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| All of these products were kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
It's been a while since I reviewed any Pixi products, despite it being a brand that I use regularly, so I was delighted when the latest additions to the Collagen range were kindly sent to me. When I saw the sheet masks, I knew we were on to a winner because the other ones I tried from them were brilliant. How did I get on with the four products?....
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| The Moor Cream Cleanser and Rejuvenating Night Cream were kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
Last week, I shared my morning skincare routine (here) using only Omorovicza products and today, I'm sharing my evening routine, which features the brand exclusively and has a few more options. I also have a discount code - SIOBHAN10 and this can be used on all full price products to save 10%.
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| This foundation was kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
Luminous and matte - not two words that you often see together when describing a foundation. Normally, it's one or the other, or perhaps dewy or satin, so I was instantly intrigued when I received this foundation in the post. I reviewed the original All Hours foundation here, which really took me by surprise as full coverage foundations are not usually my type of base, but I loved how smooth it made my skin look. So how does the Luminous Matte version fare?
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| The Cushioning Day Cream was kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
It's no secret that I'm a HUGE Omorovicza fan, and although I am aware that the products are expensive, they just really work for my skin. I have a wide collection of their products in my stash, and use some most days but on days where I really feel like I need a pamper/treat, I will use the brand exclusively and pretend I'm at a salon. It really makes me feel better, but also leaves my skin looking amazing. Today, I want to share my morning routine with you, and next week I'll share my evening routine (which has a lot more decisions/choices!). If you want to buy any of the products featured in today's post, or anything else on site (full price, and not gift sets), then you can use my code SIOBHAN10 to save 10%.
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| All of these products were kindly gifted to me, without obligation to post. |
It will come as no surprise to regular readers that L'Occitane is one of my favourite brands - in terms of bath and body care, hair care, fragrance and skincare, so I was absolutely delighted to be sent some top ups from the Immortelle range, as well as some of the new products in the line. I adore this particular skincare line and think that out of all of the ranges within the brand, this is what suits me best as the products are extremely nourishing. The first product I tried from the range was in 2017 and it was love at first use (post here). Immortelle hails from the island of Corsica and is rich in anti-oxidants and anti-ageing ingredients. It is reparative, nourishing and increases the elasticity of the skin. That said, I think people of all ages would enjoy this line as there are different ranges now and the Precious range is for those who are beginning to see the signs of ageing. Let's get into the overview...
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| Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
Who doesn't want to wake up to better skin? I know that I love products that will work overnight to give me a visible difference the next day. Whether I'm ill and don't have the energy/inclination for a long routine, am short on time, my skin is looking dull or congested - these are the occasions that I need reliable products the most and I have six to share with you today!
If you're one of my OG blog readers, you'll know that I've been a huge fan of the brand Omorovicza since I first bought some products in 2015. Once I find a brand that suits my skin, I tend to stay pretty loyal to it and will always have some products in my stash, despite trying other brands and products both out of curiosity and for my blog. I know that some people are using masks less frequently than they used to, but for me, they are part of a ritual where I unwind, it's self-care, but also I love the effect they have on my skin. Of all brands that I have tried, Omorovicza is the one that I repurchase products from most often. They have five masks in total, all of which I have tried and I have repurchased several times. I only have four in my collection at the moment, which I am going to share my thoughts on with you today, and the fifth is reviewed here. What's even better is that I have a discount code to share with you all! SIOBHAN10 will get you a 10% discount code at checkout on all full priced items (apart from gift sets).
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| Both of these products were kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
I have consistently had a tube of Clarins Beauty Flash Balm in my collection since around the year 2000, and it was the only primer I used until I started blogging and was lured into the attraction of trying some other products. That being said, I always had a tube in my stash because I knew I could rely on it. Recently, it has been reformulated, and two other products were added to the line: Beauty Flash Peel and Resculpting Beauty Flash Roller. I was kindly sent two of the products, which I've been using over the past month or so and am ready to share my thoughts with you today.....
You know those days where you couldn't be bothered putting makeup on, but you haven't slept/you're ill/your skin is dull/ you're short on time, and you either have to face the world, or you just want to feel a little bit better? I think we all have them! Well, for those days, there are five products that I rely on to make me look more alive and a bit fresher and I'm sharing them with you today.....
