I am a big fan of Sleek Cosmetics and thankfully is it becoming more readily available throughout Ireland. There are only a handful of makeup stands throughout the country however they have started to do counter displays with some of their bestselling products. If you follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RubysueBeautyandLifestyleBlog) then you will have seen me recently pick up some of the amazing Sleek Lip conditioners and Blush by 3 palettes in my local pharmacy. And you imagine my happiness when I found the i-Divine eyeshadow palettes in another local pharmacy. I got two the i-Divine Oh So Special and Bad Girl palette. Below is a quick review and swatches of both palettes. Packaging The palette case is made of black matte plastic and comes with a large mirror. Each palette has 12 shadows and it also comes with a double-ended sponge applicator which I just throw away. Overall I love the case as it is so sleek and compact. Shadows: The 12 mineral based shadows are high quality, super pigmented and super blendable. The Oh So Special palette has 7 matte shades and 5 shimmer shades. The second palette is called Bad Girl and is the perfect smokey eye palette. It has 3 matte shades including a brilliant deep black and 9 shimmery shades. All the eyeshadows are very pigmented, the formulation is very silky smooth and blendable and gives true to color payoff. To get maximum staying power from the shadows I used a primer underneath and they lasted all day. This will also help minimize shadow fall out on some of the chalkier shades. Overall I love both of these palettes and think they are such good value. You get 12 shadows for €8.60.
Check out your local pharmacy for these and all the other Sleek counter units. Until next time...Be Happy Susie xxx
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Brows are still huge for this season so it's no surprise that many of the cosmetic companies are still trying to out do each other when it comes to new brow products. To be honest I usually just use and eyeshadow and slanted brush to fill in mine but whilst out having a gander around my local pharmacy I noticed this new Brow Satin from Maybelline. This is a very nifty double ended pencil. On one side you have a lovely gel pencil which I use to draw in hairs and shape my brows using soft upward strokes. Then unscrew the other side and you will find a little sponge applicator with finely milled powder to help fill in any gaps and define the brow. It will also help hold the hair in place. I chose the medium brown and it is perfect for my brows. It is so easy and quick to use...I just love it.
The Maybelline Brow Satin is available in 4 shades Blonde, Dark Brown, Mahogany Red (which I haven't actually seen on a Maybelline stand yet) and Black. How do you fill in your brows or do you just ignore the eyebrow area altogether? Let me know in the comments below what products you love? Until Next Time...Be Happy Susie xxx I usually wait to finish a product before writing a review however I am so in love with this body conditioner from Lush I just had to tell you about it straight away. I have had this on my wish list for a while now so was delighted to finally get my hands on it earlier this month. I will admit I'm not a huge fan of in- shower moisturiser but I had read such great things about this I soooo hoped it would live up to its hype. And I'm thrilled to say it did. Lush is an organic cosmetics company which use ethically sourced ingredients to make fresh handmade products. I love the packaging, the quirky name, the fun directions and full list of amazing moisturising ingredients listed on each 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 wallah you have beautiful soft skin. It is packed full of oils including Almond, Argan, Brazil Nut, Rose, Geranium & Lemon plus Shea Butter, Cupuacu Butter & Cocoa Butter to name a few. How could you not be soft using all of that!!! Even with all that oil & butters your skin won't feel oily after use. There can be a slight residue after patting dry but I just massage this into my skin. And now for my favourite part.... If you are a regular reader of my blogs you will know I will simply buy a product if it smells nice!!!! Well this is just simply DEVINE Lush use their Rose Jam fragrance to give this moisturiser the most amazing smell. It isn't overpowering but just leaves a delicate "Rose Jam" scent on your skin. It isn't cheap at €19.95 for a 225g pot but a little goes a long way and a tub will last you months. It is so quick and easy to use and there is not waiting to get dressed whilst your moisturiser to absorb.
