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If you're a social media lover in Ireland, and addicted to beauty and cosmetic products, you have DEFINITELY heard of Niamh Cullen and Aideen Kate.

As two of the country's biggest influencers, with a following of 200,000 followers between them. they're a force to be reckoned with.

Niamh focuses more on lifstyle, health and fitness, and Aideen is the queen of make-up on Instagram. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Influencer Is A Dirty Word (@influencerisadirtyword) on

Now the pair have officially joined forces to produce a weekly podcast together, and we couldn't be more excited,

The gals captioned their first post on the new Instagram page, Influencer is a Dirty Word;

"New podcast coming Sunday. Episode 1: How To Deal With A Breakup. Grab your hunnies and some snacks (or some dranks), available on YouTube."

Image: @niamhcullenx/Instagram

The two teased their new project via their Instagram stories yesterday, saying, "How to deal with a break-up? Or how to help a friend dealing with a break-up? Go!!!" 

Niamh and Aideen suggested that their followers ask them questions, but their fans had no idea that a podcast was coming.

We're assuming that Influencer is a Dirty Word is about life as Instagram royalty, brand ambassadors and garnering a following of thousands, while looking and feeling great.

Image: @niamhcullenx/Instagram

This is major news for the influencer industry, which is growing more and more competitive.

We can't wait to hear all their gossip about their work-life, wellness tips and discussions about young women going through problems in their daily lives. 

The gals are unreal on their own, but we're delighted they've decided to come together for the magic of podcasts. It's sure to be a great one to listen to with your mates and a bottle of Pinot Grigio.

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Lush is back, and better than ever for Mother's Day 2019.

Fresh from their Valentine's Day success; they're introducing gifts for your lovely mum with personalised messages included, for the perfect expression of your appreciation.

The cruelty-free, eco-friendly company are introducing an extensive and colourful collection of bath bombs with notes hidden in the bath bombs, little scrolls of love delivered straight to your mum. 

Lush are asking their customers to change the way they convey their love, and we are SO on board;

"You can tell your loved one how you feel by removing the scroll and writing a message in one these personalised bath bombs. They’ll discover your note as they take a well-deserved soak," their website reads.

They've got jasmine, chamomile, iris and Marigold flower bath bombs, at €7.95 each. As the bombs fizz away, the flower pattern gradually rises to the surface and expands, creating a gorgeous spectacle.

Next on offer are their Madame President and Incredible Mum bath bombs; we're floored by these.

Their Madame President products are priced at 6.50 each, and are formed petit-grain oil, grapefruit and cornstarch for soft skin, antiseptic properties and calm vibes. According to Lush; "No matter what you stand for, rest assured that you run the world."

We like the sound of that. The Incredible Mum bath bomb is priced at €5.95, and is created for being there when nobody else is, and knowing the right time to appear with chocolate;

"When she feels stretched thin, why not treat her to a hot bath of mood-brightening bergamot and ylang ylang oils. A splash of orange flower absolute will have her raring to go and back to full power in no time."

Their butterfly bath bombs are captivating with their colourful patterns and luscious scents; we want them ALL for our mums and ourselves too. Self-care, and all of that…

Priced at €6.50 each, Lush have Wild Butterfly, Rose Butterfly, and Lemon Butterfly bath bombs on offer. and each one smells like pure joy.

A cocktail of soothing and uplifting oils will make your mum's bath experience her best yet; allow her to cocoon herself in a sweet and fruity experience of indulgence;

"As this butterfly-shaped bath bomb floats on the water, shimmery orange and yellow tones combine and fizz, surrounding you in scents of citrusy sweet wild orange oil and herbaceous olive leaf absolute."

As if this wasn't enough beautiful-smelling perfection, Lush have also procured MORE luxurious treats;

More Tea and Sympathy bath bomb (€9.95), Floating Flower bath bomb (€7.95) and GrlPwr bubble badge (€7.95), Strawberry Hill shower bomb €2.95, Mamma Mia shower scrub (€14.95), Hunny Bear massage bar (€7.95), and Raspberry Milkshake soap (€9.95).

After long days of running the world, these gorgeous items are the LEAST your mum deserves. Soothing fizz and foam will give your mum a fragranced cleanse like never before.

