Sleepingbootay Reviews: Human + Kind Family Remedy Cream

So last week, I was leaving the house one morning to head to work and stumbled across a parcel for me! In it, was a full-sized sample of the new Human + Kind Family Remedy Cream to try out and review for this blog (this sorta thing never gets old!)  The excitement was almost too much to handle and I was pretty much smiling for the whole day as a result! I’ve been a big fan of Human + Kind products every since they sent me one of their first creams over a year ago now. I’m a big believer in using natural products with the least amount of chemicals the better. Human + Kind is also an Irish owned company so it’s nice to feel I’m supporting home-produce too! I’ve been trying this bad boy out for just over a week and thought it would be nice to share with y’all my thoughts on this lovely product!

Human + Kind Family Remedy cream

What they say:

” Human + Kind Family Remedy Cream contains a potent blend of 100% natural botanical essential oils and ingredients all of which have been carefully chosen for their healing , medicinal and long-lasting hydrating properties and so can also be used to treat eczema and psoriasis naturally and effectively”

Key ingredients (the interesting ones) : 

• Aloe Vera: soothes and hydrates
• Rosehip Oil: great source of Vitamin A and strong restorative properties
• White Lily: treats burns and wounds
• Broccoli Extract: UV protection
• Marshmallow: soothes and calms
• Centella: treats scars and blemishes.

The Sleepingbootay verdict:

The most important test for me when it comes to trying out a new skincare product is the allergy test…will it react badly to me?Will it irritate my eczema? I used a small dab of this cream behind my ear and on the inside of my arm and left over night as a mini patch test. Next morning, not only was there no irritation but my skin actually felt so much softer! Halle-lujiah!! The next few times, I used it as a soothing balm on my legs after shaving and also on my hands and feet as a moisturising treat.

I also love that it is a multi-use product which I am huge into at the moment! It can be used in so many ways; as a moisturiser, night cream, after-shave balm, blemish cream, to treat burns or wounds, to help reduce scarring, on cracked or hard skin…and so much more. Personally I’ve been using it as a lovely soothing treatment on my eczema. It’s refreshing to finally be using a natural product on my itchy problem rather than my usual high-chemical containing steroid creams!

The only downside I can see for this product is that the scent is quite strong and is one of those love-hate smells. I’m terrible at describing scents and I shouldn’t even bother trying but the only word I can think to describe it is Nature. It smells very natural and fresh.Slightly minty with a hint of liquorish and aloe vera? I’m not really sure…but whatever it is, it smells great. Perfect scent for this spring/summer!

Overall, this cream is the perfect hand-bag companion and skin miracle worker for any girl or the whole family this summer! I would really recommend it to everyone and i’m definitely going to purchase this bad boy when it runs out!

Human + Kind Family Remedy Cream

And if that wasn’t good enough:

There’s more folks:

1. It’s paraben-free
2. Allergy screened
3. No chemical nasties
4. Dermalogically tested
5. suitable for even the most sensitive of skin! (wooh)

Now where can you find it?:

This miracle cream is priced at 22.95 yo yos and can be found in most pharmacies and health stores nationwide. For a full list of stockists and more info on this product and other products from Human + Kind visit their website: http://www.humanandkind.com/where-to-buy/

If you have any questions on this product or if you’d be interested in me giving an update review on this product in the next few weeks, do let me know. Also, I’d love to hear if you have used this cream or any of the Human + Kind products before and your thoughts on them!

I’d really like to thank Human + Kind and Rachel Dalton Communicatons for sending me this sample to review! I’m really grateful!

Human + Kind Family Remedy Cream

For now, thanks for reading!

Until next time,

Bye

-KATE- x

Beauty Product Detox

How often do we really truly follow the sell by or use by dates on products? I know for one, when food goes out of date, I throw it away. But when it comes to make-up…. I tend to lack in that area!What we put on our bodies is just as important as what we put in it so we need to take care when it comes to cleaning out our make-up stash.

We are all guilty of trying to squeeze the very last of a product or over-using a coveted product to the bone..not to mention not cleaning our brushes regularly enough. There’s simply nothing worse than a flaky mascara or a cake-y, dry concealer yet we still manage to hold on to them for dear life. With no bad smell or mould.. there’s nothing to really indicate the expiration of our products but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have them. So how can we tell if your product is fit for the bin??

I’ve done quite a lot of research (snooping) and I decided to combine a teeny series of guidelines to insure you detox your make-up bag appropriately.

