Stila Mind Eyeshadow Palette - The Best Matte Neutral Palette EVER!!!!

Stila MIND eyeshadow palette - The best matte neutral palette EVER!!

So I'm no beauty blogger or MUA but every now and then I come across a product that I love so much I just have to share it with you guys!

The Stila MIND matte eyeshadow palette is the new love in my life, in the makeup sense! Besides falling in love with makeup is a much safer option than the romantic alternative. Make-up can't run away with all your money or give you a black eye, well I guess it probably can but thats a whole story for another day. I have been wearing these stunning eyeshadows everyday since I got them back in January, here's some Instagram proof!

Up until recently the only Stila products I owned were their fab lip glosses. I loved them once, but, when your hair gets to a certain length that love turns to hate very quickly because theres nothing sexy or comfortable about walking around with half of your hair stuck to your lips! Not even Kylie Jenner could pull that one off!

I love matte eyeshadows, matte lipsticks are another favorite of mine, but I've found it hard to get a palette of matte eyeshadows that suits my needs. We've all been there we buy a palette because it looks so pretty and end up using 3 of the shadows in it. Its a pure waste so I've been holding out for perfection, for the one with colours so good that I will use every single one!

This is it ladies. This is the one! It has 12 amazingly pigmented, rich, neutral fully matte colors. You have every tone of neutral you could possibly want from bright beiges and baby pinks, taupes, greys, terra-cotta, eggplant, espresso, even a matte black and every colour in between. The packaging is beautiful, in a metallic yellow gold it makes you smile everytime you pick it up. There is no space wasted in the palette for applicators and the like (who the heck uses those anyway!) which means its more sleek and compact.

It's inevitable that the Stila MIND palette is going to be compared to the Urban Decay Naked Basics palettes. So heres how it measures up in my humble opinion. It kicks their asses! Stila have hit it out the park with this golden treasure! Its better than both Naked Basic palettes combined. Each Naked Basics palette has 6 eyeshadows, Stila's MIND palette has 12. The shades in the MIND palette are also much more diverse and versatile, they would work on all skin tones and can be used for soft subtle daytime looks as well as dramatic nightime looks I mean look at those amazing orange tones!! The packaging is obviously better as well but here's where it totally kills… the price! Stila's MIND palette is only €36!! Thats a bargain in my eyes for such a beautiful quality product. When you take into account that the Urban Decay Naked palettes are €30 its pretty much a no brainer for value as well!

If you're not a matte eyeshadow freak like me Stila also have the BODY, SPIRIT and SOUL palettes which are equally stunning.

I've also pretty much fallen for their One Step Correct serum, it's super hydrating and its a great base for make-up! I'll be giving away all my secrets now!

Wondering where you can get your hands on these beautiful products in Ireland? Here's a list of nationwide stockists.

Harvey Nichols Dundrum

Sam McCauleys Carlow 

Sam McCauleys Wexford(Redmond Square) 

Sam McCauleys Tralee 

Marks & Spencer Mary St Dublin

Cara Pharmacy Sligo

Let me know if you try out the palette! I know you'll love it as much as I do!

Zee xx

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Wedding Beauty Preparation: Do’s and Don’ts

{Posting by Julia Bowden, Before the Big Day's Hair & Make-up Expert} Any wedding lead up is stressful. How's yours ticking along? So many things to remember, and I bet you have lists coming out of your ears. That's why this week I thought I'd take one task off your hands and create your very own Wedding Beauty Do's and Don'ts Check List. It's sure to keep you on the straight and narrow as you prepare to walk up the aisle.

{Photo Credit} Julia's make-up brushes!

DO
Have lots of make-up trials at beauty counters. Whether you’re doing your own wedding make-up or hiring a professional, this will freshen up your product knowledge, and help you understand what looks and feels right and wrong. Why not get a trial at MAC, Bobbi Brown, Estée Lauder, Lancôme or Laura Mercier? Often you can redeem the cost of your wedding make-over against product purchases.

DON'T

Use products on your wedding morning that you haven't practiced or trialled first. You're risking allergy, colour, and comfort issues on your wedding day.

