Think Pink with Yves Saint Laurent - Rose Glow Collection

Hey Ladies,

I hope you're all well! My infinite infatuation with YSL reigns supreme today with a look at their incredibly beautiful Rose Glow Collection. "My favourite colour after black, is pink" - Yves Saint Laurent, a man after my own heart. At it's heart, it is nothing if not a stunning rose gold collection, reminding us that a touch of rosy pink with subtle underlying gold tones is the secret to a universally flattering, youthful glow. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

First up lets take a look at the exquisite Rose Gold Primer, this I have found to my absolute delight has a multitude of uses, you can mix it with your foundation for an all over glow, over foundation as an added highlighter, or my favourite use, is to wear it on its own, once applied to a well moisturised face it gives you the most fantastic dewy look, and it's subtle rose gold flecks lends you a beautiful glow without the disco ball side effect.

The Rose Gold Highlighter is a new look to an old favourite, Le Touche Eclat has been a staple in my makeup collection since a time where my entire makeup collection fit into a small makeup bag... This re imagining gives us what we love about the Touche Eclat but with an added surge of pink shimmering light, it really is just beautiful. I can only hope that YSL choose to make this a permanent product in their collection.

And now for the piece de resistance, The Rose Gold Blush *swoons* I am head over heals about this product and it is absolutely my favourite from the collection. Here we have a light pink shimmer incased in a burst of cerise perfection. This, is a show stopping blush. A light hand gives you just a subtle flush of this gorgeous colour, but if you're brave (and I recommend your are when it comes to this) what you're left with it, is the most incredible pop of pink on the cheeks, it really is unique and unlike anything I have in my collection, and that my dears, really says something!

My final thoughts? In my opinion YSL have proved time and time again that they can do no wrong when it comes to their collection of truly stunning permanent and limited edition products and this is no exception. If you're a fan of YSL & a fan of Rose Gold, I highly recommend you check this collection out, it doesn't disappoint!

Thats it for now ladies,

I hope you enjoyed,

What are your thoughts on the collection?

Are you tempted?!

As always,

Let me know below!

Until next time 

xoxo

Aundrea

Ziaja - Manuka Tree Purifying Range

Hey Ladies,

I hope you're all well! Back to one of my all time favourite topics today, skincare. My second favourite topic vis a vis skincare is how Ziaja keep managing to knock it out of the park when it comes to affordable, reliable and effective skincare ranges. Today I'm taking a look at the newly launched 'Manuka Tree Purifying Range' for oily and combination skin.

First up we have the Normalising Cleansing Gel. Full disclosure up front, I am not a massive fan of cleansing gels, I find them sticky and generally unpleasant to work with, I much prefer cream cleansers. This was good though, it felt really nice on, almost cooling on the skin. I've taken to using it with my Clarisonic to get the full effect because my skin has just been atrocious lately. I have to say, for a gel cleanser, it wasn't the nightmare I was expecting, there was no sticky residue and zero tackiness which was great. It left my skin feeling clean and soft, what more can you ask for?

The Astringent Face Toner is one of my favourites from the collection, it feels almost lotion like, very luxurious and smells just incredible. It contains organic acids which makes it an exfoliating toner, it's by no means harsh though, it's a real treat to use. My skin always feels squeaky clean without feeling dried out or tight. It's terrific if you're having any sort of a breakout, it really does the trick with preping the skin for any further treatment.

The Normalising Day cream, I have found is a great base for under makeup. It seems to keep my t-zone woes under control, and you can't fault that. I do prefer something with a higher SPF in it though, so I've been mixing in my current SPF of choice if I know that I'll be out and about that day and it holds up really nicely.

The Gently Exfoliating Night Cream I just love, love LOVE! This is an absolute pleasure to use, it contains 3% Almond acid which helps to exfoliate the skin and assist with the regeneration of new cells. Like the rest of the range, it smells amazing. This applies like a dream, and sinks in quickly, I honestly cannot fault it, my skin has improved so much with persistent use.

The Deeply Cleansing Peeling Paste is the stand out product from the range for me. Here's the thing, the first time I used this Glam Glow came to mind, it dries in the same way, and it sucks all the crap out of your skin in an even more explosive way than GG. With Ziaja you get a whopping 75ml of product for €4.99 vs €60 from Glam Glow, it's exactly the same effect and I have tried every GG Mask. Trust me, save yourself €55 and you'll be bowled over with the results. I found it incredible.

All in all, I give the Manuka Tree Range from Ziaja two very enthusiastic thumbs up. For just under €30 you have yourself an effective and well stocked skincare regime. Whether you're having trouble with acne, oily skin or you know a teenager who is going through a rough time (we all remember how much fun that was right?) It's such a terrific range and I honestly cannot recommend it enough.

