Monday 30 December 2019

Baby B Browne: The Moisturising Tan

Six months have passed since I last posted any form of rambling on here, how on earth did that happen? It's currently that period of limbo between Christmas and New Year where you don't know what day it is, the leftover turkey is now too dry to chew through, and the only Roses left in the tin are the strawberry ones.

So, I thought I'd put my time to good use and update you all on a product I was kindly sent just before party season kicked off. Not that I am much of a partier, but I do enjoy the festivities.

I was contacted via Instagram by an Irish tanning company named Baby B Browne, of which I had seen various 'influencers' talk about before. I was really excited to try the tan for myself, as if you know me, you know I am never without a bronzed glow. Interestingly, on the brand's website it states the lotion is the only tan on the market that has been dermatologically approved for those with sensitive skin, psoriasis and eczema, something which I was keen to put to the test. I do have quite dry skin on my body, and constantly removing and reapplying fake tan probably does it no favours.


Anyway, let's skip to the good bit... I applied the tan using a velvet tanning mitt, it's of a lotion consistency, similar to bBold's tanning lotion, however I feel that it applied a lot better. I find bBold's lotion sometimes dries too quickly and when you try to apply a bit more, it sticks to itself making you look really dark in some areas, and pale in others. It always turns out fine the next day, but the initial application process does prove quite difficult.

After applying one layer


Baby B Browne feels quite thick and moisturising, and has a sweet yet subtle scent. My skin looked really glossy and healthy right after I had applied it, so I was really impressed at this stage. As usual, I left it on overnight, and this wasn't too uncomfortable as it appeared to dry in around 10 minutes. I woke up the following day looking bronzed but still natural. It looked great on my hands too, especially around the knuckles where fake tan can tend to gather no matter how much you prepare the skin.

After rinsing the following day
With other tans I use, I normally get a bit scaly looking on my arms and legs as I go through phases
of moisturising my body profusely and then not bothering at all. I have been getting better at this though, and really do see a difference in the wear of my tan when I do motivate myself to properly moisturise. With this Baby B Browne tan, my skin didn't start to feel dry or tight even after a few days, and when it began to fade, I didn't feel like I needed to scrub it off immediately. It faded very evenly and when it was time to scrub the remnants off, it all came off really easily with an exfoliating mitt and some body scrub.

Two days after applying Baby B Browne
I would say I got a good 5 days out of this tan before I needed to remove it and reapply. That is good going for skin like mine, and I was pleasantly surprised. What I liked the most about this lotion was the healthy glow it gave my skin, the actual tone of it when it was on, and how natural it looked without being too dark or in any way orange.

If you have dry skin, pesky patches or are just rubbish at keeping up a body moisturising routine, this tan is quite low maintenance and perfect for perking up your winter skin without looking too false. It is available to buy on the Baby B Browne site, RRP £14.95.




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Friday 28 June 2019

When In Rome... Take No Notice Of The Street Performers

Having already visited Krakow earlier in the year, Philip and I decided Rome was next on our hitlist, and so we booked five days in the Italian capital. Neither of us had visited before and had heard mixed reviews from those who had been. However, we were more than happy to make up our own minds.



We arrived on a Monday after two flights; Belfast to London, then London to Rome. The heat hit us right away, and we were in for a swift taxi ride into the centre of Rome where our hotel was located. On arrival at the Valadier hotel, we were excited to see our room after a day of travelling, however our excitement was quickly extinguished when we realised the room was basically a shoebox. We debated whether to ask to be moved, as two people and two suitcases rammed into a space no bigger than a prison cell presented many an obstacle. However, Philip and his space saving skills decided to close his belongings into the wardrobe so it was just my suitcase causing a health and safety issue by lying on the floor. In all seriousness, if there had of been a fire, we would have both been chargrilled chicken breasts.


After settling into our shoebox, we went straight to sleep in order to be up bright and early for our Colosseum tour the following morning. We trekked around the landmark in 30 something degree heat listening intently to our tour guide, an archaeologist who was trained in all things ancient Rome, and informed us she had recently been excavating ruins in Syria but unfortunately had to evacuate due to the war. She was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the history of Rome, and this made it all the more enjoyable.


She also guided us to the Roman Forum, where the ruins of many important ancient buildings are. It's quite surreal walking around and trying to picture what life was like back then, seeing the excavated marble floors, and crumbling walls. Not only is it full of historical ruins, it's extremely picturesque and Italian with all the trees and beautiful flowers. We were also able to look down on the famous Circus Maximus from Palatine Hill, one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in ancient Rome.


