I had a very hectic but fun summer and it really started to show on my skin in August. As you can see from the photos above I broke out with spots/blemishes all around my chin, mouth & neck. I also had very uneven skin tone with blotchy red areas. So I decided to completely overhaul my skincare regime and the products I was using. If you have read my blogs before then you will know that I am a major fan of skin guru Caroline Hirons. On her advice I had already added an acid toner in the form of Clarins Gentle Exfoliator to my routine but she recommends you use two or three different types for maximum effect. Caroline does an amazing job of explaining hydrating toners and acid toners so I'm not going to go into a load of detail explaining what they do. You can find all about them here http://www.carolinehirons.com/2010/08/beauty-mouth-basics-toner.html and here http://www.carolinehirons.com/2015/04/the-top-10-acid-toners.html. But basically acid toners are brilliant for resurfacing, exfoliating, stimulating collagen production, hydration, deeper penetration of products and obviously spots/acne. So on one of my many trips to Boots I discovered these Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Pads. I am a great lover of Nip+Fab range and have used the Glycolic Fix Scrub for a number of years. I loved the idea of these pads as they are so quick and easy to use and decided to add them to my morning skincare routine. There are 60 pads in the little pot and they are soaked in 2.8% Glycolic Acid which is great for retexurising and resurfacing the skin, Hyaluronic Acid which is great for improving moisture content and lastly Blue Daisy which soothes and calms. One side of the pad is textured whilst the other is smooth. After cleansing you simply wipe the textured side all over the face from top to bottom then flip over and repeat. It can cause the skin to tingle but this is normal so don't worry. I have been using the Clarins twice a week and then the Nip+Fab pads twice a day every other day. After a week I noticed my skin had start to improve greatly. And now at the end of my pot and about half way through the bottle of Clarins my skin is blemish free, super smooth and much brighter.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post and that it was in some way helpful to anyone suffering with problem skin. I know I don't suffer from acne or extremely bad blemishes/spots but even a few spots can knock a persons confidence. If you have any questions leave me a comment below or you can get me on any of my social media sites (links at the top right of this page). I'm also on snapchat @makeupbyrubysue so you can snap me your questions if you so wish. Until next time....Be Happy!!!!
Susie xxx
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If I could only pick one makeup item to have for the rest of my life then it would have to be a mascara. I LOVE it. Mascara can thicken, define & lengthen your lashes.....It opens up tired eyes in the morning and adds sexy smokiness at night. A must have in every makeup bag. I pretty much buy every new drugstore mascara that comes on the market...some I love some I hate..... I recently grabbed the Bourjois Volume 1 Second Mascara in Ultra Black on one of my many random spending sprees. However when I got home I realised I already had the original one...Booooo!!!! Waste of €12.99. As you can see from the above photo the brushes are exactly the same with the only difference being the Ultra Black has a lot darker pigment. Perfect for those who want the blackest of black lashes. It has a large rubber head with lots of different sized bristles which ensures that every lash is coated from root to tip. One coat is perfect for day-time wear and two coats gives you amazing fanned out thick dark lashes. Because the formula is quite thick any further coats may cause your lashes to clump so just be careful. As you can see from the above photo it does an amazing job of adding length and thickness to my lashes.
