Garnier Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask | Review

Greetings! 

This here is what is known as an impromptu blog post. I threw one of these fellas into my basket in Boots last week and popped it on the other night. I'm not often blown away by beauty products on first use these days but this really impressed hard-to-impress me. 

Garnier Skin Active Moisture Bomb Tissue Mask (sorry, I've just got to take a pause there for a sip of water after that lengthy name) is one of those face masks that make you look like a serial killer who is fierce fond of a chainsaw, in that it looks a bit creepy and has eye, nose and mouth holes to allow you to see and breathe. Yay!

This one is different to others of a similar nature as each mask contains a weeks worth of serum for dehydrated skin. 

Containing ingredients such as pomegranate, hyaluronic acid and plant serum, it's designed to hydrate, reduce fine lines and leave your skin looking radiant. 

So far, so good. 

You pop this on white side down. The blue layer on the outside peels off and you sit there looking pretty, or terrifying your husband with your serial killer face mask, whatever you prefer. 

For more on that, see the collage below:

That goes on for 15 minutes, peel it off and luxuriate in your super soft skin. I'm not joking- my skin felt amazing afterwards and my make up went on smoothly and easier than usual the following morning. 

I'll also say that this really felt like a weeks serum had just been applied to my face. 

It's a good'un. 

And here's the real kicker; these are only €1.39 each. So, really you should go now and fill a whole basket with these. 

It'll be worth it. Trust. 

Have you tried the Moisture Bomb face mask? Are you also very impressed? To the comments!

XX

Skincare Updates!

I was tagged on Snapchat to do a video of my skincare, which I did and aside from realising how many products I actually have (in fairness, the majority were sent to me for review), I also figured out that I hadn't in fact reviewed these fellas yet:

 

 Organic Surge Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser*

I really like the Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser (try saying that three times quickly) so I was intrigued to try out this fella as it has lots of nice ingredients like damask rose oil, Shea butter and orange peel oil that combined, are designed to moisturise and brighten the skin. It's super easy to use too; massage onto dry skin to loosen your make-up, dampen a muslin cloth with warm water and wipe off. This even removes my eye make-up and overall my skin is left feeling clean and soft, with no tightness or dryness.

Josie Maran Argan Oil Light

This was a free gift with purchase (purchase of MANY things) in Sephora last year and I chose this as my gift because I'm all out of a facial oil and had heard great things. Because this is a featherweight version of the well known moisturising Argan oil, it can be used under make up as it has a semi-matte finish, although I choose to just use it at night time after moisturiser. So far, I'm loving it; it feels so lovely on- there's no greasiness but there is soft skin so it's really the best of both worlds. I would 100% buy a large version the next time I see it!

Olay Total Effects 7 in-one Feather Weight Moisturiser*

This is a light, anti-ageing moisturiser that has Vitamin B3, B5 and E to give you seven signs of younger looking skin. If you're interested those are; moisturises, reduces appearance of wrinkles, restores firmness, brightens, evens tone, smoothes texture and refines the look of pores. 

All of that aside, I love this, yes love because it sinks in immediately and my skin is quenched. My make up applies beautifully over it and it has an SPF of 15 so basically it has everything I look for in a day moisturiser. Love it. I will be buying this again for sure.

Organic Surge Comforting Hand & Nail Cream*

Another excellent product from Organic Surge and one of my favourites from them. Himself and I use a hand cream every night for our super dry skin (we both work in hospitals so use a lot of alcohol hand gel etc)and so I like to think we're hand cream aficionados at this stage. If we both like one then you can be sure it's good. We're about half way through this fella and we'll definitely be buying more. This is lavender scented which generally I'm not a huge fan of but it's great for last thing at night, lavender being an aid to sleep and there's also geranium essential oils, vitamin E, Shea butter and cocoa butter in there too so you'd best believe it's working on our chapped hands! Oh and it's suitable for those who are eczema prone!

 

Fresh Black Tea Firming Overnight Mask

I am obsessed with overnight face masks lately. I also got this in Sephora and although it was pricey (sure look, money spent in dollars isn't real money anyway) because I'd done a good bit of research about it online beforehand and there was a lot of praise! 

It contains a complex of black tea ferment and black tea extract, blackberry leaf and lychee seed extracts, all designed to help improve your skins elasticity, firm it up while you sleep while peptides defy the signs of gravity. You heard; IT CAN DEFY GRAVITY!!! 

There's also Hyaluronic acid for moisture and Belle de Nuit extract (nature's nocturnal flower) to help soothe and rebalance skin. Sorry, I had to give you the blurb for that one cause there's so much going on in there! All you really need to know is it feels amazing and smells unbelievale (like a delicate tea with flowers floating in it) 

Obsessed.

Ren Instant Brightening Beauty Shot Eye Lift*

This gel-serum is designed to get to work instantly- something I've personally never experienced from an eye cream/serum before. I pat a tiny amount in (I've a feeling I'll have this little bottle forever), and I can feel a tightening, slightly tingly warm sensation. I haven't used this over a long enough period of time to be able to say categorically that it has sorted out my eye bags but if it carries on as it's going I'll be delighted! Over time it is supposed to dramatically reduce dark circles, puffiness and the appearance of fine lines. Currently my main issue is dark bags, they're the first thing on my face that gives away my age (shakes fist at eye bags) and I do genuinely think this has helped. It can be used over your make-up, topped up throughout the day, so I may well start doing that as well, every little bit helps!

