Summer Scents 2017

I am one of those people that has to change around their perfumes depending on the season. Some are perennial favourites, like this Chloe perfume for instance, or my all time love, Hypnotic Poison, which will always remind me of nights out, regardless of the time of year. Some though, are perfect just for Summer and so I've rounded up the three that I've found myself gravitating towards since April, when we first began to feel a slight shift in the weather. 

My sister gave me the Diptyque Baies Palet Perfumé as part of my Christmas present and although it is a stunning scent that I would easily wear throughout the year, in palette form, I felt it was better suited for Summer- the scent is so fresh and berry-ish that it straight away made me think of all the windows open in the house, blowing a breeze through the warmth but also, freshly washed clothes and gelato, for some reason. But then, I probably do think about gelato more than your average person does anyway. Because it's a room fragrance, this one is a bit of a cheat but I don't care, I love it. My house is gonna smell delightfully Summery, all, er, Summer long. 

I was sent a bottle of White Musk L'eau from The Body Shop recently- this is a new release for Summer this year and is an updated version of the classic Body Shop fragrance, White Musk, which we all either had or constantly went into the store to spray all over ourselves back in the day. That said, when I smelt this, it in no way brought me back to the 90's and my tween years, in case you were hoping for a walk down memory lane. 

Yes, it has a hit of musk in there but it feels more like that's there to balance the fresh, floral that's there too. That means that if you like a light, feminine perfume but you don't like something too sweet, this is perfect for you. It's rather lovely.

Oh and look at that bottle. The Body Shop packaging is so sleek and refined, I love it. Perfect dressing table bottle.

Lastly, is Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess. Every year, Estée Lauder releases this as a limited edition for the Summer. Up until now, I've always lusted after it but never actually bought it, until I was flying home from Crete and found the last remaining bottle on the duty free shelf for cheap. This is the Eau Fraîche Skinscent, rather than the Eau de Parfum, but it still lasts really well on my skin. This is the ultimate summer scent, in fact everyone who has met me when I've been wearing this has remarked that I smell like Summer. It's the combination of coconut milk, vanilla, bergamot, amber, jasmine and orange flower that does it. For me, that all translates to an instant hit of Summer- it smells like the sun on tanned skin, cocktails, sun lotion and long, warm evenings. I am obsessed. Now I want the Shimmery oil spray for hair & body and the illuminating powder gelee compact, which looks BEAUTIFUL. Swoon. 

And that, is that.

Have you already got your perfect Summer scent yet?

Have you tried any of these

Are you also a Bronze Goddess addict or is it White musk all the way?

So many questions!

To the comments!

XX

Bath & Body Works Candles

It had been high on my list to get to a Bath & Body Works while we were in the States. Mostly I wanted some of their famed Hand Hygiene gels (once a nurse, always a nurse) and of course, their Autumnal candles. As it turned out, I wasn't overawed by Sweater Weather or Autumn Leaves, the two I had planned on getting and instead I let my overriding love of sugar draw me to these:

(shout-out to the advent calendar in the background)

Warm Apple Pie 100% smells like I am actively baking an apple pie. I'm not really sure what wizardry went into this but it makes my mouth water every time I sniff it (which is on the regular). If you can imagine a delightfully buttery crust with the sweet scent of caramelised apples, this is what you get. Plus, it's calorie-free! 

I'm a bit obsessed with cinnamon of late and have found myself adding it to everything- coffee, porridge, my usually cinnamon-free Banana Bread recipe. So it was probably unsurprising that Cinnamon Sugared Doughnut would be coming home with me too. Yes, it does indeed smell like a warm doughnut with that sugary, cinnamon-y hit. 

Anyone else absolutely STARVING right now??

*drools*

And, three wicks each for a more even burn!

