The Lo Down - NYX Cosmetics HD Finishing Powder in Banana

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Having been a beauty blogger for almost 7 years now I'm surprised that I've never tried a banana powder. To be honest I didn't really know what it did plus I don't really like loose powders but when I saw that NYX Cosmetics had a pressed version I decided to give it a go.

I'm glad I did as I love this brand and they never disappoint me. This product came in at €11 which isn't too bad at all. Banana powder is said to reduce the appearance of an oily complexion whilst brightening and highlighting so it gives that beautiful glow which everybody wants don't they?

It's not too powdery either so it sits beautifully on the skin which is amazing. I enjoy using this product and it has definitely become a staple in my makeup bag. I'm starting to run out of products to try from NYX Cosmetics so definitely let me know your favourites.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - NYX Cosmetics Matte Bronzer

Hey Guy and Dolls,

As it's getting a bit nicer out I like taking the bronzer out and doing a bit of contouring that's for sure. I have quite a few bronzers in my collection but my favourite has to be NYX Cosmetics Matte Bronzer. I use the shade light and it's the perfect shade for me. The colour in the pan looks pretty orangey but don't let this deter you in the slightest as it does look natural on the skin.

I was undecided between getting light or medium but I'm glad I went with the light option in the end. This matte bronzer just gives you the nicest chiseled out cheekbones ever, it's perfect for contouring. This product comes in at €13 mark which in my opinion is good value and is definitely worth the money.

There is also the option to buy the Highlight and Contour Pro palette. In this palette you get 8 refillable shades foi €29. I own this palette and I use it alot so it's certainly worth having a look at.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - My Life as a Blogger

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I've been blogging almost 6 years now and I love my little part of the internet lots. My blog as you all know by now is called All-Made-Up-21. I named it that as I like nothing more than being all made up and I started my blog when I was 21 years old which seems like a while ago now.

My life has changed alot since I started blogging, first off I've met some amazing people while blogging and I'm now happy to call them my good friends. I've also gotten lots of great opportunities like going to product launches, landing amazing internships and liasing with press officers.

I've gotten the opportunity to work in Market Match PR and The Fragrance Shop Head Office in Manchester. Both were wonderful experiences and I'd definitely recommend anyone to give it a go. I learnt alot during the weeks I work in both office.

I also enjoy going to events and meeting up with fellow bloggers and learning about new and exciting launches. Life couldn't be better right now, I think blogging has really helped me with my fight against mental health problems and for that I'll always be grateful. 

Lastly all of you readers mean the world to me. I'm glad you enjoy reading my blog and I hope you take something from it. If any of you ever want to start your own blog yourself, definitely feel free to contact me and I'll give you the best advice I can.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Lisa Fitzpatrick Enjoying Style and Fashion

Hey Guys and Dolls,

As I've been losing a substantial weight over the last two months I've been reading alot of fashion related books to get some tips and tricks. One of my favourites have been Lisa Fitzpatrick's Enjoying Style & Fashion, it's soo good and so informative I love it!

Again this book is separated into easy to read sections which you all know at this stage that I like.I love the section Style Tips from the Icons, I definitely need a trench coat in my life after reading this. I also really like the section on Body and Beauty as I picked up a lot of tips and of course I'm a beauty blogger at the end of the day first and foremost. There's also a section on Consumer Rights which is always good, I haven't seen that in many books but there great to know as we are all shopaholics at heart.

I'm not too sure how much this book retails for but I presume it retails for €20 as much books like this do. I really enjoyed reading this book, it's another great one for the coffee table that's for sure. I love the imagery and it was such a interesting read. I'm looking forward to reading more books from Lisa Fitzpatrick soon.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Weekend Vibes

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I've decided to do a post on the makeup I used yesterday on my face. I used two new products in my collection, Paula's Choice Resist Smoothing Primer Serum SPF30 (review coming soon) and Lancome's  Teint Idole Ultra Foundation which I did a review of here. I'm really impressed with both of these products as my makeup literally didn't budge all day which is exactly what you need on the weekend don't you think?

I just really like how this makeup look all came together perfectly it was quite natural with a nice neutral smokey eye. My favourite! Over my makeup I used the Too Faced Born This Way concealer which I have to say is probably one of my favourite concealers on the market. It covers all imperfections I may have on my skin. I use two shades fair and light depending on which way my skin is looking. I absolutely love the smell of this concealer it has a really nice coconut scent, it's not overpowering though. I also reviewed this product here. Lastly on the eyes I used the Too Faced Sweet Peach palette which is a dream to work with all the eyeshadows are so buttery. I like how this palette contains a nice mixture of shades to choose from, I'm a big fan. All of the Too Faced eyeshadow palettes are amazing quality and definitely worth the €47 price tag in my opinion. I have them all and I'm delighted to have them in my makeup collection. I did a indepth review of this palette which you can find here. As you all know already I now have eyelash extensions so I haven't been using mascara lately as it's not really needed at the moment.

I really like this makeup look it is great for day or night, it looks so pretty and it's easily achieved. I like makeup looks where you don't have to use loads of products, it keeps your cosmetic bag feeling alot lighter I have to say!

Laura<3

The Lo Down - About Face by Aisling McDermott & Laura Kennedy

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I'm a big reader I have so many books but I love beauty related books in particular. Most of my collection is made up of beauty books. Not only are they great to read but they also make amazing coffee table books. I can't wait to get my own apartment with my boyfriend Daragh.

