The duster coat trend edit!
Hey everyone,

​The duster coat- warm enough to protect against the harsh Irish winters, light enough to throw over any outfit, and practicably stylish. No longer just worn by the likes of Sherlock Holmes, but found upon celebrities like Kylie Jenner and fashion bloggers galore. Gone are the Autumn/Winters of the mac, or the duffle. A/W 2014 brings a rise in heating bills, hot chocolate sales, and the duster coat. First seen on the catwalks of Chanel this year, the duster coat is about to bring the Winter coat into a new era.

Lucky enough for us, they're currently every where on the high street. With so many colours and patterns to choose from, I personally can't decide which one I like best! I picked up a vintage Quin & Donnelly one a few months ago for a mere €3- I must have the power of trend forecasting engraved in my mind. If vintage isn't your thing, Topshop, New Look and River Island all have stylish offerings for very reasonable prices. Not only that, but a good coat will last you for years!

Not sure if you can pull it off? Think again! The trusty duster can be worn with simple jeans and a tee, or thrown over a mini skirt and heeled sandals. Choose a basic colour if you're looking for a staple item, or a brighter pattern if you're not afraid to stand out. Either way, the duster coat is most certainly my favourite trend this season, and I can't wait for those colder days to arrive so I can dig mine out!

Will you be rocking a duster coat this season?

Style Edit: The Duster Coat

8.30.2014

The duster coat trend edit!
Hey everyone,

​The duster coat- warm enough to protect against the harsh Irish winters, light enough to throw over any outfit, and practicably stylish. No longer just worn by the likes of Sherlock Holmes, but found upon celebrities like Kylie Jenner and fashion bloggers galore. Gone are the Autumn/Winters of the mac, or the duffle. A/W 2014 brings a rise in heating bills, hot chocolate sales, and the duster coat. First seen on the catwalks of Chanel this year, the duster coat is about to bring the Winter coat into a new era.

Lucky enough for us, they're currently every where on the high street. With so many colours and patterns to choose from, I personally can't decide which one I like best! I picked up a vintage Quin & Donnelly one a few months ago for a mere €3- I must have the power of trend forecasting engraved in my mind. If vintage isn't your thing, Topshop, New Look and River Island all have stylish offerings for very reasonable prices. Not only that, but a good coat will last you for years!

Not sure if you can pull it off? Think again! The trusty duster can be worn with simple jeans and a tee, or thrown over a mini skirt and heeled sandals. Choose a basic colour if you're looking for a staple item, or a brighter pattern if you're not afraid to stand out. Either way, the duster coat is most certainly my favourite trend this season, and I can't wait for those colder days to arrive so I can dig mine out!

Will you be rocking a duster coat this season?


Hey everyone,

I was recently sent a few products by Fuschia Makeup to try out,so today I'm going to tell you a little bit more about the brand, and also including some mini reviews! Fuschia are an Irish makeup brand, with two shops in Drogheda & Swords and stockists all over the country. My grandmother lives near Drogheda so whenever I go to visit Scotch Hall Shopping Centre I pass the store, but truth be told I've never bought anything! Over the past few days, I've read multiple reviews on Fuschia Makeup, both good and bad. After a bit of researching, it appears that some of their products are private labelled: meaning the products are made by a different company and sold under the Fuschia name. However, a lot of the products are their own! In all honesty, this didn't bother me too much, seeing as brands like Coastal Scents are similar. Anyways; on to the products!

The 'make your own eyeshadow palette*' was the first thing that caught my eye. For €40 you choose 5 eye shadows to fit into a pretty compact palette. I actually really like these eyeshadows, as I'm usually quite wary of matte shadows! These are reasonably pigmeted but definitely look better over a primer. I found them really buttery and easy to blend too! However, €40 for 5 shadows does seem overpriced in my opinion. I realise the likes of MAC are more expensive, but the Naked palettes by Urban Decay are in the €40's too- and you get 12 shadows.


That said, the 'classic matte lipstick*' in the shade 'vamp'was the product I really adored. It really has me down to a T! Not only am I a major fan of berry lipsticks, but I also love vampires & the supernatural, so it was really quite fitting. It was a bit drying as most matte lipsticks are, but a bit of lip balm underneath will sort you out. Price wise, its similar enough to Inglot at €13.50. 

I received a sample size tube of their primer* which I knew wouldn't last me long- I barely got 3 applications out of it! It feels super velvety and I liked how it had a bit of shimmer through it for an illuminating finish. As for extending the wear time of my foundation, I didn't really notice much of a difference! €22 for the full product.


Lastly, I'll give a mention to the 'brow wax kit'* for €15.50. I sampled their best-selling shade 'taupe' which was unfortunately a bit too light for my brows! I've been using it on days when I want a more natural look though, as I was really impressed by the pigmentation. I found the brow wax  bit difficult to apply, as the brush supplied with the kit was a tad cheap looking.


