NOTD: Topshop Hidden Treasure!

Hey Dolls,


I've recently become a huge fan of Topshop's makeup range. It really is fabulous! Anything I've tried, which honestly isn't a huge amount, I've loved. One of my more recent purchases is one of their nail polishes, called Hidden Treasure. It's a fab dupe for Chanel's "Péridot" polish and is a fraction of the price.

This colour is truly stunning and original. The photo doesn't really do it justice. The colour in the bottle is how it looks like on your nails, which isn't always the case with nail polishes. It's a green-gold colour. The colour changes in different lighting. In bright lighting it's gold and then at different angles it's green.

Consistency: This polish has an average consistency. It really only takes two coats to gain a perfect opacity. I was impressed.

Lasting Power: The lasting power was very impressive. It lasted about five days really well. It only needs the odd touchup and I'm sure it would last even beyond a week. I did have a top coat though.

Removal: This removed like every normal non-glitter polish. Easily.

Price/Availability: This is available in most Topshop stores and on their website for ₤6.

Overview: I was really impressed with this product. The colour is original and gains lots of compliments. The lasting power was superb and for the price, it's an awesome buy!

Rating: 9/10

Lush Dragon's Egg Bath Bomb!

Hey Darlings,

I am a big fan of Lush but unfortunately don't have one near to me, so when I had the chance to go to a Lush store during my recent visit to London I was super pleased. I picked up a few goodies from Lush which you check out on my London Haul post. One of these goodies was the Dragon's Egg bath bomb.

 The bath bomb is a light creamy white in colour with circle of different colours around it. In the inside there is an orange "egg" which explodes in the bath tub.

It takes about 10-15 minutes for it to fully dissolve. For me, it went through stages of doing nothing

 (as seen above) to sizzling and moving around the bath which was quite entertaining! 

(as seen in top image).

After it had fully "exploded" the bath looked like this (above image). Lots of lovely bubbles! The scent is lovely and fresh and supposedly smells like "citrus, jasmine and bergamot" according to Lush. The colour of your water is not so appealing however. It leaves a deep yellow, and excuse the rudeness, but a pee yellow colour is the best way to describe it. 

Overall I wasn't super impressed but did enjoy my bath all the same. It was lovely and all but I expected more of a display when it was dissolving into the bath as it claims to give an array of colour and explosion, which it did not. 

Also, a warning is that it contains gorgeous glitter but leaves all of it behind when the water is drained. This was a bit of a nuisance. The glitter is gorgeous in the bath though and leaves your skin literally sparkling! It also has tiny thin papery circles called "dragon scales".

Round-Up:

Pros: Lovely scent, leaves you feeling sparkly and fresh.

Cons: Not a great display, leaves mounds of glitter behind to clean up; not a great colour.

Price/Availability: ₤3.15 each. Available from Lush Stores and on their website.

For the Irish lassies there are five Lush stores in Ireland: Two in Dublin; One in Belfast; One in Cork and one in Newry, Co.Wicklow.

Rating: 6.5/10

MAC Tendertone in Tread Gently!

Hey Everyone,

I am sure you've all heard of the MAC Tendertones but if not, where the heck have you been?! They've been excessively raved about all around the beauty world as they have recently been relaunched as limited edition products in the Shop Cook MAC Collection. 

What are they?

Basically a lip balm. They are extremely moisturising and nourishing as well as containing SPF 12 which is always a bonus! They are available in four different colours: Tread Gently (the one I have), Hot 'n' Saucy (red-orange), Hush Hush (shimmery bronze) and Purring (tangerine). They all have a delicious fruity smell which smells like watermelons to me. They are extremely sheer so the colour doesn't make a huge difference. Tread Gently has no colour once applied but in the pot looks light yellow and sparkly.

Packaging: Standard MAC packaging. Clear round pot with a black lid. Sleek and sturdy. However, the outside box has an adorable gingham pink and white cover with blue rimmed writing as it's part of a collection.

