Showing posts with label Beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beauty. Show all posts
Image of Sephora bag with skincare and makeup products including Pharmacy Green Clean, Brazilian Bum Bum Cream and Summer Fridays


I'm normally a window-shopper when it comes to Sephora. Just wandering around the store browsing the plethora of makeup and beauty products is more than enough for me. With the UK beauty scene having exploded like it has in recent years – and Boots earning its place in the beauty industry–, the beauty supply store is no longer the haven it once was. That won't stop me from looking though.


When I was in Paris earlier this year, I stopped off at the Champs-Élysées store and picked up a couple of items. I was also fortunate enough to go on a work trip to Las Vegas so I snuck in some time at one of their stores for some US luxuries. 


On both occasions, I went in with the idea of picking up some skincare and makeup goodies that were not available in the UK. Since my visits, Sephora announced it was launching in the UK with its first physical store hitting the streets next year. Needless to say, I've been entirely unsuccessful in my mission.


One item on my US Wishlist was the Topicals Faded Serum. Unfortunately, being on roaccutane has meant I'm restricted in using acids on my skin so I couldn't pick it up. I was tempted to buy the brands Like Butter cream but I have enough barrier repair creams to last me the next few years so I left that behind too.


Here are all the beauty and makeup products I bought in Sephora this year:


Sheer Skin Tint in Shade 2, £40, Summer Fridays |


I am all for minimal makeup looks and this Sheer Skin Tint from Summer Fridays fits perfectly into that category. I hadn't come across Summer Fridays before so I was keen to try it. I matched with shade 2 and the lightweight silky formula blended in effortlessly. I have a couple of angry breakouts on my face at the moment but once my skin clears, I'm looking forward to testing it out.


Green Clean, £32, Farmacy |


There is something really satisfying about removing makeup and watching it dissolve. Anyone else? I have never tried a makeup cleansing balm before so I'm excited to try this one out. The balm contains moringa extract which is said to help purify the skin by removing impurities and pollution residue. It comes with a small spatula making it easier to get the product out and to saves you adding dirty fingers into the pot when you need a little more product.


Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, £20, Sol de Janiero |


Sol de Janiero's famous Brazilian Bum Bum cream has been on my beauty wishlist for the last few years. Now, I know I can buy it in SpaceNK, Boots and many other British retailers but when I was walking around the store in Paris, I caved. The body butter comes highly recommended and from what I can remember, it smells absolutely divine. 


Ultra Repair Cream, £32, First Aid Beauty |


I have an unhealthy obsession with barrier repair creams. As an acne sufferer, who's now on month 2 into a roaccutane course, I am focused on keeping a healthy moisture barrier. Most creams that are similar help to reduce the redness in my complexion which is perfect when my skin is looking quite angry. This staple from First Aid Beauty contains ingredients like shea butter, oatmeal, eucalyptus and ceramides. 


Papaya Vitamin mask and Caffeine eye mask, Sephora |


Is it just me or does Sephora have the best face masks? I've tried plenty of sheet masks in my time and nothing feels as relaxing or as good as Sephora's ones - aside from these K-beauty ones. My go-to is the pomegranate face mask which is meant to help with energising and toning. This time I decided to try the papaya vitamin C mask to help give my complexion a much-needed boost.


I also added the caffeine eye mask to my basket on the basis I felt a little tired that day. As you can see, I still have yet to use it. I've heard mixed reviews of the effectiveness of using eye masks but I'm all for a little pampering.


Rainwater power mist, touchland |


This purchase was 99.9% for the aesthetic and 0.01% because I actually needed a new hand sanitiser. I had seen quite a few influencers and TikTok babes with their neat touchland hand sanitisers that fit perfectly into their tiny bags and I wanted to be part of that lifestyle too. Disclaimer: I did spend a stupid amount of money on it.


Love, Aoife xo


Bottles of Alterna shampoo and conditioner

Brand: Alterna My Hair My Canvas
Product: Me Time Everyday Shampoo and Conditioner
Category: Haircare
Price: £££
Rating: 9/10


Haircare might not be on my 2022 vision board but it is something I'd like to improve on this year. In the lead up to Christmas, I had quite a few rounds with various questionable bottles of shampoo and conditioner. In fact, it all started to go wrong sometime in August when my beloved bottles of Percy & Reed Shampoo and Conditioner ran out. Since then, it’s been a downward hill. But it’s okay, I’ve found an even more expensive solution.

