Update!

Hey Sweeties,

I just wanted to inform you all that I will be taking a break from blogging. The only reason being purely because of exams. I'm facing some state exams in over a week and need to study and have my complete focus on them. I will be back on the blogging scene in somewhere around the 21st June, as this when my exams finish. I hope you all understand! Thank you for your continued support and I can't wait to be back!

xo

Photo Credit: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/techstudent/

Look For Less: Jessica Alba!

Hey Darlings,

I recently saw this picture of the always gorgeous, Jessica Alba.

Her outfit is so quirky yet cute. I thought it would be a great outfit to do a Look For Less on as it's wearable yet stylish. This photo was taken at a recent even Jessica attended.

Jessica's sweater is from Alice & Olivia. This particular jumper is pretty similar and is a fraction of the price. This is from ASOS and retails for €54.30. It may however, be a bit too much to pair with the printed pants. Instead you may want to just buy a collar, that can be paired with any jumper you already have. This one is from ASOS and only €24.44 .

Next up, are the pants. These are actually the exact ones Jessica is wearing. They are from Topshop and will set you back ₤40. Not too pricey for celebrity clothing!

Finally, the shoes. These bright coral pumps will add a gorgeous pop of colour to the look. They are also super inexpensive. These are only $24.99, available here.

So that's the look! Hope you like it, and let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Thanks for reading Dolls!

xo

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation: Review!

Hey Girlies,

I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend. 

About two weeks ago, I was in Penneys (Primark) 

and came across the Wake Me Up Foundation by Rimmel.

I didn't even know Penneys stock Rimmel, so I was pleasantly surprised. 

Even better, this foundation was only €6.98 which is rather reasonable considering Boots sell the exact same one for somewhere around the €11 mark. 

This foundation is available in six shades. I decided to pick up True Nude (303) as it best matches my skin tone. I really like the shade range. It is in no way extensive but the undertones of the shades are really nice. They are not very orange which is great, as many medium shades tend to lean orange. These however, do not.

The packaging is gorgeous. It comes in a glass bottle which makes it seems much higher end than it really is. I also love the orange lid, it brings a happy element to the product if that makes any sense at all! The pump is one of my favourite parts of the product. It makes dispensing the product easily controllable. Only downside to the packaging is that it's not extremely travel-friendly.

This is a light-weight foundation and something that is perfect for everyday. It applies easily and blends well. The coverage is light but can be built up to medium if needed. Rimmel claims it has an anti-fatigue effect and provides a radiant glow. I do like the look this foundation gives to the skin and it does provide a certain glow and dewiness but nothing too extreme so that it appears oily, don't worry!

There has been a lot of hype about this product and one thing a lot of people have mentioned is the shimmer in the product. This is visible in the bottle and when swatched but I do not see it once applied. The shimmer really just provides the glow rather than an Edward from Twilight effect!

The lasting power of this foundation is average. I would say it lasts about eight hours. 

It also contains SPF 15 which is always a bonus! I notice a slight scent of it as well, like sun cream  but in the best possible way!

Overall I really really like this foundation. I can see it becoming one of my favourite foundations definitely. It's perfect for everyday wear and it allows skin to breathe whilst still providing coverage. I would definitely recommend picking it up in your local Boots, Superdrug or for better value, Penney/Primark! 

Rating: 8.5/10

Thanks for reading Dolls!
Have you tried this wonderful product?


xo

Kylie Jenner Inspired Nail Tutorial!

Hey Girlies,

I don't know about all of you, but I am obsessed with Instagram! For those of you who don't know what Instagram is, it's basically a social networking app for smart phones, purely for photos!

 Just like Twitter you can follow anyone from friends to celebrities! I personally love the Jenner sisters style (they're the Kardashians little sisters don't you know). Kendall and Kylie are always posting pics on instagram and Kylie posted this pic of her nails a few weeks back.

When I saw this design I thought it was super cute and original. I incorporated the look myself.

My final look is a little different to hers, as I used slightly different shades of orange. This look can be used using any two colours though.

Now on with the tutorial....

1. Remove any nail polish already on your nails and paint your nails with a base coat. This is optional but will help keep your polish lasting longer and prevent damage of your nails. I used the Sally Hansen Double Duty strengthening base & top coat.


2. Allow the base coat to dry and then paint your chosen base polish. I used Tart Deco by Essie. This is a pretty pastel peach. Allow to dry.


