REVIEW: Flormar's Duo Shimmering & Body Lotion

. Be a shimmer queen this Autumn with Flormar’s new Duo Shimmering & Body Lotion. The lotion has a dial where you twist to adjust the amount of shimmer you want mixed in with your body lotion. You can go from sheer beauty to glowing goddess in no time.

This skin finishing duo contains a body lotion enriched with shea butter, sweet almond oil and grapeseed oil on one side, and a gold shimmer gel formulated with aloe vera and panthenol on the other side.  It is the perfect skin enhancer for dull and tired looking skin, giving you a gorgeous healthy glow with a subtle golden sparkle.

I first used this a few nights ago after my bath, and this stuff smells AMAZING, and is also very moisturising.

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My Top 5 Bronzers

Today I thought I’d share some of my favourite bronzers from Boots and High Street stores. I find myself using bronzer more than ever before. They have so many uses, and are particularly good in the summer for complimenting a tan, as well as handy tools for contouring and sculpting.

Soap and Glory’s Solar Powder is a bronzer and a highlighter all in one. Again with a light shimmer, it creates a really natural glow, especially when you dust the lighter shade highlighter over your cheekbones. Having the combination of the two in the compact makes it nice and easy to take with you, great for touching up your complexion on the go.

Bourjois’ Delice de Poudre bronzer is a rich, warm brown so is great for when my skin is looking naturally more tan than usual. It has a super soft finish making it easy to apply with a lovely texture. It has a tiny, subtle amount of shimmer to it which gives off a natural looking glow, great for making you look like you’ve just got back from an exotic holiday! I love the chocolate bar design and it even has a sweet, chocolatey scent to it.

L’oreal’s Glam Bronze is one of my absolute favourites and one I find myself reaching for all year round. It has a matte finish for a natural looking tan, but is in a particularly golden shade, adding warmth to your skin, and the matte finish makes it great for contouring.

Revlon’s Bronzilla was a more recent addition but the neat compact with brush included made it ideal for taking with me on holiday. This bronzer has a strong colour payoff so you only really need a small amount, but is long lasting so will stay put throughout the day.

Last but not least, The Body Shop’s Honey Bronze in 02 is on the fairer side of bronzers, and even comes in a shade lighter, so is great for those with paler skin tones. It comes in a handy mirrored compact too, I tend to throw this in my handbag to take with me on the go. Again with a matte finish, this is perfect for subtle contouring and adding shape and definition to your face.

 

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REVIEW: No7 Beautiful Skin

I am ALWAYS open to trying any new brands or ranges. Personally I think skincare is one of those things we must all pay great attention to. There’s no point spending lot’s of money on makeup to cover up our skin if we aren’t spending the money on making sure our skin is up to scratch underneath it. No7 is a brand stocked in Boots, and is one I am often drawn to in terms of skincare and makeup.

 Amongst the collection, there are balm cleansers, water cleansers, foaming cleansers, gel cleansers, exfoliators, masks, serums and both day and night moisturisers for all skin types. I am definitely more of a “cream cleanser” girl. I feel as though a cream and a muslin cloth cleanse the skin a lot more thoroughly than a water on a cotton pad. However, I have been reaching a lot more for the water cleansers in the morning, as a quick refresh and instant pick me up. I still use my Liz Earle cleanse and polish for removing makeup at night, but i just find that a water cleanser is a nice morning boost. This water cleanser is among many I have tried, and I can’t say it is my favourite, but it is lovely. The smell of both these products are absolutely amazing, really fruity and summery. One thing I like on this water cleanser though, is the pump. Not a lot of the water cleansers I’ve tried have a pump, and require you to use the “tip and squeeze/shake” method (one which normally ends in an overly drenched cotton pad). The main thing that meant this cleanser wasn’t up there with my favourites though, was that I didn’t find it that good at removing makeup. Great for a skin boost in the morning yes, but removing makeup (even a light coating) took too many cotton pad refills and left my skin feeling a little tacky. 

The moisturiser is also really lovely. The cream is a nice consistency and again, smells amazing. It does feel quite thick on the skin, even though it says it’s for normal/oily skin.

Overall I was impressed with the few products I tried although they haven’t taken the lead in the skincare stakes. I think that I will have to pop into Boots to have a little look at other items in the range, the cleansing gel and balm sound interesting. No7 is a really well priced skincare brand, so even if these products aren’t for you, it’s worth taking a look at what they have to offer.

Have you tried anything from the No7 Beautiful Skin range? Anyone tried the balm or gel cleansers?

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Origins Spot Remover

I don’t often review individual products on my blog, although it’s definitely something I am now going to start doing because I always find myself searching for specific products reviewed on blogs before I consider buying them (I value bloggers honesty when it comes to reviews). So, without further a do, I shall get cracking with this one!

I was sent this product a long time ago, and had completely forgotten it existed beneath the mountains of skincare products I seem to be hoarding. It’s a tiny little blue bottle, only containing 10ml. You may think this is a measly amount, but I have been using this constantly for around 2 months and it just doesn’t seem to disappear. This spot gel is essentially for those pesky breakouts you may experience. I personally get a few around my chin and my nose just before that time of the month (oh mother nature). Origins claim that this spot remover heals, fights and fades spots and I have to agree 100%. I have used many spot gels and creams in the past, but nothing that really worked in the same way as this. It contains salicylic acid which instantly helps heal, while “anti spot technology” helps to correct post blemish marks. It also contains caffeine and red algae to help relieve redness. To help keep skin looking spotless it also has super exfoliants to keep dead skin cells at bay and to ensure the skin is clear of clogged pores. 