The Alterna Me Time Everyday Shampoo and Conditioner set was a Christmas gift from my mum who was also on her own downward spiral and thought we both needed to embark on a hair journey. The products can be bought separately (shampoo £26.49, conditioner £26.49) or together in a set.

They are a little on the pricey side but a little goes a long way with this product. For best results, I’d definitely recommend double cleansing. A couple of pumps to remove the grease and oil buildup and a couple more to clean the scalp properly. I use the same amount of pumps to condition my hair — to help keep the bottle levels equal (and because my hair is quite long). At first, my hair did feel a little dry even with leaving the conditioner in for a couple of minutes but that could be a winter thing as it feels a lot more softer and hydrated recently matched with the slightly warmer we're seeing.

I have quite an oily scalp and some shampoos can accentuate that. However, I’ve not noticed this one does the opposite and I’m pretty sure with consistent use, I could make it a full 48 hours without the excessive greasiness darkening my roots. I currently wash my hair every other day but this shampoo is designed for everyday use if you wanted to use it more often.

Final Thoughts


Overall, my hair does feel a lot healthier than it has been. The Alterna Me Time Everyday shampoo and conditioner has not significantly reduced hair breakage but it has improved it a lot- remember it's normal to shed hair! My hair feels a lot lighter and softer which is a great feeling. I'd also pair it with a bi-weekly hair mask to give it an added boost of moisture.

The only thing holding me back is the price. It is quite expensive especially as almost a month later, I'm almost halfway through so it's not a sustainable purchase for a lot of people, including myself. If I had the funds, I'd probably repurchase it. I'm holding out hope that there's a cheaper alternative out there, but having a clean scalp that feels clean all day is a feeling that's hard to come by.

Love, Aoife xo

Three things in my shower, Alterna shampoo and Conditioner, Rituals foaming shower gel and exfoliator


Are you a morning or an evening person when it comes to showers? Or, are you both? I'm a morning person through and through. There is no greater way to wake up and get ready for the day than standing in the shower and feeling the water rain down on you. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the odd shower in the evening but it's a rare occasion. The only times I tend to shower in the evening is after the gym (as I go to evening classes), I'm feeling sweaty, or I just feel like having one.


I can see the attraction of evening showers. There is something nice about slipping between the sheets freshly washed but there is no way I'm washing my hair in the evening. Firstly, it'll take forever to dry; secondly, when I wake up I'll have a very flat patch on one side of my head from where I've slept; and thirdly, I have a fringe. And that's reason enough; they're hard work!


With that said, here are some of my favourite shower products lately...


ONE // Alterna Every Day shampoo & conditioner. 

One of my New Years resolutions is to rescue my hair. It’s been looking a little sad as of late, a little limp, especially as it’s getting longer and the weight is pulling it down. I also have quite an oily scalp which means by about 36 hours later I look like I've poured oil on my roots - and not a good kind of oil. Or as my Mum likes to refer to it as, chip fat. I’ve been using this duo for a little while now and I’ve been enjoying the fresh salon feel my hair has. I don't use that phrase lightly. I double cleanse my scalp and gently massage my head, which is kind of difficult to do yourself. My hair feels a lot cleaner, lighter and importantly, healthier.

TWO // Dehlicious Black Tea body scrub.


I’ve used a lot of body scrubs over the years but I don’t think I’ve ever come across one that makes my skin feel like an actual baby’s. For some reason, rubbing dried black tea all over my body is the perfect level of exfoliation and doesn’t feel like I aggressively tried to shed a five layers of skin.  It smooths the skin around my elbows and my knees that can get a little bumpy. The only downside is it does leave my shower in a complete mess. There are brown bits of dried tea everywhere, EVERYWHERE!, so use with caution. Occasionally, I use the Santuary Spa scrub which is nice but is a little harsh on my skin.


THREE // Rituals Foaming Shower Gel.


