Gold eyes & Purple lips ft. MAC Style Curve tutorial video

So after my first proper video yesterday I did another one, this time a bit bolder and a bit more out there.

I've lately become obsessed with purple lipsticks and I'm really getting into them more and more, so I decided to use my new MAC Style Curve lipstick in this one.

It's a really bright look, perfect for summer and very suiting to the current season's trend of bright, bold lips & eyes.

Again, I hope you enjoy it and don't forget to leave feedback, either here or in the comments on the youtube page!

Have fun!

Ta-ta for now! xo 

My first video on youtube!

Woohoo!

I finally bit the bullet and recorded & uploaded my first video to youtube! It's a soft, summery look with a pop of coral on the eyes and a soft baby pink lip.

I'm definitely gonna do another one, probably today as the weather isn't so great and it's fun! I only have my iPhone to record with and this video was done using the front facing camera which records in 480p, so not the greatest, but I'm going to try my back camera today which is 720p - HD baby!

I'm at my boyfriends house at the moment and he's playing a video game so at the moment my videos will have music over them (I hope you like it!), but hopefully when I get some time I can do proper tutorials/hauls /reviews and the rest.

I really hope you enjoy this and please feel free to leave some feedback here and/or on the youtube page! I have a few ideas on what I am going to do next but let me know what you like to see!

So without further ado.. Sit back, relax and enjoy!

Ta-ta for now! xo

Review! Maybelline Color Show Polka Dots

Hey guys!

I hope you're all keeping well!

I got these nail polishes from my wonderful mummy, who brought them back for me from her trip to England. I was super excited as I have wanted the L'Oreal Confetti polish for ages now, and these are pretty much the same.

The colours I got were Rainforest Canopy, Speckled Pink and Chalk Dust.

 

Speckled Pink and Rainforest Canopy are the same as Chalk Dust but with coloured nail polish instead of clear. 

The coloured ones go on pretty sheer and you have to layer them up 2 - 3 times depending on what kind of look you want. The 'polka dots' don't show through too much after maybe the third coat, but if you have the clear one you can out one coat of that over top and it looks really nice. Doing this also gives a bit of a dimension effect (?) as in the pink dots are a little darker than the clear ones. I can't explain! But you will see what I mean in the next picture.

Chalk Dust over Speckled Pink & Earnie and Birdie by Catrice

This is after 2 coats of Speckled Pink and two coats of Chalk dust.  The texture stays relatively smooth which is nice and they don't chip easily. I would recommend using a clear top coat over them as I found that some of the dots would poke up and snag on things. Also it's a good idea to give them a good shake before using so you get a good concentration of polka dots! 

Overall I really like these nail polishes, I don't think I'll pick up anymore of the colours as I already have loads of colours to layer with the clear polka dots. 

I hope you enjoyed this review! Let me know in the comments what your favourite nail polish is! 

Don't forget to follow & like me on twitter, instagram, facebook and she said beauty!  

Ta-ta for now! xo

Haul time & reviews ft. Urban Decay, Stila, Catrice, NYX & more!

Hey!

Woo! Collective haul time! I got these things over  2 - 3 weeks, from various places online and in stores.

Be forewarned: this is pretty long!

I'll get straight into it and start with the eyeshadows and eye things first..

So here we go!

Pamper me! Montagne Jeunesse Anti-Stress Face Mask

Hey everyone!

I know it's been a while, but I'm up and running again!

If you follow me on instagram or twitter you may have a pic of me with this fabulous mask smeared all over my beautiful visage - if not, don't worry, there's another one here!

I picked this up after my exams as my skin had been going a bit AWOL from stress among other things.
I've seen these everywhere in the last few weeks and when my local Penneys started stocking them, I had to get one!

I got the 'Mud Pac' mask, a creamy, seaweed-y mask that helps to relieve stress. It says for normal - oily t-zone skin, which is my skin. 
 
I used half a packet and it went pretty far. It feels slightly cooling on the skin (like menthol) - which I don't mind but some might. 
You leave it on for 10 -15 minutes and let it do it's magic! 

It dries slightly - but not like those grey clay masks that stop you from moving your face. 

Warning: You may look strange while enjoying this mask. To avoid embarrassment schedule your pampering for a time when you aren't expecting any visitors!  (example below...)

Sexy & I know it ;)

After the 10 - 15 minutes wash off with a warm cloth. It left my skin feeling super clean and soft, but not tight. I did apply some moisturiser afterwards in any case. I liked this mask as it hydrated my skin and left it feeling very fresh.