However I don't know what it is about this mascara but it won't be making it into my holy grail collection.....I think it's the brush that I just don't love. I mean it's grand but not one I reach for every day and one I won't be repurchasing. But if you love this type of brush then this is a great mascara. It doesn't budge once applied and adds instant volume and length making your eyes pop. Have you tried it? Let me know in the comments below what your favourite mascara is!!! Until next time...Be Happy!!!! Susie xxx To be honest I have never really rated Essence eyeshadows as I always found them to be very powdery with far too much fallout and poor colour payoff. But I had heard rave reviews about their new palettes so I went investigating. There are 4 palettes in total "All About Bronze", All About Greys" and the two I picked up "All About Roses" and "All About Nudes". First up is the All About Nudes...I thought this would be my favourite as it has mainly warm matte browny/gold shades. As you can see from the swatches the colour payoff is really nice and the shadows are really buttery and easy to apply. On the lid the colour payoff isn't as good when applied with a brush so I used a flat brush to pack on the colour and then just blended out the edges. I didn't try them with a primer but they lasted well all day without creasing. Next is All About Roses... This turned out to be my favourite even though there are more shimmery shades in the palette. I was exceptionally surprised at how well these lasted throughout the day, as I always have to wear a primer as a base for my shadows because they usually crease but no such problems with these. However I am going to start to use my MAC Painterly Paint pot so I get a better colour payoff. You can use any cream shadow to help makes these colours stand out a little bit better - I love the Maybelline Colour Tattoo ones!!!! I have been using both these palettes as my go to every day shadows for the past few weeks and love them both. I cannot believe how reasonable they are. You can pick them up in Penny's and a huge range of pharmacies nationwide for only €4.99. I can now say I am a convert to Essence eyeshadows. Only problem now is should I buy the other two palettes????? Until next time....Be Happy!!!!
Susie xxx On one of my many trips to Boots recently I picked up this No.7 Cleansing Gel just as a random purchase (I had a €6.50 off voucher and thought why not). I love oil cleansers/balms so was intrigued by this product. It is formulated as a gel but melts into an oil when applied to the face - perfect for normal to dry skin. If you follow me on Snapchat (@makeupbyrubysue if you fancy a look) then you might have seen me take my makeup off with this already. For those of you who didn't catch the snaps this is how is went. It comes out of the tube like a thick yellow paste/gel. I massaged it on to dry skin, all over my face even on my eyes & lashes.(No.7 recommended you apply it to dampened skin though). And like the name suggests it melts onto the skin into a lovely luxurious oil. It contains Rosehip Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Glycerin which makes it great for locking in moisture and makes the gel smell beautifully light and fresh. If you apply water it will turn milky and you can rinse away any remaining residue but I actually used a warm damp facecloth as this is my favourite way of removing cleanser. I was surprised at how well it dissolved off my makeup even the eyeshadow & mascara. I did need to use a little eye makeup remover to take off whatever what was left on my lashes though. After cleansing my skin felt clean & fresh with no absolutely no tightness. All in all a great cleanser. So if you like oil/balm/gel cleansers then this is one for you. The packaging is nice and simple, the product inside does a great job of dissolving off the days dirt & makeup and the price point isn't too bad either. Definitely a repurchase for me. I actually haven't' tried alot of the No7 products but if they are all as good as this I will be very happy. I will be trying more from the range so if you have any recommendations please let me know in the comments below.
You can pick it up in any Boots store for €12.50 (but I'm sure if you are a regular Boots shopper then you will have a skincare voucher somewhere). I hope you enjoyed reading this... Until next time....Be Happy Susie xxx So this is basically a quick review of a few skincare & beauty products I have finished over the past few months. I know there isn't a huge amount of makeup but that's because I am continuously buying new products and actually very rarely finish any of them!!!!! Eye Makeup Removers: - I LOVE smokey eyes and lashings of mascara so a good eye makeup remover is essential for me. I think the biphase formulas are much more efficient at removing stubborn liner/mascara so that's what I tend to stick to. So in no particular order these are the ones I have been using over the past couple of months: Garnier Express 2 in 1 Eye Makeup Remover (125ml €4.50 approx, available in pharmacies nationwide) - Fantastic, does the job brilliantly without leaving any greasy residue. Have repurchased this a number of times. Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover All Bright (150ml €5.99 approx, available in Boots) - Another great one. Lifts mascara and liner away easily. Can be slightly oily but because I remove my eye makeup first this isn't a problem. I just bought a new bottle of this but have been reading that they changed the formula so I'm hoping it works aswell as my last one did. Elemis White Flowers Eye & Lip Makeup Remover (125ml €28.80 approx, available on www.feelunique.com.). I actually only had a travel size of this but it was perfect to bring on holidays with me. I try and use waterproof/sweat-proof/heatproof products on holidays to prevent my makeup melting off but they are always harder to remove. However this little bottle made quick work of everything leaving me with no panda eyes in the morning. This is a great one for your skincare routine if you have the budget for it. Vichy Pureté Thermale Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover (150mls €14.99 approx, available in pharmacies nationwide). Another great all rounder. Works on waterproof mascara and doesn't irritate my eyes. That's eye makeup removers sorted so it's on to skin cleansers now. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm (125ml €29 available in Clinique stockists nationwide). I LOVE this stuff...You just scoop out a small amount warm it between your hands where it changes to an oil and apply all over the face. It melts off all your makeup even mascara. Well worth the price tag and definitely a repurchase for me. Bioderma Micelle Solution (250ml €14.50 approx, available in selected pharmacies nationwide). I can't fault this...it is great at cleansing and removing makeup. But to be honest the Garnier Miceller Water does the exact same job at a fraction of the cost. L'Oreal Skin Perfect 15 Second Miracle Cleansing Oil (150ml €10.50 approx, available in pharmacies nationwide). Another great makeup remover. Two pumps, apply all over the face including lips & lashes and then remove with a damp facecloth. Ta Dah! All signs of makeup are gone. It does contain mineral oil though but to be honest it's not on your skin long enough to cause much damage. Will be repurchasing!!! Next up is Serums: I would highly recommend using a serum...I actually think they are more important than moisturiser. I use a serum to treat my skin problems (in my case dehydration/aging) day & night and don't mind investing a little money in a good quality one. Vichy Idéalia Life Serum (30mls €34.99 approx, available in pharmacies nationwide). This is a nice enough product but to be honest I didn't notice a difference in my complexion after using it. It makes an excellent base for makeup though and feels lovely and moisturising on the skin. I much prefer the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum which is a Holy Grail product for me. Clarins Double Serum (30ml €69.50 approx, available in Clarins stockist nationwide). This was the first serum I ever used and I loved it however I never actually got around to repurchasing it. My skin looked more even and had a lovely glow to it. I think it's just because I am a product junkie that I never got around to buying a second bottle but it is definitely on my list. Lush Ro's Argan Body Conditioner (225g €19.95 available in Lush Dublin). I LOVE this stuff and have already repurchased a new pot. You simply use this like you would use your hair conditioner. Apply to wet skin whilst you are still in shower then rinse off. Once you get out of the shower just pat your skin dry and Ta Dah! you have beautiful soft skin. And it smells AMAZING!!!!. I have a full review of it so just click here (http://makeupbyrubysue.weebly.com/blog/lush-after-lush-ros-argan-body-conditioner). My favourite makeup product would have to be mascara so this is actually one product I do get to finish.
L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara (€11.50 approx available in pharmacies nationwide). This is a fantastic mascara perfect for adding volume without clumping. It is a staple in my personal and professional kit. Lancome Virtuóse Mascara (€27.50 approx, available at Lancome stockist nationwide). I firmly believe that Lancome make the best high end mascaras and always have at least one on the go. This is my all time favourite as it adds volume and a great curl to the last. Definitely will be repurchasing. So that's it...I can finally throw these all in the bin!!!!. Thanks for reading. Until next time....Be Happy!!!! Susie xxx Wow!! It's been nearly two full months since I have sad down and wrote a blog post. Life was MANIC for most of July and early August and to be honest the longer I went without writing the harder it was to get back into it. But here I am back with a vengance and with a "humdinger" for you.... If you follow me on