I just had to share this picture because i thought it was just absolutely beautiful. I absolutely love the contrast of the bright lemon on the lid, with the deep taupe in the socket and the black black eyelashes!! Plus I would absolutely kill for a natural arch in my brow like that. Definitely a look im gonna try recreate! Has any one any recommendations for a yellow eyeshadow like this??

                   Luv Jen xxx

N.O.T.D Autumn Crackle

Since the weather has drastically changed from cold to "ahem" colder, I think its time I started to pack away my brighter colours for next years "Irish Summer". But, alas I am not one to take a drastic step back to my plain block colours just yet. So I had to bring a little bit of boldness to my plain Autumny colours !! Today I am wearing Dior Vernis no.219, I think it was a limited edition from the old collection, but i absolutely love it, I have it 2 years and it is one of my favourite beige colours (for some strange reason it reminds me of a Parisian ladies perfectly manicured hands, weird huh), but my little twist is my Isa Dora black crackle polish. I think its perfectly practical, it goes with all my outfits, and still looks quite elegant. I have also filed my nails quite short as I definitely think that for winter, darker and plainer colours look much better on short nails!!

So first off I used my absolute favourite base coat, Chanel Sheer Ivory Base Coat (also think this might be discontinued, but I have 3 bottles so im not too worried yet), then two coats of Dior Vernis 219, one coat of Isa Dora black crackle, and to finish it off one coat of Dior Vernis Top Coat!!


        TA- DA

                                               


                 Hope your all having a great weekend,
                                                     Luv Jen,
                                                                    xxxx

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

I hate to admit it, but I really have to eat my words here. I have been proven wrong. For years, and years I would always say, nope i don't like Clinique, I have never used anything from them that I like, their stuff is same ole same ole, bla bla bla, and they seem to be constantly on GWP which in my eyes personally really cheapens a brand. But now, I must eat my words. My mum got me this a few months ago, and her words ring in my ears now " Jen when I was your age this is what I used, it did wonders for my skin, because im telling you, your skin will change after you have your baby". In the back of my head i was like "ye whatever mam", so i put it in the back of my cosmetic shelf, and forgot all about it. UNTIL, about 11 weeks ago, just 1 week after my little princess was born, my skin decided to (for the second time in a year) take on another whole new personality.

If you are a regular, you will know that I absolutely love my Philosophy "Hope In A Jar", but it just was not giving my skin the hydration it needed, no matter how many serums i used under it, my skin was getting drier and drier (and horrifically getting spots from my skin lacking in moisture *sad face*). So, one day while reaching into the back of my shelf, i pulled this out. After debating with myself for a while on whether or not i should try it. I decided, sure what harm could it do?!

Well, let me tell you, it did no harm at all. It actually was pretty amazing. It's now my favourite product of the moment. A tiny bit of this moisturizer goes a looooooong way. I use my usual Dior One Essential Serum first, and then about 2 pumps of the lotion. Its got a gorgeous light silky consistency, and it sits perfectly on my skin, so make-up can be applied pretty much straight away. My skin feels and looks a zillion times better, and thankfully I have no breakouts!!! So, Mam you were right, when it comes to the "been there, done that" I will listen to you!! And to Clinique, I am sorry, I have a new found respect for your products

Have you guys used this? Or have you got a Clinique product I must try?

Mucho Love, 

Jenny xxx

Slim Wear Leg Wear

Soap & Glory Slimwear

I think most women have a 'thing' about their legs, we yearn for that perfectly smooth, cellulite free, toned legs. I have decided that I am on a mission to find an amazing potion that will do all of the above, i know, i know, what I am looking for is a miracle, but I am definitely going to find the closest thing to it. My first purchase on the quest to find happiness for my legs, was Soap & Glory Slimwear Slenderizing Body Balm. Being a big fan of a lot of Soap & Glory products, I snapped this up the minute i saw it, very well priced at €14 in Boots. 

Here's how Soap & Glory describe this product.

" An amazing puff-draining, triple action peptide balm that targets problematic 'orange peel' areas and firms, contours, smoothes and reduces the appearance of cellulite." And I absolutley love this qoute "At Soap & Glory, we believe women - and whenever possible their thighs - should stand 'firm'."

I bought this 4 weeks ago, and I have been using it every morning since. It's such a fab product to use, I love how it's a nice thick gel and has a lovely menthol smell, and it instantly cools the skin when applied. Within the first day i noticed a difference, the skin on my thighs was definitely smoother and i did definitely see a reduction in puffiness (which is a massive bonus post pregnancy). After 4 weeks of use, I can say that the biggest result is in the texture of my skin, it's really smooth and soft, there is definitely an improvement in the lines on my legs, I didnt feel much firming action though, but im really happy with the results that I did get. A little tip I would recommend if your going to brave to bear your legs on a day or night out, is use the Soap & Glory 'Flake Away' scrub first with an exfoliating mitt, and then apply your SlimWear, you get instant results of smoothness and firmness, so you can show off your lovely legs.

Have any of you guys tried this product, or have you got a favourite miracle potion for your legs??

