My Underbite Experience. (Post-Surgery) 3 Months

Aloha all! Who can believe it's over 3 months since the surgery?! I surely can't - it's flown in. This post won't be the longest, as quite frankly there's nothing much to talk about. I ramble on in the video below, so make sure you watch that for side profile shots and close-ups of my bite etc.

Unfortunately, some complications have arisen for me over the last few weeks; I have two elastics back in, due to a gap from an extracted tooth causing a lot of chaos in my mouth. A huge gap at the side of my lower jaw started to get bigger and bigger, and subsequently started moving my lower teeth all over the place. My midline is now slightly off, along with my bite - which terrified me. For my bite to go from meeting in the middle, to underbite, to perfect bite and then meet back in the middle was absolutely heartbreaking to wake up to. I honestly thought my underbite was growing back; which is next to impossible, in all honesty. I went to my orthodontist asap and she applied some springs and elastics in my mouth to correct it all. She said I'm a walking Murphy's Law and I couldn't agree more! Hopefully it's all fixed within weeks, I'm dying to get my braces off.

There's not much pain, except for my jaw joints aching from time to time and the elastics making some areas of my teeth sensitive. I'm still completely numb on the bottom left-handside of my face (bottom lip and chin) and my upper gums are still completely dead to the world. I can more or less eat anything, although I still find it uncomfortable to eat really crunchy things such as crisps or crusty bread. 

In terms of swelling, it's more or less gone except for the areas around my nose and on my lower-left jawline (whereabouts the damaged nerve is). As many of you know, 3 months is when you're officially 100% healed from the surgery; when your broken bones have fused together fully. It's a relief to know I'm not walking around with two broken jaws anymore, as it was quite terrifying incase anything happened! All in all, everything's going fine. :)

OOTD feat. OMG Fashion & Jeffrey Campbell

Jacket // Topshop

Barbie crop top* // OMG Fashion

Levi shorts // Urban Outfitters

Belt // Penneys (Primark)

Tardy boots // Jeffrey Campbell

My Top 3 Eyeshadow Palettes for Summer 2013.

I'm currently going through a major eyeshadow palette obsession, I must admit. Between the colour combinations, versatility and the snazzy packaging - I'm head over heels for 'em. This Summer in particular, I've reached for these palettes more than any others in my stash; Estée Lauder's 'Beach Goddess' palette, Clarins' 'Splendours' palette and Clinque's Colour Surge palette in 'Teddy Bear'. 

(I've taken out all of the mini applicators from the palettes, as you can see below. I never use them and find them a nuisance, so I take them out as soon as I open one up.)

Estée Lauder - Beach Goddess palette* (current collection) - €46.50):

I was kindly sent over this beauty as my first ever Estée Lauder sample to try out - believe it or not, it's actually my first Estée Lauder product to EVER own! I was instantly impressed. The palette itself is chic and sturdy, but the eyeshadows inside are really the show-stopper! I nearly died when I first opened it; paprika, turquoise, plummy-brown, gold and pearly-white shadows stood before me. What more do I need in life, I asked!? In all seriousness though, this is literally my ideal Summer palette. I've everything I want in it for a regular bronze or brown smokey eye, if I was to turn things up a bit I can combine the turquoise and paprika shades for the ultimate festival pop. Each shadow is highly pigmented and easy to blend. All of the shadows lasted in the searing heat over in Manchester at Parklife Festival last weekend (with a primer worn underneath) and they looked just as good as when I initially applied them in the morning. I genuinely have nothing bad to say about this palette at all - the price-tag scared me at first, but I've used it more or less on a daily basis since receiving it, so cost-per-wear is definitely adding up. 10/10!

