Herbal Essences Shampoos

I have been wanting to post about Herbal Essences Volumising shampoo for quite a while as it is so ... volumising! I recently bought their Clarifying Shampoo so I thought here are the two shampoos I am using and loving lately. 

If your hair tends to get flat and limp like mine, this volumising shampoo is a godsend. It should almost come with a warning, as the first time I used it, I had to pin my hair down - it was so uplifting! Just in case it wasn't lovely enough, it also has a citrus orange scent.

As I have been using a few hair products lately, I thought I needed a squeaky clean shampoo so I said I'd go for the same brand as it has been good to me. Their clarifying shampoo indeed leaves hair feeling clean, light and fresh and it's great to get rid of the day-to-day build up. This too has a citrus scent. 

Update!

Just checking in to say how much I miss blogging. I have been so busy the past few months and have found it difficult to find the time to post. On the upside, I have so many things I want to talk about and share, from hair care to nails. I appreciate each and every view and I love to watch my blog grow and develop. As usual, I welcome any suggestions :)

Glossybox November

 I'm a bit late with November's Glossybox but here it is. It was a very nice treat in the dark, wintry days we are having! I was very happy with this one and all the items are ones I will, and already have begun to, use.

 Emite Make Up Micronised Eyeshadow - I have yet to try this but no doubt it will come in very handy.

 Vichy Idealia Life Serum - helps protect against stress, pollution, smoke or an unbalanced diet. In these busy times, I wouldn't turn down a cream like this. I was given 3 little sample sizes that were presented in a cute little bag. I have used it a few times so far and it feels very light on the skin.

 Yves Rocher France Hand Cream - if you like Terry's Chocolate Orange you will like this. I am not a consistent hand cream user but it is unique!

 Scholl Dry Skin Exfoliator Skin Care - this product is great and works wonders!! It promotes natural cell renewal too. For best results it says to use 2-3 times a week. I have only used it once so far and it made a big difference. 

B. Smokey Soft Blendable Kohl Eyeliner - this is definitely something I look forward to using. It can be used as an eye shadow, eye liner or eyebrow pencil - very versatile! The colour is great too.

Party favours

Aren't these so cute? The whole thing cost just over 2euro. The bags are from Tesco, a few nice (wrapped) sweets and a nail varnish. A Ferrero Rocher would be nice too. I just think it's a nice touch and can be done so cheaply. Feel free to add your ideas :)

Self Measuring Tape - Useful for arms!!

I got this self measuring tape online as I saw a girl on Youtube who uses it. I thought it would be so handy as my most troublesome area is my upper arm area, which can be hard to measure accurately on your own. I was so looking forward to it arriving in the post. It is nothing fancy to look at but does exactly what it says on the tin. At least now I have something reliable to measure my progress. It is too embarrassing to say the circumference of my arms at the moment but I will let you know of any reduction in size. I am working hard to try and achieve this. It of course can be used for other areas of the body.

Those bingo wings - flap, flap!!

My arms are probably the body part I most want to tone. I heard or read years ago that they are actually the fastest part of the body to tone, I don't know if this is true but I hope so! :) Anyway here are 5 of my favourite exercises to do and you don't need any weights - Just a few minutes. I have been doing these over a week now (a few times a day) and already see and feel a difference. They are quite sore in the beginning but you get used to it in no time. When I really feel it the next day, I take a rest day.

All in a standing position with feet hip width apart.  I do as many as feels right and don't tie myself to a certain amount of reps.

Thumbs up, Thumbs down:   Arms outstretched either side, elbows slightly bent, fingers outstretched with thumbs pointing upward. Then twist whole arm, so thumbs are pointing downward. (Arms should be parallel to the floor)    Repeat.

Upwards V, downwards V: With your arms make an upwards V (as if asking God for toned arms) and then a downwards V (as if holding children's hands). Repeat. Keep arms straight and strong. 

Switch: Place one hand at forehead (back of hand in contact), keeping the elbow up. Place other hand at belly button (back of hand in contact), palm of hand should be facing up. Then switch arms swiftly. Repeat.

