Instant Tan is a must have for me and I will admit it's always Sally Hansen Airbrush legs I reach for when I'm in a mad panic and need to get rid of the pasty white look. I bought the Cocoa Brown Lovely Legs when it was first launched thinking it would be a good match for my beloved Sally but was left disappointed with both the colour (which was a horrid shade of orange) and texture (which was very powdery/heavy). So it was thrown into the bottom of my tanning drawer never to be seen again.... That is until now!!!! I had seen on social media that Ms Carter had relaunched the Cocoa Brown Lovely Legs Spray with a new improved colour so whilst in Galway one day I picked up a bottle. How do you know the difference I hear you ask....Well the new improved formula has a sticker on the lid telling you so!!! So I dug out my old bottle to compare it with the new! And as you can see there is a dramatic difference. The new colour is a gorgeous golden brown shade and applies evenly all over the skin. The formula itself is much more fluid like and blends well onto the skin. You can easily build it up to a shade that suits and then at the end of the night it washes off easily in the shower. I have been loving this new formula and it is now my go to instant tan. Well done to Marissa & the Cocoa Brown Team for seeing the fault and fixing it. The Cocoa Brown Lovely Legs Spray can be bought in Penny's & pharmacies nationwide for €7.99 or Cloud 10 Beauty (http://www.cloud10beauty.com/cocoa-brown-lovely-legs.html). Now I'm off to get myself ready for a Halloween parade. Hope you all have a fantastic weekend.
Until next time....Stay Happy!!!! Susie xxx
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My skin is so white I glow in the dark!!! However I'm not a massive fan of fake tan but when I do need to add a little colour to my pasty body I always use Cocoa Brown 1hr tan as it's foolproof. But my beloved Cocoa Brown has some competition in the form of TanOrganic Self Tanning Oil !!!!! Firstly I love the smell of this tan. It has a lovely orangey scent upon application and to be honest I noticed no nasty fake tan smell after it developed. Secondly as the name suggests it is an oil. It contains a blend of oils such as Borage Seed, Argan Oil, Orange Peel Oil all of which are 100% natural & certified organic as are all the ingredients in this tan. It contains no perfumes,no chemical dyes & no artificial colours either which is another bonus. It was very easy to rub into my skin, absorbed quickly and because of the oils it is super moisturising even on my knees, ankles & feet. Thirdly this is actually a 100% Irish and is the world's only Eco Certified tan. It is also 100% cruelty free. So not only will you look great but you can also feel great knowing you are supporting Irish, the environment & cute fluffy animals. It comes out as a clear liquid and absorbs quickly into the skin. And then its a waiting game. After about 6-8 hours it starts to develop so if you are in a hurry I would advise you stick with the Cocoa Brown 1hr tan or something similar.
But when it did develop it turned into a gorgeous subtle golden tan. It is the perfect hint of colour to make your skin look healthy & sunkissed. No Orange in sight. As you can see from the picture it is a light tan so if you are looking for something a little darker you will need to reapply until you get your desired shade. After about 5 days it started to fade slightly but there is absolutely no patchiness even on my knees and ankles. This is the perfect product for those wanting a natural glow and it is one I will be using all summer. I received this in our Goodie Bag at our last ITWBN meetup back in February so I'm not 100% sure of it's price ( I think it's 24.99). However I do know you can buy it on the Cara Pharmacy website for €14.99. (https://www.carapharmacy.com/p/tan_organic_self_tanning_oil_) Have you tried it yet? Hope you enjoyed this review. I just bought the new Rimmel Self Tan Mousse so keep an eye out for that review in the coming weeks. Until next time.... Be Happy! Susie xxx