Best Beauty for Teens ~ Skincare, Makeup, Brushes & More!

 

Looking for the best beauty products, makeup, and skincare for teens? Look no further. This question comes up a lot on Instagram, and especially now that we're looking towards Christmas gifting time. These affordable beauty brands, favoured by Youtubers and Influencers alike will easily please the most discerning teens and passionate young makeup addicts too. 

L'Occitane Immortelle Divine Collection - NEW!

 

Are you in need of a skincare shakeup? In one of the most teased trials I've done to date, which I'm in no way sorry for, I can finally reveal the secret to my skin's sudden turnaround. L'occitane Immortelle Divine Collection, as though it could have ever been anything else. If you're looking for plumped, hydrated & beautifully luminous skin, look no further. Well look down below, obviously..

Help Keratosis Pilaris FAST with First Aid Beauty!

If you struggle with the dreaded KP, this here? This'll help & fast! I've had KP (Keratosis Pilaris) for as long as I can remember & that's a long time. That's the tiny bumps on upper arms, thighs and cheeks (of both varieties ) Considered a variant of normal skin, it's still a nuisance. 

Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector - Review!

Occasionally a product comes along that completely does away with the need for several others - this time, my friends it's Murad Vita-C Dark Circle Corrector. I've been using this potent lil under eye lotion since it arrived in May, and when I tell you it packs a punch!

Bobbi Brown Remedies Skin Wrinkle Treatment No 25 ~ Cherry Pick of the Week!

While Bobbi Brown is not a brand I've featured heavily before, it's always been one that's been floating around my makeup drawers. Aside from Charlotte Tilbury's Bronze & Glow, Bobbi's Shimmer Brick is the only luxe highlighter I've ever parted with hard earned cash for. I got to meet the PR Gals this Summer and you better believe I was intrigued by Bobbi Brown Remedies collection. They're targeted solutions for any skin issues, this week's Pick of the Week is the one (of seven) I've been trialling for several weeks now, the new Skin Wrinkle Treatment, No 25. 

Kiehl's & Tinie Tempah Collab on Ultra Facial Cream for MTVs Staying Alive Foundation! #TINIExKIEHLs

Since its release in 2003, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream has graced the pages of countless beauty pages and moisturised many a visage with its lightweight yet heavy hitting formulation. It promises 24 Hour hydration, is not only a manna for dry skin but a salve for sensitive skin too. I've long been a fan of Kiehl's as a brand, a quick search through our back catalogue will tell you that but it's not only the products themselves that have impressed me. It's their charitable endeavors too. This latest collaboration with Tinie Tempah in aid of the MTV Staying Alive Foundation is no different. 

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream: €52 Here (LE Version available in store)

To date Kiehl's have raised $2,500,000 in the fight against HIV and AIDS, which is a literally life changing figure and speaks volumes to the difference the fraction of cost of product really can make. With this newest iteration of UFC, £2 from each sale of limited edition pot goes directly to the Foundation. Their choice of collab partner in Tinie Tempah is pretty inspired, it not only puts Kiehl's on the radar of a younger demographic but puts great skincare right up there too. 

I've been using UFC again for the past fortnight and remembering exactly what it is I love about it. Though I have normal skin, it feels completely hydrated, almost overnight from first use. There may not be an SPF included but this facial cream is light weight enough to offer intense hydration both day and night. I for one am loving it once more and have even spied Adam slathering it on post gym in the evenings. He's loving the difference it has made in such a short time too.  

Have you tried Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream? Do you rate it just as highly? 

Elemental Herbology Macadamia & Papaya Radiance Body Scrub ~ Tropical Heaven!

When it comes to luxury skincare, Elemental Herbology are right at the top of their game. If you like your skincare to be more of an experience than a tick on your to do list, then you're gonna wanna try something from this holistic British brand. Not only do they harness natural actives to get the best from your skin, their products are 100% free from synthetic fragrance, artificial colour, mineral oils, sulphates, parabens and preservatives. Case in point, the glorious Macadamia & Papaya Radiance Body Scrub. 

