A Quiet Place ~ Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

Who's In It?

Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds

What's It About?

A Quiet Place is set in the very near future and features one of the last surviving families, following the arrival of unknown, terrifying creatures that use sound to hunt and annihilate instantly. Predominantly quiet, often silent, you never know when the jumps are coming but, BOY are they coming!

Logan - Movie Review!

Who's In It?

Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, Dafne Keen, Hugh Jackman, and Patrick Steward


What's It About?

After the mutant holocaust, Wolverine (Logan/James) is living with a locked away Professor X and a mutant sniffing.. mutant, while taxiing to save for a boat to safety.

John Wick: Chapter 2 - Movie Review!

Who's In It?

Riccardo Scamarcio, Ruby Rose, Common, Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves


What's It About?

The minute John Wick retrieves his beloved car and quits again, an old acquaintance returns with a marker - a job he can't refuse. 

Any Good?

John Wick seems like a very recent film, so going into this I was a bit worried it'd go all Matrix Reloaded - what unfolded was a sequel that surpassed its original. No mean feat. This movie is absolutely manly-man virtues overload, and it's great. It opens with him saving his old-school Mustang and battering Russians aplenty. Quickly leads to having a custom Assassin's suit fitted, choosing a bespoke arsenal & travelling to Rome. That's just the lead up. It's BEAUTIFUL.

It's also even more over the top, with him stashing different types of guns all along Roman catacombs and using ALL, including shoving a shotgun in someone's chest, reloading and then blowing him away - ALL on screen. The action scenes were fast, furious & hilariously funny, with the best gunfight I've seen since the Matrix, with the entire cinema laughing heartily for the duration. Sadists.

Keanu was great as John Wick (a given really), but the real stars for me were Common and Laurence Fishburne. Common was fantastic spinning dead pan one-liners, giving John a run for his money throughout; and Laurence Fishburne was extremely over the top and charismatic - the chemistry between him and Keanu certainly isn't gone. 

#SquadGoals

The only changes I'd have made would be someone else other than Ruby Rose, she just feels like a gimmick and was flat the entire time - now, granted for a mute, that wasn't a challenge but she could have brought so much more to the role. I quite liked Riccardo Scamarcio, but felt like he was ultimately a discount Benicio del Toro.

I honestly think this is better than the first - ONLY because the mirror museum sequence is even better than THE club one in the original(if you haven't seen it, DO). The fact that his muscle bound pit bull is by his side. The world-building, the head shots, the cracking characters and huge implications alluded to in the ending.

Do go see it, and enable the third to be made. 

Rating: 

Makeup Forever Ultra HD ~ Real Life Photo Shop for Your Face!

What better way to inject a little beauty back onto the blog than with a GLOWING review for a cracking product range. You'll remember I was freaking out just a touch about the new TV3 HD cameras for Midday? Well one of the most on the ball PRs I know saw my panic and introduced me to one of the most impressive makeup lines I've ever used,  Makeup Forever Ultra HD.

This entire range are basically real life photoshop for your face. The lightweight formula of the foundation buffs in effortlessly with a stippling brush or can be applied in outward strokes with a flat foundation brush and can be built to a fuller coverage than the medium level of a standard application. The beauty of it? It takes little or no time to perfect this foundation when applied correctly. 

My normal/ occasionally dry skin adores it. The inclusion of hyaluronic acid & 'luminosity spheres' means this satin finish foundation sits weightlessly on my visage. Though those inclusions also give me an inkling that oilier gals might not be as enamoured. If that's you and you didn't get on with this formulation, definitely let me know. 

The real beauty with the formulation of every product in this line is that they work effortlessly with each other. Particularly impressive is the fact that even once your full face is set with the HD Powder, you can still use the HD blush and it will sit beautifully on the skin; unheard of to do so successfully with any other line.  

MUFE Primer for Fair Skin Tones: €33

The combined finish for me is glowing rather than greasy & never settles into my fine lines, no matter the wear time (which is seriously impressive on camera & off). Though primer is essential to ensure MUFE Ultra HD products can work their magic effectively, they truly are just that for me. There's a whopping 40 shades to choose from so I reckon they could be just that for you too. I've have a serious WANT on me for the MUFE yellow toned primer (for fair skin) but right now both my Cargo HD primer and the Max Factor Facefinity are both getting the job done. 

Price wise the Ultra HD line is high end and priced as such at €43 for the foundation, the concealer (which contains Silica to glide over fine lines) is €25 & the powder €33.50. You know I'd never steer you astray in a recommendation when it comes to dropping serious change on products but I can tell you, hand on heart, these are worth every cent to me. 