DO
Get a wedding make-up trial {if you’re going with a professional}, as close to your wedding day as you can. There's no point having a trial a year in advance, as the look won't be fresh in your mind. You want to be able to discuss any last minute changes with your wedding make-up artist with confidence.

DON'T

Try a crazy new make-up look for your wedding day. It's great to experiment, but make sure you feel comfortable with the look you have chosen. On their wedding day, brides should look like a more polished and shiny version of themselves, NOT like someone completely different.

DO
Experiment with professional brow shaping and lash implants two to three months before your big day. This means you'l have time for re-growth or tweaking if anything doesn't go to plan first time.

DON'T

Get a fake tan a few days before for your wedding day. As with brows and lashes – experiment a few months in advance so you know exactly how you look, with fake sun-kissed skin.

{Photo Credit} Wedding Hair & wedding make-up by Julia Bowden Weddings

DO
Leave plenty of time on your wedding morning. Your make-up artist should plan this with you, but if you're doing your own wedding make-up you can never underestimate how quickly time passes on a wedding morning. Allow 2 hours for your hair and make-up, and an hour each for mothers and bridesmaids. This way you are bound to have some contingency time. Always aim to be ready and in your dress 30 minutes before you are meant to leave for the ceremony.

DON'T

Worry if you feel caked in make-up and you're not used to it! No-one is going to be studying your face up close, it's all about the overall look – and you need those extra touches to make you stand out in photos.

DO
Think about the time of year and the setting. Summer or winter, indoor or outdoor – make-up can be tailormade to suit. For example, a candlelit wedding would suit a more dramatic sparkling look, whereas bright summer sunshine requires softer wedding make-up.

DON’T
Squeeze any spots, or go for facials a few days before the wedding. Your wedding make-up artist will be very experienced in covering blemishes, so leave it to the expert. Facials are great but can drag out the impurities, so you may end up making your skin temporarily worse.

DO
Create your very own bridal beauty scrap book. Once you start it'll become addictive, and you’ll soon learn exactly the kind of wedding make-up and wedding hair you like. This will also helpyour wedding make-up artists at the trial stages. Take a look at Pinterest – it's an online scrapbook with thousands of wedding ideas.

{Photo Credit} Funky Photographers

DO
Get a touch up kit for the day - foundation, cover up, powder, anti-shine, mascara, liner, lips and blush – they're an absolute must…just get your bridesmaid to carry it for you on your wedding day!

DO
Analyse your skin a few months before your wedding day so you have time to address any issues you may have. There are plenty of solutions out there, from a brilliant moisturiser to a quick trip to the doctor – whatever it is, get it sorted and under control in advance!

DO
Get a reputable professional on board to do your make-up if you want a wedding make-up artist on the day. Love Hair is a fantastic agency providing an excellent wedding service for bridal hair and make-up. Make sure you take lots of pictures once you are happy with the end result, and ask your stylist for a list of products they used so you can pick them up for your touch up kit. You may end up with me on the day, as I'm one of their wedding make-up artists. Alternatively, you can book me direct - do get in touch.

Good luck! JB x

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Introducing Get Your Bride Body for Your Wedding Look

Nearly every bride I know has wanted to tone up in time for her wedding day, and I was no different. Thanks to a few changes to my diet, and a couple of exercise classes a week, I dropped a dress size, and toned up my arms, bottom and thighs. When it came to my wedding day, I was so glad I made the effort. I felt fabulous in my wedding dress, and super-confident as I walked up the aisle. I can imagine there's nothing worse than standing at the altar, and having the 'does my bum look big in this' thought pass through your mind. That's why I'm thrilled to introduce Get Your Bride Body. This fantastic programme invites to you take a 100 Day Challenge to get you looking your best for your wedding, by guiding you through a comprehensive weight loss and fitness programme.

With weekly meal plans {including shopping lists}, an exercise programme tailored to your fitness level, motivational videos and exercise demonstration videos, Get Your Bride Body have taken care of everything. And should your willpower start to slip, you can rely on Bride Body's team of Experts, and their Little Black Book of Weight Loss Secrets, to get you back on track. Just take a look at their real life success stories for inspiration, and read the Get Your Bride Body blog for extra tips. Now all you need is new kit! P.S. Your future husband will love it too!

