My July Beauty Favourites

I’d thought I’d put together a listing of the products I've been loving in July.

Botanics Serum & Radiance Balm

I've been using these two every day since I bought them.  The serum day & night and the beauty balm under my foundation.  I've noticed a big difference in my skin.  My skin is brighter and smoother in appearance. I've done a review on the beauty balm (Click Here). I'm definitely going to do another review on the Serum. I'm definitely going to pick up more from this range. Both these can be bought @ Boots

               

           

L’Oréal True Match Foundation

I had long forgotten this foundation, I had it stashed in the back of a drawer never to be seen again.  I have fallen back in love with it.  During this summer in Ireland he haven’t had the best of weather, some days have been really humid and I found my face getting very shiny.  This foundation however seems to last really well on me.  It also give me a decent amount of coverage while feeling lightweight on the skin. Can be bought @ Boots

Seventeen Define & Conquer Contour Palette

I love this palette, so compact.  Easy to travel with.  I especially like the highlight shade for setting my undereye concealer.  The powder is matte and brighten up the area.  When I use this I never have a problem with creasing under the eyes.  This can be bought @ Boots

Real Techniques Contour Brush

I picked this up in Boots, all makeup brushes had an offer on to buy one get one half price. It quite a dense contour brush.  I dip the side of it into the product to place down my contour and as the brush is quite full it makes blending out a dream. Can be bought @ Boots

La Roche Posay Effaclar Gel

This is a foaming gel cleanser.  It leaves my skin feeling so clean after using it. It eliminates impurities and excess oil.  It also contains an anti-irritant and is PH Balanced.  It is also soap free, alcohol free, colorant free and Paraben free.  If you have combination or oily skin this is your savoir. This can be bought @ Boots

Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment

Unlike other hair treatments this focuses on nourishing the roots & follicles thus encouraging hair growth.  I've been using it nearly all of July, but not long enough to say that yes it has helped my hair growth but definitely has improved the condition of my hair. Can be bought @ Boots

Mac Warm Neutral Palette

I picked this up a couple of months ago while shopping at the Loop before a holiday.  It was slightly discounted at duty free.  I have fallen in love with this.  I use it everyday.  I'm going to do a full review with swatches of all the eyeshadows.  Yes it's a little on the pricey side but if you pick this up you won't regret it.  Can be bought @ Brown Thomas

All my links above will take you directly to the products shown.

Let me know what you have been loving in July?  Or if you would like me to do a full review on any of these.

Love Eithne

HYALURONIC ACID - What & Why about this Product?

Hyaluronic ACID

So what's the deal with Hyaluronic acid and why should we use products that have this ingredient in it.  Well I sure as hell wanted to know, now in my thirties I want to keep my skin looking as young as possible for as long as possible.  Is this just a new craze or will it really work I hear you ask? I spend a lot of time in the sun throughout the year, so sun exposure would be a main damage to my skin.  

So here is the low down on where it's it found and what it actually does.

• Hyaluronic Acid is found naturally in the body but as we age our ability to produce it is reduced, which can lead to wrinkles and dryer skin.

• Hyaluronic Acid is a gel-like molecule that is capable of absorbing up to 1000 times its weight. It is a space-filler and a cushioning agent. Hyaluronic Acid cushions joints, nerves, hydrates skin and hair, and fills the eye.

• It also acts like a magnet to water – so if you apply your moisturiser on top of a Hyaluronic Acid serum, it will hold on to the water in your moisturiser, allowing it to stay on the skin longer before evaporating. No other biological substance can hold and retain as much water.

• A lack of Hyaluronic Acid in the skin leads to slower healing time and a higher risk of bacteria on the surface of the skin which can result in acne.

• Hyaluronic Acid is anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant and a free radical scavenger. It stimulates the production of collagen, maintains skin elasticity and softens the skin.

So I've complied a list a a few products that are high in Hyaluronic Acid.

No. 1.  Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum.  This can be bought @ Boots or click here @ €56. Yes it's pricey but your skin will thank you for it. 

