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My top picks from The Inkey List

May 25, 2020

There are so many, I thought they deserved a whole post.

I first ordered from The Inkey List the week they launched on Cult Beauty in 2018.

A newsletter arrived in my inbox announcing their arrival and I was instantly intrigued by their simple approach to skin and the incredible price point.

Over the last two years, my Inkey List collection has expanded quite a bit. Partly because they continue to be super affordable, and because I love their no BS way of explaining ingredients, but mainly, because their products actually work.

Best-Inkey-List-Products

 

Oat Balm Cleanser:

Brand new and totally gorgeous, this creamy, hydrating, lightweight cleanser is super gentle, non-irritating, and fantastic at removing makeup. It’s particularly great for sensitive skin as it’s formulated with 1% oat powder. And guess what? It’s €12.99. 

Hyaluronic Acid:

One of The Inkey List’s most famous products and for good reason, this is a standout hydrating serum formulated with 2% Hyaluronic Acid. It plumps, intensely hydrates, and works to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. I also find it fantastic for layering with other serums as the formula is so thin.

Caffeine Eye Cream:

The original and best of their eye cream lineup (although granted I haven’t tried them all… yet), this depuffs, hydrates, smoothes, and helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

15% Vitamin C + EGF:

This serum is a bit of a powerhouse – it’s a lot more potent than their original Vitamin C (and a totally different texture). This plumps, protects, hydrates, and brightens the skin, and targets uneven texture, fine lines, and dullness. I feel like my skin looks plumper as soon as I apply this.

Retinol:

My favourite retinol and the one I’m currently using twice a week for the past year thanks to Mark from The Inkey List. He told me to try this 1% retinol after I explained my sensitive skin was struggling to tolerate 2% and above. This is a slow release retinol formulated with squalane (which hydrates and soothes the skin) so you get all the benefits and none of the irritation. Yes!

Glycolic Acid:

My favourite acid. I’ve raved about this so many times and for good reason. Every time I use Glycolic Acid, I wake up the next day with brand new skin. It gets rid of dead skin cells, retexturises, brightens, gives good glow – it does it all. I use it twice a week, at night, after cleansing.

Squalane:

This a lightweight, super hydrating oil, that I particularly love to use at night after my serums for an extra kick of hydration. It works to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and maintain the skin’s moisture barrier, and it feels absolutely delicious on the skin. It’s perfect for all skin-types, including dry and oilier skin.

Polyglutamic Acid:

Another intensely hydrating acid, Polyglutamic Acid holds four times more moisture on the skin than Hyaluronic Acid. A more jelly-like texture than HA, this is totally incredible when mixed with foundation, on a longhaul flight for continuous hydration, or as a phenomenal every hydrating serum.

PHA Toner:

A cousin of Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Polyhydroxy Acid is also an chemical exfoliant that does a stellar job of sloughing off dead skin cells and retexturising the skin. The difference between it and AHAs (and BHAs) however, is that PHA penetrates the skin at a much slower pace, resulting in much less irritation or sensitivity – so it’s perfect for sensitive skin, or for those looking for a gentle but effective toner for every day use.

Bakuchiol:

A natural, plant-based alternative to retinol, Bakuchiol is the saving grace for those of us with very sensitive skin, or skin that’s prone to redness and rosacea but still want the benefits of retinol. This super hydrating wonder product helps to improve the elasticity of the skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and boost collagen production.