{Photo Credit} Trembley Photography, more from this wedding on Rustic Wedding Chic

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My Top 4 Valentine's Day Beauty Buys

{Posting by Julia Bowden, Before the Big Day's Hair & Make-up Expert} You've made it through January detox, given up booze, done the 5:2 diet, and now it's time to eat chocolate, drink red, get romantic and treat yourself! Maybe he'll pop the question tonight - you never know!? So what better time to pull out all the stops and slap on some bright show stopping lip colour. All the catwalk trends for 2014 are swaying towards kaleidoscopic bright lips - a great look for a vintage-style wedding. My advice? Go easy on the eyes when wearing bright lips, and complete your look with a swish of black liquid liner and mascara at the most. Check out my fab 4 faves...

{I want this} Clockwise from Top Left

1. Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square, £17.50

2. Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Riviera, £23

3.  MAC in Russian Red, £15

4. By Poppy Lipstick in Hot Rose, £20

Enjoy and Happy Valentines Day! xJB

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The Quickest Way to Pretty Quirky Wedding Nails

Regular readers of this blog will know that no wedding detail is too small! While the uninitiated may think it's enough to choose the perfect wedding flowers, favours, dress and stationery, I'm getting excited about the tiny things, like how to have the best-dressed cutlery, shoe stickers {yes really}, and now.....pretty wedding nails. In some ways, how your hands look is going to be of primary importance. You're going to be given an exciting new ring, you're already wearing a gorgeous engagement ring, you're holding a bouquet, and sooner or later, someone is certain to take a picture of your hands - probably your wedding photographer. So give that man or woman something to admire....just think how many ordinary French manicures they've pictures already....and add these cute nail decals by Stick It Vinyl. My favourites are the dandelions - there's something about making a wish on your wedding day that suits my whimsical nature.

{I want these!} All nail stickers / decals by Stick It Vinyl, from £1.25 per nail

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GIVEAWAY!!

Celebrate good times, come on!

Sometime in the wee hours of the morning my little blogs fan page on Facebook reached over 200 followers! I am positively super excited! The decline in usage of Facebook has been well documented over the past month or two and as a result of this decline progress has been quite slow on this particular social media platform for ZeeRailed in comparison with the new giants such as Twitter and Instagram.

I promised all my lovely followers that when i did reach 200 likes that I would do a special giveaway as both a thank you for all the support and for taking the time to read my ramblings here on the blog and as a celebration for reaching this itty bitty milestone! And here it is... I've put together a hamper of some great beauty goodies for you guys  including...

1. Derma V10 Fake Tan Wipes

2. Claryssimé Paris Mythos Body Lotion

3. L'Óreal Professional Travel Makeup Brush Set and Case

4. Fearne Shimmering Eyes Set

5. Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream

6. Sleek Eye Dust in Innocence

7. Bourjois Paris 3D Effect Lip Gloss in 02

8. Sigma Eyeshadow samples

9. L'Óreal Nude Magique sample

10. L'Óreal True Match sample

11. Rimmel BB Cream

To enter all you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Some of the actions can be performed daily to gain more entries. The winner will be announced in 2 weeks on Friday the 24th of January. The link for my page on Bloglovin' is here. Good Luck!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Oh and just to help with the celebrations a little Kool & The Gang... Pointy white brogues and a happy dance anyone?!

Celebrate good times, come on!

Zee xx

Cleanse Off Mitt

Straight from Hogwarts School of Beauty...

A little package that arrived at my door in the days following Christmas has changed my life and the life of many beauty bloggers all over the Emerald Isle. One by one we were recruited, like The Fellowship Of The Ring, to join a campaign that will change our skincare regime forever #campaignbinthewipes. Twitter was set ablaze with tales of triumph and glory as one by one we binned the wipes and picked up the Cleanse Off Mitt.

I must admit I was slightly skeptical to start with, I mean this little blue mitt was claiming results of mythological proportions, it was said to have the ability to remove all traces of makeup, including mascara with nothing more than warm water!! But, it had my attention I was completely intrigued and then came the magic moment when I got to try it and... It Works! It does exactly what it says it does and more! Not only does it remove ever single trace of make up it also removes any trace of dry, dead skin. 