Overall, Fuschia Makeup have some really good quality products- but for a teenage student on a budget like me, they are a small bit overpriced. I think if their prices were lowered  for their eye-shadows especially I'd definitely be purchasing for them! The packaging is really girly and sleek so thumbs up on that front from me too. You can buy Fuschia online here.

Have you ever tried Fuschia Makeup?
Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.

Brand Focus: Fuschia Makeup

8.27.2014


Hey everyone,

I was recently sent a few products by Fuschia Makeup to try out,so today I'm going to tell you a little bit more about the brand, and also including some mini reviews! Fuschia are an Irish makeup brand, with two shops in Drogheda & Swords and stockists all over the country. My grandmother lives near Drogheda so whenever I go to visit Scotch Hall Shopping Centre I pass the store, but truth be told I've never bought anything! Over the past few days, I've read multiple reviews on Fuschia Makeup, both good and bad. After a bit of researching, it appears that some of their products are private labelled: meaning the products are made by a different company and sold under the Fuschia name. However, a lot of the products are their own! In all honesty, this didn't bother me too much, seeing as brands like Coastal Scents are similar. Anyways; on to the products!

The 'make your own eyeshadow palette*' was the first thing that caught my eye. For €40 you choose 5 eye shadows to fit into a pretty compact palette. I actually really like these eyeshadows, as I'm usually quite wary of matte shadows! These are reasonably pigmeted but definitely look better over a primer. I found them really buttery and easy to blend too! However, €40 for 5 shadows does seem overpriced in my opinion. I realise the likes of MAC are more expensive, but the Naked palettes by Urban Decay are in the €40's too- and you get 12 shadows.


That said, the 'classic matte lipstick*' in the shade 'vamp'was the product I really adored. It really has me down to a T! Not only am I a major fan of berry lipsticks, but I also love vampires & the supernatural, so it was really quite fitting. It was a bit drying as most matte lipsticks are, but a bit of lip balm underneath will sort you out. Price wise, its similar enough to Inglot at €13.50. 

I received a sample size tube of their primer* which I knew wouldn't last me long- I barely got 3 applications out of it! It feels super velvety and I liked how it had a bit of shimmer through it for an illuminating finish. As for extending the wear time of my foundation, I didn't really notice much of a difference! €22 for the full product.


Lastly, I'll give a mention to the 'brow wax kit'* for €15.50. I sampled their best-selling shade 'taupe' which was unfortunately a bit too light for my brows! I've been using it on days when I want a more natural look though, as I was really impressed by the pigmentation. I found the brow wax  bit difficult to apply, as the brush supplied with the kit was a tad cheap looking.


Overall, Fuschia Makeup have some really good quality products- but for a teenage student on a budget like me, they are a small bit overpriced. I think if their prices were lowered  for their eye-shadows especially I'd definitely be purchasing for them! The packaging is really girly and sleek so thumbs up on that front from me too. You can buy Fuschia online here.

Have you ever tried Fuschia Makeup?
Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.
kendall jenner style icon
images from polyvore

Hey everyone,

My 'unlikely style icon' post [read here] went down quite well here on my blog, and I got a lot of lovely comments on the collage- thank you! I've decided to create another style icon post, although this one isn't 'unlikely', but rather the style crush of many girls [and women] across the world- Kendall Jenner. I've also added a bonus twist, by picking pieces that Kendall would surely approve of for less than €25!

Kendall is certainly a fan of the monochrome look, and is often seen dressed in head to toe black and white with a pop of colour. She also wears a lot of basic, staple pieces, yet managing to look super glamorous! Her every day look is quite effortless and youthful, but on the red carpet she definitely likes to dress up. I've chosen a few pieces from across the highstreet that channel the Keeping Up With The Kardashian star's look, as not all of us can afford her high end bits!

kendall jenner steal her style

l-r; New look jeans & clutch, Romwe sunglasses, Boohoo blazer & dress, iClothing shoes, Missguided crop top

Basic black skinnies are worn by Kendall frequently, and I think they would look great with a white crop top and floral blazer as shown above. You could also mix and match the pieces to dress them up or down! Kendall is quite the fan of cutout dresses, so this Boohoo option is perfect. She also seems quite fond of strappy sandals and jewelled clutches whilst on the red carpet! Better yet, but all these options are under the €25 mark. Score!

Are you a fan of Kendall Jenner's style? If you have a style icon whose look you would like me to recreate, let me know!

Kendall Jenner: Steal Her Style For Less Than €25!

8.25.2014

kendall jenner style icon
images from polyvore

Hey everyone,

My 'unlikely style icon' post [read here] went down quite well here on my blog, and I got a lot of lovely comments on the collage- thank you! I've decided to create another style icon post, although this one isn't 'unlikely', but rather the style crush of many girls [and women] across the world- Kendall Jenner. I've also added a bonus twist, by picking pieces that Kendall would surely approve of for less than €25!