I will definitely be repurchasing and already have started a new wish list for my next visit to Lush! What are your favourite Lush products? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time....Be Happy! Susie xxx I don't think I have every been as excited in my whole life about the launch of a makeup range. Charlotte Tilbury is a world renowned makeup artist - her work has graced the covers of Vogue,Vanity Fair & W just to name a few, she counts top models & celebrities from across the globe as clients and has created makeup looks for top designers such as Burberry &Tom Ford. Ms Tilbury very kindly used her years of knowledge and experience to created a range of cosmetics which launched last year but it only arrived on our lovely green shores at the end of August this year. I however didn't just want to order from the website - I wanted to be able to touch, test and smell all the amazing products. So I had to wait until yesterday to finally get to Brown Thomas in Dublin. And let me tell you it was sooooooo worth the wait. It was VERY difficult to not buy one of everything. But I had just come from the Irish Beauty Show & Lush where I had done a serious amount of damage to the poor Visa card. My first choice was an easy one though. I had use the WonderGlow as a primer for a recent bridal makeup and I was SO impressed with it. The girls skin literately just shone. So that was the first thing in my basket. It can be used under makeup as a primer, over makeup as a highlight or simply on its own to give a beautiful glow to the skin. Charlotte herself uses it as "Bedroom Makeup". She is never without makeup even in bed so uses this at night. I would say the most talked about product from the whole range is her Filmstar Bronze & Glow palette. She says "This is a secret that silver screen sirens have kept to themselves for years - and now I am going to share it with you". Firstly can I just say the packaging on this is GORGEOUS!!!. This is simply a contour & highlight palette but it comes in the most beautiful rose gold case and just screams glamour. The sculpt powder is a lovely warm bronze with a soft satiny shimmer glow. It is the perfect shade for contouring as it doesn't leave the skin ashy looking or too umpa lumpa orange. The highlight is a gorgeous pale champagne colour. It isn't overly glittery/shimmery and simply leaves the most beautiful golden sheen on my skin. This will definitely be in my kit from now on. Any my final purchase was the Colour Chameleon is Amber Haze. These can be used in so many ways - as a base for eye shadow to add depth, on there own as a quick simple shadow or as a liner. If you want to make your eye colour pop then these pencils make it fool proof. They use the "laws of contrasting colours and light flex technology so you can literally transform and enhance your natural eye colour". I actually chose Amber Haze which is meant for brown eyes but I just loved the colour and think it will look great with my hair colouring. WonderGlow 40ml - € 49
Filmstar Bronze & Glow €65 Colour Chameleon - €25 You can buy the Charlotte Tilbury range in Brown Thomas Dublin, on their website (http://www.brownthomas.ie). It is a luxury makeup range but I am totally addicted already. What do you think? Would you spend €65 on a contour palette? Let me know in the comments below Until next time...Be Happy! Susie xxx Wow what a long title blog title!!! If you are a regular reader of my blog then you will know I am always on the hunt for the perfect undereye concealer to help cover my horrid dark circle. I have a drawer full of every budget brand available and even invested in the holy grail of concealers Bobbi Brown's Peach corrector and Benefits Erase Paste. Whilst some of them are better than others with great concealing powers after a few hours they always seem to just sit in my fine lines. So at our last #itwbn meet up I was having a chinwag with the fab Siobhan from Dreaming in Sequins (http://www.dreaminginsequins.com). I noticed her makeup was flawless for the entire event and she told me that it was all because of this little bottle of magic from Maybelline. It comes with a sponge applicator something I wasn't sure of at first because of hygiene reasons but it is actually great at applying the concealer. You twist the bottom of the bottle to release the product and after the inital "700" twists (ok that may be a little bit of an exaggeration but it does take a good few twists) the product appears on the sponge. After that the right amount of product is released with each click.
I cannot believe I haven't found this product before now.