Jenny xx

Andrew Barton S.O.S Help Me! While You Sleep Extreme Repair mask

A couple of weeks ago, I was waiting for a prescription in my local pharmacy, so as I was having a browse around I came across a little sachet of Andrew Barton Twice A Week Conditioner, I find it hard to find a conditioner that suits my hair, I find a lot of them can weigh my hair down and it needs to be washed again the next day, but this promised to be a weightless conditioner. It was the perfect way for me to try a new conditioner, without me having to invest in a big bottle that i may never use again, and it was 99c. I never knew Andrew Barton had his own range, most of you will know him as the resident hairdresser on the UK programme "10 years younger", but he has also been awarded hairdresser of the year in Britain for the 9th consecutive year, so I had high hopes for this product. After washing my hair, I left the conditioner in for about 3 minutes. The results were brilliant, my hair was soft and silky, no fly away hairs and my hair still felt lovely and light. I was so impressed with the results, that I went out and bought the S.O.S Hair repair mask.

My hair is a bit damaged from bad haircuts and bad dye jobs from even worse hairdressers. Again, Im always a bit wary of hair masks as they also seem to leave my hair feeling very heavy, and over moisturised. But because I was so impressed with the conditioner, I picked up the hair mask the next time I was in the pharmacy. This is what the Andrew Barton S.O.S Help me! While You Sleep Extreme Repair Mask, promised to do. "Wake up to incredibly conditioned hair! Whilst you sleep, this magic beauty mask helps repair dry locks with its blend of transformational ingredients. Your Hair will love you for it." The ingredients are Shea Butter, Pro Vitamin B, Brazil Nut Oil, and Avocado. It smelled so beautiful, it smelled like a holiday!! Which is exactly what my hair needed. After washing my hair and towel drying it, I applied an amount that was about half the size of the palm of my hand, from the roots of my hair, right down to the tips, and combed it through. The texture of it was really light, and very easy to just run through my hair.

So, I tied my hair back, and went to bed. The next morning, I rinsed the mask out of my hair, and unlike most hair masks it was so easy and quick to wash out. I blow dried my hair, and I have never seen my hair look better after a D.I.Y blowdry, I looked like I had been to the salon and had my hair coloured and cut. My split ends were smoothed, my hair was shining and my roots looked lifted. Absolutely the best possible result I could have hoped for. I have finally found a hair mask that suits my hair, and found a brand that I so far have been so impressed with. Downside is, I dont know anywhere else in the ROI that stocks these products and my local pharmacy does not stock the full range. It is available up north in Asda, and at the moment they have a great offer of 2 products for £6, so those of you lucky to have Asda close by, I would definitely recommend for you to try this. Next time I take a trip up North I will definitely be stocking up on some more treats from this range!! Have you tried anything from this range, and whats your favourite hair care?? Xx

A Fresh Start

So, if you are a regular to my blog you will have noticed that it resembles NOTHING of its former self. I decided it needed a complete makeover. The past 2 months in my life have been a massive change, in an amazing way, and since I have had my little girl, I have not had time to blog much. Now, Im glad to say I have finally settled into a routine with her, which means I now have time to do what I love, blog about my favourite indulgences in the world of Beauty!!

So what do you think of the new layout?? Yay or Nay?? Jenny xx

Rimmel Natural Bronzer

Summers here, or actually no hang on a minute, the Irish summer is here, which means very little sun and the occasional 20 rain showers in a day. So with the lack of sun, but the want to still have that nice bronzed look, we unfortunately depend on Fake tan for the body (my favourite of the moment will be in a following post), and to give that sunkissed look to the face, a good Bronzer. I love me ole bronzers, I really do, I could have and do have 3 on the go at any time. A bronzer for me is something I will shell out the cash for if I really like it. BUT, I have a pet peeve about my bronzers, there has to be very little or preferably no shimmer in it AT ALL.

I wanted to try a new bronzer, something that would give nice natural colour, with an spf and something that wouldnt break the bank. Browsing the aisles in Boots the other day, I stopped at Rimmel to pick up an eyeliner, and I spotted this Natural Bronzer, the name described what i was looking for. Added bonus it had an SPF (only an 8, but I wear an SPF every day anyway), and it was only €6.95!!! I picked the colour number 22 Sun Bronze, nice natural colour, and fab matte finish.

Goes on really nicely, and is so easy to blend for shading etc. Very impressed with my new bronzer, and am delighted to say have been complimented on my beautiful bronzed glow (all thanks to Rimmel)!!!

(its obviously not this dark, but for the purpose of the photo i had to layer it )

Have you tried this product? And whats your favourite bronzer? xx

Estee Lauder Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher

Like every other woman, I am always on the lookout for anything that can “perfect” the look of my skin as a base for my make-up, and I came across this Estee Lauder Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher. Now I’m not your typical Estee Lauder customer, I never really “clicked” with anything from them, apart from the odd lippie,mascara and the DW (double wear) phase when I was younger. I had read great reviews on other blogs about their skincare line, so I decided well their must be something good in it, so I had a good look on their website to see if their was anything that stood out to me that I would like to try. I came across this pore minimizing serum and i thought hmmmm i could do with that, now I dont have a serious problem with open pores, but i do have a few on my nose and they really wreck my head. So I headed into my local EL counter to enquire further before I made the purchase. The S.A was really helpful and answered all the questions that I had, she was also extremely persuasive, I ended up buying it and a mascara (as if i needed another one) to get the free gift (which actually had some nice goodies within). Anyways, this product apparently doesn't just work on minimizing the appearance of pores when used under make-up, it actually does minimize them over time making them smaller and less apparent, bonus. Estee Lauder say Pores appear 1/3 smaller instantly,  see a 69% reduction in pores after 4 weeks. It also promises to help with the skins texture and visibly improve skin tone.


