Environ Hydrating Oil Capsules

Hi Everyone!

Hope you all are well :)

Over the last year and a half I have really upped my skincare game. I've always been quite vigilant with my skincare, the 'cleanse, tone, moisture' routine was drummed into me at the age of 13 or 14. Although at times my skin doesn't reflect my efforts (*sigh* acne struggles) I've almost reached my mid twenties and I'm still suffering from breakouts. I honestly thought be the time I reached my twenties that spots would be long gone but alas that's not the case. I did have a good run where I was blemish free for a few years, I might get the odd spot now and then but nothing major, nothing to fret about. Over the last couple of years though I've basically gone back to square one. I've developed a more in depth skincare regime on top of going for regular facials in a bid to get a handle on it. One product that I tried for the first time recently was a facial oil and that's what I'm here to chat to you about today!

At the end of October I was sent out a lovely little package from Environ and their 'Hydrating Oil Capsules' were one of the products inside. I've heard lots of fantastic things about the brand, I'm currently using their eye gel and I'm very impressed with that so I had high hopes for the capsules. 

Environ's Hydrating Oil Capsules include ingredients such as Vitamin A and Vitamin C which are known for there antioxidant properties. The capsules are suitable for all skin types but will be beneficial particularly to those out there with dry or dehydrated skin due to the formulation of the product.

The capsules look like little skittles and you just crack off the top to release the oil. I had looked the capsules up online prior to using them and I was little unsure about them due to the fact that a jar containing 30 capsules is priced at €59.95. I thought this was quite expensive because it looked like there was a small amount of product per capsule but when I actually opened a capsule for myself I realised that wasn't the case, thankfully! I was quite surprised with the amount of product inside. I could do my face, neck and I still had a little oil leftover so I used this on my hands as I tend to suffer from dry, cracked skin there as well.

I had never used a facial oil before so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect in terms of results but I do know though that I figured there would be an oily/greasy residue on my skin but I was wrong. The oil absorbed quite quickly which I was delighted about because then I could carry on with the rest of my skincare routine knowing that I wouldn't be just sliding the oil around my skin when applying the next steps.

I had been using the capsules once a week for the first two weeks as my skin is very sensitive and I wanted to see how it would react to the product. There's no fragrance to the oil so that was a big plus for me and I was thrilled to see that after a couple of uses it seemed to be working well with my skin. Now that it's a bit colder here my skin is more dry than usual so I decided to use the capsules more frequently. I've started using them twice a week now instead and my skin is noticeably softer and any flaky patches that were on my skin have cleared up. 

The key ingredient is Vitamin A which hydrates the skin but apparently it's also a good ingredient on the anti-aging front too, bonus! I can tell you that it's definitely a hydrating product and works effectively and efficiently to treat the skin but due to the price tag I think it's one that I'm going to save for when my skin really needs some TLC. I know now that if I'm suffering from really dry/flaky skin that I just have to put my hand on this product and it'll sort it out.

Environ is available from selected beauty salons and skincare therapists nationwide plus selected Harvey Nichols stores. For more information head over to www.iiaa.eu :)

Chat soon,

Eimear x

Lancôme Hydra Zen Masque Anti Stress Moisturizing Serum-in-Mask | Review with Before & After!

Hi Everyone!
Hope you all are well :)

It has been three years since I last posted about a skincare product for the face and that is purely down to the fact that I stick to what I know. My skin is very problematic and for that reason I don't like trialling new skincare items. I have highly sensitive skin and understandably I never want to run the risk of a reaction, which unfortunately can be the case a lot of the time when testing out a new product. Recently though despite sticking to my regular trusty skincare routine, my skin has been acting the ham. My acne has made a return, my eczema flares up quite frequently and I'm suffering from very dry flaky skin. All a bit of a nightmare really! So when this Lancôme mask arrived in my post box a couple of months ago I figured sure look, i'll give it a go. Things couldn't really get that much worse could they? 

This product is labelled as a mask but it also doubles as a night cream. I mainly use it as a night cream because I find thats how it works best with my skin. I apply a thin layer at night after I have cleansed my skin and then I follow up with my regular eye cream routine. I find that leaving it on while I sleep really allows the cream to fully nourish and hydrate my skin.