That's it for now ladies,

I hope you enjoyed!

Any stand out products above that you feel

you might like to try?

As always,

Let me know below!

Until next time

xoxo

Aundrea

La Vie est Belle - L'Absolu de Parfum & Illuminating Fragrance Oil by Lancome

Hey Ladies,

I hope you're all well! I have new products from a fragrance line that I just adore to share with you today! You all know by now of my obsession with La Vie est Belle from Lancome. I'm 5 bottles in with the original fragrance the EDP, and on my second bottle of the L'EDT. So when I found out there was to be a new L'ADP & Fragrance Oil to be released, I jumped on that bandwagon without a single moments hesitation. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

First up lets take a look at the L'Absolu De Parfum. More intense and more luxurious than the original L'ADP takes the best notes and intensifies them to the point of swoon worthiness. Once again perfumers Dominique Ropion & Anne Flipo have worked their magic to give us one of the most incredible scent experiences of 2014. The top notes of the fragrance are pear and blackcurrent, it has a heart of iris, orange blossom, damascus rose and jasmine. The base notes are what really makes this fragrance something special for me, tonka bean, praline, cashmere and if I'm not mistaken a hint of Vanilla. The key ingredients for an 'Aundrea will love' fragrance. What I adore about this new take on  La Vie est Belle, is that Lancome have found a way to keep it constantly evolving on your skin. That initial spritz has a beautiful powdery feel to it, but once you leave it to do it's thing, you are rewarded with the most intense infusion of sweet meets woodiness, mingling elegantly together in a way that only Lancome's La Vie est Belle can seem to accomplish in the oh so effortless spritz of a perfume. It really is incredibly beautiful.

The Illuminating Fragrance Oil for me, is a no brainer 'you need it, and you need it now' sort of product. It's a non-greasy dry oil infused with the exquisite scent of the iconic La Vie est Belle fragrance. Lancome have enhanced it with three of the most active natural oils. Sweet Almond plant oil, for its softening and nourishing properties. Apricot oil for it's fatty acids and antioxidants which help repair and tone the skin. And Sesame Oil for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties. I should also mention that this is a multi use oil. I like to use it after a long, hot bath before bed, the scent is so incredibly relaxing and because it's one of my all time favourites wearing it feels like coming home, which pretty much guarantees a blissful nights slumber! You can also use this as a hair oil, I find it fantastic for dry ends and it gives a terrific shine without looking greasy! 

Both of these new additions to the range are so luxurious, and such a beautiful way to spoil yourself! There really is no excuse not to run out and buy one if not both of these, especially if you're a fan of the fragrance range like I am. My only hope is that Lancome will bring out a La Vie est Belle Bath Oil, and maybe a linen mist too?! I can't seem to get enough of this fragrance. It's l'absolu love (see what I did there?! I'll get me coat).

That's it for now ladies,

I hope you enjoyed.

What are your thoughts on Lancome's newest additions?

Will you be purchasing?!

As always let me know below!

Until next time

xoxo

Aundrea

Skinician's Miracle Glycolic Peel at The White Orchid Walkinstown

Hey Ladies,

I hope you're all well. I have a unique post for you today, all about the marvel's of The Skinician Glycolic Face Peel. I recently paid a visit to my go to salon in Dublin, The White Orchid in Walkinstown. Some of you may remember the post I did on my experience with Waxperts Hollywood  Treatment I received there. Let me tell you, I was more than a little excited when my favourite beautician Janice asked me to come in to review Skinician's Glycolic Peel, I was unsure what to expect, mainly I was just hoping I didn't leave looking like this.... If you don't get the following reference, we just can't be friends anymore.

Of course, I was in good hands and had one of the most relaxing and enjoyable experiences in my beauty blogging career! Janice had some questions for me: skin type, problem areas etc, and with me under a fleecy blanket of loveliness she set to work.

Janice began by using the Revitalising Cleanser to ensure that my face was clean and fully prepped. She then used the Purifying Cleansing Gel as part of the double cleanse, paying particular attention to the clogged and congested problem areas I had told her about, which by the way smelled so, so good. The next step was the incredibly fine Facial Exfoliator she used to slough away the on-the-surface dead skin. 

Now for the main event, and one of the most heavenly experience I have ever been privy to, the Glycolic Peel itself. Janice applied a generous layer of the treatment, which I have to say smelled absolutely incredible! It tingled a little, but was by no means uncomfortable in any way, shape of form. I found the scent and this entire section of the process so relaxing. While the treatment was working it's magic, Janice used the signature Relaxing Oil for a neck, shoulder and arm massage. As you can imagine, at this stage, I was ready to fall asleep! 

