Galway’s Soap & Glory!

Soap & Glory products have been slowly trickling into Boots stores over the past two years or so. Fortunately, fans of the brand can now enjoy the full Soap & Glory offerings as Boots in Galway are now stocking their extensive range of make-up and body products. Most of these products are multi-use, which means this is one brand that will definitely get you your moneys worth! Here on the Claregalway Hotel website, we have selected some of the best products to suit whatever your requirement may be!

‘Arch De Triumph’ – Two-Step Shaping & Highlighting Crayon

(€10)

There’s a reason ‘Arch De Triumph’ is on Soap & Glory’s very own top ten list of most popular products. In short, its main purpose is to shape and lift the brows so as to give them much more definition. Eyebrows always frame the face, and believe me, a highlighting product like this can make a world of difference to your entire appearance. In order for this to work its best however, your brows must already have some form of shape. If they don’t, then it would a good idea to make an appointment with a beauty salon to have your brows plucked or waxed. It’s very inexpensive and it will give you an indication as to how good your brows could look. All you will have to do after that is simply maintain their shape every week by plucking any stray hairs you see. A good trick to use when plucking your eyebrows is to use an eye pencil and colour the eyebrow into the shape that you want. Next, pluck the hairs outside the shape you have created on your brow. (Just try not to pluck your brows right before your period, as this is when it will hurt the most. If you’re sensitive to pain, hold an ice cube on the area for a few seconds. This will numb the skin so that you don’t feel the sting. If your brows are red and irritated from plucking, just soothe the area with the help of a few cool, wet tea bags. You will feel the effects immediately.) If you’re having trouble taming your brows, take an unused toothbrush and spray it with a little hairspray before then brushing over the brows. (Clear mascara also works very well) The stickiness of the hairspray will help keep them in place. A thoroughly washed mascara wand will also work as a brow brush when sprayed with hairspray.

Kabuki Brush – for powder, blusher, bronzer, blending, etc. (€11)

The bigger the brush, the more even the application. In fact the best way to achieve a natural look with your make-up is to use the biggest brush you can find. That way, the bristles will distribute the blush/bronzer/powder over a wider area thus giving you a softer, more subtle look. Smaller brushes tend to have tightly packed bristles which deliver a stronger, more concentrated colour. This is why some women have quite streaky blusher – they are using the wrong brush! Furthermore, always use separate brushes for your bronzer, blush and face powder otherwise when you go to apply your blush or face powder, you may notice that the shades are somewhat darker then they should be. This is because the particles from the blusher and bronzer are still in the fibres of the brush and will transfer onto your face each time you use it.

‘Solar Powder’ – Mix & Match Multi Shade Bronzer – €13

If you don’t like the bronzed look per se, then you need to get your hands on a shimmer/colour brick. The colour duo will give your skin a nice natural colour along with a subtle shimmer. If you dust this over your face and neck, you will prevent the dreaded ‘bronzed neck/white face’ from occurring. (For the most natural look, use a big powder brush)

‘Trick & Treatment’ – Double-Action Under Eye Dark Circle Corrector (€11)

This product not only hides the dark circles, it also treats them!

(‘Trick & Treatment’ features a special yellow pigment mix to neutralize dark purple under-eye circles.) I would also suggest using a home treatment to help conquer the problem. My favourite is a remedy that involves applying some plain natural yoghurt underneath your eyes each morning to help take away the dark circles and puffiness. Yoghurt contains vitamin K which helps diminish hyper-pigmentation, bruising and dark circles. Ideally you should leave the yoghurt on the eye-lids and under-eyes for 10-15 minutes in the morning. If however you’re stuck for time, then I would recommend that you apply it underneath your eyes the moment you get up and leave it on while you are brushing your teeth, etc. Rinse it off and then moisturise preferably with a cream that contains Vitamin E. If you have fifteen minutes to spare at night, I would suggest that you use this really good face mask to help brighten up and refresh your skin. Mix a couple of tablespoons of natural yoghurt (without preservatives) with one teaspoon honey. After you’ve thoroughly cleansed your face, apply the mask and leave it on for 20 minutes before washing off with warm water. You will definitely notice results from this mask.

