Christmas Gifting For Him with Thomas Clipper*

I've got a special one for you today! The good folks at Thomas Clipper sent me a sample of their new Rough And Smooth Soap Set. The thing is, I think it would be much more fun to have Mr Wench review and give his opinion on them! 

Before we get into it, let me give you some at-a-glance facts: Given the state of the world, people are shopping small and local. Founded 2014, Thomas Clipper is a small team based in London. Their scents and soaps are developed in Grasse, the heart of French fragrance country. Mountain soap is vegan, uses organic ingredients, and handmade in the UK. Mountain soap is hand poured in runs of just 5 soaps at a time, 

Made by people, not machines, this artisan soap is chock-full of natural organic ingredients like Italian volcanic pumice and smells incredible with notes of Vetiver (a scent I adore enough to have in the form of a gorgeous candle) and aromatic spices. 

Let's start from the outside: I was very pleasantly surprised when the parcel arrived and it was completely packaged in recyclable materials. Even the soaps themselves were packaged in such a way that negates the need for cellophane! Given that Christmas is a time that creates so much extra waste, it's amazing to have a gift option without plastic. 

Inside the box, these soaps are really minimal in their design, and since they're solid, they deliver exceptional functionality. These are the hallmarks of modern luxury - travel friendly and compact at home. As someone who works in designer luggage, I appreciate any product that you can pop into your suitcase and take with you places, without fear of leaking, immensely! 

The guys at Thomas Clipper believe that after a day exploring the peaks, ‘Mountain’ prepares you for an evening relaxing into a red wine by a roaring cabin fire. 

Rugged and refined, Vetiver, guaiac and cedarwood provide a seriously smokey base with zingy bergamot

and aromatic spices, bringing freshness and balance. 

Now, lets here from Mr Wench! 

"It smells really good. Super clean smelling, just light enough on the senses to not be overpowering but speaks of rich man or competent man or similar. There’s something about this type of scent that just resonates with me as a man that I can’t get enough of. Thankfully we are in COVID season so I have had no end of hand washing and of lovely smelling hands as a result! My bathroom area is quite dominated by this smell now but it’s not a bad thing it’s actually quite nice. The effect on my hands has been un-noticed, they’re not dry and not itchy in any way. I don’t feel like it’s imbalanced my skin in and the scent sticks for a long time. 

The shape of the bar (such a small detail really) is actually a nice design choice, embossed with the logo on one side the soap shape is quite chunky and pointed. This isn’t a bad thing however, this just feels more like a handful when using it which for my hands is great! I think in my hands it fits well enough. The same is true for the shower scrub which I’ll mention in a moment but other soaps tend to slip quite easily in my grip with their oval shapes thus having something almost brick shaped is actually refreshing!

The shower scrub is a different game, smelling much the same as the Mountain Soap, in that it smells great. It fits in my hands well and doesn’t slip in the shower in my grip with its big block shape (though the run off is quite slippy on the shower floor I found out!). It was however, quite scrubby. I wasn’t prepared for that feeling at first. On the first use I felt like my skin was rubbed a little too roughly and ended up having to smooth it out after a couple strokes with lathering actions. My skin afterwards felt and smelled amazing, no two ways about it which had me thinking maybe the scrubbing wasn’t that bad. For the second use I have to say I’m glad I gave it another chance, the scrubbing was much less gritty on second, third+ washes and much more enjoyable. It is in fact possibly the exact type of exfoliator style scrubber I have been wanting for a while now. I was super happy to use in the shower each time I had it and have enjoyed the product over all.

Packaging wise few small comments worth pointing out, it’s minimalistic which pleases my man-tendencies as the product isn’t screaming at me to pick it up with loud garish colours. The wrapping is simple and the product is good enough to stand on its own legs in the testing. All in all, I rate these soaps highly, easily an 8.5/10. I am even considering this as a Christmas gift for other guy friends and family in my life." 

So there you have it, hopefully myself and Mr Wench have helped you decide on some amazing body products for the loved ones in your life! 

*Contains gifted items from Thomas Clipper. All opinions belong to myself and Mr Wench. 

