Pregnancy skincare & makeup

Hi Everyone

Welcome back to my blog, as I posted earlier I have been getting lots of mail and messages about what I am using on my skin and how do I keep a glow on my skin despite been 5 months pregnant. Well been honest it's all down to having a very good skincare routine and diet, if I slip up at all with either my skin will show it very quickly. Believe me there is days I don't feel like leaving the house as I feel so bad and my skin can be very dull and tired looking but with a little help ( a lot some days ) from some of my must have products I paint up my face and face the world. The first few months of my pregnancy I was so sick and it was such a chore to keep up my skincare routine because believe me all I wanted to do was stay in bed . In relation to fashion I found it really hard to adjust to in the beginning and been so used to dressing my figure to a certain shape and having to adjust that wasn't easy to accept but I feel I have found a way around it all now. I plan my outfits the evening before if I am working the next day as it's easier to know what you are putting on in the morning. I make an effort to dress up most days as it helps me feel better and I always do my hair and makeup. I don't wear a uniform to work as I like to dress in nice clothes. I haven't really bought much maternity clothes except jeans and a couple of dresses but everything else is regular fashion as I have to say maternity style is not fashionable at all and I just couldn't wear it. I just have went up a size in most tops to accommodate my bump and yes I still wear heels as I can't do flats. 

Back to my skincare and makeup products

My own skin  got quiet dehydrated being pregnant despite drinking loads of water so I adjusted my products to suit this. For cleansing my skin I use the Liz Earl hot cloth cleanser which is amazing and keeps my skin hydrated not like most foaming cleansers can be drying. For my serum I use No 7 Advanced protect and perfect morning and evening. I apply this under my moisturiser and it leaves my skin smooth and radiant and works on any visible fine lines and wrinkles to keep them at bay. 

 

As my daily moisturiser I use Origins Ginzing moisturiser, any one who is a regular to my page will see I post a lot about this product as it's super for its radiance properties. If I want my skin to really glow I use my Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream but not everyday as it's pricey at €90 a jar. 

I really pay attention to my eye area and use my all time favourite eye cream that I will never be with out my Lancome Absolute Precious cells eye cream another pricy products at €82 but well worth it. 

For my night cream I mix between Lancome Precious cells night cream and the Bionic cream from Neostrata another Hugh favourite of mine. I also exfoliate my skin twice a week and use a hydration mask that I usually leave on over night once a week, so as you can see I use a lot of products and it's by no mean cheap to keep all these products replenished and that's before my makeup bag but being in the industry I work in its a must especially as I am a Beauty Facialist. On my body I use the Clarins Tonic Oil to keep my skin hydrated and firm. I still wear tan usually go between Cocoa Brown and He shi tan. I wouldn't use spray tan as I am not a fan of it I have used it in the past but it's way to drying on the skin despite w hat body cream you use even all the new brands that claim to hydrate your skin they don't so I steer clear. 

Makeup Products 

I have a few different foundations on the go, Estée Lauder Double Wear light, Lancome Teint Miracle and Buff foundation. I recently just started using this foundation and I really like its staying power and luminousity. Under my foundation I always apply Mac Strobe Cream to give my skin a glow and I set my makeup with Mac powder. All the rest of my makeup products are similar to what I normally use. I have also added some Young Blood and Physicians Formula products to my makeup bag also. 

I hope this has answered some of your questions in relation to what products I use but remember everyone's skin is different and will have different needs this is just what suits me. I also do skin consultations so don't hesitate to contact me. 

Thanks for reading this and following my page

Have a great weekend 

Angela xx

My new favourite anti ageing serum

Hi everyone

Welcome back to my blog, I get asked questions all the time about my favourite skincare and what do I personally use. Well been a beauty facialist I am quiet lucky that I get to try a lot of new skin care out. Over the years I have used everything from skincare that's cost €10 to €12 to skincare that cost hundreds of euro. I still have some of my personal favourites that I will never give up but I am always looking for that new product that is going to WOW me with its results and I think I might have just found it. 

