Lockdown Haircare Routine

Hey guys! 

I know it has been a while since I updated my blog but since lockdown was called, it feels like I've had ten continuous study weeks. I think it needs to be acknowledged that college students were the only educational group completely ignored during this period. We have been expected to continue our learning 'as normal', still had our end of trimester assessments and have never been so stressed.

I'm lucky that I graduated from my undergraduate degree last year and as my masters is two years, I still have a year to go. The Class of 2020 across all higher education institutions across Ireland have been ignored. 

Aside from the high stress levels, I have taken the time to really look after my hair over the last few weeks. I get my hair cut maybe every 18 months, have never dyed my roots and rarely use any heating tools on my hair. I do however like to look after the length of my hair because I do love having long hair. I also use a silk pillowcase and I couldn't recommend investing in one enough!

L'Oréal Elvive Dream Lengths Shampoo

This smells unreal and it leaves my hair feeling soft and easier to brush. It's obviously made for people with long hair, with the aim of making split ends less visible. It is not a miracle worker, it cannot get rid of them but it does improve their appearance and I have noticed I have a significantly lower amount of split ends since starting to use the shampoo.

It does not leave my hair feeling heavy nor does it leave behind any residue like some other shampoos may do. I normally use the conditioner as well but as I'm washing my hair a lot less at the moment, I'm using a hair mask once a week instead!

The Dream Lengths Shampoo retails for €5.99 in Boots and is currently included in the '3 for 2' offer. Boots operate a home delivery service as well so if you do not want to leave your house, you can shop online!

Garnier Ultimate Blends Papaya & Alma Hair Mask (Damaged Hair)

The next product I am using in my hair at the moment is the papaya mask from the Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food range. I've been using this mask since September and I don't think I can ever use another one again. 

Firstly, this smells good enough to eat (although you definitely cannot eat it)! It is also a vegan formula with 98% natural ingredients meaning it really is good for your hair! 

I leave it in my hair for a few minutes after shampooing once a week and it leaves my hair feeling sleek and smooth. It boosts the moisture in my hair and really helps keep my lengths healthy. I'm pretty committed to my Dream Lengths shampoo and conditioner at the moment but the Ultimate Blends Hair Food range recently expanded with shampoo and conditioners which I will definitely try in the future!

The range is currently half price in McCabes Pharmacy and is such a steal at €4.50!

The Wet Brush

I use a wet brush to brush my hair when it's wet. It does not pull on my hair at all when I'm brushing through it before I start drying. I still lose hair in the process but that's always going to happen and I don't lose nearly as much hair as I would using a normal brush.

I was very on the fence about buying a wet brush but my sister bought one a few months before me and could not stop raving about how good it was. I finally caved and got one when I saw them in TK Maxx and have never looked back since!

If you don't have one of these, I would 100% recommend getting one!

The cheapest retailer I have found is Cloud10Beauty, where they retail for €12.50. TK Maxx may still have some in stock but there is no definite opening date for stores, ordering online may be your best bet at the moment!

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Miraculous Recovery Crème

The next product I use on my hair is the Miraculous Recovery Crème by John Frieda. I rarely style my hair because I'm lucky enough that it dries straight, even when I leave it dry naturally! It can however get quite frizzy so I bought the serum a few months ago and have been using it ever since!

Before drying my hair, I use two pumps and run my hands though my hair. I don't go right up to my roots bur I do try to go through all of the length.

If you're looking for a good serum which will help protect your hair as well as tame any frizz, this is definitely for you!

The Miraculous Recovery Crème is available from Boots for €7.99. 

L'Oréal Elvive Dream Lengths No Haircut Cream

This is the final product I use in my hair before drying it. I only use a small amount (about the size of a euro coin) in the ends of my hair. 

This also smells great and is the last step in ensuring my split ends are not that noticeable and helps protect the rest of my hair at the same time!

If you're looking for a regime that protects your lengths and helps the appearance of split ends, the Dream Lengths range really is fantastic!

The No Haircut Cream is currently on offer in Superdrug for €4.50!

Have you guys changed up any routine during lockdown?

Do you use any of the same haircare products as me?

Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara

 xoxo

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Shopping My Stash - January 2019

Hey guys!

So I know my January post on shopping my stash is a little late, but with all the work in my final semester, as well as trying to figure out what I'll be doing next year, I honestly couldn't find the time to sit down and write this.

I was so good in January, I didn't buy any new makeup or skincare at home but when I went to Portugal, I couldn't resist buying an egg themed, three-step skincare routine. I haven't used them yet but I will soon and I'll keep you updated with how I'm getting on with them!

Skincare

I have a whole shelf dedicated to skincare in my room, along with a box on my desk with everything I'm currently using. I 100% panic-purchased a lot of The Ordinary products when they temporary shut down so I have quite a few things to get through.

My skin wasn't too bad in January so I stuck to a simple routine of face wash, cleansing pads and a moisturiser. 

I bought a new face wash going to Portugal, along with the current one I was using when I left and the new one came home, unopened. Since then it was just sitting on my shelf because I had some at home that I felt the need to use first. For January, I decided to use and am still using, L'Oréal's Fine Flowers Gel-Cream Face Wash.

My skin can get pretty sensitive so the fact that this doesn't have a scent is a bonus for me! I am that lazy person who washes their face when they're in the shower so I use this every second day and it leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed.