If you would prefer to use this as a face mask you just apply a thicker layer of the product, leave for 5-10 minutes and then wipe away the excess cream with a cloth. The aim of the Hydra Zen Masque is to offer the user immediate and all-night hydration. Lancôme claim that with use:

"Skin feels nourished, softer, supplier. Skin looks healthier, revitalised, more beautiful - like after a good night's sleep."

Consistency wise it's gel like but it isn't extremely thick. It feels very lightweight on the skin and what I like the most is that it doesn't sit on top of the skin. I've been using this cream for a couple of months now and I've barely made a dent in the tub, honestly it looks brand new. You only need the smallest amount of this product to cover your entire face, a little really does go a long way.

Before I started using this product my skin was very dry and irritated, I had some dry flakey patches of skin on my cheeks in particular. To try and combat that I used this product 3-4 times a week for 2 weeks and the results were as follows.

After using this product for a couple of weeks I noticed a massive difference in the appearance of my skin. My dry patches cleared up, my skin looked a lot less red and irritated and overall my skin had a nice glow to it.

I'm so delighted that I tried this product out because I'd be lost without it in my skincare routine now. The Lancôme Hydra Zen Masque is priced at €55 and is available from Debenhams. Honestly, it's worth every cent! If it ever runs out i'll be straight to Debenhams to pick up a pot. If you're interested in trying it out go in and ask for a sample, you won't regret it!

Until next time,

Eimear x 

Tan Organic Moisturising Dry Oil Review

Hey Everyone!
Hope you all are well :)

Back in August I attended the IBY (Irish Beauty YouTuber) Meetup organised by the lovely Dale from MonsterMakeupXx. I'll link her YouTube channel here, go check her out she's an absolute scream! Dale organised such a fantastic day for us all, it was filled with laughter and chats about all things beauty. On the day we had speakers from different brands come in to talk to us about their products and there were also demo's throughout the day too. One of those speakers was Noelle O'Connor, founder and creator of the Irish brand Tan Organic! It was extremely interesting to hear about her story, her time spent on Dragons Den, her rise to success and the struggles she has encountered along the way.

I had never tried any products from the Tan Organic range before so when we were presented with a goodie bag filled with some bits and pieces to try, I was over the moon! One of the first products I decided to try out was the Tan Organic Moisturising Dry Oil. I decided to reach for this product first because I had never tried out a dry oil before, I was curious as I really didn't know what to expect from it.

Starting with the packaging, the oil itself is housed within a 100ml thick glass bottle. There is a tonne of information printed on the bottle in relation to the ingredients and the products uses, to name a couple. The wooden lid twists off to reveal the opening which is just a small hole in the top of the bottle. Usually I wouldn't like an opening like this, generally I prefer a pump with products. However, the hole isn't large enough for you to accidentally pour out more product than you need so no oil goes to waste. I'm pleased with the packaging its high quality and exactly what I would expect considering the price.

As I've said previously, I have never tried a dry oil before but I was intrigued when I heard Noelle talk about this products multiple uses. I really enjoy multipurpose products and in this case it helps me justify the price. The oil contains a cocktail of fantastic ingredients, some of which include; 

• Argan Oil
• Borage Seed Oil 
• Rosehip Oil
• Macadamia Oil
• Orange Peel Oil
• Avocado Oil
• Jojoba Seed Oil
• Hemp Seed Oil
• Sweet Almond Oil

The Moisturising Dry Oil can be used in the bath, as a cuticle oil, in your hair as a treatment, as a face and body moisturiser and more. I like to add a few drops to my bath water the aroma it gives is just gorgeous and it also leaves my skin feeling silky soft. In terms of a hair treatment, the way I use the product is I apply a few drops to the ends of my hair around half an hour prior to washing, then I wash and dry my hair as normal. I find it helps soften the ends of my hair and also keeps the frizz at bay. Finally, I use the oil to give a sheen to my skin and also as an all over body moisturiser after my shower. I decided not to chance the oil on my face but I really enjoy how it leaves my skin feeling. I've very dry skin and I also suffer from eczema and I find the oil has helped to soften my skin without irritating the patches of eczema that I have.

The oil gives a lovely sheen to the skin which I find very flattering especially for nights out or for special occasions. I don't think it absorbs into the skin that quickly, it takes a few minutes but it doesn't leave a greasy/slippery/oily residue on the skin afterwards. What I also like is that the smell lingers on the skin after the oil has been absorbed by the skin. It has a lovely citrus scent which I really enjoy!

