YSL Touche Éclat High Cover¦ Product Launch

This week I had the absolute pleasure of attending the launch of a new product, from the infamous YSL Touche Éclat range. This new product, 'YSL Touche Éclat High Cover' launches in Ireland this week, with lots of new exciting features. 

The event was held in the beautiful hotel 'The Marker' in Dublin, which is so beautiful and of course the YSL team, left no corner unturned! The room was beautiful!

Fred Letailleur (YSL Makeup Artist) was there to tell us all about the product launch and it is one I'm really excited about. As a novice to the 'blogging world' and using makeup, I used the infamous Touche Éclat (Radiant Touch) as a concealer many years ago, as this was what I thought it was for. But it's actually an illuminator, to enhance features and to add light to your skin and complexion. 

The new product, Touche Éclat High Cover, is what we are all looking for! It is a radiant concealer which adds extra coverage to your skin. Fred showed this product being used on the skin, and from what I can see, it is very natural-looking, while also having that extra coverage and some illuminating features. There are less illuminating factors in the 'High Cover' and more coverage. It can help cover pigmentation, dark circles and it has a longer-wear formula.

There are three key benefits to the product:

• Natural radiance, with light-generating pigments that reflect the light in one unique direction
• High coverage and longwear result, with a high concentration of makeup pigments
• An anti-fatigue complex with Vitamin E (for antioxidant action), with caffeine (to boost microcirculation) and Moroccan calendula extract, also called Gold Bloom, from the YSL Beauté Ourika garden (for a soothing action).

Fred also explained that the new 'Touche Éclat High Cover' radiant concealer comes in 16 shades and it is advised to get colour matched, as it is best used, when it is specifically tailored and matched to your skin tone. For me, I was matched on the day, and I was Shade 1. (Fred said that you normally go a shade or two lighter in the 'High Cover' as it is a concealer, so to be a shade or two lighter than your normal shade, is recommended. He also compared and recommended the shade 0.75 in the 'High Cover' concealer, tow work best with the shade 1.5 of the original 'Touche Éclat'.)
Powder isn't needed either with this product and Fred advised to use a 'gliding' motion, when using the 'High Cover Touche Éclat', as opposed to a 'tapping motion', which is advised when using the original 'Touche Éclat Radiant Touch'.

The new 'Touche Éclat High Cover' comes in a similar gold pen but it has a distinctive black band down the side to differentiate it from the original. It can be used to conceal dark circles, and as a base on the eyelids before makeup application-again a multi-purpose product, which is always a bonus! 'Creating uniformity where there is unevenness'.

The original 'Touche Éclat Radiant Touch' is also releasing four new shades (No. 0, No. 4, No. 6, No. 7), so it is becoming even more diverse. There is also a new limited edition of the original Touche Éclat being released, which has small heart shaped crystals, which is very pretty! This limited edition is available in three shades (No. 1, No. 2, No. 3). 

Touche Éclat Shimmer Stick

YSL also have five shades of Shimmer Sticks, which are a creamy stick, with a glide-on formula and they can be used on the cheeks to highlight, contour and on the eyelids also. The packaging is just so pretty and very luxurious, a real treat!

Shade 1 (Light Gold) (left) and Shade 2 (Light Rose) (right)

The 'Touche Éclat High Cover' concealer launched exclusively at Debenhams Stores nationwide on the 13th February and will launch at Brown Thomas and Arnotts from 27th February with RRP €35.00. 

You can also find me on the details below- 

Twitter- https://twitter.com/TheYellowSunflo 

Instagram- Instagram.com/sarahwhelehan

Blog- The Yellow Sunflower http://sarahyellowsunflower.blogspot.com/

Sarah

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Primark/Penney's Christmas Event 2018

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Primark/Penney's Christmas event, which saw the launch of their Christmas collection, which has hit all stores now! The event was so festive and one I really enjoyed. What a great way to set the mood and create a festive atmosphere!

As you can see, it was a very fun event, with lots of the collection here for us to see!

The entrance hall, with the first of many wonderfully
decorated Christmas trees

The gold door decorations-how cool would they be
for a house party or an office!

They have some really cool homeware pieces, candle holders, candles, t-lights, Christmas characters, door stoppers, reed diffusers, bunting- everything you need to decorate your home, office or practically anywhere! They also have lots of gift wrapping, Christmas gift bags which are very cute to finish off a gift! I particularly like the inflatable letter balloons, which are on the Christmas tree here, saying 'Ho! Ho! Ho!' But you can create whatever word you want to! 

The ladies and men's collection were super and very affordable also. They have a very wide selection of Christmas jumpers and dresses for the ladies and some very cool and funny Christmas jumpers for the men! Most of them are under €20 also!! The children's collection was jam-packed also and they have a wide range of beauty gifts too, including makeup and makeup brushes.

There were lots of games and activities also, which are so ideal for a sticking-filler or for 'Secret Santa', because who doesn't enjoy playing some games at this time of year!? 
They had 'Twerk Pong'- which is a belt and a box you wear around your waist, and the objective is to 'twerk' and loose the balls that are in your box, racing against your opponent! I can just see how cool this would be, playing this to music, or in teams!! The options are endless!
They had 'Head to Head: Elf V Santa' also, which looks lots of fun too! These games were all under €10! They had giant Prosecco and beer glasses also, and two different versions of 'Beer Pong'! Lots of cool party games, with lots of laughter to be had! These are just two of the games, there are lots more, both smaller and bigger games!
If you're interested in checking out this collection, it is definitely worth visiting your nearest Penneys store! The stock and the collection should be in stores now! 

