Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand Dupes

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

3 treats for 3 budgets....

It's that time of the month again, when some people get an itch to treat themselves to something and I have three fantastic products to share with you today, starting with a palette that is amazing value!

5 non-beauty loves.......

I rarely speak about my non-beauty loves on here, but there are plenty! Lifestyle is something I had planned on including more of in 2020 but that kinda fell by the wayside with the arrival of Covid and huge dip in my health - I'm basically still in lockdown! Hopefully 2021 is the year that I can include more of that category, but for now we'll settle for some non-beauty items that I've been loving! I'd also love your thoughts on Huggie Earrings as I have been thinking of buying some - basically, I'm thinking of adding some jewellery to my collection that I can wear on an everyday basis (so hoops are obviously out and I have diamond studs but don't wear those daily so I need something that isn't a huge statement but is still noticeable), with minimal makeup, nails done, brows tinted and some perfume, so that even if I feel rubbish and am in very casual clothes (or pjs), I still feel like me and don't just see an ill person when I look in the mirror! Do you think there's any age limit for wearing huggies without looking like you're a try-hard or past it? Anyway, on to my current non-beauty loves!

Drunk Elephant Firmy :The Day Kit

This set was kindly gifted to me.

Last week, I was lucky enough to receive two festive products - this Drunk Elephant Firmy The Day Kit* and an advent calendar, which I will review in the coming weeks. People may say that it's too early for anything to do with Christmas, but I think that this year, more than ever, we need the fun, festivities and frivolity that Christmas brings. As I said on Instagram, I am cognizant of the fact that there will be many tables around the country (and the world), with an empty space, or maybe even more than one, due to the pandemic and more, so please don't think that I am crass when I post about anything festive, but there have been times over this year, where I felt that my house might be one of those, so I am going to embrace everything Christmassy and as I told my mother, I'm going bigger and better than ever before, which she didn't think was possible, given that I am a huge Christmas fan as it is! Basically, I'm saying that I don't think we should judge others for celebrating any occasion to the max - it's been a tough year for all of us!

Kora Organics - do I look like Miranda Kerr yet?

These products were kindly gifted to me by Cult Beauty, without any obligation. 

Miranda Kerr hasn't aged since she first came on the scene back in the mid-noughties, despite having had two children. She looks as fresh faced as she's ever been! When she released her own line of organic, cruelty-free, results-driven skincare, powered by superfood extracts, named Kora Organics, I couldn't wait to get my hands on some products. It's a curated line, with 10 products in total and Cult Beauty kindly sent me four to test around five weeks ago and I want to share my thoughts with you today. Spoiler alert - I already want to buy the rest of the range!

Is Charlotte Tilbury Push Up Mascara worth the hype?

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

Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant Review

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

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

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

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

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

My top picks from the Omorovicza Hydro Mineral Collection

Some products were gifted to me, without obligation and are marked with a * below but I buy from this brand all of the time!

We all know by now that Omorovicza is my favourite skincare brand and I recommend that everyone tries some of their products, if they are within their budget. (My LYMIN code works for 20% off on Look Fantastic). I previously reviewed the Gold Collection here and the Silver collection here, so today it's the turn of the Hydro Mineral Collection. Rather than share everything fro the collection, I'm sharing my top picks. This collection is powered by their patented Healing Concentrate™, which makes it perfect for sensitive skin, but it is also aimed at firming and increasing the suppleness of the skin. There's something here for everyone! Some of these products were kindly sent to me (marked with * but I have purchased all of them myself several times over the past five years, since I first discovered this brand).

Covid - six months on. My update.....

Have you entered my Pat McGrath giveaway here? It ends at midnight tonight!

When the news started trickling in about Coronavirus at the beginning of the year, I really didn't think that we, as a world, would still be talking about it all these months later. I definitely didn't expect that I would be sharing my story 6 months on, but here we are....

New in my skincare stash....

Have you entered my Pat McGrath giveaway here?

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

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

Have you entered my Pat McGrath giveaway here?

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

L'Occitane Limited Edition Happy Cherry Collection

Regular readers will know how much I adore L'Occitane*, so when they release any new products, it excites me! Their most recent release is a new twist on their Cherry Blossom range, called Happy Cherry Blossom, which is limited edition and usually sells out quickly. I was kindly sent products from the range, which I want to share with you today. 