Who says you can’t have fun in the shower? I love this foaming shower gel. It comes out as a gel that foams up within seconds and you can watch it grow in your hand. The first time I used the gel I felt like a kid having bath time. Fun aside, it smells divine. I love all the Rituals scents and there’s something so refreshing about them too. It’s surprisingly quite hydrating too which often with such fragranced products can be a second thought.



Love, Aoife xo


Alterna shampoo and conditioner and Rituals foaming shower gel on a shower shelf

What do your beauty products say about you? I know we’re a couple of weeks into the new year but I thought it would be fun to break down the last year into beauty products, highlighting which beauty products defined the months for me. To be honest, it was a bit of a tough one trying to remember some of the highlights of the 2021. A year is a long time! 


I suffer with persistent acne so I started the year on antibiotics and prescription cream. I managed to have relatively clear skin up until August when it came back, only worse. By October, I was feeling really self conscious, my mental health was deteriorating rapidly and I went back on antibiotics which is where I am now. Back to square one. I have a dermatology referral in the summer (annoying but going private could turn out to be really expensive). I wrote an acne update back in 2020 but I think another one is due soon!


So, after spending an embarrassing amount of time trying to remember my year, here is a breakdown of my 2021 in beauty products:


My year in beauty products: 2021


January, Epiduo // New year, new set of skin care issues. I had a really bad acne flareup January and had to go back on medication again. I tend to phone my doctor when it gets to the point I can't manage it at home and it's affecting my mental health. Alongside the antibiotics I was on, the doctor also prescribed me EpiDuo, a benzoyl peroxide and adapeline cream. My skin doesn't agree with Benzoyl Peroxide and so my start to the year didn't quite go off with a bang. You can read about my experience with acne so far, here


February, Avène Cicalfate // Back to basics and barrier repair for me. Cicalfate contains calming ingredients which help to soothe the skin and reduce redness. I was still using the EpiDuo cream in February which made my skin quite red so I gravitated towards calming skincare products.


March, Bondi Sands SPF50 // This sunscreen absorbs like an absolute babe. No, seriously, it absorbs very well into the skin without a white cast. The only issue I have is that it can sting your eyes if it gets too close. 


April, Cerave SA Smoothing Cleanser // My acne isn't just contained on my face. I also suffer with body acne  which had flared up at the same time as my face. I wasn't applying the EpiDuo cream to my chest as I was not about to risk my pyjamas having the same fate as half the towels in my house covered in bleach marks. Per some recommendations on Instagram, I decided to try out the SA smoothing cleanser by Cerave. I still use it today, applying it in the shower with about 30-60 seconds contact time before I wash it off. I also apply iD care Barrier Cream to my chest after when I've dried off. This combination helped to clear my chest and back acne something I need to get back into now I'm going to the gym.


May, Garnier Anti dark spots and anti pollution super UV SPF50 // Summer time arrived, well it popped up to say hi, and I picked up this suncream from Garnier which is perfect for wearing under makeup. It dries matte so your makeup can sit perfectly on top. I use this sunscreen exclusively for when I wear any form of coverage. I also picked up its sister SPF spray for suncream top ups.


Flatlay of Bondi Sands face suncream, Avene Cicalfate, Altruist SPF


June, GOW Alpha Arbutin 2% & Kojic Acid 1% Serum // My friend bought this to me for my birthday as it had been on my beauty Wish List for a little while. Kojic acid is meant to be really good for reducing hyperpigmentation and lighten skin discolouration. The product also comes highly recommended by my favourite skincare Twitter accounts. Check out them out here!


July, Chanel Vitalumíere Aqua foundation // For my graduation ceremony, I decided to treat myself to a little bit of luxury and splurge on a Chanel foundation. I prefer water-based foundations as it allows my skin to breathe and is so much easier to apply. You can check out my full review here!


August, Altruist SPF50 // If it isn't broke, don't fix it. Yeah, I didn't listen to that. My beloved Bondi Sands ran out and since it's such a pain to find in store, I switched to Altruist which my friend gifted me back in June. I have very strong mixed views on this SPF. Let me break it down for you: Pro’s: contains Zinc, doesn’t sting my eyes, high SPF. Cons: absolutely useless when applied to slightly damp skin, mostly absorbs (but wouldn't recommend to anyone with a darker skin tone), beads up and transfers onto everyone's clothing. 


