Face Masks & Festivities | GlamGlow Review

On Friday, the most recent addition to our village - The Mill Pharmacy in Coolaney - had its official opening day. The Mill is a newly opened pharmacy. Hilary, its proprietor, has worked hard to stock her chemist with popular makeup and skincare brands that can be hard to find in other bigger chemists, so I was really excited to head along to the open day and have a proper browse.

As well as the usual pharmacy items, The Mill stocks makeup brands Catrice and MeMeMe (which is actually quite hard to find here in the West of Ireland), Ciaté nail polish (again, hard to find in pharmacies), Cocoa Brown tan - my favourite tan - Avené, MooGoo, Crabtree & Evelyn and Caudalié skincare and the most recent and most exciting addition - GlamGlow.

After hanging around the tantalising food table for longer than is socially acceptable I purchased a few bits and enjoyed the live music. Mum had far too many glasses of wine and was falling about the place and I just ate nearly all the grapes from the cheese boards (which I'm pretty sure were just meant to be a garnish but I don't live by the rules!) and managed to spit one halfway across the room like the classy, articulate lady I am.

There was a great crowd for the opening and not too much complaining when we went out in the baltic weather to watch the cutting of the ribbon! I wish Hilary and all the staff the best of luck and sorry for eating all the grapes.

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I managed to bag a sample of each GlamGlow mask and also the undereye treatment, so I thought I'd tie a review of each into this blog.

I tried out each mask seperately. I applied them to a clean, dry face just before getting into the shower and left them on for 5 minutes each before washing them off in the shower.

I'm gonna be honest, I had very high expecations as the face masks are very pricey and I've heard rave reviews about them. Here's my honest review on each one.

1. Supermud 

This mask claims to fight common skin concerns - spots, blackheads, discoloration and uneven skin. It's a mud mask that draws out dirt and gets all the gunk out of your pores leaving it clear and smooth.

This was my favourite of the bunch. As soon as I washed it off my skin felt (to quote my mum) 'like a baby's arse' and I also noticed my pores were cleaner. I had a few blackheads on my nose that I noticed were gone after using this. There's nothing more satisfying than feeling like all the gunk has been sucked out of your pores. Mmm.

 The smell of the masks are quite pleasant - mostly earthy and minty. Because of this I think the masks would suit those with sensitive skin - apart from Thirstymud, which I'll get to in a bit.

2. Youthmud

This one claims to be full of tingly goodness. While the first mask claimed to clear out pores this one seems to mostly just smooth out skin and make it softer and brighter. I did find this one made my skin look healthier but it also made my skin feel a bit tight. I'd imagine this would be good for those with mature or oily skin, but for my very dry skin it wasn't quite perfect. I did enjoy how it made my skin look - just not how it made it feel.

The tingling sensation is a bit strange and for the first minute or so you start wondering if it's meant to tingle quite so much, but this is normal. I do wonder if the tingling addition is a bit gimmicky, however.

3. Thirstymud 

This was the most disappointing of the bunch. I'm sorry to say this did not agree with my skin. This one smelt lovely, like apples, but whatever different ingredients were in it didn't like my face. Thirstymud claims to boost and lock in moisture to give a healthy, dewy appearance.

Shortly after applying this, I felt my skin itching and burning - not tingling, burning. I knew straight away this was not the intended reaction so I quickly rinsed it off. My skin looked red and blotchy and felt very hot and tight after using this.

By all means, try this out - it might have just been my skin that didn't agree with it, but for me this one was a no-go. It is a shame as it's a lovely consistency and smells gorgeous. 

4. Powermud

This was my second favourite mask. This mask is fun to apply as it goes from mud to oil. I didn't see much difference between this one and the first one, purpose wise. In terms of how my skin looked and felt after, the first one won, but this is still a lovely mask for that lovely clean feeling after a long week.

Most of the masks contain little black specks which I think are eucalyptus leaves or tea leaves to detoxify. These are really fun to smear around your face and pretend you have a weird skin condition. Or, you know. Because they're good for your pores.

Overall if I had the money or as a present I'd love to fully try out Powermud or Supermud. They are steep at €56 considering you're meant to use them a few times a week. Still, I guess I'll have to keep dreaming!