It promises wonderful things like "it reduces the look of puffiness and shadows, neutralising shade for dark circles and the applicator micro-fills and smoothes" blah blah blah. I never believe most of what is on the packaging. But this is an all round great coverage concealer that does exactly what it should. It is available in pharmacies nationwide for €11.99. Bargain! What is your favourite concealer? Let me know in the comments below. Hope you enjoyed reading. Until next time...As always...Be Happy!!! Susie xxx At our last #itwbn meet up we all received goodie bags filled with loads of fab products from McSharry's Pharmacy (http://www.mcsharryspharmacy.com). Included was the NeoStrata Glycolic Treatment Peel and it couldn't have come at a better time. My skin was in dire need of a good exfoliation and I just love AHA & Glycolic Acid peels as they work deep down into the layers of the skin removing any signs of impurities and dead or worn out cells that may build up whilst brightening & tightening the skin. The thing I love about the NeoStrata brand is that it has been developed by leading America dermatologists therefore giving me great faith that the product will actually do what is promises. Earlier this year I attended a NeoStrata training day and learned that the whole range are medically driven and clinically trialed and that the creators Drs. Eugene Van Scott (Dermatologist and Master of Dermatology of the American Academy of Dermatology AAD) and Dr Ruey Yu (Dermatopharmacologist) are internationally recognised for making the ground-breaking discovery that Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) have profound beneficial effect on human skin. The range is actually prescribed by dermatologists frequently in America. NeoStrata products promise to improve visible signs of ageing & sun-damage and treat various dermatological conditions such as acne, dry skin and hyper-pigmentation. If you want to read more about the brand and their products just click here (http://www.neostrata.ie). So back to the Treatment Peel I tried out. This home treatment peel aims to "exfoliate the dead and dull surface layers of your skin to revitalise your skins healthy appearance. High strength AHA's then stimulate the process of cell renewal to reveal new, fresh skin on the surface". This is my 2nd NeoStrata Glycolic Treatment Peel and I'm glad to say it didn't disappoint this time round either. In the kit you receive
You start off by washing your face with the cleanser and then you apply the Citriate Soloution to the face using the pad. I pay special attention to my fine lines and any problem areas such as my chin area where I get frequent breakouts. If you are using it for the first time you leave it for only 30 mins but after this you can leave it for up to 3 hours. After this time you wash off the residue once again with the cleanser and then apply the Bionic Face Cream which is super healing and soothing. Now none of these products smell amazing - more of a chemically smell but I don't care if it does what it says. I usually put in on a day I know I'm not leaving the house but the peel itself is actually clear so you can go pick up the kids or run to the shop if needs be. When using the peel it is very important that you follow all instructions and to wear SPF everyday. There is usually SPF in your daily moisturiser or foundation anyway. And if you suffer from very sensitive skin this may not be the product for you. So what did I think As I mentioned earlier this is my 2nd time to use this product and I can honestly say it won't be the last. I had some slight flaking around my nose after the first application but that just proves the exfoliation is working. My skins looks clearer, brighter and smoother and my fine lines definitely look softer. And it just seems like there is more of a glow to my skin. Also my makeup always applies better after using this peel. This really is a keeper for my skincare routine!!!! NeoStrata is available in McSharry's Pharmacy (they have stores in Galway, Athlone, Athenry and Castlerea) and also on their website (http://www.mcsharryspharmacy.com) for €52.95. It is also available in pharmacies nationwide. Glycolic Acid is the way to go guys!!!! Thanks for reading
