Review: Vichy Idealia Serum and Skin Sleep

Hello everyone and welcome back to Luv Lisa xx. Not so long ago I decided to go out and purchase some well needed new skincare products. It can be very difficult to choose the right products especially with the amount of brands and choice on the market. I for one, am one of those girls that spends alot of money on make-up but not alot on my skincare. Everyone talks about how important your skincare regime is, but I've always been the kinda girl that just slaps on everything and anything without any research involved. Every girl is different and so is their skin so it is of the highest importance to find something that suits your skin type. Even though I am reviewing products the suit my skin today please keep in mind that not everything suits everyone. Always seek advice from the trained technicians/beauticians or pharmacist's as they are extremely knowledgeable and skilled at what they do. There is a science to skincare and they have the know how.

I wear makeup almost everyday of the week and I love a good coverage, that can leave my skin dry in patches and prone to spots. Recently I called into my local pharmacy and I got chatting to one of the girls there, she recommended that I try the new Vichy Idealia Range, something she had tried herself and found fantastic. One look at her flawless skin and I was sold. I purchased the Vichy Idealia Life Serum and a Night Cream also. I've been using it now for almost 2 week and I love it. The serum itself gives your face a radiant glow and your skin looks fresh and youthful. What I love the most about it is that it can be worn under your make up, and you only need the smallest amount (less than a pea size) This product has been in the making for over 11 years which is crazy when you think about it. Its not greasy or sticky and it applies like a dream with a light sweet smell. It has definitely become part of my daily routine and yesterday I wore no make up just the serum and I felt no need for makeup, I was comfortable in my own skin. The Vichy skin sleep, is a  gel based cream that should be applied before you go to sleep. I adore the smell of this and I actually enjoy taking my make up off and putting this on. In trials it has been proved to help people feel more relaxed before going to sleep, imagine that, honestly I think its something to do with the soothing smell and the texture of the cream. It has been tested on poor sleepers, young mums and flight attendants. I've honestly never really understood the need for a night cream but I am in love with this product, I would buy it for the smell alone. The easiest and simplest way to describe it is, my skin feels clean and fresh and I get the same satisfaction putting this on as I do a full face of make up. Both these products have received fantastic reviews online and its easy to see why.

As I said before, always ask the sales assistants for their advice on what you should use for your skin type. I love visiting my local pharmacy because these girls do not work on commission and the will always do their best by you. They honestly value your custom. I purchased mine in the Avoca pharmacy in Avoca and I will be going back to get the Derma Blend Foundation during the week (it was all sold out when I was there). The Vichy brand is one I never would have acknowledged previously but its a massive thumbs up from me. Prices range from €20 to €40 euro and while that might seem expensive to some its worth the investment. Our skin is so important and I for one will be doing my best to keep mine looking young, with help from the Vichy Idealia Range xx

A massive thanks to the lovely assistant in the Avoca Pharmacy (sorry I didn't catch her name)

xx

Clinically tested efficacy on skin exposed to daily excesses: overstressed, pollution, unbalanced diet. Suitable for all skin types and all skin ethnicities, even sensitive skin. Instantly, complexion looks radiant and fresh, while skintone looks more even. Facial features appear rested, and skin looks younger and healthier.

Idealia Skin Sleep is Vichy’s first night cream that recreates the look of a good night’s sleep, even when your nights are cut short.
Idealia Skin Sleep has been formulated for those who suffer from poor sleep, and are concerned about the tell-tale signs: ‘grey’ skin, a tired look & rough dull complexion.

The Curse of Social Media

Social Media has become such a massive part of almost every-bodies everyday life. The constant need to be switched on, to be in the know, to share details of our lives, of how we feel, where we are, or what we are doing. In 2006 I joined Facebook having no idea how much it would influence my life. Social Media can be a gift and a curse at the same time. While its a fantastic way to express yourself, connect with people or to share special moments with relatives and friends that live elsewhere. It also can be invasive, consuming and harming, because we see a world that people want us to believe is true. A false sense of reality through rose tinted social media glasses. 