I got these (and my all important hand gels) in an outlet version of B&BW so they were a lot cheaper than usual but I think they're normally around the $22 mark each. I was lucky that we also had enough of a weight allowance on the way home that these weren't a problem in their glass jars and I was even luckier still that Himself masterfully rolled these up carefully in his jeans, so no breakages!

I think these can be shipped from the states but probably at an extortionate price.

These are definitely one to add to your shopping list if you're planning a trip stateside any time soon!

Have you tried any of the Bath & Body Works candles?

Any favourites?

XX

Poison Girl | Review

My favourite perfumes usually have a story behind them. My first proper perfume that I bought for myself with my very first student nurse pay check was Hypnotic Poison. 

I had already spent about a year before that taking the occasional illicit spray of my sister's bottle (sorry, Aoife. I'm a wagon but I smell great) so I was already in love with it and continued to be for pretty much my entire twenties. 

A whole decade of a favourite perfume means that I'll always love it. Being a beauty addict, I obviously also went through several other fragrances but I always went back to the heady and potent scent of vanilla in HP. I don't care what the base and top notes are, I just know that I love it. 

Every time I inhale it (and you best believe I inhale that shizz. I'm talking; fill-your-lungs, make an inappropriate mmm-sound, take-an-extra-deep-breath-of it-just-in-case, inhale) I'm transported back to college nights out, work nights out, time with friends, family, dates, holidays, everything really. 

I love it. Did you get that, yeah? That I love it? 

Grand, let's move on. 

So this Summer Dior brought out a brand spanking new version of Poison, Poison Girl. I have in the past had all of their previous varieties of Poison so, of course I had to try this. I spent plenty of time at Dior beauty counters sniffing and spritzing this one, trying to decide whether to get this or buy a new bottle of HP. In the end I just hinted like bejaysus to himself around the time of my birthday and lo and behold, here is Poison Girl:

Just in case you do in fact want an idea of what your olfactory senses are picking up, here's what you're smelling, as per Dior; 

Poison Girl is a gourmand with bitter orange accents, rose, vanilla and tonka bean. 

I'm with yis on the first three, Dior, but I've no idea what Tonka bean is when it's at home. Aside from that, the rose makes for a nice floral intro, which means it's Summery and a little sweet but then you get that warm and addictive hit that all the poison perfumes have. 

How then, you might ask, does it compare to my original fave, Hypnotic Poison?

Well, HP is an oriental blend, so you have jasmine, bitter almond, Jacaranda and vanilla and musk. It's a downright sensuous (major cringe at the word sensuous), captivating, intoxicating and slightly extravagant affair. 

Poison girl is very much its baby sister. In terms of longevity, I can smell HP on my coat days after wearing it. One spritz in the morning and I'm good for the day and I'll never get tired of it. 

PG wears off more quickly but I'm still drawn to it like a moth to a sexy-perfume-scented flame. 

PG is different for sure; a completely different beast, obviously but it's still a really gorgeous scent and is ideal for Summer. It manages to straddle the world of daytime and evening appropriate perfumes extremely well indeed. 

It's very lovely.

Gotta love that poison apple bottle design too. ALL the swooning. 

Anyone else tried Poison Girl? 

Anyone else also love it and also obsessed with Hypnotic Poison?

XX

Chloé Love Story | Review

When I was growing up, my mum loved the original Chloé perfume. You know the one; heady, musky, 80's. Of course, because she loved it, I loved it too. That was until the new Chloé perfume came out some ten years ago. I fell for that big time, and only one sniff in!

Since then, Himself has bought me almost every version of it, which has worked out super well for me, as you can imagine. Aside from the always slightly awkward moment when someone asks what I'm wearing and I have to answer "uhhh…Chloé", of course. 

Yeah cause that doesn't make me look like an egomaniac at all. 

So, when the latest instalment came out last year, Love Story, I once again found myself smitten by its beautiful packaging (based on the love padlocks on the Pont des Arts in Paris) and of course, its stunning scent.

That scent by the way is a romantic play on the original fresh floral. 

