Surprise Gift- Victoria Jackson Lipgloss purse

Hi all!

 

So I'm back from my few days away to Donegal, it was the best craic in ages! A group of us went for my friends 21st (mines is just around the corner) and she also leaves early September for Germany so it was a great last farewell for her to celebrate.

 

 

So when I got home my brother surprised me with this gift. He was away to Salou himself with his fiancé so I'm really surprised he picked me up something, not that I was complaining. The case alone I would have been happy about, it is stunning! A mock croc skin (I hope!) case that easily opens to reveals a sleek hidden pouch with two lip-glosses inside by Victoria Jackson. The case is also slim enough to hold my phone inside and maybe some ID, so it could well easily become my new purse for nights out.

 

 

 

 

 

The two lip-glosses I'm abit let down by. Then again however, I wasn't expecting anything therefore I had no hope in the first place so technically I can't complain. Now, Victoria Jackson is a brand that I am unaware of but a quick google search and she's an American brand that specialise in barely there make up, which I am not at all fond off. There were no shades on the glosses but they were double ended. At the end of each was a clear lip plumper. The colour end is what I was let down by.

 

 

 

 

On the left, it looks like a gorgeous deep burgundy red but what came out was barely even a hint of pink on the lips. The right shade was very shimmery that I don't really like so the colour glosses are abit useless to me, I may as well just wear the plumper alone. However, I will say that they are not at all sticky and are very moisturising and smell lovely. It was more of a very light tea tree smell, very fresh and tingly.

 

 

 

 

So all in all, a lovely surprise gift! Even though I am not so fond of the glosses I will always keep one handy inside on a night out for a quick touch up, along with my phone and ID that it now holds. Result!

 

Niamh xx

 

cocoa brown tan 'tough stuff'

 

Hello!

 

 

I was sent out a sample of Cocoa Brown tan 'Tough Stuff' body exfoliator aimed for those stubborn areas and also to remove any patchy tan. All I have to say about this product is OMG BUY ME IT IN THE BUCKETLOAD!

 

I know blogger people, I had done it again and I am truly sorry. I had ignored your praises for this wonder product all over twitter and the blogosphere. After all, it is just a scrub. What is so wonderful about a scrub? Pretty common and not very high on the wow scale, that is until this bad boy.

 

 

 

 

Now Cocoa Brown tan is the lovechild of Marissa Carter. It is an Irish based company, and Ms. Carter is a highly intelligent and glamorous lady who has decided to expand into the beauty business knowing that she could deliver that many other brands and products could not. And delivered she has. I have yet to try the actual tan but I have heard rave reviews, especially the night and day tan.

 

Now 'Tough Stuff' is aimed as an exfoliator to be used both wet and dry, and also to remove any stubborn streaky tan. At the time when I tried this product I did not have any tan on, however I seriously do not doubt that this scrub could easily remove it. It's everything that shouldn't work but does, it's a living working contradiction! Tough but gentle, non-irritating, great smelling, non-abrasive yet delivers fantastic results. What is also distinctively noticeable is that it is pink and smells of fresh fruit. It actually reminded me of drinking cocktails on holiday. Another thing about it that I think is why it is so tough is that it isn't big grains, they are all quite small yet contrary to belief, they work better than big grains.

 

 

 

I used it dry on my body and it immediately got straight to work. It felt fantastic. I immediately felt my body go 'ahhhhh'. Even though I do regularly use a body scrub in the shower and daily use a body brush, this scrub knocked both of these out the window. It really was as if a layer was being taken off me, yet it was so gentle and didn't irritate me at all, and I do have sensitive skin. I couldn't help but imagine that this would be great for a hangover, to shed all the dirty shame from the night before and emerge a new person hurrah! My hands even got such an exfoliation! I swear they looked so smooth, even the very palms were so smooth due to rubbing the scrub in, I haven't felt my hands to be so smooth in YEARS!

 

Seriously this is a wonder product. And so simple. You rip the packet, rub in, rinse off. The three R's to make it sound like a dirty joke- Rip, Rub, Rinse. So filthy. I love dirty jokes. All those years previously of constantly exfoliating using various methods all seem inadequate. Silly me for ever trying to get smooth, soft skin. But now I can yaay!

