Weight scale

Weight is a troublesome issue no matter what end of the scale you are at. Whether it's being too thin or too heavy. While browsing through  BBC News I discovered this new measurement scale - Global Fat Scale - that has been developed. Researchers have developed the new scale to indicate where you weight is in relation to other countries worldwide and also to your own country.

Obviously it isn't going to be perfect but it's interesting nevertheless to see where you are in comparison.

My stats were as follows:

Obesity Index: 19 bmi
National: Below average (You have a lower BMI that 86% of females ages 15-29 in your country (Ireland))
Global: Below average (You have a lower BMI than 74% of females aged 15-29 in the world (Ireland))
Did you know? If everyone in the world have the same BMI as you, it would remove 56,566,271 tonnes from the total weight of the world's population.

So where are you on the scale?

Face Products!

I've voiced my recent disgust with House of Fraser, however yesterday I got a nice surprise that they had sent me an e-voucher so I had to spend it on make-up related items. Hopefully, it will arrive this time.

I've only ever tried MAC eyeshadow so this time I decided to order a foundation, pressed powder and concealer. Hopefully, I like them. I'll be providing a review as soon as I've given them a sufficient trial period.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation

Photo Credit

MAC Select Sheer/Pressed Powder

Photo Credit

MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer

Photo Credit

I will also have a review, shortly, for Inglot's cream foundation.

L'oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Gel

I have a very love/hate relationship with this tan. I first purchased it approximately a year and a half ago and was very disappointed by it, however, I have started to use it again recently and really like the natural tan I get from it.

Product
This is a self-tanning gel for face and body, which is one of the reasons I like it, its very easy to use for tanning your face.  Even when I use other tans on my body, I will use this on my face, as it blends easily and spreads easily across my face, like a cream.  It is very easy to see this as you apply it, which ensures no lines or missing spots.  However, it takes ages to dry.  Previously, I would apply this before I went to bed, however it took so long to dry that the tan would transfer and I would have very bad tan lines. Now, I put it on in the morning and it does take a few hours to dry but the tan is perfectly even. But that is the only downside - the drying time.

Longevity
I will apply this two days consecutively to build up the colour I want and it will usually last approximately five days. However, if I want it to last longer I will reapply three days after the original application.

Packaging 
The tan comes in a squeezable tube so its very easily dispensed. Although, given that it is a quite liquid tan, it can be a little messy at times.

Price
I haven't bought this in a while but I think it was approximately €15.  It is available in Boots and I've seen in it many pharmacies.

Would I buy this again? Yes.

Update
It's been a week since I have used this and I won't be purchasing it again. It went a terrible orange colour after approximately two days and became very patchy, very quickly. I had a few events to attend and it didn't look pleasant. Will not be purchasing again.

St Moriz Mousse Fake Tan

I don't always tan, usually it's if I'm going to an event or for a night out.  When I started using the St Moriz tan I thought it was brilliant and that was about a year ago. I used in a few days ago and had a very different experience with it.

Product 

The St Moriz Mousse is as indicated a self-tanning mousse.  The mousse has its benefits in that it is a mousse, not a spray and therefore, there is  no mist that can be left from spray tans. Many tans can turn a light orange colour, however, this is great as it is a non-orange colour, which I had not expected.  I applied moisturiser before I applied this tan and applied extra to my knees, elbows and knuckles, to ensure they maintained a natural tan colour.  It dries very quickly approximately five to ten minutes.  I usually loved this, however an experience with it two days ago changed my mind. It came out looking patchy and nearly all of it washed off my legs when I showered, which never happened before.  

Longevity

I usually apply this a few days before I am actually going anywhere as it find it takes two days to get the colour I want, however, this might be because I use the lightest version available.  When I have achieved the colour I like, it will late approximately two days before I notice it starting to fade. Therefore, the longevity isn't brilliant.  But it does look natural.

Packaging 

As you can see from the pictures, the packaging is very simple. The fake tan comes in a white bottle with the name printed in large writing on the front in black. It is a pump bottle, which makes it very easy to dispense the mousse and it's easy to use when wearing a tanning mitt or glove.

Price

This fake tan costs €4 so it's very inexpensive.  It's available in Penny's (Primark - if your in the UK). And I've read from other bloggers that it can be purchased on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk for those who dont have a Penny's or Primark.

Would I buy this again? Yes. I know I gave a negative review about it but I like to have a bottle of it for emergency situations.

P.S. I would like to apologise for the poor quality of the photos, my camera is having some problems recently! 

Ah...perfection...is it really out there?

Do you ever see one person and they always look perfectly groomed and presentable. Or know of someone who can achieve this and you never look put together even if it takes two hours to get ready in the morning! I have a few tips that I think will help as we strive for perfection!

WHAT IS PERFECTION TO YOU? 

* I'll start with the DETAILS. If you want a look that appears very put together and like it's easily achieved, it is all about details. The correct accessories, flawless make-up, well cared for skin (which can be a nightmare) and the list goes on......

