Cleansing It Up - Eve Style

So wasn't I a lucky duck over the Christmas? I got a chance to try some cleanser by Eve Lom.

Eve is a master facialist who believes that if your skin is really super clean, thats all you need!

Her cleanser is revered in the beauty world and Vogue once called it the best cleanser in the world so it's hyped to be pretty good stuff. The cleanser itself comes with a muslin cloth which you use to first open your pores and then to gently exfoliate the skin.

It's an oil based cleanser that can be used on any skin type which at first I was dubious of. I'm pretty sensitive and I was concerned about the abrasiveness of the cleanser and cloth. The cleanser itself is a light yellow 'gloop' - for lack of a better word - with an unusual scent. I imagine that the cleanser's holistic properties account for the scent and Eve makes no apologies for that. The scent is not unpleasant but it's not scented candle material. I personally am more then willing to put up with it for the sake of perfect skin, but some may not.

The cleanser comes with a specific set of instructions for use. First, you apply the cleanser in small circular movements to the face. Then dip the cloth in hot water, wring it out and press and hold it to the face for 5 seconds. Repeat this step 3 times ad then use the cloth in circular motions to remove the cleanser and exfoliate. It all seems very specific but trust me she knows what she's on about, that Eve :)

Within one use I saw an immediate difference in how my skin was behaving. Smooth, supple and with no adverse reactions. Plus, I'm a lot less oily then I was which I love. I think the biggest change is how hydrated it is. The cleanser alone leaves my skin really moisturized and IMO that makes it HG stuff.

The bummer here (and you knew there was one) is the price tag. A 100ml jar of this in the south goes for €73 and in the north £48. A 200ml jar is €120/£78. I know, mad money.

But the truth is I would still pay 73 quid for what I think is a fantastic product. Now if it was cheaper, that'd be better too but I'll take what I can get :D

I like Eve's philosophy of less is more and what you spend on her cleanser, you save in not needing a bunch of other creams and lotions to do the same thing. Half of the magic comes from the oil formula and half no doubt comes from the cloth. An oil cleanser is a risky thing to try but if you think about it, oil replaces natural oils lost while cleansing and dissolves all types of makeup. Appealing to all skin types in one product is not an easy thing to do and judging by her rave reviews she has succeeded with flying colours.

Have you tried Eve?

-Em

*None of the products mentioned were sponsored and I am not affiliated with the company*

Your Skin: 4 Things You Didn't Know About Aging

Nobody enjoys aging. Let's face it, most of us even have a phobia about it - ineverwanttolookoldophobia.

It's a technical term obviously :)

So I thought I'd do a little post about the myths and truths of aging!

1. Sunlight is the number one cause of aging - a lot of people know this already but most don't understand why or aren't aware of how damaging it can be. Here's how it works - there are microscopic cells in your skin that naturally produce collagen and elastin, which are the magical ingredients that prevent aging. When the sun shines on your skin, it turns these cells off permanently. The lack of the two ingredients is what causes the wrinkles. Aside from that, sun damage causes a whole host of other problems like skin cancer, melanomas and rosacea that won't be worth that tan. I feel I should also mention that in a cloudy climate like Ireland, where we don't get much sun we should still be wary. In fact; Daylight causes more sun damage then sunlight. Daylight that we see around us still comes from the suns rays. The only way to combat aging and stay safe outside is to wear sun block every single day. So, ditch the suntans girls and go for the bottled kind instead :)

2. Dry skin ages faster/worse(r?) then oily - dry or dehydrated skin doesn't produce enough of skin's natural oil to keep it moisturised and it doesn't produce as much collagen to prevent aging. Wrinkles appear far quicker on dry skin and you can even test it at home; if you gently push on your cheek and the pucker of skin ripples (similar to an orange peel), you are dry and prone to wrinkles. Drinking at least two litres of water a day and using the right moisturiser/eye cream/neck cream should keep the wrinkles at bay!

3. Exercise ain't just good for the body - if you think about it, people who are fit and athletic generally have younger looking bodies then those who aren't. The same applies to the face. Having good muscle tone prevents the skin from sagging and drooping. Facial exercises take 5 or 10 minutes out of your day and in the long run should keep your muscles taut to prevent wrinkles and that chicken jowl thing :)

4. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate - it's all well and good to say 'do this, don't do that and you won't get wrinkles' but what if you spent too long in the sun in your 20's and you have the oul fine line here and there? Unfortunately, short of going under the needle for botox/collagen injections or under the knife for a facelift; no home remedy we do will reverse the aging process once it has begun. We can however, reduce the appearance of any wrinkles we have. Think of your wrinkles like a deep ravine. If someone came along and removed 20 feet of rock from the top, the ravine wouldn't look so deep would it?

Exfoliation removes dead surface skin cells, making the wrinkle in question appear shallower. And for a fraction of the cost and pain of some grotesque surgical procedure, it shouldn't be sniffed at!

-Em

A Complete 180??

