Glossier in Ireland; What You Should/Shouldn't Buy

You might have heard recently (from my many Instagram stories/posts on it) that fancy US beauty brand, Glossier is now available to buy online in euros and ship to Ireland. Up to now, we either had to buy it in store in the states or parcel motel it from the UK. No more! And when I say we can get it shipped to Ireland, I mean no nasty custom charges at your front door. You pay a fiver for postage & packaging, or you spend over €40 and get free delivery, which is far too easily done.

I attended the recent launch in Dublin where I received three of the Lidstars (liquid eyeshadows) to try out but other than that, everything I have in this post was purchased by myself online. The website is really easy to navigate and delivery took two days only.

Milky Jelly Cleanser

I really like this. It's one of the brand's bestsellers and I can see why. It reminds me of Oskia's gel cleanser, texture-wise. This has no scent and works slightly differently, in that you don't add water to emulsify it. I use this on dry skin and find it's great for removing most make-up, except for mascara. It's also really nice to use this as a second cleanse as it really does feel like it's cleaning your skin without stripping it.

Priming Moisturiser

I like this, it's a light but comforting moisturiser that sinks in easily and works well under make up. I'm not sure how much of a priming quality it has and I really think they could have put an SPF in there, but otherwise, its been a nice addition to my make up bag in the morning.

Cloud Paints in Beam and Puff

I LOVE these. If you're getting anything, let it be these. I love everything about these; the packaging, the texture of the blush, how it applies and how it looks. Firstly, it's like the perfect liquid gel, it blends in so easily and doesn't stain the skin like some other liquid blushes. And speaking of other versions of these; cloud paints are by far, the best liquid/gel/cream blushes I've tried. They're so flattering on.

Boy Brow

The whole internet seems to be in love with this fella. What I like about it; it has a very small brush that makes it incredibly easy to apply and brush through your brows. I have the shade blonde which is a good match for me, but really my brows are too bedraggled and sparse to get the full benefit of this. I have to use a spoolie plus a brow product first to get the correct shape and fullness and then I can apply boy brow over it. If you have full, healthy brows, you could just use this and you'd be good to go though.

Birthday BalmDotCom

This is a universal skin salve- a balm that you can use everywhere. It comes in a few different shades but this appealed to the cake enthusiast in me and I wasn't disappointed. It positively screams VANILLA FROSTING every time I apply it and I'm not mad at that. I've only used this as a lip balm and I really like it. I've found that applying a Clarins Water Tint and then this over it gives the perfect summery finish. And yes, I know, this contains petroleum (the main component of Vaseline) which is a cheap ingredient but you know what, that doesn't bother me, I just really like this.

Lidstars in Herb, moon and Lily.

These are quite sheer liquid eyeshadows, that require a bit of building up to get a full-on effect. If you want a light sheen of colour, these are ideal. Again, I love the packaging and these would be perfect for travel but otherwise, it might be too much faffing to fully entice me.

Photos taken after using the Primer Moisturiser, Boy Brow, Cloud Paint in Beam & BalmDotCom (over the aforementioned Clarins Water lip Tint).

Products I would Go Back & Buy:

• The perfume, Glossier You, is really lovely, I'd quite like a full size.
• I'd buy all the Balmdotcom's. I know there's petroleum in there, which is considered a cheap ingredient but that doesn't really bother me. They're a lovely product on the lips.
• I really like the Priming moisturiser but the Priming Moisturiser Rich looks like it would be the perfect night time treat for dry skin.

Products I would Avoid:

• Invisible Shield- their SPF, which is only 35 and is way too low for me. I'm surprised it is so low for an American based company but either way, I only wear factor 50 on my face.
• The Lash Slick mascara is very much a daytime mascara and I'm just all lash drama, all the time.
• Both the Skin Tint (foundation) and the Stretch Concealer are light coverage and that's just not really my thing. Glossier as a brand are very much about that minimal make up look, but I like make up to do it's job, otherwise I'm very happy just not wearing any at all, if I'm having a particularly good skin day, for instance.
• The three serums; Super Pure, Super Bounce and Super Glow (Super Bounce is supposed to be the best of the three fyi), are all designed to target different skin woes and look very nice but regardless, they're €28 for 15mls, which seems a bit overpriced to me.

That's that for the time being, although I can't guarantee I won't be back for more!

Have you tried anything from Glossier?

XX

Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm | Review

I've tried a lot of cleansers in my time (serious auld one vibes here) and at various times I thought the Eve Lom Balm Cleanser, the Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser, the Pixi Double Cleanse or the Oskia Cleansing Gel were my favourite (they are all winners, in fairness) but for me, the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm blows them all out of the water. It's been around for years now so this post is fairly late in the general scheme of things but sometimes a product is so good, it's still worth shouting about, years after its first release. 

I tried this initially when I got a mini pot in my Marks & Spencer advent calendar two years ago. I got another one last Christmas. Both pots were used up until there wasn't even a microscopic fragment of balm left and I eventually treated myself to a full size. I say 'treated' because this fella is pricey. I got the 100ml size from Cult Beauty, which set me back £47, or about €53 (I got a deal though, so it's OK!!). 

Eep!

Let me tell you why it's worth it though. 

• Firstly you only need the tiniest amount to clean your whole face, so you'll have your 100ml pot for ages.
• It's super comforting; it's packed with wild sea fennel, rose oil and vitamin E that beautifully cleanse your skin while leaving it soft and radiant. It feels like a treat to use. 
• The smell lads. I can't. I'm not far off standing up in a circle and saying "Hello, my name is Chloe and I'm an addict. I can't stop inhaling Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm". So there's a few essential oils in there and that's apparently what's causing my olfactory overload. Extracts of jasmine, bergamot, orange and sweet almond oil combine together to give the most heavenly home facial, but every night! It's glorious!
• It's easy to use; massage onto dry skin, it turns into an oil that breaks down make-up, dirt and all the other crap that's attached to your face throughout the day, then cleans off easily with a warm, damp muslin cloth. You don't even need to do a double cleanse with this fella, but you can if you want to, of course.
• The brand also suggest using this as a face mask for 10 minutes while you take a relaxing bath, which I hadn't considered doing but am now totally on board with.