In the last few weeks I was sent this new No7 Protect & Perfect intense Advanced Serum to try and I can honestly say I am in love. This anti ageing serum astounded me with its quick results that I can honestly say I seen from the very first application. The serum contains Matrixyl 3000 plus which combines two powerful next generation peptides to help skin appear more youthful. After two weeks your skin is younger looking and more radiant and after 4 weeks reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. My all time favourite anti aging serum before this has been Visionaire from Lancome at a hefty price of €73 but this NO 7 serum is €33.50 so it's less that half its price. 

I have also started to use the moisturiser to go with this product and find it really good also but I mix a little of my Origins Ginzing lotion in with it as I love the glow it gives my skin and I defiently feel my skin needs all the help it can get at the moment. 

 

So ladies if Any of you are thinking of trying out a new skincare brand look no further than NO 7 for these products. Currently in Boots at the moment these are all on 3 for 2 so it's a great time to purchase and get the cheapest one free.

I hope you all enjoyed this post and will all be rushing out to try these great products because believe me ladies you won't be disappointed . 

Make sure to check out my website for all my details www.monroe.ie

Enjoy your Monday evening

Angela xx

Wolford Luxury Leggings

     I have been lucky enough to have been sent these amazing luxury leggings by Wolford to review. I have worn them a few times over the last week and I am completely in love with them. The quality of the material is super and holds its shape all day. I am wearing a size small which is perfect if you are a size 8 to 10. There is great stretch in the upper panel which is really good for my 16 week bump( yes for any one of you who didn't no I am 16 weeks pregnant) so I am going to be wearing these alot in the coming weeks as they are so comfy. 

I styled these leggings today with a loose fitting Komono from Bershka which is perfect for these sunny days. They can be worn casually during the day with flats or wedges or you can choose to dress them up at night with heels. I will defiently been purchasing more products from their range especially these satin finish tights which look amazing with a pencil skirt and heels. 

It is super handy that you can purchase on line from Wolfords online shop which is http://www.wolfordshop.ie

and recieve your items super quick. I am really looking forward to reviewing more of their products in the next few weeks so keep an eye on my blog for more reviews. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this and do check out their online store. 

Enjoy the sun in the coming days.

Angela xx

Summer time skin essentials

Hi Ladies

Welcome back ,today I am going to talk to you about some of my all time favourites that I just can't live with out especially in summer. 

The first product is well known and an all time favourite of mine Mac Strobe Cream. 

This cream goes with me every where and every makeup application I do on clients I will always use this before makeup application to give the skin the glowing dewy finish. If your skin is a little oily you can mix a little in with your moisturiser. It glides on really easy with this next product Origins Ginzing Moisturiser.

I adore this every day moisturiser, I have recently just started using this again as I felt my skin was quiet dull looking. I used this on the run up to my wedding last year and it helped keep my skin glowing so it's a great purchase for any brides to be. There is no anti ageing properties in this cream but I use my serum before this so I make sure my skin is not missing out on anything.Serums really are the power houses of skin care.  If your skin is combination type this is perfect to use. You will see a difference after one application. 

My next cult product for summer is Charlotte Tilburys Slimmer Shimmer. 

You all will have seen me posting about this before and I am totally addicted , I am already on my second tube. I apply this on my collar bones and down the centre of my arms and legs to give that beautiful sun kissed glow to my skin. I am going on holidays in a few weeks and this will be coming with me. You only need a small application as it goes along way and the biggest thing of all I love is that it doesn't come off on your clothes especially when you wear white a lot as I do in summer. Last but not least my next favourite is Laura Mercier highlighting powder.

 The glow this gives your skin is amazing. I apply this to the top of my cheek bones, down the centre of my nose and across the Cupid's bow. I love the way the light picks up the beautiful glow in this products. If your skin is tired looking and you want that little extra pick me up use a little of this ( not to much or you will end up like a disco ball) less is more remember.

That's brings me to the end of this blog I hoped you all enjoyed the read. I launched my new website last week that I am very excited about so make sure you check it out if you have not already.

www.monroe.ie

Thanks guys

Angela xx

Fashion critic with Xpose

Hi everyone

Welcome back to my blog, sorry for my lack of posts lately as I have been really busy moving house and working on my up and coming website which I am very excited about. Firstly I would really like to thank all my followers for all your support and well wishes with my Facbook page and blog it really means a lot and helps keep me really motivated in what I do. 