• Foundation: Water based foundation= up to 1year while oil based formulas can last up to 18 months. Try to stick to foundations that come with a pump as these are the most hygienic and best at keeping bacteria at bay.
• Powder: Pressed powder can last up to 18months however those of the loose variety need to be thrown out after a year. Any powder that comes with a sponge or “puff” needs extra attention… the sponge does not necessarily need to be thrown away but you do need to keep it clean and bacteria free… give it a wee wash about once a week.
• Blusher: these have the life span of about a year.. you’ll be able to tell they are ready to retire as they start to become quite dry and cake-y and hard to apply. You can get more time out of cream blushers as the oil and water ingredients help to preserve it for longer.
• Eye-shadow: Roughly about 1-2 years.
• Concealer: This product needs to be used within a year.. but you need to be particularly careful with this product as it tends to harvest the most germs and bacteria. One of the most popular uses for concealer is to conceal blemishes and spots.. every time you apply concealer (especially if it comes with an applicator) you are spreading this bacteria all over again. I would recommend cleaning this applicator every few times.. or using a separate concealer brush all together..which you can clean alongside your other make-up brushes.
• Mascara: Poor little mascara has the shortest life span of them all, needing to be replaced after just only 3 months. It’s very important you follow this expiration date seriously as mascara wands are the top hosts for bacteria and can cause some pretty nasty eye infections (trust me). A good tip to tell if your mascara has had its day.. is to listen for the “Pop” when you open your mascara tube.. if there is none… BIN IT!!
• Lipstick/ lipbalm/ lipgloss: This is where it gets a bit vague. The recommended expiration date for lip products is under two years. However there are some exceptions to the rule. If you have suffered from a cold sore.. or mouth blister and applied a certain lipstick during this time, it is advised to get rid of this lipstick all together as it can carry the bacteria that came with said blister or cold-sore and can cause it to come back if you re-use the product. Try to resist sharing lip-balms or lip products in general with others as you just never know what germs you can be passing back and forth.

Top Tip: when deciding if your product is past its sell by date is to look at the actual packaging itself. Most products generally indicate its shelf life right on their very own packaging. All you need to do is too look for this little symbol:

The number indicates the amount of months and the letter stands for the measurement of time. In this case this picture indicates that the product is suitable for use for up to 12 months.

36M would stand for 36months and so on and so forth… It’s SIMPLES!

And that’s it! If you follow these pretty simple guidelines and pay closer attention to what your products’ packaging tells you, your make-up stash should be bacteria-free in no time.

I’d love to hear from you and your make-up detox routine. How often do you change your make-up? Or if you don’t, do you find that it has any effects on your skin?  Let me know in the comments section below!

Thanks for reading guys,

Until next time…Bye Kx:)

My 2012 Hero Products

Blooooooomin’ eck! It’s 2013 already! I realize I’m a tad late with this buuut…. Happy New Year everybody! Gosh that year went really quick. I just want to take a teeeeny tiiiiny second to thank everybody who supported my blog and my crazy ramblings in 2o12. I hope you continue to follow and enjoy my blog this year (and the next year and the next after that and so on )

The way I see it is that it is a new year and a fresh start with this blogging shizz. I started to get downright shoddy when it came to blogging towards the end of last year. With my new home and new job, I let my blog behind. However this year, I’m going to get back on track and I plan to blow your minds with some serious blogginess.

I thought a good way to kickstart my new blogging, would be to take a wee look back over some of my most loved products of last year. I’ve had a long ponder over these products over some very stressful cups of tea… but I’ve finally whittled it down to the following list of my MUST HAVE (yes, in capital letters) products of 2012.

Hair:

1. L’Oreal Mythic Oil
2. Tangle Teezer
3. John Frieda Frizz Ease Hair Serum with heat protection
4. Philip Kingsley Elasticiser
5. Batiste Dry Shampoo
6. Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair
7. Aussie 3 minute miracle conditioner

Make-up

1. Revlon Colourstay Foundation for Oily/Combination Skin (150 Buff)
2. Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealor
3. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder
4. Benefit Coralista
5. L’oreal Million Lashes mascara
6. Essence Eyebrow pencil in Brown
7. Benefit POREfessional primer
8. Urban Decay Naked Palette.
9. Nars Laguna Bronzer
10. Nuxe Reve de Miel lipbalm
11. MAC’s Please Me and Mac Red

Body:

