Garnier Moisture Match - Start Afresh Normal to Dry Skin Review

The only moisturiser I've ever used and felt made a difference to my skin was the Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream, eventually it ran out and I didn't fancy spending that amount again so I decided to see what the drugstore had to offer, deciding that if I didn't like anything I could always just repurchase my Dermalogica.

I decided to pick up the Garnier Moisture Match for 'Normal to Dry Skin' as it was on sale in Sam McCauleys Chemist.

I would have relatively dry skin but didn't want anything too thick for everyday use. 

There are 5 types to choose from

Goodbye Dry (dry to very dry skin)

Start Afresh (normal to dry skin)

Shine Be Gone (combination to oily skin)

Wake Me Up (dull skin)

Protect & Glow (normal skin)

So, what did I think of the Start Afresh moisturiser?

I actually really like the packaging. The size is perfect to fit into my makeup bag or handbag. I much prefer a squeezy tube over a tub as its more hygenic.

The texture is quite odd, its like a mixture between a gel and a cream. It looks and spreads like a cream on the skin but it feels cooling, refreshing and just amazing when applying it. It also soaks in really fast.

My skin feels instantly hydrated and when combined with regular exfoliation my skin stays super smooth. 

I really really like this moisturiser! 

I will more than likely be repurchasing this again as I really do love it! I might also pick up the one for 'Goodbye Dry' to use at night for extra hydration or maybe the 'Wake Me Up' for dull skin days. They're cheap enough to be able to afford two!

You can shop the entire range on boots.ie here for €7.99

or on SamMcCauley.com here for €8.99

Have you tried any of the moisture match moisturisers?

Emma xo

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation Review

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation €10.99 here

Dainty Doll Blush - My Girl 002

A while back I ordered some stuff from Cara Pharmacy and this blush was one of the items. I thought the colour was gorgeous and I needed a new 'everyday' blusher because my MAC Mineralize one in Dainty had run out. I had literally scraped the last bit from the edge of the empty pan. 

Montagne Jeunesse Anti Stress Peel Off Masque

 I love a bit of pampering. I was in the supermarket with my Mam and just happened to walk past the Montagne Jeunesse face mask stand and decided to have a quick look. I've used one of their masks before, one of the thick wash off strawberry ones. While I did like how it made my skin feel, I found it hard to remove with a wet sponge. So this time, I decided to try a peel off one. This one says it removes dead skin as well as being anti stress.

Garnier 2 in 1 Makeup Remover

For the first time ever, I have no idea how to start this post. 

Well.. thats weird.

Lets just be awkward and start straight into it.

2 in 1 refers to the fact that this makeup remover is both an oil based and a water based remover. 

The top blue colour is the oil based remover and the clear liquid is the water based remover. To use, you basically shake the bottle to mix them together and squirt it onto a cotton pad. It doesn't feel oily, it just feels like a regular liquid makeup remover.

Because of the oil, this does a really good job removing eye makeup, particularly waterproof mascara. Its literally a life saver for me at night. Usually I have to scrub at my eyes for ages until I give up and go to bed with mascara and eyeliner still on my eyes. AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FOR SCRUBBING. 

The one negative thing I do have to say is it does leave a greasy oil film on your face after using it. I just use a cotton pad soaked in toner to remove it so its alllll goooood. 

It is a really good makeup remover is you wear a lot of eye makeup and I probably will get another bottle when this ones all gone.

Whats your go to makeup remover??

W7 Camoflague Concealor Palette Review/Swatches

I don't usually like doing negative reviews but, I paid for this product and its just...basically crap. 

I spotted it while browsing the CaraPharmacy.com website while they were having a beauty sale. I got a bit click happy adding products to my basket and only added this as it was only about €2.50. 

FOTD ft Urban Decay Naked Basics

Hey guys so a quick FOTD today, I am IN LOVE with the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette. Todays post is a natural brown smokey eye. I will have a post up soon of a night time makeup look with the palette.

