Review of Lancome Hypnose Precious Cells Mascara and an Update

As promised, I wanted to let you in on my thoughts on the new mascara from Lancome...Hypnose Precious Cells.  It promises magnified volume and it's their first mascara to be based on their research into lash conditioning using plant cell extract.  With regular use, it claims to make your lashes stronger and look denser and fuller.  I own the original Hypnose and Hypnose Drama mascaras and I really like them both for their lengthening and volumising effect.  I'm always looking to improve the strength and condition of my lashes so a mascara that can offer those benefits is definitely something I want to look into.  I do use Loreal's Lash Renewal Serum every night and this has done a fantastic job of filling out my lashline but this mascara could work as my daytime treatment.  I don't use the Loreal Serum in the day as it goes a bit stringy and clumpy when you apply mascara over it.

Just a note re the photos...I really don't like these close ups of the eye area because you start discovering wrinkles you didn't even know you had!ha ha.

 So onto the product...well the brush is very slim with quite short bristles which really helps to get right down to the lashline without poking yourself in the eye.  This mascara wand is great at grabbing every single lash and creating alot of definition and for that reason, I do think it works better as a daytime mascara.  Simply because I like uber thick, dramatic and glam lashes for night-time.  It gave my lashes good length however I wouldn't say it created a whole lot of extra volume (I applied two coats int he pic above).  There are days when I want to go for a more natural look and this mascara is perfect for that.  The formulation is actually brilliant, it doesn't budge at all during the day so there's absolutely no flaking or smudging which is a huge plus.  You can just apply it in the morning without any need to keep checking it during the day.  It's also very easy to clean off at the end of the day...I hate it when you have to keep rubbing your eyes with eye makeup remover to get the damn stuff off.

So my overall thoughts on this mascara are that if you like the more defined, fanned out natural look to your daytime mascara, then you will love this.  If however you go for the more dramatic, fuller lash look then you would be better sticking to something like Lancome Hypnose Drama, Rouge Bunny Rouge Amplitude or YSL Faux Cils (the original formula!).  Keep in mind though that mascaras such as this one are great to create a base to define lashes before adding a more volumising mascara over the top.

I also wanted to update you guys on my weightloss.  I have been absolutely dedicated to my gym programme (I go 4-5 times a week) but I have also been having one day off every week when I can have some wine or eat what I want.  This seems to actually help my weightloss and I think it's because if you don't eat enough then your body tends to store more fat because it thinks you are starving.  However, if you have a day off every week and eat slightly more than you would on normal days, it seems to trick your body into making sure your metabolism burns everything off.  Put it like this, when I did slim fast every day I was losing 1lb a week, then when I started having a day off the slim fast, I started losing 2lbs/2.5lbs a week.  I think the evidence speaks for itself.  I have also been doing 15-20 mins of the Power Plate exercises 4 times a week and while this doesn't really assist much in the weightloss, it certainly helps to tone up your body REALLY quickly.

I lost just over 2lbs this week so I'm getting close to an overall weightloss total of 3 and a half stone! (56lbs).  I have done this over the course of the past year and a half so it's been a slow process.  I'm getting so excited seeing my body shape change, getting fitter and more toned and generally feeling really healthy.  I think the Green Tea has made a fabulous difference and it has really helped me in my weightloss.  I really think the only way to lose weight is steadily over a long period of time.  It's weird looking back at pictures of myself from a couple of years ago because my face looks so different.  I really feel like I'm in the best shape of my life and that's a really good feeling knowing that I am in control of my own body and doing it in a healthy way.

I have my wedding hair trial part 2 on Friday and my mum will also be geting her hair done so I can't wait for that! It's the first time I will get to see my hair styled with my newly highlighted hair extensions.  I will take some pics and let you guys see how that works out.  It's now only 6 and a half weeks until the wedding so excitement levels are high!

CDWM, Great Products & a Big Disappointment

Hi guys! I'm back after a busy weekend.  The Come Dine With Me night went really well and all three courses turned out the way I wanted them to, although I was so busy trying to make everything perfect that I forgot to take pictures of the food!  Luckily someone else did so there's photographic evidence that I didn't stuff it up! However, I did remember to take pictures of the layout of the table.   Please note, I removed the bed sheet that was drying on the washing line before anyone arrived!  The dogs seemed to like lounging around the heat of the Chiminea... 

As I said previously, I held it at my parent's house because they just bought a new pergola for the garden (for anyone who isn't sure what that is, it's basically a fancy tent!).  I really wanted to create a nice atmosphere for me and my 5 gal pals to have a nice meal so I tried to make the table as pretty as I could.  I embellished the menus with gems, I got place name cards, cushions on with the seats, candles etc.  I set up my laptop with speakers too and made a great playlist on iTunes with songs that I knew everyone would like.

I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to this type of thing so I wanted everything to co-ordinate nicely.  We didn't have the nicest weather for it but it certainly wasn't too cold to sit outside and we had the blazing Chiminea to keep us warm! 

I had big faux diamond ring napkin rings but since my napkins were paper and too small, I had to just use them as decoration...but they DID come in handy later on as props when we were all prancing around to Beyonce's Single Ladies! ("If you like it, then you shoulda put a ring on it!")

I am relieved that my turn is over and done with because it's really hard to relax when you're constantly watching the time for things in the oven and trying to make sure everyone's wine glass isn't running dry.  Chris has demanded that I make the meal for him at some point since it went down so well and our 3 year anniversary is coming up in July so we'll see...

Onto some beauty stuff I have been loving of late.  As I have said before, I have become slightly obsessed with 'prepping' my skin before the wedding and ensuring that it's as blemish free as possible before the big day.  So that means no picking at spots no matter how tempting (gross I know but everyone does it!).  I always just want to expel any badness from my skin and I end up leaving it looking worse than it did before.  So that's a cardinal rule running up to the wedding day because we all know that it takes some time for blemish scars to fade.  One product that has really impressed me this month is Loreal's Perfect Clean Foaming Gel Wash:

I used to be devoted to Neutrogena's 2-in-1 Visibly Clear Wash/Mask but this product has replaced it in my daily morning skincare routine.  It seems to be alot more gentle on my skin and slightly more effective when I do get blemishes.  Since using this, my skin has been so clear and the Salicylic Acid is great for exfoliating any dry skin patches.  It's a clear gel that you apply with the soft rubber scrublet that is attached to the bottle.  I was dubious about this 'scrublet' when I first saw it because I thought it might be uncomfortable to use or feel weird but it's actually a good tool to work the product into your skin.  It's not going to exfoliate your skin like a muslin cloth would but it helps to work the wash into your pores to lift out any dirt.  I LOVE this!

