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

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

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:)

Quick Thursday Tip: Give your brushes a little love

Hey guys,

Just a reeeally quick tip here for you today. This is a pretty standard tip, and I’m sure plenty of you know this and even do this regularly but I know that it’s something that I used to neglect and know I find that doing it, makes a huge difference! What is this bloody tip you may ask?…

Clean brushes are the shizz!

Wash yo’ brushes yo! 

Dirty brushes are one of the main things that can upset your skin. Logically, if you don’t wash them you’re just letting all the make-up and bacteria build up on your brush and everyday you are applying that shizz right back onto your face.

I tend to wash my brushes about once a week… or every few days for my foundation and powder brushes.

Washing them is reeeally simple. You don’t need any swanky expensive formulas ( even though I have heard there are some good ones on the market, including MAC’s range). I use a non-fragranced baby shampoo that I bought from Tesco and it works like a charm. If you are going to use a baby shampoo.. I would recommend a non-fragranced one…as it will be less harsh on your face. If you dont want to use a baby shampoo.. you could always use a make-up cleanser… but I think this would be kind of a waste!

My make-up brush cleaner kit: Tesco Baby: Soft and Gentle Shampoo and Boots Essentials: Eye make-up remover gel in cucumber!

For your eye brushes… I would recommend using an inexpensive eye make-up remover. It will remove the make-up reaally quickly and will still be gentle enough for your eyes.

Simply bathe the brushes in warm water and clean each one with the shampoo. Repeat until the brushes are spick and span. Leave the brushes to dry on a clean dry surface… perhaps on a clean dry towel… or if needed dry them off with your hairdryer. And TAH-DAH.. you’ve got yourself some sexy-ass clean brushes.

I will admit, this whole process may seem tedious or time consuming but it honestly does make a lot of difference to your skin AND it prolongs the lifespan of your brushes too! Win win!

Hope this tip was somewhat helpful…or at least gave you some food for thought.

Let me know if you have anymore tips on cleaning your brushes

Thanks for reading guys, Bye Kx:)

Eye do Eye do believe in eye creams!

See what I did there with the title… Word play..ooooh yeah…..;)

Anyway..

Hey guys!

I’m baaaack! So so sorry for my absence.. I’m actually off work for the past while on a little mini holiday so I was away for a few days visiting the boyfriend.. But now, I’m back and ready for business! Wooh!

Background:

Today I’m going to be reviewing an eye cream which I actually bought a gazillion years ago…(slight exaggeration) but have only started using recently! I’ve gotta say, I’ve always been quite cynical about eye creams and eye gels etc.. I’ve always thought that they were an unnecessary expense and never really made any difference at all to your eyes whatsoever. HOWEVER, recently my sleeping pattern has been completely messed up, work was tiring me out and I was also pretty stressed… all of those took it’s toll on my skin but also on my eyes.. resulting in puffy tired looking peepers. As you can probably imagine, this is not a very attractive feature to have on your noggin.. so I made a dash to my crazy drawer of products that i’ve bought and never used.. and VOILA… I came across the La ROCHE-POSAY Hydraphase Intense for eyes… which states is for “intense rehydration anti-puffiness”. This is exactly what I needed, so I decided to start using it immediately but I had no high expectations.

How to use it:

For anyone wondering on how I use this gel, basically I apply it both in the morning and night-time (but once is probably more than enough..I’m just a tad excessive)  I squeeze the TEEENIEST amount onto my index finger and dabb the gel LIGHTLY below my eye. I then massage the gel (again lightly) around my eyes from the inside to the outer corner of my eye. This massaging is meant to kind of help get all the product into my skin and also helps to activate the lymph nodes (which in turn decreases the puffiness)…okay enough of the sciencey shizz!…

Here’s a little swatchy-swatch… cause I like the word swatch… (swatchswatchswatchswatchswatch..okay, I’m done)

This amount here is actually even too much for both eyes. You really only need the smallest teeniest amount.. so eh…squeeze lightly… hmmm….

Does it work???

Yes… and it annoys me in a way to admit it because I was and have always been so dayum cynical about eye creams and gels.. But this eye gel has really really helped me. I’ve been using it for just a little over two weeks now and I’ve already seen a huge decrease in the puffiness of my eyes. As for any other eyeskin-related problems such as dark circles or wrinkles, I can’t really say if it has been helpful. As regards to dark circles, I haven’t seen any astonishing results in that department but to be fair this product doesnt actually state that it specifically targets dark circles anyway. If  you are looking to banish dark circles, I would recommend looking for a cream or gel that is tailored to get rid of dark circles. (I’ve heard Olay do a great cream for it). Then, as regards to wrinkles and fine lines.. I really can’t say. As a 21 year old, I’m lucky to not have to worry about these for a little while yet.. so again I’d recommend getting a specfically tailored cream or gel to combat this problem

The bad boy in all its glory!

