Sephora Shopping List 2017!

We're off on our holidays stateside again soon and that can mean only one thing. Not just that Himself is in Extreme Planning Mode (he has maps) again but that I will be visiting the beauty mothership; Sephora. I'll also be in Korea Town and China Town so there'll be some Asian beauty buying in my not-too-distant future.
And so, I do my type of planning; a shopping list! Hurrah! 

Let me know in the comments what I simply HAVE to buy. Chances are I may well have already have it, given my beauty-loving ways, but I always appreciate the suggestion. I've done a fair bit of blog-reading and Pinterest scouring for inspiration, and these are what I'm thinking:

(note that Himself knows much better than to ever question my make-up purchases but I really love this meme so I still wanted to pop it up...I also need to ask you to ignore that missing 're' in you're.)

Skincare

Y'all know by now that I'm all about my skincare and K beauty in particular does some really great products for a youthful glow so for that, I'll be looking at things like that Watermelon Sleep Mask, which is a big deal at the minute. Not sure what it actually feels or smells like yet but I will investigate further! Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask is the one you've seen all over Instagram; bloggers with bright purple face masks, looking very Alien-esque...I'm intrigued!
I just used up an overnight mask from Fresh that I bought in New York two years ago so I'm keen to see what their new Vitamin Nectar masks are like. The Belif aqua Bomb was another sample I tried and really liked and the Farmacy products come recommended by my sister after she discovered them in a Sephora set I bought her, not unlike the one picture below. I love those Sephora sets- it's a great way to try out new products plus you get lots of mini sizes, which are great for travel, save you money and make you feel like a giant- bonus! I'll probably get a few of the Sephora own brand sheet masks too as they're super handy. The Biossance eye gel is a super lightweight product that helps increase circulation around your eye, thus helping those dark circles! Sephora apparently can't keep it in stock..so good luck to me! I've been using a mini of the Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin for a while now and my skin seems to like it so I may get a bigger size. They also do some very space-agey looking hydrating masks so I'm gonna check them out too. I'm desperate to try something from Drunk Elephant! They're pricey but come highly recommended! Obviously I won't be buying ALL of these so I'll have to do some back-of-the-hand testing in-store and be very selective!!

Make-Up:

There's not a huge amount of make-up stateside that we can no longer get at home. In the last couple of years, Wet n' Wild, Kat Von D, Too Faced, ELF, Milani, Huda Beauty, and Physician's Formula, amongst others have all come to Ireland so really I'm mostly looking at Tarte, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Fresh and Bite Beauty for something a bit different.

Fairy Drops Waterproof mascara is a Japanese brand, I've been informed that it can be found in Asian stores in San Fran and LA and it's kind of a must. It's reached cult status amongst beauty bloggers, and even though I'm pretty loyal to my YSL mascara, I really want to try this. It's been a while since I had an Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz in my life and I need a new one! I've tried all the dupes and they're just not the same. I had a little test of my friend's Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer and now I need my own! We can get these via QVC here but I want to try it out again in person. It Cosmetics are sold in Ulta so I'll be on the hunt for this CC Cream, which is another beauty blogger fave.

I love Fresh's Sugar lip balms and I used up a tube of their rose one last year, which is lovely. The Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm is a new release for them and sounds good! Flower Cosmetics is Drew Barrymore's make up brand and is (unfortunately) exclusively sold in Walmart. I'll be buying more of these jumbo kohl liners in brown, they're the absolute business and really good value! The bunnies are just to symbolise Tony Moly products, a Korean brand that I love! Lastly there, is one of the lipsticks from Bite Beauty. I bought their Lip Mask the last time I was over and I absolutely love it, I'm hoping the lipsticks will be as moisturising. 

My Best Buy of the year so far has been the Too Faced Peach Palette, which I use pretty much daily. I love the shades in it- the shimmers and the mattes are so pigmented and work really well on blue eyes. This is a new release from the brand; a peach palette of only mattes, which look stunning! As far as I know, this is a Sephora exclusive, so we can't get it over here (although I could be wrong there), making it something I'll be seeking out for sure!

And that's that, apart from the "sucker aisle" as I like to call it- those shelves as you queue for the till that contain all the adorable minis of brands you've never tried but always wanted to, perfume rollerballs and things you don't need but all of a sudden, very badly want. 

Have I chosen wisely?

What have I missed!

To the comments!

XX

Come, Look at My Trash! #6

It's been a while since I've done one of these posts so I've loads to go through! I love a good empties post. As I've mentioned before, I like to look through what a blogger fully used up; it's a good indicator as to whether they'd buy it again and in turn, whether the person reading the post should buy it.

Quite the collection of empty bottles there!

Skin Care 

First up is a bottle of Lancôme's Bi-Facil eye make up remover. This is one of my favourites, it's effective and great for sensitive skin. It's never caused stinging but on the down side, it's pricier than your average eye make-up remover. Would definitely repurchase.

La Roche Posay Hydraphase Masque. This is ideal in the colder weather when your skin is starting to crack. The recommendation is to apply this thick cream and leave for 10-15 minutes but I mostly used it as a night time moisturiser. It's good. Would repurchase.

Lancôme Visionnaire moisturiser and eye cream. These were both minis in an advent calendar and lasted me aaaages! I liked them both but the Lancôme Absolue over there on the right (in the clear glass pot) blew this range out of the water. Absolue is clearly a more luxurious product and felt extremely comforting on and was so moisturising. I'd buy a full size but it's pricey! I'd probably not buy more Visionnaire but that's purely because I've used better- from the same advent calendar, in fact!