Xpose

Yesterday I spent a few hours with the Xpose crew filming a few slots for the show in the coming weeks. I was part of a panel of 3 myself and two other ladies . We all had to give our opinions on the outfits the model wore and what we liked about the outfit and what we would change. Our model for the shoot was former Miss Universe Lynn Kelly, she is a beautiful young lady with sallow skin so could really carry off any outfit. 

 

The filming took place in Fade St Social in Dublin 2, the morning started off around 11 where last minute touches were added to hair and makeup.  Shortly afterwards the camera men and Xpose presenter Lisa Cannon arrived, then the filming started. We got through the looks quiet quickly and finished filming about 1.30. Been part of a panel worked really well as we all had our own opinions of what we would add or take away from the outfits. All of the outfits were from the Gap Outlet in Blanchardstown and accessories were from NewLook so I saw some nice outfits that I am looking forward to picking up. 

I am looking forward to doing more of these slots and adding my personal styling service to my upcoming business. My own style on the day was a mixture of casual and dressy with plenty of mixing and matching.  I prepped my skin well that morning with my Charlotte  Tilbury magic cream followed with Wonderglow also from Charlotte Tilbury ( all available in Brown Thomas ). I wore my new Nars foundation which is full coverage with a luminous finish so it stayed in place all day without worrying of it wearing off, the rest of my makeup was my usual products I use and I wore the new individual lashes from Penneys that I had heard so much about they are amazing. 

I hope you enjoyed reading a little bit about my day and thank you all for taking the time to read this and follow my blog.

Thanks Angela xx

Skin care routine

Hi everyone

Welcome back to my much requested blog on my own personal skincare routine. I have recieved a lot of messages and emails about this topic so I decided to dedicate a full blog to this, I previously touched on the subject in my second wedding blog but I have had a lot more questions since then. So let's get started.

Basic skincare

A lot of you will no that I started working in the beauty industry over 15 years ago and I am working in the industry ever since. I can't express enough how passionate I am about beauty and how important a good skincare routine really is. It doesn't matter how much you go and spend on an outfit, if your skin and makeup doesn't look good, forget about it. Starting in the industry so young I have been fortunate to work with some of the worlds biggest names such as Lancome, Estée Lauder, Clarins, Sisley, Clinque, Decleor and many more so as you can imagine I have used a lot of different products on my skin and I really do know what works. So today I am going to share with you personally, my favourite products from which I see amazing results.

Morning routine

Every morning I cleanse my skin with Neostrata's new Brightening cleansing foam, this really preps my skin for my serum and moisturiser, this cleanser just washes away any signs of tiredness and fatigue and is also so soft and gentle of my skin. This range of products is based on glycolics and I spoke previously about my love of Glycolic peels so using their products really compliments my treatments. Following this I apply my morning serum Advanced Genifique followed by my Visionnaire moisturiser. I then apply my eye cream, presently I am using Absolute eye cream from Lancome.  I allow these products to settle on my skin for about 5 minutes before I start to apply my makeup. My own skin would be "combination skin type" so none of these products are too heavy or greasy for under my makeup. 

Nightime Routine

The first thing I do is remove my eye makeup, for this I use my Bifacil eye makeup remover by Lancome, this product gently dissolves all my eye makeup without having to rub your eyes. I wear the Minx eyelashes alot so this is gentle enough for these. I then like to cleanse my skin with water, I never really feel my skin is clean unless I wash my face so for this I use my cleansing mousse by Decleor I absolutely love this product and it removes all traces of makeup even Mac Pro long wear foundation that can be a little more difficult to remove. I then massage my skin with my Neroli oil by Decleor followed by my Bionic face cream by Neostrata. I again apply my eye cream ( it's so important to be using an eye cream from the age of 18, the skin around your eye area is so delicate and will age quiet quickly if you don't keep this area fully hydrated.)

During the week I will exfoliate once or twice and I will apply my hydrating mask. I love the Hydra mask by Lancome and my Hydra floral mask by Decleor, using a hydrating mask will keep my skin quite plump and will prevent it from getting dehydrated, remember that even the oiliest skin can become dehydrated.