I started my blog as an escape from the stresses and pressures of everyday life, and as much as its helps me take my mind off those everyday things. I also didn't realise how much added stress it would bring me. I was recently asked what I felt was the negative side to blogging/facebook and snapchat? Well if I'm completely honest it can be very time consuming but worst of all it can totally consume you. I can very easily become addicted to whats going on in everybody else's life, so addicted  that at times I forget to enjoy my own. Busy building connections and friendships that I can tend to forget about my real friends and family. On so many occasions I've often said to myself " I'll pop on now for 5 minutes" (to snapchat or Facebook) and over an hour later I'm watching " the story" of someone I've never met, someone swinging their child on the swing, or showing me what they bought that day. All of a sudden the evening is over, my own kids are ready for bed and I've barely looked up from the screen of my phone or computer. I find myself zoning out alot of the time, my partner could ask me something and I either (a) don't answer because I was in my "social media" world or (b) I say "YA" but I haven't a clue what he has even said to me. Hey, but at least I know whats going on in Sammy/Mary/Janes life....My phone is literally never out of my hand, aside from when I'm at work for fear that I miss a notification, a message or something important on it. A message.. which could be just someone asking me where I got the lipstick I have on? A notification that someone has liked my photo...When you honestly think about it, its completely ridiculous. Its like the constant need to feel important, that someone else validates a quote you think is funny, or a dress you think is cute. 

At the start I really enjoyed watching my page/ snapchat and blog grow, but when something grows you have to maintain interest and with extra followers comes extra pressure to perform. I often think that if someone has taken the interest to follow me that I owe them by keeping them entertained. Maybe that sounds stupid and I am bringing the pressure on myself but in a world full of bloggers and social media gurus its hard to stay ahead of the game, to be original.  Blogging has become a tough gig, there is so many people out there doing the same thing. Somedays I feel like I'm in school and its like a popularity contest. A shoutout here and a shoutout there, go follow her, follow him, buy this, do that, we are all trying to get our opinions heard. But how far does it go, how big can you get. She has more likes than her, he has more likes then him. LIKES can be bought. You can actually buy popularity, imagine that....

I think I have just had one of those weeks, a week were I'm questioning everything and re-evaluating my life. Why do I have this urge to be switched on at all time, no one has asked me to be. I cannot really explain it, maybe I just need to manage my time better, put my phone down and look up, look into the faces of my kids. Sit with my friends, have a chat and a cup of tea. I'm not saying I will give it all up, I don't know if I even could and thats the scary part. Don't get me wrong I really enjoy certain elements of it but I need to organise myself better and cut down my time spent online. I know I'm not alone feeling like this, some of my other blogger friends have also felt the strain on their personal lives. Maybe I've hit a wall and I'll be on top of the world again next week, after all I am a girl. 

To end on a positive note, I have been nominated in 3 categories for The Irish Bloggers Association Awards so I do want to say a massive thank you to everyone who voted for me, and for all of your Congrats and Well Wishes. I honestly appreciate everyones love and support over the last few months, I would have quit along time ago only for you all xx

