Swim or gym: some beauty tips!

These are some tips I have compiled with regards the whole showering after a swim or the gym (or both?!).

1. Always bring a crocodile clip/ large clip to tie hair back with straight after your shower. It is a lot less damaging that a hair tie! I clip mine on the handle of my bag.


2. Bring those bottles of shower gel/ shampoo/ conditioner that are almost empty or that you're not mad about! You have no choice but to use them up!


3. This is a great time to apply body moisturiser, again if you bring it you will use it!


4. Always bring a bottle of water, I'm rubbish at meeting my water intake for the day but if you go near the sauna you'll be super glad of it!


5. Have a shower before you swim....not just for hygiene purposes to remove perfume etc but when your hair is wet it can't absorb as much pool water hence less chlorine damage!

Regrets?? I've had a few!

The first on my list is Clarins "Daily Energizer cleansing gel" I bought this in the airport duty-free as I had run out of cleanser and I wanted something under 100ml. This is such a boring blah product. I don' t get an energy vibe off it whatsoever. You are advised to rinse with cold water in the morning and warm water at night...... so the energy boost really comes from the cold water hitting your sleepy head. It cost around 12 euro as far as I can recall. I now use it to wash my make up brushes.

The next product is a lot more expensive! It is Bliss' "Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing mask". Am I a smuck for energizing stuff or wha'?! This is an orange coloured (and flavoured) gel that is applied to damp skin. It creates a foam on contact with water and as the froth forms adds oxygen and therefore energizes tired, lacklustre skin. I think the foam effect is quite cool and apparently it's very popular with the Irish rugby team but it's not worth the price (around €40!)

Note the awards! oh well!!

Finally, (there are loads more but all in it's own time!) MAC's "myth" lipstick. I love Chanel's "Mythic" lipstick as it gives me a great nude lip and I was looking for something a little cheaper. I didn't really think long and hard about the MAC. I gave it a quick once over! Another airport buy I might add, I see a pattern emerging! It's very chalkey and drying but what did I expect from a matt! I wear a smidge of it over a gloss or balm but I would definitely not be silly enough to buy it again!

Not a great pic of my beloved Chanel!

My Night In Shining Armour!

Night in shining armour!

Excellent name for what I would consider to be another excellent product by Soap and Glory. It is a rich night cream (in case you hadn't guessed!) that leaves me super moisturised. It smells dreamy (sigh!) and a little goes a long way!

I'm almost finished my 50ml jar, will I re purchase? That's one thing I'm not sure of. I LOVE to try new products and rarely re buy stuff. It's not pricey, around £12/ €15 , I bought this in one of Boots' offers so I can't remember the exact price.

I'd love recc's for a new night cream!

The Oriflame lady??

If I said "The Avon Lady" you would know straight away what I was talking about. Well Oriflame are a similar catalogue company. They are a Swedish company and I've only heard of them quite recently.

The only item I have used from them is called "Hand, bath and massage oil".

The idea is to dilute a few drops in hot water and use as a relaxing hand bath or just simply place a few drops on your hands and massage in. It smells fab the only negative so far is that it doesn't sink into your skin straight away. It's something that I use at night before bed and use cotton gloves to ensure no grease marks on my egyptian cotton!

It costs around €9 and I'm sure it'll last ages! (As I'm rubbish at remembering to use hand stuff).

Bitesize bit- Bi phase eye makeup remover.

I love the Aldi and Lidl weekly catalogues that come with the Sunday papers. Don't ask me why, I just do! Aldi this week have an eye makeup remover called Bi phase (sound familiar?!) that is only €2.95! I have no idea if it's good, bad or indifferent but I must must must find out!

Looking forward to seeing some of these!

These pictures don't do it justice but the fab ad. campaign in every glossy magazine does! This is the Max Factor Smoky (American doncha know?!) Eye Effect Eyeshadow phew.

I honestly think I love the look in the advert so much I imagine it'll look the exact same on me. It won't. Ever. However it does seem such a nifty product to create a look that anyone can pull off. There are 6 different shades to choose from so I'm super excited about this one.

I think it should be out soon as it's in sooo many magazines.

Photos are all from Maxfactor.co.uk.

Tattoo Tights, yes really!!!

I'm of the opinion that when it comes to tattoos the simplest most subtle type is the way to go!

