Bourjois Parisian Summer

The Irish Summer has pretty much been (for about five minutes) and gone already which is why there has been a complete lack of Summer inspired posts on the blog. However I'll be going on my holidays to France in a few days so I'll finally get to wear my Summer wardrobe and use the Summer make up products that I had been waiting to use for the past few months.

I attended the Bourjois Summer press event at the beginning of the season and we were treated to a preview of the gorgeous Parisian Summer collection.

Sunlight Elixir, BB Bronzing Cream, Mat Illusion Bronzing Power, Sun Illusion

The Sunlight Elixir is a tinted sparkly dry body oil. It has the same wonderful Summery scent as the rest of the collection and comes in a glass bottle which is less travel friendly than the BB Cream. I've mainly been using this on my arms, décolletage and legs for a very subtle glow and a soft sheen to my skin. It also has SPF 15 making it ideal for those days when you want to look slightly more healthy very fast and still have some sun protection. I have to be honest I'll probably only wear this on really sunny days or when I'm on holidays because it's too much for everyday use. At €16.99 it's not cheap but it should last you for next Summer too.




The weather was so bad this year that I think everyone has had to fake their Summer glow. This is where the BB Bronzing Cream came in for me. I don't like to sit out in the sun unless I'm wearing very high sun protection so the only colour I really get on my face is some enhanced freckles. This BB Cream is one of my favourite products from the collection, I prefer to wear it beneath my foundation as a sort of bronzing primer (unfortunately the Sun Illusion, pictured below was the wrong shade for me). Worn alone it's slightly too dark for me, but I intend on bringing it on holiday with me to wear instead of foundation.

The Bronzing Cream claims to have eight benefits in one product, those include: a golden glow effect, an even skin tone, radiance, 24-hour hydration, tan enhancement, a fresh effect, SPF 15 and high resistance. I can't speak for some of these as I had no tan to enhance, nor did I wear the product for 24 hours so I can't say as to whether it would keep you feeling hydrated for that long. I do find it very refreshing on the skin during application which is always a bonus in hot weather. I agree that it does give a golden glow, radiance and an even skin tone. It just makes you look instantly healthier and like you've been on holiday, which is never a bad thing. It also smell incredible and comes in a handy tube which is great for taking on a plane.






It surprised me how much I liked the Mat Illusion Bronzing Powder. It only comes in two shades so it's not going to work for every skin tone, however the Light Glow shade actually works quite well on my fair skin. As you can see in the photo above it gives an overall healthy look to my face which is mostly what I use bronzer for. It's supposed to offer a matt finish and smooth refined look, so this could be nice to wear as a substitute for your usual setting powder if you want to wear less make up on holidays. Once again this has the amazing coconut/fruity scent of the other products in the range that instantly brings to mind Summer holidays.




I was given two shades of the new Aqua Blush range, 04 Berry Nice and 02 Cocoricorail. I've never before tried a blush formula like the Aqua Blush. It has a very light mousse/gel texture and a little goes a long way, you only need a small amount of this to get a gorgeous natural flush. You can apply with your fingers, but I prefer to use a stippling brush. You do have to work quickly to blend it on otherwise I've found it can leave a slight stain on the skin. Despite the fact that these are a Summer launch I can see myself wearing them in Winter to get that natural rosy look to my cheeks. I think Berry Nice could look amazing in the colder months with minimal make up, lots of mascara and matching berry lips.

Once again Bourjois have given these a fresh rosy scent which I adore, but if you're not a fan of scented make up products you may want to test it out first. It also has a similar cooling effect to the Bronzing Cream making it an excellent choice for applying on warmer days. The claim is that they last up to 12 hours and I've found they really do last well, so much so that I'll be bringing them on holidays with me to wear in the hot weather and in the water. At €10.49 it's definitely worth picking up at least one of these.




So what are your favourite Summer products? Do you have any recommendations for any hot weather essentials?

Emma x

Flowerbomb

Viktor and Rolf's iconic perfume Flowerbomb recently celebrated it's tenth anniversary and for shame I hadn't actually tried it until recently. I can't believe I'd never spritzed it on myself on one of the many times I've been browsing around the Brown Thomas perfume hall. 

Allow me to begin by telling you that I absolutely adore this scent. I'm a big fan of floral scents, particularly those with Rose in them. Stella by Stella McCartney and the original Chloe are two of my favourite scents. I don't know what I was expecting from a fragrance named 'Flowerbomb', but it's the most intricate, sophisticated yet playful floral scent I've ever laid my nostrils upon. 