Firstly apologies about the lack of blogging lately but life has been hectic. I am chairperson of our local 5 day festival, The Rose of Castlerea and it takes a huge amount of time to organise. This was my first year in charge so I really put my heart and soul into planning and I am delighted to say it was a huge success. Anyway on to my summer skincare routine. We have been blessed with lovely weather lately so the "pins" have been out on show more than usual. And because I am sooooo pale I have to tan regularly otherwise people would think I was ghost!!!!! So to keep my skin in tiptop condition for tanning I have been using the following products. Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow - €46 I am a massive fan of Elemis products and anytime I treat myself to a spa day I try to ensure I go to an Elemis Spa (My favouite Spa is the Ciuin Spa @ The Slieve Russell Hotel in Cavan - "Heaven"). However I don't get to go too often so I love the Elemis spa@home range of products. I recently got my hands on the Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow Body Scrub. This scrub is like a holiday in a jar. This scrub works by using mineral rich salts and frangipani particles which melt into the skin and buff away your dead skin cells. It exfoliates, removes any traces of old tan and leaves the skin cleansed & brightened. The Monoi & Coconut oils seals in moisture leaving your skin with an amazing delicate fragrance which lasts for hours. It is such a lovely product and I really do think that it leaves my skin silky smooth, soft to the touch and glowing. I know it is a little on the expensive side but it's my little bit of luxury at home. Eucerin Intensive Lotion 10% Urea - €12 I still suffer from Keatosis Pilaris otherwise known as those annoying little red bumps on the backs of your arms and thighs. I love the Eucerin Intensive Lotion 10% Urea. It is meant for people with very dry skin but it is also brilliant at helping get rid of KP. The urea acts as a chemical exfoliator working from underneath the skin. It isn't by any means a luxury cream, it doesn't have a smell and it can leave the skin quite tacky but it REALLY does work to smooth out your skin. I apply it at night before bed and simply hop into the shower the following morning to wash off any residue. After only a few uses you can really see the difference. It is also brilliant at helping fake tan fade evenly. Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan - €7.99 I'm sure I don't have to tell any of you about this next product. It has taken the tanning world by storm and rightly so. I am not hugely into tanning but in summer I have to do something to remove the "blue tinge" from my milk bottle white skin!!! And Cocoa Brown gives the perfect golden glow without a trace of orange in sight. It is a mousse which makes it super easy to apply, looks really natural and dries quickly without any stickiness. You can get a light glow after just one hour or leave it on for longer for a deep bronze colour. Oh and I think my favourite part is that once it does start to fade it scrubs off easily and evenly. Garnier Oil Beauty Nourishing Lotion - € So my skin is exfoliated inside and out and has a beautiful bronze glow from my Cocoa Brown tan. To finish off I use the Garnier Oil Beauty Nourishing Lotion. The first thing I love about this Garnier product is the pump...It makes life so much easier when you can simply pump the lotion onto your hands instead of having to squeeze a bottle with sticky hands. And one pump will cover about one limb... The second thing I love about it is the smell...It contains Argan, Macadamia, Almond and Rose Oil and leaves a beautiful light summery fragrance on your skin throughout the day. I actually don't wear perfume on the morning's I apply this. Overall this moisturiser absorbs quickly without leaving a sticky greasy feeling on the skin, it works great on dry skin and leaves your skin looking glowing and radiant. A perfect finish to my skin care routine. And that's it...It's quite a lazy routine but works perfectly for me.