3 treats for 3 budgets

Have you entered my Pat McGrath giveaway here?

I skipped my monthly 3 treats for 3 budgets post in July because I was on my blogging break but thought I'd bring it back this month. I know during lockdown, people were either shopping a lot more or not at all, whereas now I think things are a little more 'normal' in some respects and are possibly treating themselves a little now. I have three great products for three budgets so let's get into it.....

OPI Muse of Milan Collection...... giving me Autumn vibes

These nail polishes were kindly gifted to me without any obligation.

Have you entered my Pat McGrath giveaway here?

In my head, we're still in March but in reality, we're almost in Autumn and that's exactly what popped into my head when I saw the stunning new OPI Muse of Milan Collection. OPI are known for their destination collections, so to get inspiration for this range, they travelled to beautiful Milan and immersed themselves in the culture - food, architecture, style and more. This happened before the pandemic began, which claimed so many lives from the area so it is fitting that this launch is in honour of Milan and also, the spirit of the city - who remembers seeing videos of people meeting on their balconies in the evenings to sing and play music, in Milan and its surrounding areas? That spirit, during what was probably the worst time of their lives, inspired other countries around the world. The collection contains 12 shades, in a variety of finishes and I want to talk you through them today. 

Bon Voyage Discovery Box

Have you entered my Pat McGrath giveaway here?

I know that there's a green list of countries that are supposed to be safe to travel to, but I personally wouldn't risk flying anywhere until at least next year because as much as the lure of some heat in my bones tempts me, I'm still very ill and wouldn't take a chance of being on a flight or in a hotel, or general vicinity, of any Covidiots. Apart from missing lying by a pool, one of the things I really enjoy about going on holiday, is Duty Free shopping! In fact, I usually time my purchase of some of my favourite serums around holidays and flying to see my husband's family. Because that's not possible this year (for so many of us), I was delighted to hear about Beauty Boat*. This is a new, virtual pop-up shop, which has been launched to fill the void for those of us who aren't travelling abroad and therefore, not travelling through Duty Free, this year. It offers up to 30% off best-selling luxury brands and to celebrate, it has launched a Bon Voyage Discovery Box.

My DIY Image skincare facial

Have you entered my Pat McGrath giveaway here?

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

Potion Paris - the discovery set

This set was kindly gifted to me without any obligation.

Have you entered my Pat McGrath giveaway here?

I was very excited when I received an email about Potion Paris* because I'm a fragrance addict and the more I read about this brand, the more it appealed to me. The brand has taken fragrance back to its roots, with toxin-free ingredients. I personally dislike fragrances that smell really synthetic so I was really looking forward to smelling the perfumes. Not only this, but the brand is committed to sustainability with a return, refill and repeat programme (which I'll discuss more later), it also works in partnership with One Tree Planted, planting one tree for every purchase of one of its Box or Collection Sets. I was kindly sent The Discovery Sampler Set, which consists of 7 2ml eau de parfum vials, housed beautifully and a £20 gift voucher to redeem against any of their Box Sets.

Five products I'm currently loving...

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

Have you entered my Pat McGrath giveaway here?

It's a while since I showed you my current most used and most loved products. I always narrow it down to five - otherwise, we could be here all day!

Omorovicza Gold Collection Review

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

Have you entered my Pat McGrath giveaway here?

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

Pat McGrath Bundle Giveaway!

As many of you will know, Pat McGrath recently had a sale and I adore her products - she really is the ultimate Queen of makeup, so I decided to buy a selection to do a giveaway! One of you will win a mini lip balm trio, some single shadows and a mini palette.

Natasha Denona Bronze Palette - worth the hype?

