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 ;)

Soleil Tan De Chanel | Review

After a particularly long week in the office a while back, I deserved a treat and through the process of elimination decided on Chanel. Lets face it, Chanel makes everything better! I have been lusting after Soleil Tan de Chanel for about 2 years now but could never commit to a purchase convincing myself that I was far to pale and it wouldn't look right. After that week I just bit the bullet and I haven't looked back since. 

I wanted it primarily as a makeup base for matching my face to my body especially for nights out over the summer because as a rule I don't tan my face. Real or Fake. 

While it is marketed as a makeup base and it works well as one, over the past few weeks I have become more accustomed to using it as a cream bronzer applying it with a stippling brush in the typical "3" motion. It's the perfect colour for contouring the face and blends effortlessly into foundation with a matte finish.

However, for days where I am tan free, I can still wear it. For daytime I mix the tiniest amount of moisturiser (about the size of a grain of rice) in the jar with it, swirl my brush around it and apply it in the same "3" motion, for a dewy day time look with just a hint of colour. A healthy sun-kissed glow if you will.

It has become a staple in my makeup routine, to the point where I feel naked without it. How typical that I'd feel naked without Chanel? 

It is priced at €38.50 and available here. While it is on the pricer end of the scale, I see it as an investment product. I'll get so much use out of it during the summer as cream based products feel so much lighter on the skin, you can have a full face of makeup with looking cakey. 

I've ordered a Stila Convertable Colour to wear with it, now I have to wait patiently for it to arrive so I can bronze up my cheeks to match.

My Festival Essentials |

With Festival Season well and truly upon us, I thought it would be the perfect time to share some of my must-have beauty bits that won't weigh you down or take up excess room in your already bursting at the seams backpack!

Cocoa Brown Gentle Bronze Gradual Tan - €7.99
Another fail safe product from the ever growing and expanding brand that is Cocoa Brown. For those of you like me who struggle to master the art of gradual tan application this is the one for you. Unlike most gradual tans on the market 'Gentle Bronze' has a light colour guide making it a breeze to apply - no more streaky tan disasters! In essence it is a tinted moisturizer so it is quite hydrating, it can be applied daily to build a deep glow or for a natural sunkissed glow apply it two-three nights in a row! People will think you're just back from a week in the South of France! Perfect for baring arms up front listening to your favourite bands this summer!

Bed Head 'Oh Bee Hive' Dry Shampoo - €16.50
Lets face it, showers are few and far between at these festivals and realistically how appealing do communal showers sound when you're talking about tens of thousands of people? Not very. Dry shampoo is definitely a festival essential and you'd be mad to go without a can of it. Perfect for adding a little life back into limp second and even third day hair in some cases. My current favourite is from the brand Tigi, although it may not be the cheapest one on the market, a little goes a long way. It leaves zero white residue whatsoever even in the darkest of hair and smells ah-mazing. It also doubles up as a texturizing spray adding oodles of volume at the roots. It contains starch to soak up excess oil so you can rock your flower head band all weekend long!

Tangle Teezer - €15.95
Tangled tresses are no fun and I'd be lost without my Tangle teezer. It's light weight and compact making it perfect for on the go. Designed to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand it literally goes hand in hand with the a fore mentioned dry shampoo - a quick brush through your hair and it is smooth, glossy and freeze free in no time at all!

Water wipes - €3.99
I am completely anti when it comes to face wipes, however I do appreciate that the last thing on your mind at a festival is cleanse, tone and moisturise. These wipes are from the Irish owned 'Irish Breeze'. They are water based, alcohol and fragrance free making them a great alternative to the traditional makeup wipes as they aren't as harsh or striping. They take up minimal space in your bag and are great for a quick clean the morning after the night before. They remove, makeup, facepaint and the general grime associated with spending your days in the middle of a field.

Neutrogena Multi-Defence daily moisturiser - €10.99
I'm slightly contradicting myself by including a moisturiser but if you've followed the blog for a while then you'll already know I'm a stickler when it comes to SPF especially for the face, I'm trying to keep you all looking young for as long as possible. This moisturiser is great because it contains SPF 15 so although I might prefer to see you wear something a little higher, its better than nothing! It's lightweight, soaks in quickly and protects against some of the skins biggest aggressors; Sun (UVA + UVB), wind and day to day pollution in one quick step - Simples!!

Mac Fix+ - €18.50
On the off chance we meet our favourite celebrity/ future husband in the middle of a mosh pit we need to be looking our best, to do so you will need Mac's Fix+. A spritz of this over your makeup will keep it in place all day long, no touch ups required. While you may feel like a sweaty mess, you certainly won't look like one with this. Its my holy grail setting spray, great for pigments and glitter and god knows no festival look is complete without some glitter ;)

Whether it's Electrical Picnic or Glastonbury you're heading to this year these are my beauty must haves, the products I simply could not survive without hopefully I've given you little bit of inspiration or reminded you of something you may have otherwise forgotten. The sunscreen, deodorant, wellies, raincoat and tent is up to you.. *hint hint*

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!