Clarins' 'Splendours' palette* (current collection) - €39:

We're all quite aware of my love for Clarins at this stage, I'm sure. Whilst nothing will ever beat my love for their Christmas 'Odyssey' palette from last year, this guy made me fall head over heels for the brand - for the 9,000th time. Not only do you get four amazing shadows in the palette, but you also get a gel liner too. The shadows and liner are printed with a stunning mosaic-like designs and symbols, which you obviously can't see very well below, because I've used this palette a gazillion times already. The shadow shades are absolutely beautiful; a deep-golden copper, a pink-gold highlight, a rich plummy-brown and a stunning rose-gold brown (my favourite). As with most Clarins eyeshadows, they're all extremely pigmented, creamy and so easy to work with. You can apply them wet or dry, wet giving the best effect for the copper shadow in particular (M.A.C's Fix+ works a treat)! The liner is fantastic, easy to build up for a dramatic line or to blend and buff out to create smokiness. This is perfect for those of you looking for a palette to bring on holidays this year - the shades will work on everyone and anyone, and I promise you won't be disappointed. 

Clinique Colour Surge palette in '101 Teddy Bear' - (around €28):

I received this gorgeous Clinique palette as a birthday gift back in April, and it has been my go-to matte palette ever since. Some days I just don't feel like slapping shimmer on my face and prefer to go all-matte - especially during Summer, oddly enough. The palette shades include a soft cream (it matches my skintone to a T) and three browns. They're fantastic to use for everyday makeup looks and are great for bring with on your travels; I've used the dark brown for my brows and the medium brown as a soft contour powder before, and they work really well. This would be great for you if you're looking for a palette that'll suit you for on to go, work, school or if you're a 'no-makeup makeup' kinda gal. It's simple and compact, and takes up barely any room in your makeup bag. What's not to love?

For a closer look at the shadow swatches, click on the photo below!

What is your go-to palette for Summer '13? Tried any of the above?

Sudocrem Skin Care Cream | Review

In Ireland, we have two things that solve ALL problems; tea and Sudocrem. It's a fact. Since the day most of us were born on these shores, our Mammies have used Sudocrem as a nappy and all over problem-solver cream on us. We then progressed on to using it for playground falls, sunburn on holidays and then as a skincare cream when good oul puberty hit. To this day, I literally use Sudocrem on a daily basis. It's the only skincare product that heals and clears blemishes and problematic areas on my skin within days. I've used the original Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream (nappy cream) in the tubs for my entire life, until this little handbag sized gem was sent out to me last month to try out. 

Sudocrem Skin Care Cream* in the 30g tube has been designed especially for those of us past the nappy-wearing stage, to tackle skin problems - especially on the face, elbows and knees. The ingredients are more or less the same as the original formula, but not as harsh on the skin. I use it at nighttime applied directly on to my problematic areas, in exactly the same way I use the tub formula. The only main difference between the two products is that it's not as drying! It's a lot more gentle on the skin, especially on the face. The greatest aspect of this product however, is the new packaging; I pop it in my bag whenever I go travelling. It's also a lot more hygienic to use, as you're not dipping your fingers directly into the cream during every use. If you're a fan of the original Sudocrem, definitely give this a whirl! It's around €2.15 to buy from most pharmacies and supermarkets. 10/10!

Do you use Sudocrem? Have you tried this version?

Manchester Parklife Festival Trip with BooHoo.com

(L-R), Zoe, Lily, Chyaz, Tasha and myself on Saturday.

The amazing team at BooHoo flew me over to Manchester at the weekend, to attend Parklife Festival with some other bloggers. I had an absolutely incredible time; I've never been to Manchester before, so it was amazing to finally see the sites and explore the city. I was nervous and excited to meet the other bloggers but it was a relief to see we all clicked and got on immediately. All in all, six of us went on the trip; Lily left early and Becca joined us on the Sunday morning. We stayed in a gorgeous hotel in Piccadilly, called the Abode. I stayed in my own room complete with a gigantic bed, huge bath and a gorgeous window-view. I felt like a princess! BooHoo provided us lucky girls with our outfits for the weekend, as well as some goodies to bring along with us.

Parklife itself was so much fun! BooHoo had their very own chill-out area and bus on the site, where you could get makeovers and DIY your own sunnies. The act I was most excited to see over the weekend was Iggy Azalea; she played on the Sunday to thousands of people and luckily we were up near the front. It was my second time seeing her live and she absolutely killed it! (That night, she reposted and 'liked' my photo of the show on Instagram - which totally let out my inner fangirl.) 