Price: These are $15/ ₤11/ €14.50 available from MAC stores and counters in Brown Thomas and other stores. I was lucky to get mine in Heathrow Airport for around ₤9.35 or so. I would recommend getting them in duty free if you're traveling soon as they had all the colours in stock when I was there.

Availability: These are limited edition and are selling out extremely quickly so get them while you can! Buy on the MAC website also.

Downside: Don't last extremely long but pretty well as far as lip balms go. Has little to no pigmentation but the sheer glitter makes your lips shine (which is a good thing!).

Rating: 9/10

Thanks for reading dolls!

Have you tried these wonderful lip balms?

xo

Look For Less: Mila Kunis!

Hey Sweeties!


It seems as though many of you enjoy these "Look For Less" posts, so here's another one for you! This look is of the always gorgeous Mila Kunis. She wore this gorgeous Dior ensemble to the Christian Dior Fall 2012 show in Paris recently. The look is slightly formal but easily achievable.

I've found three dresses, all slightly different, that would all work for this look.

 Look pretty in a pale pink for €46.75 from the brand Yumi available at ASOS.

 This bright pink dress is gorgeous and is available from the brand RARE on sale for €38.24 also at ASOS.

This dress is available for €52.74 from River Island.

This coat, unbelted and left open, is quite similar to Mila's and is a fraction of the price. It is currently on sale for €76.47 from ASOS. Any plain white or cream trench style coat will work though.

 These gorgeous pumps are from Steve Madden and are €72.08 available from Nordstrom.

These beautiful shoes, very similar to Mila's, are a slightly pricier €185.00 and are by Jorge Bischoff from www.farfetch.com.

Pair with neutral makeup, maybe a brown smokey eye. Straighten your hair and voila! There you have it! I know the look was slightly pricier than normal. This is due to the fact that all the pieces are big pieces. Think of it like cost per wear. You'll get a ton of wear out of a trench coat and nude pumps go with everything!

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed.

What's your favourite part of this look? Let me know in the comments!

xo

NOTD: Kardashian Kolor: Kendall on the Katwalk

Hey Lovelies,


Unless you've been living under a rock you have most definitely heard of the Kardashians. Personally, I'm a fan of all the gorgeous and crazy members of the family and of course their show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. They have recently come out with a Nicole by OPI nail polish collection called "Kardashian Kolors". I love all the "kolors" and picked up two from the collection. The one featured in this post is called "Kendall on the Katwalk" how cute!

Colour: The polish base is an ocean blue. It is packed with blue, purple and green glitter. It's very original and unique from anything I have seen before.

Consistency: This went on easily and only really need about two coats for full opacity.

Lasting Power: This is the only downside to the product. I found this chipped very easily and even within a day it began to chip. I even applied a double top coat which made it last a small bit longer but not by much.

Removal: As far as removing the polish, it's not too bad. Like all glitter polishes, it was annoying to remove but it's not the worst. I found that the base blue came off first and left the glitter behind which was then a bit tougher to remove.

Availability/Price: I purchased mine from Colourcopia store in Westfield Shopping Centre, London for ₤8. You can buy them from www.littlewoodsireland.ie for €12 also.

Summary: Beautiful colour, cute packaging, reasonable price and cute names too! Only downside was the lasting power which was really irritating! I'll try a few ways to make the polish last longer. If you have any tips let me know!

8/10

Thanks for reading Dolls!

Have you tried any Kardashian Kolors?

xo

Trip to London: Pics + Haul!

Hey Beauties,

You may have noticed a lack of blog posts on my behalf over the last few days. My apologies to you all but I was in London! I had a great trip with my family and thought I'd share a few pics with you from my trip as well as the beauty items that I bought there...

Louis Vuitton store in Westfield Shopping Centre

 We spent the first day in Westfield Shopping Centre. It is absolutely gigantic. A shopper's paradise! 