A book I got a couple of Christmases ago was About Face by Aisling McDermott and Laura Kennedy. This book is basically described as the Smart Women's Guide to Beauty and it's so so good, I love it!If you don't recognise the authors names already you must be living under a rock this book is written by past Beaut.ie founder Aisling McDermott and Irish Times columnist Laura Kennedy who make a great combination with all their knowledge combined.

Like every great beauty book it's split into easy to ready sections e.g makeup, skincare etc. I love the imagery in this book it's so beautiful and all the pictures look really well. I think good pictures make a book for me to be honest. This book is huge, it has in and around 200 pages which means it's jam packed with lots of beauty tips and tricks, just what I wanted. It's just so informative.

About Face retails for €22.99 which I think is amazing value and you'll take so much from this book, I guarantee it. I'm definitely going to do more book reviews in the future as I really enjoy doing them.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Flormar Illuminating Makeup Primer

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I like a good primer to prevent my makeup from slipping and sliding throughout the day. I used a couple of primers over the years some good some bad. Recently I've been using the Flormar Illuminating Primer and I'm a big fan.

This stuff costs €9.95 so it fall into the budget brand category so it's pretty affordable which is always good news. I use one pump for my whole face and it sits really well under my makeup plus it smells amazing. As you only need a pump this product will last for ages. Flormar is a hard brand to get a hold of I haven't seen it in too many stores out where I live so I bought this online.

I do really like this primer as it's amazing and so affordable I'd definitely recommend it.

Laura<3

Real Techniques Roadshow!

Yesterday I met none other than the Pixiwoo sisters (queue fan girl moment), Sam and Nic. Anyone who looks at YouTube beauty videos will know these two well known beauty gurus. They were in Dublin's Boots in Jervis street for their much anticipated Real Techniques Road Show. The girls are a real success story and just shows the power of social media. I've always been a huge fan of the girls and really enjoy watching their beauty tutorials as who doesn't want to look like their fave celeb. I know I've gotten quite a few tips and tricks from their videos that's for sure.

I headed for a ramble around town with my Dad and popped into the Jervis centre to see the girls. I absolutely loved Nic's outfit, I definitely need to find out where she got it from. Of course I left my old Dad a little on the embarrassed side as I dragged him into the photo with me. I picked up the Real Techniques Retractable lip brush and makeup sponge on the day as I know I'll get plenty of use out of both items. As I picked up makeup brush on the day I was eligible to the free gift they were giving out on the day which was there amazing buffing brush. I have to say it is my go to makeup brush and I use it to apply my makeup everyday.

I can't wait to pick up Nic's makeup brush kit when it launches in October, it can't come quick enough.

Did anyone of you go to the Real Techniques Roadshow?

Laura<3

New lovely launches from Gosh Cosmetics!

 Back in my secondary school days Gosh Cosmetics was always a brand that I was drawn in by. I must of had nearly all their lipglosses at one stage and I was forever dragging my Mum into every shop I seen their stand in. I was given the chance to try two new products from the brand so of course being a big fan already I was pretty excited.

First up of the new releases is their CC Cream Illuminating Foundation. Straight off the bat I'm in love with this stuff!! Working at 9am every morning means I want a makeup routine that's quick and easy, needless to say this CC Cream fits in perfectly. I apply this all over my skin with finished off with a light dusting of Soap & Glory's One Heck Of A Blot and Benefit's Hervana blush and I'm ready to take on the world! This CC cream just gives you a gorgeous natural health glow! Even though this CC cream is described as being light coverage, it still fades out all my skin imperfections. For someone like me who may not have been jumping on the CC cream band wagon initially, I'd definitely consider giving this one a shot. The shade I was sent to review was '03 Sand' which wouldn't be the perfect match for my skin but with a little bit tan this would be perfect for me. I can definitely see myself using this alot over the Summer as a replacement for my heavier foundations. It's nice and light which will be great under the harsh lights in work and of course on the beach on sunny days. At €13.99 I do believe this is money well spent as a little definitely goes a long way. I'm considering even going into McCabes myself and picking it up in a lighter shade on payday.

Next up we have the Gosh Prime n' Refresh Illuminating Eye Roll-On, another product that is a handy addition to anyones makeup bag. I some times tend to neglect eye creams in my everyday routine but now that I'm 24 I definitely think their a welcome addition. Not that I have loads of fine lines yet but it's better to start using them earlier then later. I love putting this under my eyes before I go to work if I'm feeling a bit on the sleepy side of things. It works perfectly beneath my under eye concealer and definitely makes me look a little fresher if that's even possible at 7am on a weekday morning. Even though this is quite a small tube I know I'll get a quite a while out of it. I wouldn't go as far as saying that I've seen it instantly tighten my under eye area but it definitely leaves them looking brighter which in turn makes me look wide awake and ready for the day ahead.

What are your favourites from Gosh Cosmetics?

Laura<3

New Goodies from Lush for Valentine's Day 2014

Valentine's Day is a day I always look forward to every year. Not only cause it's a romantic holiday but because it means it's exactly 1 day until my birthday. That's right on Saturday the 15th I'll turn the grand old age of 24!! I love having my birthday so close to Valentine's Day as I love going to super cheesy romantic movie releases. Have to say the big movie companies never disappoint as they always bring out something romantic on my birthday without fail. Anyone remember the movie Valentine's Day with cameos from numerous different A-list stars including Taylor Swift? I went to see that on Valentine's Day when it was released. Man I can't believe that movie came out 4 years ago just shows how times flies. This year I'm planning on going to see Endless Love which stars the very handsome Alex Pettyfer. Paddy and I are going to see either next Friday or Saturday I think so I'm really looking forward to it. I also love how beauty brands bring out limited edition products for Valentine's Day. This year Lush really wowed me with their new products releases for this romantic holiday. A brand that I've been a huge fan of for years, I love when Lush bring out limited edition collections as they are always right down my street. I usually end up picking up everything on payday so I can't say my bank balance is overjoyed about that.