I plan on getting one for blocked pores next, of course you can expect my views on this one too! 

I hope you enjoyed this post! Keep an eye out for more coming soon. Let me know in the comments if you've tried any of these face masks, and what you liked/didn't like! 

As always you can find me all over the web! Twitter, instagram, She Said Beauty and now facebook too!

Ta-ta for now! xo 

 
 

First Impressions: Essence Cuticle Balm, Nail Balm, All Round Talent, Nail Care Pen & Penneys Beeswax Handcream

Phew! That was a mouthful of a title!

So lately I've been trying to look after my nails and hands a bit more. I got a manicure before my holiday to Spain, and I'm convinced the cuticle oil & vitamin D from the sun did them a world of good. I can see the difference in the new nail growing, so I'm trying to keep it up.

I started by getting the Nail Care Pen by Essence seeing as it seems the easiest way to apply all them good oils to the cuticles and nails. I usually do it after I've taken off my nail polish and washed my hands. I haven't used it enough to see too much of a difference but I have noticed my cuticles are a lot softer, and I haven't has any dry/rough skin around the sides of my nails, which I normally do.

It contains: vitamin a & e, gingko extract, jojoba oil, avocado oil and almond oil.

The other Cuticle/Nail item I got was the Nail and Cuticle Butter Stick from Essence. It's very like the oil pen, but this one is more moisturising. You apply it the same as the oil pen, by rubbing it on your cuticles and around the nail area, then gently massage it in. I love the smell of this, it's just like beeswax handcream!

It contains: vitamin e, shea butter, lanolin and beeswax.

I then got the Essence All Round Talent nail polish. This claims to be an "all-in-one base or top coat, ridgefiller, hardener, optical whitener and sealer". I figured why not try it out! I just have to wait until I remove my current nail polish to try it and see if it can live up to its claims. It does have a purple tint to it so I believe it will whiten, but I'll wait and see about the rest... Update: I just tested it on my baby finger and just as I suspected the purple tint to it does lend to the whitening effect BUT I put it over my pink nail polish on my other finger and it altered the colour, only a bit, but still noticeably different to the other nails. (Nail with brightener is more of a lighter pink, the rest are fuschia pink.)

The last things I got are two hand/nail creams. I got a hand, nail and cuticle cream from Essence (I told you I had a think for it haha!) and a beeswax hand cream from Penneys (Primark) for 1,50€! 

The nail cream does the same job as the other two I mentioned before, so I won't go on about it too much. It's a water based cream.

It contains: pro-vitamin B5, natural beeswax and glycerin.

The other hand cream I got from Penneys is a beeswax and jojoba oil cream - it smells amazing. Just sayin'. I got this to try out because I have seen so many people talking about hand creams, and yes I know it's coming up to summer but you have to have pretty hands to show off all the pretty summer manis! And anyway, it's never a bad thing to look after your skin, no matter where.
I got this primarily to keep in my handbag so I would have no excuses for not taking care of my hands, but I definitely am going to get another one, especially seeing as they're so cheap (1,50€). I would recommend everyone to get your hands (pun intended) on some when you're next in there!

It contains: Beeswax, Jojoba oil & Almond oil

That's it for now, I hope you enjoyed! I will definitely keep you all updated on how it goes regarding all my new lotions and potions! Keep an eye out on twitter, instagram and she said beauty for updates!

What have been your recent discoveries? What's your nail care routine? Let me know in the comments!

Ta-ta for now kittens! xo

First Impressions: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain & Rimmel Apocalips Lip Laquer

Hey guys & girls!

So today I finished my exam for college (yeah only one!), so I treated myself to these little indulgences (along with some more, but that's for another time!).

I've heard many a good thing about the Revlon Kissable Balm Stain, and I think it'd be dead handy to keep in your purse even.

Rimmel Apocalips have been getting a lot of love too, so I thought I'd pick one up in a dark berry shade, a colour I don't really have anything else in.

Packaging:
The Revlon Balm Stain is a pencil like tube, that twists up for more product. It's really smooth and does feel a bit like a lip balm. It feel a bit tacky when you first put it on, but that fades slowly.

The Rimmel Apocalips comes in a tube much like a lipgloss. It comes with a doe-foot applicator that's hollow in the middle, I believe this is so the product is easier to apply without having to dip back in after every swipe.