* Perfect skin is not easy to maintain...or at least I find it difficult. I'm prone to skin breakouts, therefore this is a thing I find very difficult, although through some trail and...much error...I've found a few things that help...which will be for another post. But to look polished, clear skin is essential as it's the base for good make-up. If you have the time and money, it helps to get someone to advice you on your make-up and also on the correct skin care products. It really does make a difference. Moisturising is important not just for your face but whole body, along with wearing an SPF to avoid sun damage.  

* I'm very into how my nails look. Try to have clean and filed nails, if it takes too much time to apply a polish. When deciding on a polish, pick one similar to your skin tone or a shade darker for the day time as it appears more professional. If picking dark or bright colour, they should not be chipped.  

* Clothing.  There is so much to be said about this topic.  Firstly, clean and ironed is important. Secondy, accessories should match within reason, or at least in the same colour range.  Statement pieces can be great to revive an outfit, if done correctly. 

* Shoes. Similar to the clothing, clean is important. Shoes go through a lot so it in important that they receive care and are polished regularly or treated with a suitable product, depending on the fabric.  Keeping shoes, especially heels, re-heeled is also an essential task.  

* I think perfume is a great way too to add something more to your overall look, or scent in this case. There are so many to pick, so there's one for everyone! 

*Hair is also a tricky area. It's affected by so many things, for me it's usually the weather. Given where I live is either always raining or wet, it causes me great stress in keeping my hair looking perfect.  Hairspray is a great way to  help with the wind problems and there are so many types available that there is one for every type of hair.  I think trial and error also works in relation to hair, as no ones is the same and it does take a while to find one that is perfect for you. Even now I am in the process of changing what I do with mine.

I hope this helped and if any one has any extra suggestions for increased levels of perfection, we are always happy to hear them :) 

Blog Carnival

Make-up 

Jin presents Bare Minerals Review for Oily, Acne Prone Skin posted at Acne Skin Care.

Rhonda Franz presents 13 Style Tips For Busy Moms posted at Parenting Squad.

Jin presents How to use Bare Minerals makeup on a daily basis for acne coverage posted at Acne Skin Care.

Rose a la Mode presents Thursday Latelies – B-E-A-utiful posted at Rose à la Mode.

Linda@NHE presents Use of Alkanet in Natural Cosmetics posted at Natural Health Ezine.

Megan presents Wet n Wild color Icon Eyeshadow trio in Cool as a Cucumber posted at Beauty on a College Budget.

Megan presents E.L.F. Cream Eyeliner in Ivory and Midnight posted at Beauty on a College Budget.

Catherine presents Style: Lip Service posted at Completely Catherine.

Emily presents Natural Beauty Tips for Women posted at Women Weblog.

jayfletch22 presents Tropical Makeup Look posted at That's so Fletch.

Skin Care

Kris presents How much sugar per day for weight loss and optimal health posted at Kris Health Blog.

Aparna presents Tackle Monsoon Skin-care Woes with these tips from experts posted at Beauty and Personal Grooming.

DivineAthena presents How to Use Law of Attraction for Skin Care and Beauty posted at Girly Stuff.

Zhu presents Beauty Comes From Within (And From Shopping In France) | Correr Es Mi Destino posted at Correr Es Mi Destino.

Ivonne Manning presents Basic Skincare Blog posted at Basic Skincare Blog.

Jin presents How to choose a sunscreen sunblock for oily, combination and acne prone skin posted at Acne Skin Care.

Andrea presents Hidden Homemade Beauty Products in Your Kitchen posted at Savings Scoop.

Fashion


Shadei Coleman presents Selena Gomez looked amazing at the Teen Choice Awards posted at All Glam All The Time.

Jin presents Three most popular designer handbag purse brands with women posted at Jin1128.

Mary presents The Pursuit of Perfection posted at Fit and Feisty.

Hair care


Igor Silva presents What Are The Best Hair Care Products? | AdvancedHairGear posted at Advanced Hair Gear.

jayfletch22 presents Repair Split Ends posted at That's so Fletch.

Nguyen Quoc Dung presents Glam Wavy Hairstyles Trend posted at Fashion And Cosmetic.

No7 Blending Eyeshadow Brush

When I purchased this eyeshadow brush I really didn't think I would use it that much. I was however wrong. I now use it nearly everyday and also when ever I am creating a new look.

Photo Credit

Product
This is a contouring and blending brush. I use this brush for blending out eyeshadow and it is perfect for this. It also holds a good amount of eyeshadow which makes it easy to work with. The bristles are also a white or ivory colour. The bristles on this brush are very soft and there is good control to the bristles when used for blending. They are firmer than some other blending brushes that I have tried. There is absolutely no shedding from this brush. I have also washed it several times and there is still no shedding. There is a short handle on this brush, I like this and feel that it makes it easier to use.


Packaging
The packaging for this brush is very simple. It comes in a see-through plastic pouch with a zip-like closing on the side. It's very good for when travelling with the brush as it protects it very well.


Price
I paid €7.50 for this brush which I thought was a very reasonable price for this brush. It is available from Boots.