Since discovering Flowerbomb, I've learned that it's such a popular all-time favourite/Wedding day and signature scent for so many people I know and I can see why. The fragrance was designed by studying every facet of a bouquet, they wanted it to be the ultimate luxury- a thousand flowers in just one bottle. It's notes include tea and Bergamot, Sambac jasmine, orange tree, Cattleya Orchid, freesia, Centifolia rose and Patchouli. Mixed together, they create a rich, intense floral scent with fruity warmth. 

As you can see the packaging is a stunning glass grenade. It really stands to the fact that Viktor and Rolf are true artists, the bottle they have designed is as beautiful as the liquid it encases. 

The only problem I have is the price because I know I'm going to want another bottle once this one is finished. At €65 for just a 30ml it's definitely on the higher end of the scale, up there with brands like Chanel and Jo Malone. However you only need a small amount of this as it has incredible lasting power so a bottle should last you for a long time. 

Flowerbomb is available in Debenhams, Boots and Brown Thomas. 

Do you have a signature scent? What's your favourite perfume at the moment?

Emma x

Instant Outfits #2

My outfit posts have been non-existent lately mostly because I'm working so much that I only really get to wear what I want to wear on the weekends. I thought I'd share some "recent" Instagram outfit photos to show you what I've been wearing over the past couple of months.

I wore this for a brunch/shopping date with my best friend.

Coat- Helene Berman; Jeans- Next; Shirt- Monsoon; Sunglasses- ASOS; Shoes- New Look; Bag- Stella and Dot Tia Cross Body(this features in almost every photo); Necklace- Zara

I wore this outfit to a No7 event launching their Youth Defence range. This is only slightly different to the outfit above.

Jacket- Marella by Max Mara (vintage); Jeans- Next; Shirt- Monsoon; Boots- Topshop

I wore this very comfortable outfit walking around London back at the start of May. 

comfortable shoes were an absolute essential.

Jacket- Penneys/Primark; Shirt and Trousers- H&M; Runners- Nike Roshe Run

I wore this to the Bourjois Summer event in the Morgan Hotel.

Dress- Zara; Jacket- Penneys/Primark; Nameplate Necklace- ONecklace

This is what I wore to my niece's christening, the only bare legged photo of the bunch because alas I missed all of the really nice weather because I was working.

Dress- ASOS; Bag- Zara; Shoes- New Look (similar here); Necklace- Stella and Dot Rebel Pendant

I wore this for a family day out in Skerries a couple of weeks ago.

Kimono- H&M; Top- Monsoon; Jeans- Next; Sandals- Clarks; Sunglasses- Boohoo; Necklace- Stella and Dot Rebel Pendant

So this is a Summer in Ireland outfit! The weather is so rubbish at the moment, it's been rainy and not very warm. This is what I wore to lunch at the weekend as it was raining heavily when we left the house. 

Trench Coat- London Fog (Charity Shop); Dress- South via Littlewoods; Shoes- Dr Martens (from TK Maxx)

I'm going to Nice at the end of August so I'll finally get to wear my Summer clothes. Is there anything that you have been wearing a lot recently?

Emma x

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Kiehls Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector With SPF 30

I'm lucky that for the most part I have quite good skin, the only thing that really annoys me is the dark circles under my eyes. I always end up layering concealers to try to hide the purple colour and yet they are never completely covered.

I started using the Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector a couple of months ago and I have since had a noticeable reduction in the darkness under my eyes. I had been using the product, not really thinking much about it until a couple of weeks ago when one of my concealers ran out and I didn't want to go rooting for another one so I just used one under my eyes for the first time in a long time. I was surprised that I didn't actually feel that I needed any more coverage and that's when I realised it was this little gem from Kiehls's at work. 

Kiehl's chemists research showed that under eye discolouration can be increased with skin aging as it gets thinner and blood pools under the surface of the skin, poor circulation and UV damage can add to the problem which is why they created a product to address all of these issues at once. 

This is not a concealer, it is a tinted eye treatment that contains light diffusing mineral pigments to give an instant brightening effect. I took a before and after comparison photo which you can see below to show you what it does when you first apply it. You can use it over your usual eye cream as it has a very light texture. It gives a sheer coverage that aids with concealing but I definitely need a concealer on top of it. 

I like that it offers both immediate and long term benefits for the skin under my eyes. It contains Licorice Root Extract and Activated C, a Vitamin C derived ingredient used to correct discolouration and also clarify and smooth the skin tone and texture. It also contains SPF 30 and titanium dioxide, a mineral UV filter to protect the delicate eye area from premature skin aging caused by the sun. It also contains caffeine to reduce puffiness so you are really getting all round care for the eye area. 

I have really been enjoying using this product, not only could I see an immediate effect, but after a couple of months of use I am amazed at the long term effects and I'm so happy to have finally found a product that actually works at addressing the causes of my under eye darkness instead of just masking them. It comes in a handy small tube, perfect for travelling with or keeping in your handbag.

