I’m a teeny bit late with my June Favourites, apologies. I reckon this heat is making us all a bit loopy and unproductive though, right? 🙂
June was my birthday month, and although life is a bit of a rollercoaster at the minute being by mam’s side while she’s so ill. (Fuck Cancer!), every awesome person around me made my birthday bloody awesome. I got treated to afternoon tea by my bestie, had a BBQ in my honour in the gorgeous sun and was just generally a spoiled brat.
There wasn’t many stand out June Favourites for this year. But I managed to sit down and think of a few. One skincare, of course makeup and even an oul fashion fave that I got for my birthday.
Yep, I am talking about the giant sunglasses upon my face :). They’re from Quay and I got them on ASOS.
I am on my second tube of the Pixi Rose Cream Cleanser, so I definitely thought that was worth chatting about a little bit.
The Clarins Summer Bronzer is something I’ve already harped on about before here too. I haven’t used another bronzer since getting it though, so it really had to be in my June Favourites.
Then finally my go to lip combo for the past two weeks which I demonstrated on Instagram here.
And that is my June Favourites tied up in a blogpost and video bow 🙂
Hope you have the greatest July. Try to be present and take in the awesome weather we are having. Safely of course, we don’t know how long it’s going to last.
I love skincare, but I’m always a bit hesitant to talk about it too in depth. Just because I think it’s such a personal, specific thing. I do review products, but generally it’s because I really really love them or I really really hate them 🙂 I’m definitely no expert either, so that comes into play too. But, I figured I would just go through another updated daytime skincare routine. It’s less committal and just shows you what I am using right now and why.
My daytime skincare routine is quite basic. I like to keep it pretty simple. I have oily skin overall, but the older I get the more dehydration I get too. The two ailments are conflicting completely, luckily nowadays there’s products out there that will help with both skin concerns at the same time.
I am obviously chatting about what I use and why I use it in video form. You can watch above or click here to go directly to my YouTube channel here.
Blogging and having to research products and of course being sent product to trial has for sure helped me on my skincare journey. I have to learn what works for me and why so I can talk about and hopefully point readers in the right skincare direction. What I am using right now is my summer daytime skincare routine, things would vary a bit in the colder weather.
It’s gentle, minimises redness and also helps balance the skin’s PH balance.
Eye cream is the Exuviance Age Reverse Eye Contour.
This is a brand I wouldn’t have gotten to try if I didn’t blog, but I really enjoy this eye cream. Exuviance is created by the people at Neostrata. They say it reduces puffiness and smoothes wrinkles. I like it because it’s a thin formula that absorbs quickly, but still leaves my under eyes hydrated and smooth. A lot of eye creams can be too rich for me, this one does the job perfectly.
It’s created with mineral water and hyaluronic acid. A lot of people would use just as a serum as it’s more a gel formula. For me it works brilliantly as a daytime moisturiser. It plumps my skin and skins in really quickly without leaving a residue that might interfere with makeup application.
As it is Summer, I am using a hefty SPF. This one is new to me, but it’s literally been love at first application. This is the Eucerin SPF 50+ Oil Control. Yep oil control.
This is the first Summer I think that I’ve been confident enough to use a stand alone SPF on my face. Usually the formula is oily and would have me a shiny mess within the hour. Not this though, and it actually feels really nice going on too. I apply this in the morning and then I’ll use a spray something like the Ambre Solaire Sensitive Mist over my makeup if I’m outdoors throughout the day.
Last but not least I always apply a lip balm before I do my makeup. What one it is does vary, but as the weather is so darn nice I’m using one with a high SPF at the minute. I am really liking the Shiseido UV Lip Color Splash with SPF 30.
The tinted ones are nice too, but I use the clear one on most days. It’s not sticky and lip colour applies nicely over top of it.
And there you have my current daytime skincare routine. Have you tried any of the products?
As I am writing this, the sun is shining and it’s May. Which means it’s officially Spring, which means no constant rain and being miserable…just some of the time :). A new month also means a look back over the previous month. So, here is a run down of some of my April Favourites for 2018.