You can buy Make Up Forever products online HERE, very soon from Debenhams or, my recommendation, with a visit to the Clarendon Street store in Dublin. The gals in store are some of the most approachable and knowledgeable I've ever had the pleasure to chat with and I'll definitely be popping back in for a full face when needed next. 

Tell me, have you been converted to the Ultra HD ways yet? 

Wanna see more Beauty reviews around these parts and not primarily on Instagram once more? 

Perhaps most importantly,*in Ron Burgundy's voice* 

have you SEEN how good this makes me look on Midday? 

Louboutin Lipstick Lip Swatches & Review ~ A Guest Post by Katie Healy!

When I saw Louboutin was to release lipsticks there was just one lady I knew I could trust with a review. Katie Healy of What Katie Healy Did is the epitome of glamour online, just one peek at her Instagram HERE will tell you that. If you are lucky enough to know Katie in real life though you'll know that it's not just a digital persona, she is truly beautiful and exudes every ounce of elegance in person that she portrays online. 

All of that and she's a Louboutin super fan. While I couldn't justify the €85 tag, I knew she wouldn't be able to resist. I was right. Before you empty your life savings for a Louboutin lipstick, take a look at an unbiased, informative review from a lady that really knows what she's talking about. Take it away, Katie!

John Wick - Movie Review

Who's In It?

Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Willem Dafoe, Adrianne Palicki, and Keanu Reeves

What's It About?

Theon Grayjoy kills Keanu Reeves' dog and steals his car; that's all that needs to be said.

Any Good?

Even from the start, John Wick gave me he feeling THIS is what shlocky 80's action movies should have been - constant action, fantastic acting, and an action movie script.

The story in this film is brilliant, it starts off simple enough and follows basic shoot-em-up plotlines - until it reaches the Continental Bar. Not only is the story good, but the locations are GORGEOUS. One that stuck out to me was a club in the city - a massive dancefloor with a huge set of decks, heavy lights and a glass mezzanine complete with THIS pumping behind it. I'm going to be dreaming of that club for a looong time.

I loved every main in this, Alfie Allen further made his sister look like a fool for that song with his playboy Russian mob son, Michael Nygvist was absolutely fantastic in his role as the mob boss himself, and Willem Defoe played a cross of his American Psycho detective with his Boondock Saints character, it was AWESOME. Most surprisingly, Keanu put in a better turn in this than Constantine and even The Matrix, he's a born action star.

I haven't seen a film that's been a complete 5/5 in a long time, but John Wick is just perfect to me, I'd give it more than 5 if I could. It's 'slow' scenes are complimented by the best soundtrack I've heard since Scott Pilgrim, and the shootouts and fight even beat The Raid (both!) for me. Do yourself a favour and watch this, listen to the soundtrack, then watch it again - it's the perfect action movie.

  Rating:  

REN Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser - Review

Yes REN Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser featured in my March Faves but several uses since mean that this hot cloth hero is quite rightly entitled to a post all by its lonesome. It's that good. 

Hot cloth treatments are nothing new with Eve Lom, Liz Earle, No7 and more recently Soap & Glory all offering their own take on the ablution but there's something about REN (isn't there always?) that makes it just that little bit special. 

I first tried this Centifolia rose petal infused cleanser while on a spa weekend a few weeks back and, truly, 30 minutes spent lolling in a hot back with a hot cloth on my fizzog was the most enjoyable treatment of the entire weekend - and it had stiff competition. 

The cocoa butter used in REN Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser are taking full blame for the incredibly soft skin this cleanser has been giving me for days on end. Massaged into dry skin as I prepare to hop into the shower, I heat the 100% cotton cloth (included) and just breathe out the day under the hot water. 

Once I'm done, the flannel (because that's what it is in reality) is just rough enough to remove every trace of makeup, quickly and effectively - though I always use a second cleanser for my eyes. 

I suffer from KP, which affects my jawline (and arm tops and thighs) when I'm stressed but REN has taken it in its hot hands beautifully. My skin is soft and radiant for the entire day after use, even under makeup. 

You might expect an eye watering price tag for a lovely little product like this but as I said back in March, €20 is the damage. TWENTY EURO. For that price I'll be buying a couple as gifts and saying nowt about the price.

You'll pick up REN Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser here for €19.85 with free delivery or, if you prefer to buy Irish, from Cloud10 Beauty here for €21.95 (with speed of light delivery)

What say you to hot cloth cleansers? Any faves? 

