I Love Seaweed

I have to say I have become obsessed with finding body products containing natural ingredients over the last few months. I'm also delighted at the amount of companies in Ireland that deliver fantastic quality products using natural ingredients that are sourced locally too. Out of all the products I have tried and tested I fell in love with the following three containing seaweed.

 Seavite Illuminating Shampoo 250ml & Conditioner 250ml €10 each.

Seavite is an Irish family run company based in Co Galway. They have a whole range of organic seaweed products for your body, face and hair. I specifically love the shampoo and conditioner because they contain no skin irritants such as parabens which is great because I suffer from a dry scalp due to years of washing my hair daily. The price tag might be more than most are willing to spend but the quality of these products is fantastic. My hair felt amazing after the first use and the Illuminating conditioner is by far the best conditioner I have ever used. They have also lasted me quite a long time too so you are getting your money's worth. 

LUSH Seanik Shampoo bar

I was very intrigued by this product the first time I was introduced to it by a Lush assistant in their store on Henry Street, Dublin. I had approached her asking for a shampoo that would not irritate my dry scalp and she suggested I use the Seanik shampoo bar. She spoke to me about the benefits of seaweed and that's how my love affair began. Seanik is a shampoo that doesn't come in liquid form like most. It is a round blue bar and contains seaweed and sea salt. I found it excellent for travelling especially with the lush tin to store it in. It added volume to my hair and although I didn't find it as nourishing for my scalp as I had expected it was great for removing dirt and grease from my hair leaving it a lovely shine and feeling soft.   

VOYA Time to Shine Body Buff 200ml €29 75ml €10

My favourite body scrub to use is the Body Buff Time to Shine by Voya. It's mild enough to use regularly but also very effective for exfoliating dead skin leaving you with silky toned results. It contains ground walnut shells and seaweed flakes which make this product so effective and enjoyable to use. I think the price point reflects the superb quality and effectiveness of this product. All products in the Voya range contain organic natural ingredients locally sourced in Co Sligo.

If you have dry skin like me you should give seaweed based products a go. Seaweed face masks are also great for relieving itching caused by acne and for achieving soft glowing skin. 

How do you feel about Products containing natural ingredients? Do you mind the hefty price tag? I for one think every penny (cent?!) is worth it.

Love,

Sarah

This months Ultimate advertiser is About Girl Friday . If you would like to find out more about advertising on this blog click HERE

Cocoa Brown 1 hour Tan Review - Before & After photos

I'm so excited to review this product for you today. I have to admit I have never been big on tanning. You name a tanning brand and I've tried it with no luck in finding the right one for me. Until now...

Cocoa Brown is a revolutionary new tan that has exploded onto the Irish market. Apart from its affordable price of just €7.99 for 150ml and it's gorgeous pink packaging the major plus for this product is the fact that it's a one hour tan. You can apply this to your skin, leave it on for just one hour and be left with an all over natural tan. You can leave it on for a maximum of three hours if you are looking to achieve a deeper tan. It won't develop any future after three hours....so in other words it's pretty fool proof. No more tangoed teenagers, AMEN! It's called Cocoa Brown because that's what this product will deliver. A nice natural brown tan. 

Marissa has gone above and beyond to bring us Irish girls this almost too good to be true product. The ingredients contain hi tech accelerating agents which start working the moment the mouse touches your skin. The revolutionary ingredients speed up the absorption and development of the tan which allows you to wash it off after just one hour. 

I thought this product couldn't get any better until I experienced another WOW moment after using it. I was not at all expecting the sweet smell of Tahitian Gardinia. I never thought I would see the day when I would actually like the scent of a self tan but I love the smell of Cocoa Brown. 

Unlike other brands I have tried this won't have you looking like a Character from Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, it won't leave you with streaks, it won't stain your bed clothes and it won't leave you broke.

I know I have been in situations where I was going on a night out and was in a fluster because I had no time to apply tan and ended up covering up with tights and cardigans to hide my pale skin!! Having a tan that develops in such a short time is going to make going out a lot easier for women from now on.

AFTER

Sorry about the lighting, this is the cocoa brown tan after I had it on for 3 hours. Taken without a flash.

I found Cocoa tan very easy to apply using the Self tan applicator mitt. The mitt will prevent your hands from staining and is re-usable. It is machine washable but I find it quicker just to hand wash straight after using it. 

Cocoa Brown is available nationwide and you can find out more information on their Facebook page and stay up to date on all their latest news over on twitter.

I'm so excited about this product I want you to try it out too. Win yourself a bottle of Cocoa Brown 1 hour tan and an applicator mitt just in time for New Years by following the rafflecoptor widget below.

