January 2015

Posted on January 31, 2015

Stila Cosmetics Press Day

Events

On Thursday evening, I was invited to attend the press launch of Stila Cosmetics Bomb Shell Collection in Harvey Nichols, Dundrum Shopping Centre.

Myself and some other lovely bloggers got the opportunity to preview the new Stila Collection SS15, which put a lot of focus on the much loved beauty trend of the strong and defined brow – my fave!

Being the brow fanatic that I am, I was more than just a little excited to test those bad boys out. As well as being showered with the newest and most popular Stila products, we got to meet Stila’s beautiful brand ambassador, Sascha Jackson. She gave us a masterclass on how to use some of their top products and even completed a full look on a model.

Before I show you the finished look, here are some of the products we were introduced to on the day:

One Step Correct moisturising serum

This 3-in one serum acts as a primer, colour correcter and a brightener. It’s creamy formula blends into the skin without settling into pores or fine lines (not that you have any!).

PRICE: €31/£25

Stay All Day Liquid Liner

This liner has a marker- like tip, which makes it easier for makeup newbies to perfect their winged liner. It goes on smoothly without skipping, smudging or pulling!

PRICE: €17/£13

Stay All Day™ 10-In-1 HD Illuminating Beauty Balm SPF 30

This illuminating balm helps brighten up your look in just seconds. It is infused with skin-emollients which have been proved to increase antioxidant activity by up to 90%.

PRICE: €34.50/£26

Convertible Color Lip & Cheek

The Convertible colour is Stila’s signature product. This two-in one product can be used on both the lips and cheeks. The sheer tint adds a radiant colour to the skin!

PRICE: €21/£16

Stay All Day Brow Gel & Brush

The product I can’t wait to get my hands on…..this brow gel comes in 5 different shades to match a number of hair colours. It comes with a double ended brow brush to help perfect the shape of your brows. These clever little tools help add definition and fullness to the brows – even for those barely-there brows!

PRICE: €18/£13.50

Stay All Day Foundation & Concealer

This oil-free foundation has a creamy formula which glides onto the skin very easily. It comes with a full coverage concealer, along with a handy mirror. The two products combined leave the skin looking smooth and flawless.

PRICE: €39.40/£29.50

Brand ambassador, Sascha Jackson used these products along with some other fabulous picks from Stila to finish the look.

At the end of the evening, we were treated with some lovely goodie bags. Mine had three Stila products in them: a stay all day liquid lipstick, a waterproof brow colour and their signature product, the convertible colour.

I’m looking forward to trying these out and be sure to keep an eye out for the release of Stila’s Summer/Spring Collection (on-counter February 14th).You can find Stila products in selected Boots and Marks & Spencer stores as well as Harvey Nichols.

Twitter Facebook Instagram

Makeup tips for Valentine's Day
31
The first thing that springs to mind for a Valentine's Day look is the red lip: a defined and sultry red lip. But what comes after that? Not a lot of people get that far! When it comes to Valentines Day makeup, your look should be three things: subtle, but…
Tags: day, liner, colour, foundation, brow, lovely, skin, concealer, brush, liquid

Posted on January 26, 2015

Skincare glossary: what do these popular beauty terms really mean?

Beauty/ Skincare

We’re often told to go for products with certain ingredients. If you dry skin, you’re told to go for a moisturiser with an emollient and if you’re at the other end of the spectrum and have oily skin, then a cleanser with salicylic acid is your winning ticket. But what do these ingredients actually do? A clear understanding of how certain things function can help you make better choices when it comes to skincare products.

Here are a few popular words that you might have come across before and probably didn’t care to research because you ‘heard’ it was good:

E for Emollients

Emollients generally hold moisture in the skin. They keep the skin looking soft and supple. Some very popular and effective emollients would be avocado oil, shea butter and glycerine. If you have dry skin then always go for a moisturiser that has an emollient.

A for Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA)

AHA’s are naturally occurring acids found in milk and fruits. Generally, they help speed up the exfoliating process. This improves the texture of the skin and helps unclog nasty pores. Glycolic acid is one of the most commonly used AHAs.

A for Antioxidants

You’ve probably seen this word a couple of hundred times at this stage! Without getting too scientific, antioxidants keep the skin protected from harm caused by free radicals (damaged cells that can be problematic). Vitamins A, C and E, green tea, beta-carotene, and grape seed extracts are all highly effective antioxidants.