 

 

You can buy two 50ml sachets of 'Tough Stuff' at feelunique.com here for £4.50 including free delivery. Both Primark and Boots stock the Cocoa Brown line so hopefully it should be there also. My only thing that maybe I can recommend is that they bring it out in the tub load, seriously. This sample was more than enough to cover my whole body from head to toe but I want it in the tub load so I can use every last bit, it is that good.

 

Niamh xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Beauty Haul Giveaway

 

Hi lovelies!

 

I've decided to do a little giveaway for no particular reason. I haven't hit a certain amount of followers or I haven't reached a blogging anniversary, I just thought I'd do it to be nice and to share some of the products that I happen to enjoy. Also to say a big thank you to the level of support and readers since starting the blog, you have all been great!

 

 

In my little giveaway you will receive these items*:

 

• No.7 limited edition eye shadow palette

 

• No.7 limited edition lip gloss

 

• Seventeen  back lash gel eyeliner in black

 

• Seventeen doll'd up mascara in black

 

• Bourjois 1 second gel silicone texture nail polish in taupe

 

• A pair of blue tassle earrings from Argento.

 

 

 

 

 

(*All of these products have been bought by me.)

 

 

 

The giveaway will last for two weeks so get entering and get sharing!

 

Open to UK and Ireland residents only. If under the age of 16 then please get a parents consent.

 

Thank you xx

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Seventeen mulled wine lasting fix lipstick

Hello lovelies!

I picked up this wee beauty the other week in boots as it was on offer. Instead of going for my usual red shade I thought I would try a new colour at a cheap price to see if I like it. Now usually I do like quite a strong colour, pale shades just are not me, if I want to soften the look usually I would just apply to one lip, rub it with my ring finger with some lip balm to create a light stain/gloss effect.

So with this in mind I was looking for a pink shade. But not your bright Barbie pink or a fuschia, something quite muted yet strong. Seventeen lasting fix lipstick in mulled wine is exactly what im looking for! Dont let the name throw you off (or my bad photography skills) it is a pink colour with blue undertones so it is a very cool shade. To be honest I cannot pick up on any red hints or shades in this lipstick so I dont know why it looks quite red in the images. The picture of the lipstick swatch on my hand is the true to shade image. Ive tried so many shots with and without flash but it doesnt seem to pick up the actual colour which is a cool pink.

I love it! Its great for day time with light make up to give some colour. It is very moisturising, applies like a dream and does stay throughout the day. As the day goes on the colour lasts on your lips almost like a stain but I personally find that it can feel a tad dry so some Vaseline applied on top and that sorts the problem. Ive been wearing this since this morning and I have just topped it up there now. I do love the finish of this, like I said  its moisturising and has a slight hint of shine which I like but turns matte as the day goes on.

Overall I love this lipstick and I am very impressed with Seventeen as a brand. It's cheap as chips and is pretty fantastic!

Has anybody else tried from this range?

Niamh xx

Benefit counter-Debenhams Belfast

Today I had to lovely encounter to get my make up applied free of charge by Benefit in Debenhams Belfast by the lovely Megan. I was browsing the aisles whilst waiting for my mother to hurry up when the lovely Megan approached me. After a friendly conversation and with me inquiring about some products she offered to do my whole make up and to give me some handy tips for skincare and make up application.


She asked me what type my skin is and what products I usually use, and gave an in depth consultation about what I should be using as I am only 20 and to make sure I'm using a mosituriser that will give benefits. All pretty mandatory but in light of what she has said, maybe my usual moisturiser is too rich and heavy.


For the prep she used the triple performing facial emulsion moisturiser which I adored! Very lightly scented, felt so creamy and light on the skin and give a beautiful sheen to the skin with light reflecting particles. Megan gave me the mirror to look at after applying this and I couldn't believe the difference in my skin with just moisturiser alone, I need to buy this at the end of the month! Even better that it had SPF and PA + + (to protect from UV rays) which she told me no other brand except Dior have in their products as they are all part of the LVMH brand.