I first used it last Thursday, and I have used it every morning since. As its a serum it needs to be applied onto cleansed skin every morning before your moisturiser. It smells fab and has such a light texture, it actually feels smooth in my fingertips as I’m applying it and it does instantly make my skin feel smoother to touch. Pores are visibly reduced, not by a drastically noticeable amount but id say they are being honest with their 1/3 reduction. It’s a lovely base for foundation, and as its a serum you can still use your primer if you really feel the need to. In any case their definitely was an improvement  in the instant reduction of my pores, and I really do love this product. I will post an update with pics when my 4 weeks is up to see if their really is a long term reduction. I have been extremely impressed with this product and will definitely be trying some more products from Estee Lauder in the future!!


This product is available in a 30ml €50, 50ml €70 and a 75ml €75, and from your local Estee Lauder counter.


Have you tried this product or another product aimed at minimizing pores?? 


xxxx

E.L.F High Definition Powder

While shopping on E.L.F a few weeks ago, I came across this High Definition powder. Being a massive lover of anything High Definition, i just had to try this. I already have the Dior Capture Totale High Definition Powder, and i absoloutely love it, don't so much love the price of €59. This version from E.L.F  is nicely priced at £6, bargain.

Here's how E.L.F describe this product. " The high definition loose powder creates a "soft focus" effect to the skin. Masks fine lines and imperfections for a radiant complexion. The incredibly soft and invisible powder is great for on-screen and everyday wear.

The microfine particles are designed to be used with high-definition camera technology or for everyday wear. Apply powder all over the face for a professional and youthful look of perfection. "

This product is actually really beautiful, the packaging is sleek, it comes with a powder puff inside and the powder is so lightweight and soft. I applied this powder after i had applied my base (primer,foundation,concealer,highlighter), I used my fan brush to apply it in a downward direction. I would not recommend using the puff, it picks up too much product and this product is something that is meant to be lightly dusted over the face. The overall finish was very impressive. My skin felt so soft, it left a fab finish to my base and it was also a great base to apply blusher and bronzer on. I also noticed that it was light reflecting, and in a good way, my skin looked glowing. Very impressed with this, I really did not think I would be swayed on my choice of HD powder, but I have. Well done E.L.F on a fantastic product.

You cant go wrong with this, its available from E.L.F website and costs £6...

Decleor Hydra Floral Anti-Pollution Eye and Lip Mask

So, the past few weeks, months etc, have been hard for me, its same for any woman who goes from the sleepless nights of pregnancy to the broken baby sleep pattern!! Your hormones are still up in the air and lets face it, you do not have the time to sit down and carefully apply your make-up, let alone the piles of concealer and highlighter to the ever increasing dark circles under your eyes. I found that my under eye area was not just dark, but the skin was also sooo dry and flaky. My usual under eye cream was not doing the trick, so i really was at a loss. Anyway, I was browsing in Debenhams the other day, and I stopped to have a look at the Decleor counter, I've only ever used one or two things from Decleor, its not something I can afford to indulge in on a regular basis. So, during my planned window shop, I came across this Hydra Floral Eye and Lip mask. It was the words Eye Mask that really caught my eye. 

So here's what Decleor say about this product. This gentle refreshing rich mask, specifically formulated for fragile facial areas, is a new-generation moisturiser using the technology of aquaporins – true cell irrigation channels – and targeted active plant ingredients.It leaves the skin beneath a veil of freshness in order to help:

-reduce the appearance of dark circles and
puffiness and smooth dehydration lines
-relax and quench
-hydrate and protect against the environmental
pollution


Neroli Essential Oil, with soothing properties, plays a powerful carrier role for other active ingredients providing improved effectiveness.

Result: Perfectly hydrated, the eye and lip areas
appear smooth and refreshed.

From hearing that I was completely sold. It targeted my problem areas, Dark circles and Dry skin. I used it that night before I went to bed, I applied it under my eyes and a little bit to just under my brow bone, and left it on for about ten minutes. It felt so fab, really cooling and its a gel so it doesn't feel too heavy, and it the smell of the Orange blossom and Neroli is so beautiful . After I had removed it, the skin around my eye was so soft, and TAADAA, dry skin gone. It actually instantly hydrated the area, which I was delighted with. In relation to the dark circles, I did see a slight difference in the brightness in the area, but I will have to use it a few more times to see if there really is a difference, so will keep you posted on it. All in all I was very happy with my purchase, and I was very happy with the results. It is a pinch to the purse at €31.99 but well worth the splurge!!!!