And that's your lot. I'm looking forward to using my brand new pot tonight, that's if I can stop myself from eating it all first.

Have you tried Emma Hardie's Cleansing Balm?

If not, why not?!

XX

Clarins Hydra Essentiel Eye Mask & Lip Balm | First Impressions

As a long-time haver of dry skin, I'm already a big fan of the Clarins Hydra-Essentiel range, in particular their moisturisers. You can only imagine how happy I was to see that they've added an eye mask and a lip balm, two areas I tend to struggle to keep from drying out completely. 

Moisturising Reviving Eye Mask*

There's a discrepancy in opinions on the benefit of eye creams/gels etc but personally I like a nice light under-eye moisturiser, prone as I am to dark circles and generally looking exhausted at all times (I'm not sure any eye cream can help with dark circles thanks to them usually being caused by genetics and/or dehydration. I do like to help out the dry skin from the outside where I can though). This is a cooling, melting cream that feels like a gel. You can use it in two ways; as a mask that you leave on over night (my preference) or for a quick 10 minute boost (you take the cream off afterwards. I think this is a waste so I leave it on, even when I use it in the morning. And yes, I put my make-up on over it but it's a moisturiser so it all works out well for me). I've been using this pretty religiously twice a day for about two weeks now and I'm loving it. I've noticed a definite plumping to my under eye skin and even better, it's noticeably softer. This is a lovely treatment; it's comforting, cooling, moisturising and sinks in almost immediately. 

Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm*

If like me, you find yourself permanently battling dry lips, you need this fella. My ultimate lip balm, Nuxe Reve de Miel usually sits on my bedside table and I wear it as a lip mask every night. I finished my last pot of that sometime last year however so I've been in need of a new, hard working lip balm and this is the one! What sets it apart is the addition of blue lotus wax to nourish and cocoa extract to stimulate the production of hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump the lips. There's also a shot of rosy pink in there for a flattering, natural glow. I've been using this as part of my nighttime skincare routine and occasionally during the day too. It's a really good balm; moisturises, comforts and is non-sticky, non-slippy and almost mattifying, so there's very little chance of your hair getting stuck to your lips. Hurrah! 

Price wise, the eye mask is €33 and the lip balm is €21. I know that sound like a lot, and trust me I balked a bit when I saw the prices first myself but having used them, I cam see why they are the cost they are. They're full of good quality ingredients with all of Clarins' skincare knowledge and innovation packed into each tube. I've noticed a definite change with both and that's often hard to tell with skincare products. Both are available on counter form April the 16th.

Will you be checking these out?

XX

*indicates these products were provided for review. This post was not sponsored or paid for and as always all opinions are my own 

The Top Recommended US Drugstore Beauty Products- Reviewed!

I find shopping in Sephora and US Drug stores confusing, if I'm honest. Even when I've prepared myself and made a list of things I want, I always find myself feeling a bit overwhelmed; there's just too much beauty stuff.
The gap between what we can't get here and what you can only get in the states has definitely narrowed, but there's still the few items that most Irish gals will be on the lookout for when beauty shopping in America. The last time we were over (November 2017), I knew exactly what I wanted from Sephora but hadn't thought a huge amount about budget beauty so I found myself scrolling through "the top ten drugstore beauty products you need" articles online in our hotel room one night and sure enough, I made my way to a CVS the next day.
These were all recommended by various magazines, I haven't tried them all yet but they didn't cost the earth so I thought they'd be worth a go! (there was also many more products recommended, that either didn't suit me, wrong hair or skin type etc or else products that I already have/have tried).

E.L.F Hydrating Face Primer

This is part of a series of face primers from the budget beauty brand E.L.F (Eyes. Lips, Face). I have dry skin so this seemed a no-brainer and every online magazine raved about this one in particular. If memory serves me correctly, it cost less than $6. It has no fragrance to speak of but I do notice a slightly chemically scent that does wear off as you wear it. It's clear and looks a bit like Vaseline when you pump it out. I've only used this once because I just didn't love it. It is somewhat softening and provides a base in the same way a silicone-heavy primer would. On me, it felt a bit greasy and unpleasant. I'll give it another go but for the moment, I'm not a big fan. I would save your $6 and put it towards this one instead.

Aveeno Positively Radiant 60 Second In-Shower Facial

This was hailed as a new miracle product and one that I sense will take me a good long time to finish. This idea with this is you pop it on your wet face while you're in the shower, leave it on for 60 seconds and gently massage in a circular motion, then wash off. I like to do this while my conditioner is doing its thing. It has a little bit of grit in there (gentle grit, there's no plastic beads in here) but it's mostly the alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that does the exfoliating. I've used this a few times now and have noticed my skin is nicely smooth afterwards and my make-up applies well after using it. I've since found out that Aveeno test on animals so I won't be buying from them again but for now, I'll use this up. It's good.

Almay Healthy Glow Makeup + Gradual Self Tan

This is a medium coverage foundation that supposedly perfects your skin while you wear it; when you take off your make up, you have a natural glow. This has a pump function and two separate chambers that combines the self tan and the make up together when you press down. I got the shade light, which was the lightest there was. There's also an SPF 20 in there, which is good. I've only tried lip products from Almay, which I liked and again, there was great excitement online over this fella. This is a reasonably good colour match for me, if not slightly darker than my own skin tone. It does have that fake tan scent to it, which is never nice but goes fairly fast once it's absorbed. I also quite like the coverage of this; it's buildable but looks natural. So far, I like!

