Review: Iconic Bronze Tan

Yet another beautiful product which I received in the goodie bag from The Goss Media Party. I was given the Iconic Bronze Medium shade. It was love at first application!

Iconic Bronze is a new Irish tanning brand. I love trying out new tanning products and I could not wait to give this a go.

It has a gorgeous moisturising feel to it but dries into the skin quickly and evenly. The colour is beautiful, it left a dark almond colour on my skin. I have quite dry skin so I often have problems applying tan evenly but this tan worked miracles on my skin, it both moisturisies and tans. It has nourishing enriched ingredients such as Sunflower oil and omega 6 and 9, which leaves the skin feeling smooth and supple.

Another thing I love about this tan is its staying power. Often when I use other tanning products a lot of the colour is lost the next morning when I shower, this did not happen with this tan. I stayed a beautiful dark shade after my shower and I had a gorgeous bronzed glow for 4 to 5 days before the tan began fading gradually and evenly.

I was also given the Iconic Bronze tanning mitt to try out. This is by far the best tanning mitt I have every used. It is amazingly soft, makes application a doddle and is also double sided. The mitt was slightly small for my fiancé's hand, something to note if you're getting the man in your life to tan your back! The mitt is not suitable for large hands! Lol! 

Iconic Bronze is now available at Penney's. It retails for €12, the mitt is €8. Both products are well worth the price. They are both amazing products.

I'm off to sunny Spain on Sunday and I have already poured what I have left of this tan into a travel sized bottle to take away with me.

Check out more about Iconic Bronze on their Facebook page- link 

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend,

Review: Miracle Sculpting Sponge

Last week I attended the Goss Media 3rd Birthday Party. We received a fantastic goodie bag as we left the party. This Sponge from Real Techniques was one of the products from the bag.

I love my Real Techniques brushes, I use my Expert Face Brush every day to apply my foundation. I don't usually use a blender sponge but this one looked so interesting I wanted to give it a go. The Sponge has two flat sides, one small side for precision highlighting and one large side for controlled contouring.

I wet the sponge using water, but I've also heard wetting it with Fix Plus is great for even application and staying power.  I used my P.S. Foundation Contour Sticks to highlight and contour. I found the sponge quite easy to use, I really like how it has two sides, so it was easy to keep the shades separate. The sponge blended the product in beautifully and left my skin looking contoured with a fresh dewy glow.

I think I will have to add it to the list of beauty products I will be taking on holidays with me. I am off to sunny Spain in 8 days, I cannot wait! I think this sponge would work great with the Cocoa Brown Goddess highlight oil, to create that fresh dewy summer glow.

Find out more about Real Techniques here- Link


I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Goss Media 3rd Birthday Party

Last night my sister and I attended the Goss Media 3rd Year Birthday Party.

Within the last three years Goss Media has launched three sites (goss.ie, LAgoss.com and GossGirl.ie).
They currently have a readership of 700,000 a month. To celebrate all this success, Goss Media held a Birthday bash in the gorgeous revamped Krystal nightclub.

The event was sponsored by Platinum Luxury Hair Extensions who also launched their highly anticipated Clip In Collection at the event.
Everyone knows I am a huge hair extension fan, I currently have Elite extensions, pre-bonded. While I love having my long hair, it can be a bit of a pain during the week when you don't need long voluminous locks for the office!
I find it difficult to maintain my extensions, I'm a big fan of back combing so my extensions get caught up and tangled. I'm thinking Clip In's might be a better option for me. These new clip in's look absolutely gorgeous, they feel very soft, and are easily maintained and styled.

 How cute are the mini suit bags!

We had a fantastic girly evening out together, it's been a while since I have had a chance to have a night out with my sister. It was also lovely to catch up with some faces I haven't seen in a while since I've been away from the blogging world for almost a year!

Myself & Niamh (Behindthebraids.ie)

I'm off to Limerick for the weekend, so I had to pack and have Tanning Thursday when I got home, but I managed to take a quick peek at the goodie bag from Goss Media. Inside were some fabulous new products, I cannot wait to try them out.

