Kiehls Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector With SPF 30

I'm lucky that for the most part I have quite good skin, the only thing that really annoys me is the dark circles under my eyes. I always end up layering concealers to try to hide the purple colour and yet they are never completely covered.

I started using the Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector a couple of months ago and I have since had a noticeable reduction in the darkness under my eyes. I had been using the product, not really thinking much about it until a couple of weeks ago when one of my concealers ran out and I didn't want to go rooting for another one so I just used one under my eyes for the first time in a long time. I was surprised that I didn't actually feel that I needed any more coverage and that's when I realised it was this little gem from Kiehls's at work. 

Kiehl's chemists research showed that under eye discolouration can be increased with skin aging as it gets thinner and blood pools under the surface of the skin, poor circulation and UV damage can add to the problem which is why they created a product to address all of these issues at once. 

This is not a concealer, it is a tinted eye treatment that contains light diffusing mineral pigments to give an instant brightening effect. I took a before and after comparison photo which you can see below to show you what it does when you first apply it. You can use it over your usual eye cream as it has a very light texture. It gives a sheer coverage that aids with concealing but I definitely need a concealer on top of it. 

I like that it offers both immediate and long term benefits for the skin under my eyes. It contains Licorice Root Extract and Activated C, a Vitamin C derived ingredient used to correct discolouration and also clarify and smooth the skin tone and texture. It also contains SPF 30 and titanium dioxide, a mineral UV filter to protect the delicate eye area from premature skin aging caused by the sun. It also contains caffeine to reduce puffiness so you are really getting all round care for the eye area. 

I have really been enjoying using this product, not only could I see an immediate effect, but after a couple of months of use I am amazed at the long term effects and I'm so happy to have finally found a product that actually works at addressing the causes of my under eye darkness instead of just masking them. It comes in a handy small tube, perfect for travelling with or keeping in your handbag.

It doesn't come cheap at €34, however I've been using it for about 2 months and there is still so much left in the tube so I really think the price tag is worth it. I'll be going straight out to buy it again when I run out.

What's your biggest skin concern? Do you use an eye cream?

Emma x

Urban Decay Backfire and Lounge Eyeshadows

Urban Decay added eight new single eyeshadows to their range back in May. There were six duotones and two mattes introduced into the permanent collection, one of the mattes, Beware was actually a fan favourite from the Theodora palette (which I have) and it a gorgeous warm brown. I looked up swatches of all the shades and they are really beautiful, a mixture of colourful shades and more wearable colours.

I was sent Backfire, described as burgundy with a purple shift and Lounge described as brick red with a green shift. Being a huge Urban Decay fan I was expecting a lot from these and they didn't disappoint. Both shades took me by surprise in that they look very different on me compared to in the pan. Backfire is more purple than burgundy to me and has the least duotone out of all of the new shades judging from the swatches I saw. Having said that I really love this shade, I'm a big fan of purple smokey eyes as I think purple really brings out green eyes nicely. 

Lounge is another fan favourite and I can see why. It's one of those eyeshadows that you can just blend over the lid, add lots of mascara and you've got an easy smokey eye look with a lot of impact. As with all of my other UD shadows, the pigmentation is perfection and the texture is smooth and so easy to blend. For me, these shades are more Autumn/Winter shades and I look forward to wearing them more as the weather cools down.

Like most eyeshadows, these work best and last longest when you apply a primer first. The other great thing about the single UD eyeshadows is that you can actually pop them out of the two-part packaging and into a Build Your Own Palette which means that you can keep it as a single eyeshadow or add it into a palette. The gunmetal packaging, inspired by New York subway tokens, is practical, sturdy and looks amazing. At €18 I think these are really great value for your money as the quality is beautiful as with all UD eyeshadows. Fireball, the peachy pink shade is next on my shopping list as I don't have any other shades like it in my collection. 

Do you own any great single eyeshadows or are you strictly a palettes person?

Emma x

Skincare Repurchases

I rarely write about skincare because let's be honest it's just not as fun as writing about make-up. However, skincare is something I'm very passionate about and I spend a lot of time researching skincare ingredients and reading reviews before I invest in a product.