I first found a pair of tattoo tights in my local shoe boutique (the place ladies go to match up for Ladies Day fashion, not your average shoe shop) that has a flower pattern on the lower right and left leg. I love them so much I've gone though 3 pairs. They cost about 12 euro each, madness I know but I'm hooked on tattoos!

Today I found a Marie Claire version with a simple butterfly on them. I was super excited! These ones cost 8 euros, so a slight saving. They also had a pair with a star on them which I will go back for!

I'd love to know your feelings on them. Tack or funky?

Product junkie

Hi my name is Pink Flufff and I am a product junkie. I adore Boots, love Superdrug and can quite happily spend three quarters of an hour in the local Chemist. Just browsing!!

Boots have lured me in many a time with their €7.50/£5 off No. 7 products. I never normally buy No.7 but during voucher time I stock up. I use them for a week or so and then nada.

The best thing about using them in London is that the larger Boots have a great selection of Ruby and Millie stuff which is also covered in the voucher. So I started a brush collection! I have one brush so far! The common question my boyfriend asks when I pop into Boots is "do you have another voucher?!" Yes, Yes I do indeed :-)

The downside is I have quite a lot of stuff (not a crazy amount that takes up many drawers etc) that I don't actually use that often and prepare for confession number 2...........

I have never reached the pan (bottom) of an eyeshadow.......... audible gasp from the crowd .

I just tend to mix and match so much I never get the bottom. The only pan I've ever seen the bottom of is a saucepan.

Lovin' my new boots!

Dunnes finest!!

Lately Dunnes (an Irish supermarket, I wouldn't say department store really) have been coming up trumps! I have 6 new work dresses courtesy of them lately. All on sale, I might add!

One of the dresses I call my "Ryanair dress" as the colour is spot on for the cabin crew blue!

I went in to peruse the sale rail as it's updated and changed regularly and got a fab little cardie and the coolest pair of boots ever!! Nice flat boots are a bee-atch to find anf these ones tick all boxes!

Dunnes' site won't let me steal their pic so I leave the linky winky at the bottom.

The boots were originally 25 spondoolas and I got them for 15. The cardigan (cream, with fab beading embellishment) was originally 30 quid and I got it for 7! yes folks seven euro!

I have taken to going into Dunnes and eyeing up their new stock and praying it will be in the sale in my size (or one bigger, a belt can do wonders!)

http://www.dunnesstores.ie/fashion.php?id=women&secId=504

Spot the difference!

Separated at birth perhaps? Both are ideal candidates for Industrial Botox.

Pigs will fly (in aviator jackets)

Burberry, Burberry, Burberry!

You have a lot to answer for! That print for one. Now I don't mind it on scarves, handbags or even umbrellas (I own a burberry bag, hypocrite that I am.......) but when you see it in tracksuit form on the local Seamus things start going wrong!

I have seen the Aviator jacket in real life (in the window in Selfy's) but it's a step to far for me. No way could I (or would I) pull it off. Except to pull it off in disgust! Sheepkin is a no no for me.
I really really couldn't pull this look off!! Bomber jacket style jackets do nowt for me.

what do you think? Good, bad or just plain Ugly?

Current Fashion Wishlist!

(ok it's not a mystery scarf, but you get the idea)

The first thing I'm lusting after is a scarf I saw in a small shop near London. It was a thin cotton type scarf in blue, black or pink. The unique thing about it was that it had two large silver hearts instead of tassels at the end!

I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT ONE THEN AND THERE!

I'm currently eugoogling (Zoolander baby!) frantically trying to find a pic!

They were so cool and they were only 15 quid...............at the time I couldnt justify buying another scarf but time heals everythingb and now I want!! Sigh.

Meringue Roulade or Moulin Rouge as I like to call it!

Nom! Nom! Nom!








The nicest desert on the planet! It has to be Raspberry Roulade though as the bitterness of the berries and the sweetness of the cream is such a heavenly mix!





It is that desert that fills up your second tummy nicely without leaving you feeling overstuffed.

I've never attempted to make it as the café I frequent do such a fab job that I'd never do it justice. I have however come across a recipe from the Waitrose website that I may just give a go!

Ingredients
5 large egg whites, 150g caster sugar, 2tsp cornflour, sieved Icing sugar to dust, 1 x 284ml pot Waitrose Double Cream, 250g raspberries

Method
1. Whisk the egg whites until stiff, then gradually whisk in the caster sugar, a little at a time, until the meringue mixture is stiff and glossy. Whisk in the cornflour.