1. Dove Summer Glow Gradual Tanner Moisturiser
2. E45 body lotion
3. Soap & Glory Breakfast Scrub
4. Sally Hansen
5. Burts Bees Banana Hand Cream

Skin care:

1. Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser
2. Simple light Moisturiser
3. Sudocrem
4. Aveeno Brightening Eye Cream
5. Origins Dr. Weils Mega Mushroom Skin Calming Mask
6. Lush Oatifix face mask
7. Garnier “Anti-dark cirle” eye roll-on concealor
8. Simple Cleansing Face Wipes

Nails:

1. Model’s Own Nail Art pen in Black
2. Model’s Own “Hedonist”
3. Revlon Vixen
4. Barry M in Red/Black and Raspberry

Other:

1. Real Techniques Brushes
2. Perfectil supplements for hair, skin and nails.
3. HD brows tweezers
4. Glossybox subscription

Phew…. and that’s all folks. I realize that this was a very list-orientated blog post rather than my usual reviews, however if you would like a review of any of the products that I have mentioned above, please let me know and I’d be more than happy to do that for you.

I would also love to hear from YOU and what your hero products of 2012 were!

That’s all for now,

Until next time, thank you for reading, Bye Kx

My New Skincare Routine

When it comes to skincare, I admit that I turn into one hell of a crazy bitch. For years, I have been obsessed with achieving what I call the “perfect” skin. Whether this actually exists or not, I persist in spending copious amounts of money on new products to help me obtain my dream skin. As y’all probably know from my previous posts, I am a sufferer (tad dramatic) of sensitive skin and the odd dose of eczema, so my journey of skincare product-testing has not been easy. Plenty of products have broke me out, burned away my skin and in some cases.. just simply did nothing at all! Finally, however, I think I have stumbled across a routine and a batch of products that actually works for my skin. My skin may not be “perfect” but it is certainly noticeably clearer and generally speaking improved. Hurrah!

Aaaaand it’s all thanks to these bad boys:

1) Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser: This is by no means a “newbie” to my skincare routine but in fact a firm and long-term favourite. It does the job, keeps my skin nice and clear with zero irritation. I’m in love.

2) Simple’s Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser: Again, another oldie that has managed to keep its’ place in my forever changing skincare routine. This moisturiser is true to its name.. it literally is nice and SIMPLE. It moisturises my skin but without leaving it too oily. Perfect for under make-up.

3) Simple’s Kind to Skin cleansing Wipes: This one is a tad controversial as face wipes have been deemed the devil of skincare. However, we all at some stage or another are guilty of using the odd face wipe or two ( okay more )  I tend to use these before my cleanser to remove all of my make-up. These wipes are particularly good at removing waterproof mascara and are not too drying on the skin.

4) Avene Eau Thermale: Another simple product which I use as my toner. A tad expensive for what is essentially: water in a can… buuuut it’s very handy to keep in my bag. And it’s actually great for setting make-up or for just a mere “freshening up” after a long day.

5) Aveeno “Positively Radiant Eye-Brightening Cream” I added this bad boy to my beauty routine just before Christmas and my eyes have never been happier. I suffer from the dreaded puffy eye and this cream really helps. I’ve found it very moisturising but not too heavy around the eye area and it isn’t too greasy under make-up. It’s all you could want really.

6) LA ROCHE-POSAY’s “Cicaplast Baume B5″ soothing repairing balm: Perhaps the most recent addition to my little skincare family so I don’t want to say too much too soon. However, I’ve been using it for a few days and I’m already a huge fan. I’ve heard so many good things about this growing cult product so I hope it lives up to its name. Stay tuned for my updated verdict.

7) Dr. Andrew Weils for Origins Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Face Mask: Okay, I have to confess that this was quite the splurge, retailing at nearly 50 yo yos. However, I have to admit that it has proven to be completely worth every DOLLAH. I apply a generous layer of this luxury yummyness once a week…and my face is in literal face heaven. It works at soothing my skin and banishes any redness or irritation. Even with the hefty price tag, I would happily re-purchase this product once this tube has run out.

8) Clear Complexion Tablets: Slight shift from my usual batch of “Perfectil”. I was in my local Holland & Barrett a few months ago and stumbled across these and though “Ah, heck why not”. They contain ingredients such as Burdock Root and Blue Flag which have been known to contribute to glowing skin. It’s hard to say if they have truly helped but it can’t help to keep using them, eh?