I am a demon for mascara, a normal day will see me apply at least three coats, so, as you can imagine the amount of cotton pads and eye makeup remover I go through a month is colossal and I still always wake up the next morning with traces of panda eyes. The Cleanse Off Mitt really surpassed my expectations when it came to this, my eyelashes were literally squeaky clean and I haven’t had panda eyes since I started using it!  

So how does it work? Its magic! Believe me when I say its straight from Hogwarts school of beauty. Its a blue mitt that fits over your hand, like the way a tanning mitt would, all you have to do is run it under some water and as you wash your face with it, the magic happens! I am not going to expose you to the mess that it took off my face but believe me when I say seeing is believing! 

The mitt is super skin friendly. The fact that it uses nothing but water means it is really gentle on the skin, chemical free and suitable for all skin types. It is really easy to clean just wash with a little hand soap, give it a good rinse, let it dry and its ready to use again. You can seriously save yourself a small fortune on cleansers, face washes, toners and eye makeup removers and if you travel a lot its absolutely perfect because all you need is the mitt! 

I really cannot recommend this product enough. I don’t generally do product reviews or beauty posts on the blog but this was just too good not to share. The Cleanse Off Mitt will be available in pharmacies from the end of next week but for those of you who just can’t wait it is available to buy online at The Beauty Emporium here. It costs just €5 and will last approximately three months so its a great investment for your purse and you skin! 

If you want to find out more about Cleanse Off Mitt and keep up to date with their latest news you can follow them on Twitter @CleanseOffMitt or join in on the conversation at #campaignbinthewipes.

Before the Big Day's Sparkling Beauty Christmas Gift List

{Posting by Julia Bowden, Before the Big Day's Beauty Editor} What's one of my favourite things about Christmas? Seeing that stocking packed full to the brim with beauty delights! So I thought I'd share my Beauty Gift List with you, and there's tonnes to get you gooey-eyed. You could even be selfless and use these as present ideas - beauty goodies are always fab stocking fillers! Or simply email your other half this list, in hope of getting everything you always wanted {subtlety gets you nowhere!}. Enjoy those products and have a very happy {and pretty} Christmas! Julia x

{I want this!} Clockwise from Top Left 

1. Melvita Nectar Bright Brightening Cream, £36 – This is a great brightening cream that you use to get a luminous complexion. It has a lovely fresh floral scent, and gives your skin a dewy glow.

2. Laura Mercier Luxe Colour Wardrobe Makeup Set, £65 – Even though I'm a make-up artist, I always struggle to create a sleek handbag set. This solves all the problems, with a compact case containing the perfect products for eyes, cheeks and face.

3. Glossy Box Subscription - I was lucky enough to get given one of these at the Wedding Blog Awards. A great way for beauty enthusiasts to keep up to date with new beauty products. You get a selection of products each month for as little as £10 per month.

4. Monu Micro Exfollient, £15.95 – A great little find I discovered in my Glossy Box at the Wedding Blog Awards - this is a great dual-action microdermabrasion cream. It's not too harsh on the skin and smells dreamy

5. Ren Clearcalm 3 Clarity Restoring Mask, £29.95 - I got to meet with Rui Branco, the Global director of Education and Training for REN last month. He’s the REN Skincare guru and such a lovely man. He gave me lots of advice about my spot prone skin, and this is high on my hit list. It reduces visible blemishes and clears the skin – a great way to kick start a clearer skin regime for the New Year.

6. Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, £28.50 – For hair so dry you don't know what to do with it. Put it on before shampooing for 10 minutes, and it's like having a new head of hair.

7. Neom Organic Treatment Candle in Rose & Neroli, £39.50 – You can't go wrong with this little treat. Great to light in the bath for pure relaxation

8. James Read BB Gradual Face Tan, £22.50 – As it’s winter even more reason to give your face a little sun kissed glow and best of all you can tie it in with your skincare regime. I met with James Last month and not only is he the nicest man on the planet but his products are brilliant. I can’t sing the praises of this tanning range enough. All it’s products smell great, go on easily without streaking and have outstanding results.

