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| Image source: Drreamstime.com |
I hope you all had a lovely Christmas, despite it being different from other years, or Christmas as we know it? I didn't want to let the end of the year pass with some refection on 2020 - in terms of the pandemic, the blog, my health and also my hopes for 2021.
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| 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....
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| 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....
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| 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......
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| 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.
I thought this might be a fun idea for a post - we've been in & out (more in than out) of lockdown for most of 2020 and I was wondering what product has kept you sane/you've gotten most use out of/has been most needed? I could probably list several, but wanted it to be just one product, however I'm cheating on my own post, and naming two!
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| 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....
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| 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....
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| 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.
You didn't think that I was finished with the gift guides, did you? I'm a Christmas fanatic and want to give you as many ideas as possible, but this is the final one, featuring products from Cult Beauty*. Don't forget that everyone who engages regularly with my content, both here and on Instagram, is in with the chance to win some prizes later this month. This gift guide is a little different from the others, as everything is from one site, Also, there are no sets here, just individual products that I think you will love. This post is not sponsored, however the products have been provided by my friends at Cult Beauty, without any obligation. Finally, I wanted to tell you that I bought the Advent Calendar this year and am showing you the products each morning on my Instagram stories and there is a discount on the site for whichever brand is in the box each day, which is fantastic!
If you've been reading my gift guides, you've probably wondered why I haven't included any Charlotte Tilbury products, which is unusual because every other year, I've always featured some gorgeous products from the brand. The reason is, this year, I wanted to dedicate a whole post to the brand. This post includes both products that I have bought myself, but also some that have been kindly gifted to me, which will be marked with a *. As with my other gift guides, some of these products will be donated, but also some will be prizes for people who actually engage with my content, both here and on Instagram - follow/unfollowers will be blocked. There is something for all budgets here and, of course, the packaging is decadent and luxurious - the dream to find under the tree!
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| 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.
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| None of these products were gifted to me. |
I'll be honest, I hadn't really planned on doing a gift guide for men, but I had a few messages and comments asking if I would, so I did an Instagram poll and an overwhelming majority (81%) of those who answered, said yes! So, here we are! It won't be as comprehensive as my other gift guides as I have had less time to plan, but I still hope it gives you some ideas! None of these products have been gifted to me and I hope my husband doesn't read this as some of the gifts are for him!
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| Anything marked with a * has been kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
I don't know about you, but I have been completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of emails in my inbox, offering savings for Black Friday - which isn't just one day, it seems to have been running for half the month! I've had to unsubscribe from some, because it was just too much! Don't get me wrong, I love a good bargain, but everyone and their mother seemed to be cramming my inbox (some, I wondered how they'd even gotten my email address!) and it was almost giving my anxiety! That said, there are some really good deals out there and if you don't have your shopping done already, now is the time! Today, I want to share with you the codes/brands/sites that I will actually be using, that are offering good discounts n current products. This post isn't sponsored (I never do sponsored posts, but anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, without obligation).
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| Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
Welcome to my non-beauty gift guide! As you know I am still doing a giveaway this year, but in a different format - I have decided that I will pick random commenters, both here and on Instagram, to receive a prize, but a lot of the items in these gift guides, will be going to homeless shelters and frontline workers, unless they are ones that I have specifically bought for family myself. I hope that you will agree that this is a fair way of doing things this year - I want people who actually engage with my content to win a prize. Now, on to the gift guide! As always, discount codes will be included, if available.
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| Anything that was kindly gifted to me is with obligation and marked with a * |
Welcome to day five of my gift guides! Today, the category is palettes - you know I have a weakness for them! I usually do a giveaway at the end of my gift guides, but if you've read any of the posts this week, you will know that, this year, I have decided that I will pick random commenters, both here and on Instagram, to receive a prize, but a lot of the items in these gift guides, will be going to homeless shelters and frontline workers, unless they are ones that I have specifically bought for family myself. I hope that you will agree that this is a fair way of doing things this year - I want people who actually engage with my content to win a prize. Now, on to the gift guide! As always, discount codes will be included if I can find them!