2. Turn the mixture into the prepared Swiss roll tin using a palette knife or spatula and spread it evenly to the edges. Cook for 1 hour, then cool in the tin.

3. Turn the meringue out onto a sheet of greaseproof paper sprinkled with sieved icing sugar and peel off the baking paper.

4. Lightly whip the cream to soft peaks and spread over the meringue, leaving a border of about 2.5cm on the long side farthest away from you.

5. Scatter the raspberries evenly over the cream, then carefully roll up. Place the roulade on a serving plate, join-side down.

6. Serve sliced, with extra fruit arranged around it or a raspberry sauce.

What I like about this recipe is that there are variations on the site to chop and change the flavours!

http://www.waitrose.com/recipe/Raspberry_Meringue_Roulade.aspx

I shall attempt and post pics asap!

Things I don't do properly #1

I absolutely hate painting my nails properly. You know the whole 3 stripes thing, one in the middle, one to the left and one to the right*

You are also supposed to leave a small line and each side*..naaah can't be bothered!

I tend to take the approach I took as a 10 year old, nice light gentle strokes til the nail is covered.

They don't always look perfect but my nails themselves are far from perfect!

* I probably have the order wrong!

* I probably have the line concept wrong too.

Photo: Dreamstime

Adrian Mole wannabe!

I've always toyed with the idea of writing in a diary but I've always been too bloody lazy to do so. Also it would be along the lines of "dear diary, woke up this morning. Got out of bed, went into kitchen and set the toaster on 3. I like the middle setting as I find the toasted golden brown in colour but not over done by any means." Do you see where I'm coming from?!

However in my recent culture shock (not really) trip to the Tate Modern in London baby, I had my ususual perusal of the museum bookshop* and I came across this..............

This diary has questions in it that you answer such as;

"What made you happy today?"

Answers are kept short and sweet. Each page has short questions and statements. You are also asked to sketch objects! How cool is that!!

* hem hem, The Tate modern museum bookshop is the largest Art Book shop in London. Fact!

Fave chicklit books!

I don't care if people get offended by the term chicklit or the fact that I am devoting a post to it!

My top 5 chick lit books are:

5. Watermelon by Marian Keyes. This woman is an absolute legend. Guaranteed to have you chuckling!

4. Bridget Jones- the edge of reason by Helen Fielding. My copy is completely battered, it is the book I open at any random page and start reading, love it!

3. Confessions of a shopaholic by Sophia Kinsella, hill-ar-ious! The film was pants though. I think alot of people can relate to the main character.

2. Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding, again my copy of this is also battered! Renee Zellweger was brilliant as Bridget in my humble opinion. Some people did not like the fact that an American was playing a cult British figure (again in my opinion!). I think it is revenge after a Vivien Leigh, an English actress, played Scarlett O Hara (superbly) in Gone with the Wind.

1. Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes, Christ on a bike! This is a book and a half! One of my favourite scenes involves the new Fusion bar by cadburys! As with most of Marian's books it's not all roses, chocolates and heartbreak. The main theme in this book is drug abuse and it's effect on loved ones.

Gotta love a freebie!

Nothing will beat Glamour magazine's Benefit issue (choice of Bad gal eyeliner, Eyebright pencil or It stick). Have all 3, only use the badgal.
However I am really liking The Body shop lip and cheek stain free with Instyle magazine. I got it in shade 1 which is very similar to Benetint in appearance BUT it comes with a lipgloss style applicator which makes it easier to apply!


It gives a nice subtle pinky glow to my cheeks without being obvious at all. Love it!

Simon's Cat 'Cat Man Do'

Project 10 pan.

This is lollipop26's brill idea to use up 10 makeup items you have before you buy anything else! Sounds simple right? I haven't a clue what I'd use as my 10 items as I use different bits all the time makeup wise. However I think I could do it with skincare so here I go with my list of stuff to finish:

1. Garnier Soft essentials rose water toner.
2. Soap and Glory's Catch a wrinkle in time moisturiser.
3. REN F10 enzymatic radiance mask.
4. Boots Organic Face nourishing cleanser.
5. Burts Bees Hand Salve.
6. Origins Never a dull moment face cleanser.
7. L'Oreal Elvive Full restore 5 shampoo.
8. Bliss Pore perfecting facial polish.
9. Neals Yard Power Berry moisturiser. annnnnnnnnnnnnnd!
10. Kiehl's calendula toner (only 40 ml but still!!!)