Last week I got a chance to go into Lush's Grafton Street store to talk a bit about the products. This is definitely my favourite store to visit as it's really spacious and the staff are really knowledgeable about their products which for me shows how much they believe in them. There is nothing worse than going into a shop and the person not knowing anything about the products their trying to sell. I always enjoy popping into the store and of course I always leave with a tiny Lush bag full of purchases. This years Valentine's Day collection includes lots of amazing bath and body products that were inspired by the romantic love songs and the movie Cocktail which starred the hunk that is Tom Cruise from the 80's. I love hearing the inspiration behind each product as I find it super interesting. When you go into your local Lush expect alot of vibrant and fun products. I wouldn't leave it too long though as I presume it being a Valentine's Day collection it could be gone by March.

I know a sure winner from this years collection will be the Love Locket bath bomb. If you break this bath bomb in half you'll find a tiny heart inside which means you can get three baths out of this one product or if you want to treat yourself you can throw the whole lot in. If it was my decision I'd probably opt for the later for a nice pampering treat. I'm not go into too much detail about this product as I want you to get a surprise when you try it yourself. My favourite product from this lovely collection has to be the Prince Charming Shower gel. If you've read any of my past Lush posts you'll have heard me rant about the fact that I don't have a bath in my house. This means that I can never use Lush bath products which is pretty annoying considering there is such an amazing selection to choose from. However this year they've brought out Prince Charming and I have to say I'm in love. This product contains a lot of nourishing ingredients such as marshmallow root and pomegranate juice which gives it a really nice sweet scent. I also have to take a second and appreciate the fact that it's neon pink, like who wouldn't be happy to get this for Valentine's Day or like me treat yourself to it. This shower gel for me is up their with Snow Fairy, if it was available all year round I'd definitely repurchase it. I've already asked Paddy to buy me the big bottle of this for my Valentine's Day/Birthday present so fingers crossed he remembers to pick one up.

If you prefer to take the fuss out of searching for a Valentine's Day gift, Lush also have a great collection of prewrapped gifts to choose from. They've brought out three in particular for Valentine's Day, Toucan Love, Neon Love and Lots of Love. These gift boxes are such as great idea for someone who maybe doesn't have the time to browse through all the products Lush has to over or if their a busy bee with work and need a last minute gift fast. All the gift boxes come in at different price points too so there's something to suit anyones budget. I'm loving the Lots of Love box, not only cause it's purple my favourite colour but cause it comes in a reusable box. I like the idea of how when you finish your products inside you have somewhere new to store stuff. Lots of Love contains a mixture of bath and body products so it's a good way to try the new Valentine's Day goodies and get familiar with the brand.

Has anything caught your eye from this years Valentine's Day Collection?

Laura<3

Pre-Payday Haul!

With Payday still being a week away I think it was a extremely bad idea on my part to go shopping. There's just been so many new products being released over the past while I couldn't help myself. I don't think I'll be buying anything beauty related for a while now, I want to start using up more products so expect a big empties post coming your way soon. This month I want to pick up some new clothes so come next Friday I'll be hitting up New Look and Awear. With my success with the Slimming World program I've found that a lot of my clothes in my wardrobe are too big which is a good thing but a bit of an issue when I have nothing to wear. Don't worry though I'll certainly be writing beauty related posts in the coming weeks. I have a lot of products that I've been loving lately that I want to show you all.

I was eyeing up both of these items in work for a while until I finally caved and bought them. I'm forever jotting down notes for blogging so I decided to pick up another. Sure you can never have too many, right?? I just love the cover design it's really fun! This was €4.95 in the Sale so it didn't really break the bank. Accessorize always have amazing sales, definitely worth popping down to if you want to find a bargain or two. The Lip Smacker Cupcake Lover's lip balm set was a impulse buy on my half. I thought they looked so cute in their little cupcake shaped pouch. I know Lip Smackers aren't the most moisturising lip balms so I'm not expecting too much from them in regards to hydrating my lips. However each lip balm has a different cupcake flavour which in my opinion sounds amazing! Not going to lie I was sold after I seen that. I haven't tried these yet but I shall let you know what I think of them soon. I'm going to try the Salted Caramel lip balm first, it sounds so good!

Of course I picked up a few things from Boots, it's one of those shops I can't walk by without popping in for a little look. I picked up three products while I was there, one being the new Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser. I've used this a couple of times already and I absolutely love it. I like how it's quick and easy, great for when I'm on the go in the mornings. I really think this would be a great little product for someone who is stuck for time and wants something that works in seconds. I opted for the Cocoa Radiant scent, there are another two to choose from but this one smells the best in my opinion. I will admit it is on the expensive side at over €6 but I know I'll get a lot of use out of it myself. I know when I seen it at first it looked kind of gimmicky but let me tell you this works. I aso bought two new  makeup releases from Max Factor and Rimmel. I'm really looking forward to trying out both of these products. I seen such a good review on the Rimmel Scandaleyes on Fleur De Force's blog so I have high hopes for it. I love mascaras so when I seen the new Max Factor Wild Mega Volume I popped it in my basket. It's on special at the moment so how could I resist? The package is really different in comparison to other offerings from the brand but  it did jump out at me right away which I guess is a positive!

