My Skincare Routine

Hi Everyone!

Recently I have been loving reading about people's skincare routines so I thought I would share with you my own. My skincare products change from time to time depending on my budget, my requirements or what is popular at the moment. Right now these are the items that I am using regularly.

I generally tend not to stick to the same brand for every product as different brands are good for different things and I also like to have a bit of variety to meet the needs of my skin.

St. Ives Apricot Scrub

I absolutely love this exfoliater. I have had it for over a year now so it has lasted me ages (I only use a small amount). It is quite grainy which I like as I feel like it gives my skin a good exfoliate and it feels so soft afterwards. I have dry skin so I only use this once or twice a week and avoid the very dry areas of my face. It's oil free so would be perfect for people with oily skin but if you don't like rough products then this might be too harsh for your skin.

Origins Balanced Diet Lightweight Moisture Lotion

I use this product twice a day after I have washed my face in the morning and before I go to bed at night. I have done a review so click here to see it. I do find that it is too light for my skin so I have to apply loads before I put on my foundation or else it will look dry. It has lasted me a long time though so I would recommend if you have oily/normal skin.

Aveeno Eye-Brightening Cream

I apply eye cream every night before I go to bed as I like to pay extra attention to the more delicate parts of my face. I have used eye creams in the past which irritated my eyes (my skin can sometimes be a tad sensitive) but I have had no trouble with this. It is a pretty inexpensive product and Aveeno claim to be a natural brand which I like. It isn't a ground breaking product in my opinion but I haven't had any dryness around my eyes since I've been using it.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant

My lips can get chapped very quickly especially in the winter time which is annoying when you are trying to apply lipstick, so every night I exfoliate my lips and lather on a thick layer of this moisturiser. I wake up in the morning and my lips feel so soft and smooth! I have a full review of the product here so check that out if you want to see more. 

Johnson's Daily Essentials Facial Cleansing Wipes

I know makeup wipes are supposedly very bad for your skin but they are so handy and take off my makeup so well! Johnson's are my preferred brand but my favourite type is the dreamy skin wipes (purple packet) as they smell amazing! I do wash my face afterwards so this is just step one for taking off my makeup and they say its leaving the residue from the wipes on your face that makes it bad for your skin. These are really cheap too and usually on a special offer!

Nivea Visage Young Wash Off Cleansing Gel

I have literally had this for about 2 years now and it just keeps going and going. I use this facial wash twice a day. Once after removing my makeup and then again in the morning to wake me up and cleanse my skin. I love this because it's oil-free therefore it leaves my skin feeling so clean a with no residue. It also gives me a smooth base on my skin which is great when applying my foundation. It is cheap and cheerful and it lasts for a long time, plus you only have to use a pea sized amount as a little goes a long way with this product. My skin feels so soft after using it but I have to apply moisturiser after to avoid my skin becoming dry.

This is a realistic look at my skin. I have dry skin and am lucky enough not to have any major issues with spots - but my skin is not flawless, it can have a mind of it's own sometimes! I hope you find it interesting to see what products work for me, I would love to hear what products work for you, or what you thought of any of the products I use if you've tried them.

Thanks for reading!

♥

The Liebster Blog Award

Hello Everyone! 

Today's post is about The Liebster Blog Award! Now, to be honest I hadn't heard of this award before it was mentioned to me, but I'm so excited to do it! 

I was very kindly nominated by Eleanor from The Lipstick, The Girl and Her Wardrobe I was really so grateful to be nominated, and I also want to thank everyone who reads and comments on my blog it really makes my day!

This award was created to commend blogs with less than 200 followers so to be nominated for the award, you must have less than 200.

After googling The Liebster Award I found out how it works and basically it is an award passed on from blogger to blogger with a set of rules attached.

The rules do vary a tad bit from blog to blog but generally they are the same. They are as follows:

List 11 random facts about yourself 

 Answer the 11 questions which are given to you by your nominator

Ask 11 new questions for all the bloggers that you nominate to win the award

Nominate 9 bloggers with less than 200 followers to win the award

Go to each of the blogger's pages to let them know about their nomination

Thank the blogger who nominated you by mentioning them and link it back to their blog on your post

