Clarins Splendours Body Oil & Pixy Glowing Body Butter Review

As you can tell by my previous post, I have a bit of a fake tan at the moment...
... thought I would point that out,  JUST IN CASE YOU COULDN'T TELL! Haha.
With my lovely tan and the sun in the sky, I am getting excited about the summer, what says 'Summer Time' more than sun kissed legs?

I have fallen head over heels for Clarins Splendours Shimmer Body Oil AND Pixy Glowing Body Butter.
It is exceptionally uncommon for me to fall in love with two similar products, but...
I have!
Both smell fantastic and both give brilliant results.

Lets start with the price friendly and incredibly scented Glowing Body Butter by Pixy.

It is a rich buttery texture on your skin and blends in to leave your skin dazzling and well nourished.
In my opinion this is on of the best glowing body butters I have ever tried. I cant speak highly enough of this product.
The tiniest amount suffices which means you are sure to get bang for your buck!
12.99 to be precise!

Clarins Splendours body oil is by no means cheap, it is 37 Euro, but it is a product that will last you a long time.
Application is a little messy but OH so worth it.

The smell, in a word, delicious -anything with Ylang Ylang has me at hello- there’s also hints of mandarin, grapefruit and Tonka bean.
The hazelnut oil softens your skin and leaves it silky smooth.
looks a little glittery but it blends in nicely to leave you with a subtle shimmer.

In the shot below you can see how similar the results are on my legs side by side.
On the Right Pixy on the left Clarins.

Both products have similar results and I love them both for individual reasons:
Clarins for the extra bit of sparkle and Pixy for the smell and texture.

Pixy is available to buy online at Pixy.ie and select pharmacies
Clarins available from Brown Thomas and online

*Products were sent to me to trial by the respective companies

Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter - 1 Hour Tan and Night and Day Tan Review

I am queen of the snow white legs.
Red lips, dark hair, pale skin- It is my trade mark and I love it.
I am always exceptionally shy when it comes to dramatic changes, hence my absolute and dedicated avoidance when it comes to fake tan.
However, there is no avoiding the sensation that is Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter – 1 Hour Tan. I have been lucky enough to meet the wonderful Marissa Carter - As seen on Xpose 'Ask the Expert'- on a number of occasions.
I promised her I would give her tan a whirl and give her my HONEST opinion so this is my review.

I applied a generous dollop to my Cocoa Brown tanning mitt, as you can see.
This mousse has a unique and groundbreaking formulation.
It combines accelerating agents which are activated upon contact with skin and speed up the absorption and development of the tan. I wasn’t so sure if I would see instantaneous results.

My legs began to glow the second I applied it.
After just one hour, Cocoa Brown can be rinsed off and the tan will continue to develop for up to three hours.
I found it so easy to apply. I was very; very worried I would do a bad job and have awful looking legs.

Next up, the revolutionary Night and Day Tan Mousse.
This stuff scared the life out of me and I almost didn’t put it on, it just looked TOO dark. Marissa DID warn me, but I was exceptionally worried. I bit the bullet and it GLIDED on, it was absolutely wonderful as I was worried it would dry too fast or go patchy. There is absolutely NO chance of that happening; you would have to go out of your way to apply this awfully.

Night and day needs no developing time, you can wear it out almost instantly after applying it. Marissa knows that girls LOVE to look super tanned on nights out so this is the PERFECT product. Bronze goddess at night, glamorously glowing after your shower the next morning
I absolutely LOVED the colour, very dark but really, really glamorous.
My love for this tan caught me off guard.
I felt like Sophia Loren.

To show you what Night and Day glow looks like, I took a shower.
Queue shower picture!

Washing off Night and Day left me with a leg close in colour to The Original Cocoa Brown One Hour Tan.
Both totally gorgeous.

Both tans cost 7.99, a brilliant price for such amazing products.
Now, I promised Sarah Cocoa Brown Legs in Louboutin's.
Cocoa Brown only deserves the best!