I also try and drink lots of water most days to keep my skin glowing and prevent breakouts.  I have also been asked why do I use a serum and what is it for ? A serum will penetrate much deeper into the skin than your moisturiser so it will get to the root of the problem, they also contain a much higher concentrate of active ingredients so you will see results much quicker. You will then get much better results from your moisturiser. 

So ladies I hope this has answered some of your questions, feel free to pop me an email or DM me directly. 

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.

Angela xx

Angelamcolgan@gmail.com

Heath and fitness

I Hi everyone welcome back to my blog. 

3 weeks ago I started getting back on track with my 2015 health and fitness routine, last year before my wedding I had a great routine in place . I was working out with the personal trainers in CR Body worx in Dundrum, these guys really helped me achieve my goals so I was really happy. At the start of this year between a new job and many other things I just got out of my routine ( so easy to happen ) so 2 to 3 weeks ago I started again. When I was not working out i put on a few pounds, wasn't feeling myself and my mood really dropped. I find exercise the key to a stable balance obviously with the correct diet to go along. 

 

So what have I done.

I have started exercising every day ( 6 days a week ) everything from cardio to weight training and plenty of squats, lunges and burpes. I have been attending Trx and Pilates classes which I am finding really good for my energy levels.  I have cleaned up my weekly diet cutting out chocolate and biscuits etc ( snack only on nuts and dried fruit) . I am drinking Dr Stuart's weight loss tea which has defiently boosted my weight loss as it helps with bloating.  I have also increased my water intake daily.

My meals.

Breakfast starts with a glass of hot water and lemon.

1/2 a grapefruit.

Small bowl of porridge and blueberries.

One cup of Dr Stuart's weight loss tea.

Lunch time.

2 slices of Turkey and a small plate of green salad.

Fat free yougert and pumkin seed.

Dr Stuart's weight loss tea

Dinner

Red meat ( less than 5% fat ) or Turkey mince stir fried with veg

Sweet potato steamed or made into fries. 

Broccoli and carrots steamed. 

Cup of peppermint tea.

Depending what time of the day I exercise I follow with a protein shake .

I am drinking 2 litres of water daily on top of my herbal teas. 

I have tried to cut bread out completely except the odd slice of brown pumpkin seed bread toasted as I find bread so bloating and I feel my energy levels drop instantly after having it. I am not a big drinker but have cut alcohol out completely as there is so many hidden calories. 

I am hoping to see good improvements in 6 weeks time but it is hard to stay disciplined ( like today I had some chocolate ) but I don't let that stop me I just keep going and no I need to work out even harder. The weekend are the hardest because my husband Mark has a sweet tooth like myself which doesn't help but we are allowed one cheat day. 

I hope you enjoyed this blog and some of you find it Inspirational to kick start your routine, I find the best way is to have a photo of your fitspo this really keeps you focused, mine is Alex Gerrard I would kill to have a body like that but she works out every day and is so disaplined. It is also difently worth getting a personal trainer even if it's only for a few weeks as they will really show you what will work for your body and also will keep you motivated even on your bad days. 

So thanks again guys for taking time to read this and following me you can also find me on Twitter @angangieie and also on Instagram @ Monroe.ie

Have a good weekend everyone.

Angela xx

Questions and Answers

Hi everyone

Welcome back to my blog, so trilled this week with all my new followers still can't believe all the support and interest in my blog.  Due to all the emails and messages about my wedding blogs I decided to write one more and I hope this answers most of your questions. I have had a little more time on my hands at the moment due to been a little un well . The last couple of weeks I have really discovered the importance of looking after your self  both physically and mentally as you have to look after number one as no one else will.

( Most frequent asked questions about my wedding )

Is there anything I would change about my day ?

My answer to this is I wouldn't really have changed much, Mark would have liked a civil ceremony as its more about the two people getting married so maybe I would have opted for that if I was to re do the day but I had my own personal reasons for getting married in that particular church.

Who would I recommend as a really great makeup artist?

There is loads of really good makeup artists out there some of my personal favourites are Derrick Carberry, Paula Callan and Kim o Sullivan all off their work is pretty amazing, I would have trained with both Derrick and Paula, but there is lots of amazing makeup artists around the country that are up and coming. Check out Facebook pages for makeup artist as you will see photos of there work as its important your makeup will look well on camera. 