Three Micellar Waters; two from Bioderma, the original (pink top) and Hydrabio (blue top), the latter being for sensitive, drier skin. I thought that would be a winner for me but actually it was scented (which I thought was strange) and it didn't seem any different on my skin. Still took all my make-up off without a problem. I'll probably stay loyal to the original Bioderma, which I love to use as my first cleanse but I also really liked the Garnier version, which I've actually bought again since. 

MyChelle Deep Repair Cream* is a moisturiser I was sent, probably a good year ago. I liked other products in the range from this brand much more, including a really good cleanser but the moisturiser didn't do much for me. 

Organic Surge hand cream* is one of the better hand creams I've tried and that's saying something; I've tried a lot. This one is thick but sinks in nicely with no greasiness and has lots of comforting lavender in there.  

More Micellar Water, this time from Nivea*, loved this one too. Would repurchase. 

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator is lovely. It has exfoliating grains but they're very fine so it shouldn't be a problem for those with sensitive skin types. Plus, it smells unreal. If I could have eaten this, I would. I wouldn't buy this again, purely as I'm working my way through the Pixi and Alpha H   Liquid Gold chemical exfoliators.

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel* is one of my favourite cleansers of all times. It's a somewhat thick gel, very gentle and removes all traces of make up. I would 100% buy this again, except, again, pricey!

Olay Total Effects 7 Signs Feather Weight Moisturiser* was an absolute joy. It was perfectly light so it sat nicely underneath my foundation and actually was really comfortable on my dry skin. Would definitely repurchase. 

Hair/Body Products

L'Occitane Cherry Blossom Shower Gel. This is a generous mini size and I'd happily buy a full size. I love L'Occitane and the cherry blossom range is lovely. 

L'Oreal Professional Vitamino Color Expert Shampoo and masque (pink pot underneath it). I used these when I had the pink in my hair and they were quite nice, not necessarily sure I'd repurchase them as I'm all about the Kevin Murphy these days but they were decent haircare all the same.

Speaking of which, the Kevin Murphy Angel Wash and Rinse are my go-to shampoo and conditioner now and I'm probably on to my third bottle of each. Again, they're not on the cheap side but they last for a really long time and they leave my hair in excellent condition. 

L'Oreal Professional Techniart mousse. This is for volume and worked reasonably well on my thin hair but as with a lot of products like this, it's almost too much faffing for me. 

Co-Lab Dry Shampoo in the scent New York. I like all of the dry shampoos in this range, I much prefer them to any others I've tried so far. It works well and leaves no residue, most importantly from a dry shampoo.

Roger & Galet Shower Gel*. I loved this one too, it's a really refreshing scent, perfect to wake you up in the mornings. Would definitely buy again. 

Johnson's Baby Shampoo. I use this to wash my make up brushes. It's cheap, works well and smells pleasant. 

The Body Shop Spiced Apple shower Gel*. This was a Christmas limited edition, I liked it, as I like most Body Shop shower gels. Anything apple scented usually gets my vote. 

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil is one of my favourite products of all time. I've used up two mini sizes here but I've since bought a full size for myself for my birthday. I'm good to myself like that. The almond range is gorgeous, really moisturising for dry skin and smells heavenly. I'll ALWAYS repurchase this fella. 

Another Body Shop buy; Coconut body scrub. This is another fave product. I love using the coconut range in the Summer in particular as it gives me that "by the beach" kinda vibe but really, you need exfoliated skin all year round! 

Make Up/Perfume

We were all a bit obsessed in the beauty blogging world with the Botanics Radiance Balm All Bright when it was first discovered that it was quite the dupe for MAC's Strobe Cream. I've never tired the latter but I sure loved the former. I squeezed that tube dry (and went back after this photo was taken to cut it in half and get the rest!). I mostly used this as a primer but occasionally mixed a bit with my foundation for a dewier finish. I would buy again but I've similar products on the go at the minute. 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light foundation is another firm favourite, one I've been wearing for years. The original Double Wear is great, but a bit too heavy for me. I use DWL for night time mostly cause it lasts incredibly well and gives a great finish. I'm just finishing up one right now and I will be buying another. 

Chloé Love Story is a stunning perfume. Himself has bought me most of the Chloé range and this is my favourite- I even prefer it to the original. I used every last spritz of this and would have missed it immediately, except that my lovely in-laws bought me a new one last Christmas, so I'm currently about half way through that one. It's fresh, floral, powdery and feminine. I get compliments every time I wear it. 

Maybelline Under Eye concealer Eraser is a great concealer, especially for those of us with under eye bags. I've used a good few of these now. There's a handy sponge applicator on top and when you twist the tube it gives you just the right amount, which can then be blended in. I have a new one ready to start and the illuminating version that's only recently come to our shores, that I must review!

That pink metallic tube is one of the Fresh Rose Lip Balms, the name has when off from constant use! I again, used every last bit. I love Fresh and I particularly love their lip balms. This one is softening, with a pink tint and the faintest floral scent. I'll be stocking up when I'm in the states again.

Bourjois Radiance Concealer is one I picked up a while back on a 3 for 2 in Boots. It turned out to be a good purchase. I felt like they were trying for a Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer dupe with this one, but it fell just short of the mark there. Nevertheless, it's a good concealer and I would repurchase. 

