Hi Everyone

Most of You will have heard Me complain of My adult acne. I’ve suffered with skin breakouts for years. I’ve tried many different treatments through the years but to no avail.

Shortly after Christmas I met Stephanie the owner of FACE on Chapel street in Castlebar. We chatted about My skin troubles and How I had tried everything from Laser to closely monitoring My diet to taking hormonal balancing DIM to even trying antibiotics. I explained how sensitive and reactive My skin was. Stephanie kindly invited Me in to be her guinea pig to try and get My skin under control.

Continue reading

Hi Folks

I was recently given Mad4Eyebrow to review. As You have probably guessed it’s a brow product. I love a good strong brow so I was happy to test it out in exchange for an honest review.

Continue reading

Hi Everyone 

Hope You are all well. As I’m sure You have all heard I’m organising an event in Breaffy house resort on Sunday September 4th. It’s a ladies afternoon there will be Hair & Make up demos, a fitness talk and I have a fabulous lady to chat to You all about the importance of emotional well being. There will be a break for afternoon tea and a glass of bubbles and a chance to chat and browse stands. 

We will be holding a raffle and a collection on the day to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research. As You know this is close to my own heart and I’d love to contribute in some way to the cause. A few business have already got in touch to donate raffle prizes. Thank You to all who have contributed so far. If anyone else would like to donate a voucher or a prize please contact me on Facebook or at Maria@mrsdillonsdiary.ie 

I’m hoping the day will be a huge success I think it’s time We had an event like this in Castlebar. It will be a lovely opportunity for a girls day out for a bit of fun and hopefully We all come away from the day having learned somthing. Let me know what You think??

Tickets are available to purchase at eventbrite. 

Here
Please note this is a ticket only event, as there is food being served and goodybags.  Please purchase Your tickets in advance to avoid dissapointment. Keep an eye on my snapchat for updates on the coming weeks Mrspdilly2b 

I’m looking forward to meeting Some of You at the event. Let me know if Your coming along. 

Love Maria xx

Hi Everyone

I hope You are all well. This week I tried out the Cailyn o! Wow brush along with the Cailyn BB compact foundation. I have to say I was very impressed with both. I have dehydrated skin and it has taken me ages to find a foundation I love for everyday wear. The Cailyn BB compact in shade no 2 sandstone (for me) gives lovely coverage but it’s not too heavy. It’s creamy and hydrating. I can be dry and flaky around my nose area. After a few hours my foundation can look very cakey. This was NOT the case with the Cailyn BB compact. Even after 7/8 hours on it was still perfect. I didn’t have that tight itchy feeling. I didn’t need to use any powder to set it as it dries to a lovely velvet finish while still remaining dewy. 

 

I had heard of Cailyn from a few other bloggers on snapchat. I was very interested in trying out the o! Wow foundation brush. So I had a look on the Cailyn Ireland website  and purchased the brush and the foundation. With postage It was just under €60 for the two. I love this brush, it’s just fabulous. So easy to blend and it’s the perfect size with a pointed top for hard to reach areas. It’s ideal for applying foundation and to blend in consealers, contour and highlight. You can also use it with powders but I think it really excels with liquid or cream products. It blends foundation and consealers effortlessly leaving a flawless finish.

 

I don’t really tend to write many product reviews but when I find something that’s really good I will share it with You.  I know a few of my snapchat followers have already ordered the brush after watching me use it on Friday. Don’t forget to snap me and let me know how You get on if You order it. 

   

I actually wore the foundation again on Saturday and even wore it out on Saturday night. It’s perfect for my skin and lasts very well. 

As always thank you for reading and please share this post.

Love Maria xx

Hi Everyone 

You have all heard me raving about Image skincare before. I have been using Image since July and I absolutely love it. There is a lot of information out there about all the different skincare brands. It can be confusing at times to know what’s right for you. Firstly let me explain Image are medical based skincare products. This means that Image works beyond the top layer of skin, getting deep into the epidermis. To you and me this means that the new layers of skin coming out have already been treated. A lot of cosmetic based skincare products only work on the first layer of skin where the product is directly applied. As soon as that layer of skin is shed, all the good work is gone with it. Image skincare is a results driven product. This means is it based on what the product can actually do to correct your skin issues. Forget about scents and luxury packaging, because they are not important Image helps you to reach your skin goals. 

Personally I suffer with breakouts on my chin area. My skin is sensitive and reactive it does not respond well to stress.  I can also be dehydrated on the nose and forehead. Last week I started using the Ormedic range from Image to try and deal with the breakouts. I’m using the serum in the morning with my prevention moisturiser. At night I’m using the Ormedic serum and night cream. Aswell as my usual Vitamin c cleanser in the morning, for dehydrated skin and salisylic cleanser at night. I’m very impressed by the Ormedic serum and night cream. They have really helped to can down the breakouts on my chin area. I love the night cream as its so fresh and hydrating. My skin feels so soft after sleeping in it. It’s lovely and calming. 

