July Monthly Favourites |

July has absolutely flown by.. To say it has been a product filled one is an understatement thanks the ah-mazing #CorkMeetup. I am completely overwhelmed and thought the best place to start would be with a monthly favourites to mention but a few of the products that I have been reaching for throughout the month.

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip perfector in 04 'Petal Shimmer' - This is just a sample size version I picked up at the meetup but something I will definitely be repurchasing. As you well know, I'm not into gloss. I hate the gloopy, sticky feeling on my lips. This is different, it feels just like a balm with a sheer not too glossy finish. It smells and tastes like vanilla cupcakes and they called it a lip perfector for a reason. You get the ultimate 'you're lips but better' effect with this. Oh and your hair doesn't get stuck to it either!

Prada 'Candy' - I'm a bit of a perfume fiend. Recently I felt like a little splurge was in order and decided I needed a change. I picked this little beauty up. It's sweet but not overpowering with notes of caramel and vanilla over a woody base. Funny I chose this really, Viktor and Rolf's 'Flowerbomb' has been my signature scent for a few years now and people tell me it smells chocolatey when I wear it. What is it with me and foody fragrances? Smell it, trust me you won't regret it!

Benefit They're Real 'Push-Up' Liner - I've raved about this already in a review earlier in the month so I'm not going to go into a lot of detail let's just say I've been winging my liner up to the Lord all month! If you want to read my full review, it's here.

Eylure Volume 101 Lashes - I love lashes, nothing completes a look quite like them. I was so, so lucky to be sent some to try out (Thank you Barbara!). These ones in particular, they are revolutionary. Pre-glued, so there's no faffing around waiting for the glue to go tacky. You simply apply them and go. They don't budge for the night either, the corners didn't lift or anything. Even in this dead heat we're having. The best part of all though? Because you haven't applied the glue yourself the lashes are perfect to use again, mine are currently back in the packet, you'd hardly know I wore them Friday night. I think I'll dedicate a post to some of my favourite lashes, would you be interested?

Pixy Natural Lime Body Scrubs - I received one of these in a Powder Pocket Box recently and it was love at first Scrub. So much so that I repurchased them the very same day. They smell like sherbet and while gritty they aren't abrasive and you don't leave the shower feeling raw. I think that down to the fact that they are jam packed with Cocoa Butter. The guys at Pixy weren't lying either when they said that these are the best fake tan removers.. The tan just melts away!

Finally.. Not something I'd normally mention but it really works and if you don't already use it, it's only fair I share the discovery. Colgate 'Max white one' toothpaste. Random I know! I drink quite a lot of black coffee, too much in fact and have noticed a bit of staining on my teeth of late. I bought this tooth paste one day on a whim and I saw a difference almost straight away.. I've been using it for about 3 weeks now? And the stains have disappeared. It doesn't leave that chalky texture on your teeth either like some of the whitening brands do, my teeth feel squeaky clean. I won't be running out any time soon either, I picked up 3 spares while it was on offer in my local supermarket last week!

Whittling this down to 6 was so hard.. This really is just a glimpse into my favourite products for the month of July. It's been a great month product wise. Lets hope August lives up the my high expectations now..

Rebecca x

Stila Convertible Color | Review

I must admit, I've had Stila's Convertible Colors on my wish list for quite some time but could never settle on a shade.. I bit the bullet last month after clasping my eyes on the beauty that is 'Camellia'. If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you'll know I'm big into Bronze and even more so now that it's Summer here in Ireland - this was fate!

When it arrived, it was everything I imagined and so, so much more. It packs one hell of a punch colourwise - one dab and you're good to go. It is the most pigmented cheek product I have ever owned, glides on effortlessly and is buildable meaning you get your desired look with minimal effort on your part.

You can apply it with your fingers and your foundation doesn't budge underneath however down to my spot prone skin I apply it using my real techniques stippling brush to avoid touching my face where possible.

*I have it on my cheeks here*

What I wasn't expecting from it was the gorgeous healthy, dewy glow it gives my skin while wearing it, so much so that I've actually stopped highlighting my "cheekbones" since I got it. It is a convertable color so doubles as a lip stain as well which is great if you're on the go or need to travel light.

Hands down my favourite beauty buy in a long time. It is the only blusher I've worn since purchasing which completely justifies the €20 price tag in my opinion. I see a lot more of them in my future. The only question left.. What colour do I want next?