NYX and MAC Brown eyeliners. I prefer a smudgy brown pencil to a black one as black can be a bit harsh on blue eyes. These both smudged nicely but both had their flaws. The NYX seemed a little too tacky, which could be explained by virtue of the fact that it's a gel pencil liner. I like an imperfect line sometimes but this was a little too messy. The MAC was a limited edition and was a good shade and consistency but there wasn't a huge amount in the pencil, it was gone in no time and not worth whatever I spent on it. The never ending search for the perfect brown liner continues.

Underneath them is the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow. I bloody loved this. It contains both the perfect bronzer and highlighter, finely milled and beautifully toned to look natural on. I hit pan completely on the bronze and the highlight cracked and exploded everywhere in my make up bag. Very sad times. I would most definitely buy another. Gorgeous product, full review HERE.

This won't be the last time a YSL Effet Faux Cils mascara appears in an empties post here. It's a beaut and has ruined me for all other mascaras. It gives you full on dramatic lashes without the need for false lashes or extensions. I can't do a "daytime mascara" anymore, I'm all about the drama llama.

If you've made it this far, well done. If you skimmed until you found a product you're interested in, then also, well done. I'll try and keep it shorter and sweeter next time, promise!

Have you used any of these? 

Did you spot any of your own Holy Grail products here?

To the comments!

XX

*Denotes the product was provided for review. All opinions my own, as always. 

Skincare Shakeup #2

I always have new skincare on the go. Only last week I shared the newly reformulated Double Serum from Clarins with ye (read more about that HERE) and I'm really loving that. It's taken over from the oil and water based serums in my skincare routine that are in this post but these are still excellent so it's well worth giving them a nod too!

I picked these face masks from Korres up in the airport on the way home from Crete. They had a really good Korres selection, unsurprisingly, as they are a Greek brand and although I had an option to buy a boxed selection of these smaller sized masks, I felt I'd get better value from these individual ones, which were only a few euro each and better suited to my dry skin than the others that were available. There's only 18ml in each and so I've almost finished the Damask Rose overnight anti-fatigue mask, which I love. It smells like vintage rose perfume in a rich and creamy base that leaves my skin super soft when I wake up the next day. 

The Babassu Butter is for intense moisturising and nourishing and this one is a bit richer. If you have sensitive skin, this may be too heavy for you but I really like it. They'll both be great when the colder weather sets in*.

*auld one alert

I've also got a whole post on the Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse, HERE, so I won't go into a huge amount of detail now. Honestly though, I love this stuff. 

I've a good chunk used up already with plenty more to go. This is pricey for a cleanser, but so, so worth it.

The last time I needed a new foundation, I took advantage of a "buy two items, receive a load of mini things for free" offer and so that was how I returned to using Esteé Lauder's Advanced Night Repair. I used to use and love this years ago and so it was a pleasant surprise to return to it and find that I still loved it! I forgot just how well this works for my skin. I know it doesn't suit everyone, and again, it's a hefty price tag but it's certainly made me want to buy a big mad bottle once my Clarins is gone. 

I love Image skincare (the Vital C range is one of my all time favourites) and this is a pretty pleasant cleanser from them; The Max* is an acid, parafen and sulfate free, gentle daily cleanser derived from stem cells and plant extracts to nourish and balance the skin. It's kind of a mixture of a gel and a cream cleanser. It has a distinct floral scent which might be too strong for most. I don't have any problem with scented cleansers, but this one doesn't really do it for me. It does the job well and my skin feels squeaky clean after I've used it but that in itself means my skin feels a bit tighter than it does worth the Pixi cleanser, for example. It's fine but I won't be buying a full size. 

I've also blogged about this Vitamin C enriched facial oil from Korres before. It was another Cretan purchase, one I had planed to buy before I got there. Luckily, I got great savings on the brand in its home country, otherwise this is another pricey fella! I love it though, I use my jade roller with it to massage it in over my moisturiser and it's a delight. And yes, there's dried rose petals suspended in the oil. Swoon. Read a full review HERE. 

I tend to just take advice when I go into Lush, it's mostly foreign territory for me so I picked up the BB Seaweed Fresh face mask on recommendation from the sales assistant. This is packed full of fresh seaweed, ground almonds, rose absolue and aloe vera, all designed to soften, calm and soothe the skin. It also acts as a gentle exfoliator and removes any excess oil or dirt. Himself and I used this on our spa weekend to Monart (in between the official spa visits!) and we both liked it. It did dry out like a clay mask would, even though it's not made with clay, which annoyed my slightly as I avoid clay masks- my skin is dry and I don't like the sensation of a drying mask on my face. Still, it was pleasant to use whilst soaking in the tub! Top tip- save up your black Fresh pots like I did, bring in five and get a free face mask like this one!

The Nivea 3 in 1 Cleansing Micellar Wipes* are new from the brand. I had really high hopes for these as I use Micellar Water a fair amount, mostly for a first cleanse to remove the top layer of make up etc or for travel. These wipes would be handy for the same reasons but I do find them less pleasant to use than a cotton pad soaked with micellar water would be. These dragged on my skin a bit due to being a bit drier than I expected and I felt I had to work harder to remove make up then I would have with the aforementioned cotton pad. If you're planning on taking these on holiday, I'd suggest bringing another cleanser with you to use with it. 