I'm not even going to try to make any excuses for buying this palette - no, I didn't need it but yes, I wanted it! Life's too short not to treat yourself (within reason - it's an eyeshadow palette, not a car!). I'm glad that this is one of her smaller palettes, which makes it more accessible to most people - I'd imagine that this size and her mini palettes are her bestsellers now. As soon as I saw the preview of this palette, there was no doubt it would be mine as bronze shadows really make my green eyes pop, but actually bronze is a shade that suits eye colours so I doubt there's anyone who wouldn't enjoy this palette. So, ladies and gentlemen, let's get into my thoughts on the Natasha Denona Bronze Eyeshadow Palette. There are other products in the line (a face palette and lip glosses but none appealed to me, thankfully for my bank balance!).

Some great black owned brands you need to try!

Since the murder of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter protest/issue has really garnered traction, worldwide. It has made us all aware that it is not sufficient to just not be a racist but to be actively anti-racist. It is still a subject I am trying to educate myself on through books and documentaries/films, but I don't know if I will ever know enough, it will be a constant education. Sal from Ummbaby wrote a post about Black Owned Body-Care Products that she discovered on Black Pound Day, which is a day on which people are encouraged to spend their money only on black owned brands. I discovered some great products through her post, all of which I want to buy! Today, I want to share some of my favourite black owned brands that I love and use in the hope that you might find something that you might want to buy. I bought the majority myself, but two were sent to me without any obligation to post, but are marked with a * for transparency.

Pixi Clarity Collection review

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

L'Occitane Verbena Collection - happy, summer vibes!

All.of these products were gifted to me without obligation.

Every year, I look forward to the L'Occitane Verbena Summer Collection - I love the original but in summer, they add products with a twist. I was lucky enough to be sent a selection of some of the products but I know I'll buy some more because even if the weather doesn't agree, it is actually summer and this collection makes me believe that it is! Plus the scents remind me of my childhood in my Granda's garden as he grew mint, lemon balm and lemon verbena. I should show some photographs of his garden on here sometime as he was a landscaper by trade and from above his front lawn was a horseshoe shape with a Chinese gate at the bottom, with ponds, water features and a fairyland. It was a good few acres but the front lawn was my favourite as it had so many types of rose, full of fragrance.

Review & Swatches: Inglot X Maura

Did you watch Love Island last summer? Without Maura Higgins, it would have been the most boring series yet (well, the winter one earlier this year was pretty awful because it needed someone like Maura in it!). I liked her instantly - I'm biased because I'm Irish, but she's straight-talking, up for a laugh and doesn't take herself too seriously, and that's my kind of person. I also loved her makeup and when she came out of the villa, she showed what was in her makeup bag, joking that she didn't really know what she was doing but she always look immaculate - fresh faced, nothing too heavy and well groomed. I'll be honest, I didn't know about this collaboration until I woke to an email confirming my order - I had started new medication and the first night, I slept-shopped! I opened the Boots app and ordered some products without any recollection of doing so - the next morning, I ordered some more. It's hard to find swatches of everything online, which is annoying as I'd like to order some lip liners but haven't seen any swatches. You'll be happy to know that I'm no longer sleep-shopping (although I did some sleep walking!) but my body is used to the meds now - saying that I put my phone in a drawer at night as the damage could have been a lot greater if I'd opened a different app! Sleepy Siobhán chose well though!

My DIY Emma Hardie Facial

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

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

What I did on my blogging break.....

Well, hello there! It seems like it's been so long since I last typed a post as even though it's only two-ish weeks since I last had a post live, that was written around a week in advance of posting. I'd like to say that this feels strange but actually, it doesn't and it feels good to be posting again. If you're wondering why I took a break, I wrote a post explaining here. To be honest, I am no better so whilst I'm posting today, I don't plan to post as regularly as previously and will take breaks here and there because my body is really struggling but this is not a quick fix situation and if I were to wait until I am completely over this relapse, it could be next year before I post again! So my plan is to ease myself back into it, without any pressure. So, what did I do on my break?

Weekly DIY Facial #6

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

It's time to take a break....

That title probably sounds quite dramatic and it's not meant to be! If you've read my blog for any amount of time, you are probably aware of the fact that I have Chronic Lyme Disease (posts here). It's 20 weeks today since I also fell ill with proper flu, then I contracted Covid, flu again and then tonsillitis with a constant sinus infection thrown in for good measure. Because of my poor immune system and pre-existing illness, Covid wasn't a 14 day event for me. I am still very ill, despite being on medication for months (my GP is excellent), I am in extreme pain and hugely fatigued (among many other symptoms). I am telling you this, not for sympathy, but to explain why I'm taking a break for around a fortnight. My GP has been constantly telling me to rest and despite the fact that my blog is a hobby, which I do from my bed or the sofa, it does require effort.

