Gel Polish: Take it from someone who knows | My Experience

I have seen a lot of hate towards gel polish in the "Blogosphere" of late and I thought it was high time I shared my thoughts on the subject. I have been wearing gel polish with a little over a year and a half having given up on extensions which had left my nails paper thin and brittle. In the past twelve months I have experimented with Shellac, Gelish, OPI Gel colour, Axxium and Perfect Match - You name it, I've tried them all!

I get my nails done religiously every three weeks as a treat, only having the polish removed to be reapplied within minutes and I can honestly say, hand on my heart that the integrity of my natural nails has not been hindered or in any way compromised by the use of gel polish. If anything, I owe my long, strong nails to it. My nail growth is incredible, I have to get the length taken back at every appointment because tallons just aren't practical when working on a computer all day everyday.

Before blaming your weakened/damaged nails on gel polish. Ask yourself this? Did you have a branded polish applied? CND for example? Did the nail tech use an electric file or drill on your nails prior to application?(this is a big NO NO!) Did you have it removed properly in a Salon? Did you remove it yourself? Did you pick it off?

Gel Polish application whether it be Shellac or Gelish etc. on average costs about €25-€30. This cost is there because it takes about 40 minutes all in all to have it applied, they are using branded products and your nail technician is fully qualified. If you see a deal on Groupon or the likes for a €10 gel manicure, it may sound like a great bargain at the time but just think about what is being compromised on to give you such a great deal? Something has to give..

It should always be removed in a salon by a professional  where the gel seal is broken, acetone soaked cotton wool is applied to the nail and it is wrapped in foil to penetrate the acetone and aid with the breakdown of the gel. Once the nail is removed from the foil your polish should have lifted and come away with little or no help from the nail tech. The removal of the gel polish in the correct way ensures your nails are left in perfect condition - no damage!

My natural nails after gel polish removal and ready for the next application. (Excuse the dodgy quality of the photo it was taken on an iPhone)

Please excuse the photo spamming, I just wanted to give you an idea of the consistency of length, my nail growth etc. I am in no way telling you to give up on wet polish, or to go out and get a gel manicure. What I am saying, like everything in life - don't knock it til you've tried it.

I do still have an accident every once in a while where down to the klutz I am I break a nail, nothing that a silk wrap won't heal though! 

Not so long ago a silk wrap completely saved my nail having broken it half way down the nail bed right across almost, I had 2 wraps applied to it and over the course of  5 weeks it had grown out completely and most importantly.. I didn't loose it! Nail technician are life savers! 

May Favourites |

Hello Lovelies,

Let me start off by apologizing for the sort of blogging hiatus. I have not given up completely, I'm currently doing a course outside of my full-time job so I have little time  between the two to sit down and actually blog. I'll explain more about what I'm doing in good time. For now I thought I share with you some of my May Favourites. Can you believe it is June already?

Vichy Purete Thermale Purifying Foaming water - €14.99

This little wonder was sitting idle in my bathroom until a couple of weeks ago when it caught my attention, now I can't figure out why I ever stopped using it. I just looks like water in the bottle and when you pump it out it foams up. It's a really gentle face wash, lightly scented and it leaves my skin looking brighter and my face looks plumper and so so smooth - even before moisturizing. It contains Captalae, a shea plant extract which acts like a magnet to draw impurities from the skin without needing any harsh chemicals making it great for those with sensitive skin. I love it!

Liz Earle Instant Boost Tonic Spritzer -  €16.00

It is almost unheard of for me to be mentioning a toner let alone be "favouriting" it. I find a lot of them to be very drying and leave my skin feeling stripped and sometimes quite raw. I have been using witch hazel and rose water for years and it has been doing the job just fine. However, I received a 30ml travel size of this at Christmas in a Liz Earle giftset. It contains aloe vera  to revitalize and soften skin and refreshing chamomile and cucumber. It smells so fresh, its mood boosting! It comes in bottle form like a normal toner or you can get a spritzer version which I prefer. It is alcohol free and the natural vitamin E adds a veil of moisture. I've just repurchased! 