I also bought this mini of Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturiser in the airport in Crete, for about €8, which has turned out to be quite the bargain as I'm only half way through now, several months later. I have used this before and I like it. It's not the best or the most moisturising I've ever used for the full year round but it works really well in the Summer, when I want a lighter moisturiser under my make up. This one is perfect for that. 

I love that little pot of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Balm in the corner there too. It's taken over from Nuxe Reve de Miel as my favourite lip balm, which is no mean feat!

Lastly there is the Hydro Boost Water Gel moisturiser from Neutrogena. Again, this is a very light formula and perfect for warmer weather. It's so cooling on the skin and feels light enough while providing a good base for your make up etc. It's way too light for Winter though so I'll be shaking things up again soon enough!

Have you used any of these? Are any of them your favourites already or any you've been wanting to try?

To the comments!

XX

*indicates that a product was provided for review and was gratefully received. This is not a sponsored post, all opinions are mine only, as always.

Clarins Double Serum [Hydric + Lipidic System]

Clarins Double Serum has been around since 1985- it's been a continuous favourite for women and one of Clarins's best sellers. I've been using it for slightly less time than that- two years to be exact and its latest version, for just over two weeks and while that's not actually a long time in the skincare sense of things, I feel like I've got a good enough grasp on the product, to tell you all about it! 

Double Serum is just that- a two chambered bottle, one side containing a lipid based liquid (oil) and the other a hydric based (water). When you press down on the pump, by the power of engineering (and potentially witchcraft), you're given a mixture of the two, that you can then apply for optimum benefit to your skin. This is ideal for me as I have dry skin and I find both water based and oil based serums hugely beneficial and even more so when combined together. There just needs to be the perfect balance of the two, which is where Double Serum comes in. 

I had previously bought and loved the original Double Serum from Clarins- it was pricey but my skin absolutely loved it and so I used every last tiny drop. It was one of those empties that I mourned the loss of; it felt luxurious on and my skin was gloriously soft when I used it. 

The only concern I had was brought to my attention when I blogged about it at the time. It had mineral oil in it, an ingredient which is generally frowned upon by skincare lovers. Personally, mineral oil doesn't have any ill effects for me, so it was never an issue but for those who have sensitive skin, it was a deal breaker. Add to that, mineral oil is often considered a cheap, "filler" product and I can understand why this was problematic.

Speed forward a little bit to Summer 2017 and a new and improved version of Double Serum has been launched. 

You'll want to know what's changed and so I'm breaking it down here for yis in the most non-scientific lingo I can:

• It now contains 21 plant powerful extracts, all with anti-ageing benefits.
• The new skincare buzzword is "Turmeric", it's a bit of a miracle ingredient when it comes to optimising the function of your skin's cells, so it helps with things like; regeneration, oxygenation, nutrition, hydration and protection of your skin.
• Clarins have involved even more women than before in the development of this serum. They claim it has a universal texture that's suitable for all women, all age groups, all ethnic backgrounds and all skin types, even those with sensitive skin (remember that mineral oil from before? That's no longer in Double Serum! Huzzah!)
• The bottle itself has changed, so the double vial of before now has a measurement system at the top that allows for only a small amount of product, or a larger amount, (depending on your skincare needs) to be pumped out. 

I was seriously impressed by the amount of research that's gone into the new and improved Double Serum. First impressions for me are positive. I loved the last version and I love this one too. My skin feels comfortable when I use this, even relieved sometimes after I've applied it. I'll give this a longer trial and let ye know but so far it's two enthusiastic thumbs up! 

You can find the reformulated Double Serum in stockists nationwide, prices are €72 for 30ml and €92 for 50ml. 

Have you tried the new Double Serum yet? Did you love the previous version too?

To the comments!

XX

*This post was not sponsored. I received a press sample of this product for review and as always, all opinions are my own. 

Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse | Review

You have by now, more than likely heard about the collaboration between makeup/skincare brand Pixi & beauty blogger/skincare lover, Caroline Hirons. 

Hirons knows her stuff when it comes to skincare and her thing is the double cleanse; that is, the use of an oil based cleanser to remove the obvious layer of make up from your face and another cleanse after that with a cream or liquid based cleanser to remove what's left. 

This has been a big seller for cult US brand Pixi so it was only a matter of time before I gave it a go myself.

As you can see, you get two sections for your cleanse; a solid oil that melts when warmed on your fingers/face and following that, a cleansing cream to clean your actual skin, now that the make up has been removed. If you think that sounds like a lot of faffing and believe me, that is EXACTLY what I thought, it's well worth giving this a go. 

If you are also thinking- why not just use one if they're both such great cleansers? Well, Caroline (I feel like we should be on first name terms as I watch her giving out to her sons on her Insta-stories all the time), says that the oil part is really just for loosening and removing makeup and SPF, while the cream cleanser has more beneficial ingredients to properly clean and massage your skin.

Caroline also says that they've done their best to make this product as user friendly to as many skin types as possible, so there's no mineral oil or Shea butter in there (not great for oily skins) and instead there's camellia oil and evening primrose oil. She's also made both cleansers scent free, so if you're of a sensitive disposition, that'll sit well with you too. As for my own dry skin, I really like it. The oil is very comfortable on and removes all my make up, even from my eyes with no stinging or discomfort, along with a muslin cloth soaked in warm water. The temptation to stop there and go put on serum and moisturiser is strong, especially when tired but the cream cleanser is lovely too and leaves my skin nice and soft with that super clean feeling.

