The €6 Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream dupe from Aldi you NEED in your life

Ahhh that magical, mysterious aisle in Aldi you venture down "for a look" only to end up leaving with a new toaster, an ironing board and a selection of random gym apparatus you didn't need. Well, a new beauty item has popped up in stores that I've quickly become obsessed with.

While the German discount supermarket giant is known for its less expensive dupes of many well known products, both food and beauty products alike, they’ve really hit the nail on the head with this one.

I’m a massive fan of the very luxurious and tropical scented body butter “Bum Bum Cream” by the Brazilian brand Sol de Janeiro. However, that ish ain’t cheap, it retails for almost €50 for 240ml in Ireland!! Enter....... “Booty Balm” by Aldi’s beauty and skincare range Lacura. On the left in the picture below is the Sol de Janeiro cream and on the right is the Aldi version.

I'm honestly unsure as to how this is even legal but whatever they're doing, it's working! The Aldi cream is €5.99 for 250ml which, if you're an avid fan of the original is a huge saving. I literally bathe in the Sol de Janeiro cream because its so comfortable to wear, but she's a pricey habit. Even the formulas themselves look identical. Both are a thick, creamy moisturizer with a yellow tinge to them and an incredible tropical scent that smells just like holidays.

The ingredients are actually pretty comparable considering the major price gap. Both creams contain Guarana extract, a native Amazonian plant enriched with caffeine - perfect for stimulating circulation and keeping skin smooth. Considering both the creams claim to firm and tone the skin, this seems to be the magic ingredient that gives the formula the ability to do so. Now I'm no scientist and I'm not claiming to be so I can't 100% guarantee whether or not the ingredients in the SDJ cream are better for you or work better perhaps than what's in the Aldi cream ( I mean, there has to be some reason for such a huge price difference between 2 very similar items) but I do still really enjoy both products. Both are non-sticky or greasy and dry very quickly.

So packaging, formula and ingredient wise, the two are definitely closely related - if not long lost cousins, but how do they compare when it comes to performance? What I did notice between the two is that Aldi's Booty Balm doesn't give off the same glow to your skin as what you get from the Sol de Janeiro cream which for some people might actually be a good thing. I personally love the glistening effect Bum Bum Cream gives your skin, especially in the summertime when I have a tan. Also, the Aldi cream's scent isn't as pungent as SDJ's. It is quite strong and delicious but it lacks that caramel punch the Bum Bum Cream packs. Nor does the Booty Balm scent last as long on your skin as Sol de Janeiro. As far as moisturizing abilities go, it's honestly much of a muchness between the two. Sol de Janeiro's body butter has a slightly longer lasting power, but not by a lot.

All in all, would I repurchase Aldi's Booty Balm? Absolutely! In fact I loved it so much, I went back to Aldi about half an hour later and purchased a back-up pot. While I don't usually love or go for many of Aldi's beauty or skincare products, they really outdid themselves on this one in my opinion. But will I ever stop purchasing my Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream? Not a chance in hell. I still do love it and I'll definitely be treating myself to another couple of pots but I'll have to wait until I go back to visit the US as it's a little cheaper over there ($45 in Sephora - roughly €40)

Booty Balm is one of Aldi's "Specialbuys" so when it comes in, it doesn't stay for very long. But not to worry, they usually bring back popular items for a limited time again. It's out of stock online on the UK website here but I do know that Booty Balm is currently IN-STORE NOW (definitely in stock in my local ALDI in Glenageary, Dublin) so if you are looking to get your hands on this, I'd move fast.

Michelle 
xx

#beauty #skincare #aldi #lacura #specialbuys

MAC Cosmetics Prep and Prime Skin Base Visage: Review

Hello everyone,

Today I wanted to talk about a product I’ve been using ever since I really got into makeup. It’s something that’s never failed me, never made my highly sensitive skin break out and always kept my makeup looking flawless. As I’m sure you can guess by the title it is of course the Skin Base Visage primer by MAC Cosmetics.
                                                       

       

           

I can safely say I have never been without this since the very first time I got my makeup done at MAC in Brown Thomas in Co. Limerick by a woman named Gina (who was incredible might I add). I got my makeup done for my 13th birthday, and, being an adolescent my skin was an absolute nightmare. Gina did an amazing job and made me feel really gorgeous and confident. She started by prepping my skin with “Complete Comfort Creme”, another holy grail product of mine from MAC and then she proceeded to apply this “Skin Base Visage” primer. Now, being 13 and the majority of my exposure to makeup coming from pictures/sample products from “Girl Talk” magazines (DOES ANYONE REMEMBER GIRL TALK???) I had absolutely no idea what a primer was or how to use it. And so began my journey down a road from which I was never going to return from, and that was using primer.  