So as you know about a month ago I shelled out an extra 4 quid to try MAC's Studio Sculpt Foundation;

"A creamy, luxurious, gel-based foundation that provides medium buildable to high coverage with a natural satin finish. Hydrating, instantly revitalizes the skin while keeping it looking smooth, soft and plush. Long-wearing, water-resistant."

So at first I was convinced it was love; hydrating, luminous, good coverage... everything one would look for in a foundation. The stuff dreams (and trashy romance novels) are made of.

Sadly, it was not to be. It wore great on me for around a week but after that it just seemed to have melted off my face after about two hours wear. I tried absolutely everything to get it to stay in place but there's only so much primer and powder a girl can wear without it defeating the purpose altogether.

So I just thought; you can't win 'em all and dumped it in the foundation drawer with all the other misfits. It was then I saw the light, it wasn't Studio Sculpts fault... my SKIN had changed! Mind boggling and confusing as it may be my skin has done a complete 180; I am now oily, instead of dry.

Who'd have thunk it?

I cannot for the life of me fathom how it has happened. Nothing has changed in my routine!

I think it would be unfair and wildly idealistic to suggest that Studio Sculpt is so ultra-hydrating that it was the cause... at least without a proper test. And since I can't use it without my make-up sliding off in a puddle on the ground; such a test will be a long time coming I'm afraid!

For the short time I wore it, I really did appreciate the formula. It did what it said on the tin (and possibly more?) but I would not recommend it for oily skin. It has an unusual scent; it's something I recognise but I can't place it. Something that comes from Starbucks maybe? If anyone knows, please comment :D

As of now, I am using Jemma Kidd's Mineral Skin Nourishing Tint in Porcelain with a *light* dusting of Studio Fix Powder over it and I have to say I am loving it at the moment. Of course I will be picking up another Studio Fix Fluid, but it's nice to try pastures new :)

-Em

Ins And Outs #1

I know, I know... long time no post! I've been insanely busy with school and now work but I am getting back into the swing of keeping the blog updated. I am aiming to update it once a day. Shoot for the moon and you might make the clouds right? :D

So to ease myself back into it here's my ins and outs!

Ins

New Job - This is the biggest 'in' of the list AND the jokes on them; they are paying me to do what I would be doing anyway for free! Haha!

SpaceNK Laughter Hand Lotion - I'm not sure how well it actually works as a hand lotion but it smells fantastic. IMO Laughter is the nicest of their scents with Santalrosa in second.

Cadbury Caramel Nibbles - Ohhhh they are like little disks of heaven! Basically they are chocolate buttons with caramel inside... *drools* sooooo good. Bad, but so good :D

Sally's Card/MAC Pro Card - What can I say? Saving money makes anyone happy!! Plus, I can now buy China Glaze and Opi nail polishes so expect swatches! Curious to know if the MAC discount works with the Mischief Makers sets. Anyone know?

Outs

The weather - Jeez its freezing!! And raining. Temperate climate sucks.

Studio Sculpt Foundation - More on this in another post but I just 'aint feelin it.

Wisdom teeth - I definitely don't feel any wiser, so really what's the point? All that pain and discomfort only to have to pay 90 quid a pop to have them removed with more pain and discomfort... Fail.

There will be more product review and quick tips coming soon, I promise ;)

-Emma

Guide: MAC Foundations

If you are new to MAC, sometimes the shop and the whole set up can be very daunting. There are so many shades and numbers and letters and types and bottles it can get confusing, so I've made this guide to sort it out (I hope) :)

So, most of the time, there are two types of MAC foundation; NW and NC.

NW means 'Neutral Warm' and NC means 'Neutral Cool'. NW shades have undertones of RED in them, NC shades have undertones of YELLOW.

Now, the undertones in foundations can work differently for different people. Generally, MAC advise that if you have red or rosy undertones in your skin, you should choose a foundation with red undertones, ditto with yellow undertones, etc. But sometimes if you have a lot of red, (for example; someone with

rosacea) probably wouldn't want more red in their foundation and they might choose an NC shade that has yellow. It all depends, but that is how it usually works :)

The number on a MAC foundation stands for the shade. The lower the number the lighter the shade. MAC have a large range of both NC and NW shades that usually run from 15 to 55.

If you are having trouble matching yourself, ask to be colour matched. They will apply some on your jawline and then its a good idea to go out and see how it looks in natural light. Store lights can be deceptive.

Also, keep in mind that colours can change with formula. So if you are NW30 in Studio Fix Fluid, you may not (and probably won't) be NW30 in Mineralize Satinfinish.

If you aren't sure about a colour or formula don't be afraid to ask for a sample. Most of the assistants will happily give you a sample for you to try yourself.

Here's a quick run down of each MAC foundation :)

Studio Fix Fluid: Probably the most well known MAC foundation; medium-high coverage, powder based formula, SPF 15, matte finish, oil-free.

Studio Sculpt: MAC's newest foundation; medium-high coverage, gel based formula, SPF 15, satin finish, hydrating.

