NYC "Sunny" Bronzer

 
In the past couple of months I haven't been reaching for bronzer as much as I used to. For some reason my usual picks just weren't sitting right on my face and either made me look tangoed or just looked too muddy on my skin. So the search began for an alternative. On a random shopping trip with my boyfriend I spotted an NYC stand and decided to have a nosey. I remember ages ago hearing alot of hype about the Sunny bronzer and when I spotted it on the shelf there was only one left so I grabbed it to give it a try and I can honestly say I was not expecting to like this as much as I do.

Lets start with the packaging which in my opinion lets the product down a little bit. It just feels and looks extremely cheap (which in fairness it is) and very flimsy, so I would be nervous about throwing this in my handbag or travelling with it because it would probably end up smashed all over everything. But packaging aside everything else about this amazing! The powder itself is amazingly pigmented so a quick dab with your brush is plenty. It is quite powdery so be sure to tap any excess off so you don't end up with it all over yourself. The shade is a little bit warmer, and a bit more red-toned than my usual bronzer picks like NARS Laguna, so it gives a really natural bronzed, sunkissed look to the skin. I have been using my Real Techniques Blush Brush with this bronzer which is a recent rediscovery and for me, the two are a match made in heaven. 

I apply this to the top of my forehead, my cheeks and down the centre of my nose just to add some warmth to my face and also a bit of dimension. I don't use this so much for contouring as I think it would be too warm for my skintone but it is matte so it is definitely a good option if you wanted to give it a go! For €2.99 I think it is such an amazing bargain and worth a try! I think this may have snuck in as one of my favourite bronzers ever and it is most definitely worth the hype!

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Sharing the Love...

I have been addicted to reading blogs lately. I always love reading other people's blogs but lately it just seems to have become an obsession. I love reading other peoples opinions on products and even gaining inspiration for posts of my own. There are so many amazingly talented girls (and guys!) out there so I thought I would share with you a few of my all time favourites that I think you should check out if you don't already.

Celine | Vintage Teapot

I have been following Celine's blog for absolutely ages! She is one of my biggest inspirations when it comes to blogging. If I am ever having a blogging slump or feeling unmotivated, I just click onto her page and have a read and she just seems to bring back my blogging mo-jo. On her blog the photography always looks so professional , she is so consistent and her posts are always really interesting and well written.  Her make-up skills are out of this world and she looks so frickin' amazing in every picture she is in. Celine is also one of the bloggers that I have had the pleasure of meeting in real life and she is honestly the nicest girl ever! Seriously talented lady and one you need to check out!!

Kayleigh | Couture Girl

Kayleigh is another blogger that I have followed for years. She was the one who inspired me to start up my own blog! Her reviews always seem to make my bank balance weep, because I normally end up buying most things she posts about. She has recently started to do more fashion types of posts and I am loving them, although to be fair the girl could wear a bin-liner and make it look good! She always gives really good, honest, detailed reviews with amazing pictures to go with it! I'm sure you all have already heard of her and her blog but if not definitely check her out! 

Karen | Lovely Girlie Bits

Now I couldn't finish this post without mentioning Karen. I think she is possibly my all time favourite blogger/youtuber, and not just for the beauty side of things (which is amazing too obviously!). Karen's videos and posts just put me in such good humor, if I am ever having a down day or just not feeling the best - I pop on one of her videos or log on to her blog and I am guaranteed to have a smile on my face at the end of it. She gives brilliant product reviews and when I read her posts or watch her videos it is like I am just talking to a friend about the latest bits we picked up in Boots. She always gives brilliant reviews but be warned she probably make you spend far too much money! 

Please let me know any bloggers that you think I should check out or if you have a blog yourself do leave your link below and I will be sure to check it out! 

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Favourite Essie Polishes

 I think we all know at this stage that I am a massive Essie fan. I struggle to go a month without including one in my favourites and I can not seem to pass an Essie stand without picking one up. It is a real addiction! But in my opinion they are one of the best polishes you can get - both high-end and low-end. I love the formula, for me it is really long-lasting and goes opaque in pretty much one coat! The colours are all beautiful and I love that they release limited edition colours for the different seasons which just gives me lots more options! I thought I would share with you some of my all time favourite shades that I tend to reach for the most!