A tropical mix of essential actives and bio-oils, Carlsberg don't do body scrubs but if they did, it probably wouldn't be a patch on this stunner. Papaya, sea salt & sugar provide the scrubbiness with macadamia & Buriti oil, the bio actives providing the unrivaled, nourishing softness.

Elemental Herbology Macadamia & Papaya Radiance Body Scrub: €41.10 HERE

A boon for self tanning prep or post care or if you're simply prepping for shorter sleeves (and hemlines) this Summer. I apply this thick scrub, in upward motions before I step into the shower and continue my ablutions before washing off before I step out. I consider it a full body facial because that's exactly what it is. 

Including this in your skin nourishing efforts means you're looking at at least three days of asking yourself 'Is this new skin?! I'm sure this is new skin'. I absolutely blahhdy love it. If you happen to be in or around a SpaceNK store I do urge you to just take a little sniff of Elemental Herbology. Maybe even nicely ask for a sample and come back to tell me how much you're loving it too. 

Tell us, have you tried anything from this brand before? Put on the spot what would you say is your HG body scrub?

Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum - Quarter Life Crisis Averted?

Yep, Origins are one of my favourite high-end skincare brands but in the case of serums for your #QuarterLifeCrisis, I know when I'm bate. Instead of  using the serum myself, because, let's face it, I'm slightly older than the target market *coughs* and that'd be cray, I've enlisted the help of not only one of the funniest, wise beyond her years gals but also the creative genius behind one of my favourite blogs John, It's Only Makeup. Could Lorraine's face get any fancier? Let's find out: 

Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum, €42, is the new kid on the new block. Skin care ranges for millennials are being improved, expanded and launched at a rate of knots. Keep reading - if you look away now, you'll look back to find this page has been replaced by a pot of a twenty-something's face cream. Business is booming.

Reserve judgement for a second. I was sceptical when the hype reached me, and almost wrote it off as another underarm brightening cream marketing fail (or win, if creating problems where there aren't any lines your pockets). After research and a good aul think, I'm on board. There's the teen market, which is blemish-busting gels and light lotions. Follow on from that, and you're onto anti-aging creams. Now, there's a handy middle ground for skin that isn't in the throws of puberty but still suffers with growing pains.

Origins Original Skin Renewal Serum is my favourite newbie. It's different to most serums that I've tried, in that it quickly soaks in and leave a velvety finish. I'm thinking that's intentional and done with fickle young adults in mind; a more comfortable, less slippery consistency is a great base for makeup, especially when you want to get it all done without faffing around too much. 

That finish ties in with its blurring tech - there's a dose of algae oil to reduce the appearance of pores. It's subtlety tinted in pale peach, which I think is where the radiance boost comes from. Both of these effects are temporary and purely cosmetic. You'll wash your glow and little pores down the drain when you remove this, but it's nice while it lasts and, again, a welcome enhancer under your foundation.

Long term skincare benefits are geared mostly toward skin with texture issues, the odd spot and general shine. It's got salicylic acid and chestnut seed extract, which purify and reduce inflammation without stripping away too much moisture. The drier areas of my face are coping just fine with this, and the oilier areas are being kept in check.

If you're starting to invest in skin care, make having a look at this a priority.

You'll pick up Origins Renewal Serum in all large Debenhams & Boots stores or online HERE. And you'll see more of Lorraine's whip smart reviews HERE. 

Tell us, are you in the market for millennial skincare? 

Molton Brown Rhubarb & Rose Review!

When it comes to listening to their customers, Molton Brown are all about that noise. Following overwhelming requests from fans of their best selling Rhubarb & Rose handcream to extend the scent to their Bath & Shower range they did exactly that. Just one sniff is enough to tell you they've done the right thing. 

