Tuesday 31 December 2013

2013... The Highs and the Low's ...

Its hard to believe that another year is over, and that 2014 is creeping up on us, slowly but surely... 2013 for me was definitely a mixed bag of emotions and what nots, and I think its nice to take time and look back on it and reflect before another year comes charging at me head on..

Highs:

  • At Easter last year, myself and my mother bit the bullet and joined Weight Watchers. I had put on near a stone, and at 5''1, and over 10 stone, I was very unhappy in myself. Sure people kept telling me it didn't matter, and maybe to them it didn't because to them I was still the same, but it mattered to me, because I felt so crap in myself because I felt heavy and sluggish, and a lot of my clothes didn't fit anymore. :( So when I did bite the bullet I was delighted, because I had a goal to aim for, and I was determined to do it. And by God I did it! I lost over a stone and a half, and went from 10''1 to 8''5 and I feel like a completely different person. To go from wearing size 12 to size 8 is such an unbelieveable feeling for me because never in my life have I been a size 8, until now! It just shows that goals are achievable if you do set your mind to it and are determined to do it!
  • 2013 was the year that I discovered beauty blogs and beauty channels on YouTube. I don't know why but before this year they seemed to slip by me somehow! After a lot of thinking and consideration, I set up this blog and I'm very glad I did, I've got some amazing feedback off friends and family, and although in recent weeks I've lost my blogging mojo, I am determined to work very hard on this blog in 2014 and make it something I will be very proud of. 
  • This is a bit of a soppy one, but I really learned the true value of friends and family in 2013. I think it is often something we take for granted, but throughout this year I have developed a bond with my cousins that I didn't think was possible. I'm not saying that we were never close but 2013 brought us all closer together, and hopefully that will last for many more years to come. 

  • Lows:
Without a doubt, the biggest low of 2013 was losing my beloved grandfather. He lived just around the corner from me, and so for that reason I saw him pretty much every day. I know to some people this is odd, but not seeing my grandparents to me and my brother was odd. It was just our families way. Unfortunately back in August he took ill very suddenly, and never recovered, and passed away peacefully on Ladies Day of the Galway Races. It was heartbreaking for all the family because he was the life and soul of the party. Words can't explain how much a part of our life he was and how much he will be missed, but I have no doubt that he is in a better place with the rest of the loved ones that we've lost. 

How was 2013 for you all?

Thanks for reading,
Alisha xxx

What I Got For Christmas 2013

Hey everyone! Its nearly time to wrap up another year and look ahead to a new start in 2014... Madness! I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and got lot's of nice goodies off Santa Clause! :) I myself had a quiet enough one, I spent it in the company of my family, and saw my boyfriend Xmas Eve, and then popped out to visit his family on St Stephens day, and then hit the town with my gal pals on St Stephens night, which for once was really good!
I thought I'd do a quick post on what I got for Christmas this year, I'm NOT showing off, but I have been watching videos on You Tube from various bloggers on what they got, and I just find them really interesting to watch for some reason! So I figured I would show you all some of what I got! I was really lucky this year and got some amazing gifts, so I'm just going to show you some of the bits I got... :)


So I know some people wouldn't find books very exciting... But I love reading, and am really trying hard to get back into it! My parents picked me up this book from Mitch Albom, entitled 'the first phone call from heaven' and so far I'm loving it! My boyfriend gave me this tourist guide of New York City, and at first I was a bit confused... But the main part of my Christmas present is.... A trip to New York!! How exciting is that! My jaw nearly hit the floor when he told me!! He gave me a choice between Paris and New York.. And of course I opted for New York! I've already started hunting out the different make up brands that we can't get here to pick up when I get there! Sad or what!! :)

The next two pictures are a couple of the presents from my brother, and I have to say he did well this year! He picked me up a heap of lovely goodies from LUSH, including some bath bombs and melts, and I also got another set which contains some shower jelly, some bubblegum lip scrub, some lip balm and some other bath bombs and bubble wands etc... I am so excited to try them as I've never tried any of the bath products from LUSH, and I'm more of a shower person, so I'm going to use it as an excuse to have more baths!! :D  This jewelry set was also a gift from him, and I love it!! I have earring like these anyway, so the necklace is perfect to wear with them, and I love the teal colour for something different! Thanks bro!!

This watch is my new baby, I absolutely love it! My parents bought me this, and it is absolutely beautiful, its a rose gold colour, and the face is a white kind of shell colour, (I'm sure there's a word for it but I can't think of it). The best thing about this is that it doesn't need a battery! Its a mechanical watch, so you give it a wind up as much as you can and its good to go for 2 to 3 days before it needs to be wound up again!

My boyfriend's family were very good to me again this year. I got this Ted Baker Sitting Pretty set from his parents, and its lovely! The bag is gorgeous and will be perfect for putting make up in, and the products in it smell lovely too, slight floral but fresh at the same time!
And from his sister and her husband I got this little pedicure set! It contains some really pretty nail varnishes that I can't wait to use, and also some toe separators, and I think the little owl is a nail file, how adorable!!


I have to say I'm very luck and privileged to have gotten such amazing things from such wonderful people. I know there's a lot of people out there who may be sick in hospital, and there may be a lot of families out there who don't know how they'll get food on the table, never mind get each other presents, and for that reason I consider myself so lucky.
I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and wish you all the best for 2014, and to anyone who has ever looked at my blog, even if it was just for a brief look, thank you so much!

Thanks for reading guys,
Alisha xxx

Friday 20 December 2013

Benefit Haulage!

