An Irish Summer..

Just in time for the summer season, a gorgeous new tan has emerged that hails from our very own Ireland. 'Wow Brown' - created by two young Irish women in the know - was researched and developed specifically for Irish skin! (Finally someone has saved us from ourselves)

The drawback is, as its still a fairly new brand, it hasn't reached all major stores like Boots, but you'll find it in beauty salons and pharmacies across the country, so it's well worth looking out for. If you live in Dublin, you're sorted, as the flagship salon is in Donnybrook.

The best bit is, as its still a young company, there are opportunities for out-of-work Irish women to invest in Wow Brown mobile tanning booths (complete with training) and set up shop in their home counties.

So it will hopefully be a nice little earner for our beauty industry.

Give us a flash

With young women in Ireland forking out the kind of moolah they do on looking gorgeous; from highlights, to tanning, manicures to brows and all the in-betweens, its a wonder more of us haven't caught on to teeth whitening.

Literally every celeb we drool over (both male and female) has artificially whitened teeth - fact.

If you haven't tried it, it may not seem like a necessary expense or hassle. Trust me though, it literally transforms your overall look. Whiter teeth look like straighter teeth. They also make you look younger and fresher. Not to mention, since we all want the American Hollywood glow, hair and bodies, we might as well emulate their culture for gorgeous white teeth. The Brits (and I think we're sadly included in this) are renowned for their bad teeth the world over. So lets up our game in the flashing department ladies.

Their are hundreds of different whiteners available, in a range of prices, but I recommend Exel 3 Nite White. This is a brilliant formula that I paid €200 for in my dentist three years ago (sadly misinformed) but you can actually buy the same stuff online (try Amazon)for approx $20

Best Kept Beauty Secret

I couldn't help but notice that lately, my flat mate's skin has been dewy and glowing like any Neutrogena model would envy.

I thought at first she must have had micro-dermabrasion, but she let me in on her secret. Retin-A. The doctors don't want you to know about this, as its generally only prescribed for extreme cases of acne. But basically, its micro-dermabrasion in a tube. Not only does it give you blemish free, glowing skin, but you look hella younger using it too (its the only topical medication proven to get rid of wrinkles!). It works by increasing skin cell turnover, expelling all the the plugged material in your follicles. The end result is having skin to die for, a la Hayden Panettiere, above.

So what are the downsides?

The effect of increased skin cell turnover causes your skin to flake for the first week or so of use, but that passes. Also, due to the fact it literally peels off layers of your skin, you have to be seriously careful in the sun while using it. It costs approx €56, (but considering one micro-dermabrasion appointment costs around the same - its worth it).

Finally - as its a prescription only cream, its not easy to get hold of. Saying that, my flatmate managed to get it without any real skin issues. If going to your GP doesn't work, its available'over the counter'online.

Bust a Move

A colleague recently convinced me to come along to her belly-dancing class and I have to say, I'm loving it.

OK, belly-dancing is a bit cliched, but once you look past its slightly kitchy image, it sexy and feminine. Even the smallest little movements can look so seductive if done right - a far cry from the 'bump and grind' culture across nightclubs in Ireland today.

On a night out, we all want a bit of attention from the buachailli, but nowadays, its hard to dance sexily without coming off like an extra from a low budget rap video.

I think the reality as well is that, Irish women, on the whole, are just a tad lacking in the natural rhythm department. So we either resort to a modest two-step, or totally over-compensate by throwing ourselves around the club and shimmying all over the place. I'm ashamed to say, after a few tequilas, I always fall into the latter category.

So how do we fix this? Easily, with even a six week dance class. You won't necessarily master the dance form in that time, but you'll master your own rhythm. As a recent convert, I'd thoroughly recommend belly-dancing, but for something more unusual you could try Bollywood. A friend swears by salsa for making her feel sexy, and burlesque is HOT right now (think Dita Von Teese). Just remember to adapt your new moves for general consumption in the club and possibly avoid the pole-dancing class - it'll go down well, but the bouncers may kick you out.

Hair Raising Issues

Like me, so many ladies in Ireland constantly lust after longer, thicker hair, a la Cheryl Cole. But unlike Cheryl, can't afford to shell out for hair extensions. I've shopped around and most reputable salons like Cowboys and Angels charge around €700 or more for a full head, while specialist stores like Hairspray and Wigwam aren't much cheaper.

So here's an option worth considering. A friend of mine recently got a full head of real-hair extensions in a speciality hair salon on the now multi-cultural Moore Street for only €100.

There are at least four African salons almost side by side that offer these prices 9and cheaper depending on the quality. While the decor isn't exactly chic, and no-one will be offering you mochas while you wait, these ladies know what they're doing.

The style of application is a traditional weave, so they create plaits along the root of your head and literally sew the extensions on. The pain is murderous for the first few days but they do loosen up and you get used to the added weight quite quickly.

Yes you say, but will I have any hair left at the end of it all? The answer is, like any extensions, you have to go easy with them, but despite what you're hairdresser might tell you, they do no more damage than the more expensive options, so go and check it out.

Welcome

So I work for a PR firm and recently took a social media seminar on the importance of developing your company's online presence. That's kind of when it occured to me... Facebook aside, I have no online presence.

So I've decided to change, with this blog, my first foray into the online community.

Be patient and gentle with me while I get started!

Elle