Colour & Application:
Revlon Balm Stain (Mulligans pharmacy usually 10,95€ I got mine 50% off) 
 The Balm Stain is really easy to apply because of its shape. It's really quick to apply so is really good for on the go, or if you're traveling.
The colour I got was 'Rendezvous', a peachy orange colour. It's quite opaque compared to other tinted lip balms I've tried and gives a slightly glossy sheen to the lips. As far as I can tell there is no shimmer or glittery bits in it.

Revlon Apocalips Lip Laquer (Penneys/Primark 5,95€)
 The Apocalips applies like a lipgloss, but is very opaque. All I needed was one application to get very bold colour. It feels nice on the lips, a bit like a lipgloss, but then dries to an acceptable texture much the same as the Balm Stain by Revlon. I got mine in the colour 'Galaxy', which as I said earlier is a berry pink sort of colour. This one does have a tiny bit of shimmery bits in it, but you don't notice that too much on the lips. I think it just helps to keep it from losing it's shine. Also, one more thing I noticed was the smell of it - like sour watermelon sweets! Well, at least that's what comes to mind to me, it's the same as the Kate Moss lipsticks by Rimmel. I haven't worn this enough properly to decide whether it bothers me or not, but we'll find out!!

 I can't wait to try these out properly! Overall I'm quite happy with my purchases, especially because without the 50% off in Mulligans, I wouldn't have even looked!

I hope you enjoyed my first impressions on these two products! What have you bought lately? Have you tried the Apocalips Lip Laquers in other colours? Have you tried the Revlon Balm stain? Let me know in the comments!!

Come back soon to find out what else I got and as always don't forget to check out my other online profiles such as - Twitter, Instagram & She Said Beauty (all available in the sidebar, along with live feeds!)

Ta-ta for now! xo

NOTD Tutorial: Matte Pink & Gold Glitter

Hey everyone!

Today I'm going to show you how to do my Nails Of The Day (NOTD)!

This is my first post of this kind, but lets hope it's the first of many.
You can find my previous NOTD pics on my Instagram or Twitter feed, both visible in the sidebar.

Have fun!


What you need:

1 Base colour - I chose a bright pink but you can use any colour you want.

1 Glitter polish - I used a golden coloured glitter, but again you could use silver or any other glitter colour.

 

How to: 

Paint your nails with 2 coats of your base colour

Leave to dry (~10 minutes)

Once it's dry, apply your glitter polish to the bottom of each nail

When you've done this, go over the bottom again to build up the density of the glitter

Do some small upwards strokes so the glitter appears to be settling gradually at the bottom of your nails

And you're done! You can mix up the colours however you like, and add your own flair to it. 

Final result :)

This is another combination you could use!

I hope you enjoyed my first tutorial!! I'm planning on doing more, so keep an eye out. Make sure to check out my other online hangouts for updates and news - twitter, instagram & she said beauty, all of which are available in the sidebar!

Have you tried this out? What colours did you use? OR what colour combo would look good too? Let me know how I did with my first NOTD post in the comments below! 

Ta-ta for now! xo

Favourites: March/April!

Hey guys, I hope I'm not too late with this post! If you haven't seen my Favourites for January/February post, check it out and see what's changed!

Included here are a few new buys that I picked up on my Holiday in Spain, I hope you enjoy!

Here we go...

March/April Favourites with Catrice, Essence, Lioele

NYX Powder Blush in 'Natural' - I mentioned these blushes in my Wishlist: May! post because I'm lusting over more shades of these. They are so pigmented! I wear this shade regularly and even though the shade is called ' Natural' I feel it gives a more pinky blush to my cheeks. It's super soft and easy to blend out tocreate a subtle flush of colour.

Sephora Contour Blush/Bronze Brush - I picked this up in Spain and it's actually becoming my Holy Grail blush brush (do they even exist??). It's really precise when it comes to applying blush/bronzer to the cheeks and blends highly pigmented blushes out really well.

theBalm Lipstick in 'Ima Goodkisser' - theBalm isn't available in Ireland, but I've seen them online, and the packaging is just too quirky to ignore that I had to pick something up. The shade I got is a light, natural looking pink with a hint of peachiness to it. It's really creamy and glides on a dream. Another thing I noticed about it is that it leaves your lips with a cool minty feeling, it didn't mention anything about it on the box but I don't mind!

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in 'Addis Ababa' - Ok, this I got for the colour primarily. But it's actually a lovely product. Even though it dries matte, it is in no way drying on your lips. It's very pigmented and you only need a thin layer. It has really good staying power, and is perfect for layering over a lipstick to alter the colour. I've used it several times over my ELF Mineral Lipstick in 'Natural Nymph' for a really soft baby pink look.