This time it opens with orange flower oil designed to mimic the  "intoxicating flush of new love". At the heart of the fragrance, you'll find a seductive hit of stephanotis jasmine- used in wedding bouquets, with a final note of cedarwood, creating a sensual, strong and complex base.

That's the official blurb. I would describe it (using my own less fancy words) as a sophisticated, fresh and feminine white floral that lasts well and is more grown up than I was expecting. While its cousin Chloé is quite powdery (one of the things I really love about it actually), this is a lot less so but still has that classic quality of its forbearer (yeah I know, how can you be a cousin AND a forbearer but sure look..)

So, this beauty is ideal for the following; daytime, work (as it won't irritate your co-workers olfactory senses like you can be full sure 1980's Chloé did, am I right Ma?!), days when the sun is shining and a cool Summery breeze lifts your hair and catches your perfume in the air (ooh la la!), weddings and as a bridal perfume and otherwise just general life. 

Everyone wants to smell incredibly lovely and this is a great way to achieve that.

That accompanying lotion in the top photo by the way? Gorgeous!

C'est ça! Have you tried Love Story? 

Are you a Chloé fan? (again, the perfume, not me. I know you love me.)

To the comments!

XX

*This post is not sponsored. Its contents were not sent for review and as always all opinions expressed here are my own, unless otherwise stated.

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

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

5 Products To A Better Smelling You!

(not that any of you are stinky, mind)

While I'm still loving my Soap & Glory body sprays, I'm always picking up new scents that I love- be that perfume, shower gel, body lotion etc.

First up is Italian Summer Fig*. I've actually been wearing this gorgeous EDT from The Body Shop for the past couple of months now and although it has Summer in its name, I can see myself wearing it for the forthcoming year. It's not specific to a season for me, as it's light, fruity and fresh but has a heady dose of fig in there adding a warmth and a strength that prevents it from falling into sugary territory. As a side note, would you look at that bottle! Swoon! You can find it HERE.

I've loved Roger & Gallet for a while now; I'm a big fan of their fragrances and their hand creams, all of which smell heavenly and so I was delighted to receive their latest shower gel; Douche de Bienfait* to try out. I've been lathering up with this for the past few weeks and am enamoured with its blend of mandarin, bergamot, lemon and blood orange. If you're looking to wake up, a collection of citrus fruits is the way to do it! As well as a good lather, it also contains Aloe Vera to help soothe and moisturise dry skin. Win! You can find Roger & Gallet in pharmacies nationwide and Marks & Spencer beauty halls.

When I was in the States I was all about getting rollerball perfumes; we don't really get them over here and I find them super handy for throwing in my bag. I hadn't planned on picking this one up from L'ancome but as a huge fan of La Vie Est Belle, I kind of had to get this. It still reminds me a bit of Flowerbomb by Victor and Rolf (one of my all time favourites) but it's different enough that it's acceptable to have both…ahem. Anyway, this is an oriental, feminine fragrance blending iris with patchouli and it is GORGEOUS. I will eventually get a larger size.

Still on my rollerball roll (ha), I picked up this Elizabeth and James Nirvana duo. This is the Olsen sister's brand and it's very them; monochrome, sleek and stylish. There's two fragrances; Nirvana Black and Nirvana White. Black is a sweet but intense blend of violet, sandalwood and vanilla that hits an interestingly androgynous note. White on the other hand is a feminine but dark mix of peony, muguet and musk. They're both so different but both very alluring in their own way and are quite long-lasting on the skin. Really enjoying these. This set was $25 from Sephora.

I needed another body butter from The Body Shop like a hole in the head but while in an outlet store stateside, I found this limited edition Deluxe Chocolate one (for super cheap) which came out a year or so ago and although I missed out on it then, I was not going to leave it behind this time! The Body Shop do my favourite body butters and the heady hit of cocoa when you open this pot is frankly, glorious. It is of course, also wonderfully moisturising and perfect for this time of year as dry skin starts to make an appearance.