If all of those stunning purchases haven't solidified your faith in Lush, why not create your own gift using one of their limited edition Mother's Day knot wraps.

They're basically a piece of ornately decorated fabric which replaces disposable wrapping paper or a carrier bag, so you're saving the environment and your Mother's Day gift guide.

Inspired by furoshiki, an ancient Japanese tradition which uses techniques akin to origami, you can literally wrap pretty much anything regardless of shape or size.

Just pick out a product (or 10) that you love, and choose a Knot Wrap in store or online, ranging between €5.50 and €6.75 and made from recycled PET plastic. Simply gorgeous.

If you're prepared to give your mum the all-time Lush experience, the gift packages are NEXT LEVEL amazing.

Consider them chocolate box-style gifts full of treats for the sole purpose of pampering.

The floral designs are printed on 100 percent recycled cardboard and inspired by coral; the indulgent products inside are ready for restful soaks.

Ranging from €17.95 to €64.95 depending on your budget, there's something for everyone in each special set.

These fresh and fruity eco-friendly beauty products will have your mum in the best mood she's ever been in, all thanks to you. Lush, of course, can take some of the credit. We heart them.

The Lush Mother's Day collection is now available online and in Lush stores nationwide as of last Friday, February 15.

Go forth and purchase, but don't forget to buy something for yourself too….*winks*

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We're all aware that Urban Decay have garnered an absolute CULT around their legendary make-up palettes. 

We can all remember the mass hysteria when their Naked palettes were released; we'd never seen the likes of it, and we all just HAD to acquire one.

Now the giant cosmetics brand are offering the chance to snatch a FREE Naked Reloaded palette worth €44 (£38), but you'll need to be prepared.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Urban Decay Cosmetics (@urbandecaycosmetics) on

They've just launched their Naked Reloaded palettes after the huge success of their debut Naked 1, 2 and 3 and have since added the Naked Cherry, Naked Smoky and Naked Fire Palettes.

Now Urban Decay have stated that they will gift the first 20 customers to walk through the doors of selected stores on Monday a FREE Naked Reloaded palette.

That's right, the claws will well and truly be out to play that day. You need to bring any other Urban Decay palette of yours to swap, however. Seems fair to us.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Urban Decay Cosmetics (@urbandecaycosmetics) on

The American brand removed the Naked palette from stores last August and effectively brought the beauty world into a state of grief.

The new take on their classic has since been offered, with 12 gorgeously glitter shades from warm browns to beige neutrals, rouge golds and sparkly whites.

Urban Decay are celebrating the first day of the Naked Reloaded palette hitting shelves officially with the giveaway, and we're expecting MAJOR queues to form from the break of dawn on Monday,

Get your EP tents ready for camping ladies, it's gonna be a bumpy ride when the doors open. 

Feature image: Allure

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Being blonde has it's perks, but staying blonde is another story altogether.

From maintenance to conditioning to frizz, bleaching your hair blonde brings annoyances alongside the shimmering golden fierceness.

Watching those dark roots emerge while checking your bank balance and realising that you can't afford to get them bleached professionally is a special kind of heartbreak.

Seeing those unwanted brassy yellow tones seeping through sends shivers down my spine, as a gal who has white/silver hair. Banishing yellow has been super easy for me since I began using the brand Fanola:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Fanola Professional USA (@fanola) on

Otherwise known as the purple shampoo GODS, I was stunned at how amazing the results are. It does dry out the hair, but it's worth it if you pair it with a good conditioner, or use Olaplex

Olaplex has saved my bleached barnet by using specialist chemicals to legit bind the hair together and protect it from the damage of bleach.

The salon Cowboys & Angels on South William Street in Dublin SWEAR by it, and for good reason; It really does work.

I've tried using 'big brand' or high street purple shampoos, and normally they're an absolute train-wreck. Their bleach and toners are a pure mess, NEVER use them.

Always go to the profesh gals for bleaching your hair; the cheap ones in Boots will just damage your gorgeous locks and you'll have to pay to fix it anyway.

