My dream Christmas holidays if money wasn't an object (AD)

(Post in collaboration with Lottoland)

I think most of us have dreamt of winning lottery and being able to afford the things we can only dream of or are difficult to justify spending money on, or traveling the world and experiencing all the different cultures, cuisine and beautiful nature.

When I think of winning a big lottery bet my imagination can easily go wild, of course there are the sensible ideas like buying big house, investing money in a business, securing my children future, supporting some fantastic charities. But let's be honest, if I won a really big bet I would totally got a bit crazy and made some of my dreams come true, even if they're not exactly the wisest way to spend your money but creating amazing memories with your family is priceless :)

As we're approaching Christmas I can't stop but think about my dream Christmas holidays so let's have a drink and let our imagination transport us to beautiful Finland and the magical land of Santa Claus aka Father Christmas - Lapland.

Photo source

Budget beauty: Revolution Pro x Nath eyeshadow and cheek palettes

My long term followers know probably that I love a good budget beauty products and Makeup Revolution had been once one of my favourite budget brands heavily featured on this blog. I have moved onto more expensive brands as I found their products to work better on my not so young anymore skin but there are still many drugstore makeup and even skincare products in my stash that I use on everyday basis.
Over the course of years I have lost the 'love' for Makeup Revolution with their 100s per month new launches and lots of copies/dupes of more expensive makeup. But I still think they provide good quality products, considering the price point, and are accessible to many people who don't have or want to spend lots of money on makeup.
Makeup Revolution is also known for having a few brands under their umbrella and Revolution Pro seems to be one of the new ones with products claiming to be even better quality.
One evening I was scrolling through the Instagram and came across their new palettes created in collaboration with Polish beauty influencer Natalia Siwiec and because I felt sentimental I ordered both of her palettes :) Not that she needs my support, I've never even followed her career although I know who she is, but I thought her palettes looked really pretty and quite unique amongst other budget palettes.

My current winding down/pampering routine

Taking time to yourself to relax/wind down should be your daily priority, whether that's a whole evening or just 15 minutes to have your cup of coffee/tea/glass of wine in peace without stressing over your job/motherhood challenges/any other problems. Slowing down for a minute and just enjoying your own company can do lots of good for your overall well being. I make sure to have some time to myself every evening, once the kids are in beds I need my 'me time' to regain my sanity, haha!

Some evenings it will be reading blogs/watching YouTube, others binge watching something on Netflix with husband and some nights when I feel particularly stressed or run-down I would take a relaxing bath, put a face mask on, have a glass of wine (remember to drink responsibly!) and just forget for a few minutes about the world behind the bathroom doors.

 

Trio for glowing complexion, Kate Somerville ExfoliKate range

I heard about Kate Somerville skincare a few years back on some US beauty channels but because the brand wasn't readily available in UK I wasn't bothered trying anything. I was intrigued though as many people raved about Kate Somerville products so when earlier this year Cult Beauty has become an official UK stockist I eagerly placed an order for the Introductory Kit of her ExfoliKate range, one that has gained many praises. It took me while to finally start using these products but once I've tried them I was immediately hooked.

Feline Fierce with Boots, easy Halloween cat makeup look (AD)

(Post in collaboration with Boots)

 

I have not shared a makeup look on the blog in a long while, mostly because I just stick to my quick and easy work makeup look and I haven't had much time to be creative on the days I don't go to work. So when I was contacted by Boots and asked to take part in their Halloween campaign I thought it was a brilliant idea and a challenge for myself to play with makeup a bit different then on my usual days.

Also creating a feline Halloween look has been always on my mind as I think there's a bit of a cat's characteristic in many women, fierce, independent, playful, affectionate, the list could go on :)

For my Halloween look I've chosen leopard as they're just absolutely beautiful animals and if you follow fashion trends you know that this season is crazy about leopard print so why not extend it from clothes to your face :)

The look I've created is very simple and easy to follow, I'm sure you'll have all the products needed already and if not they're easily accessible in your local Boots and affordable.

 

New vegan, cruelty free brand worth checking out: Ecooking

I've said it many times and I will say it again, blogging has given me the opportunity to discover and try products and brands I wouldn't have probably otherwise so every time I am contacted to try out something new I'm very excited and grateful.