Garnier Ultimate Blends Restoring Lotion 

I tried a free sample of this in a magazine recently and although I'm not a fan of honey, I loved how intensely moisturising this is on my super dry skin and actually, the scent is really good! Even though it's rich, it does sink in quickly so it has everything I like in a body moisturiser and I love that it's in a pump bottle too. Plus it was only around six euro something! Bargain-tastic!

Even as I was typing this I started using some products from Eucerin specifically for my dry skin and I forgot to mention my Ren 1 minute Facial in this lot too so expect more skincare from me soon!

Have you tried any of these?

What did you think?

To the comments!

XX

*This post contains products that were sent to me to review. I was not paid to do so and all of the opinions expressed here are my own. 

Organic Surge is new to Ireland, not tested on animals and now available in Allcare pharmacies in Dublin, Cork, Kildare and Louth.

Come, Look At My Trash #5!

Yes, it's that time again. I've set aside all of my empty beauty containers for the last few months and now I have this little box crammed with used up skincare, haircare and a little smidge of make-up! I truly love a good empties post. It fills me with a great sense of wellbeing once I've finished a product, which, granted makes me sound unstable but it's just about that small sense of achievement really! I also love reading other bloggers empties posts because if they finished it and loved it then you know it's good and worth getting yourself!

Bioderma Make-Up Removing Micelle Solution

I got this at the launch of Bioderma in Ireland last year (review HERE) and loved it straight away. It removed all of my make-up easily, quickly and without any stinging or drying sensation afterwards. A great option for travelling, the gym and for after a night out- a much better alternative to face wipes. Sometimes I use this as a first step cleanser before then using a balm or a gel cleanser but that really depends on how lazy I'm feeling! 

I have already repurchased a new one and I've even bought one for my sister, such is my love for this cleanser. 

YSL Le Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara, Soap & Glory Archery 2-in-1 Brow Filling Pencil & Brush and Make-Up Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara.

I've spoken so many times now about my favourite mascara from YSL that you're no doubt weary of hearing about it but here's another one finished. I get these in double packs to save money whenever I'm in the airport so I pretty much always have one on the go. It's kind of ruined me for other mascaras now because I'm so obsessed with the big false lash effect of this one. I'm still searching for a high street alternative though!

I tried Archery as an alternative to Anastasia Brow Wiz and you know, it's a pretty good match! I really liked the shade of this (I had blondeshell, although the writing has completely disappeared) which had no red undertones, it was easy to use and lasted well. Would definitely repurchase!

I received this sample size mascara at a MUFE event and I actually really liked it. The brush is cone-shaped, interestingly and does add a nice bit of volume to the lashes. I would buy a full size but I'm currently trailing about three other new mascaras so I'm sorted for the moment!

Soap & Glory Orangeasm Body Wash

This was one of the big bottles I got in last year's Christmas S&G set (HERE) and it has lasted until now. I did try out a couple of different shower gels while using this one too but also, this is a 500ml bottle and each pump goes a long way! I really liked this scent and like all S&G products, this works well and is one I would recommend. I just need to use something else for a while, you can get sick of the same scent day in day out!

Cien Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover

This was a couple of euro in Aldi, if memory serves me correctly. I'd actually tracked this one down because it has a handy pump built in to it, like in nail salons where you press your cotton pad down on the top and it pumps out the nail polish remover onto the pad. Handy! This one works really well for removing varnish and I like to think that the acetone free formula is saving my poor nails (but it probably isn't). I will say though that the pump function stopped working as well the longer I had it and my hand got covered in the stuff once or twice but it's still not a huge complaint for the price and overall efficacy of the product. Would buy again.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

The actual state of the tube in that photo. These are possibly the worst make-up product on the market, packaging wise. All the outside wipes off and the lid goes gungey but sure lookit, it's relatively cheap and cheerful and it is a great concealer, that can't be denied. I tend to pick one of these up every so often when I'm in between concealers cause it's an old favourite and so it's reliable! I don't think it's the best concealer ever but it's definitely up there. 

Nivea Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Serum Pearls

I reviewed a few bits from this range last year (HERE) and particularly liked this serum at the time. I liked it the whole way through to the end of the tube too and would definitely buy this again. I'm not sure that it's had any long-term effects but I definitely liked it while I was using it. 

Paese Automatic Eyeliner in Brown Glam

I used two of these in quick succession and meant to review it because I really liked this shade (smoky but slightly shimmery dark brown). It applied easily with no dragging and has a little rubber tip on one end for smudging on the go, which I greatly approve of! It is relatively cheap as I recall but unfortunately gets used up really quickly so I feel like you're not getting a whole lot of bang for your buck. The first time I bought it I doubted myself and thought maybe the pencil had broken off at some point so I got a second one to be sure, but no. I would buy it again though if I'm honest. It's a really good shade for lining blue eyes- I find black to be too harsh sometimes and this brown is a bit more flattering plus the pencil itself is a great formula.

L'Oreal Expert Volumetry Shampoo

I mentioned the conditioner of this in the last empties (HERE) and I really liked this set from the L'Oreal professional range. These are designed with fine hair in mind to add volume. I really liked these and would definitely get them again.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream

I reviewed this little pot of Charlotte's Magic cream HERE. For a sample size it lasted a surprisingly long time. I really liked this when I first started using it and I do still like it now; it feels quite soothing for dry skin but I'm just not sure it's worth a whopping €90! 

Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan 

I'm a big fan of Cocoa Brown, which you probably already know by now. This has everything for me; a great formula, application is a doddle, good wearability, and all at an excellent price point. My only gripe with it is that the nozzle on the cans can sometimes be a bit temperamental so I think I'll be getting this travel version (it's travel friendly because it's plastic and not an aerosol and it's within the limit for liquids and air travel) in future as it seems to be free of that issue.

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum

I bought this last year along with a La Roche Posay moisturiser (HERE) to sort out my poor Winter-ravaged skin and this was great. It's a light serum that feels lovely on but can take a little bit longer than you'd expect to fully sink in and be absorbed. Having said that it got on great with my dry skin so I would get it again!

The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Body Butter

I was sent a few bits from this range last year (HERE) and I LOVED them. I was very fond of this gorgeous body butter and the body scrub that was in my last empties post, HERE. These smell amazing and because they have a nourishing oil in them, they're great for dry skin. Would definitely buy again!

And that is the lot, for the moment! 

Have you tried any of these? What did you think?

To the comments!

XX

Cosmic Beauty Advent Calendar 2015: Worth The Price?

I hadn't planned on getting a beauty advent calendar last year but I found myself stuck in hospital over November and the first week of December and realised I was very regretful that I hadn't bought myself a daily treat for the run-up to Christmas. Step in my rather lovely husband who dropped this into my sick bed when I needed it most (I was practically climbing the walls at that stage).
I'd previously never tried the Lancome advent calendar and when I snapchatted/tweeted/instagrammed etc about it, it seemed lots of you hadn't either so I thought I'd review it here in case you're considering it for next year. A long way off, I know but time goes fast and you can check back on this in 11 months time!

The details:

Unlike some advent calendars (looking at you Charlotte Tilbury), there are 24 doors to open here so you feel like you're getting a bit more for your money, which in this case was €120. 

The CT by comparison was €195, which I felt was too steep for what amounted to mini samples and half of the amount at that. 

This fella featured brands such as YSL, Viktor & Rolf, Kiehls and the aforementioned L'ancôme.

What exactly was in there?

What wasn't in there, am I right?!

L'ancôme Rénergie Multi-Lift Crème with SPF 15 15ml. 

L'ancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate, 7ml.

L'ancôme Visionaire Advanced Multi-Correcting Cream, 15ml.

L'ancôme Visionnaire Yeux Perfecting Corrector, 5ml. 

L'ancôme Gentle Softening Cleansing Fluid for Face & Eyes, 50ml.

L'ancôme Softening Hydrating Toner, 50ml.

L'ancôme Sensitive Eye Instant Cleanser, 30ml.

L'ancôme Absolue Premium Regenerating & Replenishing Care SPF 15, 15ml.

L'ancôme Hypnôse Mascara, 2ml.

L'ancôme Hypnôse Noir Hypnotic Mascara, 2ml. 

L'ancôme Rouge In Love Lipstick

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser, 30mls.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate (Can't remember ow much was in this but it was a sachet style container that went everywhere- annoying as I love this stuff but the packaging was not appropriate).

Kiehl's Creme de Corps, 30mls.

Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate, 5mls.

YSL Touche Éclat Blur Primer, 10mls.

YSL Forever Youth Liberator Serum, 7mls. 

Shu Uemura Skin Purifier Ultimate8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil, 15mls.

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Perfumes:

Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb, 7ml.

Emporio Armani Diamonds, 7ml

L'ancôme La Vie Est Belle, 4ml.

Giorgio Armani Sì, 7ml.

YSL Black Opium, 7ml. 

Would I recommend?

I definitely would. It was a wonderful treat to open up a door every day to really decent sized minis, in particular the super cute baby bottles of perfume, which will be very handy for travel and just to line up on my bedside table to help me feel like a giant. 

I can't count the amount of times I opened a door and excitedly went to tell himself about the fab new gift for that day to hear him say "that really was a great buy". 

We were both delighted to be honest. Me, to get to try all the fab skincare and perfume and himself for such successful present buying! In comparison to other advent calendars I've had in the past, this was easily my favourite.

Favourite products?

So far (because I actually haven't tried everything yet);

All of the perfumes! Black Opium is one of my all time favourites. I have a full size but it's great having a smaller version to pop in my bag. Same goes for Flowerbomb, I love it but I currently don't have a full size so this is great! 

I also love La Vie Est Belle, I'm using a rollerball of it at the minute but these small versions last ages too so it's another great one to have on the go. 

I've previously owned and liked Diamonds and although Sì is new to me, I'm loving it; it's fresh and delicately sweet and will be perfect for Summer. 

L'ancôme Absolue is a gorgeous daily moisturiser; it sinks in easily, feels luxurious and contains an SPF 15. A 20ml size would set you back €80 and so far this is lasting really well so I'm feeling quite smug about that. 

I also have been loving the Visionnaire Eye Perfecting Cream; it's light and feels lovely and soothing on the under-eye area. 

I was delighted about the YSL Blur Primer because I had tried it on at a YSL counter and really liked it but couldn't justify the price at the time (full size is €38 for 30ml) so this is great to try and again, the sample size goes a long way. I also love the YSL Youth Serum, which feels incredibly silky and softening on the skin.