3. Next take your second polish. I used California Coral by Essie. This is a pink coral colour, but once I painted it over the Tart Deco it looked more tangerine.

4. Now for the trickiest part that is still surprisingly easy!
Take the second colour and paint diagonal stripes across you nail as shown. Change the direction of the stripe for every second nail. Right-Left then Left-Right then Right-Left and so forth.

5. Allow to dry and then take a silver nail art pen or a thin brush dipped into a silver polish. I used the Nail art freestyle & tip painter from Essence , these are available from Penneys/Primark.


6. Paint a thin diagonal line on your ring fingers, just where the two colours meet.


7. Allow to dry and finish with a top coat!

Now you've got the look! 

Thanks for reading dolls!

What are your thoughts on this nail look?

xo

Bargain Buy: Satchel-style Leather Handbag!

Hey Sunshines!

Don't you just love a great bargain? 

The other day I was taking a look around Penneys (that's Primark for the British folk!).

I was just browsing around, not expecting to see much. 

I am never the one who seems to find amazing bargain buys in Penneys, but that has now changed, yay! The minute I purchased this, I knew I had to share it with all of you!

This particular medium-sized bag caught my eye, and I immediately fell in love. 

I have been looking for a satchel-style bag similar to this for such a long time. 

When I saw this I thought, okay it's gorgeous, but something tells me it's going to be pricier than the average Penneys stock, I was thinking maybe around the €13 mark.

To my utter excitement this was, wait for it, only €7!

That was it- I was sold!

This bag, is what I would consider to be a satchel-style hand bag/cross-body bag. 

The material is faux leather with gold hardware. The bag has everything an expensive bag would have; pockets, detailing, zippers- you get the picture! 

On the very top there is a brown zipper, which leads to the main compartment, which contains a separate smaller compartment inside. There is then the gold zipper with a tassel puller, which leads to a medium sized pocket compartment. The final compartment is the buckled compartment. This is at the very front of the bag, and can be seen in the pictures.

The detailing of this bag is very impressive, especially considering the price tag!

Firstly, the adjustable strap is super convenient, enabling the bag to be worn in a variety of ways- shoulder, cross body etc.. The strap is attached to the bag with two gold rings. There is also gold studding as well as tassels, which all make the bag appear to much more expensive than it really is!

One more thing to mention, is that the leather is lined with a mesh style material in the inside. Overall the bag looks high quality and relatively sturdy.

I would highly recommend this bag if you are looking for something convenient that isn't super big but neither too small. It carries everything you need whilst still remaining light weight and easy to carry.

Round-Up: Inexpensive, convenient, stylish bag that everyone should own!

This is available from Penneys/Primark in the UK and Ireland and anywhere that has these stores, for €7.00 which will probably be around ₤5/6. This should still be available as I only purchased it a few days ago, but hurry as I can imagine they will sell out fast! Available in tan (pictured),

pink/coral and light blue.

Thanks for reading dolls! 

Have you found any amazing deals recently?

xo

Topshop Lipstick in 'Brighton Rock': Review + Swatches!

Hello Sweeties,

Topshop makeup is something that I have never really given much of a second look. It wasn't that I thought it wouldn't be good quality I just never expected it to be as good as it really is. 

You may have seen my NOTD post recently, including a Topshop nail polish.

 I love that polish and I also love this lipstick. I picked it up whilst I was in London a couple weeks back and really just adore it!

The packaging of the lipstick is also perfectly cute and retro. Not to mention being sturdy with a clip on cap, so you don't need to worry about the cap falling off and destroying your handbag!

It is the classic kitsch Topshop packaging, with the chalkboard style writing and the drawing of the type of product on the box. Love it!

It is entitled "Brighton Rock" and is a bright coral pink shade. The colour seems intimidating at first but is actually very wearable, especially when sheered out. The pigmentation is also amazing.

As brights are so on trend at the mo', this colour is perfect. If you're a little wary of bright colours, especially in makeup, this shade is an easy way to incorporate a little colour into your look. Not to mention, being totally gorgeous!

 There really is nothing I can fault this lipstick on. The lasting power is great 

too, these last for a couple hours at least. These are also very comfortable on the lips. They are not moisturising but neither do they dry out the lips. I would recommend popping some lip balm on before application, just to prevent any flaking, all the same. 

These lipsticks are available from selected Topshop stores and on their website. There are also eight other shades available as part of Topshop's permanent lipstick range, all priced at ₤8.