My Skincare Routine : Indian Edition

Since coming to India, my skin has actually been pretty well behaved. The humid climate of Hyderabad is pretty forgiving, or so it seems to me! I've updated my skincare routine pretty drastically since we arrived, more or less chucking anything that didn't seem to agree with my skin and the heat. I've also seriously leaned into the national love for the brand Kaya and The Body Shop.

To start, I'll begin with my face. I picked up a set of Kaya skincare from the Kaya counter in Shopper Stop, boasting a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. You can even buy a serum separately, but I haven't bothered. It was around 1800 INR or less than €22 all in.

The Kaya Purifying Cleanser is a clear gel consistency, with a light scent. I use a pea size amount with lukewarm water to gently massage my face and if I feel the need, I will use a mild exfoliating sponge into the bargain.

I pat my skin dry with a towel and then I take the Kaya Purifying Toner, spray it onto a cotton pad and wipe down my face and neck with it. After this step, if I'm feeling fancy, I'll use a couple of spritzes of The Body Shop Vitamin C Energizing Face Mist (945 INR or €11), before gently pressing my Purifying Nourisher into my face and neck for a lightweight moisturizer.

Once I've all of this done and I've let the whole regimen sink into my skin for a few minutes, then I like to assess whether I should do a face mask in the evening and if I do, I choose between two I particularly love from The Body Shop: Chinese Ginseng and Rice Clarifying (1895 INR or €23) and Polishing Mask, and their Ethiopian Honey Deep Nourishing Mask (1895 INR or €23). I will smooth one or the other on for 15 or 20 minutes in the evening, and rinse with lukewarm water. I tend not to bother moisturizing too much at night as the evenings are incredibly warm and I feel as though sweating off my lotions and potions would be wasteful.

Body-wise, I use a loofah scrub and The Body Shop Indian Night Jasmine Shower Gel, which smells incredible. Once I've dried off I use a light gel lotion, the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Body Gel Cream, which I brought from Ireland! It has little to no scent and sinks in super quickly. I always feel soft and smooth with this body care routine, without being weighed down in the heat.

Next time, I'll go through my hair care routine! 

Til then, 

Amy 

xx

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Autumn Essentials

I adore autumn. Layering, scarves, bobble hats, it's probably my favorite season. Today, I'm going to give you the low-down on my current essentials! These are the things I cannot be without, this time of year... Enjoy!

I adore Docs. They're a pain to break in, but they are so comfy when you finally do! I've had my Triumphs for a couple of years and they still look like they're fresh from the box. I recently bought a pair of white 1460's because I had been living for a pair for months, and I snapped up a good deal on ebay! They keep your feet warm, dry and they look great with everything! I couldn't be without them.

Chilly air means dry skin, flaky lips and if like me you've stretched ears, sore earlobes. I'm hugely into creams in this weather. I carry a Body Shop hand cream and a Blistex Daily Lip Conditioner in my handbag at all times. I am pretty obsessed with keeping my ear lobes looking and feeling great, as well... At 1/2", they're not huge by any means, but they need looking after. I have a Beauty Kitchen Chill Me Wonder Balm for my lobes, and I keep them moisturised to keep them safe from the cold. I'm also addicted to the BioDerma Hydra Bio rich creme right now, its keeping my skin protected from the biting wind!

My eye makeup has been pretty seasonal for the last few months, and now is no different. I am obsessed with my Revolution Flawless Ultra Eyeshadow Palette. It's a 32 pan palette with shades from cream to black, with incredible nudes, bronzes, burgundies and chocolate shades. Perfect for the autumn and Christmas seasons. I've plenty of other palettes, but this one is my obsession right now. I picked it up for €10.95 and it was worth every cent! When I'm staying with Himself, I like to downsize my makeup so I have been rediscovering my beloved Naked Basics palette from Urban Decay. Perfect for a neutral eye, from girly to grungy.

So there you have it, my Autumn Essentials! Let me know your picks in the comments! I'd love to know what you consider essential at this time of year! 