Liz Earle, Deep Cleansing Mask

So as you already know, I am a massive fan of Liz Earle Skincare. I have seen amazing changes in my skin from the Cleanse & Polish, i absolutely swear by it, and cannot recommend it highly enough. So, i just had to try some more products from the range. I always love a good purifying and deep cleansing mask, as sometimes my skin can suffer from oily breakouts and feel so horribly congested, bleugh. So I decided to try the Deep Cleansing Mask from the Liz Earle Range. 


So here's what they say about the product, "This highly concentrated clay and manuka honey mask helps draw out impurities and excess oil to leave skin balanced, calm and clear.

Naturally active ingredients include green clay to draw out impurities, soothing manuka honey and propolis and rose-scented geranium to help tone and balance." 

Remember this product is not suitable for sensitive skin. You simply smooth it over the problem areas and leave it on for about ten minutes. I firstly used my Cleanse & Polish, then toned with my soothing toner and then applied this mask over my whole face. The problem i sometimes find with deep cleansing masks that include clay, is that they give a very uncomfortable tight feeling on the skin, and you actually just cant wait to get it off so your skin can once again breath. With this one though, i barely knew it was on my skin, you can feel the clay drying but it definitely isn't the uncomfortable tightening feeling, and it smells absolutely gorgeous ( from the rose scented geranium). I left it on for about 12 minutes, and I removed it with warm water and the Sponges that come with the mask. The results were actually immediately visible, my skin was visibly clearer, and that horrible oily gleam on my t-zone was gone, I loved how soft my skin felt, and im fairly sure that my pores around my nose did look smaller (massive bonus). So I have yet again been very impressed with the Liz Earle range, and will be burning an even bigger hole in my pocket to try some more products from this impressive skincare range. The Deep Cleansing Mask is €14.25 for a 75ml tube that comes with 2 sponges, but you can also buy a handy 15ml trial size tube for €5.50, very good value for money.

If you love to indulge in a nice purifying face mask, I cannot recommend this one highly enough, it's definitely something i will be re-purchasing once I run out!!!

The looooong absence

Hey guys, please excuse the loooong absence. I have recently just had a beautiful baby girl and she has really been keeping me busy, and so my blog has suffered. BUT I am getting back to normal and so there will be blog posts coming very soon!!!! Jenny xx

Liz Earle, Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

This has got to be one of THE most popular cleansers on the market. I have been using it for the past 3 years now, and it's my mammy i have to thank for introducing me to it. I received it as a gift in my Christmas stocking, and I have been a fan ever since. Already a big fan of the Eve Lom cleanser, I was so impressed by this Cleanse and Polish from Liz Earle. On the plus side its also a shocking £58.05 cheaper than the Eve Lom Hot cloth cleanser, and to be honest i did not find a difference between the two at all. They are both just as good as the other. What I love about the Liz Earle skincare is that high quality, safe and naturally active ingredients are their priority. It removes every bit of stubborn make-up, even the most stubborn waterproof mascara. The main ingredients in this cleanser are the naturally active ingredients of Eucalyptus and Cocoa Butter which lead to clearer and smoother skin. I really do love how soft my skin feels after using this, it never irritates my skin and always leaves my skin feeling soooo clean. This is one product in my skincare routine that i will NEVER change. I cant recommend it high enough, it suits every skin type and gives visible results. I usually get about 6 months out of a 200ml tube, and it retails at £21.95, and is available from LizEarle.com. Next up from the Liz Earle range i will be reviewing the Deep Cleansing Mask......

Lucozade "YES" Advert 2011

OK so i know this is not really on subject of beauty..... BUT I had to post about the new Lucozade "YES" Advert 2011, and mainly because it has an amazing Irish athlete in it called Katie Taylor. I don't know if many of you have heard of her before, but she really is an inspirational young woman.

At just 24 she has such an impressive career, she first made Irish boxing history at 15 by fighting in the first officially sanctioned womens bout ever held in Ireland, she made Irish boxing history again at 18 by becoming the first Irish woman to win a Gold medal at the Senior European Championships, she has claimed Three world titles and Five European titles as an amateur, and in November of 2010, Taylor won her second International Boxing Association (AIBA) World Female Boxer of the year award. This girl also plays International Soccer for the Republic Of Ireland female team, WOW. Ireland will be represented by Taylor in womens boxing at the London Olympics 2012, this is the first time that womens boxing will be in the Olympics. Taylor campaigned hard to get Womens boxing to the Olympics, and is now seen on the Lucozade Add as the face of female boxing. I think this is an amazing achievement for such a talented young female Irish athlete. We know Katie will do our country proud and bring home the Gold medal from the olympics. Katie is also a natural beauty, a very pretty down to earth girl, so she does belong on this blog. The add also features British rapper Tinie Tempah (im a big fan) and American sensation Travis Barker (im an even bigger fan).

Check it out and let me know what you think of it, and what you think of the controversial subject of womens boxing???!!

Giorgio Armani Summer 2011

Summer is all about achieving a subtle and sexy bronzed look. This is the look Armani have gone for this summer, with the stunning Megan Fox as the face of the look, and lets face it, she absolutely nails it. The collection is all about earth tones, from eyes to face and finally lips.

