Benefits new launches....be still my beating heart

Hey guys,
Now I have been a huge fan of Benefit cosmetics since around 1996 when a friend brought me home High beam from a trip to the US. I fell in love with the brand on the bases of this product and I fell hard. I was a regular visitor to the counter in Brown Thomas to feed my obsession.To this day I have never been disappointed with a benefit product.
So you imagine my excitement to see these new launches,I mean OMG how gorge are these fab new pro.
First up is the New They're Real! Double The Lip Liner & Lipstick. This sexy piece of kit comes in 8 STUNNING shades and is available now on counter at only €22 each. They are all gorge and very wearable but if I had to choose a top 3 it would be Pink Thrills,Lusty Rose and Fuchsia Fever!!!!!!!

As if that wasn't exciting enough 8 new shadows have also be added to the They're real collection. With a duo shadow blender its easy to get a sexy vampy look. These are also available now for €26 each. These are all divine and I would happily rock any of these shades on my peepers. If you havent tried Benefit eye shadows you are in for a treat,they glide on,dont settle in creases and have very little fall out.

All this gorgeousness is available on counter right now....Check them out,I know I will be.
Until next time,
Love,
Claire xx

Sexy Scent with The Body Shop Black Musk*

Hey guys,
Recently I received a bottle of the newest perfume oil from The Body Shop. I am of course talking about Black Musk,the sexy big sister of the much loved White Musk. Now i have been a fan of  White Musk since I was 14 so was nervous to try the Black Musk in case it was too heady for me. I need not have worried,it is a stunning fragrance.
This fragrance is all about sensuality. Black Musk  has a sweetness to it but it also has a darker more sensual  side due to musk and woody notes.Even the packaging  is sexy with black and hot pink labelling.

Perfume ,if you are not aware is made up of topnotes,middle notes and base notes.

The top notes are the scents that hit you as soon as you spray a perfume,they consist of small, light molecules that evaporate quickly. They form a person's initial impression of a perfume.In this case the top notes consist of bergamot,pear and pink pepper

The middle notes are also called the "heart notes".The scent of a perfume that emerges just before the top notes dissipate. Not surprisingly, the scent of middle note compounds is usually more mellow and "rounded." In this case the Middle notes consist of ylang-ylang and  licorice

The base notes are the headier notes and the ones that linger longer on your skin.  Base notes bring depth and solidity to a perfume and can be found on the skin up to 24hours after application. Base notes of black vanilla infused with musk,vetiver, and patchouli.

These notes all marry together to make this "Floriental" a delicious,sensual and quite frankly sexy scent,that I adore.

If you want to try it out for yourself it is €25.95 and is  available from all Body Shop stores ,find your nearest store HERE
Till next time,
Love,
Claire xx 

*This product was sent to me for review purposes however all opinions expressed are my own xx

Joico Colour Infuse Brown Shampoo and Conditioner *

Hey guys,
I'm back with a review of a shampoo and conditioner I have using and loving for over a month now.
It is from the Salon sold brand Joico. The products I have been using are the Joico Colour Infuse Brown Shampoo and Conditioner. I am a brunette with naturally dark hair. I do now colour my hair a few times a year to colour those pesky grey feckers that like to take up residence in my hair (how rude!!!). However, I digress...I find that for a few weeks after my hair is coloured it looks great,then it fades,dramatically. Now I was a blonde for about 14 years so my hair has seen more than its fair of abuse. Consequently it looks very dull as the colour fades.
I was over the moon to be sent these products from Joico. It is a brand I am familiar with as my hair salon uses this range,so i knew they would be good. What i didn't know was how good they would be. They are amazing.Seriously if you have brown/brunette hair you need these. Don't panic if you are a blonde or a red head they do a range for you guys too.

This shampoo and conditioner  are going to be my holy grail. Don't get me wrong I  use other shampoos and will continue to try out other products ,however this is now my saving grace.
Its my "I need great hair right now combo". It transforms dull lifeless hair in just one shower you will see a huge difference, leave it on to penetrate for a few minutes. I had a mirror like shine and healthy looking hair after just one shampoo and condition.