The perfect indulgence for a late night bath or the ideal zesty shower to begin your day, I. Am. Loving. This! Think of the zingy, sweet scent of Rhubarb & Cream sherbets of yesteryear and you're almost there. It lathers more than most of my Molton Brown stash and leaves a beautiful subtle scent & softened skin once dried off. It's an absolute beaut. 

There are those that argue MB products might be a little spendy when a supermarket shower gel can do exactly the same job. The rub is thus, with Molton Brown, you're buying an experience. A moment or two of indulgence. A well earned treat. (I tell myself that every time I see the total on my virtual basket anyway). 

So if you're listening, Molton Brown, as it's quite clear you do - we need this scent in candle form - as soon as ye can possibly do it!. 

You'll find Rhubarb & Rose online here starting at €22 but I'd urge you to give it a quick sniff in store (there's a new one on Grafton St). I can't imagine if you're a rhubarb fan that you won't fall head over heels for it. 

Tell us, are you a Molton Brown fan? What's your favourite scent? 

*Pssst*

I spied (and picked up) new 
Rhubarb Flower room diffusers
in M&S this week. They smell
EXACTLY like this & only cost
€20 for 3 - BARG!

REN Skincare Travel Kit - Ideal for Weekend Breaks!

We had a squizz last week at my top ten beauty products to stash in your carry on bag. This week, we're looking at taking care of your skin, whether on a long haul flight or a short skip across the pond. REN Skincare have launched the ideal travel companion for your skin and at an ideal price too. 

€30 (for REN, I know!) will bag you everything your skin will need for a short break away and that everything includes: 

(Links to full products included for comparison)

Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel 

Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel by REN is a gentle cleanser, suitable for all skin types. Made with Aloe Vera & Rose, it's just what your skin needs after a long day schlepping to your destination.

Rosa Centifolia 3-in-1 Cleansing Water 

This rose infused facial cleansing water is alcohol and detergent free so won't strip your skin of essential moisture. Tough enough to remove your face of the day but you'll need a separate cleanser (oil based preferably) should you be sporting waterproof mascara on your hols.  

Daily Moisturising Cream

Cranberry, rose, zinc, copper, magnesium and Shea butter combine to make REN's Daily Moisturising Cream a treat for all skin types. Unctuous and soothing, it can be used both day and night. 

Omega 3 Optimum Skin Serum Oil – Night Serum

Just 2-3 drops of this Omega 3 rich serum is enough to treat your skin of an evening. Designed to combat skin stresses from pollution and free radicals, it's my favourite of this mini skin arsenal. 

Vita Mineral Active 7 Radiant Eye Gel

Keep this little eye saviour in your mini bar fridge to combat puffiness and dark circles after a night on the tiles or a long days sight seeing (or both). This luxe gel can be used either under or over your makeup so a quick freshen up midday is always an option too. 

You'll find the REN Skincare Travel Kit from all REN stockists this month. 

Tell us, do you pack your skincare regime when heading off on your hollibobs? Would something like this appeal to you? 

Soap & Glory's Sugar Crush - My New Scrub Love

Yep, I'm pretty late to this Soap & Glory party but HOW has the Sugar Crush range escaped my product piggery attention for so shaggin' long?! I have, of course, been stocking up on the bright pink products every Christmas for years now but somehow this sweet lime slice of heaven has escaped me thus far. Not no more, Sugar Crush, not no more. 

Sugar Crush Body Scrub: €11.25 Here

The indulgent Sugar Crush Body Scrub is one of the thickest I've ever used, usually I'll apply a scrub to my dry skin and give it some circular rubs before even stepping under the shower stream but Sugar Crush is having none of that messing. Substantial enough to sit on the skin like fragrant, scrubby molasses, you're going to need uisce to work this over the skin and plenty of it. 

