Rose Gold Hair from Garnier Olia - Unfiltered Pics & Review!

You'd have to be living under a very large rock not to notice we've gone WAY beyond a handful of hair colours. I can remember Aaron (who currently rocks a cobalt blue fauxhawk) mentioning that people with differently coloured hair always acknowledged each other in public with a nod or a wink - he says that doesn't happen as often now that coloured hair has gone mainstream, which is fair because what's more mainstream than your Mam turning rose gold?!

How to Wash & Dry Your Makeup Brushes in Minutes!

There's not one among us that enjoys washing our makeup brushes, NOT. ONE. What if I told you that you didn't need to make prunes of your fingers, labour over washing & rinsing and the wait all night for them to dry? Thanks to Garnier's new Micellar Cleansing Water for combo skin, here's how to wash and dry your makeup brushes in minutes!

How does it work?

Micellar water gets its name from the science behind the product. It’s made of “micelles,” which are tiny oil molecules suspended in water. Those small molecules grab on to all of the unwanted makeup particles clinging to your brushes and dissolve them. The alcohol included in the Garnier Micellar Water ensures sterilization of the bristles as well as super fast cleansing. 

What you'll need: 

• Garnier's Micellar Water (the one with the green lid/alcohol): €4.53 HERE
• Spray Bottle (to decant water & make life hella easier) - €2.19 HERE
• Cotton Pads - €2.79 HERE 
• Silicone Brush Egg ~ Optional for Foundation Brushes - €1.50 HERE
• Maggedy Makeup Brushes - EVERYWHERE

How to Clean Makeup Brushes - Step 1 - Spritz Your Maggedy Brush

How to Clean Makeup Brushes - Step 2 - Give Your Brush a Swirl on the Egg or Cotton Pad

How to Clean Makeup Brushes - Step 3 - Tan-Spankle-ah-DAH!

The inclusion of alcohol in the micellar water means that not only are your brushes cleansed but drying time is obliterated to minutes, rather than hours. This means you can gather your top brushes and have them cleaned and dried in no time at all. No more forgoing your favourite brushes because they're waiting for a wash. 

Word of Warning:

Just one word of warning to keep in mind, this handy trick is great for synthetic brushes but I'd err on the side of caution when cleaning makeup brushes made with real hair. The alcohol will have a stripping effect and can/will lead to the deterioration of your spendy brush. For those I'd continue to give them a deep clean with baby shampoo/your favourite brush cleanser, reshape and leave to air dry. 

My Full Face Worth of Fave Brushes - Clean AND Dry in Less than 10 Minutes!

Will you be giving this seriously time saving trick a go? Mad props to new beauty pal, Siobhán from LetzMakeup for drawing it to our attention! 

Things I'm Trialling ft Charlotte Tilbury, Clarins, CND, Essie, Garnier, L'Occitane & Urban Decay

1. Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray: €25.40 Here

For the longest time the only setting spray I'd ever use was Thermal Spring Water and even then that was a rarity. You see if I've a full day or evening ahead, I'll use a primer (another rarity) and think no more about it. This All Nighter setting spray from Urban Decay has changed my mind about that entirely. 

The fine mist contains Temperature Control Technology, so not only does it hold my full face in place but I manage to avoid the unavoidable sweats in this hoomid indian summer. I don't use it every day but when I do, it does exactly what it says on the buidéal. 

2. Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow: €65 Here

Can we just take a minute? Just. One. Minute. I know we're reaching peak saturation on Charlotte Tilbury blog posts but if I were to tell you that this Filmstar Bronze & Glow palette has actually overtaken my obsesh with the Hourglass Ambient Light would you allow it? 

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 BB cream, this and mascara and been told I've never looked better twice this week alone. It. Is. Love. 

3. L'Occitane Whipped Body Cream: €22 Launches Oct

This whipped shea body cream reminds me of exactly that, whipped cream. Whipped cream with a comforting scent of some seriously spendy Sudocrem. Don't for an instant think I mean that as a bad thing, this sumptuous whipped shea butter melts into the skin like no other butter I've used but the scent is unmistakably Sudo.  

