Fashion Turn to the Right

PINK.

2012-02-24T17:24:00.020Z

As I mentioned in a previous post, I went on a bit of a spending binge the past week, mostly on Asos.com. I am in love with this website. There is always something I lust after, and my saved items list just ascends every minute I'm on it. Terrible I know. It is one of the few online shopping websites that accepts Laser cards, and possibly the main reason why I'm on it as much as I am. I have yet to get a credit card, and any one who knows me personally warns me against it. I went through a phase on ebay, where I asked my dad politely could I use his credit card, just for one purchase, but 1 turned into about 100. It was a dark time in my life! I couldn't stop bidding. I genuinely think it was a problem. But I'm past that now, and just use what's in my own account. :)

Two of my favourite purchases from my recent splurge was this pink blazer and these acid wash jeans. The blazer is just so different to any colour or shape I already own. I also like that it's collarless, as it adds something unique. I felt that this colour would certainly pep up many an outfit for Sprrrriiiingtime! I know I mentioned before that I didn't think I'd be sporting many pastels this coming Spring, but I was just drawn to this piece, it just called to me! (Buy meeee, buy meeee!). Seriously. :)

The acid wash jeans are a style of jean I don't own at all, or even anything similar. These are from River Island, but were also purchased from Asos. They are a perfect fit, and I can't stop wearing them!

The leopard print boots are from Boohoo.com. I had purchased shoes from this site before, and was surprised with the quality for the price, so I got some more! I had seen leopard Chelsea boots in New Look, but got there too late, as they had all sold out. I'm very happy with these babies though, they fit so snugly, and have a nice sized heel on them.

The watch is from River Island. I don't usually wear watches at all, but I saw this and, well, yeah it called to me. It's adorable! :)

I wore this outfit out for Tapas at the Port House and a meander around Dundrum. Can't believe it's the weekend already! :)

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Ways to Wear: The Peach Topshop Blazer

2012-02-22T13:49:00.007Z

Sticking with the Fashion theme I mentioned in my Current Covets: River Island post, I have decided to incorporate more Fashion related posts into my blog, as I feel that I have been neglecting the fashion side of things recently! I bought a huuuuge amount of clothes this week, mostly from Asos, as I felt my wardrobe needed an update. I love this time of year too, when we all start losing the layers that we were sporting throughout winter, and start donning brighter colours. Spring this year is all about pastels; zesty lemons, spearmint greens, and glacier blues, although I don't really see myself as a pastel kind of girl. One thing I have been lusting after recently is a pinky peach blazer, as I think it is a key piece that will completely revamp my neutrals and dark colours already present in my wardrobe. I purchased this Asos one here, but for this post I have used a more structured blazer from Topshop, which can be found here.

I have created 6 looks using this peach blazer as the central piece. I have paired it with dresses, jeans, leggings and shorts for a variety of day and evening looks, and as it is quite a neutral colour, I have mixed it with varied prints, colours and textures to vary each outfit.

All items can be found on the Topshop website.

Hope you're all having a lovely Wednesday and had mountain of pancakes yesterday! :)
x

The Handmade Soap Co. Lip Balm

2012-02-21T18:46:00.005Z

This week I was lucky enough to be sent a gorgeous lip balm from the Handmade Soap Company. I was relatively unfamiliar with this brand, I had never really noticed their products in stores, and the only knowledge I had of them was from fellow bloggers, who lapped up their praises. I did a bit of research and was astounded to see this brand were an Irish company, a new one at that, whose unique selling point was that all their products are handmade, using 100% natural ingredients. I had never tried an Irish product like this, and so, I was delighted to be offered the chance to review one of their delicious lip balms.

I received the Orange and Calendula lipbalm, and I am so happy I did, because it is the tastiest, most gorgeous scented lip balm I have ever used! I also had no idea what Calendula was, I kept pronouncing it Candelula :) I have since been informed that it is a herbacious plant, part of the daisy family, which actually has anti-inflammatory properties. Win win so far!

Now I have used lipbalms; Vaseline, Chapstick, Blistex, Carmex, you name it, and have never really been truly satisfied. My lips tend to get dry quite easily, which is a pain, because even when they don't seem dry, nearly all lipstick either seems to make them dry, or make them look flaky and dry. So annoying right. Enter Handmade Soap Company!

This product is glorious. It moisturises and repairs, while leaving lips glossy and shiny, and smelling divine. This product contains beeswax, which has a long shelf life and seals in hydration, as it is impervious to water. It also contains shea butter and jojoba oil, which nourish, condition and soften lips. The Calendula and Orange essential oils add a gorgeous floral and citrusy note to the balm.

I have been using this product non-stop for the past week and have noticed visible results. I also haven't made a dent in it, which means it's going to last a looong time! Overall, I am very happy with this product. The Handmade Soap Co. lipbalms also come in Choco-Mint and Au Natural with Rosehip Oil flavours and retail at €4.50, which matches Burt's Bees Beeswax Lipbalm.

You can buy Handmade Soap Co. products from their website HERE,
or find a stockist near you HERE.

Support Irish Businesses!

Talk soon!

Current Covets: River Island

2012-02-20T12:33:00.026Z

I realised recently that this blog has become more about beauty and less about fashion. Obviously it is upto one's self as to what to blog about, but I felt somewhat guilty in a sense for neglecting the fashion side of things. After all, the word Fashion is in my blog name. I think many bloggers go through a sort of dry spell, where they get in a kind of slump about their blogs. I'm not speaking on behalf on any one here, I have seen it happen before though, and they get kind of frustrated as to what to blog about. That isn't to say I am going through one of these slumps, but I have come to the realisation that my blog isn't as diverse as I want it to be. So for this reason, my blog is going to be more varied in the future, and more fashion focused. It will also include random posts about life and food, because for a Culinary Graduate, food is life!

I have been splurging quite a bit lately, mostly on clothing items, as I felt my wardrobe needed a spring clean, and just a general update. I have had my eye on River Island, which is unusual for me as I never really shop there as often as I should! Lately though I have seen some items that I am most definitely lusting after. Here's a few of them.

1.Black Stripe Sleeveless Shirt, £30. 2.Gold Tone Green Face Watch, £25. 3.Ruby Red Denim Studded Hotpants, £35. 4.Green Suede Envelope Clutch, £27. 5.Silver Knuckle Duster Ring, £7. 6.Meow Print Tank, £15. 7.Black Fringe Bra Top, £25. 8.Black Glitter Heel Platforms, £65. 9.Black Cheetah Tank, £15. 10.White Diamante Trim Shirt, £28. 11.Lilac Acid Wash Skinnies, £40.

All available on the River Island website.

Although I have been loving black for winter, I think it's time to shake things up with a bit of colour. While I don't think I will be incorporating many pastels into my wardrobe for Spring, injecting teal and ruby seems sufficient for me. Come summer though, I will probably be sporting a few more brights!

Currently lusting after: Denim shorts, 80's Acid Wash jeans, Chelsea Boots, a Pink Blazer and big rings.
Currently reading: The Londoner.
Currently listening to: Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Talk soon :) x

Bibbity Bobbity Boo.

2012-02-17T12:52:00.019Z

I acquired some new bits recently, most of which I purchased in LANDAN. Yesterday I went on an online shopping rampage, like I mean a serious splurge, but obviously I haven't received them yet, so they will not be included in this post!

This week saw Valentines Day, which was a relatively quiet one if I'm honest. I did cook dinner for my boyfriend (3 courses!) on the day, but our real Valentines treat was last weekend away in the gorgeous Carton House in Kildare, where we indulged in skin resurfacing facials, full body massages, a fine dining dinner, and the biggest breakfast buffet I have ever seen. Unfortunately for me, I had food poisoning all week, and couldn't completely relax, but we figured we might as well go, as we would've had to pay the full price even if we cancelled. I got an Aveda Skin Renewal Facial, and I may do a separate post on my facial experience altogether. If you're in Ireland and you are looking for a place to get away to, I would definitely recommend the Carton House, it is absolutely unbelievable; great service, amazing views, lavish facilities, and unforgettable dining.

I had forgotten to include my London purchases in my previous post, so I thought I'd give a bit more detail about them in this one.

Illamasqua is a brand I'm relatively new to, the main reason being that it is nearly impossible to attain in Ireland. It used to be sold in BT2 on Grafton Street, but it disappeared, and I have no idea where to get it now! It is available on Asos, so I may take advantage of that! At the IMATS, there was some serious discounts at the Illamasqua stand, it was mayhem, but I managed to pick up a few products, as well as some from Make Up For Ever, Inglot, and I nabbed a MAC lippie in the airport on the way home.

Cheeks

Make Up For Ever HD Cream Blush in #12 and #1, Illamasqua Cream Blush in Libido.

Eyes

Inglot Matte Gel Liner in Brown #90.

Illamasqua Powder Eye Shadow in Vulgar and Illamasqua Eye Brow Cake in Motto.

Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Super Volume Mascara (came free with Elle magazine!)

Lips

MAC Myth and Illamasqua Medium Pencil in Feisty

I am absolutely loving all of these products so far, apart from Myth lipstick, which I'm still unsure about. Now I am off to pack for a weekend away with my mom and sister!
I hope you all have a lovely weekend :)

Talk soon! x
x

London Calling.

2012-02-15T20:17:00.011Z

Two weekends ago the gorgeous Julie and I made our way across the Irish Sea to London for the International Makeup Artist Trade Show which was held in the amazing Alexandra Palace.

We made our way to Dublin Airport on the Friday morning, heading through security at 6am, before getting a croissant and coffee and having a little look in MAC before boarding. I was so excited to go to London as I had never been before, and just to experience the culture and see the sights. We did a lot of tube hopping for the weekend, visiting Buckingham Palace, Leicester Square, Oxford Street, Knightsbridge, Covent Garden, and Spitalfields. We had intended on doing some touristy things on friday and sunday, and attending IMATS in between, on saturday. Unfortunately due to extreme weather conditions (!) on the sunday, we didn't get to visit anywhere really, as most of the day consisted of sitting in Stansted praying our flight wouldn't be cancelled! (Which was hell, 9 hours is a loooong time!)

On Friday we sorted out our travel arrangements and purchased tickets for the train into London and for the Tube for the three days we would be there. We managed to get rid of our bags in the hotel and have a waltz around London before returning to check in at 3pm. We stopped off at a gorgeous Patisserie called Paul in Knightbridge for some Lunch, before getting lost in Harrods for the afternoon. Harrods was unbelievable, but Julie and I felt somewhat out of place, being brushed past by posh ladies and men with Louis Vuitton manbags who gave us looks of disgust. Did we look like commoners or something?! Probably. I loved Harrods though, as you can see how snap happy I was taking pictures of the entire place. I loved the clothing, the designers, the shoe emporium, the makeup counters.. but most of all I loved the food rooms. Huge chocolate stands were filled with Valentines gifts, mountains of sweets filled the entire room! In another room altogether was kind of like a market; meat counters, cheeses, an oyster bar, Sushi bar, macaron counter! It was amazing.

We spent the rest of the day visiting Selfridges and Oxford Street, although we didn't buy much at all. We returned to the hotel and had a bit of a rest before venturing out again in search of some dinner! We strolled through Covent Garden and found a cute little Italian in Leicester Square where we gobbled Calzones before returning to our beds after a loooong day.

Saturday was IMATS day! We got up quite early, stopped in Julies favourite place EVER! : Pret a Manger for porridge and granola before whipping off to Alexandra Palace for the day. The IMATS was quite overwhelming. We got there at about 11, and it was jam packed. We scurried around taking it all in, and nabbing a few purchases on the way; Illamasqua, Make Up For Ever and Inglot to name a few. The makeup was amazing, from body painting to prosthetics, there was a lot of madness! After being there for a good few hours, we had seen all we wanted to see, bought all we wanted to buy, and packed up and headed home. Home to our hotel that is. We stopped off at the Hummingbird Bakery which ended up being like RIGHT beside our hotel (SCORE!), and bought a few goodies to gorge on back in the privacy of our room. And let me just say, they were AH-MAY-ZIIING! The Hummingbird Bakery near us was on the cutest street ever, called Frying Pan Alley, how adorable is that?!

We filmed some videos of our trip (one of which can be seen on Julie's channel HERE), before popping off out to see a show. We hadn't planned on going as we thought prices may be too expensive at such short notice, but we nabbed a deal and went to see Chicago, which was also AH-MAY-ZIIING! I'm so glad we got to go in the end, because it totally made our trip complete! :) The plot thickens though, dun dun duuun! (I am in such a weird mood today, excuse that!) We had planned to go to Camden that night after the show, but no sooner had we left the theatre, we were being snowed upon, like I mean there was like an avalanche coming out of the sky. We started panicking. Tubes stopped running, buses stopped running, there were no cabs to be found at all. We were running around London like mad women, we had NO clue where we were going or what was going to happen to us! In times like this I think that I would be overcome with manic distress, and just in general freak out, but we managed to get home safe and sound in the end, on a random bus that happened to go by our hotel. We don't know what would have happened to us if that random bus hadn't come our way when it did, but we were so happy it did! Thank you bus driver on the No.8! :)

The misfortune didn't end there though. We arrived home (our hotel room), flicked on the news, and were gutted to see that Stansted airport was closed! We ended up just praying our flight would go out on time the next evening. We wandered around Spitalfields aimlessly on Sunday morning before returning to Hummingbird to buy MORE cupcakes to cheer ourselves up. We had to check out at 10am that morning, and had nowhere else to go in the freezing cold weather so we ended up just going to the airport.. 7 hours early! Our flight ended up being delayed by two hours, and after 9 hours in the airport, another hour waiting to board and another half hour waiting to take off we finally made it home. Hallelujiah!

My London trip was amazing, although the end of the weekend kind of slightly put a downer on things. It's such a busy city, there's constantly so much going on. I will be back! :)

x

How Lush.

2012-02-07T22:50:00.018Z

I had never ever bought Lush products up until a few weeks ago when I meandered into their store off Grafton Street in search of a few goodies for my sister. I had received bath bombs, soaps, solid perfumes and lip balms as presents over the years, but became overwhelmed at the variety of products in store every time I went in, and I never got around to actually purchasing anything for myself.

My sister started her mock exams for her Leaving Cert last week and I thought she needed some sort of treat to de-stress, calm and refresh her. I found myself wandering around Avoca for some sort of cute pick me up, but didn't find anything satisfactory. I popped around to Lush, and was helped straight away by one of the girls working there, who happens to live just down the road from me. I told her I was looking for something to revitalise and pamper, and she immediately lead me towards their fabulous array of facemasks. I picked out Brazened Honey, which I was told was quite refreshing and nourishing. Perfect I thought. It was only then that I got distracted by their amazing range of creams and moisturisers that I knew my sister was definitely going to be spoilt that day! I had heard from some of my followers on Twitter that Lush do an amazing body cream called Dream Cream, and instantly I was drawn to that. Why not I thought!? It didn't stop there. I eventually found my way back to the till and was distracted yet again by their hair products, and was informed that the BIG Shampoo was perfect for giving volume and shine. Something my sister tends to moan about alot! So I picked one up and handed over my dosh.

These three products came to a total of €47, which might be leaning towards splurge territory for some, but I thought they were a perfect bundle of pick me ups for a little sister who needed cheering up. I also intended to try them out too, you know, to make sure I was getting my money's worth. :)

The facemask is so rich and smells to me like crazy exotic plant life. It states on the tub that it "exfoliates, detoxifies, stimulates and nourishes", and I really really like it so far. Worked into the skin in circular motions and left for ten minutes before rinsing off, it leaves a noticable difference to my face. My face feels smooth, clean and fresh after using.

I was told that this cream was invented for psoriasis, and I purchased it for two reasons. Well three. It has been recommended to me numerous times, it smells divine, and I figured if I was to use it, it would be perfect for my dry, work ridden hands. So far, it delivers. And there is just so much product in the tub! Happy out.

I smelled this in the store and got so excited. It has a unique sort of scent that I have smelled before, from someone elses head maybe?! You know when someone passes you and you get a whiff of their scent?! It was that sort of deja vu for me, as I had smelled it before, and really really liked it. My sister always complains that she can never attain the desired volume from a mousse, and so I thought this would be the perfect end to a pamper me beauty bundle. Yes, I did use it too, and was quite impressed, but not only for its volumising ability, but more for its ability to create immense shine, I mean my hair was gleaming! Very nice product indeed.

Overall I am quite impressed with these three products, and would most definitely purchase Lush products again. :)

Do you use Lush?
What's your favourite Lush product?

My next post will be about my trip to London for the IMATS with the amazing Julie, so keep an eye out if you are intrigued to see what we got upto!

Talk soon :)

MAC Multis.

2012-01-30T17:01:00.024Z

I am all about multipurpose items. I'm a sucker for a product that denotes that it is for hands AND feet, for cheeks AND lips, I mean, it's somewhat satisfying knowing that you're being totally economical and snagging a bargain, it's like two products in one! I for one feel completely smug when I manage to nab an item like this, and I'm guessing that is exactly how marketers and advertisers want you to feel. Smug that is. Yes, I can put my hands up and admit I fall for these ploys, because it makes me feel like i'm saving money and space. But even though I'm aware of this, I still edge towards these items when I'm shopping. These and miniatures. I'm a sucker for a good miniature.

Now before you're thinking I'm introducing a fabulous multi-purpose-all-in-one-product from MAC, I'm not. I'm unaware of any MAC products that can be used in various ways. Excluding pigments that is. But I have come across a highlighter and a bronzer that I use in more ways than one. It might not be a surprise for most people, but I got that smug feeling using these products in places they aren't actually really for, and felt like sharing.

Meet Lightscapade and Harmony. They sound like cool Hippy names.
Lightscapade (left), and Harmony (right).

Lightscapade is a gorgeous gold, silver and blue pearl Mineralize Skinfinish that looks stunning just swept across bare cheekbones, but is complemented by a dark contour underneath the cheekbone for a sculpted finish. Now for the multi part. I also use this on my eyes, in two ways. I use it firstly as an eyeshadow. There is something so satisfying about having a large compact eyeshadow, as opposed to a tiny standard one. I dab the powder onto my brush, spray the brush with a spritz of water (Fix+ would also work), and the colour is absolutely transformed. It becomes so pigmented and 'poppin', that it goes from a mere dust of shimmer to a strong, vibrant shadow. The second way I wear this on my eyes is as a brow highlight. I don't don the water for this one, because I prefer it to look soft and more subtle. I use it just under the highest point of the eyebrow to highlight the arch, and another technique I've been using recently is to dab a tiny wash of highlight just above the highest point of the brow, this gives the illusion of higher, fuller brows. :)
The third way I use this product is to highlight the face. I use it on the top of the cheekbones, along the bridge of my nose, and on my cupid's bow. This focuses on the highest points of the face, reflects light away from them, and does exactly what it says on the tin, and that is highlight.