Circles: Arms outstretched either side. Make small circles forward. Repeat. Make circles backward. Repeat.

Push Away: Start with elbows bent. Alternating arms, extend the arm to either side reaching as far as you can, as if pushing away something (or someone) coming towards you, in a swift movement. Arms should be level with shoulder.

To give you an idea of how quickly I do them, it takes just over a minute to do 10 reps of each. I am doing them daily and definitely see a difference. 

The Body Shop's Facial Brush

This brush is so soft and gentle and yet loosens all the makeup. I use it with my cleanser. It feels so nice, especially if you make time to brush it all over the face and neck - so soothing and relaxing. It is all in the bristles!! You are then ready to just rinse and pat dry :)  It is also super cheap!

Update :)

Follow updates on my attempts at living healthily here :)   

Estee Lauder Sensuous Noir

I have finished almost all my perfumes and was looking for a new scent yesterday when I found this - Estee Lauder's Sensuous Noir. It smells amazing. I'm not the best at describing scents but I love it!


Here are other scents I have been using the past year
- Burberry Body: I find this is more a day time perfume, very refreshing and clean.
- Gucci Guilty: Quite a strong scent, not one I'd buy again.    I also have the body lotion which I prefer and rub into my arms.
- Hugo Boss Deep Red: One of my favourite scents ever. I have been using it for years on recommendation from my sister. I love it for night time.

Quick and Easy Way to Clean your Face!

I just thought I'd share a very easy way of cleaning your face - suitable if travelling light,  in a hurry or just feeling lazy!! There is no need for cotton pads, face cloths or water!!

DermaH2O WaterWipes  &   The Body Shop's Aloe Calming Facial Cleanser.

All I do is squeeze out some cleanser and massage it into my face and neck. Then I wipe with a waterwipe. These are very moist and refreshing. They consist of 99.9% water and 0.1% grapefruit seed extract.

More from Glossybox October!

Vita Liberata's Latte Illuminating Skin Finish - this came in sachet form (I was sent 2) and I have yet to try it. It is a shimmery bronzer for the body. It says it provides a smooth finish while defining the skin. I have a few parties coming up so I think I'll save the sachets for then!! 

Monu Illuminating Primer - if this is anything like the other Monu product I received from Glossybox (the face mask I blogged about a few weeks ago) I'll be happy. The packaging I thought was very plain. This primer is said to provide a flawless, illuminating finish and can be worn alone or under makeup.

Unica Kiss it Better Cream is for sensitive or eczema prone skin. It is a mixture of oils and butters, with calming, protecting and hydrating properties. It sounds very nice for a night time skin routine. 

Glossybox October - Dark Romance

 This month's theme is Dark Romance

MeMeMe's Cherub's Blush Cheek and Lip Tint comes in a form similar to a nail varnish, except more watery. As the name suggests, it can be used to stain your cheeks or lips. It is a nice berry colour, suitable for this time of year. As I found it hard to blend (on my hand) I predict it will suit lips more so than cheeks. 

Premae's Multi-Vit Smoothie Serum comes in a pump. Its unique formula is said to soothe redness while hydrating, leaving a matte and shine free finish. It has a lovely lemongrass scent. I am looking forward to using this as I need a new moisturiser. 

Eye Makeup for Green eyes / Deep-set eyes

At the weekend I experimented with my eye shadow palettes, something I rarely do as I usually stick to the old reliable colours. However I was surprised at how I was able to come up with looks which brought out my eye colour. Here is one of those looks.

 ( I regret not taking a photo of the look as it turned out so well, but I will add a pic to this once I create the look again )

My eyes are green so I went for golds and purples. I I used the Naked 1 palette and NYC IndividualEyes 939 Bryant Park.

After prepping my eye, I applied 'Half Baked' (Naked 1) all over the lid. If your eyes are deep-set like mine, you may want your lid to look bigger than it is. Sparkly, glossy eye shadows instantly enlarge and enhance your lid, particularly if a light or bright colour is used.

I applied a lilac colour (NYC) to the middle third (roughly) of the lid, close to the upper lashes. Once I did this, I found the green of my eye popped.

