September Favourites

This has been such a good month for me, I'm so sad to see it go! I feel like it lasted the perfect amount of time, does anyone else get like that? I'm forever saying a month dragged or flew, but never that it was just right. It could have something to do with it been my birthday month, but sure feck it, everyone has to have a good time now and again. I have so so much that I have loved this month and actually had to narrow it down. Normally I'm wreaking my brain trying to think what I have used and enjoyed, but not for September. I've actually loved so much I've decided to do a few separate reviews to satisfy my cravings and need to tell people about wonderful things. I've spent the full day taking photos non stop, I'm delighted to have a few things ready to go for the blog. Theres nothing worse then feeling like your getting behind and will never be able to blog again.

I've a good few things that I've loved that aren't really beauty related. For one Netflix; I just realised  a few days ago that How I Met Your Mother has a season 9, I thought it ended at 8! So I can't wait to start watching that. (Those of you who are big HIMYM fans have every right to boo and give out to me!) I've also been really getting into Once Upon A Time - a retelling of all your favourite fairy tales but with a modern twist thats just great. I'm half way through season 2 and its starting to drag, but I've been told it picks up! Has anyone watched it? Lastly Bones. I'm a long time fan of Bones but somewhere down the line I stopped watching it so over the past two months I've been re-watching all the seasons. Its so good and addictive! 

Other things that I've been loving are candles (which I will do a review of soon) and hot chocolate. Nearly every single night I will go to bed with one, I'm awful! But after putting back a big box of Cadburys last time I was in Tesco, I thought I'd treat myself only to find that the biggest tub was reduced to €2. Made my month. I've been to lots of blogger events this month too and its just so lovely to meet new people and catch up with blogger friends that I genuinely have such a big space in my heart for. Ugh, you women!! *cuddles all the ladies*

Oh, and the Gyspy Rose bar in town (on the quays?) is normally somewhere I'd never venture - loud, many many people and if I'm honest, a little scary. But I was in there one of the really quiet nights and I was bowled over by how friendly, polite and just down right gentlemanly the fella behind the bar was. Its not often a bar tender makes me feel safe and not even slightly perved on, so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to tell anyone and everyone to stop by if your looking for some nice staff.

That was a freakin' mad long intro, sorry! First, lets just take a minute to love these colours above, side by side. Mmmm. Max Factors new nail varnishes were one of the only ones I wore this month, alone and with colourful accent nails. These were two of my favourtie colours as they stood out and made an outfit. Have a proper look at the entire collection Over Here.

Two random things that I've really loved this month are bobbins and earphones that are both pink! Some of you will have seen my haul from yesterday that had these invisibobbles in it. I've had these for almost two weeks (I know, shameful to have a haul and not put it up sooner!) have been using them non stop. I love them more then any bobbins I've ever had. They don't break on me, are really stretchy, hold hair much better then regular bobbins, don't catch or pull on my hair and are different to the everyday stuff you see. I know these claim to leave no kinks in your hair but I've noticed some in mine - much less then with normal bobbins but still a few. However that wouldn't stop me from using them or going out and buying more. Its love. 

Next are these earphones that were €2 in the pound shop! I got them as I broke my other ones (€3 from Penneys) and wanted to watch videos on the bus. They are so freakin' handy!! You pull them all the way out and when your done pull on them again and the wrap themselves back up. No untangling for 10 minutes before you can listen to music. The one downside is that they are only €2 so the quality isn't amazing. But there cheap enough that if I break them it isn't a big loss, easy to use and small enough not to take up space in my bag. 200 please and thank you!

Its hard to find a really good lipstick that I will wear non stop. I'm not one for bothering with my lips too much, let alone reapplying. This is a serious big deal for me, I've been using this for a month and a half every time I go out. Every, single, time. Its from one of my favourite brands, Seventeen and is their supreme shine lipstick in the shade Pink Posey. I went on the hunt for something that was dark and purple, but wasn't going to be too OTT - the lighting is so poor in the above photo, I'm sorry! This entire collection is darker shades that just make you want them all. I've been so happy with this one and its half way gone, its been that used. Its moistursing, slightly shiny and doesn't have a very strong colour that you would need to apply in front of a mirror. Its really perfect for on the go or sneakily putting back on between drinks or food. It doesn't last forever but it keeps my lips hydrated which for a 'drug store' brand lipstick is amazing. Theres 12 colours at €6.29 each. Plus, look at the shiny gorgeous packaging!   