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

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

Which Omorovicza Serum is best for you?

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

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

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

10 things I won't miss about lockdown....

Have you entered my NAYA skincare bundle here?

A fortnight ago, I wrote about how I felt about coming out of lockdown as someone who is still really ill and suffering the after effects of it (post here). I explained how anxious and unsafe I feel about coming out of lockdown but there are a few things I won't miss. This is quite tongue in cheek so don't take it personally if you enjoyed some of these things! Also, for the sake of balance, I've already written a post on 10 ways to enjoy (kinda) lockdown here.

Weekly DIY Facial #5

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

Have you entered my NAYA skincare bundle here?

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

Has lockdown made you reassess how much you spend on professional beauty treatments?

Have you entered my NAYA skincare bundle here?

I must admit that the first person I'd like to see after lockdown is completely lifted (and when safe to do so), is my hairdresser! I don't think that I'm too high maintenance in the beauty treatment stakes - I have only ever had my nails done twice in my life - just after we got engaged and for our wedding, and even then it was just a french manicure - no gels, acrylics, powders or whatever other form they come in! I can't remember the last time I went for a facial or a spray tan, but I do get waxed - purely because I don't think I could do that to my delicate parts myself! I also used to get my brows done, but this will now change......

My favourite discoveries from the first six months of 2020

Have you entered my NAYA skincare bundle here?

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

3 treats for 3 budgets

All of these products were kindly sent to me.

Have you entered my NAYA skincare bundle here?

I put myself on a spending ban (apart from essentials) this month because I just felt like Ii needed to focus on using products up, which I am pretty good at (as you'll know if you watch my stories), but I felt I could do better. I have been VERY tempted on some days and I can't promise that I won't be buying Charlotte Tilbury's new bronzer before the end of the month (although I really am sick of how the brand keeps churning out products - I know that most bloggers wouldn't say that out loud because they don't want to dumped off her PR list but even the most die-hard fans must be sick of the constant 'magic' products at the stage!) Don't get me wrong, she has some products that no others can compare to but I just think that with any brand, when they constantly release products, they don't feel special - what do you think? That said, it's still the one product really testing my willpower this month as I adore her other powder products! I like to buy something beauty-wise each month and, like I always say, you really don't need to spend an awful lot to find a treat that will make you feel better and maybe boost your mood - we all need a treat sometimes!

My top picks from Look Fantastic with 20% off!

Have you entered my NAYA skincare bundle here?

As you may or may not know (although I do mention it in every relevant post!), I have a discount code with Look Fantastic, which is valid until the end of this month (although I am hoping that they might kindly extend it further - fingers crossed). The code is LYMIN and it works on a vast range of products but today I wanted to share my top ten brands that I think it is worth using it on as 20% is a big saving (it was supposed to be reduced to 15% a few months ago but that didn't happen so who are we to complain?).  If anything catches your eye, act fast as there's only just over a week left with this code being valid for certain!

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: NAYA Antioxidant Defence Booster

One of my favourite brand discoveries last year was Naya* (blog post here) and they released a new product at the end of April, which I have been testing for around 8 weeks now. It's called Antioxidant Defence Booster* and it's quite a unique product as it's in powder form, designed to fit it with your current routine. *Spoiler alert* I have loved the results and Naya have kindly offered to give the Antioxidant Defence Booster* and their Everyday Glow Serum* as a prize to one of my readers so keep reading until the end to find out how to win!

How it feels to still be suffering the after effects of Covid when life is returning to normal for others

I first wrote about Coronavirus back in March (here) when we were in the early stages of lockdown and it was declared a pandemic. I then wrote about it a week later (here), giving tips on how to cope with lockdown, speaking as someone who has a long-term chronic illness, which has caused me to live the last almost 20 years of my life, under circumstances similar to lockdown. What I didn't realise at the time of writing those is that all these weeks later, I would still be feeling incredibly ill and suffering the after-effects of Covid (actually I'm still in the thick of it), while the world is starting to get back to normal. It's not a nice feeling, in fact, it's quite scary because I thought that by the time the world was opening up again, I would feel, not just better health-wise, but also safe.