‘Lid Stuff Fabulous Flawless Finish’  – Perfect-Wear Eye Shadow (€12)

One of the most commonly asked questions I get from readers concerns how to stop eye-shadow from creasing or flaking. Few eye-shadow products can claim to conquer these problems however the ‘Lid Stuff Fabulous Flawless Finish’ is one that can! It will not flake, crease or even fade, so you can rest assured that its intense colour (which also comes in a matt or metallic finish) will stay in place for the night!

This eye-shadow palette comes in four shades, however if you want to create smokey eyes, then check out Soap & Glory’s YouTube tutorial featuring the ‘Smokey Dokey’ palette. Just make sure you have a good eye-shadow blending brush. Believe me that’s half the battle!

‘Show Good Face’ – 2-in-1 Skin-Energizing Foundation & Primer

(€13)

Primers can be expensive, (and are not entirely necessary unless you have oily skin). Finally however, there is a product that combines the primer and foundation in one. Better still, the formula in this product features ‘retinol’  – an effective anti-aging weapon against fine lines.

Remember however, cosmetics are pointless if you don’t already take care of your skin. This is why I never like to rely solely on cosmetics for results particularly considering how there are so many little adjustments you can make to your skin routine instead. For instance, I would recommend that you moisturise with coconut oil (which you will find in any health food shop). Coconut oil helps increase elasticity in the skin which is why it is also the best thing you can use on your face as it prevents wrinkles and tightens your skin. Skin loses its elasticity when it’s dry, so each night before bed, apply a generous amount of coconut oil, or if you don’t have that, then use a good vitamin E oil or olive oil.

‘Supercat’ – Carbon Black Extreme Eyeliner Pen (€8)

The marker tip on this liner makes it ideal for creating different looks, be they dramatic or subtle. Soap & Glory describes ‘Supercat’ as “long lasting” however to really ensure it goes the distance when you wear it, just seal the line in place by tracing over it with an angled brush dipped in black eye-shadow. If you find yourself having difficulty getting the hang of applying eyeliner, then try dotting the liner along the lid and just connect the dots! Another trick is to lightly create a line with pencil liner and trace over it with liquid liner.

‘Thick & Fast Mascara’ – Super Volume False Lash Effect Mascara (€12)

When it comes to mascara, pigment is everything. A clump-free formula also helps too! Fortunately this false-lash-effect mascara offers both.

While Soap & Glory’s ‘Thick & Fast Mascara’ will help create the illusion of longer, fuller lashes, I would suggest that also try to achieve the most glamorous lashes possible with the help of a home remedy. Coat your eyelashes in olive oil before you go to bed every night for two weeks. This will help lengthen your lashes as well as thoroughly condition them. If your lashes are conditioned, the mascara will not only stay in place much longer when you wear it, but it will also give you a more defined curl. Now when you wear your Soap & Glory mascara, your lashes will look their absolute best!

1 – ‘Hocus Focus’ – Instant visual flaw-softening lotion (€15)

2 – ‘For Daily Youth’ 6-in-1 superboost moisture lotion (€14)

We all have those days when our skin just feels tired, and lets face it, no amount of make up will ever disguise that feeling! This is where ‘Hocus Focus’ comes in! It helps diffuse the appearance of large pores, blemishes, wrinkles and uneven pigmentation as well as giving the skin a quick boost of energy. This multi-use product can also be used on its own as a cheekbone highlighter, or, when blended with 2-3 pumps of your foundation, it will give your skin a youthful, dewy, luminous look! For those make-up free days, mix it with some moisturizer and use it as a skin brightener. I would suggest using this in conjunction with ‘For Daily Youth’, which is designed to help fight the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. All you have to do is smooth some onto a clean face and neck every morning and/or evening. You should notice a nice glow appearing after a few seconds of it being applied.

1 – ‘Flake Away’ – Body Polish (€8.64)

2 – The Righteous Butter – Body butter (€12.21)

‘Flake Away’ is a skin smoothing body exfoliator that contains shea butter, sweet almond oil, peach seed powder, sea salt and sugar. (Best of all, its scented with Soap & Glory’s beautiful ‘Original Pink’ fragrance!)

Just be careful that you don’t apply it to irritated skin or abrasions, as salt scrubs can really sting. Once you are out of the shower, slick on some ‘Righteous Body Butter’. This award-winning product contains softening shea butter and aloe vera. (It also comes in the same fragrance as the body polish exfoliator which means the scent will last much longer on your skin, particularly if you then combine it with Original Pink perfume!) Remember if you ever want a scent, such as perfume, to last longer on your skin, try to use shower products in the same fragrance. For instance, if you like wearing Elizabeth Arden Fifth Avenue perfume, then use Elizabeth Arden Fifth Avenue shower gel and moisturiser. When you layer the scent, it lasts longer. This is precisely why perfume/shower sets were created!