I hope you all understood the jist of it! Here it goes,

11 Facts About Me:

1. I am a night owl. Literally I stay up way too late most nights as it is usually my post productive and creative hours, and unsurprisingly I am 100% not a morning person. (I'm writing this post at midnight!)
2. I have failed on numerous occasions to keep a diary to write down things that I did and my thoughts etc. I've always loved the idea of keeping a journal and what better way to do it than share it with people who have similar interests! This blog has been the longest I've kept up a sort of 'diary' and I think it's because it's way more fun!
3. I hate pizza. I always get questions as to why I don't eat pizza when I'm out with friends or having a meal somewhere. It's so simple though, I just do not like the taste of it, at all! It unusual and often an inconvenience (when there's nothing else or everyone's having pizza) but I just think it tastes rotten!
4. I want to travel. I want to see all the beautiful places there are to see in the world. I haven't been to a load of different countries yet so I want to explore the world, because different cultures and landscapes fascinate me.
5. My favourite animal is the cliché, a dog. I absolutely love dogs, their loyalty is so unique from other animals. I don't actually have one at the moment, but I would love to own a Japanese Spitz and a Golden Retriever one day.
6. I am from Ireland.. so I'm Irish!
7. My favourite drink is Coke. I could literally drink it all day. I know it's bad for you, but it tastes so good! When I was younger, they used to sell Coke Vanilla in Ireland but they don't any more so I haven't had it in about 10 years but it was soooo good!
8. I am quite sentimental. I have a huge bag in which I keep tonnes of photos, letters and random bits and bobs which I love to look at after years of forgetting about it. I love taking photos as well, and I love to look back on old ones seeing how things have changed.
9. I believe I was born into the wrong generation! I am obsessed with movies, fashion and music from the 1980's. I have a huge interest each of the decades of the 20th Century but the 80's is my favourite one. I listen to more old music than I do modern. I find that the oldies are way more appealing to me and I rarely go crazy for a new release these days. 
10. I have seen every single episode of Friends. One year I got the whole box sex for Christmas and that summer I watched all the seasons. It's one of my favourite programmes. I do wish I didn't sit down and watch them all in one go, because now I can't watch an episode on tv without knowing what to expect. Still, that programme is a classic!
11. I haven't seen most of the Disney movies. I'd say that will shock a few people (it shocks most of the people I tell!). When I was younger I didn't watch that much tv but when I did I didn't watch cartoons. It wasn't for any particular reason, just my mum bought different types of movies. The movies I have seen was The Little Mermaid (when I was 14) and The Lion King (when I was 15). It is quite weird, but I enjoyed the movies I did watch like Pete's Dragon and The Little Vampire. 

My questions from Eleanor were:

1. If you could steal 1 celebrities wardrobe who would it be and why?
2. Shoes or Bags?
3. What is your favourite eye shadow?
4. High end or drugstore makeup?
5. What is your favourite clothes shop? 
6. What is your favourite makeup brand?
7. What is your favourite item of jewellery?
8. What is your dream pair of shoes?
9. What is your favourite TV program?
10. Do you have any 'investment' pieces in your wardrobe?
11. What is your favourite shade of nail varnish?

1. To be honest I don't really follow anybody's style in particular, but I do like what Miley Cyrus wears.
2. Oh I am definitely more of a shoes girl. I think I have about 4 handbags in total! I think that a nice pair of shoes are so much easier to find than a nice handbag.
3. That is a though one. I don't have a huge eye shadow collection so I'm going to say that my favourite palette is the Naked 1 palette by Urban Decay. If I could only use them eye shadows for the rest of my life then I would be happy with that.
4. I will definitely say drugstore for this one. I think you can get dupes for most high end make-up in the drugstore, it's cheaper and I think there is more variety as well.
5. Now this one took me a while to decide. I was torn between Pennys (Primark) and Topshop. Pennys is so cheap and cheerful, but I am going to have to go with Topshop as being my ultimate favourite. Their clothes are just so beautiful!
6. I love different brands for different things, so this is a hard one. But if I had to pick one brand for the rest of my life, I would have to choose Revlon. Their foundations are brilliant and their lip products are equally as luscious!
7. I have a lot of sentimental jewellery which I love, but my fanciest piece is a gold necklace with a diamond in the middle which I got for my 18th birthday.
8. I'm not the type of person who fantasizes about the day they buy their first pair of Louboutin heels, I just care about how they look of me and how comfy they are! I would love a pair of black, closed toe wedges with an ankle strap.
9. I simply could not choose one programme so I chose 4 instead! Downton Abbey, The Big Bang Theory, Moone Boy and The Inbetweeners. 
10. I don't know if you would call them 'investment pieces' but I have a staple pair of brown knee high boots and a denim jacket.
11. My favourite nail polish for my toes is Aruba Blue by Essie and by favourite finger nail polish is any light nude colour. I like to keep it pretty natural on my hands for everyday wear!

