Review: Glamglow Mud

Glamglow mud first came to my attention, when I spotted photos of these pretty amazing skin transformations on Pinterest...

Intrigued, I made my way over to makeupalley to check  out its reviews. Boy has this product really divided beauty writers, bloggers and regular women! Here's a selection of whats been written about Glamglow: "all I have to say is that it is fantastic! Literally sucks the oil out of your skin helping it feel soft, clean and smooth." "It almost instantly dries out any fresh blemishes and seems to fade scars really quickly. Any products that I use immediately afterwards absorb really well into my skin." "I think a battery acid mask followed by a good sand blasting may have been more comfortable. My skin is not sensitive in the least, and this product still burnt and stung almost unbearably for a good 5 minutes." Polar opposites right?! 

After reading the hundreds of comments, good, bad and in-between I decided I had to try it. So I made my way over to the site where I discovered a normal size pot would set me back nearly 60 euro. Unwilling and unable to make that kind of investment, I purchased the try-before-you-buy size which set me back about 8 euro. And when they say trial size they really mean it, it is tiny!! But the results it claimed to produce were pretty impressive; a noticeable 3 day glow, tightening and toning of the skin, pore minimizing and dark circle lifting. If it delivered it would definitely be worth the price tag. 

The first thing I noticed when I opened the tube was the really strong perfume-like scent, which put me off a little as I usually only use unscented products on my skin. I applied it to my clean skin, expecting it to "tingle" as the tube suggested. Now I don't have sensitive skin, but "tingle" was the understatement of the year. It stung, pretty bad. The texture is very harsh, with large exfoliating beads and pieces of green tea leaves, which tend to flake off.  But I left it on and the stinging subsided. It hardened and tightened quite quickly, and after about 15 minutes I had to wash it off. I used a facecloth and warm water to take off the mask, which again was quite sore due to the texture. 

And afterwards? Well luckily I didn't get a rash or stinging afterwards as some people had reported happening. My skin definitely felt softer and tighter, and a few blackheads had disappeared. But definitely nothing like the website and more glowing reviews had promised. There was no three day glow, my pores have not significantly reduced and my dark circles are definitely still present! Will I be buying this again? No. Would I recommend it to anyone? No- and definitely not to those of you who have sensitive skin. It was an ok mask, but I've purchased whole pots of masks for the price of this tester, with better results. This product is too harsh, too scented and too expensive. It's being marketed as a Hollywood secret, but I seriously doubt that any celebrities would let this stuff near their skin. 

I recommend using an exfoliator and mask once a week- just not this one!

Happy Preening!

© all images are copyrighted to their respective owners

Chelsea Blagger

Made in Chelsea is one of my favourite guilty pleasures. Every Monday without fail, myself and my housemates sit down to shout at the t.v. while the spoilt Chelsea socialites navigate their endless dramas. I have to hand it to them though, they have damn good style! Then again, so would I if I had endless funds! But for those of us on a more modest budget I've come up with alternatives to some Chelsea favorites...

Leather Trousers

Millie Mackintosh loves a pair of leather bottoms be they shorts or trousers. I love leather trousers- they instantly add a bit of edge and glam whether you team them with a sexy top like Millie's lace shirt or a slouchy t-shirt. Real leather trousers don't come cheap, but luckily I've found a great pair of leather look trousers on ASOS for under €40! 

These leather look skinny trousers are amazing value and I love the panel detail. They look like the real deal, perfect for emulating Miss Mackintosh!

White Blazer

A classic white blazer is a staple in any Chelsea girl's wardrobe, and rightly so as a white blazer is one of the most versatile items you can own. Case in point, our three Chelsea girls above. Rosie Fortescue pairs her blazer with a patterned shirt and bright trousers. Caggie Dunlop goes for full on sex appeal by teaming hers with white trousers and just a bra underneath, while Millie Mackintosh opts for a classic look pairing hers with neutral accents and denim jeans. I love a white blazer as it adds such a classy touch to any outfit, be it casual jeans or a glam dress. 

Check out this gorgeous white blazer. I love the cropped, collarless style, and the zipper details are really cool. Believe it or not but this little beauty is from Penneys and is only €30! Bargain alert! I bought a similar white blazer from Penneys recently and have been living in it ever since. I strongly advise adding this fab jacket to your wardrobe!