Kendall is certainly a fan of the monochrome look, and is often seen dressed in head to toe black and white with a pop of colour. She also wears a lot of basic, staple pieces, yet managing to look super glamorous! Her every day look is quite effortless and youthful, but on the red carpet she definitely likes to dress up. I've chosen a few pieces from across the highstreet that channel the Keeping Up With The Kardashian star's look, as not all of us can afford her high end bits!

kendall jenner steal her style

l-r; New look jeans & clutch, Romwe sunglasses, Boohoo blazer & dress, iClothing shoes, Missguided crop top

Basic black skinnies are worn by Kendall frequently, and I think they would look great with a white crop top and floral blazer as shown above. You could also mix and match the pieces to dress them up or down! Kendall is quite the fan of cutout dresses, so this Boohoo option is perfect. She also seems quite fond of strappy sandals and jewelled clutches whilst on the red carpet! Better yet, but all these options are under the €25 mark. Score!

Are you a fan of Kendall Jenner's style? If you have a style icon whose look you would like me to recreate, let me know!
Hey everyone,
Back when I was 12, lipgloss was one of my favourite things. Whenever I went shopping, lipgloss was the first thing I'd want to buy! That all changed when I had a bad experience with an extremely sticky and gloopy gloss- it turned me off lipgloss for life. Or so I thought! When I received these NYX butterglosses* in the post, I was dying to try them out, strangely enough. There's been so much hype about NYX ever since they arrived in Ireland, and as soon as I heard that Nina Dobrev wore one of these glosses to the Teen Choice Awards [check it out here!], I knew I had to give them a whirl. 
I was sent three shades to try out- cherry pie*, tiramisu* and apple strudel*. First of all- they smell absolutely divine! Obviously scent isn't going to affect the way your makeup looks, but they smell and taste like a combination of marshmallows and caramel- so so good! I was so surprised by how pigmented these lipglosses were. Whenever I think of lipgloss, I usually imagine them to be quite sheer, but you could actually wear these glosses alone and still have colour on your lips.
The NYX butterglosses* definitely live up to their name- texture wise, they're very buttery and creamy. What I love most about them is that they're not sticky! I hate the feeling of anything tacky on my lips, and let's not even talk about the whole hair-sticking-to-lips situation. It's safe to say I'm a lipgloss convert after trying these out, and I'll definitely be picking up more. For €6.49 each, you really can't go wrong. 'Tiramisu' is definitely my favourite, as it looks perfect over a nude lipstick for a Kylie Jenner-esque look. I also adore 'apple strudel' over MAC Speed dial [review here], and 'cherry pie' is perfect for a glossy twist on the classic red lip. 
 

Are you a fan of the NYX butterglosses? What's your favourite shade?
Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.

NYX Butterglosses- The First Lipgloss I've Worn In Years

8.21.2014

Hey everyone,
Back when I was 12, lipgloss was one of my favourite things. Whenever I went shopping, lipgloss was the first thing I'd want to buy! That all changed when I had a bad experience with an extremely sticky and gloopy gloss- it turned me off lipgloss for life. Or so I thought! When I received these NYX butterglosses* in the post, I was dying to try them out, strangely enough. There's been so much hype about NYX ever since they arrived in Ireland, and as soon as I heard that Nina Dobrev wore one of these glosses to the Teen Choice Awards [check it out here!], I knew I had to give them a whirl. 
I was sent three shades to try out- cherry pie*, tiramisu* and apple strudel*. First of all- they smell absolutely divine! Obviously scent isn't going to affect the way your makeup looks, but they smell and taste like a combination of marshmallows and caramel- so so good! I was so surprised by how pigmented these lipglosses were. Whenever I think of lipgloss, I usually imagine them to be quite sheer, but you could actually wear these glosses alone and still have colour on your lips.
The NYX butterglosses* definitely live up to their name- texture wise, they're very buttery and creamy. What I love most about them is that they're not sticky! I hate the feeling of anything tacky on my lips, and let's not even talk about the whole hair-sticking-to-lips situation. It's safe to say I'm a lipgloss convert after trying these out, and I'll definitely be picking up more. For €6.49 each, you really can't go wrong. 'Tiramisu' is definitely my favourite, as it looks perfect over a nude lipstick for a Kylie Jenner-esque look. I also adore 'apple strudel' over MAC Speed dial [review here], and 'cherry pie' is perfect for a glossy twist on the classic red lip. 
 

Are you a fan of the NYX butterglosses? What's your favourite shade?
Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.
Hey everyone,
I was recently invited by Kildare Village to take part in their new #DayTripToChic campaign and competition. I entered one of my previous outfit posts but decided to style an outfit dedicated to the campaign! The Day Trip To Chic campaign is about "finding that special, secret escape from the Summer hustle and bustle". The first place I originally thought of was Castletown House, but as this was already displayed in Kildare Village's video with blogger Tara Marzuki, I decided to head up to Carton House instead- equally beautiful! The video Kildare Village shot is really stylish, and I highly recommend checking it out:  http://www.kildarevillage.com/en/campaign/day-trip-to-chic/day-trip-to-chic.
Carton House in Maynooth, County Kildare is less than a 10 minute drive from me, but it's so hidden away, you would think that you were in the middle of the country! It's now a luxurious hotel, but it's said to have been around since the 17th century. I wanted to shoot something almost Downton Abbey inspired, so this was the perfect location. Not long ago, I bought a sewing machine, and with the help of my dress designer gran, believe it or not, I made this silk top! It's certainly not perfect, but if I do say so myself it's not bad for a first attempt.
It's also my first attempt at a beehive, following Olivia from What Olivia Did's tutorial. It's such a fun and easy hairstyle, surprisingly! 