Recently I posted on this blog about a recent love affair that developed between me and a very famous primer from Benefit, The Porefessional... I had a sample size that I squeezed every last drop out of and decided when it was all gone that I was going to take the plunge and purchase the full size!
I was in Dublin recently with a couple of friends, so while doing a spot of shopping we ventured into Brown Thomas, as we all wanted to pick up a few bits and soak up the Christmas atmosphere..
So this is what I bought!!



So like I said I had intended on picking up The Porefessional anyway, but then the guy working at the counter showed me this little box set, and it seemed way better value so I snapped it up! For 55 euro I got a full size of The Porefessional, a full size of They're Real Mascara, a mini Coralista lip gloss, and a mini Sun Beam highlighter, (which I have tried and love by the by)... Considering the primer is 34 euro alone this is a great way of trying additional products without having to fork out!


One of my friends with me was also raving about the Coralista blush from Benefit, so I was going to try it, as I had been contemplating trying one of the blushes as they are so well known and raved about. However after a scathing look from the Benefit man and a 'You're far to pale for that colour love', I opted for this one that he picked up and tried on me instead. The one he chose was Dandelion, and to be fair he made the right choice, as its a perfect light mauve/pink colour that looks really pretty on the skin. This also cost 34 euro, so I have to admit I did feel slightly guilty walking out of Brown Thomas.. But oh well, its Christmas after all!
So far I am really liking the products I've tried from Benefit, so I won't say no to trying a few more!
Thanks for reading,
Alisha 
xxx

Tuesday 3 December 2013

Make Up Monday

Ok so first off I know I am a day late with this and I apologise profusely for this, but it was hard to get it up when I got home from work after having dinner, going for a walk and getting a shower! But better late then never I guess!
So this week I've been trying to go through my make up bag and try a few bits that don't get as much love as they should.

So this week its the turn of my Rimmel Stay Blushed Cheek Tint!
To be honest I had previously considered cheek tints and similar products to be more for the Summer time, which is understandable seen as they are a cream product.
Rimmel describe this as a 'lightweight liquid cheek tint which blends instantly and seamlessly for a natural flush of colour'.

And it does exactly what it says on the tin! For the last week or so I've been trying to go for more of a bold lip, and so I  haven't wanted to go over the top with the rest of my make up. Which is why I pulled out this baby! 
I really really am impressed with this stuff. A little goes a long way, so a tiny little dot of this on my finger and blended in with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush leaves me with a nice flushed colour on my cheek that lasts all day. 
I have this in the colour Pop Of Pink, which is exactly what it is, just a nice natural pink colour! 




Its 6.59 and available from your usual Rimmel Stockists! :)

Sunday 1 December 2013

The Battle of the Lip Lacquers!

This year it seemed like the 'it' product was lip lacquers. Rimmel set the beauty world alight with the release of the much anticipated Apocalips, and since then many other brands have jumped on bored with their tuppence worth.
Recently I went into Boots, and after picking up two products that I had my eye on for ages, (more on these later), I had to find a 3rd item to make up my 3 for 2, (which is a harder task than you'd think in Boots believe it or not), I ended up choosing this Colour Pro Lip Lacquer from Collection, as I haven't tried much from the brand.
After having used both offerings from each brand, I figured it would be nice to do a post comparing the two, as considering they're both meant to be lip lacquers, they should both work in the same way, right? Well lets find out!

Rimmel Apocalips: Rimmel say that these provide 'The intense rich colour of a lipstick, enhanced by a satin smooth shine', and I have to say they do deliver on everything they say!  At first I wasn't very taken with these. Perhaps it was the unusual texture, or the fact they were very hard to use without making a mess, and because I bought them in all the bright bold colours, it always ended up that I left the house looking like I did my make up in the dark. Epic fail. However, after finally getting to grips with these, and figuring out how to apply them without looking like a bad drag act, (actually a drag act would probably still have done it better than me), I love them! So much so that I had bought 6 out of the 8 colours available at the time in them! The texture of these are real creamy, and packed full of pigment. They just feel so comfortable on the lips, and after the initial wet feeling upon application, they do dry to a nice glossy finish. I myself personally do find that they wear a bit after eating or drinking, but even so they do still leave a slight stain on the lips, particularly the stronger colours. My personal favourites of the bunch are Stellar, which is a fab coral red colour, and Apocalips, a lovely deep pink colour which I love for nights out! I have been tempted to wear it for work somedays, but I haven't been brave enough to do it yet... But someday! I'll pop in some swatches of these below so you can see the colours and texture's for yourselves!  The packaging of these is also something a bit different, Rimmel really made the effort to make sure it suited the name of the product! These released earlier in the year with just 8 colours in the collection, which isn't bad really, but now they've upped that to 13!! They are priced at 7.95 each and are available in Boots and your local Rimmel stockists!


Collection Colour Pro Intense Lip Lacquer: Collection is another drugstore brand that is well known with bloggers, probably most for its Lasting Perfection Concealer. I'm yet to try that however, so on a whim when in Boots the last day, I decided to pick up a product I hadn't heard much about from the brand, just to see were they a good all rounder brand. I picked up the colour 3, which first of all is a bit disappointing that they don't actually have names for these, personally I just think that the number only is a bit boring. Regardless, I picked up the colour I thought I'd wear most, which is a nice bright bubblegum pink, which strangely is something I don't have in my collection! Collection say that these leave a 'lacquer like finish for the evening or a subtle sheen for day time wear'. First of all, the texture is really really different to that of the Apocalips. Its sticky upon initial application, and just remains that way for the length it remains on the lips. I applied some about an hour ago, maybe more, and my lips are still sticky! Now I  don't have a problem with that, but its just something to note incase you don't like that in a lip product. Colour wise, they are pigmented, but nowhere near as much as the Apocalips, (or maybe its just the colour I chose, I don't know). Again I'll pop in a swatch below so you can see for yourselves. I also find it hard to apply these, not in the same way as the Apocalips, but more in the sense that the applicator on these nearly drags across your lips and doesn't disperse the product very well. Really to me, these are just a highly pigmented lip gloss. A lip lacquer to me should be somewhat similar to a lipstick, but in a liquid form, and I'm afraid to say that this doesn't meet that definition for me. Packaging wise, there's nothing very different about this product for me, it just looks like a standard lip gloss or lip product. Another downside with this is there's just 4 colours! They are priced at 6.49 from Boots.