Paddy picked me up the new issue of Allure magazine, the gorgeous Amy Adams is the covergirl for July. I've been getting this magazine for the past few months now and I really enjoy reading it. I love hearing about all the new products that are coming out on the market aswell as getting some much needed tips and tricks.The only problem is that we have to wait for a while for them to be released on this side of the pond. For around the €6 mark some may think this magazine is pricey but there's a lot of reading in it and some really good articles. While I was waiting for Paddy to finish work the other they I stumbled upon a Bargain Bookshop where I picked up Vanity Fair. All the classics in the store were only €3 which is a steal, it was so hard to decide on one as there were so many to choose from. Keep in mind it will take me a while to finish this as the writing is tinny tiny but I'll definitely let you know what I think.

All in all I'm really pleased with all my purchases. I can't wait for Payday to roll around, don't know what I'm going to do for a week with zilch money. I would love to know what you guys have picked up shopping recently.

Laura<3

My Beauty Essential Picks for the Marathon/Update #3

The Mini Marathon is tomorrow and of course I'm starting to get really nervous which was to be expected. I hope all the hard work and determination in training has paid off. I know once I cross that finish line it will have been all worth it. I wanted to do a post sharing some products that I feel are essentials for the Mini Marathon. Besides beauty products of course water and good footwear are the two biggies. The joys with these products is that they will come in handy over the Summer too!

Suncare/Moisturiser

This is such a big one, even if the sun isn't shining on the day doesn't mean that it's non existence. La Roche Posay and Vichy have a brilliant range of suncare products to choose from. I'm not a million percent sure if I'm going to be wearing makeup on the day but if I was, Vichy's Mattifying Face Fluid* is exactly what I'd reach for. It does exactly what it says on the tin, it doesn't leave a greasy residue and would be perfect under makeup. Did I mention it also has SPF50? Another great sunscreen is La Roche Posay's Anthelios XL Extreme Fluid*, I've used this a couple of times on holidays but I don't know how well it would far under makeup. That's why Vichy's Mattifying Face Fluid is a winner for me and I reach for it all the time. Anthelios XL Invisible Nutritive Oil* is a new addition to La Roche Posay's suncare range and I love this product, it has a really nice light scent. I'll be using this on my arms and legs tomorrow for sure. Unlike most oils this won't leave your skin feeling oily. Again this offers high protection which I think is a must all year round especially in the Summer months. I hope they bring it out in a travel version too for holidays! The most important thing for me on Marathon Day is to keep my skin moisturised, hydrated and protected from the sun.

Lip Balm
Everyone I know that is doing the Marathon tomorrow is bringing along one of these, with the sun pumping down it's inevitable dry lips will occur. I'm big into my lip balm as I get dry lips a lot plus I don't want them to be sore on Tuesday from getting sunburned. The Body Shop's Vitamin D Lip Balm* is not only moisturising but it also contains an SPF15 and has a lovely light Vanilla scent. Another lip balm I love is Nivea's Vanilla & Macadamia lip butter, there's other scents to choose from in the range but this one is my favourite by far. This lip butter is super moisturing and smells amazing like Kinder Eggs. They ring in at under €3 too which is a steal! As you can see from my own looking a mess it's very loved indeed. As it comes in a tube I think The Body Shops offering is practical for the Marathon so I'll definitely have this on me tomorrow.

Facial Sprays
I can't put into words how much I love facial mists. Mini Marathon or not, I use these all year round. Vichy's Thermal Spa Water* is a soothing mist that also leaves my skin refreshed and especially hydrated. This bottle will last for ages, I use mine all the time and still have loads left. This also comes in a nifty little travel size which would be perfect for your handbag. Another facial spray I've been reaching for a lot after training is the Vitamin C Energising Face Spritz*. I haven't tried too much from The Body Shop's skincare line to day, you'll usually find me stocking up on their gorgeous body butters so I didn't know what to expect from this product. My verdict, I've really enjoyed using their Vitamin C Facial Spritz, it comes out as a light mist, rest assured this stuff won't drown your face plus it smells like oranges. I've been using this for a while now and I can't fault it, my skin literally drinks it up. It's jam packed with Amazonian Camu Camu and Community Trade Aloe Vera which leaves my skin looking brighter and refreshed. After trying this product I definitely want to pick up some more bits from the Vitamin C range in the future.

Post Marathon Pampering
Yay for a bit of pampering when you finish the Marathon. Of course Post Marathon I'm going to want nothing more than a relaxing shower. At this stage I'm seriously envious of people that have baths. After the marathon, everyone will want to chill out and unwind after a long day. You can't really go wrong with these two shower products from Soap & Glory and Radox. Both brands offer a huge variety of lovely shower and bath products, you'll certainly find something that will tickle your fancy. I'll be finishing everything off with Roger & Gallet's Fleur d'Osmanthus Beauty Oil*. This product can be used for the hair and body, I mostly use mine on the latter. I love Roger & Gallet products, it's a brand that I discovered when I first started blogging over two years ago. Fleur d'Osmanthus Beauty Oil contains a number of precious plant oils, perfect for relaxing. It sinks into the skin super quick too, leaving it nourished and soft. Safe to say I'll definitely be using this after I finish the Marathon.

Before I head off for some much needed sleep before the Marathon I just want to thank you guys for all your support in the lead up to the big day. I'm definitely going to tweet when I cross the finish line so keep an eye out for that. I'll have a post up on Tuesday/Wednesday giving you the lowdown on how I got on at the Marathon and my experience of the day.

Laura<3

My Trip to the Closer2Fabulous Studio

Last weekend I headed over to the amazing Closer2Fabulous studio on Clare Street in Dublin. The lovely owner Debs invited me along and I couldn't wait to go, I was looking forward to it for a while. I intended to visit ages ago but with college and the like I never got around to it. The studio itself is absolutely gorgeous, I love everything from the layout to the decor.