I went for 'Buck' (Naked 1) and swept it over and back, on my outer crease. I don't like to darken my full crease as my eyes are deep-set. 

I don't usually highlight my brow bone as it is quite pronounced already (a feature of deep-set eyes!)

I used an eye pencil on my upper and lower outer lash line. 

I then used a fluffy brush to blend all the colours and eye pencil into each other.  

I completed the look with Gosh Growth Mascara which I got in last month's Glossybox - it is amazing!!!

This was a very good look for green and/or deep-set eyes - I was even told they looked turquoise!!

I hope you get the idea without a picture. Next time, I will have one!!

Prepping your eyes!!

Before applying eye shadow there are a few things I like to do so that my eye shadow stays for longer. This is especially useful if you do not have an eye primer or if you don't have much time for your eye makeup. 

1. Apply concealer to your whole lid up to your brow. Use a concealer brush, or your fingers, to blend fully. You can even go underneath your eye at this point. 

2. Next brush over or pat with loose/pressed powder to set it. 

Your eye area will look much better and be a much better base on which to work. It is a huge improvement on applying nothing to the eye area. Give it a go!!

L'Oreal Nude Magique CC Cream - Anti Redness

I came across these CC creams and tested out all three: the anti-fatigue, anti-dullness and anti-redness and I bought the latter. Although I loved the anti-dullness one, I was very curious to see how good the anti-redness would be. 

It is a green cream which transforms into a foundation on application. Not all green creams seem to work for me but this one does the trick!! Although very light, it is buildable and covers redness completely, giving good coverage. You don't even need a moisturiser - very handy if in a hurry! It boasts 5 benefitss: flawless coverage, perfectly even skin texture, fresh dewy glow, 24 hour hydration and SPF 12. I love the packaging too - sleek and shiny.

MONU Warming Aromatic Face Mask

This felt just as good as it sounded; I highly recommend it! It smells divine, of lavender and rosemary to be exact. It also contains beeswax and coconut oil. It is a natural clay and thin in consistency. When applied onto the face and neck, it does not dry or harden, it stays wet. It applies quite smoothly and slightly warms your skin, which is quite nice. It says it renews and invigorates the complexion and I think it did so. My face was left very clean, soft and smooth. It recommends to use twice a week so I look forward to using it again in a few days! 

CATRICE Ultimate Moisture Fresh Skin Make Up - Oil Free

Catrice is a very affordable brand; this tinted moisturiser was only 3 euro! I got it in the colour light beige, which is very light indeed. It provided a very light coverage but I was able to build it up to cover blemishes. I did not need any other foundation for touch ups. As someone who has blemishes to cover, it is very handy to rely on one product to do the job! It has quite a moist, dewy feel to it.

Update

To follow my (intended) healthy living journey, read here.  As always, feel free to subscribe, follow or comment :) 

Glossybox September - The London Edition

Glossybox September - The London Edition

September's box had great products for eyes, lips, face and hair.

I will start with the only product I have tried so far - Dr Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips. Originally, a nipple balm for breast feeding women, it is now a lip product. I find it very nourishing but expect a stickiness!! It does not have any scent or flavour and leaves a glossy sheen. Perfect for the wintry weather we are now getting!

With my busy lifestyle at the moment, I only have a minute or two to blend in a little foundation but this eyeliner by Be a Bombshell Cosmetics looks very quick and easy to use. With the felt tip pen it is possible to draw a line of any thickness you wish. I am not the best at applying eyeliner so I am hoping this does the job for me.   

I wouldn't say my hair is frizzy as such however I will definitely be using this through the length and ends as it has seen better days lately! It claims it is lightweight which I think is important as you don't want to add weight.

To warm your cheeks, or whole face, for the winter, this bronzer has the perfect shade - not too light or dark. It comes with an application sponge but I will probably use a brush. It has a hint of sparkle too. This product is by hd Brows and I really like the packaging.

Lastly are these pre-glued lashes! I have never had false lashes before so I am very excited to try these out. They look very natural and easy to apply. 