9) Sudocrem: Probably my most favourite and coveted skincare product ever. Good ol’ Sudocrem really does solve it all. Any time I have a nasty spot or irritation ..BAM..on goes the Sudocrem and my skin is back to normal the next day. I love this stuff so much.. I literally would be lost without it.

10) The Body Shop Camomile Eye make-up remover: Probably my favourite eye make-up remover that I’ve ever tried as it is water-based and tends to glide on and off the eye area quite smoothly. Removes all stubborn make-up and doesn’t irritate my sensitive peepers. Thank you Body Shop!

Well that’s it folks… My skincare routine…for what I hope will still be my skincare routine for quite some time.

If any of you have tried any of the products that I’ve listed above, I’d love to hear your thoughts.. or equally, if you’d like to share your skincare routine with me…please leave a link to your blog post or simply leave a comment below… I love hearing from you guys!

Thanks for reading guys and until next time, Bye Kx:) xx

August’s GLOSSYBOX: My thoughts! :)

Hey guys,

So sorry for the delay in this month’s Glossybox review.. things have been a bit CRAY down here in Sleepingbootay world! I’m actually going to be moving into my own apartment in the next few weeks so I’m busy trying to get everything all organised! But aaaanyway, enough with the chit-chat and on to the Glossybox goss!

August’s Glossybox

This month’s box’s theme was “International Superstars” celebrating “hero products from around the world for you to try”.

Alessandro Pro White Nail Whitener Polish

• Alessandro Pro White Original Effect Polish (samplesized): “Optically brightening effect nail polish with anti-yellowing formula for radiant white and gleaming nails” (fullsize £7.85)

We all know how much I love and am sliiiiiightly obsessed with painting my nails…and I’m always excited to see and try out new nail products…this nail whitener was no exception. I’ve used the Sally Hansen nail whitener before and I really really liked it so I was interested to see how this one measured up against it. I’ve only used this product once…and so far I like it! It’s nothing hugely amazing and it didn’t make me gasp in awe.. but it certainly does the job at whitening your nails. This would be great for someone who paints their nails quite a bit but who wants to go au natural (without the yucky nail polish stains).

Valentino Assoluto Eau de Parfum

• VALENTINO Assoluto, Eau de Parfum (samplesized): ” Valentina Assuluto Eau de Parfum is an intentionally seductive, intense, beautiful feminine fragrance by Valentino” (fullsize £61)

Nothing much to say about this product really…A perfume sample is a perfume sample after all. I really like this scent. Quite grown up,mainly quite floral with a hint of fruity-ness… gawd i’m awful at describing scents! ha! I always like to see perfume samples as I find they are so handy to just keep in my purse and bring with me on days out etc. I’d definitely consider purchasing the full-sized version of this loveliness.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

• DHC Deep Cleansing Oil (samplesized): ” This revolutionary water-soluble cleanser is better than any other make-up remover you’ve ever tried” (fullsize £18.50)

Siiiigh…another lovely looking product that I’m too afraid to try out. We all know by now, that with my super sensitive skin, I’m waaaay too wary (and a little bit of a wuss) to try out new skin products. This cleansing oil looks really lovely and luxurious and i’m really intrigued to see how it works. I might pass this on to one of my friends and get her to roadtest it for me and i’ll report back because I think this product looks too nice to waste.

Vera Valenti L’ombre a Paupiere Margarita eyeshadow palette

• VERA VALENTI L’ombre a Paupiere Margarita (full size): ” An eyeshadow palette offering a selection of ten different colours with an applicator included” (fullsize £3.95)

To be honest, I was completely shocked to see this product in Glossybox. Glossybox is meant to be about sampling luxury products and this eyeshadow palette retails at £3.95 and isn’t exactly what you would call “luxury”. My first impressions was that it looked like those pretend make-up sets that you get as a little girl from a pound shop. The packaging is very cheap and tacky looking and something I would never expect to see in any adult girl’s make-up bag.. never mind a Beauty Box! The eyeshadow itself is even worse than the packaging! The colours are not something I would ever ever wear AND the formula is extremely chalky and the colour pay off is close to non-existant! Overall, I am really disappointed and confused with this product. Bad glossybox…bad!!

