DIY | Homemade Frozen Yogurt

I'm *trying* to eat healthier recently. No crazy diets, just cutting out junk food here and there. However, those sugar cravings can be a killer. One thing I love and has become a bit of a fashionable food, is frozen yogurt. I find it difficult to find in shops so I decided to make my own!

What you need:

• Yogurt - Preferably organic. Use whatever flavour you want your froyo to be. Mt favourite brand is Glenisk!
• Vanilla essence/extract.
• Sugar (optional)
• Honey

Method:

1. Grab a small bowl and put as much as yogurt as you like into it. I use 4/5 dessert spoonfuls per person.

2. Pour a drizzle of honey into the bowl. 

3. Add a drop of vanilla. Use this sparingly as it's very strong!

4. If you want it a bit sweeter, and to taste more like the frozen yogurt you but in shops, add a little bit of sugar. 

5. Mix it all together! You can add more honey, sugar or vanilla to taste. 

6. Pop your mix into the freezer for at least 2 hours. Make sure to mix at least every hour as otherwise only the outside will freeze, not the inside. By mixing it will solve this problem.

7. Eat up and enjoy your healthy treat!

I hope you enjoyed this little recipe! It's a nice little step away from the beauty and fashion. Let me know if you try it out and what you think :)

Best Foundations (#TheSOProject)

Another week, another instalment of The Starting Off Project. If you don't know what #TheSOProject click here. 

 This is week number three. Week one was Skincare and last week was concealer. Today I'm bring you my recommendations for foundations!

When it comes to bases, I like to keep it light for everyday where. If you're more into heavy coverage- I'm afraid these products won't be for you. I believe makeup should enhance your natural beauty, rather than cover up your entire face. That is why I've chosen these products!

First up is the 'Rimmel Wake Me Up' foundation. This is a loved foundation by many. It gives a gorgeous light coverage, but still covers everything. It's quite dewy and has a very faint shimmer, which isn't very noticeable but just provides a nice glow to the skin. This is my favourite drugstore foundation. It's perfect for those days where you want extra coverage, but don't feel like wearing a lot of makeup or you just want pretty, natural-looking coverage. To see a full in-depth review click here.

€10.99 Boots - link

The latter of the two products is Garnier BB Cream for oily skin. I love this product and out of all the BB Creams I've tried, this is definitely my favourite. It gives amazing coverage for a BB Cream, and allows your skin to breath at the same time. This is the perfect product if you're still in school or just don't really like the feel of typical foundations. Again, I've also previously reviewed this item so click here if you're interested.

Currently €10.99 (usually €13.99) Boots- link

Foundation Tips 

• Blend, blend, blend. Please do not allow yourself to have a line between your jaw and neck. Blend in your foundation!
• Less is more- do not cake on product. You can always add more where you need it, it's a lot more difficult to take off product if you overdo it.
• If you have good skin- don't wear foundation! This is particularly for young teenagers. Hold off wearing heavy makeup for as long as possible. A little concealer and powder is all you need!
• Try not to wearing foundation everyday. This has benefits for your skin but also mentally. If you don't wear makeup everyday, you won't feel the need for it to make you feel pretty. Also, don't worry about other people's opinions, the only person who cares is you- trust me!

I hope these tips and recommendations have helped you. Let me know any tricks you have and your favourite products! 

Review + Swatches | L'Oréal Magic Nude Liquid Powder

Do you ever come across a product where you wonder how it was never invented before this, yet the idea never even entered your mind? Well the new Magic Nude Liquid Powder by L'Oréal is one of those products!

I picked up this baby on holiday in Florida (read all about it here). Since then I have been absolutely loving this product. It's a bit of a new concept in the beauty world so I'll give you low-down on it before letting you know my thoughts. Basically this looks like a light liquid foundation-type product at first glance. However, once applied you begin to see the magic of the product. It glides on to a powder-finish - no greasy looking faces here! It is described as a 'skin perfecting base' and I cannot argue with that. It provides great coverage for such a light base and creates a flawless complexion. Of course, for major blemishes and under-eye circles you may need some extra coverage with a concealer but otherwise it does a great job of perfecting any minor imperfections. 

The packaging is also very sleek and looks much more expensive than it is. It comes in a glass bottle that has an ombre effect. The dispenser isn't the most convenient as you basically have to pour out the product onto your fingers, which isn't the easiest to control. Besides that and the fact that it isn't very travel-friendly, the packaging is pretty and will look lovely on your makeup stand!

My favourite part about this product is the way it feels. It really feels like you haven't got any makeup on at all, yet it makes my skin look so much better than many heavier foundations do. Plus it has built-in SPF 18. Lasting power is good, about the same as any typical foundation and usually lasts about eight hours with wear signs around the 5 hour mark. Another bonus is that there is a range of twelve shades which is quite impressive for a lower-end brand.