Once Janice removed the Glycolic Peel, she then applied the Purifying Mask, followed by the Hydrating Repair Mask (talk about being pampered!). After they had been rinsed off and Janice checked that I was still breathing due the lack of my regular babbling, she told me that she was in the final stages of the treatment. She applied the uber luxurious Advanced Calming Serum, Restoring Night Cream and Advanced Eye Repair. Janice informed me that she was going to give me a few minutes to bring myself back into the land of the living. My time with Skinician's Glycolic Face Peel was up. 

My final thoughts on the treatment? Absolutely incredible and worth every single cent! Although, a treatment as luxurious as this won't set you back as much as you think. It's €39 for the facial, which is incredibly affordable knowing the quality of both the treatment and the therapist that are included in the price. I left feeling incredibly relaxed, my skin felt soft, smooth, clean and glowing. I'm so in love with The White Orchid, Janice never disappoints and she always goes above and beyond to make sure you're relaxed and happy while providing the best treatments available. I honestly can't recommend her, her beautiful salon and the incredible Skinician Facial enough!

That's it for now ladies,

I hope you enjoyed!

Have you ever had a Glycolic Peel?

What are your thoughts?

If you have any Skinician products to recommend,

As always, let me know below!

Until next time

xoxo

Aundrea 

To make an appointment with Janice at The White Orchid:
Call - 01 456 9079
Facebook - here.

Under the Nail File - A Trip to NJM Nails Athlone

Hey Ladies,

I hope you're all well! This is a first for me, I've never done a nail post before. The main reason being  because I have massive trust issues when it comes to my nails. I kind of subscribed to the school of thought that if I did them myself and messed them up, I'd have no one else to blame! Recently on Instagram and Twitter I had noticed pictures popping up in both feeds, of incredible nail designs from a gal in my hometown, Nicola. I was so impressed that we arranged an appointment for myself and Addie to travel out and have a Mammy/Daughter pamper day and get our nails done!

 Lady Addison went first, and chose the most adorable design! I was really excited right from the off, mainly because Addie was so excited! She chose her colours and Nicola set off to work filing, buffing and putting Addie right at ease. It was lovely to see Addison so entranced by the entire process, she got a big kick out of the dotting tool, I think in her eyes Nicola soon became a nail magician rather than a nail technician! A title well deserved in my opinion, just look at the incredible job she did!

Once Princess Addie was finito, it was my turn to go under the file! I had been thinking about a change in nail shape for quite a while, so I decided to go from square tips to Stiletto's! I was really surprised at how quick Nicola was able to transform my nails from Chanel Ballet Pumps to mile high Louboutin's! I know if I'd attempted it, I'd still be filing... We decided on a nude/pink gel, with incredible Swarovski crystals (yes, real ones!). Once she had finished, my nails felt and looked a million dollars. I was so, so impressed with the skill and precision with which Nicola worked, the end result was more than incredible and I honestly can say with total confidence, I would never let another person touch my nails again. I will absolutely be returning to keep my nails in tip top shape! I know they're in the best hands. Here's a before and after of my nails!

Here's a quick peek at some of the amazing custom designs and colours Nicola has on offer in her Salon - 

So that's it for now ladies,

I hope you enjoyed!

Let me know your experiences with getting your nails done!

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly! 

I want to hear it all!

Until next time

xoxo

Aundrea

If you would like to make an appointment with Nicola at NJM Nails Athlone:

PHONE: 0868289170

EMAIL: njmnailsirl@gmail.com

TWITTER: @NJMNails

INSTAGRAM: @njmnails

Nicola is also available to hire for events!

Elemis Vs. This Works: Deep Sleep Pillow Spray

Hey ladies,

I hope you're well. I have a battle of the deep sleep spray's for you today! I had never been a particularly bad sleeper until recently when I began having steroid injections for my Tendonitis. I'm not so good with steroids, I can't sleep, and then the OCD starts to kick in which leads to me re-organising my makeup collection or cleaning the house at 4 in the morning. Even with the sleeping tablets my doctor had prescribed to combat that, they didn't help much. 

Que advice from the ever fabulous Chloe over at NurseFancyPants who mentioned the great things This Works Deep Sleep Spray had done for her, and kindly offered to send me a spare bottle she had to try it. Whilst I was gutting and redecorating my room (another terrific idea I'd had whilst trying to find sleep) I came across a bottle of the Elemis Quite Mind spray which is supposed to have a similar effect, and thusly the battle of the sleep spray's began!