Until next time....As always....Be Happy! Susie xxx I have been really lucky with my recent purchases and most of them have impressed me. However there will always be one or two (or three in todays case) that disappoint. Now just because I wasn't blown away with them doesn't mean they are bad in general - I just wasn't overly dazzled by them. Remember they might work perfectly for you. First up is the new Aussie Miracle Dry Shampoo Aussome Volume - When I spotted this in Boots I just had to have it. I love dry shampoo for adding volume to my hair and Aussie products always smell amazing. There are 3 variations of the dry shampoo; Mega Instant for normal or greasy hair, Colour Mate for coloured hair and the one I bought was the Aussome Volume for fine, limp hair. Home I went and as I was going out that night decided to pin a little of my hair up in a quiffy type upstyle!!! Spray spray spray and a lovely fine mist came out...no white nasty powder to deal with - great first impression. Then things took a turn for the worst...My hair got all sticky...As in so bad I couldn't run my fingers threw it. I tried my bristle brush to get a bit of back combing action goin' but no luck. The brush just stuck in place and wouldn't budge. Eventually I managed to get it kinda half styled and pinned in place. It did add nice volume & texture to my hair but God it was hard to work with. In the interest of research I did try it a few days later to see if maybe I had simply used too much but the same thing happened. So even though I loved the volume & texture it produced I just cannot style my hair after using it. BOOOO!!!! Next up is the Pixy Natural Skincare Lime Body Scrub Cubes - I had read and heard great things about these so picked up a pack in my local pharmacy. I loved the idea of an exfoliator in a little cube and they smelled gorgeous so decided to tackle my old tan and jumped into the shower. I was so disappointed though as all they did was leave a greasy layer all over my skin and it took forever to wash it off. On the bright side I spent so much time trying to shift the grease that I scrubbed all my tan off aswell so technically they did work. But I won't be repurchasing. :( And last but not least is the Rimmel Wonder'full Mascara with Argan Oil - Rimmel are one of my favourite brands and I love their Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara. But I think they are just jumping on the "Argan Oil" bandwagon with their latest mascara offering. It is an "ok" everyday mascara and did add nice length to my lashes but I found it smudged as the day went on and it didn't add any extra volume to my lashes. I think there are much better "drugstore" mascaras on the market. And that's it for today. Have you been disappointed with any products recently?
Let me know in the comments below. I hope you are all having a lovely Sunday. As always ... Be Happy! Susie xxx Ok this blog is starting off with a MASSIVE health warning..... If you hate the sight of feet DO NOT scroll down. I asked you guys a while back on Facebook if you wanted a nice honest blog review on the Scholl Velvet Smooth Express Pedi Electronic Foot File or a "warts & all" honest review with horrid photos of my yucky feet...... and what did you choose?????..... The horrid photo one of course!!!! So here it is...and no I don't have warts that's just a saying!!! Oh and do you know how hard it is to actually take a picture of your feet!!!!! And the brown patches are the remainder of tan!! So you get the idea...I have bad feet. Well it's not really my feet's fault, I just completely neglect them. But that is all a thing of the past now that I have this amazing little tool This is so easy to use.. Simply twist the silver ring and off you go. You guide the roller head over your foot and it exfoliates away all the hard yucky skin. Spend a little time on each foot especially if your feet have been neglected like mine. But after about 10 mins you will notice a considerable difference. It's like gentle sandpaper rubbing over your foot but you can't feel anything (unless you leave it on the one area for more than 5 seconds - then it can get tender). Basically just keeping it moving slowly around your foot. You can visibly see the dead skin being shed as a white dust so make sure to place a towel under your foot to catch all the fallout. So are you ready for the after photos?????? I think it done a brilliant job. Now it has a hefty price tag of approx €50 but Scholl do regular offers in pharmacies nationwide so keep an eye out for it ( I got mine on offer for €35). I also used the Velvet Smooth Intense Serum which is like a watery gel. It contains Hyaluronic Acid, Green Cavier and Pentavitin and sank straight into my skin leaving no residue and immediately smoothing my feet . I will use both these products on a weekly basis just to keep my feet in top condition throughout the winter months (in the vain hope I might get a little winter sun at some stage!) So that's it....Thank you to everyone who made it down this far and wasn't completely repulsed by my feet.
