Scents Of Spring/Summer....

Never underestimate the power of a good perfume and just like switching over from heavy winter clothes, we think it is almost essential to indulge in a little treat with some new spring/summer scent! Who doesn't love a nice fresh floral fragrance to spray and start the day, or for putting that last minute spring in your step when heading out the door to an event. 

Now we know everyone has firm favourites in the perfume department and here are a few of ours for this spring/summer.

I love this recent birthday gift of Si by Giorgio Armani....it is so light and the floral undertones are perfect for spring/summer!

Laura got this D&G perfume at an event recently and it is divine! Even looking at the box conjures up thoughts of dreamy summer evenings!! Will be available in stores from June.

We both have this one and who can resist a little spritz of Jo Malone on a sunny spring morning!!

Here are a few others you might like to consider as a gift for someone special or your very own little treat:)

Chloe/Love Story    Balenciaga/B. Balenciaga  Diptyque/Eau Plurielle

Hope you all have a lovely day:) We are off to the Littlewoods Ireland  summer event in Dublin later on this evening which should be lots of fun:)

Anne & Laura xx

Tanning Tips

Well the sun has finally arrived and we are soaking up every minute of it! With brighter days, come lighter clothes and it's time to get those legs out! So today I thought I would share a few of my tanning faves for gorgeous glowing pins.

Preparation is key before applying any sort of tan and it's important to exfoliate regularly and keep legs moisturised. I'm currently using Clarins Tonic Body Polisher which is packed full of essential oils of Rosemary Rosewood, Mint, Sugar and Salt crystals. It's like an at home spa experience and leaves skin feeling so soft!

I visited Waxperts in Dun Laoghaire last week and couldn't leave without their new Beautiful Body Oil. It is just lovely for locking in moisture after showering and it's also very soothing after waxing or shaving. Plus the light lavender smell is divine!

My tan of choice is Wow Brown Ready to Glo dark. I've been using this for a couple of years now and love it for a few reasons. It's dark on application, making it much easier to apply since you can actually see where it's going. No 'oops I missed a spot' moments! I usually apply in the evening and rinse it off in the shower the following morning. The instructions recommend leaving 5 hours for it to develop, so it can be applied on the same day if that suits you better. It doesn't smell or rub off on clothes after it has been rinsed, which is a huge plus. My favourite thing about this tan though is its longevity - it lasts up to 10 days and just fades away without going patchy.

Finally for the added glow, I have been using Victoria's Secret Leg Shine which I mentioned in my London Shopping post here. This comes on a stick, which I just apply to the bone down the centre of my legs and then blend in lightly. It gives the most gorgeous sheen and isn't half as scary as it looks in the packaging! I was worried at first when I saw how 'gold' the colour was but it blended in perfectly with my base tan. It's not sticky and smells nice too!

Have you tried any of these products or do you have any tanning tips to share? We'd love to hear them in the comments below or on Facebook.

Laura

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My Daily Make-Up Routine...

Happy Thursday everyone! The long weekend is almost upon us :)

I've had a few emails and Instagram comments lately asking about my make-up, so I thought I'd share a few products that I use on a daily basis! The above was a more natural weekend look and I've included today's make-up below, which was a bit heavier for an event at work!

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm is one of my favourite products to give a lovely glow to the skin and it's great as a primer. I am constantly changing my mind about foundations and love experimenting but lately I've been turning to Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow. It's lightweight yet gives good coverage and it definitely brightens my complexion! I picked up the Urban Decay Naked Skin concealer last week and I'm loving it. The flat tipped applicator is a nice size and it goes on like a dream - like the Benefit foundation it feels very light on the skin and conceals even the darkest circles!

For my eyeshadow, I use Clarins 'The Essentials' Palette, which was a special Christmas edition. It's quite similar to the Naked Palettes - I just can't get enough neutral browns! I like Maybelline Kajal Kohl Liner if I'm wearing eyeliner during the day. Lancome's Le Crayon Khol is also lovely for under the eyes when I want to go a bit darker! I'm still obsessed with my Benefit Rollerlash mascara - read my original post about it here.

I use Maybelline Brow Satin to lightly fill in my brows and have them threaded every few weeks to maintain their shape!

I set my base with MAC powder - either Mineralize Skinfinish  or Studio Careblend in Medium.

Benefit's Hoola is my go-to bronzer and Hot Mama by The Balm is my absolute favourite blusher. It's a lovely rose gold tone!

Nars 'The Multiple' in Copacabana is one of my all time favourite highlighters and I also love Mary Lou-Manizer by The Balm. (which I smashed this week and need re-purchase - boo!) 

And finally onto lips! I'll usually stick to nude tones during the day using JLO's Nude by L'oreal teamed with MAC Boldly Bare Lip Liner.

And that's it! Hope you enjoyed my picks :)

Now, we're off to have some cake to celebrate Mum's Birthday!

We'll be back with some Shiny Moments tomorrow :)

Laura

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Loving Ren

My love for Ren products began last year when I tried some samples of the one minute flash rinse and absolutely loved them! My skin felt so clean and soft and more importantly I had no reaction to the ingredients, which is always a big issue for me when trying out new products!

As luck would have it I was invited with Laura in January to attend the launch night of their new instant firming beauty shot and just listening to the talk about the whole importance of keeping skin squeaky clean and using the right products for your face and body had me hooked!