Perfect for refreshing your colour, this range will enhance warm tones on colour treated brunettes,it's also  great on natural hair.
Lets not forget the Conditioner...it says to use it after every other shampoo until you reach the desired level of shine then use as needed. For me i now only use the conditioner once a week,thats all my hair needs (partly because the shampoo is so good ) .It also says leave on for 1-5 mins, as I only use it once a week I leave it on for the 5 mins usually while im shaving my legs!!
Now for the technical info,why is this range so special???
Multi-Spectrum Defence Complex helps protect color against fading, while our Bio-Advanced Peptide Complex delivers root-to-tip repair, protection, frizz-fighters, and shine with each and every use. Plus, we added Anionic Dye Technology to the mix to ensure that colour-enhancing dyes attach… and stay attached.
There you have it...you can buy Joico produts in selected Salons (Kopper is mine ) try it out you will not be disappointed.
Till next time,
Love Claire xx
* These products were sent to me for review purposes however opinion expressed is my own xx

Cocoa Brown....Golden Goddess Oil

Cocoa Brown Golden Goddess is the latest product from the amazing Marissa Carter.OMG,what I can I say...i want to bathe in this. This is without a doubt the best shimmering dry oil on the market. It is silky soft,the oil sinks in straight away with no greasy feeling. It smells Divine,and the shimmer is out of this world. It's tiny almost micro particles of shimmer so the effect is very classy. It is not clumpy glitter reminiscent of going clubbing in the 90's .....(as if)!!!!!

This is it...the Holy grail of shimmer oils.

 Enough here to do your whole arm but how gorgeous is it.?

 Look at the rich tone and subtly shimmer!!

One gorgeous hand and one not so gorgeous lol


I am a huge Cocoa brown fan and was very excited to try this new product. I high tailed it into penneys to get my hands on a bottle of the golden goddess oil and  I was not disappointed. The shimmer is suspended in the oil so you have to 'shake it to wake it '. The oil itself feels rich and luxurious on the skin. This product by used with or with fake tan. I wore it over my One hour Dark tan (review to follow ....hint it's amazeballs) and the effect was beautiful. I have worn it without tan too across my decolatage to really take the bare look off me,and it worked a treat. It makes your skin glow almost as if it was lit from withi

 It was amazing to wear to Christmas nights out but but I can't wait to see it in the summer too. I used it on my decolletage and on my arms. I used it down my shins (makes the old legs look fantastic) . I also used it on my face namely my cheekbones as a shimmer highlight. It is a beautiful product and one I would highly recommend.

WARNING: Wearing this product may  cause you to strut around feeling like a supermodel .

As with all Cocoa Brown products the Golden Goddess oil is available in penneys/primary and selected pharmacies. I'm heading of in there tomorrow to restock.

Love Claire xx

Aurora hair band...for Charlies Angels hair while you sleep

Hey Guys, so i was lucky enough to receive one of these little beauties in the post a little while back.

Since then I have tried this numerous times and I must say I love the results even on my mid lenght hair.

So how does it work..after you have washed and towel dried your hair you simply roll your hair into this little beauty.

Then,you go to bed....that's it...no curling tongs,no using GHD's to curl your hair,no dead arm while you try to curl your hair. I also like that you are not using heat to achieve the waves so you are not damaging your hair. It is so simple to do and the results are just superb.

The band is very comfortable to sleep in ,no more waking up with a crick in your neck from conventional rollers. My hubby did give me a funny look but he has seen my go to bed with stranger things on!!!

To use just part in your desired parting. Place The Aurora Band on your head. Divide hair down the back centre of crown as if to make pigtails. Starting from the front, take your first section, about 2 inches for longer hair, make bigger sections.
ALWAYS REMEMBER to add the remainder of each section into the next until you reach the nape of the neck. Repeat on the opposite side, again starting at the front.
Pull the Band back to hairline when finished wrapping.

TOP TIP Try to leave a space at the back of the band where the 2 sides meet. This ensures easy unlooping in the morning.
To remove the band start unravelling from the nape of the neck by turning the band inside out and inserting your finger under the loop, starting from the last section wrapped. Work to the front and repeat process on the opposite side.
DO NOT  pull hair from Velcro side when unlooping.
My hair was a little on the wild side initially but by the time i had my make up applied and was ready to go out the door it had relaxed and look great.

 It is very important to remove the band as directed ,i have seem some negative reviews regarding knotty hair and hair being stuck to the Velcro.
I removed it as instructed each time and I haven't had an issue,but i can see how you would if you don't follow instructions. Take a few minutes to remove the band properly and you will have great results.
I have also worn this band during the day after showering in the morning (obviously a day I'm staying at at home lol) and have again gotten great results .
I will be saving a fortune on curly blowdry's
This product is available online from aurorahairproducts click here and in selected pharmacies

Tight Ass Tuesday with Aldi!!!