First up in the collection is, Palette Eyes Quartet in "Bronze Heat". This palette contains colours suitable for every skin tone, and can enhance any colour eyes. As you already know I am a big fan of browns and soft goldy hues for the summer, so naturally this would be my cup of tea, but not something I will be purchasing as I have way too many palettes of these combining colours. I do love the neat packaging, its so sleek. Also a really handy compact to carry around and top up throughout the day if needed.

Next up to help you achieve a nice glowing complexion, is the Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric. This is a cheek stain, that applies like a second skin for a natural look and feel. It comes in a handy tube and is available in two fabulous shades, Sienna and Desert Rose. I personally love the look of Sienna, and i am very interested in trying this new creation from Armani, I love a nice liquid blush for summer.

The final piece in this collection, is Giorgio Armani Lipstick. Four Fab shades, all contained in a beautiful python inspired case. Easy to carry around, with a compact mirror inside, which means you can easily change your lippy colour as many times in the day as you want, handy when you have that unplanned trip to the beer garden after work on a nice summer evening. There are four gorgeous shades in both Neutral and Bright shades, Rouge Sienne, Sable Rouge, Corail Brulé, and Beige Dune. 

This collection didn't exactly get me as excited as previous Armani collections, or as other summer collections available this year. The only purchase i may make from this collection is the Blushing Fabric, and thats cause i love a lightweight natural blush for summer. 

So what do you think of the collection? Is there anything here that would tickle your fancy for summer??

My Favourite shampoo at the mo

Something that we women especially and even some men, are constantly changing, is our shampoo. I am one of the worst for it, always looking for something that will give me healthy looking hair and will also give volume, without giving too much volume as it will make my hair greasy easily, something that gives a good clean, without stripping my colour, and so on. I used to work in a beauty emporium in Dublin and the brand Philip B was exclusively sold there. The range was beautiful, a little pricey but worth it. The collection has a range of products and the best part is they are all botanical!! Philip B himself is a celebrity hairdresser based in LA, he began to grow very concerned about clients who came to him with their hair fried and over processed, that would not respond to regular conditioning treatments, and so he began to make his own. The ingredients for the range are meticulously chosen to make sure that they treat your hair with a lot of care. His range is also at the forefront of hair and scalp science. I did purchase some gorgeous bits from his range while i was working there, the discount helped a lot lol. The products i especially loved was the Lovin' leave in conditioner and the African Shea Butter shampoo. Unfortunately, when I left that job and moved to Galway, my love affair with Philip B ended there.

Until recently, I was in TK Maxx browsing the shelves and I came across *gasp* a 32oz bottle of his famous Peppermint and Avocado Volumizing and Clarifying shampoo, for €26.99 it usually retails at $90 for this size. BARGAIN, this shampoo is fab, it gives your hair a really deep cleanse, you can feel how invigorating the peppermint is on the scalp and it smells so refreshing. Added bonus, its safe for colour treated hair. The main thing i noticed after washing my hair with this shampoo was how shiny my hair looked and the natural volume it had added. I have never got so many compliments on my hair EVER!!! I was so impressed with the fact that I was able to wear my hair down for 3 days in a row, usually my hair starts to get limp and in need of a wash after 2 days!! Philip B is available to buy online and this shampoo starts at €25.99 for 250 mls on most websites...

My New Brow Love

The one thing that I always find completes my make-up, and completes any make-up I am doing, is BROWS. I am a total believer in that your brows frame your face, and if you have never tried it before, let me tell you that you will be pleasantly surprised as to how much your eye brows really give definition to your face. I love a strong brow to give definition, but unfortunately I naturally have quite thin brows and they are also quite fair, so i need something that gives me strong colour, good definition and obviously long lasting. I came across this Eye Brow Kit on ELF, it's part of their studio line. It contains a pigmented wax and a coloured powder. The wax is used first, to shape and define your brows, and the coloured powder is then used to perfect the arch and set the brows. Its also available in three shades, and soon will be available in four. This is the colour I got, its called medium.

What can I say, I am so impressed with this product, and believe me, I have used so many brow products in the past and at times spent at least up to €40 on these little kits. I love the colour that i got (medium), it matches my colouring perfectly, and gives me the thick definition I look for. I also love the neat packaging, it contains a compact mirror and a little brush for application, although i do still love to use my own lining brush when im using it. Its a steal at £3.50. What more can I say, if you love to define your brows, or are a brow defining virgin... You NEED to have this product!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be keeping this in my make-up bag, and will be purchasing in all the different colours for my kit!!

Stargazer Eye Dust

While out browsing the shops the other day, I went into a local clothes and accessories store, and while there I came across two baskets on the ground full of these Stargazer Eye Dust pots, they had all been reduced from €6.99 to €2.99, because they were waiting on a new stand to arrive in the shop to display them on. First thought was, ooooh i love a bargain, so i decided to dive in for a look. Let me tell you, balancing is hard for me at the moment when i stand on two legs, never mind getting down on the ground to have a rummage through these, so the lovely lady in the shop seeing my situation (and probably a sale coming her way lol) offered to pop them on the counter so I could have a good look through them. 

