Summer Scents - Narcisso Rodriguez Essence Eau de Musc

There's nothing better than having a scent of the summer and this is one of my favourites.  While on my way to Spain a few weeks ago, I was perusing the Duty Free in Dublin Airport, hoping that something would speak to me.  And after spraying a few onto cards, I came across this one by Narcisso Rodriguez.

The mirrored bottle intrigued me first, looking like molten metal and immediately making me think of Terminator and your man who was blown apart and then came back together as little balls of metal.  Yes, I'm weird.  That was my first thought.  I decided to get it over in Spain so it would be my holiday perfume and proceeded to spray it all over myself every time we went into a shop that had it.  And shoved my arm into my mam's face every few minutes to make her smell it.  The fact that she liked it too was huge as she's so picky when it comes to perfumes.  I finally picked it up on my way home and everyone I've made smell it, which is pretty much everyone, loves it too.

What does it smell like?  The first word that comes to mind is "clean".  It's light, bright, airy, fresh and all things feminine.  With top notes of Citrus, Iris and Rose, a musk heart and amber base, the tagline sums it up saying " When the sensuality of Musc meets the freshness of an Eau".

When I first spray myself (drown myself in it), I'm hit with a fresh, soapy scent that cools me off and makes me immediately feel clean, not that I'm dirty or anything!  One of the girls at work says she can smell the rose, but I can't and I definitely can't smell any citrus.  As it starts to dry down, the musk sets in and is almost powdery, but still fresh.  When it hits the amber base part, it smells warm and yet still clean.

With the hot weather we've been having for the past few days, Essence Eau de Musc has been a welcome addition to my drawer at work.  When I'm feeling clammy, a few squirts of this freshens me right up and I'm back in the game!  It lasts a good four hours and at that point, I'm ready to top myself up and get back to smelling gorgeous.  I think this is now my go-to summer scent and I'll find it hard to top it.

Next time you're in the shops, go and smell this.  Take note, you're looking for Essence Eau de Musc, not Essence.  Eau de Musc is a follow on from the original Essence scent that I haven't tried yet, but I don't want you smelling the wrong one.  Prices range from €49 to €97 on the Debenhams website depending on the size.

What's your favourite summer scent?

Dr Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Skin Tone Correcting Serum

We all know that I'm a massive fan of all things Origins and have loved pretty much every product I've tried over the years.  The latest one that found it's way home and onto my desk is the new Mega-Bright Skin Tone Correcting Serum by Dr Andrew Weil for Origins.

Promising to transform discolouration into illumiination, this sounded like it was made for my self inflicted sun damaged skin.  I'm not ready to do any chemical peels just yet and I was excited to see how I got on.

The key ingredient in Mega-Bright is Rosa Roxburghii, which is rich in Vitamins A, C and E, along with essential fatty acids, ao I was ready to pack some good ingredients into my skin as only serums do.

For any of you that have tried the White Tea Skin Guardian, Mega-Bright has that smooth silicon feel to it, except it's a bit lighter in texture.  It has a gorgeous peachy apricot scent to it and one pump dispenses the teeniest blob of pearly, iridescent serum but is enough to cover my whole face easily.  It doesn't clog my pores and makes my skin feel really smooth, like having used a primer.

My face is covered with pigmentation marks from sun damage and scarring from past pimples and after using this morning and night for almost two months now, my skin tone has noticably improved and is bright and dare I say it, radiant!  As a lover of medium coverage foundations, I've been able to get away with wearing foundations with lighter coverage.

At €64 it's not cheap but if it's age spots or hyperpigmentation you're looking to tackle, this is definitely worth a try.  I've loved using it and I'm only about half way through the bottle and will continue on, making my skin even more gorgeous!

Origins is available in Arnotts and Boots Liffey Valley.

What's your favourite serum ladies?

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream - I BB loving it

In April this year, Maybelline launched new Dream Fresh BB cream on us all.  If you're new to the BB world, they're essentially creams that were created to be used by patients who had surgery and laser procedures, offering protection and skin regeneration afterwards.

Now I haven't had surgery or laser procedures, so where do I fit in in the BB world?  Well up until I tried Dream Fresh BB Cream, I kind of saw BBs as tinted moisturisers from the reviews I've read online and to be honest, they didn't really speak to me and nobody seemed that pushed on them.  I was sent this one to try in the Dark shade and almost had heart failure when I saw how dark it was.