Mineralize Satinfinish: Luminous foundation; quite low coverage, mineral based formula, SPF 15 UVA and B safe, satin finish, hydrating with vitamins to nourish the skin.

Select: Medium coverage, water based formula, SPF 15, matte finish, oil-free.

Face And Body: MAC's 'professional' formula foundation; low-medium coverage, water based formula, satin finish, hydrating.

Studio Moisture Tint: MAC's tinted moisturiser; low coverage, has SPF 15 but only comes in five shades.

Studio Fix Powder: MAC's powder foundation; medium coverage, matte finish, absorbs oil. I would not recommend on-going use of the sponge that this comes with because it is impossible to clean and can breed bacteria, which you don't want on your face.

Mineralise Loose Powder: MAC's loose foundation; medium coverage, mineral formula, SPF 15, satin finish, hydrating.

Studio Stick: MAC's stick foundation; medium coverage, cream formula, SPF 15, non-oily.

Studio Tech: MAC's cream-to-powder foundation; low-high coverage, matte finish, dermatologist tested.

Select Moistureblend: MAC's cream foundation; medium-high coverage, SPF 15 UVA and B safe, satin finish, hydrating, dermatologist tested.

I hope this has helped anyone who was wondering, or just really, really confused about MAC foundations!

Happy shopping :D

-Em

Mini Haulage

I did a bit of hauling this weekend and I wanted to give my opinion on a few things I got.

So a good while ago, I got some MAC brushes that I really had no use for, so this weekend I finally got around to exchanging them. I went to the MAC counter in Brown Thomas on Grafton Street. I have mixed thoughts about that particular counter; sometimes (rarely) I come out feeling like I got exactly what I had wanted in the first place; most of the time I either feel like I've been convinced into buying something else altogether; or that the sales assistant has no idea what's going on and I leave with nothing.

But actually, I am generally happy with what I walked away with this time.

I had been eying the Studio Sculpt foundation for a long, long time (it was released in Feb/March with the Well Defined Collection) and I wanted to pick that up. It is supposed to be super hydrating and like most MAC foundations it's got SPF 15. I personally think the shades run a bit dark; I was NW15 which is the lightest I've ever been in a MAC foundation, so it's a good idea to get colour matched. It's early days yet, but I overall I like it. It's got kind of a mousse-like consistency and IMO you need to use far less of it then Studio Fix Fluid to get the same result. The only negative I'm noticing is that to me, it feels slightly heavier on the skin, but that doesn't really bother me.

The rest of the stuff is really blah. I got Studio Fix powder in NW20, Select Cover-up in NW15 and Fast Response eye cream. Nothing to write home about.

Something else I got was a Barry M nail paint in 304 Mint Green. I know, I know. I'm waaaay late on this product. I always meant to jump on the 'Peppermint Patti by MAC dupe' band wagon but I never got near a Barry M.

It's a nice mint green and the consistency is good. You need two coats for it to be really opaque, but for €4.50, I aint complainin'. It would have been nice to wear during the non-existent summer; if only to cheer me up :)

This last thing is a bit fashion-y. I saw this in Dunnes and I had to have it;

It's a grey military style duffel coat with a kick 'skirt'. It may be 'so last season' but it is love :)

-Em

An Oldie but a Goodie

Around 5 years ago I got my first GHD hair straighteners, and I still have 'em.

They're a bit bashed around and have more then a few scuffs, but I think they still work as good as day numero uno. Personally, GHD's are my favourite. I've tried all different brands, from Remington to Toni&Guy, and none of them have performed nearly as well or lasted nearly as long as my GHD and lived to tell a hair straightening tale.

They can still be found at Peter Marks salons and some online places. I think I paid around €150 for mine, but that was waaay back in the day so they could be more or less expensive now, it's a good idea to check.

My set have really stood the test of time and believe me when I tell you they have been through the mill (literally) and are still hanging in there. Sure, the words have faded and the holographic woman has been melted away but that stuff adds character :D

It still takes 30.4 seconds to heat up (I timed) and it still gets just as hot. So, to demonstrate it's awesome power, here is me before; (eek no makeup)

To be fair, my hair is naturally straight so I'm not in need of a 'heavy duty' iron but I love the sleekness and shine that straightening gives. Plus, I think it's a much faster way of curling hair then curling tongs. Here are curls, the GHD way; (sorry, I'm looking down)

To create curls, take a small section, clamp near the root, twist 180, and pull through. The more you twist, the more 'ringlety' your curls will be. The less you twist, you'll have more wavy hair :)

And from curls to straight;

To straighten, take a section, clamp near the root and just pull though.

My one critique of the GHD's is that mine (probably version 1) didn't come with the fail-safe thing that knocks it off after 30 minutes. I've often run out and left it on to come back to singed sheets and white-hot straightener handle :/ To save from fire hazard all new models come with the fail-safe.

The thing I love most about the GHD's is that when I use them, my style (curls or straight) stays all day without the need to touch up, even if I don't use styling products.

Holy grail stuff for me and if they ever did break, I couldn't live without one :)

-Em