Products you NEED for Winter

1. Hydraluron Serum. 

This was recommended to me by Aisling from totalmakeupaddict during a time when I suffered severe dry skin. I finally got it in August of this year and have been using it every night. At first I couldn't understand the hype or even see any difference, but here we are mid November and my skin is great! Despite being in and out of the cold, central heating etc. my dry skin has not flared up. I have to put it down to Hydraluron because it is the only thing that has changed in my skin care!

2. A rich moisturiser. 

My favourite it La Roche Posay Nutric Intense. I think this is around £15.00, not overly expensive and it is a 50ml jar. This is an extremely thick moisturiser, best used at night.

3. Nuxe Reve de Meil lip balm. 

You need this. You just need it. I use it 2 or 3 times a day. Without it, my lips will literally shrivel up and dry and crack. For me, this is a Winter essential.

4. A cinnamon candle. 

There is nothing that gets me feeling more festive than the smell of cinnamon. I absolutely love Christmas candles and will burn them from Halloween til about March or April! Of course Yankee Candles are my favourite, the one pictured is from Our Own Candle Company which is also a really nice candle and the cinnamon one is just divine. 

5. A Winter perfume. 

It's time to do away with our light florals and reach for something a little deeper. my favourite is Thierry Mugler Angel. It's smokey. It's spicy. It's woody. It's sexy. Admittedly, it's not for everyone, it may be an acquired scent but for me there is no better perfume for Winter.

6. A red lipstick. 

With Christmas party season imminent it's not a bad idea to have a nice red (or whatever colour you fancy) in our make up bags. I for one can't wait to wear this little number, Clarins Joli Rouge (in the shade joli rouge). For me it is the most beautiful, glossy, neutral-red. It's very Hollywood glamour and quite festive looking!

Best of Summer Beauty 2015

I am sorry to be posting this! But to me, Summer is well and truly over! Finito! I am now preparing myself for Autumn - my favourite season. But, here are some things that I either discovered over the summer or got great use out of.

First off I will start with sun cream. I bought this Vichy sun cream when I was in France. I don't know if it is sold in Ireland or not? But it comes in aerosol form, which was so handy on holiday, I just sprayed myself with it and didn't bother rubbing it in (saved me from the dreaded sticky hands usually associated with sun cream). It is SPF 50 too. It was absolutely brilliant to use and was amazing to use on the go. Definitely the best sun cream I have ever tried! It was so hot and sunny when I was in France but my skin was so well protected, I came home as pale as I went!

Also I bought the Clarins facial sun cream and it was great to use, it wasn't sticky or greasy at all and I was able to put my make up on over top of it. It smells amazing too. I used a La Roche Posay one last year and I really wasn't that fussed on it. I thought the Clarins one was miles better!

OK, I promise I won't ramble on about this but the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette has to be my star buy of the summer! The eyeshadows are bloody brilliant, beautiful shades and there is something in there for every occasion. I have been wearing this non-stop, every day since I got it! I just think it is so cute too, it looks (and smells) just like a giant chocolate bar! Perfect for a chocoholic like me.

I am kind of embarrassed to say that only over the summer I discovered MAC lipsticks! I know, I know, I am such a crap blogger! I already have 3 of them and definitely want to add more to my collection. I used to be such a big gloss/lip balm girl and I always thought lipsticks were too high maintenance for me to wear every day, but MAC lipsticks really are something else! I can't get enough of them!

Everyone has a summer scent I am sure, and this year mine is Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt. I got this in Dublin airport before I jetted off to France so this scent just brings me right back to my holiday. I couldn't even describe it to you, but it is just so fresh and lovely.

An oldie but a goodie, I just love the Illamasqua cream blush in the shade Dixie. I actually have this blush nearly 2 years and probably is my most used blush, but somehow over Summer I have rekindled my love for it. It's just the perfect colour for me and no matter if you use it in the most intense summer heat, it stays in place all day.

Another new (to me) MAC product was the Studio Careblend powder. I have never used a powder as good as this! It's so soft and is very forgiving on my dry skin. Sometimes all I need is to wear a tinted moisturiser but I always set it with this powder and it's great for taking down the shine. Somehow it makes your skin look pretty flawless too!