Amy 

xx

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Good Things Manuka Honey Refining Scrub

Ever since I ran out of my Loreal Men Expert Pure Power, I've been in the market for a new scrub. I've been meaning to pick up a new tube for weeks and weeks but I just never remember. So, when In was in Mullingar with Tash, I picked this up in TK Maxx for €3.99. I have the mask from this range too and I really like it, so I knew this would be decent.

The first time I used it I was a little disappointed, it didn't really make a huge impression for the good, or the bad. I persevered though, because I'm not a quitter, and I was much more impressed after the second and third uses. This mask actually has left my skin feeling incredibly smooth and nourished. I followed it with the mask on the third use and it really made a difference. So much so, that as I write this, I've only got moisturiser and mascara on. I don't want to smother perfectly smooth, clear skin in product!!

I''m pretty chuffed with this mask, it's reasonably priced, and it contains wonderful ingredients like Sweet Almond Oil which is rich in natural fatty acids that are incredible for your skin to leave it smooth an nourished. It also harnesses Kaolin which draws out all the impurities so you have a long lasting, clear and radiant complexion. The scrubby bits are Oatmeal Kernal which are gentle but so effective at removing dead skin. If you use this scrub twice or three times weekly, you'll notice soon enough the positive effects on your skin.

If you want to purchase it, you can find it in Boots stores or on Boots.ie

Let me know if there are any products you want to see me try in upcoming posts! 

Amy

xx

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Nivea Creme Care* Range Review

A few weeks back I was sent some products from the Nivea Creme Care range. Now, as I'm sure you all know, I am a massive Nivea fan, with over half of my products bearing the name. I have to say, this brand ticks all the boxes for me, from the price point, to the packaging, to the great job they do!

First up, I've got the Creme Care Cleansing Milk, which happened to arrive onto my desk at the opportune moment, since I've not yet managed to repurchase my staple 2 in 1 Cleanser And Toner. This cleansing milk is similar in consistency to the 2 in 1, and it smells similar too, but that's where it ends. This cleansing milk has left my skin feeling softer and more nourished. I follow up with the Daily Essentials Toner that I have as back up.

I found my skin feels more plump and looks nicer too, so much so that I've been heading out without makeup more often than not. On the days where I do wear makeup, I use this beforehand as a quick prep to remove any residue or build up from my skin, followed by moisturizer and my full makeup application.


In the evenings I take the bulk of my makeup off with a wipe, and some eye makeup remover for the sensitive eye contour area, and then follow up with Creme Care Cleansing Wash, which I was also very kindly gifted! I find the Creme Care Cleansing Wash incredibly gentle, but cleanses deeply enough that you feel a notable difference after a few uses. I take a little dab, maybe the size of a 20c coin or so on wet hands, and massage it into my skin, then I take a damp facecloth and rub my face in circular motions to thoroughly work the product into the skin. I rinse my face with warm water and pat my skin dry with a clean towel.

I'm really enjoying this range. it's cleansing and softening and makes my skin feel great both before and after makeup!

Have you any Nivea Skincare recommendations for me?

Amy 

xx

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Skin Fixes With Skinfix*

Good morning, all!

"Treats and manages eczema, dermatitis and dry skin conditions"

Recently, I was sent some skincare stuff from Skinfix. SkinFix is a skincare company based out of Nova Scotia and they're coming to Boots!! Ahh!!! The whole range is fragrance free, suitable for people who suffer from eczema, dermatitis, and other skin issues.

Hand Repair Cream

This was the first product of the two that I tried. Since my forearms are tattooed as well as being the owner of two hands that are generally pretty horrendous looking, I applied this at night before I went to sleep, all the way up to my elbows, and when I would wake up in the morning, my hands were super soft. After showering, I would apply a small dab just to boost the moisture. After about a week I was aware of how soft my hands were, and after ten days or a fortnight the skin just above my cuticles was no longer split and sore.

I would happily give this to my mum and she has the most finicky, sensitive skin of anyone I know.

I found that this cream sinks in quickly, with no discernible scent (a fact I really enjoyed, because I don't get on well with fragrances in products in general), my hands weren't sticky and they weren't greasy either.

Final thought? This hand cream has literally fixed my hands. I'm repurchasing this as soon as it's empty.


