Review: Kiss iEnvy Individual lashes

Up until a few months ago I had an obsession with false lashes. No dress was complete without a big set of lashes. Eventually I just got sick of:

1. Taking ages to get them on, 
2. Getting the glue on my eye make up and having to start over,
3. Leaving them on over night and feeling like my eyelids had been glued shut. 
4. Looking back over photos and seeing that one had fallen down on my cheek to look like a random piece of facial hair! 
5. Pulling my natural eyelashes out trying to reach the remnants of glue. 

Basically I decided to give them up! Layers of mascara was easier than dealing with the cons they had to offer...until I found these!

They are simply amazing! 

• They were incredible inexpensive at €3.50 from Penneys.
• They were very easy to apply, much easier than strip lashes.
• They blend very well with the natural lashes.
• They come in different lengths which makes them look real!
• The glue was clear, in comparison to the white gloopy glue that normally comes with strip lashes.
• They feel as though I'm not wearing anything on my eyes.

The list goes on! It says on the packet that they last for up to 4 weeks. It will be interesting to see how long they last if I'm removing make-up and showering etc. I'll update this post and tell you all how long they last. 

It's safe to say that I'm well and truly back on the false lashes bandwagon but I doubt I'll ever go back to strip lashes after these! I will most definitely be repurchasing...in bulk!

Application:

1. I started off by removing all of my make-up.
2. Got a square piece of tinfoil and a pair of tweezers at the ready. 
3. I opened the packet and removed the lashes and the glue.
4. Placed a small blob of the clear glue onto the piece of tin foil.
5. I then took the tweezer and began to remove them from the packet.
6. I picked up one of the eyelashes and dipped the knotted end in the glue.
7. I placed the eyelash onto my lash line, as close to the eyelid as I could get. 
8. I repeated on both eyes.
9. I finished with a thin coat of mascara.

I used the longer eyelashes on the outer edge and the smaller ones as I moved into the inner part of the eye. I only applied lashes to the outer half of the eye to maintain a natural look and I didn't apply any to the bottom lash lin

Before

Before

Before: Close-up

       

Application

  

                    Application

After

                              

    

  

Glowing Goddess: Tips and tricks for perfect summer skin

Exams are over and Summer is finally here! Whether you’re jetting off on a J1 or staying home for some summer madness (Volvo Ocean Race, Galway Arts Festival and the Picnic to name but a few), here’s a few tips & tricks to achieve and maintain that natural summer glow.

courtesy: flickr - kimsdinner

1. Glow from within

Don’t worry I’m not about to get all “Gillian McKeith” but in order to achieve glowing skin you need to start with your diet. Vitamins A,
C, B and E and minerals Iron and Zinc are fuel for our skin. They help with dryness, discolouration, breakouts and preventing wrinkles. Be sure to eat a balanced diet full of vegetables, fruit, dairy, cereals and meat. If you struggle with your 5-a-day, try supplements such as skin, hair and nails formula, found in health food stores and chemists.

2. Protect yourself!

Sun cream, I cannot stress this enough! Before you book your spot on the sunbed or whip out the tanning oil, just google Patricia Krentcil. Ok, perhaps a little extreme but you see my point! Whether you’re a bronzed beauty or like myself you prefer the “pale and interesting” look, sunscreen is always important. You need protection from the obvious big C, as well as brown spots and wrinkles. I opt for the Boots Soltan range in factor 30 or above, it’s inexpensive, non-greasy, smells lovely and doubles as an insect repellent. Soltan face is light and hydrating and perfect for under your make-up. Remember that it doesn’t have to be scorching hot for your skin to get damaged, I follow Dita Von Teese’s example and choose to wear sunscreen all year round. If you are sun worshipper, and love a nice tan then just fake it, a real one isn’t worth the effects it will have in years to come.

3. Less is more!

So you’ve eaten your banana and put on your sunscreen. Now for the summer perfect make-up. The key to summer make-up is being minimal, less is definitely more. You want to make your skin look as though you have no make-up on at all.

• Step One: To achieve that summer glow, begin with an illuminating moisturiser, I absolutely love Soap & Glory Glow Job. It contains microbeads that burst when you rub it into the skin leaving your skin looking glowing and sun-kissed. You can buy this in Boots and it’s pretty inexpensive compared to most illuminating moisturisers.

