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The Body Shop

I was given the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel at an event, and I simply fell in love with it, but at over 35 quid it’s not ideal for the pocket. So I’ve been on the hunt for something that does the job but is a tad bit cheaper.

This brings me onto the whole point of this post The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil. I’ve been a bit of an oil junkie of late, see my review of the Waxperts Beautiful Body Oil here, so I thought oil was a good way to go.

The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil

Like the Oskia gel, the Camomile Cleansing Oil is applied to your face when it’s dry to begin with. Give the bottle a shake and then you massage it in, then wet your hands to emulsify the oil and lather some more. I really like this two step method. I feel like your helping with circulation aswell as really getting the product into your pores and giving your face a good oul clean! You then just rinse your face (I use a muslin cloth) and the jobs oxo.

I really like the Camomile Cleansing Oil. It smells lovely and fresh and you only need a couple of pumps in the palm of your hand to do your whole face (and neck if you’re like myself) so it’s not a really messy operation. It also works! A couple of times after using it I checked for residue with some micellar water and a cotton pad and there was none, so it’s taking off all of my makeup, even the waterproof parts. I rub it into my lashes, it doesn’t sting or feel uncomfortable.

It also doesn’t feel like your stripping your skin or drying it out when you use it. As I have oily skin you would assume I would want my skin as dry as a bone after washing but if you strip your skin completely it’s just going to make even more oil to compensate, we don’t want that.

The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil is made with fair trade camomile which is great and is the case for alot of The Body shop’s products. It also contains Almond Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil and Soy bean Oil so plenty of oil within the oil 🙂

In conclusion, I’ve found a really good alternative to my Oskia Cleansing Gel. It get the job done, doesn’t irritate and feels nice on the skin, I will definitely repurchase.

The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil will set you back €17.50 which is half of what the Oskia would. Also Caroline Hirons had nice things to say about the Camomile Cleansing Oil, that alone would make me buy it 🙂

 

xxx

 

 

Clarins Instant Concealer

I picked up the Clarins Instant Concealer after seeing so much positive feedback on it in the blogging community.

There may not be many of us around but I am definitely one of the few people who did not get the hype about the Nars Creamy Concealer. I found it hard to blend and kind of drying to be honest. So I did buy the Clarins Instant Concealer hesitantly as it seemed to be the next big thing in under eye concealers since the Nars offering.

I can report…I bloomin’ love it!! I picked up the shade 01, which was hard to get a hold of actually so there must be lots of pale gals like me throwing it into their baskets.

Clarins Instant Concealer 01I find this a very good shade match for my skintone. The concealer itself I would describe as dense but very workable. You can slap it on both eyes and will have plenty of time to blend it in without worrying about it setting too quickly. It does set though, you are not left with shiny under eyes that need an abundance of powder.

Clarins Instant ConcealerThe coverage of the Instant Concealer is really great. I can even bring it down around my nose and find it covers flaws and large pores. It has really great staying power too. This concealer highlights even paler skin like mine. As you can see below, it does brighten my under eye area as well as conceal.

Clarins Instant Concealer Before

Before Application

Clarins Instant Concealer After

After Application

I know I don’t suffer with huge under circles, but I do have some darkness as well as pigmentation and freckles. A small amount of the Instant Concealer gets to grips with this very easily.

I am really impressed overall with this product. Clarins is not a brand I find myself reaching for much when I am in the market for new makeup, but I think I will be making more time for it in the future.

A 15ml tube of the Clarins Instant Concealer will set you back 25 euro in Brown Thomas, Boots or alot of leading pharmacies.

xxx

turning-30_m

I am turning 30 soon and it has scared the pants off me for a long time thinking about it. I’m a thinker. I overthink, over analyse and worry that’s who I am, it’s only great :).

As I reach closer to the time of the next decade of my life I have spent alot of time (you guessed it) thinking about my life at this point and my goals. I am not where I thought I would be, not in the slightest. I always did well in school without having to try too hard and so I suppose I just assumed life would be somewhat easy when I grew up and became an adult. Things didn’t really turn out like that. I’ve spent many years trying to find a career and something I could be proud of. I have a relationship that I am proud of, he has been the one constant in my life (for a long time), that has kept me going. Life has some crazy turns both good and bad.