Carmex Daly Care Moisturising Lip Balm 

I love Carmex and didn't need any encouragement to get this three pack of lip balms. I usually use either the tubes or pots of Carmex but I haven't tried the stick version, plus this was only a few dollars. There's a cherry (my fave), strawberry and wintergreen and they all have an spf15.

Covergirl Outlast All-Day Concealer

This is a concealer with a soft-tip applicator, designed to erase the appearance of dark circles and blemishes. It's oil-free and doesn't clog the pores. I got the shade fair. I think this is Covergirl's version of Maybeline's under eye eraser concealer yoke (that I also love and also featured in every top drugstore beauty product article out there). I wouldn't say this is as good as the Maybelline. It's quite a light formula but feels a bit drying. I also don't think it covers my particular dark circles as well as other concealers do. 

CoverGirl Ink It! All-Day Eye Pencil

This is a twist up pencil that glides on like an ink but with the crease and fade-resistance of a kohl pencil. It's also waterproof. I got the shade Charcoal Ink cause I wanted a liquid eyeliner effect. When I opened it I didn't think I'd like it based on how the top of the pencil was packaged but actually, it applies really nicely. I would say; it's not the blackest of the black liners but I can get over that. It's not a super messy liner but you can smudge it if that's your thing (it is mine). Overall, I like!

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Oil

I love Burt's Bees so of course, I had to get this. These are supposed to be moisturising and comforting on the lips while providing a shot of natural looking colour. I wanted a more nude shade but they were all sold out, so I got Crimson Breeze instead. I LOVE this and I need more shades!! I was surprised by how much I like this shade too, I was worried it would be too dark but it's more of a flattering pink plus it feels so lovely on! The only flaw I can see is that it wears of fast but I find that happens with all oil-based lip products. But I like that it's a light gloss and the oil means that it's softening on the lips. So good!

CoverGirl Melting Pout Gel Liquid Lipstick

Pretty sure these are a rip off of the Too Faced ones but at a fraction of the price. I got this in the shades Don't be Gelly and Evan-Gel-Ical (I can't find that one to take the photo, it's more than likely in the bottom of a bag somewhere). This has a soft tip for application. The formula of these are nice but the quality of the overall shade application varies according to each colour. I like these but having not tried the Too Faced ones, I can't make a proper comparison. 

That's my take on the top recommended drugstore beauty products. Have you tried any of these? 

Thoughts?

XX

(Possible) New Favourite Beauty Products

There's doubt in that title purely cause some of these have only just come into my life and as yet have to be tried out but there's also new beauty bits in here that I can confirm that I'm loving! 

The make-up pouch (Bath & Bodyworks) is somewhat misleading, is what I'm saying, but isn't it pretty?! 

Yes, you can spot seven lip products there. I am a lip balm/lipstick fiend. 

First up; my thing with these creepy sheet masks doesn't seem to be going anywhere. I will try every brand, as long as it suggests hydration as an outcome. I just finished off a box of Farmacy ones that I got in the states that were fab- more from that brand later. For now, here's a Boscia Deep Hydration Mask I also got in America, which I have yet to use. I'm a beauty horder. We are however just coming to the end of a very cold snap here so I'll be popping this on this week! 

The Ariel one is by a company called Made Beauty, I previously got a Chip and Mrs Potts lip balm set from them, which was frankly, adorable. This mask is infused with cucumber to cool, hydrate and moisturise the skin, which sounds ideal but who knows what it'll actually do. I got this on Asos, where you'll find a selection of Disney Princess masks!

I'm a marketing persons dream. I saw the banana range on The Body Shop's Insta, along with their new lip balms (below), so of course, in I popped to get them for myself. I used the banana shampoo and conditioner way back in the day and guess what?! They still smell the exact same!! Hello nostalgia! 

I went for a hair mask this time, purely to add in a little hydration and it's honesty a divine experience. I put it on this morning after shampooing, put a shower cap over it, left it for five minutes then washed off. My hair has been super soft all day and maybe I'm imagining it, but a little more voluminous too! Plus, that smell! Love it!!

And these are the aforementioned The Body Shop lip balms. These are the Lip Juicers; 100% Vegan, moisture-boosting balms with smoothie-inspired combos. They look a little like the top of a giant pencil and aesthetically, remind me of Eos a bit but other than that, these are far superior from a moisturising perspective. My favourite is the Coconut/Carrot/Passion Fruit, which both smells fantastic and gives the lips a nice colour but they were buy one get one half price, so you know what happened next. I also got Strawberry/Pomegranate/Aloe which I like too but the scent isn't doing it for me as much. 

Anyway, there's three more in the range so who knows what'll happen next (we all know).

In between them is the NYX Turnt Up! Lipstick. I have this in the shade French Kiss, which on the website (this was part of a "I've put my back out, I'm feeling sorry for myself" purchase) didn't look quite this pale a pink, which I'm not sure suits me all that much. Anyway, I've mixed it with other shades which seems to make it work better and it's a lovely moisturising formula.

Ive mentioned this here before and on Insta and Facebook cause it's so damn good. I got a sample of this in Sephora, having never tried anything from Buxom before and fell for it big time. It's a cream gloss that plumps the lips, tingles a little, smells like vanilla/mint and makes my lips look INCREDIBLE. Himself has actually said "that lip thing you have on is really nice on you". SO YOU KNOW IT'S GOOD. I have the shade Rose Julep and I got it in Debenhams. Also worth noting that this is the lip gloss I keep going on about cause it reminds me of the long gone gloss from Pout that came in those vacuum packs and were beloved by all. WHY did they leave and never come back?!!