• Step Two: Then it’s onto the base. If your skin in good condition and you’re looking for a product with very sheer coverage then I’d opt for a BB cream. A bit of an “all-in-one” kind of product, BB cream is a combination of primer, moisturiser and foundation. My favourite BB cream of the moment is Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector. It comes in 3 shades, light, medium and dark. The coverage is very sheer with a very dewy finish. It’s smooth and light on the skin and smells gorgeous. If you prefer a little more coverage I would suggest mixing your foundation with some moisturiser or BB cream. There are hundreds of sheer and dewy foundations out there but my all time favourite is definitely Bourjois Healthy Mix serum. It has light yet buildable coverage, have a dewy finish, smells amazing and feels as though you’re not wearing foundation at all. It’s available in Boots and it’s €15. Apply your BB cream or foundation and add some concealer to the blemishes.

• Step three: For nice glowing cheeks, opt for a cream blush. Maxfactor do a great one in a range of different colours to suit different skin tones. A cream blush will maintain the dewy finish whilst adding some colour and freshness to the face. (Remember less is more!)

• Step Four: Use a highlighter on the tops of the cheek bones, the bridge of the nose and the top of your upper lip, this will catch the light and create that glow. I love Benefits High Beam or Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream.

• Step Five: Dab some powder to set the concealer. Keep the powder to a minimum to maintain the dewy finish.

• Step Six: Curl the eyelashes, add some mascara to your top lashes and finish with a dab of lip balm.

How To: Ombré hair

Out of sheer boredom I convinced my housemate to let me ombré her hair. I used Jerome Russell highlighting kit for brown hair in Boots chemist.

Step 1. 

I mixed the product as shown on the packet.

Step 2.

Eve decided what section of her hair she wanted dyed and I literally slapped it on that section.

Step 2.

Depending on how blonde you want the result, your supposed to leave it between 20 and 60 mins. Eve wanted a dirty blonde so I left it for 30 mins. The result was surprisingly a little lighter than we expected so if your dying hair that hasn't been dyed before I'd leave it for a little less than it says to.

Step 3.

We washed it out and used the conditioner that came with the dye. I blow-dried the hair and styled it into tousled curls to add some texture. (In my opinion Ombré hair looks so much better on wavy hair) 

And voila, the results are shown above. If you want the ombré to be a different colour then just buy some crazy colour in salon services and slap it over the bleached section. Very on-trend :)

Em x

Hangover Cures (Trust me, I've tried everything)

I'm not in any way condoning drinking, it's a personal preference that I enjoy an occasional alcoholic beverage! Nonetheless here's a few tips to get rid of that "I think I may be dying" feeling. 

1. Dioralyte

Yeah thats right, Dioralyte. I discovered this little gem at Oxegen music festival thanks to my mother. It's used to replace lost water and salts due to diarrhoea. Hangovers are caused by dehydration so it makes sense taking something to replace water and salt would help with that. You can buy Dioralyte in any chemist. I take it as soon as I wake up the morning after the night before. It's simply fantasic!

2. Food

The next step is food. It might be difficult to keep food down but it will make you feel a whole lot better if you do. I prefer carby foods with a little protein, like wedges and cheese or a filled roll. Steer clear of yoghurt or anything like that because you don't want it to curdle in your stomach. Bananas are also good as they are high in potassium, vitamin B6 and B12, which are all depleted by alcohol.

3. Sleep

Sleep, all day if you can. I keep water by the bed and sip it when I wake. I love to open the window as well. The cool breeze helps. What ever you do, keep the curtains closed. Sun light is a killer when your hungover. Your body repairs itself when your asleep so do yourself a favour and let it. 

4. Moderation

Saving the best till last. Moderation is probably the only tip I can give that will guarantee no hangover. Just when you think like you've not had enough, you probably have. Remember not to mix drinks and try to drink a beverage thats clear. Clear beverages with water based mixers are your best bet. Try Gin and Tonic or my personal favourite, vodka and slim. 

Favourite blog of the week!

http://wwwdreamonaisw.blogspot.com/


Aisling's blog, well worth a read. This girl is seriously talented! x

Cold sores: Prevention is better than cure!