Clarins Daily Engerizer Cream - €24.00

This moisturizer is one I find myself coming back to for spring/summer again and again so you could say its a long term favourite of mine. The Daily Energizer range was specifically designed with younger skin in mind (late teens - to early twenties). It contains Vitamin C to tackle fatigued, dull skin, Turmeric a powerful antioxident, Alchemilla a plant extract designed to regulate the production of sebum for clearer pores and complexion and finally Ginkgo Biloba to increase the skins intake of oxygen for brighter, more radiant skin. It does all of this without leaving the skin feeling greasy, it is my go to day time moisturizer for the summer months. My one and only gripe with this product is the lack of SPF, when designing a range of skincare for for younger skin I thought it would have been of paramount importance. Maybe that's just me..

The Body Shop Tinted Glow Enhancer - approx €19.00

I have had this highlight for ages.. I rediscovered it recently when I was doing a massive clear out and have fallen for it again in a big way. You can do so much with it, mix it in with your foundation for a dewier look, apply it on bare skin for a glowing complexion or apply it as you would a normal hightlight - on your cheek bones, your cupids bow, down the centre of your nose, etc. However, I'm unsure it is still available and fear it may be discontinued. I haven't been able to find it online, I have tweeted the body shop and am awaiting a response. How typical would it be that I would fall in love with a discontinued product? 

No.7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow in 'Truffle' - €9.25

To be totally honest I never thought much of No.7 as a brand, I'd see it in Boots and walk past it seeing it a brand for the more mature woman. I received this eyeshadow in a goodie bag at the launch of the Cocoa Brown Tough Stuff Scrub, why I haven't blogged about it before now is beyond me. I get countless compliments when wearing it. It is the most beautiful warm bronze colour that really makes blue eyes pop! The texture is so silky and it has the finest shimmer, it blends effortlessly and although quite pigmented as it is, you can really build it up for your desired look. Desert Island eyeshadow? I think so!  It creates a single shadow smokey eye - Perfect!

Essence Get Big Lashes Triple Black Mascara - €2.89

This Mascara has knocked me for six, it has literally blown me away. It is the blackest black colour, it adds length, volume and definition to my lashes with a single coat. It doesn't clump and doesn't dry out my lashes and make them feel crispy. It has undoubtedly knocked my beloved YSL Faux Cils Mascara off of its pedestal and what's more? I can get 11 of these mascara for the price of the YSL one. It deserves Holy Grail Status - Life made!

So there you have it, a look into some of the products I have been loving throughout the last month and a little look into some of my skincare routine. What have you been loving this month? 

Rebecca x

'Suddenly Diamonds' by Lidl | Review

Let me just start off by saying I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to perfume, so much so I would say that in the entiretyof my perfume wearing years I've owned a grand total of two Celebrity scents (both were gifted to me). Now thats not to say that there is anything wrong with the scents because there isn't. The issue I have with celebrity endorsed perfumes is.. " Do I really want to smell like Amy Childs hunni?" - Eh NO!

Anyway back to the point at hand. Around this time every year I treat myself to a bottle of Dolce & Gabbana 'Light Blue'. It was my first ever perfume and to this day it holds a special place in my heart, sort of a coming of age type thing. It's also a great Spring/Summer scent - crisp and clean!

I wasn't 5 sprays into my latest repurchase when it smashed in my handbag, destroying the bag and ruining my day. I must say it was a first for me (thankfully) and one that I didn't want to experience again. I just couldn't cope with the loss, it's so expensive after all! Around the time of the catastrophe I had been hearing a lot of hype surrounding this "Suddenly Madame Glamour" a fragrance release from none other than Lidl.It was labelled a designer dupe for 'Coco Mademoiselle' by Chanel. To be honest I kind of forgot about it again until I happened to be in Lidl. Low and behold it was SOLD OUT!

