Those rosy cheeks

As someone with a pale complexion, I quite like blush to add some life to the face. Over the past year or so I have collected blushes of varying shades and pigmentation. Depending on the time of year, my skintone and the colours I'm wearing I choose from: 

Clinique's Iced Lotus  &  Maybelline's 77 Rose are both cooler and I tend to use them more at Wintertime or when creating a fresh-faced look. 

Artdeco in 44  &  Catrice's Toffee Fairy are both warm and rustic and perfect for Autumn

Elf's Tickled Pink & Candid Coral are quite poorly pigmented so more ideal when creating a subtle, everyday look

Benefit's Sugarbomb & Mac's Springsheen are high quality products, both suitable for day and night. 

What blush do you use currently?

A touch of sparkle!

I thought I would share these few pieces that I love wearing lately. 

The two chains are from Willow - I love their selection of jewellery! The long turqoise piece goes with a multitude of green and blue tones of which there are many in my wardrobe. The white and yellow piece looks great against black, grey and green. 

 I cannot remember where I got these earrings but they look great especially at this time of year - they really brighten the face and make a huge difference. I love all these pieces at the moment but my favourite is this ring I got for my birthday in June from Bronzallure. I have always loved bronze and was delighted when I came across this collection. It is definitely worth a browse on their website. 

Lip it!!

The three lipsticks I am using these days are

benefit's Wing Woman, quite a bright peachy neutral. 

I mostly wear this at work / daytime

L'Oreal's Ginger Chocolate 274

a natural nude, very subtle

This is probably my favourite of all three! 

Revlon's Colour Burst Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie 50

for when I need a bright lip, a lovely pink

Personally I like to wear bright colours when I am wearing neutral coloured clothing and nude colours when I'm wearing brighter coloured clothes. Having a peach, pink and a more natural nude covers most bases, next stop the darker plums!!

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator & Skin Repair Moisturiser

As the Liz Earle range is agreeing with my skin so well, I decided to expand my collection with their exfoliator. I also received their Skin Repair Moisturiser in one of their latest offers, and a very relaxing Eucalyptus & Rosemary Candle. 

The exfoliator includes eucalyptus, cocoa butter and jojoba beads. A little goes a long way - I work it into my skin in circular motions, concentrating on those parts that I want to invigorate and brighten. I use it about twice a week and find it great. 

I prefer the Skin Repair Moisturiser to the Superskin Moisturiser I already had. It has a slightly thicker, richer texture, I think. I chose the one for Dry/Sensitive Skin. It includes borage oil, echinacea, hops and avocado oil.

Perhaps it is due to the passage of time but it is certainly not due to my diet (which is another story or blog post!!) but my forehead which was quite bumpy is now smooth and blemish-free. In general my skin has never been so clear and healthy looking! :) 

That's Life - Fulfillment - Be Brave, Be Determined, Believe

I would like to post a little about fulfillment and how we all need a sense of this in our lives. At this time in my life I am feeling it more than ever. I think it is mainly down to pursuing my interests and passions and feeling I am moving forward and achieving something. I have a number of passions I work on and partake in on a weekly basis, all of which I enjoy and are unique to me. Becoming more skilled at something, without a doubt, increases one's self-esteem and confidence. It can take a while but once you find that thing you love doing, go for it. The likelihood of you giving up is slim if it is something you actually want to do and not something you are doing to impress others. We all have so much potential and have the ability to achieve far more  - all we need is courage, determination and self-belief. 

What would you really like to do? 

What would you really like to be good at? 

Why aren't you doing it already?

Happy Sunday! :) 

Winter Weathering (Prevention of)!

I thought I would post about keeping hydrated this winter, in every way 

- hair, lips, hands, body and face. 

 (I hope you like the picture. This was taken out my back on a lovely old style fence, unfortunately you can't see the fence as I thought the trees and sky looked lovely on this wintry afternoon. I had great fun taking this as the tube on the far right kept falling!)

Hair

About a week ago I bought two items from Kerastase - a shampoo and a mask. Their anti-dandruff moisturising shampoo is an exfoliant. I had never used an exfoliator on my hair before and was a little apprehensive but it was so good. Unusually I had quite a bad bout of dandruff  but it practically disappeared after the first use. If you have dandruff or dry scalp at the moment I highly recommend this. I was only on the search for a good anti-dandruff shampoo, however there was a discount on 2 or more items so of course I got sucked in and now I am the proud owner of their Nutritive Masquintense. I have yet to try this but if the scent is anything to go by then I think I'll like it. The Kerastase range is expensive but hopefully worth it.

If I'm in a hurry and don't have time to condition my hair I spray some of Herbal Essences Bee Strong  Leave-In Cream into the length of my hair. 