You can also find me on the details below- 

Twitter- https://twitter.com/TheYellowSunflo 

Instagram- Instagram.com/sarahwhelehan

Blog- The Yellow Sunflower http://sarahyellowsunflower.blogspot.com/

Sarah

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Review: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish

Seen as I love this product so much, I wanted to do a review and share my experience with Liz Earle's pretty renowned Cleanse & Polish cleanser with you all. I have to admit, without the world of blogging and reading beauty reviews online I probably would have passed this by in the pharmacy or drugstore. But after reading so many reviews and hearing so much about it online, combined with not having a cleanser that suited my sensitive skin, I decided to purchase this hot cloth cleanser and see what all the fuss was about! And here I am, writing a review after using it continuously for nearly a year! As cheesy as it sounds, I haven't looked back! It has become such a staple in my skincare bag (I've done a blogpost already on my skincare bag on my blog-click the link below) that I don't think I'll be changing it up for quite some time!

I have sensitive skin and this just works so well for me. It's amazing to see, when I apply it to my eyes, rub the cream in (you will look like you have panda eyes but fear not). Then take your muslin cloth, run it under warm water (or a nice face cloth either for more exfoliation) and simply remove your makeup with your cloth. 99% of your makeup (inc. eye makeup) comes off in one sweep, LITERALLY! Then give your cloth another rinse and sweep it over your face and neck to remove any remaining makeup. It's so gentle on your skin and thoroughly cleanses your skin. You will have such baby soft skin! I really recommend buying it.

If you're trying it for the first time and don't want to invest (which you so should), I recommend buying the starter kit (if you're living in the UK- here for over £15, and if you're in Ireland- here for just over €20). But if you live in Dublin, I recommend going to Liffey Valley Shopping Centre- there is a massive Boots there which stocks Liz Earle and it's a bit cheaper! Plus you'll get your Advantage Card points! BONUS!!

This product has become a firm favourite in my skincare bag and I love using it on days when I have makeup on and on days when I haven't! I would really recommend using this as a cleanser, it will really do wonders for your skin!

You can also find me on the details below-

Twitter- https://twitter.com/TheYellowSunflo

Instagram- Instagram.com/sarahwhelehan

Blog- The Yellow Sunflower http://sarahyellowsunflower.blogspot.ie/

Sarah 

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Antipodes¦ The Westbury Hotel, Dublin

After attending an event in the glamorous 5 star hotel in Dublin, The Westbury Hotel (check out the hotel here) with Antipodes, I have been really enjoying trialing and reviewing their entire skincare range. Antipodes pride themselves in being a Scientific Organic beauty brand, hailing from New Zealand. 

The above products are a wide range of their facial oils, day and night creams, and their hand and body cream.  

Below you can see the delicious spread of treats we were served, as part of The Westbury Hotel's Afternoon Tea. All of the nibbles were delicious and they have a wide variety of savoury and sweet treats, to suit all tastes.

This is the mini set from the Moisture Boosting range, for daytime. It comes with a facial oil called 'Divine Face Oil' and their hydrating Day Cream called 'Vanilla Pod'.

Firstly, I have to admit I loved the facial oils in both the day-time and night-time sets. Facial oils are often neglected by people and come with an element of 'fear'. People often think they will make their skin 'oily' or 'even oilier', especially those people with combination-type skin. But it's actually the complete opposite. Often is the case, that combination-type skin is dehydrated and is lacking in oils, so this light oil is one I'd really recommend for ALL skin types. It smells so good also, something I'm a huge lover of (good smelling products that is!). 

This facial oil is also vegetarian approved, so this may appeal to many of you. The oil contains avocado oil, vitamins A, B1, B2 and D, and antioxidants. These vitamins are very important in the production of collagen, to help with the aging process of your skin (ADDED BONUS!!).

The moisturiser in this kit, is beautiful and light, ideal for morning time before you apply makeup. It's light and the pleasant scent is of vanilla-something any sweet-scented lover will adore. It's 'meant' to also help fight off blemishes, but that's not something I can vouch for. Again, this is packed with hydrating properties and antioxidants.

RRP- €17.91 (purchase here)

Nearly a year on from opening this product, I'm only just after finishing it! This product is called 'Jubilation' and is a moisturiser for your hands and body. Personally, I have just loved using this rich moisturiser for my hands, to keep them looking soft and smooth. It has a strong scent if I'm honest, but one that I grew to really like. It's packed with plant oils (fig and blackcurrant), omega 3, 6 and 9, and vitamins A and C and E. It also contains superfruit kiwi seed oil. 

This tube is handy to keep in your bag for everyday use on-the-go. I used this on a daily basis, and it's safe to do so. 

It's also one of their BEST SELLERS, and I can see why and it's one I would repurchase! It's one I would recommend for people with very dry, flaky, patchy skin- on the hands or body.

RRP- €27.00 (purchase here)

And finally, this beautiful duo! This combination of products is available as part of their Anti-aging range and is ideal for travel due to their compact size. The first product is the 'Joyous' protein-rich, replenishing night serum. Richer is consistency than the 'Divine facial oil', this is a real treat to apply to the skin at night-time. Quite often if I'm home early, I'll remove my makeup, cleanse my skin and apply a layer of this serum, and continue with my evening. I like to leave it to 'sink in', on it's own, for as long as I can. The difference in my skin is just unbelievable, and better than any face mask you can buy! 

It's packed with goji berries, raspberry seeds and blackcurrant oil. These are packed with essential fats, which hydrate your skin.

Alongside the 'Joyous' serum, is the 'Avocado Pear' night cream. This contains manuka honey (and we all know how good that is for us) and is proven to stimulate collagen in your skin by up to 92%. These minis are a great introduction to the brand and an ideal 'try-before-you-buy' kit. They are also a lovely gift to give a loved one, for a very affordable price. 

