What I loved in May.....

This photo is taken from The Irish Times, because I forgot to take any photos before the blossom went over, due to the crazy weather we've had (four seasons in one day at times).

This month has absolutely flown by, and I can't believe that in a few days, we will be in the sixth month of the year! Crazy!  I feel like the last two years have been a blur, and even though all restrictions have been lifted for quite a while, I still feel in that blur! Maybe getting away will make me realise that 2020 was two years ago! Anyway, enough rambling and on to what I loved this month....

My holiday makeup & fragrance picks.....

 

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....

Refillable products from some of my favourite brands....

Anything gifted to me will be marked with a * and is done without any obligation.

There's no doubt that we are all aware of climate change, and I believe that the majority of us are veering towards products and brands that are eco-friendly, with sustainability being more than a buzz word or a trend..... even Love Island will be ditching fast fashion this year! When it comes to beauty, I know that being a blogger may appear to produce a lot of waste, or that I'm encouraging you to constantly buy new products. Believe me when I say that none of my products go to waste - I post my empties on Instagram regularly, and if a product doesn't work for me, it will be passed on to somebody who I know will enjoy it. I also declutter my makeup every 6 months (sometimes more frequently) and will give products that I just don't reach for, to teenagers within my extended family members and friends. You may still think that blogging is all about consumerism, but I don't consider myself to be an 'influencer' - I just give you an unbiased opinion on a product, and if you have a similar skin type to me, have similar needs in terms of skin and haircare, you might buy the product, and let's face it, some things are necessities!  With all of that in mind, today I want to share products from my favourite beauty brands, which are already sustainable, or are moving in that direction. I personally love refillable products, as it cuts down on unnecessary waste. Please tell me of other brands or products that you know are refillable, but I haven't mentioned, as I'm always willing to learn.

Revolution x Sali Hughes Skincare Review

 

These products were kindly gifted to me, without obligation.

Regular readers will know that I'm a bit (lot) of a skincare snob, so I hadn't tried any Revolution skincare products until I received the fabulous P.R. package of Sali Hughes' collaboration with them. I was asked if I would like to try the products and I love when this happens, as it means there is no waste and it's a bugbear of mine to see bloggers/influencers etc receiving huge PR bundles, which they never actually show again. I had read some good reviews on some skincare products from the brand, but with Sali involved, I knew that these are products I would have spent my own money on anyway. They're not just products that she put her name on, but she did her research, tested formulas, and came up with a simple 4 step routine, which is refreshing in the world of single ingredient products, which require you to have a science degree to figure out which might suit your skin. With people leading increasingly busier lives, a 4 step in 4 minutes routine will appeal to many. The range is vegan, cruelty-free, silicone-free, and made with recycled packaging. The range is also affordable, with all products priced at less than £15. So, how have I found the products to work on my dry skin? Read on to find out...

Armani Prive Indigo Tanzanite Eau De Parfum - the ultimate in sensual decadence

 

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).

Holiday preppin'

 

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?

Budget/affordable/bougie: Essences

 

Essences are one of those products that a lot of people think are gimmicks - I know that I did..... until I tried one. Now, that's not to say that it's a completely necessary step in your routine, but if you have dehydrated skin, I'm willing to bet that you'll notice an improvement after a few weeks of use. I'm back with three products, for three budgets. I will adit that it was difficult to find an essence that fits into what I would usually class as the "budget" category, so if you know of a good one, please do let me know!