Hands

The two hand creams I am using these days are La Source Hand Therapy by Crabtree & Evelyn and Garnier's Intensive 7 Day. I love both of these as they are fast absorbing and don't leave a sticky feeling. I also have the La Source Exfoliator which is brilliant. I find when I don't keep my hands moisturised they look like they belong to an old lady!

Lips

Blistex Intensive Moisturiser is brilliant. Don't forget to exfoliate your lips with a toothbrush, making them all plump and soft.

Face & Eyes

Read earlier posts to find out about my skincare routine. In addition to my current routine I use Avene's Soothing Moisture Mask and The Body Shop's Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil. Once a week I apply the mask and I reapply to the areas where the mask has soaked into easily. I often get into bed with the mask on, trying to stay on my back. I wake in the morning hydrated and soft. Another great product for night-time is the Serum-in-Oil - very hydrating and softneing. Of course try to exfoliate your face at least twice a week to get rid of dead skin. The skin around the eyes dries out too so I am now lashing on eyecream whenever I remember. 

Body

My favourite body moisturiser at the moment is coconut oil. After a hot bath or shower, it soaks in very well. Again, try to exfoliate at least once a week to increase the effectiveness of your moisturiser. 

And of course hydrate your body from the inside with water and fruit :) 

Looking Younger

Since makeup can and often makes women (including me) look older than they are, here are a few ways (and products) to help you look the opposite - younger!

The youngest looking women I know don't wear any makeup at all. Try to use minimal coverage and expose as much of your natural skin tone and glow as possible. I have used L'Oreal's CC Cream in the past so I decided to try out their BB cream. Heavy foundation has an ageing effect so bear this in mind. 

Black eyeliner and mascara can look quite severe. Brown or grey can help create softer looks. It depends on the look you are trying to create, and the colour of your eyes. I have L'Oreal's Volume Million Lashes in brown. Softer colours around the eye will soften the whole area creating a younger look. 

I know it is Autumn/Winter but for a younger look, and lip, opt for the brighter tones instead of the darker. I got this 'Ginger Chocolate' which is a very flattering, Autumnal shade. 

I would love to hear your tips!

Italy: Cinque Terre Part 3

Hello again, I hope you enjoyed Cinque Terre Parts 1 and 2. Today I will tell you a little about the actual walk I did. 

There are a number of walks in the National Park, varying in intensity and length, including a coastal walk which is the one I did. As I mentioned a few days ago, two sections of the coastal walk are closed. At the time (July 2014) you could start the walk from Monterosso or Corniglia; I started in the latter as it's easier. 

Firstly I had to tackle the many, many steps that bring you up to the village of Corniglia. I had a little look around Corniglia, which is lovely. Outside the village you must show, or buy, a ticket at the checkpoint. The inland walks are free of charge but the coastal walk is not. 

The terrain varied greatly, at times smooth and easy and at other times, rocky and uneven. There were steep parts, upward and downward. On the upward steep parts, I had to stop and rest regularly as it definitely got my blood flowing!  My 2 litre bottle of water was not long gettting lighter.  The views were worth it though - looking back at the higgledypiggledy, colourful village behind and out over the Ligurian Sea. 

When I reached Vernazza I had a little break: a wander around and some food. Vernazza is so different from the other villages; each has their own charm and uniqueness. To me it seems the most spirited village as it had to overcome a horrific flood in 2011. I refilled my bottle at a fountain and set off for Monterosso. 

Monterosso is probably my least favourite of the five as it is so touristy and for me it lacks the character the other four have. As I descended the steep stony steps, people were coming against me with a tough, uphill challenge ahead of them. I was happy with the direction I'd opted for. 

Having arrived in the most northerly village of the Cinque Terre, I rested on the beach - the sound of the sea, the birds and Italian families. I had completed the long-awaited walk and it felt great. 

Italy: Cinque Terre Part 2

I hope you enjoyed reading Part 1 of my Cinque Terre post. 

So with Cinque Terre ticket in hand, I boarded the train in search of accommodation. I love to travel on a budget so I was in search of a hostel. I had not booked one as I like to wing it and so the search began. I had stayed in a lovely hostel in Manarola two years previously so I went straight there. When I say straight there I mean I got the train there and proceeded to walk the very steep hill to the place only to be told they were fully booked. At this stage I was hot, sweaty and turning a funny shade. 

I decided to connect to the free Wifi (thanks to the Cinque Terre ticket) at the bottom of the hill to retrieve other hostel options. Next stop, Corniglia. When alighting the train in Corniglia my memory started to jog, Corniglia was not easy to get to. About ten minutes of stair climbing separates you from the village. It is definitely challenging in the mid summer heat. So up I went, located the hostel at the top only to be told 'No room'. 