I'm a big fan of Kiehl's and so it's great to have a mini size of the Creme de Corps and I'm delighted with the size of the Facial Cleanser, which I previously hadn't tried. 

All of the Lancôme cleanser, toner and eye make-up remover minis are ideal too for travel and the eye make-up remover from them is actually my all time favourite. Score!

I'm also really pleased with the eyeshadow primer potion from Urban Decay; it's been years since I used this one and a good while since I used any eye make-up primer so I've been using this lately and have been really impressed at the difference in durability of my eyeshadow. I do remember that the tube of primer would be gone off before I'd get a chance to finish it so the mini size will actually work in my favour here I think.

So far those are my favourites, but as I said, I have yet to try everything!

Did you get a beauty advent calendar this year? Would you get this one do you think?

XX

Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cream | Review

This was one of my many recent Sephora purchases and a successful one at that! It was on my to-buy list before we went to New York after reading lots of great reviews. 

Kate Somerville is the founder of a Skin Health Experts Clinic and the owner of a range of clinic-developed and tested products, loved by celebrities. Made with the highest quality ingredients, not tested on animals and winners of several prestigious awards, this is a super fancy brand but is it worth its hefty price tag?

Obviously, there's a huge range of products, for different skin types and ailments but I'm all about the dry skin solutions so I was immediately drawn to the Goat's Milk cream. This is a restorative moisturiser to soothe dry or damaged skin and costs a princely $65. 

The primary ingredients are the aforementioned Goat Milk which is rich in natural lactose to soothe and moisturise. Grape Seed Extract is a natural antioxidant, designed to neutralise free radicals.

Naturally soothing Aloe is there to calm the skin and finally, Jojoba and Avocado to hydrate, condition and smooth.

Recommended use is twice a day on clean skin. On first use I was a bit confused, the consistency feels quite light and initial application is almost like putting moisturiser onto wet skin. I was all "HOW is this going to absorb?" and yet after just five seconds of massaging, there it was, my skin was soft and the cream was as one with my skin, as if by magic. 

Yes, it is witchcraft, sure look at the packaging!

My skin has been super happy with this since I've been using it (almost two months now). It feels like a fancy version of a dermatologist-created moisturiser; as in, it's good quality but isn't just for show like a lot of skincare from big cosmetic brands. There's no heavy, cloying scent and it's comforting whilst being effective. For me, I'll always mix and match my skincare, it's kind of my thing, so I'll happily spend more and also less to find the best products out there. 

Big thumbs up for Kate Somerville, only problem now is that I want several other products from the brand. 

Eep!

New Releases From No.7 & Botanics

January really is the worst, isn't it? We're all supposed to be getting started on our New Years resolutions; getting fit, eating well, abstaining from alcohol and meanwhile there's a nasty flu-like bug going around and it's freezing cold and dark outside.
Permanently cold and dark, or so it seems. It almost feels like punishment to be looking after ourselves when all I really want to do is pull the quilt over my head and eat ALL the carbs. One small step I am going to take for the moment is to look after my skin a bit better. 

So, current situation is this; I have dehydrated skin generally but it's also a bit dry at the moment. The heat is on full blast, I have said aforementioned flu-like bug and so my skin is in bits. 

Step forward, new releases from No.7 and Botanics. I've been a long time fan of both skincare brands (HERE and HERE) and always greatly anticipate new products from both.

I have previously never tried anything from the Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced range so I'm really looking forward to trying the Moisturising Body Serum (€34.50 for 200ml). The idea behind this is that generally, we focus on our face when it comes to anti-ageing skincare, often neglecting our poor bodies. Since I turned 30 I have been more aware of looking after my neck and décolletage but really, I haven't done much other than every so often try and remember to bring my moisturiser down onto my neck. This serum is designed to smooth the texture of your skin to visibly improve signs of ageing on the body, so that you hopefully won't have to do anything else! Plus it contains hyaluronic acid and argan oil so it'll help sort out your dry skin. For the lazy person (i.e me), that sounds pretty ideal! I think body serums are going to be big this year so I'm delighted to have a head start!

Not skincare but I'm happy to see there's also a new mascara out. I really like No.7 mascaras and Velvet Lash (18.50) looks lovely. It's designed to leave your lashes soft and voluminous but also defined so that they appear natural but glamorous.

Given my love for the Botanics Cleansing Balm, I'm pleased to see there's a new Botanics cleanser; Hydration Burst Dual Action Cleanser (€8.29). Containing active plant extract, Clary Sage, which is rich in flavenoids known to hydrate and soothe, this whole range sounds like a big glass of water for your skin and I am very much on board with that! 

This applies as a gel but transforms into an oil. It easily removes make-up with when you wash off and it's ideal for sensitive and dehydrated skin. 

There's three other new products in this range, including a 3 in 1 Micellar cleanser, a day cream and a day lotion.

I also have the Hydrating Burst Day Cream ( €10.99) to try out. I've only tried this on the back of my hand so far but it feels light and non-greasy and left that little patch of skin feeling nice and soft. It's designed to provide 24 hours of hydration and leave your skin smooth.

I will try all of these and report back but for the moment are there any of the new releases you're going to be treating yourself to for the new year? I'm particularly looking forward to trying the body serum and the gel cleanser!

XX

*This is not a sponsored post but products featured in this post were provided for review. All opinions my own, as always!

