Benefit They're Real Push Up Liner Launch

Today I popped down to Sam McCauley's with Lilliwhiterose for the launch of Benefit's new eye liner and makeup remover. They had a circus themed little party going with popcorn and sweets and other yums, as well as wigged and face-painted Benebabes.

The new Push Up Liner is a gel liner with an angled silicone applicator so it won't dry out. You twist the bottom of the pen to get the product to the tip. It's so soft you hardly even feel it on your eyelid and it glides on so easily, application is pretty effortless.

I actually had my eye make up done by the lovely Dawn. She used Hoola bronzer to add some depth to my eyes and applied the new liner as well as a coat of They're Real Mascara. 

I'm wearing L'oreal Glam Matte Cherry Crop on my lips. You can find a full review of this here.
When we were finished, Dawn popped a small amount of the new They're Real Remover on the back of my hand beside a swatch of the liner. I began to rub it in and within a few seconds, the liner was broken down and easily wiped off with a cotton pad. They're Real Mascara is notorious for being difficult to remove and the new eyeliner is just the same, however, this remover makes the process very quick and gentle.

Casually being handcuffed...

Easy as 1, 2, 3!

You can now purchase They're Real Push Up Liner for €25 and They're Real Remover for €19.50.

Here's a bonus photo of myself and Lilliwhiterose being the children that we are...

Hope you enjoyed this post! :) ♥

Read More

Current Nail Polish Favourites

As you probably know if you've been reading my blog for a while, nail polish is a serious weakness of mine.
I love to paint my nails and tend to do so every two to three days. I do have a few favourites at the moment so I thought I'd share them with you.

Left to Right

Barry M Gelly - Blueberry
This beautiful blue shade is so eye-catching and gives a lovely high shine finish. I wrote a full post on this recently so you can check that out here.

Model's Own Hypergel - Cerise Shine
A gorgeous deep pink that actually looks like you've had a gel manicure. Again I have a full post on this polish.

Rimmel 60 Seconds - District-ly Come Dancing 
This is a very wearable blue toned green polish. It lasts for three days or so without a top coat. It takes two coats for full coverage and has quite a shiny finish. The only issue I have with this polish (other than the awful name) is that it takes a lot longer than 60 seconds to dry. I know I'm not the first to make this complaint but I just don't see the point in pretending that it dries in one minute when it takes at least three for a thin coat to dry. It's a lovely product to use and it just peevs me that people will probably buy this for it's fast drying time and get left feeling disappointed and deterred from buying any other polishes from the line.

Essie - Cute as a Button
I love coral shades for nails and this is the perfect coral pink in my opinion. I love that in some lighting it verges on orange. It takes two coats for full opacity and if the free edge of your nails are very white, I can imagine you might need three coats. Unfortunately, I find this chips very easily, usually within one day which is quite disappointing considering an Essie polish will set you back €10. I love this colour for a bright Spring/Summer manicure. (I also love that the name reminds me of essiebutton who I am completely obsessed with)

Catrice - Pimp my Shrimp
I had a Catrice polish very similar to this last Summer but I used up the whole bottle. I went to repurchase it and couldn't find my beloved bright orange who's name I cant recall. After the initial disappointment, I spotted Pimp my Shrimp. Judging by the name, I think this is meant to be a coral shade but it really isn't in most lighting. While it's not a pure orange, it's not pink enough for me to class as coral. That aside, I love this colour. It complements my tan so well and is a nice change from the standard blues I tend to go for. Like most polishes, this is a two coat-er and holds up for two days or so without a top coat.

Barry M - Basecoat, Topcoat and Nail Hardener
I can't recommend this highly enough. I've been using it for over a year now (not the same bottle, obviously) and I've never felt the need to look for a new basecoat or topcoat. As you guys know, I have very weak nails so I can't say that this magically made them strong and unbreakable but I can say I've never broken a nail while this was on my nails. It has an incredibly fast drying time (take note Rimmel), adds a beautiful shine and prevents chipping for up to 8 days. In general, I find, the shorter your nails, the less likely your polish is to chip. As you can see below, I've cut my nails pretty short (and broken my thumb nail </3) so this topcoat can sometimes get me 10 chip free days. With long nails, I found them chipping after four or five days but as I said, long nails seem to chip very easily.
How many times can I say "chip" in one paragraph?


Here are some swatches, taken inside and outside.
As usual, the pictures taken inside are truer to the real life colours.

Index Finger: Essie - Cute as a Button
Middle Finger: Rimmel - District-ly Come Dancing
Ring Finger: Model's Own - Cerise Shine
Baby Finger: Barry M - Blueberry
Thumb: Catrice - Pimp my Shrimp

I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know you nail polish favourites and if you have any of the ones I mentioned! :)
Thanks for reading ♥

Read More

L'Oreal Glam Matte Gloss Review

I'm slightly confused by the whole matte-gloss thing, it all seems like a bit of an oxymoron to me. 

