Spa Sessions!

Ever have one of those weeks where everything went wrong? Ok well that's an exaggeration, but it was one of those weeks where I was feeling sorry for myself and nothing could cheer me up.. (Until I went and saw Last Vegas, it was so funny I was still laughing on the drive home).. But anyway, I decided the other night in the midst of my 'I hate the world' rant, that I would treat myself to a bit of pampering. No I didn't hot foot it off to a spa for the day.. Instead I did the thing that every Irish mother hates to hear.. 'I'm turning on the immersion for a bath'..

I'd say I was about 10 when I last had a bath, shower's just took over and became more convenient and all the rest.. But my brother treated me to some Lush goodies for Christmas... And well I HAVE to use them don't I? 

Everyone does things differently, and some of you might think I'm a bit daft or you may have other products you'd use instead.. But you never know, maybe you'll get some ideas and have your own pamper session! 

So first of all I did the most important thing and removed every trace of make up on my face and applied a face mask. The one I'm using at the moment is No 7's Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask or Dry/Very Dry skin. Lately my skin has been feeling very dry and tight, and I had gotten this at Christmas so figured I'd give it go! This is the first time I've seen or felt a noticeable difference in my skin after using a mask. It instantly made my skin feel more hydrated and I know its not a radiance mask but it did make my skin look a bit more alive after use!

For my actual bath I used Lush's Creamy Candy Bubble Bar. I'd never used a bath product from Lush before so I was only glad of the chance to do so. The first thing that hit me was the smell. Typical of the brand it just smell gorgeous! This bubble bar is made up of super moisturising ingredients like almond, cocoa butter, and vanilla, so its a lot more moisturising than the standard bubble bars. To make the bubbles I crumbled the bar under the running hot water, and just stood back and watched the bubbles and the water turn slightly pink! It was lovely and I'm really looking forward to the next bath I have with some of my other Lush goodies! 

Picture taken from Lush.com

As an extra treat i opted to use my Lush Snow Angel shower gel. A limited edition at Christmas it is the girliest shower gel available. Its pink with slight glitter through it, and smells like sweets! Its divine. I think I got out of the bath smelling like a big bag of sherbet!! :D

And lastly I decided to bring my book in with me. Kindles and virtual books are all the rage these days, but I don't think anything is as good as reading an actual physical book. I'm currently reading Mitch Album's 'The First Phone Call From Heaven' which is about a small town in America which becomes the centre of attention after some of the residents have been getting phone calls from Heaven! Its one of those books that you can't put down no matter how tired you are or no matter how much work you have to do! 

I have to say it did help me feel a lot better afterwards. I'm the type of person that lets everything get on top of me, and worries about things that haven't even happened yet, or things that there's no point worrying about at all, and after my half hour of me time, I felt a lot less panicked. My New Years resolution is to try and stop it if I can, as I know its not good for me or the people around me, so hopefully I'll be able!

So what do you do if you're feeling under the weather or need a little pick me up?

Thanks for reading,

Alisha xxx

My favourite brush!

Make Up brushes have only in the last year or so really made an impact on my regular make up routine. Previous to that, I would have used make up sponges, you know those kind that you'd get in the 2 euro shop in a big bag? Ya, I know. And I used to wonder why my make up was gone only hours after putting it on!
2013 was the year that I discovered Real Techniques. If you haven't heard of the Pixiwoo girls, then seriously, I'm ashamed! OK that's a joke. But really, they are the most amazing brushes, for ridiculous prices!

                                                               The Pixiwoo Girls
Made with synthetic bristles, these brushes are so soft, and are 100 percent cruelty free.
To make it easy for us amateurs, the brushes are colour coded, eye brushes have purple handles etc.. The names are also on the handles, so again it makes the whole make up application a lot easier.
My favourite at the minute has to be the Expert Face Brush.