9. ProGenius Nude Treatment Oil, £58 - If like me you also have dry patches {as well as spots – lucky me!} don’t despair. To some, it may feel odd putting oil on the skin, but this ProGenius oil nourishes and protects, and sometimes stops the skin from secreting too much sebum thus counteracting the blemishes. With Omega 6, 7 & 9 – it’s a treat for winter-battered skin.

10.  MAC Nocturnals Pigments & Glitter - Black & Gold, £25.50 – Last but not least we all need a bit of Christmas sparkle in our make –up bag. These 5 stackable jars will dazzle everyone for those special occasions and will last you forever.

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Possibly the Best Hen Venue in the World

A few months ago, I was lucky enough to get invited to the launch of a rather special London venture. The Cheeky Parlour is the latest brainchild of the boss behind the uber-trendy Soho House Group. Based in Shoreditch, it offers mini-manicures {£10} and blow-dries {£15} at crazy-low prices, in a super-cool setting. As it's local to my flat, you'll find me propping up the incredible breakfast bar every Friday morning, where I nosh happily on muesli and yoghurt before getting beautified for the weekend. I honestly believe a decent blow-dry is even better than cosmetic surgery, and I always leave feeling super-glam, and that little bit cooler! If you're planning a hen weekend in London, I couldn't recommend it more. They've even got a special package aimed at groups, including my new tipple of choice, Babycham!

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My Top 5 Beauty Products For Your Wedding Day

{Posting by Julia Bowden, Before the Big Day's Hair & Make-up Expert} As a professional make-up artist, I'm always getting asked 'what is the best beauty brand?'. Sadly it's not that simple, because while one brand will make the best lipstick ever, their foundation won't rock my world. You have to pick and choose. Luckily for you, I'm the original product junkie, on a constant quest to find new and exciting lotions and potions. So while I do the testing, you can reap the rewards, and only buy the best for your wedding day. In my wedding beauty features for Before the Big Day I'll be keeping you up-to-date with all the latest hair and beauty innovations, so you can look your best on your wedding day. Follow me on Twitter for all the latest updates or email me here.

{Photo Credit} Julia Bowden's Wedding Hair & Make-up Work

To kick things off this time round, I just wanted to fill you in on the beauty products I can't shake. No matter how hard I try to innovate, I keep coming back to those old faithfuls. Georgia told me to come up with my Top 5 but I’ve got 7 {whoops…sorry Georgia}! Remember, this isn't just about your bridal make-up bag. In my view the following products are staple make-up investments for every girl. Not just for your wedding day, but for life!

1: Laura Mercier foundation Primer – smoothes your skin ready for foundation and makes it last all day {I promise}! I can't wear a full face of make-up without it. I'm officially addicted.
2: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation - light and sheer, looks like real skin but fabulously light reflective with great natural coverage
3: Bobbi Brown: Pot Rouge in Pale Pink - for the original blushing bride look, very natural, lasts all day and breaths life into your face.
4: By Terry Touch Expert Advanced Under Eye Pen - From the lady who designed the famous Touch Eclat for YSL, this is similar in that it’s light reflective, but it also covers dark circles and plumps the skin around the eyes. An all-in-one dark-circle destroyer.
5: Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Luxurious Mascara – Instant false lash effect, no clogs and great longevity – can't argue with that!
6: Mac Blankety Lip Stick – A lovely nude lip colour that's so flattering and natural – it suits almost everyone.
7: Urban Decay Naked Eye Shadow Palette – A lovely range of shades for creating dramatic or subtle looks – a great all rounder palette you'll use time and time again.

I hope you enjoy them! Till next time xJB

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The Best Products for a Natural Make-up Look on Your Wedding Day

It's been a while since we had a posting from our Hair & Beauty Expert, but Julia Bowden's been ridiculously busy working at weddings all summer {and before that, a film!}, so we're very excited she's finally had time to write us a feature! Don't miss her other blog posts for Before the Big Day, and enjoy her latest offering, after this picture.....

