September Beauty Favourites

 

Hello Lovelies!

How crazy is it that we are nearly in October already?! Where is this year going to? I am loving all the Autumn trends this year and I can safely say (yet again) that Autumn is definitely my favourite month! Here are the beauty, body and nail bits that have really stood out to me this month!

YSL Touche Eclat Foundation

I know I had this in a favourites not too long ago but I couldn't resist putting in for this month again. I fall more in love with this foundation every time I use it. It really does brighten up my skin and brings light to all the right areas. I use my fingers to apply it as I find this gives the best finish. I may have to buy another shade for Autumn/Winter as the one I have at the moment is my tanned shade.

Estee Lauder Raisins Duo

This little eyeshadow duo has proven to be quite hard to get my hands on but since I got it I have used it so much! On first look you wouldn't think these would be colours I would put near my eyes, and you would be right..this is completely and totally out of my eyeshadow comfort zone but to tell you the truth, I absolutely love it! I find the colours surprisingly easy to wear, they blend like a dream and the pigment is just fantastic! This is the first thing I've tried from Estee Lauder and it's safe to say I'm blown away by the quality! I will definitely be looking into this brand more!

MaxFactor Miracle Touch Cream Blush

Something I have already raved about this month is this little cream blush by MaxFactor. I am loving cream blushes lately, I really like the finish they give to the skin. So when I spotted this on a random brouzing session I decided to give it a go. I adore the colour of this blusher! It gives you the nicest flush on the cheeks and it can be worn quite sheerly on the cheeks or built up to a more dramatic effect. You can read all about my ravings about it here.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer

This is actually a concealer I have been meaning to try for quite a while now. I have been a massive fan of the Healthy Mix foundation so I felt it was a fairly safe bet that I would like the accompaning concealer for it. It is quite a yellow toned concealer, but I use it for both under my eyes and on any blemishes that might appear. It covers everything really easily and blends beautifully! I also like the packaging randomly enough, I'm abit funny about concealers on brushes or doe-foot applicators because I'm just convinced they're full of bacteria, but with this one you can squeeze out what you need and not have to worry about sticking your fingers in to the pot or using a dirty applicator.

Chanel Rouge Noir Nail Polish

Starting the nail transition from Summer to Autumn has been made easy with this nail polish. I have been wearing this on my nails so much the past while. I know Chanel nail polishes have this massive stigma behind them where they're meant to chip really easily and not be the best formulas, but saying that I haven't had any problems with this one! I adore the colour- it's perfect for Autumn!

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Butter

I went a little Sugar Crush crazy this month and bought the Shower Gel, Body Butter and the Body Scrub so this is representing all of that really. I am literally obsessed with the smell, it's just so refreshing! I think it smells like Cola Bottles! I am particularly impressed with the Body Butter. My skin has been so soft and moisturised since using it. I do love all Soap & Glory body products though, I haven't been disappointed with anything I've bought from them so far!

L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution

I bought this at the start of the month as I was running low on my Bioderma and I was looking for a cheaper alternative. Bioderma is a fabulous make up remover but in Ireland it is impossible to get in a shop and so expensive to get online! This L'oreal alternative was on offer in Boots for just over €4 so I decided to give it a whirl! I was actually pleasently surprised! I found it removed my make up just as good as the Bioderma did, while being a quartor of the price! I would througherly recommend this as an alternative for Bioderma, if like me you are finding it difficult to get hold of!

So those were my top Beauty Picks for September! What have you been loving this month?

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Sugar Crush Love!

Hello Lovelies,

 

As you can see from the photo above I went a recently little crazy in the Soap & Glory section in Boots...truth be told I'm blogging about it so I can get you lovely ladies to justify it for me. I was always a big fan of the Sugar Crush Body scrub and then I discovered they released a body wash and a body butter in the same scent...happy Danielle!

 

When I bought these they were on three for two in Boots but now there is a deal on where you buy one and get the second half price! I would definitely recommend you give anything from the Sugar Crush range a sniff next time your in Boots. It's just so limey and refreshing! It reminds me of Cola bottles!

 

What is your favourite scent from Soap & Glory?

 

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MaxFactor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush | Soft Pink

Hello Lovelies!