For those of you who aren’t familiar, a primer acts as a barrier between your skin and your makeup  and helps to make it last longer. It is applied after your moisturiser but before your foundation. It helps to even out the skin tone so that your makeup applies much smoother and makes your skin look more flawless. I like to think of it as creating a veil between your skin and your makeup.

This particular primer suits all skin types. At the time my skin was very irritated and sensitivite and to top it all off I suffered from both excema AND acne (I was a lucky, lucky teenager) and I still struggle with severe dryness and the odd patch of excema to this day. However, this primer never irritates my skin. In fact, it makes my skin feel incredibly soft.    

SCIENCEY BITS:   

MAC’s Prep and Prime Skin Base visage is a smooth, lightweight lotion that perfects the skin’s texture while simultaneously hydrating the skin. It contains silicone which evens out the skin tone and plumps up the skin and it also contains silica which is a natural anti-inflammatory and reduces the appearance of redness caused by excema/psoriasis etc, something I struggle with in particular.

So I was already obsessed with this as a product for myself, a dry-skinned being, but then when I actually started working for MAC I learned of the benefits it has for people of not only my skin type but also those with the complete opposite, oily, and everything in between. The primer contains oil controlling lotion which is perfect for those of you who find your skin gets shiny or starts to look slightly greasy throughout the day but it DOES NOT dry out your skin.

So if you are looking to try out a different primer or even if you’re interested in adding a primer to your makeup routine I would highly recommend this one. Even if you’re unsure about whether or not it will work for you or if it will work well with your skin, try out a sample first! Keep in mind, something you will notice when you apply the product to your hand is that there is a slight glitter off it but DO NOT WORRY, this is just because there are no pores on your hand and so when it is applied to your face, this glittery effect does not show as the product works to fill in your pores.

I don’t think there’ll ever be a day when this isn’t a staple in my makeup collection. I’ve consistently had a back up bottle for the last 10 years and if I’m ever going to an event or out for the entire day you can be sure I have this primer on underneath my makeup.  

MAC Cosmetics “Prep and Prime: Skin Base Visage” retails for €27 and can be found in Arnotts, in-store and online, the duty-free section of Shannon and Dublin Airports and any Brown Thomas or BT2 store and the Brown Thomas website here . 

Any questions, just comment or tweet me at @michelley_mc 

Happy shopping ☺️✨

Michelle 

Xoxo

A day/night spent in the West Village

Hi guys,

Following on from my series on my time spent in New York City, I wanted to write a piece on one of my favourite areas in the city that isn’t as tourist heavy and obvious, it’s that little bit more discreet. As I spent more time in New York I grew tired of the constant lines at the tourist destinations and so I wanted to see the more intimate sites the city had to offer and where better to do that than in the famous “West Village” area.

Greenwich Village

        

 

If you’re a TV Series fanatic like myself you will undoubtedly want to visit Greenwich Village, home to the location of many of our favourite TV Stars fictional homes. It’s the most beautiful and picturesque little area that I could walk around all day in if I could. The most obvious locations of course are Carrie Bradshaw’s house from Sex and the City (located at 66 Perry Street) and the exterior location used for the “Friends” building (located at the corner of Bedford and Grove). These   popular spots are not all the Village has to offer however. The area is filled with beautiful little townhouses and tons of cute little stores all in close proximity to one another. In particular I fell in love with the tiniest little MAC store I’ve ever been in which was located at 353 Bleecker Street in the West Village, just a 5 minute walk from the Friends building. A visit to this area is also not complete without stopping by the famous “Magnolia Bakery”, located at 401 Bleecker Street on the corner of West 11th. This place is very well known for it’s delicious desserts, especially their famous cupcakes that you can see me happily munching on in the pictures above. Even if you’re not feeling shopping or eating, the area in general is so beautiful to walk around in and is home to an abundance of other instagrammable opportunities!!!