The quality of these are amazing so I would definitely recommend picking one of these up if you get a chance, especially if you are on the hunt for some new lipsticks.

Rating: 9/10

Thanks for reading Dolls!

Have you tried any of Topshop's makeup range?

xo

How I Style: Coloured Jeans

Hey Girlies,

One of the biggest Spring trends of the moment are coloured jeans. From pretty pastels to bright hues, colour is everywhere this season. Only down side is that colour is something not everyone feels confident in wearing and it can be hard to style. I was a little wary myself at first about trying the coloured denim trend, but now I love it!

First step is to decide what style of jean you want. The most common is the skinny jean, and is the style that this trend is generally worn in. You don't need to wear a super skinny jean though. Straight legged jeans look just as good and are great for those that don't feel as confident in super skinny jeans.

Next up- colour. There is a wide array of colours available so there's bound to be at least one to suit your taste. Brighter shades are harder to pull off-so if you're a bit wary, I'd suggest going for a coloured shade in a less bold of a tone. I have this pair from Topshop and I absolutely love them. These are the Jamie high-waisted skinny in a lovely purple shade. They are made of a very soft denim so are quite comfortable too. They retail for ₤40.

Topshop really do a great range of coloured denim in general. Their jeans are good quality, great fit and at reasonable prices too. Here is another pair in a bright pink, retailing for ₤38.

Topshop carry a great range of coloured jeans so even if these particular one pictured don't tickle your fancy, I would still recommend checking out the many other styles and colours they have on offer.

River Island also have a range of the trend for a slightly cheaper price of ₤30. Here are a lovely green pair:

Now that you have your jeans, the next question is, how to style them? This can be tricky. If you're in the younger age category, it can be easier to pull off more colour. The slightly more mature may want to play it more simple, as to keep the stylish yet classy element to the look. 

If you are up for even more colour, you can tie in the colour blocking trend with your jeans, with a pastel top. Another look for the youth may be a graphic vest style top. This one is great for Summer and  is relatively plain as to not over power the look. It's also from River Island at ₤15.

One trend I've also been loving is lace. Plain lace tops in neutral colours such as cream or white look great paired with coloured denim. It really helps to soften the look. I love this from Abercrombie & Fitch. It is a little pricey, however, at €96.

If you're looking to dress up your look a little, a blouse or a shirt is a great way to do so. This sleeveless blouse with a gorgeous bow and lace detail is a perfect way to do so. Find it at Topshop for ₤32.

Pair it with whatever accessories you wish. Shoes of course depend on the occasion. I love to wear my coloured skinnies with some cute ankle boots. If you're going a little more formal, some nude pumps would be perfect!

Remember this is just how I personally style coloured jeans. If this is not your taste, no worries! Fashion is all about individuality. There are no rules, just have fun with it!

Thanks for reading Dolls!

Have you tried this trend?

xo

Disclaimer: I do not own any images. No copyright intended.

NOTD: OPI "Do you Lilac it?"

Hey Beauties,

Just a quick little nails of the day post. I recently picked up this shade a couple weeks back and have been loving it. It's entitled "Do you Lilac it?". Cute name right? This shade is pretty popular and is perfect for Spring! 

Colour: On the nails this shade is what I would describe as a deep lilac, more purple than lilac in my opinion. Gorgeous though!

Formula: This has a lovely creamy formula that makes application a breeze! It only took two coats to achieve full opacity, so I'm impressed.

Lasting Power: This lasted for about four days with only minor tip-wear. Nail polish doesn't seem to last well on my nails in general, so this wasn't too bad at all.

Removal: This removed very easily.

Round-Up: I love this shade and can't wait to wear it some more. Recently, I've been obsessing over glitter, chrome nail polishes and just haven't been wearing classic, normal, single-shade nail polishes. This has reignited my love for "normal" shades. Love!

Price/Availability: I purchased mine from a local pharmacy. I've done a bit of research online and it's actually quite difficult to get a hold of. Mine was around €11 but it's available on Amazon for a very reasonable $5.35. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Thanks for reading Dolls!

So "do you lilac" this shade? 

xo

My Favourite Skin care Brand!

Hello Lovelies,

With so many skin care brands out there, all promising to solve your greatest skin concern, it's very difficult to know what's worth investing in, and what really isn't. I'm certainly no expert on skin care, but I have tried my fair share of products! 