Lipcote lipstick sealer

• Lipcote (full size): ” The original lipstick sealer and secret of long lasting, feather fade and water resistant lipstick” (fullsize £3.99)

This was the only product of the box that I actually recognised and have used before…and for the plain simple reason that I cannot and will not ever forget this product (and not in a good way). I bought this product about 2years ago as I was on the hunt for something to keep my lipstick stay. I found Lipcote in Superdrug.. it was cheap and I’d heard of the name..so I bought it. That evening, popped it on over my favourite lippy and then my world turned dark… Bloody’el does this product sting! And not just the nice little tingly feeling…no no.. it actually really really stings. It does keep your lipstick on.. but at a very painful cost. I really don’t think it’s worth it and I doubt applying anything with that much chemicals is really good for your lips. I’d much rather just re-apply my lippy thanks very much!

Glossybox lipstick in Glossy Pink

• Glossybox Lipstick in Glossy Pink (Bonus product: full size): “ Professional beauty lipstick for soft and glamorous lips with a luminous, long-lasting colour” (fullsize £9.50)

Hurrah for another bonus product! We love bonus products over here at Sleepingbootay land and this time it was a real good’un! I was really happy when I saw this lipstick in this month’s box. I’m a huge lipstick junkie and I’m always happy to try out new brands and colours. The colour is really pretty and kinda unusual…so I’m happy to introduce it to my lipstick family. The formula is also really nice, slightly creamy and very nicely pigmented. They’ve definitely redeemed themselves in my eyes after their blush brush failure in the June box. Keep up the good work Glossybox!

Glossybox lipstick in Glossy Pink Swatch

Overall thoughts: I hate to say it, but I’m pretty disappointed with August’s box offerings. Being the “international superstars” edition I really had high hopes for the products entailed and assumed that the countries involved would have better to offer as their “hero products”. My favourite product probably has to be the Glossybox lipstick which I can already tell I’ll get quite a bit of wear out of. My least favourite product is pretty darn obvious but I’ll say it anyway, that darn eyeshadow palette *shakes fist at Glossybox*. Looking forward to next month’s box and I’m optimistic and hopeful that they’ll pick up the standard again!

Have any of you received August’s Glossybox? What were your thoughts? Favourite/least favourite products?? I’d love to hear all!

Thanks for reading guys,

Until next time, Bye Kx:)

I’m going bananas for Burts Bees’ Banana Hand Cream!!!

Most people celebrate the arrival of a new baby, the purchase of a new house or the addition of a new family pet…last week I celebrated the arrival of a new hand cream. The “Burts Bees” Banana hand cream to be precise. This has fastly become my favourite hand cream.. passing out even my good ol’ trusty Soap & Glory “Hand Food”!! (which is a HUGE deal)

Burts Bees Beeswax & Banana Hand cream

What makes it so amazing you may ask??… well….

For one, this hand cream smells identical to those yummy foam banana sweets I use to eat as a child (and maybe still now..shhh) and if you weren’t a fan of those then perhaps this is not the hand cream for you as the scent is quite strong and it tends to linger! (which personally I love)

Gosh, I adore these..anybody else remember them??

The formula itself is very rich. It’s quite thick in consistency so I tend to use it at night and sometimes pop on a pair of cotton gloves for a really deep treatment.  It leaves your hands feeling very moisturised but not greasy which is a huge bonus because nobody enjoys having slippery hands for a zillion hours! Like all “Burt’s Bees” products it contains plenty of natural ingredients which do good for your skin. This hand cream in particular contains Aloe Vera and sweet almond oil which moisturises, soothes and protects your hands. The added beeswax seals in moisture while the banana extracts feed and nourish your skin. Application wise… its pretty much the same as any other hand cream however the packaging does suggest that you apply it to slightly damp hands as it tends to soak in quicker this way…just something to try out!

Burts Bees Beeswax & Banana hand cream swatch

While the packaging is deliciously retro and completely up my alley, it’s perhaps not the most practical!  It comes in quite a chunky glass jar.. which is just begging to be smashed in my handbag! (eeek) This is definitely a hand cream to show off on your dressing table or bedside locker… a stay at home hand cream if you will!

Burts Bees Beeswax & Banana hand cream: Retro-esque packaging <3

Overall this hand cream is a complete winner in my eyes. It’s such a luxurious feeling product and I am completely in love with the scent… It’s reminded me that I need more banana scented things in my life ha!