Ecooking is a new to the UK market Danish skincare brand founded by Tina Søgaard who started out by hand-mixing raw ingredients at her kitchen table to create skincare for herself. Soon enough the results were so noticeable that all of her family and friends were desperate to get their hands on her homemade concoctions. As Tina perfected her formulas, Ecooking was born, combining ‘eco’ ideals (with its natural, environmentally friendly outlook) with ingredients so pure that some can even be used in ‘cooking’.

With simple, apothecary style packaging, labels which show exactly what product it is and what ingredients in it, without any gimmicks, the brand is definitely intriguing.

I've had the chance to try out some products from the range and I want to share with you my thoughts on them.

 

A few products I've been loving lately

I've not done beauty favourites post in the longest time, mostly because of me blogging much less these days so I try to pick carefully which products I want to review in depth on my blog and, unfortunately, many don't get to be featured. So I thought I will share with you a few products that I've been truly loving lately and they deserve the mention on my blog.

 

My 'secrets' to looking like I've had a good night sleep even if I didn't

Ideally most us would have 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night and feel and look rested during the day. Unfortunately that's not the case for many of us, for whatever reason we don't have good night sleep it reflects in the way we look, especially our eye area, which is a quick giveaway with dark circles, dehydration lines, redness. So today I want to share with you my secrets (which aren't secrets really but that sound a bit better in the title, LOL!) on how to look rested with the help of some skincare and makeup products.

 

Skincare range you should check out: M&S Formula Absolute

Marks & Spencer isn't probably your first thought when you're in need for some new beauty products or just want to browse through beauty shelves. I know it wasn't mine until I started working with their beauty team earlier this year and I realised that M&S Beauty Hall has so much to offer you'll be able to shop for all your beauty essentials (or not so much) right after you've done your grocery shopping.

They stock a variety of brands, from their own ranges like Autograph, Rosie for Autograph (check out my review) to well known brands and some of my favourites like Pixi, Origins, Nuxe, Ren, Emma Hardie and many more!

Today I want to share with you my thoughts on two products from the M&S's own range, Formula Absolute, which have been in my routine for a while and I think they're worth checking out, especially for those of you who are in their 30s and over.

Hydrated, glowing complexion with Erborian products

Erborian is a Korean skincare/makeup brand that has been known to me mostly thanks to their very popular CC cream yet I had not tried their products until these ones landed on my doorstep a few months ago. It was just beginning of Summer and the moisturisers sounded absolutely perfect for hot weather and they did delivered! In fact I have completely used up one of them and wouldn't hesitate repurchasing it if my skincare drawer wasn't full of products waiting their turn (beauty blogger problems, LOL!)

So if you're looking for a new moisturiser keep on reading to find out more about these Erborian offerings.

 

REN Perfect Canvas Skin Finishing Serum - the perfect makeup primer?

Makeup primer is a product that some people swear by it and some can't be bothered with it. I'm standing somewhere in the middle as I reach for it when I want my makeup to look more flawless and last longer like for long shifts at work, going out etc. but most days I don't use it. There are lots of primers on the market which claim to do different things like hydrate, blur the appearance of large pores and wrinkles, mattify, add glow to the skin, and add longevity to your foundation, so depending on your skin type and concerns you can pick your perfect product. I have tried lots of primers in order to find the one that would help my skin appear smoother, pores less visible, control the shine in my T-zone but hydrate my drier areas and make my makeup to last longer throughout the day. It's fair to say that I'm yet to find one that would do all these things because if something is great at correcting one 'issue' it's not that great at others. But there are some primers that are very close to perfection and I am excited to share with you today one of those gems.

 

Pixi Glow - review and makeup look

PIXI is one of my favourite brands to work with and I am very lucky to be on their PR list as not only they have fantastic products but also always produce amazing packages for their bloggers. One of the latest one was called Glow in a  Box and focused on all the glow and sparkle which is just perfect for Summer holidays, festivals, parties or simply beautiful, warm evenings when we want to feel and look a bit more glamorous :)

With the current heatwave in UK I've not been wearing full face of makeup every day but I have managed to try these beautiful highlighters and liquid eyeshadows a few times so I can share my thoughts on them with you and makeup look I created with some Pixi products.