In a single step, Dream Fresh BB Cream does this:

1. Protects with SPF 30  (Very good)
2. Oil free and non greasy  (This is very important for moi)
3. Blurs imperfections  (Don't mind if I do)
4. Enchances  (Enchances what exactly?)
5. Brightens and creates a natural glow  (I think we'd all like that)
6. Compliments skin tone  (Grand, thanks)
7. Soothes and hydrates  (Handy in this sunny weather)
8. Feels ultra light and fresh on the skin  (Good stuff, we don't want to feel heavy products on our skin)

So how does it hold up against those eight claims?  Pretty well actually and I will hand on heart say I was completely surprised by it.  Now, the swatch above looks scary and yes, it's dark and I'll only be able to wear it during the summer, but the finish that it gives my skin has made me decide to pick it up in the lighter shade.

It applies quickly and easily with minimal blending required thanks to the innovative formula that combines gel with water.  I use a foundation brush but you can use your hands too.  It has a subtle fragrance, feels really light on my skin and the presence of glycerin hydrates the skin for 8 hours.  But you want pictures don't you?  Here you go!

I love it!  It gives me a beautiful glow, covers my redness and makes my skin look bright and radiant.  Although it gives much more coverage than a tinted moisturiser, it feels like I've exactly that on my face.  It makes it look like my skin but better and that's when I know I'm on to a winner.  Be honest, it doesn't look like I've anything on my visage!

I haven't been fake tanning yet, but as soon as I do, I'll be able to wear this outside the house.  Right now it's too dark to wear on it's own so I can't report on the longevity but I just needed to show you how great it made my skin look.  When I'm excited like this, all patience goes out the window.

It comes in four shades, Light, Medium, Dark and Universal Glow.  I tried Universal Glow on the back of my hand over the weekend and was this close to getting it.  I don't know why I didn't!  I'll report back when I pick up a lighter shade folks, but in the meantime, go check it out in your local pharmacy or Boots.  It retails at €11.99 and Maybelline are always having offers on, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

Will you BB trying Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB Cream?

Take 5 - Summer lipsticks

As part of a new series for the summer, we're going to give you our top 5 picks for products across the board covering make up and fashion!  As much as I love collecting make up and products (calling myself a collector justifies me buying more don't you know), I do have the ones that I wear and love more than others.  I do feel bad for the products I don't use as much as others and try to use them sometimes so they don't think I've forgotten about them!

So the first of our series is all about lipsticks.  I've been getting braver and trying more colour in the lippie department and what better way to set off a golden glow than a bright lip!  Here are my top 5 summer lipsticks.

1. YSL Rouge Pur Couture in Shade 17 - Rose Dahlia.  I had to start off with a goodie!  You can read my full review here, but in a nutshell, it's beautiful, creamy, delicate and makes me happy.  I can wear it to work or out at night and really compliments my skin tone.  Lahve it dahling.

2. During the summer, I like to wear pretty neutral lip colours too.  All About Cupcake is a blue toned pink lipstick from Essence and only cost a couple of euro.  I can't remember exactly how much because I got it last year and can't remember that far back due to old age.  This feels really light on the lips and is completely office friendly too.

3. Flirty Fuchsia is one of the Colordisiac lipsticks from Avon and is a vivid fuchsia colour funnily enough!  It glides on like a dream and adds a fabulous slick of colour on the lips to brighten up your day.

4. One of Revlon's Lip Butters in Peach Parfait takes it's rightful place in my top 5.  When I first picked it up, I was a bit "meh" about it and it stayed in the bottom of my handbag until recently where I fished it out, slapped it on and was overcome with the guilt from having ignored it for so long!  If Nars Orgasm was a lipstick, it would look like this.  It's a light peach colour with gold shimmer running through it, has a glossy finish and stays put for ages.  I love it and might have to head to Boots to pick up a back up.

5. Rounding out the list is from Lancome's Rouge in Love collection, shade 146B - Miss Coquelicot and to be honest, I remember the number more than the name of it!  This is a vibrant coral lipstick that makes my eyes look even greener and you can read my full review here.

What's your favourite shade for summer?  Come on, enable me like good beauty lovers!

