October Favourites ft Bourjois, Balenciaga, Estée Lauder, Essie, Liz Earle, Kérastase, Charlotte Tilbury, Rimmel & Tiger!

I know, I know, a beauty post, who'da thunk it? It's only when I look back at the past couple of weeks posts that I realise they've been few and far between of late. Despite my sneak peeks at upcoming products over on Instagram and slapping the keyboard as the Style & Beauty Blogger for the Dublin City Guide, poor aul CherrySue le Blog has been losing out. Fear not though, I'm on it! 

In that vein, how about a look at the products that've been tickling my beauty pickle more than any other this past month? Excellent, let's do this: 

1. Kérastase Nectar Thermique: 

€20.28 Here

I've been rocking the Keratin Complex treatment from Queen in Aungier St this past few weeks so normal shampoos and conditioners have been given the heave ho in favour of sulphate free alternatives. Because of that, styling wise, I haven't needed a whole lot of product but after each and every wash I've been loving this leave in treatment from Kérastase. 

This ultra nourishing cream is applied to towel dried hair and not only cuts my blow dry time in half but leaves my locks soft and shiny too. The Royal Jelly Extract works to smooth down flyaways without ever feeling weighted or greasy. Of all the Kérastase loveliness I've tried, this Nectar is by far my fave. 

2. Essie Take It Outside: 

€9 Here

I've been recommending Essie's Take It Outside to all that will listen for the past month or more. Topping my favourite Autumnal Nails post just last week, I can't say enough good things about this flattering greige - though I try. 

If you're looking for a polish that you're likely to remove only to apply again then Take It Outside should be top of your list. That and Debenhams are selling the entire line for just €9 right now. Get. On. It!

3. Estée Lauder - Revitalizing Supreme CC Cream: €55 Here

One reason Estée Lauder will consistently top my favourite brand list is consistency in both quality and performance. At first glance €55 seems slightly spendy for a CC Cream but even during application you can feel the difference between this and cheaper counterparts. This Supreme CC Cream leaves the tube as a greyish cream but transforms on the skin with the aid of micropigments. 

Lovers of full coverage bases won't find this is enough and I must admit the SPF 10 is almost too negligible to mention but BUT my skin has never liked a base as much as it has this. Luminous and soft, it feels as though my skin has light reflecting properties with none of the sparkle. Yes, it's €55 but I'll gladly spend that again once I'm through with this one. Gladly.

4. Bourjois - 1 Seconde Volume Ultra Black: 

€12.99 Here

The original Volume 1 Seconde was a stand out mascara for me this year, so I was thrilled to see an Ultra Black iteration make its way to our shelves. The patented brush is the same, one of my most loved shapes, with spherical bristles in among the straight sweeping ones to cover every last lash with ease.

While I didn't find this newer version 'ultra' black, I do prefer it to its predecessor in terms of longevity. Again Bourjois prove they can hold their own with high end beauty heavy weights. I've reached for this tube more than any other in the past month because I know it will just work. You can't always say that with mascara.

5. Charlotte Tilbury - Filmstar Bronze & Glow: 

€65 Here

Had you told me a couple of months back that I'd be contouring daily and feeling slightly naked without, I'd have scoffed in your face. SCOFFED. But then came Charlotte's Filmstar Bronze & Glow. I can't emote with sufficient intensity your need to try this palette. 

Forget Lion King scary contour lines and Kim K attempts at shading warpaint, this, THIS is what will give you that effortless contoured look with just a couple of sweeps. The matte Sculpt shade is my perfect shading colour and the champagne Highlight is the buildable highlighter of my dreams. Truly, I've worn the CC cream above, this and the Bourjois mascara and been told I've never looked better. It. Is. Love.

6. B. Balenciaga: 

€61 Here

B. Balenciaga is  Alexander Wang's first scent for the French fashion house & nothing like I had expected. A clean green scent grounded with dark wood, it smells like I imagine the rainforest does after a downpour. Absolutely gorgeous. 

I've been guarding closely my sneak preview sample but the urge to share the scent when people ask what I'm wearing is more than I can bear and I always end up giving them a spritz. THIS is why B. is smack bang top of my Christmas wishlist thusfar. Seek it out and spray it for yourself, I defy you not to fall in love. 

7. Liz Earle - Limited Edition Cleanse & Polish: €23.50 Here

I have made no secret of my love for Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish over the years - you can see my full review here. Always a sucker for a limited edition, it was the very same night that I met Liz Earle MBE herself (I KNOW!) that I eagerly opened this Sweet Orange & Mint version to put it to the test. 

That was last month, I've been using this cleanser every other night since. While the performance of this unctuous cleanser is just as luxurious and comforting as its standard counterparts, it's the scent that truly sets this one apart. Bright and zesty, I truly own no cleansers with quite the same scent and have looked forward to using it every single time. 

