Initially i went to Barcelona under the impression that all the spanish brands like Zara, Mango, Bershka and Pull and Bear will be a lot cheaper then in Ireland. Well, they are not. The prices were exactly the same and they had, of course, the same windows and stock. I would rather support the irish economy, thank you very much.

Also, the spanish duty free was incredibly expensive. I mean, thank god i know my prices because their cosmetics were only 2-3 euro cheaper then in our department stores.

With that said, i loved their pharmacies: they had everything. Bioderma, Avene, Vichy and La Roche Posay with loads of new products like hair care and body care which is not available here, A-Derma, Uriage, Phyto, Klorane…pff i was in dermatocosmetic heaven!

Probably you will laugh, but i mainly bought cellulite creams. Maybe it was the sun, the heat and all those bikinis floating around i just couldn’t help it. Cellulite creams are my biggest weakness, its like nail polish for some girls. I just have to have any single brand and product under the sun that promises to smooth, slim and tone those humps and bumps. All would be good and well if i would use them though. Many of my creams are still in the original packaging, untouched on a shelf. I know, such a weirdo huh? Well all its changed, i assure you! Plenty of reviews coming.

From Left to Right: Vichy Cellu Destock duo pack (38 euro), Roc Reductor Intensiv duo pack (38 euro) and Somatoline Intensive Slimming Treatment for night time (53 euro for 450ml tub)

Their chemists were full of these little packs against cellulite. Just couldn’t resist! Vichy and Roc were on promotion, so i got two creams in one pack for 38 euro (usually 25 euro for one).

If you would like me to post some reviews of them let me know, haven’t started to use them yet as im working my way through Nuxe Anti-Cellulite oil and Vichy Lipocure (discontinued, got it on a sale).

Beside creams, i stocked up on essentially lingerie from Women’s Secret my favorite underwear/pyjama store in the world. Well, i adore Etam as well but that’s another story.

There are a few bits from Top Shop there (floral bikinis) and the slippers were from Etam. Love everything i got, morning are more fun now haha.

Thankfully i discovered that Women’s Secret ships to Ireland as well, so i don’t have to wait to go away on holiday to make my purchases.

A while ago i purchased the Biotherm Celluli Laser range in the hope that it will deliver good visible results for my summer holiday. If you didn’t know, Biotherm is closing their counters across Ireland so i was lucky enough to get my hands on the products half price.  If i remember right, full price they are about 45-50 euro each.

Being on sale, i thought what the heck…i should get the whole range will I’m at it, surely i will get faster results and get my bikini body in no time. Yes I’m that type of deluded customer who gets excited over nothing.

For the last month i have been using religiously morning and evening the Celluli Laser Biofibrine Day Gel, Celluli Laser Intensive Night and the Body Resculpt Abdo Gel. I also did dry brushing about 3 times a week, exfoliation every other day and massage moves with that yokey boby brush with rubber bumps on it that you can find in the Body Shop (i know, I’m great at descriptions).

So, what are the results  you will ask?

Well my lovelies, other then a nice smooth feeling of the skin, nothing major. Yes the skin feels firmer, softer and moisturised, but other then that nothing really. The bumps and holes are still there, in all their splendor (charming, isn’t it).

The textures are ok, the day treatment is a fast absorbing orange gel which will give you a slight tingle (contains menthol). The night one,it is a green milk with a texture that permits a light massage. Also it has a slight peppermint smell and tingle effect, nothing major or uncomfortable. The abdomen gel its very light too and fast absorbing.

The promises on the bottles are very re-assuring, it says that it will improve the aspect of incrusted cellulite (a deep set one), by smoothing the appearance of it and help refine the body contours. The abdo gel says that it will have a “corset” action, by tightening everything  and restore the flat abdomen effect. Yeah right…

My honest advice is not to waste your money on this range. After one month of daily use, i haven’t seen any improvement in the appearance of my skin, other then a nice feeling when i touch it (which i get from any body moisturiser with firming effect). You might say that i need to use it for another month, to give the product time to work. Well, if in one month i didn’t see any result on how my cellulite looked or by using the measuring tape…i don’t want to waste more money on it. And for the record, i didn’t eat chips and used the cellulite cream for slimming !

The quest continues.

Everybody knows that there is no special miracle remedy that is going to give us dimple free, smooth legs. Regular exercise and healthy eating (no junk food), topped with massage sessions and a good firming moisturiser will deliver good long lasting results. I know…boring, but true.

Well, I am not going to get into great details in this post about cellulite treatments per say, more on how to prepare the skin. The next recipe is a natural homemade exfoliant, very inexpensive that it guarantees real results after just one use, your skin its going to be super soft like it never been before. I have been using it for many years and No, you will not see pictures of my bum, dont even try!

You will need:

• warm grounds of coffee already used (from the coffee filter machine)
• extra virgin olive oil or almond oil – only a few drops, just enough to make a thick paste

I use this mix in the shower, preferably in the morning time, after I drink my coffee so i have the grounds already warm from the coffee machine. Can be messy, but it can be cleaned very fast with the shower head (its not going to block your drain). Now, you start from the ankles with circular movement going towards the heart. You will notice the skin going red, don’t worry this is natural as the blood circulation is improved. Finish with a couple of alternative hot and cold showers to tone and firm your skin. It should be used once or twice a week.

Result: smooth, velvet soft, moisturised skin ready to assimilate all the nutrients from your cellulite cream/treatment. Coffee (caffeine actually) is well known for its anti-cellulite properties, you will find it in all major cellulite products as it improves circulation, drains and smoothes all those annoying dimples. The only warning: don’t use it if you suffer from broken capillaries on your tights as it can worsen the problem (it has to do with the blood stimulation).

Hope you like it .