Cocoa Brown Tan is available from most good pharmacies nationwide.
You can also pick it up in Penneys AND Primark in the United Kingdom!
Get your Glow on Girls!

Clarins Splendours Summer Collection 2013

Today the weather has been pernickety to say the least.
To brighten up my day in-between the rain showers, I decided to adorn my eyes with  bronze, gold and browns.

Since this collection was sent to me by Clarins a few weeks ago, It has been the only palette I turn to.
 I even use it to define my brows!
 All I need in one exquisite package-
‘Splendours’ by Clarins.

Let’s take a moment to REALLY appreciate the artistry and Mayan  inspiration of this product.

Isn't it beautiful?
I was blown away when I first opened it and it has yet to stop catching my eye.
The packaging alone makes this product instantly luxurious and even holding it feels beautifully indulgent.
But a pretty package is no good unless the contents match up...

...the quality of the eye shadows shocked me.
I have only ever used Clarins skin care before so I was delighted to learn that the eye shadows are a  PLEASURE to work with.
There is hardly any fall out and the shadows are beautifully pigmented.
They apply like butter, which is a good thing!
A little goes a long way - that always pleases me.The look I created was done in minuets thanks to the easy and blendable shadows.
I particularly LOVE the rose gold shade.
 The colour pay off is fantastic and the shimmer is subtle and understated, another big relief for me as I am not crazy about mega shimmery eyes.

It is a very versatile palette. Suitable for day and night
You can go from subtle to smoulder simply by adding a little more black.

I used the black liner to define my sockets and left my eyes devoid of actual liner, as you can see there is no obvious ‘black’ that is how fabulously the product blends.

I am not someone who is uber impressed by swatches, I like to see products in action.
To me seeing how well products fair when worn is the real test.
I am not a make-up artist -and my work probably reflects that- but this palette makes creating a semi impressive eye simple.

On my lips, to add further drama to the look, I applied Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Gel.

You know that BEAUTIFUL room consuming smell that happens when you add hot water to melt jelly?
that sweet and intoxicating smell?
Well thanks to Clarins, that lovely smell follows me around all day on my lips.
It is  DELICIOUS.
It really seems to add plumpness to my lips and a beautiful, alluring flush of red.

As for the delicious Shimmer Body Oil, I will be showing you it in all its glory in a post coming soon.
I didn’t think I would adore golden skin as much as I do!

Price List:
Splendours Colour Quartet €39.00
Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Gels €20.00.
Shimmer Body Oil €37.00.
I am extremely impressed with everything Clarins has to offer.
I only write about products I really love. I have always held Clarins in high esteem, yet for some reason I never thought of makeup, always skin care.
Thanks to blogging I have been introduced to their fabulous make up range!
What do you think? Are you a Clarins make up Convert too?

DUBLIN MEET UP, June 1st



The Diet Coke Hunk *MAY come to hang out on the day.

Blogging has seen me through some pretty amazing times and given me incredible opportunities.
I have benefited hugely from the strong sense of community the Irish blogging scene has to offer.  
Through the privilege of writing about what I love, I have made some firm friends.
After a particularly challenging March, I tweeted the notion of organising a meet up.
There has been a great response with over 30 RSVPs and a hand full of maybes.
I love tweeting and talking to readers, fellow bloggers and general glamour enthusiasts.
I would like to formally extend an invitation to anyone who would like to join usPLEASE NOTE;
YOU DO NOT  HAVE TO BE A BLOGGER  If you are interested, leave a comment stating your name and interest so I can add you to the list.
So without further ado, here’s the details

WHEN
First of June, I will be available to meet and help people find the Cafe from Noon.
OFFICIAL meet up time 1pm

WHY THE HARD ROCK?
The Hard Rock is a personal favourite.
It is also extremely central.
I want this meet up to be relaxed, conversational and fun.
No intimidation!
No formalities!
Selected cocktails are five euro and food wise there’s plenty of choice and sharing options.