It has a wide, circular shaped brush head which makes it so simple to apply and blend product, especially cream products.
My favourite way of applying foundation is to dab a little bit on to my hand, and then dot it on to my face and then use the brush to blend it in. For me it saves having too much build up of product on the brush, and also cuts down on me actually using too much product.
I just love everything about this brush, its light and just so simple to use. Even for someone who doesn't have a clue about make up, you honestly can't go wrong with any of these brushes!
If you are someone who doesn't have a clue but does want to give brushes a try, the PixiWoo girls have a vast array of demo's with the different brushes on the website, or on the YouTube channel!
And then when you consider the price, there really is no excuse not to give them a whirl! They are so inexpensive, the Expert Face Brush is only 13.29! They are readily available too in Boots, or on www.Cloud10Beauty.com.

What are your favourite brushes?
Thanks for reading,
Alisha
xxx

Make Up Monday... On Tuesday....

Maybe I should rethink this whole 'Make Up Monday' thing. I mean Monday's are stressful enough without giving my self a headache trying to decide on my favourite items, its just too hard!!!
However, this week though I must say it wasn't too difficult. In fact, it was rather easy because the item in question is one I reached for without thinking about it, EVERY SINGLE DAY. What was it you ask?
Well it was Sleek's blush trio in 'Pink Sprint'. (I just love the name). I had bought this of Cloud10Beauty a few months ago, and it got put to the back of my blush drawer, (yes I do have a blush drawer, so what) in the midst of a tidy up of all my make up.

I rediscovered it a coupld of weeks ago, and I've been loving it ever since. It comes with 3 varying shades of pink, 2 slightly dark, and one that's so bright, its almost iluminous! The trick with these though it to apply them with a very light hand. They are so pigmented that if you do overdo it with the blush brush, you will come away looking rather clown faced! So folks... A little goes a long way!!
In particular I've been getting great use out of the shade at the far right of the palette.
In fact, I had been wearing it recently when my aunt told me I was looking rather flushed, which I took as a compliment, because it just looked so natural on the skin!
I've raved about Sleek and their products before, so I won't do it again. Just go and try their products.... NOW!!! :)

What have you been loving this week?

Thanks for reading,
Alisha
xxx

What's new in the Drugstore! (Or Chemist) for January '14

Happy Sunday to all you lovely people out there! I hope you're enjoying it whatever you're getting up to! I went for a wander around town like I usually do on a Sunday, but for the first time ever I bought very little. In fact all I bought was shampoo and a nail polish remover! I must be getting sense! I did however go for a wander in Boots as always, and after a nose on their website too, there is a couple of new bits that arrived in store that I'll find it very hard not to buy!

Bourjois Happy Light Foundation: I think this has been out for a good bit now, (correct me if I'm wrong), but I haven't seen it at any Bourjois stand near me! However, I have seen it online HERE so its technically the same thing! I've heard rave reviews about this foundation, and I've fallen in love all over again with the Healthy Mix offering from this brand, so I may have to give this a go when I have used up a couple of my other foundations! Its 16.99 so its not a bad price either.

Revlon Colourstay Matte and Lacquer Balms:

Every beauty obsessive has heard and tried the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains. Except me, for some unknown reason! The first drugstore brand to take a step into the lip crayon world after Clinique and there Chubby Stick, every beauty blogger has sung their praises from the rooftops! But now Revlon have gone and released these versions! One with a matte finish, and one with a lacquer version! The colour selection looks great with a selection of neutrals to really brights, but the thing that's really catching my eye is the packaging! The matte packaging is just that, matte, and the lacquer packaging is really shiny to emphasise the lacquer effect! These are 11.20, so in line with the Just Bitten version.

Maybelline Baby Skin Pore Eraser: This is probably the release I'm most excited about! I had heard of its release in Asia months ago, and didn't think anymore of it, but now I'm raging because I bought the Benefit Porefessional not that long ago, and I would gladly have given this ago first, mainly because of the 11.99 price tag of the Maybelline primer! Sigh... Anyway, this does look interesting, and does claim to erase pores and give baby-smooth skin, so again I think I'll give it a go once I've used up the Benefit one.