No. 7 Extreme Length Mascara - I got this free in boots in a little case with various other No. 7 goodies, I mentioned it in my haul post, but I hadn't used it much then. Now though I can't get enough of it! I only got the travel sized version, but I'm seriously considering buying the full sized version!

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 'Beige Clair' - I was in need of a good coverage foundation and saw Hannah from Midnight Violets mention the Healthy Mix Serum So I went to Boots and checked it out. It has really good coverage, but without looking cakey at all.

Lioele Triple the Solution BB Cream - After seeing Shaaanxo use this as a base under her foundation I decided to do some research on Asian bb creams, etc., and thought it looked really good. After getting some samples and trying it on its own and under my regular foundation I decided to bite the bullet and go for it! It's really good and I love the smell (is that weird..?) It has really good coverage on its own, which means I don't have to use as much foundation to get the coverage I want, therefore saving product!

Essence Fix & Matte Loose Setting Powder - I got this aages ago but only really started using it recently. It's so finely milled it's amazing. It makes such a difference to the look of your face. And because it's so finely milled it doesn't appear to 'cling' to the tiny hairs on your face. It's translucent as well, so it doesn't make your makeup look 'heavy' or alter the colour/coverage.

And finally...
Catrice Nail Polishes - All of them! They come in such gorgeous colours, it's so hard to resist. The one I got most recently is 'Genius in a Bottle'. It's a copper/forest green iridescent colour that changes depending on the angle. They are pretty opaque - two coats is plenty. They also have one of those flat brushes for application which I really like, as it makes it a lot easier.


Phew! So those are the products I've been loooving these past months. What have been your favourites lately? Have you got a holy grail brush or other product? Let me know in the comments!!
I hope you enjoyed and come back soon!

Don't forget you can find me on Twitter, Instagram & She Said Beauty - to name a few! My Live Twitter/Instagram feed can be found in the sidebar, along with all my other blogging sites.

Ta-ta for now!  xo

Weekend Essentials - Back to Basics!

Hey everybody! How are all of you lovely people?? 

I thought I'd share with you today my "weekend away essentials". These are what I would consider the must haves for a weekend away or even for a holiday. I think these items (give or take one or two) would also suffice as a beginners essentials. So lets get into it! 

My first item is an ingenious one, and it comes from The Collection (formerly collection 2000). 

It's their Cover & Go Foundation and Concealer Duo. It's a lovely medium coverage foundation, available in three shades, and it comes with a little compartment in the lid that has concealer and a small mirror in it. This is great because I think its better to have as many multitasking products as possible! 

My next item is a mascara. I've gone with NYC Big Curl. But of course you can choose whatever one you like! This mascara has a huge want to give maximum volume - and very affordable. 

You could leave it at that if you wanted to be super minimalistic, but I've chosen a couple other optional must haves. 

I always use a setting powder for my foundation, I find it prevents it from rubbing off on clothes etc., and also gives my skin a smooth appearance. At home I use Essence Fix & Matte Loose Setting Powder, but loose powders can be extremely messy so aren't ideal for travelling with. I chose a pressed powder from The Natural Collection. These are the least messy and I really like the formulation of the Natural Collection's powders. 

Another optional that i've chosen is liquid eyeliner - classic cat eye never fails! You could also go for a kohl or pen eyeliner. I don't favour gel or cream liners for travel as they can be a bit fiddly with brushes and that. 

Finally something that I personally love to have with me is a lipstick. Generally a muted, your-lips-but-better shade does the job for me. If you're not a lippy person something that I always have x10 of in my handbag is a tinted lipbalm, perfect for a hint of colour!  

One other thing that is probably only relevant if you want to bring powder is a brush of powder puff. I have one from primark which is perfect size for traveling - and it's amazing for the price! Seriously love it, especially as its pink!

That's it for my weekend away essentials!Thanks for reading & I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know in the comments if you have anything you would add to the list. What is your number one item that you cannot live without no matter where you go? 

Find me all over the web - twitter, instagram & She Said Beauty (these can all be found in the sidebar too!)

Ta-ta for now! xo

My Wishlist: May!

Hey everybody, I hope you're all well!

It's time to do my wishlist again - already? Time's gone so fast!
I have a couple of items scratched off my April Wishlist, and on their way to me, but I've seen so many more things I'm lusting over since then.
I'm also due for a favourites post too, and there's so many new products I've discovered since the last one, exciting!

But enough waffling from me, on with the show!