What's your current go-to scent?

XX

*Press samples, gratefully received. All opinions my own, as always.

Soap & Glory: The Body Sprays

If like me you are known to lurk around the Soap & Glory section of your local Boots, sniffing everything you can open then you need to get on the S & G body spray train. I had been über excited about the launch of the Sugar Crush Body Spray, only to find it always out of stock in the store nearest to me so you can imagine the happy flappy dance I did when these five arrived at my door.

The body sprays are a good way to try out something from the brand without making the bigger investment that is the body butters or shower creams (which are huge and will last you a good year each). You get 100mls for €4.68, a rather bargainous price! Each fragrance is part of a corresponding range of products so you can layer your scents or if you find you particularly love one of these, there's plenty more to choose from the same scent.

Sugar Crush

Perennial favourite Sugar Crush is finally available in a spray, something which fans of the body scrub and butter have longed for, myself included. Sugar Crush, for those of you who have yet to fall for its majesty, is a heavenly combination of lime, brown sugar, ginger, coconut and vanilla musk. Kind of like wearing a mojito but without the rum and a lot less sticky. While this one is sweet, it's nicely balanced with that uplifting hit of lime so it feels refreshing and then is mellowed by the ginger. 

Original Pink

This is the original S & G scent and is pretty much instantly recognisable as it's the same fragrance as The Righteous Butter and Clean On Me. This is light and fresh with orange leaf, lemon, peach, sweet strawberries, Summer rose, gardenia blooms and jasmine. I would classify this as a more classically elegant, feminine fragrance and should appeal to a wider audience because of that. 

Mist You Madly

Mist You Madly was made for those who like Original Pink but prefer a stronger fragrance or wanted something for night time. As such, this is certainly a lot less sweet and has almost a masculine quality as it features bergamot, musk, sandalwood, cardamom, and patchouli alongside sweeter elements like vanilla, freesia, mandarin and magnolia. This is probably my least favourite out of the five but that's purely a personal preference. If you prefer fragrances that lean towards the masculine then this is for you.

Fruitigo

Fruitigo is the same scent as Butter Yourself Body Lotion, which I've been using since Christmas and love! This is obviously a fruity scent (citrus for the most part with grapefruit, sweet orange and lemon at the centre) but also includes wild fig, pomelo essence, peppermint oil and white musk. Nom.

Orangeasm

This is actually also a favourite of mine as I've been working my way through the accompanying shower lotion for some time now. Orangeasm unsurprisingly contains sweet orange and mandarin. You'll also find geranium and lemon oils, mint and patchouli. Again, this is super light and is the perfect spray for when you want to freshen up. 

I found all of these to be quite long lasting and could smell them on my clothes for hours afterwards. Because they're all multi-layered with different ingredients they seem to last that bit longer but as they're body sprays, you won't feel too bad about liberally spraying them either. 

Have you tried the Soap & Glory body sprays? 

Which is your favourite?

XX

*Contains press samples. All opinions my own, as always. 

Duty Free Purchases!

I escaped Ireland recently for a week and popped into the Loop on my way and then the Duty Free on the way back. There was nothing I actually needed but sure you know yourself, like a kid in a sweet shop and all that. 

First up was a visit to Victoria's Secret for a body spray. I thought this would be handy for work as it's a lightweight bottle and although it's not super long lasting, it's also only €12, so I'm not going to feel guilty for coating myself in it several times a day. I went with Aqua Kiss, which contains "rain-kissed freesia and daisy". It's a lovely fresh scent, summery but not sickly sweet. I liked it so much that I picked up the matching body and hand lotion on the way back. I actually prefer this to the spray as the scent lasts longer on the skin. The next time I'm in the airport I'll be stocking up on more of these. 

Love it.