My questions are:

1. If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 items would you talk with you and why?
2. What is your favourite perfume?
3. Favourite skin care brand?
4. What is your biggest pet peeve?
5. Would you rather wear no eye make-up or no foundation?
6. What inspired you to create a blog?
7. Share your best beauty tip.
8. What is your dream job?
9. When did you first start wearing make-up and what did you wear?
10. Who is your favourite Youtube beauty guru?
11. What are your top 3 current favourite songs?

I nominate:

1. http://glorychen.blogspot.ie/
2. http://elinorrhian.blogspot.ie/
3. http://beautybodymind.blogspot.ie/
4. http://styleofsavannah.blogspot.ie/
5. http://pippjones281190.blogspot.ie/
6. http://whatisinherwardrobe.blogspot.ie/
7. http://favouritepurchases.blogspot.ie/
8. http://eyelashwishes-x.blogspot.ie/
9. http://livelifebrightbdearie55.blogspot.ie/

Urban Decay's Naked Palette Review

Hi there everyone! I have another review for you here today and it's on a product which some of you requested. The Naked palette is an extremely popular make-up product among the beauty community and the general female population (unless there are guys out there who like to wear it?).

Well I'm just going to get straight into the review, I hope you find this review useful.

The Naked palette (€40.50) contains 12 eye shadows, 10 shimmers and 2 mattes. It also includes a mini Urban Decay Primer Potion and an eye shadow brush. The palette itself is slim, velvet chocolate brown with gold writing. It closes with a magnet so is convenient to open and close.

If you are trying to decide between The Naked Palette and The Naked 2 Palette then it all depends on your colour preferences. If you prefer warm, brown, bronze colours then go for The Naked Palette. If you prefer cool, grey, silver colours then go for The Naked Palette.

✓The packaging is really sleek and it fits nicely into a handbag.  ✓The eye shadows are really pigmented and last really well.  ✓The colours are very versatile and you can make a look for any occasion.  ✓It comes with a brush which is very useful and good quality.  ✓The Primer Potion works wonders to keep your eye shadows on all day/night and prevent creasing or oiliness.  ✓It comes with a little mirror built in which is handy for on the go applications.

✗ It is quite expensive.  ✗ Each shade comes in small quantities so they run out pretty fast.  ✗ If you're someone who hates shimmery eye shadows then stay clear of this palette as they make up for most of it.  ✗ Although the packaging is slim, it is quite long and doesn't fit into most make up bags.

Overall my opinion is that although it is an expensive purchase, it is well worth it if you are into using eye shadow on a regular basis, and enjoy experimenting with different shades.

 Let me know what you thought of this product and if you have any questions or reviews please leave them in the comments!

Thank-you for reading!

♥

Origins Balanced Diet Lightweight Moisturise Lotion Review

Hello Everyone!

So I have another review for you today, its the Origins Balanced Diet Lightweight Moisture Lotion. I picked up this moisturiser in Arnotts for €33.

This is what Origins say about this product:

"When skin is not the same all over, it's hard to feed your needs. Nature's nutritionists provide precise portion control to be sure that skin "eats" smart.Wheat Protein and Soy Protein deliver lightweight liquid nourishment where needed to soften and soothe dry zones without weighing down T-zones. Konjac Powder soaks up sebum, and only sebum, and leaves no leftovers to shine a face up. Skin that's oily here, dry there feels fresher, smoother everywhere.
Dermatologist and Ophthalmologist tested."

"Suitable for combination-normal skin"

I was looking for a product which ingredients were of mainly natural origin (excuse the pun!), when I came across this brand. They have a huge selection of products and I was impressed with the range.

I have very dry skin so moisturising is very important to me to keep my skin in a good condition. 

I was told by the assistant that since I have younger and dryer skin that this product would suit me. Also because I didn't want to spend too much money that this was one of the cheaper moisturisers.

It does last a long time. I have been using this product for about seven months now and it isn't even half-way finished yet.

This is an oil-free product which has very little "nasty" ingredients and would be great for those of you who are big into their natural products!

It blends easily and sinks into my skin quickly - no heavy residue left on my skin.

There were three things I found that didn't work for me with this product. 

Firstly, the consistency is very runny, which can be a hassle when pouring it onto your hand out of the bottle (no pump applicator). 

I have the wrong skin type for this product as it was not moisturising enough for me and found that I had to apply it twice before my skin was hydrated enough.

It is on the pricier side but I think it is worth it.

Overall I would really recommend this product to anyone who has combination-normal skin, I think it would be perfect for them. Although it is on the pricey side, I think it is great value for money as it lasts a very long time. I am very excited to try out more Origins products.

Thank-you for reading. If you have tried out this product please let me know what you think of it!

♥

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick

Hello Everyone!

This is my first review and I am excited to inform you and share with you all my thoughts on this product. 