September, Nivea Irresistible Smooth Dry Skin body lotion // I love the smell of Nivea products! The smell reminds me of my first ever skincare routine which was made up of their cleanser, toner and moisturiser. I used to love their primer but I think that was discontinued. Anyway, I picked up the body lotion for typical body lotion purposes. 


Garden of Wisdom Alpha Arbutin 2% & Kojic Acid 1% Serum


October, Eucerin Urea repair (with 5% Urea and ceramides) // This is my favourite ever intense moisturiser for super dry skin. The Urea repair normally comes with 5% urea which isn't quite as rich as the one with ceramides. It makes a wonderful night moisturiser too.


November, Differin // Following a severe acne flare up in August, I reached out to my doctor again to try and get some medication. My mental health was suffering really bad and my skin was the worst it had ever been. I asked for Differin cream instead of EpiDuo to avoid causing my skin further irritation.


December, Rituals foaming shower gel // It’s like magic! I have so much fun in the shower using this foaming gel. I love the way it comes out as a gel and you can watch it foam up. It’s really gentle and hydrating on the skin. I even picked up a couple of bottles for my friends and now I have lots of free samples of the stuff!


And that's my year in beauty products.



Love, Aoife xo

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua


It’s been a while since my last foundation review and an even longer time since I actually wore any. #Masklife has made wearing makeup almost redundant. When I graduated a couple months back, I decided to treat myself to some new foundation that I could wear on the day and as I started to go out more.


The foundation reminds me of Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Water Fresh foundation -which I think has been discontinued. Chanel's Vitalumière Aqua has a watery base that allows it to spread easily and sit perfectly on my skin.


Originally, I was planning on buying the Les Beiges foundation but I preferred the feel of the Vitalumière Aqua. It provides a very light coverage but is buildable. If you’re looking for a medium coverage to cover blemishes, this might not be one for you. 


The bottle is sold as 30ml for £36 and has SPF 15. I bought the shade 21 Beige. You can’t always rely on the SPF in foundation so I use Garnier’s Ambre Solaire Face Fluid and top up coverage later in the day with the Over Makeup Mist spray.


Chanel CC logo


I really like the satin-like finish and how my skin glows. I’m the type of person who doesn’t like the look or feel of foundation sitting on top of my skin. This blends in and dries so well, it’s hardly noticeable. 


The consistency is quite runny -it is water based after all- so I’m quite careful in applying it. I think it’s thinner than the Double Wear one. I’ve found that it’s important to have a hydrated base otherwise the foundation is at risk of caking and separating. I tend to pack in the moisture before I apply by using a little Aquafor to help create a tacky base.


The little booklet inside the box recommends applying it with your fingers for best results, which is great if you forget to wash your makeup brushes! It makes sense as well considering it’s water based and you are at risk of losing a lot of product by using brushes and sponges.


The one thing I will say is I haven’t yet mastered putting anything over the top of the foundation such as concealer or blush. As the foundation dries in a thin layer, you are at risk of rubbing it away so I think a liquid blusher would suit best. It’s the type of foundation that sells itself for creating a minimal barely-there look. I don’t think you’ll be able to use it for a full face beat.


I really like Chanel’s Vitalumière Aqua foundation. It’s definitely on the pricier side so is more of a luxury item. I’d consider buying it again if I feel like it’s something I want to spend that type of money on. I may need to increase my budget if it's something I want to make a regular appearance in my makeup collection. At the end of the day, it’s a very lightweight water-based foundation that provides light buildable coverage. It works for me because I prefer a minimal make up look and it suits my needs. 


Love, Aoife xo

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish review

There's a lot I could say about Liz Earle, all good things of course, but the Cleanse & Polish hot cloth cleanser is a classic. I'm now on my third bottle and I've gotten quite familar with it. I'll be upfront and say it's not a cleanser I use reguarly. But, I do enjoy treating my skin to it a couple of times a week, especially when it needs a little more love and there's not a lot of buildup on my face.

Let's jump into the review!