Eczema Balm

The eczema balm from Skinfix was the product I was most excited to try, because I have horrid dry skin on my face, around my nostrils in particular. I dab on a reasonably thick layer of this balm every evening to combat it. The dry skin on my right nostril has completely gone, and the left side is clearing up rapidly. To say I'm impressed is an understatement. Honestly, I thought I would be dealing with the horrible cracked, dry skin on my nose until the weather got warmer, and who knows when that could be?! I have even put this on my lips before I start getting ready to go out as a super moisturising treat for my lips and it's left them so soft and supple I can't even begin to tell you!!

While I'm super impressed with the miracle this balm managed to work, I don't think it would be suitable for use every day as a daily moisturiser. It's very thick, sort of difficult to squeeze out of the tube if its cold. It's not too greasy, but it does leave a kind of silky feeling over the skin. This is part of my nightly routine now, because it leaves my dry patches looking and feeling so much better on the morning time!

This comes in a tube of 60g, which will last forever, with how little you need to use to treat problem areas. The back does say to apply generously, but honestly, less is more.

I am so excited for Skin Fix to hit shelves in my local Boots. There's a body lotion in the range I am dying to get my hands on!

Be sure to drop a comment if you enjoyed this review and let me know if you're going to try the range out for yourself! 

Amy x

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Skin Fix was kindly gifted to me for review purposes.

All opinions are my own. I wouldn't bother reviewing it otherwise. 

Penneys PS Treats - Bargain or Bull?

Recently, on a trip to Penneys Mary St, I picked up some bargain treats from the PS range. I spent less than €5 on these three items, and I'm going to give you my honest thoughts today!!

PS Fashion Nails - €1.50

In this little box, you get 36 nails, glue and instructions. I picked out the right width nail for each of my natural nails, pushed my cuticles back and trimmed them, lightly filed my natural nail, applied a decent blob of glue to the nail-bed, and then applied the false nail firmly, pressing each one in place for 10-ish seconds. When they were all applied, I took a nail scissors to them and trimmed them to a length I could deal with, filed them down to round off the sharp edges, and then painted them a deep blue black color. When they dried, I somehow got the notion into my head to deep clean my room, and in doing so moved every stick of furniture to get the job done. Not a single nail was lost. The next day, I delved into my desk, product collection and bookcase, to really go through it with a fine tooth comb and once again, my nails were perfect!! Perhaps that was down to the amount of glue I used, but honestly, I think these nails are really resilient.

I'm seriously chuffed with them. I've had people ask me if they are gel or acrylic, and when I've said "Penneys finest!!" there has been gasps of "...No!! Really?!". Yes. Really.

PS Face Treats Dark Circle Reducer - €1.50

I have to say, these didn't make a huge impression on me, but they did feel quite cooling and relaxing on. They're sort of squishy and feel like they would be super moisturizing on, but overall they're just...meh! As far as brightening goes, they didn't do a whole lot but I would really enjoy them if I was after having a rough night and needing some TLC on your puffy eye situation. For the price point, they are lovely as a cooling treat, but don't expect them to work miracles. If you want bright under eyes, get a highlighting concealer.

PS Feet Treats Scrub and Lotion - €1.50 

This foot treatment was lovely. It was exfoliating and made my feet so soft, and the foot cream smelled so nice. I popped my feet into a basin to use the scrub, and I used an exfoliation glove to boost the scrubby quality on the soles of my feet. It really made my feet feel so wonderfully soft. When I applied the foot cream, it made my skin feel really cool but smoother and more supple. This is definitely worth investing in every few weeks especially coming into sandal weather!

Overall, I thought these products were a lovely treat for very little money and I really think that it's worth taking even €10 out of your budget and picking up a few treats every month or so, just to remind yourself to have some "you" time, even if it's only the time it takes to glue on a new false manicure or scrub your feet so you can wear new sandals.

Amy x

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Dex Does - Nivea Creme for Men*

Hey all! Just a little introduction for you all to bring you my best friend in the world, who has kindly agreed to review mens products for Red Lips; Red Hair. I wont waffle on much longer, so I hereby give you Dexter, and the first Dex Does!!!