For 25 years, L'Occitane have used shea butter from the women's co-operatives of Burkina Faso. The inspiration for this mousse like body cream came from the ladies themselves in their production of the butter. Deceptively rich, despite its light weight appearance, this has been playing a blinder in cocooning my skin before bed this week. A luxurious delight. 

4. CND Vinylux: Open Road Collection: €11.95 Each from Selected Salons 

One of the original gel effect polishes, without the need for lamps, CND have captured transitional autumnal shades beautifully with their Open Road collection. Always my choice of polish when it comes to holidays, because even I don't want to be fickle when sunning myself, it's a long lasting beaut. 

CND promise 7 days chip free once you skip the basecoat and use the topcoat correctly but truth be told I can never get more than 5 from my mani. Then again I am notoriously hard on my nails. Of Open Road, Clay Canyon HERE and Sage Scarf are by far the standouts to me. There just aren't polish shades like them in the nail varnish world right now. Love. 

5. Essie Fall '14: €9.99 Selected Irish Pharmacies

We know I love my Essie, right? It takes a serious collection to make me leave Summer shades behind without a backward glance and Essie Fall '14 is exactly that to me. 

These rich cream shades are pretty unassuming when you line them up but once you get them on the nail KABLAMMO instant autumnal fabulousness. Expect to see a hell of a lot more nail shots in the coming weeks. That's a promise. 

6. Clarins Eye Quartet Mineral Palette: €41 Here

Clarins Ladylike collection for AW '14 is exactly that, subtle, effortlessly chic and ladylike. I had already fallen head over heels with the dewy True Radiance foundation, this mineral palette has just reinforced my love for the back to basics look for this season. 

All colours can be worn wet or dry, I find I prefer dry for the day time, as each shade is soft and blendable regardless. Of an evening though, with a dampened shadow brush, you can kick the intensity right up with these shadows. I'll have a full low down but do please stop by the Clarins counter and swatch these babies for yourself. Stunners. 

7. Garnier BB+Blur: £8.66 Here

When asked for my BB recommendations I will invariably go back to the original Garnier BB cream. No muss, no fuss, just a genuinely decent BB that gives a soft, semi sheer finish. Fast forward 2 years and past the introduction of Garniers show stopping 5 Second Perfect Blur primer and you have a hybrid many will want to rush out and buy. 

This BB iteration is everything the original was and then some, a big some, a Perfect Blur some. The addition of the blurring product sends this BB right to the top of my recommendation list. Even skin tone and blurred out fine lines for the entire day, without ever feeling heavy or mask like on the skin make Garnier BB+Blur a stonking great hit for me. 

8. Clarins Rouge Eclat in Pink Magnolia: €23 Here

Another winner from the Ladylike collection is the Rouge Eclat lippies. 5 new flattering shades provide soft, shiny colour with hydration not seen in other lipsticks that last quite this long. 

From delicate peaches right through to a rich red, there's something in this collection for everyone. Formulated with 100% plant waxes, such as jojoba and sunflower, you'll feel the hydration on your lips, without the need to reapply every hour. I'm a firm believer that everyone should own a Clarins lippie, just to see what €23 really should buy you when it comes to quality. This seems like the perfect collection to test your toe if you haven't yet. 

9. Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon: Bronzed Garnet - Colour Morphing Eye Shadow Pencil: €25 Here

We finish up with another Charlotte Tilbury product, the Colour Chameleon in Bronzed Garnet. I can't tell you how thrilled I was to receive this, I mean the swatch had me drooling for dayyyz. I love the idea of shadow sticks, the notion that one swipe and 30 seconds later you're out the door with multi faceted lids makes me very giddy indeed. You can imagine then the sadsies when Bronzed Garnet just didn't work for me as a shadow in that way. 

I don't have particularly greasy lids, in fact it's a rarity that I ever use lid primer, unless I'm looking to change a shadows depth or spend a night on the tiles but Bronzed Garnet just refused to stay put on its own. When used over primer I had better luck but, to me, using this as a base for the shadow palettes is where this stick comes into its own. 

