Review & Swatches: Inglot X Maura

Did you watch Love Island last summer? Without Maura Higgins, it would have been the most boring series yet (well, the winter one earlier this year was pretty awful because it needed someone like Maura in it!). I liked her instantly - I'm biased because I'm Irish, but she's straight-talking, up for a laugh and doesn't take herself too seriously, and that's my kind of person. I also loved her makeup and when she came out of the villa, she showed what was in her makeup bag, joking that she didn't really know what she was doing but she always look immaculate - fresh faced, nothing too heavy and well groomed. I'll be honest, I didn't know about this collaboration until I woke to an email confirming my order - I had started new medication and the first night, I slept-shopped! I opened the Boots app and ordered some products without any recollection of doing so - the next morning, I ordered some more. It's hard to find swatches of everything online, which is annoying as I'd like to order some lip liners but haven't seen any swatches. You'll be happy to know that I'm no longer sleep-shopping (although I did some sleep walking!) but my body is used to the meds now - saying that I put my phone in a drawer at night as the damage could have been a lot greater if I'd opened a different app! Sleepy Siobhán chose well though!

My DIY Emma Hardie Facial

Anything gifted to me is without obligation and is marked with a *

I told you that I've been doing a lot of pampering during my blogging break and one brand that I've been using a lot is Emma Hardie. I first tried the Moringa Cleansing Balm around six years ago and have loved the brand ever since so I thought I'd try to replicate one of the brand's facial and then did it several more times. Let me talk you through it.....

What I did on my blogging break.....

Well, hello there! It seems like it's been so long since I last typed a post as even though it's only two-ish weeks since I last had a post live, that was written around a week in advance of posting. I'd like to say that this feels strange but actually, it doesn't and it feels good to be posting again. If you're wondering why I took a break, I wrote a post explaining here. To be honest, I am no better so whilst I'm posting today, I don't plan to post as regularly as previously and will take breaks here and there because my body is really struggling but this is not a quick fix situation and if I were to wait until I am completely over this relapse, it could be next year before I post again! So my plan is to ease myself back into it, without any pressure. So, what did I do on my break?

Weekly DIY Facial #6

Weekly facial time again! This week, my skin didn't have any major issues - just needed some brightening and plumping (no change there!) so I used products that I know I can rely on - nothing new to me here but all product loves!

It's time to take a break....

That title probably sounds quite dramatic and it's not meant to be! If you've read my blog for any amount of time, you are probably aware of the fact that I have Chronic Lyme Disease (posts here). It's 20 weeks today since I also fell ill with proper flu, then I contracted Covid, flu again and then tonsillitis with a constant sinus infection thrown in for good measure. Because of my poor immune system and pre-existing illness, Covid wasn't a 14 day event for me. I am still very ill, despite being on medication for months (my GP is excellent), I am in extreme pain and hugely fatigued (among many other symptoms). I am telling you this, not for sympathy, but to explain why I'm taking a break for around a fortnight. My GP has been constantly telling me to rest and despite the fact that my blog is a hobby, which I do from my bed or the sofa, it does require effort.

AHC Hydrating Essential Real Eye Cream Review - love at first use!

Being a beauty blogger, I am lucky enough to be sent some products (although please know that I am fussy with what I accept as I hate waste). The great part of this is that I sometimes get to try products from brands that I might not have heard of before. Today's product is from one such brand, although I'm sure if I'd read about this product, I'd have snapped it up. The brand in question is AHC, which is Korea's fasted growing skincare line and the product in question is AHC Hydrating Essential Real Eye Cream*. This was a love/obsession at first use product and I've already ordered a backup! This is not something that happens very frequently with me.

Which Omorovicza Serum is best for you?

Anything market with a * is a press gift but I actually bought all of them previously myself!

Have you entered my NAYA skincare bundle here? It ends tonight!

I think that it's been well established at this stage that I am a HUGE fan of Omorovicza skincare, in fact, I'd go as far as to say that it is my favourite brand. I first started to use it around five years ago and have repurchased many of the products several times, so even though some of the serums in the photo above look quite new, believe me when I tell you that I have used them previously and also since taking the photo. The reason I love the brand so much is that everything just works - the products are effective and they aren't at all harsh, due to the Thermal Healing Concentrate™ that runs through many of the products. I'm loyal because the products suit my skin perfectly. I have tried all, but one, of their serums and wanted to share my thoughts today, in case you were thinking of buying some of their skincare. I have always maintained that serums are where you should invest your money as they will penetrate the skin more deeply than any moisturiser etc. 

10 things I won't miss about lockdown....

Have you entered my NAYA skincare bundle here?

A fortnight ago, I wrote about how I felt about coming out of lockdown as someone who is still really ill and suffering the after effects of it (post here). I explained how anxious and unsafe I feel about coming out of lockdown but there are a few things I won't miss. This is quite tongue in cheek so don't take it personally if you enjoyed some of these things! Also, for the sake of balance, I've already written a post on 10 ways to enjoy (kinda) lockdown here.