I hope you enjoyed my review. Until next time...Be Happy! Susie xxx I am always blogging about my latest finds and my newest purchases so this time I decided to fill you in on what I use in my beauty routine on a daily basis. First thing I do when I awake is brush my teeth...I hate that furry feeling in my mouth (no rude jokes please!!!!). I used to smoke (bold me!!!) but I am off them 2 years (Yeah to me!!!!)...However my teeth has remained slightly stained so I was constantly on the outlook for a whitening toothpaste that worked. And this one actually does. I have been using the Beverly Hills Formula Perfect White for about a month and my teeth are definitely 2 shades whiter already. I then clean my face using the Garnier Micellar Water followed by my Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. I know it may sound silly but I love these Boots Cotton Wool Pads. They are double sided and don't leave fluff on your skin. And they are cheap as chips. I then moisturise using Vichy LiftActiv. It is a little outside my "age" bracket but I got a sample and loved the feel and texture of the cream. It melts straight into my skin and makes a perfect base for makeup. I also use the LiftActiv night cream. For eye cream I use the NeoStrata Skin Active Intensive Eye Therapy. It reduces puffiness and helps ward off the dreaded crow's feet. And the little bottle seems to be lasting me FOREVER!!! but I'm not complaining. I have used the same hairbrush since I was a child....well obviously I have bought a new one. The Denman D4 hairbrush has smooth round-ended pins that don't pull the hair and is perfect for getting perfectly sleek hair. I hate waxing..the pain is just too much for me. So in between waxing (and to delay it as much as possible) I use the Wilkinson Sword Quattro 2 in 1 Bikini Razor. This double ended tool has a blade on one side perfect for shaving your legs and underarms. And the other end has a small trimmer perfect for keeping your bikini area all nicely groomed and under control. I changed from aerosol deodorant a few years back because when I shaved my underarm the spray would irritate my skin. So a friend recommend the Dove Deodoran Stick because it moisturises and protects the skin. It does the job perfectly ( I don't smell throughout the day) so I haven't changed to anything else. And lastly before I go out the door I spritz myself with my favourite summer perfume. D&G 3 L'Imperatrice reminds me of holidays and exotic fruits. I am no good at describing scents but this is just beautiful. It isn't overpowering yet lasts all day and I just LOVE it. As you can see from the picture at the top of the page I am nearly all out but I will definitely be repurchasing. And that's it...My everyday routine and the products I use. What is your favourite basic everyday items?
Until next time...As always...Be Happy!!! Susie xxx I can't believe it is the last day of summer already... My summer was just hectic between weddings, festivals and parties but I enjoyed every bit of it. And because of all of the above my blog has suffered a little but as a wise person once told me..... "live life..don't just write about it" But I'm back and rearing to go... So here are a few of the things I have been loving throughout the month of August The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Body Butter €18.95 I have always loved the Body Shop Body Butter...they are a bit of a cult product and I bet most of you have had at least one in your lifetime. This is the Body Shop's latest collection and I bought the Body Butter and Solid Oil Lip Treatment in Galway whist out shopping with my sister. Body Butters are a little thicker and creamier than regular body moisturiser and this one just melts into the skin leaving it super soft all day without being heavy or greasy . And guys I cannot tell you how AMAZING this product smells...I have been walking around all month smelling my arm...People are givin' me very odd looks. It has a gorgeous rich nutty scent but it isn't too overpowering. AMAZING!!!!
Soap & Glory Hand Food €7.69 I am a bit fan of Soap & Glory products and this little bottle lives on my bedside locker. I'm not great for applying handcream throughout the day but I make sure to do it last thing at night before I go to sleep. The Soap & Glory Hand Food contains shea butter and macadamia oil so leaves you skin smooth and soft without feeling greasy. Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo & Conditioners €10.49 I have been using L'Oreal Elvive NutriGloss Shampoo & Conditioner forever and I just love it. It always leaves my hair soft & shiny perfect for what I want. However in the name of research I decided to invest in some new hair products. So as I was wandering around Boots I spotted these gorgeous blue bottles. Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner not only smell gorgeous but the argan oil penetrates the hair shaft and leaves hair glossy and strong. My only gripe is the bottle are hard to squeeze!! :( Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover €6.29 I love a good smokey eye so need a good eye makeup remover at the end of the day. I think the duo phase removers always work a little better and this one does a brilliant job of taking off heavy eye makeup. It removes even waterproof mascara without pulling or tugging at the eye. And its a steal at just over €6 So that's it for this month...
What products have you been loving this summer? Let me know in the comments below... Until next time...As alwasys...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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