TMI - Luv Lisa xx

1: What are you wearing? My dressing gown, I live in it when I get home. John hates it and I use to have a cow print one but he swore her would burn it...
2: Ever been in love? Yes, so many times, there is different kinds of love. I love my friends, family, my bf and my kids x
3: Ever had a terrible breakup? Yes hasn't everyone, even if you finish it its always hard after you have invested time in someone
4: How tall are you? 5ft 5 and a half (the half is very important)
5: How much do you weigh? 9 and a half stone
6: Any tattoos? One, a rose tattoo on my right arm
7: Any piercings? Ears only, too scared for anything else
8: OTP? Haven't a clue what this means
9: Favorite show? Gossip Girl, Scandal, Vampire Diaries, Geordie Shore, Suits
10: Favorite bands? ACDC
11: Something you miss? One of my best friends who lives in New York
12: Favorite song? I've soon many but at the moment I am loving Bon Jovi Living on a Prayer, one of my all time favs is Snoop Dogg Drop it like its hot, its an inside Joke!!!
13: How old are you? 22..............am I wish, I 34 (sad face)
14: Zodiac sign? LEO, I'm fiery and I wear my heart on my leave
15: Quality you look for in a partner? A good person, humble and kind
16: Favorite Quote? Whats for you won't pass you by
17: Favorite actor? Leo Di Caprio, Tom Hardy (swoon, I love him)
18: Favorite color? Red
19: Loud music or soft? Both, depends on humour, I love Power Ballads and Rap, I'm a weirdo
20: Where do you go when you’re sad? To my bed to cry
21: How long does it take you to shower? 5-10 mins, and it has to be red hot.. I love heat
22: How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? 30-45 mins without the kids, 1hr to 1 and a half with the kid
23: Ever been in a physical fight? Yes, embarrassingly enough
24: Turn on? A sexy smile
25: Turn off? People who love themselves
26: The reason I joined Facebook/Snapchat? It de-stress from work and have a little hobbit for myself
27: Fears? Losing the people I love
28: Last thing that made you cry? everything makes me cry, even adverts. I'm okay with showing emotions
29: Last time you said you loved someone? Everyday to John and the kids
30: Meaning behind your Facebook/Snapchat Name? When I was younger I always wrote Love like LUV and I signed everything with Luv Lisa
31: Last book you read? It was Fifty Shades of Grey, but that was ages ago
32: The book you’re currently reading? Haven't read a book in forever
33: Last show you watched? The Walking Dead Season 6
34: Last person you talked to? John when I got in from work
35: The relationship between you and the person you last texted? We work together
36: Favorite food? Chicken Curry, I'm obsessed
37: Place you want to visit? All the tropical places in the world, but I would love to go to Las Vegas Baby!!!
38: Last place you were? In Ireland Killarney, Europe - London with work, Last Summer - Salou
39: Do you have a crush? On every MUA on Instagram
40: Last time you kissed someone? Today, my kids and John
41: Last time you were insulted? Recently, an underhanded comment about a dress I wore
42: Favorite flavor of sweet? Cola or Apple
43: What instruments do you play?? Piano
44: Favorite piece of jewelery? My engagement ring
45: Last sport you played? I never ever play sport, I am so unfit
46: Last song you sang? Eminem Shake that
47: Favorite chat up line? Hate chat up lines
48: Have you ever used it? No, I'm very direct
49: Last time you hung out with anyone? I went out Paddies night
50: Who should answer these questions next? 

@Bee Amazing Nails

@Jamie from Grey Skies, Silver Lining

@Ciz and Make up

@Lushious Locks

@ The Beauty Boudoir

Its my Life (March 21st)

Well we've all survived another dreaded Monday. This month is just flying by, I cannot believe it will be Easter in a few days. Was it not Christmas like 5 minutes ago... So what did I get up to last week. It was a lovely short week work wise, god I love a 4 day week (who doesn't), they are the best. I was off Wednesday and Thursday, the kids started their mid term holidays, so I had a nice lie on both mornings. I love when the kids are off school, because it means my mornings are less hectic, no lunches to be made (I hate making lunches) and no raiding the wardrobes for uniforms. With the amount of washing I do each day its hard to believe it but I can never seem to find a uniform in the house :)

On Thursday as you all know we had the be-love'd Paddies day. Our excuse to head out and celebrate being Irish, you know because us Irish don't celebrate all that much. I decided to head out last minute, normally I'm not a big fan of the day/night, and 2 years ago we were in New York for it, so as you can imagine nothing could ever compare to that. I had a great night with a few of the girls, we were like a bunch of crazy people that had been let out on day release. I was very surprised at how quiet it was though, not that it was quiet quiet but I would have expected it to be crazy (being the day thats in it and all). But of course I danced my socks off and probably waffled the ears off of whoever would listen to me. I had a very surreal and strange experience when I was out. Up until now alot of the people that I know would ask me how my blog was going, but on Paddies night a few girls came up to me to say hi and that they follow me on FB/Snapchat. They were referring to me as "Luv Lisa" which is obviously my page and blogs name but it was soooo strange being called by that in person. It was lovely to meet and chat to some of the girls I connect with on this, and to get their views on what I do and what parts they like. I even got asked for a picture twice, twice like..... big celeb here! my friends thought this was hilarious and they took the piss out of me all night. I felt a little awkward, it is so easy to sit here and put thoughts on to paper/screen. Any one can do this, anyone, but you kind of forget that some girls, especially younger girls could become very easily influenced by you and what you say and so. So for me its important that I use this platform I have in the correct way