The next day we headed to Madame Tussauds- the wax museum. It was very interesting seeing all the celebs made out of wax and they were so realistic!

Audrey Hepburn- Doesn't she look beautiful?!

One of my all-time faves- Britney Spears!

Now onto the good stuff- Haul time!

From Left to Right: Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr in On and on Bronze; MAC tendertone in Tread Gently; MAC fluidline gel liner in Blacktrack; Topshop Lip Tint in Crystal; Topshop lipstick in Brighton Rock.

From Left to Right: Hidden Treasure from Topshop; Wear Something Spar-Kylie and Kendall on the Katwalk both from the Kardashian Kolor Collection from Nicole by OPI

From Left to Right: Victoria's Secret Fragrance mist in Coconut Passion; Dermalogica dermal clay cleaner; Dermalogica multi-active toner; Victoria's Secret fragrance mist in Secret Craving. 

 From Left to Right: Rockstar Soap; It's Raining Men shower gel; Twilight bath bomb; Dragon's Egg bath bomb

All from LUSH.

Well that's all my beauty product purchases from my trip! I won't go into too much detail about each product individually in this post, as I will review each product individually. 

If you have any questions about any of the products please feel free to leave a comment below or if you have any preference to which product I review first let me know!

Thanks for reading beauties! 

What are your favourite products of the moment?

xo

Review: Urban Decay Lip Junkie Lipgloss!

Hola Chicas!

I hope you are all feeling fabulous. Today's post is all about the Urban Decay Lip Junkie Lipgloss in Midnight Cowboy. 

 Colour/Glitter: 

This lipgloss is a peachy pink gold, if that makes any sense at all! You can see from the photos anyway. 

It provides very sheer colour, almost none at all, but it's great to layer over lipstick or just to wear alone.

It contains very fine sparkle. It has a ton of glitter as you can see in the photos. The glitter is extremely fine though so it doesn't show up too much on the lips.

Does it do what it claims to do?

 The lipgloss also claims it "cools & plumps". When applied, you immediately feel a refreshing cooling sensation which I personally love. Maybe it's just a placebo, but I feel as thought it actually does make the lips look a little plumper, while your wearing the gloss. I also don't find it too sticky. 

Packaging:

I love this packaging! So cute and convenient and the lid is adorable. 

The main tube is a jelly type of plastic. The lid is also plastic but is much sturdier and has a pretty design.

Swatch of the lipgloss (on paper)

Price? 
€18.50/₤13.00/$19.00.

Availability?
These are available from Debenhams, Sephora and anywhere selling Urban Decay cosmetics.

Thanks for reading!

What's your favourite lipgloss? Let me know in the comments!

xo

NOTD: Nails of the Day!

Hey Lovelies,

It's NOTD time! Which stands for Nails Of The Day, incase you may have been wondering.

Spring has arrived which means it's time to take out that bright nail polish again, yay!

I've decided to go for some graduated glitter-tipped nails. I know they may not to be everybody's preference, but I think they're pretty and girly!

 The nails polishes I am wearing is a pretty medium to light pink on the base and a glitter over. The pink is from the "Fearne Perfect Polish" set from Boots, which I received as a gift. It's pretty but I don't really like the formula too much. They're currently on sale for ₤1.37. Check it out here

As for the gorgeous glitter, it is the polish 'Set in Stones' by Essie, as part of there 'luxe effects' collection. I am so obsessed with this polish! It is basically just thick glitter. If you don't like sparkle, steer clear. However, if you like a bit of bling, like myself, buy this right now. I bought mine from the beloved www.beautyemporium.ie for a reasonable €9.50.

How do I achieve the graduated glitter effect?

My nails aren't exactly graduated glitter style but how I achieved the above look was by painting the pink colour as a base. I then let that dry. Then I applied the glitter polish lightly about half way down the nail. Then just apply more glitter heavier on the tip of the nail. Let dry, and voila!