Harmony is a stunning matte pinky brown powder which can be found in the blush section in MAC. This powder is used specifically to contour the face. I use it with Lightscapade as it complements it perfectly and I use this in a multitude of different places on my face. This powder is used to create depth in the hollows of the face and can give the appearance of a thinner and more sculpted face. I use it under the cheekbones, along the sides of my nose, around my jawline, above my temples, and in my eye crease. Talk about multipurpose! This also doubles up as a matte eyeshadow and is a perfect neutral to accompany any nude or paler tones.

This duo isn't only economical and multipurpose, but a perfect combination of colour if applied togther. If the two shades are used on the face as well as the eyes, this will create a perfect colour palette, and compliment all features.

What multipurpose items do you love?!
Let me know!

Talk soon :)

January Blues

2012-01-25T18:22:00.003Z

January hasn't been very blue for me, which is a good thing I suppose, as it is usually a slump start to the season for most people. January so far for me has been about planning and saving. I am going away nearly every weekend in February so I have mostly been scrimping for that, albeit buying tickets, booking hotels, and just generally looking forward to what February will hold. Ok, I have mostly been scrimping, but couldn't resist a few teeny purchases. I told myself that they are for my trips away, which is just a pathetic excuse to splurge, but I do think that most of my new purchases will come in handy for when I'm away. Result.

So in January I have been:
Working, Photographing, Beauty Product Hauling, Brunching, Reading, and Low Carb eating.

I went on a Photography expedition to introduce my new Sony Nex5 to the world. Or rather, the world to my Sony Nex5. It was hardly an expedition, but more of a hill walk/adventure with pictures.

New bits and bobs that I have accumulated for ~~my trips away~~ just cos.

1. New Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum. I am such a fan of the original that I had to try out it's newer counterpart. So far I heart. This came free with a mascara, which is surprisingly fantastic, and makes my lashes spring out from my eyes and curve nicely. I also bought a little bottle of serum, which is perfect for travelling and I can't resist a cute miniature. This one is from Tresemme and contains Argan Oil which is miraculous for hair, and god knows my hair needs a boost considering the crapola I've put it through the past year.

2. Topshop Makeup. I was a Topshop Makeup virgin up until I well, spotted it, and just decided to try it on a whim. I bought two lipsticks and a blush. The lippies are Nevada (left) and Infrared (middle), which are both gorgeously pigmented and long lasting. I prefer Infrared though, as it gives quite the shock factor, and it's the first orangey-red to grace my collection. The blush however was a mistake purchase, as it looked more orange on the box, and was in the orangey blush section on the shelf, and I thought hey, perfect for my orange lippie. It was not orange. As you can see from the picture. It's a pretty pink, but one of which I have an infinite amount of in my collection already. Sigh.

3. Trevor Sorbie Haircare. I purchased this set from Boots in the sales; €16 down to €8. I can't resist a 50% off sign, and told myself that this set is perfect for my trips away! I also needed a new makeup bag, and the bag the products come in is the perfect size and nice and sturdy. Win win. I have yet to try the products out, but I got the volumise range, there was a non frizz on offer also.

4. This is a random selection of goodies from Boots. They were pretty much all necessities, so I didn't splurge too much. :)

E45 Hand Cream: I needed a good handcream for my hands as they are in bits most of the time from work, and this is the perfect size, is a reputable brand, is for dry/sensitive skin and perfect for travelling.

Umberto Giannini Dry Shampoo: I don't really use dry shampoo, but thought as it was a miniature and only 50cent (Yes, 50cent!), it would be rude not to. Also perfect for travelling, or for popping in your overnight bag if you need to freshen your hair up. Tip: Always look in the Clearance/Bargain Bin Sections in shops, alot of the time it is mostly products that are a bit on the dodgy side, but once in a while you could snap up a real gem! :)

Pharmacy Brand Witch Hazel & Rose Water: I use this as a toner, as it is for oily skin. Rose water is a perfect toner, for use after cleansing, or just to spritz on during the day to refresh.

Norweigan Formula Intense Repair Lip Balm: My lips aren't very dry, but whenever I wear lipstick they look as if they are dry, so I went in search of a moisturising balm that actually repairs, as more often than not, most balms I've used moisturise, but only for five minutes, or until they rub off. This one moisturises, repairs, and leaves a nice glossy sheen to the lips.

Carex Antibacterial Hand Sanitiser: I am a germ freak. Most of the time. I like just having this with me, no harm at all! I use it after I press the button for the traffic lights, or after I touch things in public places, like taps in bathrooms and such! That sounds dirty and I sound kind of OCD, but I'm not, I swear! Bacteria is everywhere!

:)

Its nearly thursday! Which means its nearly friday, which means hello weekend :)
Are any of my followers going to IMATS in London next friday?? If you are let me know :)
Talk soon x

NARS ATTACKS!

2012-01-08T17:16:00.012Z

I laughed as I wrote this title. It is a pathetic quip at the 1996 film Mars Attacks!, which I grew up with and found utterly brilliant. But don't be alarmed, this post is not about aliens, it is in fact about a few items I have acquired as of late from the amazing brand NARS; if you didn't already guess.

I was a NARS virgin up until last year when I got my makeup done professionally for my 21st. The makeup artist, Emma Farrell, who teaches at L.A Makeup Academy, used a gorgeous shimmery navy blue shadow on me, and although I can't for the life of me remember the name of it, I absolutely fell in love. I didn't think it was possible to fall in love with an eyeshadow, and shallow as it sounds, it happened that day. I have since been searching for that shadow, but unfortunately, I am still searching. This is starting to sound like an actual love story, and not one involving an makeup item.

I dabbled and lingered around the NARS counter in Brown Thomas, which if I may say so myself is a little limited and not like a counter at all, but more like a stand housing a few key items, in which there is no resident makeup artist, but more a girl who to-and-fro's between counters when required. I don't particularly like this, as I feel a sales assistant who is not permanently chained to a certain brand counter may not be well versed in the language of said brand. This is a personal thing, as I have worked in department stores with cosmetics counters and know of girls who have done just this, to-and-fro'ed between counters when needed by a customer, but whom may not know all there is to know about the brands they are working for.

My latest NARS purchases were from Asos.com, which is a divil of a site, and accepts laser. This is not good news for my laser however, because as soon as friday (payday) rolls around, my bank account gets an Asos beating. I know I know, buying makeup online is a bad idea, and is quite risqué, regarding mismatched colours, and just in general a certain colour not suiting you. But I went with eyeshadow and lipstick, and felt I couldn't be too far out. And booooy was I delighted.

I held a Christmas giveaway featuring the Limited Edition Night Series Palette from NARS, and fell in love/lust with it so much that I purchased one for myself too. I came to the conclusion that palettes are very very handy, especially for nights out or trips away, as you have all your shadows in one place, and aren't dabbling around with single shadows which are bulkier and take up more room. And I like being organised, so having shadows all in one place is like a dream for a organisation freak like myself.

I splurged and bought two, the Night Series and the Arabian Nights Palette, which is just delish. Both palettes are very shimmery and glittery, and one thing which I dislike is that the glitter is quite thick and chunky, and for some unknown reason, I just plain don't like that. I'm kind of pernickety, but I think we all are in some way or another. The colour payoff is quite good, although the two palest shadows in the Night Series Palette aren't very pigmented, which is kind of a boo-urns for me. As for the rest, well the colours are just amazing, and they all blend so fantastically.

I also bought the Scarlet Empress Semi-Matte Lipstick, which is a gorgeous deep burgundy. I'm mad for the deep rich colours these days. Oddly enough, It looks very dark red in the tube, but when applied comes across more pink than red. Strange. But lovely consistency and it is non drying.

Overall I'm happy with my NARS purchases, although in future I probably will try lipsticks at the counter before purchasing, just to avoid disappointment regarding colour payoff, and just general suitability.

Do you own any must-have NARS items? If you do, definitely let me know, as I am keen to try more of their products :)

Hope you're all having a lovely sunday!

Snake Eyes.

2012-01-07T12:14:00.018Z

I filmed a tutorial video for my YouTube channel for this look a few days ago. I love smokey eyes, but I always seem to opt for my 'safe' smokey eye on a night out. I decided to jazz it up a bit by adding a luscious purple, and absolutely loved the result. I have a ridiculous amount of acid bright coloured shadows in my collection, and more often than not I neglect them all. I don't really know why I purchased them in the first place, well I do, I was drawn to their sheer brightness, and for some reason I can't resist the panache and bounce of a luminous bright.

But this neglect has led me to abuse the pale neutrals in my collection, with the Naked Palette stealing the limelight. (Sidenote: The Naked2 Palette does not appeal to me, it appears to be a collection of duplicates from it's previous counterpart, and i'm just not completely sold on it.)
Apart from the Naked Palette, my Sleek palettes and a few MAC shades are my go-to neutrals.

Although I love the simplicity of a pale neutral eye, I adore the drama and sexiness of a smokey eye. The elements for this smokey eye were all quite simple. All I did was outline a line around the crease using gel liner, and used this as a template for the shading on the lid. I used five different colours for this look, although it could easily be achieved using only two of the colours I used.
I applied a wash of Urban Decays Ransom all over the lid, and blended out with a navy blue and deep purple from the Sleek Bohemian Palette on the outer corner. I brightened up the inner corner using a silver pigment from Lumiere Cosmetics, and finally blended out the gel liner line with Envy black shadow from Smashbox. I then applied falsies, a lick of mascara, and voila! The purple smokey eye is complete!

The next time I go out for a night out I am most definitely going to play around with more colourful
shades and incorporate them into my smokey eye. The technique using gel liner to shape the shadow is a useful one to attain the perfect shape.

Also, instead of making New Years Resolutions, which I usually don't stick to, I have decided to make a list of long term goals, in the form of 101 Goals in 1001 Days. This list is a compilation of things, both big and small, that I want to do. I have barely started, but I have already ticked off a few things. And it feels good. :)

I hope you are all having a good weekend :)

101 Goals in 1001 Days.

2012-01-04T23:37:00.021Z

This post was inspired by the fabulous Steph at the Raspberry Branch.

I read her version of this post and was blown away. She did it because she wanted to experience new things and open her eyes to what the world had to offer. And after reading it, I decided I absolutely need to do it too.

As of late i've become quite ambitious, maybe it is as a result of finishing four years of a degree in college, and realising I have been thrown out into the big bad world. I love making lists, I love achieving things, and I feel so accomplished when I achieve something I've set my mind to. So what better way to do that than on this blog, which over the past two years has been my personal space to vent, post and just babble about nonsensical sludge. And do my makeup and take pictures of it. :)
This post will be regularly updated once goals have been completed, and will hopefully be consistent and not just forgotten about. Some of these will probably appear to be quite unrealistic, but that is precisely why they are being entered. If anything, writing these out for the world to see will make me more motivated than if they weren't.

Start Date: 5.1.12
End Date: 29.9.14
Green Text: Completed Goal.

:)

1. Purchase a sunshine yellow Kitchen Aid.
2. Bake and sell my cupcakes; to friends/family/the world.
3. Learn to drive.
4. Complete a Makeup Course.
5. Be happy in a job.
6. Become fluent in French.
7. Go skydiving.
8. Organise my wardrobe.
9. Build a photography portfolio. Completed.
10. Complete my recipe book.
11. Apply for 5 jobs in 5 high end establishments. (2/5) Completed: Four Seasons, Relais & Chateaux.
12. Host a dinner party.
13. Stop biting my nails.
14. Buy Chanel's 'Coco' perfume.
15. Make Business Cards.
16. Visit Japan.
17. Partake in a Japanese Tea Ceremony.
18. Hire a VW Camper and go on a roadtrip.
19. Eat street food in Vietnam.
20. Visit an antiques fair.
21. Grow a herb garden.
22. Purchase a Vivienne Westwood Handbag.
23. Do someones makeup.
24. Intern at a magazine; food related or other.
25. Take an evening class.
26. Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years.
27. Paint an abstract piece on canvas.
28. Take up yoga or Pilates.
29. Make 5 strange flavours of icecream.
30. Build a treehouse.
31. Buy a notebook specifically for to do lists and get organised! Completed.
32. Work as a stagiaire in a Michelin Starred Restaurant.
33. Walk on the beach at night.
34. Compliment a stranger.
35. Visit Hollywood.
36. Swim in crystal clear water.
37. Cut out carbs for 1 week.
38. Change someones mind about something I care deeply about.
39. Reach 1000 followers on my blog.
40. Get a massage. Completed.
41. Buy a blazer in 5 different colours. (4/5) Completed.

42. Eat at the Fat Duck.
43. Stay/Work at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons.
44. Buy a good every day handbag.
45. Stand up for myself when I'm being treated unfairly.
46. Eat at Le Gavroche.
47. Buy a beauty product from each of these brands; Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown, Chanel, Guerlain, NARS. (2/5) Completed.
48. Build a professional portfolio.
49. Live in France. (Again).
50. Read 5 non-trashy novels.
51. Visit London. Completed.
52. Buy my first car.
53. Buy a kitsch item of kitchenware.
54. Have a spa day with my mom and sister. Completed.
55. Have a cocktails and canapés night.
56. Buy a designer piece I LOVE.
57. Buy a 2012 diary. Completed.
58. Get my eyebrows shaped.Completed.
59. Fly first class.
60. Have afternoon tea.
61. Accomplish something i've worked really hard for.
62. Visit River Cottage.
63. Donate clothes/shoes to charity.
64. Buy a new phone.
65. Open a savings account. Completed.
66. Plan something special for Carl.
67. Buy a new laptop.
68. Get a facial.Completed.
69. Plan and prepare a romantic 6 course meal.
70. Try something new and completely out of the ordinary in a restaurant.
71. Join a gym.
72. Teach myself how to do something.
73. Go skiing. (Again!)
74. Have Christmas on the beach in Oz.
75. Buy my perfect pair of jeans.Completed.
76. Buy something unexpected for each member of my family. (1/5) Completed.
77. Purchase a vintage piece of some sort.
78. Buy cute stationery.
79. Be more confident.
80. Find my perfect skincare products.
81. Reconnect with old friends.
82. Write a love letter.
83. Organise my work space. Completed.
84. Hold a blog sale.
85. Make a fashion inspiration book out of old magazines.
86. Visit 5 food markets.
87. Find a hidden gem of a place in Dublin City.
88. Swim with dolphins.
89. Dance all night.
90. Invent a signature cocktail.
91. Grow a mini garden filled with lavender, roses and apple blossom.
92. Expand my classical cookery recipe book collection. (3/?) Completed.
93. Stay in a beach house.
94. Smile more.
95. Watch a black and white movie.
96. Save up and move out.
97. Go to a rave.
98. Make contacts in an industry I'm interested in.
99. Go somewhere spontaneous on a whim.
100. Camp in a forest.
101. Inspire somebody else to create a 101 goals in 1001 days list. Completed.

I loved doing this.
Let me know if you do it too!

Rusty Rockets.

2012-01-02T12:44:00.010Z

Happy New Year to all my followers!!
I hope you all had an amazing New Years, mine was quite uneventful, although I had planned to go out and get crunk (crazy drunk), I ended up having a lovely lavish meal with the boyfriend quite early on in the evening then was too tired to do anything else! Sham I know.
I then ended up cracking open the bubbly, watched Indiana Jones, (the Crystal Skull one, not Harrison's finest), then watched the appalling New Years 'Celebrations' on RTE, and collapsed into bed around 1.

This outfit/makeup is from a few days ago, pre haircut. I got mine cut on New Years Eve as it so happened, not for a formal event or anything, or in time to ring in the new year (drastic hair/new year and all that), I just decided it needed to be sorted asap. From months of DIY dying, my hair needed to be just chopped, and it really saddened me to see the scissors chop off (what was left) of my long hair.

Needless to say, I was in there three hours, getting a cut, colour, treatment and blowdry, and it wasn't my best salon experience. The dye burned my scalp, and the stylist ended up giving me a Hanson-esque do, circa 1997. Anytime I tried to argue, he persisted, telling me it looked 'massive'. I walked out of there with a sore head, and an obvious and not so flattering middle parting, one of which I haven't had since I was about 7. I flipped my hair over to produce a side parting and a flowing fringe, which I am more comfortable with. Hair grows.

Here is what I wore for a day shopping the sales in good old Dundrum.

My entire outfit was cheap as chips.
Blazer and snake print top, both from Primark/Penneys.
Jeans and shoes, both from Boohoo.com

Makeup was relatively simple. I slicked on my Smashbox 15 Hour Wear Studio Foundation, topped with MAC Careblend Powder, contoured with MAC Harmony, MAC Dainty for blush, and used a few red and copper shadows from the Sleek Sunset Palette for eyes. And done!

If you want to see my new hair debut, I uploaded a YouTube Video yesterday sporting the new do.

As for my sales shopping purchases, I ended up doing most of it online, but my number one purchase was this new baby, my Sony Nex 5 :)

Hopefully my picture quality will be alot better now, new year and all that!
Hope you are all having a lovely bank holiday monday, I am actually DREADING going back to work tomorrow! Kill me now!

:)

December.

2011-12-28T12:14:00.013Z

December saw an array of festivities. Nights out, the Irish Blogger Meetup, Family Christenings, Preparing for Crimbo, Crimbo itself, and now, the come down from Crimbo. I love that word 'Crimbo'.

From top to bottom:
1. Night out with the girls in Coppers.
2. Me and the fabulous Aoife #1. (I'm #2. Long story.)
3. Julie and Ellie at the Irish Blogger Meetup.
4. Clockwise from left: Leanne, Laura,Sarah,Sarah C,Leslie,Vicky,Caoimhe, and Paula.
5. Cocktails at Dandelion!
6. Julie, Ellie & Laura in F21.
7. Token poser photo of my makeup for the day.
8. Me and my sista blista going to my cousins Christening then for dins at Roly's.
9. Citrus Curd.
10. Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies.
11. Foodie Hamper!
12. Rosemary and Garlic Focaccia.
13. Cranberry Sauce.

Every time I come to the end of a year I ponder and assess, and think to myself that the following year will be better. Life is what you make it, so make it good!

Point Dexter.

2011-12-27T17:03:00.006Z

I did my eyes like this weeks ago, around Halloween. Not very Halloween-y I admit, but it felt Halloween-y to me. It reminded me of gothic architecture, of daggers and gargoyles. It was kind of eerie, and so, I wore it all day.

My lip colours look different in the first two pictures, which is odd because I used two lip colours to make one colour. I used both Up the Amp by MAC and Barry M Lip Paint in 101, but the first picture looks more Up the Amp and the second more Barry M. Funny what a flash can do!