 

 
Have you tried Image skincare yet?? I’m really delighted with the results. My skin looks much better this week. It’s so hard to get skincare right. Breakouts and patchy skin effect my confidence and make me feel horrible. Thank god I discovered Image. 

  

Pauline Cawleys here in Castlebar stocks Image and the girls are always on hand with loads of tips and advice for me. It’s brilliant to have this fantastic product available here on my doorstep. Pauline Cawleys also do Image facials I haven’t tried them yet but it’s definitely next on my list. Click below to view their website 

Pauline Cawleys Castlebar
 

 
I used Image all week to prepare for my friends wedding last weekend. I felt brilliant on Saturday when my make up went on like a dream.

So that’s my latest update on Image skincare. If you have any questions about Your own skin You can get in touch with Pauline Cawleys beauty clinic Castlebar. The girls there will be able to give professional advice. I would recommend seeking advice from a professional salon before buying these products for the first time. Some of the ingredients are quite strong so you need to know what you are doing. Make sure you mention my blog if you do get in touch. 

As always thanks for reading and please hit share.

Bye for now 

Love Maria xx

Hi Everyone 

Hope you are all well. As I have mentioned my friends are getting married this weekend. I’m doing lots of prep this week. I think part of the fun of going to a wedding is getting ready. I started off yesterday by drinking loads of water to help hydrate. I also did some food prep. This saves time in the evenings during the week. I have a few jobs to do and fit in a few walks too. So I prepped some meals for the fridge to help keep me on track. 

 

I started off last night by giving my skin a good exfoliation. I used Image skincare total resurfacing masque.  Afterwards I used Glamglow thirsty mud to hydrate. Getting rid of dead skin is essential before a big event. To ensure flawless make up. 
  
Today I went to Pauline Cawleys for my waxing. I get my brows, bikini, legs and underarms waxed. (I know, your thinking she still hasn’t got laser???) That will be my next project after Invisalign. I’m loving my freshly done brows they are lovely and dark and defined. Rebecca always looks after me in Pauline Cawleys and she always does a brilliant job. 

Tonight it’s time to do a super body exfoliation. My favourite product for the job has to be cocoa brown tough stuff. It’s just fantastic. I use it dry first to scrub all over then jump in the shower and wash it all away. This actually doubles up as a great foot scrub too. 

 

 
Followed by my favourite body moisturiser from soap and glory. This is super hydrating and smells divine. 

 

 
I’m going to do another Olaplex treatment on my hair tomorrow. I’m so in love with the results from Olaplex. My hair is so shiny and soft I just love it. 

 

So that’s it for today folks I’m off for a walk now. I need to think of fitting into my dress come Saturday.

Bye for now and thanks for reading. Don’t forget to hit share.

Love Maria  

Hi Everyone 

We are just home from the first ever Mayo Style awards in Breaffy house. The style awards were ran by the Connaught Telegraph and a great night was had by all. I was very lucky to make it into the final three in the category for Best in Hairdressing. I was very excited as it was my first time getting through for any kind of award. The category was won by Allure hairdressing with my salon PLATINUM hairdressing  and LS hair parlour as runners up. 

  
 
It was wonderful to be selected as a finalist and to be part of such a great event. There was loads of publicity for the businesses involved in the Connaught telegraph which created a great buzz locally.  The night itself was a very glamorous occasion with great craic and banter from MC Toni Bourke. Breaffy house did a great job looking after us with a lovely meal, there was dancing later on too. We had just arrived home from our honeymoon in Mexico today so we were exhausted otherwise We would have stayed much later. 
 

 
However I’m delighted to show you my cert for qualifying as a finalist. It was a great achievement for me as a small business and I’m thrilled to have done so well. I’m already looking forward to next years awards. Congrats and well done to all the winners and finalists. It was a brilliant night.

 

Thanks to Everyone who voted for me and to the judges for selecting my salon as one of the top three in Mayo.I really appreciate the positive feedback about my business. It has really given me a much needed  confidence boost after a difficult few months. Mum would have been delighted to see PLATINUM doing so well.
  
On the night I wore a dress from River Island from about two years ago. I had to cover up as my skin is peeling after getting sunburnt in Mexico. Not something I’d recommend by the way.  Hurray for autumn and opaque tights.My Sparkly shoe boots are Gerry Maguires from a few seasons ago too.

  
My clutch  & earrings are from Tomorrow’s Heirlooms.ie .I did my own hair & make up. Face is Benefit foundation, Youngblood powder, pippa palate, the lipstick is MAC honey love which I bought in America. Benefit they’re real mascara. All in all I thought I looked great for a lady who only got off a plane from the U.S at 7 am.