The product that I have been using before bed is the Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Wash which leaves my skin feeling divine.  It's really gentle, removes 90% of my makeup, it's anti-ageing and you only need a small amount in each application.  My skin looks and feels really radiant when I use this product and it really makes a difference to the texture of your skin.  I'm all about refining skin texture because makeup only looks good when the base is good.

Because I am wearing a strapless wedding dress, I really wanted to work on my upper arms where you can get those little bumps, which apparently are a build up of keratin in your pores.  I have been exfoliating my upper arms every day in the shower to try and smooth the skin out and my scrub of choice has been St Ives Deep Cleansing Apricot Body Scrub.  This stuff is absolutely brilliant for getting rid of those bumps because it's designed for 'oily, blemish prone' skin which overall I don't have but this is perfect for my upper arms.  My upper arms are now lovely and smooth so I will keep up this routine until the wedding day to ensure they stay that way.

A product that works really well with that scrub is the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E.  Now I have used this body moisturiser before but I had forgotten how amazing it was at smoothing the skin and fading any scars you may have.  This moisturiser has done a fantastic job of softening my skin and I now use it every single night before bed.  I had some scars on my elbow from Psoriasis and it has totally faded them out in a matter of days.  I think sometimes I try so many different products trying to find the perfect one, that I overlook old classics that really do the job.  I am going to stick with this from now on because nothing else has made my skin look and feel the way this does.

Now for the disappointing product...YSL Faux Cils Noir Radical mascara.  I was SO excited when they brought this out because I love the original Faux Cils mascara and the concept of a sooty, intense black version for more drama sounded amazing.  The original Faux Cils formula creates amazing length and volume, doesn't flake or smudge and really lasts the distance.  It's only downfall is that it dries out quite quickly but that never bothered me because I loved it so much.

However, this Noir Radical formula is NOT the same as the original.  The problem is it smudges within minutes of application and not just a little bit of smudging, but LOADS.  I ended up with panda eyes on the outer AND inner corners of my eyes, where it bled into my lower waterline (I only wear mascara on my upper lashline).  What a nightmare! It looked awful, messy and it made me look tired.  I just can't use this mascara.  It's almost like they added coal dust to it or something because it has no staying power and just migrates all around the eye area.  I read Lollipop 26's comments that maybe it was because of the shape of her eyes, but no, I can confirm that it's just that the mascara's formula is not up to scratch.  This is really disappointing because usually I love YSL's products.  I won't be touching this again so I will be sticking to my mascara faves...YSL Faux Cils original formula or Rouge Bunny Rouge Amplitude mascara.

Have you tried the Noir Radical mascara? What are your thoughts?

My Summer Wishlist

Now that the wedding isn't too far away, my thoughts have turned to the honeymoon and the fact that I really need to stock up on my summer clothes! The shop I usually turn to for colourful summery clothes is Monsoon, I love the middle eastern feel to the embellishments and colours.  Since I will be spending most of my time next to the beach and chilling out on the honeymoon, light cotton sun dresses are probably my best bet and this one from Monsoon caught my eye! I love the fresh colours...

I also spotted these gorgeous pewter sandals that will go with just about anything...

I have been reading all the travel info for Malaysia and even though it says not to wear bright colours as it attracts Mosquitos...I just can't resist a splash of colour for my holiday.  I will just have to rely on my jungle insect repellent! I love this beach dress from Accessorize, it would be perfect to throw on over a bikini...

I also had a wardrobe clearout recently and found two pairs of jeans (one cream and one dark denim) that are too big for me since I lost weight.  The waist is 'comfortable' rather than too big but the thighs on them were massive so I cut them with scissors to make cute little shorts.  I also tied a colourful silk scarf to the belt loop of one of them just to give it a nice edge.  I love it when you can make use of old clothing that you never wear anymore.

I love big beach bags that you can just throw everything into so this one from Gap is perfect, plus it will go with pretty much any outfit since it's a neutral cream. I love the cute little bow on the front...

I have to say that I never buy expensive sunglasses because I'm too clumsy and I think I would cry if I sat on a pair of Guccis or Ray Bans! So I generally just buy cheap ones every year from places like H & M or Oasis.  I tend to favour Aviators because they suit my face shape and I think they look pretty cool (I think it's because it's reminiscent of Top Gun...yeah I know...I'm a geek!).

I went to see the nurse yesterday at my local medical centre to chat about which vaccination I will need before going on honeymoon.  She told me I would need a Tetanus booster and I can still remember how much that injection hurt and it was about 15 years ago! It left a huge lump on my upper arm so hopefully this one won't do the same.  There were a few others she mentioned and I have to go back and get them all in one go...ouch! I am not afraid of needles per se but it's not my idea of fun to become a human pin cushion.  I was moaning about it on Facebook and one of my friends reminded me that's it's really not the worst problem to have...he suggested that sipping cocktails on an exotic beach would ease the memory of the pain!ha ha.

I will be having a busy weekend so this is the last you will hear from me until next week...I have a review of the new mascara by Lancome 'Hypnose Precious Cells' so stay tuned for that.  Have a brilliant weekend everyone!

Hair Extensions Update, Wedding Makeup Trial and my Search for the Perfect Wedding Lipstick

Oh my god, things are getting so crazy with the wedding plans! It's only about 7 and a half weeks to go now and I'm finding myself getting increasingly busy sorting out the details.  I'm loving every minute of it though and I'm really trying to enjoy every second of the build up to it.  I know it will be over so quickly. 

My lovely hairdresser, Leigh, just dropped off my hair extensions today after highlighting them for me (ok, the way I phrased that made it sound very celeb, having my own hairdresser, but you know what I mean!).  Leigh added a slightly darker tone through the extensions underneath so it just shows through slightly and gives them depth.  She also added some blonde highlights so they would blend into my hair colour more.  I have to say that I am absolutely delighted with them and they now match my hair EXACTLY.  They really are great quality extensions and Leigh was saying the same thing so I would highly recommend you take a look at the FoxyLocksExtensions website if you were thinking of buying some.  She treated them with an intensive conditioner so they are really soft and they smell gorgeous...like coconut...yum!