The Colosseum itself is pretty impressive especially when you take into consideration the manpower it must have taken to build. I studied Classical Civilisation at school, so it was a great experience to be able to see it all in real life. Thankfully Philip had purchased tickets for the tour online prior to our holiday, so we didn't have to face the ridiculous queue outside. He comes in handy now and again.



After our early rise and our trek to, round and from the Colosseum, we sniffed out a rustic Italian restaurant where we couldn't wait to get stuck into some authentic Italian pizza. Quickly followed by the most amazing Tiramisu; both delicious, and both nothing like anything I've had at home.


We did some more wandering around, exploring and dodging Fiats, until I spotted a Bershka. There aren't many shops you would actually buy things from, apart from the international brands such as H&M, Zara, and Sephora (which I had to visit three times). Later that night we headed to Life, a restaurant Philip had been recommended to try. All was fine and dandy, we were seated outside, given complimentary prosecco and were lapping up the Italian atmosphere. The latter being intensified by a man with a violin playing at the end of the street.


Fabulous, until he finished and made a b-line for me bypassing every other diner, and began begging me for money. I of course declined, saying I had no change and when he became irritated, I laughed it off, however he wasn't having any of it and began mocking me. He then said he plays every night 'for intelligent' people... I don't think that included me, but he eventually cleared off (thank goodness!). I feel like we take the friendliness of us Northern Irish people for granted sometimes, and expect all countries to offer the same, when in fact it's quite rare.



Anyway, the following day was the Vatican tour. Again, Philip had booked tickets online for the tour so we could effectively skip the huge queues. Fabulous, Philip. After arriving five minutes late for our 10am tour, we were told we'd missed it and would have to wait until 11, so we sat in a café round the corner and paid about 15 Euro for a coffee and orange juice. The Pope knows how to rake in the cash.


We were guided around the Vatican by an intelligent Canadian, who knew anything about everything. He gave us a crash course in the details of the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. I did enjoy the tour, however there were a lot of art displays we had to navigate through beforehand and because there was something on that day, the halls were packed and it took a lot longer than expected.



The Sistine Chapel was not how I expected, it was loud, full of people and not as serene as I had anticipated. You also have to have your shoulders and knees covered, so I wore a midi skirt and carried a cardigan. Of course, no photos are allowed in the chapel and so you are expected to take it all in while being told to move along by the guards. They do attempt to hush everyone, but that is of course impossible when there are so many tourists who all speak different languages and are talking amongst themselves.


I think the most impressive part of the Vatican was outside, where it's modelled on the idea of Heaven, with its huge pillars, fountains and statues. Regardless of your religious beliefs, or lack of, it's easy to appreciate the architecture and I am pleased I can now say I have been.



On our second last day, we spent our time just wandering around and it was nice not having anything planned. We sat outside the restaurant next door to our hotel and had a couple of cocktails, did some shopping, and took a few more touristy pics. And on our last evening we ended up in what we thought would be another fabulous restaurant. We were wrong.

The staff basically ignored us, took so long to take our order that the man who I presumed owned the place, had to tear himself away from scrolling on his phone to take our order. When the food did come, it was basically flung onto the table in front of us. There was no atmosphere, and the tables all had a bottle of wine on them, so when you arrived and sat down, they sneakily tried to pop it open so you'd have to pay for it at the end. Philip was quick to inform them that neither of us drink wine...



After we had finished, I thought it would be quicker to get up and pay rather than wait for a waiter to acknowledge me. Again, I was quite naïve, as one waiter in particular walked right by me, ignoring me when I asked could I pay. When he eventually decided to tend to me, I was told the card machine was broken, it looked like it had never actually been used. So I had to walk to the end of the street and use an ATM that charged me three Euros to take cash out on my Monzo card. At this stage I was a bit fed up, and could tell the staff were probably expecting a tip, but I waited for my change and Philip and I made a swift exit.


When we got back to the hotel, we searched reviews of the restaurant on Trip Advisor. Many others had the same experience, if not worse, than ours. There were also quite a few comments on how the staff asked for tips, took customers' change and put it in the tip jar, and how the chip and pin machine never seems to work. If you are planning on visiting Rome, just beware of such places.


On our last morning, we had some Euros left over so decided to visit Babington's Tea Room, a quirky little place we'd spotted situated right beside the Spanish steps. It was founded by two British women but can only be found in Rome. It's basically a really fancy café, but the tea was great and the service even more so. I even bought some to bring back with me, and of course I had to get a cat mug.