So basically, it's thumbs up from me. It's very handy to have both cleansers in the one tub and it would be great for travel, if you were that committed to your double cleanse. I can't say I am but then, I tend to bring miniatures away with me when travelling to afford more weight for all the shite I then buy in the likes of Sephora etc. Sure look, it's why we're all here!

If you're looking to try a double cleanse for yourself, you can find Pixi online from Cloud 10 Beauty or in the beauty hall in Marks and Spencers.

Are you a fan of the double cleanse? Have you tried this offering from Pixi and Caroline Hirons?

To the comments!

xx

Skincare Shakeup #1

I try so many different skincare products that it occurred to me that these posts shouldn't be titled "New Skincare" as they usually are, but rather "Skincare Shakeup", as often times, it's products I already have in my stash, they just haven't had their chance to shine yet (i.e, they haven't been near my face yet). 

Also, not all of these or any of the products in these posts are "new", sure Eight Hour Cream has been knocking around for donkey's years, as has The Body Shop's Vitamin E range. 

This is my most recent shakeup, I'm sure I'll be moving on from some of these soon, whereas others may be added to the permanent collection. It's like The X Factor, but somehow, more entertaining. This style of post also means that I don't have to do individual reviews on everything I try. If I really like it and I think it warrants more attention, I will of course write a more in-depth review, otherwise so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye etc. 

You probably know the deal with Alpha H Liquid Gold by now but if not, it's a chemical exfoliant that removes dead skin cells from your face, via a few drops on a cotton pad, swept across your skin, a couple of times a week. Chemical exfoliants have been the big thing for the last couple of years as it's been decided that those scrubby grainy exfoliators of old were too rough. Still, if you're delicate in nature you might want to avoid using this too often and never before stepping out into the sun as it exposes your skin even further to harmful UVA & UVB rays. So far, I think I prefer this to Pixi Glow Tonic (another blogger fave) but I'll report back.

I got these two Fresh products in Sephora last year; both were gifts thanks to my Sephora card but I'm only now trying them out. On the bottom is a Rose Face Mask, infused with real rose petals to hydrate and tone. I've used this once, applied to cleansed skin for 10 minutes and then washed off. I didn't notice a huge difference but this probably requires a few more uses to be sure.

The Soy Face Cleanser on top of it is for all skin types, rich in amino acids to gently cleanse both face and eyes. This is one that you massage on and then rinse off, it's a runny gel that actually does work well on all make up, including eyes but I'm always a bit iffy about these fellas as I enjoy the use of a muslin cloth- it feels like a better cleanse. So I've been using one with it anyway and it works well! This is also well suited as a second cleanser. You could use a micellar water first to get off the most of the make up (including difficult to remove mascara) and then use this to cleanse your actual skin, sans foundation etc.

Bryt Skincare are new to Ireland and have a whole range of products, suitable for every skin type. I was sent the Calm Serum to try out, which is for oily to combination skin. I have dry skin but I'm willing to give anything a go! I've been using this pre my moisturiser and primer in the mornings, during warm weather like we've been having, I find I do need a bit more help around my T-zone (mostly my nose) for foundation to stay in place. Bryt claims this serum is absorbent and regulates the sebum levels in the skin but that it also balances- it has oils in it too so you're not stripping your skin of your natural oils, rather controlling them. If you have oily skin, this would be a great option, as it can be hard to find serums for oily/combination skin types. 

Of course, I've tried the famous Eight Hour Cream from Elizabeth Arden before but that was many years ago and then I received a present at Christmas of an Eight Hour Cream gift set; hand cream, lip balm, body oil and a full size of the original magic cream itself. The latter is one of those weird products that no one ever really knows what to do with- I use it on dry patches like my elbows, shins and lips. It really does work, and feels almost like a medicated product. I wouldn't be using it daily but it's a nice one to have in case of emergency. The hand cream has been completely taken over by Himself, who has very dry hands. He's liking it, I may at some point try it myself also. 

The Body Shop Vitamin E Night Cream is going well. I've already used up the day cream counterpart to this, which I liked too but if I was buying a full size of either, it would be this fella. It's thicker than the day cream but sinks in nicely, smells amazing and works well for dry skin, although it is suitable for all skin types. 

Also from The Body Shop is the Camomile Gentle Eye Make Up Remover. I have sensitive eyes and am weird about eye make up removers anyway but I brought this on holiday with me and it did sting me, pretty much every time I used it. Now, that could well be just me but be wary, is all I'm saying.

And that is the lot for my current skincare shakeup. Are you using any of these?

Have you tried any of them?

To the comments!

XX

*This post features item/s that were kindly sent to me to review. I was not paid to do so and as always, all opinions are my own!

Latest Oil-Based Dry Skin Saviours

So as you know by now, I'm always looking for products that can help my super dry skin, especially at this time of year when it's not quite Spring yet and the wind threatens to nip the top layer off your face at any random moment.  

I'm mostly relying on a double mix of oils and hardcore body moisturisers but I mix them up a lot so that I don't get too bored with any particular fragrance or finish.

"Latest" here obviously means latest to me, these have all been around for a little while.

Here's what I've been using for the last couple of months:

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. 

This is a mini size and I'm already a bit obsessed, with plenty of product left in the pot. This is a cleansing balm similar to the likes of Eve Lom, with Emma Hardie similarly being a firm blogging favourite. It looks like Vaseline in the pot but when you scoop out a small amount and warm it in your fingers, it turns to an oil that you then massage onto your face. 