However, I recently picked up a L'oreal Glam Matte lipgloss and I am sold on the craze. 

I decided on the shade Cherry Crop which is a beautiful vibrant deep pink.

It has the same almost florescent pop that Bourjois' Pink Pong Rouge Edition Velvet lipstick has. 

It has a heart shaped applicator which picks up the right amount of product and makes for precise, even application. 

The formula is creamy and very easy to blend in with your finger if you want sheer out the colour.

I find it very hydrating on the lips. It doesn't seem to dry completely but isn't sticky or tacky.

It does transfer to the cup or glass your drinking from but that doesn't effect the colour on your lips. 

If you aren't eating, this stays on until you choose to remove it. If you are eating, it fades a little (not dramatically) and needs a touch up.

I know a lot of liquid lipsticks can really stain the skin so you have to work quickly to remove any mistakes, this doesn't do that which takes a lot of the stress out of application if you've got shaky little hands like me.  

I usually feel quite paranoid when I wear a bold lip but this is so wearable, I'm tempted to try out the other colours in the range! 

These retail at €10.35 in Superdrug and are available in 4 shades.

Have you tried out any of the new Glam Matte glosses? 

I'd love to know what you thought of them if you have. :) 

Thanks for reading ♥

Read More

Hair Care Routine + Hair Growth Tips

This time 2 years ago I cut my hair into a bob, one that barely touched my collar bones. It needed to be done because my hair had been ombred and was in pretty bad condition but I instantly regreted it. After about 2 weeks of enjoying my speedy hair drying time and the novelty of not being able to tie my hair up, I started the process of growing it out.
It stayed that length for nearly a year as my hair just doesn't grow. I actually used Mane and Tail shampoo and conditioner for a few month and noticed my hair was growing so quickly. I literally gained a couple of inches in a few weeks. I'm not including these in this post seen as I haven't used them since last year but if you'd like a review of them then just ask.

I'll start by saying I have a very irritated, itchy scalp that can be quite flaky. For this I use Head and Shoulders Smooth and Silky Shampoo. I can't use any shampoo more than twice a week without my scalp flaring up but I've been using this every time I've washed my hair since the middle of last year and I haven't had that problem - or any build up. It smells so good and just really cleanses your hair and leaves it feeling soft and looking shiny.

For conditioner, I use Hask Keratin Protien Conditioner. I have a full review of this and the accompanying shampoo here. (It's one of my earliest posts so be nice if you read it haha). I have quite big hair. It's very thick and wavy and can get frizzy sometimes. This leaves the hair incredibly soft, shiny and healthy looking. It helps with frizz and general poofiness. This keeps the hair in such good condition and for me, reversed the small amount of damage I had when I started using it.

If my hair is looking a little frizzy or brittle, I apply a small amount of the Hask Keratin Protein Smoothing Shine Oil to the middle and ends of my dry hair and it's instantly smoothed out and looks so healthy. It doesn't weigh the hair down either.

If my hair is in need of a bit of TLC after a couple of days of styling then I like to apply coconut oil to the lower-middle and ends of it. I just take a desert spoon sized amount and either let it melt in my hands or pop it in the microwave for 10 seconds before applying. I make sure it's well soaked in then put my hair up in a high bun and go to bed. I then wash my hair as normal the next morning.

If your trying to grow out your hair then I suggest following these few steps:

• Wash your hair as little as you can. I try not to wash my hair until the third night or forth morning but that's not always possible. I always use luke warm water to wash my hair and then rinse with cold to close the cuticle. I know that sounds a little crazy but I've come to love cold showers.
• I also use Batiste dry shampoo to prolong the time between washes.
• Air dry your hair as often as possible, I've only blow dried my hair twice since January. 
• I think it's important to use sulfate and paraben free products as often as possible.
• When tying your hair up try to use ties with no metal band as they can tear strands, leaving you with split ends.
• Using a head massager will help to stimulate the blood flow to your scalp and in turn promote hair growth. I like to do this before I apply the coconut oil at night as it can make your scalp quite greasy and I know I'll be washing it the next day. 
• You can also use multiple essential oils to help stimulate hair growth, Oiling Point have a great post on making an essential oil blend to do just that. The oils mentioned in this post can also help if you have problems with eczema or a dry flaky scalp. Applying this solution can cause a little tingling on your scalp, this is normal but as always, if anything feels wrong, wash it off straight away. 

My hair is now 18 inches long from my crown to the tips so if you'd like a more in  depth post on growing out your hair then just ask about that too! :)

I hope you enjoyed this post and I'll see you soon! Thanks for reading ♥

Read More

NOTD: Barry M - Blueberry

A few weeks ago, I was watching the Britain's Got Talent auditions and I spotted Alesha Dixon wearing the most gorgeous blue colour polish on her nails.