Blended with smashed brown sugar with a fruity lime fragrance, sweet lime oil and almond oil with macadamia grains and glycerin, you have to smell Sugar Crush to believe it. The sweet lime is tart enough to keep the scent the right side of sickening and the instant soft sheen on my skin is enough to rocket this scrub into the top Soap & Glory spot product for me. 

Sugar Crush Body Buttercream: €14.75 Here

You know those scents that have you smelling your own wafts as you move? The kind that elicit furrow browed glances as you've buried your head in your own elbow again? That's what Sugar Crush Body Buttercream is to me. Smelling incredibly like Key Lime Pie, this sweet biscuity scent is astoundingly long lasting for a body butter and I'd wear it every single day, even if it wasn't a kick ass skin smoother too. 

I've been cocooning myself in this unctuous buttercream after my shower before I hop into the leaba and fanning the duvet at myself as I drift off to dream about a silky soft bod in the morn. It's gorgeous! 


I picked these up on the 3 for 2 offer in Boots and had the body wash not been ravaged from the shelves I'd've picked that up too. 

Have you tried it yet? Am I exaggerating when I say 'BEST SOAP & GLORY SET EVARR!'?

New L'Oreal Age Perfect Extraordinary Oil Range Review

You might have seen L'Oreal's newest Age Perfect Extraordinary iterations popping up on your timelines of late. I popped along to the fragrant launch last month and have been giving the newest range a proper trial since then. The facial oil and oil-cream are formulated with 8 essential oils and there's not one of them that my visage doesn't like. 

8 Essential Oils: Lavender, Rosemary, Geranium, Orange, Chamomile, Rose, Lavandin & Marjoram

As you can imagine, these 8 oils combined make for a heady herbal scent in the products but not overpoweringly so. Chosen for their lightweight properties both the facial oil and the oil-cream absorb easily into the skin and, while they leave a noticeable glow, they don't leave a shine on the skin as some oils can. 

Age Perfect Extraordinary Face Oil: 30ml €25.99

Just a couple of drops, as in 2 to 3, of the Extraordinary Facial Oil is all you need for your entire visage. Michaella Bolder, Facialist to the stars, don'tcha know, recommended this for use both morning and night - underneath your serum and moisturiser. She also advocated a bold move that I'm not sure I'm ready for yet and that's 2 drops, warmed between your palms and pressed onto your already made up face to give a luminous glow. 

While the inclusion of mineral oil in this formulation won't be to everyone's taste, the product itself has been a joy to use for me. As with every oily iteration, I use it in every way possible - not just for quickie facial massages of an eve but also through my hair and on my cuticles as the scent is just my cup of floral tinged herbal tea. 

Age Perfect Extraordinary Oil-Cream: €22.99

The oil-cream in the range to me is what women have been doing for eons - mixing their facial oils with their moisturiser of choice for a double whammy of hydration. All the same, it's nice to have a product make the leap and include the two - we're all about time saving here. 

Again we're talking oil without the slick as the smallest amount of the oil-cream hybrid is enough to nourish your entire fizzog. When paired with the facial oil, you're going to use even less. While I haven't seen huge changes with this Age Perfect offering over the past month, I have been reaching for it more than any other night time moisturiser. If you saw my dressing table, you'd know that was huge. 

Fingers of Fury herself, celebrity Facialist, Michaella Bolder
demonstrating the benefits of a good facial massage

While at the launch, I managed to catch up with Michaella Bolder, what she doesn't know about facial massage really isn't worth knowing. 

Her top tips for a good facial massage are thus: 

• Do it. Often. 
• Every time you apply product to the face, use it as an opportunity for a mini massage.
• Firm circular motions on your brow bone outwards eliminate the 'smart phone effect' (that's the weight of our noggins and concentration causing tension on our brow as we look down to our phones ALL DAY LONG)
• Regular facial massages create increased blood flow and subsequent collagen stimulation, meaning skin appears plumped and vibrant (stars have been using that red carpet trick before events for years appara)
• Muscle has memory so regular facial massages remind those muscles where they're meant to be. (If Michaella's cheekbones are any indicator of this I may never stop massaging)

Both L'Oreal Extraordinary Oil products are in stores now with an entire Elvive hair care range to follow later this month. While sensitive skinned lasses might struggle with some of the essential oils included (rosemary in particular) I'd heartily recommend this slick duo to those of us with oily skin (contrary to popular belief oily skin NEEDS the moisture that oil offers) and also those with drier skin and looking for a hydration hit. 