Lastly, on the way back I also picked up a Pink body spray in Sun Kissed. This is pure coconut and vanilla goodness, like Summer in a spray. Nom.

I needed both a new base and top coat so this 3-in-1 from one of my favourite nail brands, OPI, seemed ideal. It's also a nail strengthener, which is great for the likes of me with my weak nails and so far I'm really liking it. This was around the 14/15 euro mark.

I also spotted this set of two full size Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors in the original pink and peach shades for a measly €22. One of these on their own is €18.50 so I did pretty well there. I recently ran out of the pink one and have never tried the peach so it's all coming up Millhouse. 

And that's my lot! I was as always tempted by the perfume, MAC and alcohol (although my sister in law kindly took care of the latter for me. Brandy cream for the win!) but I talked myself down! 

Are you an airport shopper too or do get too overwhelmed by all the many brands?

XX

YSL Black Opium

After some Olympian standard hinting to himself about this perfume, I awoke to it gift wrapped for a recent anniversary with my customary "but how did you know?!". Cue a shrewd look from himself and off he went to make me tea and pancakes. He's a good'un. But back to the perfume at hand. I'm a big YSL fan and have in my time loved several scents from them but nothing has come close to the intoxicating beauty of Black Opium.

Designed with a "glam rock aesthetic" in mind (that'll be the black and silver glitter encrusted bottle then), you'll find your olfactory senses are hit with key notes of black coffee for a "shot of adrenaline" (the brand have actually described this as addictive, so that makes sense too), white florals "to instantly seduce" and vanilla for "sensuality". 

Any perfume I've ever loved has had a good old whack of vanilla in it so it's not surprising that I can't stop sniffing my wrists every time I wear this. I can't say that I got the coffee but I definitely did get white florals and a hint of something darker with it…which I now know is coffee. 

Something new every day, eh?

The beauty of the bottle and the technical stuff aside, this is not for those who love sickly sweet scents; this is a strong, sexy perfume, best suited for night time (although I wear it all the time cause I'm a rebel like that) and probably best avoided if you don't want to seduce passersby just with a swish of hair across your neck. 

Yep, it's that good. 

It is also pricey at €57 for 30ml, €78 for 50ml or €93 for 90ml. Having said that, it's a higher end eau de parfum that lasts throughout the day (I can still smell it on my coat days after wearing it) and is well suited for gifting your loved ones with (thanks Mr Fancy Pants!).

Have you fallen for Black Opium too? Should we start a fan club?

XX

What's In My Trash #3!

It's that time again! The time for me to save up my empty beauty containers and show you all my trash. A time honoured beauty blogging tradition.

Vichy Idealia Serum. I really liked this during the summer, it's a nice light serum with an illuminating finish so it sits well under make up. I've scraped every last bit out of this one but I'm using Vichy Aqualia Life serum at the minute so I probably won't get this again.

J'adore L'Or perfume by Dior. Himself buys me this as an anniversary present every year, which is great for him as it means he's sorted for life for a gift idea and it's great for me as I'm a little bit obsessed with this perfume. It still has undertones of the original J'adore (my wedding perfume) but is much stronger and perfect for the whole year round. Love, love, love it. I already have a new, unopened bottle, ready to go! Read a full review with base notes and all that jazz HERE. 

Cocoa Brown Gentle Bronze is one of my favourite products and I'm already on to a new bottle. I use this throughout the week for a tan top-up, it gives a natural looking glow without the need for full-on tan application and has a built-in moisturiser, plus it's great value. Such a good product.

Garnier Ultimate Blends 7-in-1 Dry Shampoo. I got this last year to try out when I found it on special offer and because I was wearying of the chalky white after-effects of Batiste. Low and behold, I love this one. It smells strongly of vanilla and won't do much by way of adding volume but it really will give you another day out of your unwashed hair, without leaving a powdery residue on your scalp. Already onto a second can. Review HERE.

