Have yourself a "me" day (morning)!!

After a weekend of fun at my cousins beautiful weeding in Doonbeg, I woke up this morning feeling tired and not so refreshed lol! With the house to myself and the day off work, I decided to have a "me" day! :-)

I started off my day by having a healthy, refreshing breakfast- a banana, orange and a nice glass of cool water. Healthy food makes me feel good and I always feel I can tackle the day better after eating healthily.

I'm the type of person that if I have few things to do, I get easily over-whelmed and bogged down. "To -do" lists calm me down-alot lol! I do have anxiety some days and feel that my mind is going to explode with worries/stress/thoughts/.....so I feel if I write down in black and white exactly what needs to be done and what worries I have, then I can take a deep breath and realise I'll be ok!

I am a candle/lantern junkie-LOVE them-essential for a "me" day!! Today I decided to burn my ESPA energising oil. It has lemongrass , peppermint and eucalyptus and it smells delicious! So uplifting and refreshing, it really is energising, I have things to do today so I didnt want to be dragging my feet behind me, otherwise for relaxation I love lavender,rose, ylang ylang and....well the list goes on and on!! ! The power of smell really is amazing....get yourself a nice candle/burning oil...makes a huge difference to the ambience of your home and state of mind!

After completing my lists I had a refreshing shower using my body brush and soap and glory body lotion. I use the body brush on dry skin before I have a shower. I feel I get a better exfoliation this way. This may sound weird, but some mornings my legs are a bit restless....I'm probably doing a jig in my sleep or something but whenever I use a body brush, it seems to go away!

I felt that my skin needed some TLC today so I decided to use a a masque :-) One of my favourite!!
Image have an amaaaaazing masque that not only exfoliates the skin but adds hydration back into the skin and  a beautiful glow. I will be doing a post soon that goes into more detail about my favourite masques! I also used Lush lip scrub in bubblegum to exfoliate my lips....I licked half of it off to be honest, its yum!!!

 With my Pukka relaxing tea in hand, I went out to the garden, sat down and took a nice deeeeeep breath. Then my cat needed to be fed lol!!!!

Now I am ready for the day.....:)

NYX cosmetics Haul

NYX....IS....IN...CORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I'm not going to lie, I did scream with excitement when I heard NYX cosmetics was available in Sam Macauleys in Blackpool shopping centre Cork! I have been lusting over NYX for years..I think this was due to the mountain of youtube NYX hauls I used to watch lol!

I decided to get a few lip products and while i was there I picked up a brow pencil. In my excitement I threw out my receipt but all the products were very affordable. NYX is somewhere between Rimmel and Inglot...price wise!

I like to spend my money on face products so foundations, blushers, bronzers, powders etc but when it comes to lipsticks, lipgloss and lip liners, If I can find a cheaper alternative to MAC then I'm happy.

I got 3 lip liners, 1 eyebrow pencil, 2 lip butters and 2 matte lip sticks...:)

Just a warning...this blog post is picture heavy...!! :)


The 2 matte lipsticks I got were tea rose which is a pretty pink and merlot which is a berry red..!

Merlot

The 3 lipliners are Carbaret which matches Merlot perfectly, Rose and Pale pink which both can be worn with tea rose! I always feel when I wear a lip liner all over the lip, my lipstick and gloss last so much longer!

Merlot and Carabet lip liner below! 

Pale pink lip liner above, tea rose lipstick in the middle and Rose below !

onto the lip butterss....one work...YUMMY! these lipglosses are unreal, taste savage and stay on the lips for hours! They also smell really vanilla-y which is a plus, and their creamy texture is very moisturising for dry lips...I am a lipgloss junkie and i LOOOOVE these lip butters! I want to go back and ger them in all colours!! hehe! The two colours I got are Vanilla Cream Pie and eclaire!

Eclaire

Vanilla Cream Pie 

The eyebrow pencil below is in the shade Dark Brown. I was impressed with the selection of brow shades NYX has to offer....certainly a shade for everyone! I usually use Browzing by Benefit but sometimes I want a more defined brow so decided to give this pencil a go....Its very precise and super easy to use...highly recommend it! 