Washington Square Park/NYU

While you’re there, I would also definitely recommend strolling around Washington Square Park and NYU. It’s especially beautiful in the summertime but throughout the year there’s such a great buzz in the area from all the students and it’s incredibly lively street performers that are there year-round. There’s also so many AMAAAZING bars and restaurants to choose from to finish off your day. Some of my favourites are....

• The Malt House (206 Thompson Street)
• Joe’s Pizza (for a quick slice of the best NY Pizza in the city, 7 Carmine Street)
• Jack’s Wife Freda (the best brunch food, 50 Carmine Street) 
• Hudson Clearwater (for something a little fancier, 447 Hudson Street)
• Emily Pizza ( 35 Downing Street) 
• Via Carota (Italian restaurant, 51 Grove Street)
• Carroll Place (inexpensive brunch spot with great food, 157 Bleecker Street)

And that’s just to name a few, there’s so much more!!!!! 

If you’re planning on spending a night out on the town in the area, I’d definitely recommend going to see a comedy show, I went to one at “The Comedy Cellar” at 117 Macdougal Street and I swear I’ve never laughed so damn much I think I actually cried at one stage. For drinks and dancing you can always be guaranteed a crowd at “3 Sheets Saloon” at 134 West 3rd Street or “Off the Wagon” at 109 Macdougal Street.

Whatever the reason for your visit to the West Village area you’re guaranteed a good time between the beautiful sites, delicious food and unbeatable nightlife scene. What I wouldn't do to be back there again!!
 

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate Review

Hello lovelies!

As you can see from the title today I want to review the very popular “Midnight Recovery Concentrate Oil” from Kiehl’s. For those of you that don’t know, Kiehl’s is an immensely popular homemade skincare brand started in 1851 in New York City. In Ireland, it is available in the stand alone store in Dundrum Shopping Centre, department stores such as Debenhams, Arnotts and you can also buy it online from these stores. This is what the packaging looks like.

          

A 30ml bottle of this costs €44 on Debenhams.ie here now I knowwwwww this is pretty pricy but for my fellow dry skin beauties that are into their skincare then this is definitely a product I’d recommend investing in. A little bit goes a very long way and you only need to use it once a day overnight for a luxurious, hydrating treatment. 

I’ve been using this for a little over 2 weeks now and I definitely notice a difference in my skin. I’ve used its daytime counterpart “Daily Reviving Concentrate” oil (the bottle is very similar except it's yellow instead of navy) also by Kiehl’s, which I personally didn’t like as much. I found the consistency too watery and I didn’t feel like it absorbed into my skin properly, it just kind of sat on top of it. Now I know the daily oil is a holy grail product for alot of people but it just didn’t work as well as I would have liked it to on my dry AF skin, especially for the price of it.  

The midnight oil however, is much more luxurious and worked a dream on my skin. The oil is thicker which I prefer as I feel like it actually penetrates my skin and when I wake up the texture of my face is a lot smoother, plumper and doesn’t feel as tight. After cleansing my face right before I go to bed at night, I mix 2-3 drops of it in with my moisturiser and pat it into my skin. Normally I would just apply it by itself under my moisturiser but right now I’m using the Nivea Creme which is very thick cream so I like to mix the two together to liquify the consistency slightly so as to make it easier to press into my skin. The next morning you can continue with your regular skincare routine as the product has already been absorbed while you slept. 

All in all I’d give it a solid 8/10, only losing a few points because of the price. I know I’ll go through these bottles very quickly because of my insanely dry skin so it’s going to end up costing me quite a bit of money going forward. Especially since the weather is getting increasingly colder (apparently they’re expecting snow to hit Ireland soon 😭) our skin is going to need something a lot more powerful than just moisturiser alone to protect it from the elements. So, the price is definitely a sacrifice I’m willing to make for the sake of my skin.

As always, any questions just ask ☺️

Michelle xx

New Year, New Blog, Not so New Me.

Hello Lovelies!

Happy 2019 🎉🎉

I realize I’m a little late to the party on this one but I’ve been sick since New Years Eve and only getting around to writing again now. Some fun 2019 has been for me already!! However, one of my New Years resolutions is to focus a lot more of my time and attention to the blog and I have every intention of sticking to this, despite a rocky start LOL. 

