Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte - Rose Paris #27 with SPF 15

Hi Girlies, I put a picture up on facebook of this Yves Saint Laurent lipstick (€31.50) I wore yesterday and got such a great response from it that I decided to natter about it here on the aul blog! I won the lipstick in shade Rose Paris well over a year ago and when I got it thought I would never EVER be able to pull it off so it sat looking pretty with the rest of my lipstick...until now!

So what made me take the plunge and pucker up with this Bright pink with coral undertones lipstick?! Well ladies, I bought the dress below on sale in Dunnes Stores for just €12 reduced from €35 and teamed it up with a turquoise beaded necklace that I bought in Portugal last year for a whopping €3. I usually always wimp out and wear a nude lipstick or something that won't look too messy if it smudges while eating or drinking. I'm not one for running to the ladies every few minutes to fix my make-up, I actually rarely bring make-up out with me. However, yesterday with such a bright outfit on I felt like today was the day to be daring and as soon as I applied the lipstick in shade Rose Paris it was a match made in heaven!

I could not get over how creamy and soft the lipstick felt as I applied it and WOW the colour pay off is amazing. Apart from the Rimmel Apocalips lip lacquers I don't think I have ever used a lipstick so pigmented in all my days! The consistency is so creamy that I was sure it was not going to be long lasting but fortunately for me I was wrong and it lasted far longer than I had expected. And get this, it's SPF 15 too. 

Check out the gold luxurious packaging too, it's super classy and sophisticated. I usually hide or re-apply my lipstick super fast to avoid people looking at me but with the packaging of this award winning lipstick I had no hesitations at all re-applying my make-up in public. I especially like how the tube has the corresponding colour shade to the lipstick.

Now I have to admit paying over €30 for a lipstick is something I have ever done before. If I win the lotto or become super rich from one of my crazy ideas presented on Dragons Den I would gladly re-purchase this lipstick in many different shades but until then I will enjoy this little beauty until it hits pan!

Thank you for all your kind comments on Instagram and Facebook, let me know what you think of this lippy in the comments below. Question of the day: What's your favourite lipstick this summer?

Love,

Sarah 

Missing You

You took care of me as a baby and looked out for me into my teens. I've known you for twenty six years of my life and I am blessed for each one but it just doesn't seem long enough. 

On a beautiful summers day you thought me how to use a skipping rope in the middle of your kitchen. I can remember the laughter as if it was yesterday. You showed me how to bake fairy buns topped with icing and sprinkles (my obsession with sprinkles had begun!) and you showed me how to get the biscuit base of your delicious lemon cheesecake just right.

I remember the jumper you knitted me for my sixth birthday, it had daisies on the collar and pretty ribbons on the sleeves. I'm sure it took you ages to make and I had no idea or appreciated it at the time but it's a memory that always stuck with me. I want you to know that I loved it.

You had the softest skin which I will always associate with the bottle of Oil of Ulay (Olay) sitting on your dressing table since as far back as I can remember. When I'm visiting mam I always sneak some of hers and it reminds me of you. 

You liked to be called “Nana", nan or nanny just wouldn't do!  Going on the hunt for birthday cards with “Nana” on them was always a funny reminder of this. I went into Hallmark today to pick up a father’s day card and I realised I won’t be buying Nana cards anymore. 

I remember you and granddad took myself and the boys to the Phoenix Park to feed the ducks quite a bit, always making sure we never got too close to the water or ran too far from your sight. We were little terrors and of course never listened. Your poor nerves must have been shot! 

Now you are looking down on us, watching over us. Lots of things have been reminding me of you since you left and there have been a few split second moments when I've forgotten you are no longer with us and I thought to myself "Nana would like this, I must tell her later" Which made me feel bad. I just can't believe you're gone. My heart still aches in sadness and secret tears still flow but I have many happy memories which make me smile also. 

Your memory is my keepsake, with which I'll never part. 

Lot's of love,

Sarah

Elave Campaign with the Irish Cancer Society

Elave is one of my favourite Irish brands that I don't mention often enough and they have started their third campaign in conjunction with the Irish Cancer Society. From May 1st until the end of June €1 from every Elave product with the red sticker (as seen above) will be donated to their Survivorship programme. The programme was set up for people who have recently been diagnosed with Cancer so that they have a chance to meet up with a volunteer who has beaten cancer themselves to talk to them about their experience and offer support to them.

Often treatments for cancer can be severe and in some cases can cause the skin to become more irritated and react harshly to some washing products. Elave products are free from harsh chemicals and are gentle enough for all skin types that it was a no brainer for Elave to work with The Irish Cancer Society on this campaign.

I have used Elave products for well over a year now. I love their Intense moisture Surge, their newly formulated shampoo which is sulphate free and lathers up really well. I wasn't fond of the old formulation because it didn't lather up but the new shampoo and I are inseparable! I also like to use their conditioner and don't leave the house without applying their Daily Skin Defence with SPF 45.

Elave recently got in touch with me to spread the word about their campaign. They have also been very kind enough to sponsor a giveaway for my readers. As recommended by Grazia and myself the Daily skin defence moisturiser SPF45 is perfect for protecting and repairing environmental skin damage. We are finally seeing the sun in Ireland this summer so make sure you are protecting your skin before you head out. Elave have given me six of these to give away, to enter please follow the widget below. I would love you help with spreading the word about this campaign and would appreciate you using the Twitter, Facebook or Google+ buttons below this post to share with your family and friends.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Elave products are available in pharmacies nationwide or online from the Sam Mc Cauley website www.Buy4now.ie. If you are in the UK or elsewhere worldwide you can order online from eChemist.co.uk.
If you need to contact the Irish Cancer Society you can freephone 1800 200 700 or email helpline@irishcancer.ie

Thank you for helping to spread the word.

Love,

Sarah