I know that because I'm a beauty blogger, I have a ridiculously large makeup collection (although it's definitely more stream-lined than it used to be), but it really isn't necessary. Given that most people have spent the last few years moving towards minimalism, I wanted to create a capsule makeup collection, which may help anyone starting out, or those wanted to downsize, or perhaps update their collection. Here you will find everything that you actually need and will use, even if you're an avid makeup lover.
I've been pretty good at not buying everything new and pretty that has caught my eye this year, but recently I had some birthday vouchers and decided to treat myself to some products that I had my eye on, and I want to share my thoughts on them with you today!
I didn't actually intend not to post for so long, but I wasn't feeling very well and I also thought that most people were probably watching coverage of The Queen's passing/the Royal Family/Her body Lying In State and the funeral. I think that even if you aren't a royalist, it was a moment in history and. quite fascinating for those of us who don't have a monarchy. Moving on, today's post is about my latest foundation obsession - the new Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation. It's been all over social media, so I want to discuss if it's worth the hype...
You probably know at this stage that I'm a bit fanatical about taking care of my hair. When I first became ill with Lyme Disease, I lost around 50% of my hair density, then when Covid first hit, my hair fell out in clumps. It recovered by using the right products and lots of T.L.C. (post here), but I've had Covid 6 times and my hair growth has started again in recent months. On top of that, I have naturally dry and frizzy hair and live in a hard water area, which can affect both the condition and colour of my hair. I pay a lot to get my hair coloured, so I want to ensure that it's going to last and I use products to prevent brassiness. My hairdresser is a balayage and general colour expert, constantly up-skilling and training, so when she used a new product on me in the salon, I decided to buy the at home duo. L'Oreal Professional Metal Detox Shampoo and Mask are two at home products (an oil has been recently added), that can be used to remove build up of mineral deposits in the hair, which cause brassiness. There is also a product in the salon, which cannot be purchased to use at home. This is something that can be used before your colour, or you could go to your salon and use it as a standalone treatment, which will revive your colour. You don't have to be blonde or balayaged, it works on all hair colours.
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| This range was kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
I was kindly sent the new Lotus Flower range from Emma Hardie, which I was delighted about as I had missed the event due to a medical appointment, but wanted to know more about the range from one of my favourite brands. There are three products in the range: a Targeted Blemish Treatment, a Treatment Serum and a Treatment Cream. Given that the products are targeted towards oily skin, I didn't think they'd suit me, however they contain ingredients which reduce inflammation and strengthen the skin's barrier, so I thought that I should give them a go. I had mixed results, but it is definitely worth remembering that my skin is dry.
In July, I showed you my top five Charlotte Tilbury makeup products, and it went down well according to my analytics, so I thought I'd share my top five skincare products from the brand. Initially, I was more interested in the makeup products from the brand, but in the past 2/3 years, I've found that the skincare products have really improved and stand alone as quality products, rather than being "add-ons" to the brand, if you know what I mean. It can be difficult for brands to do skincare and makeup equally well, but some do manage it. Like with the makeup post, I found it very difficult to narrow it down to just five products, but I was very strict with myself. So, here we go!
I have all of the original Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerise Cream Shadows (review and swatches here), so when I saw that three new shades were being released, I knew that my willpower would disappear and I'd buy one.... I ended up buying two of the three new shades!
You all know how much a fan I am of Omorovicza since I first discovered the brand in 2015. So many of you have messaged me or commented over the years, saying that you tried the brand because of my reviews, which I really love because you also tell me that you now get the hype, despite the high price tags. I have tried all of their serums apart from the Blue Diamond Concentrate, and want to share my thoughts on them with you today. There are eight in total, but I would consider Midnight Renewal and Acid Fix to be treatments, so I will review those in a separate post if you'd be interested? Some of the serums in the photo above look full, but I've used 2/3 bottles of each already, so I'm able to give a full review and suggest which might work best for you, depending on what issues you may have.
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| Photo from Pinterest. |
I've attempted to write this post so many times, but didn't know exactly what to say as I'm in two minds about blogging at the moment, and have been for a while. I really would love to hear your thoughts on this subject in the comments below, or DM me on Instagram.