Hey guys so we've just had the May bank holiday complete with crappy weather but that means the June bank holiday is fast approaching. Along with that will come some hopefully warm weather so its time to start thinking about protecting our skin in the sun.

No matter what skincare you use be it Creme De La Mer or La Prairie or Aldi's finest or somewhere in between, it will make no difference if you don't look after and protect your skin from sun damage.
The sun is the cause of  most of the damage to our skin.. Sure environmental factors and lifestyle play a part but sun damage causes lines,wrinkles,pigmentation,crepeness....etc...etc... and they are not the worst effect.
The cause can be detrimental to our health if abused but if you look after your skin you can safely have fun in the sun this summer.

Which brings me to Aldi no less..They do a range of sun protection that is actually very good.

It is from their Lacura range and they do a wide range of factors ranging from 10 to 50+.
They are available in a milk formula and an oil formula in some of the factors.
I use the Extra sensitive Sun Spray Kids 50+ on my family. I use the factor 30 in a spray formula on myself.
I am dark haired and sallow skinned so i tan very well given half a chance(with 2 kids under 3 i don't see that happening this year) but i don't go lower than factor 30 on my body and 50+ on my face.
Obviously with kids I'm not going lower than 50+ and my hubby is very pale and freckly so he uses the 50+ too.
The formula is very lightweight for a 50+ they can tend to be very thick with some brands and can leave you looking like you are covered in Dulex brilliant white. This doesn't happen with Aldi sun protection. It is not sticky either once its rubbed in you can go about your day very quickly. 

One thing worth mentioning is that  as well as high UVB protection they have an excellent UVA rating ..they all have 5 star rating which is the highest you can get. Why is this important..the UVA rays are the ageing rays the ones that cause lines wrinkles premature ageing etc. The 5 star rating means the product has maximum filters in the product to stop those rays reaching the epidermis and into the deeper  layers of your skin.

There is a misconception that around a LONG time about sun cream and that is that it will stop me tanning...NOT TRUE . You will get a beautiful tan if that's what you want but it will be a safe tan.
I worked in pharmacy for 10 years and the amount of people that refused to buy high sun protection because 'it will stop me tanning ' was frightening.  I always use high factors now...not the case in my teens and early 20's but the dangers were not well known then..they are now.Guys please if you want to look after your skin use protection!!! You will still tan just do it the right way please.

Make up Monday with Urban Decay

So over the weekend I was invited into Urban Decay for the launch of their summer collection.
The weather was beyond crappy and dull beyond belief, but my God will the new collection brighten your mood.The summer collection is full of stunning vibrant shades guaranteed to give you the most up to date look to your make up.

 First up is of course the Lip gloss.....Revolution High Colour Lip gloss which comes  in 14 beautiful shades

Now obviously as my name suggests I freaking love lip gloss and they are not all created equally. These glosses are so pigmented they are super long lasting but they are not sticky. I HATE sticky gloopy lip glosses. You know the kind when you open your mouth and get those stringy bits at the edges.. that is NOT going to happen with these. The shine is unreal its like a lacquer on your lip giving a real wet look. These are a sexy sophisticated way to wear lip gloss.Retails for €19 and there is a waiting list for the purple as it sold out on the day it was launched.

Next up are the eye shadows..8 stunning new shades which cover blue,purple,green,browns,pinks and some amazing two-tone shades.
The shadows retail for €18 and can be popped out and put into the travel pallet if you have one..ideal for going on holidays etc.
The pigmentation of the shadows is incredible and they are whisper soft to the touch,so they will not settle into any pesky lines you might have.

Last up is the blusher.....Afterglow 8hr powder blush (no offence to UD but calling this 8hr was a mistake it last a LOT longer)
 These come in 12 incredible shades ranging for a subtle coral/brown to a vivid purple and even a red/burnt orange.Now I'm not going to lie when i saw the vivid colours i was a little scared, but as Cathryn and Jamie pointed out if you are tanned or darker skinned it is very hard to get blush to show up on your skin. These colours look amazing on darker/tanned skinned.They really make your skin pop and look alive.
I love the packaging of the blushes..I'm a sucker for nice packaging i really get seduced by the packaging..if its crap I'm not going to purchase it. Urban's packaging is on-point!!!
The blush retail for  €28 and is worth every cent.