Being a blogger I'm lucky that I get sent products for review consideration and therefore I'm trying new things all the time. If I finish a product and immediately want to repurchase it, I know I'm onto a winner. I thought I would share with you some of the products that I have loved and repurchased time and time again.

*Disclaimer- These products work on my particular skin type which is normal/combination and can be sensitive. As with all skincare products, do your research before you buy. What works for me, may not necessarily work for you. Also this is a very long post.

Let's start with my most repurchased skincare product ever, Garner Simply Essentials Soothing 2 in 1 Make-up Remover. I have bought countless bottles of this over the past four or five years and every single time I decide to try something else or this is out of stock I am so disappointed because nothing else compares. It's a bi-phase liquid that contains waterlily extract and pro-vitamin B5 and no alcohol or perfume making it great for anyone with sensitive skin. I use this every night in combination with my favourite cotton pads the Boots Cotton Wool Double Faced Oval Pads to remove all of my make up before using a cleanser.

The reason I love this so much is that I use a lot of long lasting make up products as well as waterproof mascara most days and this makes it so much easier to completely remove my make up without having to rub my face too much and aggravate my skin which can be sensitive at times especially my eye area. It makes it so quick and easy to take off my make up and it means I can wear waterproof mascara without having to worry about using a separate product to remove it in the evening. If you haven't tried this yet I strongly recommend giving it a go, for €3.99 you can't go wrong.

Next up is Estée Lauder Perfectly Clean Multi-Action Foam Cleanser/Purifying Mask, which I use after I remove my make up and again in the morning. I was introduced to this by my mam who used to use the old formula version of this cleanser and said that she really liked it on her sensitive and dry skin so I thought I would try it out myself. I loved it straight away and have repurchased it numerous times. It has a creamy consistency that lathers into a rich foam once you apply water. A little goes a long way so a tube of this will last me for months unlike a lot of other cleansers I've tried. I like that it's a 2 in 1 product too, I tend to use it as a mask a couple of times a week.

It's suitable for all skin types but aimed at Normal/Combination skin which is my skin type and I feel like it works really well on my skin leaving it feeling clean, fresh, calm and hydrated. I've actually been using this with my Clarisonic Mia 2 every other night and I've found they make a great combination. It's priced at €26.50 which I find quite reasonable considering you get 150mls and it lasts for such a long time.

I've just purchased my second bottle of Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner and I found that it works really well for my skin type. I had read so many mixed reviews on this and it seems to be very much a love it or hate it product. A lot of people seemed to have reactions to it both with sensitive or normal/combination skin. That being said I love it and I found that it has hugely helped clear up the whiteheads I kept getting around my chin area. I use it 2 or 3 times a week after cleansing, it tingles slightly upon application but that doesn't bother me. I found that a bottle of this (236ml) lasts a long time and priced at €23.50 it's quite good value.

The next product is one that I always have on my skincare shelf. La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I. is a targeted breakout corrector. This comes in a small 15ml tube and the idea is that you put a tiny amount onto any individual breakouts you have and it reduces the appearance of them and prevents an residual marks. As soon as I feel a spot coming on I use this (on clean skin) and 9 times out of 10 the spot will be significantly reduced if not totally gone the following day. It contains Niacinamide which helps with any discolouration or red marks and Salicylic Acid, a beta hydroxy acid that can penetrate the pores and reduce blemishes from within without irritating the skin. This is a great product for those with sensitive skin who suffer from the odd breakout, depending on how good my skin is, a tube of this lasts me a long time. At only €13.99 this is such an amazing affordable product.

Finally, it's a product that's fairly new to me, Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum. Like most people I have dehydrated skin and I have found that this serum has been hugely effective in adding some much needed hydration to my skin. It contains Hyaluronic Acid (which helps the skin retain moisture) and is ideal for sensitive skin in need of intensive hydration. I apply this daily after cleansing, sometimes I just use this and sometimes I add moisturiser dependent on whether I feel I need it. I love the fresh scent, how it sinks into my skin so quickly and how it makes my skin feel. It's the kind of product that I didn't think I needed but after I finished my first bottle I didn't repurchase for a while and when I finally did I immediately noticed a difference from when I wasn't using it which to me is the sign of a product worth repurchasing. It's €22.49 which I feel is a great price for what this product does for my skin.


Have you tried any of these products? What are your most repurchased skincare products?

Emma x