E for Exfoliators

I love a good exfoliator! They are designed to help remove dead cells from the skin and help whatever you put on your face afterwards become for effective. As a rule of thumb, always look for an exfoliator that is designed especially for your face. Body scrubs are far too harsh to use on the delicate skin of la visage.

H for Humectants

Humectants absorb water from the air and help the skin retain moisture. Some very effective humectants include glycerin, algae extract and lactic acid.

B for Balms

Balms are super-rich moisturisers like shea butter or avocado extract that help target dry patches of the skin. They’re usually designed for people who have super dry skin but if you want a subtle glow on your face, you could warm some balm in between your hands and pat your cheeks after you’ve applied your makeup.

C for Collagen

Collagen is a fibrous protein that is present in the skin. When someone has high levels of collagen in their skin, it appears nice and firm. (I bet you just thought of someone there). As we age, the level of collagen declines and wrinkles begin to form. That’s why some older women – and even men – like to get injections, as they temporarily replace lost collagen.

R for Retinoids (Retin-A, Retinal, Renova)

Retinoids are derived from vitamin A. They are used in beauty products to fight acne and help build collagen to reverse the visible signs of aging. Since using retinoids makes the skin more sensitive to the sun, it is important to use an SPF. Some natural sources of retinoids include tomatoes, melon,fish-liver oils and leafy green vegetables.

SPF (Sun Protection Factor)

My favourite S word! SPF measures the degree of protection a product provides against harmful UVB rays from the sun. A lot of people are under the impression that an SPF should only be worn in the summer, however, it should be worn all year around.

S for Serums

Serums are corrective skin treatments that are highly concentrated and packed with ingredients to target specific skin problems. Uneven skin tone and dullness are usually it. Common ingredients found in serums would be vitamin C and green tea extract. They are generally applied after cleansing and before moisturising.

Vitamin K helps promote faster healing of swelling, bruising and skin irritation. A beauty product that contains this vitamin would be ideal for people with sensitive skin.

Vitamin E provides antioxidant protection. It protects the fatty acids in the skin which help keep the skin firm and young looking. Not many people know that vitamin E can act as a mild sunscreen as it has an SPF factor of 3.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that reduces the pigmentation of scars, making them less noticeable. High doses of vitamin C helps create a more even skin tone. Natural sources of this vitamin include oranges, red peppers and kiwis.

Next time you go shopping for a new beauty product, you will be able to see if it has the ingredients you need for your skin. I hope you found this useful! 🙂

Twitter Facebook Instagram

Must-have beauty tools for the skincare obsessive
10000
This year, I've decided to revolutionise my beauty regime. I know, I know, it's a big step for me - especially since I’m so used my own ways of doing things! But I guess there's no harm in trying new things, and besides, “new year, new me,” right? To kick…
Are you using the right cleanser for your skin type?
10000
In one of my previous posts, I covered skin types and discussed how you can find out whether you’ve been blessed with normal skin, have combination skin, suffer from oiliness or, are at the other end of the spectrum: suffer from dryness. While this might seem blatantly obvious to…
7 natural skin toners
10000
If your beauty regime consists of cleansing, exfoliating, toning, moisturising and the occasional face mask, then you’ve probably already noticed that things can get a bit heavy on your pocket – particularly around this time of year. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a huge amount of cash to find a…
5 natural ways to reduce cellulite
60
Cellulite is one of those things that most women will have to deal with at some stage in their life. The majority of women will have this skin condition to one degree or another and for some and it can be a source of embarrassment that keeps them shying away during bikini…
Tags: skin, help
Celebrities who suffered from acne
46
My third article for Acne Awareness Month will be about celebrities who suffered from acne. Why? Because when most people think of celebrities, they think of perfect beings with multiple bank accounts, who spend millions on their daily appearance and never have to worry about having a bad day. But…
Tags: skin, help

Posted on January 16, 2015

Product review: The Eylure Brow Revolution

product review

Eyebrow lovers, brace yourself, because the news just broke in! Eylure’s extensive new brow range is now available at Boyne Grove Pharmacy in the very lovely town of Drogheda (and I’m not just saying that because I live here!)