Overall I was fairly disappointed with the Collection offering. I did have high hopes for it, and had imagined it to be a lot creamier than it turned out to be... It just is a big sticky thumbs down from me, but seen as I got it for free in the 3 for 2 I can't be too upset. If you are looking to try a lip lacquer from the drugstore, I think at the moment the Rimmel ones are probably the best ones to try! And there not expensive, so if at the end of the day you're not a fan there's no harm done.

                                        Rimmel Apocalips in Apocalyptic and Stellar

                                       Collection Colour Intense Lip Lacquer in Shade 3
So that's it guys, have you tried either of these?

Thanks for reading,
Alisha xxx






Thursday 28 November 2013

November Favourites!

Here we are again, the end of another month! Am I the only one that feels like time is going way too fast and it should just slow down a biteen? I mean this time 4 weeks Christmas will have been and gone!
This month I'm back with another quick round up of things I've been loving and reaching for on most days.. So here we go!!

So there isn't really a whole lot of favourites this month, as generally I just keep reaching for the same thing over and over until it runs out and my hand is forced to try something else! 

Benefit The Porefessional: I did a brief post on this earlier this week, and I won't dwell on it again too much, but I can't believe how good this stuff is! It minimises the overly large pores on my nose instantly, and it has a really soft and smooth texture that you wouldn't even know you're putting it on your face! 

Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Mascara: I have mentioned before that I'm not really that fussy on mascara, mainly because to me mascara is much of a muchness. But for some reason this one is a game changer for me! I got it in one of the sets Soap And Glory released at Christmas time last year, and finally I got around to using it, and so far I'm loving it! It just seems to coat my lashes really well, without getting excess mascara all over my face or in my eye, and it doesn't clump up either! 

Superdrug Face Masks: I picked up some of these little face mask sachets a few months back when I was in Birmingham for my cousins wedding, and I absolutely loved them! So much so when I ran out, I got my brother to pick me up some in Superdrug in Preston before he came home from college for the Summer! There's something for everyone in the range, depending on what type of skin you have. The two I've pictured here are the deep cleansing mask, and the berry exfoliating mask, but recently I've used up the yogurt smoothie mask for dry skin, and my skin is so soft after using it! 

Roger and Gallet Cedrat Fragrance: Roger and Gallet do some absolutely gorgeous fragrances, and if you haven't checked them out by now you seriously should! This particular Cedrat fragrance is not your typically citrus cent, as it has a slight musk to it also, which in my opinion makes it easy to wear in either Summer or Winter! 

Nivea Lip Butter: I'm kind of cheating with these, considering I only bought it like a week ago! But after using them I couldn't but mention them! They smell divine, which isn't really important when talking about a lip butter, but it helps doesn't it? But the formula of these is just as nice, as its so soft and supple on the lips, and it contains shea butter among many other ingredients to keep the dry lips that the dreaded Winter brings at bay! 

MUA Undress Me Too Palette: For such a long time I was dead set against trying the Naked Palettes from Urban Decay, mainly because of the price, (that has changed since seeing pictures and swatches of Naked 3, I need/want/must have that Palette). Then I found out that UK brand MUA had probably the most close dupes to the Naked Palettes, so I gave them a go, and I'm so so glad I did! This is the dupe for the Naked 2 palette, but I've been reaching for this every single morning this month without fail, because the colours in it are practical for every day wear, but at the same time could create a perfect smokey eye for a night out! 

Yankee Candle Wax Tarts: Ok this one is a bit random, but over the last few months I've developed a bit of an obsession with these little guys! When I'm getting ready for work or bed, I light my burner by my bed and melt which ever tart I fancy at the time, and the smell just fills up the room! They are so handy if you're not really into candles, because these pack just as much of a punch as the large jars from Yankee Candles do. I'm currently burning a vanilla scented one, (can't remember the exact name), but I'm dying to light Merry Marshmallow and Fireside Treats! 

So that's it for this month ladies! Not much in it, but as I said, I've generally been reaching for the same things time and time again so I don't want to bore you all! 
What have you been loving for November? 

Thanks for reading, 
Alisha xxx

Tuesday 26 November 2013

Winter Essentials: Lip Balm

Hey lovelies!
So the Winter weather has really set in over the last few weeks, and the temperatures have taken a serious dip!
Which is why when the seasons change, we must change our routine to suit, as skin tends to dry out a lot easier when the cold weather sets in, well at least it does for me anyway!
I've decided for the next couple of week's to do a weekly blog post on some of the essentials we should all have in our beauty regime to make sure we're all at our best for the festive season!
And first up its.... Lip Balms!
A lot of people tend to suffer the dreaded dry lip syndrome at this time of year, and for some it may not be a huge issue, but for others its very uncomfortable and irritating, as lips can often be so dry and chapped that they tend to bleed!
Today I thought I'd show you the Lip Balms that I have in my handbag at the moment, (yes all of them are in my handbag together, don't judge me), and also some other lip balms that have had rave reviews that may be worth checking out!