As well as heading along to Parklife, we went out for gorgeous meals in places such as Rosso and Home Sweet Home. We went out to bars each night; my favourite being a rock bar called Satan's Hollow - Chyaz, Zoe and myself share a love of rock music so we were all in our element! Chyaz brought me to Affleck's Palace on Monday morning before I flew home also, as a heap of you recommended that I go there. It was a building full to the brim of alternative clothing and food - it was heaven! (I'll be posting a separate haul video and blog post this week, so keep an eye out).

The trip was by far the greatest blogger experience I've had so far; it feels great receiving such amazing opportunities, from something you've put your heart and soul into for years! The BooHoo team were so amazing and friendly - Rosie and Roxanne have the patience of saints! Meeting the other bloggers was my favourite part of the whole trip, I must say - it's made me even more confident and eager about moving over to the UK this year, as I now have a bundle of friends to hang out with. Thanks so much to BooHoo for this opportunity, it was by far one of the best experiences of my life (as cheesy as it sounds)!

Make sure to check out the other bloggers that attended the trip, their blogs are all fabulous and are my go-to reads at the moment: Zoe - The London Lipgloss, Chyaz - Chyaz.com, Tasha - Tasha Green, Lily - LLYMLRS and Becca - Fashion-Train.

What I wore to Parklife..

DAY 1: White fringed jacket - BooHoo Boutique, Crop top - BooHoo, Tropical-print shorts - BooHoo, Chain necklace - BooHoo, Sunglasses - Romwe, Hat - Urban Outfitters and Converse Platforms - ASOS.

DAY 2: Kimono - BooHoo Boutique, Faux leather-look dress - BooHoo, Perspex studded bag - BooHoo, Necklace - Coleen Rooney x Littlewoods Ireland and Converse Platforms - ASOS.

Benefit 'Stay Flawless' 15 Hour Primer | Review

I attended the amazing launch of Benefit's newest product last week; Stay Flawless*, the 15-hour primer. Stay Flawless doesn't launch until July 1st but after using it continuously throughout the week, I felt I needed to share my love for it asap! I adore Benefit's 'POREfessional' Primer, so I had high expectations! Stay Flawless is a twist-up primer, that you apply directly on to the face in circle motions. The product is flesh-coloured on the pan, but applies transparent. It instantly smoothes the skin and creates the perfect base for your makeup, however it doesn't combat the issue of visible pores as well as the POREfessional; I find using them both gives the best results, applying the POREfessional over my T-Zone area to conceal any visible pores I have.

Stay Flawless acts as a 'glue' for your base; it helps to ensure that your makeup stays on for as long as possible. I wore this during a festival last weekend and ended up wearing makeup for at least 12 hours everyday. Stay Flawless definitely contributed to my makeup staying put throughout the day, although I found my makeup started to get a little funky around my T-Zone area after 10 or so hours, as per usual. Nothing powder couldn't fix! My makeup was intact absolutely everywhere else on my face however, it was impressive to see! 

We're going through a heatwave in Ireland at the mo and I find using this under a light foundation helps to ensure that it stays put and doesn't melt and move all over my face in the heat. It's a brilliant product, so definitely give it a go in July if you're looking for a new primer to try out. It will retail at €35.50; not surprising for Benefit. A lot of their products are overpriced, but the majority do work well. Will I repurchase? The price puts me off slightly if I'm honest, but I'll see how long it lasts me.

What's your favourite primer to use at the moment?

Me Me Me Cosmetics | Review

 I'm sure many of you have heard of the high street cosmetics brand Me Me Me over the last while, especially since the Pixiwoo sisters have started featuring their products in their videos. Unfortunately, Me Me Me Cosmetics wasn't available in Ireland up until recently; it's currently only available throughout Munster, but will be sold throughout the country and online in the coming months. I was sent out a few products to try out, and I'm genuinely SO impressed! A lot of Me Me Me's products are fantastic dupes for Benefit products in particular; especially the highlighters and blushers.

Blush Me! blusher in 'Rouge' (£7.50): This gorgeous blusher is a fantastic cheaper version of a Benefit blusher; similar in packaging and size. 'Rouge' is a deep-coral/ red shade, sheer but easy to build up. It's a fantastic shade to add life to a pasty face in the morning. It lasts all day and the included brush makes it handy to pop into your bag for travelling. 