This new one shot firming serum is an amazing product! I am concentrating on the line areas on my forehead and around my nose and mouth and it really does tighten the skin. My usual daytime moisturiser goes straight on over it and you can even reapply it over your everyday makeup for an extra boost throughout the day!

 Laura also uses it first thing in the morning before applying her daily moisturiser and makeup for work!

More recently I was thrilled to get a gift of two more products for Mother's day which I am still trying out! The glycolactic bio peel mask is fantastic- once a week would definitely be enough to use it as it is quite strong, but the skin really glows and looks way brighter after using it! The Rosa Centifolia cleansing balm is more gentle and when applied with water it turns into a lovely rich milky cream! You can rinse it off with warm water -mine came with a lovely muslin cloth in the box. This one leaves your skin feeling so smooth and soft!

This is a quick photo I snapped after applying the  glycolactic mask and then using the one shot firming serum before rubbing in my normal mosturiser! I don't wear too much makeup on a daily basis but I am wearing Estee Lauder double wear foundation here in Wheat. On the whole I am happy with my skin except for slight sagging around the mouth and jawline which is normal for my age and hope I can continue to keep it much the same way for another few years at least!

I will definitely be sticking with Ren products for the moment as they seem to be suiting me and at fifty( actually 51 next week eek!!) I think it is high time I got into a more regular skincare regime!

Have you tried any of these products? Do let us know in the comments below, we would love to hear some feedback or tell us what skincare products work best for you:)

Anne xx

My Skincare Routine

As much as I love make-up, it's skincare that gets me really excited! That feeling of taking all of the layers off after a long day and pampering with serums, oils and masks - bliss! Does anyone else experience this joy too?!

I have several trusted favourites that are never far from reach and I love trying new products too. 

So, today I thought I'd share my current routine.

To take my make-up off, I love Garnier Miceller Cleansing Water. It's very gentle and so easy to pop on a cotton pad, quickly removing all traces of makeup in one step. It's perfect for using on eyes too and very soothing. At night time, if I'm wearing heavier eye make, I love Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up remover to tackle more stubborn liner and mascara.No panda eyes around here!

We've all heard the benefits of double cleansing, so once Step One above is complete, I'll use a cream Cleanser such as Clarins Extra-Comfort Anti Pollution Cleansing Cream. With ingredients including mango and shea butter, it's sounds as yummy as it feels on the skin.

I also swear by my Clarisonic and work this into my routine about three times a week. I got it for my birthday last summer and I wouldn't be without it now. It leaves skin feeling squeaky clean and my complexion is definitely clearer overall as a result. I use it with my Clinique Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser.

When it comes to serums my latest obsession is Clarins Double Serum. How have I only started using it this year? It's like a mini spa treat and literally melts into the skin after cleansing with the Clarisonic. I love it!

Speaking of Clarins, I'm also a huge fan of their face oils and love the Lotus Treatment Oil for the ultimate moisture surge overnight.

My current moisturiser of choice is REN Youth Vitality Day Cream. It's a lovely texture, not too heavy and my make up glides on over it like a dream. They do a night version too which I'll layer on over my serum. 

And finally, masks. Anyone who follows me on Instagram will know that I'm completely obsessed with GlamGlow! The Youthmud is my favourite and I use this once a week, when I've got time for some extra pampering. All of the hype surrounding this product is 100% verified by me for sure! I've repurchased several times since first putting it to the test last year. It leaves my skin feeling unbelievably smooth, brighter and tighter. It's the perfect pick me up before a big event or night out!

Do you use any of these products or have any other recommendations for me to try?

Thanks for reading, I hoped you enjoyed it!

Laura 

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Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day is fast approaching so it's time to start thinking about some treats for your lovely Mum!

Candles and fragrances are always a lovely gift to give and receive. Cashmere and luxe skincare make gorgeous gifts too - and it's nice to treat her to things that she wouldn't usually buy for herself. We have to give a special mention to this Aurelia set, which is very quirky and cute!

Hope you enjoy the rest of our picks and find some inspiration!

M&S Cocoon Wrap | Dolce and Gabbana Dolce Floral Drops | Aurelia Relax and Repair Night Time Set | Max Benjamin Candle & Diffuser | M&S Cushion

Have a fabulous Friday

L & A

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Benefit Rollerlash

When I first heard that Benefit were launching a new mascara, my first thought was 'But, why?!' They're Real is such a iconic mascara now, so how could anything be better? Well, the lovely people at Benefit thought They're Real needed a pretty little sister! While They're Real is all about the drama and perfect for lashings of volume on nights out, Rollerlash is a super girly, lighter formula promising a 12 hour curl.

There has been so much hype about this newest launch over the past few weeks and I can confirm it's all true! I've been using Rollerlash since mid December now and it has fast become my only mascara of choice.

As the name implies, Rollerlash is built on the concept of hair rollers. But what sets it apart from the crowd is the 'Hook 'n' Roll' technology - tiny little clips on the brush that grab, separate and lift for a beautiful curl. And wow what a curl! Upon application, my lashes actually hit my brow bone and my eyes instantly look wide open. It's long lasting too which is always a plus. And, much much easier to remove than They're Real!

So it's official, I'm 'hooked'!

Top line showing Rollerlash on one eye & bottom line showing the full effect!

Rollerlash hits Benefit counters later on this month priced at €26. But, if you absolutely can't wait until then, pick up a copy of Elle Magazine who currently have a FREE travel size sample inside!

Have you already tried Rollerlash? Do you love it too? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook :)

Laura

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