Origins Feeling Rosy Smoothing Face Mask Review

January throws a spotlight on skincare - after all the harsh wind and winter can really dry out the skin and make it appear rougher than it should be.

Face masks are often something I especially don't bother with, but after receiving a sample of this rooibos tea and rose face mask from Origins I decided to give it a go. I especially was taken in by the fact that you mix it yourself with two teaspoons of water.

It is very easy to apply, some recommend that you use a flat foundation brush to apply face masks but I just used my hands. I wasn't exactly sold on the smell... the combination of rose and cold tea didn't exactly do it for me but I was trying this for the skin care properties so I powered on. 

The mask claims to smooth the skin, lightly exfoliate and also is suitable for sensitive skin. 

Of course I had to take a picture with the mask on for posterity, blogging is as glam as it seems.

The lovely red colour brings out the green in my eyes but apart from that I don't think I would be going anywhere outside the confines of my bathroom with this on!

The texture is a little clumpy and grainy and it did dry to where it was hard to move my face. Once I washed the mask off with warm water it really did leave my skin feeling smooth, soft and with a glow about it.

The Origins Smoothing Face mask retails at around €35 in Boots which is definitely a little steep for a student budget - even though I am no longer a student I don't think I would repurchase only for the fact that I am not a massive lover of face masks. I would much rather spend my money on a serum or a decent moisturiser.

Let me know your thoughts below, would you try this face mask? Do you think its worth the price?

Disclaimer 

*This was a sample I was given to try for myself free of charge with no expectation of a review* 

First Impressions: Platinum Hair Extensions by Sarah Ethel Hair

Hair extensions are something I have definitely had more of a hate hate relationship with over the years... I have had manys a bad hair day and some of them have been down to the worst colour matched synthetic clip ins money could buy and also the dodgiest bond extensions I had done in a random Polish salon in city centre Dublin. Those extensions made my hair snap off on the right side of my head and resulted in me getting a bob... But let's not talk about the horror stories... I'm here to talk about maybe potentially getting it RIGHT for a change.

Sarah is a freelance hair stylist and has years of experience in her area. I started having her to the house to do my highlights, then an upstyle for my grad and eventually we stumbled across the subject of extensions which she does. 

I toyed with the idea for a while and was very afraid to take the plunge as I had previously had such a bad experience previously but then I just decided feck it, to go for it! It has now been one week so I had the Platinum extensions applied and I think I'm qualified enough to give my first impressions. 

But first... The transformation pictures below: 

You can see from the pictures that after our initial colour match (this only took 15 minutes and she came to the house) Sarah managed to get a very good blend of the colours in my hair. 

I'll admit the extensions were too long for me when they were first put in. I felt like a total Barbie doll but after all the end goal was volume and length. I decided to get them cut some more as they would be more manageable and natural and blend better into my own hair. 

                                 

The above picture shows the size of the bonds used in the hair. They aren't very noticeable which means I can still tie my hair up into a ponytail or plait it (which is recommended at nighttime) without them being obvious. There is nothing worse than a head full of visible bonds! 

I will admit the first 2-3 nights I found very difficult to sleep as I wasn't used to the bonds at all. I'm a tosser and turner anyways so safe to say that first nigh not much sleep was had, but a week on they are much less noticeable when you are lying down. 

I'm a low maintenance hair kind of girl which could spell a recipe for disaster getting extensions but I feel like now that I have long hair I am more inclined to want to curl it, or plait or style it just because it looks so much prettier (in my opinion). 

My only gripe is that the drying time is quite long as obviously I have a lot more hair and you should never sleep on damp extensions. I have however invested in the Lanai blo hair dryer which I have heard is suppose to really cut the drying time down. It hasn't arrived yet but I will let you know once I get to test it out! 

If you are considering getting hair extensions I can definitely recommend Sarah. It's so handy to have someone travel to the house, she is so professional, easy to talk too and she was so quick at applying the extensions. I think it took just an hour and a half and that included styling time as well as she did some Ghd curls. 

Haircare tips for extensions that she advised me were to avoid Pantene, and to buy a Tangle Teezer ! Also don't apply conditioner near the roots and although the you can use straighteners, hot rollers, curlers just don't apply them too close to the bond as obviously this could damage them. 

I am really happy with them but also delighted that I got them cut a bit as I really wasn't used to how long they were initially, and even though it wasn't a massive amount I got taken off I think bra strap length is ideal if originally you had shoulder length hair. 