‘Super Colour Fabulipstick’ – Collagen Boosting Lipstick with Plumping Pre–Peptides (€11)

‘Super Colour Fabulipstick’ was voted ‘Best Lipstick of 2011’ by The Daily Mail Newspaper last year and its not difficult to see why! Two of the ingredients in this wonder-product include Shea Butter and Vitamin E which means it keeps your lips beautifully conditioned and chap-free. Fabulipstick also contains Ceramide 2 for aging repair and visible wrinkle reduction so as to help give you a soft, smooth, dewy, plumped up, colour-filled smile.

To help your lipstick remain in place as long as possible, just dot your lips with some foundation, gently rub it in and then apply your lipstick. This should give your lip colour a longer lifespan as well as a more even finish!

‘Great Kisser’ – A super fruit butter moisturising lip balm – €7

The ‘Great Kisser Super Fruit Butter Moisturising Lip Balm’ meanwhile is slightly pricey at €7 however this conditioning lip balm doubles up as a very subtle lip gloss. Best of all, unlike a lot of other lip balms and glosses, this one is not too waxy, not too slippery, not too greasy and not too sticky! Personally I love how Soap & Glory chose the lip balm’s ingredients for very specific reasons. It features mango butter (to moisturise), apricot butter (for weather protection), lingonberry oil (to boost the barrier repair and prevent water loss) and pomegranate extract (to renew the ‘dewy’ look of your lips). The balm comes in three flavours, two of which have a colour tint. ‘Juicy Peach’ is a gorgeous coral tinted shade, ‘Sweet Coconut’ is clear but has a hint of shimmer while Chocolate Cherry meanwhile is a sheer ‘popsicle pink’ shade.

‘Hand Food’ (mini) – Travel size non-greasy hydrating hand cream (€3)

Soap & Glory’s ‘Hand Food’ is by far my favourite product of the entire range, and if you hate the feeling of dry hands, I guarantee you will love it too! I would advise that you try it out first by using the travel sized bottle. Its very inexpensive and you only need a tiny dollop to re-hydrate your hands. The scent ‘Original Pink’ is delicious! Best of all, its not greasy and will not leave a residue on your skin.

‘Mighty Mouth Lip Balm’ – Extreme Hydrating & Super Glossy Lip Balm (€10)

The ‘Mighty Mouth Lip Balm’ is a moisturising lip butter with a peptide complex to give you that plumping effect. Its also a perfect handbag companion for those of you plagued by dry lips. If you want to really improve the condition of your lips, try exfoliating them with a toothbrush and some Vaseline first.

‘The Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser’ – 3-In-1 concentrated deep purifying formula (€12)

‘The Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser’ will clean and smooth the skin as well as melt away any residual makeup thus leaving you with ultra-spotless skin! All you have to do is massage it onto your face and neck for at least sixty seconds, concentrating most of it on your nose, chin, and other clog-prone spots. Finish by gently pressing it off with a warm, wet cloth. (The product also comes with a free muslin face cloth!)

‘Glow All Out’ Luminizing Radiance Face Powder (€13)

This is wonderful for lifting the cheekbones, and even better for dusting lightly all over the face for that dewy look. It is known as a radiance powder because it features pigment pearls – an ultra-fine creamy powder shimmer – which gives the foundation a nice pearlescent finish.

‘Sexy Mother Pucker XL Extreme Plump’ – Collagen Lip Shine (€12)

The ‘Sexy Mother Pucker XL Extreme-Plump Collagen Lip Shine is a tingly lip gloss that gets to work the moment it hits your lips. In fact you will literally feel it buzzing and tingling on your lips after you apply it. While this extra-strength collagen lip shine will give your lips a little help in the plump department, I would suggest that you combine it with a home remedy for maximum results. Apply some peppermint or paprika to your lips every night for two weeks and you should notice a slightly fuller difference in your pout!

Make Up Bag (€12)

A vintage-inspired make-up bag in which to store your Soap & Glory goodies! it’s the ideal size to carry with your in your handbag or to leave in your desk drawer.