So first up we have Carmex which is in the mint scent. This is in my handbag, but I can't honestly say I like it. Not because it doesn't work, because I have put it on my lips at night going to bed and my lips are noticeably softer in the morning, but because it tingles! Its like one of those plumping lip glosses that are available from Soap And Glory and the likes, but this to me is a lot worse! If you are a person that doesn't mind the tingling sensation, which I usually don't, then this is a good lip balm that also contains an SPF which is always good! Its in a squeezy tube which also allows you to control how much product you use which is great! I can't remember the exact price of this, but it was definitely less than 3 euro in Penneys!

The 2nd one up is a recent purchase, (2 days ago to be precise,) and boy do I like this one! This is one of those products that bloggers raved and raved about, and eventually it sucked me in! Its the Nivea Lip Butter, in Vanilla and Macadamia, and I seriously am in love with this stuff! First of all it smells divine, but most importantly it makes my lips feel so so soft! I cant find the exact ingredients but Nivea to me have always been advocates of gentle ingredients in their products and this lip balm is definitely gentle! The only downside to this for me is that the product itself goes on white, so you really have to apply with a lighthand, otherwise your lips will look a bit strange! If you fancy picking this up its on offer in Boots at the moment, 2 for 4.50! (I got the raspberry one as my second incase your
wondering)

Next up is a product that has a huge celebrity following, (Kim K is a firm fan apparently), and its the EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm in Raspberry and Pomegranate. I just bought this for the novelty factor to be honest, its such a cool shape! Besides that though it is a really moisturising lip balm! It contains Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter which help to protect and condition your lips! It also contains Vitamin E, and is 100 percent natural and 95 percent organic! Its available for 6.95 on Cloud10Beauty, and if your not a fan of Raspberry and Pomegranate, there's a huge range of other scents available, Lemon and Strawberry are but a few!

Last but by no means least is my Molton Brown Lip Balm. This is the most heavy duty out of the lip balms I've mentioned so far, and its the one I turn to if my lips are in dire straights. Its a thicker formula then the others, and when applied to the lips its more of a matte finish, which is great if you have dry skin around your nose possibly and you use this as you won't be left with noticeable shine around the area. I am having extreme difficulty finding any information about this online as Google seems to have shut down on me, (thanks google,) but when I do find said info I shall add it in to this post! I did get this a few years ago as a present off my mother, and as its Molton Brown, which is a fairly posh brand, I'm sure this cost at least 10 euro anyway, but its possibly I'm wrong!

If none of these are tickling your fancy, or else you don't think they would be heavy duty enough for your thirsty lips then others that are getting great reviews are:

  • Nuxe Reve De Miel Lip Balm: This product contains Acacia Honey and Shea Butter to nourish and repair dry lips, and also it contains no preservatives or artificial scent. It has a fairly thick texture, so this is one I'd imagine you'd use at night before bed, or else if you weren't venturing out of the house! Its available on Cloud10Beauty for 12.95!
  • La Roche Posay: There was one particular lip balm I was searching for from this particular brand, but I can't seem to find it, but all I can say is if your lips are in a really bad state then maybe try any of the ones from La Roche Posay, as they are very well known for the sensitive nature of their products.

That's it women! Hopefully  you'll have found something useful in this post, and if not, well I'll try harder next time! 

Thanks for reading guys, 
Alisha! 
xxx


Monday 25 November 2013

Make Up Monday!

I know I say it every Monday but seriously, where are the weeks going? Tomorrow 4 weeks is Christmas Eve!! Madness!
So the product I've been loving this week is a new addition to my collection, and I just can't believe I haven't tried it before!
It is the infamous 'Porefessional' from Benefit, and its every bit as good as it has been made out to be!

Now I don't actually have this size YET, but I am definitely going to pick it up in the coming weeks!
Benefit claim that this primer 'quickly minimises the appearance of pores and fine lines for smoother than smooth skin'!
I had people raving about it for ages, and really had no interest in trying it, but then I was cleaning out my make up a few weeks back, and I came across a little sample size that I had gotten in a magazine! Woohoo! I've been using it for the last week, and the first thing I've noticed is for such a small sample its lasting ages! I definitely have another weeks use out of it!
Its a really light silky tinted primer, but it goes on to the skin transculent. The first place I used it was my nose, because I have serious Rudolph issues with redness, and also the pores on my nose are huge, like its ridiculous!
Now it took away the redness for sure, and although I could still see them, they definitely weren't as noticeable as they were before!
I actually noticed that this made my make up look a lot more flawless than it had with previous primers, but I don't think it helped it stay on any longer, but I really wouldn't worry about that unless I was going out or something!
I've been in two minds over whether to purchase the full size or not, but I do think more than likely it will happen, as I've never been as taken with a product after one go as I have been with this!

The POREfessional costs 34.00 for 22ml, but its currently on offer on Debenham's website for 30.60, so if you want a bit of a saving then pop on over!

Thanks for reading,
Alisha xxx

Thursday 21 November 2013

My Sleek Blush Collection!

Sleek is a drugstore brand in the UK that is raved about for having amazing quality products, at fantastically low prices. The most raved about products of there's is without a doubt, (in my opinion), the blushes.
Everyone and their mother in the blogging world can't get enough of them, and its not difficult to see why.
Now its not a brand that we'll walk into Boot's here in Ireland and find, boo... It is available in Superdrug in the UK, so for those of you on the east coast of our fair emerald isle, you may be able to get your paws on it.
However there's no need to fear because Cloud10Beauty have saved the day for us and have a range of Sleek's most popular products on the website! Yay!!
So onto my collection.... Which has expanded quite quickly over the past few months... oops!!

