Time To Get Rid!

So I am asked a lot "How do I know a product has gone bad??" 

Well here are just a few tips and examples of when its time to let go....



1. Mascara. I can't stress enough how important it is to not keep your mascara longer then 6 months as it can gather a lot of bacteria and can irritate your eyes. For this reason don't waste your money on high end mascara go for cheaper drug store brand.

Top tip: Give the mascara a good sniff, if it smell like funky fish then it's best to let go.
Clean you mascara wands often to get the most out of your mascara.



2. Lipstick/Glosses/liners. Lip products need to be use in about a year, only if they are used and open.

Top tip: Check your make-up stash before opening new products to make sure you don't have some thing similar that needs to be used.






3. Foundations. Powder foundations (powders in general) can last for about two years where are liquid foundation last any where between one to two years. However if you haven't really been using and its been over a year you may consider throwing it away.




4. Eye-shadows. Cream shadows will last about a year or so.  Powder shadows last for about 2 years.

Top tip: If you have found a cream that you love or you spent a lot on, try sampling it in a pot and keeping the original container tightly closed to prevent it from going off or gathering bacteria.





Give your make-up a fighting chance

Keep it out of direct sunlight.

Keep it in a cool dry dark place, meaning out of bathrooms that steam up.

Always keep the lid tightly closed.

Clean your make-up brushes regularly.

Try not to use finger tips to scoop out products, use a clean plastic spatula.   


Spa Shower

How to make the more of your daily shower!

Showers are just a daily routine but here are just a few tips to get 
the most out of your shower.





1. Face First - Steam from the shower can do wonders for the skin, so make sure the steam is working on clean skin to get the best results.





2. Shampoo - Work shampoo into the hair for a few minutes, think Herbal Essences ads - all that massaging actually does some good by boosting circulation.




3. Condition - Apply conditioner from the ear length down, this will prevent it from weighing down the hair and adding excess oils to the roots which can contribute to greasy hair. (Wash out the conditioner at the end of your shower)







4. Exfoliate - The steam from the shower has had time to soften the skin this is a great time to exfoliate and get the best results. Use exfoliating wash/gloves/loofah. (Click here to see what I love to use)


5. Shaving - The best time to shave is after exfoliating not the other way around as it can irritate the skin. Exfoliating the skin first can give a closer longer lasting shave.




6. Switch to Cold - Sounds crazy but switch to a cooler temperature to finish off the shower, this will boost circulation and tighten the skin but it also adds shine to the hair as it "closes" the hair follicle.



Top Tip 

Spend more on the right shampoo as most conditioners are the same except treatments of course. 

On average it takes 5 minutes for hair products to be washed fully out of the hair which is why it should be one of the first things you do.

Moisturise right after showering, locks in moisture and is very important after shaving.

BECAUSE I AM A GIRL


BECAUSE I AM A GIRL On the 22 September 2011

I was recently flicking through my favourite Irish magazine “U Magazine” (100% Irish) and I came across an amazing article about the international day of the girl on the 22 September. (www.becauseiamagirl.ie)

"Because I am a Girl" is Plan’s campaign for fighting gender inequality, promoting girl’s rights and breaking the cycle of poverty. I was blown away with some of the facts that U magazine highlighted about the way girls are suffering at the very bottom of the social ladder. 
(all facts to be found on page 10/11 in the 25 September 2011 issue.)

In times of economic downturn and poverty girls are most likely to suffer. As a girl it breaks my heart that in 2011 when some of us have iPhone’s, Laptops, a warm bed, food to eat and a safe home to sleep in, there are girls all across the world suffering from malnutrition because their brothers are fed first, living on less than $1 per day, denied access to health services and education and face extremely high levels of violence and abuse.

Doesn't seem fair does it? So how can we help?

Follow the campaign on twitter (@PlanBIAAG) and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/planireland  

Follow and read the weekly updated Because I am a Girl Blog http://becauseiamagirl.wordpress.com/




And spread the word, on the 22 September why not set your status on your social network to “because I am a girl….) and add your own ending.

Some of the influential women in Ireland have already given their thoughts on being a girl, why not do the same on your blog and social network to spread the word? Here are my thoughts on being a girl.

Because I am a girl I ask….why can’t every girl in the world live happy healthy lives and be given the same chances in life to live the life they want.

Because I am a girl I hope….one day women won’t be forced to live a life chosen for them. They will be able to marry who they want, have the careers they want to have and earn the money they deserve for the work they do.

Because I am a girl I like…..that we are born with all the best skills, the ability to read others emotions, to be sympathetic, loving and compassionate. To read situations that our male counterparts can only dream of understanding.

Because I am a girl I dislike....how we can be our own worst enemies. We need to unite not pull each other apart. 

Because I am a girl I feel….grateful for the chances I have had to a loving home and family because I know it could be very different.

Because I am a girl I….am glad to be part of an extraordinary club, a huge worldwide club of females. We are awesome!   

Comment below with your own "because I am a girl" answer...

Nice and Natural

Another lovely natural hairstyle, embellished with flowers and jewels.



Source unknown.

Best Foundation Ever!!




I found it!! I found it!!!

Okay so for the longest time I have been looking for foundation that works in Natural lighting, Evening lighting, Artificial lighting, and the dreaded dread FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY!!

At last, after years (hmm yeah!) of searching I have found it!!


             The best     
                 Foundation 
                     ever found is
                             Drum Roll please......





Rimmel 16 Hour Lasting Finish Foundation!


Yes you have heard me right! This super cheap drugstore foundation has beaten high end and low end foundation!

LOOK!! 

 As you can see, the foundation doesn't change, no moon face in flash, not washed out in natural day light!

Fish Tail Side Ponytail

Take and comb the hair as if you were making a simple side ponytail then split the hair into 2 and make a very short fish tail braid I pulled about 10 times is all on the braid..  Then secure with an elastic. 
I put a few big ringlets in her ponytail to finish off the style. 

Toddler Sides Up

I have not done too many toddler styles lately because well let me just be honest my toddler has a mind of her own and hates getting her hair done.  I used to think that kids with a sensitive head was because the parents never did their hair. Wow was I wrong, my toddler has such a sensitive head that it hurts just to pull her sides up.  With that said I did manage to get pictures of this fun simple style.

First I took a small amount of the front of her hair and pulled it to the side and secured it with an elastic.
Then I pulled both the sides back into a single ponytail securing it with an elastic. 
A short explanation on the hair accessory.  In our schools the new fad for girls is to take embroidery floss and mixing 2 colors together, and putting it together on a bobbie pin.  I will post a link to instructions on how to make your own hair accessories.
If this fad hasn't hit your daughters school then you can be the first.