If you are interested in purchasing this heavenly hand cream for yourself or perhaps as a lovely gift for somebody then here are some links where you can find it:

• http://www.feelunique.com/p/Burts-Bees-Beeswax-and-Banana-Hand-Cream-2oz?q=burts%20bees%20hand%20cream
• http://global.burtsbees.com/natural-products/hands-and-feet-hand-moisturisers/beeswax-banana-hand-creme.html
• http://www.boots.com/en/Burts-Bees-Banana-Hand-Cream_850301/
• you can also find Burts Bees products in numerous pharmacies, spas, health food shops and department stores worldwide.

Hope y’all enjoyed this post! Let me know if you’ve tried any Burts Bees products and if so, what are your favourites?

Thanks for reading guys, Bye Kx:)

Show and Tell: Burt’s Bees Tips and Toes Kit

Burt’s Bees Hand and Feet set

Yet AGAIN, I’ve been cheeky with my Visa card and I’ve made a few teeny (in reality not so teeny) purchases online. I’ve recently discovered the wonders of feelunique.com and I feel an addiction coming along. I’ve always been a big fan of Burt’s Bees however I can’t say the same about their prices. I saw this kit and thought it was such a nice idea… small sized versions of their best selling hand and feet products and all for only under 15 yo yos…YES PLEASE!

In the kit there is:

• Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream (7g)

Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Cream

• Replenishing lip balm with pomegranate oil (4.25g)

Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil

• Thoroughly Therapeautic Honey & Grapeseed Oil (20g)

Thoroughly Therapeutic Honey & Grapeseed Oil Hand Cream

• Coconut Foot Cream (20g)

Coconut Foot Cream

• Hand Salve (8.5g)

Hand Salve

• Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream (8.5g)

Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

All of these smell so unbelievably delicious… they actually smell expensive ..if that makes any sense!? There’s a very luxurious feel to each and every one of them and you know you are getting good quality for money. Bursting with really good ingredients that don’t just smell nice but actually do something to care for your hands and feet

This kit is perfect for travelling… all products are really handy-sized to pop into your bag. I also think this would make a really great gift for somebody or for yourself if you fancy trying out some Burt’s Bees products but don’t know where to start.

I bought my kit on feelunique.com for 14.37 yo yos (and they also have free delivery worldwide woooh) http://www.feelunique.com/p/Burts-Bees-Tips-n-Toes-Hands–Feet-Kit

You can also purchase it on the Burt’s Bees Official website : http://global.burtsbees.com/other/kits/tips-and-toes-kit.html

Have you tried any Burt’s Bees products? Let me know in a comment below!

Thanks for reading guys! Bye Kx:)

My skincare routine :)

Hey guys,

So I can safely say that my poor skin has been around the block a fair few times. It’s had its fair share of products and woes. But now I think I can finally say that I’ve found a routine that actually really works for my skin. (fingers crossed) .

Make-up removal:  Before I cleanse my face I like to get all or pretty much most of my make-up off just so I can make sure my skin is squeaky clean. To do this I use my ol’ favourite: the Simple cleansing face wipes and give my face a good going over. These wipes are great at getting off all my make-up (even pesky eye make-up and waterproof mascara). Sometimes, when I am wearing heavy eye make-up I use an eye make-up remover as it’s more gentle on my eyes than constantly rubbing them with a wipe. My remover of choice is a Boots Own Brand product “Simply sensitive eye make-up remover “. It’s pretty much an oil based eye make-up remover that  works so quickly and is super gentle on my eyes.

Simple cleansing face wipes and Boot’s Simply Sensitive eye make-up remover

Cleanser: I’ve tried my fair share of cleansers in the past and pretty much all of them have either been too harsh on my skin or just didn’t do anything to improve it. Then Dermalogica came along and changed my life. I know use Dermalogica’s Ultracalming cleanser morning and at night and my skin loves me for it. Dermalogica isn’t easily accessible in Ireland so I buy mine online at http://www.beautyskincare.ie/?gclid=CPq9mJSJlLECFQEf4QodFh9XkA where there are great discounts and very speedy delivery.  You can use this cleanser on its own and remove with tissue or a cotton pad or you can also rinse off with water.

Dermalogica Ultracalming cleanser

Toner: I used to use a toner by La Roche Posay but I found it to be quite drying on my skin. Water is a natural toner so I always dowse my skin in cold water after my Dermalogica cleanser and then I sometimes follow with a few spritz of the La Roche Posay’s Thermal water. This is essentially water in a can but it feels great on my skin and soothes it if it’s ever feeling irritated or hot.