The multi dimensional look I can achieve with this as a base for Golden Goddess had me double taking at myself! All that and this kicks actual ass as a liner, think Smashbox Shadow Liner level awesomeness and you're about right. I am bereft that Bronzed Garnet wasn't what I expected but given its deft at other uses, I'll definitely be picking up a shade or two more. 


Tell us, have you tried any of these products? Agree? Disagree? Wanna hear more? 

August Faves 2014 Ft Ambre Solaire, The BodyShop, Clinique, Estée Lauder, Lorac, Maybelline, Nuxe, Sally Hansen & Shiseido!

1. The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Collection

From €6.50 Here

I've loved The Body Shop body butters for as long as The Body Shop have made body butters but this Wild Argan Oil is a different animal entirely. Easily the most luxurious edit yet and that's saying something. I genuinely can't get enough of it. 

We're talking Hawaiian Tropics levels of incredible scent (seriously) that lasts the whole day long. Subtle but enough for people to ask just what you're wearing. Between the Nails Inc scrub and this show stopping body butter my limbs haven't been in this good a shape in many, many moons. I'll be picking up the entire Wild Argan Oil range, including a back up or two of this. Just one whiff and you'll do the same. I guarantee it. 

2. Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

€9.99 each or €14.99 for the Top Coat Duo

I was only home from the Sally Hansen launch an hour when I felt the need to write about them. You'll see that review here . This 18 strong polish collection is on shelves from this week and I urge you to go pick your favourite colour or three at speed. 

My professional mani lasted a full eight days under seriously gruelling conditions, that's hugely impressive. The gel retains it's high shine for the duration and removes just like a normal polish. #OMGel it's a game changer. 

3. Clinique Sonic Cleansing System

£79 Here

I didn't hop on the Clarisonic bandwagon on its first or second circle 'round the course. The price point, starting at €149 was too eye watering for me to ever justify. Clinique's new Sonic Cleansing System will change many a mind like mine over the coming weeks I'm sure. 

The only sonic brush to rival the Clarisonic, this handy white brush is a cinch to use. The brush has a changeable, ergonomic head with soft white bristles that gradient into more coarse green fibres on a tapered tip for cleansing your chin and T Zone. Working on a 30 second cycle, I keep this waterproof brush in the shower and use it nightly for a one minute cycle. In the four weeks I've been using it, I've actually looked forward to cleansing and the resulting effect in the morning. That's new for me. I'll have the full low down very soon but, for now, put this baby on your Christmas list. 

4. Garnier 1 Week Glow: €12.99 Here

Ambre Solaire's new 1 Week Glow gives me more like a 4 days of sun kissed skin ~ though knocks the socks of my favourite high end gradual facial tanners two and three times its price. 

I apply it before bed at night and it dries in in moments, with only the slightest scent. When people ask me 'Hey you're a beauty blogger, what products do you love?' (that's asked more often than you know) this bronzer is one of the first products to roll off my tongue. Check it out, sooner rather than later.

5. Nuxe Merveillance Night: €40 Avail Late Sept

Aimed at skin heading toward 40, my visage and I still have a good 4 years to go but are thankful for this newest Nuxe formulation. Merveillance Night is designed to break down sugars that can have seriously damaging and aging effects on the skin and leads to cell breakdown, lines and wrinkles. 

This lighter than air plastic jar has never been further than my bedside table for the past month. Once cleansed and oiled my skin drinks up every drop of the lightly scented cream for a soft, supple finish. I'm unsure yet as to whether it's changing my skin at a molecular level but if you're looking for a lightweight, heavy hitting night cream, look no further than Nuxe. 

6. Lorac Pro Palette: €32 Here

You're online looking at this post so it's pretty much guaranteed that you've seen the Lorac Pro palette before. A stalwart of beauty blogger stashes and vlogger hauls, it was only a matter of time before I made the Amazon purchase. 

