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.
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 🙂
I could probably make a list like this at least once a year. I know Mac lippies are a bit expensive and other more afforable brands do brilliant alternatives that I have and love, but Mac lipsticks were the first ‘higher end’ makeup I ever owned. I love going into Mac full stop, but coming home with a sleek black bullet full of colour just gets me so excited and less face it they do great lipsticks. You can pick them up in Brown Thomas or in some BT2 and they are priced at 19.50 euro.
So I wanted to compile my top 5 for you. I thought 5 was a manageable number and I could get a good range of colours and finishes into the list, in case you are a Mac newbie or you are just looking for a new one to add to your collection 🙂 I will disclaim and say I am not really a nude lip gal. I have a couple of more nude options in my Mac collection like ‘Lovelorn’ and ‘Myth’ but they don’t really get a whole load of love. I wanted to be honest with my picks, so if you only wear nude lippies…I’m sorry 🙁
First up, I have probably the most wearable out of my 5 picks.
This is ‘Plumful’. This is a lustre finish lipstick. You can see from the bullet this is well loved by me.
It is a modest berry colour, that I think would suit a multitude of people. It has a lovely sheen to it with it being a lustre, so gloss does not have to be added if you like a glossy finish. It goes with any kind of makeup look and is so easy to wear, you can slap this on on the way out the door and you don’t need to worry about it. It last reasonably well too and will leave a hint of a stain behind when it starts to wear.
Next up I have Plumful’s more intense cousin 🙂
This is Rebel and this is a Satin finish lipstick.
I have blabbed about Rebel a good bit since I have added it to my collection. It’s a medium to dark berry toned shade depending on how intensely you apply it and is cool toned. With it being a Satin finish, it is not completely matte, it has a subtle shine to it which makes it comfortable to wear. I love Rebel for a dramatic night out with minimal makeup, it really makes a statement. If you like a dark lip Rebel is a good option to have in my opinion, I get alot of wear out of it. Again, it lasts really well and is easy to touch up throughout the night or day as the Satin formula doesn’t cling too much to the lips.
‘Girl About Town’ is one of my favourite lipsticks ever ever ever.
Growing up, I had crap teeth, so in my teens and early 20’s I didn’t experiment with lipstick alot because I didn’t want to bring attention to them. A few years ago I got Invisalign (best thing I ever did). After a few months my teeth were straight and my lipsticks stash started to grow and grow. Girl About Town was one of the first intense colours I ever bought and will always hold a special place in my heart.
It is an Amplified finish.
This means it packs a bold punch, a little goes a long way. It is a fuschia pink with blue undertones, hello whiter teeth! Although it is nearly a matte formula when on, it’s a creamy lipstick and glides onto the lips really well. I love this shade, it makes you look brighter whatever your skin tone. If you don’t have it, swatch it the next time you are in Mac, it is really worth the look.
The last two on this Mac lipstick journey are matte formula lipsticks.
First up is ‘Lady Danger’.
Lady Danger is one of the coolest lipsticks I own ever, full stop!
It is bold, it is rich, it is orangey red and it has warm undertones, so not for the faint hearted. I think it is alot more orange than red, but I suppose it depends on who is wearing it that determines that. On me (Mac NC20) it is more orange. Lady Danger lasts a really long time on the lips. Although it’s matte its not the most drying lipstick I have ever used, it doesn’t cling too badly if your lips are not in tip top condition. Not for everyone I know, but I just love it 🙂
My last choice is a no brainer. Mac do red lipsticks and they do them well, so one had to creep it’s way into my top 5.
This is their Retro-Matte lipstick in ‘Riri Woo’.
This is the red that they collaborated with Rihanna on, but ‘Ruby Woo’ from the permanent collection is pretty much the same when applied, the packaging just pulled me in on this one.
Riri Woo is the perfect cool toned matte red lipstick. It is pigmented beyond belief but it is one of the most drying lipsicks you will ever use. You need to be prepared for that. It lasts for ages too and will stain the lips as it wears but if your lips begin to dry or flake you will feel it and notice it and it won’t be pretty, so you do have to keep an eye on your lips throughout the day or night. It is best applied with a lip brush for precise application as it can drag the lips a bit.
I sound a bit negative saying all of that, but it is so worth it for the lip colour you get in return, just prepare in advance for it!