Skin Rejuvenation: 2 weeks post treatment

Hello all,

Decided to do a quick update on my skin. It's been exactly 2 weeks since my visit to Cork Laser Care for skin rejuvenation and I am delighted with the results so far. As a lover of make-up, I do find it hard to go a day with wearing it but nowadays I feel confident enough to pass on it. Geri did explain a few things that I would notice in the weeks after my treatment and she was spot on! My pores are undoubtedly smaller, my oily t-zone seems to be more balanced and as a result when I do wear make up, it lasts longer. Geri also explained that my areas of pigmentation may get a small bit darker and may peel....I have noticed that my pigmentation is darker and have experienced slight peeling.  The below pictures  are of myself prior to my treatment....

I took the below pictures of my skin today in natural daylight without make up........

I know it's only been 2 weeks but to get these results just after 1 treatment is pretty good! :) I am definitely going to get a full course of this treatment, worth every penny! My 2nd treatment treatment is in 2 weeks time and i am excited already lol! I'll keep doing updates like this one throughout my treatments, i feel its important to share my honest opinions and pictures for you guys to see! 

Like always, email me if ye have any questions... porcelain.lady@yahoo.com

Skin Science: Forever Living and the wonder of Aloe Vera

As a health conscious person ( well most of time ) I think it is so important to know what we put in out bodies, this includes ingredients we use on our skin! I love reading and learning about ingredients- its uses, effects on the skin, effects on the body and so on. I most certainly think there is a link between what we eat and our skins health- I guess my Nutrition Degree did spur on this interest but there are so many scientific evidence out there proving this so! 

I recently got  a few Forever Living products to try out....but before I did try them, I wanted to know what was in them first. While researching this company, I was delighted to learn that they also stand by the belief that what we fuel our bodies with has an effect on our skin, Forever living are the largest growers and producers of Aloe Vera in the world! IN. THE. WORLD!!  This got me excited...aloe vera is a power ingredient with an array of health benefits! This phrase comes to mind when I think of aloe vera  "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food"- Hippocrates. 

Before I review a few of the Forever Living products, I want to explain just how naturally nutritious Aloe Vera is- for our bodies and skin! 

Why Aloe Vera?!

Aloe Vera is a plant, which has many names "silent healer", "First aid plant" and "Medicine Plant". I remember as a child, my mum had ( and still does ) an aloe vera plant in the house, anytime we had sunburn or an insect bite, she would break off of the leaves, cut it open and rub the aloe vera on us! To understand how aloe vera works, its important to learn about the plants chemistry- here's the sciency part....yey!

Even though the plant is 99% water, the 1% of Aloe Vera actually contains over 75 ingredients! These ingredients include vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It is the balance of these ingredients that results in its beneficial effects, this balance of ingredients have literally taken thousands of years to perfect- the evolution of the aloe vera plant has now resulted in the perfect concoction of vitamins and minerals!

Benefits of Aloe Vera:

Due to the huge variety of vitamins and minerals in Aloe Vera, it has so many benefits! In my true, "where is  the evidence" attitude, I read Peter Athertons book: "Aloe Vera: The Medicine Plant" to find my answer! 

Aloe Vera is  part of the subspecies the aloinae of which there are over 200 types- 15 of which are poisonous! There are 5 varieties which possess medicinal benefits.Through research, the plant is best after maturing for 4 to 5 years.  Aloe Vera is a potent anti septic and has the ability to kill off bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeats.It also reduces inflammation and can deeply cleanse the skin due to the presence of lignin. Vitamins A, E and C help slow down the ageing process and deeply nourishes the skin cells. The  healing powers of Aloe Vera are very powerful, Clinical trials have proven the it can dramatically improve sun burn, psoriasis, eczema and allergic reactions on the skin. I always knew the benefits of aloe vera but reading the scientific research and clinical trials really has compelled me to include this in both my skin care and diet! 

Why Forever Living?! 

Forever Living has been trading for 35 years and are available in over 150 countries! The thing I love the most about this company is that they cannot be bought in a shop...only through their distributors. They pour their money and time into growing the best Aloe Vera plants and making sure that their ingredients are the finest and purest. I am actually considering getting the Aloe Vera gel drink and giving it a go!! I would love to see if consuming aloe vera is as good as directly using it on the skin..Has anyone tried it before? Let me know how you got on!! 

