Golden and Gorgeous!

This weeks product review is the summer offering from Bare Escentuals (Bare Minerals) which is at most BT or Debenhams throughout the country.

Up to queit recently I regulary ignored the Bare Escentuals counter enroute to MAC but I included some in my kit for any sensitive skins. From there I became slightly addicted to their eye colours - its a lovely range, not too expensive, and they have loads of fab natural shades which are very long lasting, perfect for weddings.

Last week I stopped by to pick up their primer, one of my new favourites (Prime Time, can't recommend it enough!) and also picked up their summer kit, Golden and Gorgeous. Its great value at 30.00 as you get a really nice brush (great for defining the crease and contouring),  Honey Eyecolour, a really nice base colour with a golden glow (lovely for bringing out blue eye colour), Copper High Shine Eyecolour which is a really nice burnished gold glitter (although with an annoying applicator) and an eyeliner in bronze.

As is often the way with eyeliner pencils, I found the pigment not strong enough, but its a nice soft pencil for day wear.

Its a great way to try the products and very good value for money.

Best product find ever for problem skin!

This blog post really comes from my sister - she's been on a lot of medication lately and its had a major impact on her skin. When I looked at it, it was very similar to the type of angry, under the skin lumps you get during hormonal outbreaks or allergic reactions and she found them to be very sore. We tried the usual treatments - those for oily skin, high end skin brands, masks and exfoliants, and while it helped a little it really wasnt addressing the issue as well as we would like.

We went for a weekend away then a few weeks back to Edinburgh and came across a market just off Princes Street (it was raining, I spied a pie stand :)) and found a stall for organic soaps, called The Caurnie Soap Company. They had a feature on the stand on Nettle soap and how it helps with excema and other skin problems. We both have a touch of excema, my sisters on her arms, mine on my neck and stomach, so we figured for a fiver how could we go wrong.

Initially she tried it on her arms and found the results were brilliant and so fast! The only thing that ever came close to it before was the Bliss body scrub but even then it didnt come any where near the results from the nettle soap (and at over €30 a pop, not cheap!)

Meanwhile, she was getting pretty frustrated with the skin on her face and the breakouts from the medication so chanced using the soap one day to see if it would help. I have to say, I hadnt seen her since Edinburgh and the results were absolutley brilliant. Its almost completley clear (even her boyfriend noticed so it must be good!) and all the redness has gone and she says it doesnt leave her skin tight or dry at all, as regular soap can.

The only concern was how to get more of it, apparently the Body Shop used to stock it but happily you can order it online, it quiet large quantities, and its very reasonable.

So if you are suffering with breakouts, spots or acne, its well worth a try. I'm going to test it on the excema over the next couple of weeks as I've got a pretty bad breakout so will update you with the outcome soon.

http://www.caurnie.com/

0044 141 7761218

Horse Shampoo...the secret to longer locks?

Well now maybe Im a bit slow off the mark on the latest hair product fads but I was sitting in the hairdressers a couple of weeks ago, whinging about my sticky out growing out like Florence Henderson hair and wondering if it was ever going to grow when my colourist told me that I needed to get myself a bottle of horse shampoo. Eyebrow raised quizically I asked for more info and was assured that if I used said horse shampoo my hair would grow quicker. Now, as a grown adult, I am aware that there probably isnt any one product out there that can make my hair grow any quicker and yet I found myself in a chemist/animal perscription place, behind a man actually buying horse antibiotics, clutching a bottle or three of Mane & Tail.

So its been a week and maybe its all in my head (!) but my hair feels stronger...and maybe a fraction longer? I'll give it another three weeks and then be back with a full report. That is if my husband stops neighing at me when I come out of the shower.

DIY Wedding Flowers....would you?

Well I have to say, its something I wouldnt have thought was even remotely possible. The world of flower arranging and in particular wedding floristry is a mystery to me - the closest I have ever come to arranging flowers is getting two bunches of the flower of the week from Aldi and mixing them together! But for a recent wedding, I was asked to do the bride and bridesmaids bouqet. First stop was the Dublin Corportation Flower Market, bright and early as it opens at 6am. I was a little daunted initially and spotted a friendly face at Dave Byrne Flowers (I had novice written all over my face). Armed with a theme from the bride (wild flowers) I strolled up and down the aisles of flowers, pointing at ones I liked to look of, while the very helpful lady advised on what would work and what might be a better alternative. The selection was very extensive and I found everything I wanted. They took the order and advised they would be ready for collection on the morning of the wedding. They also gave some good tips on how to put them together (stand in front of a mirror and see what it looks like from the front rather than looking down at the bouquet).
On the morning of the wedding, myself and the bridesmaid ran in to collect them, they were all boxed up nicely, and we headed back to the house to put them together. Once the two bouquets were done, we had enough left for two big displays for the reception room also.
Picture is of the final results!

So for any brides thinking of DIYing it for flowers, it can be done! Its very reasonable and if you could rope in a few mates the day before, you could even do the table arrangements and church flowers too. I reckon €200/€250 would give you amazing flowers for the entire wedding.

Dave Byrne Flowers are on 01 873 4025 or you will find them in the market.