While I've been giving Lorac Unzipped most of my eyelid attention over the past several months, I've made a concerted effort in August to give the Lorac Pro its rightful airing. With 8 shimmers and 8 mattes, the world of eyeshadow looks truly is your lobster. I can't tell you the compliments I've had while wearing it, including from every single beauty PR I've had the pleasure of meeting this past month. If you have eyeballs, you need this palette. 

7. Estée Lauder Modern Muse Chic: 

€58 Launches Oct

Estèe Lauder's new Modern Muse Chic is woodier and muskier than the original but bright florals still bind the scent beautifully. I've made no secret of the fact that I could smell absolutely nothing from the original Modern Muse once spritzed on me. I even had scent experts tell me that's because it's my scent, the one I should wear always. Unfortunately the scent of nothing on me, for everyone else's olfactory pleasure was never going to fly. 

Modern Muse Chic though? I'm trying not to overstate it, but there's a chance Sensual will be ousted this season. *Gasssps* It's certainly chic. It's definitely love. 

8. Maybelline Colour Drama Velvet Pencils:

€6.79 

These Nars Velvet Matte dupes are another product that I would happily recommend to all and sundry in an instant. You'll see my full gushing review here but truthfully, the second these bad boys hit stands in their entirety, I'll be there. 

9. Shisiedo Ulitmune: Launches This Week!

Marketed by Japanese skincare giants, Shiseido, as a game changer in caring for our skin, Ultimune launches this week.  A power infusing concentrate that aims to not only enhance our skins natural defenses but to work with our skincare products to bring radiance and light back to tired, dull and lacklustre visages. 

Ultimune is a gel like cream that is meant for use as a pre-serum step, ideally after cleansing and before your normal skincare. For the first 2-3 weeks that's exactly how I used it and really enjoyed the extra hydration it gave. Unfortunately I became a little lax (read lazy mare) and began to use it instead of my serum. (can we really convince peeps to do an extra step?). Truthfully though? I'm still achieving the same great effect by swapping it out for serum altogether. 

It has only been a month of use so I'm not sure about overall, lasting changes and will update you but, as it stands, Shiseido Ultimune is a little touch of luxury in my night time routine that I'll be loathe to give up. My hyper pigmentation has calmed and my skin tone is definitely more even. Looks to me like I've found my ideal skincare combination with the Clinique brush, Ultimune and Merveillance of an eve. Sa-WEET!

Tell me, what were you loving last month? Any of these raising a brow? 

Things I'm Trialling - 18/08/14

I mentioned last week on Instagram that I'd be starting a new mini series called Things I'm Trialling. I'm a seriously lucky duck (& a hard shaggin' workin' one too) so each week sees a beauty influx of products to trial and review. 

Because of the sheer volume, I thought an easy way to make sure you're seeing more of the good stuff would be a weekly series. Each Monday I'll post an instagram pic of Things I'm Trialling, the following Monday will see a blog post with first impressions and speed reviews. What say we to that? Let's see, shall we? 

1. Pantene Dry Shampoo Volume Booster: £3.99 Here

The newest dry shampoo on the fit to bust block is Pantene. This is no ordinary powdery spray though. Being a fiend for the shampoo dodging tins, I can safely say this is one of my top OF ALL TIME. Pantene uses Tapioca starch to soak up excess oil, which means no scalp residue, no powdery finish and the ability to brush out with ease when needed. Use the night before needed for gorgeously scented, game changing results. 


2. Darphin Revitalizing Oil for Face, Body & Hair - Launches Sept (€29). 


Hydration is the name of the game with Darphin's The Revitalising Oil. One of the most comforting scents I've yet to try in an oil, it is comprised of 98% natural ingredients. The mixture of 4 essential oils and 9 precious plant oils that protect and nourish the skin and hair. Less is definitely more with this oil, with 5 drops being the recommended application. I softly press it on, massage it in and rub the slight excess through my hair. It's a high end oil with an affordable price. Fabulous. 

3. Physician's Formula Extreme Shimmer Strips - €8.56 Here

These Extreme Shimmer Sticks are just the last in a long line of bargains from iherb,com. Though the shimmer count is HIGH in these twistables, the formulation is still smooth and long lasting. While the purple is nowhere near as opaque as I would have hoped for, both the black & brown make up for it. Creamy and long lasting with barely noticeable shimmer on the eye, these are winners. 

