Arriving at Wineport Lodge to this view was like stepping into a whole different serene, peaceful world, less than an hour and a half from my home in Dublin and the manic late afternoon traffic.
I had the honour of being invited to the renowned Athlone hotel to help celebrate the launch of a new Kiehl’s product: the Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil (€35 from Arnott’s).
Along with a gorgeous group of women, all involved in the worlds of fashion, styling, journalism and blogging, we were treated to a chilled glass of bubbles, followed by the most delicious meal – with a veggie option for me! I thoroughly enjoyed a colourful superfood salad, followed by a delicately spiced vegetable curry with rice.
The table was beautifully designed, with a midnight blue tablecloth adorned with navy sequins, and a lush centrepiece of greenery and meadow flowers in purples and blues.
Just before the meal was served, we had a chance to find out more about the Midnight Recovery Cleansing Oil and even try it out on ourselves… though our carefully applied makeup was left well alone! Instead, we were provided with lipsticks to make an artful mess on the backs of our hands, before using a couple of pumps of the oil to cleanse it off.
And it really works! It promptly gets rid of heavy, oil-based make-up, dirt, grease and even waterproof mascara. I’ve been using it for the last few nights and get a lot of satisfaction out of really getting into my eye make-up and melting it off.
Based on very natural ingredients, including an aromatic blend of pure botanical oils: squalane, a planted-derived lipid with a natural affinity for skin; evening primrose oil, rich in omega-6 fatty acids; and lavender essential oil, it’s soap-free, sulfate-free, and mineral oil free.
I kept my outfit simple, with a splash of colour. The dress is the Savida Scallop dress from Dunnes Stores (€40), and it comes in a pretty baby blue too.
I had spotted it first on a friend’s sister at a charity lunch last week, and had admired it all day. It’s so comfortable, easy to wear and I love the soft pastel shades for springtime. They make me think of Easter!
My Louboutin shoes were a very sweet present from my husband 🙂 They were the last pair in my size, reduced by 70% and I fell in love with the bright colours. So it was meant to be!