If you are not familiar with Urban Decay they have some amazing products.

Their Naked Skin  foundation is gorgeous and buildable without looking caked on the face.It is oil free and paraben free as is most of the range actually. The foundation comes in 18 shades.The foundation also comes in tones..so pink toned or yellow toned in each shade so finding a perfect match is very easy. (Review to follow) Retails for €37 and is a 30ml size.

Their best selling mascara Perversion Mascara is a lenghtening and volumizing formula. It has a gorgeous creamy texture and it is blackest black. It is very buildable. You can add layer after layer of this and it will not clump.The twisted trim on the brush latches on to each lash to separate and define.. It pulls through lashes smoothly and lays down a generous amount of product. No need to wiggle the wand or manoeuvre it at all different angles!(Full review to follow ) Retails for €22.

Now drum roll please.....I didn't know a product like this existed but its the Ultimate Ozone Multipurpose Pencil retails for €19.
So big deal Claire its a pencil..NO ITS NOT..this is a magic wand! You can use this little beauty to erase any make up mistakes you have made.
Putting on red lipstick and its goes outside the lip line...Not a problem grab this wonder stick and it removes it in a flash.
Putting on your mascara and you blink before its dry and get mascara on your eyelid ...one swipe of this pencil and its gone. A must own product that can also be used to temporarily erase your wrinkles!!!

Full review on even more Urban Decay products coming in the next few weeks XXX

Tanning Thursday with Cocoa Brown

Welcome to Tanning Thursday

This weeks product is from Cocoa Brown tan and I tried the 1 hour tan.I bought this in Penneys/primark and it cost €8.00
I had heard a lot about this tan so I did have high hopes and was not disappointed.
The fragrance is not like other fake tans (soggy biscuit) smells lovely and exotic.
It is very moisturising and gentle enough to be used on both face and body.
It is an easy to apply mousse, fast-drying, non-stick and fades evenly.
Another plus for me is that it contains no Parabens and is kind to sensitive skin.
Apply tan and wait between 1 and 3 hours. Colour Varies between light and dark depending on how long you leave the tan on before showering.
Once you wash it off the GOLDEN tan ( not orange ) will last up to 5 days.I love that this tan fades evenly with no patchy dirty looking bits

.I cannot wait to try more from this fab range

I

Here is the before and after... the tan was applied before bed and  this was how it looked after my morning shower ...pretty amazing huh!!!

 

This is also available from Simply Foxy  shop here 

 http://www.simplyfoxy.com

Make up Monday Benefit

Hey guys welcome back to Make up Monday...Todays brand is Benefit cosmetics and I freaking love it .Such cute packaging and products that really deliver..have some fun putting on your face .
Here are my current favs from the range

Benefit Cosmetics - Hello Flawless TOASTED BEIGE

Flawless face now who doesnt want that???
This give a beautiful flawless appearance to the skin..it really helps to brighten and grey skin and makes you look alive and healthy!!
Available in Debenhams.

Benefit Cosmetics - Hello Flawless..I use TOASTED BEIGE

Benefit Cosmetics - Pocket Pal Lip Gloss

Love this little guy a must have for your make up bag
Benefit Cosmetics - Pocket Pal Lip Gloss

Benefit Cosmetics - BADgal Waterproof Mascara

BADgal waterproof is one amazing , black waterproof mascara  .The waterproof & smudge-proof formula keeps mascara intact no matter what elements eyelashes may face. No more smudging or lingering on lids... this stuff doesn't move!

Benefit Cosmetics - BADgal Waterproof Mascara

Tight Ass Tuesday....Get your Glow on with Botanics Radiance Balm

WOW WOW WOW...That's all I can say about this little tube form the Botanics range in Boots.
Its the Radiance Balm,All Bright and its fan- bloody- tastic.

It glides onto the skin and give a stunning glow. This can be used all over the face under your foundation which will give a beautiful ' lit from within' look to the skin.
It can also be used over your foundation as a highlighter on the high points of your cheeks,down the centre of the nose and in the cupids bow.
This balm smells Divine..it would also be really nice along the collar bones to add a sexy glow or down the shins to give the illusion of longer and leaner limbs( and who doesn't want that??)
Anther spot to use it is under the brow..it gives a clean edge and the illusion of higher arch so a more awake appearance to the eye area.
It reminds me a lot of  Benefits highlighters..it will give a very similar effect but for a much smaller price.
I bought mine this week in Boots in Mahon Point and its 1/2 price so it only costs a tiny €3.99
Get yours fast...you will not be disappointed.