I can't wait to have my hair trial with her next Friday so I can get my hair done with the heated rollers like the inspiration pic of Petra Nemcova I had previously shown you guys...

I really want my hair to be loose and natural looking, I really don't like it when curly/wavy hair looks too contrived so I think heated rollers is the best way to get the look I want.  I might test the look out on my hen night in Aberdeen since I use any excuse to get glammed up! Me and the girls are heading out for an Italian meal (where you get to dance on the tables to Euro pop at the end of the night...I know...classy! But a hen night is no place for being classy).  We are then heading off to a lovely bar for some cocktails in our VIP area and then onto a club for some serious dancing! That reminds me, I need to stock up on some Scholl Party Feet!  Better dig out my bride sash and L plate again...

I promised you guys an update on the makeup trial I attended last weekend in Glasgow.  Myself and three bridesmaids headed down on Saturday to the makeup artist's flat and unfortunately we missed an absolutely gorgeous day in Aberdeen...sod's law!  The makeup artist, Laura, has worked on the Mobo awards, fashion shoots and often travels with a dance company.  She did a great job on everyone. I won't go into too much detail about the trials but one thing I will say is that I've decided that I am going to apply my foundation myself.  I took along my Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation and Laura said she uses it alot on brides so that settled my mind on whether it worked well with flash photography.  She applied it on my with a foundation brush but the result was quite uneven and patchy.  This foundation seems to react alot better to being applied with fingers so I decided I would do that myself on the day as that's how I can get the most flawless coverage.  I am such a perfectionist when it comes to my skin and I really want it to be perfect on the day.  So I will be doing that and my concealer, whilst Laura does everything else.  I have decided to go with individual false lashes since they give the most natural effect and there's less chance of them peeling off at the edges like strip falsies.  I unfortunately forgot to take pics of the finished look but it was sunkissed with pale gold and bronze eyes, flicked brown eyeliner and natural lips.  She did put brown liner on the outer part of my lower eye but it really didn't suit me and made me look tired so I won't be doing that on the day.

I have mentioned before that myself and my friends have been doing Come Dine With Me nights...there's 6 of us and this Saturday, it's my turn! I've decided to have it at my parent's house because they just got a new pergola and chimnea in the garden so we will be dining all fresco!  I have really enjoyed planning the menu and all the little details.  I really love cooking for people and entertaining in general.  Here's my menu that was emailed out to the girls on Monday...

I won't let on too much about it because I know that some of the girls involved read my blog so I don't want to spoil the surprises for them.  I will post some pics of the night next week so you can see how it all went.  I have my fingers crossed that it all goes well!

I have been on the search for the perfect wedding day lippy for all my professional photographs.  Now you know I am a huge fan of nude lips so for the rest of the day, I will be rocking a nude lip (probably my YSL Rouge Volupte in no.1 or Estee Lauder Pure Colour lippy in Vanilla Truffle).   It's a well known fact that you have to wear a darker lip colour for the proper photographs otherwise you're lips become lost and don't stand out.  I will only be dabbing on the darker lip colour as I'm going for a natural effect so I don't want to slather it on and make it obvious that I'm wearing a lip product.  I think I may have found the perfect slightly darker pink based nude that's not outside of my comfort zone.  I often find that darker lip colours just don't suit me but this Estee Lauder Pure Colour Crystal Lipstick in Crystal Baby seems to be just the right colour to define my lips in the photographs without making me look really different...the last thing I want is to not even look like myself in the photos.

I love Estee lauder lippies, they are just so high quality, smooth to apply and long lasting.  They are also non-drying and feel creamy on your lips.  Crystal Baby may be the perfect shade to avoid the washed out look in my wedding photographs.  I was looking into Mac High Tea but it seems to be just slightly too brown for what I'm looking for.  I have heard that Mac Jubilee is a good shade but I haven't got that one in my collection yet.  I was going to wear Mac Angel but I decided that a nude would look better with the pale gold/bronze look I was going for.  It's all about finding the right shade for your skin tone, because lipsticks can look so different on different people.

So that's all my news for today, I must warn you that I may not be posting as often as I normally do because I am so busy at the moment but I will do my best to check in with you guys and give you updates on how everything is going!

Bye for now!

Gorgeous Summer Lip Gloss and Wedding Shoes

Hello, hello!  I just got back from my latest wedding dress fitting and thought I would give you an update on how it all went.  My dress is all ready to go but I just have one more fitting on 3rd July to make sure it's perfect.  I find myself falling more in love with the dress every time I see it.  It's amazing.  My mum took along my wedding shoes today so I could see them with the dress and I couldn't remember if I had shown you guys what they look like.  They're a kind of champagne colour, the perfect heel height, slightly darker than my dress with the obligatory glitzy edge! You know me, I have serious magpie tendencies!...

For some reason, my dress makes me look really tall, it must be something about the floor length dresses that create that effect (hey, I ain't complaining!).  I was happy to see that I won't have to do too much more work to be in the best shape for my wedding.  The panic started because I originally thought I was going to go for a lace up design at the back but when the dress was being made, the seamstress phoned to say that the dress would really suit a zip and buttons more because it created cleaner lines with the style of the dress.  The shop has measured me for a lace up so they make the dress a bit smaller so everything is nipped in.  However, since I switched to a zip, when I got the dress, it turned out to be VERY snug i.e. I could hardly breathe when it was done up!  I had a bit of a blub after that fitting because I felt a bit crappy.  The I pulled myself together and got on with toning my body up at the gym.  The last time I got a fitting I had chubby bits under my arms and 'back fat' as it's so fondly known.  The snug fit of the dress just accentuated that...not pretty.  I swore to myself that I would start a plan at the gym to tone my upper body and it has definitely made a huge difference.  The dress looked so much better on me this time so I only have some fine tuning to do.  My mum is taking her Power Plate over for me to borrow until the wedding.  After seeing how amazing her figure looks now after only a couple of months of using it, I wanted in on the action! So I am going to use it every day for 10 mins in the morning and 10 minutes at night (same thing my mum does).  I will keep you guys updated on whether it makes a difference.  I will still be going to the gym and doing cardio etc but this is just an extra thing to make sure I look my best on my wedding day (and the honeymoon!).

