Updated Skincare Routine

Hi!

So its been a little while since I did a skincare post and I have made a few little changes to my routine so I thought I share them with you. 

My cleansers and exfoliator haven't changed at all, I am still using the Liz Earle cleanse and polish cleanser and the Liz Earle gentle face exfoliator as well as the MAC cleanse off oil. I did briefly try a new cleansing oil  for a few days but I didn't feel like it worked as well as the MAC oil, I find this really melts away my make up. The Liz Earle products work so well my skin feels so clean and fresh after use.

I use the exfoliator 1-2 times per week to remove any dead skin cells that are being stubborn.

A new product that I have added to my routine is the Vichy  Purete Thermale Waterproof eye make up remover. I found that I was having to rub my eye area quite a bit to remove my eye make up and this really isnt very good as the skin under our eyes is quite fragile so after watching a video by Victoria from INTHEFROW I decided to give this product a go and it certainly did not disappoint. I apply it to a cotton pad and place it over my eye area for a few seconds before gently swiping sideways, it removes the make up as well as nourishing your lashes at the same time.

I have been using a new toner, I bought the Pixi  skintreats Glow Tonic which is an exfoliating toner. I bought this at the start of winter as I was finding I had quite dull skin and I didn't want to change my current exfoliator and I also didn't want to use anything that's to harsh on the skin as my skin can be quite sensitive.

My moisturisers have also slightly changed, I have been using the Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentrate. This is a very nourishing moisturiser and has been a cult product for quite some time.  I find my skin is so much softer and my skintone looks more even, I have also noticed a reduction in dry patches since I started using this product. 

At night I use Aveda botanical kinetics intense hydrating soft cream, I find this replenishes my skin while i sleep and I prefer to use it at night as I find my skin appears quite oily after I apply it.

For my undereye area I have been using my kiehl's creamy eye treatment with avocardo, it is quite a thick cream which you need to warm between your ring fingers before applying to the area. This has been a favorite of mine for quite some time. I have also recently been given a sample of the Bobbi Brown hydrating eye cream recently and I must say I am also really enjoying using this product. I have found that it is leaving my under eye area very soft and smooth and I am noticing a differnece in how my make up is applying.

Once a week I use a face mask, usually on a Sunday! I have been using two recently and depending on my skin sometimes I will use one followed by the other. I always use the Origins Clear Improvements active charcoal mask fist to help clear my pores and if my skin is feeling tight and dry I will follow this with Liz Earle intensive nourishing treatment mask.

Kerry xo

Bobbi Brown correct and conceal

Hi!

I suffer with dark circles under my eyes and I just haven't been able to cover them with any of the products in my make up draw recently. I had heard about the Bobbi Brown correct and conceal products but didn't personally know anyone who had used them. So I called into my local store and spoke with a lovely lady who explained how it works and colour matched me.

Firstly you use the corrector which is creamy, smooth and easy to apply. It is also a pink colour which works better to cover and brighten the discoloured area. 

you then use the concealer which is more of a yellow base which instantly camouflages the area and makes your eye area fresher and more awake. the kit comes with a pressed power to set the area for all day coverage.

Both of these products are also waterproof, sweat and humidity resistant. They blend and work together well. I have noticed a huge difference since I started using them and would recommend them to everyone that struggles with dark circles.

Kerry xo

Past travels and memories

Hi!

I've been extremely lucky with the travelling I have been able to do, I have had the usual girls trips to Spain but my favourite places by far have been in America. My first trip to the states was September 2008 and I travelled to New York with 3 of my friends. I instantly fell in love with the city and the lifestyle that came along with it.

New York was somewhere I knew I definitely needed to visit again and I managed to do just that a few years later in May 2011. I actually did Trek America with my best friend and we planned to start and finish in the big apple.

We did the freedom trail which saw us travel to some other amazing places- Washington DC, Bear County, Niagara Falls, Berkshire Forest and Boston. It was a pretty amazing experience and we camped for the week well apart from in Boston where we stayed in a hostel as there was no camp site. As well as visiting other cities and places I also got the chance to become friends with people from around the world, on our trek we had people from the UK, Australia, Germany and Korea. It really was an experience I will never forget.

Not long after we got back from this holiday we decided that we should go back and do our own trek. Me, my best friend and one of my other good friends started to plan what and where we should go. We decided that we would again start and finish in New York, that we would use different methods of transport to get around and decided on Chicago, Memphis and Nashville as the other places we would like to see. I have so many amazing memories from all of my holidays and adventures but this one has to be at the very top. We travelled to New York and stayed in Queens overnight before heading into the city to travel to Chicago via Amtrak the journey took us 20+ hours and we slept on the train overnight which was an experience in itself!

We spent a day in Chicago before getting back on the Amtrak to travel to Memphis.

From Memphis we took the Greyhound bus to Nashville. In Nashville we also Hired a car so we could explore a little, we drove to the Jack Daniels distillery in Lynchburg as well as travelling to the local shopping mall for a little retail therapy.

From Nashville we travelled back to New York via internal flights, on the smallest planes I have ever been on!

I absolutely love to travel and experience new places and cultures, the pictures I have posted are some of my favourites from each of these holidays. I am grateful for being able to experience all the things I have, the memories from each of these places are something I will always treasure. The adventure wasn't just the places but getting to experience it with some of my most favourite people.

Having these memories isn't just about where I have been but who I spent these times with.

Kerry xo

Home made Granola

Hi!

I am a massive granola fan and although shop bought granola is tasty it has a lot of added sugar and preservatives. I recently made the choice to try and decrease the amount of processed foods I am having, I'm not totally cutting everything out I am just attempting to look after myself better.

With that said I decided to attempt to make my own which I personally think tastes better!! It is really easy to make and doesn't take that long to do.

If you would like to try this you will need.......
1/4 Cup of organic coconut oil
1/2 Cup 100% pure maple syrup
2 Cups of rolled oats
1/2 Cup of pumpkin seeds
1/4 Cup of pine seeds
1/4 Cup of sesame seeds
1/4 Cup of chopped nuts 
dessicated coconut (as desired)

Pre heat the oven to 170 degrees
Melt coconut oil in a saucepan on a low heat
In a large mixing bowl mix together melted coconut oil with maple syrup before adding oats,nuts and seeds
Pour onto baking tray and spread evenly then bake for 15 minutes
Remove from the oven and add dried fruit if desired
Bake for a further 5 minutes

The base of my recipe was inspired by Niomi Smart 

Kerry xo