 This is how it is packaged and normally retails at €7.99,currently €3.99 in  Boots in Mahon Point

 This is the colour of the product its a light peachy colour.

This is my before and after the before is the grey looking hand on top and the after is the bottom hand which just looks youthful and glowy.

Fancy Friday....spongelle anti cellulite bodybuffer

So I got this interesting little guy in the post last week from the lovely Michelle  from Spongelle and its their Anti Cellulite Body Buffer.

What it says on the label...It's an all in one Luxurious body wash to cleanse and improve the appearance of cellulite with every shower.
What i say is i absolutely agree.This is a beauty must have. It smells delicious.It says the fragrance is Passion Fruit-Yuzu Aromatherapy  and  it is gorgeous..a really clean fresh and lightly floral scent which lingers on the skin after your shower.Also leaves the bathroom smelling like a spa.
Normally i hate exfoliating in the shower as half my product just goes down the plug hole but with this that doesn't happen. In fact you get at least 25 showers from one spongelle buffer.
This dual sided Anti-Cellulite Toning Buffer utilises the SalSphere delivery system to massage, smooth, and exfoliate areas prone to cellulite.
 You use the soft side to cleanse and moisturise your skin then flip over to use the textured side for a deep exfoliating massage.
Also brilliant to use on that dimpled chicken skin looking bit at the back of the arms...you know what i mean right?

One of the things I love about this buffer is that its Paraben Free! Big thumbs up !
It will Lasts for  at least 25 showers so great value for money
It contains  Green Tree Extract  which is known for its amazing anti-aging and anti-oxidant properties.
It also has Grapefruit Seed Extract (skin conditioning properties)as well as Indian Lotus Flower which works to improve the  texture of the skin.

I had high hopes for this buffer especially coming into spring and summer where more body parts are on display and i have to say this body buffer did the trick.It  left my skin smooth, with better tone and super soft.
With regards to improving cellulite i do think this will defiinately work for that.I can already see a difference after just  a few showers in the tone of my skin and the appearance of the backs of my thighs.. ..I will keep you posted...when i come to the end of my buffer I will share a before a after pic of my legs to show you the difference :) :)
These are available in the following locations in Cork  ..Body Beautiful, East village, Douglas, Co.Cork and
Phalanges Care, Seskin, Bantry.Co Cork and Emer's Beauty Parties, Ladysbridge,Co.Cork.
 For a nationwide list of stockists click here
They are also available to purchase online from spongelleireland.ie
To shop click here

Tight Ass Tuesday...W7 In the Night Pallet

Hello my Tight assed friends...welcome back :)
So I had never tried a W7 eyeshadow until recently,I had seen them in Sam McCauleys and thought wow they are cheap and look very similar to the Naked pallets (which are considerably more expensive)I have been playing with this pallet for the last 3 weeks and i have to say I'm impressed.
On first look at this palette I definitely think this is more suited for an evening look..as the name would suggest!!
These beautifully coordinated shadows gives you a  defined eye that allows you to go as bold or natural as you want. The silky smooth formula glides effortlessly onto the skin for long-lasting colour.
If you have 'young' eyes..IE wrinkle free and not crepey you'll be fine..if you are slightly older you may find the darker shades tend to settle in the crease's the day goes on but a quick blend with a dry finger will sort that out
 I think there's something for everyone in this palette whether you're dark or light skinned, or whether you're bold or subtle with your makeup. I'm quite enjoying playing about with these shades to create various looks....the pigmentation is fantastic and the price is so affordable
Contains the following 12 shades : 1. Dusty 2. Wonderland 3. Summer 4. Atlanta 5. Abracadabra
6. Top Hat 7. Razzamataz 8. Lady Luck 9. Laura E 10. Party Pooper 11. Gate Crash 12. Bologna.
My favs have to be Atlanta,Gate Crash Top hat and Razamataz.
What are your favs??Available in Sam McCauleys and other selected pharmacies and retails for under €10.00
Also available from Simply Foxy   shop here

http://www.simplyfoxy.com