4. YSL La Laque Couture Nail Lacquer in 53 Taupe Grain- €24 Here

From the Black Fetish collection, this YSL leather effect polish is one to wear this A/W. The dark taupe polish dries to a semi matte textured finish that'll have all and sundry asking what you're wearing. Ideal for tootsies as the weather changes, it's a winner for me. 

5.Clinique Chubby Sticks for Cheeks & Baby Tint for Lips €24 & €20

You'll find my full review for Clinique Chubby Sticks for Cheeks here, soft and nourishing, they're a winner for summer make up but might need a little setting powder should you be looking for long wear blush. 

The Baby Tints are sheer, moisturising balms that are said to work with your own chemistry to change colour on application. They're very subtle but very soft. Chubby Stick collectors will love 'em. 

6. Halle Berry Wild Essence - €19.99

With citrus notes, white flowers, sandalwood & patchouli all grounded with musk, I had high hopes for Wild Essence. It sounds like just my kind of scent, right? Unfortunately it just didn't grab me the way her Closer scent from last year did. That could be entirely my sniffer's fault though as it's already been plucked from my mitts by Adam's girlfriend who is already a quarter way through the bottle!

7.Rimmel Wonderf'full Mascara - €6.99 Here

The highly anticipated Rimmel Wonder'full mascara boasts Argan Oil in its formulation and promises smooth clump free lashes. Yep and yep. 

Though not one to reach for should you be looking for volume, Wonder'full does a mighty fine job of separating lashes and adding shine. Think the feathery effect of Clinique Lasting Power Mascara at a snip of the cost. It's not as long lasting as Clinique but at less than half the price it is more budget friendly. 

8.Aurelia Probiotic Serum - £47 Here

I picked up this ickle serum sample when chatting with the brands founder, Claire Vero in Space NK a couple of weeks back. This age prevention fluid is chock full of cruelty free, natural ingredients and antioxidants that pack a powerful punch. 

Though I find it doesn't sink in as easily as other serums, I've been adding just a drop to my daily moisturiser before foundation and have been LOVING the results. I'll have a full review up soon but do please check out this luxe and lust worthy brand. 

9.Ambre Solaire 1 Week Glow - €12.99 Here

Ambre Solaire's new 1 Week Glow gives me more like a 4 days of sun kissed skin ~ though knocks the socks of my favourite high end gradual facial tanners two and three times its price. Check it out sooner rather than later. 

10.Bia Beauty Mellow Mandarin Moisturiser - €16.95 Here

Oh I do love a bit of natural skincare and when that skincare is also Irish made, more's the better. This Mellow Mandarin Moisturiser is from Irish skincare brand Bia Beauty and couldn't be softer on stressed out skin. 

Blending Mandarin to combat sebum production, Calendula to nourish and repair damaged skin and sweet almond oil to soften skin naturally, this gentle, subtly scented moisturiser is an absolute gem. 

11.Origins GinZing Revitalizing Mineral Make-Up - €30 Here

I haven't always had great results with mineral make up in the past so was a little hesitant to put Origins new GinZing offering to the test. This ultra fine formulation is encased beneath a mesh so as to limit messy fallout and over release of product. It works just fine & dandy. Rice, Barley, Caffeine and mineral pigments work to create a mineral foundation that can be worn sheer or built up to achieve higher coverage. Not only did my skin not break out in protest but it truly glowed with this natural finish foundation.Brighter skin with zero shine - it's an Origins miracle!

So what say we? See anything that tickles your pickle? 

Be sure to check out today's Instagram pic to see the Things I'm Trialling this week coming!

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 

May Favourites ft L'Oreal, Pixy, Real Techniques, Glam Glow, Body Shop, Smashbox, Garnier, Origins & Tinchy Stryder(!) (Pic Heavy)

Can you believe May is over? Nope, me either! Time for a little looksie at what's been making my life easier and stuff I be lovin' this past month. There's some doozies. 