New Clinique Cheek Pop Blusher - Plum Pop - Guest Post from Lorrrrrrrrraine!

All the R's (so titled, by me, because of her Twitter handle @lorrrrrrrrraine) (that's NINE) is not only one of the fanciest faces I know but she's one of the most effortlessly hilarious writers to grace this here Interweb. She's popped by (see what I did there?) to give us the 411 on one of my most lusted after beauty products in quite a while - The Clinique Cheek Pops:

Ah, sure look - this was always going to be a positive review. I've been mooning over Clinique Cheek pops, €20, since the first promo pix hit the internet, with a deep-seated certainty that they were just my kind of blusher.

And yep, they are. A gorgeous floral design on the product itself is matched up in ooh-that's-grand by sturdy but simple packaging that clicks shut with a satisfying clunk. No handbag disasters anticipated!

Plum Pop is a cool pink that, depending on how heavy-handed you are, looks like anything from a sheen of baby pink to a block of fuchsia. I've got a light swipe on the picture, but this stands up to layering very well. It allows the texture of your skin to show through, no matter how close to Boy George territory you get.

What looks like sparkle in the pot translates to a subtle radiance when applied - a huge bonus for folks like me with mammoth pores to conceal. General pink nicery aside, the texture of this blush is seriously good, creating a veil of colour and glow without any drawbacks. 

I see these selling out fast, so get your rear in gear if you fancy a gander! I'll bet my best hat you won't be disappointed. 

As of this morning, Clinique Cheek Pops STILL aren't available online but Imma hunt some down IRL (in real life) TODAY!

Please be sure to drop by Lorraine's blog, John, It's Only Makeup and show her some love - if you don't already. You won't regret it - trust meh!

The Wolf of Wall Street - Teenage Movie Review

Who's in it?

Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Kyle Chandler and Matthew McConaughey


What's it about?

The Wolf of Wall Street is an adaptation of the Jordan Belfort's autobiography; it follows Belfort build one of the biggest stock brokers in America from almost nothing, all while devolving into a huge drug addict along with his business partner Donnie Azoff.

Any Good?

I had HUGE expectations for this movie ever since I saw the first hint of it early last year, and while it certainly didn't disappoint, it fell just short of my expectations. Now, that's not saying it's bad, the movie was FANTASTIC.

The story was good to begin with, Matthew McConaughey playing the boss of Belfort's boss was excellent in the short time he was in the movie. Watching Belfort drag this penny stock broker to the big leagues was brilliant and watching him train his staff how to con people with lies was hilarious at times. Then came the drugs, there is barely a scene where Belfort or Azoff are sober after this point, the acting is INCREDIBLE, as if they were really tripping off their faces.

The most intense scene I've watched in a long time

I can't overstate that the acting is FANTASTIC. Leo was breathtaking in every scene,and I honestly think if the Academy don't go for Oscar bait then he's the only real competitor to McConaughey's Ron Woodroof. Jonah Hill was equally as good, showing why he should without a doubt be at least an Oscar nominated actor. He acted every single scene, even when not talking and he was honestly my sure winner for the Supporting Actor statue until I saw Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club (review will be up later!). Margot Robbie was great in her role as Belfort's trophy wife, the chemistry between the two was real married couple chemistry and she really shone in her scenes giving out to Leo. 

This was a brilliant movie, a truly Oscar winning performance by both Leo and Jonah Hill make it my hopeful for Best Picture, and also the best con I've ever seen. Belford will make millions from this, and it's certainly worth the money into the cinema to add to this genius' fairly ill-gotten gains to see his story. This is a STRICTLY 18's movie, considering if Scarface and Breaking Bad had a child then it would be bullied by this film for the amount of drugs. Also, orgies. Like, a good 5 or 6 orgies, so, yeah..that..

Rating:  

The (sigh..) Eldest Gorgebag

Moo Goo Irritable Skin Balm & Soothing MSM Cream for Infantile Eczema - A Guest Review from Karen Mulreid (& wee Seán)

When I saw the ever hilarious Karen from Beating Myself Into a Dress waxing lyrical on Facebook about Moo Goo and its astounding powers of healing for her little chicken, Seán, I knew it would be something that would interest a huge amount of Mommas as Infantile Eczema is one of the most common skin complaints for childer in Ireland today. This here is her full review of Moo Goo Irritable Skin Balm & Soothing MSM Cream. Take it away Karen: 

What is it?