Check out Goss Media here- Link
Check out Platinum Luxury Hair Extensions here- Link

My Elite hair extensions were applied by my beautiful sister, Sarah Ethel, you can find all her details here- Link

Thank you so much to Goss Media and Platinum Luxury Hair Extensions for a fantastic evening.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend,

Sunkissed launches Bronze Professional NEW luxury tan collection- Once-A-Week Self Tan Review

I absolutely love Sunkissed tan and when I heard they had launched new products in a range called  Bronze Professional I could not wait to give them a try. This range includes two new tans in two shades, Bronze Professional Moisturiser Spray Tan and Bronze Professional Once-A-Week Self Tan Mousse. I have written several reviews on Sunkissed products, it is by far my favourite tan, the colour is beautiful and it lasts well. It smells amazing and is very easy to apply, the mousse glides across the skin and dries in seconds.

Tanning can be an effort so if there is a tan out there that will last a little longer I would be first in line to purchase it. This new Sunkissed product, *Bronze Professional Once-A-Week Self Tan Mousse promises to achieve just that. This tan is made with a new advanced formula which combines active ingredients to help penetrate the skin’s deeper layers for a longer lasting tan. The tan contains a vitamin VitaTone which works to visibly smooth the appearance of the skin, whilst offering intense nourishment and protection against free radicals. Bronze Professional Once-A-Week Self Tan Mousse is available in both Medium and Dark shades. The mouse is tinted and can therefor can  also be worn as an instant tan.

The verdict-

I prepped my skin as I usually do before applying tan. I exfoliated my skin and applied moisturiser on the drier parts of my skin, knees, elbows etc. The tan was very easy to apply just like the other Sunkissed products I have tried. It smells gorgeous, no usual false tan scent. I applied the medium shade as I think it is both natural and dark enough for me. The instant colour was beautiful and looked very even and smooth on my skin.

I washed it off the next day and was surprised with the results, the tan had great staying power. Usually when I shower off other tanning products the colour fades a lot but this did not happen with this tan. The colour was just as dark as it was when I first applied it.

The tan lasted me about four days before it started to really fade, so unfortunately it did not last a week for me. I have quite dry skin so this could have contributed to it fading faster.

Although I was disappointed it didn't last as long as I'd hoped I was still very happy with this tan. It did last longer on my skin then other false tans I have tried. It also faded gradually and did not look scaly or patchy on my skin. I think I will continue to keep up my daily moisturising routine and hopefully I will get a few more days glow the next time I give it a try.

The new Sunkissed Bronze Professional range is available from Penney's, Superdrug and pharmacies nationwide.

Has anyone else tried this product?

InVogue launch new range of Brushes and Beauty Implements- Brush Works

Beauty Industry experts InVogue recently launched a new range of brushes and implements- *Brush Works. These brushes are very reasonably priced and are said to create a salon like finish. The range includes everyday essentials, including manicure scissors, tweezers, pencil sharpeners and nail files. The range also includes several makeup brushes. I could not wait for these little beauties to arrive in the post.

I received three items from the range to review, The EyeDuo Brush, The Emery Board and The Nail Clippers.

The First product I tried out was The EyeDuo Brush. I often go on weekends away, so this duo brush is ideal for me.... I would bring half my makeup collection if I could fit it all! I try to keep my travel makeup bag as minimal as possible. I usually take 4 or 5 brushes with me. This brush is perfect as it combines two brushes and has multiple uses. I used the angle brush to fill in my brows, the bristles are super soft and the handle is very sturdy. I used the flat shader brush to apply my eyeshadow, I usually apply one shadow for my day look so again this was perfect. I was very happy with the Duo brush, I think it will be a stable in my travel bag.

I used The Nail Clippers and Emery Board last week when I did my weekly mani and pedi. There isn't a lot to say about nail clippers, they either work or they don't, The Brush Works Nail clippers worked really well, it is small and again handy for travel. The Emery Board was great, it is a nice decent size, so I will get plenty of use out of it.

All in all I was very happy with these products, I think I may have to invest in more of the Brush Works collection.

The Brush Works Range is available online from several online stores, including Makeupbrushes.co.uk. The Collection ranges from £1.49-£6.99.