Now on to the downside. Unfortunately there has to be one. This product is quite difficult to get your hands on. If you live State-side it's easy, it's available anywhere L'Oréal is sold. If you live in Ireland/UK/Europe or anywhere else for that matter, you're gonna have some difficulties. I will link some sites where you can purchase the product below but I'm really hoping L'Oréal release this product here soon because I really don't know what I'll do when I run out! The main message here is if you can, I 100% recommend picking up this product as it's quickly becoming a firm favourite of mine.



L'Oréal Magic Nude Liquid Powder- $12.95 here

My Favourite Concealer | #TheSOProject

Hello everyone and welcome to another instalment of the Starting Off Project. Last weeks topic was 'Skincare' and this week it's all about concealers. I am a lover of concealers because I often don't feel the need for a full face of foundation- I just pop on a bit of concealer and I'm good to go. This week I'm sharing with you my current favourite concealer. It's one I haven't much experience with yet, but so far I'm really liking it and it comes in the form of the 'Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer'.

Before I get onto that, let's do a quick run through. First off, what are concealers? Basically they're products used to cover up blemishes, under-eye circles and anything else that needs extra coverage. They are typically thicker than a foundation and are used to target specific areas, not used as an all-over base. To use the product, you can either use it directly from the tube with the included applicator (not the most hygienic), with your finger or with a concealer brush. I prefer to use it with my finger as the warmth of your finger helps blend the product.

Another commonly asked question might be what colour to get your concealer? A lot of people recommend going a shade lighter than your skin tone. This often doesn't help much as it actually can highlight the blemishes you're trying to cover up! The best shade to get is the shade that best matches your skintone. If, however, you're stuck between a lighter shade or a darker shade, go for the lighter.

Now onto my favourite concealer of the moment! I decided to try this product because I love the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation. The entire 'Wake Me Up' range is all about making you look refreshed and not caked in makeup which is a look I'm always trying to achieve. This product comes packaged in your standard plastic cylinder tube with the orange lid- as with all products in the range. It also has a doe-foot applicator as with many concealers. 

The concealer promises to have an 'anti-fatigue' effect. Although this is clearly supposed to target under-eye circles I find the concealer to work well on blemishes too. The consistency of the product is lovely as it's not thick and cakey at all. It's quite the contrary, as it blends easily and looks very natural. You could definitely get away with looking like your wearing no makeup at all, whilst still hiding any blemishes. The lasting power is also very good and lasted the entire day for me (about eight hours). 

A few other concealers I have loved is the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer and the Estee Lauder Double Wear concealer. Both achieve very similar results but there is a huge price difference! The Collection one is only €6.49 (click here for link) but it is only available in 4 shades. Whereas the Estee Lauder product comes in eight shades but has a heftier price tag at €24.50. The Rimmel product featured here also only has four shades and retails at €6.99. So if you're looking for better shade selection, you may need to pay a bigger price. However if you're looking for a product that does a good job, you can find just as good quality concealers on the high street.

Let me know your concealer recommendations in the comments below!

Guest Post | Half Moon Nail Tutorial

Hi everyone, I’m Megan from Blondes Love Cupcakes and I am delighted to be returning the favour and writing a guest post for Stephanie :) A few weeks ago she wrote a post on how to make a delicious DIY hair mask, so I am writing about what I love best - nails. I hope you guys like my design, and be sure to check out my blog for more nail art and DIY tutorials :)

Half moon designs are all the rage lately with celebs like Lauren Conrad, Dita Von Teese & Beyoncé all sporting the chic design. So here is a super simple tutorial to show you how to replicate it at home! :)

1. Paint two layers of a neutral base coat untill you have full even coverage (I used Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in Lychee).
2. Once your nails are fully dry, paint on half moons with a super thin paintbrush following where your cuticles would naturally occur. I never use stickers as guides because I hate when they pull up the base coat...but you can if you want! (I used Rimmel Pro No.393 Desire for this).
3. Then draw a thin gold line around your maroon half moon to make it extra chic! (I used NYC New York Minute Full Metal Jacket).
4. Once everything is fully dry, use a topcoat to seal it all and add shine.
5. Show off your glamorous nails to your friends and prepare to be admired! :)

If you like this tutorial please follow me on bloglovin’ / twitter / instagram for more nail art designs Thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed this gorgeous nail tutorial make sure to check out Megan's blog here for more great posts!

My Skincare Saviours (#TheSOProject)

Hello my lovely readers! Agh I need to apologise for my recent absence. I've been without wifi for the past ten days, therefore being unable to post here on the old blog. Anyway, without further-ado I'll get into the post which is all about skin care.