8. Tiger - Phone Charger: 

€9 In Store Only 

I don't normally recommend products that you can't easily get your own mitts on but were I to tell you that this €9 charger from walkaround mecca, Tiger is the fastest I've ever used would that sway you to make the trip? 

As is the case with most people these days, my phone is now an extension to my arm and never put down - unless I'm in the office of course - ahem. This means, more often than not, I'm scrambling to have it recharged before I head into town and start my Spotify accompanied trek home. 

This charger gives me 100% in less than 30 mins, without overheating or losing charge once I unplug. The slightly odd thing is, it's only when it's plugged into the wall but what matter? 100% in under half an hour that holds a charge longer than usbs 3 times its price. It's like a little Lotto win. Only better. 

9. Rimmel Provocalips: £6.99 Here

Another product I've raved about ad infinitum is Rimmel's newest lip laquer, Provocalips. Available in 11 shades of vibrancy, there is no lip product on the market today that will give you the longevity these bad boys do.

But a word of warning - though saturated in colour and a cinch to wear, you should make sure your lips are in top condition before applying. Not moisturised but prepped (I give mine a little scrub with my toothbrush when brushing my teeth). A second word of warning - there is zero room for error here, as the lacquer STAINS. Use a steady hand and go slow for instant, dramatic colour. All in all if you're looking for unparalleled wear time in a lippie, you're looking for Provocalips.

C'mom, tell us, what were you loving in the month of October? 

Count Down to Christmas: Top Advent Calendars

There really is no denying it at we enter the penultimate day of November, Christmas is haring toward us at breakneck speed. For my entire childhood I would love these couple of days because it meant that we'd begin to open doors on the advent calendar my Aunt had sent home from New York. (we were fierce fancy back then). There's nothing like peeling back the first door to get the Christmas spirit going. 

Nowadays there's a billion and one options when it comes to Advent Calendars and savvy brands have cottoned on that there's still a wee child in each of us that loves the thrill of opening a little door a day for a surprise. I've put together some of my faves this year: 

Liz Earle's 24 Days of Christmas

24 Days of Christmas with Liz Earle: €120.50

The most expensive of the lot is 24 Days of Christmas from Liz Earle. Containing 24 luxury samples of skincare to bodycare. If you want a sneak peek at contents you could check out Karen's post here (not advisable if you don't want to be filled with NEED). It's a gorgeous collection and would make a stunning gift for someone special. 

L'Oreal Luxe 

L'Oreal Luxe: €100

This luxury offering from L'Oreal boasts not only designer fragrances but luxury sized samples of mascara, lip gloss, skincare, serums and more. It's an absolute cracker. 

Ciaté Mini Mani Month

Ciaté Mini Mani Month: €50

Words cannot express how much I want to get my mitts on this beauty. Ridiculous scheduling for the past 3 weeks has meant that I haven't had a minute to get into Arnott's Dublin, who have Irish exclusivity, to bag my own. Priced at €50 and boasting 24 mini polishes that's only slightly over €2 a bottle and the chance to rock a different talon look a day this December. Genius I tells ya!

The Ol' Reliable Cadbury

Cadbury's Wishes Advent Calendar: €3.89

Of course if the purse strings and present buying aren't allowing you to afford the bountiful beauty versions, there's always the ol' reliable, chocolate. This year Cadbury's have teamed up with the Make a Wish Ireland, who grant the wishes of children in Ireland living with life-threatening medical conditions, to release the Wishes Advent Calendar. 10% of all sales go directly to the charity. That's guilt free chocolate in anyone's book!

Do you buy Advent calendars? Tempted by the beauty versions this year? 

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer & Skin Repair Moisturiser

A little while ago I brought you my review of Liz Earle's Hot Cloth Cleanse and Polish. (Despite using it most days, it's only now coming to an end, which is fantastic value for a product). Following that post the lovely PR rep for the brand contacted me to see if I would like to try the following two steps in the beauty regime, the Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer & the Skin Repair Moisturiser. 'Absolument, lovely lady' was my grateful response. 

Because I'd been trialling a lot of skin care over the past couple of months, I wanted to hold off on reviewing these until I could give them a proper trial and I'm delighted I did, as is my visage. I've been using all three products to varying degrees over the past few weeks to find the perfect combination for me and I think I've cracked it. 

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer -  €14.75

First up, the Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spritzer, to be used after the Hot Cloth Cleanse & Polish, is full of naturally active ingredients, such as organic aloe vera to revitalise and soften and calendula, chamomile, cucumber and natural source vitamin E to soothe and refresh. They all combine to make a floral, almost herb like scent in a refreshing spritz. 

I've never been convinced of the need for a toner for my skin as in the past they have tended to strip it or leave it drier than before. Not so with with this tonic. My face is actually more moisturised following use, so much so that I've occasionally skipped the moisturiser altogether. Working much like a Thermal Spring Water, this Liz Earle offering has many uses, not just its intended application. I've found myself spritzing my face in the evenings just to freshen up. It really does round out the regime and I'd recommend giving it a try. 