Nivea Daily Essentials Cleansing Collection; Micellar Water & Eye Make-Up Remover

New from Nivea is the Daily Essentials Cleansing Collection. It offers products for different skin types; normal, dry, combination and sensitive. I've been trying out the Sensitive 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water and the Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover and here's how I got on:

Daily Essentials Sensitive 3 in 1 Micellar Cleansing Water 

This is one of the better Micellar waters I've tried. I'd liken it to Bioderma actually, which is my favourite. This removes all of my make-up with no residual drying or tightening of the skin, which is a relief to be honest. I've tried a couple in the past that felt like paint stripper but this is so gentle; it says 'sensitive' and it means it! Even though it's a mild cleanser, it's still very effective. 

As per Nivea:

An innovative formula which cleanses and removes make-up from the face and eyes while moisturising the skin in one step. It respects the skin's natural balance, requires no rinsing and is free of perfumes, colorants and parabens. 

This is €5.49 for 200ml. While I can use it to remove my eye make up, if I have anything more than a bit of eyeliner and mascara, I use the dedicated eye make up remover in the range.

Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Make-Up Remover

This is for all skin types and suitable for contact lens wearers. It's one of those cool bi-phase oil/water formulas that you have to shake before using. The oil part is designed to break down waterproof mascara and eye make up without irritating all that sensitive thin skin around your eye while the water part is formulated to protect and care for your lashes without leaving any oily residue. Fun fact; it contains cornflower extract which is known for it's anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. This does work very well- it's definitely up there with my favourite eye make--up remover from L'ancome. Like that, it gets the job done without leaving my eyes red or sore except that in this case it's a bare fraction of the price, at only €4.79 for 125mls!!

I've only tried these two products from the range but I'm impressed. Affordable, good quality products, sure you can't go wrong!

Also available from the range are: 

Sensitive Cleansing Milk €4.99

Gentle Exfoliating Scrub for normal/combination skin €6.29

Refreshing facial Wash Gel €4.79

2 in 1 Cleanser & Toner €5.52

Refreshing Cleansing Lotion €4.79

Refreshing Toner €4.79

Available from pharmacies and grocery stores nationwide.

Have you tried anything from the Daily Essentials Cleansing Collection? Were you as impressed as I am?

XX

*This post contains press samples, gratefully received. All opinions my own, as always!

Sephora & Ulta Haul!

So, here it is at last! I know, I'm desperate. I haven't been feeling the best lately and that combined with jet lag and being run down have left me a bit slow on the blogging uptake. I'm getting there though, I promise! 

Anyway, you may recall I had written a whole post on what I planned on buying while in the states (HERE) and overall I did pretty well! I didn't get everything on it but I also got things that weren't on it in the first place so, that kind of works out even I guess?!

Make-up

Sephora Favourites: Give Me Some Lip. A great way to try different brands, I love this set of six lip products from Tarte, Marc Jacobs, Make Up For Ever, Kat Von D, Sugar and Sephora.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit in Light to Medium. I have yet to use this but I'll get on it and report back!
I was determined to try some bits from Tony Moly, I never have and they're just so cute. So, I got; Panda's Dream Brightening Eye Base, Mini Cherry Lip Balm and Mini Peach Lip Balm (I got totally suckered by the shelves of tiny cute things at the counter).
These Lip Pencils from Nars were my free birthday gift (thanks, Sephora!), I'm thrilled as I really wanted to try classic red, Cruella and Rikugien looks like a great everyday shade.
I had a few bits from Becca on my list that I wanted to try (I swatched the Jacyln Hill highlighter but it just wasn't me) and found this great set from Ulta. I had to throw out the box to make room but that aside it contained; Under Eye Brightening Corrector, Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlights in Opal, Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal and Beach Tint Lip Shimmer Souffle in Raspberry Opal. I'm going to try these out properly and get back to ye!
Sephora Rouge Infusion Lip Ink in Peony and Cherry Nectar. Peony is actually one of the mini sizes in the give me some lip set & I loved it so much I had to get it in full and try another shade!
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Black and Lock-It Concealer; it's actually a miracle that I didn't buy more from Kat Von D. I was tempted by the contouring palette and the foundation but decided against both on swatching. I LOVE both of these though.

Skincare

I had the Kate Somerville Goat's Milk Cream on my list before I went and had the Fresh Black Tea Overnight Mask on my Pinterest list (I should explain this; I created a list of Sephora things I wanted in my "likes" section, which I was then able to refer to whilst shopping. Handy!)
Both were pretty pricey but I'm loving them so it's been well worth it so far!
I wanted to try some Boscia and a sheet mask so I combined the two with this Tsubaki Oil Deep Hydration Hydrogen Mask. I also really wanted to try the Sephora Eye Masks and so I went for this Green Tea one.
Ole Henriksen was on my list but I didn't want to splash out on any full size without trying them first. I love Sephora for these mini sets, you actually get a lot with three different small products for the price of one. It's ideal for someone like me who likes to mix up their skincare a good bit! Included in the set is Truth Serum Collagen Booster, Sheer Transformation and Invigorating Night Treatment. 
Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Light. This was a free gift with purchase in Sephora. I've only briefly tried this but I love it- super comforting!

Miscellaneous!