You might have noticed in my past couple of posts I have been loving one particular blush a lot, so I thought it was about time it got its own dedicated post. The blush in question is Maxfactor's Cream Blush in Soft Pink. I picked this up randomly one day when I was browsing the aisles of Boots (so dangerous!) and didn't expect great things since I already own and love the Bourjois Cream blushes. But I think this little pot has overtaken my love for the Bourjois blushes just slightly!

The consistency of these blushes are so unbelievably creamy so it makes application all the easier! I have just been using my fingers to apply this to my cheeks. It is so easy to build this up, so you can have it quite subtle for day time and then build it up to be more intense if your going out at night. I love the finish of this too, it just leaves your skin looking so fresh and healthy. 

The only problem I have with this blush is the packaging, I think it just looks so cheap and flimsy. But the product inside will make you forget all about that minor detail! 

I will definitely be investigating the other colours that are available in this range. Have you tried any of the Maxfactor Cream Blushes? Available online here

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Weekend OOTD & FOTD

 Hello Lovelies!

I can not believe it is Monday already! Where did the weekend go?! On Saturday night I went out for dinner with my family and my boyfriend and I decided to do a quick post to share with you what I wore on my face and my outfit.

The Face Products

MAC Face & Body, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, NARS Laguna, Maxfactor Soft Pink, No.7 Skin Illuminator, MAC Omega eyeshadow (brows), Maybelline Brow Drama, Naked Basics Palette, No.7 Stay Perfect mascara, Ardell Demi Wispies, L'oreal Super Liner and Clarins Instant Lip Perfector.

Dress - Oasis

Bag- Primark

Watch- Fossil

Nails - Impress (review coming soon!)

I hope you all had a good weekend!

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Clarins Instant Lip Perfector

 

Hello Lovelies!

I was down in Limerick a few weeks ago and while I was down there of course I paid Brown Thomas a visit. Once the damage at the MAC counter was done I took a wander over to the Clarins counter and a bit of an impulse buy happened. In my defense I have been dying to try one of the Instant Light Perfectors for months now so I can't be completely blamed for what happened! 

I picked up the shade 01 Rose Shimmer because who can go wrong with a nice baby pink? I have to say I absolutely adore it. As soon as I tried it I knew I immediately needed the other shades (regardless of how similar they all look!) The smell is absolutely gorgeous and thankfully they don't feel sticky at all on the lips which is a big thing for me. I can't stand having a sticky feeling on my lips at all but this is so lovely and smooth! It gives very minimal colour but still makes you look put together.

I love the applicator, although not all that hygienic it still is lovely! It definitely is worth the splurge if you are considering it, you will definitely not regret it!

Available online here for €17. Let me know if you have any other colour recommendations!

 

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Transitioning into Autumn

 

Hello Lovelies!

It's my favourite time of year again! I love everything about Autumn so much, I love the weather, the make up colours and trends and of course the fashion! So today I thought I would share with you the make-up items I use to transition into the colder months.

So starting off with my personal favourite, nails. I love a deep colour on my nail all year round but in the colder months I really do go crazy with my deep reds, plums and navy colours! Chanel's Rouge Noir has been a serious obsession for me recently despite how hard I try to save it for good wear! I just wish the formula and the brush were better! For a more everyday colour I have reverted back to Essie's Bahama Mama which I was completely obsessed with last year!

For base I always find my skin becoming that little bit drier and duller so to combat that I have pulled out my faithful YSL Touche Eclat foundation. This foundation really just lifts your skin. It gives you such a gorgeous healthy glow, it doesn't even make you look like you are wearing a foundation. It is literally a your skin but better foundation. I will forever repurchase this foundation, I am literally addicted to it! 

To help along with the healthy glow I have added two blushes to my make up bag in the past few weeks. Firstly is my Becca Beach Tint in Watermelon, this gives a gorgeous rosey glow that lasts all day. You only need a tiny dot blended in because it is so amazingly pigmented.  On similar lines to the Becca blush is my latest blush purchase which is the Maxfactor cream blush in Soft Pink. It is quite a similar colour to the Becca Beach Tint but it is more of a creamier consistency and makes your skin look more glowy when you are wearing it!