 

Penny Talk

Arguably my all time favourite Essie polish. I bought this when I was in London last year and I got so excited when I spotted it. We all know how I feel about rose gold and this is a ROSE GOLD NAIL POLISH! Can it get any more perfect? It is the best rose gold polish I have found, and I have tried quite a few. It leaves a lovely metallic sheen to the nails that isn't too grainy or looks too harsh.

 

Bordeaux

This is the latest addition to my Essie family. This kind of colour is always one I reach for all year around- no matter what the weather. I think the dark red just looks amazing on short manicured nails all year round. I think this is one of my staple colours that I will always need in my collection.

 Angora Cardi

Another one of my latest additions to my collection and one I have been lusting after for years. I would describe this  as a dusty rose colour. It is a perfect Autumnal shade in my opinion and I have got so much wear out of it already this year. Plus how cute is the name?!

Watermelon

Another one of my all time favourites is Watermelon. I think the name is a perfect description of this shade which is a very hot pink colour. I love wearing these kinds of shades on my toes in particular.

Cute as a Button

I picked this up during the Summer and I wore it so much that I have a line where the polish starts which never normally happens! I would describe this colour a pinky-peach, it brightens up any look- considering I wear a lot of black this is something I need!

Fiji

A cult favourite is this little baby pink beauty. I think everyone and their dog has tried Fiji but its popularity is completely justified. Another colour that is completely unique in my collection. An almost white polish with the smallest hint of pink to it. Perfect for the Summertime, and looks amazing with a tan- and almost enhances it! You do need 2-3 layers to get that white-pink look!

Absolutely Shore

This was a purchase inspired by the beautiful Jess! Mint Candy Apple of course is a cult favourite but it was just a little too green for my liking and then I spotted this on Jess and I knew I had to have it. It is like Mint Candy Apple's baby sister. It is alot more pastel and like a washed out version of it. Again it looks amazing in the Summer with a tan and I particularly like to wear this on my toes! 

After School Boy Blazer

This was part of the Autumn collection last year (can you tell I like my Autumnal shades?) and it was one everyone went a little bit crazy for. Yet another adorable name and the colour is just amazing! It is a almost black blue. I don't own anything else like it in my collection and it just looks amazing on the nails. It is one of the more watery ones I own so it does take a few more layers to achieve opacity but it is completely worth it! 

So those are my favourite colours in my Essie collection, if you know of any other colours that I need in my life please let me know! 

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Emjoi Micro-nail

When I first seen advertisements for the Micronail* I was intrigued. I have tried the micro-pedi and am a massive fan of that, so when they released a version for your nails I was very excited.

I first used this on my mum and both of us were very impressed with the results! I would normally buff and shine my nails when I would do a manicure myself but I would always use one of the manual filers which would take a little bit longer and the results were never as impressive. You get two different heads with the machine, a buffer and a shiner. Obviously you would use the buffer first to get rid of any ridges, and to even out the nail and then you use the shiner for the finished look. I wouldn't recommend using the buffer too regularly as I imagine it would wear down your nail rather quickly and nobody wants paper thin nails that will split as they grow! But once every so often to keep your nails looking smooth is no harm! 

My favourite bit (and in my opinion the most addictive part) is the shiner. This leaves your nails looking like you have a clear polish on them. It gives them such an amazing shine and feeling so smooth that this is the step that makes the whole routine for me. There have been days that I haven't had time to apply a fresh coat of nail polish so I just go over them with the shiner and I'm good to go! 

I have been "trying" to give my nails a break from nail polish the past couple of weeks as they have gotten so stained and slightly grubby looking so I think that this is the perfect tool to help me do it! I think this is definitely worth investing in if you are into your nails and you enjoy taking the time to manicure your nails fully before painting them. The Micro-nail is available online here.

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November Beauty Favourites

I seriously can not believe that we are almost in December. 2015 is coming at us fast and furiously! I have been on a (kind of) spending ban the past month, trying to save for Christmas presents but ironically all products in this months favourites are new to me. In my defence all the make up is from the "drugstore" and the skincare product was on a deal! With that in mind, lets go through my favourites.