Foundation: MAC Studio Sculpt

Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte

Blush: Smashbox Blush Rush in Radiance

Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

Eyeliner: Essence Gel Liner

Mascara: Tarte & Lancome Hypnose on top

Tarte Prime Shine & Define Kit Review & Photos

Hey guys so being from Ireland I've never tried Tarte Cosmetics before, so I was soooo excited when I was emailed by Isabelle from Les Chateau Des Fleurs to tell me I'd won her Tarte giveaway!

I'll include photos of all the products ON me at the end of the post :)

''This 3-piece deluxe size essentials kit is just what you need for getting flawless on the fly. Perfect and brighten your complexion and dramatize your eyes with clean slate™ poreless 12-hour perfecting primer primer, Amazonian clay BB illuminating moisturizer and gifted™ Amazonian clay smart mascara. This convenient, travel-friendly kit covers all of your beauty basics as you prime, shine and define yourself.'' - TarteCosmetics.com

 Tarte Prime Shine & Define Kit* $12.00 here

The kit I'd won is called the Prime Shine & Define to go kit and contains 3 mini products. 

The Clean Slate Poreless Primer (7.5ml), the Amazonian Clay BB Cream (9ml) and the Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara (5ml).

I was quite worried when I saw this was a silicone-y primer as if you've read my blog for a while you'll know I've mentioned before that usually silicone based primers break me out in a rash due to my eczema but I was really surprised that this didn't seem to do that! I've used it about 4 times now and haven't noticed any redness, usually I'll notice it after the second time. Although I haven't been using this consecutively, only on special occasions as I don't want to waste it so maybe if I used it a few days in a row it might. 

As for the 12 hour perfecting claim I'm actually quite impressed. Usually on a night out I'll have to reapply my makeup or add more powder during the night but I didn't feel that was necessary when I was wearing this primer, I didn't notice any excess shine etc. You also only need to use a tiny amount as it applies really well.

The only 'BB' cream I've ever used was the Garnier one and that was atrociously orange so I've stayed away from them for a while but I was very excited to try this out. I tried it on its own and to be honest I didn't notice too much of a difference in my skin in comparison to using my Nivea tinted moisturiser. I also tried mixing it with my foundation on a night out as recommended on the website but didn't notice much of a difference either. Its a nice product and I'll continue using it until its all gone but personally I wouldn't go out and buy the full size, I just don't think its worth the price.

First off I have to say, I LOVE the packaging of this mascara, I think the wooden effect just looks so cute and different to other mascaras. When I used the mascara I noticed it felt quite dry and not very wet like other mascaras but it still distributed a good amount of product. I think the entrance (where you put the mascara back in the tube, I've no idea what its called haha) does a good job of removing excess mascara. I don't get ANY clumps at all no matter how many layers I use (and trust me I use A LOT). Its not amazing at volumising but I just use a more volumising mascara on top usually. I honestly think if we had Tarte here in Ireland I would buy a full size as it really is a good mascara and I enjoy using it! I'll be sad when its all gone!

Now, onto the products on my actual face!

In the photos below all I'm wearing besides the Primer, BB Cream and Mascara is a little bit of pencil eyeliner, powder and a blusher.

close up shots of the mascara

If you can get your hands on this kit I'd definitely recommend picking it up as its not expensive at all for the amount of product you get.

You can get the kit from TarteCosmetics.com here

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer Review/Swatches

I love my bronzer. Being pale (I'm talking milk bottle, vampire pale) it's one of my must have products. 

Adding just a little in the hollows of your cheeks, up to your temples and down the sides of your nose just adds a little bit of colour to your skin. Without it, my face looks dull and sickly. 

Saying that, I don't want to spend a fortune on a bronzer either. Its hard to find a cheap bronzer that doesn't make you look like an oompa loompa. 

That is, until this baby fell into my hands.

I'm not a huge fan of the packaging. It definitely screams 'CHEAP!' I understand you get what you pay for but I do wish the packaging was a little nicer. It does the job though so that's all that matters I guess!