            

No. 2  GlamGlow Thirsty Mud - Face Mask @ Cloud 10 Beauty @ €56

No. 3  Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads @ Cloud 10 Beauty @ €13.95

One of my top tips would be adding a drop of the Advanced Night Repair Serum from Estee Lauder to your foundation (I add it to my Double Wear Makeup from Estee Lauder).  The Serum comes with a dropper so it's quite easy to do and then your skin is getting hydrated all day long.

These are only a few examples so if you would like me to do a full review on any of the products mentioned above please let me know.

I love to hear your thoughts on this.

Luv Eithne

Boots Botanics Radiance Beauty Balm

Boots Botanics Radiance Beauty Balm

I recently picked this up in Boots, it was on offer so I said I give it a try.  Everyone has been comparing it to Mac’s Strobe Cream.  Now to be honest I’m not really a fan of the strobe cream.  It’s down to personal choice really.  I have combination skin so I find the strobe cream leaves me very shiny if I apply it all over my face.

The Botanics Radiance Beauty Balm comes in a 50ml tube and I got it on offer for €4.00 (originally 7.99), now compared to Mac’s strobe cream which is €33.50 for 30ml this is a great alternative.  So was it up to the job?

It can be applied several different ways, my choice was to apply it before my foundation.  I applied it with my fingers and let it settle for a couple of minutes.  I then went ahead with the rest of my makeup.  I love it, it gives a more subtle glow than the strobe cream.  Now saying that you could apply two layers of the balm for a more intense glow and get the exact same as the strobe cream.

It can also be applied over makeup to the cheek bones to highlight that area, or mix a drop into your foundation.

It gives a semi translucent pearl finish to the skin, which would be great even on no makeup days.  It minimises visible signs of fatigue leaving skin glowing.  It contains Hibiscus which brightens the skin leaving your skin softer & smoother, prefect prep for makeup.

I’ve bought the serum also, but have yet to test it out.  I’m definitely going to try out more from the Botanics range and give a review. This balm is going to replace my strobe cream.

Have you tried the Balm or prefer the strobe cream?  Have you tried any other products from this range?  I’d love to hear.

Luv

Eithne

Top Budget Beauty Buys

Hi Everyone!

I'd thought I'd compile a list of my Top Budget / Affordable Make-up Products that can be bought in drugstores & pharmacies.  It's not always about buying the top high end product to achieve the best results.  Some times the budget drugstore beauty brands provide the exact same thing and even better sometimes a fraction of the cost.

I'm going to try a pick an item from each section of your make-up routine to achieve a glamorous look on a budget.  Starting from primers, foundations, powders, contouring, eye-shadows, lipstick etc.

I've tried to put in two examples into each to suit your skin type and have a different choice.  It's a long post and I hope it gives you some inspiration on what to buy! I've linked where possible to pick up the products. Hope you enjoy it.

1.      Primer 

o    L'oreal Mattifying Primer (Oily / Combination Skin) €12.99

o    L'oreal Lumi Magique for a more luminous look (Dry Skin Type) @ €14.99  

I've done a review on the Loreal Mattifying Primer click here if you want to read more. 

2.     Foundation  

o    L'oreal Infallible pro matte (Oily / Combination Skin)  - €12.29

o    Bourjois Healthy Mix  (Dry Skin Types) @ €12.99

I really like both these foundations, I prefer the healthy mix for more lightweight wear and the Loreal Infallible for night time.  Both these can be bought at Boots (click here) to direct you to the boots site.

3.     Concealer 

o    Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer @ €5.79

o    Maybelline Fit Me Concealer €8.99

The Collection concealer is a holy grail item for me and in this case I find this concealer better the more high end brands of ones i've tried.  Both these items can be bought at boots click here

4.     Setting Powder

o    Rimmel Stay Matte Powder @ €5.99

o    NYX Stay Matte not Flat @ €10.99

The Rimmel powder has been a favourite of mine since my teens, I've re-purchased this product over and over again throughout the years.  Rimmel can be bought at Boots
Recently I came across the NYX and works just as well.  I think this even keeps the shine at bay for longer.  NYX has only recently been available in Ireland and you can find it at select pharmacies.  It can be bought @ Sam McCauleys or click here

5.     Bronzer

o    NYC Sunny Bronzer @ €3.49

o    Catrice Sun Glow Matte Bronzing Powder @ €4.49

I love a matte bronzer and these two are always in my makeup bag. Catrice Make up can be bought in Pennys (Primark) and NYC can be bought in boots. Again the same with the NYC Bronzer, although this has a slight shimmer but the price is amazing for the quality of the product you get.  Can be purchased at boots.