DISCLAIMER
If you are a young looking 18 or over and intend on availing of the cocktails please DO bring ID to avoid disappointment.
If you are under 18, you are more than welcome to join us but you must stick to soft drinks.

TWITTER CHAT

When tweeting about the meet up be sure to use the hashtag #Whatbloggersdidnext
It is a fun way for people to stay updated about who’s attending and what’s happening ON the day.
I have a treat or two in store for you, so be good and get tweeting!

If you wish to contact me privately feel free to email, message or tweet me.

katiecharlotteh@hotmail.com
Facebook.com/whatkatiehealydid
@whatkhdid

*Yeah, the Diet Coke dude wont be coming...
Sorry abou that

Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up Remover Review

A few weeks ago the lovely people at Clarins sent me out their new Instant eye Make-Up remover to try out.  I
read the press release and I have to admit I was a little bit sceptical “as gentle as it is speedy” I really didn’t think something that could remove heavy make up in seconds really COULD be gentle.
In the past I have bought eye make-up removers that promised similar results, all I ended up with was black smeared all over my face.
Delving back in to the press release I read that this product has a Ph balance equivalent to that of human tears, I was instantly sold.
Mainly because if I ever get famous, I can claim to remove my make up with tears.  Lady Gaga has lobsters on her head; I remove my liner with sorrow.

I have essence water proof eyeliner that is so hard to remove.
I figured it would be a good product to trial the Clarins Instant Eye Make-Up remover with.

Water proof liquid eye liner wouldn’t be enough; I would need some kohl liner. And eye shadow. And a sixth coat of Mascara. By the time I had finished applying my make up my eye felt POSITIVELY weighed down.

I shook my Instant Eye Make-Up Remover and applied a reasonable amount to some cotton wool.
At this point I was somewhat panicking as it was 5.30 and I had to take my dog to the Vets at six, there was NO room for error.

I pressed the cotton pad to my eye  and let it linger there for a second.

I gently, although this picture looks anything but, rubbed the pad and took a look at the damage.
Usually I would go about this left to right but I was disorientated with the time and a rather heavy camera in my other hand taking a picture.

Most of the makeup was removed in SECONDS.
Actual seconds.
I didn’t use my eyeliner sparingly and that stuff was practically GONE in one foul swoop.

To tidy up the rest of the mess I folded over my cotton wool and used the eye make-up remover that had seeped through to the other side.

As you can see, my eye was devoid of any trace of makeup.
Clarins, you actual geniuses.

ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
This eye make-up remover is alcohol free, that’s the first thing you skin will thank you for.
My eyes are easily irritated and this product caused me absolutely no discomfort what so ever.
This is a bi-phase lotion meaning it easily removed all traces of make up.
The pure, non emulsifying oil easily breaks down pigments and waterproof products while the water phase removes soluble elements and apparently impurities related to pollution!
Impressive.
The Volatile oils melt away your eye makeup while the organic camomile extract organic Rose Floral water soothe, soften and moisturise.
It also smells really clean and lovely.
For a 25ml bottle it will cost you 22.50 which may seem steep but considering how little of the product you will need to actually use? It’s a bargain.

I am really impressed and glad that now I can use my eyeliner without a second thought.
Very happy results.

A BB that Katie can wear? It must be Vichy Idealia!

I am not one to rant and rave about a product at the drop of a hat, In fact I never write about skin products I have not used for at least a month. Well this is something special; I am breaking my cardinal rule of blogging. I have VERY quickly fallen in the LOVE with Vichy Idealia BB cream in light. This product arrived in my post-box THIS AFTERNOON (Yes that is correct, my postman IS rather tardy isn’t he?)
I have never in my whole life been able to wear, or even get away with wearing a BB cream.
I coined the phrase ‘chestnut face’ because that is the result of most ‘light’ BB creams I have trailed.
Well I really don’t have to worry about that happening with Vichy Idealia.
This BB cream comes in two adaptable shades, light and medium.
Being totally honest, I didn’t really believe light would be light or it would adjust to suit my skin.
I dabbed a touch of it on my neck earlier on and as the day passed, it really did fade in to a shade that was EXTREMELY close to matching my skin. I was shocked, excited, and afraid to count my chickens in case I had inadvertently rubbed it off... so at seven I washed my face, whipped out the Idelia and applied it to my visage.