 

So today I am writing a review of the moisturiser product Nivea MEN Creme from the manliest grooming perspective. Skincare.

Thus far I have used a few moisturisers in my life so I am somewhat familiar with them and how they work but I am by no means an expert, just someone with a humble opinion about how they make my skin feel when I use them. So let's get started!

 

I have been using Nivea Creme for a fortnight now and (drumroll) it's pretty great! I am actually surprisingly pleased with it and it's performance! It's been really nice on my skin, comes in nice packaging and has generated some nice compliments from people in my life about my skin. All winning traits in my book! 

First impressions of this product were off to a good start. For a mans product, the casing it comes in is surprisingly stylish and "suitable" for men to be seen with. Dark blue and steely grey colored in a compact tin with no faff to be seen anywhere, perfect! On my first use it was easy to open, easy to peel the seal and easy to apply. No fuss. All the while I was in a gym locker room fresh from the shower with wet hands so I thought this worth mentioning, if it were in any way hard to utilise in the one place I'd use it most commonly I probably would have given up and thrown it back in my bag! 

Generally speaking it didn't add any length of time to my morning routine, maybe about two minutes in total to moisturise my face, neck and hands after showering. The creme is absorbed rapidly on my skin and doesn't feel sticky on my face at all afterwards, skin dry and all in about 30 seconds after applying. There is a generous amount in the tin so I could see this lasting the average guy a month to a couple months. I use this every day at least once on my face and maybe once on my hands every other day and the tin is about 1/8th empty. Maybe I'm not using the right amount but I used what felt right on my skin to me.

After using this for about a fortnight now I have gotten a few compliments on my skin looking well (which is always nice) and by this feedback alone (let alone how much I like the product itself) I am persuaded to keep using it for a while longer to see if its affects on my skin persist, though from research it seems like this product may just be a hidden gem for males to have in their vanity arsenal.

So the long of it is above, the short and sweet is: I recommend this product. It does exactly what it says on the tin, there's no faff about it and it's a really great price! This product is great as we are just coming into Winter where our skin will get dry in the cold weather so keeping something like this handy will prove beneficial. I'm no dermatologist or expert on moisturiser but if I were to give it a score out of 10 I would give it an 11/10. I'm no expert on numbers either.

-Dex

Nivea Men Crème was kindly gifted for consideration, and Dex knows better than to lie to me or you!! You can pick up Nivea Men creme in all major supermarkets and its currently on offer in Supervalu for €2.45. 

7th Heaven Blemish Mud

Today I'm coming at you with a review of the Montagne Jeunesse 7th Heaven Blemish Mud mask which is aimed at problem skin...

Lately I've been having trouble with breakouts, around my nose and chin in particular. I'm not generally someone who has a whole lot of trouble with blemish prone skin, but obviously, I'm in need of some help. I always find I get two applications from the sachets of MJ masks, and today was no different, so I went for a double whammy - a full face application, and then a concentrated extra application on my T-Zone, nose and chin. 

High in Aloe Vera, this mask claims to be deeply cleansing, purifying and soothing, but the big question is - does it stack up to the claims? 

This mask is incredible. My skin tingled when I had this applied and it left my skin feeling clean and baby soft. The second application on my nose really helped to calm the redness around my nostrils and overall, wasn't too irritating or drying... I feel like it really did draw out the impurities from my skin, and the dry, flaky skin on my left nostril has calmed noticeably. 

All in all, I'm glad I picked up this little sachet of goodness, and I'm going to recommend this to everyone!! 

As always, I followed up with my Nivea Serum Pearls and Q10 Moisturiser and my skin has never felt better!! 

This mask was €1.49 and I will absolutely repurchase it. You can almost always get this range on 3 for 2 in Boots. 

Let me know if you try this mask, 

xo,

Amy. 

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Lush Mask Of Magnaminty REVIEW

Oily skin is a real scourge, so much so that I spend an inordinate amount of my life trying to find products to suit my face. For a long time it was an expensive endeavour, using multiple products to keep the grease under control. Put me down on record for this one: Lush Mask Of Magnaminty has put an end to that. I have finally found a mask that doesn't dry my skin in a bid to sop up the shine.