RRP- €16.63 (purchase here)

If you're interested in purchasing any of the products above from the Antipodes skincare range, or if you're interested in researching about the brand a bit further, check out the following websites:

http://www.antipodesnature.us/ 

https://www.facebook.com/AntipodesSkincareNorthAmerica

https://twitter.com/AntipodesNZ

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOR7oK-81mSKMo2RGOAKOig

https://www.facebook.com/AntipodesSkincare/

If you're in Ireland, you can purchase the products from FeelUnique, and BeautyBay. The products are also available in many health food stores. 

Sarah 

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New Product Releases¦ Armani & Kiehls

I've been to a few events over the past month or so, which saw the following products launching. I really wanted to share these products with you, as some of them have great ideas behind their launch. These are the ones that are of interest to me personally!

Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream¦Limited Edition (assoc. with Laura Mvula)

Here's a shot of Mr. Bones and myself in the Kiehls store on Wicklow Street in Dublin.

This year Kiehls have teamed up with the super talented singer Laura Mvula, who has designed the limited edition 'Ultra Facial Cream' for Kiehls. For each tub sold (RRP €54), Kiehls will donate €11.50 to the MTV 'Staying Alive' charity, which supports 3 projects around the world-fighting against HIV/AIDS. It gives me great satisfaction to know that more than one fifth goes to a worthy charity. I haven't tried this face cream before, but am looking forward to trialing it, when I finish my current cream (Steamcream is the one I'm using at the minute). 

If you are in Dublin city centre, be sure to check out the iconic store on Wicklow Street (just off Grafton Street), or in Dundrum Town Centre. 

The cream is also available on arnotts.ie

Emporio Armani Diamonds CLUB for HER and HIM

This pretty pink bottle of perfume is the newest launch from Armani and one which will appeal to many! It's call 'Diamonds CLUB' and the bright pink bottle is one you can't miss on the shelves or at your nearest Armani counter. Here's what Armani say about the perfume-

"Teamed with energizing mandarin to last 'til dawn, rose explodes like a sweet treat wrapped in patchouli and marine notes. A dance that begins from the first splash on the skin."

This is an eau de toilette, so it's light and the scent isn't too strong. If you're willing to shake up your day-time or work fragrance, and be on-trend, then here's the one for you or your partner. The RRP is €48. 

Kiehls Cactus Flower & Tibetan Ginseng Hydrating Mist

This product is a lovely cooling facial mist from Kiehls which you can use anytime during the day, before makeup or even on top of your makeup. It also has soothing and purifying properties, and can be used as a finishing spray that locks in a dewy and fresh complexion. Cactus Flower is renowned for its ability to improve skin hydration, softness, smoothness and overall skin appearance. 

This is a great product to keep in your bag for on-the-go, to help maintain your skin's hydration levels. It's a nice compact bottle in size and it's really sturdy so it won't leak in your bag. 

This product is available since August in Arnotts and Kiehls stores nationwide. 

RRP is €22.50 (75ml)

RRP is €32.50 (125ml)

If you're interested in trying out any of these new launches, be sure to check out the stores I've listed above. There's definitely some really good products being released, so be sure to hit the shops.

Let me know on Twitter (@Sarah Whelehan- linked here) or in the comments below!

Sarah

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Want to win a 12 Month Supply of WaterWipes?!

I've been contacted by WaterWipes and they have offered me an opportunity for my readers and followers to win a 12 MONTH SUPPLY OF WATERWIPES!! (the facial wipes that is, not the babywipes!)

How exciting!! Here's the details below.

• I've posted a tweet on Twitter (link here) and all you need to do is Retweet this tweet, and make sure you're following me and WaterWipes on Twitter!! 
• You also need to follow my blog here (on Bloglovin' of by email (top right hand side of my blog)
• It could be you!!! Get entering!
• Giveaway CLOSES TOMORROW FRIDAY 13TH NOVEMBER 2015 AT 8PM!

Sarah

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1935 - 2015: La vie est belle with Lancôme‏

Here's Lancôme's latest Press Releases, that celebrates a remarkable milestone that they've achieved as a brand, of pure luxury in my opinion! Here's the details!

**For 80 years, La vie est belle with Lancôme**

Founded by the visionary and pioneer Armand Petitjean in 1935, Lancôme is celebrating 80 years of beauty in 2015. An opportunity to celebrate the women who inspire the brand, from its customers to its ambassadresses, and to affirm all year long through a series of joyful initiatives that indeed, life is beautiful with Lancôme. What are 80 years? What does it mean to celebrate eight decades of beauty, scientific innovations, exceptional fragrances, skincare and makeup products, of joyful celebration of femininity that is always true to itself yet is ceaselessly being reinvented? This is the question that Lancôme wished to answer on the anniversary of its creation. Looking back in order to move forward even more successfully, for a House is first and foremost a story that inspires the future and shapes what lies ahead. Lancôme’s story began in 1935 with the vision of a man ahead of his time, Armand Petitjean: a beauty that is French, therefore free and as a result-happy. 

Beauty that lightens and strengthens. The beauty of being oneself. Happy beauty. “Above all, we wanted this celebration to be a moment of joy,” states Françoise Lehmann, Lancôme’s General Manager. “Because – for Lancôme – beauty goes hand in hand with happiness. So it’s a birthday in the form of a celebration, which each month will reaffirm the brand’s greatest ambition: making women’s lives more beautiful with Lancôme!”Something of a nod to La vie est belle, the name of an incredibly successful fragrance that has become the symbol of happy beauty, a brand signature.