Last week I had lots of fun! As you know, Before the Big Day won the Editor's Pick prize at The Wedding Blogger Awards, and Georgia invited me along as her date. We were hoping Before the Big Day would win, so beforehand I did Georgia's hair and make-up to make sure she was at her glamorous best. The look I was going for was natural, but photo ready - perfect for your big day! So this week I'm turning the tables, and instead of writing about Real Life brides, this blog post is all about Georgia, and how I made her up for the night {sorry Georgia!}.

Georgia isn’t the biggest make-up wearer {I'm trying to change this of course!}, so I wanted to show her, and you, that if you're a little scared of make-up, there are plenty of products that won't feel heavy or look caked-on. If you use a little application know-how, all these goodies can be used on your wedding day, to make you look naturally fab in photos - just like Georgia on the night of the awards. In fact, she looked so fab, that Mark Francis from Made In Chelsea had to grab us for a picture!! Afterwards he said that he’s obsessed with weddings {just like us} …so Mark, if you're reading…we love you!!

If you're looking to do your own make-up on your wedding day, give these products a test run, and ask the girls on the make-up counters to give you a lesson in applying natural-looking make-up. Or you could always get in touch with me!

P.S. On the night I got an amazing beauty goody bag from The Ritz - reviews of my faves to come!

The Look - Blushing Blogger / Bride!

1. Mix wonderfully sheer, natural and corrective Clinique CC cream with a touch of By Terry Or De Rose Elixir Extreme {tinted primer enriched with pink gold}, to give that extra all-over glow, doubled with nourishing staying power

2. Use Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit under the eyes for some correction where it's needed most. This clever duo has a brightening setting powder included.

3. Lightly dab the apples of your cheeks a touch of Stila Cream Blush in Petunia for a dewy hue. I recommend the Mac Duo Fibre 187 brush.

4. On the T-zone only - brush on a very light touch of blot powder. My favourite is Make-up Store’s Blotting Powder.

5. Slick on Eyeko Skinny Liquid Liner at the base of the lashes, and smudge with a cotton-bud for a soft definition, that will hint to a thicker lash line. Then pop a touch of any neutral shade over the lids. I like Chanel Stylo Eye Shadow in Pink Lagoon, for a bit of a warm glow to the lids. Then slick on some Eyeko Brow Gel to neaten those brows.

6. Time to put the all-important mascara on your lashes. I love Benefit's 'They're Real' Mascara. Just one lick will be enough, but you can build it up to look more dramatic – two mascaras in one!

7. I love individual false lashes, but for an even more natural look, try curling those beauties with Ted Baker’s Eyelash Curlers.

8. Last but not least, a nice peachy nude lip. I’m obsessed with Hour-Glass’ new Nude Lip Stylos range. I love Nude No.5 and their packaging is to die for!

Hair

9. We were pushed for time - so I sprayed some Percy & Reed Heat Protect Styling Mist on Georgia's hair, and popped in some Nicky Clarke Heated travel rollers. It takes practice, but once mastered this is the best way to add a bit of quick glam, and boost your locks.

10. Smooth over with some Percy & Reed No Oil Oil - which is light and non greasy, and finish up with a puff of classic L'Oréal Paris Elnett Hairspray to hold in place.

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What Do Jessica Rabbit And An Arctic Truck Have In Common??

I have to apologize to you all for my sabbatical from the interweb and the blogosphere over the last two weeks. If Facebook and Twitter were Tamagotchi’s they would be dead, or at least starving and with their little screens covered in piles of poo with little stink lines and flies for extra effect. But, that little thing called life has been throwing me quite a few curveballs lately. Nothing catastrophic but it has taken me some time to dodge the dramas, arm the defences, organise a new plan of attack and get my substantially sized arse back into gear! Come to think of it, that leaves me with a story to share... 

My backside has, for as long as i can remember, been the biggest part of me, and on manys a Friday or Saturday night in an effort to look demure and lady like I would chance a figure hugging dress.... much to my mothers dismay. “Ah now Zee you look like Jessica Rabbit in that” was her (almost) weekly verdict. Only and Irish Mammy could turn a comparison to an international (animated) sex symbol into a confidence quenching reference to the enormous size of your arse! Needless to say the bum hugging dresses rarely made it past the kitchen and nine times out of ten i’d swap it for a fuller skater style that grazed my wide load instead of clinging to its extremities and enhancing its enormity, more of a Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz or Alice in Wonderland reference.