I have loads of new additions to my makeup bag so stay tuned for loads of product reviews coming soon. Until next time...as always...Be Happy!!! Susie xxx Obviously as the season's change so should your makeup. So here is a few of my favorite things for summer. For lips I love bright colours. I have two favourite go to products. Firstly is the Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayons. I love these glossy pencils as they glide on really smoothly and are incredibly pigmented. My two favourite shades are Fuchsia Libre which is a bright pink and Peach on the Beach which is a beautiful pinky/peach that is just perfect for summer. They have SPF 15 and have a beautiful glossy lightweight finish. They are availble in six shades from pharmacies nationwide and cost €9.49 My other favourite lippy product for summer is Revlon Lip Butter. They look like a lipstick but feel like a balm and contain mango, Shea and Coconut butter - all the good stuff for hydrating your lips. On the lip they feel light and moisturising and are available in a huge amount of shades. I have three favourites. Macaroon is a neutral mid dark pink shade that would suit every skin tone. Peach Parfait is a beautiful peach shade with a little glitter. And Strawberry Shortcake is a cotton candy pink. It just screams sunshine. They are available nationwide and retail approx €10 I have mentioned this blush before in a previous blog but I had forgot all about it until I done a recent clean out. This is a lovely Rose Gold blush. It has a very light shimmer going through it and gives you a beautiful pinky/bronze finish. Beautiful!!! I have two go to foundations for summer. My old reliable is Bourjois Happy Light Foundation. Again I have blogged about this before. It just leaves you with beautiful dewy skin. MAC Face & Body is a cult product with a lot of makeup artists. However I could never get used to it as it is quite a watery product which made it difficult to work with and I always found it to be very light coverage. But after trying it again recently I have fallen in love with it. As the name suggests you can use it all over the face & body as it is waterproof and has great staying power. You need to buff it well into the skin and you can build up the coverage from sheer to medium. It feels lightweight on the skin and leaves you with a beautiful dewy finish. It is perfect for normal to dry skin. I have had the original Urban Decay Naked palette in my kit for over a year now and it still remains one of my favourite shadow palettes. This contains a brilliant selection of warm neutrals that will bring you from day wear right through to night. The two matte shades Buck & Naked are perfect for blending into your crease, Virgin is a beautiful highlight shade and they rest of the colours can be mixed to use in what ever way you want. I think it is approx €42 and I promise if you buy any one of the 3 different Naked palettes you won't be disappointed. Clinique Chubby Stick Tint for eyes is another rediscovery for me. I bought this ages ago but never got around to using it. I have the shade Pink & Plenty which is a beautiful rose gold shade and can but used on its own for a soft wash of colour over the eye or as a base for powder eyeshadows. This is new to me also. I have always just filled in my brows with a matte brown shadow but this is a handy product to have when you're in a hurry. Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara is available in 3 shades Blonde, Medium Brown & Dark Brown. They all look natural and add great definition to your brows. It is available nationwide for €7.49 This is an old favourite but I still love it. L'Oreal mascaras are great and this has a beautiful curved brush with gives great curl and volume to your lashes. I love this new product from Rimmel. I have tried the light shade and loved it so was dying to try the medium colour. This instant tan promises to smooth, soften, moisturise, even skin tone, create a healthy glow, cover, perfect and last up to 24 hours. It is kind of like apply foundation to your legs and leaves a flattering velvet finish with a slight glow on the skin. It also makes the skin look lovely and even. And that's it....my staples for summer.
Hope you enjoyed the read Until next time...Be Happy!!! Susie xxx I am super excited about this new product from Rimmel. It is the Sunshimmer Instant Tan BB Perfector. This instant tan will leave your skin with a beautiful golden glow, evens skin tone, hides any bruises or blemishes, moisturises and perfects. But does it work? I bought this on impulse as I was going out for the night. I had planned on using the Cocoa Brown Lovely Legs Spray (it is pretty much the same as Sally Hansen Spray Tan) but in the interest of research decided to give this a go. I chose the Light Shade which gives a natural sunkissed look. (There is also a medium shade which promises a healthy bronze glow.) It is really easy to apply and blended seamlessly onto my skin. It literally took only a few minutes and I was left with a beautiful golden even tan. I sometimes think the Sally Hansen can look quite orange on my skin and you really have to buff it well into the skin to get a even coverage. There was no such problems with the Sunshimmer BB cream though. It lasted all night even in the rain and washed off easily in the shower the following morning. This is now my favourite instant tan and I will be definitely using it all summer. It is available in pharmacies nationwide for €8.95 What is your favourite tan?