First thing that caught my eye and all my attention was all the fabulous beauty products, it was like makeup/skincare heaven. Some brands I was familiar with and others were new to me. It was a early start on Saturday so I went to the studio with not a trace of makeup on my face to let Debs work her magic. First off I had a skincare consultation made up that was specifically for my skin type, some great products were used that I immediately added to my wishlist. I like how Debs works around people's budgets, I myself think more skincare brands should do this and not just throw products at you with ridiculous price tags. Being a student myself my budget wouldn't be huge butI have my eye on a few bits from Nuxe, a brand I love already. Debs said that my skin was in great condition but that I maybe exfoliated too much. Apparently at my age I should be exfoliating once every 2/3 weeks which I wasn't aware of until now. Our skin naturally performs it for us so if we exfoliate 2/3 a week its leaving our skin bare. See you learn something new every day. I know how important it is to keep my skin in top condition. There's no point in wasting tonnes of money on expensive makeup when you don't have a good base to work with.

That leads me on to my favourite part, MAKEUP. I usually get really nervous when other people do my makeup as I had a bad experience at a certain well known makeup counter a while back. My face looked a mess and I quickly removed all my makeup as soon as I was out of seeing distance from the counter. I felt perfectly safe with Debs though as she knows what she's doing. I learned so many new tips and tricks along the way. This girl is a makeup genius! I loved the finished natural look she came up with, my skin was glowing and looked flawless. We decided on going for a smokey eye which would be perfect for daytime and I got so many compliments on it. The lipstick used on my lips was MAC's Lovelorn with one of the amazing Clarins Lip Perfectors on top, a gorgeous combination if I may say so myself.

Of course, being me I left with two new products added to my beauty wishlist, Giorgio Armani's Luminous Silk foundation  and the new Urban Decay Naked Flushed compact. The latter contains a highlighter, bronzer and blush, perfect for travelling which I'll be doing a lot of this year. I'm a big fan of both brands so I'll definitely be adding these to my collection come payday this month. I have a bit of a wait until then, it will give me plenty of time to finish of some of my other foundations.

I enjoyed my time at the Closer2Fabulous studio, it has such a lovely relaxed atmosphere. I'll definitely be popping back again soon for another visit and a chat. For more information on personalised skincare consultations and makeup lessons pop over to Closer2Fabulous website were you will find more details.

Laura<3

My January Sales Purchases & Other Bits

I've made quite a few purchases over the past few weeks, most of the bits I picked up were on offer which was a definite plus for me. Instead of doing one small haul post I decided to do a collective one, I by no means picked these up all at once that's for certain. My bank account always runs low around this time of year and the end of January can't come quick enough for me. Once Christmas has come and gone, the Sales is the next big event that the majority of people, myself included have great interest in. My Christmas seemed to be so short this year as I was back into work on Stephen's Day so I wasn't up at the crack of dawn to join the end of a monster queue to get my first Sales bits.. I saw the giant line outside Next at 8am and it wasn't pretty let me tell you. I'm glad I wasn't a part of it, I know I probably would of preferred to be at home in bed at that time. I've never went into the Sales really early, fighting over a discounted dress or heavily reduced bag wouldn't be something I'd call fun and isn't something I'd ever want to do. If there's nothing there when I finally get down to the Centre after a good lie in then it wasn't meant to be. I headed into Boots and House of Fraser after I finished work at 1pm and I was surprised at the amount of stock that was left. It certainly shows that online shopping is taking over, who in there right mind would go to a shop the day after Christmas when they can do it in the comfort of their own home. Spending wise I was good this year and bought stuff I really wanted and that I knew I would use in the long run. To be honest I'd buy stuff regardless of if it's in the Sale.

The majority of goodies I bought are of the Beauty variety,  I found most of my purchases in Boots and House of Fraser, a few bits were picked up in other shops which will be mentioned below. I found this year that alot of my Sales finds were put on the shelves in early January, I could be wrong but that's when I spotted them. I did pick up some new bits from Soap & Glory that were full price but I heard such amazing things about all three products so I couldn't leave them behind. They all smell amazing so if your anywhere near a Boots I'd definitely recommend you go give them a sniff. It wouldn't be the Sales without going into the Lush and picking up a couple of shower gels. I got three, Twilight, Snow Fairy and Ponche. They all smell amazing and I know this lot will last me ages. I also sneakily purchased the much talked about MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish. I tried this at my local MAC counter in BT2 Dundrum and I did think it was nice at the time, what I didn't like is the hefty price tag of €28.50. Rip off, I think so and I know alot of people will agree with me too. It's disappointing as I really love MAC as a brand but the prices are awful. I'm not going to rant and rave too much about it as I'm still going to remain a loyal customer but I do think they should look into this.