Lookit, I know, it's another lip balm but this one was bought last November and I was waiting 'til I finished my Elizabeth Arden one, which is almost gone so it's time for this fella to shine. I love Fresh products, especially the lip balms, which are really soothing. I normally get the Sugar Rose one but this Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm was new and I'm also a sucker for new products, so here we are. And yes, it smells unbelievably good.

I was harping on about spending the end of a Brown Thomas gift voucher on a 30ml size of Jo Malone's Peony & Pink Suede Blush, when lo and behold, the loveliest gal by the name of Samantha pm'd me on instagram and told me she had a bottle she wasn't going to use and would I like it?

Of course I said yes and in the end we resurrected the old Beaut. i.e Swap Siopa just for the two of us, which was lovely. Anyway, this is a truly beautiful fragrance. It's delicate but not sweet, powdery and floral and an utter classic. I adore it! Thank you again Samantha!

I got a set of these Darkness eyelashes in Korea town in LA for $4 and I wish I had bought more. They're quite natural on so they don't look overly dramatic but they still add a little sumthin' sumthin' to your eye make up. Plus, and this is very shallow but, I like the packaging rather a lot.

I got a gorgeous Rifle Paper Co. set from L'Occitane, free with a sale order just after Christmas and I'm getting around to using the contents now. There's a Shea shower oil, a micellar water and a few other bits as well as this Light Comforting Cream. This is designed to be a non-greasy and comforting face cream with 5% Shea to moisturise for up to 48 hours. I just started using this a couple of days ago but I think the scent is possibly too strong for use on my face. It's a nice face cream though, so I'll give it another go. 

This was a mini freebie with the points I built up on my Sephora card and is from the previously mentioned Farmacy, known for cultivating their own ingredients, for a "farm-to-face" philosophy. I've liked anything I've tried from them and my sister is a big fan so I was looking forward to trying Honey Potion; a warming antioxidant hydration mask with echinacea greenenvy (their star ingredient) honey. You apply this after cleansing, massage it with your fingers to warm it up and then leave it for ten minutes. This really does warm up, and gets a little tingly. Once you've washed it off it's supposed to restore moisture levels and repair stressed complexions. I've only used this once and I'm still not really sure how I feel about it, or if it made a difference. I'll keep testing! 

These aren't anything new but Himself bought me the full Crayola box set of the Clinique chubby sticks last year (I couldn't get them anywhere and he presented them to me on anniversary. He's kind of a legend) and I've been using these two a little more than the others of late. Red Violet is a plummy shade while Mauvelous is a perfect nude pink for daytime. These are both nicely moisturising with a slick of colour, if you don't like a full-on lipstick, these are perfect for you. 

Have you tried any of these?

Any personal favourites amongst this lot?

XX

Come, Look At My Trash #7

Alright, these have been building up for a while now and everyone loves a good empties post, so here we go. I'm gonna empty out my box of beauty trash and let you know what I loved, what I didn't and what I would buy again. It's one of my personal favourite types of blog posts actually cause it's almost the best type of review- you liked something enough to use it up and now you can properly give its pros and cons! Yay!

Make Up:

YSL Le Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara x3. Yeah...I really like this mascara, clearly. I usually pick up a double pack when I pass through duty free cause it's better value. This mascara is just high drama, no fallout, pitch black. I haven't found its match and I've tried a lot of mascaras! Do you even need to ask? I've another waiting to go!

Speaking of! Bourjois Mascara Effet Push Up Volume Glamour*. This was a good little mascara actually. Not quite on a par with my all time fave but a good, cheaper option. Would buy again.

Benefit's They're Real Macara. This is a mini that I got in a set. I've never been a huge fan of this mascara, I don't like the hard plastic bristles. I do love mini mascara though, so handy and adorable!

Bourjois Brow Design Mascara*. This is in a brown shade that might have been slightly too dark for me, but I liked the formula and how thin the brush is, which is important for a brow product like this. Would buy again!

Flower That's So Kohl Brown eyeliner. I freakin loved this!! This is Drew Barrymore's make up brand. I annoyingly bought only one of these and it's brilliant. It's a thick kohl pencil that smudges really well with the sponge at the other end. I couldn't find this brand when we were in the states again last November, and I was raging!

Maybelline Master Prime by Face Studio Blur & Illuminate. I really liked this primer. It provided a nice, glowy base, good for dry skin. It also has an spf of 30. I got this in the states, not sure if they have this one here but even if they do I have two or three other primers to use up first!

Revlon double ended eye cream. Again, an American purchase. On one end is a beautiful taupey silk shimmery shade that I used every last drop of. On the other is a matching glitter cream, which I liked but just didn't use. I'm kind of past the all out glitter shadow look at this stage to be honest. I would buy again but I'd love to just get that one shade on its own!

Maybelline Anti-Age Eraser Eye conceleaer. This is probably my third one of these. It has a little sponge at the top, you twist and then pat it on under your eye. This is a great concealer. I've already got another one on the go!

NYX Concealer. All of the packaging has come off of this so I'm not sure what the actual name of this is but it was grand. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it. I probably wouldn't buy it again.

YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation. Love this. Probably my second or third bottle but they have changed the formula, so I'm not sure about getting another one..

Bourjois City Radiance Foundation. This is a really light weight foundation, more like a BB cream than anything. I like it though, it's nice for days where you don't want that much coverage but you still want a little summin' summin'. I have a new one ready to go!

And my most impressive beauty empty of all time is the Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Universel. So this took maybe three years for me to use up. it didn't go off and stayed perfect that entire time. I often used this as a make up base to give an extra healthy glow and sometimes I blended it out as a bronzer over foundation. It's a good product but I got sick of using it if I'm perfectly honest! I would buy it again but I might leave it a while!