Top- handmade by me
Skirt- vintage [thanks Lisa!]
Shoes- gift from Zoë With Umlauts
Necklace- Om Diva
Jacket- Penneys/Primark
Gloves & clutch bag: vintage

Have you got a secret escape from busy Summer life? Where would be you #DayTripToChic?
p.s- this post isn't sponsored, I just really liked the idea of the campaign!

OOTD- #DayTripToChic

8.19.2014

Hey everyone,
I was recently invited by Kildare Village to take part in their new #DayTripToChic campaign and competition. I entered one of my previous outfit posts but decided to style an outfit dedicated to the campaign! The Day Trip To Chic campaign is about "finding that special, secret escape from the Summer hustle and bustle". The first place I originally thought of was Castletown House, but as this was already displayed in Kildare Village's video with blogger Tara Marzuki, I decided to head up to Carton House instead- equally beautiful! The video Kildare Village shot is really stylish, and I highly recommend checking it out:  http://www.kildarevillage.com/en/campaign/day-trip-to-chic/day-trip-to-chic.
Carton House in Maynooth, County Kildare is less than a 10 minute drive from me, but it's so hidden away, you would think that you were in the middle of the country! It's now a luxurious hotel, but it's said to have been around since the 17th century. I wanted to shoot something almost Downton Abbey inspired, so this was the perfect location. Not long ago, I bought a sewing machine, and with the help of my dress designer gran, believe it or not, I made this silk top! It's certainly not perfect, but if I do say so myself it's not bad for a first attempt.
It's also my first attempt at a beehive, following Olivia from What Olivia Did's tutorial. It's such a fun and easy hairstyle, surprisingly! 







Top- handmade by me
Skirt- vintage [thanks Lisa!]
Shoes- gift from Zoë With Umlauts
Necklace- Om Diva
Jacket- Penneys/Primark
Gloves & clutch bag: vintage

Have you got a secret escape from busy Summer life? Where would be you #DayTripToChic?
p.s- this post isn't sponsored, I just really liked the idea of the campaign!
cher horowitz

images: polyvore

Hey everyone,

If I was to list everything I've done this Summer, it would mainly include:
1) spending 3 weeks at the hospital visiting my sister
2) watching Downton Abbey
3) becoming obsessed with 80s & 90s movies

One of those movies happens to be Clueless- a classic coming-of-age movie from 1995 starring Alicia Silverstone. I've watched it at least 3 times since discovering it this Summer, and I'm obsessed with the character Cher's style! Ok, I'll admit- the yellow tartan is a tad too much, but I adore the matching sets and the shape of her overall look- short skirts, cute jackets and knee high socks. I'm definitely going to be taking inspiration from Cher this Autumn/Winter, as two pieces and the tartan print are two trends that are still going strong! 

I've put together some pieces from across the high street that definitely channel Cher's look, whilst remaining totally wearable. 
clueless inspired fashion
clockwise l-r: New Look skirt, Oasis jacket, Oasis two piece set [shirt & shorts], Boohoo cleated mules, H&M cape, River Island feather fluffy bag, Boohoo slogan t-shirt [images from Polyvore!]

The skirt from New Look has been on my wishlist for ages- I love the blue & yellow colouring! Rather than a yellow two piece like Cher, I chose a yellow blazer instead- perfect for throwing over the tartan two piece that's also from Oasis. Cleated heel shoes are a favourite of mine, and I definitely feel Cher would approve of this option from Boohoo. I discovered this cape on H&M's website and it would certainly modernise this 90's look. Cher is famous for her fluffy pen, so I picked this super cute fluffy bag from River Island instead- it's so unique! Lastly, I could definitely imagine a modern day Cher Horowitz wearing a 'célfie' t-shirt, like this option from Boohoo.

Are you a fan of Clueless? Who is you 'unlikely style icon'?

Unlikely Style Icon: Cher Horowitz from 'Clueless'

8.17.2014

cher horowitz

images: polyvore

Hey everyone,

If I was to list everything I've done this Summer, it would mainly include:
1) spending 3 weeks at the hospital visiting my sister
2) watching Downton Abbey
3) becoming obsessed with 80s & 90s movies

One of those movies happens to be Clueless- a classic coming-of-age movie from 1995 starring Alicia Silverstone. I've watched it at least 3 times since discovering it this Summer, and I'm obsessed with the character Cher's style! Ok, I'll admit- the yellow tartan is a tad too much, but I adore the matching sets and the shape of her overall look- short skirts, cute jackets and knee high socks. I'm definitely going to be taking inspiration from Cher this Autumn/Winter, as two pieces and the tartan print are two trends that are still going strong! 