I usually pop a tiny amount of this on any little spots that start to creep up on me and I notice that the spot either disappears completely after around 2 days or is somewhat dulled. It is a gel, so feels very cooling on the skin and dries almost instantly. It doesn’t feel too tight once dry, but does feel a little tighter than if you were to use a cream. I like the slight tightness, as I feel it’s drying out/killing off my spot. I also found that applying makeup over the gel once dried was absolutely no problem. I also use it after the spot has vanished, just to speed up the post blemish healing process (as my spots always leave nasty red marks for weeks on end) and I’ve noticed that it helps with that too. 

If you are looking for a product just to target spots once they’ve invaded, I would definitely suggest this! Of course we all spend money on skincare to try and prevent them from attacking but sometimes you have to come up with a plan b once they’ve pushed their way through!

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Bia Beauty

I received these lovely goodies from Bia Beauty at the Cloggers event in Cork. 

Bia Beauty is a fantastic range of 100% handmade, natural skincare products.

Created by Tracey Ryan, using simple, natural food ingredients. Bia is the Irish word for food, hence the name, and this range literally feeds the skin leaving it super moisturised and soft! I fell in love with these products straight away.

Heres what I’ve been trying out…

Lime Pie Lip Balm - These natural lip balms are made with pure beeswax, cocoa butter and nourishing sweet almond oil which keeps your lips moisturised whatever the weather. I apply this is the morning and night and throughout the day if I feel like my lips are dry or chapped. This is a definite handbag essential for me.

Orange & Grapefruit Facial Exfoliant & Cleanser - A facial exfoliant needs to be powerful yet gentle and it needs to cleanse and nourish the skin rather than dry it out, and this does exactly that!

Stop the Clock Natural Eye Gel - This natural eye gel is made from rose, myrrh and immortelle essential oils, which are soothing for delicate skin, combined with arnica oil and aloe vera to produce a cooling and healing eye gel to instantly brighten tired eyes. I use this eye gel as part of my night time routine and I really notice a difference when I wake up. My eyes appear less puffy and 'more awake'.

I really recommend these products and this brand. I will definitely be trying out more of their products and will be sure to let you know how I get on.

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My Favourite Self Tan & Tanning Routine

I'm a big fan of self tan. Usually I would tan if I had an event to go to, or if I was going out BUT recently I've been constantly tanning my whole body because the weather here has been absolutely shocking so there's no way I can get a natural tan. 

Prepare and exfoliate your skin 

Exfoliating is key to the perfect fake tan, it removes dead skin cells to create a blank canvas for your tan to be applied to. Make sure to moisturise after exfoliating too as this will banish any dry patches that the tan could cling to.

If you’re going to wax/shave before your tan: leave it 48 hours after waxing and 24 hours after shaving to make sure there’s no skin irritation when you apply your fake tan.

How to Apply Fake Tan

Take it a step at a time, figure out your fake tan plan before getting to work. I recommend starting at the top and working your way down, making sure nowhere is missed. (don't forget to tan your feet. there is nothing worse than seeing a beautifully tanned body and pale feet!!!)

Grab a mitt and apply your chosen fake tan to the mitt, work in fluid motions and glide the mitt over your skin until you have even coverage. Take it slow and make sure you haven’t missed anywhere, you can always ask for help with those tricky areas like your back.

Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after tanning, but don’t forget to tan them too!

Leave your tan to dry completely before getting dressed or getting into bed to avoid any smudges or patches. If you’re looking for a lighter tan, shower around 4-5 hours after application but if you’re looking for a darker tan, shower 8-12 hours after application. I usually tan at night so that way I can sleep in my tan and shower in the morning. If you feel that you want to go darker, simply repeat the fake tan process. Never apply fake tan directly to your feet and hands, always work the tan from your arms and legs to make sure you have an even, light colour. Use a little moisturiser to blend in dry areas and make sure to wipe away any colour on your palms and wrists, nobody wants orange palms! (trust me)

My Faves

St.Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse

St. Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mousse 

Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan

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Current Skincare Routine

I’m constantly changing my skincare routine, but I’ve recently discovered some new drugstore gems as well as some old time faves. Read on to learn about my current skincare routine:

Step 1: I’ve been using Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser for years because it removes makeup and also cleanses your skin in one step. If you close your eyes and use it on your lashes, it removes any non-waterproof mascara with ease, so I never have to use a separate eye makeup remover. After cleansing I would usually use an exfoliator but certainly not everyday. The exfoliator I use is the Murad exfoliating cleanser.

Step 2: Your next step should be a toner, especially if you have oily skin. I don’t use a toner every night, but one facialist told me that toner is necessary because it takes the pH of the skin back to normal. Apparently the pH of tap water is bad for your skin, and you need a toner afterward. This lady was also probably trying to sell me some toner. Regardless, when I use a toner, I use the Murad clarifying toner.

Step 3: Moisturiser - SPF moisturisers are a bigger deal than you think. You may be starting to think about your sun cream since the sun has been out, but ultraviolet rays can be damaging on even the cloudiest of days, so moisturisers with SPF are a year-round beauty bag essential. The moisturiser I am currently using is Origins 'A Perfect World'

Step 4: Apply eye serum. For the past year or so I’ve been using All About Eyes Serum De-Puffing Eye Massage from Clinique. I rolled on just a little not expecting much since my bags are pretty noticeable. Then I noticed my bags were GONE! This eye serum really does reduce any puffiness.

Step 5: I then apply a face oil. The one I have recently been using is the Clarins Face Treatment Oil Blue Orchid for dehydrated skin. I apply the oil last as it locks everything in, whereas if you applied this before it would stop any moisturiser or cream from being absorbed.

Step 6: And finally I apply my favourite lip balm which is the Bia Beauty Lime Pie Lip Balm. Its super moisurising and smells amazing. (Will have a full review on the Bia Beauty range soon!)

Would you like to see a Makeup Routine?

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