Are you a facial oil fan? Have you tried either of these as yet? 

The Best SPFs - Tried & Tested ft Ambre Solaire, L'Occitane, Nuxe, Shiseido & Vichy (Selfie Warning)

It's a well known fact (it is!) that I go through an awful lot of preparation and devote a lot of time to trialling products before a full review. When the summer launches, consisting mainly of new sun protection and SPF skincare began to roll around in April, I knew there was nothing for it than to gather up some Gorgebags and hop on a jet plane to the sun. It's not an easy job but someone has to do it, right? 

First up we had to find some sunshine - Aaah 33 degrees of Majorcan sunshine? 'at'll do!

Garnier Ambre Solaire Dry Mist: Factor 20 Brilliant for the beach!

A new one from the Garnier laboratories, Dry Mist is available in 3 Factors and what one might call 'a can of witchcraft'. The tiny spray nozzle dispenses a fine transparent, delicately scented, mist that feels dry to the touch almost immediately. 

Non sticky and formulated with mattifying powders that leave a satin finish on the skin, this invisible SPF soaked in within moments and left my poor Momma baffled. She's a big believer in SPF being alabaster white in order to be doing any sun protecting. Each time she sprayed it was echoed with 'Can't be, CAN'T be'. It can, it could and it's pretty bloomin' good!

Nuxe Sun Delicious Cream for Face

The new suncare range from luxury brand Nuxe is delicious by name and delicious by nature. My pick of the SPF crop for this sun holiday had to be the Delicious Cream for Face (yep, really). Formulated and scented with sunflower, water flower and carob oil, this rich SPF lotion is a joy to apply and reapply and reapply, which is handy at factor 30 as you'll need to do it quite a bit through the day. 

I found myself alternating this with Shiseido Factor 50 as I'm plagued with pigmentation but it never once left my mála and I now have a pretty decent sunkissed glow because of it. Alcohol and paraben free I found it didn't clog my pores or become too heavy on the skin like some facial SPFs can. It's a deliciously scented winner. 

L'Occitane's new Jenipapo Protecting Body Jelly Milk

Another new release, the L'Occitane Jenipapo Body Jelly Milk is an SPF 20 and available in their Made in Brazil collection. Designed for the women in Brazil, living in hot and humid climates, this nourishing body milk was a joy to use, the SPF was just a sunshiney plus. 

Formulated with shea butter and the Jenipapo extract from the sun worshiping Brazilian tree of the same name, it feels more like a body treatment than an SPF. It soaks in quickly, leaves no sticky residue and lightly scented the skin with the smell of bright florals. Having used a Piz Buin spray, Adam used this to cover a mole on his shoulder blade a second time, we could actually see the white ring of protection that evening as he changed for dinner. Jenipapo, you're a keeper. 

Vichy Suncare Oil

This beautifully scented oil from Vichy is another that you'd be hard pressed to believe is an SPF at all. It possesses all of the Vichy sun care goodness though, just in a silky soft oil solution.

Containing broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection, this oil is also fortified with Vichy Thermal Spring Water (another sunshine favourite that occupied our Mallorcan fridge for the week). This is the one that Momma threw in her mála more often than any other - her alabaster worries clearly abated after Ambre Solaire. 

 

Ambre Solaire Wet Skin

Another newbie from Garnier this year is Ambre Solaire's Wet Skin. This is pretty big news for those that love to swim on their holliers or those that like to sit with their legs in the pool trying not to gawp at the gorgeous girls on their own holidays *ahem*. 