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This is my podcast corner. I try and sit here at l This is my podcast corner. I try and sit here at least once a day; for a little escapism and a cup of coffee in the sunshine. 
Podcasts are truly one of my most favourite mediums.  They entertain, inform, transport, and most importantly - distract. Ideal for when we have too much on our minds and on our plates (which is all the time, at the moment). 
I want to know what your favourite podcasts are, please. What are you listening to right now? Let's build a little collection of 'highly recommends' in this post's comments that we can refer to whenever, wherever. 
I'll start with my everyday listens; The Daily by The New York Times, and BBC World Service: The Documentary, plus the newest additions to my library; Power: The Maxwells, Bad Bridget, and The Immaculate Deception.
I’m also waiting (with baited breath) for update episodes from The Missing Crypto Queen and The Teacher’s Pet (highly recommend a listen to both if you haven’t already).
There's a highlight in my bio of phenomenal podcasts I've listened to over the last two years FYI, if you need immediate inspiration (mostly true crime, investigative journalism, and current affairs, politics 🤪). 
Happy Sunday my friends ❤️
Do you have Covid Fatigue? It’s a thing, apparen Do you have Covid Fatigue? It’s a thing, apparently. And we’re all suffering from it, in some shape or form, because of the overwhelming amount of stress being placed on our central nervous systems. 
Thank you so much, global pandemic. 
We’re tired - all the time, we’re overwhelmed, we’re emotional, and we’re frustrated. 
And this is why, according to research, it’s more important than ever to practice self-care; in whatever form that takes. 
Whatever it is you do for yourself that helps you recalibrate, and restore, and rejuvenate. Do that. 
For me, it’s a seven-step skincare routine, or 15 minutes of absolute silence while I do my makeup, or a murder mystery podcast (strangely relaxing) when I’m walking the dogs, or the process of making myself a brewed coffee and then sitting outside to drink it, phone-free. 
And it’s exercising, which I’m trying to do more of, and eating well, and drinking enough water, and going to bed at an acceptable hour, and taking the time to check in with friends and family, because at the end of the day, we’re all in the same boat. 
And if I still feel tired, after I’ve done all those things, I think that’s OK. Because I’m doing my best, and really, that’s all any of us can do right now ❤️
Polyglutamic Acid from @theinkeylist ❤️ Lots Polyglutamic Acid from @theinkeylist ❤️ 
Lots of you messaged after I used it in my Stories this morning, asking what it is, and why I like it. 
It’s a hydrating serum formulated with 3% Polyglutamic Acid, a humectant that can hold four times more moisture on the skin than Hyaluronic Acid. 
I apply it to damp skin, after my Vitamin C serum, and before moisturiser. It’s very lightweight and creamy, and makes my skin feel instantly plump and hydrated. 
You can use it with Hyaluronic Acid for extra hydration, and it’s also *amazing* when mixed with foundation - try it and you’ll see what I mean 😉 
#skincareroutine #loveskincare #theinkeylist
It’s the smell that gets you. The smell of empti It’s the smell that gets you. The smell of emptiness. The smell of disuse. 
Uncomfortable chairs. And an ever-present film of dust.  On the furniture. On the ornaments. 
A general air of awkwardness. Of discomfort. And really, when you look at it, shame. 
A room in a house used only on special days. For special visitors. A place to showcase, to pretend, to present, to prepare. Fine china, and tea sets, and brown bread. And shame. 
The room the priest sat in when he came to do the census. 
The room my mother sat in to tell people my father was leaving. 
The room used for bad days, for bad news, and bad people. 
The room played as a trump card in the old Irish game of ‘What Will People Think’. 
The game used to hide what’s really happening. The game used to plead ignorance. 
The game used to turn a blind eye to abuse, to bad behaviour, to bad decisions.
Because look! We’re in The Good Room! Everything is fine. 
And where has it got us? Where are we now, Ireland? 
With our secrets, and our pretence, and our war on women and children? A war directed, most mercilessly, from The Good Room. A cast of priests, and nuns, and government leaders, and ‘respectable’ members of the community, ready to take their seats. Ready to drag daughters from homes, babies from arms, and hearts from chests. 
For shame, Ireland. For shame. How could we be so unloving? How could we be so cruel? 💔 
#motherandbabyhomes
I own three @topshop Weekend T-Shirts and can’t I own three @topshop Weekend T-Shirts and can’t recommend them enough. 
Flattering fit, great quality (that survives repeat washes), and currently reduced to £4 on @asos 😆 #win
In other news this is what I wore today. 
We went out for an early breakfast, and then spent the (entire) day packing up all the Christmas decorations. 
I’m wrecked but *thrilled* as the clutter was starting to get to me 😆 
Hope you’re all doing OK ❤️
#nothingelsetoreport #overandout
Festive makeup on the most un-festive day, but we Festive makeup on the most un-festive day, but we made the most of it ✨ 
Santa thankfully got around the travel ban, so we opened presents, and we FaceTimed, and we sipped coffee; festive tunes tinkling in the background, faces squished to the screen, miss yous and love yous exchanged across 5,000 miles.
And then we went to brunch, just the three of us, and we ate burrata, and discussed dessert, as the sun streamed through the windows, and our phones buzzed with messages from people we love. And Charlie said; ‘it doesn’t really feel like Christmas. But it still feels nice.’ 
And in the end, as we made our way home, and got ready for afternoon on the couch, I realised it was more than nice. It was wonderful ❤️
What’s your all-time favourite moisturiser? Thi What’s your all-time favourite moisturiser? 
This is mine; @avene_uki Hydrance Aqua-Gel. I’ve always been a fan of Avene, but when this came out (two years ago now?) it was love at first slather. 
It’s a super lightweight gel-cream and incredibly hydrating (like a big drink of water for your skin), and it also doubles up as a great sleep mask (you can use it as eye cream too!). 
I know lots of you have bought this as a result of me constantly harping on about it, so I really hope you love it as much as I do 😂 
My only complaint... is that the pot is too small. I fly through it at an alarming rate, so for Christmas I’m asking Santa to put pressure on Avene to make a supersize version 😆 
#skincareenthusiast #myskincare #skincareover30
Todays face (and bod) picks ✨ Todays face (and bod) picks ✨
A dreamy breakfast at @parkers Beach House with @t A dreamy breakfast at @parkers Beach House with @thedesignsouk ☀️ 
Swooned over the interiors and then ate Granola French Toast. Now that’s what I call a good Sunday morning 😆 
#living #interiorgoals #khobar
(Closed) All I want for Christmas is... @patcholog (Closed) All I want for Christmas is... @patchology eye gels, which are now available at @meagherspharmacy! 
The team at Meaghers have very kindly given me a €250 voucher to give away - so you can stock up on your favourite makeup and skincare products, or treat someone you love to a beautiful gift set (or two!) 🎅🏻 
To enter, simply follow Meaghers on Instagram (and me!), and tag two of your skincare loving friends in the comments.
The winner will be selected at random and announced next week. Good luck 🥳
AD #skincarejunkie #meagherspharmacy #treatyoself
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