Oh this is a good one! Arnotts Glam Prix this June Bank Holiday weekend!

So it's another bank holiday weekend coming up for us in Ireland.  Any plans so far?  Well ladies, Arnotts have an amazing beauty filled weekend coming up for you (and me) in the gorgeous new Beauty Hall.  To celebrate the arrival of Formula 1 to the streets of Dublin, Arnotts are having a Glam Prix (love it!) event running from Thursday May 31st to Sunday June 3rd.  What is this I hear you ask?  Well, for those of us (moi) who aren't in to car racing, the Beauty Hall will turn into a Beauty Pit-Stop where you pick up a race track card on arrival.  Different beauty counters will be hosting various activities throughout the weekend and you can earn your stripes!  So basically, if you visit each beauty counter and receive a stamp for each activity you participate in, all race cards returned with every stamp will go into a draw for a prize.

Want to see what activities they have on offer?

Origins
10 minute "Pit Stop: Pick-me-up!" treatments on counter for the four days.  With purchase on any Origins skincare (I'm hoping to get the cleansing oil), you will receive a free Drink Up mask!

Estee Lauder
"Pit stop" at the Estee Lauder Counter for a Straight from the Runway makeover!  Choose from one of three spring/summer looks, receive tips and tricks from the Beauty Advisors using signature techniques and following consultation, receive a Sensuous Nude 4ml deluxe sample!

Emma Hardie
Pit stop for a consultation with a skincare therapist!  Spend €35 and receive a luxury sample of mini serum.  Exclusive to Glam Prix, enter to win a hamper worth €400 or a facial with Emma Hardie herself! (I'm totally replacing my Moringa Balm!)

Rituals
Pit stop at the Rituals counter for a complimentary Hand and Arm massace with the Ayurveda products which will be 25% off throughout Glam Prix.

Clarins
Let Clarins treat you to a free make over with before and after photos (oh yes please!)  Enjoy Skin Time cleansing treatment followed by a mini make over and automatically go into a draw to win a Clarins hamper worth €150!  Don't mind if I do Clarins.

Chanel
Glam up with a  mini eye/lip/cheek makeover from the Rouge Coco collection at the Chanel counter and receive a luxury glossy Chanel pouch.

Lancome
Experience the Rouge in Love Lip and Nail station on counter exclusive to Glam Prix!

Clinique
Add a flash of colour to your lips with Clinique's chubby stick range, perfect for that pit-stop pick me up!

Yves Saint Laurent
A quick complexion pick me up for tired skin, starting with a cleanse and tone using the Forever Youth Liberator skincare range, followed by an application of the Forever Youth Liberator Serum, a colour match and application of the Perfect Touch foundationa and finishing with a touch of Touche Eclat.
Discover how to create the perfect smokey eye in just three minutes.  Learn the three steps to perfect smokey eyes, finished with a coat of mascara.  Also, yes, there's more!  Receive a La La Laque nail varnish in Sparkling White with the purchase of any two YSL products.  If this isn't a reason not to pick up the Azure Blue eyeliner then I don't know what is!

Bobbi Brown
Let the Bobbi Brown team get you racing ready with a host of beauty pit-stop make up lessons.

Benefit
Come in "pore" prosition with one of Benefit's speedy lessons on fragrance, complexion, brows and eyes!

Smashbox
Start the Glam Prix Beauty race in style with a primer application and receive a gorgeous gift with purchase exclusing to Glam Prix.

Dior
Glam Prix style flash eye and lip makeovers based around a super summer look!  For every purchase, receive a complimentary new look mascara.

Shiseido
Jump start your make up bag with top tips on how to maximise each of your products, how to get the look you want and let Shiseido highlight the bare necessities a girl needs! Purchase any product after you jump start your make up bag and receive a complimentary Shiseido vanity bag while stocks last!

L'Occitane en Provence
Be treated to skincare and haircare samples and a revitalizing spray of our wonderful Verbena EDT for a pit-stop style opportunity to freshen up!

Elizabeth Arden
Take the Glam Prix "5 Minute Beauty Challenge"!  Indulge in a selection of treatments all completed and timed by an alarm clock in less than 5 minutes!  Treatments available will include 5 minutes to Flawless Complexion, 5 minutes lips and eyes and 5 minutes Bronze Goddess!  All customers who purchase over the weekend will enter a draw to win an Essential Summer Beauty Kit worth over €150 and 5 runners up will win a make-over with Joseph Hernandez.