On my eyes I have definitely stepped out of my comfort zone with this little palette from Estee Lauder in Raisins. The colours are not something I would normally go for, in fact its something a year a go I would have laughed at the thought of wearing. But I have been completely loving these colours the past few weeks! Turns out purple and pinks are very wearable colours for everyday...who knew? And on days when I'm not feeling like being adventurous I have turned back to my Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Permanent Taupe. Quick slick of this on my eye lids and I'm good to go for the day! 

And finally moving on to lips, I think a lipstick that everyone went wild for last year was the Rimmel Matte 107 lipstick. It is such a gorgeous deep red lipstick, completely unlike anything I would normally wear so it is usually my Autumn/Winter "going out" lippie! For a bit of protection this year I have been starting to use my Korres Wild Rose lip balm. This is a gorgeous nourishing lip balm so it helps combat dry lips, and it also has a lovely red tint which looks gorgeous on the lips! I know the Korres lip balms are ridiculously expensive but I really would recommend them. They are just so gorgeous and luxurious feeling! 

So those are my new additions to my everyday make-up bag for Autumn. What products have you been loving for the transition into the colder months?

 

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No.7 Skin Illuminator

Hello Lovelies,

I'm sure by now you can all guess what my favourite make up products to buy are..yep I love a good highlighter! I have been loving my Jemma Kidd All Over Radience Cream a little too much lately, since it has been discontinued I have been trying really hard to not use it and to find an alternative. If you follow me on twitter you may have seen my tweets about wanting to get my hands on the NARS Copacabana Illuminator, but I was abit hesitant to buy it incase it didn't suit me. So randomly while browsing the shelves at No.7 as one does I came across their Skin Illuminator. I don't think I have ever heard much about this product but I decided to give it a go and see if it could calm my need for the NARS one for the time being. 

I really didn't expect to love this as much as I do. It is the perfect everyday highlighter, I use it just on the tops of my (non-existent) cheekbones and on my cupids bow. It gives a gorgeous subtle shimmer to the skin without making you look like a disco ball. It feels lovely and light on the skin too, so it doesn't feel like your adding another layer of make up.  I found that it lasted all day on my without needing any touch ups. The only thing I dislike about this is the brush. I really really don't like it so I actually gave mine the chop after taking the pictures and I love it all the more. 

I would completely recommend this if you are on the hunt for a new highlighter! You can buy it online here in two colours.

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The Eyebrow Edition

Hello Ladies!

Recently I have become obsessed with one area of my make up application and that has been my brows. I have recently been loving a nice strong brow (nothing too OTT) and I thought I would share with you the products I have been using to achieve this.

Firstly to keep my brows maintained I have recently gotten back into threading. I find its the longest lasting hair removal and while it does hurt it is definitely a bare-able pain and nothing compared to waxing! But we all get those annoying little strays in between appointments so to get rid of them I have my beloved tweezers that I randomly picked up years ago in a little chemist. I would honestly be lost without my tweezers (I actually thought I lost them a few weeks ago and was genuinely devastated!)

On a day to day basis I would fill them in slightly using a mixture of Omega (the lighter shade) and Espresso (the darker shade) using a Louise Young LY31 brush. I picked this up while I was in London a few months back and haven't looked back since. The bristles are just the right length and density, and they place the right amount of product on your brows. If you are considering trying this brush I would completely recommend it! Once I have my eyebrows filled in I set them in place using the new Maybelline Brow Drama Brow Mascara in Medium Brown. The wand on this brow gel has a really unusual shape, at the top there is a circle which you are initially meant to run through your brows to get them in shape and use the end bit to tidy up abit. It does give a small bit of colour while setting your brows firmly in place- and I mean firmly!

Those are the everyday tools and products I use to keep my eyebrows looking maintained and (reasonably) under control! What do you use on your brows? Have you tried threading before?

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Estee Lauder Raisins

Hello Ladies!

I finally got it! After searching for ages, and it being sold out forever I finally got my hands on the much hyped Estee Lauder Eyeshadow Duo in Raisins. I think it was Tanya Burr that started off all the hype about this many months ago by mentioning it in one of her videos, and I've said it before who am I to pass up a good hyped product? I think everyone must have rushed out and bought it there and then because as usual by the time I decided I wanted it, it was sold out everywhere. Which of course made me want it all the more! So over the weekend I was randomly at an Estee Lauder counter and asked if they had it, not expecting much but the woman came out from behind the counter with it and I literally pounced. The poor woman probably thought I was insane, but I was so happy! 