If I take good care of these extensions they can last 4 months, I will do another blog post when I decide to get them taking out about my overall experience but if you have any questions about getting extensions or getting in touch with Sarah let me know in the comments below or message me on Facebook at Blogging it Beautiful 

Prices for hair extensions start at €260. 

Disclaimer 

*I received a discount on my hair extensions in return for doing this blog post but as always my blog posts are my honest opinions* 

Bare Minerals Skincare for Combination Skin Types

                          

                                  

Starting off New Year can be tough - what with resolutions and harsh chilly weather your skin can take a beating. I've decide to review the skincare I have been using for the past few months. 

I have chosen the Clay Chamelon cleanser by Bare Minerals and also their Smart Combination moisturiser. Normally I would say that I have quite dry skin but when I tried this brand for the first time a couple of months ago I had begun to break out again so I decide to try a formula that is specifically formulated for combination skin. 

                                     

   

The product that sold it to me was the clay cleanser. The smell alone - it contains Brazilian red clay papaya and bamboo extracts plus mineral sea salts - sold it to me. It smells divine like all of the skincare products. They really promote a spa like feeling to the senses. This cleanser is great because it removes makeup, can be used on dry skin and can also be doubled up as a mask. 

You apply it to a dry face, then using damp hands work the product into the fade which is where the Chamelon part comes into play...the white product turns red on your skin and leaves a lovely smooth texture to the skin. 

This retails for €23 and I think it is definitely worth it if you like a nice creamy cleanser great on sensitive skin that can also double up as a mask. 

The Smart Combination moisturiser is a lovely light formula if you don't like the feeling of thick greasy formulas. It claims to 'bring beautiful balance to skin'. While I like the texture of this moisturiser and feel like it is perfect summer moisturiser I definitely think that I need something thicker and more moisturising in the winter. 

It is powered by "intuitive mineral moisture technology" and to cut through the bullshit it means that more water is infused in the moisturiser as opposed to oil as when skin is a combination skin type it tends to need more water to hydrate it as opposed to loading it down with oil. 

This retails for €40 which is a bit steep but it is a 50ml bottle and a little goes a long way. 

Another plus point for the brand is that they have really upgraded their packaging game lately and the slick white and rose gold bottles will make any dressing table look Insta worthy. 

*My little disclaimer is that I used to work for Bare Minerals and recieved these products for free as part of my allocation however these views are entirely my own and I wasn't approached to use or review the products*

Have you tried any of these products? Do you use bare Minerals and will you consider their skincare in future? 

My Year in a Review

I feel like a bit of a fraud doing a blog style year in review - I haven't blogged properly in so long. There was a time when I first started blogging that believe it or not three times a week was the norm. If I manage to write a blog post once every three months nowadays I feel like I'm doing well.

There is a couple of reasons for my disappearance from blogging over the last while and I'll let you in on how my 2016 has been. It's been full of life, living, happiness, setting and achieving goals and travelling to places I never thought I'd see. And that's allowed, because cliche aside.... You only get one life so you might as well live it. 

I've struggled with some terrifying lows as well over this past year - it's funny how the happiest of times can suddenly make you so aware of the depths you could sink to as well. 

                    

Let's focus on the positives however and I'll take you on a whirlwind tour of my year... 

March held a visit to Geneva, Switzerland for me to visit two very old friends of mine. We have known each other since we were around 9 years old, and though we live in different countries and have only met up about three times max in the last 10 years it's almost like we never left. 

The summer I travelled to Amsterdam and Brussels - ate waffles, took a canal boat tour, experienced some red light nightlife and had a ball of a time. 

The summer is also when I started seeing someone very special who was to set the benchmark for how the rest of my year would go... Up! 

                 

We have had so many amazing experiences together in the past short five months and I can't wait to see what the New Year brings. 

I finished my thesis in August and graduated in November. I left a job and started a new one within a very short space of time...it was definitely a big period of transition for me leaving college and becoming a "grown up". I turned 23 this year but I still feel like I'm 17. Anyone else feel like that? 

                            

  

This Christmas was the perfect example of the fact that it's the people that make the holidays. My time off work consisted of a weekend, but I still had the most special time surrounded by the people I love the most. 

                             

I'm so excited for 2017 and too see what it brings... Most importantly I have to remember to just breathe and enjoy the process. 

                                

Wishing everyone a very happy New Year full of love, laughter and happiness xx