 
Judge the results for yourself.
Here is a shot of myself without make up. Here I will offer the obligatory sincere apologies.
(Sorry about the ridge on my nose, that is because my glasses are actually torture devices, really needs to invest in a new pair, I digress...)

 

Katie wearing Vichy Idealia
No, it is not my exact deathly Irish shade of white but it looks fabulous and I can get away with it.
My skin has been brightened, lifted and looks rather radiant.
Obviously I am only wearing Idelia in these pictures so excuse the lack of red lips and brows!

 

My skin looks amazing and it is thanks to Vichy. I have honestly never fallen for a product so fast! Also it smells fricken’ DIVINE like all the Idealia range. Yummy Yum!
Radiant skin for 23.50, not half bad!
My local pharmacy stocks Vichy so I have a feeling this is the beginning of a very long and happy romance.
THANK YOU PAULA, you absolute doll.

(Available to buy from May- BUY IT!!!)

Stay fresh with Roger and Gallet Fleur d'Osmanthus & Fleur de Figuier fragrant water

I am a Roger and Gallet fiend.
Their fragrant waters always hit the spot, never too potent and always intriguing.
I LOVE this Roger and Gallet, I would go as far as to say my whole family are enamoured with the brand, any time I am sent products for review I find a hiding spot to prevent any samples wandering off.

At the moment I am absolutely enamoured with the fragrant waters, I am really enjoying indulging in Fleur d’Osmanthus.
It is just absolutely divine, light, fresh and not overwhelmingly floral.
Every time I wear it I am complemented, which is so lovely really, it is nice to be told you smell nice isn’t it?
I am not a big perfume note identifier kind of girl, like most I form an instant connection with a scent, I either love it or hate it, I never ‘like’.
Roger and Gallet describe Fleur d’Osmanthus Fresh Fragrant Water as ‘a fruity floral white flower’ and in my opinion, that is truly how it smells. Like a little flower that’s been rained on. Fresh and delicious.

Here is the official blurb in case I am not selling this sent as eloquently as it deserves
“Characteristics: Inspired by a Chinese Garden of Eden, Fleur d'Osmanthus Fragrant Water displays a cascade of appetising floral notes, with citrus fruit and wood. This bunch of Osmanthus Flower, fresh and joyful, contain fragrance, with a heart of mandarin, grapefruit and benzoin essential oils, bestows a sense of euphoric well being on body and mind.”
I am also taking quite a trick out of the DELICIOUS Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier fragrant water which I was sent only last week.
It is zesty and fresh, Figgie and flippin’ fantastic.
Like I said I really don’t have much of a ‘note’ nose, but this scent is divine. Fig grapefruit and Orange, a scent that has me excited for summer!

Now the soap, the light of my life...

Myself and the lovely Make up Monster were chatting the other day, We are both keeping our soap for good, mine is on display in the main bathroom.
You can smell the figgy delight the moment you walk in the room and it is still in its paper. I must leave a note beside it inviting everyone to “sniff , do not open unless the queen has stopped for a visit”
Or maybe I should use it and buy another for display, this lovely soap retails at 6.75! very good value.

Roger and Gallet fragrant fresh water sprays come n 30 ml and larger bottles starting from 17 euro
 I love how dainty the purse sprays are, they sit perfectly on my dressing table among the plethora of perfumes I own

Have a read of my Rose Imaginaire review here

Have you love for Roger and Gallet?
Let me know!