I considered paying for a more expensive room. I considered phoning in advance of travelling to possible hostels. But then I thought, I'm not in any hurry, I'll make use of my unlimited travel pass and board the train AGAIN, this time heading to Riomaggiore. A tunnel leads you to the village and up yet another hill. The hostel was nowhere to be seen. I decided to enquire only to be told I had passed it out, at the train station. So back down the hill, negotiated with an old lady (she did not speak English at all, I spoke very little Italian) and eventually flopped down on my bed for the night. 

The next day I set out on the coastal walk. Unfortunately two sections of the walk were closed due to landslides and unsafe paths. One can start the walk in Monterosso or Corniglia. I had heard it was harder to start in Monterosso as it was steeper and that there was more uphill walking. Fear of the unknown and lack of fitness made me start in Corniglia. I was so excited and had wanted to do this for a few years so off I set. 

To read the final part of my Cinque Terre experience stay tuned!

Italy: Cinque Terre Part 1

In July I went to Italy determined to walk the Cinque Terre Trail. In all honesty it's not that difficult but bearing in mind I'm not an experienced hiker it was a big deal for me. I was really looking forward to walking it as I love walking and I love Italy expecially the Cinque Terre, which is the name given to the five villages on the northwestern(ish) coast. The whole place is so picturesque and beautiful, I love it so much; this was my second time there.

Thanks to Ryanair I flew to Pisa from Dublin and walked (yes, walked) from the airport to the only hostel in Pisa which I highly recommend, in terms of price and cleanliness. No red eye flight this time, I arrived in the evening and had a lovely wander in the warm breeze.

The next morning I got the train up the coast to La Spezia which is where you can buy tickets for and find information about Cinque Terre National Park. The Information Office can be quite hectic but manageable. From there you can reach the five villages of the Cinque Terre: Riomaggiore, Manorola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. With the rail ticket you can travel up and down the line to your heart's content, hopping on and off, visiting and revisiting each Terre. 

If you would like to hear all about the trek and my stay in the Cinque Terre stay tuned! :)

A little bit lighter

I thought I would share a few tips on losing a few pounds. This is what has worked for me.

1. Get busy

I have found in the past when I wanted to lose weight it was on my mind a lot but I think the trick is to not let it take over. The times I have lost weight have been when weight loss was not on my mind as I was quite busy at the time. The weight just came off then as I was getting on with life and not obsessing over food or exercise.

2. Get logical

I can only speak for myself but in the past I have consumed far more than what my body actually needed. Yes, food is there to be enjoyed but it mainly is fuel for the body so that you have energy to get through the day. The body does not need as much as we think. So maybe think of food more as fuel for the body and less as a source of enjoyment. 

3. Get thirsty

Between meals is a good time to top up the body with water. I think of it as having a mini water meal. Drinking water has so many benefits. It is unlikely that you will drink too much water but it is very likely that you are dehydrated. I try my best to drink at least half a litre between meals; I also love to drink as much water as possible when I wake in the morning. I find it is a great way to start the day and relieve bloating.

Common Scents

Yves Saint Laurent's 'Opium' is more of an evening scent even though I love wearing it to work. I usually go for the darker packaging as I love the darker, stronger scents. I love this one. The sales assistant also treated me to an 'Opium' candle which is so hard to burn as I want it to last. 

'Cashmere' by Next is another lovely scent, more suited for daytime. As the name and packaging suggest, it is quite delicate. I almost feel like I should be wearing pastels with it. Another divine and very reasonable scent from Next! 

Tip: I was told during the week the best place to spray perfume is at the back of your knee - I've yet to try it!

What scents have you tried lately?

Liz Earle: Superskin Moisturiser & Instant Boost Skin Tonic

A few weeks ago I started using and posted about Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish. Today, following a complimentary facial, I added to the range with a moisturiser and a tonic. 

 

The Instant Boost Skin Tonic revitalises, soothes and tones. 

It contains:

- Aloe Vera to hydrate

- Calendula for its anti-inflammatory properties

- Cucumber to rejuvenate

- Rose-scented Geranium for anti-aging

The Superskin Moisturiser is for mature or very dry skin. It smoothes, plumps and replenishes. Unlike the cleanser & toner it is fragrance-free. It can be used both day and night.

It contains:

- Cranberry Seed Oil moisturises

- Borage Oil for its anti-inflammatory properties

- Rosehip Oil rejuvenates

- Pomegranate Fruit Extract hydrates

The naturally active ingredients contained in Liz Earle's Skincare range were specifically chosen to combat skin disorders such as eczema, acne and rosacea. It has been a while since I used the 3 steps: cleanse, tone and moisturise. I can't wait to start cleaning my face properly once again! 

PS - Happy Autumn! :)

Inglot Brush Cleanser

In the past I have cleaned my make up brushes with baby shampoo, virgin oil and the like but they never seemed to extract all the make up from my tools. I knew I needed the real thing and so the hunt began for a targeted make up brush cleaner. 