A bottle of the Tan Organic Moisturising Dry Oil will set you back €24.99. Initially I thought it was quite dear however, taking into consideration it's a multipurpose product and that a little goes a very long way, I can justify spending that amount of money on it. When it does eventually run out I will be picking myself up another bottle.

If you are interested in picking up some of the Tan Organic range, their products can be purchased online or in selected pharmacies around the country. For more information about stockists, click here.

Have you tried the Tan Organic Dry Oil or a dry oil from another brand? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts :)

Until next time,

Eimear x

Lush Haul: Face masks, Shampoo Bars and more!

Hey Everyone!

Hope you all are well :)

I would consider myself quite an organised person with regard to many things in life however, Christmas shopping this year was a disaster.

I left absolutely everything until the last minute. 

Instead of my usual trip to Dublin on Christmas Eve to soak up the festive atmosphere, I was running around like a headless chicken present shopping.

Thankfully I got all my bits and bobs sorted in just a couple of hours. 

Before leaving I took my usual trip into Lush.

To put it lightly, the place was jam packed. Clearly I was not the only one who left the Christmas shopping until the last minute...pheeew!

I've had a few items on my list for a while that I have wanted to try out and now I was finally getting round to it.

 The first thing I needed was a good ol face mask. At the time I had been trying out a new skin care routine and to say the cleanser broke my skin out was an understatement, my skin was fried.

I had no idea what I was looking for with regard to face masks or what would suit my extremely sensitive skin.

 I decided to seek the advice of a member of staff.

The girl that helped me find the perfect face mask her name was Eimear too :)

She was extremely helpful and she actually stayed with me and helped me for the remainder of time that I spent in Lush!

Eimear decided that the Cosmetic Warrior Face Mask would be ideal for my highly sensitive skin. This face mask will suit anyone with sensitive skin who is prone to breakouts. I've used it about 4 or 5 times already and its amazing.

The next product I wanted needed to try out was a bath bomb. 

I have used these in the past and they are divine. The one I used previously had gorgeous pettles in it!

Due to stress I suffer from quite bad eczema so again, I needed a product that would not irritate my skin or a product that wouldn't cause a breakout.

The bath bomb Eimear recommended was the Butterball Bath Bomb.

This bath bomb is filled with chunks of creamy cocoa butter which is ideal for rehydrating dry skin. I've since used this also and it left my skin feeling so silky and soft..review coming soon!

Next I decided my lips were in need of some TLC.

As you can probably guess, yes I suffer from very dry and chapped lips.

Everytime I've been in Lush paying for items at the counter I've been tempted by the lip scrubs and I decided today was the day to get one.

It was a toss up between the mint and bubblegum flavour scrubs but in the end I went for the bubblegum.

I rub the bubblegum lip scrub over my lips and this gently exfoliates them removing any dry skin I may have. Its literally good enough to eat and because its all natural you can lick away the excess, the part I look forward to most!

I use the scrub if I am going to be applying a matte lipstick as dry skin and matte lipstick just don't mix well! This pretty pink pot is a life saver :)

Shampoo bars are something that I am just boggled by so picking up one was an absolute must.

I have been using a Rockaholic Shampoo Bar for a couple of months now and this is due to hearing so much about the Lush Shampoo Bars. 

I was very surprised that the bar actually made my hair silky and shiney so while I was in Lush I thought I'd try out one of their bars.

I have very long hair....bum long so sometimes it can be quite hard to manage.

Because it is so long it is quite flat and knots easily. I also have to unfortunately wash my hair daily as it gets quite oily...pity it cannot be more like my skin ha!

This is why I picked up the shampoo bar Seanik.

Lush describe it to:

'Soften tangled locks and add oceans of shine with this mineral-rich, sea salt volumizing shampoo. Like a trip to a blue lagoon, Seanik is made with the best ingredients from the sea; softening Irish moss seaweed, and Japanese nori seaweed to make your hair soft as silk from root to tips, and sea salt to give body and volume to hair that’s fallen flat.'

and that is good enough for me!

Lastly I just had to pick this up, even for the packaging alone!

Its so cute and an absolute bargain buy at €8.95.

I have yet to open this one (can't bear to rip the packaging)

when I do I'll let you know my thoughts! :)

What are your favourite Lush products?

I'd love to hear so I can pick up some new ones :)

Eimear x