And last but not least is the famous Nuxe lip balm. When I first got this, I was impressed but I perhaps didn't think it was worthy of all the hype. Turns out, I was wrong! I cannot go a day without using this. Actually this lip balm goes hand in hand with the MAC lipsticks I was using. I cannot put any lip product on now without a good layer of this lip balm. Plus it was a saviour in hot weather when my lips felt really dehydrated. I'm nearly out of this pot but I will go straight out and buy another when it runs out!

So while I had a great time going on holiday in July, the Irish weather is really getting me in the mood for Autumn!

Nuxe Reve de Miel Ultra Nourishing Lip Balm - is it worth the hype?

After shelling out £10.00 for this infamous lip balm, I really put it to the test to see if it did live up to the hype. Everywhere I look, and every blog I read seems to praise this lip balm like no other! So I definitely had to give it a go for myself.

It has a very thick consistency, it's almost like the same texture as smooth peanut butter! Sometimes mine has little bits of "grit" in it, I'm not sure if they are all like that or if it's just me. It smooths into your lips well and definitely feels really nourishing. I have to be careful not to apply too much of the lip balm as it can make you look like you have the dreaded concealer lips at times. It has a lovely scent, I have heard some bloggers describe the scent as chocolate orange but honestly I cannot detect any hint of chocolate. To me it smells like a lovely fresh, citrusy scent.

My preferred time to put this on is at night, when I don't care how it looks and I can slather it on to no end! And I have to be totally honest, my lips haven't been in as good condition for a long time. I was having problems with dynes and flakiness but not any more.

So is it worth the hype? Well it certainly sorted out my dry chapped lips - it definitely worked for me. It just kills me to pay this much for a lip balm. I did use up the stick version of the Nuxe lip balm which I liked (and is a bit cheaper) but it didn't nearly give me as good results as this little pot does. My other favourite brand for lip balms is Burts Bees, which I still do love and they are more reasonably priced. So I think I will save this Nuxe pot as more of a treatment lip balm rather than an every day sort of thing!

If you suffer from dry, chapped lips, this will work a treat for you. But it is quite a luxury buy in my opinion, so I don't think it is a "must have" lip balm but if you want to treat yourself to it, do!

Dry skin is a terrible affliction!

I always had pretty normal skin but this past Winter I have had the driest, flakiest skin ever! I was totally not prepared for this, but since I have discovered some problems which have really helped me. I still have the dry skin, and it's a constant battle to keep on top of it. I'm hoping when the better weather comes in my skin will improve. Here is what I have been using.

I use the La Roche Posay Ultra Fine Scrub once or twice a week to try and get rid of the old flakey patches! This one is nice because it's not too irritating or abrasive and it's perfect to use on sensitive skin.

I also like to use a face mask at least once a week too, and my favourite is the La Roche Posay Hydraphase. My skin literally eats this up. I put on a nice layer of this on my face and neck and leave it for as long as I can. You will notice the mask will sink it quicker on the driest parts of your face. I then take the excess off with a hot flannel and my face feels really nice and hydrated after use.

When my skin was at it's driest, my favourite moisturiser to use was the La Roche Posay Nutric Intense Riche, an incredibly thick and nourishing cream. This was really helpful at combatting dry skin, particularly across my nose and cheek areas. I have since moved on to La Roche Posay Hydraphase Intense Riche (I love the packaging of this one too, would be great for travel!) which I really like and I have a little mini Nuxe Creme Fraiche which I use in the day time.

I use the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse as a treatment oil every now and then. I noticed that over-use of this oil really triggered dry skin, so I try to only use it a couple of times a week. It does really help with the dry patches when I use it sparingly. Plus it smells amazing!

For make up, I think the Clarins Extra Comfort foundation and Chanel Vitalumiere (as I reviewed below) have been working the best for me. My usual every day foundation (MAC Face & Body) only aggravated my dry skin and made it look even worse than it was. The Clarins & Chanel foundations really comfort the skin and are designed for dryness. So I have been relying on them a lot to try and conceal the horrible dryness!