Shower & Hair:

Korres Almond & Cherry shower gel. I got this plus the body lotion further down in here on offer last January from Debenhams. This smells beautiful and lathers well. Korres are one of my fave brands- they use mostly natural ingredients, are cruelty free and can be hard to find here which gives them a nice elusive quality ;) Would buy again.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub. Sweet baba Jay, the smell of this. I could eat it, honestly! And I would too except that I always stop myself in time (I jest). Anyway, this is an excellent body scrub. When I'm prepping for tan, I use it dry first, then hop in the shower, add water and scrub some more. It's good. Would def buy again.

Kevin Murphy Angel Rinse & Angel Shine. I love this range. it's great for damaged hair, which mine is. I've gone through a few of these and although they're pricey, I'd definitely buy them again. They work.

Skincare:

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water. They sell these smaller sizes right by the counter in Penneys and I get suckered into buying them every time. This is grand. It's a micellar water like, they're really just for removing the top layer of your make up before you go in with a proper oil cleanser to do your second cleanse. Or you know, when you're too tired to get out of bed and the bottle is right there. I probably will end up getting this again for handiness sake if nothing else.

Korres Almond & Cherry Body Milk. This is the partner to the shower gel above. This was gorgeous too. Keep an eye on Debenhams sale online for the Christmas sets like this. I got the two of these for about €11, if memory serves correctly. I'd absolutely get this again.

Aveeno Skin Relief Cooling Menthol Moisturising Lotion. I think I got this on special offer where it was half price in some random pharmacy so I said I'd give it a go. I found this great for the drier skin on my legs. It's not the most luxurious of body creams- I use them on my arms and chest to get the most out of them and this is very much just for legs, elbows, knees, other dry patches etc. I have a new one ready to go!

Burt's Bees Ultimate Care Body Lotion with Baobab Oil for Very Dry Skin. I bought this in New Orleans the October before last and every time I smelt this since, it reminded me of our very cool Airbnb apartment, beads, gators and being both very warm and very drunk. Great times. It's also brilliant for dry skin- super moisturising. They didn't have this exact one the last time I was in the states (I can never find this exact product in Ireland either) so I bought a different scent for dry skin, hopefully it'll be as good!

Crabtree & Evelyn Avocado, Olive & Basil Body Butter. Oh, I loved this. It's so moisturising and sinks in so well but it also smells just like Summer. It's gorgeous. I definitely want more of this in my life.

Ren Express Make Up Remover*. This was a nice milk cleanser. It did the job well but I suppose it was nothing special. I wouldn't be against using it again but I wouldn't actively seek it out again.

Korres Wild Rose Brightening & Line Smoothing Serum. I bought this in Greece because the Korres products are way better value over there. I used this every morning, under my moisturiser and it was an absolute joy. My skin felt soft and comforted plus you can't beat a shot of vitamin C to your skin! It also smells really good (are you sensing an olfactory pattern here?) And yes, I want more!!

Nivea Double Effect Eye Make Up Remover*. This is one of those half oil, half water yokes that you shake up before applying onto a cotton pad. If I'm wearing a lot of eye make up/heavy mascara, I hold the cotton pad over my eyelid for a few seconds and it desolves the worst of it. This is a really good, non-stingy and non-costly option. I already have a new one on the go!

Fresh black Tea Firming Overnight Mask. I've actually been using this since I bought it in New York two years ago. It took that long to finish, and not because I didn't love it (because I did) but because a little goes a long way. I'm also big into overnight masks and the smell of tea so this was a win-win for me. Who knows whether it actually firmed my face or not but I will say that it is intensely moisturising. My face always felt softer and less parched the morning after using it. I'd definitely buy it again but it costs $60 so I'm using up everything else I have first!!

Rituals Magic Touch Body Cream Ritual of Sakura Organic Rice Milk & Cherry Blossom. Another beautifully scented body lotion. I also found this one to be really good for dry skin and I would 100% buy it again. It feels very luxurious when it's applied.

The Body Shop Vanilla Chai Body Butter*. I brought this to California as it's such a handy size, so now yet again the smell of this will always remind me of that trip. This is from a limited edition Christmas range that comes out every year- I'll definitely get it next Winter because it's a great moisturiser, smells sweet but with a gorgeous hit of spice from the cinnamon to warm it up.

Botanics Hydration Burst Hydrating Day Cream*. This was really more of a very light gel and while it did the job in the warmer months, I really need a thicker moisturiser throughout the colder parts of the year (so that's September through to March, then. Thanks, Irish weather). I probably wouldn't buy it again for that reason.

The Body Shop Vanilla Chai Body Butter*. I brought this to California as it's such a handy size, so now yet again the smell of this will always remind me of that trip. This is from a limited edition Christmas range that comes out every year- I'll definitely get it next Winter because it's a great moisturiser, smells sweet but with a gorgeous hit of spice from the cinnamon to warm it up.

Lancome Renergie Multi Lift Cream. This is quite a thick, heavily scented cream. It says it's for all skin types but if you have sensitive skin, I'd probably avoid it to be honest. It does have an SPF of 15 which is good but I wouldn't buy it again, I felt like it needed a lot of work to move it around my face and the smell is a bit overpowering.

Kinvara Rosehip Face Serum. I really liked this, it did feel quite intensive on the skin but I didn't run into any problems like some people with more sensitive skin have reported with it. I probably wouldn't get this again, purely because I've used serum I've preferred more since.

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip balm. One of my all time faves. This is probably my fourth tub. I'll absolutely buy it again!