6.     Contouring

o    Seventeen Define Contour Pallet - €8.49 -Boots

o    NYX Blush in Taupe - €7.49 - Sam McCauleys

The NYX one is actually a blush but it's so cool toned it a great one to use for contouring. The Seventeen Contour Kit comes with two powders. A highlight & Contour.  I love the highlight shade for setting my under-eye concealer as it's matte but brightening.  

7.     Blusher

o    NYX Blushes - €7.49 - Sam McCauleys

o    Sleek Rose Gold (Dupe for Nars Orgasm) - €13.49

Both these products are amazing.  The sleek one is a great one for travelling as it's so compact and a choice of three blushes.  The one in the middle is the Rose Gold one as has a gold shimmer through it.  

8.     Highlighter

o    Sleek Contouring Pallet - €13.49 @ Boots

o    Seventeen Instant Glow - €6.99 @ Boots 

I've been using the Sleek contouring palette for a while now and love it, but recently came across the Seventeen Instant Glow.  If your a fan of the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick then this is a must for you.

9.     Eye-shadow Primer

o    Essence I Love Stage - About €3.00 Pennys

o    NYX Eye-shadow Primer Pot  €9.00 Littlewoods

    Both primers makes eyeshadow last longer and intensifies the colour 

10. Eye-shadows

o    Sleek Eye-shadow Palettes - €10.49 @ Boots 

o    L'oreal La Palette Nude - €21.99 @ Boots 

Both these palettes are great for daytime & night time looks.  A nude palette is essential in everyone's collection.  The L'Oreal one is a bit more expensive @ €21.99 but at the moment they are doing a 3 for 2 in Boots.

11. Eye-liner

o    Collection Fast Stroke - €3.99 @ Boots

o    Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eye-liner - €11.99 @ Boots

These are two really good eye liners.  If your a fan of liquid eye liners then I fully recommend the Collection one.  The gel one requires a bit more practice to master. But keep at it you will get there.

12. Mascara

o    Essence I heart extreme mascara - €3.99 @ Pennys

o    Maybelline Great Lash Mascara - €7.49 @ Boots


Picked up a backup of the essence one in pennys yesterday, it's such a good mascara.  A couple of coats of this and it looks like I'm wearing false lashes.  The maybelline is another great one, I really like the brush on it for lengthening your lashes.

13. Brows

o    Sleek Eyebrow Kit - €10.99 @ Boots 

o    Rimmel Brow This Way - €5.49 @ Boots

Love both of these.  Choose either to match your colour best.

14. Lip Pencils

• Wetnwild Lip Pencils - €1.99 @ Dunne Stores

• NYX Lip Pencils - €4.99 @ Sam McCauleys  
• 
  
• Both these are a must have.  I'm going to do a full review on these & swatches.

15. Lipstick

·         Wetnwild Matte Lipstick €2.99 Dunne Stores

·         Rimmel Kate Moss Lipsticks - €6.99 @ Boots 
          (Buy one get one half price)

 I've done a full review on the Wetnwild Matte Lipsticks            click here.  I've even picked up a couple more since.                  The Kate Moss ones are really good and even though a            matte lipstick they are not drying at all and are long                  wearing.

           

16. Lip Gloss

·         NYX Butter Glosses - €6.49 @ Sam McCauleys

·         Revlon Lip Balm Stains - €10.99 @ Boots  
           (3 For 2 on Revlon)

 I've also done a full review on the NYX Butter Glosses              click here.  I'm only new to the Revlon Stains but                      loving them.

Let me know if you have any budget beauty buys that are dupes or more affordable as just as good as the high end version. I'd love to hear and to try.

Most of these products can be bought in boots.ie 
or Sam McCauleys or participating pharmacies.

Hope you all are enjoying my blog.