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| Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
I hope that you're enjoying my gift guides and finding them useful! I love putting them together as this is my favourite time of year. Today's one is all about fragrance and candles, room sprays and a diffuser. As you know, this year's giveaway is different - I have decided that I will pick random commenters, both here and on Instagram, to receive a prize, but a lot of the items in these gift guides, will be going to homeless shelters and frontline workers, unless they are ones that I have specifically bought for family myself. I hope that you will agree that this is a fair way of doing things this year - I want people who actually engage with my content to win a prize. Now, on to the gift guide!As with all of my gift guides, if I can find a discount code I'll include it.
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| Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
Welcome to day three of my gift guides and, today, the category is £50+, and then, over the next few days, I will have separate posts for fragrance and candles, palettes and, finally, non-beauty. I usually do a giveaway at the end of my gift guides, but all too often I find, that people follow and comment for a few weeks, just to try to win and then whether they win, or not, they unfollow, so this year, I have decided that I will pick random commenters, both here and on Instagram, to receive a prize, but a lot of the items in these gift guides, will be going to homeless shelters and frontline workers, unless they are ones that I have specifically bought for family myself. I hope that you will agree that this is a fair way of doing things this year - I want people who actually engage with my content to win a prize. Now, on to the gift guide! As always, I'll include any discount codes that I can find.
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| Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, without obligaton. |
Welcome to day two of my gift guides. I have something for all budgets, and today, the category is £25-50, and it will continue according to budget for the next few days, then I have separate posts for fragrance and candles, palettes and, finally, non-beauty. I usually do a giveaway at the end of my gift guides, but due to the follow/unfollow game that people play, I'm not doing that this year. Instead, I have decided that I will pick random commenters, both here and on Instagram, to receive a prize, but a lot of the items in these gift guides, will be going to homeless shelters and frontline workers, unless they are ones that I have specifically bought for family myself. I hope that you will agree that this is a fair way of doing things this year - I want people who actually engage with my content to win a prize. Now, on to the gift guide! I will include any discounts that I can find.
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| Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
I know that it may seem early to be bringing you gift guides, but with Black Friday next week, there will hopefully be some good deals, plus with social distancing and nothing being the same as other years, I know that lots of people are doing their shopping early! I have something for all budgets, starting today, with under £25 and it will continue according to budget for the next few days, then I have separate posts for fragrance and candles, palettes and, finally, non-beauty. I usually do a giveaway at the end of my gift guides, but all too often I find, that people follow and comment for a few weeks, just to try to win and then whether they win, or not, they unfollow. Last year, I was on a pre-Christmas break in Rome, when I had a message from a giveaway winner, asking if I had posted her prize, I replied that I had but was on holiday so couldn't track it. She messaged the next day to say that she had received it and then proceeded to unfollow me. That left a bad taste in my mouth, as it wasn't the first time that it had happened, so this year, I have decided that I will pick random commenters, both here and on Instagram, to receive a prize each, but a lot of the items in these gift guides, will be going to homeless shelters and frontline workers, unless they are ones that I have specifically bought myself for family. I hope that you will agree that this is a fair way of doing things this year - I want people who actually engage with my content to win a prize. Now, on to today's gift guide! In each gift guide, there will be a mixture of products, which I bought myself (for gifts or maybe for myself!) and some products, which were kindly sent to me, without obligation to post. Anything sent to me will be marked with a *. I personally don't think that gifts under £25 are stocking fillers, like some people do. I think they are complete gifts and I have some great ones in this post. Also, if I have any discount codes, I will include them.
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| This cute parcel was kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
Becca* is a brand that instantly makes me think of glowing skin, which is what I live for - healthy, glowing skin is always my aim! The brand recently arrived at Look Fantastic*, and what's even better, is that my LYMIN code will save you 20% on all products from the brand! To celebrate the brand's arrival, they kindly sent me the cute lollipops in the photo above and a full size Prosecco Pop from their Shimmering Skin Perfectors*. This was originally only available in the original Jaclyn Hill palette, which I featured in a Becca Brand Focus post here.