The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make Up Remover. Not such a big fan of this one. It actually stung my eyes, which is strange for a gentle eye make up remover. That might just be me. Anyway, this then leaked all over my toiletry bag so it finished itself off in the end. Wouldn't buy again.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Night Cream. I liked this one, it's thick enough that it feels like you're giving yourself a nice nighttime face mask. I much preferred this to its day cream counterpart. I'd get this one again.

Clarins HydraQuench Cream. Not a huge fan of this, again it has a very overpowering perfumed scent that feels a bit smothering on. Won't be getting it again.

Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. I'm obsessed with this stuff. It's the best cleanser I've ever used- you apply it to dry skin, add some water to emulsify and the oil/balm melts your make up and cleans it all away with a warm muslin cloth. I love the smell. Love it!! I've another mini one on the go but I'm getting a full size as soon as that's finished (treat yo'self etc), even if it is horribly expensive! Eep.

Korres Damask Rose Overnight Mask for fatigued skin. God knows I need this! As I've mentioned, I loved the overnight masks, this was lovely. Possibly a little greasy so I probably wouldn't get it again.

The Body Shop Oils of Life Sleeping Cream. I loved this!!! It felt so luxurious, especially when used with the Oils of life facial Oil. Would buy both of these again, for sure.

M&S Beauty Formula Absolute Ultimate Sleep Cream. This promises it'll make you look like you've had 8 hours sleep..I'm not sure if that's true but I know I really liked this and I'd buy a full size!

Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil light. This is a really gorgeous facial oil- it sinks in really well but provides the same nourishment as a heavier oil might. I got this in the states and I'd definitely get a new one the next time I'm back!

Other:

Cocoa Brown Instant Tan Bronzing Gel Shimmer. I'm a big fan of instant wash off tan, always have been. Back in the day I was all about the Rimmel Sun Shimmer. I liked this one, there was no streaking, easy to apply, nice glow. I would get it again but I'm currently using a really good one from  St. Moriz.

Chloé Love Story Eau de Parfum. This is my second bottle of this that I've gone through. I love this perfume, possibly more than the original Chloé. This is a delicate floral but not overly sweet- it has a powdery feel to it too and it lasts really well on the skin. Love it, would love more of it!

Phew! That was quite a lot; probably a years worth of beauty trash! Are any of these your favourites too?

Xx

*Denotes that the product was provided for review but this is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own, as always.

Lush Star of Wonder | Christmas 2017

I mentioned the Star of Wonder in my 2017 Christmas Gift Guide (HERE) and promised I'd take a closer look at it, in case you wanted to know exactly what you had to look forward to!

I think you can't ever go wrong with a present from The Body Shop or Lush under the tree; they're universal pleasers. Everyone loves them because their products work, but also feel fun and different. I also love them both because they are cruelty free and in particular, Lush are making a concerted effort to reduce their packaging, something I'm trying to do myself so it feels like doing some good with your beauty products!

Honestly, there's so many wonderful gift sets from Lush that you could get any size, shape or price that you want and come away with an ideal gift but I think the Star of Wonder is particularly special. Here's what's inside:

• Shoot For The Stars Bath Bomb
• Star Light Star Bright Bath Melt
• Naked Shower Gel Snow Fairy
• Naked Shower Gel Twilight
• Naked Body Conditioner Snow Fairy

So these are the newbies. Snow Fairy and Twilight are bestsellers in their usual shower gel format and to cut down on plastic packaging, Lush are bringing out "Naked" shower gels this year. Same great scents, same great body cleansers, just better for the environment. You can lather these up in your hands, get lots of bubbles and inhale the sweet scent!

The smaller pink pot is the Naked Body Conditioner Snow Fairy. I hadn't used a body conditioner until Lush's African Paradise, which I loved. That was in one of their reusable black pots, but they've gone one step further and made this one without packaging. This is great for dry skin- shower, apply this on wet skin all over before rinsing off to get softer skin stepping out of the shower. 

There of course, has to be a bath bomb in there. I've used Shoot For The Stars a few times before and I love it. This is a tropical blue explosion that fills your bath with a gorgeous, relaxing scent and Brazilian orange and bergamot essential oils to soften your skin. 

I was really excited to see one of the "Fun" products in there as it's one I've never tried but always wanted to! You can use this in a few ways- use it as play dough and make your own very pink Christmas angel for the bath, crumble some off under the tap for bubbles, or use as soap in the shower. All with the classic candy floss scent of Snow Fairy. 

And finally, the real star of the show, literally! This fella is what's covered all the other products in silver glitter! Star Light Star Bright is a bath melt, which means you can pop it straight into your bath or, break some of it off to make it last longer. It's packed with Murumuru butter and ginger and lime oils so it makes the bath water silky soft. The perfect Christmas treat!

You can find out more HERE or in-store. 

Would you love to wake up to this on Christmas morning too?!

What's your all time favourite Lush product?

XX

*This blog post features products that were provided for review. This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own, as always. 

Sephora Shopping List 2017!

We're off on our holidays stateside again soon and that can mean only one thing. Not just that Himself is in Extreme Planning Mode (he has maps) again but that I will be visiting the beauty mothership; Sephora. I'll also be in Korea Town and China Town so there'll be some Asian beauty buying in my not-too-distant future.
And so, I do my type of planning; a shopping list! Hurrah! 

Let me know in the comments what I simply HAVE to buy. Chances are I may well have already have it, given my beauty-loving ways, but I always appreciate the suggestion. I've done a fair bit of blog-reading and Pinterest scouring for inspiration, and these are what I'm thinking:

(note that Himself knows much better than to ever question my make-up purchases but I really love this meme so I still wanted to pop it up...I also need to ask you to ignore that missing 're' in you're.)