So up first is the Elemis Quiet Mind Spray. I have to be honest straight off the bat and say, the smell of this is incredibly cloying. You would nearly need to spray it and come back 45 minutes later when it's calmed down, but even then it's very strong. It contains lavender, eucalyptus, patchouli, all to promote a quite mind and good nights sleep, neither of which seemed to befall me when I used it. But, to be fair to the product, I have used it when I'm over the affects of the steroids and it's ok, nothing to write home about. It is disappointing. Not what I have come to expect from Elemis, which is unfortunate. I'll continue to use it until I finish the bottle of course, but I doubt there'll be any miracles!

My little miracle product, the This Works - Deep Sleep Pillow Spray! My first experience with This Works was when I picked up 2 incredible candles in TK Maxx: the Petitgrain & Jasmine and the Vetivert & Lavender, both of which smell amazing! I had read about the Deep Sleep Candle, but had never heard of the spray until Chloe mentioned it to me. As I said above she was super generous in sending me her spare bottle so, that night and almost every night since I have been using this on my pillow, and my, my This Works (see what I did there?!) an absolute treat! I can happily report that there was no re-organising my nail polish collection at stupid o'clock in the morning! It contains essential oils of lavender, camomile and Vetivert to soothe the body and mind! Addie went through a bit of a growth spurt recently which meant she wasn't sleeping that well so I used this on her pillow and it did the trick too, so I can say with confidence that this is a terrific little product!

All in all, the This Works - Deep Sleep Spray far surpasses the Elemis Quite Mind. I am absolutely enamoured with it, I actually received a back up spray in a goodie bag at the opening of the Space NK Apothecary last week, which is terrific. Another plus myself and the lovely Chloe were discussing was that no matter how much you spray it, it seems to last forever, always a huge bonus when you happen to be a little bit in the actual love with a product right?!

So, that's it for now ladies!

I hope you've enjoyed!

What are your thoughts on sleep sprays?

Are you a fan?!

As always, let me know below!

Until next time

xoxo

Aundrea 

Max Benjamin Fragrance Diffusers: My New Addiction!

Hey ladies,

I hope you're all well and enjoying the lovely weather. I'm sorry I haven't been with you in a while BUT I am in recovery from a broken ankle! I think the only words of wisdom I could give you with regards to said broken ankle is DO NOT chase your 6 year old around the garden!

It took me quite a while to decide what my first post back would be, and I was toying with the idea of telling you all why I think Billy Ocean might actually be my father, but then I thought no, best save that one for later...

So I have chosen instead to tell you about my latest obsession, Max Benjamin Fragrance Diffusers. My obsession with these started when I went to visit my good friend Kat from Dolly Rouge for a weekend of nothing but food, fun, and pampering, and epic chats, not to mention The Vampire Diaries! I was immediately drawn to the scent in Kat's living room which was Mimosa and Sweet Amber from Max Benjamin. And so my obsession was born....

It's not my first foray into the world of Max Benjamin, I've been a fan of their candles for as long as I can remember, starting with Blue Velvet and Elderberry which they have sadly discontinued.  I actually bought a stockpile of the candle before they were taken off the shelves, but I miss it terribly so Max Benjamin, if you're reading this please, please, please bring it back! Im also a huge fan of Dodici, which smells just beautiful. It's quite a masculine scent but I just adore it! My only point of purchase in this town is Carraig Donn, so off I went to have a sniff, and completely fell in love!

My first diffuser purchase was the incredible French Linen Water. I just love this scent, it's not something I would normally go for, but I was looking for something different. MB use only the finest selection of essential oils to create each diffuser, so it doesn't scrimp on the scent! It's scent includes the ever relaxing lavender, sweet orange and citrus notes which blend together beautifully! It always seems to smell different, and call me insane but, I detect notes of chocolate in there! It's just perfect.

My most recent purchase was this beauty, which I have to thank Kat for turning me onto. Mimosa & Sweet Amber. The soothing sweet amber in this fragrance makes this perfect for de-stressing after a long day of shuffling on my broken ankle. It also contains delicate top notes of green leaf and a tender heart of mimosa. I've really been enjoying how it mingles harmoniously with French Linen Water to create my own little unique scent. My room smells beautiful (even if I do say so myself) these scents are just a pleasure to be around.

The fantastic thing about these beauties is that they come with a fantastic 150mls of product, which is a huge amount of fragrance! What's even better is the fact that you can purchase refills for when they run out, pretty nifty right?! They have such a terrific selection available on their website, I highly recommend you treat yourself because they are just stunning! I will be repurchasing refills for the ones above, but I also have every intention of letting my addiction take over and buying more! I do have my eye on 3 or 4... or 5! You know me... in for a penny in for a pound!