Inglot Brush Cleanser was recommended to me so I decided to give it a go. It was very reasonably priced, around Eu10 for 150ml and has a spray pump. 

It is so much easier to use and takes less time than the other methods I've tried. I spray a tissue (or face cloth), then gently rub the hairs of the brush into the cleanser. I find this cleanser cleans my brushes thoroughly in seconds!

How do you clean your brushes?

My first time cleansing and polishing with Liz Earle

I have been washing my face with coconut oil all summer. I recommend it and it works very well. However, as I mentioned in yesterday's post, I was looking for an exfoliator suitable for rosacea and was drawn to Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. 

So I used it last night and this morning. Since I was cleaning off my (minimal) makeup last night I used a full pump and a little extra. It is recommended you use it with dry hands on a dry face. This amount was enough for my face and neck. Using my finger tips I worked it all in. It is creamy and smells so good (eucalyptus mmm).

The only thing about this product is that I cannot use hot water (hot water and rosacea are not such good friends) so I use cold or tepid water. I rinsed and squeezed the muslin cloth (you get 2 cloths with the cleanser) and rubbed off all the cream gently. This gently exfoliates your skin. 

Unlike the coconut oil which I had been using, this cleanser has those added extras which will hopefully benefit me - rosemary, chamomile, cocoa butter and eucalyptus. 

This morning I used less than a full pump as I did not have any makeup to wash off. I wouldn't usually cleanse twice a day but I thought there was no harm in smelling that divine scent again :) I am booked in for a free Liz Earle facial in a few weeks time so I will keep you posted on my experience with Liz Earle products. 

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

I am so sorry for the long wait but I just had not bought anything very interesting until today! It has been reviewed at length already but I thought I'd review it too. 

For this post I thought I would show how the cleanser is packaged, rolled up in the muslin cloths inside a zipped bag. I thought I would have to pay more for the muslin cloths but they come free with the cleanser. 

I am curious to try this cleanser and cloth combination as I have heard quite a bit about it. I was actually looking for an exfoliator today but the lady guided me towards this product which both cleanses and gently exfoliates. 

It contains naturally active ingredients: Rosemary, Chamomile, Cocoa Butter and Eucalyptus Essential Oil. It is also alcohol-free so it's perfect for me and my roscaea :)

I will try it tonight and report back tomorrow. 

Three Tops

A little late, sorry. Here are a few nice tops I bought in the last few months. 

This printed vest is from Oasis. Lately I've been putting it with this skirt from H&M. Oasis always has a lovely selection of vests and I usually buy one each Spring/Summer. I imagine this top would look great with black jeans too.

This cropped top is from Zara. I love this shade of green. I wear this with high waisted skirts. 

I got this very loose and airy top in the Vero Moda summer sale. I love the design and that it's longer at the back. The sleeves are the perfect length too - very flattering! I've been wearing it with navy leggings or blue jeans.

I hope you are all having a lovely summer :)

Manuka Doctor - Apiclear Facial Moisturising Lotion

Manuka Doctor is another more natural choice I came across recently. It is available in Holland and Barrett.

There are 5 ranges: apiclear, apiwellness, apinourish, apirevive and apifocus. It includes purified bee venom which is renowned for its anti-bacterial properties. I love honey products so was more than willing to give this brand a go!

On this occasion I went for Apiclear which is for troubled, blemished skin, eliminating blemish causes, encouraging cell regeneration and reducing scars and wrinkles. It is dermatologically tested and is paraben free.

It is quite light and soaks in very easily into the skin. As it does not have sun protection I only use it on dull, cloudy days. 

Coconut Oil #1 Face

I have been reading up and watching videos on the benefits of Coconut Oil for quite a while now and finally purchased it yesterday. 24 degrees celsius is the temperature at which it liquefies (it is a solid below this) which explains why it turns into an easy-to-use oil when rubbed between your fingers. As indicated on the jar, it can be directly applied to the skin.

Last night was my first time to clean my face using coconut oil. This included makeup removal. I dug my clean fingers into the jar (you could use a spoon) and softened it up between my fingers. Using circular motions, I worked it into my face and neck. Some even got in my eye but did not hurt at all. I then washed it all off gently with a face cloth and cool water. My face appeared very clean, soft and moisturised. I checked the effectiveness of coconut oil as a cleanser with a toner. The cotton pads had no residue, makeup or grime; the coconut oil had worked. I really was amazed that my face was so clean after such a quick and easy process. At the same time my face felt very moisturised.

For those of you with redness or rosacea, this is a very kind and calming way to clean your face- 100% natural too. If you are coming to the end of your facewash or cleanser, I highly recommend you to try this. Remember to wash off with cool water as warm/hot water will aggravate your skin.