Moisturiser: Yet again, I’ve tried so many moisturisers and found it very difficult to find one that suited my combination sensitive skin. Most were either too oily or just didn’t moisturise my face enough. “Simple” have always been an ol’ favourite of mine even since I was a young teenager so earlier this year I decided to give their moisturiser a whirl again. I picked up their “light” moisturiser for the daytime (so that’s its suitable for wearing under make-up) and I got the “rich” formula to wear at night (for a deeper moisturisation) I’ve been using this combo for the past few months now and I absolutely love it! The moisturiser is so gentle on my skin, keeps it really moisturised and is not oily or shiny. It’s also kind to my bank balance as it only costs a few precious yo yos!

Simple Moisturiser in Rich and Light formulae.

Exfoliation: One of the huge mistakes I used to make was that I exfoliated waaaay too much which used to leave my skin feeling tight and irritated. Nowadays I only exfoliate 1-2 times a week and to do this I use my Sigma Cleansing and Polishing Tool (which is a cheaper alternative to the Clarisonic) I use the Sigma Tool with my usual dermalogica cleanser and give my skin a good ol clean. If you’d like to see a full review of the Sigma Tool i’ve already previously done a review on it here: http://sleepingbootay.wordpress.com/2012/04/08/exciting-new-review-sigma-cleansing-and-polishing-tool/  so have a peek!

Sigma cleansing and polishing tool

Supplements: Of course there is more to skincare than just products, you also need to take care of your skin from the inside… so this means plenty of water and vitamins. I try to drink as much water as possible every day (they recommend 1.5 to 2 litres a day) and I also drink a lot of green tea which is a great antioxidant! As well as this I take multivitamins everyday and I also take a supplement know as “Perfectil” which is a supplement, targeted for healthy hair, skin and nails. If you’d like to learn more about “Perfectil”, have a gander on their website: http://www.vitabiotics.com/Perfectil/?gclid=CLfx0p-MlLECFYQe4Qodhk88ig

My daily supplements for healthy skin

 

That’s all I’ve got for now guys,

I’d love to hear about your skincare routine so please let me know in a comment below!

As always, thanks for reading, Bye Kx

PS: If you haven’t already entered my new giveaway, hurry on over now and enter quick! Open worldwide:http://sleepingbootay.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/my-festival-must-haves-giveaway/

The OHMAHGawd I can’t believe June’s over, June Favourites!

Hey Guys!

June Favourites

Wow June went craaaaaazy quick, so quick that I am only getting around to doing my June Favourites now. June was all about going back to basics for me, buying and trying out products that not only look good but also do good for you. I’m looking to get my skin, hair and nails in tip top condition and I’ve found these products have really helped me achieve this goal!

Take a lookie:

Aveeno daily moisturising lotion: Being a complete and utter beauty product junkie.. I am automatically attracted to “pretty” products that both look and smell amazing.. this body lotion is completely basic. It has no scent (completely fragrance-free) and the packaging is nothing to rave about HOWEVER… I’ve really really enjoyed using it this month. Because it’s fragrance-free its great for my sensitive skin.. it’s super super moisturising, dries in quick and lasts for the entire day. This product has kinda made me realise that I should sometimes look past the packaging and instead focus on its benefits and suitability.

Palmers cocoa butter hand cream: Firstly, can I just say that it took an insane amount of self-control not to eat this hand cream for the past few weeks.. it smells ridiculously good.. just like chocolate. It has a very thick formula which is so moisturising, but sinks into the skin quick…so no sticky hands (yuck).

Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm: I’m not going to go into this too much as I think I’ve reached my crazy raving quota for this product already in my review here: http://sleepingbootay.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/the-new-love-of-my-life-3/ buuuut I will just say that I’m still so very much in love with it and it will remain a firm favourite of mine for months and months to come!

John Frieda Frizz Ease thermal protection hair serum: thermal protection: I’ve used the original Frizz ease serum for the past few years now, but I just recently picked up this thermal protection one just to give my hair that extra bit of heat protection. I apply a teeny pump of this throughout my hair while its still damp and it keeps my ends from going insane. You can also use this on dry hair so I keep it in my bag and reapply throughout the day when my hair gets unruly.

HD Brows precision tweezers: I received this bad boy in June’s Glossybox and I can’t tell you how happy I am with it. I’ve never really been the kinda girl who would get so excited about something like a tweezers and I’ve always said that I would never splurge on an “high end” one ever.. but I gotta say this tweezers is a dream.