There you have it. My top 5 Mac lipsticks. I am always in the market for more favourites, so be sure to tell me yours.
https://i0.wp.com/beautynook.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Beautynoom-Top-5-Mac-Lipsticks-25-1.jpg?fit=1600%2C1069&ssl=110691600Gemhttps://beautynook.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Logo.pngGem2015-03-24 15:13:552016-01-25 19:22:32My Top 5 Mac Lipsticks
The blogsphere has been alight ever since Max Factor brought out their Creme Puff Blushes. Instantly they were being compared to the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes…they look really really similar in the pan so there is no surprise there! As the proud owner of 4 Hourglass blushes I thought it was my duty as a blogger and makeup obsessed person to buy a couple of the Max Factor Creme Puff Blushes and compare. All in the name of research I swear 🙂
So today I am comparing Hourglass’s ‘Mood Exposure’ (which I have in palette form)
to Max Factor’s ’10 Nude Mauve’.
They look pretty similar in the pan don’t they? The marbling effect in ‘Mood Exposure’ is more prominent than in Nude Mauve, and ‘Nude Mauve’ looks a tad more shimmery when you look at them both up close.
When they are swatched on the skin, they look like this.
Mood Exposure Nude Mauve
Hourglass’s ‘Mood Exposure’ is a slightly more muted peach shade when swatched whereas Max Factor’s ‘Nude Mauve’ is true to it’s name and a little darker and more nude in colour.
Both blushes blend really well on the skin and can be worn as a light flush of colour or can be built up for a more noticeable application. They both have a very subtle sheen to them, with just a smattering of shimmer nothing too drastic or over powering at all. They both also have a light fragrance to them, different but it really won’t affect you when you are wearing either of them.
Rather than talking about them separately it just felt natural for me to talk about them together because they really are such similar products. Except of course when it comes to the price tag. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes will set you back close to 40 quid where as the Max Factor Creme Puff Blushes are a much more budget friendly 11.50, there’s a big difference there.
Both of these blushes are the perfect neutral blush colour, for less makeup days or when you are having a day of focus on your eyes or your lips, both of them would tie your look together without trying to steal the show. It’s just down to which one you want to buy. As a makeup ‘collector’ yep that’s what I’m calling myself! I like having both of them at my disposal but in reality the Max Factor offering is cheaper, more readily available and does the exact same thing!
I am not a waxer, I hold my hands up and admit to that. My hair grows really fast and just for me it would be too expensive to upkeep. However I know the Waxperts brands very well and they are a force to be reckoned with in the waxing world. They have taken Ireland and the United Kingdom by storm with their painless wax and methods and are set to conquer the world.
Just because I do not wax does not mean I cannot use their skincare products though. They so far have two on the market and I am hear to tell you all about them 🙂
First up is the Waxperts Wonder Pads.
These have been around a while now and I have been using them for a long time and love them. They are marketed towards the treatment and prevention of ingrown hairs after waxing or for someone like me after shaving. They work really well for this, but they can also be used for treating spots or any lumps or bumps you might get anywhere on the body including the face. Wonder Pads contain salicylic acid, so they unclog the pores and neutralise any bacteria within them. They also contain panthenol that helps to hydrate the skin while also helping to stop the itching that can happen after you shave or wax, pretty good right? This is the bit I love particularly about them because I am always prone to lumps and bumps after shaving…the joys! They don’t dry out your skin either like some salicylic acid products can.
You get 40 pre moistened pads per pot so it will last you a good while before you have to pick up another batch. You can get them from Cloud 10 Beauty here or from Dolledup.ie and they will set you back €7.95. I really recommend them.
The newest launch from Waxperts comes in the form of their Beautiful Body Oil.
Body oils can really be hit or miss. They can be too oily on the skin and make you feel slimy and unclean when you apply it, and make you literally have to wait an hour before clothing touches you…nightmare! The good ones can usually set you back a fair bit of dosh and then you tend to use them for only special occasions. None of this is the case for Waxperts Beautiful Body Oil.
It was created for at home consumption because the oil Waxpert waxers used at appointments went down really well and clients wanted to be able to bring it home with them.
The Beautiful Body Oil can be used in many different ways, post waxing, post shaving, post bathing or showering or post sunbathing(that’s alot of posts). As the main ingredient is lavender and the oil smells divinely of it, it’s great to use before bed as we know lavender products are great for relaxation.
I have been using the Beautiful Body Oil everyday after showering or bathing for the past few weeks. It soaks in really quickly, smells lovely, and leaves your skin feeling supple and soft without any residue. I can’t say anything bad about it. I even love the bottle because you can pump the oil out onto your hands or body so none of the product is wasted!
Waxperts Beautiful Body Oil 100ml bottle is available from Dolledup.ie and Cloud10beauty here too and will set you back €9.99 not too bad at all!