Two little palettes that I haven't been able to do without are the Wet'n'Wild Comfort Zone and the NYX eyebrow cake powder. I'm not going to talk about the eyebrow kit at all because it needs its own post. Thats how much love I'm willing to give it. Watch out for it on the blog soon! Every time I've put on makeup without fail I have used these. I've loved the eyeshadows so much that I went out specially and bought a brown mascara to go with the brown side for a smoky eye look. I've also got brave and used the green side a few times. I've put some of the eyeball looks up on Instagram over here if you fancy a goo. You can also see my full review with swatches of all the colours Over Here.

The last two things are old loves of mine. Vaseline spray and go body moisturiser has got so much love this month that my cocoa one finished and I've started to use this one now. These bottles last a crazy long time too. I got a little sick of a nearly empty product so one morning after the shower I tried to finish up the bottle. I was covered from head to toe in this stuff and there was far too much, but after I rubbed it in a little it was totally absorbed and gone. I'm even more impressed with it now as I was sure there would be a greasy residue left on my skin and I'd feel sticky. But that wasn't the case at all and I am pleased to say this will be a long time repurchase until they stop making the stuff! 

For my birthday I got so many lovely things from friends and family but decided not to do a 'haul' post as I find they can sound quite braggy at times. But one thing that I've been using loads is this Yardley perfume called Diamond. I've had this once before and its the most lovely fresh scent that I have owned. I was gutted when I finished it and I remember going on a hunt only to find Boots didn't stock it. So when a friend guess bought this for me without knowing I loved it, I was delighted! And just look at that bottle. Oh its so pretty. I always feel lighter, fresh and 'wake me up' scents make me feel so much happier and perky then my deep heavy sweet scents, although most of my collection is made up of the latter!

So, tell me something you've loved this September!

And also, do you have any Netflix recommendations?

Irish Brand: Green Angel

 If you know your Irish bands then Green Angel should be top of your list, along with the other greats. For those of you who are your new round here, then let me tell you I am a massive buy Irish fan and when I find a brand I love, I just have to tell everyone. Being honest I was well aware of this brand growing up, the mammy and granny always had a few pots of potions and lotions in their bedrooms. The type that you'd be smacked into next week if you touched - ah, Irish mammies, how we love them! 

But it wasn't until recently that I took a second look at Green Angel and realised that not only are they amazing all round, but they can be for younger skin as well as older skin. This isn't just for my mammy or granny anymore! They have a great range of products and gift sets to choose from and if I'm not going to get shot over it - I have my eye on a few things that would be perfect Christmas presents. (I know, I know! Not  even September yet.) I can't get over how gorgeous the presentation of the products are and the quality of the ingredients list. This brand is what I would call luxury.  

The first thing that I hesitantly tried was the Green Angel seaweed daily moisture face cream*. I never use face moisturisers as my skin is on the oily side of combination and it just makes my makeup slide off my face 10 minutes after I apply everything. But since I started swimming I've noticed my skin dry, tight and a little sore which I put down to the harsh chlorine. This was the first pot I reached for, just to see if it helped at all and it really smells divine, so it was a pleasure to use. I only needed the smallest fingertip of cream as it spreads out really well over the skin. With a consistency like that, I would say this 50ml jar would last you for ages even with daily use. Over the past few weeks I have seen a huge improvement in my skin, its not sore or tight anymore when I get out of the pool and its never dry either. The one thing I would suggest is really only using a little at a time and then building up the product if you feel your skin needs more as it is so rich and thick, so it can be hard to settle into your skin if too much is put on at once.

'The invigorating, beneficial and tension-relieving properties of seaweed have been documented from ancient times. Seaweed contains an even concentration of nutrient, vitamins and active natural resources that along with the high quality essential oils we use in our Green Angel Daily Moisture Face Cream, will visibly replenish the skin. This leaves the skin re-energized and invigorated with an improved sensation of radiance and energy.'

It is packed with vitamin E, seaweed from the west coast of Ireland, jasmine and neroli essential oils to name a few things. Its not tested on animals, paraben free and also says its biodegradable. Apart from how amazing this product is, the packaging is just as impressive. The lovely but really heavy green jar comes in a sturdy box that has all the information on it that you could want. I'm a big fan of sturdy packaging as a lot of things can just fall apart or not stand to the challenge of travelling. I wouldn't hesitate to throw this into my suitcase and not have a second though. This is about €25 which is a pinch but considering how long this will last me, how rich it is and that its supporting an Irish business, I think this is worth forking out a little extra for. 

Much like the moisturiser, the Green Angel seaweed body lotion* has a lot of the same traits. This contains some similar ingredients of neroli, seaweed, essential oils and a few others like  lavender and chamomile. Unlike the moisturiser though, it has quite a watery consistency so when using this I had to make sure only a little came out at a time or otherwise it would go everywhere. It has the same lovely scent as the other product, which would make me think that perhaps all the Green Angel line has that trade mark scent. If you pass by one of them in a shop, make sure to have a sniff as I'm awful at describing smells and I'm certain you don't regret it!