When I look through my makeup collection, the brand that I see most often is Charlotte Tilbury. I know that the products are pretty pricey, but I think the quality is excellent, a little goes a long way with most products and I can count on them if I'm in a hurry and don't have time to think about what makeup to use. I'm sure most people have tried the brand, but if not, here are my top five products that I'd recommend if you're starting out...
I've been a fan of Kérastase products for over 20 years. I've tried a lot of their ranges, depending on what my hair needs - repair, moisture, colour protection etc, and I'm always intrigued by their new ranges. Their latest is Absolu Chroma, which aims to reduce frizz, reduce breakage by strengthening the hair, and revive colour. What really interested me about this range, is that it contains Lactic Acid, which is a gentle exfoliator that we are used to seeing in skincare, but not in haircare products. It also contains Hyaluronic Acid, Amino Acids and Centella Asiatica, which help to restore the hair from the inside out, so it works to strengthen your hair long-term, rather than just make it look/feel good after you wash it.I have four products from the range and want to share my thoughts with you today.
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| If anything was gifted to me, it will be marked with a * |
I'm one of those people who moisturises their body every single day, and even in the days when I was bedridden, I'd ask my husband to do it! My skin is so dry that if I didn't moisturise daily, it would be tight, uncomfortable and scaly - not how I want to feel. Sometimes, I use functional body lotions - just something to moisturise, other times I use oils if I feel like my skin is feeling and looking slack, and sometimes, I'll use body creams and lotions that are special and smell divine, as well as nourishing my skin. I believe in using nice things daily, rather than saving things for best, even if I'm ill and having a duvet day - actually, especially on those days. Today, I'm going to share some of my favourite scented body moisturisers with you, and I'd love to hear what your favourite is!
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| Anything marked with a * was kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
I always like to do a check in mid-year to see what products have stood out to me in the previous six months. To be honest, this year I didn't expect there to be a huge amount as I've really cut down on my spending as I try to use up the products I have. When I started to compile this list, I was surprised by how many products have really stood out to me. Some were kindly gifted to me (marked with a *), others, I bought myself. I'll link to any full reviews.
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| These products were kindly gifted to me, without obligation, as part of their *skinfluencer programme. |
Next year will be 20 years since I first began using Dermalogica products! If that isn't testament to how much I love the brand, I really don't know what is! As I have mentioned before, it's the only brand that I used for 6 months prior to our wedding and also had regular facials (I love their face mapping!). I can honestly say, hand on heart, that their releases are getting better and better all of the time, and I have rarely, if ever, been disappointed with a purchase. I am fortunate enough to be part of their #skinfluencer programme, which means that I am kindly sent some of their new releases, but I also purchase products with my own money (and my husband now uses some too!). So, today I'm going to discuss two new releases, which are aimed at hydrating and replenishing the skin: Hyaluronic Ceramide Mist and Circular Hydration Serum.
Because I have dry skin, I love cream cheek products. My favourite ever cream bronzer was Les Sahariennes, which was discontinued by YSL a few years ago (why do brands do this?!). It was the most beautiful product - a perfect texture for blending and giving a natural, sun-kissed look to the skin, even when worn without foundation. Thankfully, since then a lot of brands have seen the bright side and are releasing cream bronzers. They aren't just for those with dry skin, as you could set them with a little powder bronzer on top, or just some setting spray. They are also my preferred option for a very natural look, particularly in summer when I want to look sun-kissed but without actually tanning my face! I used to have quite a few, but have narrowed it down to four cream bronzers that I would highly recommend to anybody who wants to try one, but is unsure where to start...
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| These fragrances were partly paid for using a gift voucher from Look Fantastic. |
Sorry for the longer than expected break from the blog. If you follow me on Instagram, you will know that my flight home from holiday was delayed by 2 days, which really threw me out last week! All of the plans I had for the week were up in the air, I needed to get a new nebuliser as mine broke while on holiday, and despite having a really restful week, those two days of going to and from the airport, not knowing what was happening, just left me exhausted, so I decided to take some time to catch up on everything (sleep/laundry/seeing family/catching up on Love Island etc), before coming back to the blog. I have lots of posts planned and am looking forward to hearing how you all are, so today's the day that I finally get back into it!