The name Eylure might ring a bell to some of you, as it is widely known for it’s range of falsh lashes. Now, Eylure has released a full line of eyebrow products to add to it; from eyebrow stencils for beginners to permanent eyebrow tint for the more confident gals, the Eylure eyebrow revolution has something for pretty much every lady!

I was very lucky to have had four of the products from this extensive brow range sent to me for review. And after a few weeks of using them – as often as I could – I’m now ready to reveal my final verdict. I hope you’re ready! 🙂

Eylure brow stencils (€6.49)

I think these stencils are a clever little tool for those who don’t know much about shaping their brows – especially since you have the option of four different arches; full, high, medium and slim. I didn’t find the stencils very useful because I have my own way of shaping my brows, so these brow templates weren’t very useful for me. However, I do think they’d be something makeup newbies would love!

Eylure Brow palette (€12.99)

This brow palette has become my holy grail product, I find it hard to go anywhere without it! It has the perfect combo for shaping your brows on the go and it also comes with a compact mirror – which I hardly use – because it’s a little TOO honest for my liking! Other than that, this product is definitely a winner! You can get it in three different shades; blonde, mid brown and the shade I have, dark brown. It also comes with an angled brush that has a sponge applicator at the other end – a free brush is always a plus!

Here’s how to use this little trio:

Sculpt: use the angled brush to apply the firm wax hold and shape the brow.
Colour: fill in with the pigmented brow powder.
Define: sweep a bit of matte highlighter under the arch for further definition.

Eylure nourishing brow oil (€10.99)

I haven’t used this product as much as I would have liked to. I started off great (used it every night for 2 weeks) and then once I started to see results, I might have gotten a bit lazy…. I think if I hadn’t stopped and used it every night without fail, I probably would have gotten better results. After all, this oil has a blend of rosemary, sweet almond and argan oil – the three miracle ingredients for nourishing and growing eyebrows!

Eylure permanent tint for brows (€12.99)

This product made my brows slightly darker than usual. It’s a very subtle change, as you can see from the pictures,but I do think the subtlety is good since it works even better with the other Eylure products! It comes with two little sachets and you just mix the contents together and apply it on your brows. Leave it on for 3 minutes and them remove with a damp cotton pad.

All in all, I would give the Eylure brow products a try. They’re affordable and I think the packaging looks amazing for a pharmacy brand. You can get it in McCabes Pharmacy, Sam McCauley Chemists, Shaws and now the Boyne Grove Pharmacy in Drogheda! 🙂

Twitter Facebook Instagram

How to have perfect eyebrows
10000
Today, Bellefbeauty.com has another tutorial for you, and of course it would have to be about eyebrows, because anyone who knows me would know that I'm eyebrow crazy, to me, it's probably one of the fastest (and easiest) ways to Enhance What's Yours (not to mention how perfect eyebrows just lift your…
5 major eyebrow mistakes you’re probably making
10000
As you might have already guessed, I am big into eyebrows and if there was an award for the person who pays the most attention to their brows, I’d probably win it! (no jokes). Not many people know that brows hold centre stage in the beauty world and if you…
The power of your eyebrows
10000
A lot of people tend to underestimate exactly what their eyebrows do for their face, why? I'll never know! But what I do know is that beautifully groomed eyebrows really do transform your face and brings out your natural beauty. So if something takes very little time and also makes…

Posted on January 11, 2015

Turmeric anti-inflammatory juice

recipes

If you tried and liked my ginger and carrot juice recipe, then there’s no doubt you’ll like this one too. This anti-inflammatory juice does absolute wonders when it comes to boosting your immune system and supporting your health – lord knows we need it around this time of year!

Each ingredient has its own unique benefit, but since the main one is turmeric, I’ll give you a quick outline of what it’ll do for you (if you do decide to give this recipe a try!).

Turmeric is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatories around. It’s known to have both anti-viral and anti-cancer properties. And while it can do a great job in reducing the inflammation levels in the body, it can also help with inflammation in the skin and chronic problems such as acne.

Ideally, you’d want to use fresh turmeric.But if it’s not available to you, you could always use the powdered form too!

