in Sephora when I'm over there, but this is about as minimal as I get! I also focused on bringing products that aren't too heavy because I need to keep room and weight in my case for shopping! 

Five Favourites from Anastasia Beverly Hills

If you're a regular browser or shopper of Cult Beauty, you will know that each month, they have a Brand Of The Month, where they shine a light on a particular brand and offer free shipping worldwide for that month. For March, it is Anastasia Beverly Hills, which coincides with their three latest releases: Soft Glam Eyeshadow Palette, Bronzers and Amrezy Highlighter. If you read my Brand Focus post, you will know that I am a huge fan of Anastasia Beverly Hills and today I want to share my five favourite products with you!

The best products for tacking dull and textured skin & a Cult Beauty Discount Code!

Yesterday I told you that I have dry and irritated/reactive skin but guess what? They aren't my only skin concerns! My skin is also prone to being dull (something that can happen no matter what your skin type, but is particularly prevalent among those of us with dry skin) and I also have some texture issues (is there anybody without texture issues? If you've ever had spots, sun damage, visible pores then chances are you know what I'm talking about!). Today, I want to talk you through the products that I find very effective in tackling these issues. Again, I want to remind you about my 15% discount code: CBXBLYM valid until midnight on the 23rd Feb and to keep reading until the end for details on the giveaway!

The products I find most effective for tackling dry and irritated skin & Cult Beauty Discount Code!

I regularly post about my skincare favourites and skincare routine and will quite often get comments along the lines of 'you must have amazing skin' - the reality is that I don't! Because I have a chronic illness, my skin has suffered due to the illness itself but also the very harsh and strong meds that I take to combat it. I also have a problem with my stomach, which means that I have problems absorbing certain nutrients - those alongside central heating and the environmental factors that we all experience, means that I have skin issues that I need to work hard to combat - or need my products to work hard for me! Today I have teamed up with Cult Beauty to talk you through the products that I find most effective for tackling dry and irritated or reactive skin and tomorrow I will share the products that I find best for treating dullness and texture issues. I'm sure most of you are familiar with Cult Beauty, the one stop shop for all of the latest brand releases in all areas of beauty - I feel like I check the new section daily because they are always adding new brands that previously weren't easy for us to get our hands on on this side of the Atlantic - Kate Somerville being the latest - a brand I am really looking forward to exploring! I recommend signing up to the newsletter so you don't miss any new releases/sales or discount codes. I also have a 15% discount code CBXBLYM valid until midnight on the 23rd of Feb (with some brand exclusions but most of the products mentioned here today are not on the exclusion list but it's not just for skincare, it can be used on anything on site - see the end of the post for details on the exclusions ) and details of a competition so keep reading until the end for those! Also, make sure you are following Cult Beauty on Instagram because it's like a community on there and you can get great advice from their skincare experts, but also from fellow Cult Beauty customers, plus they regularly have amazing giveaways!