Five current non-beauty favourites

It's not very often that I talk about non-beauty topics here on the blog but it's something I'd like to introduce more because there's obviously more to my life (and yours) than just beauty. I thought I'd start with sharing my current five favourite non-beauty products. In truth, my favourite non-beauty products right now are my painkillers because I am in obscene pain from morning until night! I often think about stopping blogging but it's my main distraction at the moment that helps me to focus on anything other than how unwell I am, so for now, I'll keep going but we'll see how I feel as the months progress as my GP has told me that my recovery will take a long time (anybody who has read my Lyme posts will know how difficult living with that it but to get Covid, flu and more in addition to that has been a real setback but I'm still as determined as ever to get back to full health). That being said, if I didn't blog, I'd probably just shop online so for the sake of my bank account, I'd be better off blogging! 

Huda Beauty new skincare brand Wishful - worth the hype?

I know that Huda can be quite a controversial character at times and I have to be honest, most blogger drama just goes right over my head so I couldn't really tell you what dramas she has been involved in. That said, I really like her makeup line so when she released some skincare products, I was quite surprised but also intrigued. I received a few samples of the Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub with some Cult Beauty orders and was very pleasantly surprised by it because it reminded me of an enzyme peel by Radical that I used to use. I was so impressed by the results of the few samples that I went on to purchase the full size - well actually the 40ml as I really like that she sells two sizes.I then purchased the Chin Lift Sculpting Mask and Thirst Trap Mask. Some I will be repurchasing and others, I won't, so let's get on with the review.

Weekly DIY Facial #4

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

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

Five Liquid Liners for watery eyes and oily lids

The Beauty Bakerie Eye liner was kindly sent to me.

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

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

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

Let's talk....... racism

Obviously, at this stage, we are all aware of the horrific, brutal murder of George Floyd by a police officer and because my posts are pre-scheduled, I didn't want you to think that I was glazing over the issue and not addressing it. I did post on my stories about it just after it happened, but this deserves a post of its own, because conversations need to be had. As we have all learned, it is not enough to not be racist, we have to be actively non-racist and fight for equality. We need to educate ourselves in order to try to comprehend what life is like for people of colour. As I said on my Instagram post, I had the privilege of growing up in a small Irish village, raised in a house that didn't recognise ourselves as being better than anybody, regardless of creed, colour, education, profession etc. I feel that this upbringing has stood me in good stead for life. I'm sure that a lot of you reading this were raised this way too but what we may not have understood prior to recent weeks is that this is a privilege that we may have taken for granted (possibly without even knowing or being aware of it). 

Fenty Beauty cream cheek products - worth the hype?

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

My Weekly At Home Facial #3 The hormonal edit!

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

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

Hourglass Veil Eye Primer VS Nars Pro Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base

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

Taking care of your scalp

We take care of the skin on our face and body so it makes sense that we should do the same with our scalps, right? But when you think about it, most of use neglect this area, just taking care of our hair with shampoo, conditioner and hair masks/treatments (if we're lucky!), but not really our scalps. The weather, central heating, illness, products and stress can all have adverse reactions on our scalps to today I want to share three products with you that I think work brilliantly. You don't need all three but they all work in different ways.

Nars Afterglow Palette review & Swatches

It's quite a while since I bought a Nars eyeshadow palette - not for any particular reason as they release beautiful ranges every year but I just own so many palettes and last year, put myself on a 'palette ban' of sorts (I did ok - bought three in total over the 12 months, I think). Earlier this year, I did a massive cull and gave friends and teenage girls I know, a pile of makeup. This wasn't with the intention of replacing them at all but when I first saw the Nars Afterglow Palette, it really caught my eye and then when I saw Laura's post on the palette, that was it, I had to order it! Serendipitously, Space NK sent an email offering £10 off my next order so I took that as a sign and went ahead and ordered the palette! It's limited edition and sold out in a lot of places so if you want to get your hands on it, don't delay!