The lovely ladies behind Waxperts know their stuff, I cannot wait to see what is in store for them next.
https://i2.wp.com/beautynook.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/IMG_5006.jpg?fit=1600%2C1163&ssl=111631600Gemhttps://beautynook.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Logo.pngGem2015-03-16 18:38:052016-05-16 22:42:52Waxperts Wonder Pads and Beautiful Body Oil
I thought this week was the perfect week of the year to talk about a love affair I have been having…with a lipstick. It is coming up to Valentine’s Day after all.
If you are a makeup fan you know who Charlotte Tilbury is. I had the privilege of meeting her and she is as cool in real life #fangirl 🙂
This is her K.I.S.S.I.N.G lippie in “Velvet Underground”.
The packaging bestowed on these lipsticks is beautiful, so I am just going to take a minute and say it’s so pretty and luxurious and rose gold…eeeek!!
It would want to be right? With the price tag of €30 (you can buy them here from Brown Thomas if you so desire). If you are the romantic type and are wanting something pretty for Valentine’s Day, get the other half over to the Charlotte Tilbury counter for a look, this would be the perfect Valentine’s shade 🙂
“Velvet Underground” is a blue based magenta colour.
It is quite a stiff formula in the bullet, especially around these cold parts i.e. Ireland, so to apply it precisely may I suggest a lip brush or any small brush just to perfect the outline.
For a pale gal like myself this colour really wakes up my complexion. It is a colour that you can wear boldly and proudly or of course like any lipstick patted into the lips for a more demure look. It smells really nice, not really important I know but it is an added bonus 🙂
Charlotte Tilbury also claim that these lipsticks contain an anti oxidant that protect your lips from UV damage and pollution, another added bonus.
“Velvet Underground” is the only one I own right now from the brand (I have my eye on “Love Liberty” which is one of the Matte Revolution lipsticks aswell), so I can only give my opinion on this shade. It is really pigmented, a little goes a long way, it lasts really well on the lips without drying them out or caking up. It has a satin finish, so there is a bit of a sheen to it, it looks lovely with a gloss layered over top too.
I really am in love with this. It is an investment I know, but if makeup is your thing or you are looking to invest in a special item, it really lives up to the hype.
What do you think, would you splurge? You can buy Charlotte Tilbury makeup from Brown Thomas in store or online here
Nima Brush by the lovely Niamh Martin. They are an irish based company creating gorgeous makeup brushes. I have known this brand and Niamh for quite a while. The company have really being going from strength to strength.
The Artistic Collection is the latest launch from Nima Brush. They say they are a “range of brushes designed for the professional artist in mind, using precisely shaped brush heads and the softest fibres, but which are also suitable for the everyday wearer with step by step instructions on how to use each brush”
The handle of the brushes are a lovely duck egg colour with a velvet, nearly rubber feel and a gold ferrule which I am in love with. The handles on these brushes can be difficult to keep clean due to the material they are made from so they need a good scrubbing with warm water and baby shampoo to get them clean.
There are 20 brushes in the collection. You can buy them in customisable sets or you can buy them individually. Each brush is named after supporting female figures in Niamh’s life. Prices range from €10-€22. You can shop this collection or any other collection from Nima Brush on www.nimabrush.com
I picked my favourites from the collection to talk about.
I decided to pick the 3 brushes out of all the ones I own from the collection that I have been picking up religiously everyday since I have gotten them. They have quickly just become part of my routine.
First up is “Blaithin”
“Blaithin” is a tapered brush, that I have been loving for contouring. The end of it picks up the product, gets it into the hollows of your face and then the bristles around the tip blend it in seamlessly. It is also so soft on the skin, so you don’t mind spending all of that time making sure your contour is blended 🙂 The “Blaithin” retails for €16.
I have been loving the eye brushes I have, but this one in particular has really become a favourite in my collection.
This brush is called “Patricia”. It is a duo fibred brush, and like “Blaithin” is tapered at the end.
This is a smallish eye brush, and the domed head makes it great for diffusing your transitional colour in your crease. It can also be used to distribute colour all over the lid, and I love it from blowing out colour on my lower lash line. It’s a soft brush but stiff enough that you don’t end up with shadow where you do not want it. It is multi functional, and I get alot of use out of it 🙂 The “Patricia” retails for €10.
My last choice from the Nima Artistic Collection is the “Grace”
When I saw this brush I knew exactly what I wanted it for, under eye concealer! The “Grace” is a like a foundation brush in miniature form.
Again I picked a tapered brush, this wasn’t on purpose I promise! This brush is perfect for getting around the contours of your eyes or your face in general and blends cream products beautifully. It is small but it is big enough to get the job done quickly and that is what you want in the morning. The “Grace” retails for €16.
So there you have some of my fave picks from the lovely Artistic range from Nima. They are fab and it is great to see an Irish run company doing so well.