How was your April? Mine wasn’t too bad all in all. I had some good times and made some good memories.
My April Favourites consist of mostly skincare actually with a snippet of makeup, fashion and dare I say some political views as well. Definitely not something I talk about a lot. If I do it’s mostly on Twitter. I don’t shy away, don’t get me wrong, there’s just people out there doing a way better job at it than I ever could. But I think May, for me, for us as woman of Ireland is so very important. Please make sure you are registered to vote, do your research and make an informed decision.
Ok, let’s talk about some silly stuff now 🙂
My April Favourites definitely reflect the changes in the seasons, I think. As always I talk much more in depth in the video above or here. But I’ll give you a quick run down and link to everything I can.
Human + Kind Miracle Makeup Remover. (A Micro fiber face cloth).
The Clarins Hydra Essentiel Moisturising Reviving Eye Mask. This is actually on sale at the moment from Debenhams here.
Then finally my bag was a gift from my friend Ella of Siopaella. She sourced them in Morocco and sells them in store too.
And that is it for another instalment of April Favourites. Let me know if you like these types of posts, it’s always good to get constructive feedback.
I have been using the Fenty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer since just after Christmas on and off. It’s definitely been a hot minute. I’ve put off writing about it for ages, just because it took me this long to formulate a logical opinion on it.
I bought this along with the Bomb Baby Mini Lip And Face Set. I really like the gloss, I can understand the hype. Although I will say loads of brands have jumped on the pretty sparkly non sticky gloss band wagon now. So there’s many a lovely gloss out there to choose from now.
The Fenty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer is said to be ‘A shine-stopping, pore-diffusing primer that smooths the way for better foundation application and longer wear with an instant retouch effect’. This description is basically what confuses me. Hear me out 🙂
This is obviously a description that would hook me with my skin being on the oiler side and having pores like craters in my t zone. I’ll start with the pros of this primer. The packaging is so lovely and the matte glass bottle feels so fancy in your hands. The pump is really easy to control. It has a really delicate , sweet scent. The formula is really light, blends really nicely and applies nearly like an extra layer of skincare. It dries down and leaves your skin feeling really soft.
Ok, this is where I get confused. For me, it doesn’t really control oil. I generally use it in conjunction with another more hardy primer like Benefit Porefessional. I apply the the Fenty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer all over and the other primer in my t zone where I know it just won’t cut the mustard. Just because I like how it feels and, well I have it and spent a decent amount of money on it. It also doesn’t do anything for my enlarged pores either, so that were Porefessional comes too.
If they had of marketed this primer towards drier skin types, I could completely concur with the consistency and how it feels. But saying it’s a pore diffusing, shine stopping primer doesn’t really make any sense to me.
Overall, I think it’s nice and it doesn’t put me off the brand at all, this was just a kind of a miss because it doesn’t do what it says on the tin.
The Fenty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer is available from Harvey Nichols in store and online here now.
Have you tried anything from the Fenty range yet? I’d love to know your thoughts.
https://i2.wp.com/beautynook.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Fenty-Pro-Filtr-Instant-Retouch-Primer_5272.jpg?fit=5184%2C3456&ssl=134565184Gemhttps://beautynook.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Logo.pngGem2018-05-02 13:21:352018-05-02 13:21:35Fenty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer
Do you know what I like to do when I’m broke? Put potential beauty items in my basket online. It somehow makes be feel like I’m beauty shopping. Do I sound deranged? Probably, but it makes me feel like I’m kind of, sort of shopping Pander to me people 🙂
If money was no object right at this moment in time and I was beauty shopping online, these products would be in my baskets all across the internet. And I could actually put in payment details to proceed with order!!
Two things from Anastasia Beverly Hills are currently in my Cult Beauty basket. The first is the Soft Glam Palette. (£43 from Cult Beauty).