Non greasy and almost as invisible as its Dry Mist compadre, Wet Skin is very water resistant and can be applied directly to wet skin (hence the name). While the scent on this one was too 'alcoholic' for me, the lads absolutely loved it. We didn't even get to the end of the week and it was all but used up. They spent a lot of time in and around the water. #vantagepoints

Shiseido Expert Sun Aging Protection Lotion Plus - Factor 50
So protective, it watches for sharks, while I sip sangria!

I hadn't realised Shisiedo were number one for sun care in the US, had you? Having used two of their products this week I have no notion why they aren't battling for the top spot on Irish soil too. This Protection Lotion was a manna for our skins this week and always the fall back when the sun was at it burniest. Like a protective, dependable veil for the skin. 

Whiter than any of our other picks, what with the higher SPF, this lotion took slightly more time to apply but felt nourishing and comforting while doing so. Light enough to be used as a make up base, this is one I'll be repurchasing for a long time to come. And see their complementing SPF foundation?! BLAHHDY LOVE IT, you'll have to wait for the SPF make up post for more on that though. Soz. 

SPF'd up but you'd never guess for our 'in the sea' selfie

Whether you're jetting off to sunshiney climates or catching your rays here on home soil, the importance of SPF can't be overstated but you don't need me to wag my finger and tell you that. These 6 iterations won't set you wrong if you're looking to make a purchase, it's just a shame* we had to go to so much trouble** to fully test the blighters out. 

Tell us, what's your SPF du jour? Do you have a brand you go back to again and again? 

* unbridled joy
**absolute feckin' pleasure 

Image Skincare Vital C Review - Guest Post by Glitter Mama Wishes

First up on our guest post whirligig we have Yaz from Glitter Mama Wishes chatting about Image Skincare's Vital C Moisturizer.

Yaz is a young Mum to three gorgeous children and still finds time to post regularly about beauty, parenting and lifestyle over on her blog. You should check her out tout suite.

Take it away Yaz!

Hello Cherry Sue readers. I am delighted to be writing a review on one of my all time favourite blogs! Thanks so much Sue for having me :))

Today I'm showing you my favourite skin care brand as of late, Image Skincare. I came across this brand and have since been literally obsessed with their products. A lot of research and care goes into each of their products so as a beauty therapist and skin care addict I really trust this brand with my skin.

Image Skincare's Vital C range is ideal for anyone with dehydrated/fatigued skin due their environment, smoking or stress etc. It has a rich blend of natural botanical and of course Vitiman C. All the Vital C line Is packed full of antioxidants to protect and nourish your skin! Yummy!

The Vital C Hydrating Intense Moisturizer (bet your skin feel thirsty now!!) comes in a handy pump dispenser tube so no dipping of dirty fingers in jars. The cream comes out really thick but glides onto your skin like silk. From the second you pump this out you will get such a gorgeous smell....exactly like oranges, very fruity! 

After applying, I find my skin feels so refreshed and hydrated. Also what I love is that I can feel it protecting my skin all day without my skin looking shiny or feeling heavy. It seems to leave a really light barrier on my skin preventing it from feeling dry and tight later on in the day....I hate that tight dry feeling so much! No more of that with this though!

As well as being super hydrating and it also stimulates collagen thanks to an ingredient called palmitoyl oligopeptide.

I think this is a great all-rounder moisturiser while helping slow down the ageing process, especially for smokers and anyone with sensitive/dry skin, certainly during those harsh winter months it's a little miracle cream!

A 50ml tube will set you back approx €64. It may seem a lot to some but I promise it's worth it and as I always say your face is the most looked at thing by others and yourself so keeping it in good condition is money well spent!

Hope you guys enjoyed my review, I could go on and on about how much I love Image Skincare but I would be here all day lol! Let me know if you think this is something you'd like to try or if you have tried any of Image Skincare's other products?