In the past, I have bought Stargazer pressed eye shadows, and i was not impressed at all. The pigment in them was very weak (even in the brightest and darkest colours), and now matter how much i built them up, they just didn't produce the colour that was in the pot. I love eye dusts and im a massive fan of MAC pigment pots, so i decided i would leave my earlier experience with Stargazer in the past, and try these out. My favourite colours for summer, are always Gold Hues, Bronzes and I do like to add the odd bright colour in there. So I picked four colours (sure why not, they were a bargain at that price), a beautiful light rose gold no.32, a golden brown no.11, a nice dark bronze with a slight rose tint no.12, and a bright orange no.39.

This is the swatch test i did with them, and I am happy to report that the pigment is nice and strong in three of them, no.12, no.11, and no.32, and the colour is exactly the colour i expected from the way they looked in the pots. I was a little unimpressed with the light gold no.32, I expected it to be on the same lines as MAC's naked pigment, but it didnt have as much pigment as naked does. All in all though, I am absolutely in love with the golden brown and the bronze, they are perfect colours for the summer and my green eyes, and the orange is definitely something I will also use. They are so easy to blend, and I don't find their is much fall from them on application.

So, im happy to report that i have now changed my opinion on Stargazer, and I will definitely invest in more of their Eye dust pots in the future......

Philosophy 'hope in a jar'

Hope in a  jar, what a name to live up to !! Hope is exactly what my skin needed over the past 9 months !! Finding a moisturiser that didn't break my skin out, was becoming next to impossible. I tried oil free, water based lotions, matifying potions, you name it i tried it, from pharmacy to high end, nothing had worked for me. Then I received this as a gift from my lovely mammy, she knew about my skin woe's, and picked this up in Sephora in Boston while she was there. At first i must admit that i was very wary to try it, because it was a cream, and if you read my previous post on skincare, you will know that my skin was oily, spotty and dry all at the same time, so i was terrified of getting a breakout!!!

So a couple of months ago, i had grown fed up of not using a moisturiser, and decided, to hell with it ill try this 'hope in a jar', it had better live up to its name. When i opened it and had a look inside, it looked fab, really illuminating and such a light whipped texture. It felt even better on my skin, fabulous light weight consistency, my skin just soaked it all in instantly, so no residue left on my skin and it has a lovely light smell. Also a nice light base before makeup. And let me tell you, a little goes a long long way. I didn't have to use much at all to cover my face and neck. This is how much i use to give me the coverage for my face and neck.

I used it the first day in the morning and then again that night before bed. The next morning on inspection my skin had a really lovely glow off it, and felt really smooth. After using it twice a day for about a week, i am happy to report that i had no breakouts and my skin felt and looked brilliant. I have been using it now since the end of January, and i cannot believe how much i am getting out of a 2oz tub. I have not even got half way through the jar, and thats including the 3 or 4 times himself has knicked it and taken man size portions out of the jar.

I would most definitely recommend this product, its something that i will definitely be sticking with, and has me now wanting to try some more of their products. Philosophy is available to buy online at their own website, it comes in different size tubs, this 2oz tub is $38, and is also available on Amazon.co.uk for £22.40..... I LOVE IT

Oh How I Wish for this

While nosing around tonight on the web for bright shiny new things, i came across this. I have obviously been living under a rock for the past few months to not have seen, or heard of this. Dior Mitzah Bricard Limited Edition Collection. What can I say, Dior always amaze me with their Limited edition makeup collections like the Love Dior palette, Tailleur Bar palette, and now the Mitzah Bricard palette, the palettes in themselves are a work of art. Unfortunately they are only ever released in very limited numbers, and usually only available in Gallery La Fayette in Paris, Selfridges in London and top stores in Japan. So unfortuantely for me here in Ireland all i can do is drool over the pictures. The latest collection is inspired my Moinseur Dior's muse Mitzah Bricard, she had such a strong influence on his career, and inspired many of his finest collections. The collection is drawn from Mitzah's love of animal print.

First up in the collection is an eyeshadow palette, the soft cream can be used for highlighting, with the browns being used for contouring and lining, or if preferred all colours can be mixed together with your brush and applied that way. I actually think I would feel guilty using it, it would have to be one for my collectors box.

There is also two Limited Edition Nail polishes in the collection, Camel and Ebony. I am really loving the look of Camel, it looks perfect for a clean fresh summer look. 

So what do you think of this collection?? Is it something you would rush out to buy, or is it to pretty to use??

The Collection is released in May in the UK, and is currently available in Gallery La Fayette in Paris, the eye palette retails at €90 and the nail polishes individually at €23...

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Bourjois Smoky Effect Ultra Black Eye Pencil

There is one product that i always have more than a few of on the go at ALL times, a black eye pencil is something i have had as a staple in my makeup bag since I was about thirteen lol. I have spent a fortune over the years trying to find THE blackest pencil, thats long lasting, strong colour and most importantly suitable for sensitive eyes (which i suffer from). Till now, the best black pencil I have ever come across was a black Kajal pencil from Lancome, it was a limited edition from summer 2008. It was the blackest pencil I have ever come across, gave fantastic dark definition and was so easy to blend. 