A while back I saw one of the MAC girls sport a green line underneath her lower lash line and it popped back into my head as I did this look. Not a smudgy line; a slick, straight, fine, emerald green line. She wore it with burgundy lips and it just looked amazing. So subtle but it worked so well. My interpretation isn't quite so subtle but I felt it was more subtle than some Halloween looks out there. :)

This is by no means a costume, just playing around with a liner brush and some liner. Kind of Gaga perhaps? I never really get creative with eye looks, but I think the more you experiment and practice, the better you become at something. I remember my old Karate teacher saying "Repetition is the mother of learning", and it's so true! It's kind of nice and somewhat therapeutic to just spend your free time playing around with makeup. Sometimes I hate just trying out something new when i'm putting on my makeup for the night, I feel that I have to know something works well on me before I can wear it. Other times, I just apply, and i'm happy with the final result.

Here i'm wearing:

FACE
Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation in Limpide
Bare Minerals Powder Foundation
MAC Blush in Mocha
Sephora Sculpting Disk

EYES
Urban Decays Primer Potion
Sephora Smokey Eyes Palette - Noir
Make Up For Ever Eye Seal
Urban Decay Naked Palette e/s in Virgin, Naked and Buck

LIPS
MAC Up the Amp
Barry M 101

Dress & hairband - Penneys/Primark
Belt - House of Fraser

Hope you are all having a fab week, I am absolutely LOVING my time off!
I also just made my debut back to YouTube after a hefty few months of not making videos, check it out HERE.

Festive Sparkle.

2011-12-25T16:06:00.005Z

Happy Christmas to all my followers!!
I hope everyone had a lovely day yesterday. Yesterday for me consisted of giving gifts, receiving gifts, visiting family, eating cheese, drinking bubbly, eating, and more eating. List of foodstuffs I consumed yesterday:

5 Ferrero Rocher
Fry for breakfast including toast, sausages, pudding, bacon, eggs and tomato
Crackers with Cheese and Cranberry Relish (Homemade obv)
Dins:
Turkey
Stuffing
Ham
Roasties
Mash
Roast Root Veg
Gravy
Trifle
Various assorted chocolates
Christmas Cake

Absolute glutton. I absolutely LOVE Christmas. I mean if you don't you're obv a Scrooge! Nah. I love seeing the look on someones face when you present them with something they really want but don't think you'll get, or when you present them with something they really never expected.

What I watched over Christmas so far:
The Wizard of Oz
Jingle All the Way
Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers (What a film!)
Mean Girls
Home Alone
Christmas Soaps

And here's my face of the day:

FACE
Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Foundation in 2.1
MAC Careblend Powder
MAC Blush in Dainty
MAC Highlight in Lightscapade
MAC Blush in Harmony to contour

EYES
Urban Decays Primer Potion
Maybelline Gel Liner
Inglot Sparkly Lashes
Lumiere Cosmetics eye pigments in Starry Night and Silver Shimmer
Urban Decay Naked Palette e/s in Sidecar

LIPS
Kate Moss by Rimmel Lipstick in 03 Nude

I also thought I would announce my NARS Christmas giveaway winner in this post, as it is Christmas themed and the like.
Thank you to everyone who entered to win the Night Series NARS palette, I received a total of 176 entries!! And thank you to all my followers who consistently read my posts, leave comments, and support Fashion Turn to the Right. I really appreciate that you take the time to read my posts and leave a comment, and it makes my day! :) Hopefully Fashion Turn to the Right will be even better in 2012.

Lauren
at Gotta Love a Trier!!!

Congratulations Lauren!! Will post it out to you once I get your address :)

Thanks again to everyone who entered, I hope youre all having a lovely Stephens Day/Boxing Day/Day after Christmas!!

:)

Navy Seal.

2011-12-14T17:33:00.006Z

Random title. My imagination isn't sparking today. It may be as a result of overtiredness, insomnia, or because I'm dying of a cold. Or all three. This look was created a few weeks ago, but for some reason I never posted it, and I am posting it now because I realised that my lack of poser type posts on the blog may mean that some of you forget what I look like.

How vain do I sound right now.

This eye makeup was inspired my by dress, which is navy blue. Forgive the lack of photo, but it's quite shapely and very pretty, from New Look. I love.
I wear these colours quite a lot together, I just love how they contrast against eachother, but still blend in. For this look I used:

FACE
Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Foundation in 2.1
Bare Escentuals Powder Foundation in Light
MAC Blush in Mocha
Natural Collection Sunkissed Cheeks Bronzer

EYES
Estée Lauder Stay in Place Eyeshadow Base
Catrice Gel Liner
Essence Lash Mania Ultra Volume Mascara in Hypnotic Black
Clinique Kohl Pencil in Black Noir
Barry M Dazzle Dust in Tan
Revlon Matte e/s in Riviera Blue
Urban Decay Naked Palette e/s in Sin and Virgin

LIPS
Essence Lipliner in Soft Rose
MAC Lipstick in Politely Pink
Barry M Lipgloss Wand in Bubblegum

I never really co-ordinate my makeup with my clothes, but the overall look came out quite subtle.

I've just started up a Facebook page for Fashion Turn to the Right. Like it HERE!

If you haven't already, enter my NARS Christmas Giveaway HERE!

10 Things I'm Loving This Month.

2011-12-05T17:11:00.013Z

Hello lovelies! I have been catching up on blog reading and youtube video watching and was inspired to do a favourites post after watching the gorgeous Katie Elisabeth and Julie 's November Favourites Videos. I love seeing what other people love using/wearing/watching/reading, and I also realised I haven't done one of these in a while. Instead of showing you a ma-husive haulage post on stuff I have purchased over the last while, I figured showing you what I have been loving out of those purchases is possibly more beneficial, and its also cutting straight to the point.

It would make more sense if the things I am going to show you were all beauty related, but me being me, awkward and a little bit weird, obviously it will be an amalgamation of all things I have been loving in the month of November. :)

1. Inglot 31T Angled Brush

This brush is a dream. This, paired with the Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner is my new favourite combo. I have encountered many an angled brush in my time, and none compare to this. I sound like an old biddy with life experiences and all that. So let's just say it's the best angled brush I have come across. So far. It is so precise, which I love, as it allows you to make as fine a line as you want. Precision is the key to a good cat eye. Meow. It is also cheaper than its MAC counterpart, and retails at €12.

2. Macarons

These babies are the go-to snack of angels. How corny. They really are amazing though. If you haven't tried them, or even heard of them, FIND YOUR NEAREST BROWN THOMAS AND PURCHASE A LADURÉE MACARON! That's me shouting, because I cannot justify how amazing they are in lower case letters. I made some Macs last weekend, and it was sooooo fun. Albeit difficult, but fun. They are surprisingly tricky to perfect, but the end result kind of justifies getting covered in meringue. I baked flavours galore; lemon, chocolate, vanilla, rose and cardamom, and orange blossom. I plan on making them again, wrapping them up all pretty and dishing them out as Christmas presents. If you're interested in the recipe I used, email me. :)

3. MAC Up the Amp Lipstick

If you have read any of my recent posts, I have mentioned this lipstick without fail. I purchased this for my college graduation, as I wanted something statement-y, a little bit out there, but sophisticated all the same. I was a statement lip virgin and was waaaay more comfortable donning a statement eye over a statement lip. One of the MAC girls told me I needed to break out of my comfort zone and just embrace it. She even recommended wearing a statement lip colour around the house to get used to it. I didn't do that, it felt kind of odd to be breaking in a lip colour around the house the way you would with a new pair of heels. I wore this on my graduation with a muted eye, winged liner and massive lashes, and realised statement lips weren't so bad at all. Now I can't get enough of them. I recently bought the Kate Moss 04 by Rimmel which is a deep, dark, almost black purple, and I love it! I wore it yesterday and got complimented by a sales assistant. It was then I knew that I need to embrace coming out of my comfort zone, as change is a good thing. Another thing I love about this lipstick is it's finish. I don't own any other Amplified Cremes and this is just delish. Rich, creamy, and ever so slightly glossy. Amaze.

4. Kérastase Forcintense Dosage Vita Ciment Treatment

I bought a few goodies from Kérastase in Peter Marks a while back in a bid to sort out my bleached straw like barnet. I probably shouldn't have gone back blonde having so much dye built up over the years, but I don't listen to advice, and I went for it. It took months to get it all the same shade, but it still isn't as bouncy and healthy as it once was. Bleach = the Devil. I had heard good things about this particular brand and have been using their Resistance shampoo, conditioning top seal, and this treatment for a few weeks now. The only downside to this product is there's not enough of it. Obviously a treatment is used sparingly, but I really need it more regularly than that. It comes with six tubes, which are used in two's, so you only get three treatments out of a box. The result when you use it is amazing though, my hair felt like silk. It's still not perfect but it's getting there. I most definitely will buy this product again. If it's good enough for salons it's good enough for me.

5. Trilogy Everything Balm

I love this product. It is by a New Zealand brand called Trilogy and is only sold in Health shops and good Pharmacies. Unusually, it is sold under 'Men's Grooming' on the Arnotts website, but it is definitely not just for men! I mean look at the packaging!
Quite similar in concept to Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour cream, this product is the ultimate multipurpose item and can be used for a whole lot. The only ingredients in this product are all natural essential oils including Rosehip, Olive, Jojoba, Marula, Avocado, Honey and Vitamin E. It can be used to soothe dry skin and lips, softens and protects hands, nails and feet, as a massage oil, or as a moisturiser; it replenishes moisture levels after shaving, being out in the sun, or whenever you face the elements. Love love love this for Winter!

6. Christmas Shopping

Christmas is my favourite time of year. The lights, the food, the atmosphere. I hate leaving my Christmas shopping until the last minute, one thing I do not like about Christmas is the pushing and shoving, the difficulty finding a parking spot, the queues, the girl beside you picking up the last perfume you wanted. :P
I love buying for others, and this year in particular, I went all out for my boyfriend. Last year he bought me an amazing pair of Kurt Geigers and now I have a full time job and all that jazz, I wanted to do something a little bit special for him. I'm not going to reveal what I got him just incase he reads this post! :P But I love seeing people's faces on Christmas day and that's what giving is all about.

7. Starbucks Festive Drinks

I have never really been a Starbucks fiend, but nowadays, I can't get enough of it. Specifically, their festive drinks that they launch around Christmas; Gingerbread Latté, Praline Mocha, Toffee Nut Latté, I love them all!!! I find any excuse to pass a Starbucks to buy one, and get hyped up on sugar in the process. But it's Christmassy, and I love Christmas! If you didn't guess that already.

8. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

I was stopped as I passed the Smashbox counter in House of Fraser and asked if I wanted to test out their new range of primers. I had lusted after the original Photo Finish Primer for ages, but never got around to dishing out the dough for it. The girl in Smashbox gave me the whole sales pitch about the new range of primers, the refreshing one, the hydrating one, the luminizing one, the colour correcting one, and the list goes on. I wasn't really paying attention, as I was more interested in their new Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Foundation. She tried both the refreshing primer and the foundation on me, and I ended up purchasing the foundation. She threw in a few primer samples for free, and I have to come to regret purchasing the foundation over the primer, as I am waay more impressed with the primer. The silicone feel is amazing and really does make your makeup last all day.

9. MAC Studio Careblend Powder

I purchased the new Studio Careblend from MAC as I wanted to try a new powder, and had tried nearly all of their other powders. I like new. I like quite full coverage, but didn't want to get a foundation-powder. I really like this. It's not too heavy, and I have recently been wearing it on it's own, with no foundation underneath! Shock horror. Madness for a full coverage junkie like myself. I have hit pan already which I suppose I'm a bit disappointed by, but I do like this and may purchase another when I have used it all up.

10. Christmas Baking

I have a huge amount of Christmas recipes in my repertoire and so they are fished out once a year and done to death. I love baking, and I love anything Christmassy. I think I've said that 4 times now in this post. Did you know I love Christmas?! 5.
These reindeer cupcakes are so cute! I think there is nothing nicer than homemade gifts. :)

That's it for the momento, if you haven't already, enter my NARS Giveaway!

Hope you're all having a lovely sunday.

Review: Anastasia of Beverly Hills Beauty Express Brow Kit

2011-12-04T14:48:00.005Z

Ok, first off, I am all about the honesty. I have always, always been honest about products, if I love them or loathe them, if I received them for free, whatever. I hate lies and deceit and the whole 'free stuff' debacle is a controversial one. But that is why I am starting this post with this little informative 'in your face' paragraph.

I received this product for free. I make no qualms about it. And I'm going to tell you exactly what I thought of it, what I thought of the PR behind it, and why I am actually reviewing it at all.

A few of my fellow beauty bloggers here in Ireland were approached by a PR company representing this American brand in a bid to get the name noticed overseas. I was also contacted, and the first thing I do before even considering to review a product is research the brand and the products. I was actually reluctant at all to even think about agreeing to review a product by this particular brand, as I was informed that in order to receive this product, I had to write a blog post on the brand and the product, hyping it up and making them out to be fantastic. Was I going to do that? No. First and foremost I don't agree with deliberately lying about how amazing a product is, when one has never even heard of the product, let alone tried and tested it. Secondly, I always inform a company that I never lie to my followers and readers about products, and I always give my complete and honest opinion. Ok, I sound as if I get contacted all the time, I don't. When I do, of course I'm like, 'free stuff!', but the hype and novelty surrounding it has worn off.

I agreed to test this particular product out, and gave the company my details. It was only when I was informed that I had to write a post before actually receiving them did I step back and think: What kind of a company is this? I didn't even have to question what I was going to do. I most definitely did not believe in hyping up products and brands I had not tried out. So I declined.
I like to think I have morals, and that loyalty to my followers who actually take the time to read my posts is alot more important to me than having free products to play with.

I was surprised when a few weeks later this product actually arrived at my door, packaged up all pretty and stamped 'L.A postage'. I was confused, as I had not actually agreed to their requests. I tested it out anyway, using it in place of my usual brow set, because I was curious, and it was new, but I was reluctant to actually post anything on it at all.

This product and the brand itself appear to be quite popular in the U.S, having read a detailed review of the pristine Anastasia Beverly Hills Beauty Salon off Rodeo Drive did I realise that this brand is posh, highly commendable, expensive, and has been featured in Elle, Teen Vogue, Cosmo, Bazaar, W, and People magazines. The brow kit above retails for $39.50.

As you can see it comes with a brow brush, brow gel, two powders in blonde or brunette shades, and two highlighters which can also be used as shadow. It also includes assorted brow stencils, to attain the perfect brow shape.

I did like this product. I haven't used the stencils, as I find that to be a bit fiddly for my liking. The brush is accurate and precise, and the gel holds the brows and colour perfectly. The powders themselves are of adequate quality, and can be mixed and matched to achieve the perfect colour. Overall this is a nice kit. But for the price, I really wouldn't recommend running over to L.A. to buy it. You know, on your day off.

It is only now that I write this I realise this is not really a review of the product, but more of a review of the PR behind it. I may be coming across as a total snob who doesn't appreciate any of the niceties being offered to me, but as you can see, there is always a catch. I don't like the catches. I wrote a post similar to this one called The Truth About Beauty Blogging. Have a read if it interests you.

On a lighter note, I hope you are all having a lovely sunday! :)
Talk soon

NARS Christmas Giveaway!!

2011-12-03T16:15:00.007Z

Hello lovelies! I am having another giveaway! :) This is because of two reasons, I am in an absolutely fabulously festive mood since the December began two days ago, and I spotted this gorgeous little NARS gem and thought it would be a delicious little surprise for one of you for Christmas. :) As we speak I am waiting for macarons to bake and listening to Last Christmas by Wham!. Best. Christmas. Song. EVER!

I absolutely LOVE Christmas! The food, the family gathering, the giving of gifts! I LOVE IT ALLLLL! I am also making foodie ornaments for my tree this year, but more on that later, as I am sure you're itching to see the NARS goodie up for grabs! It is the Limited Edition Night Series Eyeshadow Palette.

Top row:
Night Star: Sheer peach with gold pearls
Night Clubbing: Black with gold pearls
Night Porter:Black with green pearls

Bottom Row:
Night Rider: Soft plum with silver glitter
Night Flight: Black with cobalt blue pearls
Night Breed: Black with silver glitter

To Enter

Please be a follower of Fashion Turn to the Right via GFC if you wish to enter
Follow me on Twitter HERE

For extra entries:

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The Rules

Comment on this post stating what your favourite part of Christmas is! Once the winner is chosen I will contact them for their details
The winner will be selected randomly using random.org
This giveaway is open internationally
The giveaway closes on Friday December 23rd at midnight GMT

Don't forget to leave links to your extra entries in your comment so I can see them!
And please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win :)

Good Luck! xx :)

Choccywockydoodah.

2011-11-17T20:11:00.010Z

This post has absolutely nothing to do with it's title. Im sorry. Yes, it's another ramble. I have been finding it difficult to actually sit down and review products despite a mass amount of new products joining my collection as of late. My new found richness from my grown up job has been generously spent on clothes (new winter coat; investment!), makeup (MAC, I forgot how much I loved you), and hair products, (Kerastase, how did I ever cope without you!?). I have also been saving part of my moola each week as I promised myself I would towards my car. I haven't even started my driving lessons yet but that's not the point. At least im actually saving something. Pat on the back to me. :)

This is what I learned this week.

Wearing a fur coat does not make you cooler than everyone else. It makes you look the same. (I do want one of course, faux obviously, but I'm in two minds about it still. Indecisive Gemini I am.)

Sitting down with a cuppa and a good book can instantly make you channel your inner zen and give you a bit of much deserved 'you time'. (My book of choice was the Hummingbird Bakery Cake Days Cookbook. Glutton, I know.)

Just because you don't wear nice clothes to work or doll yourself up during the week does not mean you have to slob around at the weekend. Dress up! (I work in a kitchen, a full face of makeup is both unrealistic and wasteful as most of it would slide off anyway. Bummer. But on the weekends I parade around Dundrum looking like I'm done up to the nines for a night out on the town. It's ok, it makes me happy.

Pigging out once in a while is ok. Really. It is.

Getting a Urinary Tract Infection is not nice. No-suurrr-ee. (I totally just put that in for the sympathy comment.) No really, it's horrible.

Coming home to a nice shower, a DIY pedicure and clean jammies is all you may need to get out of the 'euuuugh I hateeee my jobbb and my liiiiife' slump.

Colleagues are not always considered your friends.

Chocolate makes everything better. (I have argued this one, but I just have to give in, I just do. It's the bean of miracles.)

I am in love with statement lips now. That's all.

People who you thought were your friends may not be your friends at all.

Don't trust men from your past who fucked you over then randomly text you offering you things.

Don't trust men in general. Especially those with highlights.