I am a self-proclaimed Nip+Fab lover but when I saw Superdrug brought out their own version of the glycolic pads, I had to buy them! Seen as they were always out of stock when I tried to order them, I ordered a few when I could finally get my hands on them.

I started using them after taking a week's break from the Nip+Fab pads and to be honest, I really don't see a difference between the two brands. The Superdrug pads are more affordable and leave my skin feeling just as good as the higher-end pads. 

The only way I'll be reverting back to the Nip+Fab pads now is if they have their fabulous €6 sale on again soon!

I don't even want to admit how long this has been on my shelf...  that's how old it is! However I never actually opened it so it was totally fine to use and I completely forgot why I loved it so much in the first place.

As you guys know, my face can get seriously dry and it's hard to find a moisturiser that actually works for me. I used this daily in 5th and 6th year but completely forgot I had bought more of it before it was discontinued. 

I cannot fault this product at all. It dries into your skin and doesn't flake off as all of the goodness is absorbed by my dry, tired forehead and if you need extra moisture, leaving a thick layer on your skin will mean it's been absorbed by the time morning comes!

Makeup 

With makeup, it is beyond obvious I own too much. While I have stopped buying eyeshadow palettes, there are things like powder, foundation (maybe not so much..) and concealer that I will always need to buy more of, as I use them all  the time.

Last month, I used up powders I had stocked up on (don't ask me why I decided to stock up on powder, I couldn't tell you why), a new mascara because mine ran out, as well as using concealers that I could only use when tanned. Other than that, I continued using everything I would normally use in my routine as I had enough product to last me the month and hate unnecessarily opening new makeup when you have an unfinished open product that is similar if not the same.

I am a Stay Matte fanatic. I have used this powder since I started doing makeup and no other product has convinced me to leave it behind. I normally use the powder in translucent but when I saw a Clear Complexion Translucent on a trip to London, I bought four or five of them.

Again, I don't know why I thought stockpiling was a good idea, but this isn't the only occasion I've done it either.

I crushed the powder and put it into an old loose powder container because I find it the best way to apply the product and have been doing this for almost a year now. For me, this product is the exact same as the regular translucent powder and while it does say it can clear your skin, I haven't seen any difference in my skin as a result of this powder.

This mascara came out in 2017 and I'm fairly sure I bought it in early 2018. I am so bad at buying mini mascaras and I always forget I have about five or six full-size products just sitting in a drawer, waiting to be used.

I started January using a mini Nars Audacious mascara but I hated it! I had heard so many great things about the mascara but I found flakes all over my face and under my eyes an hour or two after application. I used it a few more times to see if my application was the issue but I kept on getting horrible flakes everywhere. I tossed the product and moved straight onto L'Oréal's Miss Baby Roll and I am in love!

The formula does not flake, which was a nice turnaround from my previous mascara and I got curl, length and volume, all from the one mascara! For added volume, I apple two to three coats and with this mascara, there's no clumping. My lashes stay curled all day and I am so happy I decided to try this mascara out!

I was gifted the Physician's Formula Super BB Concealer a while ago and never used it because it was far too dark for my skin. I used fake tan a few times in January because of birthdays and my trip to Portugal so I decided to put this product to the test.

I was completely unimpressed. While the shade was fine for when I had tan on, the coverage this concealer has it shocking. I found myself putting a layer on before and after foundation and still having to use a different concealer afterwards if I had a blemish because this just wouldn't cover it up!

The formula is creamy and if you're looking for a lightweight concealer and you only need a little coverage, this is for you. However, if like me, you enjoy high coverage from any concealer you use then I'd give this one a skip!

Haircare

My mum usually buys my shampoo and conditioner for me and I always forget that I have some in the hot press and usually end up buying some myself without thinking there's some at home. I actually put a note up in my room this month reminding me that there was some in the hot press so I wouldn't go out and buy more!

So, when my shampoo ran out I started using a Head and Shoulders shampoo as well as using up the remainder of a hair mask I had bought in Portugal and just left and the end of the bath for months!

I love Head and Shoulders as my scalp can get dry sometimes and their formula really helps get rid of any dryness in a few washes. The full and strong version that I started using has also really helped any breakages I was having before Christmas (this always seems to happen when I get stressed) and left my hair feeling strong and nourished.

If you're looking for a good shampoo, it is so important to note that Head and Shoulders isn't just for people with dandruff and their range is expanding all the time, they definitely have a shampoo that suits every hair issue!

Another product I picked up and forgot about was this mask from L'Oréal's Dream Lengths. I have bought and do intend on using the shampoo and conditioner but I have been using the no cut cream since June and it has really helped the condition of the ends of my hair!

I bought the mask while I was in Portugal because I noticed the heat was having an effect on my hair health and thought this would help. For one, it smells fantastic and secondly, it left my hair feeling soft and smooth until the next wash.

When I came home, I left it on the end of my bath and pretty much forgot it existed so when I was doing a clear out in January, I started to use it again. At the moment, I'm using it on a weekly basis because it is an intense treatment but if you leave it in the lengths of your hair for up to five minutes, your hair will feel absolutely fantastic until the next wash!

I loved shopping my stash this month and was pleasantly surprised that I didn't buy that much makeup or skincare over the few weeks. 

Have you been shopping your stash like me?

What products have you come across?

If not, did this give you any inspiration to save some money and use what you already own?

Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

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