It effectively melts your make up off. I know. Magic. 

Then I use a muslin cloth that's been soaked in warm water to remove it all and I'm left with very clean, non-tight/dried out skin. Using an oil for your first skincare step means you're not stripping your skin the way you can with some cleansers. Also, it smells absolutely delicious. 

When this is empty I will definitely be buying a full size, available from Marks & Spencers. 

The Oils!

Josh Wood Radiant Shine is a hair treatment oil to be used prior to shampooing. I'm not a big fan of weighing my hair down with oils because my hair is super fine but I only use a little of this on the ends where it's most dry. You can also use it after drying to smooth any wild patches (happens to us all!)

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Oil. I've yet to actually use this fella as it was part of a gift but I'm looking forward to trying it. If 8 Hour Cream is that good for your dry skin patches, what the hell is this gonna do?!

These two from The Body Shop were also minis but I've been loving them for the last couple of months. I'm really onto overnight masks at the minute so it's perfect timing for the Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalising Sleeping Cream, which I apply first, followed by a couple of drops of it's counterpart, the Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil. Together they're both very comforting and if I'm not mistaken, there's a hint of lavender in there to get you off to sleep!

I've been after the Huile Prodigiuse from French skincare brand Nuxe for a while now. This is a dry oil so you get the best of both worlds- it's moisturising but dries quickly once it's on the skin so you're not left all stickily and oily. I mostly use this on my legs where my skin is driest, in alternation with the This Works Oil. 

I love Crabtree & Evelyn and it's fair to say I'm more than a little obsessed with this body butter. The mix of avocado, olive oil and basil makes for the most delicious, summery I-want-to-eat-you-right-now scent of all time. It also helps that it's very soothing on the skin and is the goldilocks of body butters; not too thick, not too thin. Perfect. 

So I used to be the sort of person that suffered from dry, itchy legs. I know what you're thinking, how did this woman remain unmarried for so long?! No body moisturiser worked and I had all but given up on being able to apply tan without extreme patchiness. 

In stepped Sharon from Behind Green Eyes, who sent me a bottle of This Works Skin Deep Dry Leg Oil. This has been a game changer for me. My legs are actually so moisturised now from the last time I used the oil that even directly after a shower they don't feel dry. No mean feat! It's probably not surprising as it does contain 9 different essential oils, but this actually does work!

In combination with this, I've been using the Ultimate Care Body Lotion with Baobab Oil for very dry skin from Burt's Bees. I picked this up in New Orleans last year so every time I smell it I think of that (very good memories!) and it is honestly, just an excellent moisturiser. It's thick enough so it requires a deft hand to work it in but it's worth it.  I've been scraping the last remnants of it out of the bottle but it's pretty much time for me to accept it's gone, so I'll have to hunt down a new one!

Lastly then and not in any way an oil so very much the odd one out, is the Clinique Sweet Pot Lip Scrub & Balm. My amazing friend Eileen bought me one of these to celebrate my graduation last year (I'd been after one for ages) and in the shade I wanted; Candied Cassis. I haven't tried the others but the shade of this comes out a light purpley-pink and is super flattering. 

Before I get to that part though, I use the scrub side first. It's a sugar scrub so if you swallow a bit you're not gonna die and that nicely removes any dead skin cells that are hanging around. With me, they're always hanging around. I could drink two litres of water a day and I'd still have dry lips, so a scrub is a necessity. Handily then, the balm is on the other side so as soon as you've exfoliated, you've got that lovely moisturising, flattering balm. I love it. It comes with me on all holidays, nights away etc. The perfect prep pre-matte lipstick!

And that's the lot!

Have you tried any of these?

What do you use for dry skin?

To the comments!

XX

U.S Drugstore Buys

So we were in the states over Halloween and I of course had to stop at both a Sephora and several pharmacies for make-up. Drugstores over there (CVS, Walgreens etc) are not like our own; they sell everything from painkillers to ice cream with children's toys and random touristy crap in between.

There are also, of course, several make-up brands that we don't have in Ireland and ones that we do but with products we can't get here. 

Hence, a little splurge:

I had plenty of other things on my to-buy list, including the It Cosmetics CC cream, as recommended by the lovely @AinePrendo (on Snapchat) but I couldn't find a nearby Ulta so that was out. I did get plenty of other things however, including this super pretty Milani Rose Powder Blush.

I haven't tried anything from Milani but I knew I had to get a blush- what they're best known for. I had a baked blush in my basket but then I saw this beauty and sure it was too aesthetically pleasing to leave behind. I got the shade Tea Rose and it really is the perfect pink hue. It's ideal for pale Irish skin tones, although I will admit to being tempted by Coral Cove, also lovely but way too bright for me. This was around the $7 mark.

I had originally put a couple of Milani lipsticks into the basket but then I saw this Katy Perry collaboration with CoverGirl and I had to try them out.

While I'm not the biggest Katy fan in the world, I have danced my socks off to plenty of her hits and I enjoyed her movie on Netflix, especially the part where we were introduced to her cat; Kitty Purry. Granted, that is, somewhat egomaniacal but it's also quite cute so obviously I got that shade, which is a mauve and Cat Call, a brighter pop of coral. 

These are matte, which is good news for me as that's my current favourite type of lipstick finish.

These were, strangely also $7 each (I swear I didn't just buy things that were $7. My Sephora receipt will attest to that) but I thought these were great value for the price.