YSL Shocking Mascara. My go-to mascara, I generally wait to pick this up on offer in the duty free cause it is rather spend for a mascara but it is also worth it. I've talked about it before HERE. 

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I love this concealer, it's my all time favourite but I'm trying to hold off on a new one for the moment, in favour of a cheaper high-street brand, namely Maybelline's the Eraser. Unfortunately, I can't find that in my shade anywhere so I may have to bite the bullet and cough up for the Nars again. Eep. Full review HERE.

This sample of Benefit's "That Gal" lasted me for ages as you only need a small amount each time. This is a primer that has a glowy finish but also leaves a smooth base, ready for foundation. I had a full size of this before and really liked it, I would definitely repurchase this but the price is putting me off.

Eve Lom cleanser (review HERE). I had been rationing the end of this but was afraid it would go off so I made concerted effort to finish it over the last couple of months. I love this cleanser and would definitely buy a new one if that didn't involve me being stoney broke afterwards.

Bumble & Bumble thickening hairspray. I got this free with a magazine last year and although I like it, I'm not 100% sure it's the best out there for adding volume, so onwards and upwards now it's empty!

This sample of L'ancômes La Vie Est Belle has also lasted me a really long time, even though there was only about 5mls in it. I feel like this has some similarities to Victor & Rolf's Flowerbomb (one of my all time favourites) and I'm not alone as several people have asked me if that's what I'm wearing when I have this on. I would definitely buy a full size of this, it's a beautiful scent.

And that's my lot. Have you tried any of these? Any of your own favourites in there?

XX

Soap & Glory: The Next Big Thing

If you follow me on, well, all social platforms you'll have spotted that I picked up the much sought after Soap & Glory limited edition gift set- The Next Big Thing, released for Christmas. 

This is reduced in Boots for one week only, until Thursday. It's better than half price at a remarkable €37!!

Inside you'll find all full sized products of typically gloriously scented S& G products:

HAND DREAM™ – SUPER CREAM 100ml
· ORANGEASM™ – BODY WASH 500ml
· BUTTER YOURSELF™ – MOISTURE LOTION 500ml
· HEEL GENIUS™ – FOOT CREAM 125ml
· SUGAR CRUSH™ – BODY SCRUB 300ml
· WHIPPED CLEAN™ – SHOWER BUTTER 250ml
· THE RIGHTEOUS BUTTER™ – BODY BUTTER 300ml
· OFF YOUR FACE™ – 3 IN 1 DAILY PURIFYING CLOTHS
· SEXY MOTHER PUCKER™ LIPGLOSS LIP LACQUER in Charm Offensive 7ml
· THICK & FAST™ – SUPER VOLUME MASCARA 10ml
· A BONUS, PINK DRAWSTRING BAG

It comes in two different boxes, both designed by someone called Hattie Stewart, who I haven't heard of but they are pretty containers and will be great for storage. 

So far I've just been sticking my head into everything and inhaling deeply. Hot damn, do they all smell good.

If you want it, get it now because these WILL sell out (it's already sold out online) and if you do pick it up, you'll be sorted for the next year for all shower and body products. I didn't get it last year and have regretted it since so I made sure I didn't miss out this time! Are you a Soap & Glory fan? What's your favourite product from them?

XX

Lush Christmas 2014!

Yes Scrooges, I know we "haven't even had Halloween yet" but as Lush have both their Christmas as well as their Halloween goodies in stock, now is the perfect time to tell you what you need to buy! 

Every year I pick up one of the seasonal shower gels, last year I got Rose Jam, which I loved (and you can still buy) but this year I have my eye on both So White (a shower gel version of the bath bomb by the same name)- this smells like pure Granny Smith apples, a super fresh scent to wake you up in the mornings. The other one I'm going to have to get is Hot Toddy, this is basically mulled wine in a bottle. One of my favourite things about Winter is curling up in the snug of a pub, preferably with a nearby crackling fire and a hot port in front of me, preparing myself to face the cold again. Best smell ever.