Next, she applied the Porefessional primer which I am very impressed by. It definitely created a smoother base to my skin and didn't feel heavy on my skin, I'm always conscious of applying too much cosmetics and blocking my pores. She matched the 'Hello Flawless' foundation to the shade of 'Ivory believe' (or 'i'm pure lighter' if I wanted to go down a shade' and mixed the foundation with highlighter to give extra radiance. Megan applied the foundation with a normal blusher brush to buff into the skin and this was to avoid any tell tale brush strokes usually with foundation brushes. Skeptical at first, the finishing look was flawless! A final dusting of Ivory Hello Flawless powder and Hervana blusher and I was good to go :)


Amazing wee surprising treat for me as I had to go shop to shop with the ma, and that is a punishment I wouldn't wish on anyone! Megan was so lovely to talk too, highly informative and was really aiming to please to create a look that I would usually go for. There was no sales pitches being shoved down my throat, which I was originally intimidated by when she offered to do my make up, so it was an amazing experience!


Here is just a snap of the products used and I will go back at the end of the month to buy the moisturiser and perhaps the foundation. (I don't need anymore foundation but you can never have enough!)

Thanks for looking!

Niamh x

Dolce and Gabbana Couture show 2013

I just had to write a piece on this Dolce & Gabbana's private couture show in Milan, with only the elite of the elite were present. The audience was mainly filled with Russian Oligarchs, European royalty and Chinese millionaires as the Telegraph reported mainly due to that this collection is strictly for customers and not for celebs to be seeing strutting on the red carpet. In one sense I applaud this, as Jennifer Lawrence showed at the SAG awards last week she was able to wear couture Dior that was fresh off the catwalk only after a week, so celebs have the hottest picks of the latest collections, trends and even the fashion vaults such as when Lady GaGa was able to wear vintage Gianni Versace, I die!  So for the chance to for the exceedingly rich to own some couture without the risk of being caught dead in the same dress as an Oscar winner, its a no-brainer! First world problems eh?

But I do have to comment on these two dresses in particular, mainly this beautiful white wedding dress. I can only dream to get married in a dress like this, it is beautiful. And knowing the philosophy of Dolce & Gabbana it was only the finest Milanese lace made by the finest seamstresses hands to ensure absolute perfection! I mean look at it, its beautiful! Its very traditional in the sense that there's hardly any skin on show but look at all the detail, it really is an artform. The shape is very modern though and is quite sheer at the bottom, it took my breath away!

The gold dress is another masterpiece on its own that I can only imagine 16th and 17th century royalty would have worn. Everything about this dress screams imperial wealth and power, it truly is magnificent. The jewels on show was apparently diamonds and pearls fixed in gold as chandelier earrings and cocktail rings. Truly stunning. The types of pieces that will have its own place in an exhibition at a museum or for future designers and fashion historians to study for inspiration.

The Telegraph also notes that only a few fashion editors and newpapers were actually present. Of course, some press would be needed after the shows at Paris but this was stripped down in comparison, yet was distinctively Dolce in the surrounding with regal Milanese architecture. So only a few people in the fashion world got to see these beauties up close to wonder in its marvel, and only a lucky few will be able to afford this collection.

So stunning!

Do you agree?

Niamh x

Hello!

So, this is my very first Blog post!

I think that I should introduce myself a little, I am currently 20 years old from Belfast in Ireland and I had previously worked for a small and local handbag company as their editor and blog manager. The name of the  company was www.handbagfairy.co.uk where you can access the blog. During that time I was able to flourish my writing skills, talk to some fabulous people from around the world who were contributing writers and gave me a taste that writing is something that I definitely want to do. Since leaving the post and starting university I've allowed this passion to dwindle and haven't been as strict as I should, so the time has came that I have now decided to start up my own blog :)

I must admit however, trying to create this has been confusing and I hope that this works and comes out fine. Hopefully.

A wee taster of what you are more than likely will expect off me in this blog: fashion, local designers and the fashion scene around Belfast, street style or my own personal style, some DIY tips, beauty, shopping, and as a way to promote Belfast for the beautiful city that it is there will also be a good few guides to my Belfast as I know it, with the best pubs and restaurants to eat in and some wee stories from yesteryear.

So that's about it for now! Thank you for looking and hopefully you will continue reading :)

Niamh x