Wishlist: May! with Wet n Wild, wef, srth

Stila Illuminating Powder Duo in Kitten - I've seen lots of reviews of this product, and after trying Benefit's High Beam highlighter, I think either a cream or powder highlight suits me better. Shaaanxo uses this in nearly all her videos and it gives a beautiful dewy finish, without being too 'in your face'. I have an E.L.F fan brush on it's way, so I'm excited to see how this works out!

NYX Powder Blushes - I have one in 'Natural' which I got in Spain, and I love them. I love the formula of them. They're super soft and perfectly pigmented. I've heard the darker browney shade 'Taupe' can be used as a contouring shade so that is definitely going on my list.

NYX Lipsticks - I have one of these on it's way from Cherry Culture, in 'Narcissus', along with some lip liners too. Their matte lipsticks are supposed to have a great formula that isn't too drying on the lips. And they come in so many shades. I've fallen in love with lipsticks lately so I'm definitely going to get more of them.

Milani Lipgloss - I'm going to admit it right now - I really want these mainly because they're dupes for MAC Lipglasses. I don't wear lipgloss that much but the one I have my eye on is a dupe for Nymphette by MAC, which looks fab on bare lips.

MAC Lipstick in Snob, Girl About Town - I've decided to bite the bullet and go for it, I'm thinking of asking a friend of mine who lives where there's a Brown Thomas, to pick me up a MAC lipstick. I love lipstick so much right now, I feel I should invest in at least one high end one. The two colours I'm deciding between are Snob and Girl About Town. I like the look of Snob moreso than Girl ABout Town as I think I might have a dupe for it lying around somewhere.


Wet 'n Wild Palettes - These are a drugstore holy grail in America, I hear so much about them everywhere. I have to find out a cheap way to get them to me, here in Ireland! 'Walking on eggshells' is the most popular palette as far as I know, but I'd love to try some new, bright colours.

Make-up Academy Matte Perfect Primer - Ever since I saw Hannah from Midnight Violets review this and compare it to Benefit's 'The POREfessional' I've been um-ing and ah-ing over ordering it from the MUA Website. I absolutely adore my Benefit primer but the price is what puts me off a bit. I only have a sample size so it runs out quite quickly too.

And finally..
L'Oreal Top Coat Confetti - Since I've gotten into painting my nails more and more often, and seeing as it's summer soon (yay!) I'd love this so I could do a 'Mini Egg Mani'. I've been collecting a couple more nail polishes recently and I've decided that I'll do a Haul Post of my new ones and also maybe a tutorial post on any interesting manis I do!


That's it for my May Wishlist! Thanks for reading & as always, take a peep at my twitter, instagram & She Said Beauty profiles, they can also be found in the sidebar!
Let me know in the comments what you think of the items on my wishlist! Have you got any of them? Have you invested in a more high-end product, if so, was it what you expected? 

Ta-ta for now! xo

Holiday, life decisions & new feature!

Hey everyone!
Sorry I've been away from the keyboard for a bit but I was on holiday in Spain (have you seen my pics on Instagram?), which was a-mazing!

I got to see some beautiful places and meet some new and awesome people. There was also a load of beauty brands over there that aren't available in Ireland or England, so it was nice to be able to get my paws on some of those things. PLUS I got a few new clothes too which I might post about later! The weather was mixed with the first day being rainy, but then as the week went on everyday was better & better. Overall I had a fantastic time, and it was nice to be able to relax and forget about my worries and college and all the rest!

When we came back it was back to work - no more sangria for me! And back to college too. Which brings me to what I really want to whoever reads my blog know, maybe it's just because I've had a weight on my shoulders for the past few weeks and I've finally been able to make the decisions I need to get it off there, that I'm in the second last week of my first year of my course and I've made the choice not to go back to it in September. I loved it at the start and I value everything I was taught, but it's just not me.

I don't know exactly what I'll do instead but it's definitely something to do with make up or beauty.
I was in a department store on Friday just looking around and decided to get my brows done by the benefit brow expert, I also got some information on what qualifications you need to have to work at one of the beauty counters and it actually sounds really fun! I haven;t discussed my plans with my family yet but I know they will be supportive of my decisions.
I've been looking into beauty schools around Ireland and eyeing up some 'one day makeup' courses, but who knows yet!

Sorry if it's a bit of a rant but I've been busy with sorting all this out for the last few days so that's why I haven't had time to sit down and do the posts I planned for when I was back.

Aside from all that, I have decided that, as I'm finishing up with college and have the opportunity to wear nail polish for more than 24hrs - working with food or in a restaurant doesn't allow nail polish, I am going to do more Nails Of The Day posts, with nail polish hauls & some tutorials too! Let me know if you think this is a good idea in the comments!