Sleek Blush Trio: (Garden Of Eden Collection)

Sleek are renowned for their blushes, and I have to say I have a fair few of them already. But nonetheless, that does not mean I won't want this one when its released! Part of the 'Garden Of Eden' collection which will be released soon, the colours are perfect for Spring/Summer, whenever it rolls around. There is also a blush trio of coral colours, and an eyeshadow palette with some fantastic green colours too! The blush trio's are 12.99 and a little goes a long way with the Sleek blushes as they are so pigmented! Sleek is available on Cloud10Beauty, or Boots.ie.

These are just some of the new releases that will be or already have hit stores this January, and I don't know about you but they will definitely brighten up a dreary month for me!

Thanks for reading,

Alisha xxx

   

Top 5 Eye Products 2013

Hello again lovelies!

Today I'm on to the last of my 'top 5 posts'... I had considered doing a random favourites, but I decided against it, mainly because I'm not big into random favourite posts myself, so I decided to stick with make up!
This is the one post I probably had the least amount of thinking to do for, mainly because I have been using the same things on my eyes, over and over again!

Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoos: These were probably the best thing I discovered in 2013. It seems to be the same story with me the whole time, I try one, love it so much and go out and buy more colours! I have 6 or 7 different colours in them at this stage.. I have done a review on them already, which I will link HERE, so you can go and check them out if you so wish. They are so creamy and soft to use, they are a dream to use. The shade range is great, with Maybelline continuously adding new colours, and even a limited edition matte collection, which sadly never made it to our shores, but I'm hoping I'll be able to pick them up in America in a few months.. These last absolutely ages on the lids, and are great as either a cream eyeshadow or a primer. I use them as both, but find they last that little bit longer with a powder shadow on top. I love all the colours, but my two favourite have to be On and On Bronze, and Pink Gold. They're quite a bargain too at only 7.95, and are fairly comparable to the Mac Paint Pots.

MUA Undressed and Undress Me Too Palettes: I have much love for MUA, and have loved everything I've tried from them, but the eyeshadow palettes are definitely one of the standout products for me. The Undressed and Undress Me Too are probably the best dupes out there for the Naked Palettes from Urban Decay, but for a tiny fraction of the price! Quality wise I can't compare because I don't own any of the Naked palettes, but with these on the market, I can't ever see me owning one either. What I can say is that they are great quality shadows, and when I use them over a primer they last on me all day.. And I mean all day, like they're still as perfect at midnight as they were at 10 that morning! All of that is really great, but what's even more outstanding is the price, they are just over the 4 euro mark! For that price you get 12 really good eyeshadows that you can combine to make any number of looks! They do a number of other colours aswell, depending on what you're into, there's a pretty pastel one I have my eye on next!

Soap And Glory Thick and Fast Mascara: I'm really not a mascara gal at all, as I've said here before, they all seem to do the same job to me! However this one really surprised me this year! I have 3 of them that I got in various gift sets, (thanks Boots), and it has really really surprised me. For the first time ever I've actually been able to see result's with mascara, and I've been really impressed. I don't have the longest lashes, but this makes them look like I have the longest, girliest lashes ever. And it also adds loads of volume! Its not too expensive either, its only about 13 euro, and as always its more than likely on offer in Boots, so it lessens the blow a bit!

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Eye Kohl Liner/Avon Supershock Eye Pencil: I'm not a big eye liner person by any means, I used to be back in my teens, I thought it was really cool to have really really dark eyes. Then I realised it wasn't, and so my eye make up swiftly reverted to the bare minimum. However as of late, I realised that eyeliner can be a godsend if you don't overdo it. I've been admiring these people that can do their eyeliner in a jiffy, and these products helped me to be able to do it too. I should really have picked just one, but they're both as good as the other so I couldn't. Both of these pencils are so creamy, and just glide on the the eyes with ease! And then once they're on, its next to near impossible to get them off! The Rimmel one is readily available in most pharmacies, the Avon not so much now that Avon are no longer in Ireland... Sigh... I picked this up as a free sample in a magazine before, so keep an eye out and you to may be able to do the same.