The jar contains 453g or 16oz. which will last a long time. It is a very versatile product so I will blog about this a few more times, each time outlining a different use.
Stay tuned for Coconut Oil #2 Smoothie

Kubiss London - Lipstick + Highlight

This brand caught my eye as it is such good value; I got these 3 products for only 7 euro. 

The lipsticks are in the shades Hint of Pink and Montana Rose. This is my first bold red lip product and quite daring for me. The other is a more summery, nude, baby pink look. Make sure to apply lip balm beforehand to prevent drying. They are both quite creamy and pigmented. 

The Glimmer Glow highlight is in the shade No3. It appears to be more of a blush to me, either way I love the tones. 

Kubiss is a name to look out for.

What's new?! - a mini Penneys/Primark Haul

Hi, I thought I would share a few things I got in Penneys lately. Penneys (or Primark in UK) is an amazing, very affordable shop which you must visit if you are ever in this part of the world. 

Firstly, how do you like my new background or my fabulous new duvet cover? I quite like the grey colour and design. It is pretty neutral so easy to style a bedroom around. 

I got this as it's long and will cover my bum when wearing leggings. A great colour with a tan too. It has a wide neck and a little sleeve. 

 A bright grey t-shirt which would look great under a blazer for a smart/casual look. I love these type of sleeves too. High necks are flattering for smaller chested ladies. 

 This is my third pair of coloured skinnys from Penneys; I have the brown and pink already. These fit really well (I am a pear shape) and will go with a lot of shoes and tops that I have. 

 I only had one pair of summery work out pants so I needed another. These come just below the knee (I am a lady :) ) which I like and the waist band is a bit of a throwback to the early 90's. Woohoo!!

 I am interested to try this out; I can't turn down coconut! It's also paraben free -not entirely sure what this means but it sounds salubrious!

 My favourite item of this whole haul is this hoody. It is so soft and cosy. I love the colour too. A definite must-have for when the sun goes down. 

 I love my new nightwear. The top is cropped and has such a nice pattern. The shorts are a welcome alternative to full-length bottoms. I carelessly picked up the wrong size so they are huge on me!

And finally these cool, luminous socks which come in a 5 pack, there is an orange pair too. Perfect for working out.

Have you been to Penneys/Primark recently and what did you buy?

Light Summer Make-up

I am wearing very minimal makeup lately, as in just foundation to cover what I need to, not even my whole face, and that's it! This means I have numerous products lying in a drawer, waiting to be chosen :) Today I was heading off to an event so I decided to wear slightly more than foundation. I love wearing very little makeup lately and showing as much skin in its natural state as possible.

I have these two 'True Matches', neither of which is a true match as I bought them when my skin was more and less tanned. The darker shade is Beige and the lighter is Golden Vanilla. I mix them together so they don't go to waste. I vary the ratio depending on where I am applying it for example I apply more Golden Vanilla down the bridge of my nose but I apply more Beige on the sides. I have been using L'Oreal True Match for years and find it so good in terms of coverage, blendability and range of shades. As I mentioned above, I only cover my blemishes and blend outwards so that it is not obvious. I do not bother applying foundation to my good skin which is most of my face, nor do I use concealer at the moment. 

I use a damp Real Technique's sponge which looks a little icky at the moment. Let me know if you want to know how I clean it. 

 Usually that would be it but today I went mad and applied blusher - Benefit's Sugarbomb which I love. I cannot remember how this cracked but it is still usable. A great blusher, I highly recommend it.

 On my lids I applied a mixture of Virgin and Naked, just a quick and easy dab to liven the eye area up a bit. 

 

I hope you enjoyed this very minimalistic, yet perfect for the summer, look! Xx

Are you going bare faced lately?

Image Skincare

Hi, I am back with yet more skincare and perhaps my favourite brand yet!! I cannot say enough about the quality of these products. As you know I have rosacea which is quite difficult to manage. I have tried and tested many products but these are right up there in terms of sensitivity, effectiveness and scent ( they smell divine!) 

I was recommended these by a beauty therapist after I was pampered with an Image facial. The facial itself was amazing and really brightened up my skin. I highly recommend them and facials in general; I love going to the spa. It is an absolute treat for me and I go a few times a year. 

Back to Image Skincare - I am currently using their Vital C hydrating anti-aging serum and their Prevention+ daily matte moistuiser (SPF 32). The Vital C soothes the visible effects of environmentally damaged skin. It contains vitamins A, E and highly potent anti-oxidants. It feels so nourishing and brightens up the face. It is a little pricey but absolutely worth it. The moisturiser smells amazing and has such a lovely consistency. It soaks in very well and is very gentle on the sensitive areas of my face. It also contains anti-oxidants. I also feel very protected wearing a factor 32. 