Firstly, it smells amazing. It lists rosemary, chamomile, cocoa butter and eucalyptus essential oil as the highlighted ingredients. The scents of the eucalyptus oil and cocoa butter stand out to me and it makes washing your face a very relaxing experience. The cocoa butter, I'm sure, is responsible for how soft and smooth my skin feels after.

The hot cloth cleanser works by applying the cream to dry skin and gently massaging it to remove any dirt and makeup. Then you use a warm cloth to wipe it off. You can buy the cleanser with Liz Earle muslin cloths as part of a pack for £17. I have bought the packs before and then promply lost the cloths with all the rest I own. So, I think I'll just buy the cleanser separetly next time. 

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish review

I mentioned earlier that Cleanse & Polish isn't my daily cleanser but it's perfect for when you want to treat your skin to some tlc. It's probably a mixture of the natural scents and how my skin feels after that makes it a relaxing experience.

While I do love aspects to the cleanser, I don't always feel like I can massage it into my skin for too long before it starts to absorb the product. This is probably down to it being cream based and applying it to dry skin as opposed to one that lathers. I think I've just gotten used to following the #60secondrule with my other cleansers. Having said that, my skin does feel and look clean too. It suggests to use two/ three pumps but sometimes when I have a full face of makeup, I use a little more.

Occaisionally, Liz Earle comes out with limited edition versions of their products. Last year, I bought the limited edition cleanse & polish which used rose, I think. I ended up having a reaction to it which meant I broke out quite badly all over my forehead. So, I thing I'lll just stick to the original one.

So, would I recommend Cleanse & Polish? Yes! Not just for personal use but I also think it makes a great gift too. And it smells fabulous, what's not to love? Speaking of...I think I might use it now...

Have you ever tried Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish?

Love, Aoife xo

Cosrx Snail Mucin Power Essence Review

My inner product junkie lives on another day and this time bringing you my thoughts on the ever popular South Korean brand Cosrx’s Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power EssenceYep, I said it. It's snail secretion. I have used this product on and off for a couple of months which isn’t really long enough for a full blown review but a small one on first impressions will do.

Word on the street:


“Being 96% Snail Secretion Filtrate (Mucin), this essence helps the skin to lose less moisture while keeping the skin smooth and healthy.”

I love trying out hyped up products and this has been on my list for a while now. Snail Mucin is supposed to be really good because of its hydration properties. People have raved about Cosrx’s Snail Mucin serum for a while now and not just to use on your face, but on other parts of your body too! I’ve yet to experiment on anywhere other than my face but we’ll see.

Cosrx Snail Mucin Power Essence Review

Goodies in the mail:


I ordered my serum from YesStyle -well my friend ordered it for me- and it took a little while to arrive. As it would, coming from the other side of the world and all. It did take a little longer than I thought it would and by the time it arrived, I had almost forgotten about it.

I love the packaging of this serum! The bottle is clear, misted with a small label on the front. They were really going for a minimalist look when they designed the bottle. It doesn’t really list any of the other ingredients on it except from saying it has 96% of snail mucin. If you’re after the full list, it’s best to keep the box it came in.

Thoughts:


The first time I used the Snail Mucin Power Essence, I freaked out. I didn’t know what to expect but a gooey and stringy substance was not it. It made me cringe a little, to be honest. I don’t know what I expected but it felt and looked a lot like snail secretion. It was definitely an experience applying something so stringy, especially when you're used to seeing it on the garden shed. After a couple of days, I got over it and began to notice the differences in my skin.

As I mentioned earlier, hydration is a largely spoken about benefit of using snail mucin. After a week or so, I could tell there was a difference in the appearance and feel of my skin. 
It was only small but it was definitely there. I could see that my skin was a little plumper and it felt healthier too. I applied a couple of small pumps to damp skin and lightly patted it in.

One thing I will say is I did experience some under-the-skin spots around my chin. I wasn’t sure if this was caused by the snail mucin serum so I tested it again a month later and there’s definitely a connection. They weren’t inflamed and never came to the surface but it was annoying.

Would I recommend it? 


I think the jury is still out on this one. I don’t this product is for me, personally. I've given it a go a couple of times but I'm not a fan of something that breaks me out. However, I’m really interested in trying out other products from their range.

Have you tried it?