Yaz xx

L'Occitane's New Brightening Skincare - Treating Hyper Pigmentation & Dark Circles with Care

When I hear 'brightening' in reference to skincare my hyper pigmented brow always raises an inch. You see the return of the sunshine means one thing for my visage and that's the return of the dreaded uneven colouration of my skin tone as my melanin loses it's marbles and goes into overdrive. 

Thankfully L'Occitane have, this month, added to their Brightening Skincare range with a newly formulated Brightening Essence, a Brightening Touch Targeted Corrector and an Eye Care & Mask Duo for Brightening Correction. I was lucky enough to trial them for the past several weeks and the results are in. Can we say 'WHOOT!'?

L'Occitane Brightening Essence: €53.50

Formulated by combining the essential oils of Corsican immortelle flowers (better known for their anti-aging wizardry in the L'Occitane Divine skincare range) and extract of wild daisy (for its brightening properties), this Brightening Essence has quickly become a staple in my morning routine. 

Slightly more viscous than any serum I have used, it is packed full of active molecules that promise to, not only reduce hyper pigmentation (they do) but to even the skin tone and brighten and smooth the overall skintone (they do that too). A little goes a very long way with this Essence and the amount shown above is exactly enough for my pre morning moisturising ritual. 

I found that the Brightening Essence is tackier on my skin quicker than any other serum, which speeds up my morning routine but it seems to boost my daily moisturiser too - currently Origins GinZing. Despite the glorious sunshine this past fortnight, my forehead has remained relatively uniform in colour and tone and I'm hoping that's a direct result of this Essence. 

L'Occitane says it is as this Essence works in 3 stages to prevent hyper pigmentation:  

• Limits the production of the enzyme responsible for melanin synthesis (ie going WAILD)
• Reduces function of this enzyme
• Inhibits the transfer of melanin to the skin's surface

Neat, huh? My forehead says absolutely. 

L'Occitane Eye Care & Mask Duo Brightening Correction : €37

Second in the new additions to the Brightening line up is the Eye Care & Mask Duo Brightening Corrector. Again, I'm a sucker for this packaging. The metal applicator is instantly cooling on the delicate eye area and works to calm puffiness and aid circulation. 

I've been having a rough time with sleep evading me of late, so much so that the boss has walked in on me with two cold spoons over my eyes to help my burny eyeballs so when I tell you this has been a manna from heaven, that's no word of a lie. 

This snazzy dual purpose treatment means that not only does it provide instantaneous cooling relief for tired eyes but it can be left on for 10 mins as a mask as a late night (or early morning after a late night) treat. My eyeballs thank you, L'Occitane, truly they do. 

L'Occitane Brightening Touch Targeted Corrector: €30.50

Another of my serious beauty addictions is to brightening pens. I'm talking over 10 of these bad boys in my stash. The Brightening Touch Targeted Corrector is slightly different to most of my twistable loot though as it actually works to brighten both dark spots and conceal dark circles. 

I apply this under the eye in the three stroke format above but also to any area of the face that I'd like to highlight that day (under the brow, bridge of my nose & cupid's bow). I've noticed that not only is it soft and workable under my makeup but it is also delicate enough to use over. 

Of the three new Brightening products, if you didn't hare out and buy all three, this is the one I would recommend until the cows come home. Last Wednesday I survived a day at the office on just 2 hours sleep the night before with 3 applications of this and four times, FOUR, people commented how fresh my skin appeared. I'm adding this to the Divine Cream Hall of Wizardry, to be purchased again and again and again. 

Are you a L'Occitane fan? Any of these Brightening beauties tickle your fancy? 

Shiseido Ibuki Skincare Review. Collab Post WITH Giveaway!

I'm a big lover of Japanese prestige brand, Shiseido, we know this. Did we also know that they have an entire range of skincare dedicated to Generation Y? In layman's terms, those of us between the ages of 25 and 35. Shiseido Ibuki is for US! *whistles nonchalantly while not making eye contact*. 