Bonus - Brightmud Eye Treatment

This was amazing. I suffer from a bad case of the puffies and darkness under my eyes which I hate. I patted this on before getting ready to go out, left it for a few minutes and then wiped it off. Instantly my undereyes felt refreshed and rejuvinated. Even in pictures I noticed a difference - the puffiness was definitely reduced and my eyes didn't look so tired. I'd definitely buy this but I read on the box you only get 12 in a box for €51 and I just can't bring myself to pay that much for that little! Still, if you have the money I definitely recommend going for this one - it's lovely before a night out or special event. A true Hollywood glam treat!

Thanks to The Mill Pharmacy for the GlamGlow samples. 

Have you joined the GlamGlow craze yet?

Check out The Mill Pharmacy here!

Luxurious Locks | The Blow Dry Bar, Sligo

There's nothing better than getting your hair done after a long week. Even better when it's not for a particular event other than feeling like treating yourself and getting a bit of a pampering. 

Today after work I headed along to the recently opened Blow Dry Bar in the Wine Street car park, Sligo. The lovely Elaine invited me along so I could see what I thought and take a few photos in the process. I also got a chance to see their new beauty salon which is opening upstairs with a tanning room, massage room, and nail bar - so you can get your hair and beauty done all in the same place.

The Blow Dry Bar is a unique addition to Sligo. We have lots of great hairdressers, but none that specifically offer blowdrying and styles only. I was also very impressed to see they advertised braids as I haven't seen anywhere else in town do this and braids are really in lately.

The 'menu' offers anything from 12 week blowdries to fishtail braids. There's something for everyone - from the trendsetter to the girl on the go.

Anyone who sees me on a daily basis knows I usually just have my hair styled naturally as I'm too lazy and clueless to style it, thus meaning it mostly just lies flat and lifeless especially now I'm growing it out. 

I was greeted by Elaine and my stylist, Aoife, and I told them my hair woes. They suggested a curly blowdry with pin curls to give my hair a bit of life and volume which I happily agreed to. 

After a lovely relaxing shampoo and scalp massage at the padded (!) basin - no achey necks here, my friends - I was led over to the 'bar' and seated in one of the chic white leather seats. I love the décor in the salon - black and white - and the Kilner jars used to hold hair accessories and fairy lights as a unique touch. 

Aoife got started with my blowdry and we had a lovely chat. It's actually rare for me to feel that comfortable getting my hair done, I usually feel a bit intimidated like I'm going to the dentist or something - anyone else get this?! It was nice to have a truly relaxing hair experience. I also didn't have to ask her once to turn down the temperature on the hairdryer. Usually I find it far too hot and the head would be burnt off you by the end, but at the Blow Dry Bar there was none of this.

In no time my hair was transformed. I entered the salon Katie Hopkins and when I left I was more Katie Price. There's nothing like a glamorous blowdry to make you feel fabulous all day! When the clips were taken out I could immediately feel the bounce and spring in my hair. After copious amounts of hairspray and a lot of hair-swishing I was ready to set off and proceed to swan about flicking my hair for the rest of the day to the tune of 'Glamorous' by Fergie in my head. Apologies to anyone who had to witness this.

Voila! Look at that swishiness in all its glory.

The curl lasted surprisingly well considering it was windy outside and my hair loses a curl at the slightest movement. When I got home I got my personal photographer (my mum) to take a few pictures of me so you could see my hair from the front. So here we have it, my face. Sorry if I frighten any small children.

So there's my Blow Dry Bar experience. If you're around Sligo definitely pop in for a bit of pampering. The Blow Dry Bar also cater to weddings, nights out, parties, the lot. I'd definitely go back if I wanted my hair done for an event - next time I'll try out the braids!

Find the Blow Dry Bar on Facebook or give them a call on 071 917 0629 - you won't be disappointed. They are also hosting a hair and beauty tutorial event on the 9th March, check it out here if you want to learn how to salon style your hair at home and apply your makeup like the professionals.

Thanks a million to Elaine and Aoife at The Blow Dry Bar.