On a totally different and unrelated note,  I had myself convinced up until last week that I was pregnant. PREGNANT....For the record, I AM NOT.  When I realised I wasn't, I was actually a little bit sad. Unusual for me because I don't really plan on having any more kids, however I was getting a bit excited at the thought of possibly being pregnant. Its crazy what your hormones can do, I found myself looking at baby clothes and thinking about names etc but it was short lived and just not mean't to be. So thats all of my drama for the week. I hope everyone has a great week ahead and I'll chat to you all next Monday. Please feel free to leave any comments or private message me. i love hearing from people. Its my favourite part of all of this xxx

Last week I was....

Loving - New Looks Spring Summer Collection, gorgeous dresses and killer heels
Craving - Pringles Salt and Vinegar and Prosecco
Buying - Vichy Life Serum and Night Cream
Stalking - The Life and Style of Jen - Snapchat @jenniferdevitt
Crushing on - Just Jordan's dress @ The Miss Cork event
Shocked by -  Realising I wasn't pregnant
Watching - The walking dead
Loving - Morning Lie ons

What did you all get up to xx

Its my Life (March 14th)

Hello everyone and welcome back, well that week flew by. Literally blinked and it was gone. Had a great start to the week being off on Monday and all, which by the way is a great day to be off, no Monday blues. By Tuesday I was flying off to London for a conference, so a large part of my week was spent travelling and queuing.... I feel like I spent the week queuing (I'll tell you more about that in a while. There is nothing quiet like having an alcoholic beverage in the airport, that holiday feeling, even though I wasn't going on holiday. So one drink in the airport and a small teeny tiny bottle of presecco on the plane and I was pissed. Well on it...I get drunk so easy but whatever it was about having bubbles on a plane I was fluttered. Off to London we headed

We were at Wembley stadium for the conference a very impressive venue, but lord jesus the security and queuing, see there was over 500 managers in one large room, so we queued to get into the room and out for each break and everything was buffet style so again, queues, queues and more queues but I really shouldn't complain because it was a fun trip overall. I had my typical mental melt down before we headed out to the night part of the event. I had packed 2 outfits but took the second one out last minute as my bag was over 20kg (must have been the 20 pairs of shoes I said I'd bring with me). So that left me with one outfit, a red dress, a beautiful dress. But I was having one of those "food baby" days, where my stomach looked like a little pot belly and my dress was super tight, and very boobie. Of course I forgot to bring boob tape and I felt I had a little too much on show.  So I was very conscious and couldn't relax for the first half of the night. A few vodkas later and I couldn't have cared less. It was a  great night, Oscar themed with an awards ceremony and all. I tell you something the Scottish are as mad if not crazier than the Irish. Off home we went the next day a little worse for wear, but at least I had the weekend off to look forward to so that kept me going.

When I have a weekend off we normally have something planned, we go home to Cork or away for the weekend. But this weekend we had no plans, no travelling and it was heaven. It was so nice to not  have to be on a time schedule for once. I often feel like every hour of my day is planned and sometimes its nice to wing it and to go with the flow. Saturday we went for a walk as a family, we never get to do things like that and Sunday we ate breakfast together!! That might seem like such a small thing but because we never get to do it, it made me realise how much of my life is consumed by work. Because I am mostly off mid week and John is off every weekend we tend to be like passing ships in the night sometimes. We invited our friends out for some dinner in our house on Sunday (they have just had a newborn and I needed snuggles) We chilled out, had dinner, dessert, drinks and it was so relaxing. Exactly what I needed. Time spent like this reminds me of how important it is to spend time with your family, friends and loved ones. Its good for the soul and puts life into perspective. We can become so busy with life that we forget about whats important. So thats it for this week

Don't forget to follow me on snapchat LuvLisaxx to catch up on all my daily ramblings. Till next week xx hope everyone has a good one x

Lisa

The only full length photo I have

Its my Life

Hello everyone, I've decided to do a weekly post from now on about my previous week. If you follow me on Snapchat (LuvLisaxx) than you will probably now alot of what has happened already. However I've been missing from Snapchat for the last few days, since Thursday actually (but it feels like forever and I am seriously getting withdrawal sypthoms). It will be easy this way to fill you in on all of the goings on in my life, not that my life is THAT exciting, if anything it will hopefully make you all realize how un-glamourous the blogging life is.

