Ode to TK-Maxx October 13, 2010

 

 

Oh, TK-Maxx, how I love thee! You entice me into your store with the promise of large discounts…..I am drawn to your heavily discounted beauty products after a good rummage through your well-stocked shelves and don’t blink an eye lid when I willing hand over my laser card, after rushing to your tills with my beauty bargains. May you continue to facilitate the woman of Ireland to empty their purses’ in the name of beauty.

So, you probably guessed from my little poem above that I am a massive fan of TK-Maxx.  I went in there recently for a browse, without any specific agenda and you can probably guess what happened……

I spotted a well stocked, albeit messy beauty section that instantly caught my eye. Oh the bargains!!!! I swear, I really had to rein myself in (seeing as my finances are too good), and forced myself to put back the lovely Nails Inc nail varnish sets (5 current season nail varnishes for 19.99euro!!!) and Calvin Klein make-up sets.

What I did end up buying was Natuderm Botanics Ginkgo and Sallow Thorn facial care oil for complex skin. I wasn’t familiar with this German brand but I liked that it contained lots of plant oils (jojoba, apricot  kernels, sunflower, sallow thorn and ginkgo oils to name some), some of which were organically grown.

Here’s a little more information on the Natuderm brand:

Natuderm botanics:

• Controlled natural cosmetics in accordance with BDIH guidelines
• Raw ingredients originate preferably from controlled organic cultivation
• No mineral oil-based ingredients
• No synthetic scents and dyes
• Exclusive use of natural and nature-identical preservatives
• Skin compatibility of all products has been dermatologically confirmed

This set me back 6.99 euro, which I happily handed over, given that it normally retails at 12.50euro and my Trilogy

Cheeks Pop with Benefit’s Pop! Palette October 4, 2010

Prior to purchasing Benefit’s Pop! Palette, I hadn’t tried any of the brand’s blushers and bronzers (though I coveted them from afar for a long time). I picked up the Pop palette over a year ago in a cosmetic sale on CD Wow (Yes the title of the website is deceiving-they do much more than CD’s) for 5euro!!! It was a complete bargain, so  decided to go for it.

This really has everything you need for cheeks, as it contains Dandelion-a soft and shimmery pink blusher, Hoola-a really wearable bronzer, Dallas-a rosey bronze colour packed with shimmer, and a tiny scratchy brush (which I never use ). Dandelion is great for all over the cheeks to add a subtle hint of colour, while Hoola can be used on the cheeks as a bronzer or as a contour shade. Personally, I find Dallas too dark to use all over my pale cheeks, given that it is so shimmery and strongly pigmented-I once heard of the shade being likened to sun burn and thought that it was aptly named  I didn’t use it much before however, I have started using it as a contour shade for night-time looks by applying it with a very light hand. If you do this, then the effect is quite nice.

The blushers and bronzers in this palette aren’t full-sized but I don’t mind if I’m honest. I like that I get a bit of variety in the same box. Would definitely purchase it again!!!

Have your tried the Pop palette? Do you like Benefit blushers and bronzers?

Beach Babe Hair in Winter??? October 4, 2010

I have naturally straight hair and consequently have never needed a hair straightener. No don’t get me wrong, I like my straight hair. It’s just that given that my hair is so straight, curls or waves do not stay in my hair, no matter how much hair spray I spray on my hair. This can be a bit annoying when I want to mix it up a bit and have a different hair do for a night out, an event, etc.

I had pretty much given up using products that supposedly create a wave in your hair until I began using Lee Stafford’s Beach Babe Sea Salt spray. I first say it over on Arlene’s blog, and bought it to create a beachy look. However, I never thought that is would actually help create waves in my hair! If you have poker straight hair-this stuff is great. I simply spray some of the sea salt spray all over my hair (wet or dry), and then plait my hair or put it up in a bun before bed and voila-in the morning I’m left with lovely, natural-looking wavy hair that lasts the whole day and  my hair doesn’t feel crunchy like it would if I had used hairspray.

Like any sea salt spray,this does tend to have a mattifying effect on your hair. However, this is quickly solved (if you don’t want it to mattify your hair) by running a wide-tooth comb through your hair. The other lovely thing about this sea salt spray is that is smells gorgeous. I swear, if it was in perfume form I would buy it-not something I would say about all hair products.

Like to read what the Lee Stafford site says about the product-read on:

With its ProMineral™ complex of Dead Sea salts and 26 minerals your hair will still feel soft to touch but with added bounce, definition and body to die for. Added sunflower extract helps to give moisture and shine to your hair and will also help to protect and repair against free radicals.

The thing that I take issue with are the instructions on the bottle, which tells you spray your hair with the product approx. 50 times to achieved a tousled, textured look. Now, come on-if I sprayed my hair 50 times with the product, I would probably only get 3 uses out of the 150ml bottle before it would be used up. You would want to be Rapunzel to need to spray your hair 50 times!!!! I usually spray my hair 5-7 times with this, and it achieves the desired look just fine for my mid-length hair.

I think that this cost me something around the 9euro mark in Boots. I would highly recommend it and will definitely be going back for a second bottle when mine runs out

Are you a fan of sea salt sprays?Have you tried any thing from the Lee Stafford line before?