Red wine fixes everything. For like an hour, then shit gets real. (Excuse the vulgarity).

Going to bed at 9pm does not make you a granny. (Or so I tell myself sometimes).

Reconnecting with music you used to listen to years ago makes you feel young, hip and nostalgic. (I mean goooood music, not S Club 7. Although they were a bit amazing in their heyday.)

I always seem to attract weirdos at the bus stop who feel the urge to chat to me.

Being a girl will make you cry, scream, weep, laugh, moan, and bitch for no apparent reason.

No matter how bad things may get, just remember karma is a bitch, and those who upset you will get their comeuppance.

My next post will be a makeup related one, I promise! Hope youre all having a good week :) Nearly the weekend! Hey ho!

Love :)

Halloween Shenanigans

2011-11-05T12:53:00.004Z

Short and snappy post.

I myself did not venture out on Halloween. It might have been something to do with the fact that I was too lazy to assemble a costume, I was dreadfully hungover, or that I had had enough partying for one weekend. Or an assemblage of all three. Love that word assemblage.

If you read my last post you will be aware that I had my college graduation on saturday and that was kind of the focal point of my bank holiday weekend. I can't do night after night of drinking. I've tried and I can't handle it. It may be because I'm too little, I'm a lightweight, I get terrible hangovers or that I'm just a sham of a 22year old. I was also in work very very early on tuesday morning, (7am is early for me ok?!), and just wasn't bothered. Although I did toy with the idea of attending a showing of The Bride of Frankenstein in the National Concert Hall accompanied by a full orchestra, which I thought sounded very cool and quite mature, but that didn't go ahead.

What I did end up doing was the makeup for my sister and her boyfriend, who went to a house party.

Niamh as Minnie Mouse

Dan as a Zombie

What did you dress up as for halloween? Christmas is next! Only 49 more sleeps :D

Hope you all have a lovely weekend! :) x

Upping the Amp.

2011-10-30T11:53:00.007Z

Hello all! Despite my ferocious hangover, I am in a very happily dandy mood this sunday morning! For two reasons: Bank holiday weekend means halloween and a three day weekend, and I also graduated from college yesterday and got my degree! Woo :)

Alot of my posts lately have been rambles about my life and such, so here is an actual makeup related post for a change!

Here's the deal: I am terrible with statement lip colours. No matter what it is, I never seem to choose a shade that suits me. I am so much more comfortable doing a crazy eye and muted lip. Outrageous lip shades scare me. But I actually want to love statement lips. I just needed a teeny bit of persuading.

I ventured into MAC a total of 4 times this week, and two different MACs at that. I wanted one of the makeup artists to tell me exactly what would suit me, what would complement my skin tone and all that. I think a colour looks amazing in the tube and I buy it, and low and behold I go to wear it and I look like I painted my face in the dark. With my graduation this week I wanted a lip colour that was a little bit out there (for me!) but sophisticated enough for a formal do. MAC do amazing lip colours. I think we all know that. But for some reason all the lipsticks from MAC that I own are nearly identical in colour, just different finishes. Soft pinks are like my safety blanket. Step out of the box I told myself. And so I introduce you to Up the Amp.

I am aware I look ghostly in this picture, it's the flash, I swears.
Lashes ahoy!

I used this lipstick with Magenta lip pencil from MAC, which really gave it a richer, darker finish. I kept the eyes really neutral just using MAC's Lighscapade MSF as a shadow and Harmony blush as a contour in the eye socket.

Me and the sis.

FACE
Smashbox Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Foundation in 2.1
Bare Minerals Powder
MAC Blush in Dainty
MAC MSF Lightscapade to highlight
MAC Blush in Harmony to contour

EYES
Eylure Falsies
Catrice Gel Liner

Check out the gown :)

I really like this lipstick, and it has made me realise that lip colours are fun, not scary at all! Brave it!

Hope you all have a great weekend and happy halloween :)

x

Midweek Ramble

2011-10-26T18:10:00.003+01:00

Things I have learned this week:

Being too ashamed to bring your shopping bags into the house because you already know your mom will go mental at you for spending your weeks wages on payday is a very bad sign.

As is trawling through products and clothes in shops that you don't even like just because you have money to spend.

Passing your theory test does not mean you are going to soon fulfil that aspiration of owning a mini. Especially since I have been trawling through products and clothes in shops that I don't even like just because I have money to spend.

Working in a job where you cook things that you don't necessarily agree with or believe in will (ever so slightly) quash your passion for food and make you rethink your career path.

Appreciate your siblings, they may just come home with a gorgeous new nail polish for you. (Catrice, Blues Brothers Vol. II, royal blue and sparkly, that'll do me fine sis!)

Feeling obliged to buy a product a makeup artist tries out on you does not mean that you have to part with your money if you're not 100% sure about the product. (Damn you Smashbox.)

Buying 3 for 2 on vitamins in Boots is mature and economical as well as beneficial for your general health. (Multivitamin x2 + Skin, hair & nails supplements = looking and feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed in winter = win win.)

Trawling through food blogs and writing down recipes doesn't necessarily mean you will ever cook them.

Eating junk when you're usually a health conscious freak means youre hormonal, down in the dumps, or just being a typical girl.

Seeing a presidential candidate in the flesh will not make you re-think the importance of the presidential election to your future. No, Im still not voting for you. Hey ho.

Rude sales assistants will always be rude.

Ireland experiences one months worth of rain in 24 hours and it is declared a national epidemic.

Irish people make light of absolutely every situation. Which is ironic in this case as we are an island and flooding could literally kill us all.

Being happy and ploughing on with things will produce positive results in the long term.

:) x

Oot and Aboot.

2011-10-16T10:02:00.004+01:00

This is a kind of filler-inner post. I haven't posted in a few weeks as I've been adjusting to working life, accmulating funds, drinking, dancing, dining, and just being a general procrastinator. Here's what's been going on with me. Bullet point styley.

If you've read my last post, you will know I started a proper full time job. This is like a big deal for me. Totes! After searching for months for the perfect job, I finally found one that I like the sound of, and it's going quite well.. I mean every job has its ups and downs, and I always find problems with everything, but sure it's grand. It's in a Catering Company, and my job title is Trainee Catering Manager. While this may not be everyone's cup of tea, I'm happy with it. I have this sort of ambition where I won't settle for anything, I get impatient and I want an amazing job that pays exceptionally well. Two problems with this. We're in a recession and everyone has to start at the bottom. I mostly run the kitchen, and i've suffered a mass amount of cuts and burns already, (because im impatient and I rush everything!), but i'm adjusting :)

Then there is the subject of the weekly full time paycheck. I mean I don't know what to be doing with myself it's been so long since i've been paid such a nice lump every week, that I don't know what to do with it. I'm bad with money see, bad at saving. I like to splurge. I think we all do! I've been fairly good so far though, only splurging on some well needed hair products, and a lovely meal out for mine and my boyfriends 4 year anniversary. We went to Ananda Indian restaurant in Dundrum, as seen on MasterChef :) It was truly delicious, and I'm very critical of my food coming from a foodie background and all that! We got a table d'hote menu for €65 which came with an amuse bouche and champagne, choice of meat or seafood starter, lamb, seabass, chicken or pork mains which were all served with naan and pilau, and an amazing 'Bibinca' dessert which was like compressed sweet crepes served with raisin and cinnamon icecream and bitter caramel popcorn! All dishes came with a matched wine, and it was really really amazing.

Mixed Meat Platter: Lamb, Guinea Fowl, Chicken

Lamb Rack with Sweet Potato, Chickpeas, Chard, Mint and Pomegranate

Bibinca baked Goan pudding, sugar cane, raisin compote, tamarind reduction

Now that I actually have money to do stuff regular people my age do I've been going out quite a bit, and getting sloshed. And it's been great. I went to a comedy gig last week (first time ever!) in the Laughter Lounge in Dublin, and saw some really really good comedians do their thang. It was really nice to be able to sit back and just have a good laugh with the girls. The same night evolved into a crazy amalgamation of messiness, and I ended up in Doyles and then Copan, and the night unfortunately ended on a bad note, with some of my friends getting into a fight with some randomer scummers, all over a gherkin. Long story. They're fine now though!
On a lighter note, here's a token poser photo of my makeup for the night.

I really really need to venture away from my 'safe' smoky eye, I do the same thing nearly every time I go out, but I really just love the way the colours look together.

FACE
MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW15 mixed with
Clinique Repair Wear Foundation in Vanilla
Bare Escentuals Powder Foundation in Light
ELF Pink Passion Blush
Natural Collection Sunkissed Cheeks Bronzer

EYES
Estée Lauder Stay in Place Eyeshadow Base
Catrice Gel Liner
Essence Lash Mania Ultra Volume Mascara in Hypnotic Black
Clinique Kohl Pencil in Black Noir
Barry M Dazzle Dust in Tan
MAC e/s in Sketch
Urban Decay Naked Palette Sin and Virgin

LIPS
Essence Lipliner in Soft Rose
Barry M Lip Paint in 101
Barry M Lipgloss Wand in Bubblegum

That's most of my random babble for now, my next post will be about something I have experienced quite a bit of recently, customer dissatisfaction, what happened to me, and how I dealt with it. Anyways, I hope you are all having a lovely weekend! I think Im coming down with a cold. Boo! Talk soon :)

Babble Schmabble.

2011-09-25T16:30:00.006+01:00

I love these kinds of lists. I love lists in general. Over the past two or so years I have become very very organised. I make budget lists, shopping lists, things to do lists, recipe idea lists, blog idea lists... and the list goes on. You get the idea.

I have found a large number of blogs lately that I am absolutely in love with. I have stayed up for hours just trawling through them. Sad I know. But when you find something you enjoy reading, heck don't stop! These are mostly foodie blogs, and my god, I have found such amazing things, it makes me so excited and tingly inside. I do have a food blog, but unfortunately it has been neglected since January, but I think I have been motivated to hop back on that bandwagon, as I have made some things quite recently that I have been inspired by and they make me want to share them. This being one of them.

I made this cupcake for my little cousins first birthday, and toyed with the idea of starting my own cupcakery, you know, selling to friends and family etc before I could actually get the experience (and money) to open a bakery. It's something I love doing, as I majored in Pastry as part of my Culinary Arts degree and I would love to make a career out of making these, as well as other things. Like these.

This was an Autumnal inspired Wedding Cake and was so lovely to make. Spot the handmade blackberries!

I recently got a new job! Yippee! A real, proper, full time, post degree, 'real life starts now' job. One of which gives me a great deal of responsibility, and a full time pay check! YES. The only thing I worry about is going into a new job, where everyone is settled, being the new kid on the block, but being their superior and having to tell them what to do. I am quite nervous about that part actually, because although I can have a bossy side to my personality and character, I don't want to be the bitch that swans in barking orders at people. I have waited nearly 3 months to find the perfect full time job, and have turned down a few in my quest for self fulfilment. I want to be somewhere where I am wanted, and where I can show off my skills and abilities, and I am quite fussy, so yes, I have turned down jobs in search of my perfect job. Whether this is my perfect job or not remains to be told. I start tomorrow. :)

Now that I am finished college and the summer is over, I don't know what to be doing with myself. On my days off I usually had some assignment to finish, and that, along with seeing the boyf and going out with the girls made up most of my week. I have now turned my attention to something which I put off doing for the last 5 years, my driving test. Woopee. My driving test! The thought scares the living daylights out of me. I get nervous and agitated in awkward situations, but now that I have secured the full time job, (omg I cannot WAIT til payday), I have set my sights on buying my first car. I want a mini. A cream one. (Optimistic much?!) I am a nightmare when it comes to saving, so this will give me the motivation I need to get on it! I booked my theory test, for the second time, as I failed my first one (by 1 question!), and my parents offered driving lessons as a graduation present. Hopefully this will occupy me for the months ahead!

Speaking of jobs, the last 3 months have been hell, being broke, you know the score. I have made lists and lists (LISTS!) of potential beauty purchases, and things I just 'need' to have. Its hard being a girl really. I cant wait to get some decent skincare bits, to try to find my new Holy Grail foundation, and to purchase some Kerastase products to sort the barnet out.

I know this was a total babble, and Im sorry if you don't like these, but I just needed to let it out! We all need a bit of a babble once in a while.

Also, thank you all for your comments on my last post The Truth About Beauty Blogging, it was a controversial post and I'm actually quite relieved that so many of you share the same views that I do.

I have also added some new tabs to the top of my blog page, including a Blogs I Love tab and Things I Love tab. Check them out if you fancy a bit of reading! :)

Hope you all had a fab weekend!
Over and out.

The Truth About Beauty Blogging.

2011-09-14T12:00:00.010+01:00

This is a different post. It is not a rant. Just an assemblage of opinions. I like that word, assemblage.

First off, I love blogging. I started way back in early 2010 and had no clue about the blogging world I was about to enter. I am so thankful for every single person who reads my posts, leaves a comment, and clicks that little follow button. The truth is, I didn't start blogging to gain notoriety, fame, popularity or acclaim, I did it because I felt that I had no one to talk to about my thoughts, at the time that is. I wanted to create my own personal space where I could blather on about whatever the hell I wanted, and no one could criticize, but where I felt better about being able to post something, be it a picture of something that inspired me, or a short paragraph about how I was feeling that day.

Fast forward a year and a half and I have realised that the blogging world is different to what I once thought it was, and it is no longer just your personal space, because as you gain followers, you realise more and more people are interested in what you have to say. You share your personal space with these lovely people that follow you, and you connect with people in a different way. This isn't a soppy post, or one of which I deem to be illusory or sentimental, because although I hold my hand up and say I am truly touched by the people that actually care about what I have to say, there are some things about the blogging world which really irritate and vex me.

This is not a personal attack on anyone, purely my own opinion, before you think I am some acrimonious bitch who feels the need to devote an entire blog post to a rant about a specific person. This is not it.

Recently I have felt that the beauty blogging world in particular has become a sort of competition, a race to see how many followers one can get. No one really cares about how many followers a person has, it is quality over quantity. I am more likely to read a persons blog posts before I decide to follow them rather than see how popular they are. In saying that, there is actually an abounding number of blogs that I have found recently that I truly enjoy reading, and these girls have had little or no followers. These girls shouldn't have to feel like they need an abundance of followers to be successful blogger, although unfortunately I think that's what it comes down to. There are some blogs that have thousands or hundreds of followers that I don't care to read, because the quality of the content doesn't appeal to me. Each to their own I say. If you are reading this and you don't have many followers, all I can say is, don't fret, don't panic, don't think you are unsuccessful, because out there, there is someone that does want to read and listen to what you have to say, they may just not have found you yet.

Another thing. The subject of the infamous giveaway. I am aware I just held a giveaway for makeup goodies, so don't think I am about to contradict myself when I say this, but holding mass giveaways solely for the purpose of gaining followers really gets my goat (Its starting to sound like a rant now, isn't it). It was my first ever giveaway, and I held it as a thank you to all the girls that were following me, I wanted to give something back to them, (you!). All of a sudden I am bombarded with entries from bloggers I had never seen, heard of, or chatted to, and as my followers count went up by 200, (crazy!), it dawned on me that many people only follow you to enter your giveaway. That is most definitely NOT to say I am any less grateful to those following me, so please don't think that, it was just a realisation of sorts. I too am guilty of following a blog solely for the purpose of entering a giveaway, as I think many of us are, but I think I was just surprised because 1. Most of the entries were from girls that only recently became my followers, and 2. News of a giveaway really travels fast! Honestly, I won't be surprised if some of my followers actually un-follow because of my bluntness, or because they haven't actually won my giveaway, but sometimes I think things need to be said, and hopefully you will fathom my honesty. (I don't sugarcoat nothin'!)

Free stuff. You've heard about it, i've heard about it, we've all bloody heard about it. Yes it IS amazing to get free products from companies, hell I love getting free products from companies. Does it happen often? No. When it does happen do I take every product i'm offered? No.
Again, this isn't a personal attack on anyone, so if youre reading this and you get free stuff from companies, don't assume I'm talking about you, I'm probably not. This is a collective/general thing. I have been offered various products to review in the past, both for my blog and my YouTube channel, and when it first occurred I lapped up the chance to get a bitta free makeup. Who wouldn't right? It was from the company ELF, and they offered me an assortment of products, and even though I hadn't heard much about them, was I going to turn them down?! Hell no. Before I reviewed the products, it occurred to me that I myself have purchased other products made famous by YouTubers 'reviewing' them, but really they were telling all their viewers how fantastic they were, when really, some of them truly weren't. I made a pact with myself to always be perfectly honest with my subscribers and followers about products that were sent to me for free, as I knew first hand how dissatified one felt when they had purchased products that had been raved about which really weren't all that. I reviewed my ELF products, liked some, disliked others, and was perfectly honest about it. End of story. Since then I have been wary and watchful of products that have been offered to me. If I think the product is absolutely ridiculous of course Im going to say no. I was also recently offered products from a particular company but ineptly, there was a catch. There's always a catch. I was asked to blog about the products, before I had received them. I couldn't receive the products until I did a lavish blog post about them. Was I going to do that? Of course not. I don't believe in selling or advertising something to my followers which I myself don't even know anything about. Maybe it's because I have a conscience. I want my followers to be able to trust what I have to say, not take my word as the only word, but know that I'm not going to take advantage or abuse the situation. Yes, free stuff is amazing, but what is more important? Making yourself look pretty by slapping on free makeup, or your loyalty to your followers that take the time to actually read your posts? They don't have to follow you. They follow because they like what you have to say. Don't abuse them!

Lastly, on the subject of free stuff, I feel so privileged and honoured to actually be asked to consider reviewing products, that I turn into this shy, thankful and forever grateful muppet. What gets my goat (ok, this is a rant), is when people take advantage of that, and go out of their way to request free stuff. I think personally it's downright rude. What do these companies owe you? Nothing. You don't work for them. You're not affiliated with them whatsoever. So why do you feel that you have the right to free products? You don't. It's not a competition. Whoever gets the most free stuff wins? Thats comical. That's another thing about the beauty blogging community, some bloggers turn it into a competition or just a big bitch about eachother. Please note I know it may sound like im bitching about bitching, but I am NOT bitching about anyone here! Just blabbering. I am quite sick of bitchiness in the beauty blogging world, and little sly comments/remarks. We all write posts because of our love for all things beauty right? I do it because I don't feel like my friends are into it as much as me. I have no one in the ahem, 'real world' to blather on to about makeup as much as I'd actually like to blather on about it. Us beauty bloggers, have one thing in common. That we all love talking, using, and trying makeup, all of us, that's why we post about it. So why should the one thing that brought us all together be turned into a competition. There are enough petty cliques in the real world, some of us are here for that reason alone. Because we feel that there is no one else who understands our obsession for all things beauty related. If we all have that in common, why turn it into a petty teenage clique? I have made so so so many friends in the blogosphere, I have met some truly amazing people, and it feels pretty cool to be able to consider them my friends.