Deeeeeelightful!!! 

The mask itself is advertised as a peppermint face and body product. It certainly is minty, with a cooling sensation and gorgeous scent. You apply it to your skin in a thin layer and allow it to dry. I personally rinse with cool water and pat my skin dry but you can use warm water, I'm not telling you what to do with your life!!

I used this mask every other day for a week and found it to be just enough to allow my skin to do what it needs to do but stems the oil enough that breakouts are stemmed and not caused due to an over production in compensation. I now use it once a week alternating with other Lush face masks!!

It's refreshingly cooling and a little goes a long way. However you can choose to apply a thick layer or a thin one, depending on your time and preference.

All in all I think this mask is amazing and incredibly healing for skin that suffers from breakouts.

Have you tried this mask??

Let me know!

 

Xo

Amy

Juliette Armand Skincare*

At the recent Irish Beauty Shows, I got the chance to speak briefly to Clare O'Hanlon from Juliette Armand Skincare. When Clare found out I was a blogger she gifted me with four mini tubes of the Elements Skincare range, some literature on the products and her business card. I was working like crazy this past week but on Saturday night I got the chance to trial them. 

Step 1: Dermabrasion Gel
Step 2: Hydrating Therapy Mask 

Step 3: Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Step 4: Hydration Cream

The Elements Collection that Clare gifted me was a four part system comprising of :

1. Dermabrasion Gel
2. Hydrating Therapy Mask
3. Hyaluronic Acid Serum
4. Hydra Action Cream

• Dermabrasion Gel:

This is a lovely, clear gel with small nodes suspended in it, those granules being aluminium oxide and bamboo grain. It smells lovely, and it's really satisfyingly scrubby but not harsh in any way. My skin felt lovely and smooth after rinsing and didn't seem drying at all. Instead, it gently rid my skin of excess oils so I could go to the next step!

• Hydrating Therapy Mask

The Hydrating Therapy Mask is a cream based product that you are meant to massage into your face and let it dry over the course of 10 to 15 minutes. Then, you rinse it off and pat skin dry thoroughly. When it dried it didn't even feel dry in the sense that it was not stiff. To be honest, it felt like it set, not dried. After I rinsed it off there was no residue and my skin felt plump to the touch. 

• Hyaluronic Acid Serum:

First let me warn you this stuff is runny!!! It ran out all over my hand onto the floor, thankfully it's clear so it didn't leave a stain. I applied it to my face and neck and it dried in under 2 minutes. I noticed it left a slight tacky residue but it didn't matter once I applied the final step of the cream.

• Hydra Action Cream

A rich cream, rich but not heavy, and very spreadable. 1ml as advised is more than enough!! I found it absorbed well and left a matte finish. I really think it would be good for under make-up as a general moisturiser. 

All of the range smells clean and fresh, with a slight hint of medical, which I adore. It took less than 25 minutes to go through the whole regime, and since it's recommended to use the whole range twice-weekly, it's barely an hour out of your week, which is no time at all when you think about it!! Even days later, my skin is looking and feeling soft and radiant. 

I need this whole range in my life and so do you!! 

Find Juliette Armand Skincare, including info, news and a full product range HERE

xo,

Amy

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Make-Up Removal and Night Time Skincare

Hi Ladies!!

Make-up removal is so important to maintaining healthy skin. Today I am going to talk you through my steps for removing any and all traces of make-up from your face. 

Water Wipes

Image: Water Wipes

To take off the bulk of my make-up, from my face - not my eyes - I use a Water Wipe. This removes the bulk of the product, from my cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. Basically I wipe over my whole face and avoid the eyes or the eye contour area. 

Nivea Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover

On two large oval cotton pads, I take some bi-phase eye makeup remover and apply them to my eyes. I hold them over my eyes for 10-15 seconds, and then gently wipe outwards. Again, this removes the bulk of the product. Then I take one more cotton pad and another squirt of the remover to wipe downward and then around to remove any traces of mascara and eyeliner. 