I also wanted to share a couple of amazing lipglosses with you guys, they are both gorgeous colours for summer.  The first is Jemma Kidd Makeup School Hi Shine Silk Touch Lipgloss in Petal - a milky peach shade.  When I first saw this, I though of Holly from The Yummy Mummy's Beauty Blog because I know how much she loves peach lipglosses...well, Holly, you would absolutely adore this product.  It's such a brightening colour that looks so fresh and summery.  I can imagine it would look great on any skintone because it's such a soft, flattering colour.  If you are scared to wear bright corals that are in at the mo, then peach is a great alternative.  You could also wear it over a coral lippy to tone it down a bit for the daytime.  I LOVE this lipgloss, the formula is great and doesn't have the sticky feel.  I am wearing it today with slightly golden skin, pale gold eyeshadow and brown flicked eyeliner and I really love that combination.  The second gloss I am obsessing over is Estee Lauder's High Gloss in Honey...a perfect name for this shade.  This gloss looks incredible over any nude lipstick! It's got slight shimmer to it but it's so fine that it just shows up on your lips as a shiny effect.  I like to wear it over Estee Lauder's Pure Colour Lipstick in Vanilla Truffle (my all time favourite nude) or YSL Rouge Volupte in no.1 Nude Beige.  It's a gorgeous gloss for any kind of sunkissed, bronzey look...like the Charlize Theron look from my previous post.  The best thing is you get loads of gloss for your money...15ml!

That's all for today but I will be posting something on Monday to update you on how I got on with the wedding makeup trials (hopefully with piccies!)

Have a brilliant weekend everyone :)

Ramble

I'm getting to like these ramble posts! It's just a great chance to get all my weekly thoughts out on one post...and it's very cathartic!

1) SATC 2 - I went to see this last night with my friends and we did the whole cocktails thing beforehand although that resulted in me having a splitting headache by the end of the film...I think that's because it was pitch black and my eyes got strained.  I won't say too much about the film as I know not everyone has had a chance to see it yet.  What I will say is that I don't think it deserved to be slammed by the critics.  I think if you take it for what it is (which is an extended episode of the show) then you will enjoy it.  It's silly at times, but enjoyable silliness.  I am a huge fan of the show and I wasn't disappointed by this film, there were loads of really funny bits.  I now have a huge crush on the older man in the film, the Danish guy that crashes over the sand dunes in a jeep...I don't normally go for the older guys but he is a fox! ...sigh.  I don't think it's as good as the first one which was more of an emotinal rollercoaster but it still had the SATC magic.  So my advice is, go see it...don't listen to th critics, I mean it's not supposed to be profound like Schindler's List...it's a fun film to be enjoyed when you're tiddly on Cosmopolitans!

2) The weather is finally looking up again in Aberdeen, the sun is actually out and it's warm outside! The above pic was taken in a park in Aberdeen...I know, hard to believe!  This phenomenon has been apparent for the last couple of days and long may it continue! The only downside to the lovely weather is that it's really warm at night time so I haven't been sleeping that well...waking up all sweaty is never pleasant. (some people are never happy!ha ha).  I am hoping to head out to my parent's place for a BBQ on Sunday...ahh bliss!

3) Two shows that I'm OBSESSED with at the moment are The Wire (of which I have acquired the full boxset) and The Pacific.  The last show I really got into was The Sopranos, what is it with HBO? They have the best shows! I have really been enjoying The Pacific...I used to love Band of Brothers so when I heard this was made by the same people, I knew I had to watch it.  I love the way they integrate the real soldiers at the start of each episode to remind you that this stuff all happened, it's not fiction.  To be honest I wasn't aware that alot of this stuff went on in Pacific, not to that extent anyway, but I think that was the whole point of the series, to highlight the great number of soldiers who lost their lives in these battles.  It's very emotional to watch and I often find myself close to tears.  It's good to remind yourself of how lucky you are to have had such a sheltered life.

4) I really need to get back in the swing of my exercise program at the gym.  Because it's so warm outside, the gym is sweltering at the moment! There was actually a point on the cross trainer yesterday when I was finding it hard to breathe because I was so hot.  It's so hard to get motivated when it's so sunny outside!  I have also been struggling a little bit with the Slim Fast thing in the past couple of days.  For ages, I had been sticking to the 2 shakes and a main meal but I have cheated for the past two days and only had one shake, a big snack then dinner.  I think I just need to be a bit more strict on myself and get myself back on track to lose the weight before the wedding.  I still have about 7lbs to go before I reach my target for the big day.  I have about 8 and a half weeks so it's more than do-able if I buckle down.  Overall, I'm more interested in being toned than losing weight.

Reviews, Keeping Hydrated and Bridal Makeup Inspiration

I'm almost feeling back to normal now after my mad hen weekend! While I was wandering around Edinburgh with my pals, I couldn't help but stop and get Chris a little gift.  He has a HUGE sweet tooth and loves any kind of chocolate or sweet things.  So when I walked past The Fudge House, I thought I would pick up a few different flavours for him.  I got four types of fudge all packaged in a little box...chocolate hazlenut, white chocolate, creme brulee and maple syrup.  As you can see from the pic, he has been at it already and there's already some gone!

I'm surprised I managed to resist getting myself some but although my wedding dress is ready to pick up now, I will be having another dress fitting at the end of this month to tweak the fit so I have to be good! I weighed myself after being away at the weekend to see if I had put anything on and low and behold I had put on just under 1lb.  That's ok though because I did go all out and eat/drink whatever I wanted.  I can lose that again in less than a week so I'm ok with that!

Chris had taken a trip back home to Ireland at the weekend and he returned with two gifts for me from his lovely mum.  She kindly bought me a dress from Savida and a skirt from Dunnes Stores.  I am so lucky to have a future mother in law who knows exactly what my style is, she always gets me such lovely things!  The dove grey dress is a jersey type material with a cream vest lining, tie waist and crochet detail on the bust...perfect for lazy summer days.

The pale grey skirt has gorgeous embellished pockets and is pretty short but just the right length for me...I might wear this on my Aberdeen hen night in July! I love clothes that have beading or intricate embellishments, it just adds a bit of glitz and interest.