I know this might not be everyones cup of blog tea, but sometimes I feel that things need to be out there. Take from this post what you like, but as previously mentioned, this was just a bundle of my own personal opinions.

If any of you have anything to add i'd love to hear it!

Hope you all are having a lovely week :)

Giveaway Winner!

2011-09-13T18:43:00.004+01:00

So I have been bombarding my twitter with daily tweets about my MAC and Sleek giveaway, it has finally ended, and I have chosen the winner!

Before I do, I just want say thank you to all my followers for following me, giveaway or no giveaway, it means so much to me that all of you are interested in my beauty babble! Im also nearly at 500 followers, so another giveaway may soon occur :)

So! The winner!

(cliché drumroll)....

LAURA*LOVES*MAKEUP!!!

Congratulations Laura :) I have emailed you to confirm your colour and palette choices so I will send them out to you once I ourchase them and get your details etc :)

Thanks again to everyone who entered! If you haven't already, definitely check out Laura, she's a fellow Irish blogger and has only been posting since July! She definitely needs more followers :)

Hope youre all having a lovely Tuesday!

Sketchy.

2011-09-04T10:58:00.010+01:00

Cue string of poser type photos:

Today I was inspired by the amazing Richie Nickel, watching his YouTube videos while I was slumped in my pyjamas. Do you ever get that rush to doll yourself up to make yourself feel better?! Well it was a mix of that and wanting to channel my inner Richie. I also wanted to experiment with products in my collection that have been a teeny bit neglected. What I ended up with was a shimmery smoky eye that looks the same whenever I do a smoky eye, even though I use different products nearly everytime. Sigh. But I was happy with the overall look, and so here are the products I used, and a bit of a break down on each of them.

Break it down.

Clockwise from top left: Clinique Repairwear in no. 8 Vanilla, Bourjois Healthy Mix in no. 52, MAC Hue lipstick, NYC Lip Plumper Gloss in Pink Champage, MAC Thunder Eyes Quad, Barry M Dazzle Dust in no. 39, Benefit Thrrrob Box-o-Powder and MAC MSF Natural in Light Med.

Clinique Repairwear: I'll admit I am aware that this product is for aging skin, (I argue that we are all aging so it's ok to use on my 22year old face), and the lovely makeup artist Emma Farrell who did my makeup for my 21st told me the same, but I saw Richie use it in a video and it looked amazing, so obviously I had to have it. It has been stashed at the back of my shelf for god knows how long, a looonng time, but I broke it out today because it is quite dark for my skintone, and I wanted to embrace a bit of a tan and glow without actually having to, you know, tan. It doesn't look that off compared to my arms so its all good. :) I did have to lighten it a tiny bit with my Healthy Mix but more on that in a moment. This foundation is quite thick but also reallllly longlasting, and Im really happy with the finish. Heavy coverage too! Win win.

Bourjois Healthy Mix: If you watch my YouTube Videos or have been reading my blog for a while, you will know I always have this foundation in quick supply, I love it. Im not going to review it but let me say this; it's cheap, smooth, longlasting, smells like peaches, medium coverage and blends very very well. I always tend to bulk out my more expensive foundations by mixing them with this to make the foundations last longer in the bottle. I do also wear this alone, and it's fantastic.

MAC Hue; This hasn't been one I have been neglecting, quite the opposite actually. It has replaced Patisserie as my go to pink from MAC, and I wear it pretty much all the time. Its a glaze, which I have mentioned before I am not too fond of, as they don't last very long, but it means that you don't have to wear a gloss over it! (In this case I did but howandever). Love it.

NYC Lip Plumper Gloss in Pink Champagne: This is a cheap and cheerful tingly gloss from NYC Cosmetics, a brand I'm relatively new to. I bought this a while back, used it, then I forgot about it. It stings the lips in a menthol type manner much like the Smashbox O-Plump Intuitive Lip Plumper but is obviously a fraction of the cost. Im not quite sure it actually 'plumps', but it is a glittery pale coral tone that looks great over anything.

MAC Thunder Eyes Quad: Love this. I used the pale shimmery pink and the dark purpley shadows which are Thunder and Sketch. Abso-friggin-lutely love Sketch. It's such an unusual colour and so fantastic and pigmented that I have nothing bad to say about it whatsoever. I used Sketch in the outer corner to blend, while I used Thunder solely to highlight the browbone.

Barry M Dazzle Dust in no. 39: This colour is called Tan (thank you BarryM website), and is a sandy shimmery dust that is so pigmented and just so damn beautiful. I have a soft spot for Dazzle Dusts because they last a very very long time, on both the eyes and in the pot. Ive used this colour countless times and everytime I open the pot its completely full, like it hasn't been touched. I have a few of these gems in my collection, but I think I really need some more. I used a tiny dab of this to wash over the entire lid, and my god its so pigmented! You can see the true colour more in the first pic!

Benefit Thrrrob Powder: Although this doesn't get as much attention as its sisters Coralista or Hoola, I really like this powder. Its a really pretty pale pink and sometimes I'd rather a nice pale pink on my cheeks rather than a coral. The only downside is that it's actually not really very pigmented so you have to build quite a bit up onto your cheeks. Still lovely though.

MAC MSF Natural: As you can see from the picture this powder is nearly at the end of its little MAC life. I hate throwing things away so I was determined to get as much product out of it as possible before tossing. Perfect face powder.

I love finding little gems that I have forgotten about in my eyeshadow drawer or at the back of my makeup shelf. It's like discovering them for the first time all over again. And I get excited like a little school girl.

Thank you all for reading! If you haven't already, enter my Sleek and MAC giveaway HERE! Only a few days left now! :)

Love :)

The Foundation Brush Vs. Stipple Brush Debate

2011-09-02T13:10:00.005+01:00

I used to apply my foundation tenderly with my fingers, as I had heard by the lovely Bobbi Brown that it warmed the product up and made it easy to apply. "Fingers are the best tool for warming and blending makeup into the skin" she preaches, but my lovely MAC makeup artist says differently. She asked me how I apply my foundation when I was in getting matched to my true MAC colour way back when I first started using MAC. "Just my hands..", I responded, and she shook her head disapprovingly. She then went on to explain that the oils in the skin make it easier for the makeup to slide off when applied, and so a brush would be the better option.

I think I may have used makeup sponges maybe once in my life, when I was younger and used to sneak into my mothers room to use her oh so lavish Elizabeth Arden foundation compact. I didn't like the moistness and sponginess of the makeup sponge, and I haven't used one since.

I then moved on to the old faithful foundation brush. It was the only brush I knew of really, and thought at the age of 16 that I was the business, splurting my Maybelline foundation onto the back of my hand and swiping it up with the foundation brush, and rather liberally splodging it onto my face. Little did I know how caked it looked, at 16 I even thought it was fashionable to wear foundation on the lips. Serious makeup faux pas.

I got a bit older and resorted back to using my hands, and I was content in doing so, until I was introduced to the lovely Stipple. I bought the Sigma brush set as a result of hearing it being raved about on YouTube, and fell in love. That is until the brush started shedding all over my face like a dog. It was only when I decided to go for a bit of a more expensive Stipple from Inglot that I was truly happy with my foundation application. It was perfect. It was so quick and easy to apply, and could be blended in within one minute of application.

Fast forward to present day, and I have slightly changed my foundation application routine. Ever so slightly. I found that by using the Stipple, I used far too much product, and ran out of foundation alot quicker than I would have liked. I now apply my foundation with a lovely Clinique foundation brush, and I only use maybe one or two squirts of product, compared to maybe three or four with the Stipple. I like a nice heavy coverage see. As the brush lines from the foundation brush are visible on my face, I then buff the product in using my Inglot Stipple. And the end result is perfect. Perfectly blended and full coverage. And the foundation in the bottle will last maybe twice as long. Result!

I think its nice to change up your regular routines, because often you get bored with the same old thing. Makeup is exciting! So change it up!

Love :)

Review: Make Up For Ever Eye Seal

2011-08-29T13:37:00.009+01:00

This is one of the products that has been lurking in my drawer since I purchased it over a year ago, untouched, unloved. I honestly don't know why I bought it, I didn't really understand what it was for. It was an impulse buy, like many I experience when pay day rolls around. I have a wad of money and suddenly have to spend it on products I have no clue about. I become a woman possessed, splashing out on things I would never normally think to save up for and purchase. This Eye Seal being one of them. I didn't even think to ask what it was for, I just subconsciously decided I needed it. Urgently. This 12ml bottle retails at around €20, which I thought was steep enough for 12ml of product that is kind of mysterious and not a necessary staple in my collection. Nevertheless, I handed over a portion of that months wages in Make Up For Ever purchasing this Eye Seal, various mad coloured eyeshadows and the infamous HD foundation. Boy was I beaming when I left that shop. For the next few weeks I tried out my shadows and proudly wore my HD foundation everyday, but my little Eye Seal slinked to the back of my collection, hidden from me and forgotten about. I recently did a sort through of all my makeup that was empty, old or I just didn't use any more, and came across this little gem. I have been trying it out and my god, I'm so annoyed I hadn't used it sooner!

According to the Make Up Forever website, this little baby has the ability to waterproof all powder makeup and intensify makeup colours. We've all heard of products that turn powder products into liquid products (ahem Urban Decay Eyeshadow Transforming Potion), and products that intensify colours (ahem MAC Paint Pot), but this Eye Seal is like a multipurpose wonder, it liquifies, it intensifies, and it waterproofs.

I used the Eye Seal this morning as a liquid liner as my trusty old Lord and Berry liquid liner is out of juice, and I didn't really feel compelled to be fiddling around with gel liner in my groggy state. I dabbed my angled brush into the matte black shadow from my Sephora Smoky Eyes Palette, and dropped two drops of the Eye Seal onto the brush and applied. The end result was smooth, wet, intense black, and it set nearly straight away. It was so easy to use, and I was very very happy with the result. I even exclaimed "Wow this is sooo cool" mid cat eye, so you know I mean business. It applies like a liquid liner, and is a perfect consistency, but it's buildable despite it's intensity. For me this product is easier to use than gel liner, I have a love hate relationship with the latter, and we don't always see eye to eye. The Eye Seal can be used with pigments, glitter, shadow, shimmers, and even pencil. It keeps the product in place, does not budge, doesn't crease, and can even be used in the waterline.

The only pickle I have with this product is the price (obviously, we're in a recession!), but it does last quiiiite a while, I mean one or two drops per eye will last you a long time. I am happy to say this product has made an appearance back to the front of my makeup collection, as it has become an every day staple. Love!

Value: ♥♥♥
Quality: ♥♥♥♥♥
Packaging: ♥♥♥♥
Repurchase: Yes

Thank you for reading :)

Trusty Sidekick

2011-08-24T11:55:00.005+01:00

Whenever I opt for a smokey eye, I tend to panic a bit, because I have so many 'smokey' colours in my collection, that I hate choosing one over the other. Im a Gemini and very indecisive. It's not that my smokies have feelings, I just want to make sure all my colours are appreciated.
I ventured out to Coppers in Dublin and decided on a smokey eye. I tend to do this on all my nights out. No idea why. As I have mentioned before, I find one of the best parts of a night out is the actual getting ready part. I think it's a girl thing. Or maybe just a me thing.
I chose to use the Smokey Eyes palette from Sephora. This baby is in fact very very good. It's a nifty little palette which contains four colours and even an instruction booklet that tell you exactly how to don a smokey eye. The little tutorial is also quite informative, but I chose to mix and match and kind of do my own thing. No offence Sephora.
Obviously we Irish and UK girlies don't have a Sephora on our little islands, but it is considered the mothership in the US. Their own brand products are of good quality and are also quite a reasonable price.

The palette comes with a base, lid, contour and highlight colour, although as I said I mixed and matched and didn't follow the booklet, I thought it was very black and I wasn't feeling it. I used my Estée Lauder Stay in Place eyeshadow base as a primer, then I used the brown and black to kind of make a smokey amalgamation. I used the highlight under the brow bone. I also brought the black down under the lower lashline to round it off.

Other products I used:

FACE
MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW15 mixed with
Chanel Pro Lumiere in no. 10 Limpide
MAC Creme Matifiant as a primer
Bere Escentuals Powder Foundation in Light
MAC Mocha Blush
Sephora Sculpting Disc

EYES
Estée Lauder Stay in Place Eyeshadow Base
Catrice Gel Liner
Essence Lash Mania Ultra Volume Mascara in Hypnotic Black
Inglot Brow Pencil in 515
Clinique Kohl Pencil in Black Noir

LIPS
Essence Lipliner in Soft Rose
MAC Lipstick in Hue

And here's what I wore:

Sequin Top: Topshop
Black Skinnies: Zara
Heels: Kurt Geiger

Palettes like this are great for nights out and are easy to transport. I may indeed use this alot more, the black is one of the blackest shadows I own!

I hope you're all having a lovely week! :) And if you haven't already, enter my giveaway HERE!

Love!

GIVEAWAY! Mac + Sleek Goodies! (NOW CLOSED!)

2011-08-13T15:05:00.011+01:00

Hello my lovelies!! This is a giveaway for all of my fabulous followers as a thank you for reading my blog. I recently hit 300 followers and to be honest I can't believe anybody would want to listen to me blabber on. I appreciate all your lovely comments and I have made so many new friends on the blogosphere as well as on Youtube, so as promised, I'm going to give away some goodies to one lovely follower. :)

The Goodies

Any Sleek Palette of your choice
&
Any MAC Lipstick of your choice

Both products will be purchased by me once the giveaway ends and the winner is contacted regarding choice of palette and colour.
Sleek Palette's include Bad Girl, Storm, Sunset, Acid, Original, and Oh So Special. MAC lipsticks are subject to availability!

To Enter

Please be a follower of Fashion Turn to the Right via GFC if you wish to enter
Follow me on Twitter HERE

For extra entries:

Tweet my Giveaway! "I've entered @Nooonabean 's giveaway! Click here to enter!http://fashionturntotheright.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-mac-sleek-goodies.html :) " +1 entry
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel +2 entries
Put the image above in your sidebar with a link to this post +3 entries
Write a blog post about this giveaway with a link to this post +5 entries

The Rules

Leave a comment on this post with the Sleek Palette and MAC Lipstick you'd like to win, if you prefer, your favourite eyeshadow and lipstick. Once the winner is chosen I will contact them for their details and to finalise their choice :)
The winner will be selected randomly using random.org
This giveaway is open internationally
The giveaway closes on Saturday September 10th at midnight GMT

Don't forget to leave links to your extra entries in your comment so I can see them!
And please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win :)

Good luck! :) x

Away With the Fairies

2011-08-02T12:22:00.000+01:00

This outfit was just thrown on in an 'I don't know what I'm doing today let's make it casual' sort of way. Casual does not have to mean boring and neutral though, as I have illustrated by donning a glittery purple eye. For some reason though I always do my makeup before I get dressed, perhaps it's because I'm terrified I'll spill foundation or something on my top. I'm clumsy like that and it has happened more than you may expect! I reached for my Paul and Joe Palette and smoothed on a neutral pink champagne colour over the lid, as I was actually going to go for a neutral eye, but I caught a glimpse of it in a different light, and it gave off a gorgeous pale pinky purple toned hue. I don't really like light purpley lilac toned colours and so I figured I simply couldn't turn this into a neutral eye, because I feel that purple, as a colour, has so much more character than that. All out we go so! It's not as loud and bright in the pictures as it was in person, so I'm quite disappointed that I can't share it's audacity and vibrancy.
I washed over the rich purple from the Sleek Bohemian Palette, and finished with a dab of MAC's Fig. 1.
It totally disappears when my eyes are open however, which I'm in two minds over. Heres what I used on my whole face.

FACE
MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW15 mixed with
Bourjois Healthy Mix in 52
Benefit That Gal Primer
Bere Escentuals Powder Foundation in Light
Natural Collection Bronzer in Suntint
MAC Mocha Blush
ELF Gotta Glow Highlight

EYES
UD Primer Potion
Paul and Joe Palette
Sleek Bohemian Palette
MAC Fig. 1
Catrice Gel Liner
Essence Lash Mania Ultra Volume Mascara in Hypnotic Black
Inglot Brow Pencil in 515
Clinique Kohl Pencil in Black Noir

LIPS
Nivea Lipcare Stick

I ended up going to the park today so yay for casualness!

Jeans: New Look
Tee: Zara
Cardi: Primark/Penneys
Pumps: H&M

I found this amazing tree also known as 'The Fairy Tree' and children have left little notes, letters and trinkets for the fairies. Its actually so magical and so adorable. There are tiny little castle-esque buildings at the very top complete with windows and roofs, and at the very bottom a tiny fairy like door etched into the trunk of the tree. Look at the little bell! When my boyfriend brought his daughter to see it she made him hide behind the tree so she could knock on the door because the 'fairies don't come out for daddies'. When nothing happened she said it was because he was there. Its so cute how magical children find these things!

Anywho that's my post for todaaay :) Giveaway soon!
Hope you're all having a lovely week :)

Schmokin'

2011-07-11T16:49:00.000+01:00

Last week my family and I celebrated my mom's 50th birthday (yay!) and so we went out for a lovely meal in an amazing Thai restaurant called the Baan Thai. How fitting! I decided upon a conventional smokey eye, beige skinnies, black embellished shoulder top and black wedges.

FACE
MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW15
Benefit That Gal Primer
Bere Escentuals Powder Foundation in Light
Benefit Erase Paste
MAC Select Cover Up Concealer
Natural Collection Bronzer in Suntint
ELF Pink Passion Blush

EYES
Estée Lauder Stay in Place Eyeshadow Base
UD Naked Palette; Naked and Buck
Smashbox e/s in Envy
Catrice Gel Liner
Essence Lash Mania Ultra Volume Mascara in Hypnotic Black
Inglot Brow Pencil in 515

LIPS
Barry M Lip Paint in 100

Top: H&M
Jeans: Zara
Wedges: Topshop

Im nearly at 300 followers! Yay! Thanks to everyone who follows me and reads my blog, I love you all!
Also, I may stop doing these face pic posts for a while and get down on some reviewing!

Love :)

Lip-Lock

2011-07-07T14:50:00.000+01:00

I don't really have a good relationship with lip products. I never really have. For some reason in my little head I always pressume a certain colour will suit me, I buy it, rip off the packaging at home, slick it on, and low and behold it is the complete wrong shade for me. At least for my complexion. I don't know what it is. I always go for the wrong colour. I have gone into MAC numerous times to persistently ask the girls if they can match me to a pretty lipstick as I always pick the wrong shades, although the ones they choose for me aren't always ones I actually like, at all.
However, I do happen to own a limited collection of lip products which do in fact suit me. Here's a few of my favourite lipsticks that I find I always tend to reach for.