Luv

Eithne x

GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment First Impression & Review

GlamGlow Clearing Supermud

I have heard so much hype about this product over the past few months.  So me being me was dying to try it out, all the celebrities were using it so I had to have it.  I watched a bunch of reviews on YouTube before giving in to purchase it.
In my local pharmacy they were doing the sample version @ €5, this is a great way of testing the product before committing to the €50 plus price tag.

So then I needed to decide which one I wanted to try.  As I have combination skin I'm prone to breakouts on my chin so I decided to go with the Supermud Clearing Treatment

It's described as
“The World’s most Scientifically Advanced Clearing Treatment. Clinically Developed by GLAMGLOW® Dermatological Chemist to help fight all common skin concerns. Designed For Men & Women of All Ages & All Skin Types. SUPERMUD® for Super Clear Super Poreless Skin"

So before I even used this mask I was expecting great things.

So here is what I read about it

TEAOXI® EUCALYPTUS LEAF

Groundbreaking TEAOXI® is GLAMGLOW’s proprietary continuous time-release technology, delivering daily fresh natural eucalyptol, natural linalool oil & powerful flavonoids direct into our formula from real pieces of Eucalyptus Leaf contained in our magical healing SUPERMUD®.

ACNECIDIC-6™

ACNECIDIC-6™ 4.4%. The World’s first Clearing Treatment with a proprietary 6 acid blend. AHA & BHA acids are perfectly PH balanced for mind-blowing faster results.

• Glycolic – Helps Restore Photo Damaged Skin & Improves Skin Texture.
• Salicylic – Helps De-clog to Minimize Pores & New Skin Rejuvenation.
• Lactic – Helps Pigmentation, Moisture, Stimulation & Skin Collagen.
• Mandelic – Helps Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Aging Skin & Skin Elasticity.
• Pyruvic – Helps the Effects of Scaring & Clearer Skin.
• Azelaic – Helps Fight Follicle Bacteria & Breakouts.

PORE-MATRIX™

PORE-MATRIX™ Our Activated-X Charcoal is an Xtreme absorption carbon, attracting toxic substances into its mass up to 500 times its volume from all skin types, within the deepest & toughest areas. Our new proprietary K17-Clay™ will better extract & encapsulate excess sebum oils, bacteria & toxins in a controlled stasis state, revealing a Pore-Matrix™ of extraction dots & areas, ready to be washed away for seemingly poreless skin.

BIO-LIFE-CELL-SCIENCE™

Uses the complex natural occurring skincare benefits of green life, for Advanced Scientific Skincare.

• EUCALYPTUS LEAF – Helps Fight Toxic Skin Complications.
• LICORICE ROOT – Helps Regulate & Alleviate Problem Skin.
• PEPPERMINT PLANT – Helps Control Bacteria & Irritations.
• CHAMOMILE – Helps Inflammation & Regeneration.
• MARIGOLD – Helps Fight Viral & Microbial Issues.
• COMFREY HERB – Helps Analgesic Recovery.
• ALOE VERA – Helps Healing & Rejuvenation.
• IVY – Helps Relieve Itching & Tightens Skin.
• CUCUMBER – Helps Soothe & Calm Skin.

I couldn't wait to use this.  So with a clean face (I had just washed mine with hot water to open pores)  I applied the mask.  I applied it with a flat foundation brush.  Due to research on this before buying, it is the best way to get the most applications from the product.  I kept it quite sheer on areas that I didn't need it as much and more dense in the problem areas.  

It felt cool on my face and tingled for a couple of minutes but not uncomfortable. The smell was minty and really refreshing.  I left it the full 20 minutes and my skin was very tight.  I washed it off in the shower, it's a bit muddy so this is probably the best way.  My skin felt amazing, it felt super clean, my pores were visibly reduced.  The overall evenness of my skin was much improved.  Even putting on make-up the next day, it just glided on. Two days later and my skin still feels great.  I will definitely be investing in the full size version.

GlamGlow can be bought on Cloud 10 Beauty click here and is on sale at the moment for €43.35, an amazing price.

I'd love to hear how you got with this product, so please let me know.  Do you think it's worth the price tag?  Did it work for you?  Or do you have any alternatives?

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