Statement Necklace

Chelsea girls Cheska, Rosie and Louise know that the easiest way to dress up a plain outfit is with accessories. They love a statement necklace and clutch! What I love about the three outfits above is that they've chosen clashing accessories. Cheska Hull pairs her snakeskin clutch with an ivory tooth necklace while Rosie Fortescue teams an oversize metallic clutch with a beaded choker. Louise Thompson has been rocking numerous statement neckpieces during the latest series of Made in Chelsea and she knows when it comes to neckwear- bigger is definitely better! If you're going to go for a necklace this Summer make it big and bold- they're not called statement necklaces for nothing! I love this rhinestone cluster necklace from Topshop. I think any Chelsea girl ( or wannabe Chelsea girl!) would be proud to rock this gorgeous turquoise and neon number. Clash it with this printed clutch bag from Zara and wear both with an understated outfit and you've got Made in Chelsea style down!

 

Fur

The Made in Chelsea gals love a bit of fur! Of course moving into Summer fur is out of season but if you're really committed to emulating the Chelsea style, you'll have to invest for Winter! I can't comment on the kind of fur worn by the Made in Chelsea girls, but I would only ever condone wearing faux fur. And in my opinion, faux fur is made so well now that there's absolutely no need to wear the real thing. The good news is, that because we're out of season ASOS has a great sale on all their fur items, so now's the time to stock up! This faux fur patchwork snood is very reminiscent of the one worn by Phoebe in Verbier. I actually own a snood very like this and I loved it during Winter. It was super cosy and added a bit of glam. Next we have this cossack-style hat like the one worn by Louise (above middle, which will add a bit of Russian luxury to your Winter coat! A faux fur jacket is a very versatile item in your Winter wardrobe. Pair with a casual dress and boots like Victoria above, or use it as a cover for a winter ball or wedding. I like this Vintage fur coat as the pale color means it will go with everything and its short style makes it a perfect length for over dresses. 

Handbags

   The Chelsea girls are rarely spotted without their oversized designer handbags. But a good handbag doesn't have to come with the designer label, and the designer price tag. Most of the high street stores are now stocking really good leather bags, that have all the quality and style of their designer counterparts. I like this taupe buckle detail tote from A-wear. Its satchel style is reminiscent of the Mulberry Alexa bag, and the coral accents are perfect for Summer. Just make sure you wear it in the crook of your arm in true Sloaney style!

 So there you are- a few of the key items to invest in to get that Made in Chelsea style on a budget.

Happy Shopping! 

   © all images are copyrighted to their respective owners

Thank You!!

Today Shomode made it passed 10,000 hits! Frankly, I am totally amazed that anyone apart from my mother (thanks Mammy!) is reading. Hopefully it's onwards and upwards from here! Am swamped with work at the moment so apologies for my sporadic blogging! A massive thank you to everyone who's read so far, and please keep reading!

Best dressed: The Met Ball.

The Met ball took place on Monday evening in New York and the theme was PUNK: from chaos to couture. The Met ball always provides interesting looks but this year's theme guaranteed it. That said, some of the stars on the night had the look down a bit better than others... My favourites on the night were;


Cara Delevigne in Burberry.

Does this girl ever get it wrong? It always amazes me how she can go from laid-back tomboy to stunning supermodel in a matter of hours! I adore this Burberry gown, the studs give it the punk feel, while the navel split oozes sex appeal. She went for the most popular make up look of the night- the extreme smoky eye- and gave her hair an undercut look by pulling one side back tightly in a plait. I thought she was just flawless! 

Sienna Miller in Burberry.

Another Brit babe in Burberry, this time Sienna Miller went for the studs on her jacket and kept her dress very simple. The contrast between the uber-punk jacket and the almost angelic dress is stunning! Again, the smoky eye featured and her hair was also pulled to one side, but this time with a studded hairband. What an advertisement for Burberry these gorgeous girls are!

Jaime King in Topshop.