Another thing that I noticed about this lotion is that the bottle isn't as sturdy as the pot of cream above. The plastic isn't very thick and I doubt I would bring this anywhere with me as I feel it could break or easily open, which is a pity. However it is really a treat to use, it sinks into the skin well and the scent lasts all day. This isn't what I would call a heavy duty cream for the likes of sandpaper elbows or knees, but for everyday use its perfect and light. 

'Green Angel Seaweed Body Lotion is enriched with natural essential oils. It will nourish and soothe - condition and tone leaving the skin soft and silky'

This bottle is about €15 and although it is really lovely to use and I am in love with the smell, I think its too much money to hand over for 200ml. If the packaging was stronger I honestly think I would be more inclined to buy it as it does leave my skin soft and sinks in so well. 

Have you heard of this brand before? 

Would you try it?

*I did not pay for this item, it was a PR gift.  Please see my disclaimer here

Spa Body Essentials

A little while ago the lovely people from Oceana Spa gave me one of their shower sets to try out, the *spa body essentials. I was really delighted to try the set that contains a shower gel, body scrub, body lotion and a bath lily. This set can be purchased from Oceana Spa but I'm still not sure what price it is after asking for a price list a few times, but if you contact them I am sure they would be happy to help. I've found the set online in dollars over here, which in euro roughly converts to €28.  

I really like the presentation of the set, the hard plastic bag that everything come in is right up my street. The packaging on the products is very basic however, which is a slight let down to a colour obsessed magpie like myself. But its whats inside and how well it works that counts at the end of the day. 

Earlier last month I did a little review of my favourite product out of the set here, the body scrub in my top 3 list. Filled with cocoa butter, mango butter and sugar cane, its got some great exfoliating power as well as being moisturising at the same time. Not to mention that its also a big 8.5 oz/140g pot. This, like the rest of the range has a distinct sweet sugar and lemon scent, its surprisingly refreshing. I've written more about it over here.

Next is my least favourite of the lot, the body wash. I didn't find that this foamed up well in the shower and the scent didn't linger on the skin once I was dried off. On the back it suggests using it in the bath as a bubble bath as well. When I tested it out it was very disappointing lacking in bubbles or even doing something for my skin after sitting in the water for over half an hour. This is a 12 fl oz/354.8ml bottle that has a pump, which is the one thing that I did really like about it. 

Last is the smoothie body creme thats 7oz/199.7g. I'm a big fan of this, its thick and creamy. It spreads alright and smells the same as the other products including vanilla, grapefruit and orange. My dear little mammy had a go of this as well and came away with the same thoughts as myself, she would buy it again. This is lasting well, but not as well as some of my moisturisers. As its quite thick you have to squeeze out a little extra then other products I've used which is something I noticed over the two weeks trying it out. Depending on what price this is, it mightn't be value for money when compared to other brands of the same quality. But it does leave my skin soft and drys in averagely well. 

What do you think of this set, would you use it or buy it as a gift? 

*I did not pay for this item, it was a PR gift.  Please see my disclaimer here. 

Soap&Glory Sugar Crush Collection

I've been a massive fan of Soap&Glory for years now but sometimes the S&G signature scent can be a little overpowering and not to my likes. This is totally my own fault though, I've used far too many of their products and now I'm reaching for their other scents in the range. I guess you can have too much of a good thing! Right now I'm really in love with the sugar crush collection, its totally different from other scents in the range and I really love the slightly summery feeling it gives me when I have a shower in the morning.

First I have to talk to you about the gorgeous body wash. Like with all S&G things, I love all the bright pink packaging with these products, they make my heart flutter a little. I've taken this body wash out of the shower recently purely as I don't want to use it all up so quickly! This is the fresh and foamy body wash in a handy 500ml bottle with a pump. It smells like lime but sweet too, its not overpowering and stays on your skin after you've finished in the shower, something that a lot of body washes don't do. It foams up well and gives lots of bubbles. It also contains radiance boosting kiwi juice just to make your shower time fun even fancier. You can use this as bath foam too, but I've yet to try it out, preferring to keep it for the shower in the morning, This is €9 in Boots. 

To compliment the body wash I use the sugar crush body buttercream. This is the thickest and most rich moisturiser I've used in a very long time, its nothing short of utterly beautiful. I realise in the warm summer months not everyone is going to want a heavy thick cream which is understandable, but keep it on the wishlist for the cooler months, its worth it. I have used this so much in the past two months and have barely made it to the halfway point in the big 300ml tub. Once the cream hits the heat of skin it spreads easy and a little goes a long way which I was genuinely surprised about to begin with, thinking I would have to scoop most of it out in one go. This is the heavy duty kind of moisturiser that cures the sand paper elbows and knees and makes the rest of the skin silky soft - if I do say so myself! Its packed with shea and cocoa nut balm, kiwi juice water, lime and almond oils. You can again get this in Boots for 14.75 which I would consider pricey normally, but I have got so long from it without finding the bottom yet, I would say your skin will thank you. If not your pocket!