I am a smart arse, I sometimes talk before I think, I make alot of mistakes, I have more of a male sense of humour ( I am the only girl of 3). When I am shy or nervous I use humour to cover it up or I just close up completely and try to hide.

I am by no means perfect. And I am critical of that all of the time. I don’t have a perfect figure, perfect hair,perfect skin, I would deem myself average in alot of categories both physically and in my capabilities.

I enjoy my own company, but I don’t like to do things out of my comfort zone on my own, I find it hard to make plans and stick to them, I can be lazy, I can be selfish, I have a temper, I am brutal at small talk the list is endless and it’s not one I am proud of 🙂

The reason I sat down to babble though is because I have realised that just because I am not the definition of perfect doesn’t mean I don’t matter, doesn’t mean my opinion or feelings are not important. We are all important, we are also important to someone. We have people who loves us for who we are warts and all. We should embrace this and feel free in this environment instead of trying to make the people who don’t matter like us. I have spent big chunks of my life doing that. Not everyone will like you in life, we have to come to terms with it. I know it’s hard, believe me and I am not writing this because I have the antidote, I just wanted to write it to say you are not alone.

We can all feel alone at times even when we are surrounded by people. I know I can forget to live in the moment because I am so worried about what is going to happen in the future. Sometimes I have to be snapped out of it and told to cop onto myself…he does that alot 🙂

static1.squarespace.com

My goals for my 30’s is to take more chances, see more things, love the people who love me more, spend time with them, but most of all love and be proud of myself…flaws and all, because I matter!

I know this blog is for makeup and beauty products and I love these things because they make us feel better about ourselves, more confident, but it doesn’t define us. We define us! Don’t let anyone let you feel inferior. You are amazing! You won’t always believe it but you are 🙂

xxx

Nars Dual Intensity Palette

I received this from my other half for Valentine’s Day. I am not very romantical, but who can say no to this loveliness? I am a lucky girl 🙂

This is the Nars Dual Intensity Palette in all it’s glory before I got it all grubby.

Nars Dual Intensity Palette

I bought a single Dual Intensity Shadow when they were released first exclusively to Space nk and paid €27 for it, so this palette is a pretty good deal at €55 for 8 of them AND a flat shadow number 49 brush to boot aswell as lovely packaging. The single shadows are 0.5oz and the shadows in the palette are 0.3oz. The palette is a much more practical deal to try out these shadows.

Nars Eyeshadow Brush

The Brush That Comes In The Palette

 

Close up Dual Intensity Palette

Close Up Of The Shadows Before I Dug In

 

Seven of the shades are part of the permanent range, but there is one shade called “Ursa Major” that is for now exclusive to the palette.

They are are all shimmery shadows ain’t no mattes around these parts 🙂 They are formulated to be used wet or dry. Applied dry they apply a bit more sheer and they are of course easier to blend. They are buildable though as you will see below. When you apply them wet, they become foiled and are even more metallic and magnificent. They are soft and just glide onto the lid. I feel they last better on the skin wet rather than dry.

Below, I have swatched them all so you can see them for yourself, wet and dry.

(Top four)

Narsissist Dual Intensity Swatches dry

Dry

Narsissist Dual Intensity Palette Swatch Wet

Wet

Europa                                Himalia                      Ursa Major                   Subra

(Bottom four)

Narissist Dual Intensity Palette Swatch Dry

Dry

Narsissist Dual Intensity Palette Wet

Wet

Andromeda                       Lysithea                        Giove                              Sycorax

As you can see we have warmer brown tones on the top of the palette and then cooler blacker tones on the bottom. Everything you will need for a metallic smokey eye 🙂

 

If you are a makeup junkie, and have money to splurge you need the Dual Intensity Palette in your life. The colours and pigmentation within it are just beautiful. You will get alot of use out of it if you like to experiment with makeup and play with colours and textures. I am not an enabler I swear 🙂

Have you picked it up yourself?  Can you justify it?

Be sure to let me know.

xxx

 

Catrice Cosmetics

I picked up some bits not too long ago on a bit of a shopping spree from Catrice Cosmetics and I have been loving them and using them alot. I thought I would share some of them with you in case you are in the market for some afforable lovelies 🙂

First up is their All Matt Plus Shine Control Makeup.

catrice all matt plus 015 vanilla beige

I got the shade 015 Vanilla Beige which is a pretty good neutral match for my pink toned skin.

all matte plus 015It has a light coverage and is shiny when you first apply but dulls down as it dried into your skin.

catrice foundationThis is a good foundation, it lasts well (powdered) on my oily skin and doesn’t oxidise. It isn’t too drying or cakey and it blends really well. It is also buildable for us girls who like a more medium coverage.