Who would have thought that the most worn designer on the red carpet would be high-street favourite Topshop?! They were responsible for some amazing looks, but Jaime King's trouser suit stole the show for me. She just announced her pregnancy, but it looks like it's not going to affect her killer style. She looks like the perfect goth princess in this look. I love the high-necked lace top and again she's gone for a punk hairband like Sienna Millers. 

Nicole Richie in Topshop. 

This look, especially the frosted hair, has divided the critics- but I love it! The dress itself is not very punk, but the hair and oxblood lipstick give it the edge it needs. I love that Nicole is never afraid to take risks with fashion, and in my mind this one totally paid off. 

Kate Bosworth in Balmain. 

It's always refreshing to see a short dress on the red carpet and Kate Bosworth's Balmain mini strikes a perfect balance between punk and pretty. Balmain's Autumn/Winter 2013 collection features heavy embellishment, shoulder pads, jewel tones and military inspired belts- perfect for the couture punk theme of the night. I love that Kate went for pink too, as unsurprisingly the overwhelming majority went for black. 

Minka Kelly in Carolina Herrera. 

Minka's plum Carolina Herrera gown is technically more gothic than punk but I love it anyway! The embellished shoulders and neckline toughen up the pretty lace, which is contrasted beautifully by her plum lip and milkmaid plaits. 

Lily Collins in Moschino. 

Lastly, we have Lily Collins in all-out punk glamour. Like Sienna Miller, Lily has paired quite a pretty dress with a tough studded and graffitied jacket. I have to say though that I'm not a fan of her hair and make up. Like Cara Delevigne, Lily has to-die-for eyebrows. However, I think she should have gone for a more natural look accentuating her already fabulous features. There's already a lot going on in the dress without the dramatic eyes- and the blue streaks are are very late 90's. It's a case of love the outfit, hate the hair and makeup! 

I think the theme of the evening was absolutely inspired, pushing celebs and designers out of the safe red carpet zone. You can always rely on the Met gala to provide controversial and amazing looks! Can't wait for next year already!

Happy celeb spotting!

                                   © all images are copyrighted to their respective owners

Summer Wishlist

So it's officially Summer on Wednesday, which is a slightly terrifying thought! On the other hand though, new Season= new wardrobe! I've been compiling my Summer wishlist for a while now, and have taken some inspiration from the stars. Here are some of the items that I'm lusting after for Summer....

                                       

I adore this crop top and pencil skirt combo that Selena Gomez wore recently. This retro floral print crop top is from Penneys and would look amazing with a pencil skirt like Selenas. I think that I'll be pairing mine with a floaty midi skirt and sandals for a more laid back look. 

                                      

                                      
I fell in love with the printed shorts that Katarina Bowden wore to a LOFT event last month. Hers are from loft and aren't available online until mid-May. However, Gap have this similar printed pair that are only €19.99 that would be really pretty for Summer teamed with wedges and a blazer.    

                           

When I was in London recently I saw a Victoria's Secret bikini just like the one above on the left. I didn't buy it at the time, and so regretted it afterwards! But much to my delight I spotted this copycat purple cut-out  bikini when I was doing my grocery shopping in Tesco last week, and it's only €10 for the top and €7 for the bottoms. Bargain!

                          

Wildfox is a celebrity favourite, with everyone from Audrina Patridge to Taylor Swift sporting their signature printed tees and vests. Sadly though, they also come with a celebrity price tag! This Stussy vest has the Wildfox inspired logo but at a much more budget friendly price. Perfect for a Summer concert or festival. 

                      

A basic tan leather sandal is a wardrobe staple for Summer. It will go with everything in your wardrobe from floaty dresses to jeans to mini skirts. I have my eye on these ASOS flat sandals, I love how minimalist they are. I think the less fussy a sandal is the better. Rachel Bilson is rocking her pair perfectly here with denim cutoffs and a printed vest. 

                  

Nashville is my new current t.v. obsession, and I've developed a bit of a style crush on Hayden Panettiere! Ray-Ban wayfarers are my all-time favourite sunglasses style- I live in my black pair. But since spotting Hayden with her tortoiseshell pair, I want them too! They don't come cheap though, so I need to start saving my pennies if I'm gonna get this pair from ASOS. 

All I need now is the Summer weather to make an appearance!