So that's it for now ladies!

I hope you enjoyed!

What are your thoughts on Max Benjamin?!

Have you tried anything from the range?

As always, let me know below!

Until next time 

xoxo

Aundrea

Ziaja - The Holy Trinity of Enzyme Peels

Hey Ladies,

I hope you're all well! As a long time skincare obsessive, I have tried my fair share of face masks, peels, lotions and potions of every type. It's been a really long time since a budget skincare brand has impressed me. I find that more often than not, they're a complete let down, so I gave up trying them, wholeheartedly convinced that I would never find one, and that high end products were the only way to go. I was a total skincare cynic, until Ziaja came into my life. Today, I want to share with you my new skincare obsession from Ziaja - Enzyme Peels!

Enzyme Peels have become incredibly popular recently. But what are they, and why are they so important? Well here's the sciencey bit behind it *puts on over sized glasses to look intelligent* enzyme peels are used to deeply cleanse and resurface the skin by treating the upper layers of skin tissue. It literally helps to peel the dead skin cells off the face. Sounds kind of gross I know, but it is incredibly important as these peels help the skin to promote renewal of shiny new healthy skin cells!

I think a lot of people when they hear 'Enzyme Peel' suddenly conjure up the image of Samantha in Sex and the City, looking like a bee keeper hiding under a veil after a harsh chemical peel! This is not the case at all with Enzyme Peels, so don't be frightened! Ziaja have something for everyone in their Enzyme Peel Range! Lets take a closer look shall we?

The SenSitive Skin Enzyme Peel contains an enzyme called Papain, which is terrific for breaking down skin cells! The peel also contains Allantoin, and Castor Seed Oil which are praised for their soothing properties, and also Panthenol which is a pro vitamin of B5, a fantastic hydrating ingredient! This is one of my favourite Enzyme Peels, it leaves the skin feeling soft, plump and incredibly smooth! What more can you ask for?!

The Marine Algae Smoothing Enzyme Peel contains a host of fantastic ingredients to transform dull skin. This peel uses a Bioactive Enzyme with Algae, Canola Oil, Vitamin A, and Pro Vitamin B5. The Algae is a water binding agent which will help to lock moisture into your skin, fantastic for those of us who have skin a bit on the dry side! The Canola Oil helps to eradicate fine lines, blemishes and acne scarring. The Vitamin A helps to keep your skin looking young and the B5 as I mentioned before is fantastic for keeping the skin hydrated!

The Rose Butter Micro Peel, is something a little different from the other two peels as it contains tiny micro exfoliating particles. Perfect for if and when the dead skin cells are being extra stubborn. This peel contains Rose Butter, which is known for its healing properties. Olive Oil EFA's (Essential Fatty Acids) Olive Oil attracts external moisture to the skin and because the fat composition of Olive Oil is very similar to that of human skin, it ensures that as it forms a breathable film to prevent the loss of internal moisture, it does not block the natural functions of our skin while doing so! Tres, Tres important, no?! This peel also contains Vitamin C, E, B3, B5, and B6, all excellent for keeping the skin looking and feeling hydrated, young, soft and supple!

So, as you can see, I am suitably impressed and more than willing to eat my own words about High End Skincare being the only way to go. The Enzyme Peels are not just comparable to higher end ones, but better. The price point is so much more reasonable, there is more bang for your buck AND they're just generally freakin awesome!

Before I hang up my Sciencey Education hat for the day, I just want to remind you of something incredibly important. When you use any sort of peel, it is imperative that you keep your skin moisturised, preferably with one that contains an SPF! After all, you've just gotten rid of a layer of skin, all be it a dead layer, but you don't want those UV ray's to penetrate only to do copious amounts of sun damage to it! So please, be as adventurous as you like with your new BFF The Enzyme Peel, but just make sure that you take the proper steps to ensure you keep it protected too!

That's it for now ladies,

I hope you enjoyed!

What are your thoughts on Ziaja's Enzyme Peels?

Have you tried any? 

Are you tempted?

As always, let me know below!

Until next time 

xoxo

Aundrea

Ziaja can be purchased online here - www.originalbeauty.ie

Follow Ziaja on Twitter - here.

On Facebook - here and here.

Roger & Gallet - Rose and Fleur d'Osmanthus Hand & Nail Creams

Hey Ladies,

I hope you're all well! Roger & Gallet being a long time favourite brand of mine, tend to get me ridiculously excited with new releases to their permanent line. As you all know, I'm such a huge fan of their fragrance waters, shower gels, and body moisturisers, so when I discovered they were releasing a range of new hand and nail creams, I knew I had to have them!