First off, let me tell you my skin type and my skin concerns, because if you have an entirely different skin type/concern then my preferred products may not be very useful to you. I have oily-combination skin. It varies from time of year. Usually in the Winter time, I tend to get some dry patches around my cheeks. In the Summer/Spring tim, my skin is mostly oily, mostly in the T-Zone area

 (that's forehead,nose, chin).

My skin concerns? Well, there are a few... Blemishes are a major one. I'm lucky to not have severe acne or anything that can't be cured over the counter. I have typical young, blemish-prone skin. My skin is also quite sensitive, so redness is a big concern also. Even though I don't tend to have a lot of active acne, once I get a blemish and it goes away, there's that awful red mark left behind. It's not a scar as such, as it's not indented into my skin and does eventually fade, it just takes a while. 

Now onto the products! Like I've said, I've tried a fair few products especially those aimed at my skin concerns. From Clearasil, Clean&Clear, Neutrogena, Simple, Garnier.... You get the picture!

Of all the brands I have ever tried my favourite and the one I have seen the most results with is dermalogica. 

Dermalogica is based in the USA but is available world-wide. They offer products for every skin concern and skin type, no matter what age you are, so even if the products I use won't suit you, I encourage you to check out some of their other products.

I had been using their Clean Start range up to a little over a month ago. Up until then, I had been using it for about a two years. I do still use a few products from the range, but not as much as I used to. 

This range is targeted at mostly adolescent skin. The range contains eight products and three different categories of products:  

1. Getting Clean: This step involves cleansing and toning.

2. Taking on Issues: This step is all about tackling blemishes and clearing your skin

3. Protecting Skin: This step is about protecting your skin from the environment and the sun.

You don't need to use every product in this range to see results. I recommend choosing a few products that you think would suit your skin best. If you know of a retailer that sells Clean Start, why not request a few samples? Also a great way to get started is with the Clean Start Skin Kit. This kit contains five miniature products from the range, at least one from each category. It retails for ₤22.50/€ and is definitely worth trying out if your thinking about looking into this range.

My personal faves from the range are the "wash off" face wash, the "hit the spot" spot gel, the "welcome matte spf15" moisturizer and the "bedtime for breakouts" clearing gel. 

Checkout a full list of their products over on their website. Also note that the products are substantially cheaper than their normal range products- great for teens on a budget!

Now onto what I am now using- and loving! 

I decided to change over to some new products. The reason being that, because I had been using the others for so long, my skin had almost become too used to the products that they weren't working as well as they once had. They weren't causing me any trouble, just not clearing my skin as much. My skin basically needed something a bit stronger. I knew I wanted to stick with Dermalogica so I talked to some beauticians in my local salon and they recommended I try out the Dermal Clay Cleanser. I really can't say enough good things about it!

This is what Dermalogica say about it themselves:

Water-soluble Bentonite and Kaolin clays combine with purifying botanical extracts and refreshing Menthol to remove excess oils and refine skin’s texture. Contains no artificial fragrance or color.

How to use it: I use this every morning and night. You basically just dampen your face and then take about a grape sized amount and rub in circular motions into your skin. If your just using it as a cleanser then rinse with warm water. This doubles up as a face mask, so if you decide you want a deeper cleanse then leave on for about ten to fifteen minuted and rinse. 

My thoughts: This is targeted at oily skin types and definitely helps get rid of excess oil production, without drying out my skin. This is super easy on the skin and not harsh at all, so will work great for sensitive skin types also. It leaves a refreshing, cooling sensation and just leaves you feeling so clean! 

This has helped calm my redness and help prevent blemishes also.

If this brand sounds good for you I would definitely recommend heading over to their website and taking the "speed mapping" quiz. This basically figures out your major skin concerns, skin type etc. so that Dermalogica can help you pick what products will work for you. After finding out your recommendations you could head into your local salon, that sells Dermalogica and request a few samples. If this option isn't available to you, Dermalogica offer mini versions of many of their products that are great to trial. 

Dermalogica Ireland website: http://www.dermalogica.com/ir/?detected=ir

Dermalogica UK website: http://www.dermalogica.com/uk/

Dermalogica USA website: http://www.dermalogica.com/uk/

Find a store near you! : http://www.dermalogica.com/ir/buy/index.html

Irish websites selling the brand: Kudos Beauty , BeautySkincare.ie .

Thanks for reading dolls!

What's your favourite skin care brand?

xo

P.S: I am in no way affiliated with Dermalogica. This post is not sponsored and all products I have used are purchased by me. I really just love the brand and thought I'd share it with you! xo