I plan to continue my series on my time spent in NYC and my recommendations on places to go and things to see but I also would like to start a new series focusing more on the Makeup and Beauty side of things which is what I originally intended this blog to be. Since another one of my resolutions has been to stop buying new makeup and actually use up the stuff I already own I’d like to start #projectpan and document what I’m using and loving every couple of weeks. For those of you that do not know, project pan is a series started by bloggers and youtubers in which they pick a product from their makeup collection such as an eye shadow palette and only use that product for the month. We are definitely in a time in which countless new products are being released every single day that it’s impossible to actually use up everything we buy, so I’m interested to see how this goes.

I also want to start writing more about giving recommendations on my favourite Makeup and skincare brands and everything that I find works for me as I’ve gone through bouts of very problematic skin in the past and still do to this day so I want to start helping others with their skin issues and makeup concerns.  

A good start is half the work as they say so I’m going to try my absolute best to get these plans off the ground very soon. In the meantime, hope everyone had a wonderful New Years and is so far sticking to their resolutions like I’m trying to 😂 and I hope for a happy and healthy 2019 for everyone ❤️ 

PS. Please enjoy this picture of me and my dog on Christmas Day as it’s the only decent picture I have from over the holidays since I’ve fallen ill (yes, I am the biggest drama queen in the entire world 👸🏽) 

Lots of love,

Michelle xx

Top *TOURISTY* things to do/see in NYC!

 Hey guys!

So continuing on with my series on my time spent in New York, I wanted to share with you a few of  my favourite quintessentially “touristy” things to do either when you first move over or if you’re just going on a vacation to the great city. Just a quick tip, personally I found that the longer I lived there, the less likely I became to go and see these undeniably must-see sites. Purely because you get so caught up with other things going on such as work, settling into your apartment and discovering other things in the vast areas of the city and other boroughs so I’d recommend if you move over on a graduate visa, try and see these sites as early as you can.
Let’s jump into it!

5) Brooklyn Bridge/DUMBO            

     

               

                  

What can I say? The views from the Brooklyn Bridge are second to none. I walked from the  Manhattan side over to Brooklyn and then spent some time wondering around the delightfully picturesque DUMBO area, which if you’re a fan of Gossip Girl like me, you’ll recognize as being an area for many scenes, and also the location of the Humphries apartment on the show (see picture above) There are also a number of stunning thrift stores within walking distance around the area which are in my opinion a must see even if you don’t buy anything, the vibe around the area is so chill. When you’re tired of walking around and in the mood for a snack I’d recommend checking out  the famous Grimaldi’s Pizzeria here located in a small spot right under the bridge, however give  yourself plenty of time as there is always a line to get in.    

4) Shopping in Macy’s/Herald Square

Unfortunately I don’t have any usable pictures of Macy’s or Herald Square which is weird considering I worked around the corner from there for almost  2 years but ANYWAY, this area is simply a Mecca for shopping lovers. The Macy’s in Herald Square is the flagship location of the chain and one of the largest department stores in the world. Even after living and working in New  York for a significant amount of time and visiting Macy’s frequently I still to this day don’t know my  way around the massive store. It takes up the whole block with an entire floor dedicated to beauty and skincare brands. You can literally pick up anything from a microwave to foundation in the superstore  so if shopping is your thing then I would really set aside a good bit of time to see every section OR have a well thought out plan of exactly what you want to buy and the brands you want to browse before going in as it can be very overwhelming. If you happen to be lucky enough to be visiting  around Christmas time they put on the most beautiful display in the front windows and the front hall of the beauty floor is decorated magnificently. Stepping outside then into Herald Square you have all   the you’d need such as Victoria’s Secret, Forever 21 and Sephora. The only thing that’s not there or in the close by area Times Square that I personally missed was Topshop, however the closest store still isn’t that far, located on 5th Avenue between 48th and 49th Street.

3) Coney Island  

 

So this is definitely more of a popular location in its peak Summertime season as the parks and rides  only open for June, July and August. However you can still visit the area off season, it’s just more of an eerie and ghostly experience as a result of the rides being turned off and the lack of people  walking around. Just be warned if you are there in the Summer, it gets crazy crowded and messy. So keep your friends and/or kids very close if you don’t want to lose them in a sea of hundreds of  tourists and holiday makers. 