So altogether I have 5, and each blush contains 8grams of product, which isn't bad considering the price!



First up are the shades Coral and Pixie Pink. I bought Coral under the illusion that it would be just that, a coral blush, but as you can see its not coral, nor does it resemble coral in the slightest. As a matter of fact I  think its a bronzer, or at least that's what I'm going to be using it for anyway! Pixie Pink was a shade that I found it impossible to get my hands on. Any time I went to buy it online it was sold out!

You can see why though, its a bright bubblegum really girly pink! One thing with these blushes is that they are really pigmented, so a little does go a long way with these, especially the brighter colours. (I learned that the hard way). Pixie Pink to me is more of a Summer colour, but make up is supposed to be fun and there's no rules so go crazy!! ;)




Next up is Rose Gold and Flushed. Both of which I'm using fairly regularly since we hit September. Have a look at Rose Gold..... Does it remind you of any other blush? Of the high end variety?? No? Well this is a dupe for the infamous Nars Orgasm. I don't own it but after watching numerous YouTube video's and reading various blogs I sure can see the similarities! Rose Gold is a beautiful peach toned blush with very fine gold glitter throughout, so it works as both a highlighter and a blush all in one!! Flushed is a deep red/berry toned colour, which is great for the berry trend gracing the catwalks this season. Rose Gold doesn't come up great in the swatches again, but you can see how pretty Flushed is!



Lastly is my most recent purchase, Antique. Its part of the Vintage Romance collection that Sleek have recently released, and it is gorgeous! In the pan it doesn't look much, in fact when I saw it first I was slightly disappointed because it wasn't what I was expecting at all, but when I put it on, wow was I wrong! Its a mauve/brown toned blush, again with very fine glitter particles throughout, but when it's on it just gives the nicest glow to the skin! Its very natural looking so this teamed with a bright lip or smokey eye is a great look for the party season!



 So at the moment this is my collection of Sleek individual blushes. They also do a blush trio which I also have two of (shame on me), and I will show you those at a later date, possibly along with the eyeshadow palettes, which again are great quality and a great price!
If you haven't tried out any of the products and are looking to try some the blushes are a great place to start as they are so inexpensive, not that any of Sleek's products are. Other well known products are the Face Form, which contain a bronzer, highlighter and blusher all in one palette, so that would be a great way to try out three products all at once.

Sleek products are available HERE at Cloud10Beauty,
Thanks for reading,
Alisha
xxx

Nails Of The Week!

So I have to apologise first of all, because I have gotten very lacksy daisy with painting my nails. I don't know what it is but some weeks I'm mad to change them up a bit, and then others I'm just happy to let them chip away... Bold me!!
This week however I'm back with a bang, and with a trusty favourite that I've had in my collection for years at that!
Its another from the Rimmel 60 Second Collection in the colour 'Grey Matter'. Seriously, if you haven't tried these polishes, you must! The formula is fantastic!
Anyway, this polish is a light grey colour, which is perfect for this time of year, especially if you want something fairly neutral but don't want your typical nude colours.
In the bottle it does look a light grey, but with this you need two coats to make it opaque, and with two coats it does translate to a slightly darker colour, but I wouldn't mind that! ;)
What nail colours are you lovely ladies rocking this week?

Thanks for reading,
Alisha xxx

Monday 18 November 2013

Make Up Monday!

Can you believe it! Another week over, and its another Monday.... :( However it does mean it is time for another Make Up Monday!! :) Woohoo!
If you don't know what in the slightest I'm talking about, I've decided to do a little series talking about my favourite item of the previous week. This week I'm including two, but they've been used together as a couple so to speak, and let me tell ye, I'm loving the combination!

The product's I'm speaking of are..... My Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge, and my Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation!

I got these pictures from www.boots.ie, they are blurry but I couldn't possibly show you my own personal ones because they are so beaten up and dirty!

But these work amazingly well together its amazing! 
I've been using the Healthy Mix since the Summer time, but put it away because for some reason it always looked slightly streaky on my nose. I don't know why exactly this is, I do have rather large noticeable pores on my nose so it could be to do with that. But last week I decided I'd get it back out again, and rather than use a brush I dampened my miracle complexion sponge a bit and gave it a go! 

I was instantly surprised with the finished look of my make up, it just looks so flawless, like I don't have any make up on at all! 
The sponge is great because it has a wider side, and then a pointed side which is great for getting in around the nose, and I also use it for blending in my concealer for blemishes and under eyes! 

The Healthy Mix foundation is available in Boots for 14.99 and the Miracle Complexion Sponge is only 5.89 also in Boots.

What have you been loving this week? 
Thanks for reading, 
Alisha xxx

Sunday 17 November 2013

The Sweater Tag!

Sometimes its nice to do a different type of post, rather than the regular haul or review etc, so I decided for today's post I'd do another tag one!
This one is called 'the sweater tag' and it originated on YouTube, so if I find the original video of the girl that started it, I shall pop it in at the bottom of the post.
Its basically all about the autumn/winter months, hence the name, so lets not waste any more time chinwagging lets get to it! :)

1. Favourite candle scent? 
Any Yankee Candle scent! Seriously, they taste good enough to eat! At this time of year, any of the warmer spicier scents, like Cinnamon Stick, or Fireside Treats is another yummy one! 

2. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?
Tea all the way! I would drink maybe 2/3 cups a day, but I'm trying to make at least one of those a herbal tea..... But it just doesn't taste the same!