Check out this wonderful video by a favourite Youtuber of mine, SprinkleofGlitter. She does a great tutorial on graduated glitter nails: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tLNV1-yphA

or her blog post: http://www.sprinkleofglitter.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-to-graduated-glitter-nails.html

Review: L'Oréal Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara

Hey Everyone,

Today I'm reviewing the L'Oréal Extra-Volume Collagen mascara which is by no means a new product but I have decided to start reviewing more products I have. Hopefully you will all like this idea but if not feel free to let me know! 

As far as packaging, this is your standard mascara shaped container. It's quite sleek and classy looking as well as being sturdy. The pretty gold writing also adds to the classy element.

                                             

 The brush is quite thick and has a slight curve. Nothing hugely unique or special but still good.

Excuse the creepy eye photos! On top is my bare eye and on the bottom photo is after a few coats of this mascara. Please not that I have curled my lashes in both photos, just in case that may effect your thoughts. Also note my lashes are not extremely extravagant naturally so that may not do all mascaras justice.

Thoughts: I think this mascara is good but not amazing. I like the way it thickens and lengthens my lashes. It doesn't clump easily either. It is a little bit dramatic but not over the top.

This mascara is available from www.feelunique.com for €11.94.

Rating: 7.5/10

Thanks for reading!

What's your favourite mascara? Tell me in the comments!

xo

Look for Less:Rosie Huntington-Whitely

Hello my Lovelies,


Another post under the "Look for Less" segment! I personally really enjoy writing and reading these types of posts. Hopefully you do to but if you don't (or do) please let me know in the comments. I want to write post you will enjoy reading :)

This look is of the stunning Rosie Huntington, Whitely- model and actress I believe. Unfortunately this it's a bit to chilly here for this outfit but for the Summer I think it's perfect, or if you're lucky to live in a warm sunny climate you could wear it right now!

Her top is a basic tank top that you will probably already have something similar too in your wardrobe. If not, no worries as it's available in most stores including Forever 21 at just €5.75 ... Bargain!

Now for the black leather shorts. These can be found in lots of stores. If you're a little wary of wearing leather try an alternative such as these, available from ASOS.

 For shoes try some suede booties with a small heel or wedge. These are both from River Island. I think they're both super cute.

What's a celebrity look without some oversized shades? These are perfect oversized aviators available from Topshop for £14.

Last but never least, the bag. I believe Rosie's is from Mulberry (she is the new face after all!). This is a great high street alternative from River Island. So cute and bang on trend!

Thanks for reading and 'hope you enjoyed! 

Who's your celebrity style icon? Let me know in the comments!

xo

Disclaimer: Credit to first photo: http://www.sunraince.com/rosie-huntington-whiteley-street-style-2.html

All other photos from website of stores listed. I do not own any photos.

Tips for Clear Skin!

Hey Everyone!


Today's post will be all about tips to achieve what everyone seems to desire- clear skin! I myself am always on the hunt for new promising products and tips. Hopefully these will help you achieve clear skin without breaking the bank!

1. Water, water, water
It's the oldest trick in the book. Drink water and lots of it. This tip caters for all skin types. The reason your body needs water is because it's made up of about 70% water. Your body needs to stay hydrated to function properly. If your skin is dry it can be due to lack of hydration. If your skin is oily it can often be a response to dehydration also. Water will prevent breakouts also by washing toxins out of the body.
Something that helps me to drink lots of water is by bringing water with my everywhere. Keep it on your desk when working, with you when watching TV etcetera. You'll end up drinking it without even realising!

2. Moisturize
This is for the same reasons as above. Try oil-free formulas if you're worried about clogging up your pores. I recommend Cleanstart by Dermalogica's Welcome Matte SPF15.

3. Remove your Makeup!
This may seems obvious but remove your makeup every single night. Sleeping with makeup on will just clog up your pores, causing breakouts. I would personally recommend removing makeup and then washing your face, as in two separate steps. This is just so that you can get a better cleanse. A lotion formula would work well for dry/sensitive skin. For oily wipes may work. It depends on your preference. I would recommend the Simple Cleansing Lotion or Soap and Glory face wipes. Available here.