Up until a few months ago I was getting cold sores every 2 weeks, once one was gone, another would appear soon after! I went to the chemist and left each time with a tube of Zovirex! Sick and tired of trying to get rid of them, I went in search of a prevention rather than a cure! I went into Boots and asked a student chemist for her help. She was kind enough to introduce me to Lysine. I was told that cold sores come from the herpes simplex virus (Don't worry it's a different strain to gential kind!), that it stays dormant in the system and never actually goes away. However taking the amino acid Lysine, can help reduce the number of times you get cold sores. The herpes simplex virus requires Lysine to form the cold sore. By taking a supplement you are over-supplying the virus and thus, rendering it unable to form the cold sore. So I began taking the Lysine once a day with a meal and I went for 3 months without getting a cold sore...until I stopped  taking it! Surprise surprise, I got a cold sore! Bottom line is that once you get a cold sore, you can't really stop getting them BUT by taking Lysine as part of your daily supplements you can drastically reduce how many you get. Lysine can be bought in any food store or chemist. Well worth a shot if you're sick of the sight of them.

Em x

Review: Liz Earle Skin Repair Light moisturiser

I want to say I love it, trust me I do! I love Liz Earle, I couldn't live without Cleanse and Polish but honestly, this product is shit. Yup, you read correctly, shit! It dried out my cheeks and did nothing for my oily patches, it gave my skin a strange texture and didn't serve as a good base for make-up. It was quite expensive and I honestly don't believe it's value for money. This is one Liz Earle product I won't be re-purchasing. However this product may suit other people brilliantly, for me it just didn't work. Sorry Liz, I'll have to pass on this one.

Review time! Bourjois Healthy Mix Gel Foundation

For months and months I was using Revlon Colourstay as part of my daily make-up routine and although I LOVE that foundation it was just too much for day time wear. So I went on a quest to find a foundation that was light to medium coverage with a dewy or satin finish and guess what? Here it is. I bought this in Boots for €15. My shade is 53 light beige. First of all, this foundation smells fabulous. As I've said before scented products on my face don't bother me. The coverage is light but it's buildable, the finish is dewy and it gives the skin a lovely glow. It blends very well with fingers as well as brushes (I use ELF's Powder Brush) I love to wear it to college or work as it's a very natural look. I still use my Revlon Colourstay (I'll never give that up) but I use it for going out when I need a little more coverage and a longer staying foundation. The staying power for this foundation isn't as good as the Revlon Colourstay, I'd say you could wear it for 6 hours before it needed to be topped up. Overall I'd give this a 9 out of 10. Its my go to foundation for the day time and I'll definitely be re-purchasing.


Em x

My daily skincare routine

Although I would consider myself blessed with good skin, It is very rare that I am without a blemish (primarily on my chin). I have searched chemists far and wide along with the internet in quest to get my skin up to scratch. Now that the "summer" is coming and the rain is getting a little warmer (thats all that changes in Ireland during summer) I wanted to improve my skin so I could wear lighter make up. I have combination oil skin. My oily areas are my chin and nose with my forehead and cheeks becoming quite dry. I hope the following helps you as much as it did me.

Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser

 This much talked about cult product is rarely absent from beauty blogs and you tube channels and the reason for this is obvious. It's simply brilliant. I bought it in January as part of an offer on the Liz Earle website. It came with 2 muslin cloths, the skin brightening toner (which is mentioned below) and the repairing moisturiser. I use it at night to remove my make up and to give my skin a deep clean, It is the only product I have found that takes every last bit of eye make up off without hurting the sensitive eye area. It states that it's for all skin types. It didn't make my chin  oilier nor did it dry out my cheeks and forehead. Although quite expensive (€15 I think) a little of this product goes a long way. Well worth the splurge if you consider how many packets of wipes I'd have bought since buying this.

Johnson's daily essentials oil balancing light day fluid

 I use this moisturiser in the morning after I wash my face. It is by far the best moisturiser I have found on the market for combination oily skin. It moisturises my skin without making my chin oily. It sinks into the skin really quickly and leaves my skin smooth and soft. It is an excellent base for make-up as well. I don't have one bad word to say about this product and the cherry on top of the cake? It's only €4 from Tesco. A product which I will most definitely re-purchase. 

