Voya Organic Purifying Defence Facial: Treatment Review

We have quite a few lovely Irish skin and body care brands but for me, Voya is definitely one of the more higher end. The products feel decidedly luxe and it makes complete sense to me that you would find them used in some of the finer spas in Ireland and the UK.

Certified organic, this family owned brand dates back to 1912 when the first seaweed baths opened in Strandhill in Co. Sligo. I can’t wait to make like Jedward and pay a visit there one day.

In the meantime, I’ve been getting my Voya fix courtesy of the Therese R spa at Rochestown Lodge Hotel. It offers a peaceful spa environment with soothing treatment rooms, a dedicated relaxation room and friendly, professional staff who put you instantly at ease.

I prescribe to the theory of getting a facial when the seasons turn, and this one is specially designed to prep your skin for summer. Intended to eliminate toxins and rebalance the skin, the treatment is especially recommended for oily, congested, or city skin.

Priced at €85, the Voya Organic Purifying Defence Facial Treatment offers 75 minutes of blissed out relaxation and pampering, cocooned in a blanket and stretched out on a heated water pad.

A back scrub kick and application of Voya’s Softly Does It body moisturiser kick off the proceedings before the facial begins, using a selection of fragrant Voya goodies made with natural ingredients, essential oils and Irish seaweed (which is incredibly good for the body, skin and hair).

Facial massage, lymphatic drainage and a neck, shoulder and scalp massage are all part of the treatment, which left me chilled out, smiling from ear-to-ear and with a softer, brighter,  and yes, more glowing complexion.  

You'll find Voya in more than 20 locations nationwide but if you're outside Ireland, worry not - you can also buy online from www.voya.ie. .

Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balms SS13

For the last couple of years I’ve really looked forward to the Clarins summer make-up collection and this year’s, Splendours, is one of the prettiest yet. I did an overview of the whole shebang over on beaut.ie but today I want to focus on what, for me, is one of the standouts of the whole collection.

Rich but translucent colour is a massive trend this year, but with this product, Clarins was way ahead of the pack. They first appeared in 2010 with new variations appearing every summer since (check out last year's offering here).

In their earliest incarnations, these really were just a tinted lip balm – an extraordinarily aesthetically pleasing lip balm, but just a lip balm nonetheless.

More recent collections have seen the brand add a core of pigment to the product which means that it’s possible to get a lovely colour from these as well as all the hydrating, smoothing, plumping goodness of the balm.

Clarins recommend that you apply the centre pigment first, then turn the product and apply a layer of balm. With gelled oils to combat dehydration, and Vitamin E to protect from free radicals, these slick on smoothly and are lovely and comfortably on the lips.

Four shades are on offer this year with two of them particularly demanding our attention. Crystal Gold Plum and Crystal Berry are rather astonishing shades of green and blue, respectively, but don’t worry, they don’t show up like that on the lips. The tinted balm complements the inner core of pigment, so you end up with a very wearable shade of berry or plum.

I’m completely in love with this product. Not only does it feel hydrating and look pretty, but it also smells just like sweeties – and the shape reminds me of a Push Pop, too.

My favourites are the Rose and Mandarin shades but for sheer novelty value I expect Gold Plum and Berry will sell out first. A word of warning though – these are limited edition, so if they’re tickling your fancy I wouldn’t hang about.

They’re all €22 – like the look of any in particular?

Best of the Highstreet: Flapper Fashion

Ok, so it wasn't quite Cannes, but the Irish premiere of The Great Gatsby was a pretty swanky affair. (Jump straight to my review of the film - and don't worry, it's a spoiler free zone!)

The invite said vintage, so I did my best with what I already had in my wardrobe - this pink Warehouse dress is vaguely 20s (I also featured it here), especially teamed with the headpiece I took home from The G, and a fur collar that used to be part of my mum's old winter coat (sorry Mum!).

But one look at the full on ritzy, glitzy flapper style at the premiere made me wish I'd made a little  bit more of an effort. In an ideal world I would have loved to have rocked up in any of this little lot.

ONE  These gorgeous Cai heeled metallic sandals are the very thing for trying out the moves of the Charleston. The heel height looks just about do-able, too.

TWO With its detailed embellishment and beading, this Miss Selfridge flapper dress looks decidedly more high-end than high-street.  

THREE I'm a little bit in love with this black, white and gold necklace - the cord reminds me of one of my current favourites.

FOUR For a more modern take on the 20s trend, this bejewelled dazzler of a top from Choies would look great, teamed with jeans and those high-heeled sandals.

FIVE Crystal encrusted earrings with a dangling pearl? Bling me up Scotty! And unlike Daisy's, these Miami ear-rings from Monsoon are costume, so you can afford to really pile it on.

SIX  Part of Topshop's Limited Edition collection, this sequinned black number will make sure you shine!

SEVEN Deco and decadent, at £55 this rose gold and crystal necklace is a little pricier than your normal highstreet find, but boy does it make a statement.