For me, summer hasn't arrived unless I have a bottle of Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess! It could be raining most days (and generally is in Ireland), but as soon as I smell Bronze Goddess, I'm instantly transported to a sunny beach, feeling relaxed and happy, which is why I even bought it during the lockdowns - I could at least pretend to be somewhere more exotic than the garden, even if I wasn't! Each year, there are some variations or additions to the original fragrance, and this year it's Bronze Goddess Nuit Eau De Parfum, which intrigued me, as not only is the bottle beautiful, but it includes some warmer notes. I wanted to compare it to the original and give you my opinion as to whether you actually need both in your life.....
I am so excited (and fortunate) to be going on my first sun holiday since 2019, on Sunday. My husband & I are so looking forward to a week of doing as little as possible - read, sleep, eat, beach walks - that's about the extent of it, so although I don't need a lot of makeup (I won't be wearing any during the day), I'll still take some as I do like to dress up a bit (some evenings!) on holiday. So, here are my holiday makeup and fragrance picks....
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| This was kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
Most of you will know that I am a fragrance addict, often showing my Fragrance of the Day on Instagram, so I love smelling new scents. I've never owned an Armani Prive fragrance before, but from the first spritz of Indigo Tanzanite, I fell in love in an instant, so I know that this won't be my last! I have a few Armani fragrances, but the Prive range is a step above, with four collections: Les Eaux, La Collection, Les Terres Précieuses and Les Mille et Une Nuits. These lines use only the highest quality ingredients, to create unique scents. The Indigo Tanzanite EDP is part of the Les Terres Précieuses line, each of which is inspired by a different culture, which has inspired Giorgio Armani. This particular fragrance is inspired by Africa, with its bright colours (the other in the line is Magenta Tanzanite).
We're going on our first sun holiday since 2019 in a fortnight (I probably won't believe it's real until we get there!), and I couldn't be more excited (with a touch of nerves too, given that I haven't been on a flight or in crowded areas since Covid started - well, apart from hospital, but that was a safe zone!). I feel like I'd gotten a little out of practice with holiday prep, so I thought I'd share the main things I'm doing with you today. I tend to DIY a lot of things, as going to a salon for lots of pre-holiday treatments can be expensive and time-consuming, plus I spend enough on products, so I should us them, right?
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| This was kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
When I first started blogging (and even before then), one of the most talked about products was Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. It was released in 2010 and is still one of the brand's best-selling products all these years later. It's popularity is due to the fact that it has been proven to improve the appearance of tired skim, particularly of those who have sleep problems of any sort (most people, I'm guessing?). 12 years later, we have a much longed for addition to the range in the form of the new Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream.
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| Anything marked with a * was bought with a gift card, which was kindly provided by Look Fantastic. |
I needed a few replacement products, so I decided to go old school and buy products that I absolutely loved when I first started blogging, to see if I still loved them, if they still worked for my skin, and if I had found similar, but better, products since I last used them! Let's get into it....
When I was first introduced to AHC (a K-Beauty brand), I fell completely head over heels for it, see posts here and here. Naturally, I was thrilled to receive their new Youth Focus range, which uses Pro Retinal 11x, meaning that it has an 11 times faster conversion rate than retinol. Jasmine has a fantastic post on the differences between retinoids here, if you're confused by it all (and don't worry, you won't be the only one who is!). So, let me talk you through this new range....
It's a few years since I bought a foundation from Nars. I used to wear Sheer Glow a lot (although I never understood the name, as it's neither sheer nor glowy!), and I really liked their Natural Radiant Long Wear Foundation, so when I heard about their new Light Reflecting Foundation, I decided to give it a whirl.
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| L'Oreal Elvive Wonder Water Colour Protect was kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
I first discovered Kérastase K-Water in 2020, and was instantly hooked. I had never used a product like it before (review here), and loved how I could get a mirror-like shine on my hair from a product that worked quickly. That being said, it was hard to get hold of, and quite expensive, so I was delighted when L'Oreal Elvive brought out their own version (review here). It wasn't an absolute dupe, but for the price difference, it was definitely a product worth using. Fast forward to this year, and Kérastase have a new version: Chroma Absolu Soin Acid Chroma Gloss, and so do L'Oreal Elvive: Wonder Water Colour Protect*. I've been putting both to the test, to see if they live up to their claims, and if one justifies being more than triple the price of the other.....