Top From L- R: Barry M 101, MAC Cute-ster, Smashbox Smashing Beam, MAC Politely Pink, Revlon Nude Attitude, Revlon Fire and Ice and Rimmel Spotlight Beige
Bottom From L-R: Revlon Really Red, MAC Strayin', Lancome Rouge Rayonnat, Maybelline Hollywood Red, Maybelline Ambre Rose, MAC Hue, Natural Collection Biscuit

From L- R: Barry M 100, MAC Cute-ster, Smashbox Smashing Beam, MAC Politely Pink, Revlon Nude Attitude, Revlon Fire and Ice and Rimmel Spotlight Beige

Barry M 100: This purchase was an accident. I actually thought it was the famous no. 101, Marshmallow, and it wasn't until I got home and whipped it on that I realised I looked like I had painted my lips with baby pink chalk. The texure is quite chalky, but I have grown to love the colour, because it's something I never would have thought to buy.

MAC Cute-ster: This is from the Hello Kitty Collection yonks ago. I really like this lippie. It has a lustre finish, and is a nice shade on the lips.

Smashbox Smashing Beam: This is a lip conditioner as well as a lipstick. The shade is quite similar to my natural lip colour so it adds moisture as well as shine. Win win.

MAC Politely Pink: Politely Pink is a really soft baby pink with a lovely lustre finish. Quite pretty and neutral.

Revlon Nude Attitude: I didn't really like this when I first bought it as it is a Matte and can be quite drying. The shade is also quite bland in colour, but I really like this worn with a brighter gloss, as it's the perfect base for any colour.

Revlon Fire and Ice: This is such a punchy fire engine red and I absolutely love it. I wore it alot when I had dark hair but I think it's such a perfect red that I can't really fault it!

Rimmel Spotlight Beige: This is such a gorgeous peachy brown that was recommended by Amy at Makeup and Beauty. She is a blonde and I have found this also suits me more as a blonde than a brunette!

gotta love a bitta those panda pjs.

From L-R: Revlon Really Red, MAC Strayin', Lancome Rouge Rayonnat, Maybelline Hollywood Red, Maybelline Ambre Rose, MAC Hue, Natural Collection Biscuit

Revlon Really Red: This is another one of the Revlon Matte shades. It's alot darker than Fire and Ice but still flattering. And not drying at all.

MAC Strayin': Another from the Hello Kitty collection. This is a frost lipstick and one of my favourites in my entire collection. It has tiny silver flecks of glitter in it which I don't generally like but I do in this case. This is such a 'poppin' lippie.

Lancome Rouge Rayonnat: This is such a statement lipstick. Is it just me or do Lancome lipsticks smell absolutely amazing!? It is so smooth and creamy that I always apply just enough. I love this colour.

Maybelline Hollywood Red: This is more of a deep magenta than a red. It's quite flattering and surprisingly long-lasting.

Maybelline Ambre Rose: This is such a sweet rosey pink and it makes me feel very feminine when I wear it.

MAC Hue: Although this is a glaze and im not that fond of the glaze lipstick, this is such a lovely shade and no need to wear a gloss!

Natural Collection Biscuit: This shade looks like a dark brown in the tube but more of a soft dark beigey pink when worn. This is very pigmented, and so cheap!

Top: From L-R: Johnsons Lipcare Stick, NYC Lip Plumping Gloss in Pink Champagne, Various Barry M Lipwands in Cherry, Toffee, Bubblegum, MAC Dazzleglass in Phiff! and Stila Lip Stain in Pomegranate Crush
Bottom: Sleek Pout Polish in Pink Cadillac and Vaseline Lip Therapy Cocoa Butter

I love these glosses. The Johnson's Stick and Vaseline are perfect for both winter and summer, to slick on when lips get dry and chapped in winter, or when I want to channel a bit of effortless chic in the summer.
The Barry M Lipwands are gorgeous, as I have mentioned before. They come in such lovely colours, are cheap enough and last a long time. Oh they also smell AMAZING.
As for the Sleek Pout Polish; its sooo lovely! I got sent this by the fabulous Cami along with a plethora of goodies when I won her Youtube Contest yonks ago. For a giggle, you can watch my entry HERE.
It gives the lips such a gorgeous hue, and it last for ages.

These products are some of my favourite lip products, bearing in mind I am not exactly a lip product person. I yearn for the day when I can splurge on a Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick without batting an eyelid, (No. 13 Gardénia to be precise), and if it doesn't suit me, I give it to someone less fortunate, like my sister. Love you sis!

If there is anything to be learnt from this post regarding lipsticks, it is to always match your lipstick with your blush. :)

C'est fini. Hope you are all enjoying this lovely sunny day.
Love :)

Mermaid Sashimi

2011-07-07T13:30:00.000+01:00

My sister always scolds me when I edge near the shadows in MAC, Boots and Inglot and then insists that I "have way too many shadows and never use them!". Amen Sista. That is too true. I have a huge pile of assorted shadows that I have failed to depot and that incidently come in a serious array of colours. I always opted for the mad colours when purchasing shadows, god knows why, because as of late I have been seriously embracing the neutral eye or an eye look of many browns. I find Benefit's Naked Palette to be scrumptious, albeit a little sparkly for my taste, but I have found myself to be reaching for those wacky colours in my collection recently.

I tend to switch back and forth, and when I feel like the shocking blues and purples in my collection are being neglected, I'll quickly pick them up and use them for a random look like this one here. I'm quite fond of the combination of MAC's Newly Minted, Revlon's Venetian Blue and the purple shadow from the Sleek Bohemian palette, and have used this combo on a number of occasions. The shades are all matte however, so I do find that a subtle wash of something glimmery takes the harshness away.

I've been consistently using my Bourjois Healthy Mix in 52 on my face, blended out with the Inglot Stipple Brish. On top, a swash of MAC MSF in Light Med and Benefit's Coralista, finished with NYC's Lip Plumper Gloss in Pink Champagne.

Earrings: Primark
Pearls: Primark
Hairband: Primark
Camel Long Sleeve: Asos
Trousers: Topshop
Crochet Bolero: Primark

I'm a total walking ad for Primark/Penneys right now. I always buy loads from Primark before/during summer. They do have some nice pieces, it's all about the rummage. Now I shall leave you and love you! I plan on doing a big giveaway when I reach 300 followers! Nearly there now :)

Thank you all for reading!

Aoif :) x

Ooh Cheeky Cheeky

2011-07-02T23:39:00.000+01:00

I know I know. These pictures look so poser-ish. But I mean its not like showing off my makeup in a picture like this would be any better.

I recently purchased some new ELF products and this bright pink slightly Barbie look was born. I don't in any way compare myself to Barbie. Btw. Heres what I wore on ma face for a lazy shopping day to the Drum as I like to call it. Thats Dundrum shopping centre for those of you not in the know!

EYES

I used a mix of shadows from this No. 7 palette that came free with a mascara in Boots yonks ago. It was described as a Spring palette, although I personally feel the first two colours are quite Spring-y and the second two are more Autumnal shades. I used the latter.

LIPS

I purchased this Hello Kitty Lipstick from MAC again ages ago, in the shade Strayin'. May I just say I feel very proud to be breaking out all these oldies in my collection and rediscovering why I purchased them in the first place! It is a hot pink frost lipstick which I very rarely wear as I find it has quite the shock factor. My gloss is my fave Barry M lipwand in Bubblegum. And yes, it smells like bubblegum. I thought this lip combo would go perfectly with my blush, which was a recent purchase from ELF.

FACE

From Clockwise Top left: ELF Cool Bronzer palette, ELF Brow Set, ELF Pink Passion Blush and ELF Gotta Glow Highlight.

These all came in the mail to my surprise as it was a friday and I thought I would have to at least wait until monday for them to arrive. I wore all of these today to test them out. And I am quite happy with all of them. The blush has to be my favourite product though. If you've seen my recent Youtube Video you'll already know I love it. It is unlike any other blush I own, and that's why I opted for it. I find all the blushes in my collection to be quite a similar shade of pink, and this one screamed at me on the ELF site. I reeeally like it. I also used my Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation, Bare Minerals Powder and L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes mascara.

So there is my faaace of the day for you all, hope you all have a lovely weekend :)

Aoif x

Festival Savvy

2011-07-01T15:22:00.000+01:00

To me, summer is about the festivals, the barbecues, the heat, the beach, the fun. But there is nothing worse than being unprepared for a festival. Believe me, I know. I've done the whole Oxegen charade, and it is safe to say that I wasn't as well prepared as I honestly would've liked. Now that I'm a bit older, and wiser , I thought I'd share my fashion and beauty tips with you as well as some general tips so that you can make your festival experience a happy one. :)

GENERAL

Try not to take your mobile phone with you or any other very valuable items that could get lost or stolen. It can only do more harm than good. I know you're probably thinking: "Aaah what if I get lost and can't find my friends and I need to ring them?", I hear ya, but chances are not all your friends will have their phones on them at all times, let alone hear it ringing amongst the crowds. If you really want to bring it, carry it in a ziplock bag to keep it safe from mud and rain and keep it in a safe place. Or make a small cute drawstring pouch to fit around your neck! Sounds daft, but I did this and kept all my valuables in it. I made it a long string one so it wasn't visible at all under my clothes. Find out how to make one HERE.

Bring loo roll, and lots of it! This one sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many people take yours because you brought it! Also, keep it in a ziplock bag to prevent it becoming damp or muddy. (Ew.) Squash the cardboard bit inside the roll flat to save room in your bag. Portaloos at festivals are not always the nicest and loo roll is one thing you most definitely need!

If you've been at a festival before then you know how jealous you can get over the group of guys who were smart enough to bring those small foldy chairs with them. These are actually a really good idea to bring with you to sit on during the day when you're not listening to bands. Be the girl everyone else is jealous of this time!

Bring a few bin bags. These are great for sitting on if the grass is a bit damp (and you weren't one of the lucky few to bring a foldy chair with them), for temporarily patching a leak in your tent, and for cleaning up after yourself when it’s time to leave the festival site. Kudos for multipurpose items!

Baby wipes andhand sanitiser. You need these! The wipes are great because you most definitely WILL get muddy. The sanitiser.. Do not trust the portaloos!

Water and more water! Many festival goers are more concerned with the amount of drink they are able to carry in their rucksack, but you really need water with you. Fill large bottles!

Snacks. The food at festivals is very overpriced and alot of the time quite dodgy. The sandwiches from the Centra within our campsite was all I lived on for 3 days at Oxegen. Terrible really. Bring snacks in small sealed containers so they don't spill or leak, and remember there is no point bringing food that will get squashed in your bag or foods that have a short shelf life. Some good ones are crackers, rice cakes, hummus, pre-cooked meals which have been cooled and sealed in tupperware boxed such as pasta and rice with mixed veg, and cereal bars. Many people don't want to be bothered taking up valuable alcohol space in their bag with food from home, but it really is worth it if you don't want to be filled up on, excuse me, shit, for 4 days. :)

FASHION

Dresses and skirts are probably your best best for festivals, and they are comfy, and easy to whip on and off. Jeans are a no go. If they get wet you will spend the rest of the festival trying to get them dry

Wear your wellies! If there is a lot of mud, your gorgeous shoes will be ruined. Bring a few pairs of knee high socks to wear under your wellies if it is rainy or cold.

Bring a rain mac or poncho. This was a lifeaver for me. Don't assume the sun will shine for the whole weekend! More often than not it lashes, and you don't want to get soaked.

Bring a hat with a brim to keep any sun or rain off your face.

Don't forget a warm jumper to wear at night if it's a bit chilly, or if its cold or rains during the day.

Bring a headband and a few bobbins to whip your hair up into a pony or messy bun to hide the greasiness!

BEAUTY

Bring sunblock. Slather it on every morning and a few times throughout the day to avoid getting burnt.

Opt for messy or wavy curls on the morning before you leave the house. If it rains your perfectly straightened hair will transorm into a frizz mop! Not sexy. Waves look effortless and chic.

Bring dry shampoo. If you're not one of those people who is going to queue for an hour to wash her hair this is perfect.

Remember that a full face of makeup is not going to look perfect as you won't have the room or resources. Bring a small compact mirror and a few beauty staples, multiples if possible. Opt for a tinted moisturiser, mascara, blush and lippie. If you slick on a bold lip colour like bright red it'll look sexy but not as if you've made a HUGE effort. Win win.
You also don't want to be hoarding around tonnes of makeup. Heavy = effort.

PLANNING

You want to plan ahead and make out a list of things YOU think you'll need for the weekend. Be smart about it. You won't need a full sized shower gel and facewash or a phone charger!

Here's my checklist of festival essentials :

Tent
Sleeping Bag
Extra Blanket
Fold up Chair
Bin Bags
Loo Roll
Camera or disposables
Drawstring Pouch
Money
Water
Snacks
Hand Sanitiser
Baby Wipes/Face Wipes
Underwear
Jumper
Rain Mac
Few pairs of socks
Wellies
Suncream
Hat/Hairbands
Sunnies
Compact Mirror
Dry Shampoo
Miniature Toiletries - Shower gel, deodrant, toothpaste
Makeup Staples

And thats it! I think :) If you have any more festival essentials let me know! Let me know if you're going to one aswell! :)

Aoif x

Floral Tea Party

2011-06-21T00:05:00.000+01:00

I am so excited to be posting this post! I really don't know why though, which seems odd. I feel a sense of accomplishment at completing my new layout, which I made all on my lonesome! I feel so proud, as web design isn't my forte, and I think it looks much cleaner and fresher. I have also used my dad's mahuuusive Sony DSLR camera to take pictures for this face and outfit post which I am totally loving as I feel they also look much cleaner and focused. My dad gave me some odd looks when he saw them on the memory card, and I then felt obliged to tell him about this blog, as I obviously wasn't taking random pictures of myself for some weird vain photoshoot, but he just laughed. In a nice way obv. :) Awesome.

This is titled Floral Tea Party because the floral top made me feel so dressed up like I was going on a date or to afternoon tea or something. I wish. I love afternoon tea. :)

FACE
Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation in Limpide
Benefit That Gal Primer
Bere Escentuals Powder Foundation in Light
Benefit Erase Paste
MAC Select Cover Up Concealer
Sephora Sculpting Disc
MAC Mocha Blush
Inglot Stipple Brush
MAC 168 Brush

EYES
MAC Thunder Eyes Quad
MAC Fig 1.
Revlon Venetian Blue
Lord & Berry Liquid Liner in Brown
Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara
MAC Brushed 239 & 224

LIPS
Barry M Lip Paint in 100
Barry M Lipwand in Baby Pink

One Shoulder Top - Primark

Black Jeans - Zara

Pink Hair Pin - Topshop

Swallow Necklace - Primark

Belt - Primark

There has also been talk in the twittasphere of a few of us bloggers meeting up at the Stellar/River Island event in Dublin this wednesday the 22nd. Check out the lovely Laura's post for all the details!! :) Let me know on Twitter if you're thinking of going!

Anyways that is all for now but I shall be back soon! Toodle!

Aoif x

What I Wore

2011-06-17T21:05:00.000+01:00

Top: Vila @ Asos
Trousers: Zara
Ring: HOF

Shoes : H&M

Polish: Barry M 304 Mint Green

Spot the gigantic forehead!

FACE

Foundation: Chanel Pro Lumiere in 10 Limpide mixed with a splodge of MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW 15
Primer: Benefit That Gal Primer
Powder: bare Escentuals Powder in Light
Concealer: MAC Select Cover Up Concealer in NW 15
Bronzer: Natural Collection Sunkissed Bronzer
Blush: MAC Mocha Blush

EYES

Primer: Estée Lauders Stay in Place Eyeshadow Base
Lids: Lord and Berry Palette, Sleek Divine Bohemian Palette, Brown and Purple
Liner: Liquid: Lord and Berry; Kohl: Clinique Black Kohl in Noir
Mascara: Max Factor Colossal Volume Mascara

LIPS

Gloss: Clinique Superbalm Moisturising Gloss in Grapefruit

:D

Blonde Ambition.

2011-06-12T14:56:00.000+01:00

I dyed my hair for the following reasons.

1. I used to be blonde and I was absolutely in love with it.

2. I like the mantra "Blondes have more fun".

3. I am an indecisive Gemini and change my mind as often as I change my socks.

4. I thought blonde would be a nice colour for summer.

5. I wanted a change. Finished college, fresh start.

I dyed my hair blonde blonde about 5 years ago, when I was the ripe old age of 17. Insert poser blonde photo.

I loved this colour. That year was the best year ever, so obviously when I think of being blonde I think of the amazing time I had when I had blonde hair. I have been red, black, blue and brown, but the blonde was my favourite.

I realise home dying can seriously damage hair, and I have had my hair dyed professionally, but this has not always worked out for the best, and I have come to be quite wary when it comes to hair stylists. I have found in my experience that stylists do not always know what is best, listen to their customers, or have their customers best interests at heart. Maybe it's just me.

So my quest for blonde hair continued after many years of indecision. I used Scott Cornwalls Colour B4 which is a hair colour remover to remove as much dye as possible which had built up on my hair. This product has worked for many people but unfortunately did not work on my hair how I originally had planned. It lightened it ever so slightly, and I was left with blonde brown roots, black middle and red ends. DISASTER. I became manic. I used violet toners by Wella, pre lighteners and bleach by Jerome Russell and John Frieda to the MAX. I know I totally fried my hair, but I felt slightly reassured that I was constantly deep conditioning with Umberto Gianinni's Intensive Hair Mask. I lie, I wasn't reassured whatsoever. I was in bits over it.

After all this I was then left with white roots and orange hair. Mortified. I think I was so desperate because my birthday was right around the corner and I felt I had to have it perfected before the birthday photos. I have now realised the reason it didnt all go blonde was as a result of the layers and layers of dye built up on my hair over the years. I looked at it and wept. I was genuinely so disgusted that I had done this to my hair. The ends were fried, it felt gummy and horrible when wet, and it was just so so weak. This had to stop!

I have since left it and refrained from DIY Dying, although I have been using a myriad of products to try whip it into shape and gradually lighten. All John Frieda products coincidentally. John Frieda Blonde Renew Tone Correcting Shampoo and Conditioner to remove brassiness, John Frieda Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Spray on occasion after washing, and John Frieda Blonde Leave In Conditioner. Perhaps I have been over conditioning, but if you saw my straw like hair you would be like "OMG what the hell did you do to your hair!"