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| These mascaras were kindly gifted to me, without obligation * |
I don't know where you are in the world, but where I am, the weather is drab and we're in lockdown, so anything that will help to lift the spirits can only be a good thing! Lime Crime* is a brand that I associate with bold colours and bright makeup, so I was delighted to see their new range of mascaras in not just black, but also a blue, purple and green shade too. Now, I remember my Auntie wearing blue mascara back in the day and I thought it was super cool, but that was the '80s and '90s - I wondered if I'd wear it today!
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| 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!
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| 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.
I'm not sure where you are in the world, but I think the majority of us are in lockdown, or at least with higher restrictions than in recent months. The numbers have been climbing, and as much as many people dreaded another lockdown (I'm not one of them by the way - I feel safer in lockdown), there isn't really any alternative - especially if we want any sort of Christmas that we are used to. It won't be like last year or previous Christmases, for that matter, due to the nature of how the virus spreads, but we have to make the best of it and stick to the rules or we could still be in the same position, this time next year - perish the thought! So here's what I'm doing in lockdown....
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| 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.
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| These lipsticks were kindly sent to me, without obligation. |
So, we're back in lockdown - but is anybody surprised? With the numbers rising, it was the only responsible thing for the government to do. I personally know of someone who died from it two weeks ago, so it brought it home to me how utterly terrifying the virus is. Whether we like it or not, masks are here to stay for the foreseeable future (well into next year, at the very least). I know that people don't like to wear them for a variety of reasons, but they are essential (there are some people who are exceptions to this rule, which I respect, but in general, the vast majority of people must wear a mask in public). Now, I know that until the beginning of December, we won't be venturing far, however we are allowed out within a limited km radius and if in a support bubble. Some people are happy to give their skin a break and not wear any makeup, others see no point, as it all comes off (it doesn't if you use the right products), but I have some lipsticks to share with you today that will.not.budge!
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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......
I own a lot of acid products and I really wonder how I managed before I ever started using them (probably only around 7 years ago), so when a new one comes on the market, I find it hard to resist buying it, particularly if it's from a brand that I already enjoy, or intrigues me. That is all basically me trying to justify why I bought Summer Fridays Soft Reset AHA Exfoliating Solution, when I already own so many acid products! I've tried two other products from this brand and have enjoyed both. I like when a brand doesn't just keep churning out products - this is a start up (well, relatively new) and they are gradually adding products to their line up. I have to say, at the outset, that this is a pricey product, at £49 for 100ml, so my expectations were high......
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| These products were kindly sent to me, without obligation. |
I feel like that there are some brands that I consistently say the same things about, but what can I say? If I love a brand, a new release excites me and I will want to try it. If I don't like any of the products I'll say so, but I know what I like and I'd be doing you, the brand and myself, a dis-service if I pretended not to like a product, just for the sake of (false) balance! Why am I saying all of this? Because one of my favourite brands, L'Occitane*, has released their festive collection*! If ever there was a collection made for me, this is it - their classic shea range is combined with mandarin and verbena, both of which are right up my street. I love uplifting, invigorating scents, but the thing with these is that they aren't too sharp and there is a hint of woodiness. I love everything about Christmas, however despite doing all of the baking of cakes, puddings, mince pies etc for my family, I'm not actually fan of anything cinnamon or clove scented, but I do associate mandarins with Christmas, because we always had one in our stockings as children and a big bowl of them in the kitchen, to try to balance the sweets and chocolates! They are so perfectly juicy at this time of year, and being a fan of anything citrusy, these L'Occitane* ranges are perfect for me! All products are available individually, but there are also some beautiful gift sets available too and I can tell you that I would love to find them under my tree!