Happy Shopping!

© all images are copyrighted to their respective owners

Four Weddings and a Style Guide: Tan and Make-Up.

Here we are in the last of my wedding style posts. So the big day is nearly upon us, we have our dress, shoes and headpiece. Now it's time to plan our tan and make up.

First up is the tan, as you know my personal favourites are Cocoa Brown 1 hour tan and Bronze Express, but it really doesn't matter what tan you use. It's all about the preparation and application. If you read my review of Cocoa Brown (here)  I have included some top tips for tan preparation and application there. We Irish are the biggest consumers of fake tan products in the world!! And yet, we have not quite mastered the art of fake tan application. Which isn't so bad when going out at night (who hasn't said "sure it'll be dark- no one will notice my streaky tan"?) but is not a good look when attending an all-day wedding. Here are some definite don'ts when applying your fake tan;

Don't forget to scrub off that deodorant!

This is a preparation fail that many of us girls are guilty of. If you don't wash off your deodorant before application you will be left with an ugly white/green tide mark all around your underarm area- yuck! Make sure your tan is well dry before using a deodorant over it.

Don't let your face be a different colour to your body. 

This is a tan mistake that you may not notice in daylight- but believe me you will see it in those wedding photos! If you're fake tanning your body you need to adjust your make up accordingly. Piling on a load of bronzer over your regular foundation is not going to cut it. I recommend using a tanning product on your face- I like Lancome flash bronzer for face or just some of the tan you're using on your body.  Then use a foundation that's just a shade darker than your day shade, and don't go too heavy on the bronzer! 

Don't forget your feet! 

Feet are an often-neglected area in the application of fake tan, but remember when attending a wedding there's going to be a lot of full-length photos taken. And just like your face- bronzed legs and white feet looks neither natural nor attractive. Put a light layer of tan on your feet, as the skin on feet tends to absorb tan more than legs. 

Don't overdo it!

I really think this picture says it all. No-ones natural skin colour is orange. If you're getting a spray tan you need to be particularly careful. If possible, get a practice one done before the big day so you know how the tan will look on you. If not, err on the side of caution. Don't go for the darkest shade. It's easy to add more tan, but a lot more difficult to take off!

Now for the make-up. When attending a wedding, the key things you're looking for in your make-up are natural and long-lasting.  This applies to base, eyes, and lips. 

Base:

The key to ensuring your make-up stays in place all day is to use a good primer. Silicone-the main ingredient in most primers- smooths over imperfections and provides an adhesive base for foundation. Primer also absorbs oil and stops your face from getting shiny. Two primers that I really like are Smashbox Photo Finish primer and Gosh Velvet Touch foundation primer.

               

Next step is to choose a long lasting foundation with a matte finish. A few of my favourites are M.A.C. Pro Longwear foundation, Estee Lauder Double Wear and Chanel Perfection Lumiere. They stay in place all day without flaking or drying. Be sure to finish with a translucent powder like M.A.C. Mineralize Skinfinish to set the foundation in place. 

For the eyes, I would recommend going for neutrals as they look more natural and wear better than bright or dark colours. Also a black smokey eye is a little harsh for daytime, browns give a similar effect but are much softer. To ensure you get the best wear out of your eyeshadow, pull the skin on your eyelid taut to avoid creases and apply a layer of a very pale matte eyeshadow (such as M.A.C.'s  blanc type). This provides a base for your eyeshadow and prevents creasing. Then apply a medium brown in the crease of your eye (I like "buck" from the Urban Decay Naked Palette) and a darker brown (like "toasted" also from Naked) in the outer triangle of the eye. Then apply some individual lashes (like these eyelure ones), liquid eyeliner and mascara. 

To finish, use a moisturising lipstick to ensure lips don't dry out during the day, paired with a gloss. My favourite lipstick for a wedding look is M.A.C.'s "Patisserie", which is a creamy neutral pink and suits pretty much everybody! Pair with a clear gloss for shine and you're ready to go!

                          

So there you have it- the conclusion to my guide on how to be a stylish wedding guest this Summer.

Hope you all enjoy your Summer weddings and look fabulous while doing so!

Happy Preening!

© all images are copyrighted to their respective owners