Arch Angel (£6.50): My favourite product from Me Me Me Cosmetics by far, is the Arch Angel double-ended wand for eyebrows. One side is a brown brow gel, the other a pearlescent cream highlighter. The brow gel is exceptional; the formulation is non-gloopy and easy to build up. The gel defines the brow hairs beautifully, and keeps them in place throughout the day. It also doesn't run in the rain, which has been a huge problem for me in the past with coloured brow gels! The cream highlighter is fantastic to apply under the brow bone for an instant lift - it also looks amazing applied on to the inner corners of the eyes and on the upper cheekbones. For the price it is, this product is absolutely incredible. I'll definitely be repurchasing! 

Long Wear Satin Lip Cream in 'Ruby Rich' (£8.50): I've been wearing this lipstick non-stop since receiving it; it's pigmented, moisturising and smells delish! The only downfall is that it doesn't last too long on the lips and wearing lipliner underneath is a must. It's a perfect 1950's classic red - instantly making your teeth look whiter and your complexion brighter. 

Beat The Blues highlighter in 'Pearl Pink' (£5.50): Beat The Blues is an almost identical dupe for Benefit's 'High Beam' liquid highlighter; it's a pearlescent pink, ideal for those with paler skintones. I usually use liquid highlighters on the tops of my cheekbones, brow arch and the inner corners of my eyes, prior to applying to face powder (always use a cream product on top of a cream). It stays put all day and is easy to blend and build up. It's brilliant to use mixed in with your foundation also, for an extra healthy glow to the face!

Edit - I recall seeing some Me Me Me Cosmetics on sale before in New Look, Jervis - so keep an eye out in that store. Also, some readers have informed me that you can buy the products in Superdrug, The Square, Tallaght. If you know of any other stockists in Ireland, let me know!

Have you used Me Me Me Cosmetics before?

OOTD feat. Fashion Union, Jeffrey Campbell & H&M

Lemon Skater Dress (quite sheer)* // Fashion Union

Fringer faux-leather jacket // Penneys (Primark)

Leopard-print Scarf // H&M

Tardy Boots // Jeffrey Campbell

Skirt (worn underneath)* // Fashion Union

OOTD feat. Fashion Union & Penneys

 

Dress* // Fashion Union

Earrings // Penneys (Primark)

Lipstick // 'Lady Danger' - M.A.C

Blush Makeup | Review | Buy Irish

I'm sure you're all aware by now, that nothing gets me more excited than trying out a new Irish beauty brand. Over the last few years, we've seen a boom in the beauty world on these shores so it was only a matter of time before Blush Makeup landed in my lap. Blush Makeup was started by Nicola Walsh, who has worked in the makeup and beauty industry for over 10 years. Blush Makeup offers a range of different products, from foundations to lipsticks.  I was luckily sent out some bits to review, and I'm thoroughly impressed with it as a whole after having a play with it over the last few weeks.

Baked Hydrating Powder Foundation in 'Light' (€27.50): This powder is one of my favourites of the bunch, reminding me of MAC's Mineralize Skin Finish without the slight glow! It can be used wet as a foundation, or as a powder (my preference). 'Light' is the teeniest bit too dark for me, but looks fine once blended into the face. It mattifies the skin without making it look cakey and you can build up any areas where you want more coverage. I absolutely adore this powder, and find that I don't need to reapply it constantly on my oily T-Zone throughout the day - which is always a bonus, especially during the warmer months! I can see this product lasting me for ages too, as barely a dint has been made in the palette.

Retexturising Face Primer (€24.50): I'm quite a sucker for trying out new primers, as I rarely go without wearing one under my base. I liked this primer, especially the packaging and the fact it contained SPF 20. However, it didn't suit my skin type at all even though it claims to suit all of them! I have oily-combination skin, and I found that it made my T-Zone oilier throughout the day after I applied it. If you have dry-normal skin, this would work a treat. It smooths out imperfections and any fine lines, and the smallest bit goes a long way.