Are there any other products I should be looking at to try and help with dry skin? Any help would be much appreciated!

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse - Multi Purpose Dry Oil

This product featured a few posts back when I wrote about a few items which kept me going throughout the time that I wasn't feeling well. I thought it deserved it's own post! I have been using it non-stop, and it really is a multipurpose product.

I saw it in my local chemist and being completely besotted by the Prodigieuse scent, I bought it although I wasn't really quite sure what I was going to do with it! (apart from smell it!)

But ever since then, I have been using it all the time, sometimes even multiple times a day, on my face and my hair. My skin has been so dry and flaky lately, especially across my nose and this product has been amazing at remedying that. I put a few drops of the oil into my palms, rub my hands together and smooth it onto my face. The excess left on my hands I will rub into the ends of my hair. Sometimes though if my hair is feeling really dry I will use a few drops to run through the lengths and ends of my hair.

I haven't tried this on my body yet as I only bought the smaller bottle (which has the smallest opening in the world - I need to get the larger bottle next time with the spray pump) but I am sure it would be absolutely fantastic as a body oil. I would love to try the shimmery version in summer to add a bit of glow!

As for it being classed as a "dry oil", a description which kind of contradicts itself, I couldn't have been more surprised by this. There is absolutely no oily or greasy residue left after using it. It doesn't make for a messy application and really it is just a wonder product in my opinion!

I am completely and utterly overwhelmed by this oil. I don't think I could be without it in my skincare routine, although it is kind of a luxurious product. The fact that it is multi-usage and completely versatile justifies the price, right?!

Comforting Products for Lazy/Sick Days...

You know those kind of days when you are not wearing any make up and feel a little under the weather? Or maybe it's just a lazy Sunday, after a busy week and you just don't feel like doing anything! It's  a little bit of both for me today. I don't quite feel so good and didn't intend on leaving the house at all today! Choosing to lay around in my sweats instead. Sure why not! Anyway, here's a few products which I find a little comfort in on such days like this.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse - I got this oil on a whim a couple of weeks ago. I didn't quite know what to do with it, I just liked the smell! But since I got it, I haven't stopped using it. I use it on my face and on my hair. I just love applying this. It works wonders on my skin, and on the ends of my hair too!

Nuxe Masque Creme Fraiche - This one I got free once with a Cloud10Beauty purchase! I'm not really one for face masks normally but I love this one. I just slap it all over my face and go about my business for maybe an hour before washing it off. It's great!

Nuxe Prodigieuse Candle - wow, I'm using a lot of Nuxe products here aren't I! That is totally not intentional, I'm just really loving their stuff at the moment! I placed an online order with Nuxe recently and was quite intrigued by this candle and added it to my cart. It's amazing! It smells exactly like the Prodigieuse oil! The scent fills the entire room, and smells rather spa-like. It really relaxes me. I wish they sold these in bigger sizes!

La Roche Posay Nutric Intense Riche - I have been suffering badly with dry skin over the Winter, and this product has been a real saviour. It is so thick and nourishing, I just love applying a generous layer of this when I'm giving my face a break from make up.

La Roche Posay Eau Thermal - This little can came with a La Roche Posay gift set I got at Christmas, and I honestly didn't think I would have much use for it. It's just a can of water after all? But there is something incredibly pleasant about spritzing your face with a bit of this. I don't quite know the other benefits of using this water other than it feels nice and refreshing! But I have enjoyed using it.

Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Gel - Again I bought this on a complete whim. I bought this when I stayed at the Galgorm Resort and Spa, it was recommended to me when I had a back massage (apparently I am full of knots!). But I guess due to the fact that I work at a desk and have somewhat bad posture, I do sometimes end up with a sore back or shoulders. I just rub a little of this gel in to any sore spots and it is amazing. It feels a little cooling and really loosens up any tense muscles. Plus it smells amazing and will forever remind me of being at Galgorm!


Have you tried any of these products? What do you like to use on lazy/sick days?