As someone who had to purge my hair three times to have green hues removed, it's always an imperative idea to go to the salon.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by (@olaplex) on

John Frieda, I'm looking at you. Bleach London, y'all need to do some WORK. So I was extremely sceptical when I tried L'Oreal Paris Elvive' new purple shampoo.

Only the professional salon brands like Fanola normally work, but I was hugely impressed by L'Oreal Paris Elvive's efforts. Their new campaign is fronted by none other than Helen Mirren, and they have vowed to banish yellow hues.

Their purple shampoo and conditioner promises to "act as a colour corrector by counteracting and neutralising undesired yellow and orange tones" to leave your hair bright and cool. That's quite the promise…

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by L'Oréal Paris Hair Official (@lorealhair) on

Purple formulas, often called silver shampoos, are used on white, silver and dyed blonde hair to keep them looking fresh and light coloured. Purple is the opposite to yellow on the colour wheel, and works to cancel out the sunny tones.

I should mention, my hair was bleached blonder than it's natural dark blonde tone, then a silver/lilac toner was used.

My toner unfortunately allows pink shades to seep through, but after using L'Oreal Paris Elvive's purple shampoo, the hair was noticeably less pink. I wanted lilac realness and I got it, so it's a job well done in my eyes.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by L'Oréal Paris Hair Official (@lorealhair) on

My hair also didn't feel as dried out, after pairing it with the matching L'Oreal Paris Elvive Purple conditioner.

It's only necessary to use purple shampoo once a week, and leave it in the hair for one to three minutes for excellent results. While still no match for Fanola, my hair has returned to a more lilac tone rather than unwanted yellow and pink.

I would 100 percent recommend the shampoo for bleached blondes, or even highlighted brunettes, as it's far cheaper than Fanola.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by L'Oréal Paris Hair Official (@lorealhair) on

Cowboys & Angels sell Fanola's purple shampoo relatively cheap compared to it's marketed price, but you'd struggle to find their no yellow shampoo online for under €20.

At €8.95 each for the shampoo and conditioner, L'Oreal Paris Elvive allows you to get blonder on a budget. 

If Helen Mirren is on board, then by GOD so are we; She can do no wrong.

Overall, L'Oreal Paris Elvive Go Purple gets four stars out of five stars from us. Great value without any damage to the hair, and decent blonde results. 

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Codilia Gapare, a breast cancer survivor, has revolutionised the beauty industry by creating the first ever false lashes range for chemotherapy patients.

The mother-of-two was diagnosed with cancer in the UK in 2014 on the same day that she underwent an interview with the Manchester Metropolitan University.

While she was offered her dream place, she eventually had to drop out to focus on her chemotherapy treatment after struggling to balance her studies. She chose to use her spare time to create something truly special.

Image: IMAGE.ie

She initially had tried to ignore the diagnosis, but later had to face the illness head on after losing all of her hair.

"The mental battle caused me to become drained. I had two kids, I was a single mum, working two jobs. And that was my reality. I was so upset with myself for being sick. I was supposed to be realising my dream but instead, I felt like a failure," she explained.

Through this intensely difficult time in her life, she realised that there were no fake eyelash options for cancer patients.

She transformed her idea into an actual product, 'C Lashes', and partnered with beauty brand Eylure. The company have since released the range in Boots stores, making the cosmetic industry more accessible for women with cancer.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Codilia Gapare (@c.lashbycody) on

In an interview with metro.co.uk, she describes how the lashes are designed with a larger, more flexible adhesive band and a bigger surface area to help them stick to the eyelid, and this makes the whole process far easier for women with little-to-no eyelashes.

Colidia wanted to make something that would help cancer patients feel like themselves again, and recalled how hard it was for her to lose her hair;

"Being black, we always play with our hair. Losing my hair was a big deal. No one talks about how much hair you lose though. I lost my eyelashes, eyebrows, pubes, underarm hair."

Colidia came from Zimbabwe to the UK when she was 26-years-old to pursue her ultimate dream of becoming a lawyer, so a full-time business model wasn't exactly planned. Especially after spending years working and studying to apply for university.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Codilia Gapare (@c.lashbycody) on

The 41-year-old Cheshire resident chose to drive three hours away to her law degree interview after being given her cancer diagnosis, and she NAILED it. What a woman.