Love, Aoife xo


P.S- You can find more of my beauty content, here.



Twitter is one of my favourite social media platforms. I could spend hours scrolling aimlessly through all the memes, videos and commentary that people post. It's also my go-to for skincare advice. Skincare Twitter is rich in tips, advice, and product recommendations on just about any skincare condition. Whether you're suffering from cystic acne, struggling with dry skin, wanting to improve hyperpigmentation; someone's got you covered. Once you've tapped in to it, you'll never look back. 

One of things I love to see, are people sharing their journeys. It gives you so much hope that things will and can get better. That got a little deep there but when you have really bad acne it can be hard to envision what clear skin looks like. (P.S- here's my latest post on my acne journey.)

I follow accounts that specialise in acne-prone skin and who are always recommending great products to use. All the people who I follow are very interactive and are always answering people's questions. It's a big statement but I owe my clear skin to them and I'm so grateful for it. I mentioned them briefly in my previous post, What I wish I knew about treating acne.

Here are *some* of my favourite Skincare Twitter accounts to follow:


@LaBeautyologist- Nai is an esthetician based in LA and is the first ever esthi I followed on Twitter. She's known mostly for her #60SecondRule which encourged people to use their cleanser for longer to see better results. Her YouTube channel, The Golden RX, provides skincare advice and explains the science behind it. 

@makeupforwoc- I love following Tiara! She specialises in inflamed skincare conditions which makes her a great follow when you're suffering with acne. She reguarly posts tips and tricks to help reduce inflammation such as, washing with lukewarm water, wearing SPF daily and the importance of a healthy moisture barrier. I am also a member of the #glazeddonutgang!

@alicialartey- Alicia is a biomed undergraduate and esthetician in training. She is the most interactive, in my opinon, and reguarly opens the floor to her followers on Twitter and Instagram to answer any skincare concerns/ questions you have. Not that the others don't but Alicia is more likely to respond. I've asked a couple of questions including which products I can use while on Differin.

@HannahEEnglish- If there's one thing Hannah specialises in, it's sunscreen. Sunscreen is a vital step in your skincare routine, her words not mine. She's not quite as interactive but she does interact with skincare conversations among those in the industry.

@topicals- Topicals launched last year with two standout products treating hyperpigmentation and repairing the skin's moisture barrier. Unfortunately, the US brand isn't available in the UK unless you want to pay extortionate import fees. However, they are well worth a follow on Twitter. They reguarly post education threads on various skincare conditions to explain why the skin reacts that how and some products to help. Lily from @caveofbeauty is in charge of the eduction threads, as the Head of Education, and she is another esthi well worth a follow.

Who do you enjoy following on Twitter, skincare or not? 

Love, Aoife xo

Acne hacks skincare Sally Hughes pretty honest
Acne hacks pretty honest by Sally Hughes skincare


*Googling tips to on how to clear acne fast at half past midnight.*


There is a reason why all these acne posts you've read include the word 'journey'. That's because it is and it can be really long, lasting anything between a few months to a few years. For me, my acne journey has been a 10 month battle. 


I’ve finally reached the stage where I can comfortably look in the mirror and smile with confidence. My skin no longer looks like a battlefield and has been almost clear for a few months now. Yay! It’s not been an easy road and I’ve definitely made some errors along the way. By no means am I an expert but I thought I’d share all the things I wish I knew before treating acne. 


Here are some do’s and don’ts I wish somebody told me on how treat acne:


DO be patient. The first thing your doctor of dermatologist is likely to tell you is, “it’ll get worse before it gets better”. When you’ve been prescribed topical retinoids, you’re skin often purges which will make it look a lot worse. The good news is that it’s actually pushing all the acne that’s under the skin to the surface. So, it does get worse before it gets better. Hold on tight!


DON’T let anyone tell you what to do. Your acne journey is personal to you. Everyone always has something to say when it comes to treating acne. I had a lot of people with perfect skin telling me what to do and what not to do. But like I said, acne is a personal journey and there are multiple reasons as to why it’s flared up. There is plenty of information around -I recommend following estheticians and dermatologists on Twitter- for you to see what works for your skin and doesn’t. You don’t have to follow all their advice and you can pick and choose what works for you. It’s also where I get a lot of my advice from.