Life is beautiful in colour: the colours of the legendary L’Absolu Rouge lipstick or the Hypnôse eye palettes… Life is beautiful with fragrance, from Trésor’s leather-infused peach-rose composition to the wonderfully tasty iris of La vie est belle, the heirs of a line of exceptional perfumes that have marked the history of femininity and won awards since the 1935 Brussels World’s Fair. Life is beautiful with delicious sensations, those provided by skincare at the cutting edge of scientific innovation, skincare products that have become must-haves, such as Advanced Génifique and Absolue l’Extrait. Life is beautiful like the exceptional know-how by which the House perpetuates a certain idea of French luxury.  

Last but not least, life is beautiful just like the Lancôme ambassadresses, who radiate a beauty that is confident, distinctive and always free. Women who leave their mark on their age, whether Isabella Rosselini, the original epitome of Lancôme femininity for generations of women up to the present day, or Penélope Cruz, Kate Winslet, Julia Roberts, Lupita Nyong’o, Lily Collins and Alma Jodorowsky, who allow the brand to shine around the world. Women who are accessible, free, committed, who cultivate their happiness as a way of life, seriously yet lightheartedly, inspired and inspiring in equal measure.

What could be more natural for the brand with the rose than to cultivate happiness? And what more fitting way to approach its birthday than as an invitation to savour the beauty of life to the full throughout a year filled with surprises? Beginning with an irresistibly imaginative film – a Lancôme first – revealed on 20 February 2015, the anniversary of the day on which the House was founded. A summary of all that Lancôme is in a surrealist style with a thoroughly modern glamour. Joy already, in colour and movement.

What's your favourite Lancôme product? Or have you ever tried any products from their skincare or beauty ranges? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Birthday Lancôme!!

Sarah 

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Be Confident & SHINE this Summer

This week marks the first bit of proper sunshine we've had here in Ireland for more than 6 weeks! This sunshine has given me some inspiration and led me to create this blogpost, which will discuss body confidence and how to get that 'glow' and radiance this summer! I've compiled some tips I try and stick by all year round, but especially during summer time. Between cocktail parties, BBQs, lunch with friends-there's so much going on! We all want to be able to enjoy these occasions with that special summer glow!

#1 Water

I know it's so cliche but I have to include this one. I would be quite diligent with my water-intake and would drink 2L of water every day. But recently I went on a little trial of drinking about 3-4L water a day and WOW what a difference! If you do nothing else, after reading this blogpost, make a note of how much water you drink per day, for 1-2 weeks and aim to drink more than 3L. 

I could honestly see a massive difference in my skin. I'm quite lucky as I rarely have trouble with my skin, but I had to look twice a couple of times at myself in the mirror with no makeup on! It looked like I had highlighter on my skin, it was glowing! It really adds a glow and radiance back to your skin, that no makeup product could buy. Why not take a no-makeup-selfie today and in a weeks time and compare the difference? If you do make sure to share it with me on Twitter/Instagram and use the hashtag #bodyphilosophy. 

As a result I felt more confident in my own natural skin and was feeling great from within, which is so important.

#2 Don't follow the crowd

Following on from the above point, I have been having more no-makeup-days than ever lately! With the season that's in it, even though we've had little sunshine, I am trying to let me skin breathe a bit more. It has coincided with my 'glowing skin' so I've felt a bit more confident and will easily go out and about 'bare-faced'! I don't believe in following the crowd and feeling like you have to live up to a certain 'image' as a woman or a man. People quite often put extra pressure on themselves by just simply following the crowd! Don't wear makeup if you don't feel like!! Be confident in your own skin! No one else is like you, each one of us is unique! It may help if your skin has that natural glow, so make sure you drink that water!!

Your skin will thank you for giving it a break from the makeup, which will probably result in it becoming more radiant and clear, so you can have those no-makeup-days! Win Win!!

#3 Glow from within

Only a certain percentage of what we put on our skin e.g. creams, oils, serums will help with it's appearance. A greater proportion of what we put 'into' our bodies affects the appearance of our skin. I recently was chatting to one of Ireland's Top Models 'Holly Carpenter' and we both had this discussion. She is also a firm believer in this philosophy! If you feed your body what it needs, not what you want, the benefits will be visible in your skin. Try and cut down on the caffeine, sugar and processed foods and increase the amount of 'superfoods' you take. I love to have a mug of hot water & lemon every morning before I eat breakfast. My breakfast will either be some homemade granola (I love this one by an Irish chef Donal Skehan), yoghurt and fruit or poached eggs on brown bread.
The lemon really kick-starts your digestive system and wakes up your body. It also fills you up a little bit! If I have some free time on my hands, I love to make homemade banana bread (again I love this one from Donal Skehan) to either have in the morning or after my lunch. It's full of goodness and is much better than snacking on biscuits! It's also so lovely to take to a summer BBQ with friends and have as your dessert! If you're looking for some nice healthy recipes for any occasion this summer, I found this great website that has yummy healthy recipes, all in one place at Aloha.com. Have a browse through and see if you find something that suits your tastebuds!

#4 No makeup-makeup
I love keeping my makeup minimal this time of year and I recommend just filling in your eyebrows, a little bit of mascara and either some BB cream or a tinted moisturiser and lip balm. You're good to go! It's more fresh looking and we all should embrace our inner beauty.

So here are my tips for being body confident this summer and achieving the summer glow that we all talk so much about! I'd love if you could share your tips for how to be body confident and join in the the #bodyphilosophy campaign. Tweet me with you tips @SarahWhelehan and let me know. Be sure to use the above hashtag!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!