Yes. I have since learned to embrace the fact that it is not perfect. But my friends have been very supportive. They have even said it looks 'cool' and 'unique'. If you are wondering what it looks like scroll down to the previous post! It has since lightened as a result of using all of those John Frieda products, but I think I realised it is now time to get it sorted professionally. I guess one of the reasons I refrained from getting it fixed properly, apart from the price of course, was that I was so afraid of the hair stylists taking one look at me and going "We're not touching it, you've ruined your hair". Sounds overdramatic, but I have had nightmares about this.

So that concludes my recent hair disaster, but I am glad I did it, even if it looks kind of crap and has become completely weak and brittle. I have learned to deal with these things,and soon it will be old news.

I hope you are all having a fab weekend! Even if it is rainy and crap outside here.

Love!
Aoif x

Pink Swoon.

2011-06-10T12:21:00.000+01:00

Hello dears!

This morning I am sipping rose and hibiscus tea and nursing a very mild hangover. Im shocked really considering I dabbled and mixed my drinks last night profuuuusely. But yay! There's nothing worse than waking up and spending ALL DAY feeling groggy and nauseous and you're left wondering if it really was worth having all those shots and all those cocktails.. But I love waking up without a hangover. Its like a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. Aoife 1, Drink 0.

I used to love posting my outfits for my lovely blog readers because frankly, I love seeing what other people are wearing and if you post an outfit post and it pops up on my dashboard, I will most likely clicky on in there pretty much immediately. So this is what I wore last night.

First off, please do not be alarmed at my hair. I know it looks like something out of the circus, and I will explain in the post following this one. The craving for blonde hair + incessant bleaching = the realisation that it is more complicated than previously thought. I am keeping it this way for the moment, mainly because if I do anything else to it it will fall out. I am getting used to it actually, and someone even told me I looked like a fairy. I took this as a compliment.

I went out with my girlies for dinner and cocktails, so I wanted something that was kind of casual and kind of dressy. It was thursday night after all, and sporting a mini and stilettos is not really my cup of tea.

Top - Primark
Jeans - Zara
Leopard heels - Primark
Pendant - Topshop
Egg ring (if you can see it!) - HOF

FACE
Foundation: Chanel Pro Lumiere in 10 Limpide mixed with a splodge of MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW 15
Primer: Benefit That Gal Primer
Powder: bare Escentuals Powder in Light
Concealer: MAC Select Cover Up Concealer in NW 15
Bronzer: Natural Collection Sunkissed Bronzer
Blush: MAC Mocha Blush (not pink swoon :))

EYES
Primer: Estée Lauders Stay in Place Eyeshadow Base
Lids: Sephora Smokey Eyes Palette, Smashbox e/s in Etch
Liner: Liquid: Lord and Berry; Kohl: Clinique Black Kohl in Noir
Mascara: Max Factor Colossal Volume Mascara

LIPS
Lipstick: Barry M 100, MAC Hue
Gloss: Clinique Superbalm Moisturising Gloss in Grapefruit

If any of you are wondering, my cocktails of choice are an Absolutely Fabulous (Prosecco and Raspberry Liqueur) and Strawberry Daquiri :)

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Aoif x

Bloggers Block.

2011-06-04T21:27:00.000+01:00

I haven't posted in quite a while. Borderline 3 months. I know I know. Im a terrible person.

This lack of posting has been due to a few reasons.

1. I haven't been arsed. That's blunt and horrible but it's the truth. I have had no motivation whatsoever to yap on about things which I have deemed to be pointless and quite shallow the past few weeks. That does not mean however, that I have become a bitch and still deem these things to be pointless. I had bigger fish to fry!

2. Yes, I had bigger fish to fry. I am now finished college.. FOREVER! yes. I have been seriously nerding it up, studying for exams and doing assignments in partial fulfilment for my BA in Culinary Arts. I was never a nerd before college. Nothing wrong with it of course, I guess I just realised I kind of needed to get my arse in gear, you know, no point going to college for four years for nothing. So I became all responsible and sensible, but I also became neglectful of my blog and YouTube.

3. When I wasn't studying like a little nerdling, I was working my bum off in Cocoa Atelier, a lovely chocolate shop which I mentioned in a previous post. When I came home from college and work, the last thing on my mind was sitting in front of the laptop and rattling off a blog post. I used to see blogging as a hobby, but as of late it has become more of a chore. I have since left my job, due to problems encountered that I won't get into, but this leaves me with plenty of time to get back into what I love.

I feel like I owe my blog readers an apology, although I know most of you will understand why I have been absent. For those of you who follow me on twitter, you probably already know about my major hair change. And although that in itself deserves its own blog post, i'll leave you lovelies with a pic of it until I write again . :)

Crazy. I know. I'll explain soon. :)

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend.

Aoif x

Irish Blogger Meetup and an Au Natural FOTD

2011-03-19T22:38:00.000Z

Hello lovelies!!
Back with a bit of a natter :)

If you follow the ladies I mention below then there is no doubt you will already be aware of our little rendezvous two weeks ago. For those of you who don't know, a few of us girlies met up in Dublin for some shopping, and a spot of lunch. :) It was really quite amazing to finally meet some of the girls I regularly chat to online, whose videos I watch, and whose blogs I read all the time! It was quite surreal actually. Needless to say we all got along like a house on fire, and it really was a great day!! :)

When the country girlies finally arrived (:P) we mused through Forever 21 and New Look before grabbing some lunch in the Calzone Café, (thanks Julie!) and then spending most of the afternoon in Brown Thomas, where we got lost among the the Nars, MAC and Chanel counters. We were like a bunch of schoolgirls the eight of us, all nattering about our favourite shades and the new Wonder Woman MAC collection, before stopping to purchase some products. :)
We then wandered into Zara and H&M, before taking a breather in Starbucks to have a natter about our favourite YouTubers and when our next meetup would be.

It was such a great day, im actually so excited to meet up with the girlies again, they are all such fantastic people, and so fun :)

Here is a token photo of my makeup for the day, (obv!) :P

Please don't mind my roots, Im quite aware a hair appointment is well overdue!!

Face:
Tan: St. Moriz
MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW15
MAC Select Cover Up Concealer
Benefit Boing Concealer
MAC Mocha Blush
Rimmel Silky Loose Powder
Natural Collection Sun Shimmer Bronzer

Eyes:
I can't remember! It may possibly have been Urban Decay's Darkhorse, Creep and Gunmetal
MaxFactor Million Volume Lashes Mascara
Lord and Berry Liquid Liner in Brown/Black
Urban Decay Zero Kohl Pencil

Lips:
Lord and Berry Soft Shine Lip Liner in Nouveau Rose
MAC Patisserie Lipstick
Barry M Lip Wand in Bubblegum

And some pics from the day!

Kate, Me and Julie

Katie and Laura

Louise and Sarah

The girls have some more pics so definitely check them out! And for some reason I haven't got a picture of the gorgeous Sandra, so go check her out too! :)

And here is my au natural face of the day! Needless to say it was not infact, au natural, as I was indeed wearing makeup. :)

Face:
Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 51
mixed with a splodge of
Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation in no. 10 Limpide
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Medium
Benefit Coralista Blush
Sephora Sculpting disk Bronzer

Eyes:
Urban Decay's Virgin, (highlight) Sin, (lid) Buck (crease) and Darkhorse (tiny dust on outer corner) from the Naked Palette
Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara
Barry M Liquid Liner

Lips:
No. 7 Lipliner in Nude
Revlon Nude Attitude Matte Lipstick
Barry M Lipwand in Toffee

Et voila! C'est fini :)

Thank you for reading! Hope you are all having a nice weekend! Better than
mine anyway! College work beckons!
Aoif :) x

Girl Crush: Natalie Portman

2011-03-11T14:40:00.000Z

This woman is possibly one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. Ever.
Hands up, I can honestly admit I never took much of a shining to her in Star Wars, but since seeing Black Swan, my god,the woman is amazing! (If you haven't seen it, go see it!)
It could have been the makeup dramatics I fell for, but she is actually such a classic beauty. She comes across as so quirky and raw, but she is infact very intelligent.
Simplicity is something I never quite understood or in particular liked when it comes to fashion, although in recent months I have been coveting many a simple piece, and wearing many a simple ensemble.
Here, Natalie sports some trés chic but trés simple pieces, which let her natural beauty take centre stage.

Clockwise from Top Left: Givenchy, Rodarte, Lanvin, Lanvin again, Azzaro, Viktor & Rolf, Rodarte and Jason Wu.

I am in loooove with the white Givenchy dress and the blue Jason Wu. She is stunning!

Just wanted to give all my new followers a high diddly ho and thank you for following :)

Hope youre all having a nice week :) x

New Love: Zara

2011-03-05T10:50:00.000Z

I have always zoomed right past Zara in my quest for purchasing new season garments as I had always assumed it was a bit too 'grown up' for me. COULD I BE MORE WRONG?!

I had a gander last week as it was pay day and whenever pay day comes around I go on a mad one. What can I say. I had a bit of time to spare and saw a gorgeous blazer in the display window. I went in and although the blazer in question was delicious, I was more drawn to some of their other pieces. The hues and colours were all perfect for spring; soft shades of pinks, rose, nude, and camel graced the shelves and rails.

I had a totally embarrassing moment where I was trying on a pair of trousers, and low and behold.. I found the zip to be faulty. In the end I had to be cut out, yes cut out of the trousers by three sales assistants. I felt too ashamed to continue shopping so I left hurriedly, only to feel sad that I hadn't purchased the gorgeous pieces I had coveted.

I did in the end return to purchase some bits and bobs, but I just thought I'd show you my current Zara picks. :)

I am meeting up with some of the blogging girlies tomorrow so I will be posting pics of that soon :)

Hope youre all having a lovely weekend :)
Aoif xx

Products I've Been Loving/Newish Purchases

2011-02-17T11:06:00.000Z

Hi hi! I know I have seriously been neglecting my bloggy, it's my own fault, and its due to a number of reasons. Well, 2. No, 3.

First of all, some of you may know that I recently started a new job (yay!) working in a gorgeous chocolate concession in House of Fraser. Their website is still under construction but I have been dying to show you all how adorable and delightful it is. Anyways, I am supposed to be working part time but have seemed to be bombarded with full time hours, (which doesn't reeeeally bother me, hello monaaaay!), but it kind of interferes with college work.

Which leads me onto the second reason this poor bloggy has not been given so much attention as of late. I am in my final year of a BA degree and recently submitted my 20,000 word dissertation (YAY!), but, now its back to the grind, and when I thought everything was going to be plain sailing from here, it's like I have been bombarded with yet another dissertation. I have a loooot of work to do until I finish up in May. This, along with work, hasn't really given me much time to do anything else, let alone blogging or YouTubing.

Third reason. I have been so tired due to constantly working and colleging, that I have been quite unmotivated to blog. This annoys me, because I keep telling myself I NEED to blog. BAH.

Enough moaning!

This post is about a few products I have recently been loving. :)

FACE

From Top Left: Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation, Rimmel Silky Loose Powder, Natural Collection Suntint Bronzing Powder, Sigma 168 Brush, MAC Select Cover Up Concealer in NW15

EYES

From Top Left: No. 7 Exceptional Definition Mascara in Brown/Black, Maybelline Colossal Volume Mascara, Lord & Berry Inkwell Liquid Liner in Brown, MAC Thunder Eyes Quad

LIPS

Vaseline Cocoa Butter Lip Therapy, MAC Lipstick in Patisserie

OTHER!

From Top Left: Aussie Dual Personality Coloured Hair Protection and Shine Serum, Soap and Glory Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser, Boots Reviving Overnight Foot Rescue, L'Occitane En Provence Riz Ultra Matte Face Fluid, Trilogy Everything Balm.

What products have you been loving?!

New Purchases

All from Topshop/Miss Selfridge in the Sale! :)

Thanks for reading dolls, and I will chat to you al soon :)

Aoif x

Bingo Bango.

2011-01-28T22:02:00.000Z

Every once in a while I get a sense of nostalgia or awe when I look at a photo. Its amazing how one photo can capture one moment, and these memoirs can be kept forever. Some pictures are just so beautiful, some really inspire me, and some just make me smile.

I just want to say thank you to all my followers who have clicked that little follow button. It amazes me that there are people out there that are actually interested in what I have to say. Thank you all so so much. I wish I could hug you all in person! Hopefully someday i'll get to.

Love

Aoif xx

Very Berry.

2011-01-23T12:12:00.000Z

I think one of the best things about going out for a girlie night is getting ready. Sad but true. Us girls relish in the thought of getting dressed up for a night out on the tooown. Well I do anyway. I actually love it. :)

I went to Copan last night, which is a new bar located in South Dublin. Needless to say, it was absolutely jammers and quite reminiscent of a sardine tin. Eugh. I lost all my friends almost immediately, and I could barely breathe, so myself and my lovely boyfriend, who had popped along, decided to make our getaway. We ended up going to a smaller quieter bar called Toast, where we had a chat and a few drinkies :)
We headed home at about 2am, as he had to be up earlies to collect his gorgeous daughter Ella. The one thing I was not looking forward to was removing the amount of makeup on my face, but my skin thanked me for it this morning :)

Although I missed out on €5 cocktails and a good natter with the girls, I am hangover free, and still have money in my bank account! At least some good came out of it!

Haha I don't actually pose like this, my sister was taking the pic and told me to :P

The Alligator Ring makes its debut! :)

Top - Topshop
Hareems - Topshop
Shoes - Kurt Geiger (:P)
Necklace - Topshop
Ring - Asos

Face
MAC Creme Matifiant
MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW15
MAC Select Cover Up Concealer in NW15
Rimmel Silky Loose Powder
Sephora Sculpting Disk
MAC Mocha Blush

Eyes
Estee Lauder Stay in Place Eyeshadow Base
Revlon Matte Shadow in Rich Sable for Brows
MAC Thunder eyeshadow (inner corner)
MAC Sketch eyeshadow (Lid)
Urban Decay Zero eyeshadow (outer corner)
Barry M Liquid Liner
Clinique Eye Kohl in Noir
Maybelline Colossal Mascara
ELF Falsies

Lips
No. 7 Lipliner in Nude
MAC Patisserie Lipstick
Barry M Lipwand in Baby Pink

Hair
Aussie Dual Personality Volume Mousse to roots
Tresémme Heat Defence Protectant Spray
Umberto Gianinni Backcomb in a Bottle
Aussie Dual Personality Coloured Hair Protection Shine Serum on ends
Aussie Dual Personality Hi-Hold Hairspray

Thank you for reading and I hope youre all having a lovely weekend!!

Aoif x

New Purchases + What I Wore Today.

2011-01-21T17:15:00.001Z

I literally cannot stop spending. I think I have a problem. Its ok though, because admitting it is the first step! Ah no, I received a nice sum of money in my bank account from last years Erasmus grant, in which I thought I had already fully received, but it seems that I hadn't! I thought I was seeing things when the bank statement came through the door!

Anyways, obviously with my newfound richness I purchased some new things in Topshop, Primark and MAC. I have decided that I am going to just buy 'grown up' makeup from now on and stop buying drugstore makeup unless it is something amazing. This sounds mad, but it always takes me ages to gather up a certain amount of money for something from MAC, Bobbi Brown or Make Up For Ever, because I always buy mass amounts of products from Boots instead, like foundations, powders and shadows. I have said for soooo long that I was on the lookout for a new, lovely, perfect, high-end foundation, but I went and bought Revlon PhotoReady and Bourjois Healthy Mix quite recently just for the craic. With that said, I am loving the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation, which was quite surprising, but Im sure you've all heard about it by this stage, so I won't bore you with the details :) (But if you haven't heard about it, it really is lovely!)

Anyways! I finally bought MAC Studio Fix Fluid, after a lengthy chat with one of the girls in MAC, as there was a bit of a dispute over the Pro Longwear. She recommended the Studio Fix Fluid as she said it gave a heavier coverage, which I like :)
I also bought the Select Cover Up Concealer from MAC, which Im still undecided about at the moment, as its great for under eye circles but not so great for blemishes. But here are a few other things I bought.

I bought these shoes from Primark. I was a bit skeptical about them at first, as Im not really a fan of a wooden wedge, but when I saw they had been reduced from €21 to €5, I couldn't resist!

I bought Patisserie Lipstick and Mocha Blush from MAC. One of the girls in MAC applied these onto my face and I was quite happy with the result so I purchased :)

I bought these tops in Topshop, I love the berry coloured one :)
I plan to wear it out tomorrow night with my new Topshop Hareems and Kurt Geigers. :)

I got these items in the sale in Topshop. The earrings were €1.50 each and the mirror necklace was €3.50. Cute! :)
I actually purchased these yesterday and when I got home realised they weren't in the bag! Gutted. Had to go back this morning and luckily the same sales assistant was working and remembered me! So all was resolved! :)

Face
MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW15
MAC Select Cover Up Concealer in NW15
Rimmel Silky Loose Powder
Sephora Sculpting Disk
Benefit Coralista Blush
MAC Mocha Blush

Eyes
Estee Lauder Stay in Place Eyeshadow Base
Barry M Dazzledusts in Tan, Copper and Chocolate (Love this combo!)
Barry M Liquid Liner
Clinique Eye Kohl in Noir
Maybelline Colossal Mascara

Lips
MAC Patisserie Lipstick
MAC Underage Lipglass

Top - H&M
Cardi - Primark
Trousers - Asos
Necklace - Asos

Going out for cocktails tomorrow with my girlies so will post an outfit update then! Thank you for reading! Lovage :)
Aoif x

Sista Blista.

2011-01-15T22:56:00.000Z

Hello lovelies.

Today I attended my baby cousins Christening. Just wanted to show you how I did my makeup. :)
Do you think my sister and I look alike?!

Face
Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 51 Light Vanilla
Revlon Silky Loose Powder
Benefit Coralista Blush
Sephora Sculpting Disk

Eyes
Barry M Dazzledusts in Tan, Copper and Chocolate
Clinique Kohl in Noir
Barry M Liquid Liner
Maybelline Colossal Mascara
ELF Falsies

Lips
MAC Politely Pink
Barry M Limited Edition Baby Pink Lip Wand

Im dying at the mo, have such a bad cold! Have no clue where it came from! :(
Hope to get better soon! Hope you're all having a lovely weekend :)

Aoif x

New Purchases

2011-01-13T11:31:00.000Z

Hello lovelies! Just thought i'd share some of my new purchases with you all. :)
These are some things I have accumulated over the past few weeks, as I have availed of the sales in both New Look and on Asos.com :)

Trousers from New Look - Im obsessed with trousers like these. God knows why! These were €10!

Peter Pan Collar Tunic from New Look (Mine actually has a leopard print collar!)