I needed it. 

I then remembered, I had it - or something very similar.

The polish in question, is a Barry M Gelly polish in the shade Blueberry. 

I was obsessed with this colour last year. 

My original bottle had totally dried up so I went out and got a new one. I didn't have the Gelly version last time but I am partial to a glossy nail, so I went with it. 

The reason I love this polish so much is that I've never seen a blue quite like it. It's almost lilac but at the same time, completely blue. I've had complements from total strangers about my nails when I'm wearing this. 

If you haven't used a Barry M polish before, it has a fairly standard sized brush and a thick formula that requires two coats for opacity in most cases. 

My camera seems to have washed out both the colour of the polish and the colour of my skin... 

I'll  insert a photo taken from my phone which shows it a little truer to real life. 

It suits my skin tone really well, especially now that I've got a tan. It also looks lovely as a toenail colour with my sandals. 

It has a high shine finish like all the Gelly range. It lasts 3-5 days for me before chipping with a layer of Barry M Clear polish as a base and top coat. 

If I remembered to apply a top coat very couple of days, I'm sure it would last much longer. 

I think this is the perfect nail colour for summer and just makes me happy when I look at my hands.

What's your favourite nail colour at the moment? I love reading your comments so do let me know. :)

Thanks for reading ♥

Read More

Current Lush Favourites

I've had a little (big) obsession with Lush since the beginning of the year. I just really love bath time and like to spice things up a bit with multicoloured fizzing water and solid bubble bath. 

On my last trip to Lush, I realised I have a few favourite products that I continue to repurchase so I thought I'd share them with you! 

I have three bath bombs, a bubble bar and a massage bar on my list.

First up, bath bombs...

Big Blue

This bath bomb contains lavender and lemon oils, sea salt and little pieces of seaweed. I find it very good for relaxing your mind and body. I love the shade of blue it turns the water as it makes me feel like a mermaid.. I know some people dislike the seaweed pieces in the bath as it reminds them of worms but they don't bother me. 

Sakura 

As you may have guessed from the name, the inspiration for this bath bomb is the Japanese cherry blossom. It has a jasmine, mimosa and citrus scent. As you probably know, I have to steer clear of anything citrus but this is a very faint lemony/orange scent so it's a-okay. I love how it looks with the coloured pieces of sea salt on top, it reminds me of agate. 

Blackberry Bath Bomb

I don't know where to begin with this bath bomb. I could sniff it forever and never get bored. It just makes me feel so calm. It contains bergamont and frankincense oils which I seem to always get drawn to without realising. All I can say is you need to find one of these, sniff it, then obsess over it with me. 

In a less unlucky life, Sex Bomb would be on this list, alas, I'm horribly allergic to it.

Amandopondo Bubble Bar

This is probably my favourite Lush item of all. It smells very subtly of roses and lemon. It makes the most insane amount of bubbles with only a small amount of product. The main reason I love this so much is that it makes me feel so relaxed. I honestly don't like bubble baths as they make me feel very smothered but this is just so calming that it doesn't bother me at all. If you're looking for something to help you unwind and get into that sleepy zone, you need to try this. 

King of Skin

This massage bar is so gentle on your skin yet deeply hydrating. It has cocoa and Shea butter, oatmilk, avocado, banana, coconut oil and lots of other scented oils. It doesn't have much of a smell which is good if you have sensitive skin or if you aren't feeling too well and want to avoid sweet smelling lotions. I know they say to apply this then rinse it off but I find that really strange so I just apply it when I get out of the bath/shower while I'm still slightly damp. It soaks right in within a couple of minutes and leaves you feeling nice and soft.

I hope you enjoyed this post and maybe even got some inspiration for your future purchases.

I'd love to know what your favourite Lush items are so do let me know! :)

Thanks for reading!♥ 

Read More

The Strangest Drugstore Deal Ever?..

3 for 2? Yes please!
Buy one get one free? I'm there!
Buy a toothpaste and get a free nail polish that costs 3 times the amount of said toothpaste? Sounds good t- Wait what?

On my way to the counter in Boots yesterday, I had to do a triple take when I saw the Colgate Max White Optic toothpastes were on offer. If you purchased a tube for €5.49, you got a free Nails Inc polish worth €16.95. Let that sink in.
(I don't remember if it was €15 or €16 but we'll go with €16)

You had the choice between a pale pink shade, I don't remember the name, and an orange toned red called Optic Flame. They both come from The Optic Collection which is the only connection I can make between the two products. I even asked at the counter and the lady was just as baffled as I was.

The pink looked awful against my skin tone so I picked up the shade Optic Flame.

I haven't tried the toothpaste yet but I have a bit of an obsession with teeth whitening so I will be using it in the near future.

This whole situation has made me really curious as to whether any of you have ever found a weird deal like this.
Do let me know below below :)

Thanks for reading ♥

Read More