 

 
  
Well folks Thanks for reading, could you do me a favour and hit the share button. I’m trying to build readership on my blog at the moment and every click counts. I appreciate all your help and support you are all very kind. Also if your not already following me on snapchat add me. All my best antics are there first.

  
Bye for now,

Love Maria xx

Hi Everyone 

Hope You are all well, I’m relaxing poolside here so Just thought I’d write a little post on the Holiday essentials I really couldn’t live without. I hadn’t really time to dwell on the packing situation, due to the horrendous few weeks we had leading up our honeymoon. Under normal circumstances I would have been much better organised but that couldn’t have been helped.  Il be much better prepared for our next holiday. 

 

 
So first of all, let’s talk hair. I knew from previous holidays that our poor hair can get ruined by chlorine and sea water. I packed a treatment, just in case. My old reliable ALFAPARF reconstruction treatment. This is the range we use in the salon and it never fails me. I also took the ALFAPARF magnifying shampoo and conditioner. These guys are lightweight and don’t leave a heavy residue on the hair. Perfect for humid weather. I had no time to get my roots done before my holidays with the funeral and everything. I actually don’t recommend getting highlights done before a sun holiday. I find the sun ruins a good set of highlights, this is a waste of money. I’m glad I didn’t now, as I have spent a few days treating my hair and the condition is better. I can look forward to getting them done once I’m home.

New York was really humid and my hair was a disaster.One thing I will definitely do for my next holiday is get a lisse design smoothing treatment done before I go away,we do this in my salon. As my hair was just impossible to style. I’d start blowdrying it and by the time I had finished it was nearly damp again even with aircon. There was a different voltage on the power points here and even with a plug adaptor my hairdryer wouldn’t work properly. Disaster.com!!!! There was a dryer in the hotel but no nozzle on it agggggghhhhhhh! I really loved New York but I really don’t know how anyone has nice hair in the place. 

Skinwise, this image prevention tinted moisturiser was my saving grace. I wore it during the day in New York and I’m wearing it all the time since we arrived in Cancun. It’s hydrating but lightweight and comfortable for wearing in the heat. It gives just the right amount of colour but still looks natural. Trust me walking around Manhattan in 30 + degree heat  is not the place for a full face of make up. 

 At night I wore a light foundation(benefits) with Youngblood powder, mascara, my brows (of course) a little shadow, blush and lippy. I took my pippa palate with me on holidays. It’s absolutely perfect for taking away as its so neat and handy saves a lot of space. I picked up a few bits from MAC over here I will do a full post on my purchases soon. 
 

 

 The next essential item for New York is a pair of suitable walking shoes. I took my Nike Thea’s I wear these at work so they were perfect. We walked for miles around the city. This was a great way to explore and see as much as possible. We packed a lot into our three days. I tell you I was glad of my Nikes because we were walking for hours. 

Another item I could not have lived without was a pair of New look patterned light trousers from last summer. They are so handy here in Cancun , light and comfortable and perfect to wear for dinner with a vest top and flip flops. I’m so glad I packed them. Shorts and skirts are great but in hot sweaty weather a pair of light pants can be a godsend. 

I’d definitely recommend taking , a bottle of aloe Vera gel. I burnt my shins of all places. I wouldn’t mind but I never get a colour on my legs EVER! I had to buy aloe Vera gel at the hotel and it was something ridiculous like $16. For my next holiday I will definitely bring my own. Anyway they are on the mend so no harm done. 

  

  
I also read two excellent books. The girl on the train  and Gone girl. I honestly couldn’t put them down. I would highly recommend both. I love reading on holidays I will definitely try to read more once I return home.

Well that’s all for today folks, if anyone has any questions about our trip or is thinking of booking somthing similar. Feel free to comment or contact me privately on maria@mrsdillonsdiary.ie

As always thank you for reading.

Love Maria xx 
 
  

Hi Everyone,

So dare I say it? But since I am in the mid thirties zone, my skin has really changed. I suffered with oily skin and breakouts for years. I had loads of excellent products to deal with oily skin.  I always used a full coverage foundation like MAC studio fix fluid, set with Mineralize skin finish powder. This combo worked brilliantly, for years. It covered up my breakouts, acne scars etc, it was fantastic. However that all changed in recent months, I began to notice my MAC foundation was really uncomfortable, my skin was patchy, itchy and red after use. At first I thought it was the product, until I realised. My skin has changed.

Continue reading

Hi Everyone,

We are busy getting ready for Race week, and of course the bank holiday weekend. I just thought Id do a little post on “the prep” required as its something I’m asked about regularly. These are just a few hints and tips that help to prep for a big event.

* If You are coming to the salon for curls or an up-style, Wash and dry Your hair the night before. Its better to blast it dry with a hairdryer as this will help to smooth the cuticle down and it will have a better shine the next day. Letting the natural oils settle overnight will ensure the style holds better for You.

Continue reading