 

For every budget: melting cleansing balm/gel

Cleansing properly your skin every day is probably one of the most important steps in your skincare routine as no expensive treatment will get you full benefits of its ingredients if your skin is dirty and pores blocked. So I make sure I always double cleanse my face in the evening and then use a gentle cleanser in the morning as well to remove all grease, sweat and remnants of products from the evening before.

You don't need to spend lots of money on cleansers but just be sure they're gentle on the skin because we don't want anything too harsh to strip our skin from the moisture and disrupt its protective layer.

Today I want to share with you three great cleansing balms/gels which emulsify when in contact with water and are perfect as a second cleanse in the evening and/or part of your morning skincare routine.

All three of them can be used to remove your makeup but I, personally, prefer an oil or oily balm to break down all my makeup and SPF and then I like to use something lighter that can be rinsed with water for tat fresh skin feeling but without the dryness.

 

ENDOR Technologies by Elénzia - skincare to keep your skin looking plump and youthful

I've been blogging for over 4 years now and throughout the years I've been lucky to be contacted by many different brands for the opportunity to try their products. As you can imagine this is very exciting at first and while I'm still to this day grateful for every opportunity that comes my way thanks to blogging, at some point it can get a bit overwhelming having lots of new products lying around waiting to be tested, and you know, I have only one face, LOL!

Due to personal reasons I haven't been blogging as often as I used to and I also haven't been accepting every single collaboration I was offered, simply because my skin doesn't like to have a whole new skincare routine every month and I've been actually enjoying more sticking to products that suit my skin perfectly instead of forever trying something new.

The point on me saying all these is that every time now I am lucky to get an opportunity of trying new products I analyse all the aspects before committing to do the work:

Are the products suited to my skin type and needs?

Are the brand/products excite me?

Do the products bring something new to my skincare routine?

So while I was contacted by the lovely people at Elénzia I did my homework before saying 'yes' to the collaboration but first look at their website got me interested in their skincare range and here I am, ready to share my thoughts on the products sent to me, after trialling them daily for over 6 weeks.

 

Omorovicza Complexion Perfector SPF20 - the Summer base that is good for your skin

What a sunny, hot weather we've been having in UK these past few weeks! And although the heat can be a bit unbearable at times I'm not complaining because it's not often we get to have proper Summer for longer then a week :)

But with temperatures reaching 30ºC wearing full face of makeup can be a bit tricky as most of it will slide off the face within few hours and on top of that the feeling of having heavy makeup is actually really unpleasant. And while ideally we would let our skin just breathe and go makeup free not everyone feels confident to do so or simply our daily activities, like work, require some effort so we look well put together. I worked for the last 10 days almost every day and while the Boots store I work at has air con wearing too much makeup wasn't an option for me, yet as a beauty advisor I am expected to look the part. And that's where very lightweight, good for my skin, base products, like the new Omorovicza Complexion Perfector, come in handy.

 

L'Occitane TERRE DE LUMIÈRE eau de parfum - Summer evening in a bottle

I'm a massive fragrance lover, I can't go about my day without spritzing some nice scent onto my skin, I use perfume on daily basis, no matter if I go out or stay at home to do housework. I even pick my night time fragrance once I've showered and put my PJ's on :) I am truly obsessed with fragrances and fascinated by them, how they change and develop on the skin and how they trigger memories with one sniff and even change your mood.
I have many perfumes, some of them will be my classics forever repurchased, some are just one time purchase but I'm always eager to try new scents. I usually pick different scents for Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer as there are some notes that I love wrapped around myself in colder weather and some notes that make me feel uplifted in warmer months.

I have been recently sent a beautiful fragrance form L'Occitane which has quickly stolen my heart. I had never tried perfumes from this brand so while I loved the description of the scent I wasn't sure how it will perform on my skin but, luckily, I was impressed.

 

New Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation - review

Foundation is one of makeup products I get very excited about because let's be honest, good makeup day starts with good base. I've tried quite a few Dior foundations and had really good experience with them (recently Dior Forever Undercover Foundation -review) so when I heard the brand is bringing a new Backstage collection which includes a foundation I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and I bought it from the Dior website as soon as it was released on there.

I've used the Backstage Face and Body Foundation every day for over a week and I thought I will share with you my thoughts on it as it's just been released on other websites and in stores as well, so it's even easier to get hold of.

 

Premium designer lipsticks - are they worth the high price tag?