I've put together some pieces from across the high street that definitely channel Cher's look, whilst remaining totally wearable. 
clueless inspired fashion
clockwise l-r: New Look skirt, Oasis jacket, Oasis two piece set [shirt & shorts], Boohoo cleated mules, H&M cape, River Island feather fluffy bag, Boohoo slogan t-shirt [images from Polyvore!]

The skirt from New Look has been on my wishlist for ages- I love the blue & yellow colouring! Rather than a yellow two piece like Cher, I chose a yellow blazer instead- perfect for throwing over the tartan two piece that's also from Oasis. Cleated heel shoes are a favourite of mine, and I definitely feel Cher would approve of this option from Boohoo. I discovered this cape on H&M's website and it would certainly modernise this 90's look. Cher is famous for her fluffy pen, so I picked this super cute fluffy bag from River Island instead- it's so unique! Lastly, I could definitely imagine a modern day Cher Horowitz wearing a 'célfie' t-shirt, like this option from Boohoo.

Are you a fan of Clueless? Who is you 'unlikely style icon'?
Hey everyone,
I was requested by a reader to create a natural smokey eye for everyday wear, so figured I'd share it here on my blog! I received this Gosh smokey eye kit* a while ago but it's only been rediscovered by me recently. It's the perfect palette for popping in your hand bag on the go, and at a very reasonable price too. My typical every day eye makeup usually involves my trademark flick but I know that's not something everyone's in to, so I went for a soft outline instead. It's a very subtle brown look but would be perfect for those who are only getting into makeup, or even for school. Let me know if you'd like to see more 'face of the day' posts like this, or if you have any looks you'd like me to recreate!
Products used;
l-r; Crownbrush crease brush, 17 stay time concealer, Gosh smokey eye palette*, Lancome hypnose mascara, Ecotools shadow brush, Oriflame the one eyeliner*

Tutorial;
1. First I applied a primer as it makes it look more pigmented- I used Urban Decay shadow potion.
2. I then applied the eye shadow from the palette as shown in the image above! Shade 1 on the brow bone, 2 on the lid, 3 blended into the crease and 4 on the outer corner.
3. Taking shade 3 and 4, I lightly brought it under my eye too.
4. Using the Oriflame 'the one' eyeliner pen, I drew a very thin line on my top lid.
5. Lastly, I applied one of my favourite mascaras- Lancome's Hypnose!
As you can see, it's really quite simple! Let me know if you decide to recreate it.

Have any requests? Leave them below!
Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.

Natural Every Day Eye Makeup

8.14.2014

Hey everyone,
I was requested by a reader to create a natural smokey eye for everyday wear, so figured I'd share it here on my blog! I received this Gosh smokey eye kit* a while ago but it's only been rediscovered by me recently. It's the perfect palette for popping in your hand bag on the go, and at a very reasonable price too. My typical every day eye makeup usually involves my trademark flick but I know that's not something everyone's in to, so I went for a soft outline instead. It's a very subtle brown look but would be perfect for those who are only getting into makeup, or even for school. Let me know if you'd like to see more 'face of the day' posts like this, or if you have any looks you'd like me to recreate!
Products used;
l-r; Crownbrush crease brush, 17 stay time concealer, Gosh smokey eye palette*, Lancome hypnose mascara, Ecotools shadow brush, Oriflame the one eyeliner*

Tutorial;
1. First I applied a primer as it makes it look more pigmented- I used Urban Decay shadow potion.
2. I then applied the eye shadow from the palette as shown in the image above! Shade 1 on the brow bone, 2 on the lid, 3 blended into the crease and 4 on the outer corner.
3. Taking shade 3 and 4, I lightly brought it under my eye too.
4. Using the Oriflame 'the one' eyeliner pen, I drew a very thin line on my top lid.
5. Lastly, I applied one of my favourite mascaras- Lancome's Hypnose!
As you can see, it's really quite simple! Let me know if you decide to recreate it.

Have any requests? Leave them below!
Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.
Hey everyone,

I'm back again with another review! I really want to mix up my beauty posts a bit, as I know reviews can get a tad repetitive after a while. I'm thinking of featuring more makeup looks on my page, so if you have any suggestions leave them in the comments below! Today's review is of something I'd never really used before- mineral makeup. In the past, when I thought of mineral makeup I thought of a.) not enough coverage and b.) messy. However, I've now learnt that neither is true!
Emerald Cosmetics* recently sent me two of their mineral eyeshadows to review. They're an English brand- set up to provide a natural option for those suffering with skin conditions. Not only that, but their products are made in the UK and they try their best to use recycled packaging where possible. Sounds pretty good to me!
The two shades I tried were 'aqua waves', a beautiful teal colour, and 'diamond noir', a truly deep black. Like I said previously, I always imagined mineral products to be quite messy. That's certainly not the case! The pots only allow a certain amount of product out at a time, making it very simply to use. What I was most impressed with was the quality of the shadows. As you can see from the swatches below, Emerald Cosmetics* definitely know how to make pigmented eyeshadow. With a primer, it neither creased nor budged throughout the day, but I did notice a little fading. Straight away, I knew 'diamond noir' would get a lot of use from me, as I'm always looking for a new matte black shadow. I usually don't wear a lot of colour on my eyes, but when I branched out to try 'aqua waves' I was pleasantly surprised at how well the green complimented my eyes! The shadows blend extremely well too, which is always a bonus.
If that doesn't make you want to try Emerald Cosmetics*, then the price certainly will. For £6 you're getting a highly pigmented, natural eye shadow that's safe for sensitive skin. If you're interested, you can buy Emerald Cosmetics* here.
Are you a fan of mineral makeup?
Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.