Skincare

Y'all know by now that I'm all about my skincare and K beauty in particular does some really great products for a youthful glow so for that, I'll be looking at things like that Watermelon Sleep Mask, which is a big deal at the minute. Not sure what it actually feels or smells like yet but I will investigate further! Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask is the one you've seen all over Instagram; bloggers with bright purple face masks, looking very Alien-esque...I'm intrigued!
I just used up an overnight mask from Fresh that I bought in New York two years ago so I'm keen to see what their new Vitamin Nectar masks are like. The Belif aqua Bomb was another sample I tried and really liked and the Farmacy products come recommended by my sister after she discovered them in a Sephora set I bought her, not unlike the one picture below. I love those Sephora sets- it's a great way to try out new products plus you get lots of mini sizes, which are great for travel, save you money and make you feel like a giant- bonus! I'll probably get a few of the Sephora own brand sheet masks too as they're super handy. The Biossance eye gel is a super lightweight product that helps increase circulation around your eye, thus helping those dark circles! Sephora apparently can't keep it in stock..so good luck to me! I've been using a mini of the Dr.Jart+ Ceramidin for a while now and my skin seems to like it so I may get a bigger size. They also do some very space-agey looking hydrating masks so I'm gonna check them out too. I'm desperate to try something from Drunk Elephant! They're pricey but come highly recommended! Obviously I won't be buying ALL of these so I'll have to do some back-of-the-hand testing in-store and be very selective!!

Make-Up:

There's not a huge amount of make-up stateside that we can no longer get at home. In the last couple of years, Wet n' Wild, Kat Von D, Too Faced, ELF, Milani, Huda Beauty, and Physician's Formula, amongst others have all come to Ireland so really I'm mostly looking at Tarte, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Fresh and Bite Beauty for something a bit different.

Fairy Drops Waterproof mascara is a Japanese brand, I've been informed that it can be found in Asian stores in San Fran and LA and it's kind of a must. It's reached cult status amongst beauty bloggers, and even though I'm pretty loyal to my YSL mascara, I really want to try this. It's been a while since I had an Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz in my life and I need a new one! I've tried all the dupes and they're just not the same. I had a little test of my friend's Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer and now I need my own! We can get these via QVC here but I want to try it out again in person. It Cosmetics are sold in Ulta so I'll be on the hunt for this CC Cream, which is another beauty blogger fave.

I love Fresh's Sugar lip balms and I used up a tube of their rose one last year, which is lovely. The Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm is a new release for them and sounds good! Flower Cosmetics is Drew Barrymore's make up brand and is (unfortunately) exclusively sold in Walmart. I'll be buying more of these jumbo kohl liners in brown, they're the absolute business and really good value! The bunnies are just to symbolise Tony Moly products, a Korean brand that I love! Lastly there, is one of the lipsticks from Bite Beauty. I bought their Lip Mask the last time I was over and I absolutely love it, I'm hoping the lipsticks will be as moisturising. 

My Best Buy of the year so far has been the Too Faced Peach Palette, which I use pretty much daily. I love the shades in it- the shimmers and the mattes are so pigmented and work really well on blue eyes. This is a new release from the brand; a peach palette of only mattes, which look stunning! As far as I know, this is a Sephora exclusive, so we can't get it over here (although I could be wrong there), making it something I'll be seeking out for sure!

And that's that, apart from the "sucker aisle" as I like to call it- those shelves as you queue for the till that contain all the adorable minis of brands you've never tried but always wanted to, perfume rollerballs and things you don't need but all of a sudden, very badly want. 

Have I chosen wisely?

What have I missed!

To the comments!

XX

Come, Look at My Trash! #6

It's been a while since I've done one of these posts so I've loads to go through! I love a good empties post. As I've mentioned before, I like to look through what a blogger fully used up; it's a good indicator as to whether they'd buy it again and in turn, whether the person reading the post should buy it.

Quite the collection of empty bottles there!

Skin Care 

First up is a bottle of Lancôme's Bi-Facil eye make up remover. This is one of my favourites, it's effective and great for sensitive skin. It's never caused stinging but on the down side, it's pricier than your average eye make-up remover. Would definitely repurchase.

La Roche Posay Hydraphase Masque. This is ideal in the colder weather when your skin is starting to crack. The recommendation is to apply this thick cream and leave for 10-15 minutes but I mostly used it as a night time moisturiser. It's good. Would repurchase.

Lancôme Visionnaire moisturiser and eye cream. These were both minis in an advent calendar and lasted me aaaages! I liked them both but the Lancôme Absolue over there on the right (in the clear glass pot) blew this range out of the water. Absolue is clearly a more luxurious product and felt extremely comforting on and was so moisturising. I'd buy a full size but it's pricey! I'd probably not buy more Visionnaire but that's purely because I've used better- from the same advent calendar, in fact!

Three Micellar Waters; two from Bioderma, the original (pink top) and Hydrabio (blue top), the latter being for sensitive, drier skin. I thought that would be a winner for me but actually it was scented (which I thought was strange) and it didn't seem any different on my skin. Still took all my make-up off without a problem. I'll probably stay loyal to the original Bioderma, which I love to use as my first cleanse but I also really liked the Garnier version, which I've actually bought again since. 

MyChelle Deep Repair Cream* is a moisturiser I was sent, probably a good year ago. I liked other products in the range from this brand much more, including a really good cleanser but the moisturiser didn't do much for me. 

Organic Surge hand cream* is one of the better hand creams I've tried and that's saying something; I've tried a lot. This one is thick but sinks in nicely with no greasiness and has lots of comforting lavender in there.  

More Micellar Water, this time from Nivea*, loved this one too. Would repurchase. 