After getting back from Edinburgh my skin and hair felt a bit dry...that could be because of the copious amounts of alcohol that was consumed...not big and not clever! I found three products that really infused my hair and skin with hydration again.  The first being Loreal Elvive Re-Nutrition Nourishing Fluid which I like to apply both day and night.  I work it through the ends of my hair after blowdrying and also at night before I go to bed.  I find that it's light enough not to make my fine hair greasy but it works hard at making my hair feel like silk.  My hair already feels tons better.  Another hair product I really rate is the Sebastian Hydre Deep Moisturising Treatment, this is amazing if you have dry or frizzy hair and if you're blonde, you'll know what I'm talking about! I leave the treatment on in the shower for 5-10 mins and then wash thoroughly...this is important to ensure that all of the product has been washed out of your hair.  Otherwise, you will end up with a build up of residue and you're hair will be static all the time.  I switch around my hair treatments alot because my hair gets too used to using the same product and it becomes less effective.  My favourites are still Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment, Kerastase Chroma Riche Mask and I would say this Sebastian one is now up there with my favourites.

The third product is a skin saviour if you have dry skin.  It's the Estee Lauder Hydra Complete Multi Level Moisture Gel Mask.  It's described as a 'long, refreshing drink of pure moisture for your skin'.  My face feels so soothed after using this and it plumps out my skin texture, softens it and smoothes any dry patches.  It's a great mask to use the morning after a big night out because it feeds your skin with the hydration it needs.  It's oil free so it's great for sensitive skin.  It contains alot of natural ingredients like Cactus Flower and Mohave Yucca and is also great if you work or live in an air conditioned environment where skin can get really dried out.

Onto some things that I have been loving at the moment.  First up is the Givenchy Prisme Libre in no.4 Tender Sun.  Although the diagram on the bottom of the product indicates that it is intended for use on your cheeks, I love to swirl the four bronzey shades together for an all over face glow.  This gives such a luminous but non shimmery radiance to your complexion and it looks very natural.  I love the packaging although I don't find the double sided face puff inside that useful as it applies the product too heavily for my liking.  I much prefer to use a big powder brush to give an even and natural finish.  The palest peachy coloured powder in the quad is really brightening and brings my skin to life.  It doesn't look chalky on the skin and because you only need a small amount for each application, it will last for a long time.

I had been trying out a new foundation last week and wanted to share my thoughts on it.  It's Lacome Teint Idol Silky Mat Foundation in Beige Diaphane.  This foundation claims to provide 18 hours of shine free coverage that's breathable and visibly refines pores.  This foundation is a light to medium coverage but it is also buildable.  The consistency is very runny and you really don't need alot of product.  It has SPF 16 and contains Mineral Siliceum to actively control shine over time.  It's described as being hydrating, oil-free, sweat resistant and suitable for all skin types.  I would agree that the foundation is very light in texture and it feels natural on the skin, it offered adequate coverage for my skin, however my skin is currently pretty blemish free and even.  It gave a nice soft matte finish and didn't look cakey or unnatural.  I don't know about the sweat resistant claim though as I did find that the foundation tends to melt a bit after about 5 hours and when you rush around, it doesn't feel fool proof on my face.  I think this would be the kind of foundation that I would only wear in the daytime as I need a bit extra coverage and staying power if I'm heading out on the town with the girls.  It's a nice foundation for girls who are looking for a light, natural finish.  It didn't blow me away but it's certainly a good foundation for summer on lazy days in the sun when you want that no-makeup look.

I am obsessed with having flawless makeup so any kind of primer that will help me achieve that is welcome in my makeup collection! This new concealer and eyeshadow primer from Benefit Stay, Dont Stray is a flesh coloured liquid that can be applied under the eye and on the eye lid to make sure your concealer and eyeshadow stay put.  Sometimes concealers can melt or settle into fine lines (it can be due to using an eye cream that's slightly too heavy) and I personally hate it when that happens because it can make you look older.  Because I get bad under eye circles, I really need my concealer to stay flawless all day and this product is brilliant at doing that.  I just apply a tiny amount with my fingers and pat it gently into my eye area.  There's a pump applicator so this keeps everything nice and mess-free.  I normally use Mac Paint Pots to prime my eye lid before eyeshadow but this will be more handy for travelling because it kills two birds with one stone.  It's particularly useful on nights out when I know I will be bopping around to music and getting sweaty (gross, I know!).  It's like a liquid version of Mac Painterly Paint Pot so it's great for concealing uneven pigmentation on the eye lid - you could even wear it on it's own if you were going for the natural look.

I have my wedding makeup trial for myself and my three bridesmaids this Saturday in Glasgow so I'm REALLY excited about that.  I have been looking into this for a while and I really want my makeup to be perfect on the big day.  I am a perfectionist and I'm kinda scared that I might come across as some kind of diva to the makeup artist.  It's just because I am so into my own makeup and I know what works on me.  I have a list of products/words to go over with her like...Mac Woodwinked e/s, golden peachy tones, soft matte complexion with highlighted cheekbones, black flicked eyeliner...etc.  I am really particular about the coverage of my foundation for example so I want to make sure that I choose the right product for the day.  It's so hard because you need a foundation without SPF or at least with a low SPF so you don't get that white cast look in flash photography.  Also, you have to get your eyes and lips more defined than you usually would so they show up better on camera.  I have been looking for inspiration and I love the skin and eye makeup in this Pixiwoo Bridal Makeup vid, although the lip colour would be too pale...

I know that I want individual false lashes on the day and since my dress is a champagne shade, I think that gold and bronze tones would really compliment the dress and my hair.  I really hope I don't come across as really high maintenance to the makeup artist but I know what I want on my wedding day and I won't be happy unless it's perfect but I think anyone could understand that.  I am going to try and wear a top that is ivory or champagne coloured so I can get a good idea of how the makeup will look against my dress.

I really want to channel the subtlely sunkissed Charlize Theron vibe for my wedding makeup.  I love the way she always has soft definition using golds and bronze:

I think if I used a lipstick like Mac's High Tea then that would add the colour I needed on the lips.

So I will have to take some pics of how the makeup turns out.  But meantime, have you got any tips for makeup trials?

My Hen Weekend

OMG...what an amazing, crazy, fun, silly weekend I had in Edinburgh with all my lovely friends and my mum!Unfortunately Chris' mum couldn't make it over from Ireland because there was a death in the family. I was really gutted about that because I love Chris' mum, Madeleine, but we toasted her many times over the course of the weekend.  I wanted to post some pics to give you an insight into what we got up to, but obviously I didn't want to put any pics up of all my friends as they might not want them to be posted online! So, I stuck to pics of me, my mum and random people we met along the way.  These are by no means very flattering as I'm generally pulling stupid faces but hey, a hen weekend is no place to be taking yourself too seriously!