Next up on my Catrice love fest is one of their Ultimate Shine Gel Colour Lipsticks.

catrice ultimate shine gel colour 080 russian violettecatrice ultimate shine gel colour 080 russian violetteThis is in the shade 080 Russian Violette. These are like a hybrid lipstick lipgloss. They are not sticky and are really pigmented. They feel balmy on the lips so good for days when your lips are not in tip top condition. Also I am in love with this colour.

catrice ultimate shine gel colour 080 russian violette swatch It’s a purpley pinky lipstick of loveliness and I have been picking it up so much over the past few weeks. It’s so easy to throw on and lasts really well.

My last two Catrice finds are two of their Liquid Metal Eyeshadows.

catrice liquid metal eyeshadows

I threw these into my basket because they looked cool in the pan, I have to be honest. They have a cool wavy effect to them and I couldn’t say no :p

liquid metal eyeshadow gold leaf meliquid metal eyeshadow gold leaf meThe first one is called 070 Gold Leaf Me and is a kind of pewter cool toned gold colour.

liquid metal eyeshadow gold leaf me swatchcatrice liquid metal eyeshadow 100 what do you seacatrice liquid metal eyeshadow 100 what do you seaThe second one is called 100 What Do You Sea? My description of this would be nearly a green toned blue, if this exists? It is blue but there’s an element of green in there too.

catrice liquid metal eyeshadow 100 what do you sea swatchThe name Liquid Metal, sums these shadows up quite well I think. They are opaque when built up but you can also just use them for a wash of colour on the lids too. I have used them wet aswell and it brings the metal element out in the colour even more. They are smooth and they blend too which is not always the case for cheaper shadows.

Catrice have really upped their game in the last couple of years. They have such a diverse range of products for all types of makeup users. Everything is reasonably priced, and they are constantly bringing out new collections and products to keep us wanting more. I know I do 🙂

xxx

  1. Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

I have been waffling on about Benefit and there new launches a bit lately. Apologies if it doesn’t float your boat.

I have spoken about when I was invited to the launch of Roller Lash here and given some info on it already, aswell as delving into their Puff Off Eye Gel here for tired puffy eyes.

Roller Lash is Benefit’s newest mascara. When you think of Benefit Cosmetics, you tend to think of mascara, it’s their thing and they do it well. Roller Lash is no exception.

I am a waterproof mascara junkie. I have crap lashes that are straight and the only way they tend to hold a curl is with a waterproof formula. Roller Lash has proved me wrong here. Benefit say you don’t need to use an eyelash curlers when using Roller Lash. If you are already blessed with some sort of curl to your lash, then you don’t need to bother at all. I do curl mine though, that’s what makes me feel comfortable.

Roller Lash has a plastic brush which we see more and more of nowadays in our mascaras. This brush has little tiny hooks on it, that grab the lashes when you run it through, catching them, coating them with mascara and lifting them up as you go. If you look close you can kind of see them, it’s hard to show them in a picture because the product is covering the brush.

Roller Lash Wand Up CloseSo now for the part we all want to see, Roller Lash in action 🙂

Beautynook no mascara

No mascara

 

beauty nook roller lash

With mascara added

 

Beauty Nook review

Side view of my lashes

They look a little better no? Roller Lash lengthens and separates your lashes really well. It has a wet formula, but its not too clumpy or hard to work with. You can layer a good amount of it on and your lashes still keep a curl. I have worn this most days since I have gotten it and it has yet to flake or transfer throughout the day. It is not a waterproof formula so you do not have to scrub your eyes raw to get it off at the end of the day either.

I choose not to wear it on my bottom lashes just because I know Mac’s Extended Play works for me there and it has a small wand so I find it easier to use. I would of course use Roller Lash if I did not have another mascara specifically for my lower lashes though. #makeupobsessedproblems :p

Its a really great mascara and I am personally pleasantly surprised I like it so much, as I never really got the hype for Bad Gal of They’re Real. Roller Lash is the one for me.

Gemma

xxx