I wanted to buy more of their products but as I mentioned already they are dearer than what I normally go for. 

Happy Birthday!!

I am officially blogging one year today, 115 posts later! I would like to thank all my readers. I have enjoyed it so much and am looking forward to continuing long into the future. I appreciate all of you who spend your time reading what I have to say and cannot believe I have almost 3,000 views. I have a lot more in store from skincare to travel so stay tuned :)

Cotton pads or face cloth?

I have swayed between both cotton pads and face cloths but at the moment I am settling with the latter!

Face cloths can have a gentle exfoliating effect, depending on how you use them. I find they are faster and easier to remove make-up and cleanser. When I use them now, I only use them for one day, in the morning and evening, and then I put it in the wash so it's pretty hygienic. However, due to the texture of the face cloth, it is quite easy to pull and drag at your skin. If care is taken though, face cloths are a good option. 

Cotton pads are more costly as they need to replaced regularly. Unless you are careful, you could spread product around your face while using them. I find it takes longer to remove make-up with them and I need more make-up remover/cleanser in order to do so, which is further expense. However, when you are feeling lazy and you just want to hop into bed, the cotton pads are handy. They also come in handy on nights away where washing and drying your own face cloth would not be practical. 

What do you prefer and why?

The Body Shop's Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-oil & Moisture Lotion SPF 15

Hello everyone, I am back after a busy few weeks. I thought I would update you on two vitamin E products from The Body Shop - their moisture lotion and their overnight serum-in-oil. 

Their moisture lotion is for daytime and has an SPF of 15. It claims to help protect skin from environmental damage and premature skin aging. Although it is very creamy and leaves skin feeling soft, it did not soak into one dry patch of dry skin that I had. It was very moisturising for all other parts of my face though. It also has a strong scent, a sun protection type scent. It is a little on the greasy side so even though it says it is for all skin types I would not think it would be ideal for oily skin. So on the plus side it has an SPF and leaves your skin feeling soft and on the down side it has a strong scent, is a bit too greasy for my liking and it does not penetrate dry patches. I definitely would not opt for this again. 

Thankfully, the overnight serum-in-oil was a lot better. It claims to replenish and recharge moisture while you sleep. I definitely noticed a difference using this; my skin felt so soft after just one use. It has a slight scent. It really softened the more 'normal' parts of my skin but did not work wonders on the blemishes. This would be ideal for people with 'normal' skin; I cannot imagine it would be good for anyone with clogged, congested skin or very dry skin. I will continue to use this for its softening qualities.

What's new?! - La Roche-Posay, The Body Shop & dr.organic

I thought I would share a few new products I got lately. I am not going to talk about them in any great detail today as I do not know what they are like yet but if they work for me I will post about them again in a few weeks. 

La Roche-Posay's Rosaliac Micellar Make-up Removal Gel (for Redness Prone Sensitive Skin) - I have used this twice so far and I love it. Definitely a must try. It's unlike anything I have tried before in terms of consistency, application and removal. 

dr.organic's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Day Cream - this brand looks great and I wanted to buy more of their products but I thought I would start with this. This brand is definitely worth a browse. 

The Body Shop's Vitamin E Moisture Lotion (SPF 15) & Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil - to top up those Vitamin E and moisture levels

Malibu's Lipcare SPF 30 - for these brighter days!

That's Life - Doing something every day to improve yourself

My other 'That's Life' post was the most viewed post of mine that I did recently so I thought I'd do another. I can only speak from personal experience but I am sure many others will be able to identify with what I have to say and as usual I would love to hear your own experiences and thoughts.

It is easy to go through life passively, allowing one day to slip into the next without improving or advancing oneself. Think of all the areas of your life: all the things you wish to achieve, all the places you wish to visit, all the experiences you wish to have. Only you can really make your wishes come true! Think of how you can become closer to these fulfilled wishes today, this week, this month, this year. 

If it is simply reading the newspaper and keeping well-informed, using a new word or feeding your body nutritious food, this is very healthy for both mind and body. Think of the activities you partake in - how healthy are they for your mind and body? Do you spend an excessive amount of time at any one activity? You could be spending this valuable time learning, advancing and improving yourself :) 

More soon!!

Deep Set Eyes - How to draw them out of the socket

This is for those of you with a deep set eye. I inherited this feature from my mother and some of my sisters have it too. It is bascially where the brow bone obtrudes more than usual, creating a deeper socket and so the eyes sink back into your skull. Or it could be the other way round. Either way, you have a deep set eye.

I always wondered why my mascara always ended up on my brow bone! For most people, their lashes will flutter up and down without touching anything, but deep set eyed lashes tend to brush off the brow bone, transferring bits of mascara - how helpful! :)

For a few years now I have been blending a dark shade into the crease of my eye, thinking that was 'the look'. I have to say sometimes it did work for me and I ended up with a look I was pleased with. However, other times my eye ended up looking as if it was even more sunken, making me look like I had not slept in a week.