Ball Embellished Collar Top - Asos

Long Sleeve Frill Top in Black - Asos

Long Sleeve Frill Top in Camel - Asos

Rimmel Silky Loose Powder

Bird Detail Blouse - New Look

Wool Touch Peg Trousers in Camel - Asos

Bare Escentuals Mineral Foundation - Light

Trilogy Everything Balm

Thats it! Im vlogging today so will post it as soon as its done!
Thanks for reading!
Aoif :) x

Beauty Wishlist

2011-01-08T22:00:00.000Z

Today I started a new job. It was exhilarating and exciting, mainly because the last two jobs I have had have not been real jobs persay, but more like work experience. It was fun really.

I can finally put my degree to use in some way. I am in my final year of a BA in Culinary Arts, and although I am a trained chef, I don't really see myself working in kitchens. Coming home every night with chef hat hair and smelling like a frying pan is not my cup of tea. Not to mention the stress of it all.

I wanted a nice part time job in retail, to see me through until the summer at least, and was trés excited to be offered a job in the lovely Cocoa Atelier, a smart and fabulous chocolate shop in Dublin. It was food related after all, and I relished at being offered to taste the varieties of decadent chocolates and pretty macaroons that were on sale.

The worst part though, is that I have become a mad woman, scrounging and searching for potential beauty and fashion purchases. My first pay check will be the death of me.

Some of these items I have wanted for a while, and so I decided I need to stop procrastinating and buy them once and for all!

From Top Left:
Trilogy Rosehip Oil - Organic and natural, I've heard great things about this oil. It smoothes skin, reduces appearance of wrinkles, improves skin moisture levels and leaves skin looking radiant. It also contains Omega 3,6 and 9 essential fatty acids to restore skin to its optimum health. Sounds lovely really.

Smashbox PhotoFinish Primer - Is this the best primer out there? I have never tried it, but have heard amazing things about it. Have to have it like.

YSL Boheme Libertine Spring 2010 Pink Celebration Highlighting Powder - Apart from the fact it would add a touch of Spring English Rose to any dull harsh winter cheeks, it has a frilly dress design etched onto it. Adorable or what.

Coco Chanel Perfume 'Coco' - This perfume to me, is the epitome of feminity. Its scent encapsulates everything that is womanly, sexy, warm and beautiful. That and it reminds me of Paris.

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation - Not long ago I did a post asking for Foundation help. I wanted a trusty foundation that would last, and although this foundation was recommended to me, I went out and bought Revlons Photoready instead. I thought I liked it, but it doesnt last. I will have Pro Longwear soon enough! You'll see!

Benefit Bella Bamba Blush - Its the newest edition to the Benefit box o powders family. It has been described as a watermelon colour which just screams summer, juiciness, and warmth.

Inglot Gel Liner - Sick of liquid liner to be honest, and I had heard that this is better that MACs fluidline. We'll see.

Body Shop Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream - To be honest, Im a sucker for all of the Body Shops Vitamin E products. The smell gets me everytime. Who wouldn't want to fall asleep dreaming with this slathered all over their face?! Heaven.

Makeup Forever Flash Palette - This is amazing. It can be used for so many things. Its not a necessity, but I would still love it all the same.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm - I had this before and its gorgeous. It is applied after moisturiser and before foundation to even out complexion and leave skin looking radiant. It can also be used as a face mask!

Inglot Freedom System Eyeshadow Palettes - Inglot have a system whereby you choose whatever 10 shadows you want, and they will pop them into a handy little magnetic palette for you. You can buy 5 or even 2 as well, and its not just limited to shadows. Lipsticks, concealers, and brow gels are all available. Inglot eyeshadows are MORE pigmented that MAC shadows, and cheaper :)

Thats all for now, I hope you are all having a nice weekend :)
Aoif x

New Years Babbling & My 2010 Faves

2011-01-03T13:37:00.001Z

I never make New Years Resolutions, purely down to the fact that I know I will never stick to them, because I am a sham like that. There are a few things I know that I DO want to do though, but Im not one to make a resolution. Because in a few days it will probably change. Because Im indecisive like that.

I added in a bit of a list of my favourites from 2010 at the end. I hope you all had an amazing New Years! Mine consisted of playing charades and getting sloshed with my boyfriend and parents. He was in work late and so couldn't make it out pubbing on time so we thought we'd have a quiet one in mine and ring in the new year that way. It was quite lovely really, the only thing was, watching all the fireworks from London on Sky News made me wish I was anywhere else but Dublin.

Any other Irish girlies reading will be all too familiar how this country has hit a huge downturn, and most of us feel like there is nothing left for us here.
It made me feel like I should be out experiencing places like London on NYE and not sitting in watching it on television. I think being in my final year of university has dampened my spirits. The past year was very hard in many ways for me. I feel like I am getting old. (21?! Old?!) There is just so much I want to experience, and I guess Im a bit fed up of doing the same old things. Knowing that i'll close a huge chapter of my life this year is so daunting. Its like, hello, wake up, real life starts NOW!

In terms of changes for the new year, Im not going to say 'I want to eat more fruit and vegetables' and 'drink more water', because surprisingly, I find that I do look after myself that way. I love being healthy and hydrated! Weirdo I know.
Finishing my dissertation in feb and getting my BA degree will be a huge weight off. Hopefully I'll do well. (if I stop procrastinating!)

I definitely want to travel. I want to experience places like Thailand, Cambodia, New Zealand, Tokyo.. Experiencing different walks of life and different foods and cultures is so exhilarating for me. I get such a rush out of it. Life is about the adventure. And I want to go and be free and experience as much as I can while I can. I don't know if that is a possiblility this year. There is an offer on the table, but its such a big commitment right now, because I'd be leaving so much behind.

I may also have an opportunity to work with a really well established chef here in Ireland, but it means packing up and moving to a different county. I'd have nowhere to live either, and Id be on my own, so I don't know what will happen with that.

One thing I want to do which is totally generic resolution is excercise more. Having done Karate for nearly 10 years, I gave it up, and since then, I just miss being fit. I love the rush you get out of exercising.

There are obviously more things I want to do but I wont continue to bore you with the details!
Onto something more upbeat.

Beauty Faves of 2010

Sephora Sculpting Disk

Benefit Coralista Blush

Make Up For Ever HD Foundation

Barry M Dazzledusts

Les Floressances Creme Lift Visage Face Cream

Umberto Giannini Backcomb in a Bottle

Barry M Lip Wands

Kate Moss Perfume

I really loved using these products in 2010 and would recommend them to everyone.
I hope you all have a lovely monday :)

Aoif x

NEW LOVE: FCUK Polished Whipped Bodycream

2010-12-30T17:09:00.000Z

Hello my lovelies!
I got this gorgeous bodycream for Christmas as part of a set of goodies
from French Connection. I just HAD to post about it because I am actually obsessed with it. NO JOKE PEOPLE! Every chance I get I am smoothing this onto myself. I can not get enough of it. Sometimes I even just find myself opening the lid, having a sniff and closing it again, just to give myself a hit. Gosh I sound like a junkie.

This stout tub contains 300ml of creamy goodness. I must admit I love that its pink.
It boasts extracts of orange blossom and pomegranate, shea butter and sweet almond oil. Ok orange, pomegranate, almonds? YUM. Im getting hungry now. Anything with shea butter in it and im sold anyway.
The back of the tub states that it has a rich and velvety texture and provides lasting hydration. The sweet almond oil helps to nourish and smooth while the shea butter helps lock in moisture and protect against dehydration.

I can honestly say this is the goddess of bodycreams. I never post about beauty products I love. Maybe because I rarely find any that Im so mad about. But this thick cream leaves my skin feeling supple and soft, and smelling delicious.
I wish I could somehow capture the scent of this beautiful cream and send it to you all. I love it. It smells sexy and warm and sunny and nutty..And ts so rich and creamy that you feel pampered and amazing after using it.

If you don't believe me it is available in Boots for £5.75 or about €7 if you want to pop in and have a cheeky sniff!

**Times I opened the tub to have a sniff during the writing of this post: 3

Hope you are all having a lovely evening and i'll speak to you all soon :)
Aoif x

Stylish Thinking

2010-12-26T16:03:00.001Z

Hello dollies! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas! Today for me will mostly consist of lounging around doing nothing, procrastinatng while I should be getting on with my dissertation, eyeing up potential beauty and clothing purchases online and cooking some nice healthy dishes to eradicate the guilt of eating so much food yesterday.

But first i'd like to introduce you to the newest member of my shoe collection, Mr. Kurt Geiger. :D

If you've followed me for a while you'd know how much I love these babies, and imagine my shock yesterday morning when my boyfriend handed me over a beautifully wrapped package with a cheeky smile on his face. Upon rippage, I came to find that I had finally been united with the most beauiful shoes in the world. :) I am still in shock to be honest. My boyfriend (like most men) does not understand how important material goods are to women, and these items are not things we want, but things we need. Something 'practical' would be a better present, i've heard him say too often. But it seemed as if the heavens had opened and my prayers had been answered, because yesterday, my boyfriend finally showed me that he understood my obsession and necessity for material goods. :) Hallelujiah!

I got a few other bits and bobs that I will show you all in another post, but I thought I would nab this from the gorgeous Missy Elz because as I have already stated, I am procrastinating. :P

One of my first fashion memories... Aged 6. I stepped out donned in a bright blue wooly jumper with a giant cartoony panda on the front, knitted by my mother. It was quite retro, and since then, my secret love for wooly knits has never faltered.

One of the most treasured items in my wardrobe... My new Kurt Geigers. I don't know how Im ever going to wear them out because Im so afraid of anything happening to them. Sad or wha.

You may not know this but... My arms don't straighten the whole way. Its unnoticable until pointed out, and its hard to explain, but the bone at my elbow is positioned in a particular way that makes my arm look as if its bent when really its straight. Sounds daft I know.

My favourite place in the world is... France. I have something of a love affair with France. Everyone says they adore Paris, and it really is an amazing city, but over the summer I became so attached to the little town of Brantome, in the South West. The culture, the language, the food... Its everything I want in my life. The French know how to eat.

My style icon is... I really don't have one. There are people whose fashion sense I admire and draw inspiration from; Coco Chanel, Zooey Dechanel, Diana Vickers, Ashley Olsen, Fearne Cotton, Dita Von Teese, and Irina Lazareanu to name a few. I have no one person whom I derive inspiration from.

I own so many... Shoes. Its terrible.

It's important for me to... Look good when I go shopping. It sounds shallow but I always feel that the shop assistants judge what I wear. Same goes for makeup.

A moment I will always remember... When I realised my boyfriend was the One. Yes with a capital 'O'!

My trademark is... Im not sure really. Ive been told I change my look a lot. Im a Gemini, what can I say, I get bored easily.

If I could turn back the clock... I would have kept my peroxide blonde hair. It was awesome.

A person who changed my life... The guy who invented Youtube. Because if it weren't for the beauty community I would still probably be my 14 year old self in the head and know absolutely nothing about makeup.

Thanks for reading and i'd be interested to see if anyone else did this little thing :)
Aoif x

Beauty Haulage

2010-12-23T21:44:00.000Z

Hello dollies! This post was meant to be posted last week but the photies didnt upload. Here it is now!

So when I popped myself into Boots a few weeks ago I found myself diving for bits and pieces I knew very well I didn't need, but thought to myself, 'hey, i've got cash to burn on this gift card, go on Aoif, treat yourself!' :P
But me being me, I persuaded myself that I did of course need these items, and told myself it would be ok as I kind of made up for it by purchasing a few 3 for 2 items. Yes! I go for the bargains!

Heres what I bought:

And a few closeups:

Boots Botanics Skin Brightening Cleanser and Toner - I decided to change up my skincare routine a tad and opt for a wipe away cleanser for once. Most of the time I feel like my face isn't actually clean if I don't use water, but this stuff is just lovely. It smells divine too. If im wearing a lot of makeup i'll use a makeup wipe first to get rid of the excess, then use this to ensure every last bit of dirt and grime has been removed from my face :) It's a skin brightening cleanser, which is just what I need during these harsh winter months. I am quite happy with the toner as well, I could drink this it smells so good; like a liquid rose garden, so fresh and clean scented. It refreshes my face after using the cleanser and makes sure it is squeaky clean.

Boots Botanics Organic Smoothing Face Polish - This scrub does exactly what it states, and that is exfoliate! Its nice to use two or three times a week to remove dead skin cells and leave behind a bright complexion. It contains cranberry and cupuacu (I have no clue what that is but it sounds fab!), but it kind of smells and feels like liquid brown bread. Please do not be alarmed, I was not keen to use this as I detest brown bread, but now I have come to enjoy it.

Aussie Volume and Conditioning Mousse and Coloured Hair Protection and Shine Serum -
Aussie products are quite the dark horse next to leading brands such as Tresemmé and the like. They are fantastic. This mousse smells amazing, volumises, and leaves hair shiny without any frizz. The serum is amazing too. The best thing about it is you dont even have to use a pea sized blob to tame your entire head, meaning it will last AGES! It smells delicious, and when used on a recent night out, it kept my hair in place all night. Tres happy with that like.

Lipstick from L-R: Revlon Superlustrous Lipstick in 700 Fire and Ice, Revlon Matte Lipstick in 006 Really Red, Barry M Lip Paint in 100 (Baby Pink)
First off, the lack of lighting in this picture does not do the red lippies any justice, because they really are so vibrant. I apologise!
I love Fire and Ice. Its beautiful, lasts ages and moisturises my lips. Really Red I was not so sure of because I find that Matte Lippies tend to dry my lips out but this is great for a really striking classic pin up look. :) To be honest I haven't tried the Barry M one yet as I had not intended on purchasing this. I thought I had picked up 101 Marshmallow, but to my dismay I had picked this one up instead and only realised after I had got home and torn off the packaging. I find that it does feel a bit chalky in texture and im not sure it will suit my complexion. But I will do a more in depth review at a later date :)

Barry M Limited Edition Lip Wands in Red and Baby Pink, Cocoa Butter Vaseline, and Barry M Liquid Liner - I did a product rave post last month regarding the Barry M lipwands and I couldn't resist picking up the Limited Edition ones when I saw them in Boots. The red seemed perfect for smoothing over Fire and Ice when I wanted a glossy finish, and the baby pink is perfect over nudes, worn alone, or over well.. baby pinks. I only picked up the liner because after a quick trip to Inglot I was told the gel liner I had waited patiently for for ages was sold out, again, so thought i'd give this Barry M one a go until I could get my hands on the Inglot liner. So far it does suffice, the liner tip is quite thick so its thick liquid liner whether you like it or not! It doesn't last as well as the Rimmel Glam Eyes Professional Liner I have been using for aggggges so I may resort to that again.

Catrice All Around Concealer - I had heard the lovely Dazzledust25 and gorgeous KatieElisabeth21 talk about this concealer palette before and was interested to see what the fuss was about. This baby was €1.99! Seriously. I was shocked as well. And so I didn't expect much from it. It contains 5 concealer colours; A pink to conceal dark circles, a green to cancel out red spots, and 3 skin coloured shades that can be mixed and matched to suit your skin tone. I have been using Benefits Erase Paste in No. 1 Fair for the past while but it is too pink for my skin tone. The second shade in this palette matches my skin perfectly. I was quite surprised at this! This is a bargain to be honest, the coverage is fairly all right, it not the best concealer in the world or anything, but for €2 it is an absolute steal. 5 shades?! Come on!

Anyway rambles over! I got some more lovely Beauty goodies for Christmas so I will review them soon enough. Product Rave also!
Hope youre all having a nice monday :)
Aoif x

Yes.. Another Foodie Post.

2010-12-22T23:40:00.000Z

Ok so I have no idea whats up with my bloggy. My info on the sidebar has completely
vanished, so I thought I'd annoy you all with another wee post about my food blog, to make up for the missing link on the side there.
It is also to get you all in the festive Christmas mood and such as I CANNOT WAIT for Christmas dinner and thought i'd sprinkle a bit of festive sparkle unto all my readers. It will also allow you to coo over my latest seasonal creations which are my lovely little gingerbread men :)

Check them out as well as some of my other recipes here at The Kooky Crumb

Thank you all for reading and I will be posting a little beauty post for you tomorrow :)

Aoif x

What I Wore.. Last Night

2010-12-17T17:06:00.000Z

Hello lovelies, heres an outfit post for you from last night.
My college friends and I ventured out into Dublin's City Centre for a bit of a Christmas do, and my god it was freezing!

Apologies for the blurriness!

Blouse - Asos
Dress worn as skirt - Also Asos
Shoes - Topshop
Belt - Primark

Face: Revlon Photoready Foundation in Shell (Coquillage)
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Medium
Benefit Coralista
ELF Bronzer
Sephora Highlighter

Eyes: MAC Thunder, MAC Sketch and Urban Decay's Zero
L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara
Lord & Berry Black Eye Kohl
Barry M Liquid Liner
ELF Falsies

Lips: Revlon Matte Really Red
Barry M Limited Edition Lip Wand in Baby Pink

Thnaks for reading and I hope youre all having a nice weekend! :) x
Aoif x

FOOD BLOGGAGING!

2010-12-09T18:52:00.000Z

Hello dollies :)

Just a quick post to inform you all aboot my lovely new food blog if you missed my previous food blog announcement!

I have just updated my blog with a post about Christmas Food Hampers and edible gifts I will be making this Christmas so if youre a foodie like myself you should definitely check it out!

Blonde me! FOODIE!

Check it out HERE: The Kooky Crumb

Love to you all! :) xxx

What I Wore Today.

2010-11-26T15:32:00.000Z

Bonjour mes belles!
Today Im just posting my Chanel/Geek/Granny inspired look for you :)

Chanel because I love the whole black and white tailored look;
Geek because of the glasses;
Granny because of the pearls and pleated skirt thats miles too big :P

I shook it up with a tan coloured belt, pearls and plaid style tights and I finished it off with a slick of red lippie from Lancome :)

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

x

UPDATE!

2010-11-20T23:14:00.000Z

Hiya girlies!

This a lovely quick post to inform you all I have begun a FOOD BLOG called The Kooky Crumb. :) Yay!
If you love eating delicious tasty homemade food this is the place to go! :)

Although I love beauty and fashion, food is pretty much my life. I study it in college I mean come on! And I could ramble about food all day. (I do already!)

It will pretty much be about some of the gorgeous tasty creations I cook at home, how to do it and how to have fun with it! This Christmas I will be making loads of edible presents for family and friends, so if you fancy giving the people you love some thoughtful and yummy pressies you should definitely check it out :)

If you would be so kind as to follow me I would be ever so grateful. :)

Here is the linky :)
Take me to The Kooky Crumb!

Thank you so much to all my beautiful followers who follow my fashion blog, I love you all! :)

Kissies and sprinkles

Aoife x

What I Wore Today

2010-11-13T13:20:00.001Z