She found a lump in her breast in July 2014, and confirmed the illness just a month later. "Mostly, I was in denial," she told Metro.co.uk.

"I really convinced myself I wasn’t ill, I was totally unprepared. I didn’t even tell anyone I was going to my interview but I didn’t even think about cancelling it. ‘For me going ahead with the interview was going ahead with my life."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Codilia Gapare (@c.lashbycody) on

She continued; "But I wasn’t prepared to lose my lashes."

"When my lashes started to thin out, I bought fake ones, but I struggled because it took off all the remaining hair. I didn’t do it for attention, I just wanted to feel like myself. I just wanted to be me again."

Codilia's life has gone up and up since then; she was offered a scholarship through support network Women in Business to study a masters in Business Admin at the same university.

H​​​aving received the all-clear from the disease at her latest check-up, Codilia is now in the final year of her studies in Manchester. What an UNREAL gal.

The lashes come in three different styles including 'Naturals', 'Lengthening', and 'Volume', and can be bought on boots.ie for just €7.49 now.

Feature image: Instagram/@c.lashbycody

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We absolutely ADORE Valentine's Day, not only because celebrating romance usually gives us an excuse to pamper ourselves, but because it's a wonderful time of the year for cosmetics shopping.

Why buy roses or chocolates when you can get the best beauty products around?

We've decided to curate a list of our top 12 makeup, skincare and cosmetic goods for this year's Valentine's Day; whether it's for a hot date, a dinner for the gals or even a cosy night in with Netflix and a furry friend.

From your favourite smouldering red lipstick to sparkling pink eye-shadows and rose-scented perfume; 'tis the season for LOVE in beauty-land. 

turn around smile GIF by Laff

1. Charlotte Tilbury 'Hot Lips' red lipstick in Carina's Love.

Inspired by Chinese actress Carina Lau, this bold and sexy red lippy inspires confidence in any woman who wears it. It's siren red and has light-diffusing pigments that create a luminous finish for a full-bodied effect.

In Chinese culture, the colour red is representative of good fortune and joy, so it's positively perfect for Valentine's Day, right?

There's a great reason why Charlotte Tilbury is a globally renowned brand, and their matte lipstick range stands by their statement of good-quality products for women. 

The creamy formula, protection from UV damage and seamless finish are just three reasons why this lipstick makes our top 12. Enjoy it in all it's glory, gals.

Buy: Charlotte Tilbury
Price: €32

2. L'Occitane Romantic Rose collection

For Valentine's Day, it's only too important to smell and feel your best. We've found the ideal scent for the eve: ROSE. French powerhouse brand L'Occitane have gifted us with a set, that we all both need and deserve.

The gorgeous and elegant fragrance set includes: Rose Eau de Toilette, Rose Shower Gel, Rose Body Lotion and Rose Hand Cream. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by L’OCCITANE UK IRELAND (@loccitane_uk_ire) on

L'Occitane 'Romantic Rose' collection is priced at €69 from the L'Occitane website.

3. Too Faced 'better than sex' mascara

The 'Better Than Sex Mascara' Hourglass-Shaped Brush is genuinely revolutionary.

Formed by discovering the bust-waist-hip ratio of an iconic silver screen Blonde Bombshell, the brush has the ideal silhouette that separates lashes for voluminous perfection.

The collagen-fuelled mascara formula give you redefined lashes which stretch to unreal lengths, for romantic dinner date eyes.

Buy: Debenhams
Price; €19.55

4. CND nails

Nail brand CND Vinylux have just debuted their new range, featuring stunning pinks, dark berry, ravishing reds and blush tones to show off your romantic side.

Mambo Beat, Rose Bud, Hot Pop Pink, Tinted Love, Wildfire and Dark Lava are ideal for a hot date, or pretty much anything the night has in store; There's a colour for every kind of date.

For Valentine's Day, why not treat yourself to a some gorgeous new shades from the iconic brand? You'll feel pampered and date-ready in no time.

Buy: CND 
Price: €11.95 (Shellac and Vinylux)

5. L'Oreal Paris Go Purple shampoo

For anyone with platinum blonde, highlighted, silver, bleached hair and all shades in between, the L'Oreal Paris Go Purple shampoo is a TOTAL WINNER.