DO look after your moisture barrier. I’ve mentioned it plenty of times before and you’ve heard it a million times everywhere else but hydration is key. And the key to healthy skin, is a healthy moisture barrier. Some things that can harm your moisture barrier include over exfoliating, washing your face with hot water and using harsh products. A lot of acne treatments are drying and I've found they're a lot more effective when you're using products to help retain moisture and rebuild your barrier. I've been using Cerave's foaming face wash and I love it!


DO wash your face with cool water. I remember reading that you should wash your face with hot water because it will help open your pores and leave your face cleaner. WRONG! I’ve found that washing my face with cool/ lukewarm water has been really good at not irritating my inflamed skin and helping it to retain moisture. I got this tip from @makeupforwoc on Twitter who specialises in inflamed skin conditions.


DO use SPF. Wearing SPF is vital to anyone but when you’re been on retinoid creams and antibiotics as your skin becomes more vulnerable to the sun and it’s rays. Even more reason to top up on the SPF. The sun can always cause red/ dark marks to darken even more so SPF is a really good way to help improve the appearance of scarring. It’s also essential even if you’re not on any medication. SPF protects your skin from harmful UV rays, which are still around on rainy days.


DON’T pick your spots. I used to be an avid spot picker but it was my spot picking habits that helped me to realise I was starting to get acne. These spots were deeper under the skin and never formed a head. Acne spots aren’t pickable and trying will only leave you with scarring. Knowing that whatever I picked would leave a scar helped me kick that habit to the curb. Post acne and my skin has a lot of pigment scarring from the inflamed acne. Any spot that pops up 



Love, Aoife xo

Eye mask and body spray flatlay


Everything about summer makes me happy. The long nights, the constant light and the warm weather. The list could go on. While the constant heat is nice during the day, it can be unwanted in the evening. And on most nights, I’m tossing and turning trying to find the “cool place” on my mattress. Or waiting for a cool breeze to flow through my open window. Either way, it can start to feel like a mission to have a good nights sleep during the summer.


Here are four must haves to add to your summer night survival kit:


Silk/ satin pjs: I practically LIVE in these come June. H&M do really cute satin sets with a lace detail or frilly shorts. I currently have them in black floral, pink and blue. If you’re really struggling with the heat, Hollister have some really cute cotton two-pieces which will help keep you a little cooler.


Rituals, The Ritual of Karma Body Spray: I love adding a little bit of luxury to my routines and on summer nights, it comes in the form of this gorgeous Rituals Karma body spray. Smelling of holy lotus and white tea, it's a beautiful calming scent. I spray three or four pumps and let the fragarance wash over me.


H&M Satin PJ's


Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic: There’s nothing better than those summer evening showers, washing away the suncream and dirt from the day. I recently decided to simplify my skincare routine while on acne medication to help improve my skin. You can read my latest acne post here. All Liz Earle products are vegan friendly and made from natural ingredients. This toner is soothing on the skin and the natural fragrance adds to the floral of summer. Tip- If you leave your toner in the fridge, it’s really nice and cool on your skin when you get around to applying it.


Eye mask: Did you know during the summer months of Iceland, they can get up to 21 hours of sunlight? If you’re someone who wakes up with the light and struggles to get back to sleep, it’s well worth investing in an eye mask. I bought mine from H&M last year as part of their Love Stories x H&M collection and I adore it. I really like the tie detail at the back which allows you to tie it as tightly as you like and you don’t have to worry about stretching it out.


There you have it. Four must haves I think are important for those hot summer nights. I thought about adding more but when it comes down to it, less is more. And when, it’s 30 degrees in my room, the last thing I’m reaching for is something to add more layers.


What is in your summer nights survival kit?


Love, Aoife xo




If you had asked me who or what Cerave was this time last year I wouldn’t have had a clue. I first came across the cult US brand when it started appearing in Boots. It then started popping up on my feed and I could see it had a lot of (good) attention around it. People seemed to be flocking to the shelves in the shops.

Cerave is popular for a number of reasons. The most popular being that all of the products are enriched with ceramides. Ceramides help to repair and strengthen the skin’s barrier helping it to retain moisture. This means that Cerave’s products are all about hydrating the skin and maintaining the moisture throughout the day. They are fragrance-free and free of ingredients that irritate the skin.