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5 in 1 Treatment. I had this on my list and it was a good purchase; I've been using it since buying it and I'm really liking it. I'll have a full post soon.
Caviar CC Cream 10 in 1 Complete Correction Leave In Hair Perfector. Another gift with purchase; make sure and get yourself a Sephora card, you collect points super fast!
Blow Pro Faux Dry Shampoo & Conditioner. These were a free gift with purchase in Ulta. Haven't tried a dry conditioner before so that's quite intriguing!
Perfect Formula Nail Essentials Duo; includes a protein rich Gel Coat and a Pink Gel Coat. Both seal, strengthen and protect nails. I bought this thinking it'd be a good alternative to my Dior Pink polish but with the added benefit of a nail strengthener.
Lancome La Vie Est Belle Rollerball Eau de Parfum. I wanted to pick up another rollerball after losing my Flowerbomb one somewhere (gah) & I love this perfume. They have a good range of rollerballs in Sephora actually. I also picked up this set of Elizabeth and James Nirvana Rollerballs. I've written about all three of these scents in more detail HERE.

I haven't gone into too much detail here because I will be writing individual reviews. Let me know if there's anything you'd particularly like to see reviewed though!
XX

Get Glowing Skin With These 3 Products!

I'm back! Hello! I returned to work last month and so have been in a world of early mornings, extreme brain focusing and some minor physical exhaustion. It's all good though, I'm loving it. It has meant the blog has taken a step back, which I think is fine too. We can't all do everything all the time. There has to be give and take. Anyways I'm getting back into things today with a look at three of the best skincare products that I've used in a really long time. I've noticed an immediate change to the appearance of my skin with all three of these and felt that that required some celebration, blog stylee.

First up is the Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial from Ren. I'd heard great things about this fella but had put off buying it as it is rather pricey. However I recently availed of a 15% off offer on Cloud 10 Beauty and I knew from the second I used this that I loved it. 

Here's what Ren have to say about it: 

A transforming treatment that instantly revitalizes and visibly rejuvenates the skin. Formulated with potent water-activated Vitamin C it will neutralize urban grey in a flash, leaving skin looking firm, toned and smoothed, while reducing the signs of fatigue, photo-ageing and skin imperfections. Skin instantly glows with renewed health and radiance.  

I can wholeheartedly agree with that. Recommended use is three times a week- you apply it to your face and neck, wet your fingertips and massage using circular movements to activate the Vitamin C and leave for a minute, before rinsing off. It has a strange texture- almost grainy to start with. As you massage with the water however, it becomes a little bit paste-like and you can actually see it, removing the dead skin! It's unreal. What was particularly amazing however was how soft my skin was afterwards. I've never used an exfoliator, face mask, cleanser or anything that left my skin looking like this. I can't recommended this enough. Gone are the days of tired, dull looking skin. You might be hungover or shattered but this means your skin at least won't look it! Lash in some eye drops, make your hair 90% dry shampoo and use this- you'll be sorted! Bite the bullet, spend the money, it's very much worth it. Available HERE for €37.95. 

I hadn't actually tried anything from Irish skincare brand Kinvara and then I only went and won a hamper of their products at the Irish beauty Blog Awards recently! Hurrah! While I've yet to try their well loved Oil Cleanser or their moisturiser, I've been addicted to this. 

The Rosehip Face Serum is the business. This is intensive care for your face day or night and contains a blend of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories (something my poor puffy mug needs), vitamins and herbal extracts to help leave your skin softer, supple, hydrated and nourished.

If you follow me on snap chat (nursefancypants), you'll have spotted me raving about this before bed recently. It's a rather intimidating shade of bright yellow and feels quite heavy to be a serum but my god, once you blend it in, it's so good. 

Here's why I'm so mad about this one. I was absentmindedly touching my forehead a week or so ago (stay with me, this is going somewhere) and I suddenly realised- that part in between my brows and just above it, it's normally always quite dry. Make-up can be a bit patchy there, I have definite frown lines there too and overall it's the most "problem area" on my face. Not anymore! It's now smooth and super soft! What witchcraft is this, I mused. The only new product I had been using at the time was my Rosehip Serum. See? The business. It's not just that one weird patch either, my whole face loves it. Find out more from the brand on their Facebook page, HERE.

Lastly then, we have Radiance Balm All Bright from Boots brand, Botanics. This has been a beauty blogger favourite for a while now and is often hyped as being a dupe for MAC's strobe cream. 

While I've never tried the latter, I can confirm that the Botanics version is worth all the hype. This is a revitalising balm designed for all skin types and contains: 

Hibiscus for a brightness booster that leaves skin smoother, softer and radiant. 

I use this as a primer but honestly, this would work as well on its own for those days where you can't be bothered with make-up but still need a little sumin' sumin' to make you look less deathly (might just be speaking for myself there). 

While the Ren and the Kinvara will have more long term effects and this is really more of a surface only kind of result I'm still loving how quickly this can transform my face! 

So yes, I'm genuinely very impressed by how great this product is and even better, it's super bargainous. You can find it in Boots at the minute for only €3.99 HERE. 

Have you used any of these three miracle workers? If not, are they now on your to-buy list?!

XX

No7 Early Defence Skincare Range

I've had the new No 7 Early Defence range since the launch a couple of months ago but couldn't use them straight away as I was trialling something else at the time so for the last month now I've been using the Day Cream, Night Cream and Eye Cream and I can officially say that I am loving them. 