Finding the best purple shampoo to keep the brassiness out of light-coloured hair can be tricky, but thankfully L'Oreal Paris have solved that problem just in time for Valentine's Day.

Tried and tested by us, we can guarantee that this stuff genuinely works. Any yellow tones are washed out, leaving your hair looking bright and rejuvenated. Yes girls.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by L'Oréal Paris Hair Official (@lorealhair) on

L'Oreal Paris Go Purple shampoo is priced at €8.95 from all major retailers now.

6. Dermalogica intensive moisture balance

Promising to deliver nourishment beyond the skin's surface, the Dermalogica intensive moisture balance cream is 100 percent professional grade.

It's vegan, gluten-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free and uses NO artificial colours or flavouring; it's legit eco-friendly while clearing up all those dry skin worries. We'll take 10, please?

Buy: Dermalogica
Price; €51

7. Rimmel London Wonder'Luxe mascara

Finally we have discovered the best clump-free mascara in town, with four oils to it's lash-loving Wonder collection.

For volumised, thick and full lashes, with maximum volume; Rimmel's your go-to product.

Rimmel has even infused argan oil into it's four-oil complex, as well as Maracuja oil, Marula oil and Camellia oil for conditioning and protection from hair splitting.

Argan oil is renowned for nourishing properties, so mascara won't have to damage those eyelashes anymore. Thank GAWD.

Buy: Littlewoods Ireland
Price: €10.90

8. Sculpted by Aimee Connolly: The 4-in-1 lip liner pen

Why have one Valentine's Day lip liner when you could have four, stunning shades?

Grab yourself the Nude or the Pink edition, whichever you're in the mood for will light up your night. Each edition has four beautiful shades, from 'Buff', 'Bare', and 'Peach' to 'Rose', 'Blush' and 'Rouge', you're in for a treat.

Line the perfect pout with makeup guru Aimee Connolly, she's only gone and made the holy grail of lip liners.

Buy: www.aimeeconnolly.com
Price: €29.99

9. Garnier Ultimate Blends almond crush shampoo and conditioner

Garnier Ultimate Blends are launching up to 98 percent natural origin haircare, and we could NOT be more excited about it.

Your hair will feel cleansed, nourished and weightless using their almond crush shampoo and conditioner, which is made with a blend of organic almond milk and agave sap.

The gentle formula is a complete game-changer; did we mention it's 100 percent vegan? 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Garnier UK & Ireland (@garnieruk) on

Garnier Ultimate Blends almond crush shampoo and conditioner are priced at €4.95 each and are available from all major retailers.

10. La Roche Posay Lipikar Cleansing Oil AP+

La Roche Posay have long been one of our go-to skincare brands, and their new cleansing oil for dry skin will save the day for those of you who are PLAGUED with this skin type.

It's a soap-free, paraben-free and alcohol-free pH neutral shower oil that gives your skin the lipids it needs to reconstruct the skin barrier,

Skin with atopic tendencies or extreme dryness will CRAVE this product, it also soothes that feeling of tightness many of us know and hate.

Buy: Feel Unique
Price: €12

11. Anastasia Beverley Hills Modern Renaissance eyeshadow palette

From white shades like 'Tempera' and 'Vermeer' to baby pink 'Bijon Fresco', bold raspberry 'Love Letter' and 'Venetian Red', even brown shades like 'Red Ochre' and 'Cyrprus Umber', we're dazzled by these Renaissance-inspired tones.

The range is gorgeous; this collection of matte and metallic eye-shadows is PERFECT for creating dazzling cosmetic effects this Valentine's Day.

Anastasia Beverley Hills always create the best products, which means they sell out fast. Grab yours now online from Cult Beauty to avoid disappointment.

Buy: www.cultbeauty.co.uk
Price: €49.11

12. Bioderma Sensibio Foaming Gel

Leading French brand Bioderma has introduced the new Sensibio foaming gel, and all we can say is: WOW.

The gel is specifically created to soothe and hydrate your skin to ensure it's free of trapped oil and impurities.

It's mild but cleansing active ingredients calm irritations and will leave your skin feeling squeaky clean just in time for your Valentine's Day make-up regime.