Being the good beauty blogger that I am I waited until I was at home, and had my pictures taken before I played with it. (and let me tell you that was more difficult than it sounds!) I have completely fallen in love ladies. I have never tried any Estee Lauder products (other than testers) before this but I am completely sold! The eyeshadows are such fantastic quality, they blend like a complete dream and are they are incredibly long lasting! I originally thought they stained my eyelid because they stayed on so well. Even after swatching them for the picture I had to really scrub to get the deeper colour off!

The colours are just amazing. The lighter pink is quite similar to Naked Lunch from MAC but slightly darker and more pigmented. I usually just wear this all over the lid and a little bit in the inner corner of my eye. The darker shade is just amazing. It is a deep plum/purple and despite what you might think it is completely wearable! I just put this on the outside corners and blend it into the lighter shade. Purple is not normally a colour I would go for but with this duo it really is wearable and you would get away with it for an everyday look. This along with the Naked Basics palette has taken up permanent residency in my make-up bag!

Have you managed to get your hands on Raisins? What other Estee Lauder products would you recommend for me? I think I'll try a foundation or a lipstick!

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Barry M Gelly Hi Shines

Hello Lovelies!

You all know by now I am absolutely obsessed with nail polishes, and one brand I have really been liking lately has been the Barry M Gelly Hi Shines. They really are amazing. I couldn't tell you the amount of people that have asked me if I have gel nails while wearing only one of these colours! So I thought I would show you the colours that I have. From the picture you can see that I'm not very adventurous with my colour choices but I have worn all of these colours so much since getting them and they are always at the front of my nail polish drawer. 

All of the polishes you could get away with using just one coat, and even without a topcoat the shine you get is absolutely incredible! I find I do get a few days out of them before they start showing signs of wear. I would recommend you wear a base coat with them because I found that some of the darker colours can tend to stain your nails a little bit!

Blood Orange

This was the first ever colour I got in this range and it was from this that the obsession began. Despite the name it is a gorgeous deep red. This has become my go to red nail polish, it is ultra glossy and really opaque!

Pomegranate

I think this has been my most worn colour out of all that I have. It reminds me of my previous favourite Barry M polish - Raspberry. The formula and finish of this has definitely bumped Raspberry off the top spot. I have been wearing this all throughout Summer but I think it can definitely be used as a Autumn/Winter shade too!

Grapefruit

This is one of my most recent obsessions for my fingernails. It is the ultimate girly pink nail polish. It's not quite neon but its definitely on the edge! I have gotten so many complements while wearing this, I absolutely love it! It looks fantastic with a tan too!

Passion Fruit

The most recent edition to my collection, although slightly similar to Rimmel's Hip Hop it is different enough for me to justify buying both. On the nails it definitely comes across as more of an Orange. Again looks fantastic with a tan and I have been loving this on my toes lately!

Papaya

This is the only shade I was a little bit disappointed about. I do absolutely love the colour but I did find the application a little streaky and needed two coats with this one to make sure it looked ok. But again I love the finish and the colour is really unusual! I don't know how often I'll wear it during the colder months but once Spring comes around again I'll definitely be breaking it out!

Lychee

And for the days where I don't feel like going too wild with my nails I have the much raved about Lychee. It has been compared to Chanel Frenzy (Which I don't actually own so I can't really comment) and it is well loved across the blogging and youtubing world. Perfect for a nice classic manicure. You really can't go wrong with it, it makes your hands look lovely and elegant!

What other shades would you recommend for me? I am thinking of venturing out of my colour comfort zone so all recommendations would be welcome!

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August Beauty Favourites

 Hello Lovelies!

I hope you have all had an amazing month of August. I am so excited for it to finally be Autumn! It is without a doubt my favourite season of the year! I love the deeper colours in make up, I love the clothes and I love the weather too! I can't wait to start buying warmer clothes for winter too. I am definitely a colder weather girl which probably isn't a very popular opinion! During August I actually tried alot of new products and fell in love with alot! I was away for a few days at the beginning of the month and went on a bit of a splurge so that is where alot of these products have come from!

