The Burren Perfumery

During one of the first days of our family holiday this summer, before we knew that the weather was going to abruptly change and give us the freedom to spend almost the whole week surfing and swimming, we sat around researching activities in the area. There were all sorts of famous restaurants, boat trips, deep caves, historic buildings, pretty villages and natural gems to keep us plenty occupied. However, among all the outings we planned, there was one destination that I chose and pushed, despite the lack of interest among everyone else: the Burren Perfumery.

I'm a great lover of Irish beauty products and am always fascinated by things done smaller, done locally, steeped in tradition. The Burren Perfumery is the oldest working perfumery in Ireland and produces a variety of fragrances, aromatherapy products, soaps and a skincare range. Everything is made on site using local flora and sold in a physical store as well as online.

Now run by Sadie Chowen, an English perfumer that came to work for the perfumery, and Ralph Doyle, formerly employed in the IT sector, the whole place is as lovely and romantic as the couple's origin story. The two took over the business in 2001. They met onsite in 1995, when Chowen rented a cottage to Doyle and went from being a landlady to a wife, after falling from a horse and being nursed back to health by her tenant.

Today, the perfumery is a beautiful place, nestled amongst the bountiful, vibrant and protected flora of the Burren. The site is made up of production rooms, a shop, gardens that can be toured and a tea room, all in stone buildings, alive with plants. During summer months, the place is bustling with tourists and there are all sorts of tours and talks on offer, out of season, things are a good deal quieter and the tea room closes. Either which way, the perfumery is worth the visit. It feels tucked out of the way, like a secret garden, and the lovely store is filled with incredible beauty products that are just waiting to be discovered.

When I visited, I mostly spent my money on some of the body products and soaps for my mother, who wanted them but is normally loathe to spend money on herself. As such, the only thing that I have personally tried is the Honey & Beeswax Organic Lip Balm (€ 9.50) but it has remained on my nightstand since I purchased it and barely has a dent in it, despite daily use. I swear by it now.

If you happen to visit for yourself, the perfumes, candles and skincare line all intrigued me and I'll definitely stock up on some more products during my next visit - and I do plan another visit.

For beauty lovers exploring Ireland or Irish beauty lovers looking to shop local, it really is a must.

P.S. The film about the Burren playing in the room just off the shop is utterly hypnotising and lovely and so relaxing to watch.

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Easilocks Homecare Range Launch - High-quality Extensions and Haircare with a Conscience

There are certain things that I always get behind and like to support here on this blog. Anyone who knows me or has been a long-time reader will be familiar with these things that I am so passionate about and it really is important to me that beauty and fashion have a conscience.

Easilocks ticks a lot of boxes and has a lot of conscience. The brand is Irish, started by a young entrepreneur who worked his way up, cruelty-free, vegan friendly and all the hair extensions in the line are made from ethically-sourced human hair from around the world (largely Russia and Mongolia).

The company was started by Irish award winning hair stylist Shane O'Sullivan, who started out in the industry at age thirteen in his family owned salon (also named Easilocks) in Dublin. Having worked in the industry and with extensions, in particular, for years, he noticed that they could be better and spent five years designing a line of high-quality extensions that could be used at home.

Since then, the brand has gone from strength to strength and can boast Gigi Hadid, Margot Robbie and a whole host of other celebrities as fans.

The range of extensions is large with lots of pieces that can be added to instantly change a look and are available in a wide selection of shades and tones. In addition to this, Easilocks has also now launched a range of products and tools to help take care of your extensions and your own hair at home.

I attended the exceptionally packed launch a couple of weeks ago and, though I could only stay briefly, was amazed by the crowd and buzz of excitement. Bloggers and press were getting extensions put in to try them out first-hand, drinks were being had and Shane was on hand to answer questions personally.

Admittedly, I didn't get a chance to personally try out any of the extensions but I have been using the press samples I received on the evening on a daily basis since then: a rather impressive-looking copper styling brush and their Rose Gold Oil.

The brush is nice enough but a little big considering how short my hair is now and how bad I am at hair styling. However, the Rose Gold Oil is an absolute star product for me. I've been using hair oils for around 6 months now to help maintain the softness and smoothness of my hair and tame fly-aways and there have been a few I've really liked. This one, however, smells like an absolute dream, as well as performing well, which is why it has become my go-to. Seriously, it smells so good. I love me a spicy rose scent.

If you're interested in extensions or haircare but can't afford to entirely break the bank, check Easilocks out.