Empty Products #2

I feel like it takes me forever to completely finish a product! But I seem to have amassed quite the collection of empties in the last couple of weeks. I will show you what I have used up!

1. Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub & Body Buttercream - I absolutely loved these! The scrub was really great to use (and effective too) and the body buttercream was so light and creamy. Plus, these smell absolutely amazing! After using the body scrub in the shower, the entire bathroom smelled incredible. I have said it before but the scent is not unlike Yankee Candle Vanilla Lime if you are familiar with that! Would definitely repurchase these, but I might try something different next time. Will definitely come back to Sugar Crush though!

2. Clarins Instant Eye Make Up Remover - I am a little obsessed with this stuff and have gone through countless bottles now at this stage! I can't remove my eye make up properly without it and it is definitely a holy grail product for me. I will have to manage with a micellar water until whatever stage I get to a Clarins counter to repurchase!

3. YSL Touche Eclat - I used to really love this, and this is the second one which I have finished. However I think the bags under my eyes need something a little "stronger" to counteract them. The Touche Eclat is fabulous but I just feel like it hasn't been working for me the last while. A change is as good as a rest, so I have ordered the new Urban Decay Naked concealer for under my eyes to see what it is like!

4. The Body Shop Raspberry Scrub - This is the body scrub that looks like jam! I really enjoyed using this too, though it kinda took a back seat when I got the Soap and Glory scrub. It is almost like a very thick gel but the seeds in it are really good for getting a good scrub! I am quite keen to try more stuff from The Body Shop, I think I would like the honey one next time.

5. L'Oreal Wild Stylers Next Day Hair - This is the only texturising spray I have ever used, but I loved it! I would curl my hair and give it a good spray with this Next Day Hair. My hair can be quite "slippery" so this worked really well for me. I bought this last summer and it has only run out now! Which just shows how often I actually style my hair!

6. Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Moisturising Stick - I have been using this religiously every day! It is such a lovely lip balm, I loved the texture of it and of course the scent. I have a habit of liberally re-applying lip balms even when I don't need to, so this one I used up fairly quickly. I'd like to try the other Nuxe lip balm in the little pot next time!

7.  The Body Shop Honeymania Lip Balm - This is the lip balm that I keep at my desk at work. Honeymania is such a nice flavour! I really enjoyed using this and will kind of miss it now that it has run out :( though like I say, I will be trying the Nuxe lip balm next time!


What products have you used up lately?

January Favourites

Is it just me or has January been a very long month? I had been feeling a little under the weather (hence the lack of blog posts the last couple of weeks!) but I am now ready to get back into the swing of things! Starting with the products I was reaching most for in January.

1. Cocoa Brown Gentle Bronze - I just did a review of this one so I will not go into too much detail why I love this! But basically, it gives me the most beautiful hint of tan which has seen me through the Winter months and I shall be continuing to use it in the Spring/Summer months! I find it so easy and fuss-free to apply, and there isn't too much maintenance involved. So happy with this product!

2. Soap and Glory Sugar Crush - I bought these 2 in Boots a few months ago on a whim…basically because I liked the smell of them! But I have been using away at them both and have completely fell in love. The  body scrub is a little on the gentle side which is absolutely perfect. I use it on wet skin in the shower and it really works a treat (plus the bathroom smells amazing afterwards!). The body cream is just amazing, I love the smooth and light texture of it. It absorbs really well and doesn't leave a horrid sticky feeling. Honestly the Sugar Crush range smells good enough to eat!

3. YSL Baby Doll Mascara* - When I first tried this mascara I actually said "Wow!". It has a great wand with a flexible tip, really great formula (with a light scent). It makes my lashes so long and perfectly separates each one, no clumps here! Plus the packaging looks ultra glam. Definitely reaching for this one a lot more than my regular Lancome mascara!

4. Real Techniques Nic's Picks brush set - Somehow over Christmas I ended up with 3 sets of these brushes! Of all the Real Techniques brushes I own, it is Nic's Picks which really made me stand up and pay attention. They have completely changed the way I apply my make up. The face brushes are fantastic and so soft. The eye brushes are just amazing and great for more precise application.