 

How much did my dress and shoes cost ?

I am not going to say how much I paid for my dress but you don't always have to go high end there is some pretty amazing dresses out there that don't need to cost the earth. I picked up my head piece in Barnardos Bridal shop in DunLaoighre they stock all designer dresses and accessories at a fractio of the price. My Shoes were €525 but they were a gift to me but in saying that my heel cracked on the day but thanks to Jimmy Choo for replacing me with a new pair. 

Did Mark buy or rent his suit?

Mark bought his suit in Louis Copelands in Dundrum they even made his wedding tie with the trimmings off my dress. 

Am I going to sell or keep my dress?

I am going to sell mine in the next few weeks but I am keeping my headpiece and veil.

Where did I get my dress I wore the next night ?

I bought this dress from a website JJs house it's well worth a look at for accessories etc and really good value. 

Was I really nervous on the day ?

I honestly wasn't nervous I really just enjoyed my day it's the quickest day of your life so you don't want to waste any time trying to calm your self down ( I even went for a job interview the day before my wedding ) 

Did I have a photographer and video ?

I just opted for a photographer I didn't like the idea of a video, I have been in so many houses the morning of a wedding doing makeups and once the video arrives people are never them selves and start getting really nervous so I didn't want that. 

So that's the most frequently asked questions. I hope it answers some of your questions. So to all 2015 brides to be the key to your day is been really organised so then it will all fall in place . Leave your final dress alterations as close to your wedding as you can, I lost 4lbs the week of my wedding which meant last minute alterations for me so I wouldn't suggest that as its stress you can do with out.  Keep a little diary of all your dates and times off appointments because believe me you will never remember with so much going on. 

Thanks again for reading my blogs hope you all have a great weekend.

Angela xx

Foundation review

Hi everyone, welcome back to my blog page. I have recieved great response to my wedding blogs so I am planning on sharing more about my day and the lead up to my wedding. In the mean time I have to share with you all how amazing this new foundation from Vichy is, it's gives your skin a beautiful luminous finish that lasts all day.  My all time favourite foundation is Luminous silk foundation from Giorgio Armani which I have been using for years but this super foundation I have just discovered gives my skin that same great finish and only half the price, luminous silk is €43.50 and Vichy foundation is only €22.50 so an absolute bargain. 

To get the best finish and results it's all down to the preparation and the application of your foundation. So I prep my skin with my serum and moisturiser and then my primer, the primer I am using at the minute is Visionnaire Blur by Lancome this blurs out any imperfections and pores and holds my makeup in place all day, then I apply my foundation using my Blank Canvas foundation brush and then it's blend blend blend buffing the foundation into your skin to get that flawless finish. I then apply concealer around my eye area and where needed I am using the NYX HD concealer and I then

I set my makeup with my Laura Mercier loose powder and I follow with NYX setting spray in dewy finish ( I also can't get enough off these NYX products at the moment ) 

So ladies if any of you are on the search for a new foundation and don't want to spend a fortune I would highly recommend this. This foundation can be found in most good pharmacies nationwide .

Thanks again everyone for following my blog and I will be back soon with more reviews .

Angela xx

Wedding Blog follow up.

Hi everyone 

Thanks again for taking the time to read my first blog, I am over whelmed with the amount of messages of support regarding my blogging. As promised I am going to share a little bit more about my Wedding day and some photos for you.

Hair and Makeup

So all the prep for my big day started about 8 months before hand, in regards to my hair I had many a trip to my hairdressers keeping my hair in tip top condition as I knew I wanted to leave it down on my wedding day. My friend Sheila McCann in Kinnegad always does my colour and cut so I kept the up keep of my colour topped up every 3 to 4 weeks and I had treatments on every visit too. Sheila really is the queen of blonds I have never came across anyone like her when it comes to hair in general but especially blonds. I use Kerastase shampoo and conditioner as I really find it keeps my hair in excellent condition especially with all the colour and highlights. 