3. What's the best fall memory you have?
Hmmmm..... I don't have any particular memories as such, bar those of Halloween when I was a child, and myself and my brother and all our cousins used to dress up in a bin liner, and a cheap mask and head trick or treating, and we would then head to my grandparents house where my grandfather would have a basin set up for 'ducking' and an apple tied to the ceiling, they were fun times! :) 


4. Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips or winged eyeliner? 
Dark Lips all the way! I'm not very good at applying lipstick though, but I make a better job of it than I do with eyeliner, that's for sure! 


5. Best fragrance for fall?
I'm the kind of person that doesn't care what time of year it is when it comes to perfume, if I like a perfume I'll wear it and that's that, no matter if its January or June! Currently I'm wearing a fragrance from L'Occitane called Magnolia and Mure, and its a very deep berry scent, so I suppose it is appropriate for this time of year!

6. Favourite Thanksgiving food? 
Well we don't do Thanksgiving here in Ireland, but for Christmas I would say it has to be the turkey!

7. What is autumn weather like where you live?
Wet, wet and more wet. I live in Ireland so its constantly raining! :( However we do get the odd nice day where its sunny, but really cold so its a nice crisp day where you can see your breath, I love those kind of days! 


8. Most worn sweater? 
Don't really have one in particular, I usually layer up when it gets to this kind of year! 

9. Must-have nail polish this fall? 
I don't know why, but I'm on the hunt for a nice rose gold polish, so if anyone knows any good ones then feel free to let me know! :)


10. Football games or jumping in leaf piles?
Football games, leaf piles in Ireland tend to me mucky and all stuck together!! 


11. Skinny jeans or leggings?
Skinny Jeans, I despise people wearing leggings as proper pants! Fine if you wear a long top with them, but do we really need to see your camel toe?? 


12. Combat boots or Uggs? 
Don't own either of these.... But I would say Combat boots.... 


13. Is pumpkin spice worth the hype? 
Never tried pumpkin spice, in fact I've never tried pumpkin! Going to Dublin in a few weeks, so I may just have to head to Starbucks!! :)

14. Favourite fall TV show? 
Fall TV shows?? I don't know any fall TV shows.. My favourite TV show by far is The Big Bang Theory! 


15. What songs really gets you into the fall spirit?
Usually Christmas songs would get me in the fall/Xmas mood.. But this year I'm not particularly bothered about Xmas...

So that's my take on The Sweater Tag!
Thanks for reading guys,
Alisha xxx

Friday 15 November 2013

MUA 'Luxe' Power Brow

I have never understood the fuss behind eyebrows, and 'HD' brows. Now maybe its just because a number of people that I see on an everyday basis have done there eyebrows themselves, and they look absolutely ridiculous, like two caterpillars stuck on to their face! Mean but true. In recent months I've noticed that my eyebrows have become a bit sparse, it looks like I've possibly over plucked my eyebrows, a lot! 
Which is why when I saw this new release from MUA, one of my favourite brands as you may know already, I just had to give it a go! 
Its the Power Brow, which is part of the new LUXE collection MUA have released recently, (check of the Velvet Lip's, they look gorge!)
So the packaging is a bit more fancy than a lot of the other MUA products, but I suppose considering this is part of a more luxurious range, that would be why. Its great that they even give you instructions on how to get the perfect eyebrows and everything!

The product itself is contained in what looks like it could be a liquid eyeliner, but its a sturdy pen which contains the brow pencil on one side, and a brow highlighter on the other. 
Ignore fluffy pj's in background.... Ahem!! This is the brow pencil part, although it has a softer texture than a pencil... Its more like a powder in a pencil form, if that makes sense! I got the colour fair, which is probably a bit too light for my eyebrows, but seen as I only fill in the gaps that are obvious, I get away with it. 

This is the highlighter side. Sometimes with a duo product like this, the highlighter may not be great, but I actually like this one! I also saw Miss Budget Beauty say recently she used it as a face highlighter too, so I may have to give that a go!

Overall, I have to say I really like this product! I hate the idea of my eyebrows looking ridiculously drawn on, but with this product, that doesn't happen. 
I literally just use light strokes just to fill in the parts of my brows that I think look a bit sparse and I really like how full looking it makes them! 
The even better news about this product is that it only costs 3 pounds! Imagine!
Its available on the MUA website HERE

What do you lovely folks use to do your brows?
Thanks for reading, 
Alisha xxx

Wednesday 13 November 2013

High End Christmas Beauty Gift Guide,

So that season is quickly creeping up on us, and no matter how much I give out and rant about it being too early for decorations and ads on TV and what not, it doesn't matter, its still going to happen!
The worst thing for me is trying to decide what to get for people, and although I'm keeping it strictly to family and the boyfriend this year, its still a pain!
So for those of you out there that are in the same dilemma as me and are unsure what to get some of the people in your life, I thought I'd compile a little gift guide for the women in your life!
I figured I'd start at the more expensive side of the spectrum, and work down to the less expensive side, which I think is a place a lot of people are looking to these days, which is no harm at all!
But for those people who do like to spoil their significant others at Christmas, here are some of my top picks! The bits and pieces I've chosen are all available on Brown Thomas' website, and if you don't like what I've chosen there are lots of other lovely bits there for you to peruse at your leisure!





My attempts at 'Paint' weren't too great.. .But any who here's what I picked!

