Beach hair season: Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray

June 30, 2010

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray has been a favourite of mine for quite a few years. It’s about time I shared my love for it.

The spray is essentially a salt spray (yes we could make one ourselves but are we bothered?). It’s primary job is to add texture to the hair. It’s one of those products people use to create sexy beach hair.

The official line: Sexy, salty, sun-dried, windswept styles – whenever, wherever. (stolen from their website)

I use it in 3 ways:

1. I spritz my hair  when it’s damp and leave it to dry naturally. I end up with a tousled, textured effect.

2. The spray can also me used to get volume at the root of the hair. I like to spray it on my roots and dry my hair upside down for tonnes of volume.

3. After wearing my hair in ghd curls or a set style the following day I might spritz some Surf Spray in to make a messier look.

I do find it a little dying on the ends of my hair if I use it too often. Everyone’s hair is different though. Although my hair looks great after applying the spray, I don’t really like the feel of it. It feels exactly like you hair feels after you get out of the sea. I realise that this is the point but I just need to point out that it doesn’t deliver silky soft hair.

A word of caution to those who colour their hair, the salt in the spray it’s great for keeping your colour vibrant!

I love the name, the packaging and the results. I don’t however like the price, €16 for 125ml’s makes for quite an expensive hair product but it does last.Would I buy again? I’m on my third bottle so yes but it’s not a product I could use every day, it would be too drying.

I bought mine from Amazon. (for those of you in Ireland Peter Mark sell their products).

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Olay Touch of Sun Moisturiser SPF15

June 29, 2010

According to the box Complete Olay Touch of Sun Moisturiser SPF15 provides your skin with everything it needs to be healthy whilst adding a little self tan to you skin each day. That’s a bit of a tall order but I do like Olay creams so I decided to give it a whirl, it was also on special in Boots last month.

The lotion felt a little too thick and greasy for my liking. Although it didn’t break me out, it certainly has the potential to break someone out. The good news is that it didn’t leave a film on the skin. It also doesn’t smell like fake tan which is always a bonus.

This cream contains DHA to tan the skin. I didn’t have high expectations for this part of the deal but I was pleasantly surprised. I used it before I jetted off to the sun and found that it added a very subtle glow following the first application. After the second day it provided a light tan. It wasn’t orange or streaky on my skin.

It comes is light/medium and medium/dark. I bought the latter, light tans don’t show up on my skin. I recently read a review written by a very fair and sensitive skinned lady who said that it made her skin look a little orange and broke her out. I haven’t Read more…

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Make you own natural Insect Repellent

June 28, 2010

If you read the tiny print on a bottle of insect repellent like I did it’d spur you on to try something natural. You can make your own insect repellent without any harmful chemicals.It also doubles as a moisturising oil.

You only need five ingredients to make the oil. I used to buy my oils from my local health shop but all too often they are far to over-priced. I buy mine online from a soap supplier. Ebay is also a good place to find aromatherapy shops.

  • 8 drops lemongrass
  • 8 drops geranium
  • 8 drops catnip
  • 5 drops eucalyptus
  • 1/4 cup of soyabean base oil

Add all of the ingredients into a bottle, put the lid on and shake well to mix ingredients. Rub the oil all over your skin. The mixture will keep for up to a year, no need to keep it in the fridge.

And there we go, no more mosquito dodging!

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My Favourite Hair Care Products

June 27, 2010

Like many of you I love experimenting with hair care products. Here are some of my current favourites. One of them I refuse to live without!

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7P_iNf3QqQ

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Lush Solid Facial Serum Bars

June 27, 2010

I’m a fan of body butters but one for the face? I was a little sceptical. I have been trying out two Lush Facial Serum Bars.