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser - €22.25

The final step in the Liz Earle regime is the Skin Repair Moisturiser. My jar is for Normal/Combination skin and suits both my skin type and my needs perfectly. Naturally active ingredients include borage and avocado oils to moisturise and smooth with beta-carotene and regular skin saviour, vitamin E. 

Again this is scented slightly on the floral side but not overwhelmingly so. It's consistency isn't too thick and once massaged in it leaves no residue on the skin but my face appears brighter and softer having used it. Following a weeks use I found that Skin Repair Moisturiser was a little too rich for me to use both morning and evening but confining it to just evening use suits me perfectly. 

My skin is bright and feels refreshed using the Liz Earle full regime but tailoring it to my needs. If you'd like to try them for yourself there's a fantastic deal on at the moment on their site: 

Check out this fantastic deal here. 

I know some of the feedback I've gotten from you about the Liz Earle range is to do with price of postage. This offer looks like it might just circumvent that problem, that and the fact that this deal is £41 for our British sisters, means we really are getting a decent saving. 

Have you tried Liz Earle products before? Have you a favourite? 

Heads Up: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Limited Edition Rose & Lavender

Heads up lovelies, something a little bit gorgeous has hit my inbox. Cult favourite brand Liz Earle has teamed up with the Prince's Trust UK to bring us a beautiful special edition Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser. The tried and trusted Cleanser has been given the Rose and Lavender treatment, two of my favourite skin care ingredients, and is set to hit our shelves on September 6th. 

This special edition has been made possible through the Tomorrow Campaign, which paired six up and coming young people with iconic mentors. Through the campaign Rebecca Taylor teamed up with Liz herself to design this botanical take on the Hot Cloth Cleanser. 

Liz says: “Our Special Edition Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser includes the same award-winning concentrated cream formula to remove daily grime and make up to leave skin clear, smooth and exceptionally clean, but with a special twist - a unique blend of rose and lavender essential oils to calm and relax your senses, ideal for use to ensure a good night’s sleep. Perfect partners; use our original Cleanse & Polish in the morning and our Special Edition in the evenings.”

Priced at €17 from Lizearle.com  €2.50 (£2) from each bottle sold will be donated directly to the Prince's Trust. Learn more about their fantastic work here. There's nothing quite like knowing you're doing a good deed to assuage some of the guilt when stocking up, eh? 

Are you a Cleanse & Polish lover? Read what I think here. Will you be snapping this limited edition up when it lands on September 6th? 

ALSO: There's FREE DELIVERY on Liz Earle until Friday the 31st of August, if you wanted to check out just why this brand is so popular, now is the time to do it!

Liz Earle - Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

Ok, so I'm fairly late to the Liz Earle party but anything that makes me actually look forward to washing my fizzog has to be worthy of a blog post, surely?

While I've gotten exponentially better at cleansing, toning and moisturising (wipes were once a luxury to me) it has still always seemed like a chore. I'm guessing that's because I regularly see 2am on the clock before I'm hitting the hay so squeaky cheeks are the last thing on my mind. (steady now)

Having heard so much about this Liz Earle cleanser I was thrilled to be sent a package as a gift from The Irish Times. The first thing I noticed, once into the box was the packaging. From the first sheet of tissue paper (there are many) to the soft mint zip up wash bag this just feels like something special.

Minty Luxe

Made with eucalyptus and cocoa butter, Cleanse and Polish is the only cleanser in the Liz Earle range as it is intended for use on every skin age and type. It's a two phase treatment, the cleanser itself works to lift all of your make-up (including They're Real mascara(!)) and then the muslin cloth (there are two per pack) works to exfoliate your skin, remove all dead skin cells and gently buff and polish the skin.

One pump is the perfect pea sized amount

Unctuous Eucalyptus Scented Goodness 

The Muslin Cloth used to polish your face (NOT your lips) (Learned that the hard way)

As I say, I'm thoroughly enjoying using Cleanse and Polish so far. My skin appears brighter and tighter and my make up glides on now that every single trace is removed the night before. While it's recommended that you use this both night and day, I have to admit that I'm a little afraid to do so. Not only is the cleanser a little rich to be used on my skin twice a day but I can't see muslin cloths being too gentle on your skin in the long term either, though they are ideal for exfoliating your bod - KP (chuck feed arms or legs especially).

As a matter of fact, I've recently switched the cloth and am using my Konjac sponge (he's called Kojac round here because of his likeness to a little, fat, baldy head) I find I'm using less product and getting a much gentler but still effective cleanse.

Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser Starter Kit retails for €17 or, of course, you could pick up the pump alone for €15.25 and the Konjac Sponge for €7.47. That'd be my recommendation. I'll have a full Konjac review up next week should you not be convinced (yet).

Have you used Cleanse & Polish yet? Love it as much as Moi?