Having read about the company and researched about Aloe Vera, I was so excited to try out a few of their products! :) They have 2 skin ranges: Aloe Fleur de Jouvence which is for younger skin and is suitable for sensitive skin also and The Sonya range which is for mature skin. Each skin range has a cleanser, toner, day creme, night creme and mask! These can be bought separately!  Couldn't wait to get stuck in and try them out!! 

On to the Review! :-)

 I have been using the cleanser and mask  for the past few weeks and to be honest I couldn't wait to write about them! :) 

Aloe Cleanser: 

This is probably the most refreshing cleanser I have ever used. The smell is gorgeous!! The creamy texture lathers very easily and removed the majority of my make up with just one go..I had to go back in a 2nd time just to get mascara off! After removing the cleanser, my skin feels squeaking clean and actually glowing. This is suitable for anyone who has sensitive skin as all the ingredients are hypo-allergenic.  The lignins in the cleanser  have the ability to penetrate to the deeper levels of the skin which ensures delivery of all the beneficial ingredients. 

Aloe Activator and Mask Powder:

I have never tried a mask like this before so was excited to see how well it worked for my skin. The mask comes in two parts: a pot of powder and an aloe activator. A mixing bowl is provided along with a mixing spoon. Just one spoon of powder is needed, you add the aloe activator until the consistency is like a lotion. I have been using this mask 3 times a week for the past few weeks and I can't believe the results! Coming for a girl who looooves cosmeceuticals and still does, this mask is phenomenal! The mask does get quite tight on the skin, something I actually love but it is easily removed and leaves the skin with an instant glow. The mask has kaolin in it which is a clay based ingredient that absorbs excess oil and helps to draw out congestion. 

I am looking forward to reviewing the Firming day lotion and The recovering night creme in a future post. I love mixing up my skin care routine and always feel my skin looks its best when I vary my skin care products! 

Hope ye enjoyed the post and like always email porcelain.lady@yahoo.com if ye have any questions! 

If anyone if interested in purchasing, please click the link http://www.cogan.myforever.biz/..

Happy Shopping guys! :)

Review of my Spa Day at the Kingsley

There has been an infectious buzz around Cork since the re-opening of The Kingsley Hotel & Spa and I wanted in on it! I was delighted when the spa were offering "Bring a friend for free"! I love spa days and think it is so important to treat yourself every now and then...why not! It was my  friend Danielles birthday so we decided to go all out and book ourselves in for a day in the spa! Both of us booked in for the Relax Stone Therapy for 90 minutes-usually €120 per person. We were told to come at least an hour beforehand to use the spa facilities.....I could not wait!!

  

After being greeted by a super friendly receptionist, we were shown through to the dressing rooms where we got changed into lovely fluffy spa dressing gowns and slippers :) The reception area is very welcoming and zen, we felt relaxed already!

The spa facilities are fabulous...with an array of saunas and steam rooms! We spent and hour enjoying the laconium, turkish bath and heated loungers- to name but a few! Initially , I was a small but disappointed that there wasn't a spa pool with massage jets but the jacuzzi and range of heated rooms made up for it! We were glad that we decided to come in an hour before our treatment to use the facilities, it really eases you into relaxation mode and certainly adds to the whole spa day! The heated loungers were my favorite- I could have spent hours relaxing on them!

The hour flew by and before we knew it we were called for our treatments! My therapist, Amy, brought me up to the treatment area and showed me through to the treatment room. I asked her to concentrate on my shoulders as i feel like I'm always tense there! I've had hot stone massages before and being a therapist myself, I am very critical when it comes to the quality of the treatment, but I must say, this hot stone massage was one of the best I have ever experienced. Amy has such a relaxing yet professional vibe about her, and was so attentive, she ensured that I was comfortable with the pressure of the massage throughout the treatment.  This 90-minute massage was exactly what I needed-I felt totally relaxed afterwards and my shoulders felt a million times looser! The eucalyptus oil that Amy used during my treatment was gorgeous- I didn't want it to end lol! After my treatment, Amy brought me to the relaxation area and gave me refreshments to enjoy! The relaxation area is actually in the middle of the treatment area- an unusual placement but It totally works! The dim lighting and comfy beds made it feel so cozy!

Both myself and Danielle thoroughly enjoyed our day at the Kingsley Spa! We are already planning our return! lol! Check out their website for special offers....http://www.thekingsley.ie/