Mac Duo in Dazzle Me and Mulch: I'm lucky enough that my boyfriend picked up on ALL my hints last Christmas and treated me to a lovely gift set from Mac. Included in it was this eyeshadow duo, and I had to include it. Not for the quality of the eyesh

adows, because to me they're nothing special. Good, but I have cheaper priced shadow's that are up there with the quality of these ones. But the colours are so beautiful! Especially when worn together! Dazzle me is a light cream kind of colour, with some gold glitter through it, and mulch is just a very wearable brown shade, again with some slight sparkle.

So that's it for the Eye Products!

If any of you have any different ones I'd love to hear them..
Thanks for reading,
Alisha xxx

Top 5 Lip Products of 2013

Hey lovelies, hope you're all enjoying your Sunday! I myself went in to town shopping, (bold, especially seen as I'm trying to save money), I don't feel too bad though because I didn't spend a huge amount, just a few bits in Penney's!
Today's post in the Top 5 of 2013 series is my 'Top 5 Lip Products', and I have to say this was a really difficult one for me, because in the last year I did get more adventurous with lip products, and I came across loads that I really liked, but in the end I narrowed down, and went with the ones that I just reach for continuously. More often than not there is always 2 or 3 of these in my handbag at the same time! Am I the only one this happens too?

So onto the little beauties!!
From left to right we have:
Essence Long Lasting Lipstick in Cotton Candy:
Catrice Ultimate Colour Lipstick in Hey Nude:
Rimmel London Apocalips in Apocalyptic:
Rimmel London Colour Rush Balm in Keep Mauving:
and Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie.

Essence Long Lasting Lipstick in Cotton Candy: I picked up a couple of these on a whim earlier in the year, and I was blown away. Everybody knows' that Essence is a fairly budget brand, and a lot of the products can be hit and miss. Not these babies. They only cost 2 to 3 euro, and for the price they are amazingly pigmented and so creamy! So much so that I picked up another two after this one! This colour is Cotton Candy, and its a lovely bright pink colour, perfect for spring!

                                         (swatch of Essence Cotton Candy)

                                                                                                                                                   Catrice Ultimate Colour Lipstick in Hey Nude:
 I really make a habit of picking things up on a whim, (damn you Penney's), but that is what happened with these guys aswell. I had wanted to try a nude lipstick but didn't want to spend a whole lot of money,  for fear I'd end up with 'concealer lips'. Thank god though it didn't happen. I was so impressed with this, its so so comfortable on my lips, not in the slightest bit drying, in fact you wouldn't know you were even wearing a lipstick! I did pick up a couple more of them, and I picked up 2 matte ones, but even those aren't as drying as some other matte formula's. The colour of this is so nice, (see below), it just adds a slight colour to the lips and a little bit of shine, and its a bargain aswell at under 5 euro!                

                                              Swatch of Catrice Hey Nude



Rimmel Colour Rush Balm in Keep Mauving:
You can always count on Rimmel to come up trumps when it comes to trends in the make up world, and they've definitely done that with these lip balm crayons. I picked it up one day in a red colour, and it packed a real punch when it came to pigmentation! For a balm the colour payoff is excellent, and they are so moisturising its unbelievable. This mauve colour is great for every day wear, as its natural but there's a hint of pink in there to stop it from being too boring. Pricewise they're only about 7 euro, which is a bargain!