First off, I will let you know the itinerary for the weekend:

Friday: Lots of Champagne, Comedy Club, Bar, GHQ

Saturday: Exploring Edinburgh, Group Makeup consultation with MUA, Meal at an Italian restaurant, Party bus around the city

Sunday: Hangovers

The Highlight Comedy Club - this place was 90% stag parties so when we walked in, we got a standing applause from the first table of guys! That was fantastic because we were all tiddly on champagne and felt like we were the bee's knees! I just remember thinking "don't fall over laura, don't fall over!" The first comedian wasn't great but the next two made up for it.  One of them had a guitar and since we were sitting right in front of the stage, he took it upon himself to pick on me and my friend, Nassim.  He ind of reminded me of Jack Black, not by the way he looked but just his style of comedy.  We both had embarassing songs made up about us, complete with suggestive innuendo...I think my face was bright red at that point!ha ha.

GHQ - We headed to a bar where the girls surprised me with a mystery cocktail that tasted a bit dodgy...they eventually told me it was a rather interesting mix of Vodka, Whisky, Peach Schnapps, Grenadine and Lemonade.  Then we headed to GHQ, which stands for Gay Head Quarters and we had such a great laugh there.  The music was brilliant, I loved the style of the club and we danced until our feet were red and swollen!

Group Makeup Consultation - I arrived back from having a wander around Edinburgh to find that one of the apartments we were staying in had been set up for a consultation with Judith Campbell of Feel Brand New and she does:

• Colour Consultations
• Style Consultations 
• Seasonal Fashion Update
• Wardrobe Weeding
• Personal Shopping

I thought Judith was really fantastic at going through all the basics when it comes to makeup.  She said she fet a bit nervous as the girls had all told her about my blog but I reassured her that I'm by no means an expert! There are always things you can learn from other people and I was excited to be able to play with makeup for the afternoon! Judith is such a lovely, warm person and she made the whole afternoon really enjoyable.  All the girls enjoyed looking through all the makeup and trying different looks.

Meal - During the meal, I was given a pink sash with flashing lights on it saying 'Bride To Be', a flashing L plate, a necklace with the cutest picture of Chris, aged 10, dressed as Superman and a tiara/veil.  I was quite happy to wear all of that stuff since I got to wear my own clothes underneath.  The girls also presented me with a Photobox album called 'Guide To The Bride'.  This was a collection of photos of me growing up, complete with witty captions, then pics of Chris growing up, and then finally pictures of us as a couple.  It actually brought me to tears as I turned each page and I thought it was such an amazing, fun and imaginative gift that we can keep forever and show our kids in the future.  Even though some of the pics of me as a teenager were soooo embarassing! Cringe! That wasn't all though, they also conducted a 'Mr & Mrs' quiz where I had to answer questions about Chris (his first pet's name, his dream car, what he would have for his last meal etc) and I'm proud to say that I got almost all of them right.  Everyone was surprised that I knew so much about Chris and I guess that maybe shows that we spend WAY too much time together!ha ha.

Party bus - This was hands down the best part about the whole weekend and all the girls agreed.  Basically, it's just a double decker bus that plays very loud party music, drives you to each bar and there are other stag and hen parties on there.  As you can see from the pics, we were on the bottom floor of the bus with a stag party consisting of PE teachers from Glasgow! They were all dressed as superheroes and luckily for us they were genuinely nice guys who were fun but never crossed the line with us.  You are allowed to drink on the bus which made things a bit messy (sorry about the diet coke spillage mum!) and as it was so busy, it's not easy to hold a drink, dance and hold on to the safety bar in the aisle at the same time but somehow we managed it!  I'm not sure about the safety aspect of all of that but hey, we survived!  The other good thing about this was that we didn't have to walk anywhere in our skyscraper heels.  We ended up at a club at the end of the night and danced until we couldn't stand anymore!

I really couldn't have wished for a better weekend for my hen party.  It was definitely my wonderful friends and my mum that made it so special for me.  We laughed so much and I know we will remember that weekend forever.

I still have my hen night in Aberdeen in July so I'm really looking forward to that too!

Pending Hen Weekend,Nars and Philosophy

Hello ladies! This will be my last post until Monday as I am heading off to Edinburgh tomorrow to embark on my hen weekend.  I have a loose itinerary of where I need to be and what time but I have no idea what the girls have planned for me! I'm really looking forward to having a proper girly weekend with all my fantastic friends.  I am very lucky to have a lovely group of pals to spend my time with. 

No doubt there will be cocktails galore...bring it on! I really want to have a Mai Tai (or three) because I first tried them when I was on holiday in Barcelona and they are soooo yummy.  They are really refreshing!  Basically, a Mai Tai contains the following:

White Rum

Dark Rum

Amaretto De Saronno

Apricot Brandy

Orange Curacao

Lime Juice

Pineapple Juice

Ok, so it doesn't sound yummy when you write a list of the ingredients but believe me, they're lush! That reminds me, I better take some Ibuprofen with me! I was in Boots today stocking up on Scholl Party Feet and blister plasters for my skyscraper heels! (I'm still on the look out for that product in stick form that you can rub on your feet to prevent friction...).  I will give you guys all the goss from the hen weekend when I return...I'm sure I will have many a story to tell!

On another note, I finally got my hands on Nars blush in Silvana and Nars Sweet Revenge Lipgloss, which is a new shade.  Silvana is a terracotta with soft gold shimmer and it would make a perfect contour shade for when I'm paler and a great blusher for when I'm a bit more tanned for a really sunkissed look.  The shimmer is so subtle as you can see from the pan and swatch.  Sometimes Nars blushes can be a hit or a miss, but this one is smooth, extremely blendable and really pretty once applied.

Sweet Revenge lipgloss is described as a sheer pink grapefruit, however I would say it's slightly darker than you would imagine.  It's more of a peach with slight shimmer in my opinion.  It will look really good with a golden eye look and lashings of bronzer.  I've heard about Nars lipglosses developing a strange smell after a few months but I must say that I haven't noticed that with my Turkish Delight one as yet.  It's a shame because there are so many pretty shades.  I use so much lipgloss that I will probably use it up before it gets to that stage anyway.  I love the look of the Striptease shade which is described as a candlelit nude...sounds like my kinda gloss!  I do think these glosses are a bit overpriced given that alot of the shades are dupe-able. 