In its place was an uninspiring rectangular bottle 'Suddenly Diamonds', presumably a dupe for Armani 'Diamonds' right? Wrong! It was an identical dupe for none other than 'Boss Orange' by Hugo Boss, another great Spring/Summer scent.

Now I'm no expert but I'd like to think I know a thing or two about fragrance, I do kind of collect them! 

Top Notes - What you immediately perceive to be the perfumes scent. The initial and undoubtedly the mos important as this is the scent that dictates whether or not you buy it. A sales tactic.

I'm going to say in this instance that the Top Notes are Mandarin or more likely Orange Blossom as the scent is slightly more floral than citrusy and Bergamot. 

Base Notes - What is left behind when the perfume has settled and the top notes have evaporated. These tend to be deeper, richer scents and hold the key to the longevity of of the scent. Depending on whether you opt for an Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette these scents can be detected up to 24 hours after the initial application - Muskier scents if you will.

What is the difference between EDP and EDT you ask?

Eau de Parfum is more concentrated, it contains a higher percentage of essential oils, making it stronger and longer lasting while Eau de Toilette has a highter water content, making it a lighter and slightly cheaper alternative. 

The Base Notes in this particular fragrance are quite creamy. Consisting in my opinion of Vanilla and Sandalwood to cut through it so it isn't sickly sweet.

In plain English it is a Fruity/Floral scent. Light, fresh and clean. Perfect for day-to-day wear.

It is fast becoming a firm favourite of mine. Grab it while you can ladies, it is available in Lidl stores Nationwide for a limited time only and priced at €3.99 for 50mls EDP - it is a STEAL! (compared to its designer counterpart priced at €64 in boots for 50mls EDP currently) 

Where should I apply it?

Give a Posy #BeautyHack - I like to spritz a little onto my hairbrush and run it through my hair so that each time I give a little hair flick it releases a waft of scent *sniffs the air*

April Favourites

Hello Lovelies,

Its hard to believe its May tomorrow isn't it? I'm back to you today with a Monthly Favourites. I haven't done one in a while purely out of lack of inspiration. I've tried a million new products since the start of the year and so many of them leave a lot to be desired and I wasn't going to post about February's "you'll do's".

April has been a somewhat more fruitful month where products are concerned, some are new, others are rediscovered gems. 

1. Wet n' Wild CoverAll Concealer Palette

As you all know, back in February Wet n' Wild launched in Ireland and the blogging world went nuts. I have to say I wasn't overwhelmed by the brand and still think there's a lot to be said for the more widely available Essence and Catrice where "drug store" brands are concerned. I did really enjoy the concealer palette though. You get 4 concealers in the colour corrector palette for €4.49. One to brighten, one to neutralize reddness, one to cover and a highlight. They are really creamy in consistency and the 'brighten' and 'cover' are the perfect shades for contouring and highlighting especially for day to day. They match my skin tone to perfection and I would go so far as to say I actually prefer them to my Crown Brush Contour palette. Definitely worth a go. It could however do without the icy silver "highlight" - its a bit gaudy in my opinion! 

2. Garnier Ultimate Blends The Silky 7-in-1 dry shampoo

For far too long us brunettes have been left out where dry shampoo is concerned, unless you were willing to fork out big bucks you'd never get to fully experience the joys of second or third day hair. Well you could but you'd run the risk of rocking grey roots down to the chalky residue left behind from the likes of Batiste. However garnier have come to the rescue with the release of their very own dry shampoo range and it is supurb- no residue whatsoever. I picked it up in the vanilla milk and it is fantastic. It would definitely give its higher end competitors a run for their money and the smell? OMG THE SMELL!!! 