Here are some of my big bargain of the Sales, first up is one of YSL's Rouge Volupte lipsticks. These retail for around the €32 mark and I got this for €18, which was a bargain that I couldn't let slip by. The shade is Frivolous Pink which is a fun pink shade, I thought it would be a bit too bright for my liking but I'll make it work. I've decided for 2013 that I should be a bit more daring when it comes to lipstick choices, until I'm brave enough I'll be patting this down with some tissue. I picked up this Bliss Fabulips set, it was more than half price at €25.50. I wanted to try this for a while but I'd never fork out the whole €57.50 for it. Bliss products and I have a love/hate relationship, some of their stuff I've tried have been a real disappointment and just plain rubbish. One of their products I absolutely hated was their Lid & Lash Wash, you can see a review I did on that here. I bought this thinking it was going to be an amazing eye makeup remover, turns out it was pretty awful. I have to hand it to them their body butters are gorgeous, my favourite product of theres. In this lip product set you get a cleanser, scrub, plumper and balm, so far I've only tried the balm which I was very impressed with. I'll definitely put up a full review post on this when I've tried the other three products. I also was surprised to see these two fragrance sets still on the shelf when I popped into the store. Both were half price which was such a steal as they are gorgeous fragrance that come in decent sized bottles. There scents that I could happily use all year round so they'll be used for sure. In the Ralph Lauren set you get a body lotion while in the Marc Jacobs Daisy 50ml set you get a shower gel and body lotion. I've always wanted the latter fragrance for a long time but I could never justify the price, I'm glad I could finally pick one up for myself. At €30 each, these two sets were definitely worth every penny. Here are two other bits I picked up in the Sale which I fell in love with. The vintage inspired floral mirror in between the two fragrance is from Boots, It was half price which I couldn't say no to. I think this will look really nice in my room when I have it all nice and tidy. The little pink Minnie Mouse makeup bag is from Boots aswell and it's so pretty. It's a great size too, so I'll definitely be carting this around with me.

A New year couldn't go buy without me picking up a 2013 diary. I always wait and buy mine after Christmas as they are always heavily discounted by then. I got this pretty diary in the Calendar Club and it was 40% of the marked price. Purple is my favourite colour so when I saw this I had to buy it. I also picked up this two puzzle books that were on special aswell. They are called Posh Puzzles, I thought they'd be good to have for travelling and the like. It has to be said I am a bot of a nerd and I love doing wordsearches and kriss krosses, but a a crossword in a front of me and I would probably throw it back at you. I couldn't do one to save my life. I probably wouldn't of bought them if they weren't reduced as they were €9 originally which I felt was a bit overpriced for a small puzzle book. After I bought these I picked up this gorgeous Paperchase lined notebook. It has a nice soft cover and again the design had me with this one, it was also €4 in the Sale need I say more. I thought this would be great for writing down some of my blog ideas which I have a few of so far. If you guys have anything you'd like to see covered on my blog definitely let me know as I would love hear your ideas. Last year I had a numerous different notebooks for blogging but this year I just want to stick to the one, I definitely need to add this to my goals. I always see pretty jotters and I end up buying them which results in me never filling up just the one. I know it is indeed a complete and utter waste so I'm hopefully going to stick with this one for most of the year. Until I fill it up anyway that's for sure.

Today is going to spent finishing off my assignment for college. I can't wait to get this done and dusted. Saying that I have another due at the end of February which I'm going to be even more stressed out about. Yesterday I went to see Les Miserables with Paddy in town. Wow I really enjoyed this movie, I'm going to put up a post tomorrow with all my thoughts on it.

Did you pick up any good bargains in the Sales this year?

Laura<3

2012 Beauty Favourites

I know I'm a tad bit late with my 2012 Beauty Favourites but I wanted to still put it up so I hope you guys don't mind. Last year has seen alot of amazing beauty releases, some I've absolutely loved and as always some I didn't think were worth the hype. I have quite a few beauty products to show you so sit back and enjoy.

I haven't tried too many foundations over the last year, as I've been sticking to the ones that I feel really work for me. One of the new foundations I tried this year which quickly made it in my favourites is Urban Decay's Naked Skin foundation. I've featured this foundation in other favourites posts over the year. I've had it since the middle of the Summer so I'm surprised it has lasted for so long. There's a great shade range for this foundation which pleased me alot. I use the 2.0 which is the second from lightest shade and it suits my skin tone perfectly. I like how this foundation is light on the skin but has quite buildable coverage aswell. I've always been really impressed with Urban Decay's range of products. You'll see another one featured in this post, I bet you can alreay guess what it is. I've seen on their website that they've just released a BB cream. I can't wait to have a look at this when it hits counters over on our shores soon.

Like I said in my November favourites I couldn't possibly pick one favourite out of these brushes. They've definitely replaced any other makeup brush in my collection. I've bought quite a few Real Techniques brushes since they were released in Boots, I hope they add to the range. I find them very affordable in comparison to other brands like MAC, Bobbi Brown etc. They do a even better job in my opinion, I hope they have new additions to the range in 2013 as I know I'll definitely be buying them for sure.

Since I started using Rimmel's Stay Matte powder in early Summer, I've gone through almost four. I don't see a point in forking out on expensive face powders when there's a product like this in Boots. It comes in a number of shades, I stick to transparent as I always end up picking ones that are way too dark for me. The packaging may not be like you'd get when buying from a luxury brand but it works and that's all that should really matter. This is always in my makeup bag just in case my skin goes a little on the shiny side and I need to touch up. I do believe it's around the €7 mark so it definitely won't break the bank. I seen the gorgeous new lip products that Rimmel are bringing out showing up on plenty of blogs so I can't wait to try them when there released. Going from the products that I've already tried from the brand they haven't disappointed.

This gorgeous palette wasn't brought out in Ireland so I was really lucky when Chie sent it over to me for the States during the year. I had seen so many posts about the ever popular Danmari palette so I was really excited that they brought out this shortly after. The All About Cheek palette contains a bronzer (Laguna), a highlighter (Albatross) and four blushes (Angelika, Luster, Orgasm, Gaiety). I've been using this palette a hell of alot this year, the shade selection is brilliant so I really can't fault it at all. It's also very compact so great for travelling, which I'm hoping to do more of in 2013!