Emerald Cosmetics Mineral Eyeshadow Review

8.12.2014

Hey everyone,

I'm back again with another review! I really want to mix up my beauty posts a bit, as I know reviews can get a tad repetitive after a while. I'm thinking of featuring more makeup looks on my page, so if you have any suggestions leave them in the comments below! Today's review is of something I'd never really used before- mineral makeup. In the past, when I thought of mineral makeup I thought of a.) not enough coverage and b.) messy. However, I've now learnt that neither is true!
Emerald Cosmetics* recently sent me two of their mineral eyeshadows to review. They're an English brand- set up to provide a natural option for those suffering with skin conditions. Not only that, but their products are made in the UK and they try their best to use recycled packaging where possible. Sounds pretty good to me!
The two shades I tried were 'aqua waves', a beautiful teal colour, and 'diamond noir', a truly deep black. Like I said previously, I always imagined mineral products to be quite messy. That's certainly not the case! The pots only allow a certain amount of product out at a time, making it very simply to use. What I was most impressed with was the quality of the shadows. As you can see from the swatches below, Emerald Cosmetics* definitely know how to make pigmented eyeshadow. With a primer, it neither creased nor budged throughout the day, but I did notice a little fading. Straight away, I knew 'diamond noir' would get a lot of use from me, as I'm always looking for a new matte black shadow. I usually don't wear a lot of colour on my eyes, but when I branched out to try 'aqua waves' I was pleasantly surprised at how well the green complimented my eyes! The shadows blend extremely well too, which is always a bonus.
If that doesn't make you want to try Emerald Cosmetics*, then the price certainly will. For £6 you're getting a highly pigmented, natural eye shadow that's safe for sensitive skin. If you're interested, you can buy Emerald Cosmetics* here.
Are you a fan of mineral makeup?
Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.
Hey everyone,

Yesterday I attended Sam & Nic from Pixiwoo's meet and greet- it was so much fun! The girls are just as beautiful in person as they are on screen, and super easy to talk to too. It was surreal to meet two of my favourite beauty youtubers, whom I've been watching for ages! My friend Lisa from Grab Life By The Blog [check out her blog, it's only new - please!] took these shots for me. There are some gorgeous locations in Dublin City Centre, and Temple bar is a favourite of mine. It will always be one of my most loved cities, without doubt.

This is the first outfit I've worn this month that has truly made it feel like Autumn is approaching. Autumn and Winter are my favourite seasons, only because of the fashion! There's just something about A/W clothes that set my heart racing with excitement. 

I was really inspired by Tara from tarmartales.com & Kildare Village's video for their #DayTripToChic campaign. The campaign video was based in Dublin & Kildare- the two counties I base myself between! It's all about finding a secret escape from the busy Summer life. For my first entry, I chose Temple Bar as it's my favourite area for vintage shopping, rather than the big shopping centres! You can check out their campaign video here:







Top & bag- New Look
Hat, jacket & jeans- Penneys/Primark
Necklace- Jasper Jewellery*
Boots- my mams!
Are you a fan of A/W fashion? What trends are you looking forward to trying out this year? Leave your comments below!
Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.

OOTD- Summer In The City

8.09.2014

Hey everyone,

Yesterday I attended Sam & Nic from Pixiwoo's meet and greet- it was so much fun! The girls are just as beautiful in person as they are on screen, and super easy to talk to too. It was surreal to meet two of my favourite beauty youtubers, whom I've been watching for ages! My friend Lisa from Grab Life By The Blog [check out her blog, it's only new - please!] took these shots for me. There are some gorgeous locations in Dublin City Centre, and Temple bar is a favourite of mine. It will always be one of my most loved cities, without doubt.

This is the first outfit I've worn this month that has truly made it feel like Autumn is approaching. Autumn and Winter are my favourite seasons, only because of the fashion! There's just something about A/W clothes that set my heart racing with excitement. 