I missed you

Here I am again and I have to say I have really missed blogging. I have been quite busy the past few weeks and was very stretched for time. The one good thing is I have many things to blog about and update you on.

Mission Size 10

I was shopping yesterday and updated my wardrobe a little, which then led to my re-organising my wardrobe this morning, where I found some lovely pieces which I have either not worn ever or in a long time as they are just that bit too tight or small. So ... instead of buying new clothes and not ever fitting into the perfectly good (too tight) clothes I already have, I am going to stick to my mission of becoming a small size 10. At the moment I am a big size 10 (or 12). I have re-positioned all the clothes I would like to fit into so that each time I open the wardrobe door they are there, waiting to be worn! A weight loss of a pound a week seems so reasonable and achievable yet so hard and impossible. It would mean ten pounds by mid November. Only time will tell!

Being organised and routine!!

I am back to work almost two weeks now and I have to say I have never been so organised in my life. In the past, I was not the most organised person in the world, but I decided to change a few things, including meals, gym, piano practice and work related paperwork.

I was often going through the work day without eating lunch, which isn't ideal. But now I pack my lunch while eating my breakfast and refuel at lunch time. Also, I shower at night time to save time in the morning which makes a huge difference. It's also more relaxing as I am not in such a hurry. I have really gotten into the routine of practicing the piano every day for at least half an hour instead of cramming in a few hours practice on the day of the lesson. I am staying on top of my paperwork by doing a bit every day and a few hours at the weekend. For an update on my healthy living journey, come by tomorrow. All in all, I am much more prepared and far less stressed!!

Urban Veda Daily Radiance Facial Wash

I am back after a short hiatus, sorry for my absence!! My daily dabbles were not so daily but now that I have recovered from 'back to work' shock I will try my utmost to blog daily :)

Last month's Glossybox included this facial wash which is amazing and I will definitely be buying more of it. It's a gel and seems to really suit my dry/sensitive skin. It maintains it balances skin tone and has an overall brightening effect. The best thing though is the scent - it smells divine!! It contains Ayurvedic Turmeric with a botanical infusion of Marigold, Papaya and Coriander. Of course it does its job and cleans your face without drying it out.

L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil

This oil is great for putting into the length and tips of your hair. It can be used in wet or dry hair, before shampooing or when styling. A few drops leaves your hair feeling soft and looking shiny. Avoid applying close to the root or scalp as this will lead to a greasy look. The difference is very noticeable and your hair is enhanced in seconds!! Suitable for all hair types. 

I have only tried it on dry hair so far so next test will be using before shampooing. 

La Roche Posay Rosaliac - Localised Redness Intensive Serum

This product is a must have for anyone who wants to hide redness. It works really well. It says to apply morning and evening and whatever it is made of, minimises redness considerably. Yesterday I applied this and didn't have to cover the redness further with make-up. It made a huge difference. I highly recommend it as someone who has rosacea. 

It is not green like most anti-redness products, it is peachy coloured, then is clear when rubbed in. It also has a slight scent.

Yes to Carrots Nourishing Cleanser & L'Oreal 15 Second Miracle Cleansing Oil

I thought I would talk about these two cleansers as they are both very good and very affordable. 

Yes to Carrots is very creamy and indulgent. The carrots are said to nourish dry skin and are rich in beta carotene, a powerful anti-oxidant. I love that it is thick and creamy, a change from my usual type. I sometimes count it as 1 of my 5 a day!! :) This is the only Yes to product I have so I must keep my eye out for more.

 L'Oreal's Cleansing Oil is amazing and one of the best cleansers I have used. It says it instantly dissolves make-up which it does very easily. It is lightweight and non-greasy. I remember thinking when I bought it that it was unusual to clean my face with oil but it works a wonder!! My face is left very clean and soft. You only need a few drops so it will last you a good while. I highly recommend it!! 

I have started using face cloths again but avoid any dragging. When I don't use face cloths I use damp cotton pads. 

Returning to work!

Well it is coming up to a busy time of year for me - returning to work after a lovely, relaxing break. I don't have children and admire all parents out there who devote their lives to theirs. I only have myself to dress, wash and feed, however this self-management routine gets pretty tricky when I am not organised, which is most of the time!!