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| These products were kindly sent to me, without obligation. |
Filorga is a brand that I feel deserves a lot more hype. I have yet to try any product from the brand that I haven't absolutely loved (moisturisers, an essence, and sheet masks are some that I have used every last drop of). It's a French brand, created by an aesthetic doctor, who wanted to make products that would make a noticeable difference to skin within 7 days. I can tell you that everything I have tried makes my skin look and feel better instantly, but obviously it's with consistent use that best results will be seen. Today, I want to share my thoughts on two of the brand's latest releases: Crème Universelle and Skin-Unify Radiance Illuminating Perfecting Fluid.
I really haven't bought many beauty products this year (well, compared to other years!), although I'm sure you're looking at the photo above and saying "yeah, sure!", but most of these products are necessary replacements. I am still working my way through products from my Advent Calendar, plus I'm really trying to be more focused and mindful with my purchases this year, as I have basically more beauty products than I could ever need! That said, I've bought a few things. The only beauty product that I bought in January is Charlotte Tilbury's Beautiful Skin Foundation, which I reviewed here. Although there have been A LOT of offers this first quarter, I have resisted a lot of them, and just bought the following products!
When a new product gets huge hype (or any product, for that matter!), it can sometimes just put me off immediately, which I know is a bit unfair, but sometimes the hype just isn't real! I have my hair routine pretty much sorted and thought that I didn't need to try anything new, but K18 just intrigued me too much to resist giving it a go. So, is it worth the hype?
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| Anything that was kindly gifted to me, was done without obligation to post, and will be marked with a * |
As I have said any times before, Spring is my favourite season. I'm seeing buds appearing, as well as some beautiful snowdrops and narcissi - this is something that always gives me hope and God knows, the world needs hope right now. Today, I thought I'd share my top five fragrances for Spring this year. My sense of smell is intermittent right now (hoping it will come back fully very soon!), but I know these fragrances like the back of my hand and can describe them easily. I'd love to hear your favourite Spring fragrance (if you rotate them each season)?
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| All of these products were kindly gifted to me, without obligation. |
This post has been a long time in the making, as I received the products last November, and as with all skincare (although there are some haircare products too), I like to thoroughly test everything before sharing my opinion. For reference, I have dry skin and a chronic illness, which makes it tricky to achieve everyday fresh-looking skin. I need my products to work hard, and I also work on my skin from within. My hair is also very dry, it's fine too, but I have a lot of it.
At this stage, I think it's easier to name those who haven't had Covid, than those who have! That said, I'm the only one in my family to have caught it ( a number of times!). This post isn't about supplements (I'm not a doctor, although I do recommend taking probiotics daily), or medication of any kind. Today, I'm talking you through the products that I find help me to feel a little better and relax more, so that I have the best chance of recuperation. You don't need to spend a fortune on products, just use what you have, and when energy is low (as it inevitably is when fighting a virus or any type of infection or illness), just some basic things can lift your spirits.
I've had mixed experiences with Charlotte Tilbury foundations - I love Light Wonder, but the other two really do nothing for my skin (actually, I think that Magic Foundation has been discontinued now), so I was kind of in two minds about whether or not to buy her new Beautiful Skin Foundation but the description lured me in. So, is it worth the hype?
This is the last of my trilogy of hall of fame posts and I was going to include haircare, but regular readers will know all about my favourites already - Olaplex, Kiehl's, Color Wow and Kérastase are my go-to brands to keep my hair in good condition. I've posted about them several times (here and here, for example), so I'm sticking to bath, body and fragrance today. I don't usually include fragrance, but I wear it daily (even if I'm having a duvet day!), so I thought I should include my favourites, and would love to hear yours.....
This was always going to be the trickiest category for me, as I really am a skincare junkie, and while I have seen some people streamline their routines, that's just not me (and probably never will be!). It might seem like I have a lot of products here (and I do!), however, I could easily have double the amount to be honest! Let's get started....