It doesn't come cheap at €34, however I've been using it for about 2 months and there is still so much left in the tube so I really think the price tag is worth it. I'll be going straight out to buy it again when I run out.

What's your biggest skin concern? Do you use an eye cream?

Emma x

Urban Decay Backfire and Lounge Eyeshadows

Urban Decay added eight new single eyeshadows to their range back in May. There were six duotones and two mattes introduced into the permanent collection, one of the mattes, Beware was actually a fan favourite from the Theodora palette (which I have) and it a gorgeous warm brown. I looked up swatches of all the shades and they are really beautiful, a mixture of colourful shades and more wearable colours.

I was sent Backfire, described as burgundy with a purple shift and Lounge described as brick red with a green shift. Being a huge Urban Decay fan I was expecting a lot from these and they didn't disappoint. Both shades took me by surprise in that they look very different on me compared to in the pan. Backfire is more purple than burgundy to me and has the least duotone out of all of the new shades judging from the swatches I saw. Having said that I really love this shade, I'm a big fan of purple smokey eyes as I think purple really brings out green eyes nicely. 

Lounge is another fan favourite and I can see why. It's one of those eyeshadows that you can just blend over the lid, add lots of mascara and you've got an easy smokey eye look with a lot of impact. As with all of my other UD shadows, the pigmentation is perfection and the texture is smooth and so easy to blend. For me, these shades are more Autumn/Winter shades and I look forward to wearing them more as the weather cools down.

Like most eyeshadows, these work best and last longest when you apply a primer first. The other great thing about the single UD eyeshadows is that you can actually pop them out of the two-part packaging and into a Build Your Own Palette which means that you can keep it as a single eyeshadow or add it into a palette. The gunmetal packaging, inspired by New York subway tokens, is practical, sturdy and looks amazing. At €18 I think these are really great value for your money as the quality is beautiful as with all UD eyeshadows. Fireball, the peachy pink shade is next on my shopping list as I don't have any other shades like it in my collection. 

Do you own any great single eyeshadows or are you strictly a palettes person?

Emma x

Skincare Repurchases

I rarely write about skincare because let's be honest it's just not as fun as writing about make-up. However, skincare is something I'm very passionate about and I spend a lot of time researching skincare ingredients and reading reviews before I invest in a product.

Being a blogger I'm lucky that I get sent products for review consideration and therefore I'm trying new things all the time. If I finish a product and immediately want to repurchase it, I know I'm onto a winner. I thought I would share with you some of the products that I have loved and repurchased time and time again.

*Disclaimer- These products work on my particular skin type which is normal/combination and can be sensitive. As with all skincare products, do your research before you buy. What works for me, may not necessarily work for you. Also this is a very long post.

Let's start with my most repurchased skincare product ever, Garner Simply Essentials Soothing 2 in 1 Make-up Remover. I have bought countless bottles of this over the past four or five years and every single time I decide to try something else or this is out of stock I am so disappointed because nothing else compares. It's a bi-phase liquid that contains waterlily extract and pro-vitamin B5 and no alcohol or perfume making it great for anyone with sensitive skin. I use this every night in combination with my favourite cotton pads the Boots Cotton Wool Double Faced Oval Pads to remove all of my make up before using a cleanser.

The reason I love this so much is that I use a lot of long lasting make up products as well as waterproof mascara most days and this makes it so much easier to completely remove my make up without having to rub my face too much and aggravate my skin which can be sensitive at times especially my eye area. It makes it so quick and easy to take off my make up and it means I can wear waterproof mascara without having to worry about using a separate product to remove it in the evening. If you haven't tried this yet I strongly recommend giving it a go, for €3.99 you can't go wrong.

Next up is Estée Lauder Perfectly Clean Multi-Action Foam Cleanser/Purifying Mask, which I use after I remove my make up and again in the morning. I was introduced to this by my mam who used to use the old formula version of this cleanser and said that she really liked it on her sensitive and dry skin so I thought I would try it out myself. I loved it straight away and have repurchased it numerous times. It has a creamy consistency that lathers into a rich foam once you apply water. A little goes a long way so a tube of this will last me for months unlike a lot of other cleansers I've tried. I like that it's a 2 in 1 product too, I tend to use it as a mask a couple of times a week.

It's suitable for all skin types but aimed at Normal/Combination skin which is my skin type and I feel like it works really well on my skin leaving it feeling clean, fresh, calm and hydrated. I've actually been using this with my Clarisonic Mia 2 every other night and I've found they make a great combination. It's priced at €26.50 which I find quite reasonable considering you get 150mls and it lasts for such a long time.