I wish the brand Sleek was more readily available over here. I know we can get it online but nothing beats going into a shop and swatching products to your hearts content. To do this I must wait til I head over to Manchester with the boy, who is super patience and doesn't mind me browsing different makeup counters/stands for hours. One of my favourite buys from the brand during 2012 was their Face Contour Kit in Light. I heard so much talk about this product before I bought it so I was really looking forward to picking one up for myself. This is great for bringing out my cheekbones and giving shape to my face. Sometimes I find that the bronzers in these sets can be too dark but that wasn't that case with this at all and I was really happy with it. The highlighter included in the kit is brilliant and I've been using it alot aswell. There's also a decent size mirror in this which would work really well for touch ups and the likes. For the price you can't go wrong with this and I can see myself picking up another the next time I'm away.

I featured this brow kit by Fashionista* in my December Favourites and I have nothing but good things to write home about it. Before 2012 I would of never worried too much about my brows and I always left them as they were. After I started using brow pencils I realised that your eyebrows really do frame your face. I use to get mine waxed quite alot but now I've found myself leaving them to do there on thing as I've found they haven't been growing as much. I finally settled on using brow powders as opposed to pencils as I feel there easier to use and the latter also seemed to break on my anyway. The Fashionista Brow Kit contains 3 different brow shades and a gel. I don't use the tweezer or brush included, I've been using the Blank Canvas Pro Deluxe E30 alongside this kit and it works great. I know that this brand is hard to come by in Ireland but if your in the UK you should be able to come by it no problem.

Another Rimmel product that I've been flying through in 2012 is their Wake Me Up Concealer. Before get started on this product, I'm just going to put it out there that I didn't like the Wake Me Up foundation. I think I may of liked it a little to start but my relationship with this product dwindled quickly. I found it to be way too dark for me and just didn't sit right on my skin at all which was disappointing for a product that at the start I loved. On the other hand the concealer is brilliant. I use the shade Ivory and it works fine for me. I'm on my third tube of this so far and I'm nearly all out so next time there's a 3 for 2 promotion in Boots I'm going to have to pick up some more. Brightening up my eye are plus giving amazing coverage this concealer is the bomb for me. If you didn't get on too well with the foundation like I did I recommend giving this a try either.  It's not too pricey so if you don't like it I'm sure someone else will.

My favourite mascara from this year has to be the Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill*. Its a given that this is a expensive product but definitely one that I will be repurchasing in the New Year. This is exactly what I want in a mascara, it doesn't clump and it gives that extra bit of much needed volume to boot. I've had mine for a while now so I'm happy to say that it hasn't dried up like I found the YSL Faux Cils did. The packaging itself is also very luxurious, it's almost metal like and kinda heavy.

I've definitely seen myself using alot more eyeliner throughout 2012 and one I've been using for the most is Soap & Glory's SuperCat Liquid Eyeliner. I wasn't expecting too much from their makeup range, I can now put my hands up and say I was proven wrong. This is one great eyeliner, it literally doesn't budge all day and I've been using mine pretty much ever since I've bought it.

The Naked 2 palette got released in early in 2012 and I've been using it alot this year. All the neutral shades are right down my street. This palette contains 12 shadows that would be perfect for looks from day to night. I use mine for both, my favourite shades in the palette are Bootycall and Verve, I've almost hit pan on them. After I bought this back in January of last year I've been totally neglecting my original Naked palette, it does make an appearance now and again but not too regularly. A new spin off on the Naked palettes, The Naked Basics Palette has just been released over the past month or so and I love it so far. I included it in my December favourites post but seeing as I haven't had it for too long I didn't want to add it in. If you haven't seen yourself yet, it's definitely one to look out for indeed.

Seeing as I'm not eating anything sweet at the moment, Lush's Popcorn Lip Scrub has been a lovely treat for my lips over the Winter months. Like alot of people I get horribly dry lips, unattractive I know and this stuff is a lifesaver. I love lip scrubs from Lush and I've tried quite a few of them already but Popcorn by far is my favourite. It smells and tastes amazing! These lip scrubs come in at around the €8 mark and there shelf life is a year so I feel they are definitely worth the money in my books. I know it's pretty easy to make homemade lip scrubs, I've seen plenty of "how to" posts but I don't think I'd have the time or patience to do it. Being honest I'm also not graced with being highly skilled at making things so it would probably be an epic fail!

My favourite lip product discovery of 2012 was the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Balm in Honey. I went a bit mad when these first launched so I have quite a few shades floating around my room but Honey has to be my most used one. I find that this particular shade is perfect for everyday and gives an extra something to my daily makeup look. These are really moisturing aswell which I love. When I run out of Honey I'll definitely be repurchasing it, I don't think that will be for  a long time yet though as I still have plenty left. Again there is a great range of shades to choose from if you don't think Honey would be your thing!

My first extravagant Jo Malone purchase came back in July when I was heading over to Manchester. I decided to fork out on one of their fragrances as I had been doing so well with Slimming World. After having my Mam driven mad with smelling numerous perfumes I finally went for the gorgeous Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne. It smells amazing and I've been using it alot. When I first bought this I told myself that I'd only use it for special occasions but sure that's never the case at all. Since buying this I was given another fragrance from the brand, English Pear & Freesia which I love aswell. I'd definitely recommend trying them both out.

During 2012 I've fallen in love with more Bath & Body Works products. Pink Chiffon is a range of theirs that stands out for me the most. It smells amazing I've been using this alot since Chie sent it over to me. I fell in love with it after she sent me a over a travel sized Pink Chiffon body lotion for my birthday back in Februay. I've been a big fan of this scent ever since. The Triple Moisture Cream feels really nice on my skin and leaves it feeling lovely and soft. The tube is huge so I feel that this will last me for a while yet.