All in all, we had an interesting few days. Our flights ran smoothly, our hotel was clean, if a little small, we saw so many sights and packed a lot into our stay. We did encounter a few bumps along the way, with substandard restaurant service, and rude street performers, but we didn't let that ruin our time there. I probably won't hurry back to Rome, simply because we did everything we wanted to do whilst we were there, I am just happy to tick it off my bucket list.



P.S. Watery Eye Update

If you follow me on Instagram, or have read my previous blog post, you'll be aware of my watering eye struggle. I finally conquered it following a visit to the optician, however when I was in Rome, my eye watered for two whole days pretty much none stop. I don't know whether the dry air on the plane was the blame, or the heat in Rome itself. However, I did some quick research via Google, and many articles stated that yes, the recycled air on the plane can contribute to drying the tear film.


I bought eye drops when I was over there and tried in vain to use a hot compress, but we didn't have a kettle and the water from the tap wasn't near hot enough. It eventually subsided on the second last day, and of course then I was worrying about flying home again. It didn't water on the way home or any of the days after though, surprisingly. I'm not completely sure what caused it, but it's definitely something to think about if you too suffer with dry eyes and are going on holiday this summer.

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Friday 7 June 2019

Solved: The Case Of The Watery Eye

I have been plagued with a watery eye for such a long time, too long in fact. My left eye seems to cause a lot of fuss and drama any time make up comes into close contact, so much so that I went days without wearing any eyeshadow or mascara to see if it would surrender. It did dry up on a few occasions, only to become teary again the day after. I became accustomed to carrying my trusty MAC Teddy kohl pencil in my bag, ready to touch up the 'circle of doom' that would form on my outer corner. Of course, anyone who suffers from such an annoying condition knows that fixing an area under your eye after it has been watering is virtually impossible.

I tried everything, antihistamines, eye drops, nasal spray, not wearing makeup, only using certain eyeshadows, changing my mascara, deep cleaning my makeup brushes, throwing out my old eyelash curler... You name it, I tried it.

I convinced myself it was an allergic reaction to a red colouring found in the majority of eyeshadow brands, especially those that produced purple, deep browns and plum shades. I stuck to neutral, beige, light brown colours and honestly, as dramatic as it sounds, I didn't feel like myself. I am used to sporting a super smokey, deep plum eye, and there I was with a taupe eyeshadow and the slightest touch of mascara.

One day, at the end of my tether I decided to phone the doctor. Many of you may think this is a 'first world problem', and that a watery eye isn't something that should hinder your everyday life, but it did for me. The constant watering not only ruined my blending, my eye became stingy, irritated and the skin around it began to dry out and turn red. So enough was enough, the doctor was my only option. The receptionist suggested that since appointments were few and far between, an optician may be able to help sooner, so I rang my nearest Vision Express and was booked in for an eye test at 2pm that afternoon.

The lady in Vision Express obviously tested my eyesight, something which I haven't had done in probably about 20 years. I was then taken into another room with an optometrist, where I explained my issue and she suggested a couple of possible causes. She of course had all the machinery and gadgets to get to the root of the problem, by studying the surface of my eye through what seemed to be a huge, very technical looking microscope.


After confirming the back of my eyes were 100% healthy, she checked the moisture levels and was able to tell straight away that there was an issue. The close up was able to show the water in my eye was disappearing in a matter of seconds every time I blinked, something caused by a lack of oil. We all have a mixture of oil and water in our eyes, the oil seals in the water to stop evaporation, and because I was lacking in oil, the water that was supposed to be keeping my eye comfortable wasn't able to do its job, and was escaping through the outer corner, hence the constant watering. Interesting!

So what causes this? Well, the lack of oil in my eye was due to blocked oil glands along the lash line. The optometrist said she could see, through the microscope, some black substance along where the oil glands would usually expel their oil from. This may be a build up of makeup that I thought I had removed, and over time it had formed a layer, blocking my oil ducts and causing mayhem. Also, using products in the waterline is a big factor in causing such a blockage, especially if it's a waterproof product that will not let the oil penetrate through.

How do you go about fixing it? The optometrist explained that although it's easy to fix, it can take a lot of patience and daily eye compresses to solve, and that it may be a matter of weeks before I notice a difference. She also recommend buying flaxseed oil to take as a supplement, and after doing some research on the matter, I realised how many studies there are highlighting the benefits of flaxseed in solving eye issues like mine.