Keep an eye on my twitter feed & Instagram feed for news and updates!
You can also find me on She Said Beauty!

What are your 'on holiday must haves'? 
Have you gone in thinking you love something then changed your mind? Or are you loving what your doing in college/uni? 
Would you like to see NOTD, polish hauls & nail tutorials? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading - it's a big confidence boost to know people are reading my little blog, and it helps me show my passion.

Ta-ta for now! xo

My wishlist: April!

Hey! So I thought I'd get started on my wishlist posts. You may have seen me mention it in the features post I put up a few days ago. I'm aiming to one every month for the following month (if that makes sense?) So in March (now) I'll do my wish list for April and so on. 

Many of the items are dupes for high end/expensive ones that I would love, but alas! I will put the original item in brackets. ALSO there are a lot of e.l.f products in my list so sorry in advance! 

Lets begin!

Update: BB Creams and TK Maxx!

Hey everyone!

Just a short post to say I love TK Maxx - here's why...

So I was in there browsing for summer clothes for Spain and as always I wandered over to the makeup/hair/general beauty section (there's some sort of magnetic attraction, I'm telling you!) and there in the midst of old lady soap and anti wrinkle creams were two little eyeshadow pots. One was a duo with a rose-gold shade and a glittery shimmery beige colour. The other was black with green shimmers going through them. Both from the company Too Faced. I checked the price on them and I actually had butterflies in my tummy - original price €21,00 & €20,50. Tk Maxx price..... €5,99!!

Of course I bought one! I went for the pink/beige duo (Bon Bon), I didn't get the black/green one (Galaxy) as I don't think I would have really used it that much and would have probably have been put into my swap box. But there you go! That's the second time I've found some real gems in TK Maxx. (A few weeks ago I picked up two Harajuku Lovers Perfumes for 24€ for both.)

Aaand now BB creams! I've been really into them recently - so has everyone it seems!? And as such have been researching them heavily. You may have seen my review of the L'Oreal BB cream which I was fairly pleased with. After using it a few more times I found the "smart pigment capsules" didn't dissolve (?) properly leaving me looking a bit pastey. After that I gave up and it's now in my swap box.
Recently though, since watching some of Shaaanxo's videos and seeing that she uses a korean BB cream by Lioele I started looking up the different asian bb creams which are truer than the american/uk BB creams as they are the originals.

I then found someone from New Zealand who said she could post me some samples of Lioele BB creams (yay!). I got them recently and have fallen in love! They're super smooth and have good coverage, but are still light. I use them as a base for my foundation which saves me from using so much to get good coverage.
Anyway, they were only samples so obviously I've been looking all over the internet to find somewhere I can get them from. When lo and behold I find someone looking to sell hers for ~8€ (12$)!!

I can't wait to get it and of course after I've been using it for a while I'll have a review up for you all!

What gems have you discovered in TK Maxx or a similar shop? 
Have you found you're holy grail product recently? Are you still looking? Let me know in the comments!

As alway find me on twitter, instagram, pinterest & now she said beauty! (All can be found in the sidebar on the home page too!)

Ta-ta for now! xo 

January/February Favourites 2013

Hey guys & dolls! 

So as you may have read in my previous post I have set new goals for this year's blogging! New features and everything! 

This is the first bi-monthly favourites post (so the next one will be end of April), with all my faves of January and February. These are all items that have been permanently on my window sill (where I do my makeup) for the last 2+ months. So without further ado.... Here we go!

Update: Favourites, Wishlists & more!

What up everybody?!

Just a quick update on some plans for features I want to implament...

I've been spending more & more time (too much in some cases!) looking at youtube videos and other beauty blogs trying to pick up tips and ideas on weekly posts or something similar.

I have decided that I'm going to start doing a bi-monthly faves post and also a wish list post every couple of weeks. This will have all the items I really want to get my hands on and why I want to get my hands on them.

My first NAKED Palette!

Ah! So I got the Urban Decay Naked Palette (the first one), and today was my first day trying it. It came with the Urban Decay Primer Potion, which I haven't tried before, but so far (it's 11:20pm now), it's stayed on all day with no creasing or anything! 

I've seen so much about this palette everywhere online and I've been looking for a neutral palette for a while now, so I thought why not. 

No. 7, 17 and more!

Whatsupeverybody!

I hope you are all in the spring spirit, I know I am!