The one time out of 10 that i would stick to my guns and waddle out the door defiantly with my bum hugging ensemble was always more of a protest to my mothers blunt honesty. It was the rebellious little child in me saying “Hey mam, I’m well in my twenties now and if I want to wear a dress that makes my arse resemble the back end of an arctic truck well i damn well will!”. Defense for my bottom generally argued that that was the way I was made and there was feck all I can do about it and also that age old Irish saying... “Well I didn’t lick it off the ground!”. 

Despite insults and arguments all humorously accepted, cos lets face it your Mam’s not going to let you walk out of the house looking like and arsehole, it soon became a running joke between myself, my Mam and my best friend. So much so, that my best friend christened my derriere “Jessica”. A name that has stuck and has left some very baffled dressing room attendants on many a shopping trip! 

“How does Jessica look in this??”

So, lets talk! I might live to regret this question, but, have any of you got names for any of your body parts?

Introducing The Welbeck Clinic for Perfect Wedding Teeth

So I'm going to let you into a bit of a secret. Whenever I'm out at a drinks party, or chatting to someone new at work, I really notice their teeth. It's like my own little fetish. I collect people with good teeth! I had my own teeth whitened before I got married, and it definitely made me feel more confident for my wedding pictures. It made such a difference to my look, that the best man was convinced I'd had something more done....like a nose job! That's one reason why I'm delighted to introduce The Welbeck Clinic for cosmetic dentistry. They're the smile makeover experts in London, and they offer an amazing range of procedures from a complete smile makeover to teeth whitening. If you're considering veneers, they're a very simple, painless procedure, and you can get them done with only a month to go to your wedding day. Dr Joe Oliver has fitted over 20,000 veneers and is very experienced, counting Hollywood royalty like Helena Bonham-Carter among his clients! Take a look at their before and after smile makeovers to get a sense of how good your teeth could look on your wedding day.

{Photo Credit} Ann Kathrin Koch Photography via Rock My Wedding

{Photo Credit} Amy Watson Photography via Something Turquoise

{Photo Credit} Feather & Stone via Inspired By This

{Photo Credit} Lora Grady Photography via Forever Bride

♥ Want to see more wedding beauty ideas? ♥ Or how about DIY wedding ideas? ♥

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Mythology and Melanoma

Everybodys Free To Wear Sunscreen

So I’m back after a brief unplanned break, 10 days to be precise which is the length of our Irish summer this year!! You see on the 31st of May a lot of Irish people were in a state of shock, disbelief and uncertainty as a bright yellow sphere appeared in the sky, the sun may be a normal natural thing for all of you in the rest of the world to experience but its a rare phenomenon here on the Emerald Isle. 

Here in the homeland we have quit a different view on tanning than elsewhere on the globe. We call it getting a colour. You see apparently pale white is not a colour deemed attractive or even acceptable in our narcissistic society, ironic really considering our climate and humble heritage. So, fake tan sales and the use of sunbeds are thriving here even in the middle of winter. Don’t get me wrong i love a healthy sunkissed glow and it is true that when i venture on holiday to a location renowned for a more generous climate that i do like to return a less pale version of myself, however, given that i am of pale skin and live in Ireland where it rains 350 days of the year and the sun is in hibernation for just as many of those days i have come to accept what nature has given me. I believe that pale skin is just as healthy and beautiful as any other, i am also of the opinion that a deep tangoed tan on a cold rainy December day frankly just looks stupid! So it is on very rare occasions that i will succumb to the charms of fake tan. I have been lured in upon occasion and i know that a glow can be substantially more attractive than the walking corpse aesthetic my ghostly pale skin presents, how and ever i firmly believe that faking it is better than damaging your skin and i am obsessed with sunscreen. 