Let me know in the comments below! Until next time.....Be Happy! Susie xxx They say it can affect up to 50% of us and I know alot of my friends complain about it. Keratosis Pilaris is a genetic skin disorder which cause little red bumps in patches on your upper arms or thighs and resembles chicken skin. No one has figured out what causes it but hopefully today I might have something to help get rid of it. And with summer fast approaching (yes I know we live in Ireland but when that week of sunshine does arrive you want to be ready for it) its time to start prepping out skin. You can reduce skin roughness and redness by taking lukewarm showers and using a mild, soap-free cleanser. Also applying moisturiser daily helps. These two products have been tried and tested and proven to help get rid of these nasty little spots. Eucerin Intensive 10% Urea Treatment Cream/Lotion Dermatologists often recommend a moisturizer that contains urea and alpha hydroxy acids (AHA). AHA's help exfoliate rough, dry skin, and urea provides intensive moisture. This combination of exfoliation and hydration works to reduce KP bumps. Eucerin Intensive 10% Urea Treatment Lotion contains Lactic Acid (a form of AHA) to exfoliate and Urea to hydrate. It is available from any good pharmacy and costs approx €12. NeoStrata Lotion Plus This fab lotion is formulated with 20% AHA (glycolic acid), a chemical exfoliant which does all the scrubbing for you. It works to dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. NeoStrata claims that it “correct signs of aging, even and brighten skin tone, and improve skin texture”. It is fantastic for keeping your skin smooth. Oh and for fake tan lovers this is an amazing product. Not only does it keep skin smooth and soft it helps your tan apply more easily and fade more evenly. And it even works on ingrown hairs. So over all this is a fantastic product. It is available in selected pharmacies nationwide RRP €23. So I hope that helps a little. Has anyone tried either of these remedies before? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time...Be Happy! Susie xxx
So my sister pointed out that I never give a product a bad review on here. Generally I only blog about product I think deserve mentioning but sometimes I do come across products that are rubbish or just aren't worth the hype that they get. So in the interest of keeping things fair (and of course it might potentially save one of you money ) I am going to do a regular blog on products I have been disappointed with. Now bare in mind that just because I didn't like the products or that it didn't work for me personally, it doesn't necessarily mean that you won't like it either. I will explain why I didn't like the product so it might help you figure out wither it will work for you or not. So here goes!!! 1. Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream - This has a very watery texture which provides very little coverage. It left a greasy sheen on my face after wearing it for only a short time despite it being oil free. It's just not all its cracked up to be. Didn't work for me at all.... 2. L'Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation - I had great hopes for this makeup. It applied well and I loved it at first however after about 2 hours it left my skin looking very shiny and after 3 hours it had completely disappeared. 3. L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream- This just makes you look orange. It starts off a a white cream and is supposed to blend to match your skin tone. However unless you want to look tangoed I'd stay well clear. Oh and it applies like cement! 4. L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau de Teint Foundation - I done a full review on this when it first came out. It's very light coverage and its very watery and me and it just don't get on. 1. Clinique Chubby Stick Lip Mega Melon - Not great colour payoff, didn't last very long and I may aswell have bought a chapstick especially for the price. 2. Rimmel Apocalips Nude Eclispe - Blah is the only word that comes to mind. I love the Apocalips range but there isn't a huge colour selection and this is the only nude shade. Its not a great nude far too beige on the lips. 3. Bourjois Effect 3D Max Lip Gloss - I didn't mind the actual lipgloss. It was the applicator that makes this awful. It is shaped like a spatula therefore making it imposible to apply with any precision and either trowels it on or scrapes it off. Benefit Erase Paste - I loved this at first as it covered my dark circles really well and brightened up my undereye area however like a huge amount of undereye concealers it just enhanced my fine lines and settled into creases. I was expecting perfection for the price but it just wasn't to be. Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Mascara - I had read such great things about this mascara and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. However it flakes like crazy, the brush is too big to get smaller lashes and it dries out really quickly. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Petticoat- This is just too shiny on the skin. It is far to pink to use as a highlight and is too glittery to use as a blush. I do love the Mineralize Soft & Gentle though L'Oreal Skin Perfection Serum - This didn't improve my skin pigmentation or tone. I only bought it because the gorgeous Cheryl Cole was promoting it and I really should have known better than to let advertising influence me. It did sink straight into my skin and left it feeling soft but didn't make any difference to my pores or skin texture. ROC Gentle Exfoliating Cream - Well I know it's for sensitive skin but jeeze you might aswell be rubbing cream into your skin. It didn't do anything for me and there are alot better exfoliators on the market L'Oreal Luminize Moisturising Day Cream - This just didn't do anything for me. It is a beautiful cream which left my skin really soft and I was hoping for a dewy glow as promised by the packaging but I was left disappointed. I just think you can get better day moisturisers for the money. St. Tropez Gradual Tan - At first the smell is bearable but after a few hours the dreaded fake tan odour kicks in. Then the colour payoff isn't great either. It remained very light even after 3 applications. It just wasn't worth the money. So now Breda (that's my sister) there you go a whole load of bad reviews for you. I hope it makes you happy :) After reading back over it poor old L'Oreal have got terrible abuse but I do love alot of L'Oreal products (just not the ones mentioned above). I hope you found this somewhat helpful. And if you have any questions about a product (even if I have never mentioned it in a blog) just message me or contact me on my Facebook page. Until next time....As always.... Be Happy!!! Sue xxx
Ireland's newest subscription service promises five surprise luxury beauty products deliverd straight to your door, each month! I received my box just after Christmas so it was like a bonus present! First impressions - I love the packaging and the box is perfect to re-use (I store makeup in them). It comes with Blush! magazine which reveals all about the products in the box including where you can buy the products, plus exclusive discount codes, tips on tanning, makeup brushes and how to get a fabulous festive makeup look. It also introduces us to two Irish Brands - Cloon Keen Atelier and Kinvara Skincare. (I loved that bit). So what's in the Box?1. Blank Canvas Cosmetics F22 Dome Face Brush (RRP €13.99). This is a great all rounder brush from Irish Company Blank Canvas Cosmetics - it can be used to apply foundation, cream blusher or contour. I usually use the Real Techniques Buffing Brush and this is very similar. The bristles are super soft which makes it great for achieving a flawless effect. So thumbs up to that. 2. Shiseido Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam - Sample 30ml €8.50 (Full Size 125ml RRP €36) This cleanser promised to was away impurities without depriving the skin of moisture. It can be used on all skin types morning and evening. 3. Academie Bronz' Express - Sample 50ml €7.50 (Full Size 100ml RRP €14.95) Bronz' Express has been on the market for over 50 years and I still think its one of the best there is expecially for pale Irish skin. It gives an immediate glow which developes into a deeper bronze after 8 hours. 4. Vichy Idealia Life Serum - 8 sachets (€8 approx) (Full Size 50ml RRP €34.50) They say this serum can transform your skin in as little as eight days. It is formulated to fight against life's excesses and will leave your skin fresher and more rested. 5. Hugo Boss Boss Jour Pour Femme - 2ml sample (€2.50 approx) (50ml RRP €66.00) This is the newest fragrance to the Boss family. Its an elegant floral/fruity fragrance "created to envoke the feelings of the first light of day". Ya not sure about that - to me it just smells lovely and fresh and I would definitely use it as a spring/summer perfume. So what do I think?I think the saving grace of this box is the Blank Canvas Brush which I love and am very excited to use. Also the Bronz' Express is a great size for travelling and Im excited to try the Shiseido Cleansing Foam. You can walk into any pharmacy and get the Boss perfume sample and the Vichy Idealia Serum samples. But in saying that I probably wouldn't plus its a great way to try out new products that you may not have known about or may have thought they were very expensive. The net worth of the box is about €40 so it was worth the €15 price tag. I used to subscribe to Glossy Box UK and at the start they boxes were brilliant with at least one or two full size deluxe products however after a few months they were just full of samples you can get from any beauty counters or pharmacy. Also I was being charged for the box at the start of the month and not receiving it until the end of the month. I hope Powder Pocket don't end up like this. If they keep the boxes full of good brands and exciting products I will happily stay subscribed. Have any of you signed up yet? Or have you tried Glossy Box or a similar subscription beauty box? Let me know in the comments below Susie xxx How to OrderYou can order your box from the PowderPocket website.
(Click the purple writing) Monthly - you will get a box every month for €12 plus €3 p&p or 6 months for €75 (postage inc) and you get one box free or subscribe for 12 months for €150 (postage inc) and get two boxes free |
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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