First up we have the Rose Hand & Nail Cream. This little beauty contains Shea Butter and Rose Extract to moisturise, soften and soothe tired hands. I am in love with the scent of this product. It's an incredibly delicate scent, that smells like a thousand rose petals have been pressed together to make this cream. You really only need the smallest amount of product because it spreads and sinks in beautifully. It leaves your hands feeling incredibly soft and nurtured. I just love it!

The Fleur d'Osmanthus Hand & Nail Cream is more heavily scented but no less wonderfully! It's fresh, it's zingy and the scent lingers long after the creams itself has sunk in. This also contains Shea Butter, but also Apricot Oil to nourish and protect your hands and nails. I can see myself using this during the Summer months to hydrate my hands. The scent just screams Summer to me, as with the original fragrance, which this stays true to.

Both of these hand and nail creams that Roger & Gallet have given us are a real treat! I can only hope and pray that they expand the range and bring out some of my favourite scents to accompany these beauties!

It was pointed out to me in my last R&G post, that nobody seems to love this brand more than me, and you know, that's true. Roger & Gallet never disappoint, I'm always so excited to try new products, and anything from the permanent line that I haven't gotten around to yet. There is something about Roger & Gallet, they just seem to release products that everyone can love and appreciate, and in turn, we have to appreciate R&G for that, because there are no filler products in their collection! Everything is just beautiful and that's why I love them so much! From packaging to the product it contains, it's absolute perfection!

That's it for now ladies,

I hope you enjoyed!

What are your thoughts on R&G's new Hand Creams?

Will you be trying them?!

As always, let me know below!

Until next time

xoxo

Aundrea

Kerstin Florian - Hyaluronic Serum

Hey Ladies,

I hope you're all well! Today's post is about a brand that is totally new to me 'Kerstin Florian'. I guess as a beauty blogger and as a gal who's approaching 30, I made the conscious decision a few years ago to take my skincare routine very seriously. But like everything else it's been a learning curve, and it's not something that you can just snap a book shut on and say 'I have nothing else to learn.' There are always new products, new ingredients, and new ways of phrasing ingredients to blindside you into thinking you need it. We need to be sensible, we need to know when to hold back, be more frugal, and also we need to know when to cash out, to splurge. Of course you can chop and change with what works for you, there's no manual. It can be increasingly difficult to find what works for you, especially if one product isn't working, it can have a knock on effect with the rest of your regime. Which is what happened to me a few months ago, I had the goods to kick my skin into gear, but I was missing a key ingredient, enter Kerstin Florian and her incredible Hyaluronic Serum.

If you perhaps haven't heard of Hyaluronic Acid or HA if you will, (too much Breaking Bad) I cordially invite you to crawl out of the rock you may or may not have been living under, dust yourself off and pull up a chair yo. Hyaluronic Acid is something you want and need to know about, it attracts 50 times its weight in water, to help you achieve pretty incredible skin hydration. It also attracts and binds the moisture to our skins surface to help create and maintain softness and suppleness. Sounds pretty great for every skin type right?

But that my friends is not all this serum does, it improves our skins tolerance to environmental irritations, and increases it's elasticity and firmness, perfect for protecting against the signs of ageing. It also contains a huge amount of antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients for the skin.

The key ingredients are of course our new BFF Hyaluronic Acid, Chamomile Extract to balance and sooth irritated skin, Bitter Orange, Lavender and Geranium Oils to scent the product so beautifully that you feel like you could be having a professional facial, not only that but the oils also help to promote healing and balance within the skin.

So, my final thoughts on this product? I love it, it's given my skin the ultimate kick it needed to ensure my other products did their jobs as effectively as possible. Now my skin is in the best condition it has ever been, it is a key part of a routine I feel I have finally gotten down. As I said skincare and your own skin are always going to be a learning curve, so get to know it, find out what it needs and what it responds to. Don't just assume that because your current routine isn't working that you need to bin all your products, add something new into the mix that you feel like your skin may be lacking, who knows what might happen? When I did, with Kerstin Florian's Hyaluronic Serum it was the missing piece of the puzzle!

That's it for now ladies,

I hope you enjoyed!

What are your thoughts on Hyaluronic Acid?

Are you a fan?

As always, let me know below!

Until next time

xoxo

Aundrea

Ziaja - SenSitive Skincare Range

Hey Ladies,

I hope you're all well. Today's review is about a new favourite brand of mine, Ziaja. I fell in love pretty quickly with their range of Micellar Waters which you can read a full review on here. It didn't take long after that for me to be bitten by the curiosity bug.