I do like the indented sun image inside! I don't know I'm a sucker for details like that. Also I love that it has a mirror for touch ups! What the heck is up with the puff though? Unless you want to rub bronzer all over your face its pretty useless.

Onto the actual bronzer. I like that its a muted brown, not too pigmented so you don't have to worry about applying too much and looking crazy!

Overall for the price it's a good product that does its job! 

Which brand/product is your go to bronzer? 

St Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub

Usually I'm not a huge fan of scrubs. I prefer chemical exfoliators like Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. Usually I find abrasive scrubs (the ones with the bits in them) to be pretty useless on my dry patches. 

That is, until I tried this baby.

P.S This is a 30ml sample size

St Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub* 30ml. £2.86 for 150ml here

Nivea Express Hydration Primer Review *NON SILICONE BASED YAAAAY*

I tweeted that I was looking for a primer that wasn't silicone based as I'm allergic to silicone and makes me break out in a rash. I was recommended this primer by @LaurasHaven. I'd seen it on tv before so decided to give it a shot! It was also on offer in my local chemist for €4 and sure ya couldn't go wrong for €4!

Nivea Express Hydration Primer €6.09 here

                                            £4.99 here

Smashbox Soft Lights Highlighter in 'Shimmer'

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts about the Smashbox Blush Rush blusher in Radiance, I ended up buying quite a lot of the Smashbox products the makeup artist at my local counter tried on me. This highlighter being one of them. Before this, I'd never used a highlighter before (I know shock horror). Now, I don't think I could complete my makeup without it!

Essence Twilight Saga Blush 'Renesmee Red'

This colour looks scarily red. You may think 'ahh c'mon Emma I'd look like a clown'.

I thought the same!

I actually LOVE this blush!

Smashbox Blush Rush in Radiance aka HOLY CRAP IT'S HOT PINK

I for one am a huge blusher girl. I wear it every single day and can't NOT wear it. 

I think without it my face looks flat, sickly and dull. 

It immediately brightens up your face and adds a bit of colour to your cheeks.

Every time I visited my local Smashbox counter I admired this particular blush but never considered buying it as it was so bright but I still thought it was gorgeous.

 While buying a Smashbox foundation (review here btw) the lovely lady at the counter decided to go ahead and give me a mini makeover with a lot of other products (in the end I bought most of them!) including this blush. When I saw her pick it up I nearly ran out the door but once she showed me in the mirror I was impressed! 

Essence Breaking Dawn Collection: Highlighter/Shimmer Powder in Bellas Secret (01)

As much as I love my expensive high end makeup, I still love to use cheaper high street brands like Essence because it really is decent quality for a cheap price. 

When I swatched this highlighter on my arm its like the heavens opened up and the angels began to sing... ok maybe I'm exaggerating SLIGHTLY but this is a pretty damn good highlighter!!

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation

I've wanted to try the MAC Studio Fix Fluid foundation for quite some time now, but because the nearest MAC to me is Dublin, I rarely actually get to go to MAC. 

I knew we'd be going to Dundrum around Christmas time as we do every year so I'd planned to get the Studio Fix Fluid. 

When I was in MAC I asked the girl what shade I should get as it was while since I actually used a MAC foundation (Up until now I was using the Smashbox Studio Skin,  reveiw here, which is a lovely foundation but I wanted to try something new). 

After she'd picked a shade I told her about my dry skin, she put the Studio Fix Fluid back and told me Studio Sculpt would be better for my skin as it wouldn't cling to dry patches as the Studio Fix Fluid is prone to do.

So I went for the Studio Sculpt.

Purely Natural: 1 For All Face Scrub Review

You guys know I'm constantly complaining about my dry skin (I know, I know I should shut up about it) so when I was given the opportunity to try a product from Purely Natural I knew I wanted to try a scrub! 

Although after I got to the website I was lured in by all the different products and it took me forever to decide what I wanted! I finally talked myself into going with my original plan of a scrub and chose the 1 For All Face Scrub.

Purely Natural 1 For All Face Scrub* 100ml £6.95 here