On the road to obtaining a ‘colour’ in as little time as possible, because lets face it we don’t know if it will start raining next week or in the next hour, the irish tend to skip the sunscreen. Why i will never know. The majority of our population seem to think that we only need sunscreen when we are abroad, that the irish sun, being such a rare phenomenon has not got the power to burn us. We protect our children with spf 50+ but seem to think that the tough old Irish skin is tougher than the old Irish sun. Do we think we are super human? Is it possible that somewhere in the vast horizons of our mind that the appearance of the sun makes us loose all sense of, well, common sense? Or is it that we believe somewhere in the land of Larry the Leprachaun, The Children of Lir and Cuchulainn and Fionn Mac Cumhaill that we have special powers against the elements when on Irish soil and that our pale whitish blue skin cannot succumb the the damage caused by the suns ferocious UV rays. 

Whatever the cause every year for our brief fleeting days of summer ninety percent of our population, these sun warriors, not worshippers, are defeated by there beloved enemy and turn from a dazzling whitish blue to an illuminating fierce red. Yes i’m talking about sunburn and lots of it!! The pain that these warriors suffer after their day of battle, yes just one day and more often than not the first day of sunshine, usually lasts longer than our short summer, yet they will forget their war wounds all too soon and by the time the sun returns for a few days next year they will be ready to go into battle once again with nothing but the bare skin on their backs.

For all of you sun warriors out their, no doubt now dealing with your battle wounds, I beg of you if you must be brown, fake it don’t bake it and please in the words of Baz Luhrmann ‘trust me on the sunscreen’.

Scrub-A-Dub-Dub

One girl in her tub

The sun has decided to play a game of hide and seek with us here today, its just about peeking out intermittently between clouds so the generous summer climate of yesterday is gone, for now at least. Temperatures are set to rise again early next week and the suns going to grace us once again so why not take these duller days as an opportunity to prepare ourselves for its glorious return. Besides its the june bank holiday weekend and whether your a fake tan bronzed babe or an ethereal pale beauty we all need a good body scrub to have our skin looking its best. So heres my top, budget busting, body buffing solutions.

Up first is the humble, reliable exfoliating glove. We all have a pair of these lurking around the bathroom, and if you don’t you should have. They’re available from any pharmacy or supermarket for €1.99 a pair, so their purse friendly, however, i would recommend investing in a slightly more expensive, better quality pair like the body shop ones for example at €5.99 as they tend to hold their shape a lot better than the cheaper equivalent and the better the glove fits the better the scrub you get. They’re great you can scrub as much or as little as you like and you can use with your favorite shower gel, plus, they come in a rainbow of colours so they’ll buff your bits and brighten your day all at the same time.

Next on the list is Sugar Crush from Soap & Glory. I’m sure most of you have heard of its sister scrub Flake Away, but the mouth watering scent of Sugar Crush pips it to the post in my opinion. It is exactly what it says on the pot, a body scrub made of sugar, crushed brown sugar to be exact, with macadamia grains for even more scrubbing power, other ingredients include sweet lime and almond oil so this scrub really gets your taste buds tingling and gives you an instant pick me up, its tough on scaly dry skin too. Priced at €11 for a 300ml tub it won’t break the bank either.

Number three and possibly my favorite comes from Lush. The body butter bars from Lush scrub and buff as well as moisturise, use them on wet skin and rinse off for perfect smooth and glowing skin. You can pick from different fragrances and colours in these bars but my favorites are Buffy, which uses ground rice almonds and aduki beans as exfoliators and smells like a holiday on a Brazilian beach and Aqua Mirabilis which uses ground almond shells as an exfoliator and has subtle comforting scents of sandalwood and cocoa. The bars are great theres no packaging and no preservatives and also no waste, you can really feel them scrubbing at your scaly bits and the natural oils and butters in them leave your skin feeling soft and silky. With a price tag of just over €6 for a 90g bar its a steal!

Last but not least a real budget busting solution to flakes and scales straight from the kitchen press, this can be a little messy but it works and it wont cost you a penny because its already in your press. Its a simple little recipe, mix sugar and olive oil together in a bowl to your own desired consistency and start scrubbing. The sugar scrubs and buffs and the olive oil leaves your skin soft if a tad oily, rinse with or without soap et voila!! Budget Buffing at its best!!

There you have it, if any of you have some more favorites or home scrub recipes, please share. Happy scrubbing!!

Images; "Sugar Crush" by Soap & Glory at boots.com, Aqua Mirabilis body butter bar lush.co.uk, exfoliating gloves image from aliexpress.com