2) Loeb Boathouse Central Park                

Central Park goes without saying as being one of the most famous tourist attractions and home to the most beautiful views the city has to offer. From the Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir (pictured below) to the beautiful Bow Bridge in the Autumn, but my personal favourite site in the whole park is the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain and right across the water from there, the stunning Loeb Boathouse restaurant. This insanely popular dining spot gets extremely busy in the Summer and it’s  understandable why as you get a beautiful view of the water and everyone renting out the row boats while sipping on a glass of wine or your cocktail of choice. Now bare in mind, this place is pretty expensive but honestly, I think to experience one of the most incredible and relaxing, romantic settings in the city it’s a small price to pay, even if it’s just a once-off.

    

1) Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

   

            

Need I say anything else? The picture pretty much speaks for itself. The tree goes up usually some time around the last week in December until the first week in January and I know everyone tells you it’s amazing and a must-see, and honestly, it really is. I literally can’t put into words how beautifully  decorated this tree is and the amount of work that goes into the assembly and organization of it all. A picture really speaks a thousand words in this case and you’ll thoroughly enjoy the whole atmosphere of you happen to be in New York around this time. Just be aware, while the pictures are all lovely and serene looking, don’t be fooled into thinking there’s aren’t massive crowds of people lining up to get the same picture behind the scenes. Nonetheless the view and all around atmosphere is absolutely electric.

So there you have it, just a handful of some of the amazing sites NY has to offer, but simultaneously that are no stranger to a lot of hustle and bustle from the crowds that they attract. Please don’t let the long lines or crowds discourage you because the experiences and INSTA MOMENTS (lol) you gain from these are unmatched by any other city. In my next post I feel like I want to focus more on some slightly more intimate and perhaps less obviously “touristy” spots in the city because being crowded by a lot of people all the time just isn’t for everyone and if any place has something for everyone, it’s New York City.

Until then <3

Michelle xx

2 Years in NYC: Part Two

Hi!

Welcome back to the second part of my series on my time living in the greatest city in the world (in my opinion), New York City.
In this section I’m gonna focus more on securing an internship/work during your time on the j1 Graduate visa and supporting yourself while there.

With my particular sponsor, CIEE, you have 90 days to secure an internship, with an emphasis on the fact that it must be an internship and not a “job”. This internship must be related to your field of study or they would cancel your visa. Whether or not they are actually able to do that I’m not sure but the threat is enough to scare you. The trouble with securing an internship in the US, is that many of them are unpaid which makes living in New York almost impossible to do which is another reason I receommended having quite a bit of money saved before leaving home. If this is not an option for you then what many people end up doing is getting a part time job in a bar or restaurant to help support them financially throughout their time there.

Now TECHNICALLY you’re not supposed to get a job that is unapproved by your sponsor, however I know from personal experience and from the people I met while in New York that it is possible to get a part time job as long as you have a valid work visa and your sponsors don’t find out about your second job. I just personally think it’s impossible to work an unpaid internship in New York and have no other form of income, but whether or not you decide to get a bar job is compleftely up to you. I’d recommend using sites such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed and Go Abroad.com to
help narrow down your search for an internship but just keep in mind you’ll need to have patience. You might go on ten interviews and only hear back from one, but if you keep with it eventually something will work out for you.

As for my actual internship, after months of going on interviews and being told that a j1 visa was not favorable to hire from an employers point of view, I ended up getting a job at the Emerald Isle Immigration Center (Website here) in Woodside, Queens. It tied into my degree nicely as I had studied English and Irish and learned a lot about Irish immigration into the US at a very interesting time in US Political history, Trump’s Presidency. I’ll be honest it wasn’t an easy job to get and took a lot of perseverance and persuasion on my part to prove to them that I would be an asset to them considering my areas of study in college. That was definitely a hard time for me as I ended up having to spend the majority of my time working. I worked there 3 days a week, unpaid unfortunately, and so had to spend most of the rest of my time working in an Irish bar in midtown to cover my cost of living. However, that’s not to say you can’t make time to have fun because you definitely can if you’re organized enough, I just wasn’t LOL, but I really loved my bar job and made some of the best friends I’ve ever had there.

So that pretty much covers a lot of the more boring stuff behind going on the graduate visa. I’ll be covering tourist attractions, things to do and see, my favorite places and everything I’d recommend doing while over there in my next part that I’m most excited for! :)

Any questions just comment or tweet me @michelley_mc.

All my love
Michelle x