Do you remember the old blogging days when writing a 'review' of your new lipstick was totally acceptable and exciting? I do and I miss it, not necessary the 'one lipstick' reviews but blogging that was simpler and different, it felt more personal and it was like talking to your friend about your latest lipstick love (or whatever other beauty product). Nowadays blogs are much more curated, blog posts more complex, photos Vogue-worthy and while it's all aspirational and inspirational it can take the simple joy of writing about your new lipstick away.

If you're one of my regular readers (whom I massively appreciate) you might have noticed that I've not been posting much in the last few months. Yes, I do have less time because of work and kids are not exactly being less demanding (LOL!) but the truth is I have lost my love for blogging. For many months I felt the pressure of creating content that can be on par with some other very successful bloggers but I'm not a writer, I'm not a great photographer, I'm just a girl (well, grown up woman really!) who wants to talk about a lipstick and don't feel like there has to be some big meaning behind my post. At the end of the day it's just beauty products, they are not exactly needed in our life, do they? They're here to give us joy, maybe boost our confidence, help us look better, they're almost like grown up toys. So instead of worrying if my idea for a post is good enough, if I have enough products to create a content that will get lots of views, I'm just taking my blog back to basics and write whatever tickle my fancy and hopefully that will re-store my love for blogging and keep my wonderful readers still interested.

 

1 palette - 3 eye looks: Too Faced Chocolate Gold palette

I used to experiment with my makeup quite  a lot but lately I've been sticking to similar eye look  almost every time because I know it doesn't take ages to create it and is appropriate for work, school run and anything else. As I have much less time to play around with my makeup palettes it took me a while to put together another post in my '1 palette - 3 eye looks' series (check out my previous posts using Jaclyn Hill x Morphe palette, Too Faced Sweet Peach palette, ABH Modern Renaissance palette, Zoeva Caramel Melange palette) but finally it is here and I hope you'll enjoy it and find some inspiration to play with colours on your eyes.

I was not planning to buy the latest Too Faced Chocolate Gold palette, even though it looked tempting, because I have enough palettes to last me a lifetime and I want to make the most of them before they're too old to safely use them on my eyes. But my lovely friends Dorota, Siobhán  and Leanne got it for me for my birthday and it quickly has become one of my most used palettes recently!

 

For every budget: deep cleansing/de-congesting, exfoliating face masks

I love face masks, they're the quick fix your skin needs whether it's looking dull, experiencing some breakouts or feels dehydrated after one too many glasses of wine over the weekend. I use different face masks 3- 4 times a week, sometimes I just use one that helps to tackle an issue I might have that day, some days I pamper my skin with 2, 3 face masks, one after the other, for a facial at home experience.

In today's 'For every budget' post (check out the other one here) I want to share with you three fabulous face masks which deeply cleanse the skin, exfoliate it, make it smoother, texture more refined, pores less visible and overall much clearer complexion.

Every one of them does all these things, with some small differences, so depending on your disposable budget you can get yourself a little gem.

Deep cleansing/clay masks are usually recommended for oily to normal skin types but I believe every skin, even dry, can benefit from decongestion every now and then.

My skin is normal to oily so I tend to use clay masks 1 - 2 times a week to keep my oils at bay and pores clear and refined.

 

Too Faced Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation and Mattifying Setting Spray - review

I've been saying so many times, especially on my Instagram, that I buy much less beauty products these days, I really want to see the ones I already have in my stash being used up before they're way too old, but I also believe in treating yourself to something new every month or so to keep being excited about beauty. And as last month was my birthday I decided to order some bits from Too Faced as I just couldn't wait anymore for the latest Peach Perfect collection to land on UK websites.

I got the new foundation which I've heard great things about and the setting spray as I needed one.

The website had a free international shipping and 20% off at that moment so even with the taxes I didn't pay more then I would have if the products were available in UK, it took almost two weeks for my parcel to arrive though.

I've been testing these two products for the last couple of weeks and I thought I share with you my thoughts on them, especially as for a short moment they were already available on Debenhams website, so I hope the collection is coming back to it (apparently on the 14th May).

Collagen - what is it and how can we boost collagen production in our skin?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies, it’s found in muscles, bones, skin, blood vessels, digestive system and tendons. It’s what helps to give our skin strength and elasticity. When it comes to our joints and tendons, it’s the “glue” that helps to hold the body together.