4. Exfoliate
Yes, this even applies to you sensitive gals! Exfoliating helps get rid of dead skin cells which clog up pores. Don't overdo it though as that will irritate the skin. Around 2-3 times a week is enough. An exfoliator that is great for sensitive skin is the Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream. It's very mild but still leaves your skin silky smooth.

5. Establish a Routine
Your skin needs a routine so don't vary it up too much. Once you find something that works, stick to it! It's always fun to try new products but try to have a routine you stick to all the time also as well as incorporating new products into that routine.

Hope you guys enjoy the post and let me know your skin tips in the comments below!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY PHOTOS

Concealers...Concealers..Concealers!

Hey Everyone,

I'm a big fan of concealers so I thought I'd share my collection with you all. I'll be doing a mini review of each of the products in the image below except the Confessions of a Concealaholic so if you want me to review that let me know in the comments section below. Also let me know if you want a further in depth review on any of the products.

Brands Left to Right: Clinique; Benefit; Estée Lauder; Garnier; Stila; Laval; W7

 Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions: This is a thick creamy concealer. I did like this but I didn't really find it improved any blemishes or prevent them in any way. It does it's job though. Packaging is simple like all Clinique packaging. It is a tube so that may be of others preference or maybe not. It's a little pricey at £13.50 but for 10ml of product. Available from most Boots stores. Rating: 7.5/10

Benefit Erase Paste: The swatch is show in shade number 3. This is obviously too dark but I have it in number 2 which is perfect. It comes in a little tub and a small brush for application. It is an extremely thick consistency which is a great concealer but too cakey for my liking. It works for under eye circles but that's it. It's too pricey for me at £19.50 especially for only 0.15 oz. of product. Available on their website. Rating: 6.5/10

Estée Lauder Doublewear Concealer: I love this concealer. It's the only one I've repurchased and is my everyday concealer. The packaging is cute and sleek and has a sponge type applicator which I completely forget the name for! The shades are very limited this is in Light Medium and is perfect for me around this time of year but a bit light in Summer. It's lovely and creamy, covers but not too thick or too thin. Also it lasts ages- a few months at least. It is a high end product so £19 isn't much of a surprise, but it's worth it to me. Doesn't say how much product is contained sorry! Available from Boots, Brown Thomas etc.. Rating: 9/10

Top to Bottom: Same order a above (Laval and W7 below)

Laval and W7 concealer

Garnier Pure Active 2in1 Anti-Spots roll-on: Woah that is quite the mouthful of a name! Anyway onto the product, this did not tickle my pickle. This is in the shade medium for anybody wondering by the way. Firstly it didn't help blemishes in any way, shape or form. It doesn't conceal either. The consistency is watery at first and then creamy-ish but not very. The colour was a problem too as this the light is too light and medium only good in Summer time. It's also a roll-on which isn't too my liking. 15ml of product is provided. Available here Rating: 5/10

Stila illuminating Concealer: Honestly I can't say much about this product as I haven't really used it. I bought this in a discount makeup store for €8.25. It's a creamy consistency but not as creamy as the Estée Lauder previously mentioned. I really like the applicator which is a small brush tip. The packaging is also cute. It's a glass container with cute writing. Not going to rate as haven't tried properly yet.

Laval Coverstick:  This contains tea tree oil which supposedly helps with blemishes. Don't really know if it actually works for that use as I don't use it super often. It's a stick concealer which I don't really like anyway. It's super inexpensive and was only a couple euro at a discount makeup store. Good for on the go but nothing special. Rating: 6/10

w7 Coverstick: This also claims to contain tea tree oil. This is very similar to the Laval Coverstick. It's cheap and bought at the same store and basically the near exact same. Rating: 6/10

Thanks for reading dolls! Please comment below telling me 

about your favourite concealers! 

xo