Because we're all about fully encompassing reviews here at CherrySue, myself and the fanciest of faces, Lorraine of John, It's Only Makeup! have come up with a collaboration idea to bring you a review from both ends of the Ibuki target market spectrum. I'll be taking on the higher end of the age range and Lorraine the lower (I had to clarify that, it makes me feel better, OK?!)

It really does. 

When it comes to expensive skincare, I love the notion of starter kits. It gives those of us dipping a toe into a brand way more than a sachet or even a deluxe sample to gauge our skins reaction to new ingredients. To truly know if a skincare product suits me I always need at least a fortnight, at least. The Ibuki Starter Kit gives you just that. 

Their initial trial results suggest that 90% of women have said that their skin is in 'the best condition ever' after just these two weeks. While I'd be hesitant to leap blindly into that 90%, this range has to be trialled to be believed. 

Gentle Cleanser 30ml, Softening Concentrate 30ml & Refining Moisturizer 30ml

To the contents: Shiseido are making sure we have all we need to fully test Ibuki with 30ml each of the Gentle Cleanser (€35 full size), Softening Concentrate (€28 full size) & Refining Moisturizer (€50 full size). But what does my visage make of it? 

Shiseido Ibuki Gentle Cleanser

The Ibuki Gentle Cleanser is an extremely soft but unctuous cream that lathers almost instantly with warm water. The smallest amount transforms into a rich cleansing treatment that removes every trace of the day without leaving skin feeling tight or stripped. 

Point to note here, the Gentle Cleanser smells UH-MAZING. As in inhaleitinhaleitagainandoncemoreforluck UH-MAZING. It smells like a luxury treatment should smell. UH-MAZING. 

Shiseido Ibuki Softening Concentrate

The Ibuki Softening Concentrate is designed to work on a deeper level and ready your skin for moisturiser. The operative word here is concentrate, less is definitely more. You only need the smallest amount on a cotton pad swiped across your cleansed face to soften and smooth the skin. This concentrate is everything toners aspire to be, soft, gentle and bloody effective. 

Shiseido Ibuki Refining Moisturizer

Shiseido Ibuki Refining Moisturizer is the moisturiser that taught me to be a little lighter handed with my ablutions. Although it feels light to the touch, the rich cream is intensely hydrating and adds more than a little shine to my skin if I overindulge. Used just right though I've seen my face emerge brighter than it has been in quite a while. I didn't notice any pore reducing or line minimizing effects but the overall tone of my kisser appeared more even each morning and throughout the day, even under makeup. 

The skinny is thus: Shiseido Ibuki has breathed new life into my skincare routine and once I have finished revelling in this Starter Kit (it's my second)(THANKS Shiseido) I will be purchasing the Gentle Cleanser and the Refining Moisturizer with my very own cash dollar, without hesitation. 

The Softening Concentrate is a superb product though it didn't have as much of an impact on my 36 year old skin as it might have were I a smidge younger (I blame the job). I'm hugely interested to see what Lorraine's porcelain visage has made of the lot though, she's naught but a chil' but I can see these suiting her skin perfectly. 

Here's where this post gets a little bit awesome - Lorraine and I have teamed up with Shiseido Ireland to bring 5 of you the chance to bag yourself an Ibuki Starter Kit (unavailable to buy in Ireland as yet) and the chance to experience this luxury skincare in your own home. 

I want you to head on over to Lorraine's review to see what she makes of Ibuki. Was I right about her adoring the entire range? Bet I am. To be in with a chance of winning a Starter Kit, we need you to leave a comment either here or on Lorraine's post to tell us: What does Ibuki mean? (Lorraine's post is more helpful for this one). 

Open to ROI lovelies this time only, winners will be announced on May 1st. Just in time to kickstart your summer time skincare routine. G'wan, what are you waiting for? GO! (Do come back though, I'm dying to hear!)