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| These nails were kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
I keep seeing people online saying that Halloween is cancelled because of the Covid restrictions, but it really isn't - it's just going to be different this year. And, actually, the people moaning most about it being different are possibly those responsible for the fact that we are still in the position we're in - those who won't wear masks, those who have flouted the rules. What they don't grasp, is that the longer and more often they do that, the longer we will be in this position! As a person who has been ill and had her life restricted for over 20 years, I have some tips on staying sane with restrictions in place here, - there have been many times when I could have declared my life as being 'cancelled', due to the number of occasions I have missed, but if you want to celebrate something, you will find a way. Why am I saying all of this? Because, when I was growing up, we lived in a rural area, so there was no trick or treating, but we still had amazing Halloween celebrations....
Today's post is a little different. As a blogger, I'm very lucky to receive PR (but also very choosey in what I'll accept - it has to be a good fit for my readers, for me, and something that I'd be happy to spend my own money on). Not everyone acknowledges when a product was sent to them, but I always do. I don't do sponsored posts, so if I receive a product, it is without any obligation. Today, I want to share the products that I already have repurchased, or will repurchase as soon as I finish the product, which was originally received in P.R. There are many many more product than just those mentioned in today's post (Sunday Riley and Dermalogica are just two brands that spring to mind), but these are the products, which I currently have at the moment. If I have any discounts, I will include them, in case you want to buy anything I mention!
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| This was kindly gifted to me, without obligaition. |
Earlier this year, I was sent a limited edition Rose version of the Alpha-H Balancing Cleanser and I fell in love with it so quickly, that I immediately bought a backup! The original version was one of the first products produced by the brand, so to celebrate its 25th anniversary in business, they have released a Super Size (500ml) bottle of the Rose version, in collaboration with QVC*. This is strictly limited edition and only available for the month of October, or until stocks last, with a price tag of £32, reduced from £39.
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| Some products, kindly gifted, without obligation, marked with a * |
I remember the first time that I purchased some Dr Dennis Gross* products, and I really hesitated because they are expensive, but my mother has told me all of my life that skincare is an investment and she is right. No expensive makeup will look good, if your skin doesn't, plus when your skin looks good, you need less makeup so you make a saving there anyway! The first products I bought were the Alpha-Beta Peel Pads in Extra Strength* and I can't tell you how many times I have gone on to repurchase them since. I call them texture and blackhead erasers, but more about that later. I wanted to let you know that Cult Beauty's Brand Of The Month for October is Dr Dennis Gross (which means free international shipping on all orders), and talk you through some of my favourite products. Some of these products were gifted to me and are marked with a * but the rest were bought by me and some have also previously been bought by me. Dr. Dennis Gross is a U.S. based dermatologist and you really cannot beat a doctor's range as it's almost like a prescription for your skin (as long as you know your skin type).
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| Saint Laurent Uptown Clutch |
My intention in 2020 was to include more lifestyle posts but Covid put a stop to that, and pretty much everything else! I know lots of people were able to go on staycations, or even abroad, but I've been too ill to go anywhere. Hopefully 2021 will be the year that I start to introduce some lifestyle, but for now, I thought that I'd share with you one of my biggest loves, outside of beauty (although they are things of beauty!) - handbags! I'm not a fashion blogger and tend to spend most of my time in pyjamas these days so these are not styled posts, nor do I have a massive collection, but as both of these things change, I will share them on Instagram. I don't go for 'trend' bags, purely because I prefer classics that I will use time and time again. The Bottega Veneta clutch last year is one example of the kind of bag I wouldn't go for because it was very expensive but also, pretty obvious that it would date quickly. I can understand why fashion bloggers buy them because they are probably either gifted them, receive a press discount, or, simply, because it's their job to show the latest trends. The small number of bags that I own are ones that I will wear for years. If I can find any discounts, I will add them at the end, in case you are interested in buying any of them.
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| 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!
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| Image Source: We Heart It |
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| This calendar was very kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
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| This set was kindly gifted to me. |
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| These products were kindly gifted to me by Cult Beauty, without any obligation. |