This was also an Áine/snapchat recommendation and although I've yet to try it, I am excited by the concept of a product that contains moisturiser, primer, foundation, SPF, colour correction and pore blurring. I'll be honest, I always thought that last one was pure nonsense but apparently, my pores don't agree with me. I know we have Physicians Formula in Ireland now but to be honest, I can never find a stand and if I do it's been ravaged by youths. 

This was an @SkinnyDoll (again, snapchat!) recommendation and I'm loving it! There were actually three variations in the Maybelline Master Primer range- one for oily skin and a colour corrector I think but I have dry skin and tend to always go for the illuminating primers. This fella also has that blurring property and an SPF 30. This works. My foundation has a healthy glow-from-within look to it with this underneath and it provides a nice base. I'd liken this to Benefit's That Gal except that this is way cheaper, obvs. This was $9.

These Kylie for Sinful Colours polishes were only $1.49 each, so I couldn't leave them behind. The cobalt blue shade, Kosmos (bloody K's everywhere) and the pale blue, Magik Touch are both colours I love and Sinful Colours are generally great quality so I could get over the Kardashian-isation for that alone.

This lot are far less exciting but due to our bags not arriving from JFK to New Orleans with us, we had to pick up a few essentials. I can't shower and not apply moisturiser afterwards so this massive yoke of Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe lotion was a must and worked well in the stifling heat. I couldn't have imagined lashing on a body butter in that humidity so this was ideal. Back in an Irish Winter however, and this loses some of its attraction so I'll be bringing it out again next Summer instead. 

Speaking of heat, SPF was a must and this one from Banana Boat was super handy; it sprays on clear and absorbs practically instantly plus it's factor 50. Perfect!

The Burt's Bees Ultimate Care Body Lotion for Very Dry Skin was purchased towards the end of the holiday. I love this brand and couldn't resist browsing the shelves for them at a slightly reduced price! I'm hoping this particular product is available here cause I am nearly finished and I love it! Containing Baobab Oil, Pumpkin Seed Oil and Green Tea extract, this both smells incredible and leaves my super parched skin softer than anything I've used before. Big thumbs up!

As I didn't have any hair products for a couple of days, I had to get the smart girls best friend; dry shampoo. I didn't know much about a lot of the brands they had on this shelf so I went for Pantene; ye olde reliable. Anyway, this works grand. It smells pleasant enough and does the job. Having said that, my scalp felt slightly itchy (not sure if that was down to the glaring sun also) and I think we have better options on this side of the water.

Lastly then is a packet of Burt's Bees Cucumber Face Wipes. 

I know, I know. Face wipes; the devils own beauty spawn but needs must and these worked a treat for the couple of days. After that I ended up using them up for perfecting our Day of the Dead face paint for Halloween. These were surprisingly non-abrasive on my skin.

And that is the lot!

I will go into further detail about my Sephora purchases at a later date but for now, have you tried any of these?

Anything there that you'd like to see a more in-depth review on?

To the comments!

XX

Top Picks: The Body Shop Christmas Gifts 2016!

Here's a beauty backstory for you to start your day off right! 

My eldest sister worked in The Body Shop in London during the 80's and with her staff discount, she often bought us the little animal soaps, shower gel for our bubble baths and of course, strawberry lip balms. And we loved them. I grew up with a fondness for the store and have always considered their body butters to be in my 'holy grail' list of beauty products. In the last few years I feel like The Body Shop has grown up with me though and it's now a highly coveted beauty/skincare destination. 

Every Christmas I eagerly await their new releases because they always bring it. 

This year is no different and so I popped along to their Christmas gifts launch a couple of weeks ago. They've loads of great ideas for men, women and children so everyone is covered but for reasons including time and space, I won't be going through them all!
Instead, these are my top picks:

First up; anything from the Oils of Life range. These are skin-replenshing oils and this particular set (Ultimate Skincare Collection) comes with an Intensely Revitalising Cream, essence lotion, facial oil and sleeping cream (I'm mad into overnight masks these days) and a twin ball massager to get the most out of the facial oil. This is €140 but is particularly good value for all full size products in a great presentation box. 

I'm guilty of buying candles as gifts a lot but they are an ideal present- sure who doesn't like a candle?! These are paraffin-free with an unbleached cotton wick and a blend of essential oils. 

Japanese Camelia or Meditteranean Sea Salt get my vote.

These face masks have been big best sellers for The Body Shop over the last year and you can get two of the most popular ones (Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask and British Rose Fresh Plumping mask) in a beautiful presentation box for only €42.50. Given that these are €25 each on their own, that's a good saving. The idea with that box set is you use the two together- the charcoal on your t-zone and the rose on your cheeks, tapping nicely into the multi-masking trend that's so big at the minute. 

Every year The Body Shop has three fragrance ranges in everything from body scrubs, lotion, body butter, lip balm, hand cream etc. This year we have Frosted berries, Vanilla Chai and Spiced Apple. While all three are lovely, I'd recommend Vanilla Chai; it's surprisingly festive but also mild enough that you won't smell like a walking Christmas tree and you could definitely wear this one well into the new year and beyond. 

Alternatively, you could also just get this set of all three of the body butter, for the perpetually indecisive person! 