Mineral Liquid Foundation in 'Cream Beige' (€28.50): Unfortunately, this foundation was miles too dark for me skintone; in all honesty, I was disappointed seeing as Blush Makeup is an Irish company, I thought us Casper cailíns would have a shade especially! The foundation is really nice however, as I did wear it inside the house on a few occasions to try it out. It's oil-free, so it suited my skin type perfectly. I found that less is more with it, and that buffing and blending it into the skin properly ensured that it lasted for at least 4-5 hours throughout the day. It also contains SPF 15, which is always a bonus!

Bottom right swatches: Mineral Liquid Foundation (left) and Baked Hydrating Powder Foundation (right).

Brow Shader Pencil in 'Dark Brown' (€14.50): I'm quite an eyebrow-obsessed gal, so I'm always especially excited to give new brow products a go! I was impressed with the Brow Shader Pencil, although the shade was a slight bit too warm for my complexion. It blended nicely into my eyebrow hairs, looked natural and stayed put all day. It looked best after I applied a gel mascara on top of it. It is also fantastic to use as an eyeliner; I blend it into my lash line when I want a natural look, and it loos fantastic and stays put all day.

Luxury Lipsticks in 'Playful' and 'Charmed' (€13): My favourite products without a doubt from the range, are the two Luxury Lipsticks I received. Between the finish, the pigment, the smell and the longevity of them - they're flawless! They apply beautifully on to the lips, and the colour can be built up or blotted down depending on what you prefer. They're extremely moisturising, and don't feel cakey after a few hours after application. They're one of the more affordable ranges from Blush Makeup, and 100% worth the price. I've been wearing both shades non-stop since trying them.

(Left-right) Brow Shader pencil in 'Dark Brown'. Luxury Lipsticks in 'Playful (left) and 'Charmed' right.

Overall, I was really impressed with Blush Makeup. Although I do think the prices are quite steep, I can see the brand doing well in the Irish market. The lipsticks in particular are brilliant, and I highly recommend you give them a go if you're on the hunt for some new pout paint for the Summer!

Problematic Skin Saviours - My Current Necessities

Unfortunately, I've never been a gal who has been blessed with good skin; I've suffered with breakouts and irritations since I was wee one and it's something I have to deal with constantly. Always to my surprise, people on my various social networks compliment me on my "flawless" skin, but in all honesty, it's all in the concealing with makeup! Underneath it all is far from the truth. Currently, I only have some hormonal blemishes scattered around my jaw and one or two barely-noticeable ones on my cheeks, thanks to these products that I've been using for just under two months now. I especially tend to break out if I'm stressed, eat a lot of junk food or become lazy with my skincare routine but I've learnt how to prevent and tackle my skin issues over the years. I must admit, this is a PR sample heavy post, as all of the products were sent out to me to review, but I genuinely couldn't recommend them enough and I give my 100% honest opinion as always!

I'm sure most of you know by now, that I have combination-oily skin; I have an oily T-Zone, with the outer areas of my face becoming quite dry during certain weather conditions. I wear makeup almost daily, so my skin is often prone to breakouts and irritations - not just on my face, but also on my body. Exfoliating my skin has only been something I've introduced into my routine over the last 2-3 years; it removes dead skin cells and gives you a 'clean slate' feeling to your skin. A lot of exfoliants, especially facial ones, tend to be overly-abrasive and can cause further irritations and can permanently damage the skin (broken capillaries). The Ginvera Green Tea Marvel Gel (£22) has been the most incredible exfoliator I've ever used! It has been the No.1 selling exfoliator in Singapore for 16 years now, and is becoming globally recognised as the years go on. It's the only exfoliator I've used, that removes dead skin cells instantly without irritating my face in the slightest. The only downside to it is the pongy smell, but you get used to it pretty fast. I use it around twice a week, concentrating on my t-zone area and jawline. It's absolutely remarkable seeing the dead cells coming off instantly; gross, but you know it's working.