Mac Nocturnals Lip Gloss in Nude: I'm amazed at the price of these... So much so that I considered not putting in to this post, 35.00 for 4 of Mac's well known Lip Glasses, to me that's a bargain! This same set also comes's in a Coral/Red collection, or else a Pink set, so there's something for everyone!
If this isn't your cup of tea, Mac have some other great collections out so they may be worth a look instead!

Diptyque Roses Scented Candle: I've seen beauty bloggers across the globe rave about these, and sometimes there's nothing nicer than a nice luxuriously scented candle to relax you after a hard day's work. For someone that  enjoys a relaxing bath or two, these would be ideal, obviously more scents are available but I just chose this one because I didn't know what the other scents were... Shameful! This full size candle is 50.00

Joe Malone Pomegranate Noir Collection: Joe Malone is one of those labels that I look at online and in Brown Thomas and nearly let the items fall in shock at the price, its just a really luxurious label with amazing quality products. Especially the candles! The set pictured here is made up of three items from the Pomegranate Noir line, the Pomegranate Noir Cologne, a hand and body wash, and a body creme.
Its 80.00 for the set which is great value, considering  the 30ml cologne which you get in this set is 48.00 alone! It also comes in a gorgeous little gift box, which makes it even feel more luxurious!

Clarisonic & Lancome Gift Set: If you have someone in your life that loves skincare, and really looks after skin then perhaps this set from Clarisonic and Lancome is one you should look into. The set contains the infamous Clarisonic 'Mia 2' and Lancome's Visionnaire, as well as Gel Eclat Clarifying Cleanser. Its 149.00 for the lot which is not bad at all at all!

Tom Forde Jasmine Rouge Lip Colour In Fatal: Tom Forde Lipsticks are the lipsticks of all lipsticks, they're little pieces of coloured luxury in a bullet. Full Stop. The black and gold packaging just makes it even more amazing! Why not treat somebody to this red colour so they'll really stand out on Christmas Day! 46.00 is the price, but she'll love you forever if she opens this on Christmas Day!

Kilian Jeweled Clutch Back to Black, Aphrodisac 50ml: This is something I'd never heard of before, but I just had to put it in when I saw it! This clutch is encrusted with real crystals and is adorned with the Chinese symbol of longevity! The clutch itself is amazing, and I'd love to even get the clutch never mind the scent, but it does come with a 50ml bottle of Back to Black, which does sound like it would be a very heavy musky scent... Its not the cheapest at 195.00 though!

So they are just some of my picks!
My next Christmas post will probably be on more drugstore products, which will be a lot more affordable for all of you, hopefully!
Thanks for reading,
Alisha xxx

Pictures are property of www.brownthomas.ie 

Monday 11 November 2013

Make Up Monday!

I mentioned in a previous blog post that I was looking to do more 'series' type post's, so over the weeks I've come up with a few.
For Mondays post I've decided that it'll be dedicated to the product that I had been loving for the previous week. Its not going to be an in depth review or anything like that, but just a quick shout out to a much loved product!
So on to the product itself.... And for this week my favourite product used was definitely my Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie.
The Revlon Lip Butter's are raved about by every beauty blogger from here to the other side of the world. They're just one of those things that everybody loves! A lip product with the moisturisation and hydration of a lip balm, but with all the pigment of a lipstick!
For the season that's in it, I'm trying to get into darker more berry toned colours, which is why I've been wearing this particular shade for the week! It can be worn lightly for a quick wash of colour, or it can be built up to a more intense colour, which ever you prefer!
The Revlon Lip Butters are 11.20 HERE and are on 3 for 2 at the moment, go on treat yourself! ;)
Thanks for reading,
Alisha xxx


Friday 8 November 2013

Boots Star Gift

I think these posts are fast becoming my favourite, because every Thursday I look forward with anticipation to see what amazing gift set Boots have for us!
This week again they give us another great product for a fantastic prize, this time in the form of skincare.
Enter Champney's Complete Home Spa!

For anyone that's not aware, Champney's is actually a spa in the UK, well its a range of spa's really in different countryside locations across the country. I didn't know until last year that they actually sold there range in Boots, but I guess you learn something new every day!
Anyway, this particular set is made up of 7 spa quality products, so everyday for us can be a spa day, but from the comfort of our own homes.
It contains:

  • Distant Shores Body Scrub: (50g)
  • Citrus Blush Shower Gel:    (200ml)
  • Citrus Blush Body Lotion:   (200ml)
  • Skin Comforting Bath Milk: (300ml)
  • Distant Shores Body Butter: (50ml)
  • Hand And Nail Cream:        (40ml:
  • Body Polisher
It comes in a hard case which can be easily wiped clean, good news all round!
The price of course has to be the best part! Down from 64.50 to 30.00! 
For the quality of these products, this is an absolute bargain, and would make an ideal present for a mother, or mother in law, or even just yourself! (I tend to self gift a lot)

So if your after this you better hurry because it's only there for a week, although I think this one may sell out before that!

Thanks for reading, 
Alisha 
xxx

Picture used from www.boots.ie

Nails of the Week

Over the last week while I've been on holidays from work I've been trying to come up with some new ideas for the blog. I've had it in my mind to do some sort of a series for a while, but I couldn't figure out exactly what. Until now!
A majority of my post's seem to be quite long and somewhat descriptive, so I wanted something short and snappy that wouldn't bore everybody!
So that's where the 'Nails Of the Week' posts come in!
 A weekly account of what nail polish is on my fingernails for the week and what I think!
So this week I'm wearing....