Make-up wise there's a whole limited edition collection of vegan/vegetarian friendly cosmetics out for Christmas. I'm gonna need most of this to be honest. On the left are matte liquid lipsticks, again, these have been huge this year and look set to continue as the preferred lipstick finish. These are €13.50 while the matte tube lipsticks on the right are €15.95. The lipsticks are Vegetarian friendly, rather than vegan (the only product in this particular range that isn't vegan also) and are packed with coconut oil so they won't be drying the way matte lipsticks often are. Bonus!

Also in the limited edition range are eyeshadow palettes, you can choose from three different quads at €13.50 each. There's a set of cruelty free brushes at €50 and this larger palette (above).

Lastly from the make-up range are these Eye Colour Sticks, €13.50 each. I had a bit of a play with these on the night and honestly, these do not budge once they're on the skin. I washed my hands with soap and water several times and those swatches were still there the next day. You'll need an oil based make-up remover for these, which is great for those of us who put their make-up on at the crack of dawn before work and pray it'll stay put till the end of the day! I have the palest gold but will be going back for the bronze shade for sure- that's an all round winner for every eye colour and looks like you've gone to a lot more effort than you actually have. 

The piece de resistance however, is as always the advent calendar. This year there's a few different ones depending on your budget, as well as a gift box of the Body Shop's bestsellers from over the last 40 years. That's The Iconic Collection- the full size of €140 for 11 full size products, while The Iconic Collection Mini is €65 for 7 products, all full sizes bar one. I think either of those would be a great introduction to the brand. 

Back to the deluxe advent calendar though! This has 24 days of treats to open, and at €135 you're doing really well price wise considering how much you're getting. These tend to sell out pretty fast so if you're hoping to get one this year, start dropping hints now!
Alternatively, you could also just treat yo'self!

And that's my lot! As I said there's loads more gifts in store so it's worth popping in yourself to check them out.

Anything here catching your eye? 

Is poor auld Santa gonna have the back broken from carrying all of your Body Shop gift sets?!

To the comments!

XX

*This is not a paid or sponsored post and all opinions are my own, as always!

Skincare Update #3

It's probably way more than #3 to be fair but I'm too lazy to go back any further. As you may know by now, I'm a big fan of skincare. So much so that I'm always trying new products and I often get more excited about it than I do fancy make-up. I have dry/dehydrated skin and so I tend to invest in good quality cleansers and moisturisers, although some of these were sent to me for review. I wouldn't keep using them if they weren't working for me though, so you can be sure they're good!

Cleansers

Bioderma Hydrabio Moisturisning Make-up Removing Micelle Solution
I loved the original Bioderma micellar water so when they brought out Hydrabio, specifically for dehydrated skin, I obviously had to buy myself a bottle. Usually I use this as the first step in my cleanse, followed by one of the below, more heavy-duty cleansers. While I like this, I think I may prefer the original. This is heavily-scented, bizarrely; an addition I would have thought was unnecessary. It still removes make-up without stinging my skin, but then so does the non-scented version!

Botanics Hydration Burst Dual Action Cleanser*
For those of you still missing the Botanics Cleansing Balm, this is the newer versions of it, in a tube! You apply this to the skin (it's like a gel/balm/oil mix), wet your fingertips and massage further into the skin. I then remove it with a warm muslin cloth. I like this one, I always feel like my skin is fully clean afterwards but with no dryness.

Shiseido Creamy Cleansing Emulsion*
This is one of those almost-too-luxurious-to-use products that I've had to make myself not save! When they say 'creamy', you'd better believe they mean creamy! It's really very lovely to use. I typically use this on a cotton pad and it gently removes whatever make-up is left after the micellar water. It's mildly floral-scented and most definitely has built-in moisturisers because my skin always feels a bit smoother after using it. Love it!

REN Express Make-Up Remover*

This one is super handy for removing make-up quickly. I usually just swipe this on a cotton wool pad across my face and it does exactly what it says on the tin. I'm almost finished this one but can see myself buying another, full size. 

Exfoliator

Pixi Glow Tonic

I'd been trying to get my hands on this for ages but it was constantly sold out online, until I found it on sale in Marks & Spencers. This is a chemical exfoliant, so no scrubby beads here! I use this a couple of times a week and it removes dead skin cells from the face quickly and easily. Moisturiser works better after it and make-up applies better. It's a good'un.

Moisturiser

Garnier Ultimate Blends Body Restoring Lotion 

I bought this in a French supermarket for €4. You can probably get this one here too but it was slightly cheaper than in Boots and I loved the sweet almond/vanilla scent of this one. It's as moisturising as the honey one I was using HERE. 

Botanics Hydration Burst Hydrating Day Cream*

I've been using this moisturiser for a while now and am almost finished it but I'm really liking it. It's light and cooling and sinks in quickly, sits well under make-up but at the same time, is an unusual consistency. It's actually more of a gel than anything else so if you hate heavy, cloying face creams, then it's well worth trying this. 

Jade Facial Roller

I read about this on the John, It's Only Make-Up Facebook page and so I duly bought one for myself and my sister. I'm using the end of my Josie Maran Argan Oil with this; gently massaging it in with either large or small sized jade roller endings. Because it's nice and cool it feels lovely but to be honest, I don't always have time to use this- oftentimes I'm too tired and I'm doing well if I use the oil at all!

And, that's the lot for now.

As the weather gets colder, I'll need to change up my skincare again to include some Winter skin saviours, so expect another post on that soon!

What skincare products are you currently rocking?

Anything else I need to try?!

XX

*Products were sent to me for review. This is not a sponsored post and all opinions are my own, as always.