First off, I am taking part in the Starting Off Project run by Stephanie over on Steph's Inside Voice. She came up with the lovely idea to do weekly posts based around different topics to help out newbies to the beauty world, or just those interested in some new products and tips! If you want to here a more detailed description of #TheSOProject then click over here.

I have oily-combination sensitive skin. I suffer from breakouts but I'm lucky enough to not suffer from severe acne. My skin has been like this from about the age of thirteen I would say. It was worst around the age of 15 and has now settled down a bit but I still have breakouts. I've tried so many products, so here are the best ones in my opinion!

One word, Dermalogica. Dermalogica is a great brand and is renowned for its amazing skincare. It is on the higher-end of the market but when it comes to skin care, quality products are 100% worth it. In this case, it's an investment. If you're a young teenager I'd definitely recommend their 'Clean Start' (available here) range. It is designed especially for teenage skin and includes every product you could need for your skin whether it be spot treatment or moisturiser.

If you're on the look for something for all ages, my number one favourite product from the Dermalogica range is definitely their Dermal Clay Cleanser. This product has transformed my skin. It's gentle, purifying and can also be doubled up as a face mask. Check out the brilliant Dermalogica website here where you can face-map your skin to find out the best products for your skin type.

Skincare tips + tricks

• Always, always, always take off your makeup. It's an old-age trick but an important one. Also, do it properly and get that gunk off your face. I recommend Bioderma for a thorough removal.
• Drink water! Believe it or not, it works. Clearing your body from toxins is the best way to get clear, radiant skin.
• Moisturise! Keeping your skin moisturised is so important as otherwise your skin will produce excess oils, clogging pores and causing breakouts. If you have naturally oily skin (like me), use an oil-free moisturiser.
• Sudocrem. It's an amazing multi-purpose product and works great for getting rid of spots. It's also cheap as chips which is all the better.
• Do not pick at your skin. Picking and over-squeezing spots and blackheads is the fast-track to scarring, which nobody wants.
• Get into a good skincare regime. Yes it takes time and yes it's a bit of hassle but I can guarantee you won't regret it. A good skincare regime will stand to you for your entire life. Your future self will thank you for it!

They're my product recommendations and a few tips to get you on your way. If you have any tips or if you're also involved in #theSOProject, please let me know in the comments!

OohLaLa Magazine Launch & Blog Awards Event

There's a new Irish fashion magazine on the market and it comes in the form of 'OohLaLa'. This new magazine is run by Fiona Masterson with the help of Ramona Nicholas, who you may know from Dragon's Den. I, along with many other bloggers, attended their launch and blog awards event on Tuesday the 13th of August. I thought it would be fun to share my thoughts and photos from the event!

Our amazing goodie bag including: So... Frangrance Spray; LA SPray Tan voucher; €20 Penneys Voucher; Cocoa Brown Tan; OohLaLa magazine; Jimmy Choo perfume sample & Essence nail polish

A cute tote available from Penneys

The event took place in 37 Dawson Street in Dublin. It's a bar and restaurant for those of you unfamiliar with the venue. It was a perfect central location, very modern with super cool decor. The actual party took place in a back room area, with a private bar and upstairs. The only downside was that so many people showed up that it was quite crowded and difficult to see people and meet other bloggers. As we walked in we were greeted with goodie bags and with a choice of a cocktail or a glass of prosecco. There was music being played all the time by the amazing DJ Her, I personally loved her music taste. There was even a nail bar being run by Tropical Popical!

Everyone mingled for a while and then there was the fashion show which showcased Penneys A/W Collection. I've never been a huge Penneys fan but they are really upping their game and I was really impressed by their new collection. I would definitely recommend checking them out for your winter coat this year as they had some amazing ones; leather, fur, plaid- you name it! Prices for coats range from around €31-€40. Another huge trend was mixed fabrics. Leather and plaid, sheer with sequins, denim and so much more. Definitely a trend to watch!
My favourite items from the collection are the embellished jumper (2nd line, 3rd picture) and a pair of black and gold ankle boots. I'll definitely be checking these out next time I hit the store.

After the fashion show, the blog awards commenced! They awarded five separate prizes. First up was Best Vlogger which was won by Leanne Woodfull over on Thunder & Threads. Best Fashion Blogger was Nuala from 'Penny & Polaroids' , Best Newcomer was Nessa from 'Lifes Lust Haves' and Best Beauty Blogger was Yavanna from 'Makeup Monster'. The overall winner, Blogger of the Year, was again Leanne from Thunder & Threads! She won a fantastic trip to London Fashion Week, a years column with OohLaLa and lots of other goodies!

Overall, it was a great night and a huge success. I'd like to thank all those at OohLaLa for organising the event and inviting me! I think this magazine is going to be a huge success and I'd definitely recommend going out and buying it! It's available now in most newsagents/supermarkets for €2.95.