Jose Eber
Make sure you have Pit-Stop perfect hair after perfecting your Pit-Stop Beauty look!  Stop by the Jose Eber counter and enjoy complimentary hair styling to get your Glam Prix ready!


How exciting is that?!!  I know for an absolute fact I'll be hitting the Emma Hardie counter, Origins, Yves Saint Laurent, Clarins and Estee Lauder and see where the evening takes me!  I'll be there on Friday evening so come along and let's go to the Glam Prix!

Which Beauty Pit-Stops will you be hitting?

Viviscal Maximum Strength Hair Nourishment System giveaway worth €49.99!

Ladies, when I first heard about Viviscal hair stuff, I thought, sure I wouldn't have any use for that, my hair is only grand.  Then I saw this post where Mags from Emerald Eyeliner tested it out for a month and I couldn't believe the results!  Her hair grew so much and she was able to show us exactly how much by taking one for the team and allowing her roots to show proudly! 

Viviscal is a natural food supplement with the active ingredient AminoMarC, which is a protein compound of marine extracts blended with organix, soluble silica and fortified with vitamin C.  So basically, it has nutrients to nourish your hair from within.

Needless to say, after Mags' results, I was very intrigued and recently got a pack to try and I'm about to start using it myself so I'll report back in a month and let you know how I get on.  The folk at Viviscal have kindly given me a month's supply to give away to one lucky lady!

To be in with a chance of winning a month's supply of Viviscal, you just have to be a follower of the blog and Like the Viviscal Facebook page.  You must be a resident of Ireland, north or south and be over the age of 18.  The draw will take place on Monday the 4th of June and I'll notify the winner to get their details so I can pass it on to the company and they will send out the prize.

Enter your details in the Rafflecopter widget below and good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Model's Own Hedonist - The brightest, most summery neon polish ever!

I'm finding it hard to type this post ladies.  I'm in the process of being blinded by one of the brightest nail polishes I've ever owned!  Seriously, cyclists should wear it alongside their Hi-Vis jackets and make them visible a mile away.  Ladies and any gentlemen that might happen to be reading this post because they searched for "Hedonist", I would like to introduce you to Hedonist from the Model's Own Hedkandi collection.

Now, let me say that I took eleventy million photos of this polish and the photos don't do it justice.  It is the brightest, most neon colour I've ever had the pleasure to put on my fingers.  The photos show it as an orangey colour but in person it's a mad corally orange colour.  You need to see it.  And if you know me, come visit me so you can look it at on my nails.  You should be able to find me ok as I'm sure my office at work will be glowing from it.

Now, let me just tell you that the brush sucks.  It doesn't sit flat on the nail and because the formulation of the polish is quite thick, it makes it hard to get the edges and at the cuticles.  Because I apply polish so regularly, I'm pretty good at staying inside the lines so to speak, even doing my left hand, but this is what I had to clean up on the left hand today...  If I hadn't done that, there would have been gaps all over the edges of the nails, so Model's Own, sort it out because I love this polish.

As you can see from the photos above, it dries to a semi-matte finish.  I needed to have a shower and couldn't wait for them to finish drying, so out came the trusted Seche Vite and I love it Hedonist even more with a full shine finish....  Seriously, look at it.   Put your sunglasses on first, then look at it.

This is one of those "dangerous polishes" and what I mean by that is that when I'm driving, I find myself holding the steering wheel in a way I can see my nails, it's just fantastic.  I got mine in Boots for £5 and they sell for €7.50 here (Boots, what kind of mark up is that??)  I can't give you info on how long it lasts and to be honest, I'll rarely be able to do that with a polish because I change them so often.  I just couldn't wait to show you all this and urge you to get it.

Now I shall make a bold statement in a deep voice and with a big sweeping arm motion.  This is now the Top Polish For Summer Against Which All Other Polishes Shall Be Compared.  It's fun, bright, girlie, bright and bright.  I now have my eyes on Beach Party from the Hed Kandi collection as well.  Will it be better than Hedonist?

Do you like neon polishes?  What's the brightest colour your own?