Since then i have spent a small fortune trying to find a pencil as good as it, but failed. Until, I read about this pencil on http://www.simonelovesmakeup.com/, she had done a review on the new Bourjois Ballerina collection, and i read about this in it. My thoughts were hmmmm this sounds very interesting, but will this just be another failed attempt to find my perfect eyeliner. So, yesterday, off I went to my local pharmacy to make my purchase. The collection is absolutely beautiful, gorgeous soft greys and pinks, a really pretty collection that I will be making more purchases from.  I instantly picked up the pencil and brought it to the counter, and for those of you thinking of buying, there is currently €1.50 off every item in the whole Ballerina collection. My eyeliner was a bargain at €6.49. 

Once home, i had to do a swatch test and compare it to the Lancome ltd edition Kajal Pencil. 

(Excuse the swollen pregnancy hands lol) 

As you can see from the picture, the Bourjois pencil is darker and a lot softer looking compared to the Lancome. The Bourjois pencil glides on so easily and has such a strong colour definition to it. I am so impressed with this pencil, it also has a really good blending brush on the end of it. The brush is a nice strongly tapered brush (but the hair is nice and soft), perfect for blending pencil. I wore the pencil today on my upper and lower waterline, and blended below my lower lashes, and I was really impressed with the lasting ability of it, only had to top up my lower waterline at about 1pm (it had been on since 9am).

Really recommend this to anyone who is on the search for a nice dark black pencil, that will give the perfect dark definition for any look you want to achieve!!!!!

Dior Summer Collection 2011, Electric Tropics

So it really does feel as if Summer is on the way, with the nice warm weather we've been having, and that long stretch in the evenings. I have to admit, it has me already planning my Summer parties in my "new backyard" (the one himself has promised to landscape for me), but more importantly it has me planning my make-up wardrobe for summer. This is my favourite time of year , not just because of the nicer weather, but because I love to see the fabulous bright collections that each cosmetic house launches. My perfect make-up partner for summer is Radiance Enhancing primers, Illuminating powders, Soft eye palettes, and always bright bold colours for the lips and nails.

Everything I want in a summer collection, is in the Dior Summer Collection 2011, Electric Tropics. This collection has stolen my make-up beating heart, and will more than likely  leave a dent in my wallet. Now I am a big fan of Dior, their products are at the higher end of the market and so I know they are a little bit pricey, but what I love about them is that their products are very high quality, and thats something I always look for when i am buying products, especially when I am using them in my kit. This collection, in my opinion, is definitely Dior's nicest summer collection to date. This collection also seems to have more variety than previous collections. Dior seem to be really "upping" their game in this competitive market. The collection is bang on trend for this season with its perfect balance between Electric vibrant tones and Earthy neutral tones (top marks to Dior creative director Tyen on that one). So lets take a peek at this fabulous collection.

We start off with Diorskin Nude Healthy Glow. These are three Radiance Enhancing Fluids, the first is a Complexion Enhancer (which has a slight resemblance to their Capture Totale Radiance Enhancer, although obviously on a cheaper scale). I presume this, like the Nude Glow from last summers collection, can be either used under makeup as an enhancing primer, or on its own to give a gorgeous healthy glow to the skin. The other two are Healthy Glow Summer Fluids, a lighter alternative to foundation for the summer and are available in two colours. These will retail at around €44.

Next up, which I absolutely love the look of, is the Diorskin Nude Healthy Glow Pressed Powders. I am an absolute sucker for powders, I can never ever seem to have enough of them. These are beautiful, the benefits are of course the fact that they are mineral based powder, which are of course a lot more comfortable to wear on your skin in the sticky summer weather. They feature a unique woven design, which has been created to allow your cheeks to benefit from the perfect mix of colour. These powders have been designed to give your skin a beautiful natural healthy glow, and to enhance your fabulous sun kissed tan. They are available in two colours, Aurora and Sunset. Hmmm its hard to know which one I want more, i dont think i can justify buying them both *sobs*. Im guessing these will retail at around €42.

For the eyes, they have brought out two beautiful palettes in their famous  5 Colour Eye Shadow. These palettes look beautiful, I love Dior eye palettes, they have such strong pigmented colour, they have great lasting power, even without a primer, and are also extremely easy to blend for the pro and the non-pro. The colours in these palettes are colours to suit any eye colour, with beautiful golds, soft pinks, nudes, and defining dark browns. Two palettes to choose from, Rosy Nude no.534 or Rosy Tan no.754, these will retail at approx €54.

Lips are always something I love to go all out with for the summer. Dior have created four beautiful shades in Crystal Nude Ultra Gloss. There is a colour there for everyone to choose from, whether you are into your bold brights or your natural nudes. Volumizing and hydrating they are the perfect gloss for summer to give you that perfect pout, while also keeping your lips nice and moisturised. Have your pick from Luminescent Peach, Sweet Peach, Luminescent Rose, and Sweet Rose. These glosses will retail at approximately €26.