Green With Envy by Rimmel! Its one of the infamous 60 seconds quick drying range, and I think its one of the best nail polish formula's I've tried! The short, wide brush, makes it super easy to apply, and it really does dry in an instant!
This particular colour is a lovely metallic green colour, which was more or less opaque in just one coat. I however did two coats just to be sure! The formula of these is great, and usually on there own they last a few days anyway, but I put this on Monday with an OPI topcoat and its lasted me till now with one or two tiny chips!
This particular formula from Rimmel is priced at 5.49, so its fairly reasonable for such a good product!

What's on your nails this weeks?
Thanks for reading,
Alisha
xxx


Suddenly 'Diamonds'

Everyone went crazy this time last year when Lidl surprised us all with their perfume releases in the form of 'Suddenly Glamour' and the later addition of 'Suddenly Woman'. They could not be found in a Lidl store anywhere after beauty bloggers realised the similarities between these and the 'Chanel 'Coco and 'No 5 scents, and for a ridiculous price of 3.49 it was understandable that everyone wanted to try them out!
So imagine my excitement this morning when I went to Lidl to find a new addition to the Suddenly range.... Say hello to Suddenly 'diamonds'!

God damn this stupid laptop for some reason it won't let me rotate my photo's anymore! :(
But anyway, when I saw the name first, I initially thought it was going to be similar to Georgio Armani 'Diamonds', which is a perfume I don't have. But on smelling it I realised it was similar to something I already have! Even looking at the box I could see similarities in the packaging.... So off I came home to do some investigating! 
This ladies and gentlemen, is (in my opinion a dupe of Boss 'Orange', by obviously enough Hugo Boss. 
Apologies for the blurry picture, but I just had to show you how similar the packaging is. This picture is from boots.ie so if you want a closer look you can head on over there to see. 
It has the same white box, silver outline, and orange lines running through, and although not the same, the similarities to me anyway are quite obvious. 
But what about the smell you ask?
Well I'm yet to actually try Suddenly Diamonds as I only picked it up this morning, but after comparing the two scents, they are very similar, in fact I'd say if you were to do a blind test with these two, I would find it very hard to tell the difference between the two. 
I'm not very good with notes of perfume, but to me its a fresh but sweet scent, which you would easily get away with in Summer or Winter. 
Now with the previous perfume I've bought from Lidl, the lasting power isn't great, which for 3.49 you'd kind of expect! But for the price I don't mind having to reapply, and I doubt many other people will either.
The newest addition to the line comes in at a mere 3.99 for a 30ml bottle! How amazing is that?? Considering the Boss Orange is 44.00 euro for a 30ml! Madness! 

So what do ye think? Will ye pick it up and give it a go?
Thanks for reading,
Alisha xxx

Picture taken from www.boots.ie

Wednesday 6 November 2013

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation

In this day and age in the beauty world, everyone seems to be searching for 'the perfect foundation', and finding said foundation is no easy task! With a vast range of formula's for dry to oily skin, from radiant to matte, to light/medium coverage, its a tough job these days to buy foundation, especially if you don't have the budget for higher ended brands who tend to give samples. In the drugstore (when did I become American), its not that easy.

I have previously never been searching for the perfect foundation, I tended just to pick one and say 'it'll do', I wasn't bothered about coverage or the type of finish it gave, as long as it made me look half decent it did the job.

Until I discovered this beauty from Rimmel. This is the foundation I had been waiting for all my life, I just didn't realise it!

So what's so special about this foundation you might ask?? Well I'll tell you what!
One of Rimmel's newest releases, this foundation is a liquid mousse foundation which is lightweight, and offers control oil. Although I tend to have more dry to combination skin as opposed to oily, I decided to try it out anyway!

Colour wise, I went for the shade 100 Ivory, which is what I'd usually wear in any Rimmel foundation, and it does be a little bit dark, but I make it work with a lot of blending. However, this range comes with the welcome addition of a lighter shade 010 Light Porcelain, which I was actually given afterwards as a present from a family friend, but I havent tried that shade yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing how it matches my Casper the friendly ghost pale face!

The texture of this foundation is a mousse, and because of this a little amount goes a long long way, it took me a while to realise that I needed to use a lot less than I did when using a normal liquid foundation. A teeny tiny pea sized amount is enough to do my whole face, so less is more ladies!

I use this foundation  with either of my two favourite brushes, the Real Techniques Buffing Brush and Expert Face Brush. Although if I had to pick just one to use it with I would probably say the Buffing brush, as it just seems to blend the product better, and it leaves a slightly better finish in my opinion.

As is quite obvious by the name of the product, it gives a matte finish, and on me it lasts well all day,  although I think if you're someone with oily skin, you may need to touch up a bit later on in the day with a little bit of powder.

All in all, I really am so impressed with this product. I've been using it non stop since I bought it, up until this week, because I'm holidays from work I figured I'd use a little bit less make up and so I'm just using BB creams for the week instead.

For the Winter I think this is a great foundation, as I think the matte affect works much better in the current season than it does in perhaps the Summer.  I wore this recently on a night out with a red lip and a neutral enough eye and it looked great!
If you're someone who wants a full coverage foundation but doesn't like the idea of matte, then this could just as easily work for you too, just maybe add a bit of a highlighter to give it more a dewy finish.
For anyone wondering about how easily it comes off, I use my L'oreal Miscellar Water first to remove the bulk of it first, and then I use my No 7 to cleanse properly. But it comes off fairly easily!

Its a great price at only 7.99 from Boots, and most pharmacies around the country, and  if you're stuck in a rut with your foundation I think for that price its definitely worth a go!
I've had numerous compliments from people while wearing this foundation, and that has never happened to me before, so for that I'm giving it two thumbs up!

Have you tried this foundation already?
If so what do you think?

Thanks for reading,
Alisha xxx