I will admit, I wasn't expecting much for the very fact that this is aimed at younger women- I am 31 years old and was fearful I was on the wrong side of 30 for these to work. I copped myself on though and realised that I actually have very good skin- I don't smoke and I've always looked after it well with a good skincare routine so I said I may as well give it a go. 

That plus on further inspection of the press release did I realise that it's aimed at 20-35 year olds! I can still tick that box! Hurrah!

Early Defence was developed with younger women in mind. 

No 7 did their research and found that these women (including me, yay!) put their health and wellbeing at the forefront of their beauty agendas- in other words, we're concerned about our physical and mental wellbeing and so spend more time on fitness, eating well, getting more sleep and focusing on relaxing our minds with yoga, knitting and mindfulness. What this age group aren't overly concerned with is ageing, so the scientist types at No 7 have come up with a stepping stone to transition from your everyday skincare to proactively delaying the signs of ageing. 

To do this they're using something called 'double defence technology'. This is basically a combination of prevention of sun/environmental damage and an antioxidant that keeps your skin looking younger for longer. 

To break that down a bit further, you've got:

Ginseng and Mulberry- rich in polyphenols which are effective against superoxides produced in skin when exposed to sunlight or pollution.

Vitamin C- effective against ultraviolet light and atmospheric electrical discharges.

Lipochroman and Vitamin E- effective against singlet oxygen, an incredibly damaging free radical produced by UVA exposure.

Rice peptides & Alfalfa- enzyme inhibitors of age accelerating enzymes in the skin. These enzymes become hyperactive as you age and break down healthy skin components, like collagen. Hence why you need something to inhibit those dudes!

OK, that was a lot of science talk and for sure, you probably skipped most of that or did a bit of eye glazing- I understand. All you really need to know is this stuff has other stuff in it to help prevent the damage that is unfortunately associated with ageing. 

The Early Defence Day Cream is a super light moisturiser with 5* UVA protection and an SPF 15. Because the formula is so light you don't need a whole lot of down time before putting this on and applying your foundation and because it's not greasy, it means it's a great base for your make up. I understood from the launch of this product that they're trying to make skincare more convenient for busy women and I think they've most definitely achieved that here. This is €24.95.

The Early Defence Night Cream is more hydrating as it's a night cream but somehow is still a very light formula and doesn't take that long to absorb. Designed to give your skin a boost and help recover while you sleep, it's a rather lovely moisturiser that smells pleasantly floral. This is also €24.95. 

Lastly is the Early Defence Eye Cream. This again is very light. Possibly the lightest eye cream I've ever used and what I really love about it is the complete lack of stickiness. You know what I'm talking about; way too many eye creams/gels leave an unpleasant sticky residue that seems to take forever to sink in. Not with this- similar to the day cream, it's a great base and is ready for make up straight away. This is enriched with Vitamin C to help puffiness and dark circles and is priced at €17.50. 

All three are currently available in Boots stores nationwide and online. 

If you're wondering whether or not you should be starting to use anti-ageing skincare then I can definitely recommend this range- it's  not as full on as a lot of similar products on the market which makes it better suited for younger women and it still does all the things you expect from a moisturiser- provide sun protection, keep your skin soft and hydrated and compliment your foundation. Definitely worth using your No 7 vouchers on, eh?!

Do you use anti-ageing skincare? What do you think of Early Defence? 

XX

Come, Look at My Trash! #4

Yes, it's that time again. The time for me to photograph my beauty trash, put it on t'internet and discuss its merits for all to see. I've been building this lot up for a while so there's a bit of a mix of skincare and beauty.

I'm starting with the top left hand corner and the L'oreal Professional VoluMetry conditioner. I picked this up last Christmas along with the accompanying shampoo from Preen Hair & Beauty, where I regularly get my hair done. This range was recommended because my hair is quite thin and needs a helping hand with volume but without weighing down my fine strands. I found this conditioner did everything it said on the tin. I also love the shampoo (I haven't finished that yet) and I will definitely repurchase both. I tried using a cheaper range in the middle of trying these out but had to go back to these as my hair was virtually like straw without them.

I used Rimmel Instant Tan throughout my late teens/early twenties as it was perfect for lashing on last minute before a night out. Even now the smell of this brings me right back to that age! Funny how scent can do that to you. Anyway, Rimmel brought out a waterproof version a couple of years ago and so I have dutifully been using it up since. I'm quite sad to see this go as it's apparently been discontinued and it's one of the handiest products I own. I don't always have time for an overnight tan and this just solves that problem so well. Boo.

The Body Shop Argan Oil Body Scrub was sent to me for review last year (read about that HERE) and it's one of my favourite versions of their body scrubs that I've tried so far. It smells amazing and has the perfect ratio of gel to little scrubby bits so it removed old tan so efficiently! I especially like to use this on dry skin first to do all the hard work and then hop in the shower and add water to finish off the job. I would definitely repurchase except that I have three other full exfoliators ready to go!

African Paradise is a Body Conditioner from Lush. you apply this in the shower to wet, clean skin, leave briefly before washing off and it leaves you with soft, moisturised skin without having to add another skincare step to your routine. I liked this. It smells great and both helped out my dry skin and my time keeping skills. However, I didn't love the somewhat greasy residue it left on my skin in the shower- once I was dry that disappeared but it felt unpleasant while it lasted. I thought I could get over that but it turns out, I can't. Added to that that, this is expensive at €24.95 and so I don't think I'd repurchase it. It did last me a whole year though, so that is a huge plus. I reviewed this in full HERE.