Back to business! So today I went for a little shop as I got a Boots voucher from my Grandmother for my birthday. I don't normally get stuff in Boots, I don't know why..?? They have really good deals for what you get.



Pour example: Buy 2 No. 7 products and get a beautiful ballerina makeup bag with four little surprises (worth 34€) inside!

I was like oh my god. I really like No. 7, they have the best lipsticks in my opinion.

So my two bought items were No. 7 Stay Perfect Metallic Eyes Pencil in Purple, and No. 7 Sheer Temptation Lipstick in Lovely.




And inside the gorgeous ballerina pouch was:

• No. 7 Moisture Drench in Mulberry
• No. 7 Extreme Length Mascara
• No. 7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow in Mauve
• No. 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Day Cream

I haven't tried any of these yet, but I do plan to tomorrow! I'm very excited! 

But wait! There's more!? 

Yep, there is! It didn't stop there... I also got two 17 products as they were Buy One Get One 1/2 Price. Eep! Offers galore. 

So from 17 I got Instant Glow Bronzing Rocks, and 18hr Stay Time Concealer. Again, I haven't tried them yet but I will let you all know how it goes! 

Yeahh... Then I went to Primark and got the Essence Brow Set, Lash & Brow Gel, and a make up sponge. 

Here's the catch - it's a 'Beauty Blender' replica..?! I wasn't sure what to expect, but I've seen some comparisons between the BB and a Sonia Kushak Blender available in the US, and the BB came out on top. 

As with the rest of the stuff, it hasn't been tested yet. I did put it on water to see if it swelled up in size, and it definitely did - 3x the size! This was the major difference in performance of the BB and the Sonia Kushak one. It feels nice to touch but I still don't know what it will be like. 

The real ones are supposed to produce an "airbrushed" look to your foundation. Hmmm, we'll see I guess! 

If anyone has tried the beauty blender, or even a knock off version of it let me know in the comments below! 

Don't forget to check me out on Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram! 

Ta-ta for now!

e.l.f Haul!

Sooo! I finally got my first set of elf cosmetics.

I mentioned in the previous post that I ordered their All Over Cover Stick, Mineral Infused Primer, Mineral Foundation, Lip Stain with Gloss, Lip Liner and Powder Puffs.

Quick Update! e.l.f haul!

Hey guys!

Just a short update to let you know I ordered a ton of stuff from eyeslipsface.co.uk last night and you can expect a review in the next week or two!

(I'm sooooo excited!)

I ordered their mineral infused primer to go with their mineral foundation as I haven't really found a foundation to write home about as of yet. The BB Cream by L'Oreal is taking my fancy but I've never worn mineral foundation apart from getting it done in the department store, and I have to say, I really liked it.

I also ordered a Cover Stick too as I like them for concealer/foundation. The other thing I ordered which I have wanted for aaages but never found a decent priced one, is Lip Stain, especially in pink, of course to go with it I got some Lip Liner as well!

Other than that it was just some powder puffs as per one of The Beauty Department's recommendations. I was looking forward to getting a stippling brush and their mineral powder brush too, but sadly they are high demand items and as such were out of stock. Boo!

The prices are amazing, and I'll definitely be going back there. As for the quality, I'll be letting you know shortly!

Ta-ta for now!

Fizzy Bath Bombs!

Hey Everyone!

I love bath bombs and I think they're the perfect gift for valentines day for your boyfriend of girlfriend, add some candles and you're set for a beautiful romantic, relaxing night in.

So, let's begin with..
What you need (find these in chemist's/craft shops/health food stores):

• 2 Cups Baking soda
• 1 Cup Citric Acid
• 1-3 Drops of any essential oil (I like orange & ginger personally!)
• Witch Hazel (or Just some distilled water)
• Food colouring (optional)
• Spray bottle (diffuser)
• Wooden Spoon
• Mixing Bowl
• Egg Carton

Phew!

Now to the..

How to: 

1. Mix the Baking soda and Citric acid in your bowl (be sure to get rid of any lumps by sieving mixture)
2. Add a few drops of essential oil until the mixture smells sufficiently perfumed.
3. Add 1-3 drops of food colouring, or until the desired colour has been reached. 
4. Spray your witch hazel or water onto the mixture until it becomes damp enough to form pretty solid balls - not too much though!
5. Shape the mixture into evenly sized balls (or you can do small, medium and large sizes!)
6. Place them into your egg carton and leave to dry for 24 hours
7. Et Voila! 

You can decorate the egg carton with confetti, ribbon, glitter or anything you want to present them to your other half. 