You are also left with less lid to work with. When you close your eye, great, you have a lid. But upon opening the eye, the lid retracts and disappears. Almost like the eyes of a doll. Now you see the lid, now you don't!

So basically you want to do two things: emphasise your lid and draw your prominent brow bone back. Both these things will pull out your eye. This is so easy to do and makes your eyes look way less sunken and tired.

1. Emphasising the lid

To make your eye lid, which is hard to see, more noticeable use light and bright colours. You can go sparkly and glittery here. I like to use yellow and purples tones as I have green eyes. With browns and greys, I would stick to lighter, shimmery tones. Go all the way from your lashes to your crease. 

2. Drawing your brow bone back

Next, I would use a darker shade on the bone, brushing back and forth, from the outer to the centre eye. I would not go too near the inner eye. I would not apply a dark shade into my crease; you want to apply darker shades on the bone above the crease.    

Remember to keep it natural, blending both shades together so there is no obvious beginning or end.

This works for me anyway - hope it helps!

What's new?! - La Roche Posay, Benefit, Nivea & treaclemoon

I have not been blogging lately as I have been so busy preparing for my piano exam! I am a late starter to this instrument so I should be on grade 8 by the time I'm 60,  haha. No, seriously I love it and do intend on continuing with it. I sat my grade 2 exam today so I'm delighted. The past few weeks piano has been top of my list of priorities and other things like gym and blogging fell by the wayside. Now that I have more time, I will be able to blog more often!

Here are a few new things I have bought recently or started trying out. I had been refraining from testing products as my skin had reacted badly a few months ago but recently I have started trying out a few, more gentle ones.

La Roche Posay's Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel for Oily Sensitive Skin

-Soothing and Anti-Irritating

-pH 5.5

-Soap free

-Colorant free

-Alcohol free

-Paraben free ( I still do not know what a paraben is, haha)

-Tested on imperfection prone skin

I had not intended to buy this but it came with the Effaclar Duo + as a special offer. I am not quite so sure that this suits my skin type but the brand is gentle and for sensitive skin so I knew it would not do any harm. I have used it a good few times now. It is quite a thick gel so you need to wet your hands or face to build up a lather. I find it removes make up very well. A little goes a long way so it's very good value. 

Nivea's Pure & Natural Soothing Day Cream

- 95% of natural origin
-Chamomile - naturally soothing
-Argan Oil - source of vit E

I had been using Avene's Skin Recovery Cream and while it has not caused a bad reaction, it has not helped or improved my skin either. I think a good moisturiser should make a difference and that one wasn't. So ... when I spotted this in Tesco (oh how I love to browse the beauty aisles of Tesco!) the words 'Gentle' and 'Soothing' jumped out at me, even 'Natural' was in green! I had to get it. I have used it twice so far and I find it very moisturising and I have not reacted badly to it. It has quite a thick consistency but absorbs well.

La Roche Posay's Rosaliac CC Creme

-SPF 30

-for all types of redness

-a universal tone for fair to medium skin

I received a few samples of this colour correcting cream. I have yet to use it but will let you know how it goes as soon as I try it a few times.

Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup

-Oil-free

-SPF 25

I forgot I had a little sample of this and used it yesterday and today. While it is not too dark ( shade Honey), it gives a very healthy look which I like as I am on the pale side. It has a very light feel and for me it is more a tinted moisturiser than a foundation. I had to build it up a bit to cover some blemishes. Without a setting powder, its staying/lasting power is not so good so I would not rely on this for a night out or special occasion.

treaclemoon My Coconut Island Body Butter

-smells divine

-smooths and softens

I can't wait to slap this all over me, haha. When I opened it to do the sniff test, I went to lick it, it is just so delicious. It reminds me of those coconut gooey things - yum!! I love their simple packaging and website - such a humble company. 

More soon!!

That's Life - Your uncomfortable zone

I did something today that I was stressing and worrying about for a long time. And it went absolutely fine; it couldn't have gone better. 

The whole thing got me thinking. I had thought about and worried about the whole thing way too much, thinking the worst and imagining all sorts of negative outcomes. Someone once said to me if you are honest and nice, a fair person will respond to that and will want to work with you. Things will go your way. Most people are fair fortunately. I remembered that valuable piece of advice this morning as I set off outside my comfort zone.

So ... is it time you did that thing you have been putting off? It very well could be much easier and better than you imagine :)  It can be scary but you will feel great for having conquered it. Good luck!

Warm Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey Drink

Here is one of my latest concoctions which is apparently good for the skin - boiled water (allowed to cool a bit) with a spoonful of honey and a little Apple Cider Vinegar. 