Instagram then you will know that I picked up The Body Shop Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask in Knock Airport on my way to Portugal. It had been on my "To Buy" List for ages after I had heard amazing things from loads of people but it was sold out every time I went to get it. So I couldn't believe my luck when I spotted it in the Duty Free - for those of you who have never flown from Knock Airport... well it's a very small airport and the Duty Free is "limited" to say the least. I actually used this quite a bit on holidays because it is aimed at replenishing the skin and restoring a smooth refreshed appearance....And let me tell you my ten days hols consisted of early mornings (so I could play with my nieces & nephew in the pool) and very late nights (so I could party/celebrate with the rest of my family). Of course I didn't read the instructions and used to just throw it on at night...this lead to a "sticky" face but my skin always looked great in the morning so I put up with it. However upon arriving home I done a little research and there is actually a little massage routine which you should follow to ensure the product absorbs properly. This stuff is like nothing I have seen before. It has a very odd texture...kind of like a memory foam mattress. It is springy & thick and actually quite difficult to get out of the jar. They do give you a tiny spatula though which does help (if you can find it when you need it!!!). The mask is suitable for all skin types but especially good if you have dry/dehydrated skin. You simply warm the thick gel between your hands and apply all over the face and neck at night (obviously). It has a lovely fresh fragrance and feels lovely and luxurious on the skin (although as mentioned above it can be a little sticky if you apply too much). Leave it on whilst you sleep, wash off with a little water in the morning and Ta Dah!!! you should wake with beautiful plump, hydrated soft skin. I've been using it for the past 6 weeks now and although I haven't noticed a huge difference in the "plumpness" of my skin I have noted that the dehydration lines I usually get from sun, alcohol, late nights and general neglect have been pretty much nonexistent. My skin looks refreshed in the morning and is super soft. I apply a small amount over my serum before going to bed. I personally don't need to use a night cream as the serum/mask combination is enough for my skin however if you find your skin very dry you may need to continue using a suitable night cream. At €30 this isn't cheap but you get a whopping 90mls of product which will last you ages. And if you can get away without having to use a separate night cream then it is well worth the investment. I use a serum to treat my skin for dehydration as that is my main area of concern so using the Bouncy Sleeping Mask is a bonus for replenishing and restoring the skin. It is available in The Body Shop stores nationwide.
I'm so glad to be back!!! Hope you enjoyed this review... Until next time... Be Happy!!! Susie xxx Hey guys...Have you missed me? Apologies about the lack of blogs on here lately but sometimes real life gets in the way!!! I am currently organising a 5 day festival (http://www.castlerearosefestival.com), planning for my brothers wedding in Portugal, working at my regular day job, working at my favourite job (Makeup Artist) and trying to be a wife, daughter, sister and friend in between all of that!! Anyway this blog is long overdue and has been in the pipeline since April. I'm so excited to tell you about my first Microdermabrasion treatment. I met the lovely Lucy from Eden Skin & Laser Clinic back in January and we got talking about all things skin. As I get older I have really started to take better care of my skin and choose my skincare products and treatments with alot more care. In general my skin is quite good but I do suffer with hormonal breakout, an uneven patchy skin texture and of course the fine lines (I am 35 this year so they are expected). So Lucy suggested I get a Microdermabrasion treatment to help treat some of my problems. What is Microdermabrasion I hear you ask!Basically tiny crystals are sprayed onto the skin to gently remove the outer layer of your skin. It is an exfoliation and skin rejuvenation procedure that leaves the skin looking softer and brighter. It is the ideal treatment for :