I've spoken at length about the Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanse & Polish so I won't bore you to death again but this is one of my all time favourite skincare products. It smells and feels amazing, my skin is never tight or dry after use and it removes all of my make-up, even on my eyes! I generally buy this online because they usually have good offers and really quick delivery but I probably won't buy this again for while as I've several other cleansers to finish first.

Soap & Glory Hand Dream hand cream is the first to finish from my Christmas gift set (read about that HERE) and it's not that surprising really, I love their hand creams! Usually I use Hand Food but this is much the same to be honest. Himself uses whatever hand cream I do and he likes this one too. Would definitely buy again.

I bought Clarins Double Serum in the January sales because it's really very pricey. Normally it's around the €60 mark. Eep! Hence, sales! This is a combination of an oil and a water based serum. They're stored in two different chambers that join together when you press the pump down. I wrote about it in more detail HERE. My skin is dry and got on well with this so I would definitely use it again but only if I had the money, which I currently do not. Wah.

I waxed lyrical about the YSL Touche Éclat foundation HERE and my love has really only grown for it since. I definitely think I've found the perfect foundation for me with this and so I've already bought a new bottle. Love it!

I never actually reviewed the Anastasia Brow Wiz, which was silly really because I loved this! I had given himself a Sephora list (HERE) when he went to Canada last year and this was one of those items. It has a little spoolie on one end to shape your brows and then a twist up crayon on the other end to define. This was one of those perfect shades- I have this in Ash Blonde and it had no redness in it whatsoever. It was also easy to apply and looked natural on. Would 100% repurchase!

I've also gone on at length about the YSL Le Effet Faux Cils Shocking mascara but this is, as I've oft repeated, my favourite mascara. It's designed to look like you're wearing fake lashes and it does just that! My sister was so enamoured with how it looked on me that she is now also hooked! I'm already onto a new tube.

Last Winter I was on a mission to find a super moisturising, cold weather-appropriate moisturiser that would sort out my dry skin. After some ruminating (HERE), I went with La Roche Posay Nutritic Intense Riche (HERE). I did really like this, it was a good thick formula that then sank in well but I don't think I ever felt that tight Winter skin feeling dissipate completely so because of that I probably won't buy it again. 

Nuxe Reve de Miel is probably my all time favourite lip balm and this is only the second tub I've ever owned! I was hooked the first time I used this and would 100% buy it again. In fact I don't know why I haven't yet! Full review HERE. I should also mention that this little pot lasted just over a year, which is pretty brilliant really!

Lastly, I have D'Fluff, a strawberry shaving soap from Lush. Again, I got this a year ago now and it lasted really well. This was a lovely little product; it worked well for shaving, felt pleasant on my skin, smelt lovely and I never got that "fake" feeling from it like I do from other women's shaving foams etc. That could just be me being crazy though…Full review of this HERE. Would definitely repurchase. 

And that's the lot for the moment! Have you tried any of these? Do you agree/disagree with my judgements?! To the comments!

XX

Protect Yo'Self! Sun Lotions from Bioderma, Soltan, Chanel & Calypso.

The sun has finally decided to show its face in Ireland (sorry, Leaving Cert-ers) which means many of us are now liberally lashing on the sun lotion. I wear facial SPF all year around but I must admit I can be lax with everywhere else, especially in the cold Winter months. I do make a concerted effort during the Summer however and so I bring you these sun lotions, which I'm currently trying out. 

Calypso is an Australian brand that my husband picked up in our local chemists. He's always raving about Australian sun care as he thinks they know best. Fair enough. This fella is a factor 50, smells like coconuts (mmmm) and provides a good level of protection. It blends in rather like sun lotions of yore, i.e it takes a bit more massaging in but that's only a slight bugbear. I don't know exactly how much this is but I think it's around a tenner. 

Soltan* is a Boots own brand that produces both protection and self tanning products. These are both Factor 30 which I generally think is a bit low but I wear them for less super sunny days. These are a really lovely formula- it's a new lighter version so it sinks in immediately, making application really easy. They have the highest UVA rating and are waterproof, so it's perfect if you're going in for a dip. I included the mini one (€6.50) there as it's only 50mls so you can bring it in your carry on. Yay! The larger version is €8.50 for 200mls. 

Next up, my beloved Chanel UV Essential facial sun screen with SPF 50. Himself bought this for me when I started getting serious about my sun protection and I've loved it ever since. It sinks in really well, is non-greasy and smells INCREDIBLE. It's also light enough that you can apply make up over it without a bother and the bottle is dinky enough that you can throw it in your bag for top ups if needed. This'll set you back about 50 squids…so yeah, maybe leave that one to the generous people in your life?!

I mentioned French pharmacy brand Bioderma in another blog post this week (read about that HERE) and another product I'm loving from them is Photoderm Bronze* with SPF 50. This is a dry oil mist that provides very high sun protection while promoting natural tanning. This is ideal then for those who tan naturally but obviously don't want to get burnt. It's beneficial for very fair skinned peeps, it's non-greasy, non-sticky and can be applied on wet or dry skin. This is certainly pricier at around €22 for 200mls but I think it's a pretty unique and hard working product. 

That's my lot! What's your ultimate sun screen? Is there any product out there that ticks all your sun care needs or do you have to use more than one at a time? To the comments!

XX

*Indicates a press sample. All opinions my own, as always.