MooGoo is an Australian company that makes a range of natural products designed for people with skin and scalp problems. The legend goes that the founder adapted a cream used to keep cows’ udders in good condition for milking, to help a family member with a skin problem. It worked so well that friends and neighbours started asking for samples and thus the MooGoo Company with its original Skin Milk Udder Cream was born. (MooGoo, heh, see what they did there?) 

Since then, the company has expanded to other products including shampoos, soaps, face cream and even tanning lotion, all made with safe, natural ingredients. They don’t use fancy marketing gimmicks to get their products noticed, instead relying on good old fashioned word of mouth and personal recommendations to spread the word.

Does it work?

Indeed’n it does. Well, it did for us. When our son, Seán, was four months old, he suddenly broke out in a rash on his tummy, the backs of his knees and at the creases of his arms. It was red, rough and flaky and spread alarmingly fast. We tried everything, all the usual lotions and ointments that you can get on pharmacy and supermarket shelves, but nothing worked. We took him to our GP who diagnosed infantile eczema and recommended another cream to use along with a rigorous hourly creaming schedule. Despite our best efforts, it didn't work, in fact his condition worsened. He was covered head to toe in the rash, itchy and uncomfortable and he had started scratching the backs of his knees until they bled. In desperation I put a call out on Twitter and Facebook for some recommendations and the name that kept popping up was MooGoo. 

We got our hands on a tube of the Irritable Skin Balm – designed specifically for eczema - applied it several times a day and held our breaths. It was slow, but it worked. Within days the rash had reduced from fire engine red to a light pink, the roughness slowly softened, the rash slowly decreased. It wasn't overnight, but it was working. We then moved to the MooGoo Soothing MSM Cream which is a little stronger and that cleared it completely. He is now eczema free, he has no rash, at all, anywhere on his little body.

Look at this happy little cherub - does he look like he's being plagued by Infantile Eczema? No Siree!

What does it smell/feel like and will it look purdy on my bathroom shelf?

The skin creams we've tried are thick and unctuous so a little goes a long way, but they’re not greasy and are absorbed quickly, leaving the skin feeling really soft and smooth. They smell simply ‘clean’ and fresh, there’s no strong scent. Most of the products are called something cow related and come in really sweet packaging – for example the Soothing MSM Cream comes in a pump dispenser but is packaged in a cardboard box in the shape of an old-fashioned milk carton. It’s oney gorgeous!

Where can I get my mitts on it?

MooGoo is stocked in selected shops and pharmacies around Ireland and also ships to Ireland via its online store www.moogoo.ie. For a full list of Irish stockists click here (http://moogoo.ie/stockists/). Prices vary depending on the product but for example a Butter Milk Soap costs €5.95, the Irritable Skin Balm is €15.95 while Seán’s favourite, the Natural Mini Moo Bubbly Wash is €14.95.

Thanks so much Karen, I'm absolutely delighted that you've found a product to give you both that relief. You'll find Karen in a couple of places & I'd advise you to do so immediately - her Twitter, her site  and helpfully she has set up a supportive Facebook page/forum for Mommas working from home called Two Cups of Coffee and a Packet of Crisps & you'll find that here.

Are you a Moo Goo fan? Think you might give this one a shot? 

Day Of The Doctor - A Teenage Whovian's Review

Who's in it? 

Matt Smith, David Tennant, John Hurt and Billie Piper


What's it about?

The War Doctor (John Hurt) steals 'The Moment', or (as Whovians will know it as) Bad Wolf. When contemplating using The Moment to destroy Gallifrey, along with all the Time Lords and Daleks, the Bad Wolf opens a time rift to the two most recent Doctors (David Tennent and Matt Smith) to see the effect it will have on his conscience. 

Any Good?

The story was great, and while it does take a second to understand its no Looper, but the smartest science moment for me ended in being pawned off as a cheap joke and it was a huge disappointment to see how such a good opportunity wasted.

Having three Doctors together was not just a gimmick, the actors played off each other well but some of the lines felt like they forgot they were all the same character. Some moments they had perfect harmony in even body moments, but that was mainly between Tennant and Smith's Doctors.

Classic Doctor (and fellow Eccleston)fans will be happy to see all of the incarnations do make a couple of appearances with a certain classic one making a huge cameo as himself. Even Capaldi's 13th Doctor makes a cameo, even if it's just his eyes at his TARDIS control panel. 

Great acting, great jokes, and a great story make a fantastic Doctor Who and even standalone movie with only one or two down points. I recommend watching it even if you're not a Whovian as it might convert you and if it won't it's thoroughly entertaining on it's own.