The colour I picked up was sheer so there basically was no colour to it! I didn't swatch it for you guys as it would be pointless because there is nothing to see, its clear! But I hope you can make out from the pictures what it would look like. You can also get this product in tinted colours such as reds and pinks etc.. 

Firstly this is what the company says about the product: 

"Beautiful lips get attention. They also get a lot of sun. Protect yours with this all-weather, SPF 15 treatment stick. It helps moisturise, soften and smooth your lips''

They also claim that it:
Treats your lips to Eight Hour Care.
Helps moisturise, soften and smooth lips.
Relieves chapping and cracking.
Helps guard against the damaging effects of UV exposure with SPF 15.
Is available in a range of beautiful sheer shades.

I suffer from really dry skin and lips which is what drew me to the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour collection - I had heard many great things about it and wanted to give this a try. 

I apply this product at night time before I hop into bed. I exfoliate my lips and when they're dry I apply the lip protectant. It goes on very smooth - similar to the Nivea Essential Care stick but a bit thicker. If feels almost waxy and is not oily at all. It has no real smell although I wouldn't say it's fragrance free, it just smells like a regular lip balm 

I guess!

A huge benefit would be that it has an SPF of 15 in it, which isn't extremely high but it is better to have some kind of sun protectant on your lips than nothing.

I have woken up in the morning to find that my lips feel really moisturise and are not dry or flaky at all. My lipstick and lip gloss go on much more smooth and softer.

I have found just two disadvantages with this product.

 The price. It retails in Ireland for a whopping €22.50. If you're spending this sort of money, you would want to be getting your money's worth. I love this product but I wouldn't be spending that sort of money on a lip balm again.

The amount of product. In the pictures shown I have used the product a few time, but only a few. So you really do not get a lot of product in the tube, which was a big disappointment for me. You would think if you paid so much money for it then you should be getting a bit more.

Overall I think this is a really great product, and I would recommend it if you have the money to spend on expensive lip treatments. I probably won't be re-purchasing this in the near future as it's way out of my budget but I will definitely use it all up! Let me know if you have tried this product and what you thought of it.

I have tried a lot of the 8 Hour collection so if there are any of those products you would like a review on please comment below and let me know!

Thank-you to all the people who have followed my blog and have left such lovely comments

♥

Belfast Beauty Haul!

So recently I went shopping in Belfast and I got some really great things. I absolutely love Belfast - the shops, the Titanic exhibition, the architecture, and especially the accents. Northern Irish accents is probably my favourite accent! 

I enjoy going up there a few times a year and this is the first time I'm blogging about some of the things I picked up. I hope you enjoy and I may do a review or two on some of the items I picked up.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

I have been meaning to pick up this foundation for a loooong time so as it was on sale for £5.99 I was definitely picking it up! I have heard many good things about this product and I am eager to try it out. I bought it in the shade 100Ivory which I think is the palest shade it comes in.

Real Techniques Brushes

Let me firstly say - I absolutely LOVE these brushes! I went to a few Boots in Belfast trying to find these brushes and eventually I found them! I picked up the blush brush (pink) and the face brush set (bronze) - which includes a contour brush, small pointed foundation brush, concealer brush and a buffing brush. As you can probably see from the photo I have already used them and they really are great value for money. I am considering doing a review on them as they are such a great investment which wont break the bank! The blush brush was on its own and was £9.99. The face brush set was £21.99.

Sleek Blush - Lace

Sleek is a make-up brand which is raved about by many beauty gurus but unfortunately it isn't sold in stores in Ireland. So this was one of the things I had on my list to buy before I went to Belfast. I had my mind set on picking up the Sleek Contour Kit but I wanted the light shade and sadly they were out of stock. I managed to find a blush set which was around £9.99 for three different shades. I was originally planning on buying one of Benefit's blushes but since they are twice the price for one I decided it was a better deal to get three for half as much!

 Urban Decay's Naked Palette

I know I am VERY late jumping on the band wagon with this buy but I had hesitated to buy it for a long time due to it's price, but I gave in and splurged on this famous little palette. I decided to get the Naked1 instead of the Naked2 because warmer toned colours like browns and golds suit me better than cooler shades. I actually didn't buy this up north, I found it on sale a few weeks ago for €36.99 when it was on sale in Debenhams (which it isn't anymore). I know I will get so much use out of this.

Benefit's Sunbeam

This is something I have been meaning to buy for a while since it came out. It was around £18, and I can't wait to try it out. It is similar to Benefit's Highbeam, but I find that Highbeam is more suited to people with cool undertones and since I have a warm undertone,  Sunbeam is a good match as it has a yellow undertone. 

thank-you to all the new people who followed my blog

♥