To think I actually call myself a beauty addict and I’ve never owned an eyeshadow palette from Anastasia. It’s embarrassing really. This one just speaks to me. I feel like it has everything you would want. Transition colours, lid crease and liner colours. It’s pretty simple, but I think that’s what gets me with it. I think it’s going to be a great palette for makeup lovers but also artists too. It would make the perfect wedding day palette.
The other thing is probably on everyone’s beauty shopping lust list at the moment. The Amrezy Highlighter, again from Anastasia. (£29 from Cult Beauty).
They’ve either just marketed this impeccably or it’s the shiniest highlighter out there at the moment. Every time I see the promo videos or pictures, drool comes out of the side of my mouth.
Ok, there’s another two eyeshadow palettes on my list currently. I have a weakness for them if you didn’t know already.
First up is the Urban Decay Naked Petite Heat. (Will be available in limited supply from the UD flag shop in Grafton street. Available everywhere else from the end of April. RRP is €32).
This is the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette‘s little sister. Do I need it? No? Do I already own the original full sized one? Yes. There’s something about UD palettes that has me hooked though. I have a bajillion of them and still can’t get enough. This would make for a great travel companion. There, that’s my justification 🙂
My other palette want is, surprise surprise the Huda Beauty Desert Dusk. (€65 from Cult Beauty).
Anyone who has this palette just says you need it in your life. And if EVERYONE says it, sure it must be true. After trialling the brand with the Mauve Obsessions and the Smokey Obsessions, I seriously need to try more.
They release this every year as part of their Summer Golden Goddess Collection. Every year I want it and every time I decide to bite the bullet and get it…..it’s sold out! The packaging alone has me wanting this and I see so many YouTubers using it and the want grows. I can’t find it to shop for from here currently though, I will keep hunting!
I had a voucher and nearly bought the Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation (€42 from Feel Unique).
I couldn’t get a sample though, so that put me off. I’ve seen so much hype about this foundation online though, so it’s made it back onto my want list. It’s meant to be long wearing with full coverage but still have a radiance to it. When I have cash money to blow, this is going to checkout!
The Ordinary Glycolic acid 7% Toning Solution is not exactly a financial stretch. (€8.70 from Cult Beauty).
The reason this is still in my basket is because it’s an enigma, it is never in stock. This is like the Pixi Glow Tonic I love so much. I have a really old blogpost on it here. The Pixi one is 5% Glycolic, this one is 7% and nearly half the price. My oily, giant pored skin needs to try this.
Last on my beauty shopping lust list is the newest member of the Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb family (€71 for 30ml from Debenhams).
This is Flowerbomb Nectar. Now I’ve yet to sniff this, but I adore Flowerbomb. I know it can be a bit heady and overpowering for some. I love how deep but still sweet it is though. I always have a bottle in my collection. This release intrigues me immensely though. You have the flowery bergamot goodness from traditional Flowerbomb but with a Orange Flower and Osmanthus twist. They had me at nectar to be fair 🙂
And there you have my beauty shopping musings. What’s in your online shopping basket?
I was planning on doing an overall sum up of my favourites for the year. To include food, fashion, the works. But I would literally be talking and typing until probably 2019!. So, I just decided to do beauty favourites! Hope you don’t mind.
Beauty is my thing after all so if I was going to talk about something, this would be it 🙂
Everything I chat about in my beauty favourites video here, I believe has it’s own blogpost. Of course, I talk about them somewhat in depth within video form. But if you want to see close ups and more put together reviews, I will link the posts below. I am much better at putting my words together when I write them down. I get a bit carried away when I am just chatting.
Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow. Review here.
Clarins Double Serum. I did a full review of this here.
Jo Malone Basil & Neroli Cologne. I chat more about this here.
Have you any stand out beauty favourites from 2017? It was definitely a year for so many new releases, both good and bad!
As always thanks for sticking around these parts. For reading, watching, engaging and just being a part of this Beautynook journey with me. I really appreciate it. It definitely makes all the work a bit sweeter knowing there’s people actually paying attention 🙂