Boots Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm

When I've stripped off my make-up, I then take a small dab of this cleansing balm, which I rub between my fingers and then massage onto my face to lift any left over make-up. I take the muslin cloth that came with it, wet it with warm water and use it to gently rub over my face in small circles, rinse and pat my face dry. 

Argan Oil Night Repair Serum 

Once my face is squeaky clean, I take a few drops of this serum, warm it between my fingers and pat this onto the skin. This serum has Argan Oil extract, and it leaves my skin feeling plump and soft the next morning. 

Tesco Pro Radiance Night Cream

Image: Pretty Wonderful Blog

Immediately following the serum, I apply the Tesco Pro Radiance Night Cream. This has a rich but not greasy texture and is absorbed into my skin by morning. A real winner, in my book. 

So there you have it, my make-up removal and night time skincare routine. I know it's not perfect, but it works for me and is subject to alteration from time to time! 

Are there any products you would recommend??

Drop me a comment down below if you have!

xo 

Amy

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Nivea Q10 Plus Anti-Wrinkle Skincare Routine*

Nothing makes me feel as confident as good, clear, well cared for skin. So, when the wonderful Breena emailed me on behalf of Nivea, to see if I would like to trial some products, I was delighted and very eager. As I write this, I have been using them for a week, and I've got some thoughts. I was sent four items from the new Q10 Plus range, a day cream, a night cream, an eye cream and the serum pearls. 

Aren't they so gorgeous??

All of Nivea's product range come in really lovely, glossy hard plastic packaging. They are weighty and very well made, a testament to the products they hold! These products have become staple in my routine, and all but one of my skincare routine products are Nivea, now! Thanks to their ingredients, Coenzyme Q10, Hyaluronic Acid and Creatine, my skin has been in possibly the best condition of my life. Coenzyme Q10 is proven to keep the skin firm and plump, effectively slowing the sagging process that causes wrinkles. 

For full disclosure, my cleansing routine both morning and evening is the Nivea 2 in 1 Cleanser and Toner, followed by these and I trialled them every day for a week before I made up my mind!

The Serum Pearls. 

"Pure anti-wrinkle power for a refined and younger looking complexion"

I'm just going to give it all away now, because why not! These serum pearls are my newest love. Honestly I could wax lyrical about these through multiple posts. They are incredible. I think they would be perfect for an under make-up base as they absorb instantly and leave a matte finish. I thank these for relieving the redness on my nose, my chin and also for keeping my skin clear and plump, Girls, I never knew what I was missing until these arrived onto my desk. I cannot be without them now.

The Energizing Day Cream. 

"Boosts tired, dull skin"

This cream is beautiful, lightly scented and when applied it feels like velvet. It soaks in instantly, I mean that literally. Once it's been smoothed in, there is no residue. The Q10 Plus Energizing Day Cream has brightened my skin and left it plump and hydrated. I am so impressed with this stuff you would not believe, because I work in a very warm, very air conditioned office environment and for the first 3 weeks, my skin was in tatters. Now I apply this cream before I leave for work, and when I get home almost 9 hours later my skin is still gorgeous and radiant. 

The Eye Cream

"Minimises dark under eye circles"

Up until a week or two ago, when I smiled, you could see the puffy eye bags that looked more like suitcases under my eyes. I thought maybe they were meant to be there. Oh, how wrong I was!! I've been applying a literal pinhead sized amount of the Q10 Plus eye cream morning and evening since I got hold of it and now when I smile, I actually look 22 not 122. 

The Night Cream. 

"Regenerates skin during the night"

So far this range as a whole has impressed me and really given my skin a new lease of life, but I cannot say I'm terribly enamoured with this Night Cream. It has all the same benefits as the range from which it comes, but personally I didn't enjoy it. It felt heavy and greasy on my skin, and though it's meant to soak in over night I work up every morning feeling desperate to cleanse my skin. It really just didn't do it for me. I wanted to like it, and it didn't do anything wrong, per se, but  just didn't find it as appealing as the other 3 items I was sent. 

All in all, as a whole I was impressed by this new range and I'm a little it obsessed with the Serum Pearls and the Day Cream, to the point where I will be repurchasing these in future. Holy grail achievement: Unlocked!

Have you tried these products?