I've teamed up with Bio Oil to offer you the chance to win one of 5 bottles of Bio Oil. Bio Oil are currently promoting the campaign and all you need to do is comment below with the following:

1. Your name and twitter handle (Be sure to follow me @SarahWhelehan)

2. Your tip or tips on how to be body confident

For an extra chance to win, why not tweet me and use the hashtag #bodyphilosophy, sharing your tips.

For another bonus entry, tweet the following: 

Have you read @SarahWhelehan 's #bodyphilosophy tips for being body confident this Summer?! #glowingskin http://sarahyellowsunflower.blogspot.ie/

@BioOilUK 

Terms and Conditions: The giveaway will close in 5 days time on the 23rd August 2015. The giveaway is only open to Ireland & UK readers. (Sorry to everyone else!)

Good Luck!!!!

Sarah

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Loves and Loathes: 2015

I have been finding some old but great products recently, while also discovering some not-so-good products, that I wanted to share with you. I think it's kind-of important that you equally know what I'm loving and what I'm disappointed with, so hence this blogpost!!

LOVES:

MAC Cream Colour Base: HUSH

With this lovely sunshine we've been having as of late, I've wanted to add some 'glow' into my Spring makeup look so I decided to root through my makeup and find an oldie-but-a-goodie, that I'd completely neglected!! I bought this Cream Colour Base a couple of years ago and love using it. It adds a lovely amount of 'glow' to your shin, if dabbed on the tops of your cheekbones and up onto the eyebrow bone. 

I gently tap my ring finger into the cream, which is solid to touch, and then gently tap my finger on my cheekbones to blend the product in, after my foundation. It adds a lovely hint of a peach-pink colour, which saves me adding any blusher! 

Giorgio Armani Sí Intense Perfume*

This is my FAVOURITE perfume of all time I think! I just love it so much and I've been wearing it for so long now, over a year I think! So many people comment on my perfume when I'm wearing this, it's such a distinctive smell. It's quite a deep, intense smell and I recommend you smell a sample of it. It's available at Boots, Arnotts and Brown Thomas etc. If you find it too 'intense' as the name suggests, they have a original Sí perfume which is less intense, which you may like. 

Giorgio Armani have also released a new addition to the Sí family, called Sí Eau de Toilette, which comes in a lighter pink coloured bottle. It's only just been released and it has similar notes to it, as the Sí Intense but just a lighter, fresher feel. It may be just what you're looking for!

NIVEA Invisible Anti-Perspirant 

I know this is a little bit random but I've been wearing lots of black and white clothes lately (LOVING monochrome at the minute) and I've always been worried about deodorant marks being left on my good white shirt or dress, or even worse on your black clothing. So I decided to pick up this deodorant from Nivea and I'm very impressed! I've had no yellow marks left on my white clothes or no white marks on my black clothes. It's a great relief to know that you won't have any marks left on your clothes, so this is a recent love of mine!

Lancome Grandiose Mascara*

I'm sure you've heard me rave about this mascara on many occasions and this favourite has not changed in the last year I don't think. I use this mascara everyday and it's definitely worth investing in! It is a high-end mascara and costs €30 from Brown Thomas but if you want some great length, volume and definition to your lashes, treat yourself!

LUSH Mint Julips Lip Scrub*

I love to use this lip scrub about once or twice a week on my lips. I find it best to use it in the shower, as it's easier to clean away any excess. This product smells like it says on the tin I suppose! It smells exactly like After Eight mints, so tempting to lick it off your lips (even though you actually can as it's just made up of sugar and essential oils)!! I find that if I'm applying a lip gloss or lipstick most days and then moisturising my lips in between and at night-time, the dead skin cells on your lips can gather and 'clump' on your lipstick, making it then appear 'flaky'.
If this happens to you, then this is the dead skin cells on your lips, that basically need to be exfoliated or removed. Now you can use (and I often do) just a simple 'soft' toothbrush and 'dry brush' your lips, which will help. But this is a great product which does the same job, but better. You're left with beautifully soft, delicious lips!! This also retails at £5.50 and lasts for about 6-9 months!

Maybelline ColourSensational Lipstick: 842 Rosewood Pearl

I think I bought this lipstick over a year ago and have recently only decided to use it and I've fallen in love. I spotted Anna Saccone (from The SacconeJolys) wearing it in some of her vlogs and I decided to purchase it. It costs approx. €8 and is really a beautiful bronzy/pearly nude. I've been wearing it everyday recently and it adds a glow to your skin. With a bit of HUSH from MAC on my cheekbones and this lipstick, your skin appears fresh and dewy.
In the bullet, it looks like a browny-nude but there is a lovely amount of shimmer in the lipstick and I recommend you swatch it in your local drugstore to see the true colour.

Penneys/Primark Wayfarer Sunglasses

I picked up these sunglasses about 3 weeks ago in Penneys, just as the new Spring/Summer collections came into the stores. These cost ONLY €3.00 and are an absolute BARGAIN! They are an absolute steal and a great dupe for many high-end designer sunglasses. I have been wearing these at every given opportunity recently, with the lovely sunshine we've been having. If you're near a Primary/Penneys have a look at their wide range of sunglasses for Summer and see if there are any that you fancy. Pick them up before they're gone!!
These are a great classical twist on the classic wayfarer shape and would suit most face shapes!

Penneys/Primary Oval Sunglasses

While in Penneys I also picked up these funky oval sunglasses as I thought they'd be really cute for the upcoming summer festivals. I think these are a real style statement and with these, you can simply glam up any outfit! I can't wait to pair these with some loose curls, a headband, and a top and some denim shorts. At only €1.50, these are another great bargain, worth grabbing if you see them.