In the dermis (the middle layer of skin), cells called fibroblasts are responsible for providing skin tension and continuously producing collagen and elastin which contribute to firm, bouncy, youthful looking skin. Unfortunately, as we age the efficiency of fibroblasts in the skin reduces resulting in less collagen which means skin looses its firmness and fine lines and wrinkles start to form. The collagen synthesis starts to decline around our mid 20s so it's never to early to think about ways of naturally boosting the collagen production in our skin.

Apart from the aging process causing the levels of collagen in our skin depletes there are other factors which break down collagen like UV rays, air pollution, bad diet, smoking, not having a good skincare routine.

Although we can't stop aging we certainly can help to protect the collagen we do have in our skin and to stimulate its synthesis in natural ways so our skin is firmer and younger looking for longer. Today I want to share with you how I try to do that.

PIXI Pretties Collection - review + makeup look

Pixi is a brand that has been working with bloggers, vloggers and social influencers for years and it's doing it well. I'm lucky to be one of their 'ambassadors' and I was kindly sent their latest collection of products created with well known in beauty community Chloe Morello, Dulce Candy and Weylie Hoang who have had their beauty Youtube channels for years and are supported by millions of followers!

Pixi definitely wows us with their PR packages (see the Rose Collection here), they're over the top and makes you feel very special and privileged to receive them :) I was totally overwhelmed when I got this large parcel and opened it up!
It's divided in three sections dedicated to each influencer separately, telling us a little bit about them and their chosen products. You do need extra space to store it though, LOL!

Unfortunately these amazing packages aren't available to buy but all the products are and today I want to share with you my thoughts on the latest Pixi collaboration with beauty influencers and a makeup look I created with these products.

 

My perfect Spring/Summer daytime moisturising duo: Omorovicza Magic Moisture Mist & Elemental Emulsion

Finding the perfect daytime moisturiser for my skin hasn't been easy but in the last few weeks I have found the combination of two products that seem to be working fantastic for me so I'm excited to share them with you!

My skin is combination with slightly oily T-Zone and normal cheeks, it gets dehydrated quite often but it doesn't like anything too heavy as it's prone to congestion despite my diligent skincare routine. On top of that I'm fast approaching 40 years old so what worked in the past well for my skin doesn't seem to be good enough anymore.

If any of these skin concerns sound familiar to you then keep on reading to find out my hydrating morning duo :)

 

Antipodes - the green beauty brand you need to know about

Antipodes is a skincare brand I came across a few years ago thanks to blogging and totally fell in love with the Divine Avocado and Rosehip Facial Oil which I talked about in this post. I had a few other products from the brand in my skincare stash but because I am lucky to be sent some skincare for reviews on regular basis those that I already own are pushed back in the waiting queue. Recently I received some products from Antipodes which inspired me to reach for the neglected ones in my skincare drawers. I've been trialling them for couple of months now and while not everything works perfectly for my skin I think the brand deserves a shout out because most of their products are pretty amazing!

 

One brand makeup look: Rosie for Autograph

Trialling new makeup is one of my favourite pastimes, hence the excessive makeup collection I own, LOL!

Although I've been trying to be more sensible with my makeup purchases in the recent months, shop my stash on regular basis and start using up the products that I already own.

So you can imagine my excitement when I was sent a box full of new makeup to test from a brand that has been on my radar for a while but somehow I hadn't gotten around to trying - Rosie for Autograph, makeup range exclusive to Marks & Spencer, developed in collaboration with Rosie Huntington Whiteley - model and actress.

As I was playing with all the bits I thought it would be fun to show you a makeup look created with some of these products highlighting those that are real gems. So here we are today with a  quick overview of the brand, my experience with products I've used, my recommendations of what's worth picking up and the makeup look I created.

I have done similar post on Maybelline makeup look last year if you fancy having a look.

 

New skincare products in my routine: Omorovicza Acid Fix and Urban Veda moisturisers

As a beauty blogger and skincare enthusiast I am always trialling new products but I try not to introduce too many at once otherwise my skin might freak out and also I wouldn't really know what is working and what's not. I take my time to test new products hence I have a drawer full of skincare waiting for their turn, if only I had more then one face, haha! I am truly making effort to finish off products that have been opened for a while and my skin love them but every month I sneak in a few new ones to test and today I want to share with you my thoughts on the three products I've added to my skincare routine in the last  month.