5. La Roche Posay Nutric Intense Riche - Over the last couple of months I am suffering with terrible dry skin, for the first time in my life and I don't know why! A few weeks ago, after trying what felt like every product under the sun, I was recommended this moisturiser and it has made such a difference. I still get dry patches around my nose but they are definitely getting less and less. Hopefully by the time I finish this jar my skin will be back to normal! I just love taking my make up off and using plenty of this moisturiser. It's very thick but it feels very comforting and nourishing.

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Moisturising Stick - The dry skin wasn't just contained to my face, it affected my lips as well! I actually went to the chemist to get the Reve de Miel lip balm that comes in the jar. They didn't have that so I bought this little stick version instead. It has a lovely light, kind of citrusy scent. It is lovely and smooth and glides onto the lips. It doesn't really last as long as I would have expected it to, cue me obsessively re-applying it every half hour! But it really is a saviour for dry lips and has helped me a lot.

Thierry Mugler Angel Perfume* - This has become my signature Winter scent. I wear it every day now! Where perfumes were concerned, I was into fresh/fruity scents only. Angel changed all that. It is oh so unusual, and a completely unique scent in my opinion. It is quite woody and spicy, almost like a masculine scent. I honestly haven't came across a perfume like this before. It is quite a heavy scent, you only really need a spritz or two as it is so strong. I also quite like spraying a bit on my scarf or on my hair. I also love how the bottle is re-fillable! Mine is the limited edition Glamorama bottle which came out at Christmas. (I did a full review of Angel here )


Have you tried any of these products? I'd love to know what your favourite products were from January!

Bin Hoking…. Empties post #1

Here is my very first empties post. Now, I have been collecting these empty packages for a few months now. It actually is quite rare for me to finish something! Most of these are "consumables" anyway, or things I have had for a very long time.

Nuxe Creme Prodigieuse Nuit - I absolutely loved this as a moisturiser although I think I prefer the Creme Fraiche which I got last Christmas. I love the smell of the Prodigieuse though.

Clarins Eye Contour Balm - This was also a Christmas gift from last year, it certainly has served me well! It is a lovely eye cream although to be honest I don't think I would buy it again. I think I will try the Origins GinZing next.

Clarins Truly Waterproof Mascara - This is the mascara I have been wearing all summer! The lid doesn't even close properly on it now, I made sure that I used every last drop of it! Absolutely loved this, would definitely get it again! It's the best waterproof mascara I've ever used, it can survive anything!

Schwarzkopf Color Freeze Thermo-Protect Cream - I thought this tube was going to last me forever! I bought it from Feelunique I think over a year and a half ago! It smelled fantastic and worked really well for me. I think I might try the Mythic Oil heat protection the next time but I would definitely buy the Schwarzkopf again in the future.

Clarins Instant Eye Make Up Remover - This is probably my most repurchased beauty product! I have just purchased my fifth bottle. I adore this and I cannot go without it!

Lancome Visionnaire Cream - I was genuinely devastated when I used up all of this! Near the end I tried my best to ration it out but now the jar is completely empty. This cream is absolutely fantastic, it really brightens up your complexion, and I loved the elegant jar.

L'Occitane Body Cream Zesty Lime - I got this when I was on holiday in Paris and honestly, it only lasted me at the most 3 weeks. I didn't even use huge amounts of it, just the regular amount every night! It just seemed to run out very quickly. Unfortunately it's a tad on the expensive side to order here so I don't think I can afford to purchase this again any time soon. I will say though that it is the best body cream I have ever used, nothing has ever come close to this!

Mane n'Tail Color Protect Shampoo - This is my 2nd bottle of this, I have already repurchased by 3rd. It's a great shampoo, my hair feels great and it is far more reasonably priced than the Kerastase shampoos i had been using before I discovered Mane n'Tail!

New Nuxe purchases!