Before I forget I do have two random non makeup related favourites for 2012. They are not pictured but I do love them both alot. First up is Taylor Swifts's new album, RED. I have this literally on repeat on my Ipod it's such an amazing set of songs. I've been lucky enough to see Taylor Swift twice in concert in the past three years. If she tours with her new album you'll know where to find me! It's so hard to pick a favourite song from this album as all the songs are great so I had to pick two. My favourite songs for the CD itself are Red and 22, there both such catchy tunes and I love them lots. My other favourite for 2012 is Slimming World and what it has helped me achieve last year. You can check out my progress since I started back in April here.  I promise I'm going to got into this topic more on my "Thoughts on 2012" post in the next few days. For now all that I'm going to say is that this program really changed my life. It seemed like the perfect time for me to lose the weight and I couldn't be happier.

I'm sure by the end of 2013 we'll have discovered more beauty products that we've all been loving. I for one can't wait to see what new products grace us with their presence during the year. I already have my eye on a few bits that I've seen make the rounds on some blogs. I definitely feel that 2013 is going to be another big year for new product release for sure.

I'd love to hear what made it into your 2012 beauty favourites!

Laura<3

Fearne Cottons Favourites Hatbox

Last week seen the unveiling of the second Star Gift from Boots which was Fearne's Favourites Hatbox. I love seeing what gift set is on offer as the selection of Christmas goodies this year in Boots is amazing. I always pick up their Soap & Glory sets as all the products come beautifully packaged and make great Christmas presents. I wasn't planning on buying Fearne's Favourites Hat Box last week, I came home from work to find that my Mom had bought it for me. I'm glad she did, it was a wonderful surprise and I probably may not of picked it up myself otherwise as I'm so broke til payday!

Usually €47.00, last week this beautiful set was on special for €22 which is slightely over half price and such amazing value for what you get. First off if you don't know who Fearne Cotton is she's a very popular TV and Radion presenter from England. She has her own clothing line which has some beautiful pieces that I've had my eye on recently. Every year in Boots at Christmas, they bring out a Fearne Cotton Beauty Collection. I haven't tried anything of hers before as I've always been drawn in by Soap & Glory and Ted Baker so I'm glad my Mom picked this up for me.

You may be wondering what's inside this hatbox, there's quite an assortment of products to tickle your fancy.  I've start off with the two makeup products, a mascara and eyeshadow palette. You can buy the latter individually on its own in Boots for €10.50, so if you managed to get this set for €22 you've made good savings. The palette itself wouldn't be my favourite item from this set, two of the siz shades (olive green shades in particular) wouldn't be what I'd usually go for. Maybe they'll grow on me, I think for this time of the year you could incorporate them into any look. The packaging for this palette is gorgeous too so I wouldn't mind pulling this out of my makeup bag either.I was pleasantly surprised by the mascara, I wasn't expecting anything amazing from it. It doesn't clump which is rare for mascaras from gift sets, I hardly ever use them. It leaves my eyelashes seperated and natural with maybe a added bit of volume The rest of the goodies consist of  full sized body products e.g body wash, body polish, hand lotion etc. which all have a gorgeous light musky vanilla scent. As you can see all the products come in beautiful matching packaging, I absolutely love the design. I think these products would look good in any bathroom or bedside table. I can't wait to start using them all myself, I have already popped the body spritzer and hand lotion in my bag. I'm going to keep the hatbox for storage as it's just too pretty to throw away I think. The drawstring bag will also come in handy, when I travel I'll probably use it for toiletries. I really like this set and though I didn't pay the full €47 for it, thats the joys of Boots Star Gift as you may purchase something you wouldn't usually go for as the offers are just so good.

What do you think of the Boots Star Buys so far? Do you have your eye on anything?

Laura<3

Beauty Goodies from the States

Living in Ireland means alot of beauty brands aren't readily available. Don't get me wrong, we do have amazing brands at our fingertips in Boots but when it comes to American brands like Bath & Body Works, Tarte and Fresh, there nowhere to be found.When Chie from MakeupLand2011 (great reviews and tutorials on there) offered to pick me up some bits a little while back of course I said yes. We've done a couple of swaps together in the past year or so and she knows exactly what products I like. First on my list was Bath & Body Works Pink Chiffon, this stuff smells amazing and if you read my August empties you would of seen that I just ran out.  I was so disappointed when I couldn’t get my hand on the Danmari palette ages ago, we couldn’t get it in Ireland and it seemed to sell out like hot cakes in the States. Chie emailed to let me know that Nordstrom were bringing out a exclusive palette similar to the coveted Danmari palette and that she could pick it up for me I was delighted. Last week the postman knocked with a big box from the States I knew exactly what was inside. I had to rush to work meaning I couldn't open it til I got home but it was definitely worth the wait. It was like Christmas opening up this package and I absolutely loved every little thing. Chie sent me over the Nars palette (AMAZING!) and three products from the Pink Chiffon range that I really wanted so I was beyond happy. She also included some surprises, Bath & Body Works Minis, Fresh lip balm set, Revlon products, the list goes on. Needless to say I'll be stocked up on Bath & Body Works for a long time. I don't want to go into much detail on everything yet as I'm definitely going to pop up some review posts in the coming weeks. I just want to say also a big Thank You to Chie for sending me over all these lovely products, I really appreciate it so much.

Is there any brands that you have problems finding in your country?

Laura<3