How to Save Your Skin this Winter

Hey guys!

I hope everyone had a lovely festive period and have entered the new decade rested and ready for what it will bring!

I spent my time off from college really looking after my skin following the exam period because my skin always reacts to my stress levels! 

Winter is never an easy time for your skin with the crisp air sucking the moisture from it, lips chapping and dullness creeping in. My skin is dry anyway so I have started a new routine to help combat the issues my skin ensures during the cold winter months.

Lush Cosmetics Lip Scrub in Cranberry Fizz

A lip scrub is essential to help combat dry, chapped lips. I love the Lush lip scrubs because you can eat them and they taste fantastic!

It is quite easy to overuse a lip scrub by using it each night but if you use it every second night, your lips should be soft and survive the winter! 

I am using a few different lip balms at the moment and still have not chosen  a favourite but using a good lip balm after using a lip scrub to ensure your lips don't get chapped.

You can also make your own lip scrub using honey and granulated sugar.

Lush lip scrubs generally retail for €9 or €9.50.

Formula 10.0.6 So Totally Clean Cleanser

The first product I use on my skin every night is this cleanser from Formula 10.0.6. It contains salicylic acid which helps to combat problem skin or blemish-prone skin, which definitely helped my skin recover after exams!

The cleanser kind of makes my eyes tear up when I use it but I love the smell and it makes my skin feel clean before I go onto my next step in my routine.

An important thing to note is that you should not use any other product containing salicylic acid while using this cleanser due to it containing a high concentration of salicylic acid itself.

The So Totally Clean Cleanser is available from Beauty Bay for €8.50.

Kelkin Tea Tree Clear Skin Roller

A firm favourite in my skin routine, after using the cleanser, I topically apply this on any blemishes or potential blemishes I may have.

I have found this harder to come by but the pharmacy beside where I work stocks it at the moment so I have bought a few to ensure I don't run out of it!

The aim of the roller is to help the appearance of blemishes while also working to get rid of them.

Tea tree oil and lavender are fantastic and are known to help treat and prevent most types of spots.

The roller can range anywhere from €4.50 to €5.50.

Nip+Fab Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum

I don't always use the serum in my routine but if my skin is particularly dry then I use the serum before moisturiser as an extra shot of hydration for my skin.

As I have said before, a little drop of this goes a long way and I don't think I have even gotten halfway through this bottle yet!

I love the results I have gotten from using this and will definitely repurchase this at some point in the future (when I have significantly reduced the size of my stash!).

A full-size Dragon's Blood Fix Plumping Serum is available from Boots for €26.99.

Nivea Daily Essentials 24H Moisture Boost Moisturiser

During the day, I'll use this moisturiser because it is not too heavy and definitely helps my dry skin stay hydrated.

What's great about this moisturiser is the it is inexpensive, good quality and has SPF in it. I cannot stress how important using a moisturiser with an SPF in it is. Ireland on a good day may not be sunny but UV rays are always there and can damage your skin! 

Always buy a moisturiser with an SPF in it!

This Nivea moisturiser retails for €6.49 in Boots and is on offer quite often.

Uriage Age Protect Multi-Action Detox Night Cream

I was originally gifted this night cream by a PR company and have repurchased it twice since then, that is how much I love it!

The whole Uriage Age Protect range aims to protect the skin from the harmful effects of overexposure to blue light (which is emitted from all screens!) while also moisturising and improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

I love this night cream because it really boosts my skin's moisture and while I don't think I have any wrinkles yet, using the cream as a preventative practice cannot be a bad idea!

The Uriage Age Protect Multi-Action Detox Night Cream is available from cosmeticsonline.ie for €33.

 Kiko Milano 30 Days Extension Night Treatment Booster

A lot of people forget that their lashes can become brittle during the winter months as well. I love using this lash treatment just before going to bed at night and have noticed a difference in my lash health.

While I have not noticed a difference in my lash length, I have not used it for 30 days yet either.

I will definitely continue to use it over the next while and will update everyone on how I feel about the product soon!

The 30 Days Extension Night Treatment Booster is available from Kiko Milano for €5.59.

Champneys Relaxation Gift

The final step in saving my skin this winter may be the most important step.

A good night's sleep sets you up for the next day and this duo from Champneys really helps me have a restful night. I spray the calming mist on my pillow just before bed and the silk-like eye mask helps to keep any slits of light from interrupting my sleep.

The set also came with a calming temple balm which I use from time-to-time when I need to de-stress or feel a migraine coming on.

I bought the Champneys Relaxation Gift last year from Boots and I don't think it is available again this year.

Do you have a different routine during the winter months?

What products do you use?

Do we use any of the same products?

Let me know in the comments below! 

Ciara

  xoxo.

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May Favourites

Hey guys!

May has been a month of study and exams for me and I cannot tell you how glad I am to have them over with! 

I had a few events as well as a concert this month so I did wear a bit of makeup although I didn't wear any for exams or anything.

Vaseline Moisturiser

With the weather getting warmer, I always find it a must to use a moisturiser after the shower. I recently started using this vaseline one and I am in love! My skin feels so hydrated after applying it and the aloe vera scent lingers on my skin for a while which is great.

Vaseline intensive care is currently half price in Boots for €3.74!

Colourpop Man Eater

I was apprehensive when I bought this metallic lipstick because I didn't think it would be very wearable but I really like it! Man Eater is a rose gold metallic lipstick and once it dries, it hardly transfers. I wore this on a night out and to the Vamps earlier in the month and I loved having a dramatic lip instead of a feature eye look.

Man Eater is available from Colourpop for roughly €5.40 and they currently have free international shipping on orders over $35!