Jemma Kidd All Over Radiance Cream - Iced Gold

 I do apologise for including this because you can't actually get it anymore because sadly all Jemma Kidd make-up has been discontinued. So ever since that news broke I have been rationing my All Over Radiance Cream, but this month I have literally used it every single day. It is the nicest highlighter I have ever used and I am constantly on the hunt for something similar to it so if you know of anything please let me know! It looks so lovely and natural for during the day but it can be built up really easily if you want a more dramatic look for night-time.

Super Facialist By Una Brennan Pore Purifying Clay Mask

 I have been on the hunt for a new purifying face-mask for awhile now and I actually picked this up randomly one of the days I was away and once I tried it I fell in love. I've used this on my mum too and she loves it too! If feels lovely and cooling on the skin while using it and it leaves your skin feeling so soft and so clean after using it and the thing I love the most is that it doesn't dry out your skin either like I've found with some other purifying masks. It's such an affordable brand too! I'm definitely going to try some other products from the range!

Bumble & Bumble Thickening Hairspray

 I think every beauty blogger must have bought Elle magazine this month purely for this excellent freebie! I had never tried any Bumble & Bumble products before but was always intrigued by their surf spray. So I jumped at the chance to try this out and I absolutely love it! As you all know I'm constantly craving more volume in my hair and this paired with the John Frieda set I've been loving is a match made in heaven! I have been just spraying this all over my hair while its wet and blow-drying it as usual then. It gives my hair such a boost without leaving it sticky or crispy! The only thing I don't like is the smell, but I know alot of people do so it's definitely a personal preference thing! 

Maybelline Colour Tattoo - Permanent Taupe

During August I was slightly lazy when it came to make-up, I'm sorry but when it's a choice between bed and make-up, my bed will win 90% of the time. So what has saved me from looking like a complete and utter wreck this month has been this little pot of happiness. I have heard so many rave reviews about the Colour Tattoos but never really bothered to go and pick one up because I didn't really think any of the colours would suit me. But then I seen this one, and you all know how much I love my taupe shades!A quick rub of this on my eyelids and I'm good to go for the day! I love wearing it as an eyeliner alone my upper lash line too, I find that it lasts all day looking exactly as it did when I first applied it! I'm currently eyeing up the new Pomegranate shade, I think it would be perfect for Autumn/Winter!

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Pomegranate

Speaking of Pomegranate shades, I have been loving this Barry M nail polish. I absolutely adore the Gelly Hi-Shine formulas, they are incredibly shiny and I actually find them to be reasonably long lasting on the nails. This shade is just gorgeous. I'm pretty sure I've included it in a monthly favourites before. To me it's like the Gelly Hi-Shine version of Raspberry which was my favourite Barry M polish until this came along! I still have it on my toes at the moment and I think it will transition me nicely to the colder months!

MAC Face & Body Foundation

This was one of the purchases I made while I was away at the start of the month. I have always been pretty wary of MAC's foundations, they have got a seriously bad reputation attached to them! I used to use the Studio Sculpt and while I did like it at the time I wouldn't put it near my face now. I think my own foundation tastes have changed. I am loving lighter foundations on my skin lately and only using concealer when and where I need it. But I was always interested in trying the Face & Body. It has been the one I've heard the most about and when I found out that they were doing a new smaller 50ml bottle I decided to just bite the bullet and give it a go! I have really been liking it! It is light coverage but it can be built up to medium and it leaves a satin finish on the skin which I love. I found the easiest way to apply this is with my fingers and then using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush to make sure it's all blended evenly! 

Clarins Natural Lip Perfector

Something I have been dying to get my hands on for ages has been the Clarins Natural Lip Perfectors and I have been obsessed with this one! I got it in the shade 01 Rose Shimmer and in a nutshell, this is the nicest lipgloss I have ever tried. It's not sticky, smells amazing and makes your lips look fantastic! I just want them all now!

Also a random favourite is my new blog layout! The lovely and very talented Felicity designed it for me. I am in love with it and I would completely recommend Felicity! Her work is just amazing and she is so lovely too! Let me know what you think of my new layout! I'd love to hear your opinions!

So those are my beauty favourites for the month of August (seriously where is this year going to?!) Let me know what products you've been loving recently or link me to your favourites posts as I love reading them! 

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