Ingredients:

1 large piece turmeric (at least 4-5 inches)
1 piece ginger (about 2-3 inches)
5 carrots, cut in halves
2 lemons, squeezed
1 orange, squeezed
1 cucumber
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper powder

Directions with juicer:

Put all the fruit and vegetables into a juicer and process until ready.
At the end, add the cayenne pepper powder.
If you can hack it, you could always throw in some ice and drink it right away!

Directions without juicer:

Peel the ginger and the turmeric.
Put into a blender with the rest of the ingredients and add some water to facilitate the blending.
Process the mixture until there are no hard pieces from the carrots etc.
Use a sieve to pour the mixture into a large jar and put whatever is left in the sieve back into the blender.
Repeat process until you have enough juice.
Drink immediately or store in the fridge.

Twitter Facebook Instagram

3 Green smoothie recipes
10000
I've been asked on several occasions to to do a few smoothie recipes on my blog. If you follow me of Facebook or Twitter, you would know that I am big into making smoothies (they're just so refreshing!) Lately, I've been trying to add some vegetables into my recipes and…
Home-made almond milk and it's beauty benefits
10000
A non-dairy alternative to milk is something that a lot of people look for- let's face it, with obesity at it's high, and many "unfortunate" enough to be lactose intolerant , everyone is on the look out for healthier alternatives when it comes to food. Of course with the New…
2-ingredient juice cleanse recipe
10000
I have recently become obsessed with beetroot. I know, it’s a weird obsession to have, but I suppose it could be a lot worse. Beetroots are well-known for helping the whole detoxification process. They help purify your blood and your liver, so if you're on a juice cleanse or if…
Passion fruit skin peel at Therapie Clinic
43
If you follow my Instagram story, then you would know that I recently got a facial at Therapie Clinic on Molesworth Street in Dublin. Prior to getting my treatment done, I went in for a consultation with Sarah to talk about my skin concerns and problematic areas I was hoping…
Tags: skin, peel, acne, help, fruit
10 juicing tips for beginners
35
I’m no professional when it comes to juicing. However, I do feel that I’ve been juicing for long enough to know that freshly made juice tastes better when consumed within 20 minutes, the juicing strainer can be an absolute pain to clean after using carrots, and some fruit and vegetables…
Tags: juice, fruit, vegetables

Posted on January 6, 2015

D.I.Y Vanilla & Coconut Body Scrub

D.I.Y

For my first post of 2015, I’ve decided to share a simple D.I.Y beauty recipe! This timeless recipe only requires 3 ingredients that you can easily get a hold of.

Here I’ve put together two of my favourite scents to make a simple scrub that will give your body silky smooth skin.

Ingredients:

100g coconut oil
110g brown sugar
½ tsp vanilla

Directions:

Mix ingredients together in a clean bowl.
Transfer to a jar and then keep refrigerated.
To use, rub on skin while in the shower or bath and massage well.
Rise out and pat skin dry.

Sugar scrubs are probably one of the easiest D.I.Y scrubs to make because once you have a ‘scrubbing’ agent and a pleasant smelling ingredient, you’re already half way there! The exfoliating element leaves the skin smooth, vibrant and refreshed.

After giving this recipe a try, it’s quite likely you’ll be giving the ready-made stuff a miss! #TeamDoItYourself 🙂

Twitter Facebook Instagram

How to make a lip scrub
10000
I don't think I stand alone when I say that there's nothing better than a good D.I.Y that takes no longer than a minute to put together! So for this weeks second post, I thought I'd show you all how to make a lip scrub at home! Why should you…
D.I.Y Ginger detox bath
10000
If you’ve never heard of a detox bath until today, then you’re probably wondering why you’ll ever need one. Well, as you already know, we live in a world full of toxins and lurking bacteria, so a detox bath is a great way of getting rid of all those bad…
D.I.Y Pore Strips
10000
Photo credit Yesterday, I decided that a bit of pampering was in order. I put on some relaxing music and started off by cleansing and exfoliating my face and then, I went on to steam it. This was followed by a not so pampering experience of peeling pore strips off my whole…
That sugar baby life: dreamy romance or glorified prostitution?
36
When I first heard about sugar relationships, I was rather naive about the whole concept. The notion that a wrinkled wealthy man could financially support a young and attractive woman while asking for nothing but her presence in return was not something that set off any alarm bells. I thought,…
Tags: sugar