When I tend to go through bad patches with my skin, I immediately switch my skincare products to ones designed specifically to combat blemishes. I don't and have never had acne per say, but the Citrus Clear acne products I've been using lately are unbelievable! The Antibacterial Lemon Grove Acne Wash ($34.99) is a godsend during problematic times, as it deeply cleanses my face whilst helping to combat the problems. It smells heavenly; zingy and fresh! Ideal for morning use, although I tend to use both morning and night depending on how bad my skin is. One pump is enough to wash the whole face, it lathers up and leaves you skin feeling alive and fresh. After washing my face with this, I apply the Grapefruit Acne Spot Treatment ($12.99) directly on to my blemishes with clean hands. It smells lovely and sweet, and instantly soothes to area and gets to work. It helps to clear problematic areas within days, and my blemishes are minimised and less inflamed within hours. A little goes a long way, and the small tube of it has lasted me forever! It's quite a strong product, so I tend to only use it if I'm going through extremely bad rough patches. Another fantastic spot buster I've discovered recently, is Vichy's Normaderm Hyaluspot (€10); it's a lot more gentle to the skin than the Citrus Clear Acne Spot Treatment, so it's ideal to use on the odd blemish. The metal nib soothes the area, and the gel formulation creates a film over the skin to protect and heal the area. It's best to use it at night, as the film can tend to peel off after a few hours!

I unfortunately tend to suffer from skin irritations on my body, as well as my face. I have really sensitive skin all over, especially on my chest, shoulders, upper back and the backs on my arms. Likewise to facial problems, problematic areas on the body are a confidence knock and prevent you from wearing certain clothes. It's especially irritating during the Summer months. The greatest products I've found that work for me in particular, are Balance Me's Citrus and Spice Hand and Body Wash and La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume B5 in conjunction with each other. Balance Me's Citrus and Spice Hand and Body Wash (£10.25) is a fantastic shower gel to use daily, especially on the areas where you may suffer blemishes. It's anti-bacterial and soothing, it doesn't dry out the skin and over a period of time, it helps to prevent further irritations from occurring. La Roche-Posay's Cicaplast Baume B5 (€7.50) officially became their fastest-selling products in Ireland EVER, last year. It's the affordable equivalent to 8 Hour Cream or Beauty Flash Balm; an all-round miracle worker! It's designed especially for sensitive skin, so it's ideal to apply onto irritated areas on the body. I particularly think it's fantastic at soothing arm irritations; heat rashes and raised tattoos. The new travel-sized tube is ideal to throw into your makeup bag also, so I tend to use it repeatedly throughout the day for the quickest results. You can use it everywhere from your hands, lips, eyelids - you name it! It has no smell at all, so it should suit everyone.

What are your problematic skin saviours? Have you tried any of the above?

Welcome To My Bedroom; My Safe Haven..

 I'm sure many of you can relate to the feeling of relief when you open the door into your bedroom after a long and tedious day, collapsing on to your bed and whipping your bra off immediately (let's be honest). My bedroom is indeed my safe haven; packed with inspiration, memories and everything I love. I'm quite a Victorian when it comes to decoration; I'm known to like a bit of (organised) clutter and images scattered everywhere and anywhere. Minimalism isn't my forté! Whether it be Old Hollywood postcards, paintings, music vinyls or photographs of friends, I like to be reminded of what makes me happy on a daily basis.

(Featuring; posters and postcards from the Imperial War Museum, London. Paintings by Paddy Lennon and Christine Lennon (my Aunty and Uncle), an original London Calling vinyl (favourite object I own), an Ikea wardrobe and bookshelf, books from The Book Depository, a plastic chandelier from Homebase and an array of bits'n'bobs from here, there and anywhere.)

Best Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair - TIGI | Review

I'm sure many of you fellow dark-haired lassies (and lads) know the difficulty in finding suitable dry shampoo; every dry shampoo I've tried has been far too white, grey or light for my hair colour. It was extremely irritating, as my hair becomes greasy after a day and dry shampoo is an absolute necessity in my routine. I gave up hope that one would come out for the blackest of black hair colours, until I tried this guy! I've finally found a dry shampoo that doesn't leave ANY residue or colour in the hair, and genuinely works and does the job well. TIGI's Catwalk Session Series Transforming Dry Shampoo* is €11.70 (£9.95) to buy from Fabriah (lowest price). 