1. Full of Grace (dry/mature skin)

P1020858This is designed for very dry or mature skins. According to the Lush site it contains rose oil, almond oil, chamomile, rose petal infusion, murumuru butter and almond oil. These ingredients are said to improve elasticity, rich in vitamin A and E, fight free radicals and reduce inflammation. You can use it alone or before your moisturiser. Since I have normal to combination skin this Read more…

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How to: Apply False Eyelashes (strips)

June 26, 2010

A false eyelash application video has been requested so many times so I decided it was high time to get it done. I managed to rope my sister into being my model. This demo is also reviews the e.l.f false lash strips

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKeusHytkZMH

The elf lashes are cheap (from their website). I like the lashes, love the plastic applicator thingy but hate the glue. You would need to buy a better quality glue as it’s not strong enough to hold these stiff lashes.

I hope this was helpful.

Le grá,

Amy

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My favourite Lipstick right now…

June 26, 2010

You probably all know how I feel about Boots No7 products by now; overpriced and often disappointing. With that said I must admit that I’m still in love with No 7 Moisture Drench lipstick in Starshell.

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As I mentioned in a recent video, this was my first every lipstick when I was 17. I loved it then and I love it now. It’s the perfect shade for my skin tone. It’s a peachy shade with a hint of amber..

P1020957How often do we come across a lipstick that is made for us! I’m delighted that I have rediscovered this one. It also looks amazing with a tan.

It’s moisturising so no dry lips. It’s quite sheer but it still adds a decent amount of colour. If you have warm undertones, want a break from pinks and are looking for a wearable shade you should have a look at this one.

What is you staple lipstick?

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What’s in my Bag video (requested)

June 25, 2010

There were so many requests for an updated What’s in my Bag video. These are popular videos among the YouTube beauty community. They’re also a good video to start on if you want to make YouTube beauty videos.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2V0_x707wA

Thanks for requesting this :)

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Lush Glorious Mud Body Mask

June 25, 2010

I love bath products. Today I tried Lush Glorious Mud body mask. This is essentially a fizzy cube that cleanses the skin. You rub the cube all over your body in the shower.

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According to Lush’s site the cubes contain Aloe Vera which is soothing and sesame which moisturises. They contain bicarbonate of soda which makes them fizz on the skin, now that part I like! It has quite a scrubby texture which I liked. I made it into a paste and applied all over.

P1020867I’m not a big fan of the scent, sesame and vanilla. It’s the sort of scent that gets stuck up your nose. I left it on my kitchen table and when I came home my whole house smelled like Glorious Mud. Apparently it smells like Crème Anglaise, I haven’t tried it so I can’t vouch for it.

This didn’t irritate my skin and it’s vegan friendly. However, I’m not sure it should be marketed as a mask.

Have you tried these?

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My Favourite Foundation: Nars Sheer Glow

June 24, 2010

Nars Sheer Glow is hands down the best foundation I have tried. I have decided to dedicate a blog post to my love of this fantastic product.

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Here are some reasons why I love this foundation:

  • Natural looking: For me this one of the most important things about a foundation, it needs to look like skin and not make-up
  • Brightens the skin without adding a glow. Makes you look radiant
  • I don’t have to use under eye concealer
  • Doesn’t block my pores or cause breakouts
  • Hydrates the skin, no dry bits
  • Looks great on camera (essential for me)
  • Sheer but excellent coverage: Hides everything I need it to hide without looking cakey or heavy
  • Comes in a variety of shades: My current shade is Punjab which is a medium with golden, peachy undertones. If you have a cool undertone this shade probably won’t suit you.
  • Fragrance free and doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin

The downside, yes there is always a downside, is the price. I bought mine in Sephora in Chicago for $42. It’s also not a very accessible brand in Ireland. Even when I was in London I had to go to quite a few department stores before I found it. I have since learned that Nars is sold in Space NK in Northern Ireland and the UK. I’m not sure if it’s stocked in Brown Thomas in Dublin.

It’s expensive but for me it’s worth it. It’s probably too expensive for me to use everyday so I try to use it onyl a few times a week and for the rest of the time I use Revlon Photoready.

I have heard people comparing it to Photoready. Although they’re both great foundations I don’t find them similar. Photoready is thicker in consistency and adds a little bit of glowing sparkle to the skin. Sheer glow is not thick and doesn’t have the glow factor, despite its’ name.

What us you favourite foundation?

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