Simple cleansing Face wipes: These have actually been a staple of mine from my early teen years, back when I though face wipes were all I ever needed when it came to skincare. Nowadays, being slightly more skin savvy, I’ve learned that they are not good for your skin and need to be used with additional skin care. I just use these wipes at night to remove the majority of my make-up before I move on to my cleanser. Since i’ve started using these wipes again, I’ve noticed a great difference in my skin and it’s nice to have that extra step of make-up removal at night to ensure my skin is completely clean and make-up free.

Garnier “Anti-dark circle” eye roll on- with concealor: I’ll admit I bought this product on a complete whim a few months ago as it was on offer and I’ve always been curious as to how it works. I use this under my eyes as a concealor as it’s really light and gentle on my under eye skin. I don’t know if this product has gotten rid of my dark circles per say but it does improve their appearence and the roller ball effect feels great under your eyes and helps to relieve any puffiness that you may have. I’m really considering re-purchasing this product.

Okay guys, that’s it for my June favourites, stay tuned for my July favourites which will be coming up in the next few weeks… or when July is over (duh)

Would love to hear from you and what some of your June Favourites were… let me know in a comment below

Thanks again for reading guys and until next time, Bye Kx:)

Review: VOYA’s Time to Shine Body Buff

Hey Guys,

Today I have another exciting review for you. I was recently very kindly sent a new body scrub from VOYA organic beauty to try out.

Who? What? Where?

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this company, VOYA is an irish family owned business which began in 1912 when the first seaweed baths opened in Strandhill, Co.Sligo here in Ireland. Their mantra is to use the “full power of nature in its purest forms throughout their range with integrity and harmony with nature“…and what more could you want from a beauty business?! Their dedication most definitely reflects in the quality of their products. I felt very luxurious using this scrub. It conjured up a scent which is pretty indescribable… I’ll just say a cross between fancy spa and a beach scent…make sense??

Now while most girls  search for the perfect guy…or job …etc…I have always been on the search for THE perfect body scrub. I’ve searched high and low for a scrub that exfoliated but didn’t irritate my skin. I have found some pretty good contenders however, not one has matched this new body scrub.

What makes it so good??

What it says on the packaging: “Our dual action lathering body buff, exfoliates with finely ground seaweed and walnut shells and nourishes your skin with a blend of almond oil, seaweed and ginger extracts. This gentle yet effective formula buffs away dry flaky skin to reveal smoother, softer skin”. I normally don’t like to quote the packaging of a product but I felt that they pretty much summed the product up so nicely that I actually struggled to do it better myself.  What I will say though, is that unlike all the other scrubs I have tried, this scrub is actually designed with sensitive skin in mind.This scrub is absolutely awesome for sensitive skin…the grains are not too large and are made from natural ingredients such as finely ground walnut shells and seaweed flakes so they aren’t too harsh or abrasive.

Swatch of the scrub

As with all VOYA products this scrub contains seaweed which has been know for not only its anti-ageing benefits but also contains a multitude of vital vitamins such as B1,B2, B12, Zinc, Iodine etc. The scrub also contains almond oil and ginger extract which work together to not only nourish your skin but also give you that glowy healthy look.

This scrub boasts  four main aims:

• to exfoliate your skin
• to stimulate your skin
• to firm your skin
• to promote cell renewal.

I’m not too great with the sciencey shizz.. but what I do know is that this scrub has definitely works DAYUM well on my skin. I’ve been using it for about 2weeks now and my skin already feels softer, smoother and dare I say…a tad firmer?! …With results like that after just 2weeks… I’m expecting a completely new body soon!… *wishful thinking*

Mmmmm

Sold yet?? If so, you’re gonna need all the vital details:

Price is 29 yo yos for 200ml of product (teensy bit pricey but completely worth it in my opinion).

Product is available all around Ireland and good news to all my international chummies… they ship overseas too!!. All stock and shipping info is on their website http://www.voya.ie/where you can also purchase any of their products online too….happy days!:)

Overall I have adored this product. My search for the perfect scrub is now complete and we can go live happily ever after…and have half body scrub/half human babies… too far??… perhaps.. :/ ha!

Thanks for reading guys, I have more reviews in the pipeline so do keep your eyes peeled for them! If you have any questions about this scrub or VOYA itself, please do leave me a comment below or feel free to leave me a message on my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/sleepingbootaykate or email me privately at sleepingbootay@yahoo.ie

Until next time, Bye Kx:)