Buy: Cloud10 Beauty or select pharmacies nationwide
Price: €13 

That concludes the round-up of our top 12 ultimate Valentine's Day beauty products: tried and tested.

You'll be getting a faster heartbeat and butterflies in your stomach just looking at these gems, let alone using them. They'll melt your heart, and self-love is all about treating yourselves, right?

nathan young misfits GIF

Feature image: YouTube

 

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This is straight out of Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror, except if he was more into beauty and cosmetics…

For her Dazed Beauty magazine cover, Kylie Jenner had her game switched up when the publication used actual artificial intelligence created solely with a computer to create her new look.

It's INSANE. The whole idea was to put the most popular beauty trends into one lewk by using AI programme Beauty_GAN. The programme uses an algorithm to create beauty looks from Instagram trends…are we living in 3019?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Kylie (@kyliejenner) on

In Kylie's case, 17,000 trends were used to achieve her cover image. Pastel-pink hair, eyeshadow colours fading into one another, overdrawn Cupid's bows and light matte pink lipstick. It's a lot…

The gal kind of looks like she's melting…but it's still pretty cool. We sense that MUAs and influencers will be trying to emulate this look through their makeup skills soon enough.

AI program Beauty_GAN digitally applied hair and makeup to Daniel Sannwald's photos of Jenner, and the results were shared in the editorial.

According to Dazed Beauty, Beauty_GAN is "first algorithm of its kind, trained to create its own beauty imagery based on what it sees on Instagram." Damn.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Kylie (@kyliejenner) on

Dazed Beauty's creative director Sebastian Zimmerhackl explained why the images of Jenner aren't picture perfect, despite the technology.

The computer had to learn exactly what "beauty" is, according to the 17,000 photos it was fed. The result “doesn’t look perfect because it’s an experiment," he said.

"But maybe in the future, it is the artistic mistakes that we will remember.” That's deep, Sebastian. What does beauty even mean nowadays, especially with editing and filters?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Kylie (@kyliejenner) on

Sannwald photographed the reality TV star with almost no makeup to serve as a blank canvas for Beauty_GAN, who recruited her due to her influence with trendsetting in the beauty industry.

She recently became a billionaire as a result of her company's success; Kylie Cosmetics.

Beauty_GAN's art director Lukas Rudig stated;

“It’s a collaboration: what the machine does to her is paint her face in the way it thinks it should be in a beauty selfie. To put it in a really easy metaphor, Beauty_GAN is like a mirror of popular culture, but the reflection staring back at you might not be what you expected."

"We teach a machine to see us and what it shows us back is not always what we see ourselves.”

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Instagram is increasingly being told to take responsibility for the harmful effects of it's site on the mental health of young people.

Between celebrities endorsing weight-loss products which have no scientific backing, the NHS encouraging body-negative adverts to be banned, and the new sensitivity screens being put in place to prevent graphic violence and self-harm being depicted; Insta is a dangerous place.

Yet, we cannot deny that selfie culture and self-branding through social media has become just a normal part of our everyday life. Me, myself and Instagram has taken over, and young people growing up today assume it's perfectly normal to try to look perfect.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by  (@khloekardashian) on

It's so prevalent in society to share the highlights of ourselves and desperately emulate others who we assume have 'better' lives, which writers such as Matt Haig have emotionally discouraged.

FaceTuning images to blur seeming 'imperfections' such as stretchmarks, wrinkles, spots, freckles, teeth, smiles, body hair, even elbow wrinkles or unwanted curves is the new normal, according to our society.

Having flaws is deemed unhealthy, and the notion of 'narcissism' or vanity is no more.

Now Rankin is trying to counteract the idea of editing ourselves in a new photo series, and it's beautiful.

The amazing photographer is attempting counteract self-editing, by showing people just how damaging the effects of social media can be.  His photo series, aptly named Selfie Harm, was launched last week on Instagram.

The renowned artist captured portrait shots of 15 teens and handed power to them and their filter apps, asking them to edit the retouched image until they felt it was 'social media ready'.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by @rankinarchive) on

He commented;

“Social media has made everyone into their own brand. People are creating a two-dimensional version of themselves at the perfect angle, with the most flattering light, and with any apparent flaws removed.”