3. Sleek i-Divine Vintage Romance eyeshadow Palette

I've had this palette for months and didn't really give it a chance until ths month. I'm a massive fan of Sleek as a brand, everything is so pigmented and such value for money and the eyeshadow palettes are no different, you get 12 shadows for €9.99. The colour payoff is second to none. I really don't know why I've overlooked the palette for so long, you can literally create a million different looks with this palette. This month I've been focusing my attention on adding a hint of colour to my smokey eye with the help of the gorgeous purple's in this palette. They really make my greeny blue eyes pop! Oh and talk about wanderlust with the fab names "Meet in Madrid", "Propose in Prague" "Marry in Monte Carlo" etc. It was limited addition when I purchased it, if you can get your hands on it at all - you need it!

4. Vichy Normaderm Tri Activ cleanser + scrub + mask

With the warmer weather on its way, I've noticed an my skin has started to become oily again so to avoid the inevitable break out due to excess oil production I dug out the old reliable and it is working a treat. This multitasking beauty contains both salicylic and glycolic acid both well known for treating acne along with Kaolin to fight imperfections and clay to dry out any impurities and excess oil. It is also soap, paraben and alcohol free making it perfect for anyone with sensitive skin. In a nutshell, if you suffer from oily, acne prone skin or hormonal break outs, this cleanser will quiet literally save your life. It is priced at appox €14 and available in chemists nationwide.

5. Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in 220 'Showy Flamboyante'

I'm going to start off by saying that I think, maybe Revlon might be my favourite of the "drug store" brand. To date not one of their products has let me down and the foundation range for the paler than pale like me is just a dream come true. We're not talking foundation today though. We're talking lips and I am in love with these matte balms, throughout the month of April I have obsessing over the vibrant pink. What says spring has sprung better than big, bold, bright lips? Eh.. Nothing! They fact that it's matte makes it even more desirable in my eyes and I'm just so in love. Move out of the way MUA, you have been replaced. They consistency is just that of a balm and although the product does dry onto your lips, it isn't drying. The staying power is phenomenal and it doesn't flake away like some of the other Matte lip products. I have an orange shade knocking around my bedroom somewhere too and i'm looking forward to trying it out. 

But for know just look at the pink lip perfection that is 'Showy Flamboyante'. I've been using MAC's 'Magenta' lip liner to add a bit of depth and volume to my lips with it but it isn't necessary.

So there you have it, some of the products I have been loving through out the month of April. In honour of the 10th Anniversary I'm off to watch Mean Girls before bed! 

Whats been tickling your fancy of late? Any recommendations?

Rebecca x

Karora CC Cream | Review

I was never someone who bought into the whole BB cream/ CC Cream hype. I've always been someone who either wanted full coverage or no coverage at all so they seemed somewhat pointless for me. Admittedly, I tried a few out of sheer curiosity but nothing tickled my fancy.

I think a lot of that was the fact that they seemed to cling to any dry patches on with my face. I also found that the colour of a lot of them was quite ashy and made me look like death warmed up. They were a big NO from me!

I have however, found a Diamond in the rough. It comes in the form of the Karora CC Cream and I have fallen head first for it. It isn't ashy like the others, it enhances your natural skin tone - your skin but better! It feels really light-weight on the skin while still offering a buildable coverage, So if I'm having a particularly good skin day (rare as they might be) A quick sweep of this cream evens out my complexion and I feel completely put together and ready to take on the day.

It is packed full of amazing, uber-hydrating ingredients such as; Green tea leaf extract, jojoba seed oil, acai berry and argan oil so it glides evenly over any problem areas, blurring out any imperfections on its way.

What I love most about this product is the fact that it isn't intended solely for use on the face. It covers a multitude, working wonders on the likes of bruises, thread veins and skin pigmentation.

My "makeup free" look featuring the Karora CC Cream in question. 

What Karora Say: "Become a skin sensation with this multi-tasking beauty wonder that delivers unrivalled radience,coverage and complexion perfect." 

Now who wouldn't want in on that? I couldn't agree more with the statement if I tried. It has quickly become a staple in my makeup bag and for the price could you possibly blame me?

It is priced at €24.99 for 100mls and available from Cloud 10 beauty and salons nationwide.