 

Origins Out of Trouble Mask

If you follow me on Twitter, you will have seen that I was having serious skin problems the past while. So I decided to do a complete skincare overhaul and change out alot of products. A few weeks ago there was an offer on in Boots where you could get three Origins facemasks for €30, such amazing value so of course I had to purchase! I am in love with all three that I got, but the one that I found made the most difference to my skin was the "Out of Trouble" mask. It is a completely white mask that you apply and leave on for 10 minutes. When I wash this off my skin feels squeaky clean and I feel like my pores have gotten a good deep clean. It is such a handy mask for a mid-week treat and then I will use a more hardcore one at the weekend.

NYX HD Concealer

I picked this up a couple of weeks ago after being recommended it by the lovely Leanne.  I have been reaching for this everyday since getting it. My NARS creamy concealer ran out last month and since I couldn't justify paying another €30 for it right before Christmas I have been using this. It is amazing coverage without looking too caked on. I use this for both under my eyes and on blemishes/redness and I think it works perfectly on both. They have an amazing shade range so I would definitely recommend you check it out if you are looking for a good quality lower-end concealer! 

 Soap & Glory Supercat Liner

I have been getting back into wearing liquid eyeliner on my upper lash-line the past couple of weeks. I have been going between a few different options but once I got my hands on this I stuck with it. I think it is the easiest way of applying liquid eyeliner (you really have to be confident around liquid eyeliner- it senses your fear!) and it lasts all day on me. I have hooded eyes so alot of eyeliners tend to transfer to the top of my eyelid but I found this one really good at staying where it is meant to! 

 Bourjois Smoky Stories | Good Nude

 I have done a full review on this palette here so I won't go on about it too much. I just love the shades in this quad, they are all cool-toned which I tend to reach for more. The shadows are really pigmented and super easy to blend. The glitter in the middle is perfect for layering on top to add a bit of festiveness to the look. 

Rimmel East End Snob Lip-Liner

I think everyone has been going abit crazy for this lip liner since Amelia Liana said that she thinks it is a dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillowtalk. Slightly easier on the pocket than the Charlotte Tilbury one, so I decided to pick it up and give it a go. I never used to reach for a lipliner, I never really seen the point and just thought it was an extra, unnecessary step. But I have been converted! When I line my lips they look so much fuller, more even in shape and colour. This shade is a typical dusky rose pink so it looks almost like my natural lip colour. It is extremely matte so when I apply lipstick on top it adheres so much better to it and makes it last so much longer! I have been wearing this on an everyday basis just on its own with a bit of Nuxe Reve De Miel on top.

NYC Sunny Bronzer 

Again I have done an entire post dedicated to this bronzer. When my regular bronzers just weren't doing it for me anymore I had to go on the hunt for an alternative. There was alot of hype around this bronzer a few years ago, and rightly so. It is a lovely natural looking bronzer that I apply all over my face to give myself a bit of color and glow. Like I said in my original post I think the packaging lets it down a little bit, but for the product inside I am willing to put up with it. 

So that is it for this months favourites. I can't believe the next time I write one of these posts we will be at the start of a new year! What products have you been loving this month?

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Bourjois Smoky Stories | Good Nude

 Bourjois eyeshadows were never something that caught my attention. They were always a little too sparkly for my liking and just not pigmented enough for me. Over the past couple of weeks they have released their new "Smokey Eye" quads which caught my eye. Three metallic shades with one glitter shade in the middle- almost along the same lines as the beautiful Charlotte Tilbury palettes. There are 8 different varietys/shades of palettes but of course I picked the neutrals and went for 05 Good Nude. 

In the past I have steered clear from anything shimmery/glittery on my eyelids- purely because I have hooded eyes and I feel that these kinds of shadows emphasize this. But over the past couple of months I have been dabbling more so with shimmers (combined with mattes) and this eyeshadow palette has fast become one of my favourites. The shades in this are more cooler in tone which I prefer on my skintone and of course they are all brown/neutral shades so they are perfect for everyday wear. As you can see from the swatches below they are all amazingly pigmented and the quality of the shadows are all amazingly soft and buttery. For everyday I use the lightest shade on my lid and the darker shades blended into the crease. I don't reach for the glitter shade very much but with the Christmas season looming, I know that I will be getting so much use of it! 