I remember mornings I got out of bed too late, only to find I had nothing to wear and had no choice but to spray my hair with dry shampoo. Night time showers make so much sense if your time is limited in the morning, but do I take them then - no! 

I'm the type of person who keeps on driving past garages when the light comes on. This is just not good enough. 

So I thought I would share with you my life's little challenges. 

• Meals: Going through the work day without eating a lunch, because I didn't have anything suitable to bring or I did not have enough time to stop at the shop. 
• Piano Practice: Too tired to practice, no motivation or no time.
• Clothes: Outfit not suitable for work or in the wash.
• Work: Paper work building up, time-consuming and not very thrilling!
• Gym: Too tired and the couch a much nicer option

And here is my POA (Plan of Action) for each of them.

• Meals: Be prepared and buy plenty of lunch type foods. 
• Piano: Be disciplined and do a bit every day instead of 5 hours practice close to my lesson!!!
• Clothes: Decide what to wear the night before.
• Work: Do a bit every day and avoid it piling up!
• Gym: Make time to go

Each weekend I will let you know if I am sticking to my new plan. What do you do to stay organised??

COOLA mineral sunscreen tinted moisturiser

I received this in July's Glossybox, and tried it at the time and again this morning. At first I was a little reluctant as it looks very orange-brown but it blended very well, giving a very slight hint of colour. For a tinted moisturiser, it has practically no coverage. I would consider it more a sunscreen product rather than a tinted moisturiser. It is lightly rose scented and has an SPF of 20.  In terms of its moisturising qualities, it feels pretty good and soaks in nicely. Would I use it again? Yes 

Would I buy the full size product ( $36 for 50ml) ? No

New Name & a challenge!!

I have been thinking of changing my blog's name and today decided on "Diane's Daily Dabbles", which in turn will lead to quite a challenge, to blog on a daily basis!! Between skincare, makeup and healthy living I am sure I will have no shortage of things to talk about. Who knows what else will crop up along the way!! If you have any suggestions, I would be delighted to take them on board  x

Update!

Hi everyone! Just two things. Firstly, I hope you like the new design on my blog - do you prefer it? Also I was experimenting on YouTube and made a very simple, little video. If you are interested click here
Hope you enjoy it!! :) I am working on a much better one and will let you know when it is up! 

Scrub a dub dub!!

I felt I had to share my views on these Body Shop products as they are so good!!  One for the face and one for the body.

For the Face

It is a Honey and Oat 3-in-1 Scrub Mask, which I use about once a month. It kind of looks like Readybrek!! I leave it on for about 10 minutes and am left with lovely soft skin :) It feels very gentle, not harsh in any way. This is for Normal/Dry skin. As you can see I am nearing the end of this tub - a good sign!

For the Body

This Brazil Nut Body Scrub smells divine and is a very good exfoliant. I cannot say I am a regular exfoliator but when I do feel like it, I go for this one. The formula includes evening primrose seeds and crushed walnut. It does a great job in leaving skin super soft and smooth.

Glossybox August

It's that time of the month again! This time it is a "High Flyers" edition with travel-appropriate products from around the world. 

Firstly the eye lash curler jumped out at me as I have just recently started using mine again. I learned a good tip too - to heat the curler briefly with a hairdryer to get more of a curl - which works! Just be careful not to overheat it. This curler is by Emite,  a Swedish brand, and costs about £20 sterling. Curling your lashes can make all the difference!

The MakeUp Remover pen by Oceane, a Brazilian brand, would be handy for touch ups or in an emergency. It comes with 3 refills. It is meant to be used for removal of excess makeup around eyes and lips. It feels like those jumbo colouring markers children use and when rubbed on the skin, feels slightly wet. Quite strange! This is not available in the UK or Ireland yet.

The Jelly Pong Pong 2-in-1 crayon can be used as an eyeliner and an eye shadow.  It gives a very thick, precise line and seems pretty pigmented. This costs £10.50.

The TRESemme Keratin Smooth Concentrated Rinse Off Treatment claims it returns weathered hair to its former glory in 60 seconds! I like the sound of this as I am not mad about standing around waiting for conditioners to take effect.