Last but not least is something I will definitely be investing in, Dior Vernis Electric Tropics Nail Duo. I absolutely love nail polishes, I have my certain colours i use for the different times of year. For the summer, i always go with bright feel good colours, and to be honest they dont come looking more feel good than the two colours from this collection. Paradise Pink and Aloha, are set to be THE cult nail polishes for this season. Perfect to brighten up your hands or feet for the summer, which colour will you be choosing?! These Nail Polishes will retail at approx €22.

There is also supposed to be a limited edition lippie being launched in the form of the new Addict lipcolor, its called Fire, but as of yet no details or images have been released from Dior. If i  do get any info on it, i will let you know straight away!!!

So, what do you think of the new Dior Electric Tropics collection? Does it give you that summer feel?????

Revlon Scented Nail Varnish "Scratch 'n' Sniff"??!!

This sounds like something I would have loved when i was a child, a bright shiny nail polish that also has a sweet smell, so not only do my nails look nice, they also smell delicious. I first heard about this fascinating nail polish on vogue.com at least 6 months ago. Revlon have been launching a limited edition scented nail varnish range in the states for the past few summers, and have now decided to launch it in Europe. 

I have not yet got the chance to pop into boots and pick one up to try, but i am already a fan of Revlon polishes for their fantastic long lasting ability. So this is something i am very interested in trying. 

Ok, so i know that its a bit gimmicky, but hey, i think we all need a bit of an uplift after such a long and dreary winter, and what better way than having beautiful coloured nails that also smell beautiful. This polish is available in 8 fabulous bright colours, perfect for brightening up your hands and feet just in time for summer. The above colour is called bubble gum, but the colour that will be my first purchase is a beautiful bright yellow (which looks like it could be a perfect copy of Chanels summer 2011 colour "Mimosa"), called Beach. Whats your opinion on this fascinating new take on nail polishes from Revlon, will you be trying it, or will you be just walking on by?! 

Will keep you posted on when i make my purchase, my opinion on it and I'll post swatches to show you the fab colour!!!!

Review: Elizabeth Arden Intervene Skin Tone Perfecting Capsules

This is my first blog post, and I am going to kick off with something i feel very passionate about, its something i am always chopping and changing in order to find the 'perfect' partner in, Skincare. I firmly believe that the key to achieving a good complexion is to make your skincare your number one priority, I am always on the lookout for new products to try and test on my skin, which lately seems to be on a roller-coaster of hormones (a lot to do with the fact I am pregnant). So, I was usually a Combination T-zone, dehydrated cheeks, spots at the usual time of month kind of girl. Daily use of serum, moisturiser and eye cream to keep me balanced, and I was happy out. 

THEN i became pregnant, and my skin became someone i know longer knew, drastic changes had to be made as i now had a mild case of acne. The spots were especially bad around my chin, jawline and forehead, and were now leaving little red markings of inflammation under my skin, which i could not get rid of no matter what I tried. So one day while talking to a friend she recommended I try Elizabeth Arden Intervene Skin Tone Perfecting Capsules. Now i have never used much Elizabeth Arden Cosmetics, apart from the Flawless Finish Compact Foundation, which i think we all tried at some stage as a teenager.

So here's how Elizabeth Arden describe this product.

Each Vitamin C packed, preservative free nighttime capsule works way past your bedtime, targeting signs of stress and sun damage while you catch up on your beauty sleep. Age spots, discoloration, even the dark traces left by acne scars seem to do a fast fade. By morning a luminous, more even-toned, energized, retexturized look and feel get your skin glowing strong.
INTERVENE Skin Tone Perfecting Capsules help achieve radiant-looking skin while you catch up on your beauty sleep:

- Vitamin C packed preservative-free capsules work all night long.

- Help reverse the visible effects of stress and sun damage.

- Oil-free. Suitable for all skin types

Ok so, sounds amazing right, I should be waking up and saying WOW my skin looks brand new. They recommend using one capsule three nights a week, as it is essentially a treatment for your skin. I decided i had to give it a go, i had become tired of searching for a solution. I was a bit bold and used it 4 nights in a row the first week. On inspection after the first night of using it, i didn't actually see any difference in brightness and radiance like they said i would, but I could feel a drastic change in my skin, my skin felt so soft and any dehydration patches appeared to be gone. 

So I continued using it 3 nights a week, and it lasted me about 13 weeks (there's about 38 capsules per jar). By the time i had finished using it I could really see a difference in my skin. The inflammation under my skin was drastically reduced, I had to look very closely in the mirror to still see it. The texture in my skin was so soft and felt so enriched from all the vitamin C. The one thing i was really impressed with though, was the overall change in my skin tone, it was a lot brighter and my complexion was very clear. This had a massive effect on helping get my skin back to normal, and it had done what i originally bought it for, which was to reduce the inflammation left under my skin by the acne spots. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who is searching for a treatment that will give their skin real and visible benefits of radiance enhancement and noticeable reduction in discolouration of the skin!!!

I'm happy to say that this product has become a staple in my skincare box, and something that will remain there for years to come. This product is sold at Elizabeth Arden counters worldwide and retails at about €45, which I think is very reasonable for a treatment that lasts 13 weeks.....