                                      Rimmel Colour Rush Balm in Keep Mauving    

Rimmel Apocalips In Apocalyptic:
Silly me forgot to take a picture of my own one... Silly me, but at least I remembered to swatch it! Everyone and their mother has heard of these, and I've mentioned them before so I'm not going to go on about them too much. But I really love these! For a while I was frustrated with them because I couldn't get the application right. I was applying them more like a lip gloss, which is not what they are! Once I realised that and applied them slowly and precisely like a lipstick I got to love them! Again they're a great price at only 7.95 (I think), so its worth giving them a go!

Rimmel Apocalips in Apocalyptic  (far right)

Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie: 

 Turns out I forgot to take a picture of my lip butter aswell.... Ah!!! I'm really slipping up today ladies, apologies! I don't need to say too much about these either, because they are so well known from various blogs etc... I have the lip butters in 3, maybe 4 colours, and this is the one I turn to regularly, especially in the winter. There's nothing I can say about these that hasn't been said already, super soft and buttery on the lips, amazing colour payoff and pigmentation, what's not to love! Well... The price is the only thing I don't love as much. Its more on the high end of the drugstore at 11 euro.... But none the less, they are lovely products, especially if you're in the market for a bright lipstick these are especially great because you can start off with applying them quite sheerly, and build them up! 

Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie (2nd from right)

So that's it for my Top 5 Lip Products....

Have you any different ones?

Thanks for reading..

Alisha xxx

Top 5 Cheek Products 2013

Today I'm back with the second post in my Top 5 of 2013 series. This year was the year I fell hard for cheek products. Blush, bronzer, highlighter, you name it I tried it.
So here's the one's I really fell for in 2013!


First up is Sleek's Blush in Pixie Pink.. Well actually, any of Sleek's blushes! The quality of them is fantastic, and the colour pay off is better than most other blushes I've tried! A tiny bit goes a long way with any of them, otherwise you will end up looking a bit clown faced! The one I've pictured here is Pixie Pink, which is a really girly Barbie pink colour, and on the cheeks it just looks really natural and adds a nice pop of pink colour. And they're a bargain at 6 euro!
Next up is a fairly recent purchase of mine, Benefit's Dandelion. I had been wanting to try a Benefit blush for ages, and eventually I did! I can genuinely see the fuss around them now. Dandelion is a beautiful Coral pink, with some slight glitter through it, which is great because it means you don't need a highlighter with it. Result, especially if your a lazy bones like me! At 34 euro though they aren't cheap, but I think this will last a long time. Next one I'm eyeing up is Rockateur! 
I discovered the brand MUA last year aswell, and on a few trips to England I picked up a few bits. This Undressed highlighter was perhaps the best of the bunch! (Besides the eye shadow palettes,if you haven't tried them you must) I've seen some people compare it to one of the MAC highlighters, which of course I can't remember the name of now, but I will pop it in when it comes back to me! Its a gorgeous pinkish highlighter, which adds a really subtle glow to the face when applied. I hadn't really tried any highlighters before this one, and now I definitely don't want to try anymore! It was only some crazy price too, around 4 euro I think!
NYC is another brand that is super friendly to your wallet if you're on a serious budget, but still like to get your beauty fix. This Colour Wheel Mosaic Powder in Rose Glow is one I turn to if I'm not wearing a lot of make up, or if I just want to keep my cheek's natural. It just makes me look healthy, and for that I love it! Again its not expensive, I think its about 4 euro at the most!
I love Rimmels products, they're bang on trend with every new trend in the make up world, and they make them more affordable for everybody which is always a plus! This Mono Blush in Pink Rose isn't new by any means, but it is one I've reached for a good bit throughout 2013 and I felt I had to include it! Again this is just a really natural colour blush, and its one I'd wear a lot, especially for work and just every day when I'm not up to much!

                                          LEFT: Pixie Pink, Right: Dandelion


So that completes my roundup of my fave cheek products! Is there any that you all like that I don't have included? What are they?

Thanks for reading,
Alisha
xxx