I quickly hotfooted it to Holland & Barrett and picked up a bottle of flaxseed capsules (1000mg) and I now take two every morning. I have also been religiously using a face cloth dipped in warm water pressed over my eye for around five minutes every evening, then massaging the area to push the oil from the glands. The hot compress helps to loosen any matter that may be blocking the glands, therefore making it easier for the oil to get back to doing its job. I wasn't expecting miracles, but apparently they do happen.

I was slightly sceptical to begin with, having tried so many different things to curb the problem. However, after one night of using a hot face cloth and massaging below my lash line,  I  noticed a difference. I had a small amount of watering in the morning when putting on my makeup, but after that it stopped and remained dry for the rest of the day. Over the following days I noticed when I woke up in the morning, my eye didn't feel as dry, or irritated on the outer corner. Whether it's the flaxseed or the hot compress, I am extremely pleased and grateful that I finally have an answer. I had been hassled for so long by my watery eye and it became the norm, when really I didn't have to put up with it.

Of course I may always be susceptible to having a dry eye, but if that means having to take flaxseed and use hot compresses for the foreseeable future, then so be it. I looked into makeup that can block oil glands, and basically eyeliners and mascara are the worst culprits, especially those that are waterproof. I used a waterproof mascara for years so this may have contributed to the problem, and I use kohl pencils and waterproof gel liners that are probably doing more damage than good. It is annoying that I may have to be careful with the products I use around my eyes, but it's a small price to pay for having comfortable eyes again.

I also queried the use of dry eye drops with the optometrist,  as I had spent a clean fortune trying various brands and formulas. Apparently they are a quick fix, but will not get to the root of the problem. They can be good used in the morning to give your eyes a moisture boost, but using them long term probably doesn't have any lasting effect.

I have still been able to use eyeshadow and a pen liner on the top lash line, so far without any watering, and I am slowly reintroducing products back into my makeup after casting them aside thinking I was allergic to them.


I must also mention that while doing my research on irritating makeup ingredients, I came across numerous chemicals that are used in all sorts of makeup that are listed as eye irritants. So if you find you have a watering eye, and a hot compress doesn't do the trick, maybe start studying the ingredients lists of the products you're using. It's quite scary to see what companies can get away with using in their eyeshadows and liners, and extremely surprising to see that a lot of products for use around the immediate eye area are packed full of potentially irritating ingredients. I am also accepting of the fact that I may use an eyeshadow one day that just annoys my eyes, and they may begin to water, but it's simply trial and error.

Anyway, if you have a watering eye issue I hope this has been helpful for you. I am extremely happy that such an annoying problem had a relatively easy solution and now I can enjoy wearing eyeshadow again. Long may it last!




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Monday 20 May 2019

Forest Green & Fuschia


Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Iconic Primer Stick
Foundation: Estee Lauder Double Wear in Cashew
Concealer: Collection Lasting Perfection in Fair under eyes and Bobbi Brown Instant Full Cover Concealer in Honey over some areas for extra coverage
Powder: Kat Von D Lock-It Translucent Loose Powder 
Bronzer: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Medium/Deep & Bobbi Brown Bronzer in Medium to contour
Highlighter: Iconic Illuminator & Anastasia Beverly Hills Amrezy highlighter
Blusher: Too Faced Peach Glow Palette
Brows: Benefit KaBrow in shade 3
Eyes: Lick & Lash Playful Palette, NYX Pigment in shade 12 & 24, and ColourPop Avenue Of The Stars glitter on inner corner. 
Mascara: Bourjois Volume Glamour Push Up
Lips: Bobbi Brown Nude Lip Liner & ColourPop So Juicy Lipgloss in Chihuahua 
Lashes: eBay


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Friday 17 May 2019

Rosey Nude (Inspired by Kim Kardashian's Met Gala 2019 Look)


Primer: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Retouch Primer
Foundation: Maybelline Super Stay in Warm Sun
Concealer: Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light 
Powder: Kat Von D Lock-It Translucent Loose Powder 
Bronzer: Too Faced Sweet Peach Glow Palette
Highlighter: OFRA Beverly Hills
Blusher: Too Faced Sweet Peach Glow Palette
Brows: Benefit KaBrow Shade 3
Eyes: Too Faced Shadow Insurance Eye Shadow Primer. ColourPop Criss Cross & Sea Stars eyeshadow, with Touch in Sol Metallist Liquid Foil in Talia to create the spotlight. I also added a tiny bit of Stila Kitten Karma over the top. Inglot 77 gel liner to line. 
Mascara: Rimmel Volume Flash
Lashes: eBay
Lips: Rimmel Tiramisu Lip Liner, KIKO Gloss Pencil in 08, and ColourPop Moon Child Lipgloss.
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Tuesday 30 April 2019

Castle Leslie, County Monaghan

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit Castle Leslie over Easter thanks to my adventurous and outgoing boyfriend, Philip. So off we went for our overnight stay in what was to be the most relaxing location I've ever had the pleasure of visiting.