And as always, the sweetest shower gel of all time, Snow Fairy is back. As one of the girls in Lush said "this is the colour pink in a fragrance". She's not wrong! This is limited edition for the festive period, so if you want it get it now!

Bath Melts:

These are sparkly, solid bath oils ideal for those of us with super dry skin- it's like having a bath full of moisturiser! They're full of goodies like fair trade cocoa butter, almond oil and Shea butter as well as classic Christmas scents like cinnamon, clove and ginger.

Star Light Star Bright, Melting Snowman and Snow Angel.

Bubble bars:

These fellas are a solid version of bubble bath- how cool! Full of essential oils and fresh ingredients, you crush these under running water to create a big mad bath full of bubbles. 

Old favourite Magic Wand Bubble Bar (it jingles as you swish it), Drummers drumming (reusable!), The Christmas Hedgehog and Candy Mountain. You can also pick up Christmas Eve and the Christmas Penguin again this year too (not pictured).

Lastly, the brand new Holly Go Lightly. I love this little pudding because again, it's fragranced with Christmas spices similar to a hot toddy, which just sounds so comforting!

Bath Bombs:

Lush are possibly most well known for their bath bombs and as always, there's a great selection for Christmas, I just have a few here to show you. 

Pictured right are Father Christmas (top) and Dashing Santa (bottom) for those of you who love a bit of Santy. 

Soaps:

These luxury handmaid soaps are all works of art in their own right. Last year I got Snowglobe, which smelt just incredible. If you're disappointed not to see it below, fear not, the last on the right Baked Alaska is pretty similar but is way more colourful- Imma need that one! 

Yog Nog (egg nog in a soap!), Reindeer Rock (Scandinavian inspired with comforting bergamot, lingonberries and cypress oil), Snowcake (a classic bestseller that smells just like marzipan!) and lastly the aforementioned Baked Alaska (uplifting hits of grapefruit, lemon and Ylang Ylang).

Gift sets:

The great thing about Lush is that you can spend as little or as much as you want and still come away with a beautifully wrapped gift that looks pretty fantastic under the tree! You can find gift sets for under €13, €13-€20, €20-€30, €30-€40, €40-€50 and €50 and above (that includes WOW, which contains ALL the Christmas and Halloween special editions except the Buche de Noel cleanser…this guy is €199.50 but it genuinely has everything Lush that you'd ever need). If you know someone that just wants one or two things you can buy a festive knot wrap- a Christmas themed scarf to wrap up your choice of bath bombs, body lotion etc. It means you get your bath goodies and a super cute scarf to wear afterwards! I have my eye on the "It's Christmas Deer" wrap, which is the kitschiest scarf I've ever seen. Naturally this means it'll have to be mine.

This one now is a bit more special..an advent calendar so that you can treat yourself to a bath for the 12 days in the run up to Christmas. Best to make the most of the water before we're forking out extortionate water charges in the New Year, am I right?!

And lastly, in case you're just not quite ready to embrace the C-word, you can get some very cute Halloween themed bath treats; the Sparkly Pumpkin and Wizard Bubble Bars.

Any of these making your wish list? I won't lie, there's plenty here that I would love; if I could, I'd do an auld supermarket sweep and stock up for the foreseeable future! There's plenty more to check out in store, I just couldn't fit it all in one blog post. Some of these are already selling fast so if you want them, go get them!