I have been taking really good care of my skin lately, and I am definitely seeing the difference. My favourite skincare products come from Clarins, but after getting a  Nuxe Creme Fraiche moisturiser for Christmas, I am so intrigued by this brand! My Creme Fraiche ran out last week so when I looked about replacing it, I felt very tempted by the entire Nuxe range!

I took the little skin type test on the Nuxe website, and discovered that the Creme Prodigieuse would be the best moisturiser for me. I actually chose the night cream in this, I am not sure why. I always apply my moisturiser at night anyway! I cannot fault this product at all, maybe perhaps the pot it comes in is light plastic instead of the nice heavy glass jar the Creme Fraiche came in. Well, that's just a minor gripe of mine that in no way affects the product!

I don't use toner at all, so I thought I would try one and see how it goes. I loved the sound of this toner, with rose petals. It is so sweet and gentle on the skin. I really do enjoy using it, it feels so refreshing.

As I bought these two items from Cloud10Beauty.com, I was given a Creme Fraiche Masque for free with my purchases! And it is so amazing to use as well. It is very rich and soothing, very moisturising and it just feels so good.

What other Nuxe items should I try next?

My Current Skincare Products Feat. Clarins, Lancome & Nuxe

I never used to pay much attention to my skincare routine until the end of last summer. Before, I would use make up wipes (shudder) and I tried a couple of drugstore brand cleansers too. I thought I was getting to an age where perhaps I ought to pay a bit more attention to my skin. I know you don't necessarily have to spend huge amounts on your skincare, but I have been trying a few different brands and I think Clarins is my favourite. Some of their products are rather expensive, but in my opinion worth every penny!

Clarins Instant Eye Make Up Remover - In short, the best product ever. It removes all traces of eye make up within seconds. This is my third bottle of this, and at £17.00 a go it is certainly not cheap, I have found that a bottle is lasting me just over three months. I adore using this because I do not like to pull at the skin around my eyes, and before I discovered this I found it really difficult to remove eye make up, particularly certain mascaras etc. I only use a small amount on a cotton pad, give it a swipe across my eye and the job is done!

Clarins Cleansing Milk - I got a couple of samples of this before I took the plunge and bought the full size. I think it cost around £22.00. It has the nicest, creamiest consistency while still being light. It has a nice but not overpowering scent, kind of smells like Johnstons baby shampoo! I have used other cleansers before but never one as nice as this. I hate using a cleanser and it "disappears" into your skin, I like giving it a good old massage over my face and being able to wipe it all off with a cotton pad.

Lancome Tonique Douceur - I am not really into toners to be honest, I don't particularly think they are of much benefit but what do I know! I got this little one as a sample and have been using it after cleansing since Christmas. It is quite nice to use for removing any excess makeup left after cleansing, and your skin does feel energised and fresh afterwards. But I could take or leave this step to be honest.

Lancome Advanced Genefique - Another one that I could take or leave. I have been using this little sample just for the sake of using it! It is a very nice serum to use, but I don't think it's doing anything for me. Perhaps I am not quite the age for using serums like this, but I might as well give it a try!

Clarins Eye Contour Balm - I have been using this religiously every night since I got it at Christmas! I got a little freaked out about getting wrinkles around my eyes so went straight out and bought this. I figured that Clarins wouldn't let me down, since I love other skincare products of theirs. It comes in a tube with a little nozzle, and you only need a tiny dot of the product for both eyes. It does come in gel form too but I went for the balm as it is more like a moisturiser. I haven't really noticed a major difference, though my underyes do look a little brighter than before.

Nuxe Creme Fraiche Moisturiser - This I have just fallen in love with. I have tried a couple of Clarins moisturisers but none that I would really write home about. I chose this one by Nuxe and oh my goodness, it is so good! It is kind of thick and creamy but not greasy. It feels (and smells) so luxurious and it feels absolutely amazing on your skin! This would be very good if you had dry skin. My skin is kind of normal, but I love using it and without a doubt, it's the best moisturiser I've ever tried!


After a good few months of upping my skincare routine, I have to say I am happier than I have ever been with myself and I would be confident enough to go make-up free. I cannot believe the difference it has made. No more make up wipes for me!