I have to admit, I was quite the skincare snob before Ziaja came into my life. I was a firm believer in 'you get what you pay for',  all that has been turned on it's ear. Ziaja was sort of the equivalent of a new boyfriend, you don't expect much, but then he pleasantly surprises you, and you feel guilty for under estimating him in the first place. So ladies, let me introduce you to my new boyfriend.

The Ziaja SenSitive Micellar Water contains zero parabens, alcohol or perfume. Perfect for those with easily irritated skin, those who are prone to flare ups, if you have sensitive eyes, or you're a contact lens wearer, this has you covered. My skin can be quite dehydrated to the point of actually being sensitive, I found it perfect for tackling those issues.

The SenSitive Skin Creamy Wash Gel for Face & Body has been a godsend to this house. My daughter suffers with sporadic cases of Eczema, and can be quite sensitive in other areas too, which as you can imagine, tends to cost a pretty penny when it does happen, in the past I would have gone for brands like Elave etc, but this does exactly the same thing, at a fraction of the price. It contains no soap, silicone's or parabens, which of course is a fantastic thing when it comes to little princess's with sensitive skin issues.

The Soothing Day Cream with SPF20, is fantastic for so many reasons. I find it makes an excellent base for foundation, as well as providing you with your daily dose of SPF protection. It sinks in so quickly, it's light, airy and just leaves your skin feeling soft, smooth and protected!

The second part of your dynamic skincare duo is the SenSitive Skin Firming Night Cream. Don't be perturbed by the fact that it's a 'firming' night cream, I think at this stage no matter what age we are, we all know that prevention is better than the cure right?! Again, like the day cream before it, this is free of nasties, and has a lovely emulsion texture to it, and really feels like it's doing your skin some good. It is one of my favourites from the range.

Last but by no means least, is my stand out product from the collection. The SenSitive Skin Enzyme Peel. Again free from all nasty ingredients, and not just that, but this is one hell of a product for a number of reasons. This is comparable to a number of more expensive peels I have tried, The SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator €72, REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Peel €38, NeoStrata Glycolic Peel €35 to name but a few, this Ziaja SenSitive Skin Peel does exactly the same job as all of the above, and for a tiny fraction of the price compared to most products, coming in at €4.99. It really makes you question why you've been spending huge amounts of money on your skincare items when you have a brand offering you exactly the same if not a little better, at such a genuinely reasonable price! This product is just perfect, I'm currently trialing the other peels in the Ziaja range so keep an eye out for that review coming soon!

That's it for now ladies,

I hoped you've enjoyed,

What are your thoughts on the SenSitive Skin Range from Ziaja?

Any stand out products for you?

As always, let me know below!

Until next time

xoxo

Aundrea

Ziaja can be purchased online from www.originalbeauty.ie

You can also follow Ziaja Ireland on:

Twitter: here

Facebook: here

The Body Shop - My Top Fragrances

Hey Ladies,

I hope you're all well! Today I wanted to share with you my all time favourite fragrances from The Body Shop. My love affair began almost 20 years ago, I was 9 and helping my mother with a raffle in myself and my brothers primary school. You could buy three envelopes for 50p (I'm feeling terribly old) in the hope that in one of those envelopes, you would find a ticket. So my brother found one, and his prize was a 'White Musk' hamper of goodies from The Body Shop, he of course was not overwhelmed with his win, so I offered to give him one months pocket money in exchange for the hamper. He happily accepted. I can still remember feeling so grown up, me and my White Musk hamper. At the age of 10, I felt so sophisticated with my very own bottle of perfume. I wore it every day, and I remember being so disappointed when it ran out. Now, as an adult it's a fragrance I ensure that will always remain in my collection.

Since then, as much as I love the original White Musk, my love of TBS fragrances has taken me down a few different roads, none straying too far from the White Musk family as you can see from the above picture, but in my opinion all just as beautiful in their own way, lets take a closer look.

Let's start with Indian Night Jasmine, this used to be 'Neroli Jasmine', but it was renamed and repackaged not so long ago, I just adore the scent, I feel like this could potentially be quite a unisex fragrance because of the Jasmine and neroli it so beautifully encompasses. It's quite a sophisticated scent, very wearable and very distinguishable, once you know it, you could totally pick it out in a crowd. This is a fragrance mist, I do have the perfume but, I'll let you in on a little secret. I have great affection for the fragrance mists, as you can use them for so much more than perfume. My personal preference is to use them as a room spray, they stay true to the scent of perfume, and stick around for quite a while.