The only problem I have with the palette is that the glitter tends to fall out over the other shades and all over the palette as you can see from the pictures, and it just tends to get a little messy but nothing that a brush can't fix!

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October Beauty Favourites

You may (or may not) have noticed that I have been slightly absent on my blog over the past couple of weeks. Looking back I have only posted 3 or 4 times in October which seems very little considering I used to aim for 3-4 posts a week. Life happened. I was just so busy the past couple of weeks that I just didn't get a chance to take pictures, let alone type up a post. There has been some exciting changes in my job and things will be settling down in the next couple of weeks so I will have some more time to get back into my blog. So apologies for the severe lack of posting but I am back and ready to go! 

Explanation aside, I wanted to share my October Favourites with you. I have tried alot of new products this past month but also have been using some old favourites more.

Nuxe Reve de Miel

Since the months have been getting noticeably colder my lips have really been feeling it. At the start of the month they were getting so chapped and sore. I knew I had to transfer this pot of glory from my bedside table to my handbag. I did have the stick version of this in my handbag but it just wasn't cutting it when the wind was about. This lipbalm is just so thick and moisturising, it really is like no other. It is a matte lipbalm which is also unique to my collection, I can put a lipstick on top of this and it doesn't affect it. I put a thick layer of this on first thing in the morning and last thing at night and it has really left my lips feeling back to normal. Even though it is on the expensive end of lipbalms, I do recommend you give this a go because you need the smallest amount - a little goes a long way- so it will last you ages!

Essie Bordeaux

This months Essie nail polish of choice has been Bordeaux. You all know I love the black/red nail polishes and have far too many to justify buying this but I love it! It is a very very dark red- depending on how many layers you apply the darker it gets. This is my staple Autumnal nail shade, I do wear it all year around but during the colder months it is always this kind of nail polish I reach for.

 No.7 Instant Radiance Concealer

One of the latest releases from No.7 is this highlighting concealer. I purchased this towards the beginning of the month while those sneaky vouchers were doing the rounds! Similar to the YSL Touche Eclat, it is a very brightening under-eye concealer. During the month I have had a decent amount of early start which played havoc with my under-eye bags, so I have been piling this on in the mornings to combat them. I have been using shade 10 which is the lightest available, I could have went between 10 or 20 but I went for the lighter one because I really wanted that highlighting effect. The thing I really have been loving about this is the fact that it offers decent coverage as well as the highlighting effect so you get the best of both worlds! 

 Tresemme 7 Day Smooth System

This was on offer in Boots this month and since the John Freida 3 Day Straight had left me slightly underwhelmed I decided to give it a go. This is a heat activated cream that you apply to wet hair, then blowdry and straighten as normal. It didn't leave my hair poker straight for the 7 days, but it definitely made a difference! It eliminated any frizz and left my hair looking alot smoother over all. It is a step I really couldn't miss out in my routine, I use it once every 1-2 weeks and don't have to straighten my hair as much which is always a bonus! 

  Nars Cruella

This matte lip pencil has definitely acquired a cult following online- so of course I had to buy it. I bought it back in the Summer and at the time I didn't really get much wear out of it because I felt it was a little too much for everyday wear. But at this time of the year I feel that these kinds of colours are absolutely perfect and I have been wearing this whenever possible! I rediscovered it while practicing my Halloween makeup and fell in love with the way it looked and just started carrying it around with me and just wearing it alot more in general. I can not speak highly enough about these lip pencils. I always tend to go for a matte lip if I have the choice and these are matte lip perfection. They are not drying, chalky or anything else that you would associate with a matte lip. If anything I feel that they are slightly silky and moisturising on the lips, so if you have had problems getting matte lip products to work for you in the past, give these a go! 

 Nars Douceur

A very Nars-centric favourites this month, but it is unsurprising considering it is my favourite make-up brand. I bought this blush towards the end of September (I think) and it has become a permanent resident in my makeup bag ever since. I think this is the perfect nothing shade. For days where you don't want to discract from the eyes or lips that you may have going on, this is the shade to go for. It is a mix between a rose/brown that is surprisingly flattering on the cheeks. It is a very easy shade to sweep on first thing in the morning, and it is very hard to go wrong with it.

So those are the products that I have been loving this past couple of weeks. Let me know what your favourite go-to product has been for October! 

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