“This is a new, enhanced reality, a world in which teenagers can alter themselves digitally within seconds. Mix this with the celebrities and influencers flaunting impossible shapes with impossible faces and we’ve got a recipe for disaster," he attested.

The photographer shows images of youth and natural beauty which massively contrast with the newly filtered, edited versions. It's shockingly easy for the young models to blur the lines of reality, but what is 'perfect' in a world such as this?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by  (@rankinarchive) on

He wrote on Instagram;

“People are mimicking their idols, making their eyes bigger, their nose smaller and their skin brighter, and all for the social media likes. “It’s just another reason why we are living in a world of FOMO, sadness, increased anxiety and Snapchat dysmorphia."

"It’s time to acknowledge the damaging effects that social media has on people’s self-image," he concluded.

The visible differences and changes made allow the teenagers and subjects to transform their entire identity, so much so that their natural state is completely erased. There are smaller noses, smooth complexions, wider eyes and lips, everything you can imagine.

Interestingly, the photographer notes that most of the models preferred their original image, but it's still disturbing to witness the power of filters. These edits can convince people that they're regular image isn't good enough to be seen.

It's becoming harder to discern what's real and what's fake; soon the idea of reality on social media could vanish altogether.

Feature image: Rankin Instagram/Fashionista

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A Star Is Born has everyone sobbing and singing in the shower; Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's flick about an aged rock star who plucks a young musician from oblivion and elevates her platform, while falling in love at the same time.

The movie is currently on the awards run, vying to win the Best Picture at the 2019 Oscars, as well as Best Original Song and Best Actor/Actress nominations for the protagonists.

The reboot film is inspiring in it's treatment of male depression, fame, talent and romance; it's even inspired this outrageously amazing lip art.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by  (@ryankellymua) on

We think this artwork alone deserves numerous accolades, I mean WOW.

It was created by Ryan Kelly, a make-up artist with some serious talents. She just gave beauty enthusiasts a reason to rewatch the film over-and-over again. 

Kelly has blown us away with her intricate designs, she's also behind some of the best Bird Box lip art and Golden Girls lip art features we've ever seen.

We can practically HEAR Shallow play while we gaze at those painted lips. It's unbelievably life-like.

Why can't we be this talented? BRB, going to painstakingly hone our artistry skills and then cry when we can't recreate Ryan's artwork.

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For most women, if not all, removing hair from their neck down to their toes is an integral part of their grooming process. Having perfectly smooth and silky skin makes them feel confident and beautiful. Today, there are many methods of removing this hair, with each of them having their benefits and drawbacks.

Creams, waxing, laser treatments, and razors are some of the methods, but for most women, it all boils down to whether to choose a shaver or an epilator.

The two hair removal devices are the most accepted among women, especially those who do not want to spend so much in beauty parlours and those looking for a less risky method with great results.

But what should you choose between an electric shaver and an epilator? Below we discuss the key differences between electric shavers and epilators to make it easier for you to decide.

Working Mechanism

The primary difference between an electric shaver and an epilator is based on whether the hair is removed below or above the skin level. Shavers use cutters to slice the hair off at skin level, leaving the root under the skin.

On the other hand, an epilator uses tiny, rotating tweezers to remove the hair at the root level, leaving a much smoother skin. The surface of the epilator rotates as it passes over the skin, grabbing the hairs and slickly removing them from the follicle.

Comfort

Epilators are quite painful and offer a certain level of discomfort, especially your first time. An epilator uses about 15-20 tweezers to pluck out hair from your skin, so you can be sure you'll experience some amount of pain.  

This pain factor can limit where the device can be comfortably used.

For most women, the face, armpits, and genital areas are too sensitive for epilator use. However, most epilators have two rotation speeds, and hence you can use the slower one for such areas.

Moreover, once you use it repeatedly, you get accustomed to the pain, and you don’t experience it as such. Applying some ice on the skin surface can help soothe the pain.

On the contrary, a shaver will barely hurt since it just trims down the hair. You can comfortably shave even the sensitive parts. However, you need to be careful with the curvy parts, so you don’t cut yourself.