Let me know what you thought!! 

xo

Amy

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Cara Derm Seaweed Soothing Lotion

When I find a product with words like "Made In Ireland", "100% Natural", "Sustainable" and "Renewable" on the label, I'm immediately drawn to it.

Image: Ebay

For the first review of 2015, I've got the wonderful Caraderm Seaweed Soothing Lotion, which just so happens to have all of these lovely words, and more upon the label! And when it's made in Northern Ireland and has been featured on Dragon Den, I found myself even more intrigued.

"Has calming properties and helps skin retain essential lipids. Also may be applied after sun-exposure, waxing and tattoo."

I'm really digging this lovely, clear lotion. It has no smell, it's not sticky, it's not greasy and it leaves absolutely no residue behind. I've been using it during the healing process for my latest tattoo and it's been a fabulous addition! During the day I apply this and then first thing in the morning and last thing before sleep I apply E45 in conjunction.

I've found when you apply it, a little goes a long way, which makes its great value for money and saves on waste. One pump is sufficient to cover a rather large area such as my forearm. If you suffer from eczema, rashes or acne, this could really be a viable option for the treatment or maintenance of those conditions. It is absorbed by the skin really well and leaves no residue whatsoever.

All in all, this product is tippy-top-notch, giving great results in the healing of my tattoo! I'm going to incorporate it into my skincare regime further and report back to you in due course!

Caraderm Seaweed Soothing Lotion was 6.99 in my local chemist, and can be found on the website.

Thanks to Caraderm, I've experienced the fastest healing of a tattoo in years. 

Have you ever tried Caraderm before? 

Amy

x

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Recommended To Red - Nivea 2 in 1 Cleanser and Toner

I rarely take recommendations off my boyfriends mum when it comes to skincare. However this has been a staple in her skincare regime as long as I've been with Chris and that fact hasn't been lost on me. 

I picked this up doing the shopping a couple of weeks ago and have been using it daily ever since, sometimes I've used it twice daily, depending on whether it's a deep cleanse day. This lovely creamy cleanser cuts the time you spend at the vanity in half, and it takes away all the dirt and grime from your skin, leaving you feeling cleansed and refreshed. 

Apply it with cotton pads and follow with whatever you usually use in your skincare regime. 

Thanks to this bottle of loveliness, my pores haven't been so small and tight in a long time. 

The verdict? A real time saver, and really effective skincare. 

Let me know if you've tried it!!

Amy

xxx

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Dream Dots For Spots*

I've never looked forward to getting a spot, until the good folks at Dream Dots sent me these babies!! I have been waiting to get some pimples so I can try them and see how they fare. 

However, when you are waiting to get a spot it seems like your skin gets really good just to spite you... 

The premise is simple, get a spot, stick on a Dream Dot, go to bed and wake up with a smaller, less inflamed spot. You do this for between 1-3 nights, and every morning when you get up, the Dream Dot will have changed colour, having turned white as it works. When you take off the Dream Dot, you cleanse your face as normal. The dots are soft and comfortable, they move as your face moves but never come unattached!

The packaging doesn't tell you what the active ingredients are, but I have to say I'm leaning heavily towards either magic or fairy-dust. These things are the business, make no mistake. Add to that that they are Cruelty Free and Vegan, what more could you want from a product. They do a great job on spots, and they are not causing harm or suffering to lovely furry creatures!! 

I wish it was worth me attaching a picture of these little round dots of love, but they match my skin so closely, there's no point. I tweeted Dream Dots and we were joking about playing "Spot The Dot", that's how invisible they are. You're going to have to trust me that after two nights on a big, dirty spot, and one on a little pimple on my top lip, there is nearly no trace of either and no scabbing to boot. The redness on my chin spot is gone, the skin is soft and I'm so impressed I think I may be in love. 

Dream Dots retail for 14.95 for a pack of 24 and 24.95 for a pack of 48. You can get them in most pharmacies and on the Dream Dots website. 

Be sure to check out these little circles of magic, I promise you wont go wrong! 

If you've tried these, let me know what you thought!! 

Amy

xx

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*This product was sent for consideration by Dream Dots, all opinions are my own*