I applied my own makeup on my wedding day, working in the industry as long as I am I did not thrust anyone else to do the job as I am quiet fussy when it comes to makeup. So every month I had a Glycolic peel treatment done on my skin, these peels are amazing the results you see are instant and last for weeks after, I have continued to have these peels as I just love the results. You can have this treatment done in most salons the brand I go for is Neostrata and you can have this treatment done in The Beauty Suite over Gildeas Pharmacy in Kinnegad. 

So on the morning I prepped my skin with my Clarasonic cleansing device then I applied my cult product Advanced Genefique serum and then my Àbsoloute moisturiser all from Lancome,

I applied my Wonder glow from Charlotte Tilbury all over my skin.

For my foundation I used Teint Miracle 035 mixed with pro long concealer from Mac, I set my foundation with my Laura Mercier powder, I contoured and highlighted my skin with my Tom Ford palate. I used Nars blusher in Orgasm and my inglot eye palate in nude shades and liner to my eyes. I didn't wear mascara as I had Minx lashes applied that week. I used NYX lipstick in Tea rose and some Stilla lipgloss. I kept my look very natural for the day and I added a bit more definition for night time. I didn't apply very much false tan as my dress was champagne in colour and such a nice tone with my skin. 

My advice for any brides to be out there is one thing not to cut back on is a good makeup artist as you need to no your makeup will last all day and stay in place and defiantly a good hairdresser as your hair should stay in place all day too.

So that brings me to the end of this blog I hope you enjoyed reading it and thank you all again for your support and well wishes. If you have any questions on your big day just pop me a message on my face book page or pop me an email at angelamcolgan@gmail.com

Thanks again guys

Angela xx

My first blog

Hi everyone 

Thank you all so much for taking the time to follow me and read my blog . I have wanted to start blogging for some time now but between one thing and another I never seemed to find the time. So at the start of 2015 i decided to start but January didn't quiet go to plan but I am back on track

So here I am 

So my first blog has to be about the most amazing day of my life last year my Wedding Day.

I got married on the most beautiful sunny day in Sept just outside Mullingar where I am originally from. I married a Tipperary man Mark Greene who is my absolute Rock. We got married in Turin Church and had our reception in Bloomfield House Hotel . It was such a magicial day I don't no where to start taking about it, I would do it all over again in the morning if I got the chance. It was amazing to have so many special people with us on our day from family to some very special friends. 

What I wore 

 I wore a Veromia Couture  dress and my Jimmy Choo shoes from Brown Thomas( which I adore). My dress was a champagne colour so I found it quiet difficult to get a long viel so I eventually found a lady in Mullingar ( Carmel  from Elegant Lady in Mount St ) to make my viel for me. My sister Maeve was my bridesmaid and we purchased her dress in Coast and my very special little Goddaughter Edie was my flower girl and we purchased her dress from Paul Costello in Dunnes Stores.  My fragrance on the day was nothing less than Chanel Chance and Mark wore Chanel Bleu.

Our Reception

After taking all our beautiful photos on the lake shore we headed back into the hotel for our meal which started about 6 0 clock. We had a traditional menu and then some very beautiful cake made for me by an old work mate Denise Tighe ( her cake was to die for and I loved her decor it was so blingy right up my street) . We had our speeches before the meal which I think worked really well. So them for the fun part the dancing !!!!!

We have Deuces Wild for our band and Dj, I really love this band they are amazing if you love rock music which I do I would highly recommend then, I first seen then in Danny Byrnes in Mullingar and loved them since that. Mark surprised me with his very own boy band on the night, he got some of his friends together the night before and they rehearsed this , it was right up his street as he is such a lover of dancing. So needless to say I never got of the dance floor ( my Jimmy Choos danced all night .  

The next Day 

The next day a lot of family and friends stayed around , some went out golfing and some just chilled in the spa like me. We had dinner there again that in the Lynnbury Suite and then into the bar for some cocktails.  

We stayed around in the hotel for another few days then back up to our home in Dundrum and got reaady for our Honeymoon. We went on a Cruise ship for this all around the Mediterranean for this visiting Italy, Malta , Greek Islands , Croatia and many more.

It was an amazing few weeks and I enjoyed every minute of it, for any of you bride to be out there I am very envious, so my advice is enjoy every minute as you never get this time back.


I will be uploading pictures of my wedding day and money moon on my next post.

Thanks again guys for reading

Angela xx