Eden Skin & Laser ClinicHidden behind RosMed Pharmacy on the Golf Links Road in Roscommon town this clinic looks quite unassuming from the outside but Lucy has put her heart & soul into the interior. Words will do it no justice so I took plenty of photos so you can see for yourself. It is simply beautiful!!! The reception & waiting areas are all decorated with rich wallpapers in soothing colours and comfortable furniture whilst the treatment rooms are absolutely spotless. Even though they are a little clinical (I would expect nothing else from a high end clinic) they have luxurious fluffy towels & linens to make you feel as comfortable as possible. Oh and they have a fantastic coffee machine :) Lucy herself is amazing. She is the Proprietor and Clinical Director of Eden and it has been her baby since day one. A veteran nurse of over 20 years she has worked in every departments of many hospitals throughout Ireland. Looking for a new challenge she was given the life changing chance to branch into aesthetics and hasn't looked back since. She has and still does travel all over the UK & Ireland to attend intensive training workshops & conferences in the latest laser & skin treatments and products. Lucy is so passionate about the treatments & the products that are used in the clinic. My all time favourite skincare guru is Caroline Hirons (http://www.carolinehirons.com/) and those of you read her blog know how passionate she is about skin and skincare. Well Lucy reminds me of her. Oh if your aren't reading Caroline's blog you should be. Amazing woman. Anyway back to Lucy. She is a firm believer that ongoing research and training is vital to delivering the most up to date treatments so that her clients recieve the best treatment available with proven results. I mean what else could you want from your skincare consultant. After re-reading that paragraph I realise I am totally fangirling on Lucy but she really is that good. And anybody I have spoken to about her and Eden Skin & Laser Clinic totally agree with me. Anyway on to my treatment!!! My experience with MicrodermabrasionAs mentioned above I do take good care of my skin and I use an AHA exfoliator on my skin about 4/5 times a week. However I did start to notice my skincare products weren't sinking into my skin aswell and makeup was beginning to sit on certain patches of my face. So I messaged Lucy and she suggested I try the Microdermabrasion before heading off on holidays. I had to fill in the obligatory paperwork and then Lucy brought me to the treatment room where she explained the entire process to me. I was expecting it to be a little painful but it was more uncomfortable and scratchy than painful. The machine ( a Derma Genesis M2 Medical System for those of you interested) sprays the skin with tiny crystals and what can only be described as a vacuum sucks all the dead layers of skin back off your face. Sounds horrendous but to be honest it was grand. We chatted the whole way through and once Lucy had finished with the actual microdermabrasion she applied a Image Skincare Peel followed by a beautiful serum and SPF to leave my skin glowing with health. I really loved how my skin felt for weeks after the Microdermabrasion. Obviously it is recommended that you have a course of treatments but Lucy & her team will best advise you on that. I plan on having one about every 3 months or so to keep my skin in tiptop condition. A single treatment is €90 for a full face and a session takes about 30 mins. Microdermabrasion is often referred to as the "lunchtime facial" as it's safe, pain free and and shows results immediately. You can apply light makeup about an hour after and as you can see from the above photo there is no redness or nastiness to deal with. Check out the Eden website (http://edenskinandlaser.ie/) for a full list of their treatments and therapies. They also offer facials, teeth whitening & threading to mention just a few. If you have any questions please let me know below and I will be happy to answer them for you.
Until next time...Be Happy!!! Susie xxx I popped into Boots at the start of the week and as usual spent a small fortune buying stuff I really don't need. But everything is soooo pretty and summery at the moment. I had heard amazing things about the Bourjois Rouge Editions Aqua Laque so decided to treat myself to one. I chose the shade 01 Appechissant which is the perfect peachy pink colour. From what I can gather these are supposed to be a mix of lipstick & gloss. They glides on easily with a little doe foot applicator and feel completely weightless on the lips like a water/gel but in no way sticky like traditional glosses. I did find it a little patchy at first but a second coat and a smacking of the lips sorted this right out. I think I should buy more to see what the rest of the colours are like!!!!! They are available in Boots and pharmacies nationwide for €12.49 I have no idea what the HD stands for in the Revlon Ultra HD lipsticks but basically these have a gel base rather than the traditional wax base. These smell like strawberry laces (which I love but not everyone will) and are lovely and comfortable to wear. I bought two 830 Rose & 845 Peony. Rose is the perfect everyday shade for me - a lovely peachy rose. And Peony is is what I would describe as a blue toned baby pink - a perfect summer shade. I love love love these lipsticks. They are so creamy on the lip and even though they don't last all day - you should get 3 or 4 hours from them - they will be a definite in my makeup bag for the summer months. Available nationwide for €10.99. Have you tried any of these yet? Let me know in the comments below.