Soap and Glory The Fab Pore facial peel:

 Surprisingly I haven't heard much of this product on the internet but like most of the Soap and Glory brand it is well worth the money. It's a type of clay mask with bursting beads which is said to refine pores. I bought it a couple of months ago when I noticed the pores on m cheeks and nose becoming considerably large. I have used it numerous times and there is still more that 3/4's left in there. A little goes a very very long way. Like all the Soap and Glory products is smells sensational! I know some people don't like highly scented products on their face but I don't mind fragranced products. I use this once a week (usually Sunday night after work) for about 15 minutes to give a real deep clean. After a few weeks of putting it all over my face I did notice increasing dry patches on my cheeks and forehead so I now just use it on my cheeks and nose. I wouldn't recommend this product for dry skin and if you have combination I would suggest putting it on your oily areas only.




Liz Earle Instant Skin Boost Tonic:

 I bought this product along with the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish and the Skin repairing moisturiser. I use this morning and night after I cleanse my face. It's a nice refreshing product. Not a harsh toner at all, smells lovely and stops my skin feeling tight after I cleanse it. Would I re-purchase? I don't think I will. It is on the expensive side and I don't think It has done anything spectacular to my skin. Nothing a splash of freezing cold water wouldn't. I will continue to use it until it's gone but won't be re-purchasing.

Glycoderma refining facial cream (25% glycolic acid)

 What does this product do? Exactly what it says on the tin. It refines. I bought this product in TK Maxx for €8 a few weeks ago. I had watched a youtube video by Megan Isobel about the benefits of Glycolic acid. As I couldn't afford Alpha H Liquid gold I decided to grab this when I seen it was 25% glycolic acid. I use it in the evening after I cleanse and tone. Initially I had to do a patch test on my cheek to make sure the acid wasn't too strong for my skin. I haven't heard of or seen this product anywhere else but if you can get your hands on it I would recommend it. If you have sensitive skin I would steer clear as it does have a high acid concentrate. It smooths my skin, has helped to fade marks from past blemishes, help with present blemishes, improves my uneven skin tone and just improves the overall condition of my skin. When I run out I will cry I can't find another one.




     

Primark oil balancing wipes with tea tree:

 Yes that's right, Primark! Ok so it's not some beauty miracle that I'm going to rave on about. They're wipes, wipes that smell nice and takes off my make-up when I'm too lazy or drunk. They're €1.50 for two packets. I try not to use wipes too often because they do leave a trace of make-up behind but hey, for 75 cent I don't mind if I do!


































Biona Organic Virgin Raw Coconut oil. 

Yes I do put oil on my face. No I'm not mad. Coconut oil is the best thing since sliced bread. I eat it, I cook with it, I put it on my hair and my skin. I use it once a week. I wash my face at night and massage a small amount into the skin and leave it on over night. I discovered its great skin benefits by accident (I put some on my hair and it got onto my face in my sleep) But it truly does have great benefits. It helps with my uneven skin tones, spot marks and blemishes. I have recieved numerous compliments lately on my glowing skin and I can attribute it to this miracle product. It is quite expensive but with its versatility it's well worth it. Give it a go.














Tea Tree foaming face wash.

And last but not least my miracle purchase of the month. I bought this product on a whim. I was in my local pound shop and spotted this for €1.50, I thought I'd give it a try, although I wasn't expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. My skin cleared up and became very smooth. For €1.50 I couldn't believe the results. I use it in the morning and I will definitely re-purchase. Oddly, it doesn't seem to be a particular brand, but I do know Boots have a version of tea tree foaming wash so I'll probably try that If I can't find this one.


















Well I hope that helped. If you have any questions on any of the products mentioned don't hesitate to ask.
Much love, Em x

Pink Floyd - Coming back to life

"Where were you when I was burned and broken?"


This song is the definition of cathartic. It allows me to let go of anger I've held on to for quite a while. The lyrics stir up so much emotion. They're raw and intense. These lyrics speak to me, they speak without shouting. It's soothing to listen to, like a sort of therapy, ridding me of feelings kept on and bringing me back down to earth.  To me, this song is more than a song, it goes a whole lot deeper than that. This song guided me through a storm. I'm coming back to life.

I'm a newbie!

Hello guys and dolls! :)
I'm new to the blogging community but I've been dying to start a blog for quiet a while and now that my college term has ended and my exams are almost over I thought why wait? :) The main of objective of this blog is to showcase my interest in Make-Up with random ramblings and possible fashion posts in there too! Shall start posting very soon so stay tuned! :) Em x