(The items briefly reviewed here were given as press samples. However, I was not paid to write this post and all opinions are my own.)


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12 Days of Giftmas - VOYA ¦ Giveaway

On the tenth day of Giftmas my true love gave to me, Irish organic skincare from the sea...

VOYA is one of my all-time favourite beauty brands. They were the first brand that I worked with, almost two years ago, just as I was getting into beauty, skincare and make-up properly. In fact, only a few days after I finally committed to establishing a proper skincare routine and trying to use more natural products, I got the email to attend my very first blogger event with them. As a result, they have a particularly fond place in my heart.

Aside from this though, there's a lot to love. And there's a reason that I've gotten friends and my mother hooked on the brand. In fact, Mammy's Christmas request from me and my siblings this year was "just lots of VOYA stuff."

They're Irish, a family-run business, natural, pick inspirational ladies as their spokespeople, make damn good skincare and, oh yeah, everything smells so damn good. I have my favourite products, of course, but I've yet to try anything from them that I didn't get on with. And you'd best believe that anytime I have the option, I choose a spa or hotel that stocks their products (and then ransack the hotel of every product left out in my room).

All of this is why they had to be part of the 12 Days of Giftmas.

"But what, pray tell, might this 12 Days of Giftmas be?" you're probably asking.

If you didn't read yesterday's post about OPSH, let me explain it again!

The 12 Days of Giftmas is a project that occurred to me last week. An idea that I ambitiously decided to go through with very last minute - I must be a lunatic. It's a sort of advent calendar for me and my readers, a way of saying thank you for reading and rewarding you in a small way. For the first 12 days of December, I will be writing a post every day on a shop, brand or item that would make good gifts. This is instead of the long gift ideas posts I've done in the past and offers a more in-depth look at some amazing companies and things. To complement each post, I've also teamed up with these fantastic brands and will be giving something away each day! So, the 12 Days of Giftmas will give you some gift ideas and the potential to win something for a loved one (or yourself!).

There are a lot of great gift ideas and options from VOYA and to suit a range of budgets and different recipients. If you don't have a lot of money to spend, for example, you needn't despair as this luxury brand has got your back. You can get a cute little Skincare Kit with travel sizes of their Me Time Moisturiser, Cleanse and Mend Cleanser, Ritzy Spritzy Toner and Maskerade Hydrating Facial Mask, all in a little VOYA cosmetic pouch, for just (RRP) €20.00.

And, if you want to give someone a spa day out but don't have a lot of cash, you can get their Lazy Days seaweed bath pack for €18.00 to bring the spa to you.

If you have more to spend and time to bring them on a wee trip to Sligo, the birthplace of VOYA, you can buy a range of vouchers to use in their Strandhill spa.

Then, if you're feeling luxurious, they have the kind of gifts a loved one would never justify buying for themselves that make great presents for spoiling people such as the Hair Gift Set with their high end (and effective) shampoo and conditioner (€43.00).

They also have lovely bits for the house such as their range of diffusers with scents such as African Lime and Clove for €44.00 and a range of candles and refills.

There's also a range of Christmas gift sets including Christmas Mitts Limited Edition Hand Care Gift Set (€34.00) and their Christmas Spiced Candle (€20.00).

In addition, there's a whole range of skin, body and haircare products that you can pick and choose from to make up a little luxury hamper for someone, as we'll be doing for Mam. Basically, VOYA makes the products you need to pamper the hard-working, fantastic people in your life.

So, if you want to give this amazing brand a go, why not enter my giveaway of a recent VOYA launch, the delicious-smelling Angelicus Serratus Nourishing Body and Massage Oil.

VOYA is stocked online, in spas around the world and in stores such as Avoca.

1. Sadly, I can only keep my giveaways open to Ireland this time around. I apologise to those who might disappointed but I have to keep the generous brands that I'm working with in mind!

2. The prize is one Angelicus Serratus Nourishing Body and Massage Oil.

3. All you need to do is comment below here or on Facebook with who you'd give it to - or if you want it for yourself! However, you must be following me on at least one platform (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin', Tumblr), let me know which one in the comment if it's not obvious!

4. Competition closes a week from now on the 17th of December 2015 at midnight Irish time.

5. Winners will be chosen at random.

6. I will then comment below the winner's comment and ask you to email my official blog email address.

And that's that! Good luck and see you again tomorrow for the next brand and giveaway!

(Thanks to Tracey and Sophie at the Spa PR Company and VOYA for working with me!)

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