I've just purchased my second bottle of Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner and I found that it works really well for my skin type. I had read so many mixed reviews on this and it seems to be very much a love it or hate it product. A lot of people seemed to have reactions to it both with sensitive or normal/combination skin. That being said I love it and I found that it has hugely helped clear up the whiteheads I kept getting around my chin area. I use it 2 or 3 times a week after cleansing, it tingles slightly upon application but that doesn't bother me. I found that a bottle of this (236ml) lasts a long time and priced at €23.50 it's quite good value.

The next product is one that I always have on my skincare shelf. La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I. is a targeted breakout corrector. This comes in a small 15ml tube and the idea is that you put a tiny amount onto any individual breakouts you have and it reduces the appearance of them and prevents an residual marks. As soon as I feel a spot coming on I use this (on clean skin) and 9 times out of 10 the spot will be significantly reduced if not totally gone the following day. It contains Niacinamide which helps with any discolouration or red marks and Salicylic Acid, a beta hydroxy acid that can penetrate the pores and reduce blemishes from within without irritating the skin. This is a great product for those with sensitive skin who suffer from the odd breakout, depending on how good my skin is, a tube of this lasts me a long time. At only €13.99 this is such an amazing affordable product.

Finally, it's a product that's fairly new to me, Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum. Like most people I have dehydrated skin and I have found that this serum has been hugely effective in adding some much needed hydration to my skin. It contains Hyaluronic Acid (which helps the skin retain moisture) and is ideal for sensitive skin in need of intensive hydration. I apply this daily after cleansing, sometimes I just use this and sometimes I add moisturiser dependent on whether I feel I need it. I love the fresh scent, how it sinks into my skin so quickly and how it makes my skin feel. It's the kind of product that I didn't think I needed but after I finished my first bottle I didn't repurchase for a while and when I finally did I immediately noticed a difference from when I wasn't using it which to me is the sign of a product worth repurchasing. It's €22.49 which I feel is a great price for what this product does for my skin.


Have you tried any of these products? What are your most repurchased skincare products?

Emma x

Lancôme Shine Lover Lipsticks

I recently attended an event with Lancôme make-up artist Marc Sinclair in which he demonstrated a bronzed Summer look featuring the new Shine Lover lipsticks.

Lily Collins wearing shade 340 French Sourire

Marc used the Miracle Cushion Foundation as the base with the Belle de Teint powder on top to give a perfect finish to the face.  He then created a simple bronze eye look using the Hypnôse Star Eyes Palette in Terre d'Ivoire followed by Grandiôse Mascara. He finished off the look with the Shine Lover lipstick in 357 Fuchsia in Paris. 

This is such a pretty, low maintenance Summer make-up look and I've been wearing a similar look for the past few weeks using Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and On Bronze as a substitute for the palette Marc used. 

Lupita Nyong'o wears shade 357 Fuchsia in Paris in the campaign photos

There are twenty shades of Shine Lover lipsticks ranging from nudes to reds and pinks. They promise to give the lips high-intensity colour combined with long lasting moisture in tones that compliment and illuminate the complexion.

They contain Hyaluronic Acid which provides hydration, Rose Bush Oil to nourish and soften the lips and provide high impact colour and there is a protective gel that protects the lips and maintains the hydration. 

I was sent shade 340, a bright neutral pink and 357, a deeper raspberry pink. My first thought when I applied these and before I had even read the press release was that they immediately perked up my face and made me look more fresh and awake. I definitely could see that healthy glow effect that these lipsticks promise to give the complexion. 

As you can see above the slender white and silver packaging is beautiful and compact. They have a sweet rose scent that I find completely addictive. They apply so smooth and easily just like the best lip balm but what surprised me was the pigmentation, you can achieve a hint of colour with a light hand or a more intense pay off if you apply a couple of layers which you most definitely will want to because between the texture and scent they are such a dream to apply. 

I was also impressed by the longevity, although after several hours that initial high shine does fade, the colour remains on the lips and wears away to almost a stain but my lips still feel hydrated. All and all the formula is incredible and just what I want during the Summer months to keep me looking fresh with little effort.

Top- 357 Fuchsia in Paris; Bottom- 340 French Sourire




340

I have been wearing these alone and with MAC Prep and Prime lip to give some extra lasting power. You don't necessarily need a lip liner with these as they don't feather at all on me. I think using a lip liner would almost defeat the purpose of them. The pearl pigments give great depth and make your lips look fuller which should hopefully eliminate the need for liner. 

357




357

I adore this range and I already have a some other shades picked out that I want to get. I've been wearing them almost every day since I got them, if you're a lipstick lover like myself you need to check these out in person.

The Shine Lover range retails for €26 and is available in Brown Thomas and at any Lancôme counter. 

Would you like to try these?

Emma x