Slightly cooled boiled water: 

1. Helps to dissolve the honey

2. Has a detoxifying effect

3. Aids Digestion

Apple Cider Vinegar:

1. Has anti-biotic & anti-bacterial properties

2. Reduces redness in skin

3. Balances pH of skin

Honey:

1. Anti-bacterial

2. Moisturising and nourishing for skin

I have heard a lot about Apple Cider Vinegar lately and picked up this brand by Aspall's. It has quite a severe taste and scent so is best diluted in water. It can also be used as a facial toner, diluted in water. 

Maybe I am imagining things but I think I have noticed an improvement already! 

Update on La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo

After using La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, specifically on my forehead, for a week or two I thought I would let you know how effective it was. 

Within the first few days, the congested and clogged pores were hugely improved, which I had hoped for. The only thing that is left now are residual red marks, which I now treat with honey. 

At the time, I did not realise that there is a new and improved Effaclar Duo+, which reduces those red marks. When I get this product, I will let you know if it really does treat the marks. 

If you want to treat congested, clogged pores Effaclar Duo will hopefully work for you as it did for me but I would advise you to go for the Effaclar Duo+

Honey as a cleanser and moisturiser!

Honey has antibacterial properties and has a calming effect on the skin so it is perfect if you have acne, rosacea or if you just want to prevent any further breakouts. If you don't have blemishes but just simply want softer, nourished skin, try it out too. 

It is a little messy but if you're careful you shouldn't get any on your clothes, shoes and floor like I did. I took out a small spoonful and used a cotton bud to apply it directly on the areas I wanted to treat. For me, that was my forehead and sides of my nose. Avoid your eye area. I smoothed it out so that there wasn't a very thick layer or any big blobs. Gravity will obviously take an effect but you can always catch any drops and lick them - yum! 

After a few minutes it will harden and you will feel it tighten. I left it on for about 20 minutes and then washed gently away with warm water and a facecloth. 

I immediately felt my skin was softer and my blemishes looked less red - much improved appearance over all. I did this at night time and in the morning my skin was so moisturised from the previous night's treatment that I did not need moisturiser at all!

I used a jar of honey that has been in my press for ages - it had congealed so I heated it up by placing the jar in a pan of hot water. I put this on the heat, stirring the honey as it softened and hey presto, I had runny honey in no time!

Putting your foot in it - Penneys (Primark) & Dunnes

Here are some cute shoes I got recently. I still like pumps as they hide unpainted toes and can be worn with most outfits. They are comfortable enough for doing every day things in - not the most ideal if going for a hike! 

This is probably the most exciting and adventurous I have gotten in terms of colour, pattern and print - I used to always play it safe with plain ol' black and navy. I am wearing the pair with the bow today with dusty pink skinny jeans - very cute and springy!! 

As usual Penneys have a great selection of footwear and I got the second pair in Dunnes - all very affordable.
What pumps did you get lately?

Updated workout routine

Recently my workout routine has changed a little so I thought I would share it with you.

I like to start off on the treadmill to warm up and work up to a bit of a sweat. Last time I wrote about this, I was jogging but for now I prefer to walk and increase the incline for part of it. I walk for about 20 minutes at around 6.5k/h, depending on the incline (0-3%). At 3% incline, I drop it down to about 5.8k/h.

Then I go on the eliptical/X trainer which I find tough enough but I enjoy it. I am building up slowly. I have yet to exceed 10 minutes but I'll get there. I vary between level 4 and 7.

Then I finish on the spinning bike, which I love. I vary between level 5 and 7 and do between 10 and 20 minutes.

I no longer go for the rower as I find the other machines more enjoyable. 

All this cardio causes me to break a sweat and really gets the heart pumping. It also gets those 'feel good' endorphins buzzing around :)

I end with a few minutes lifting 2kg weights, working on my biceps and triceps. 

I drink about a litre of water during the whole workout.

I feel my body is tighter and I have also gotten smaller in terms of inches. A good gauge to go by is to try on a dress that is figure hugging instead of weighing yourself. 

What is your exercise routine?? Please comment :)

Drinking, eating and resting!!

I have been having a few relaxing days lately as the weather has been so nice. I should be catching up on some job-related work and preparing for an upcoming exam but I keep distracting myself with other things. I thought I would share a few things I am trying out and enjoying. 

 These Multi-Seed and Cereal bagels by Country Kitchens Bakery are so good. They are almost 12% protein and 7% fibre. They taste and smell so good and are very filling. 

Also I am trying to cut down on my coffee intake by drinking more tea. These are 4 flavours I have at the moment. I gave up crisps for Lent and even though today is Easter Sunday I don't have the urge to get a pack yet. 

  Also I am in the middle of this book - it took ages and pages for it to get going but now that I am in the middle I am dying to know what happens next.