XX

The Body Shop Fijian Water Lotus | Review

If you still haven't found your perfect summer scent, look no further. The Body Shop have released a new fragrance range to create your own mini tropical paradise using the fresh scent of the Fijian Water Lotus Flower. I have the Eau de Toilette and the Body Lotion to try out, here's what I thought:

The Eau de Toilette is a strong but floral scent with a slight hint of masculinity- if you don't like your perfumes super sweet, this is the one for you. Containing top notes of mandarin and litsea (it's a tropical evergreen tree, in case you were wondering!), you then get a hit of the Fijian water lotus flower along with rose, ending in a refreshing blast of fresh ocean scent. What I'm saying is, this really is a Summery scent, and I can't stress that enough. If you want to feel fresh, light and cool in this stifling heat then this is a great option. Personally when it's warm like this, I can't handle wearing any scent that's too cloying, it has to be light- it's all about the airier fragrances at this time of year and the Fijian Water Lotus hits the mark perfectly for that.

Also, let's just take a moment to appreciate that bottle, shall we?

So pretty.

I also tried out the Body Lotion from the same range and from this, you can expect a lightweight lotion that comes in a handy pump bottle. On application, it sinks in easily into the skin, moisturises and leaves behind that same beautiful scent as the eau de toilette. You'd do well to layer your scent here by applying both the body lotion and the edt as it will last you all day- I've tried this and at the end of the day I could still smell that fresh summery scent on my skin. Fab.

As always with the Body Shop, all of their products are cruelty free and the edt contains community fair trade ingredients.

Also in the range are; perfume oil, a fragrance mist, shower gel and a body butter so you're spoilt for choice!

The edt is priced at €25.95 for 50mls while the body lotion is €15.95 for 250mls.

Have you tried any of the Fijian Water Lotus range?

What's your go-to Summer scent to cool things down?

XX

*PR gift, gratefully received. All opinions my own, as always.

Sephora Haul!

The Hubster went to Canada a while back and I thought I'd share with you the few lovely bits he picked up for me. I made him a list of things I particularly wanted but he also got me a rather lovely surprise, which I'll go into later!

First up, Flowerbomb by Victor & Rolf is one of my favourite perfumes and I've always thought it was a bit of a gip that we don't really get rollerball perfumes over on this side of the water so I asked him to get me this fella. It's super handy for popping into my bag and topping up my perfume later in the day rather than lugging a heavy bottle around with me.

Secondly, I recently dyed my hair back blonde and couldn't really carry on using my red-toned eyebrow pencil anymore. I was going to go back to my old Mac favourite, Fling but decided to try out the highly lauded Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. This has a little spoolie brush on one end (with a lid for hygiene purposes..lovely!) and a twist up crayon on the other end in the shade ash blonde, which is a perfect match for my brows.

Next up, Tarte. I've been longing for my very own Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour blush for an age now so here I have Captivating, a peach/coral toned matte blush. This is a really natural but pretty shade and I'm loving it so I will have a proper review to come on this!

Himself always picks me up a YSL Effet Faux Cils Shocking mascara whenever he goes through a duty free as it's my favourite mascara but just so pricey, so any saving possible is always welcome! I'm using up a few sample size mascaras at the moment and then it's back to gorgeous, full lashes again!

This was the surprise. Excuse the blurry photo, my camera was reluctant to pick up that Dior sign properly but regardless, there she is; Rouge Dior Voluptuous Care in Sterling Red. This is coming out quite bright in the photo but in reality it's a very wearable raspberry red. When I opened it I squealed a little (I really love Dior) and himself said "well I know you love red lipstick and Dior, so.."

HE PICKED OUT A FANCY LIPSTICK FOR ME BY HIMSELF, PEOPLE.

IN THE CORRECT SHADE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

LEGEND.

Other stuff include the cool little samples Sephora always throw in from Origins, Jurlique and First Aid Beauty, which I can't wait to try.

I also asked him to pick me up a box of Crest 3D Whitestrips. I tried these before my wedding (Crazily that's almost two years ago now) and found them really good so I'm looking forward to using them again. They're also really hard to find over here and are really expensive to buy online, whereas these work out at about €40 when bought in dollars.

I think I was actually quite restrained in what I asked him to pick up for me, I could've gone completely mental but held back! 

Have you used any of these? Thoughts?

XX