Olivia Burton Nude Rose Gold Watch

I got this as a Christmas present last year and it's been on my arm ever since. I love big faced watches and the hint of rose gold on the face is just beautiful. I feel this watch is a real classic and will hopefully last me for some time. I've had many compliments on the watch and I love pairing it with a simple gold bangle or just on it's own.
A little hint** If you're looking to buy this one HERE from ASOS, keep an eye on their page for when they've 20% off, and you'll get the watch for only about €80! 

LOATHES:

Eylure Lashes: Cheryl 'Girls Night'*

I was sent these lashes from Eylure recently and unfortunately I have to say that I'm not too keen on these particular ones called 'Girls Night'. I applied these on a recent night out, and didn't really see any effect of the lashes. I found no great difference, none at all really unfortunately. I am a lover of the regular line of lashes from Eylure and a lover of Cheryl, but these range of lashes just don't do it for me! I love the packaging and the lash glue is great also but these particular lashes would not be ones I would recommend.
They are slightly darker and thicker on the outer edge of the lashes but after I applied some mascara with these on, I found and saw little or no difference in my lashes! I left them on for the night anyway but was a little disappointed with them. They cost €8.50 in Boots but I would recommend you checking out my post a while back, for a more detailed post on some of the lashes from Eylure that I DO recommend HERE.

Benefit they're REAL push-up liner*

This eyeliner has been raved and ranted about for some time now but I've been very disappointed with this product, if I'm honest. This gel liner pen claims to 'hug your lashes' when applying. At first it was strange to use and definitely takes some time to get used to. After several uses it did get a bit easier to apply but overall I was still spending considerably longer applying my eyeliner when using this. Not really ideal for when you're in a rush! I also found it hard to achieve an even flick on both eyes with it.
I also found that when I'd go to use it the next time, there would be some product left in the nib of the eyeliner, which would be in a clump and dried slightly. I made the mistake of directly applying the eyeliner on many occasions and ruining my eye makeup with a lump of eyeliner coming out first. When I finally remembered to check it each time, and clean the remaining eyeliner left, I'd probably spent 2-3 minutes doing this. Also, if you manage to get some on your fingers when cleaning it, it is very tough to get off right there and then! Again, another minute or so has ticked on! I usually use a face wipe to correct any mistakes I make when applying eyeliner but I found it hard to clean any mistakes I made with a wipe with this product. It often smudged and I found myself scrubbing it all off on more than one occasion. On a positive note, it was not as hard to remove at the end of the day with my trusty Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish. I think I'll be sticking to my trusty liquid liner from Rimmel in the future.

Lancome Hypnose Eyeshadow Palette: Drama Eyes Parisian Lights*

This beauty arrived through the postbox a few weeks back and I couldn't stop admiring it. It is so well packaged in a lovely gold palette with a great sized mirror inside. It also provides a sticker which has a little tutorial on where to apply each eyeshadow, to create a smokey-eye. It also has 2 mini magnets on the packaging, so it closes very smoothly and won't open easily if you're out and about.
Unfortunately I didn't find the quality of the eyeshadows that great for the price of the palette. I was disappointed by the lack of colour pay-off. I even tried to intensify the look, by wetting the brush on application, but I was still left disappointed with the intensity of the colour.
There are some lovely colours in the palette. A lovely gold-bronze colour, and a rose-gold colour, but they didn't come out as bright as they appeared in the palette. I tried adding more colour to help but to no avail. I nearly felt that it looked like I had little or no eyeshadow on. I also found the two brushes that came with the palette practically useless! The double ended brush I didn't like and the other mini blending brush didn't really blend out my eyeshadow very well. Unfortunately this was a disappointment from Lancome.

So these are some products that I've been both loving and loathing so far this year! Let me know if you like these sort of blogposts!

Have you ever tried any of these products? How did you get on? Do you fancy trying out any of these? Let me know your thoughts below in the comments section, or on Twitter (@SarahWhelehan). I love reading your comments!

Sarah

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My Experience: Gumtree Ireland

I'm sure most of you have heard of the website Gumtree? If you live in Ireland you probably have, and I learned only recently that there is a Gumtree site operating in many different countries around the world, even as far as South Africa! If you haven't, it's basically a website which allows you to post adverts and sell your items online for free. A great way to sell things you perhaps haven't used or something that's in really good condition, while also getting something for it!

                          

I myself have used this website on many occasions over the past few years, both to sell and buy things. I've sold anything from DVDs to tickets and bought anything from furniture and tickets to musical equipment. I also have a friend who found their car on these second hand websites! I was recently browsing and discovered that there are Makeup Artists and Freelancers offering makeup training and 1 day courses. So if you interested in beauty, that might be something worth checking out! ;) Have a look here! 

If you're looking for a last minute Christmas gift, it may be worth checking out Gumtree* and you mightn't even have to travel too far!

Let me know if you've bought or sold anything on Gumtree before or if you've found any great bargains on it! I'm constantly on the look out for a good bargain! Who isn't?!

Sarah

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Christmas Gift Guide 2014

If you're wondering what to get your loved ones, there's still some time to do your shopping so rest assured! I've put together some gift ideas for those of you who are finding it difficult, or if you fancy treating yourself to something nice! I'm sure you've been good all year?! There is a mixture of some skincare and fashion pieces, something for makeup-lovers, something for your home and some bath treats too! These products are a selection of what I'm LOVING this season! I love everything here, and am planning on picking up some of what's featured here for myself!

Oasis Feather Black Dress €163

For me, this dress is a classic! If you were to buy this for your girlfriend, or for yourself, you're guaranteed to make a classic and elegant entrance into the party! This is quite pricey, but I could see someone wearing this again and again. It's a timeless, beautiful dress which combines lace and feathers, carrying you through from season to season.