I was really inspired by Tara from tarmartales.com & Kildare Village's video for their #DayTripToChic campaign. The campaign video was based in Dublin & Kildare- the two counties I base myself between! It's all about finding a secret escape from the busy Summer life. For my first entry, I chose Temple Bar as it's my favourite area for vintage shopping, rather than the big shopping centres! You can check out their campaign video here:







Top & bag- New Look
Hat, jacket & jeans- Penneys/Primark
Necklace- Jasper Jewellery*
Boots- my mams!
Are you a fan of A/W fashion? What trends are you looking forward to trying out this year? Leave your comments below!
Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.
Hey everyone,
Admit it- we've all been there. I pretty sure I can speak for the majority of the female population when I say that there's always that one pesky spot that arrives just when you least need it. I tend to get a lot of spots around my mouth and chin area, which is extremely annoying! I know a lot of teenagers suffer from acne, so when I heard about Dream Dots* I was delighted to give them a try.
Dream Dots* are little circles that you apply to your spots overnight for 8-10 hours. That means it doesn't interrupt your makeup routine during the day! They were designed by beauty therapist Donna Ledwidge. All you do is clean the area, apply the little patch and wait to see the results the next morning!
I must say, I was really impressed with these. Although I can't say that they make the spot completely disappear after one night, they definitely reduce the size and redness of the spot. They're also pretty easy to apply, and completely unnoticeable once on the skin! If you're the kind of person that only gets one or two spots, then this product is definitely for you. That said, if you tend to get quite a few like me, it could be pricey in the long run. For €15 you get 24 patches- and it took me 3 patches & 3 nights to completely get rid of one spot. I've almost used up the entire box already, and it's only been about 3 weeks! 
What I like best about Dream Dots* are that they're an overnight solution. I hate waiting ages for spot cream to dry in the morning! Whilst having a makeup free day recently, I wore one during the day and no-one in my family noticed, so that's always a plus!
You can buy Dream Dots* Lloyds, Mc Cabes, Sam McCauley & Cara pharmacies nationwide. Their website has a pretty simple tutorial on how to use them too!.
Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.

Dream Dots For Spots Review

8.07.2014

Hey everyone,
Admit it- we've all been there. I pretty sure I can speak for the majority of the female population when I say that there's always that one pesky spot that arrives just when you least need it. I tend to get a lot of spots around my mouth and chin area, which is extremely annoying! I know a lot of teenagers suffer from acne, so when I heard about Dream Dots* I was delighted to give them a try.
Dream Dots* are little circles that you apply to your spots overnight for 8-10 hours. That means it doesn't interrupt your makeup routine during the day! They were designed by beauty therapist Donna Ledwidge. All you do is clean the area, apply the little patch and wait to see the results the next morning!
I must say, I was really impressed with these. Although I can't say that they make the spot completely disappear after one night, they definitely reduce the size and redness of the spot. They're also pretty easy to apply, and completely unnoticeable once on the skin! If you're the kind of person that only gets one or two spots, then this product is definitely for you. That said, if you tend to get quite a few like me, it could be pricey in the long run. For €15 you get 24 patches- and it took me 3 patches & 3 nights to completely get rid of one spot. I've almost used up the entire box already, and it's only been about 3 weeks! 
What I like best about Dream Dots* are that they're an overnight solution. I hate waiting ages for spot cream to dry in the morning! Whilst having a makeup free day recently, I wore one during the day and no-one in my family noticed, so that's always a plus!
You can buy Dream Dots* Lloyds, Mc Cabes, Sam McCauley & Cara pharmacies nationwide. Their website has a pretty simple tutorial on how to use them too!.
Items marked with a * were sent to me for consideration. All views are my own! Read my full disclaimer here.
Hey everyone,

As the weather gets gradually worse, I'm beginning to accept that the warm days of Summer are coming to an end. It was only when I had my clothes on did I realise I was dressed quite like John Bender, with the shirt and oversized denim jacket- hence the title of this post! (go watch The Breakfast Club. ASAP). I picked up this pretty little blouse in a local boutique for only €5, and I love it. I've found a new appreciation for fashion from the late 80's/early 90's recently. Double denim mighn't be a favourite of everyone's- heck I don't even know if it works for me, but I would like to believe it does. I've spent a lot of my Summer watching 80's & 90's movies like Clueless, The Breakfast Club and Pretty In Pink. There's something so cheesy yet exciting about them!





Vintage Levi's jacket- Cotton Face [won]
Jeans & belt- Penneys/Primark
Blouse- local boutique
Scrunchie- Urban Outfitters
Shoes & earrings- New Look

Are you an 80's movie fan? Leave your recommendations and favourites below!
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OOTD- Don't You Forget About Me

8.03.2014

Hey everyone,

As the weather gets gradually worse, I'm beginning to accept that the warm days of Summer are coming to an end. It was only when I had my clothes on did I realise I was dressed quite like John Bender, with the shirt and oversized denim jacket- hence the title of this post! (go watch The Breakfast Club. ASAP). I picked up this pretty little blouse in a local boutique for only €5, and I love it. I've found a new appreciation for fashion from the late 80's/early 90's recently. Double denim mighn't be a favourite of everyone's- heck I don't even know if it works for me, but I would like to believe it does. I've spent a lot of my Summer watching 80's & 90's movies like Clueless, The Breakfast Club and Pretty In Pink. There's something so cheesy yet exciting about them!