Overall thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed using this cream. It’s light, doesnt irritate my eyes or the skin around it. The tube is only teeny ( a mere 15ml) but a little goes a seriously long long way. AND lastly, it actually does what it states it will do. The ONLY downside to this product was its price. I think I paid roughly nearly 17 yo yos for this bad boy.. but the price does vary depending on where you buy it. This is quite pricey for such a small product..however because the product has been so impressive…it has somehow justified itself to me. I would love to try out some more eye creams.. perhaps some cheaper ones that do just a good a job as this one ( wishful thinking) so please please let me know if you have any recommendations!

That’s all for now guys! Thank you for reading! And i gotta say it feels goood to be back in the game!

Before I go, I’d just like to make a teeny announcement! I recently reached over 300 followers on this blog and I cannot put into words how exciteable and deliriously happy this makes me feel!!! I want to thank, once again, each and every one of you that has followed and read my blog! Y’all make me such a happy hippo! I will be doing another giveaway soon,.. so keep your peepers peeled fo’ that!!

And for anybody who wants to chat or ask me anything, here’s a link to my new facebook.. so c’mon over!  http://www.facebook.com/sleepingbootaykate

Until next time, Bye Kx xx

EXCITING new review: Sigma Cleansing and Polishing Tool

Ladies and Gentlemen…

I’M BACK (from wherever I was?) with a new and exciting review.. and by exciting, I really mean exciting!  Over two weeks ago now, I purchased the Sigma Cleansing and Polishing Tool off a relatively new website (to me) Cloud10beauty. (www.cloud10beauty.com)… which I shall be writing about in the near future..cause I laaaaave it so much.<3

Anyway.. yes, I’ve heard from a few little blogger birdies that this Sigma Cleansing and polishing tool is meant to be a pretty good dupe for the Clarisonic.. which is nearly 5 times the price! (yeah,..perty damn expensive). Because I don’t have a rich old husband to buy me pretty and expensive things like the Clarisonic and because I like a good beauty bargain.. I decided to try out this Sigma Cleansing and Polishing Tool and see for myself what all the hype is about.

The handy case with two extra detachable brush heads

Leaflet showing the three choices of brush heads

It comes with 3 different detachable brushes.. each increasing in density. I use the “softest” brush for my face as I have insanely sensitive skin… but I would however, recomend that everybody uses this brush for their first few uses.. just so your skin can get used to it. In the manual, it says that the other brushes can be used for body exfoliation.. again, because of my sensitivity, I’ve only tried this with the medium sized brush all over my body and I used the most dense brush (very briefly) on my elbows and knees. I just want to say that this was, my routine… which I found to work best on my skin. Of course, you are free to use the brushes as you wish and alternate them in any way that suits you.

How to use it: I’ve been using it for just about 2 weeks now, morning and night. I use it with my everyday cleanser, the Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleansing Gel. You literally lather up your face with the cleanser of choice and then work this bad boy all around your face in circular motions. There’s no ideal time period to do this for but I usually do two good laps of my face, making sure i get to all the nooks and crannys. I then follow with a generous lathering of moisturiser and I’m good to go!

Like all products, it does of course, have its pros and cons:

Pros:

• Leaves skin feeling really really soft and polished
• Comes in a handy sized case–easy for travelling
• Runs by batteries: also handy for travelling and when you are on the go.
• 3 detachable brushes.. gives you the choice on how powerful you would like the ex foliation to be
• It’s a multi-purpose product: can be used on both face and body
• 2 speed settings.. again gives you the choice on how intense the ex foliation will be
• completely cleans my skin and removes all traces of my make-up
• The price..completely affordable..especially in comparison with the Clarisonic.

Cons:

• Can be very very messy
• Can be quite harsh on your skin at first… first time I used it my skin was left a little red.. but this stopped after a few uses
• I broke-out a little bit in the first week of using this tool… But i’ve heard that this is normal as its your brushes way of clearing out all the badness from your pores.

Because Sigma products are hard to come by in Ireland, I purchased mine online at http://www.cloud10beauty.com/ for only 39.95 yo yos! For anybody interested here’s the direct to the product on this site where you can buy NOW! http://www.cloud10beauty.com/sigma-cleansing-polishing-tool.html

Now, because I don’t own/have used the Clarisonic.. I cannot state which is better, My judgement rests only on my experience with the Sigma one. However, in my opinion.. if the Sigma one works well, does the job and is a hellova lot cheaper.. why not just go with the cheaper one?

If any of you out there, has tried both the Clarisonic and the Sigma cleansing and polishing tool…could you please tell me which one is better…and if the Clarisonic is worth the price?

For now anyway, I’m very very content with my little Sigma.

Well that’s all for now folks. Hope you enjoyed this review and if you have any products youd like me to review please let me know, and I shall do my best. Hope all of you had a really lovely Easter. I’m currently harvesting a substantial chocolate food baby!

OH and just a quick note: For anybody who is interested in entering my Giveaway to win some No.7 goodies.. make sure you enter now at this link http://sleepingbootay.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/ohmahgawd-another-giveaway/ as it ends tomorrow! Good luck to everybody!

Thank y’all for reading and until next time Byeeeee! Kx