Gold Love Bangle €19.50

I've been looking for a bangle or bracelet like this one for ages now. It's such a pretty classic gold bangle that could be worn anytime of the day or night. It's really affordable for €19.50 and if you present this to your friend, she'll love you for it!

REN Bath and Body Discovery Kit €18.95

This REN set is the ideal gift for anyone who is really into looking after their skin. This gift set would suit any skincare-lovers out there (your sister, best friend, Mum, Godmother, or your girlfriend) and it has a really nice selection of products for just €18.95. For someone who hasn't tried REN before, it's a great gift for them to trial out the brand. The products included are from their Moroccan Rose range and their new Invigorating Revivo-Tonic range. A real treat and it's very affordable!

Boohoo Distressed Ripped Jeans €34

I love these jeans and after spotting them on the Boohoo website I fell in love! I love the edgy look with the ripped-knees. I could see myself wearing these with an oversized white t-shirt, that gold bangle and the black shoes here. I think this look would look really nice! You could also make these jeans casual with just a nice pair of flats. These would be ideal to buy for yourself or for your friend.

The Body Shop Glazed Apple Bath Sprinkles €10.95

Glazed Apple is a really festive scent and one I love, especially this range from The Body Shop. This gift is really affordable and ideal for any teenager or friend. It would look so cute in your Christmas stocking or under the tree (or to add along with a larger gift). These are also a great way of adding a little bit of fun to your bath.

Boots 'Florence Anne' Candles €15

This range from Boots looks really great for the price point it's positioned at. This trio of candles would be a lovely gift for your Mum, Godmother, your Aunt or anyone who loves candles. They look much more expensive that €15 and would be a lovely addition to a larger gift or as a gift on it's own for your Secret Santa! This gift is ideal for someone who loves buying gifts for their home. The three scents are Blackcurrant and Fig, Grapefruit and Lime and Patchouli and Clove.

Boohoo Bodycon Dress €25

I think this dress, teamed with some jewellery would be lovely for any outing over the festive season! (How nice would these black shoes be with this dress also?!) It's really affordable and comes in black, cobalt blue or plum. If you are looking for a nice new dress for the party season, check this one out from Boohoo, or browse through their extensive range of party wear- you're guaranteed to find something to suit!

STEAMCREAM Star Gift €12.95

This little gift is so cute and tiny and would look great hanging on your Christmas tree or polking out of your Christmas stocking! I love these little cute gifts that many brands have done- a small generous 'sample' size if you wish, that is packaged so beautifully. For €12.95 you could pick up one of these for your skincare-loving friend and even one for yourself too! This is an award-winning natural skincare product, so for anyone who loves using natural skincare products, this is for them. They are also getting a present that doesn't even need to be wrapped up. BONUS! You can pick these up for your local Beauty Salon.

ASOS Heeled Sandles €60

These shoes. I just love these heels and would love them under the tree this year! If you're looking to treat yourself and get 'bang for your buck', look no further! For €60, these shoes would look great with so many different dresses, jeans, skirts, trousers- anything for that matter! I love the slightly thicker heel, which makes them easier to walk in too. As you can see I've already imagined teaming them up with both these jeans and dress from Boohoo!

Antipodes Skincare €16.63-€34.55

I've recently discovered this brand called Antipodes and I've been really impressed. If you're looking to try out some new skincare finds, that'll keep your skin hydrated this festive season, then I recommend these! These two smaller sets in the image are of their mini-travel sets and are a great way to try out more than one product. You can get a mini set with some hydrating day cream and a face oil. You can also get another one with your night cream and a night oil. I've also tried out their Hand and Body cream (which you can buy here), and it's brilliant. This dries so quickly into your hands, and is ideal for people who are always on the go! This tube would also last you for quite a while.

Urban Decay Black Magic Set €33

For anyone in your life who is interested in makeup, this eyeliner set is a really nice gift to give. This is also a gift set that would be suitable for any age group. You're getting their classic and brilliant 24/7 kohl liners in a range of colours (classic black, brown, purple, navy, khaki-green). Urban Decay is a brand that I love and I'd definitely recommend these eyeliners for those of you who love your makeup!

So, that's my Christmas Gift Guide for 2014 which I think has something for everyone, and all budgets. I hope you get some inspiration from this blogpost and that it has solved some issues you've had with wondering what to buy that special person!

Let me know if you're interested in buying anything from the Gift Guide! I'd be really interested to hear!

Sarah

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Alflorex Winter Health GIVEAWAY!

As a little treat for my loyal readers I've been offered not 1, BUT 2 of these hampers to giveaway to my readers and followers of my blog. I'm grateful for each and every one of your comments and those of you who come back time and time again to read my blog. So here's a little treat, that you could get your hands on, that would do just nicely for this Winter! The hamper is going to be sent to you, and is valued at €25!

In this hamper you can get your hands on:

• 3 month supply of Alflorex All-Natural Supplements
• 2 boxes of organic PUKKA tea
• Organic prunes
• Organic porridge teas
• Panda Liquorice bars
• A mini hot water bottle

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!!

Sarah

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Current Shower Essentials!

Now that it's coming nearer and nearer to the colder Winter months, I've decided to slightly change up my shower essentials, or basically what I've been using in the shower on a regular basis.