The week had started off like any other normal week, the dreaded Monday, and a Monday after being away for the weekend always sucks. The house was literally upside down with clothes everywhere and I mean everywhere. Is it just me or have I one of those super magic endless wash baskets... Like a Mary Poppins bag. I had brought alot of paperwork home from work at the start of a week because we were due a "visit". A visit being from one of our new bosses in England, SUPER BIG DEAL in the retail world, but I'm not gonna bore you with that.

So on Thursday I headed to Kilkenny for a meeting, and during the day I stupidly locked myself out of my phone via the finger print. I haven't a clue how I managed it, it was then looking for a backup password and do you think for a second I could remember it.....NO! Total blank. Sure this was only the start of my day, it got worse. When I was leaving Kilkenny I realised I had lost my carpark ticket, so between the phone and the ticket I was becoming  little stressed. I pulled the car apart and my handbag and no way could it be found. Just about to go pay whatever lost ticket fee there was and I noticed it on the ground under the wheel, thank the lord jesus. So off home I went, I normally use google maps on my phone to help me with what junctions I need to take, and because the phone was locked I ended up taking the wrong junction, it was only when I saw a sign saying Waterford 14km did I click I was on the wrong side of the M9...Seriously what was wrong with me, I had to drive the next 14km to get back on the opposite side and at this stage I wanted to cry. By the time I got home I was pissed off, tired and then I lost a nail...That was the final straw haha!! I tried to unlock the phone via Android Device, my Yahoo acc, Gmail etc and because all of these apps are normally open on my phone I couldn't remember any of the passwords. I was in bed for 8:45. Safe to say it was one of those days

We were up early the friday morning, 5:30 to be exact because Josh was getting his tonsils out in the Eye and Ear Hospital. The poor thing was petrified and so upset, hate seeing the kids like that but thankfully everything went well and he was fine. When we were admitted the nurse asked us which one of us was staying overnight and the 2 of us looked blankly at her. STAY? What do you mean stay, he is an out patient, or so the letter said. Oh but no he wasn't...I didn't even get a shower that morning because I was going to when we got home, and I didn't even have a change of clothes or a nightdress (not that I wear nightdresses) John decided to stay and I went home that evening to collect Logan and the dog. I was just about to pop into Tesco to get us some dinner and Lo and Behold I had left my wallet at the hospital. What the hell was wrong with me. So it was a freezer dinner for myself and Logan. Up early again Saturday back to the hospital to collect John and Josh. I was due in work that evening but I think the last few days had taken its toll on me and I took the evening off, very unlike me but I hadn't been feeling the best all week to be honest. So it was prob for the best.

I still have no phone and I still can't remember any of my passwords, safe to say it was a weird week. I felt like I was losing my mind, maybe I am. Has anyone had this sudden loss of memory or is it just old age?

Till next week

Luv Lisa xx

It's not always a fairytale

Having a baby is meant to be one of the most amazing and magical experiences you will ever have in your life, and yes it can be, however nothing can prepare you for the darker more emotional side of the experience. The side that is difficult to talk about, because if you truly voice what goes on in your head people might look at you very differently. As a nation we can have the "get up and get on with it" attitude to life and it is so much easier to brush things under the carpet, then having to deal with them. We can very easily become embarrassed to admit that not everything is okay, or that we may be struggling. Recently I was listening to a few of the snapchat/bloggers that I follow, and "post natal" depression was the topic of conversation. So many girls have suffered from this and I think it is extremely important to talk about it. When you go through something like this you feel very alone, it is hard to understand what is going on and you can quickly spiral into a very dangerous and dark place. I've touched on this previously in some of my earlier posts however I've never really sat down and put it all into words. It is difficult for me to re-live some of these memories but it is also important to show that no matter how dark it becomes, we are stronger than we think, and we can always push through. So here it goes...