The White Musk fragrance mist, is just perfect. True to fragrance and true to form, this scent for the above mentioned reasons, I like to keep close by at all times. I use this as a room spray, in my Scentsy burner, as a wardrobe freshener, and I pop it on myself before bed to ensure sweet dreams and a blissful nights slumber. There is something incredibly special about this scent, and I know there are people out there who subscribe to the school of thought that white musk is white musk, it's not. For me The Body Shop White Musk, is the only one there is, it is just perfect.

White Musk Libertine is just a beautiful all rounder, it has the original white musk scent, but it's sweetened  up a little with what I can best describe as a mix of vanilla, whipped cream, almond rose, wood musk. I can also get the scent of honey in there when it dries down on me. I know that sounds pretty complex, but really all the notes mingle harmoniously to give you the most incredible day time, Spring/Summer scent. It is a very airy, very fairy scent that you can imagine catching in a cool breeze on a perfect Summer day. I love it.

White Musk Smoky Rose is the newest addition to the family, and what an addition it is. To me White Musk Smoky Rose, this is a soft, spicy, smouldering powdered rose. I really love how there seems to be the scent of tobacco in there that mingles so perfectly with the other notes in this, it's almost bewitching. This is a perfect addition to the White Musk family. Kudos to the The Body Shop for this beauty!

That's it for now ladies,

I hope you've enjoyed!

What are your favourites from TBS?

Let me know below!

Until next time

xoxo

Aundrea

Lancome - La Vie Est Belle 'L'Eau De Toilette'

Hey Ladies,

I hope you're all well! Another fragrance favourite from me today! Lancome's La Vie Est Belle 'L'Eau De Toilette'! It was excitement central for me when I heard about the imminent launch of this l'EDT version of the original! I honestly cannot contain my excitement so lets dive straight in!

A reinterpretation of the original at it's finest, the fragrance now embodies magnolia essence, which freshens the original iris pallida, white flowers absolute and patchouli. For those of you who are as much in love with the EDP as I am,  La Vie Est Belle l'EDT also has the the old reliable notes that that make the original so special. Vanilla, praline, sugar, tonka bean and that delicious almond sweetness.

Coming from someone who is on her fourth bottle of the original since it's release, I have to say, I am so grateful that Lancome did not change the visual aesthetic of the bottle. There is such an incredible story behind it, which you can read in full as part of my review of the EDP here.

I think what makes this fragrance stand apart from the original, is the fact that it is more daytime wearable. The original to me would suit evening wear as it is quite complex, and depending on your personal preference maybe just a tad overpowering for daytime wear. The magnolia adds that fresh oomph to it, which would also make it a very agreeable for Spring/Summer wear. All in all, I would have to say, don't dismiss it if you think 'Oh, I know what the original scent smells like, I don't need to smell it.' because honestly, I think you'll be very pleasantly surprised! I think Lancome have done a great thing here, making the fragrance almost more accessible for those who maybe thought the original was a bit too strong of heart for them. I know I for one will certainly appreciate having the choice!

That's it for now ladies!

I hope you enjoyed.

What are your thoughts on Lancome launching an EDT of the original?

Will you be tempted to have a sniff?

As always, let me know below!

Until next time

xoxo

Aundrea   

L'Oreal Mythic Oil Hair Perfume

Hey Ladies,

I hope you're all well! My first thoughts when I heard about today's product from L'Oreal was 'A perfume for your hair, as well as your body?! Finally!' L'Oreal's Mythic Oil Hair Perfume is the first of its kind from the brand, and my my my, what a beauty it is!

The packaging is incredibly sleek and elegant, the black and gold bottle with geometric design printed in gold on the back, which can be seen when the bottle is at a window or placed in front of light is one of the little details of design I really appreciate about the packaging, it makes it feel like a very luxe product!

The fragrance oil itself is infused with mandarin, violet, jasmine, creamy vanilla and caramel. The mixture of the woody floral scent makes this one of those fragrances that totally envelopes you and pulls others in. The Argan and Sunflower oil which are of course shine enhancing. So not only are you making your hair smell absolutely beautiful, you're also refreshing your hair and adding shine!

The thing I love about this is that with it being silicone free and having such a lightweight formula, you can use it as much as you want without making your hair feel greasy or weighed down. Unlike normal perfumes, it wont dry out your hair either so you can use it without worrying that you're doing any damage. I just love this product, I love the scent, the fact that my hair smells incredible (even if I do say so myself). It's really peaked my interest to try the rest of the Mythic Line from L'Oreal. I cannot stress just how much I am enjoying this!

That's it for now ladies,

I hope you enjoyed!

What are your thoughts on hair perfume?

Will you be trying this?

Let me know below!

Until next time

xoxo

Aundrea