There is a body scrub in this range too, but I'll be talking about that soon in another post, so look out for that! From having a quick goo on the Boots site I've noticed all these products are in a 3 for 2 offer, so you could try them all out and save some money at the same time. (And get a few Boots points, man I love those things!) So theres another excuse for all the product junkies out there to nip into the shops and be tempted!

Whats your favourite S&G product?

The Body Shop Body Sorbets

I'm a fan of The Body shop, you'll know that if you read my empties post. But oh mammy was I excited when the post man popped his head around the door and told me I had a package! These are two of the brand spankin' new *body sorbets that are the most exciting products of the summer for me so far. Let me give you the run down on these beauts, prepare to be grabbin' your hats, your knickers and running to the nearest Body Shop to get yours.

The body sorbet is a cooling skincare treatment that can be used in the summer and all year round. If its extra hot you can put on of these babies in the fridge for uber cooling down and freshening up - how cool is that?! these bottles contain soya oil to help make your skin silky smooth while giving it loads of moisture and hydration. I really like the mango scented one, its surprisingly not an overpowering sweet smell like I expected it to be. The downside however is that you'll want to eat it. Restrain yourself!

My favourite scent from all of these (I went into the Body Shop and had a sniff of the entire line!) has to be moringa. I can't pronounce it and always have to double check the spelling  but this is my dream boat in a bottle - I should write cheesy songs and sell them to Britney. Moringa is the only floral fragrance with the other four being fruity ones. 

The product has a slightly strange consistency. Its not oily and not like a cream, its a hard one to explain! Without putting anyone off (and I'm so sorry if I do!) it feels kind of silky, like lube. You only need a small amount as a little goes a long way and it sinks into the skin oh-so-beautifully so your not left to do the Flappy Cold Dance Of Doom. So don't think my poor description means your sticky and eh, ready for action! I love using this right after the shower, its such a gorgeous treat for my skin and nose. And since I've started to use them I have genuinely felt a difference in my skin. Its not doing amazing things for the really dry skin on my elbows (sexy) but the rest of me? Oh I want everyone to have a feel!

If I was to say one negative thing about them, it would be that they are pricy at €13.50. But the prices in the Body Shop in general tend to be a little more in comparison to the regular run of the mill products in Boots. I feel a lot of this is down to their fair trade ingredients and high standards that they insist upon as a brand. And for that reason, I don't give out as much when I go to buy something that might pinch the pocket a little. Now, if you'll excuse me. I here my moringa calling me, the sexy sexy bottle of love.

*I did not pay for this item, it was a PR gift.  Please see my disclaimer here. 

New Vaseline Spray&Go Body Moisturiser

Its time for some heart to heart here. I have to tell you all something that is shameful and truly dreadful; I am lazy as hell when it comes to moisturising. Oh god there I said it and the world of beauty inhales a sharp breath! I know, what am I like having sand paper skin. I don't know myself but I have to tell you, I've found something thats making it a little easier to deal with.

Vaseline has a new Spray and Go body moisturiser thats been on shelves since Christmas if I remember. I walked by, always having a look, always wondering what it was like but never taking the leap because well, it was moisturiser and that was something I never bought as I've so much of it lying around at home, unopened, unused and unloved. But it was on offer one day when I was in Boots going a bit mad and I thought why not, I think theres enough space to squeeze in one last impulse buy! I was so lucky that I did too.

Right so, here is what you do. Spray on, rub in really quick and put your clothes on before you freeze. End of. No waiting around and risking your bits falling off from frost bite, no flapping your arms around or blowing on your skin trying to get it to dry faster. Nope none of that carry on. It claims to be non greasy and its not too far off, it does skin in and dry quicker then a lot of the moisturisers I have tried and with so many different types to try I know I'll not only use this one up but also be trying out the others in the line. The one I have now has cocoa butter in it and smells sweet and slightly chocolaty, nom! All the tins have a handy nozzle yoke that you can twist so none of it will come out by accident, just like the bottles of Impulse. Another handy benefit of this is that my skin is actually starting to feel like skin again and not the sand paper I have become accustom to feeling. Lovely stuff!

My 190ml bottle was about €4.19 and I know Boots has them on offer a lot too. Will you be piking up one of these handy yokes for those days when your in a hurry or indeed like myself, lazy as sin?