This invisible dry shampoo works wonders for freshening up my second-day hair and instantly absorbs any excess oil at the roots. It's brilliant for creating volume and texture in the hair, in particular when creating quiffs and high styles! It smells nice; quite masculine, yet not overpowering. It doesn't leave ANY off-colour in the hair at all, regardless of how much you apply. It's the only dry shampoo that also just about let's me get away with 3-day hair, which was practically unheard of for me before! The bottle is large; you get 250ml of product and a little bit goes a long way when using so it lasts ages. It's a bit of a pain to carry around in your handbag because of the size, so hopefully TIGI bring out a travel size (if they haven't already). It's the only dry shampoo that I've tried that works for black hair and I'll be sticking to it from now. I can't elaborate much more on the product; it's great, it works and it's invisible - what more do you need!? 

What's your favourite dry shampoo?

Fun at Dublin Zoo with Canon Ireland | Event

I was recently invited out to a wonderful Canon Ireland event in Dublin Zoo, and I have to say it was one of the greatest events I've ever been to! The Canon Ireland team talked us through new models, how to use the cameras and gave us a heap of photography tips and tricks to take with us. We split into groups, and ventured around the zoo taking shots on the animals on the new cameras. Luckily, one of the newer models was the Canon SX50; the camera I got for Christmas! I was fortunate enough to be able to use my own camera throughout the day, learn how to use it properly (finally) and I couldn't be happier with how the photos turned out. I'm not a photographer, so the photos below are evidence that the cameras are foolproof. I set it on Automatic mode for the majority of the time, giving me professional-looking, stunning shots. I particularly adore my peacock photos!

Not only did we try out the new cameras for Spring/ Summer, we also got to print out our favourite photos on Canon printers at the end for keepsakes. I was beyond impressed with not only the event, but also the Pembroke Commincations PR's and the Canon Ireland team; it was such a fantastic idea for an event. What better way to learn about new cameras, than to actually use them yourself? If you're looking to buy a new camera soon, there's really no better brand than Canon. It's a brand my family have always stuck to, and the proof is in the pudding with the quality you get.

Kinvara Organic Skincare | Review

There's nothing that excites me more than discovering new Irish products - especially beauty products! Kinvara Skincare is a relatively new product range, hailing from Co. Galway. Kinvara skincare use plant extracts in their products, all of which are organic and come from all over the world. Dr. Joanne Reilly, the owner of the brand, worked as a scientist in Asia herself and "saw first hand the amazing potential of plants in caring for your skin". I tried and tested 3 of their products; Rosehip Face Serum (€28)*, Rosehip Day Cream (€24)* and Absolute Cleansing Oil (€20)*. 

I was impressed with all three products if I'm honest, especially the Rosehip Face Serum. I have oily-combination skin so serums and heavy moisturisers can be quite hit and miss with me. Serums are meant to be applied before moisturiser, to help renew and restore the skin deeper than your moisturiser goes. It smells beautiful, feels luxurious and sinks in quicker than most other serums I've used. I use it around 3-4 times a week, applying 1-2 pumps at nighttime and I noticed an instant difference in my skin within a week. After using it for a few weeks at this stage, my skin looks firmer, plumper and not as dull as before. It's definitely something I'll be continuing to use.
I'm quite a fan of cleansing oils, so I was excited to try out the Absolute Cleansing Oil. I've been using Shu Uemura's one for over a year now and rarely remove my makeup without using one in my routine. The Kinvara cleansing oil smells beautiful and it quite simply does the job. The container is greater; oil products without pumps are so messy, as I'm sure many of you know! I remove my eye makeup first during my makeup removal process, then apply 2-3 pumps of this oil on to my dampened face (with makeup still on). It instantly breaks down the makeup and makes removing the rest of it with a cream cleanser easier and quicker. Cleansing oils aren't the cheapest of products, so €20 for this one wasn't too bad.
The Rosehip Day Cream is an anti-ageing formula, containing plant oils and vitamins to ensure your skin is nourished throughout the day. I really like this moisturiser, although I found it quite oily for my skin type and started using it as a nighttime moisturiser instead. It smells beautiful and fresh, you only need a small amount of the product itself to moisturise your whole face and neck. 60ml for a moisturiser is also quite a generous, it's lasting me ages! Using this in conjunction with the Rosehip Serum shows the best results, even after a few days.
Overall, I was really impressed with Kinvara. It's great to see such fantastic products come out of this country and I'm excited to see what else the brand has under their sleeve.

You can buy Kinvara skincare products online here.