I also wanted to share with you an AMAZING hot salt scrub from Philosophy called Pure Grace.  I like my scrubs to come in copious amounts because I use so much of it on my body.  This is one heavy duty scrub and it made mincemeat of the fake tan remnants I had on my elbows (I was having a lazy moment and didn't apply moisturiser before tanning...cardinal rule broken!tut tut!).  Usually nothing would remove it and I would have to wait a few days for it to subside.  But this scrub removed all trace of it in one go although I would only use it once a week as it's too much to use daily.  I just scooped up a little scrub whilst wearing my exfoliating gloves and quickly went over my body in circular motions in the shower.  This scrub is oil-free, glycerin based, with a very light clean fragrance and leaves my skin super duper smooth and soft, without any oily residue left behind.  I like this so much because it's amazingly effective and it's great to use before fake tan.  Oil based scrubs leave a film of oil on your skin afterwards which means that it's harder for the fake tan to adhere to the skin evenly, so you end up with patchiness and streaks.  This stuff is definitely the best scrub I have used in preparation for self tanning.  Thumbs up!

On a completely different note, I caught on to Tanya Burr's vids on Youtube (the girlfriend of Pixiwoo Sam and Nic's younger brother).  I'm sure everyone else is already a subscriber and I'm just the last to know!  But in case you don't know...she is a freelance makeup artist in her own right and up until a couple of days ago, I had only ever seen her being used as a model for Sam or Nic to demonstrate makeup looks.  I have really been getting into her videos...I don't know about you but when I find YT channels I like, I tend to watch about 10 vids in one go, I'm excited to go through them all.  This is one of my favourites of hers:

I also just subscribed to her other channel which is a mixture of Vlogs and Hauls.  I always like to get to know the people behind the YT channel and I was watching a vid of Tanya and her boyfriend, Jim, where he does her makeup for her at the request of lots of subscribers.  Can you imagine your bloke doing your makeup???ha ha.  It's really funny, incredibly cute and they just come across as a really sweet couple who like to take the mick out of eachother:

The bit that made me laugh the most is how he rubs the primer into her face quite roughly and also the poking of the eyes.ha ha.  Let's be honest, more often than not, our other halves are usually so clueless about what it takes to apply makeup and the fact that there is actually skill involved! I know guys always say they prefer girls without makeup but I seriously think that they often aren't sure what is and isn't makeup! Chris looks at pics of Scarlett Johansson or Cheryl Cole and he's like "they look so much nicer au naturel"...I have to interrupt him and politely point out that their 'au naturel' look is all skillfully applied makeup!ha ha.  Boys...

Right, that's me off for now...time to plan my outfits for the weekend! Yahooooooo!

Ramble

Yes it's another ramble from yours truly...I have lots of random thoughts so often it's just good to have a ramble post and get them all out at once!

1) First of, I just want to draw your attention to a blog which I have really been enjoying.  This girl is laugh-your-ass-off funny, I love her stories, her posts about her life and I am convinced that we were friends in a former life (we even agreed to Blogger-stalk eachother!).  Check out her blog But Enough About You.  She is so lovely, you can't help but warm to her!

2) I was reading a section on MSN yesterday that really made me laugh, it was called Top Ten Lies Women Tell Men.  They included:

• "It wasn't that expensive"
• "Nothing's wrong, I'm fine"
• "I don't know where it is, I haven't touched it"
• "It was on sale"
• "Oh, I've had this for ages"
• "I didn't have that much to drink"

I have definitely uttered these words MANY times to Chris in the past!  God knows how many times I have thrown shopping bags into the wardrobe when he gets home...although I'm never sure why because I always buy clothes with my own money.  I guess I just don't want to justify why I bought yet another pair of shoes when I have 5 unworn pairs in my wardrobe! And I think we have all told a guy nothing is wrong when there is quite obviously something wrong.  We always want them to figure it out for themselves though!ha ha.

3) I remember when I first started watching Kandee The Makeup Artist and I didn't know that much about who she was and her history.  Then I watched this video and it actually brought me to tears! If you havent already watched this and you like Kandee, then give this a watch.  I know that some people may find her cheesy or too sugary but I really do think she is a lovely person.  God knows how she ended up so positive and happy after everything she has been through...


4) I have just been reading up on what vaccinations I need to get before going on honeymoon to Malaysia and it's SCARY.  Apparently I will have to get injections for Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Japanese encephalitis, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Measles/Mumps/Rubella.  I'm not terrified of needles but that's a heck-of-a-lotta injections!

5) Me and Chris were talking about inspirational/poignant songs the other day and whenever I get onto that subject, I always think of The Verve 'Bittersweet Symphony' because I heard it one day when I was alot younger and in a very bad relationship.  I was in so deep that I felt hopeless.  I won't go into it too much as it's hard to talk about but when I heard this song one day, I had an epiphany and I suddenly decided to do everything I could to save myself.  I really do believe that music can be a powerful thing.  What songs do you find inspirational?

6) Blog Sale and Ebay items - My blogs sale is still on so please let me know if there's anything you want...I will close it on Thursday at 12pm.  The Ebay items I mentioned in my last post are closing at around 3pm today.

7) I'm really getting into this Green Tea thing, although I prefer the one with Lemon.  I have been drinking two cups a day for a few days now and I feel brilliant! My skin looks so radiant and I'm guessing that's because of the Green Tea's super anti-oxidants! I like to add a little bit of honey to mine just to make it a little easier to drink.  Even Chris has started drinking it too!

Our sunny weekend, some reviews and raves

Hello my lovelies! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend, the weather was amazing (we had it sunny and 25oC!) so me and Chris decided to go on a little road trip to enjoy the weather on Findhorn beach and walking around the grounds of Fyvie castle! We had a really lovely, romantic day together and I have some pics of what we got up to (nothing dirty though!you lot...you have to bring everything into the gutter...)

And now on to the reviews which are for Givenchy Photo Perfexion Foundation, Givenchy Phenomen'eyes Mascara and Givenchy Rouge Interdit Shine Lipstick in Sweet Shine (no.1).  First up is the foundation...