I was 24 years when I had my first boy, it wasn't planned and I felt that I was really only starting to enjoy my life. I was only with my partner a few weeks and we really didn't know very much about each other at all. When I fell pregnant it felt like my world had ended, it was the worst thing that had ever happened to me. I was not ready to become a mother and it took me such a long time to come to terms with it all. Having babies was never part of my plan and least of all with somebody that I barely knew, not exactly a fairytale. I didn't even tell my parents until I was almost 6 months gone. I couldn't handle all of the changes that were happening in my life and all of a sudden and I fell extremely depressed. It was only for a short spell and I snapped out of it (or so I thought) when a friend of mine at the time lost a close family member. It was only then that I realised I was gaining a life, not losing one. I gave birth to a healthy beautiful baby boy and I was happier than I had even been in my whole life, my world had changed, but for the better. I was on a high, but what goes up, must come down so to speak. Everybody talks about the baby blues but I never really understood what they truly were or how hard they would hit me. The day we came home from the hospital (normally a joyous occasion) I cried the whole way home, why? Well all because the part that the baby car seat clipped into was put into the car wrong. Looking back now I think I was scared, genuinely scared that I now had to take care of this little person for the rest  of my life, and I was doubting that I was even capable of this. I got the typical outbursts of tears for the next few days over the most random of things and that was it, I was done, baby blues over!! How wrong I was, they had only just begun. 

I had moved to Arklow only about a year before I became pregnant and it was a huge adjustment as I was living in Cork city before I moved up. Moving from a city to a town is hard, especially when you have so much life around you everyday. I found it very hard  to make friends, in a town people have circles of friends from their childhood, so I really didn't have many people I could rely on. I was at home every single day with a little baby by myself, my partner was working and my days were very long and very lonely. The most exciting part of my day consisted of going to Tesco to get something for that nights dinner. There was days that I would sit on the stairs waiting for my partner to come through the door, and the minute he did I would hand the baby to him and walk away, I found it really hard to bond. I knew I loved my baby (more than I had loved anyone) but I also felt like something was missing. I knew it was wrong to feel like this but I couldn't help it and I felt so guilty for feeling like this that I became even more depressed, it was like a vicious circle. Nobody tells you how much the sleep deprivation tortures you, the tiredness is undescribleable, add a screaming baby to the mix and all the hormones in your body. It really messes with your head, no matter how strong of a person you think you are. I remember my child crying and I would sit on the stairs outside of his room (after trying to settle him) and I would just cry, cry my eyes out because I didn't understand what I was doing wrong. There is no training for becoming a mum and it is by far the hardest job you will ever have. I felt like the worst mother in the world, how did so many other women make it look so easy, what was wrong with me.

I started going out again and adding alcohol to everything that was going on in my head was a recipe for disaster. I would cause arguments with my partner because I couldn't understand why he wanted to be with me. I didn't understand how he could love this person, this woman who couldn't even take care of his child because that is truly what I believed. I feel anxious as I write this because its hard when I think back to how I was and how bad I had got. One night I sat on the cold kitchen floor in the middle of the night crying, I honestly didn't believe it would ever get better, I didn't know how to fix it. Your mind is a powerful thing and I felt like I was losing mine, why wasn't I happy? I should be!! I had everything that most people would dream of, things that I felt I didn't deserve. 

It took me a long time to see that I needed help and eventually I got it. So many woman have struggled with this and while it's hard to discuss it is also important to create awareness. Not everything in life is a fairytale and even the special and joyful moments can affect you in ways you never imagined. Writing this was like putting the jigsaw puzzle together and I know see how a build up of events led to my experience. It didn't happen overnight and it was hard to come out of but we are always more resilient than we think once we are honest with ourselves. Thank you for taking the time to read this

Luv Lisa xx