The price range for Cerave is mid-level. It’s more affordable than La Roche-Posay but not as cheap as high street brands like Simple. The brand has a small range of roughly eight products that work for the body and face. 

I finally gave in to my product junkie urges after I decided to simplify my skincare to help improve my skin— which of course started with some new products as an incentive. I’m currently on acne medication and needed something gentle on my skin. I saw that Cerave is often recommended when you're on acne medication. If you like, you can read more about my acne journey here.

I picked up the Foaming Cleanser and Moisturising Cream to see if they were worth the hype. The Foaming Cleanser is suited to normal and oily skin which is exactly my skin type. Since I have been dealing with very dry skin, I wanted a strong moisturiser that could penetrate the flaky patches I got. 


I’ve almost finished both bottles and I really like them. The cleanser is really soft and light. It foams up well and is good at keeping my skin hydrated. Especially since when I use the prescription cream I can’t put anything on my face for 15 minutes. My skin feels a lot lighter, softer and plumper from all the bonus moisture.

The moisturiser is lovely, thick and enriching. It doesn't cover up my pores or trap dirt and allows my skin to breathe. Normally, I'm a little apprehensive on applying such a thick cream with oily skin. I'm not sure if it's these products specifically or a combination of everything I'm using in my routine, but my skin has been a lot less oily.

Cerave is a basic, no-frills brand. It is one of those brands that reinforce the main purpose of skincare- to clean and hydrate the skin. From what I’ve used, it’s very gentle on the skin and definitely hydrating. You can see a difference in your skin within a week of using them regularly. When it comes to the hype around skincare products I expect big things. Personally, I’m not sure Cerave fits my criteria of a hyped product. But I will say that it is incredibly soft, gentle and hydrating without making you look greasy. 



Love, Aoife xo

Over the last six months or so, my acne has gotten much worse. It went from a few pimples on my cheeks to having a full beard of red marks and occasionally painful spots. It's been so itchy and I couldn't even cover up the redness with makeup. It got so bad that I didn't like looking at my face in the mirror and seeing all the inflamed redness. They say not to pick your spots because that could make things worse but let's be honest, we've all picked a spot at some point in our lives. The good news is I've managed to curb that habit and I'm just hoping it'll clear in its own time.

I thought I could sort it without the help of a medical professional but even my Effacular Duo couldn’t save me.

What I’ve tried:

What haven’t I tried! I went through a list of things that could possibly be making the acne worse; I changed my diet and stopped using certain products that I thought were harsh on my skin.

I went through this list, cutting out dairy completely, eating anti-inflammatory foods only, cutting out sugary foods, and only noticed a slight difference in the redness of my skin but the acne didn’t go away. I tried cutting out meat entirely which didn't make much of a difference either.

I've also tried using different products that have worked for other people. I stopped using the Pixi Glow Tonic (read my review) in case it was too harsh. I applied Sudocrem which seemed to reduce some of the redness but didn't do anything to my acne. Additionally, I also tried an over the counter 5% Benzoyl Peroxide gel, Acnecide. It worked on a few spots but I ended up having an allergic reaction to the gel so I had to stop that treatment. My face swelled up so much to the point I couldn’t even suck in my cheeks. My face was extremely dry especially on my neck and around my eyes which hadn’t even come in contact with the cream. It took me about two months and plenty of Aveeno to improve my skin texture. 

Where I am now:

My doctor first thought I could be suffering from hormonal acne and prescribed me the combination pill Lucette to help regulate my hormones and Epiduo, an acne treatment cream. Epiduo contains 2.5% Benzoyl peroxide and 0.1% adapalene. Both those chemicals together target the spots on my skin and those forming underneath. The adapalene, according to my Doctor, also irritates the skin and makes it quite sensitive to the sun. I try to keep out of the sun where I can and wear plenty of SPF.

After speaking to another doctor two months later, he prescribed me with a course of antibiotics called Lymecycline. From what I know, these are only prescribed to those suffering from acne. I’m only on day 8 so I’ll share another update when I finish the course.

Love, Aoife xo