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator is lovely. It has exfoliating grains but they're very fine so it shouldn't be a problem for those with sensitive skin types. Plus, it smells unreal. If I could have eaten this, I would. I wouldn't buy this again, purely as I'm working my way through the Pixi and Alpha H   Liquid Gold chemical exfoliators.

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel* is one of my favourite cleansers of all times. It's a somewhat thick gel, very gentle and removes all traces of make up. I would 100% buy this again, except, again, pricey!

Olay Total Effects 7 Signs Feather Weight Moisturiser* was an absolute joy. It was perfectly light so it sat nicely underneath my foundation and actually was really comfortable on my dry skin. Would definitely repurchase. 

Hair/Body Products

L'Occitane Cherry Blossom Shower Gel. This is a generous mini size and I'd happily buy a full size. I love L'Occitane and the cherry blossom range is lovely. 

L'Oreal Professional Vitamino Color Expert Shampoo and masque (pink pot underneath it). I used these when I had the pink in my hair and they were quite nice, not necessarily sure I'd repurchase them as I'm all about the Kevin Murphy these days but they were decent haircare all the same.

Speaking of which, the Kevin Murphy Angel Wash and Rinse are my go-to shampoo and conditioner now and I'm probably on to my third bottle of each. Again, they're not on the cheap side but they last for a really long time and they leave my hair in excellent condition. 

L'Oreal Professional Techniart mousse. This is for volume and worked reasonably well on my thin hair but as with a lot of products like this, it's almost too much faffing for me. 

Co-Lab Dry Shampoo in the scent New York. I like all of the dry shampoos in this range, I much prefer them to any others I've tried so far. It works well and leaves no residue, most importantly from a dry shampoo.

Roger & Galet Shower Gel*. I loved this one too, it's a really refreshing scent, perfect to wake you up in the mornings. Would definitely buy again. 

Johnson's Baby Shampoo. I use this to wash my make up brushes. It's cheap, works well and smells pleasant. 

The Body Shop Spiced Apple shower Gel*. This was a Christmas limited edition, I liked it, as I like most Body Shop shower gels. Anything apple scented usually gets my vote. 

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil is one of my favourite products of all time. I've used up two mini sizes here but I've since bought a full size for myself for my birthday. I'm good to myself like that. The almond range is gorgeous, really moisturising for dry skin and smells heavenly. I'll ALWAYS repurchase this fella. 

Another Body Shop buy; Coconut body scrub. This is another fave product. I love using the coconut range in the Summer in particular as it gives me that "by the beach" kinda vibe but really, you need exfoliated skin all year round! 

Make Up/Perfume

We were all a bit obsessed in the beauty blogging world with the Botanics Radiance Balm All Bright when it was first discovered that it was quite the dupe for MAC's Strobe Cream. I've never tired the latter but I sure loved the former. I squeezed that tube dry (and went back after this photo was taken to cut it in half and get the rest!). I mostly used this as a primer but occasionally mixed a bit with my foundation for a dewier finish. I would buy again but I've similar products on the go at the minute. 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light foundation is another firm favourite, one I've been wearing for years. The original Double Wear is great, but a bit too heavy for me. I use DWL for night time mostly cause it lasts incredibly well and gives a great finish. I'm just finishing up one right now and I will be buying another. 

Chloé Love Story is a stunning perfume. Himself has bought me most of the Chloé range and this is my favourite- I even prefer it to the original. I used every last spritz of this and would have missed it immediately, except that my lovely in-laws bought me a new one last Christmas, so I'm currently about half way through that one. It's fresh, floral, powdery and feminine. I get compliments every time I wear it. 

Maybelline Under Eye concealer Eraser is a great concealer, especially for those of us with under eye bags. I've used a good few of these now. There's a handy sponge applicator on top and when you twist the tube it gives you just the right amount, which can then be blended in. I have a new one ready to start and the illuminating version that's only recently come to our shores, that I must review!

That pink metallic tube is one of the Fresh Rose Lip Balms, the name has when off from constant use! I again, used every last bit. I love Fresh and I particularly love their lip balms. This one is softening, with a pink tint and the faintest floral scent. I'll be stocking up when I'm in the states again.

Bourjois Radiance Concealer is one I picked up a while back on a 3 for 2 in Boots. It turned out to be a good purchase. I felt like they were trying for a Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer dupe with this one, but it fell just short of the mark there. Nevertheless, it's a good concealer and I would repurchase. 

NYX and MAC Brown eyeliners. I prefer a smudgy brown pencil to a black one as black can be a bit harsh on blue eyes. These both smudged nicely but both had their flaws. The NYX seemed a little too tacky, which could be explained by virtue of the fact that it's a gel pencil liner. I like an imperfect line sometimes but this was a little too messy. The MAC was a limited edition and was a good shade and consistency but there wasn't a huge amount in the pencil, it was gone in no time and not worth whatever I spent on it. The never ending search for the perfect brown liner continues.

Underneath them is the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow. I bloody loved this. It contains both the perfect bronzer and highlighter, finely milled and beautifully toned to look natural on. I hit pan completely on the bronze and the highlight cracked and exploded everywhere in my make up bag. Very sad times. I would most definitely buy another. Gorgeous product, full review HERE.

This won't be the last time a YSL Effet Faux Cils mascara appears in an empties post here. It's a beaut and has ruined me for all other mascaras. It gives you full on dramatic lashes without the need for false lashes or extensions. I can't do a "daytime mascara" anymore, I'm all about the drama llama.

If you've made it this far, well done. If you skimmed until you found a product you're interested in, then also, well done. I'll try and keep it shorter and sweeter next time, promise!

Have you used any of these? 

Did you spot any of your own Holy Grail products here?

To the comments!

XX

*Denotes the product was provided for review. All opinions my own, as always.