GLOWING BODY BUTTER €12.99

First up, I was convinced that I'd been duped when Pixy's Glowing Body Butter landed on my mat. The whipped light & fluffy mousse of cocoa and shea butters feels like air in the tin and most pleasingly, on the skin. With Coconut, Vitamin E and Sweet Almond oils to sweeten this beaut my skin has never looked brighter. 

Keep an eye out as Pixy's Glowing Body Butter will have pride of place in an upcoming feature where you can have a closer look. 

Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Cream €62

Boasting brand new Rasberry Plant Stem Cell Technology, Origins Plantscripstions Anti Aging Cream has rocketed to the top of my visage creams of choice this past month. 

The thick and ridiculously moisturising cream plumps my skin more than any other and I detected a noticeable decline in my skins brightness when I forgot this little gem on a weekend away. 

So impressed am I with this new face love that I've featured it in my first beauty column for the Fingal Raven magazine (more deets on that very soon). 

L'Oreal Fresh Dust Dry Shampoo - €11.85

 'Dust, anybody? no? DUST' honestly, Marjorie Dawes goes through my head every single time I pick up L'Oreal's Fresh Dust dry shampoo and that's been hella lot this past month. 

The only dry shampoo to cure my bereavement at not being able to find Batiste's Gold Shimmer ANYWHERE, this version is actually worth the extra sheckles for lack of build up and continual shine (not the greasy kind) when I'm using it. I'll be definitely repurchasing in the next day or so. 

Real Techniques Duo Fiber Face Brush (Set of three €19.99) (or €11.38 from iHerb.com)

I never was a big user of setting or finishing powder, preferring instead to set my visage with a spray of Thermal Spring Water instead. Those times have changed thanks to Real Techniques. 

I'm all about this Duo Fiber Face Brush since purchase last month and the air brushed effect I can achieve with Smashbox's Halo Finishing Powder. 

I'm a complete convert & wouldn't be without it now. 

Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand €32

I mentioned this pen of wonder in a recent Instagram pic as one of my go to products when I want to look less dead in 5 minutes when I'm flying from work straight into town. 

With a design similar to Touch Éclat but with a wider brush and some form of witchcraft in it's pearlescent pinky highlighting cream, this highlighting wand is certainly aptly named. 

Garnier Perfect Blur €15

I'm all about speed when it comes to make up so when Garnier promised instant results with their 5 Sec Perfect Blur I was all over it, if a little dubious at the same time. 

I needn't have doubted 'em though as Perfect blur does 'sactly what it says on the tube. 

My face appears smoother even without make up on top and this here tube has replaced my beloved Smashbox Photo Finish primer for evening jaunts out. Unheard of!

Body Shop Brazil Nut Dry Oil €15

I can't get enough of this wonderful stuff! Body Shop's newest (returning) dry oil  is brazil nut and I can't describe the vanilla/chocolate/deliciousness of it's scent. It reminds me of warm candy floss without the sickly sweetness. 

I'm using this dry oil on my bod, on my cuticles, to tame flyaway hairs and even to remove makeup in a pinch. It's truly, truly wonderbar! 

Glam Glow Super Mud Clearing Treatment €45

I've reviewed this little pot of mucky goodness here  but couldn't let May faves go by without an enormous shout out for Glam Glow Super Mud Clearing Treatment. 

Not only has it vastly improved the brightness & tightness of my visage but as an on the spot treatment it has saved my skin (literally) from 3 mini Mt Vesuvius' already! 

Astonishing stuff. 

Tinchy Stryder in Ear Headphones €49 (on sale for €29 in Curry's) 

Last but by no means least one of my favourite additions to my collection of schtuff this month has to be these weenchy teenchy headphones. 

Noise cancelling and ridiculously comfortable to wear (even for a small lug holed user like me) these in ear headphones are stupidly good for pumping out the choons. 

So much so that I've even done extra laps in the park at lunchtime just to continue to listen. 

Now that's good! 

Wheweeee, that was a long post - tell me, what's been tickling your pickle this past month, eh?