Vintage Levi's jacket- Cotton Face [won]
Jeans & belt- Penneys/Primark
Blouse- local boutique
Scrunchie- Urban Outfitters
Shoes & earrings- New Look

Are you an 80's movie fan? Leave your recommendations and favourites below!
post signature
Hey everyone,

It's been a long time since I created a nail art tutorial (check out more here)! Ombré/gradient nails are quite popular and I often get asked how to do them my friends. Hopefully this step by step tutorial is easy enough to follow! There are many ways to create this look, however this is the method I favour. If you have any nail art looks you'd like me to create then leave your suggestions below as I'm always looking for new ideas.

You will need;
-white nail polish
-two shades of polish for the ombré
-a sponge (I use the yellow sponge part of a cleaning pad!)

Tutorial;
1. Paint your nails with white polish first as a base. This makes the gradient colours look a lot brighter! I used one by Sinful Colours.

2. On a sheet of paper, place your two chosen colours side by side. You dont need to mix them if you don't want to, as when you sponge it onto your nail you can overlay it yourself. Dip a flat piece of sponge into the polish. I chose a pink polish by Collection and a pastel blue one by NYC.

3. Place the sponge on your nail and lightly dab it on until the nail is covered.

4. Apply a top coat so it looks shiny and smooth. Using a cotton bud dipped in nail polish remover, clean up around the edges (as you can see, something I'm not very good at).
And there you have it! It's really not as hard as people think it is, in my opinion.
P.S I've made the longlist for Best Beauty & Best youth blog in the Blog Awards Ireland! Last year I made the final, so fingers crossed. The Image Blog Awards are also open and I'd love a nomination for either Best Fashion or Best Beauty blog- you can vote here.
post signature

Ombré Nail Art Tutorial

8.01.2014

Hey everyone,

It's been a long time since I created a nail art tutorial (check out more here)! Ombré/gradient nails are quite popular and I often get asked how to do them my friends. Hopefully this step by step tutorial is easy enough to follow! There are many ways to create this look, however this is the method I favour. If you have any nail art looks you'd like me to create then leave your suggestions below as I'm always looking for new ideas.

You will need;
-white nail polish
-two shades of polish for the ombré
-a sponge (I use the yellow sponge part of a cleaning pad!)

Tutorial;
1. Paint your nails with white polish first as a base. This makes the gradient colours look a lot brighter! I used one by Sinful Colours.

2. On a sheet of paper, place your two chosen colours side by side. You dont need to mix them if you don't want to, as when you sponge it onto your nail you can overlay it yourself. Dip a flat piece of sponge into the polish. I chose a pink polish by Collection and a pastel blue one by NYC.

3. Place the sponge on your nail and lightly dab it on until the nail is covered.

4. Apply a top coat so it looks shiny and smooth. Using a cotton bud dipped in nail polish remover, clean up around the edges (as you can see, something I'm not very good at).
And there you have it! It's really not as hard as people think it is, in my opinion.
P.S I've made the longlist for Best Beauty & Best youth blog in the Blog Awards Ireland! Last year I made the final, so fingers crossed. The Image Blog Awards are also open and I'd love a nomination for either Best Fashion or Best Beauty blog- you can vote here.
post signature
Hey everyone,

Currently writing this post on a train- there's a first for everything! I wore this outfit to lunch with my godmother a few days ago. As you might have noticed, I've been loving midi skirts lately! They're so 50s esque but I adore how they're making a come back this Autumn. Midi skirts, in my opinion, are a great transition piece from Summer to Autumn, and you can pair them with a lot of different outfits!

School starts back next week, and that mixed feeling of dread and anticipation has returned. I'm going into 6th year, my last year in school, and I can already feel that there will be immense pressure upon me. Not just about exams or schoolwork, but the looming thought of what I'm going to do after school!

I bought this skirt in a charity shop for €2 or €3, and the top was €3 in Penneys- overall a very affordable outfit if I do say so myself!





Top- Penneys/Primark
Skirt- vintage/thrifted
Shoes- Schuh*
Jacket- Penneys/Primark
Earrings- New Look
Necklace- Jasper Jewellery*
Are you a fan of the midi skirt?

OOTD- Old Navy

Hey everyone,

Currently writing this post on a train- there's a first for everything! I wore this outfit to lunch with my godmother a few days ago. As you might have noticed, I've been loving midi skirts lately! They're so 50s esque but I adore how they're making a come back this Autumn. Midi skirts, in my opinion, are a great transition piece from Summer to Autumn, and you can pair them with a lot of different outfits!

School starts back next week, and that mixed feeling of dread and anticipation has returned. I'm going into 6th year, my last year in school, and I can already feel that there will be immense pressure upon me. Not just about exams or schoolwork, but the looming thought of what I'm going to do after school!

I bought this skirt in a charity shop for €2 or €3, and the top was €3 in Penneys- overall a very affordable outfit if I do say so myself!





Top- Penneys/Primark
Skirt- vintage/thrifted
Shoes- Schuh*
Jacket- Penneys/Primark
Earrings- New Look
Necklace- Jasper Jewellery*
Are you a fan of the midi skirt?

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