And the prize at the end is Estee Lauder Pore minimising skin finish! I've never used/sampled this but have heard good reviews.

Wonder can anyone recommend it?

Budget Brand of the month award goes to.......

Catrice.





A German cosmetics company that has quite a following in Ireland but I haven't seen them in England! My fave items include:

1. All round Concealer palette which I rave about!

2. Ultimate nail lacquer in "From Dusk to Dawn" Chanel particuliére dupe.

http://www.catrice.eu/en.php?page=products_nails

These products only cost a few quid and have very good staying power. I'm not a huge concealer fan as I have quite dry skin and concealer tends to flake off but the pink shade is great on the eyelids to create an 8 hours sleep look! It serves a similar purpose to Benefit's Eye bright without the gimmicky cost! I am not a Benefit fan at all!

The nail polish goes on well and after two coats and no top coat (life is too short!) will last quite a bit! Not sure where Catrice stand on the whole "3 free" deal!

The only no no with Catrice is that they don't have much press dealings in Ireland and also are Verrrrrrrry slow to re stock their display! shocking!

Victor, Victoria & Albert.

Ok there wasn't a Victor but the V & A museum in London is fabarooney! Particularly the fashion, accessories and jewellery exhibitions!

I will add photos of some gúnas (dresses) that I snapped but because they are behind a glass panel the shots aren't amazing but you'll get the general idea. Vivienne Westwood's Watteau ball gown being one of the main attractions. There were also pieces from Chanel, La Croix, McDonald and Tom Ford amongst many others!

That horrible velour tracksuit also made it into the Hall of Shame section (well the heading of the display must have been taken away for polishing but I'd swear* that was the name of the display).

I love a museum gift shop I do! The fashion and jewellery books were absolutely fabulous dahling but I am trying to budget! Speaking (typing) of the word budget! I discovered a second hand shop not too fat from 'Arrods! There was a designer rail with quite a few nice bits. If you leave me a comment I might divulge the exact co ordinates! (or you could just google it!)

* maybe not swear but am quite quite sure

http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion/index.html

Jerry Seinfeld singing Bugs Bunny theme

Toy Story 3 bitesize review

I would have to say I was never a HUGE Toy story fan, I have seen the first one and found it funny but never had an inkling to see any more. However due to a complete drought in the cinema (I did see Inception though, will report on that too). I went to see the third installment.

Yes, there were very funny bits but overall I found it a wee bit dark and quite a bit sad!!

Buzz was definitely the funniest whereas Woody's performance was a bit wooden alright (cringe).

Evil Villian of the Week goes to................

Moral of the story, not all things pink and fluffy are nice. End Of!

On another note, why are 3D glasses only available for adults??! Bizarre.

I actually won something!!

When I got back from my travels a shiny blue envelope was waiting for me on my desk. I hadn't an iota what it was but judging by the feel of it (still 6 at heart!) there were goodies in it of some description..........



Ta Da!!!!!

I vaguely remember entering a competition on some site yonks ago to win one of these babies! It has the unusual selling point (cynic that I am thinks gimmick) that you can turn a dial and change the intensity of the mascara. This means you can have volumicious lashes for a night on the lash. Without the use of lash inserts i hope!

I will give it a lash at some point.

Me want!!

This is the "Naked" palette from Urban Decay! It's not available in Ireland/ U.K at the moment as I had a look in London. I think it's out in the Autumn (Fall, for my American readers). I really love browns and coppers (yes I'm no longer 19...sigh). These colours really work wonders on my blue eyes. The only negative I can see with the swatches is that they are all super shiny, not a matt to be had!!
I have the U.D Book of shadows too and Half baked (a metallic coppery gold) is a fab colour. Not sure on the price in € or £ but it retails for $44 in the States, so I'd say around £30, €36.

I may attempt a swatch later of Half baked!

Greetings and Salutations!

Welcome! welcome!
This is my little foray into the world of blogging! I intend on keeping things nice and light, hence the name Pink flufff! (the correct spelling of fluff was taken, must check out that blog!)

I hate small talk so...... on with the show!!!