 

NYK1 Lash Force Eyelash Serum - review, before & after photos

 If you're like me and not been blessed with beautiful, long, fluttery lashes you might be interested in the product I'm reviewing today which is the NYK1 Lash Force Eyelash Growth Serum*. I was rather sceptical about this kind of serums as I've tried couple of different ones in the past and I didn't see much improvement in my lashes but when I was offered to try the NYK1 Lash Force I decided to give it a go as my eyelashes did need all the help they could get, haha!

I've been using the serum for almost 3 months now, twice daily and I'm ready to share my thoughts on it, together with before and after photos.

 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam palette - first impressions, swatches and a comparison with the Modern Renaissance palette

If you have been following me and my blog for a while you should know that I used to be obsessed with eyeshadow palettes, there wasn't a month when I didn't get a new one or two, LOL! But in the last few months my obsession has definitely decreased because, let's be honest, how many eyeshadows does one person need? I have way too many and there's not a chance I will finish a full palette anytime soon, so I have been trying to be more sensible with my makeup purchases. But every now and then comes a new palette that steals my heart immediately and I just have to have it. That's what happened with the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam palette which was released about 2 weeks ago. I was not tempted by her two previous palettes, Prism and Subculture, partly because of the many bad reviews they were getting but also because of the shades selection as I knew I wouldn't use them often enough to justify the purchases.

But it was a completely different story with the Soft Glam palette as it looked like my perfect everyday palette (I don't know about you but I love when palette has matte white/cream and black shades), and it would complement the Modern Renaissance palette perfectly which is one of my favourite palettes (check my three eye looks created with it).

Dr Dennis Gross the Glow Getter skincare set -review

I had wanted to try Dr Dennis Gross skincare for a long time but considering their high price point and the fact that I have so many products already in my stash I wasn't exactly rushing to do so. But when I saw the Glow Getter set in the post Christmas sale on Cult Beauty I immediately put it in my virtual basket and checked out without hesitation. The set is not available anymore but all the products are in their regular sizes. I've used up all the daily peels sachets and I'm finishing off the serum and the cream and I thought it was the time to share with you my experience with these products and whether they are worth the high price tag they come with.

 

5 things I've been loving /January edition

I've decided to re-introduce favourites posts on my blog, I will try to keep them regular, hopefully monthly, as long as I have 5 things to share with you which I've loved. I will be mixing beauty with lifestyle and fashion just to spice things up a bit, I hope you'll find it interesting!

I've been feeling less motivated then ever to do my blogging so while I don't aspire to become a lifestyle or/fashion blogger I just want to add something else to my blog to make me feel more inspired.

 

Updating my Winter skincare routine with Embryolisse products

Winter is a though time for our skin, the indoor heating, cold weather, winds and frosty temperatures can make it really dry, dehydrated and irritated. I used to battle those skin issues every year but this time round I found products that have been helping my skin to stay in its best condition despite the cold weather. I try to keep my skincare routine quite simple and stick to the same set of products for at least 4 weeks to let them work their magic and my skin get accustomed to new formulas. In the weeks leading up to Christmas I was testing loads of new products and changing my skincare routines too quickly which resulted in my skin not being happy and paying off with breakouts and congestion so I have learnt my lesson :)

By the end of last year I was kindly sent these three Embryolisse products to try and once the festive season was over and my diet consisted again of something else then just cakes, cheese and wine, haha!, I implemented these into my skincare routine and have had them in my rotation since.

Despite the cold weather and heaters working non stop in our house my skin hasn't been dehydrated, it's soft and plumped which is certainly down to some greatly hydrating and nourishing products, the Embryolisse offerings being some of them (also Merumaya tonners and Pixi Rose Caviar Essence have been working wonders).

 

Two facial toners from MERUMAYA you should try

Facial toner is a product that has been present in my skincare routine for over 20 years, I've always used it as I believed in its importance. I know some people swear by using toners, others find them unnecessary step in their skincare routine. I think it's important to soothe the skin after cleansing, balance it out and prep it for the next products that will be applied. Nowadays toners are so much better the what they used to be and can really benefit our skin if used regularly.

Today I want to talk about two toners from one of my favourite skincare brands - Merumaya (check out my brand's overview post) which I've been using for a while and they help my skin to be smoother and look brighter and more glowy.