Stubble

Since shaving cuts down the hair at the skin level, it just makes it shorter rather than completely removing it from the skin surface.

Though you’ll find the skin smooth right after shaving, the hair will grow quicker, and stubble will be visible in just a day or two, especially if you have black hair.

When you use epilators, the roots of the hair are destroyed, and the hair takes a relatively longer time to grow again, offering a more lasting smoothness.

Speed

When choosing the right hair removal device, it’s important to consider the speed of operation. How much time do you want to spend removing the hair on your legs, arms, and back? Shaving is considerably faster than epilating.

This is because, when epilating, you have to hold the device perfectly perpendicular to the skin so as not to break the hair mid-way. When it comes to shaving, you can shave as fast as you can as long as you’re careful not to cut yourself.

Effectiveness

As mentioned earlier, epilators work by plucking out hair from the roots beneath the skin. This leaves a smoother skin surface, and since the roots are destroyed, hair takes much longer to grow again. In addition, the hair that grows is much thinner than before.  

On the other hand, shavers cut hair at the skin’s surface, leaving a relatively rougher skin and the hair grows much faster. In addition, the hair that grows after shaving is thick and coarser than the previous.

Therefore, it is quite clear that epilators offer better results in terms of smoothness and durability hence are more effective than shavers.

Hair Length

The two devices also have different requirements regarding how long the hair should be to successfully remove it. Typically, an epilator is most effective when the hair is at least 0.25inches in length. On the other hand, a shaver can cut the hair at any length, even that which is closer to the skin.

Cost

An epilator can cost you between €26 and €180 depending on the quality of the device, brand, and the features offered, but there are no other costs once you’ve bought it.

Electric shavers, on the other hand, are cheaper, ranging from about €8 to €80. However, you will need to replace the blades now and then.

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Irish beauty entrepreneur Suzanne Jackson has revealed she is adding a FULL lipstick collection to her brand SoSu by SJ.

The make-up mogul revealed on her Instagram account yesterday that she's been working on a signature lipstick range, launching next month.

She captioned the video;

"Can you deal?! Full lipstick collection coming soon. You asked, we listened! Lipsticks, liners and glosses! Launching in Feb! More details soon! Who’s excited?"

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Suzanne Jackson-O’Connor (@sosueme_ie) on

Suzanne Jackson already has a hugely extensive beauty product collection; her false eyelash range, contour palettes, highlighter kits and eyeshadow palettes have caused a frenzy.

After creating a successful business through blogging, Jackson turned her talents to cosmetics, creating SOSU by SJ.

Despite her brand being only two years old, it's already stocked by major retailers such as Boohoo, Primary and PrettyLittleThing all over Europe.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Suzanne Jackson-O’Connor (@sosueme_ie) on

Celebrity MUA fans of the expanding brand include Emma McVey, Lauren Pope, Chloe Lloyd, Jelena Peric, Megan McKenna and Khinda Hawari.

The recent eyeshadow palette collaboration of SOSUbySJ x Keilidh was massively popular, and we're sure the new lipstick range will generate a similar reaction.

Roll on February, we NEED those gorgeous lip colours ASAP.

Feature image: VIP Magazine

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Victoria Beckham always looks flawless.

And the 44-year-old took to Instagram Stories to reveal what she uses on her ever-youthful skin.

The answer took us by surprise, to say the least.

The fashion designer explained that she splashes out on a £1,200 face cream created by celebrity Dr. Barbara Sturm, known for her 'vampire facials.'

Yes, the face cream is made with the owners own blood.

The cream, called MC1, has anti-ageing properties and the blood is taken during a consultation and mixed in a lab – then it's frozen for future orders.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Victoria Beckham (@victoriabeckham) on

Victoria said in an Instagram Story that, ''Dr. Sturm took my blood and created healing factors made by my own cells, which is highly anti-inflammatory and regenerative. I’ll be testing it out this week both morning and night.''

The result?

Victoria posted a picture of her with glowing skin and wrote, ''After sleeping in the mask, (which soaks in so doesn't look funny or feel sticky) my skin feels amazing! Super hydrated and clear! And very soft!".

So, moisturiser made form your own blood anyone?

We think we might leave this one to celebs like Posh Spice and stick to our No. 7.

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