Good Luck,

Sarah

This months Ultimate advertiser is About Girl Friday . If you would like to find out more about advertising on this blog click HERE

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Glam Prix at Arnotts

Its going to be an exciting weekend at Arnotts this June bank holiday. Arnotts is the official fashion partner for the Bavaria City Racing festival this weekend from the 31st of May until the 3rd of June.


The beautiful beauty hall in Arnotts will be transformed into a beauty pit-stop race track for the weekend. A number of counters will be hosting activities for you to participate in. You will receive a race track card when you arrive and for each activity you complete you will receive stripes. At the end of the race you can enter your race card into a draw for a prize.

Here is a list of your pit-stops along the way in your Glam Prix race.

Origins

10 Minute ‘Pit Stop: Pick-me-up!’ treatments on counter for the 4 days.  With purchase on any Origins skincare, receive your FREE Drink Up™ mask 30ml to quench skin’s first - it’s important to drink up while you race!

Estee Lauder

‘Pit stop’ at the Estee Lauder Counter for a Straight from the Runway makeover! Choose from one of 3 spring/summer looks, receive tips and tricks from our Beauty Advisors using signature techniques and following consultation receive a sensuous Nude 4ml deluxe sample

Emma Hardie

Pit stop for a consultation with a skincare therapist! Spend €35 and receive a luxury sample of mini serum! Exclusively to Glam Prix, enter to win a hamper worth €400 or a facial with Emma Hardie herself!

 Rituals

Pit stop at the Rituals counter for a complimentary Hand and Arm massage with our Ayurveda products which will be 25% throughout Glam Prix!

Clarins

Let Clarins treat you to a free make over with before and after photos!  Enjoy skin time cleansing treatment followed by a mini make over and automatically go into a draw to win a Clarins hamper worth €150!

Chanel

Glam Up with a mini eye/lip/cheek makeover from the Rouge Coco collection at the Chanel counter and receive a luxury glossy Chanel pouch!

Lancome

Experience the Rouge in Love Lip and nail station on counter exclusive to Glam Prix!

Clinique

Add a flash of colour to your lips with Clinique’s chubby stick range, perfect for that pit-stop pick me up!

Yves Saint Laurent

Life in the Fast Lane!  A quick complexion pick me up for tired skin, starting with a cleanse and tone using our brand new skincare range Forever Youth Liberator, followed by an application of the Forever Youth Liberator Serum, a colour match and application of our Perfect Touch foundation and finishing with a touch of the legendary Touche Éclat.

Smoky Eyes! Discover how to create the perfect smoky eye in less than Lewis’s lap time! In just three minutes, learn the three steps to perfect smoky eyes, finished with a coat of our classic luxurious mascara. In addition, receive a beautiful La Laque nail varnish in Sparkling White with the purchase of any two Yves Saint Laurent products!

Bobbi Brown

Meet the Bobbi Brown team who will be raring to get you racing ready with a host of beauty pit-stop make-up lessons!

Benefit

Come in ‘pore’ position with one of Benefit’s speedy lessons on fragrance, complexion, brows and eyes!

Smashbox

Start the Glam Prix Beauty race in-style with a primer application and receive a gorgeous gift with purchase exclusive to Glam Prix!

Dior

Glam prix style flash eye and lip makeovers based around a super summer look!  For every purchase, receive a complimentary new look mascara!

Shisheido

Jump start your Make-Up bag with top tips on how to maximise each of your products, how to get the look you want and let Shisheido highlight the bare necessities a girl needs! Purchase any product after you jump start your make up bag and receive a complimentary Shiseido vanity bag while stocks last!

L’Occitane en Provence

Be treated to Skincare and Haircare samples and a revitalizing spray of our wonderful Verbena EDT for a pit-stop style opportunity to freshen up!  

Elizabeth Arden

Take the Glam Prix ‘5 Minute Beauty Challenge'! Indulge in a selection of treatments all completed, and timed by an alarm clock, in less than 5 minutes! Treatments available will include 5 minutes to Flawless Complexion,  5 minutes lips and eyes, and 5 minutes Bronze Goddess! All customers who purchase over the weekend will enter a draw to win an Essential Summer Beauty Kit worth over €150 and 5 runners up will win a make-over with Joseph Hernandez.

Jose Eber

Make sure you have Pit-Stop perfect hair after perfecting your Pit-Stop Beauty look! Stop by the Jose Eber counter and enjoy complimentary hair styling to get you Glam Prix ready!

It all sounds very exciting, let me know if you are going. I want to know who I'm racing against!!!! 

Love,

Sarah