EIGHT This beaded clutch looks vintage, but is an absolute steal from New Look.

Have you caught Fitzgerald fever and is anything catching your eye?

The Great Gatsby: I Love It And So Will You

I don’t care what else you’ve read about Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby – it’s glorious. It’s so visually spectacular and engrossing that the two and a half hour running time feels like it's nothing at all. Unlike the months and months and months that I've been waiting for this movie - but hand on heart, it did not disappoint.

Carey Mulligan’s Daisy is vulnerable and enchanting - and Carey makes the leap here from cute to full-on beauty. Tobey Maguire's Nick is the most relatable character of all;  the whole story is seen through his eyes, as he looks back from the other side of that summer.  

But Leonardo steals the show. He is insanely brilliant in this film – and I wouldn’t have classed myself as a fan. But between this and Django Unchained, it’s clear he’s in his acting prime.

I was about 13 when I saw the Robert Redford version, and it left me deeply confused and conflicted. This interpretation of F Scott Fitzgerald’s Jazz Age classic is much more clearcut. Some might say it lacks subtlety – I say it's less hazy, and more defined. It’s a love story, and it’s exciting and beautiful and tragic in equal parts.

It's not the same as the book, of course, because the book relies on Fitzgerald's nuanced prose. But I don't see why you can't love both.

This version is as glorious and excessive and riotously intense as I imagine the Jazz Age might have been – if you were exceptionally wealthy, or perhaps one of Fitzgerald’s and Hemingway’s hard-drinking literary crew. I had goose pimples throughout, and I sobbed like a baby for the last half hour.

Jay-Z's soundtrack is inspired, the 3D flourishes are gorgeous and the fashion…oh, the fashion. It’s divine. It’s perfection. It's Prada and Brooks Brothers. It’s something you really have to go and see, and the bigger the screen, the better.

It was never going to be easy to remake a classic, but I think Luhrmann absolutely did it justice. It felt…epic. I think Fitzgerald would approve – and I’d love to know if you agree.

Irish Skincare Brand Elave Partners With Irish Cancer Society This Summer

If there’s one thing I love more than a good Irish brand, it’s a good Irish brand doing good. This is the perfect example.

For the second year running, Irish skincare brand Elave has teamed up with the Irish Cancer Society. Until the end of June, €1 from the sale of selected Elave products will be donated to the Survivorship Programme. The programme works with newly diagnosed cancer patients and provides them with support and reassurance from people who have undergone a similar experience, and come out at the other side.  

Elave specialise in sensitive skincare solutions – they avoid harsh chemicals and are a real boon for those with sensitive or dry skin, or who are prone to conditions like eczema, rosacea or psoriasis. For this reason they are also suitable for those who are undergoing treatment for cancer and who find their skin is more delicate and sensitive than before.

Products include the brand’s shower gel, shampoo and intensive cream and I can personally vouch for all three. Since I started swimming on a regular basis I am showering and washing my hair more often, and I need something that is gentle but effective, and won’t strip my skin (or my hair colour!). This trio is just the ticket.

The products are also excellent for anyone with dry or sensitive skin, any of the skin conditions I mentioned above or who is undergoing treatment for cancer, when your skin often becomes more delicate and easily irritated.

Find them in all major pharmacies, including Boots, from May. Elave's shower gel and shampoo are €7.10 and the Intensive Cream, a really good face or body moisturiser, is €8.49.

You can contact the National Cancer Helpline on Freephone 1800 200 700. It’s open Monday-Thursday from 9am to 7pm and Friday from 9am to 5pm.

WIN! Share A Coke with Friends - On Me!

I don’t drink many fizzy drinks, but when the weather warms up, the one thing I’m partial to is a glass of ice-cold Coke.  Ice and lemon, please. Ahhhhhhh…

So it put a smile on my face when this personalised bottle arrived at Fluffy HQ, to launch the Coca Cola ‘Share a Coke’ campaign.

The brand is inviting people all over the country to share a coke with family and friends – and if you’re lucky, you could snap up your own personalised bottle, too.

150 of Ireland’s most popular names can be found on 500 ml bottles of Coca- Cola, Diet Coke and Coke Zero. (Not in Ireland? Similar campaigns are also happening elsewhere!) They’re accompanied by ‘You’ and ‘Me’ 330ml cans, and 2 litre bottles saying ‘Friends’ or ‘Family’.

You’ll find them in stores now until the end of August. And if you can’t spot your name, visit www.shareacoke.ie to create a personalised digital can.

If you fancy sharing a coke, I have two lovely special edition boxes, each containing two 500 ml ‘Friends’ bottles, to give away. This one is Ireland only and couldn’t be simpler – just tweet me @fluffyblog saying you’d love to #shareacoke, and leave a comment below! As always you must be a follower of this blog, via Bloglovin' or GFC, in order to win. I'll be picking the winner on Sunday.

Good luck! Now I'm off to stockpile the 'Emma' bottles...!