Dior Forever Undercover Foundation - review

Foundation is one of my favourite and most important makeup items because a good makeup starts with great base, am I right? And as my skin is far form perfect I rely on foundation to even out my skin tone and hide/blur imperfections. I have quite a few foundations in my collections and some I really like but there's always some box un-ticked, whether that's shade tone, longevity, blend-ability or coverage so I'm still looking out for the holy grail of base products. I try to be sensible and not to buy every single foundation available on the market but every now and then I fancy trying something new. Seeing as many brands brought out new foundations lately, Nars, Bobbi Brown, Huda Beauty, Fenty, to mention just a few, I've decided to try one of them and the Dior Forever Undercover 24H Full Coverage Foundation caught my attention the most. I love full coverage foundations and I really enjoyed a Dior foundation in the past so the purchase was made.

I bought the foundation only a week ago but I have worn it 5 times for a minimum of 8 hours a day so I think I have a pretty good opinion on it already and I'm excited to talk about it on the blog, so why wait? :)

For every budget - Hot Cloth Cleansers

Last Summer I wrote a post called 'for every budget - facial mists' and intended to make a series of this kind of posts but for some reason it didn't happen. But I'm bringing the series back and hope to make it a regular feature on my blog. Today we're talking Hot Cloth Cleansers. These are cream facial cleansers which are are recommended to be massaged over the skin and then removed with warm, wet face cloth, usually provided with the cleanser, for a gentle daily exfoliation. They can be used to remove your makeup, as a second cleanse or your morning cleanser. I much prefer to remove my makeup with oil based cleansers so any kind of cream cleansers are my choice for a second or morning cleanse.

All the three hot cloth cleansers I am talking about in today's post are very nice and quite comparable so it really depends on the person's budget and personal preferences to pick one over the other. I am enjoying using all of them equally. If you look at the ingredients list of them all the few first ones are almost the same and the main differences are in the additional extracts making up for a different sensory experience (the kind of scent they have) and additional benefits to the skin.

All three cleansers are gentle on the skin, leave it feeling clean yet not stripped from moisture.

 

Blossom Jeju Camellia Soombi Essence Oil - review, benefits of Camellia Oil for the skin

Ever since I tried the Blossom Jeju Sheet Masks with Camellia Oil (check out my k-beauty haul) I was hooked and love the effect of the oil it had on my skin. So when the team from Skinsider (UK online retailer for Korean skincare) sent me another products from Blossom Jeju range I was over the moon.

I've been using the Camellia Soombi Essence Oil for over two months and I'd like to share my thoughts on it with you all.

 

 

PIXI Rose Skin and Lip Treats

Welcome back guys! Hope you all had fabulous festive time and a good start to New Year!

It's been three weeks since my last post and to be honest I haven't missed blogging, the festive time was very busy for me with work, having family over and, right after New Year, my hubby's and older son's birthdays, so it was nice not having to think about photos, writing, etc.

Also I feel like I'm in limbo, like I'm burnt out with blogging, I mentioned in my previous post that even though the numbers are not everything and I am grateful for everyone of you who visits my blog regularly and supports me, it feels disheartening that my blog and social media (Instagram I'm looking at you) are not growing like I wish they would. I know I haven't been blogging as regularly as I used to before getting a job last May but life is life and sometimes hobby needs to take a step back.

I see many beauty bloggers spicing up their content with lifestyle posts, fashion photos but I'm not that gal, I'm here just to talk about my favourite lipstick or great skincare products. I'm not the one to write deep, meaningful posts, never enjoyed writing essays, LOL! I don't go to fancy places, I don't have time and budget to hire photographers for outfit styling sessions. And on those few occasions that I do wear something different then a pair of jeans and a top or I visit Instagram-worthy locations I just focus on my family and friends and the time we're having together.

I don't know where I'm going with this monologue, I guess I'm just trying to let you know how I'm feeling at the moment about my blogging.

I definitely don't want to quit it as I have put too much time, effort and love in this little space of mine to just leave it now but I won't be forcing myself to writing posts just for the sake of having a schedule as it just stresses me out and I want to enjoy blogging again as much as I used to. I hope to be able to publish two posts a week but if one week I don't feel like doing it or there's no inspiration/motivation then let's be it.