Rating:

Boots No7 Youthful Glycolic Peel Kit - Review

Boots No7 Advanced Renewal Anti-Aging Glycolic Peel Kit is probably one of the biggest surprises for me from the No7 range of late. Having tried the No7 Beautiful Skin Pore Vacuum Mask to disastrous flaming skinned end, I was more than a little hesitant to try this peel. Now having used it for a month, I've already ordered a replacement. It's that good. 

This three step system starts with the gycolic peel itself (you get 8 of these). The tiny vial packs a real punch containing 10% glycolic acid and 0.5% glucono delta lactone. Using this on a cotton pad and swiping all over your face and neck, there's more than enough in each dose. Given 10 minutes to work this gel works, without any tingling or stinging, to slough off dead skin cells and reveal the newer cells beneath. 

With glycerin and pro-vitamin B5 the Post Peel Neutraliser works to instantly stop the effects of the active glycolic peel. This unscented liquid spreads quickly and easily and again, doesn't sting the skin, a quick splash of cold water to rinse the lot and you're ready for recovery. 

The Calming Recovery Balm with a blend of emollients, ceramides and shea butter with white lupin peptides and extracts of liquorice and chestnut smells and feels beautiful on the skin. This balm genuinely belies the puny price tag and could stand alone as a great little product for refreshing and brightening the skin. 

I've been using this Youthful Peel twice a week for the past four weeks and yes, I can see a difference. The tiny raised lumps (thanks KP!) on my jawline have all but disappeared, my pores appear smaller and skin just feels better. 

While marketed to give 'Fast Anti-Aging Results' this peel does work fast but it's not going to get rid of wrinkles or even Crow's feet, no topical cream or peel will ever do that (for now anyway) but as a refreshing, brightening and softening peel that shows true radiance in your skin the No7 Youthful Glycolic Peel Kit for just €20 per month is a winner. 

Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow - Review

Peppered through the blog posts of Summer of 2013 were umpteen mentions of Elemis' Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow. Review after review extolling the virtues of the luxurious scrub that was like heaven in a resealable jar. At €52 a pop though, this purchase was one I had to carefully consider for quite a while and remind myself of the subtle differences between 'need' and 'want' (if you saw my bathroom cabinets you'd understand). 

Unsurprisingly to anyone that knows me, having caught several more sightings of this Salt Glow in May, June AND July beauty favourites videos I finally caved. €52 was spent and Elemis was on its way. 'Mineral rich salts and hibiscus cleanse and exfoliate, whilst an infusion of exotic Tahitian monoi oil and frangipani flowers seal in moisture leaving your skin delicately fragranced', I read over and again as I eagerly awaited my chance to pop open the frosted glass jar of luxury. Being a big fan of every Elemis product I've tried to date, I was full sure I'd be in the immediate love. 

At first pop I wasn't overly enthused but I can be like that with scents, take Estée Lauder's my HG perfume brand's recent scent Modern Muse for example, I smell nothing, NOTHING, so although a little let down, the subtly scented Fangipani Monoi Salt Glow would be put through its paces regardless. When it comes to performance, this scrub is one of the most luxurious I've tried, hands down. It melts on contact with the skin and buffs rather than scrubs, leaving behind the faintest scent of the frangipani flowers and a light sheen from the monoi oil. 

Having loved my first couple of uses, sparingly, I was pretty aghast when I opened the jar for a weekly treat and found this! A hock of scrub taken from the centre, without any of the love I'd shown it. When Adam (16) came sauntering in that evening I caught him - 'Well? How does your skin feel?, Isn't it gorgeous?'. His response? 'Ah, it's grand but I smell like those plastic aliens that I used to grow when I was young' RAGE but then.. slowly.. recognition. 

I couldn't put my finger on the scent initially but Adam managed it in an instant, Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow will be (and is) heaven for 90's kids. The soft, subtle scent is identical to those mini alien, jelly filled pods of that decade - by no means is that unpleasant, it's just not what I expected. 

Needless to say this scrub has been stashed for special use, if he can't appreciate the skin softening magic it provides then it would be literally wasted on him. So I get to add my tuppence to the many, many Monoi reviews. While it's not one I reach for automatically, when my skin needs an extra pamper I'm cracking open Elemis. 

Psst if alien pods and glowing soft skin are your
thing, Millies.ie have this Salt Glow on sale
for €41.60 now or FeelUnique hold their
price steady at €43.26.