Would I buy this again? Yes.

This is a short review but there is not a lot to say about this brush except that it is a really great blending brush.

Online shopping - you have failed me!

I've had very few bad experiences with online shopping and even when I do it is usually resolved and I give the company a glowing review, however, I've had a recent experience that has left my truly disgusted and, also, ensured that I will not be using the company again.  The company in question is House of Fraser. 

ONLINE SHOPPING HAS IT'S DOWNSIDES 

I placed an order with them in early May for two shopper bags...one which was a present, a knit jumper and a MAC foundation. The items never arrived and after several emails to the company, I got no response.  So I turned to Paypal, who usually deal with any problems that arise swiftly and without increasing my levels of stress when a problem does occur. They also failed me on this occasion...more on that in a bit.  

The package finally arrived, however it was missing the MAC foundation and I was very late in giving the bag as a present.  So I changed my reason for the Paypal dispute to missing item, assuming the problem would be swiftly resolved.  That was not to be the case.  After several weeks waiting, Paypal inform me that I will have to contact the police for further documentation that I didn't receive the foundation. Now, in theory that is a great idea, however, I can just imagine the laughter as I enter the police station to inform them of my foundation relation problems.  It may appear reasonable in a large city, but I live in a more remote area where the Garda would find this truly ridiculous.    

So now I am in the position where the dispute will be unresolved and I have neither foundation or the money I paid for it. In conclusion, I will be cutting any ties with House of Fraser, which is disappointing as I had used them several times in the past.  

Sorry for the rant but this has had me very frustrated recently.  As neither company seem to be of any help. 

Have you had any annoying experiences with online companies or online shopping? 

I'm back!

The level of posts that I have posted in the past year have been limited...to be honest practically zero have been posted.  I was struggling to keep up with my education and the blog so I had to make a choice and unfortunately the blog lost out on this occasion.  I was also dealing with some personal issues.  I do hope that over the next few months I can start back to posting like I was before.  I am still writing my thesis so posts wont as regular as when I initially started the blog but there will be some every week.  So if you have any ideas or there's something in particular that you would like to see let me know. 

Philips HP6509 Satinelle Soft Sensitive Total Body Epilator with Shaving Attachment

For Christmas I got an epilator, I had wanted to try one for a while so my sister decided to get me one. I got the
Philips HP6509 Satinelle Soft Sensitive Total Body Epilator with Shaving Attachment, there are a number of pros and cons with this epilator.

I'll start with the pros: 

There are a number of attachments for underarm and bikini line which are useful. The attachment for doing your legs is also good as it has a massage function to help sooth the leg after epilating. 

I don't have to shave my legs every 2 days so that is a definite benefit. It claims that you can get weeks from epilating, I would not say weeks but I definitely can get a week from epilating which I would consider good since I usually only get 2 days from shaving.  

I comes with a nice small bag that fits the epilator, the cable and the attachments which I like as it keeps everything together. It makes it easy to travel with too, if you are going somewhere. 

Now onto the cons:

The pain from epliating is not for the faint hearted. I didn't find it very painful when I started however the longer I did it the less I was able to tolerate. This lead me to trying something different. I did half of one leg and then left a few hours and processed with the other half. I felt that this was less painful and meant I could use it to do both legs. 

I thought before I picked this one that is was rechargeable however that is not the case and it has to be plugged in at all times. Therefore not suitable if you want to do it in the bathroom.

I would buy this again. I like that I get a week of not having to shave or use a cream to remove unwanted hair.  And although it is painful to begin with it does become bearable the more that you do it. Also ensuring that the hair is not to long reduces the pain. 

Airport Shopping

I'm going on holidays on Saturday and this, of course, means that there will be duty free shopping. There are a few beauty related items that I want to get and I'm sure that there are a number other things that I will see when I get there. I have a 6 hour layover so I will have plenty of shopping time. 

I had wanted these first two things for Christmas and that was not to happen. The first is the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation. I have wanted to try this for a long time but never gotten it and it comes in porcelain and alabaster so I'm hoping that one of those shades will suit my skin. 

The second thing that I had wanted was the Clinique Dramatically different moisturising lotion. I like Cliniques products and this can be used on dry combination skin which I have.  

The last two items are eyeshadow related products. The first is the Urban Decay 15 Year Anniversary Palette. I didn't have a lot of interest in this palette until a friend of mine received it for Christmas and upon seeing it I really liked it so naturally I had to add it to my make-up wish list. 

Finally, I'm not even sure if this will be available, is the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. I have the first palette and love it, I think I have used it nearly every day since I got in last May. I have read that they are very similar and that you only need one but being a great fan of all things make-up related I feel I must have it. 

So what make-up related or skin care products would you like to purchase? I will let you know what I get when I come back in a few weeks.

Weekly Quote

Beauty?... To me it is a word without sense because I do not know where its meaning comes from nor where it leads to.  

- Pablo Picasso (1881 - 1973) Spanish Painter, Sculptor, Draughtsman.