Check out my mum's blog on her experience too for a great before and after!

Beauty & Blogging

Apologies for the totally boring title, I've been sitting here for ages trying to think of something clever and my mind has gone blank, possibly from brainfreeze as it's so cold lately in Ireland. Apparently this country didn't get the memo it's meant to get warmer as the month goes on, not colder!

Yesterday I was contacted on my blog Facebook page by makeup artist Muireann from Make Up By Muireann asking would I like to attend a teens beauty and style group in The Hair Lounge in Sligo. I'm mad into all things beauty and fashion so of course I said yes. I love attending events like this as not only is it a great day out but it also gives me something interesting to blog about which is always a plus.

The group was held in The Hair Lounge, Caltragh, Sligo. I've never actually been here so I was excited to check it out. The salon itself is fabulous; bright and airy, stylish and simple. I'll definitely have to get my hair done there sometime - God knows I need it! 

Upon arrival the style consultant Kirsty Cawley and Muireann herself greeted me and chatted away - I immediately felt comfortable. I really appreciated this as usually I feel a bit intimidated going to salons or beauty events - I feel a bit like a spare part! However I didn't get any of that today, I felt totally included even though I was the oldest there as it was for teens. Most of the girls attending were doing their Junior Cert so they were a fair bit younger than me but they were lovely and chatted away.

We were led into a small side room which I assume is where the makeup/nail magic is done. The room was fabulously pink and girly and decorated with little signs, photographs and candles. We each got a clipboard, pen and sheets with various information and a style questionnaire to fill out. I found out that I'm mostly romantic/girly and also creative with my style which I'd agree with, I'm a fiend for charity shops! Our group had mixed style types which was interesting. We also talked about different skin tones such as warm, cool, clear, deep etc. I'd say I'm either a cool type or a clear type - the different skin tones are based on your natural hair, eye and skin colour. This information helps you find out which colours suit you best. I'm going to try on some of the colours suggested and see which ones suit me - I wear far too much black and white!

Next we talked about skincare and personal hygiene. I must admit I'm a devil for not having a proper skincare routine - too many times I've crashed into bed after a night out and not taken all my makeup off which is very naughty. One of my resolutions for this year is to get a proper structured skincare routine though and Kirsty gave us some good cheap options for skincare. She recommended the cucumber cleanser, toner and moisturiser from Boots - I think she said it cost her about €3.99! It just goes to show you good skincare doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. She also told us how you easy it is to make your own face/lip/hand scrub and hair masks - I'll definitely give some of these a go. Here's one from the sheet she gave us to make your own hair mask:

• Olive oil and egg mask for dry hair: Mix three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil with two eggs and apply the mixture to your hair. Leave it to sit for 20 minutes before rinsing out. This mask hydrates and the protein in the eggs will help your hair to grow.

Next we talked a bit about different body shapes which I thought was very interesting. I told her how I have small boobs and big hips/bum and asked what I could do to give the illusion of more boobage and not make me look like I have the bottom half of Nicki Minaj and the top half of a 13 year old boy. She gave me a few tips for being pear shaped which I found very handy and I'll be sure to use them next time I'm choosing an outfit.

Lastly Kirsty asked if we had any questions and gave advice if we wanted it. She was so easygoing and funny and focused on us all individually which I thought was great. A lot of the time when you go to things like this if there's a big group you don't feel like you get enough individual attention but here the girls made sure we all felt included and joined in. 

Kirsty deals with consultations, colour, style, talks on looking good and feeling good and personal shopping. She also said she helps people sort out their wardrobes which I think is a fantastic idea. When I get her details I'll put them here - in the meantime she's listed here under the 'Sligo' section. Be sure to check her out.

After a short break it was on to the makeup part of the morning. Muireann works in The Hair Lounge herself. She had such an envious collection of makeup and brushes - I was nearly drooling! She showed us how to do an everyday look on her beautiful model, Chloe. The look consisted of a neutral eye, lip and cheek, contour and brows and she also gave us lots of tips along the way. 