EOS Pomegranate Raspberry Lipbalm

I don't know about you guys but when  I'm stressed, I have an awful habit of chewing on my lip. This lipbalm has been my savior this month and kept my lips hydrated even with my nervous chewing. EOS taste pretty good as well which is always a plus if you find yourself chewing on your lip throughout the day.

This EOS lipbalm is available from Boots for €8.99.

Sally Hansen 18K Gold Nail Hardener

I get my nails done all the time and sometimes I do them myself, which overall results in weak nails, that need some TLC. I love this nail hardener because my nails feel stronger after a few days and when I apply it before nail glue, it really helps to protect my nail after removal!

Did I mention it has real gold flecks in the formula?  I don't know about you guys but I do like a glittery nail without the gritty glitter feeling which is exactly what this polish does!

Sally Hansen's 18K Gold Nail Hardener retails for €9.99 and can be found in selected pharmacies!

Clearasil Deep Pore Treatment Wash

I bought this face wash in Dunnes a while ago and only recently started using it properly. With 'exam skin' and generic breakouts this wash has done wonders for my skin! I use it three or four times a week an it has really helped to clear up my skin.

Inglot AMC Cream Foundation

Inglot's AMC foundation is my go-to foundation but after using it for six months straight I decided to give it a break and have only recently started using it again. I use it in the shade LW100 which is perfect for my pale skin and the coverage is completely buildable so it's great for transitioning from day to night makeup!

Inglot's AMC foundation is available in store and online for €24!

MAC Rebel Nail Lacquer 

I love a good maroon, vampy nail varnish and MAC's Rebel does not disappoint. The colour is so nice and it's great to layer on top of a set of nails. The only thing that I don't like about MAC's nail varnish is that they chip so easily!

MAC's nail varnish is available from Brown Thomas for €10.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Sun - Dark

Okay I love fake tan and started off with Airbrush Legs years ago. I was so excited when they brought out this new tan. I got it in the darker shade and was completely apprehensive because of the mousse form but this is my new favourite tan.

It applies like a dream, although you need to be quick because it dries quickly, and the colour is so nice. It lasted about a week and I will definitely be repurchasing this tan!

Airbrush Tan is available in pharmacies nationwide!

Magnitone Barefaced Cleansing Brush

Along with Clearasil's face wash, this cleansing brush has been a staple in my nightly routine lately. The brush makes looking after your skin so much easier and it makes my skin feel amazing after using it!

Magnitone's Barefaced brush is available from their website for roughly €63.

Kiko Smart Eyeshadow - 12

Last but not least in this month's favourites is Kiko's Smart Eyeshadow in Metallic Rosy Sand. I love Kiko, the brand is so affordable and this shadow is perfect for a bronze smokey eye! The pigmentation and payoff is unrivaled for the price and each shadow comes in a handy little compact.

Kiko's Smart Eyeshadows are available from their website for €2.50.

Have you tried any of these products?

What did you think of them?

Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

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London Makeup Haul

If you follow me on social media, you'll know that I was in London towards the end of August. While there, I couldn't help picking up some makeup in Superdrug and other stores that we don't have in Ireland!

                                      

I picked up products from Makeup Revolution, MUA, KIKO, the Make Up Store and L'Oréal.

Makeup Revolution is one of my favourite budget beauty brands. They are fantastic at releasing great quality dupes for high end products. Their Blushing Hearts collection is a dupe of Too Faced's Sweetheart Blush collection. I have been lusting over Goddess of Love for months and I was so happy that it was in stock. Goddess of Love is a triple baked highlighter that gives off a golden sheen. I have not used it yet but I cannot wait to review it for you guys!

Goddess of Love can be bought in selected Superdrug stores and on the Makeup Revolution website for £4.99.

The Good Life Mono Eyeshadow is a gorgeous highlight shade with a pink sheen. I bought this shade with the intention to use it in maroon smokey eyes for the autumn and winter months.

All of the Mono Eyeshadows can be bought in selected Superdrug stores or on the Makeup Revolution website for £1.

I have heard so many great things about MUA LUXE's Bronze & Sculpt Contour Kit that I just had to try it for myself! 

The Bronzer and Highlighter are both lightweight powders that I cannot wait to try out. 

At only £5, this contour kit can definitely give other kits a run for their money!

You can buy the Bronze & Sculpt Contour Kit in Superdrug stores and on the MUA website!

KIKO is an Italian makeup brand that have stores across Europe. Their store on Regent Street is the closest to us and it is always packed! There were so many Infinity Eyeshadows that I would have loved but the majority of the shades I wanted were not in stock. In the end I picked up Shade 284 - Silver.

All of the Infinity Eyeshadows were on sale for £1.80, you can also purchase them from the KIKO website.

The Make Up Store is a Swedish makeup brand that has taken European bloggers by storm over the past few months. I came across the store when I was exploring Shoreditch and decided to take a look at the shops in Boxpark.

Diva is one of their Microshadows and I love the maroon shade so much. Obviously my obsession with the colour has spread through my lipstick collection and into my eyeshadow collection.

The second product I picked up in the Make Up Store was their Tinted Eye Primer. I needed a new primer because I am not a fan of MUA's primer. Honestly, I just don't think it works. 

The primer usually retails for £13 and the eyeshadow is normally £11.

The Makeup Store had a sale on so I picked up the eyeshadow and the primer for £5 each!

Liquid eyeliner is a staple in my makeup bag and I lost mine on the second day. Funnily enough I found it when I arrived home but I still caved and bought one while I was over there. I am no stranger to L'Oréal's Super Liner range but I have never tried the Ultra Precision one so I had to buy it when I saw it in Boots! The gold packaging was also pretty nice....

The Super Liner eyeliner cost £6.49 in Boots.

Have you tried any of these brands before?

What did you think of them?

Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

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