All was good until we got into the car and Philip said, "So, how do we get there?" Cue an extended journey through towns and villages we'd never heard of, going back and forth on the same road, and being confused as to whether we had passed over the border yet. We eventually arrived in time for our horse riding session that Philip had eagerly booked and made our way to the stables. On our way, I spotted a huge horse which happened to be Philip's riding partner, and mine wasn't much smaller. Apparently Squire and Percy are pals though, so all was good.



After being given a helmet and some riding boots, up I climbed onto Percy and while waiting for Philip to get onto Squire, Percy was curious as to who was sitting on his back. He eyeballed me sideways for a few minutes and I thought he was sizing me up, which made me slightly nervous that he was going to bolt and make his way through town. He didn't. He was actually very gentle.


We enjoyed an hour long trek through the estate and my nerves were calmed by the lady I had guiding my horse. I think she sensed I would be incapable of controlling such a huge animal if it were to take off. She gave us some interesting information about the castle and its grounds, pointing out the wild garlic along the way. It smelled delicious.


It took me two attempts to get off Percy, although he was calm and I thanked him for his patience during my disaster of a dismount. Both Philip and I really enjoyed the horse trek, and would recommend trying it if you plan on visiting.

After the trek, we went for lunch in the bar just around the corner of the reception, as our room wasn't going to be ready until 3pm. Both the food and the service were fantastic, and even though almost all of the tables were taken, it still managed to maintain the relaxing atmosphere that is prevalent throughout the estate.

As soon as our room was ready we were escorted by the lady from reception, who informed us it had only been renovated two weeks previous to our stay. It was pretty impressive, with a huge bed, a great big sofa, and a bathroom straight out of a glossy interior design magazine. We left off our bags and went to explore some more, ending up at the castle itself. (Our room was located in the lodge, much closer to the entrance of the estate).





We wandered through the many rooms of the castle, and you feel like you could live there. It's so peaceful and each room has its own theme. We ended up outside by the lake, sitting on a step taking in the views. It's easy to forget you are sharing the place with other people because the grounds are so vast and it doesn't feel busy at all, something I really loved.








That evening we returned to the bar where I had the best raspberry mojito I think I have ever tasted. The staff were really helpful too, and not once did we need to stand up to go and order more drinks, as they were extremely attentive and nothing was too much hassle.


We had dinner and dessert and afterwards made our way back to our room. It was literally round the corner from the reception area and the bar, however it wasn't noisy in the slightest and was actually really convenient for getting breakfast the next morning.

Philip and I are children trapped in 20 something year old bodies, so of course we ordered pancakes for breakfast. They came with fresh fruit, raspberry compote and maple syrup and I've been dreaming of them ever since. There was also the choice of any fruit juice you could possibly think of, and lots of cereal, fruit, pastries and yoghurt.


Northern Ireland's most thoughtful boyfriend had also booked us into the estate's spa where we had a choice of treatment, I chose a facial, he chose an Indian Head Massage, much to my surprise as he puts a lot of effort into his hair...



After being robed up, we were taken to separate rooms. I have never visited a spa as I didn't think I would enjoy it, but I was proven wrong. The facial was really relaxing, my skin was unbelievably smooth afterwards, and my fake tan survived the ordeal. Oh, and Philip's hair wasn't too badly out of place following his head massage.

We were given fruit tea and left to our own devices to chill, after which we ventured outside to the hot tub. It's located above the stables so you can look down and see all their cute faces, and get a whiff of horsey hay every so often. I loved the hot tub as it was just us two in it so we were able to really enjoy it. We paid a quick visit to the sauna but I felt like I was being cooked up as a Sunday roast so that didn't last long.

After our relaxing spa experience, it was time to go home. For being only an hour from Belfast (an hour and a half if you get lost like us), it felt like we were really far away from any hustle and bustle. It is such a lovely setting and you don't feel like you're staying in a hotel as such. The staff can't do enough for you, our room was immaculate, and we couldn't fault the food.



If you are planning a night away but aren't sure of where you'd like to go, definitely give Castle Leslie some consideration. I would highly recommend and can't wait to return, although next time we plan to stay in the actual castle as I'm told that is where the ghosts wander...

Also, an extra special thanks to Northern Ireland's best Tinder match for booking, organising and taking me there. You're a catch!





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