Has anyone else given this collection a try?

Ziaja's Nourising & Protective Argan Range

With winter time fast approaching its time to get out the intense moisturizing products and protect your skin from the harsh cold weather. I tend to have dry skin all year round so I have to pay special attention to my skin during the winter months.

Ziaja have recently introduced a new range, The Nourishing and Protective Argan Range*. This range is specially aimed to protect the skin from the harsh elements of winter. These products contain Aragan oil, this oil has been used for centuries to transform the skin, thanks to its high content of omega fatty acids and antioxidants. These ingredients improve the skin's barrier function, protects against ageing  and improves elasticity. As I said I suffer with dry skin, champed lips and cracked hands all year round so I could not wait to give this range a try.

Ziaja Protective Argan Oil Body Butter
I was expecting body butter to be quite heavy but it was surprising light on my skin and dried very quickly. It left my skin feeling hydrated and super soft to touch. This cream contains nutrient rich extracts which not only hydrate and protect the skin but also improve firmness and vitality. I found this body butter especially effective on my knees, ankles and legs, which all become very dry during the winter months. The only negative comment I can make refers to the packaging, it is quite plain and your eye wouldn't be immediately drawn to the product on a shelf, that said I absolutely love the Ziaja products, I have tried several of their ranges and each one is full of innovative and high quality products.

Ziaja Soothing Argan Oil Hand Cream
This product has become a stable in my handbag. I always carry a hand cream with me and love to mix them up and try new products and fragrances. This is a gorgeous hand cream, it dries very quickly and leaves your hands feeling soft and smelling delish. I do wish the bottle was slightly smaller, It is a bit large if you carry a small handbag. Also as above, I am not over-gone on the packaging, but I guess its on the inside that counts!

Find out more and The Ziaja Nourising & Protective Argan Range and Ziaja products online at Original Beauty.

The Ziaja Nourising & Protective Argan Range is available online at Orinigal Beauty, Shaws department stores and from independent pharmacies nationwide.

Wet Brush Review

Most of my friends know that I have had the same hair brush for a long time, I cant even remember where I purchased it but it has always been a staple in my handbag where ever I'm going. My friends are always telling me to invest in a new hair brush so when I was sent The Wet Brush I thought I'd give it a try.

I heard about The Wet brush* a few years ago when my friend purchased one. The brush bristles are specially designed to be ultra thin and flexible to easily remove tangles. The bristles also have a rapid recovery method to instantly bounce back to original shape eliminating all the hair breakage and pain that used to be associated with brushing your hair. They are firm enough to comb through knots, yet flexible enough to be gentle on the scalp. 

As I dye my hair a lot and use heat products on my hair often, my hair is very dry and can get very tangled when I wash it. I could not wait to give this brush a try to see did it make the brush out process any easier.

This brush reminds me a lot of the Tangle Teezer, basically the same concept with a different shape. I was very impressed with this brush, I think it might be replacing my old brush. The bristles are super soft on the scalp but still brush out knots without causing hair breakage. The rubberized handle is soft but provides a firm grip which makes styling a doddle.
I have also used this brush when I'm back combing my hair and found it very useful, it creates a nice lift again without breaking the hair or causing too much tangles.

The Wet Brush is available online on The Wet Brush website. The brush retails for approx. €10.50.

To find more about the Wet Brush visit the Wet Brush website here.

Has anyone else given this brush a try?

The Blog Awards Ireland 2015- Please vote!

I am sooooo excited to announce my blog has made it onto the Blog Awards Ireland 2015 - Shortlist. This is the furthest I have ever gotten and I am absolutely delighted to have gotten this far.

This year 30% of the score is based on public vote. It would mean so much to me if you have a second to vote for my blog.

Thank you to everyone who has followed and enjoyed reading All the little things over the last few years. I love writing my little blog.

Link here to vote for All the little things in the Best Beauty Blog category,

Thank you so much,

My visit to Sephora Hair & Beauty

I had been promising myself a facial for months now, so this week I finally decided to treat myself. I made an appointment for a Dermalogica facial at Sephora in Dundrum. My sister frequently goes there and is always telling me about how experienced and friendly the staff at Sephora are.