I hadn't heard much about this foundation on other blogs but the name always enticed me...anything that boasts 'perfecting', 'flawless' or 'radiance enhancing' properties always catches my attention.  This foundation is designed to provide 100% natural flawless fluid coverage with SPF20.  It is apparently inspired by digital imaging and is supposed to correct, conceal and smooth your skin.  The foundation description mentions 'a flowing, lighter than air texture' to create a 'healthy glow'.  I'm all for natural looking foundations that actually do the job in the coverage stakes! I would describe this foundation as medium coverage, akin to the likes of Nars Sheer Glow or YSL Teint Resist.  It evens out the skintone nicely without looking heavy or cakey.  The consistency of the foundation is very fluid and light and it doesn't takes alot of effort to blend it into the skin (I just used my fingers).  I liked the fragrance to the foundation and the packaging feels expensive (loving the holographic logo on the top of the lid!).  The foundation has a pump dispenser which reduces mess and wastage - always a bonus.  This foundation does contain SPF20 and as we all know, the higher the SPF, the more chance of a white cast effect on the face with flash photography.  The pic I took above was in daylight.  Because of this, I probably wouldn't wear this foundation if I was expecting alot of flash photography i.e. a wedding or special occasion.  Overall though, I really like the effect the foundation gives on my skin, it's a great everyday product that gives the skin a natural texture and look without skimping on the coverage power.  I found that the foundation lasted a good 8 or 9 hours without having to retouch at all. 

Next up is a product which I have definitely been dubious about for a long time.  The Givenchy Phenomen'eyes Mascara.  It's the spherical shaped wand that always made me think...how can that work effectively???On first impressions, the tube is alot smaller than your usual mascara, obviously to accomodate the wand.  I really like the chic packaging with embossed silver lid.  The wand is, well I won't beat around the bush, but it's weird when you first see it.  You have to pull quite hard to remove the wand from the tube.  The ball-shaped wand is made of flexible elastomer and it takes some getting used to! It definitely takes a few goes to master the technique of applying this mascara but once you do, you get a really nice result.  The ball really lengthens your lashes although you won't get alot of volume from this mascara.  I do, however, like to use one coat of this mascara for it's lengthening properties, whilst using a volumising mascara like Rouge Bunny Rouge's Amplitude to create the perfect lashes.  I often combine mascaras to create the look I want.  To conclude, this mascara is certainly not the best I own - that would definitely be my YSL Singulier Mascara - but Phenomen'eyes does what it says on the tin.  If you're after a great lengthing mascara, then this is a great option.  I personally need something that provides more volume as I have fine blonde lashes that needs a huge amount of ooomph. 

Last on the review list is Givenchy's Rouge Interdit Shine Lipstick in Sweet Shine which is a really pretty pink based nude shade.  First off, I absolutely looove the packaging, it's so innovative and just plain gorgeous.  I love pulling this lippy out of my bag and waving it around for people to see.ha ha.  It looks so luxurious and what girl doesn't love luxury??? This lipstick is designed to be an ultra shiny, iridescent lip product and that it is.  It's very comparable to YSL Rouge Pur Shine lipsticks in that it's a sheer wash of colour so don't expect crazy colour.  I personally prefer lipsticks like this for summer because it's a lighter ans fresher way to wear colour.  I don't want really pigmented colour on my lips in summer because that often screams that you're trying to hard.  The formula of this lipstick is very smooth, creamy and soft.  Obviously, being a sheer lip colour, it won't have amazing lasting power but to be honest, that's a pitfall of sheer lipsticks.  Personally, it doesn't bother me because I love the effect they give.  This lipstick is a perfect example of a product that creates that "my lips but better' effect.  The lipstick itself smells really nice, apparently the scent is a blend of floral and exotic notes like Rose, Jasmine and Ylang-Ylang.  It almost smells relaxing, if that makes sense??? Anyhoo, I really like this lipstick and it will be used non-stop this summer because I love me some shiny, sheer lipstick! 

I wanted to do a little section on two skincare products that have really stood out for me in the past few weeks.  One of which is YSL's Natural Action Exfoliator that is designed to be used after cleansing.  It's completely free of abrasive particles, instead using natural exfoliants like bark extract of Enantia Chlorantha, fruit sugars and ultra fine oils break down dead skin cells.  I would normally prefer skin scrubs like St Ives Apricot scrub to really give my skin a good exfoliation, but sometimes these kinds of products can be too harsh on sensitive skin and also if you have been in the sun.  This product is so much more gentle but you can really feel the difference after you have used it.  The honey-coloured gel is applied to dry skin and worked into the skin in circular motions until the gel becomes liquified, you then apply a small amount of water to turn it into an emulsion then wash off with tepid water.  My skin feels so gorgeously soft after using this product and it definitely looks more radiant.  This is a brilliant product to use if you have sensitive skin! It exfoliates whilst maintaining the natural moisture of your skin, so it never feel 'stripped' or tight.  Another skincare product I'm loving is the Avene Anti-Redness Rich Moisturising Cream.  I only use this moisturiser at night because it's a little too rich to use underneath foundation (although it does contain SPF10).  I suffer from redness in my cheeks and also around my nose, hence why I always need medium coverage foundation! This moisturiser definitely calms the redness I have and it's brilliant at smoothing any dry patches.  My skin is in fantastic condition at the moment and I think that is partly due to this product.  This product has a green tinit to it, I assume to conteract the redness.  It's rich enough to really feed your skin without blocking your pores.  Love it!

Just how cute is this Mister Mascara Travel makeup bag and Tweezers???I love the design! By far my favourite thing is the tweezers though with the little 'Mini Mai', a japanese beauty expert.  The tweezers have an ingenious suction cup that comes with them so you can stick that on your bathroom mirror! I'm always losing my tweezers so I thought this was a great idea! How cool!  I love the little lady at the head of the tweezers, they're just really kitsch and different.

The last thing I wanted to share with you guys is Jennifer Hudson's weightloss. Now, for us UK ladies, I don't really think we have seen many pics of Jennifer in magazines for quite a while, probably due to her toning down tv appearances etc because of her pregnancy. So last time I saw a pic of Jennifer Hudson, she looked like this.....

I just saw a picture of her recently and she has gone from a size 20 to a size 10! That's an amazing effort and I'm so glad to see that she hasn't lost her luscious curves (I don't like it when girls starve themselves down to nothing).  She still looks healthy which the most important thing.  I always thought she was beautiful when she was bigger and she is as beautiful now she is slimmer...check out those legs! Yowza!

What did you guys do at the weekend? Have you tried any of these Givenchy products? Any skincare products you want to recommend?