Finally, Urban Veda, founded on Ancient Indian principles, is one of the latest skincare ranges and I received their Daily Radiance Facial Wash, which is supposed to leave skin less vulnerable to the environment. As someone with sensitive skin, I am looking forward to trying this out.

I will try and test these in the coming weeks and let you know how they go.

More makeup!!

Sorry I have been away so long - the days are flying by! On the bright side I have a good few things to blog about!

I got this lovely present from my mother. It is by a company called Makeover Essentials and has lovely shades of eye shadows, lip glosses and blushes. I really like that all the colours are usable and very suited to Irish skin colouring. In the past I have only used a fraction of similar sized kits but this one looks like it will be well used! 

I also wanted to mention these L'Oreal products - True Match Super Blendable Powder (W3 Golden Beige and Glambronze  (101 Blonde Harmony)

I have used the powder a few times as a mattifying powder but want to try it this week again to see how good it is - will let you know. 

On the other hand I have used the Glambronze for the past few months and I love it. It is handy that it comes with a bronze and highlight. What I sometimes do is mix both together to get a very healthy natural glow. If you wanted a reasonably priced bronzer this would be perfect. 

Update

For those of you trying to be healthier or become more toned, feel free to follow my progress here. I am very happy with how it is going so far!

I am going to be doing a "What I wore in ... July" in the next few days. I would love to see what you loved wearing in July. I think it will be interesting to see how our clothes change through the seasons. I would love to hear from you as always.

I also have many more things to blog, let me know what you think! x

Looking forward to wearing ...

I was shopping yesterday and picked up a few nice basics including these t-shirts with lovely feminine detail around the collar and sleeve. I think they are very pretty. I am trying to wear brighter colours so I went for this reddish colour and also the black as a neutral. 10 euro each in H&M.

I found this on the sale rail in Oasis for just 10 euro. I like that it is flowy and light and that it has a wide neck. If you look closely you can see nice detail on the shoulders and sleeves. It was there in brown too but I thought I would go for this greeny colour (I am not great at naming colours!!)

 I also got this on the sale rail in Oasis for 19euro a week ago. I have been wearing it with leggings and it's really nice. Another wide neck! Again if you look closely you will see zips on the front, at either side. I love prints so this immediately drew me towards it.

At the end of the month I will be posting "What I wore in August" 

New Shoes!

The last few weeks I have gotten so much wear out of these! I got them in Penneys and I am very pleasantly surprised. They are so so soft and comfortable. They look great with leggings or jeans. I love them!! 

I wore these for the first time a few weeks ago on a night out. My lovely sister actually bought them for me for my birthday a few years ago in Adelaide and it was always too wet or too cold to wear them! I intend to wear them any chance I get as they are very flattering and comfortable too! 

Laying the foundations!!!

Here are 4 liquid foundations which would really suit anyone with redness they wish to cover up. 

I am a big fan of the L'Oreal True Match! I remember when I first read the label I was persuaded immediately. 'Matches Skin Colour and Texture', 'Super Blendable', 'True to Skin Shade' convinced me anyway. I started out with W3 Golden Beige, which was a teeny bit to dark but still I made it work I think, by blending properly. This completely covered any blemishes or redness. Recently, I got the W2 Golden Vanilla which is a good bit paler, maybe too pale, but again I make it work. Actually the paleness of  it works well on the redness. If I was going out at night or had a special occasion I would go for the darker W3. They are so reliable in terms of coverage and there are so many shades, you will definitely find the one for you! It also has SPF 17.

Another favourite from L'Oreal is Infallible. I don't know what shade this is but it is a really nice, sandy shade. It looks very nice on pale skin and has good coverage. It is a little less effective at covering redness. 

Finally Estee Lauder Double Wear. I got this in 1C1 Shell which is way too light for me and makes me look like a ghost but it does have amazing coverage so I need to get it in the right shade! I sometimes use it to cover some blemishes and they vanish completely. 

I posted about Rimmel's Wake Me Up and Bare Minerals in July.