I'm also currently working on a blog about my Microdermabrasion treatment so keep an eye out for that over the weekend if you are interested to know how I got on. As always.... Be Happy!!! Susie xxx I posted a picture to my Facebook a few weeks back of my recent shopping spree in dutyfree. Loads of you wanted to see what I bought so here goes.... Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Stay In Place Makeup - My brother is getting married in Portugal this summer and I am delighted to be making up the bridal party. Because it will be so hot and humid I wanted to trial run this foundation to see is it as good as everyone says. It is a sheer to medium coverage and promises to last up to 15 hours. It is lighter than the original Double Wear so your skin can breathe throughout the day but it doesn't budge or melt off with the heat. Lastly, it is photo-friendly which is a must for brides. Oh and Rosanna Davison wore it on her wedding day in Ibiza so if it's good enough for her then it will be perfect for my bride. Rituals Magic Touch Whipped Body Cream & Ginkgo Hand Balm - I have heard loads about Rituals before but this was my first purchase from the brand. I chose these two solely based on their scent and am slightly addicted already. I cannot wait to try out more from this brand. YSL Volupte Tint In Oil "I Rose You" - This is like a tinted treatment oil for your lips. It contains 4 essential oils for deep hydration and is lightweight and non sticky. Another item I was trialing for the wedding. I love it but think this shade is a little too light for my bride. Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Concealer - I wanted to get this for ages as I am always on the hunt for the holy grail of concealers and had heard amazing things about this. I am currently road testing it so keep an eye out for a full review soon. Chanel Sublime De Chanel Mascara, Rouge Allure Lipstick 104 Passion & Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick 477 Réveuse - These were all complete impulse buys. I have always wanted a classic Chanel red lipstick so chose Passion. This is a beautiful intense blue-red shade (which makes your teeth look white) that covers brilliantly in just one coat. I'm in LOVE!!! The Rouge Coco Shine is a perfect everyday lipstick and you can never have too many black mascaras. The Sublime De Chanel lengthen and curls my lashes beautifully but to be honestly I still prefer my Maybelline Sensational Lash. Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Eyeshadow 82 Émerveillé - This is a mix between a cream and mousse shadow and is perfect for applying with your fingers. Emerveille is a gorgeous rose/peachy gold tone and looks beautiful and shimmery on the eyelids. I thought it would be perfect for summer on it owns or as a base for a smokey look. Chanel Lumiére D'éte Illuminating Powder - Another complete impulse buy but it was so pretty and I swear I heard it call out to me as I passed. Basically it's a bronzer ( a very expensive bronzer but a bronzer all the same). Doesn't it look gorgeous....It's a dream to apply, doesn't look orangey and is so finely milled it looks invisible on the skin. So well worth the €45!!!!!
I have said it time and time again that I'm not a massive fan of the BB, CC or EE cream bandwagon but after reading Karen from LovelyGirlieBits review I knew I need this product in my life. I am however going to start with what I think is the only downside! - This 40mls tube will set you back €35. But it's is considered a high end product and wait till I tell ya all the good stuff!!!!! It comes in 3 shades Fair, Light and Medium. The Fair shade would give us pale girls a lovely porcelain finish however, coming into summer I chose the Light shade, which has a yellow undertone so covers any redness but also gives my skin a lovely "warm" glow to it. The nutrient-enriched formula is really moisturising and as it contains an SPF 30 you could easily forgo your daily moisturiser and sunscreen. I have just being using my Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum and then just apply this on top and to be honest I think its a perfect combination for my normal/dehydrated skin. I totally love the formula of this BB cream. The cream itself is quite thick and it has a lovely subtle floral scent. It blends effortlessly and instantly brightens up my face whilst covering blemishes and uneven skin tone beautifully. I apply it lightly all over my face and then go back in with a little concealer if needed. Unpowdered it will last for about 6 hours on my skin so I usually apply a light dusting of translucent powder through my T-zone for extra longevity. I was away in Portugal last weekend and this was the only "base" product I brought for the 4 days. It was perfect for during the day because of the SPF30 whist still having enough coverage for night time. Also, the other 3 ladies that were with me, all fell in love with it and had it being on sale in dutyfree on the way home the would all have purchased a bottle. So that just tells ya how good it is!!!!. A little goes a long way but I will definitely be repurchasing when this bottle runs out. Star buy for me!!!!
Until next time....Be Happy Susie xxx |
AuthorLover of all things beauty, Makeup Artist, Blogger & Wife . I am always on the look out for the perfect makeup or the best beauty product so keep reading to follow my never ending quest! Categories
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