We’ve had another scour for any deals to be had and there are some really good offers.  We picked out what we thought might be of most interest to you.  Should you know of any offers running or due to run do let us know…

Cosmetics

This Thursday purchase a ‘Bag for Life’ in any of The Body Shop stores throughout Ireland and save 20% off whatever you can fit into this bag.  Proceeds from the sale of this bag will go to the Children on the Edge charity.

Book a foundation consultation at the Clarins counter in Boots Dundrum today and recieve a FREE two week supply of your perfect foundation with any other purchase from the Clairns range.

Sam McCauley‘s have up to 50% off the H2O+ range and half price on the Johnsons Soothing Natural Range.

Nosh

Japanese restaurant Koishi in Ballsbridge have a three course early bird menu for €29.90.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen in Newbridge are running a burger and a beer (or glass of wine/milk shake…) deal at €9.99!!

Pampering

Bellaza Salon in Ranelagh are giving 50% off ALL treatments until the end of April!  Ring around as most salons are doing great deals this month, especially those at hotels.

Fashion

Asos.com offering FREE next day delivery on orders made between 12-6 today.

Visit the Gap Store in Dundrum Town Centre where you can sign up to become a Gap VIP and receive 30% off your purchases between 10th – 14th March 2010.

Hair Care

Therapie are offering a Hair Couture special this month of 50% off cut and colour – Dublin and Galway.

Peter Mark are still giving 20% off all cuts, colour and styling.

Getaways

Rathsallagh House are running a couple of offers.  The first is their Mother’s Day Package and it includes; lunch, evening supper, over night B&B, golf or a half hour massage, 10% discount voucher for the Kildare Retail Village and a gift certificate for Newbridge Silverware. €169 per person sharing!

For St. Patrick’s Day they are offering B&B, golf or a half hour massage, Traditional Music night, 10% discount voucher for the Kildare Retail Village and a gift certificate for Newbridge Silverware. – also €169 per person sharing.

Events/Entertainment

If you are at a loose end this evening then why not pop along to Brown Thomas, Dublin to meet Irish designer Joanne Hynes where she will be presenting her new collection on Level 2. Joanne will be speaking, offering style advice with fashion workshops from 6.30-8.30 tonight. Joanne can boast dressing PJ Harvey, Sinead O Connor, Daphne Guinness and Elodie Bouchez. Not forgetting to mention supermodel Jacquetta Wheeler was voted Best Dressed in Harpers & Queen wearing a Joanne Hynes feather and crystal dress. This sounds like a great way to pass the evening and get some style inspiration along with it.

Meanwhile at Brown Thomas Cork you can you can attend a Style Workshop focusing on the Mary Grant Spring Summer collection this Saturday 13th March from 11am-3pm.

The Jolly Sunbeams Barbershop quartet will be on the Mall this Sunday at Dundrum Town Centre – ready and waiting to serenade you and your mum!

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M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid Foundation

Where would I be without this foundation – I absolutely love it! I must tell you straight off that it has quite a heavy coverage, as some people would not like this. This is an oil-based product so if you are prone to oily, spotty skin it might not be suitable for you. Personally I like this as it hides a multitude of sins and gives a smooth finish to your skin. It also has great staying power, lasting for at least up to nine hours. I apply it using my M.A.C foundation brush, which is much better than using your fingers as it really spreads the fluid evenly. The M.A.C brushes are made from real horse hair so can be washed and should last. If buying this glass bottle of foundation one tip I have for you is to purchase the pump that attaches to the bottle too. Otherwise you end up wasting a lot of the foundation. It also has an SPF 15, which is obviously very important to consider. If you are very environmentally conscious with all of your purchases (which I hope you are), fear not as M.A.C have a recycling policy. If you return any 3 empty M.A.C products you get a free lipstick, I think all cosmetic companies should follow this policy! See our professionals foundation tips on a previous post…

Available at Brown Thomas, Dundrum Town Centre or on-line

Clarins – Teint Eclat Confort (True Comfort Foundation)

This foundation was very impressive and had a lovely silky, smooth feel whilst applying. It just seems to glide over your face and really leaves a luminous glow on your skin. Definitely a medium coverage and, as it describes on the tube it’s “truly comfortable” to wear! It has great staying power lasting from morning to night and thankfully it also has an SPF 15 built in. This would be my second choice of foundation.

Clarins available in many chemists nation-wide, also department stores and on-line…

L’Oreal Paris, Visible Lift (Serum Inside)

This foundation is more suitable for mature skin as it has collagen and elastin among it’s ingredients for lifting and smoothing wrinkles. It spreads quite evenly when using a foundation brush and has a light/medium coverage. The staying power with this foundation wasn’t as long as the foundations above, and I found after four or five hours it had faded quite a bit. Visible Lift has an SPF 17.

L’Oreal available in chemists and most department stores nationwide.

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I have been trying out stretch mark creams over the last few weeks. The three products I tried were Vichy‘s new Anti-Stretch Mark Cream, followed by Clarins Stretch Mark Control and lastly Mama Mio Tummy Rub Stretch Mark Oil. Fortunately I don’t have any stretch marks – yet!! Prevention is better than cure and all that so here’s how I found the three products.

Of the three brands my favourite was the Vichy, it applied easily and absorbed into the skin without any residues or mess. It felt soft on application and had a light scent. I liked applying the Clarins at first until I noticed it sits on your skin in bits similar to those left on paper if you use an eraser over pencil! They also include a leaflet with instructions to gain the most benefit but you certainly couldn’t use this cream on any skin that would be exposed without looking like you were peeling. Finally came the Mama Mio, the first thing I noticed was the pleasant fragrance hinting of the wheatgerm ingredients used. This was an actual oil so after application there was no choice but to put on a dressing gown and have breakfast whilst waiting for most of the oil to be absorbed. It’s a nice product but if you don’t like that greasy feeling you get from oils you may want to opt for a cream instead otherwise a great little oil that comes in a really pretty box. Apparently celebs like Victoria Beckham, Christina Aguilera, Milla Jovovich and more have favoured this product.

To summise I’d recommend the Vichy, especially for anyone that is short of time, you just apply and go with no residue to mark your clothes. It should last you a few weeks and costs ?26.

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