Some essential oils you could try are lavender and rose, orange and ginger, peppermint, tea tree, patchouli, ylang-ylang or bergamot. 

Thanks for reading, and come back to see how to make Solid Perfume!

Ta-ta for now!

New phone = more posts on the go!

So my little pretentious kittens, I got a new phone the other day and, as such, I will now be able to post on-the-go!

Also I will able to impliment glamour IRL feature.

Its a galaxy y and its really adorable! Its a bit fiddily to type with but I think im getting used to it. Im looking for a cute cover for it atm, and ill let you all know if and when I find one.

Look forward to more valentines day DIYs!

Also check out my instagram- borntrippy for some on the fly fashion/beauty snaps (dont forget pinterest too!).

Ta-ta for now!

Super Easy Lip Plumper

So, today I'll show you how to make a super easy lip plumper. Perfect for valentines day or just as a little pampering for yourself. Use

What you need:

• Small plastic pots
• Cocktail stick/Chopstick to mix 
• 2tsp Vaseline (or enough to fill the pot up)
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cayenne powder
• 1/2 tsp sugar (optional)

How to:

1. Melt your Vaseline in the microwave, in a microwavable bowl, for about 15-25sec, or until liquid. 
2. Add the ground cinnamon and mix thoroughly
3. Add cayenne and mix thoroughly
4. Add sugar and mix
5. If necessary, put in microwave for another 15sec to liquefy a little more and infuse everything. 
6. Pour/Scoop into small pots/containers and leave in fridge to set for 1 hour.

Voila! You're lip plumper is done! The cinnamon & cayenne act as a mild irritant to the lips and plumps them up. It also makes them feel pleasantly tingly!

Alternatively you can replace the cinnamon and cayenne with a few drops of rose oil (or any other essential oil) to make a scented lip scrub. Simply massage onto your lips for a 30sec then clean off with a tissue for smooth, hydrated lips!

Let me know how you get on in the comments section below! 

Thanks for reading and come back soon for another Valentines DIY.

Ta-ta for now!

Love is in the air!

"Is it hot in here or it just me? If ya know what I mean.."




Well hello there! 

It's getting awfully close to valentines, don'tcha think? (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge). And now's the time to consider gifts! 

I know it can be tough, queens (and toms!), but fear not, The Pretentious Kitten is here to help! 

I'm here to tell you all you need to know about creating the Purrrfect Pamper Package for your significant other. 

Rather than make this a big long post on everything, I'll break each of them up into their main components, so you can sift through them easier, then I'll do a post on how you can package it all up prettily! 

Each item is very diverse and you can tailor it to your SO's likes and preferences!


News Just In..!

If you haven't visited my Pinterest page yet, what are you doing??! 
Get on over there and check out my boards! You can find all sorts of things there from all over the place. 

Feel free to leave feedback in the comment section.

Thanks for popping by, and come back soon!
Ta-ta for now

It's not about the cha-ching cha-ching.. Well, maybe a little!

What's up everybody!

Sooo, seeing as I'm a poor college student I applied for a grant (the government gives me money so I can attend college), in August and it took forever to get it buut it's finally here! And that means I can buy all sorts of new stuff!

So on Friday I went shopping and bought a gorgeous  new pair of Jeans, similar to ones pictured here.

Along with those I bought a faux Gucci belt, which I still love!

It would go very well with a plain top such as a white camisole and a loose, long sleeved crop top over, showing off the belt buckle.

To go with the jeans or even as a dress on it's own I bought a long top, that can be hoisted up to look like a sweater. Shape similar to this, if a bit longer at the bottom.

I also bought a new dress, which is white with pale gold sequins diagonally across the top and diagonally across the bottom. I don't have any pictures yet, but I will definitely put up some soon. It's similar in shape to this dress, but it has a V-shape at the back.

And to go with it I got a long necklace with large pearls on it, in pale pink and creamy white on a gold chain. Same style as this one, and earrings to match.

Wear the dress with a pair of nude platforms and a pale pink clutch to finish it off.





Keep and eye out on Lookbook for posts of my outfits and new buys that I mention here, also visit my pinterest page for ideas/tips/fashion to inspire you! 
I'll be doing a review on the GOSH 22 Palette very soon, so keep a look out for that! Also don't forget to leave feedback & ideas in the comment section. 

Ta-ta for now! xo

Apologies and Updates

Hey everybody!

I feel awful I haven't stayed true to my promise of a post but fear not, I will be back soon. It's been busier than expected and all other things going on.

But let's move on!