KÉRASTASE Resistance Bain de Force Reinforcing Shampoo (Level 1-2) (RRP €16.58)

I bought this shampoo and conditioner set about 2 years ago and I've repurchased it on 2 or 3 occasions since. I decided to purchase this after 'ombre-ing' my hair. The hairdresser recommended these to help keep my hair in good condition and to provide it with the nourishment that the bleach removed. I was honestly slightly dubious, with the price of them, and that a cheaper drugstore alternative could do just as good. But after a few weeks of using this combination each time I washed my hair, I finally saw what people were talking about!! A combination of regular compliments on my hair, wondering if I had been to the hairdressers, and the difference I saw made me just love this combination! My colour (i.e. the bleach/blonde ends) really looked so vibrant after using this. It looks like it's been freshly coloured- just what you want! 

I began using this duo each time I showered and then I began using it every other wash. So I would use a regular shampoo and conditioner set (my faves are Aussie's MEGA range or the Miracle Moist range and I also love TREsemmé) and then every other time I'd use these from Kérastase. My hair still looked as good and it is great condition! 

KÉRASTASE Resistance Ciment Anti-Usure Treatment (Level 1-2) (RRP €19.50)

This condition is also a great double product. It can be used as your regular shampoo and condition duo (as above) or because of its thick, intense consistency, they also recommend using it as a hair-mask. It's super intense and rich that it doubles up as a great hair-mask. I'd leave this in my hair for a few hours if I could, during a nice pampering evening. Leaving it on overnight also works a treat! 

The price for both these are quite high, compared to most drugstore shampoos and conditioners, but in my opinion it is really worth it. You can even get away with buying these and perhaps only using once a week and they'll last much longer. You will still see a huge difference. (I wish I had taken some pics of how my hair looked when I had regularly used this duo!) Even with regular use, I found that these both lasted an above-average time length. I only had to repurchase these approx. every 6 months (and longer when I cut down to using these less often). So you do get good value for your money. Another tip I have is to purchase these NOW (i.e. this time of year in your nearest Peter Mark) where they have a gift set made up in a lovely pretty box for the festive season. For approx. €34/€36 you get both of these (full size) AND a free 50ml of their Elixir hair oil. Ideal for a gift for a girlfriend or just even for yourself. You get to try these out and get a free hair oil too! Or I often purchase mine from FeelUnique where they regularly do Special Offers or discounts on both of these! So keep an eye on their website! (Did you know they also do FREE DELIVERY?!)

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser (RRP €23.50)

I first bought Liz Earle after hearing so many people rave about it, and that's what I'm going to do here! I love this! Simple as!! (I've done a guest-post, detailed review on Anita's Beauty Blog here so have a look). Quick tip- I first bought a 100ml pump here from LizEarle.ie but since then I always restock when I'm in Boots in Liffey Valley. I think I've told you all this before- the Boots in Liffey Valley is AMAZING! It has so many brands that you can't buy in any other store in Ireland e.g. Liz Earle. It also has other fabulous brands like Sleek Makeup, Nails Inc. Philosophy skincare, Jack Wills, Dr. Jart, Instyler, Ojon, Urban Decay, This Works, Trilogy, Bumble and Bumble, bareMinerals etc. I could go on- I literally spend over an hour in that store!! Also if you're a Student like me- you can get 10% discount on ALL these brands and so much more with your Student Travel Card. You also can earn points on your Advantage Card- which means money back! DOUBLE BONUS!!!! 

So if you can make a trip to Liffey Vally be sure to check it out when you're there or you can order online at LizEarle.ie. Around Christmas time they also do great offers of mid-sizes so you can try it out for less!

Gilette Venus Spa Breeze Razor (RRP €11.99)

Pretty standard, a razor that has a lovely scent. I went from using cheaper razors and have now used this for years and I would not go back! It is pretty expensive versus the disposable or cheaper razors, but for me it's worth it. I cannot stand sore, cut, or red under-arms or legs i.e. razor burns from the cheaper ones, and I haven't had that experience with this razor! Winner for me! This original pack comes with the razor and 2 'heads' for when you need to replace. 

Soap and Glory Scrub your Nose in it!

I can't seem to find this exact face scrub in shops now as I have it a while but I think it's been relaunched and repackaged. But it's RRP was approx. €9, and I just love the fresh Menthol scent when I use it, and my skin feels great after using it! I feel less congestion and my skin feels really fresh and clean after I use this. I use this exfoliator once a week.

Nivea In-Shower Body Moisturiser Skin Conditioner (RRP €3.13) 

This in-shower body moisturiser is so affordable and leaves your skin so supple and soft. I was unsure about how it would work but you simply apply it all over your body in the shower with a loofah and rinse it off. Get out of the shower or bath and gently pat your skin dry and your done. You don't need to apply a body moisturiser- you skin is so soft. It has a built in body moisturiser and it saves you lots of time- especially if you're in a rush in the mornings!

La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water Spray (RRP €8.99)

This Thermal Water Spray from La Roche Posy has so many nourishing ingredients for your skin and I love to add this after I come out of the shower. When you leave a warm shower, it's a great way to refresh your skin with a quick spray of this. It also closes your pores and tones your skin. It can also be used after your makeup is removed- to tone your skin, or when you apply your makeup-to set it. A real multi-purpose product! You can buy this here.

Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia Body Moisturiser

I got this little beauty last Christmas in a gift set from Jo Malone. If you didn't know Jo Malone do lovely gift sets for Christmas with a few minis in each. A great gift for a loved one or for yourself, to try out the different scents. I regularly use this as my body moisturiser after the shower- so luxurious but worth it! The smell lingers on my clothes or what ever I wear that day. You don't need to even wear perfume if you like this scent enough- it's beautiful!

So, these are my current Shower Essentials that I'm currently loving using! Do you use any of these products? Are you interested in trying any of them particularly? 

Let me know in the comments below what you like using in the shower or bath!

Sarah 

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