Sephora Dundrum is a relatively new salon based in Dundrum village. It is both a Hair and Beauty salon so there is plenty of treatments to choose from. 

I booked my appointment through their online booking form (link). I really liked this process, it was quick and easy and I was sent a reminder email and text with my appointment details.

When I arrived at the salon I was greeted at the reception area and taken downstairs to the beauty floor. The salon is absolutely beautiful, it has fresh white walls, oversized mirrors, pastel shades and warm inviting scented candles.

Monika was the therapist for my appointment, she gave me a form to fill out. I was then taken into the treatment room where Monika preformed a consultation on my skin. This gave her an opportunity to evalute my skin and disuss any problem areas. From here Monika and I decided on the Dermalogica products we wanted to use for the facial. I thoroughly enjoyed the facial, I felt so relaxed and my skin felt cleaner than it had in months. Monika also discussed my skin condition throughout the facial and what products would be good for my skin.

Source

I left the salon feeling relaxed and my skin felt beautiful, I really noticed my skin was softer this morning and I felt my makeup applied a lot smoother on my skin than it usually would. 

I would definitely recommend Sephora Salon. The prices are very reasonable and the staff are so friendly. I noticed a lady getting a Pedicure Spa treatment while I was there, it looked so relaxing, I think that will be my next appointment.

Find out more about Sephora on their website here,

They also have a facebook page with glowing reviews here,

Thank you to the lovely Monika for an amazing experience.

Eucerin Suncare Range

I am just home after spending 6 days in sunny Barcelona. We had a fantastic time. It is such a struggle to get back into the usual work routine! I was sent some Eucerin Suncare products to try while I was away. I received the SPF 30 Transparent Sun Spray for sensitive skin* and the SPF 30 Sun Lotion Extra light also for sensitive skin*.

These suncreams/spray's are Eucerin’s latest suncare products to the Irish market.  Eucerin Suncare has every skin type covered so you can approach your suncare products just like you would your skincare products, taking care to manage your skin’s condition in the best way possible. Eucerins covers the following skin care types:

Sun allergy-prone skin, Oily and blemish-prone skin, Dry skin and eczema.

I first tried the SPF 30 Transparent Sun Spray for sensitive skin. I have quite sensitive, dry skin so this was a perfect sun spray for me. My boyfriend is very fair skinned so he also gave this product a try. We both loved this product. The spf spray was so convenient, it sprayed evenly and dried in seconds. We took it to the beach with us each day.

I used the SPF 30 Sun Lotion Extra light for sensitive skin cream for my face, as I said I have quite dry skin, so I don't like putting anything too heavy on my face. But this cream was perfect. Again like the spray it dried in no time and did not leave a greasy finish. I did not experience any breakouts during the week.

All in all I was delighted with these products and thoroughly recommend them.

Eucerin Suncare is available in Boots, Group pharmacies (Lloyds, Sam McCauley, Haven, Total Health) and selected independent pharmacies throughout the country.

Has anyone else given these a try?

Moroccan Rose Gold Glow Perfect Dry Oil

I was absolutely delighted when this little beauty arrived through the post box. I love Ren products, their products are always presented in gorgeous packaging and are super luxurious, and when you mix Ren with anything rose gold I'm sold! Moroccan Rose Gold Glow Perfect Dry Oil* is a new product from Ren. This new dry oil leaves your skin silky smooth while also leaving you with a healthy rose gold glow. With ingredients including precious plant oils and actives, it deeply hydrates, conditions and protects your skin.

We finally had some nice weather this weekend so I decided it would be a good opportunity to give this product a try. Staying out in the hot sun can leave your skin feeling dry and sensitive.

I was very impressed with this product. It is absolutely beautiful. It has a spray pump which makes application a doddle. The product feels super soft and luxurious. My skin looked super healthy and the rose gold shimmer glow was perfect for the summer evenings. I'm off to sunny Barcelona on Saturday, I will definitely be taking this little gem with me!

Has anyone else tried this product?

Find out more about Ren products here,