She started with eyes as she told us it's better to start with your eye makeup so if you get any eyeshadow fallout or make a hames of it you can just wipe it off without having to re-do your foundation. Muireann gave us mostly cheap alternatives to some of the higher end makeup she used which I thought was great - I now have a list of products I want to try! She recommended mostly Nyx, Sleek and Catrice which are 3 of my favourite bargain beauty brands. She also showed us how to choose the most complimentary eyeshadow colours for our eyes using a colour wheel from an art shop. Again, she told us about different skin tones and how to match your perfect foundation shade. Something I found interesting was when she told us if your foundation contains SPF or zinc and you wear it while getting your photo taken your face will look ghost white because these ingredients reflect the light off your face and bounce back, thus making you look Caspar like.

As she showed us how to do the makeup she invited us to ask questions. I told her I find it impossible to find foundation to match my almost translucent skin and she actually recommended me a brand and said she'll help me find something which I was delighted about - hopefully no more blending my too-dark foundation down my neck and still ending up with the dreaded orange line! Muireann was also more than happy to show one of the girls how to do a structured brow which was interesting. It's great to have someone show you how to do something on yourself so you can see how it'll really look.

Muireann is a really talented makeup artist and I liked how she made Chloe look naturally enhanced and brought out her features. I think that's what makeup is all about - less is more. You want to accentuate your beautiful features, not drown them!

All in all it was a fantastic morning, I was amazed to find out it was Muireann and Kirsty's first time doing a group like this. I hope they'll have more for older girls/women as I think it's a great idea for a special day out or just to pick up some tips.

You can find Muireann on Facebook here or catch her on 087 9022219. She also has a website here. I highly recommend her for weddings, special occasions or just to treat yo' self! 

Thanks so much to Muireann and Kirsty for a wonderful day, it was such good fun and I now have about 4 sheets full of beauty tips that I'll be sure to put to good use.

Find The Hair Lounge on Facebook here.

Out With The Old, In With The New

Firstly, I'd like to wish all my readers (all 2 of you, heh) a very happy New Year. Thank you so much for reading and sharing my posts. It's quite comforting knowing people care about the shite I ramble on about!

I was inspired by my mum's post to write a post about how my 2014 was. I feel like the majority of people didn't seem to have a good 2014 but for me it was, on the whole, a year full of experiences. Most were good, some were bad, but it's all a learning curve for a youngster like me.

 

Highlights:

Started driving. I would have liked to have been able to put 'learnt to drive' but alas, I'm not quite there yet. It's not that I find it extremely difficult, it's more that 50% of people on the road are fecking eejits and I can't trust their motives. Still, I have 7 lessons done and I haven't killed anyone yet so in my eyes that's a great start.

Finished a college course and got my qualification. I now have a FETAC level 5 in Business Administration which is what I want to do (until I change my mind and decide I actually want to do neuroscience or something completely random, because that's a me thing to do).

Went to London. For a proper, touristy holiday. Spent time with great people, ate some great food and nearly lost a limb trying to maneouvre my way around the tube stations, but it was an experience.

Went to Spain. My best friend Bethany and I had a blissful few days in Torremolinos, Spain, tanning it up (she tanned, I came back looking even whiter than I was before I left Ireland), checking out the nightlife and drinking far too many cocktails. I'd love to get to do this again in 2015.

Started an internship. I know some people think Jobbridge is a slave trade but I'm grateful for the experience and connections I'll get. I also get awful cabin fever and I love having something to get me up and out every day.

Started the blog. For ages I'd been going on about wanting to start a blog and in 2014 I finally bit the bullet. I love having a place to essentially store my memories, vent or just share my interests. I've only had this blog for about 7 months or so but I'm absolutely delighted with how it's going.

So those are just a few highlights of 2014, not to mention spending quality time bonding with my older brother and being able to always cheer each other up through hard times, with my dad who never fails to make me laugh and always looks out for me, and sharing every experience and good time with my mum who is always there for me to tell me when I'm being a muppet and keep me grounded. My family are my rock and I'm so fortunate we're so tight-knit. I love you guys. *sniff*

So before I get too emosh I'd just like to say thanks to my friends and family for making it a great year and to everyone who has read my blog. Hope you all have a great 2015!