The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye cream | Review

As part of my long list of New Years resolutions I wanted to add an eye cream into my skincare routine. Apparently I should have done that 3 years ago.. Better late than never I suppose!

Now I don't suffer from particularly puffy eyes or dark circles thankfully. What I do have is quite dull, almost lifeless eyes when I wake up. That's not to say I'm not a morning person because for the most part I am (we all have our days). I may not actually be tired but I most certainly look it. The joys of being naturally pale eh?

I wanted a cream as opposed to gel formula as I felt it would soak in and my makeup would sit better on top of it. After doing my research I settled on The Body Shop's Vitamin E eye cream.

 It is common knowledge that Vitamin E is good for the skin. It is an antioxidant, antioxidants neutralize free radicals and prevent cellular damage. And vitamin E is one of the most powerful of them. Not only that but it helps penetrate moisture into the skin, reducing transepidermal water-loss. Along with Vitamin A and C, Vitamin E is vital in the production of Collagen which keeps the skin looking youthful. Collagen around the eye area is particularly important as the skin in that area is so thin, it makes disguising fine lines and wrinkles quite difficult. At only 21, I have fine lines around my eyes! 

I've been using the Vitamin E eye cream since February. Have I noticed a difference? Yes and No! My skin does look brighter, around my eye area seems to be almost illuminated. People have even commented that I look 'Chirpier' in the mornings which it most certainly an improvement. Will it help me look 10 years younger? No it won't, nor would I want it too. My fine lines haven't gotten any deeper from what I can see over the past few months.. This eye cream is definitely the prevention rather than the cure. 

I apply it twice daily, morning and night and will continue to do so. I am now of the opinion that next to sun cream, eye cream should be applied religiously - a complete convert! 

Eye cream should be applied to the orbital bone - the bone around the eye socket, along the cheekbone and up to your brow bone. Not on the lid as that can cause irritation, eye cream naturally migrates inwards towards the eye on its own.

 If you're in the market for an eye cream for dark circles I'd definitely recommend giving this one a go. It's reasonably priced at €12 per 15ml tube which is the standard size of an eyecream. A little goes a long way with it too.. You only need a small amount approximately the size of a grain of rice is enough per application. Like I said I've been using it twice daily since February and I'm still not finished the tube!

Benefit - They're Real 'Push-Up' Liner | Review

Growing up I was such a 'Benebabe' and for a long time the majority of my makeup bag consisted of purely Benefit  but I grew out of it and for a long time I hadn't purchased anything new from them other than the cult product that is the 'They're Real' Mascara (which admittedly I am still not completely sold on).

Well today I'm here to talk to about the latest addition to the 'They're Real' family and ever since I clasped eyes on it, I knew I had to have it. God only knows why because I can't wing out my liner to save my life. None the less I bought into the hype. It launched here in Ireland on the 25th of June. I picked it up straight and have been familiarising myself with it ever since..

So what makes it different to other gel liners you ask? Well for starters it comes in a twist up pen as apposed to the typical pot meaning it won't dry out quickly, you only dispense what you need. The blacker than black gel is dispensed out through a soft, flexible, silicone nib. A nib so thin that it gets right up into your lash line, not only are you defining your eyes you're actually giving the illusion of fuller, thicker lashes!! 

The formula of the liner itself is a little drier than others I have tried in the past, now this is not a bad thing by any means especially if you, like me are somewhat of an amateur when it comes to winged liner.  The consistency is, in my opinion PERFECT! Not too thick, not too runny. Matte and Jet Black.

Like any new product, it does take a little getting used to but I'm getting there - slowly but surely. The nib is great for beginners too as you really do get a far crisper line with it, it also takes the hassle out of having to wash a liner brush (which we all know is torturous). 

Like it's predecessor, once this liner is on, it will not budge. I mean hail, rain, or snow. Sun, sweat or tears it is going nowhere. With the release of the liner so too came the release of an eye makeup remover in the form of the They're Real 'Strip-down' Waterproof eye makeup remover. I like what you did there Benefit, with the names!

Being so sucked into the hype surrounding the liner I picked up the remover too. It's pretty basic if you ask me, an emulsifier type remover. Apply it directly to the liner, and wipe away with a soaked cotton pad. It does the same as any oil-based makeup remover and at €19.50 it was a waste of money on my part. Oh well, you live and learn as they say..

As for the liner itself? The hype is REAL! If you're willing to part with €25 it is well worth investing in. It's also on sale from Cara Pharmacy online here at a reduced price of €20 currently in their sale! You can thank me later ;)