September 2015 Favourites

September Favorites

Hello Hello Hello! J Welcome to my blog! I honestly cannot believe we have come to the end of September! It is officially Autumn here in Ireland…crazy! I love Autumn/Winter, It is my absolute favorite time of the year, I am so excited it is here again and that Christmas is so soon!

To start off my Favorites video, I need to mention a drink I have discovered and cannot live without, it is my every morning drink on route to work. It is the ever so yummy Starbucks Caramel Macchiato. It is so delish, I was never a coffee drinker up until recently and I am now officially hooked. Also because it is now Autumn, the cups are very autumnal which are the cutest! This is definitely a drink I shouldn’t be having everyday but it is such a guilty pleasure.

Starbucks Autumn Cups

 Next is a scent, I am a funny one when it comes to perfumes, I will spend crazy money on makeup, clothes etc but when it comes to perfumes I just cannot justify spending over €100 on one. Am I the only one? This scent is crazy money, but it is my favorite. I wear it all year round, but it really is an autumn winter scent in my opinion. Its is Jo Malone Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne. It is very hard to describe any scent, but this one is a musky deep smell (if that makes any sense) If you are near a Jo Malone counter, go have a smell! It lingers for hours after I spritz it. Jo Malone just have the most incredible fragrances, you would never find the scents anywhere else, they are so unusual. Another two I love are Blackberry & Bay And Wood Sage & Sea Salt.

Jo Malone Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne 

This product is one I have been testing out for a while now, I originally put off getting it for ages, but finally bit the bullet after hearing just about everyone rant and rave about it! It is Chanel Soleil De Tan. For it being Chanel, it isn’t actually overly expensive. This is the first cream bronzer I have ever used so it has definitely taken me some time to figure out how I use it and just to play around with it. I love this stuff, you can get a super contoured chiseled cheekbone look, or an everyday bronze and it looks so good. I apply this with my real techniques foundation brush, it is super slim so it is perfect, and then buff it out using the Real Techniques buffing brush. A little goes a very long way, Don’t be scared to try this, it is a lovely product!

Chanel Soleil De Tan

I mentioned this product is a recent empties post. It is Bio Oil! This stuff is great, I can’t actually say enough good stuff about it. I love applying this to my face before bed and I wake up the next morning with the softest, most hydrated skin. I Much prefer this to my Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery concentrate and it is more than half the price!

Bio Oil

This is random enough, but I have been non stop wearing cosy jumpers/cardigans this month! They are just the best things ever, you can wear them whether you are going super casual or dressy and they are so snuggly and fab! My favorite is a zara one I got about 3 years ago and it is the best!

Autumn Winter wardrobe staples!

Now onto the media side of things! Every morning when I am on the train to work, I love listening to FM104. They literally have the best morning show and they help me get through the awful hour journey to work each morning!

Fm104

A Youtube channel I only found recently (I didn’t know what I was missing) is the gorgeous Jaclyn Hill. Oh My God! How did I live without seeing this girls channel. She is everything. She is soooo gorgeous. She is probably the best makeup artist I have ever seen. She also gives me serious relationship goals with herself and her husband John. If you were like me and had no clue about Jaclyn Hill, you're missing out!! Please go watch her. She has 2 million subscribers and she deserves triple that. She recently teamed up with BECCA and brought out Champagne Pop Highlighter, This is nowhere to be found in Ireland…but I need to get my hands on it. It looks A M A Z I N G.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Jaclynhill1

Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop

Jaclyn Hill

My last favourite is such a guilty pleasure, but the best thing ever. The Jenner/Kardashian apps. Love these, you can see everything from Kim’s makeup to Khloe’s workout, Kendall’s best travel picks and Kylie’s everything! I love it. Only thing is you get a 7 day free trial for each app and after the 7 Days it is €2.99 per month per app. I definitely do not think I will be continuing with the subscription. In my opinion the app should have been €2.99 and free throughout, but it is still great! Definitely go for the 7 day trial, Kylie’s app is my fav! Love her

Kendall, Kim, Khloé & Kylie Apps

Thanks so much for reading! I didn’t have too many new favorites this month, but I wanted to get back into the swing of blogging and share a few bits with you all!

Until next time,

Niamh xx

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation Review

I have a mini review for a foundation I have been soooo excited to use. I am probably Charlotte Tilbury’s biggest fan and have tried nearly all of her products and have loved all of them. But….I hate even saying this, I was so disappointed. I bought this foundation in Shade 2 the day it came out on her website. It was €40.00 for the foundation and I got a few samples with it as well. I am queen full coverage, and this foundation is super full coverage. I love the colour as well, perfect shade not too pink not too yellow. It looks beautiful on the skin and if you have seen any of her Youtube videos about the foundation she says, it becomes one with the skin etc etc etc, and I do agree with her, it really does. BUT…

Actually before I tell you let me just inform you of the foundation's ‘purpose’ and why it was 5 years in the making, from the amazing Charlotte Tilbury herself.

My Magic Foundation is a miracle in a bottle that transforms skin for all ages, skin tones and skin types. I have worked with laboratories for five years to create a “hyper-intelligent” formula that gives full-coverage yet feels completely weightless, with all the anti-ageing and protective benefits of a luxury skin cream. It conceals imperfections, glides on like a dream, and literally feels like a second skin. Whether your skin needs just a bit of perfecting, or you struggle with a frustrating issue like acne, melasma or rosacea, my Magic Foundation will give you a perfect looking skin day, every day!

-Charlotte Tilbury

  I first applied this foundation with my Real Techniques buffing brush, it was WOEFUL. I had to remove it all. I started again using the Real Techniques expert face brush….Again horrendous. So then I tried a foundation brush, again….no chance of it working. Finally I settled on using the Blank Canvas F20 brush. I could finally apply it properly and it looked great, all but in one area. Around my nose….aka around my pores/blackheads. I honestly can’t even describe how awful it was. I just left it because I was running to work and I thought I could put some concealer over and it would be ok.

Over the next few days I tried with concealer and powder, with no powder just concealer, stop using my primer etc etc etc. Nothing I did worked. I have never been so self concious of my blackheads, everyone has them they aren't a massive big deal, but the way this foundation accentuated my pores around my nose area was just horrendous. They looked twice the size and I could literally have played join the dots. It just sat on top the whole day no matter what I did. I have resorted to just not putting any of this foundation near my nose or T zone area because it looks so bad. I do not know why it does this. I have never had this kind of problem before. If this has happened to anyone else please let me know!!

Besides from that, I actually really like the foundation. Which probably sounds a bit silly, but it lasts all day long and seems to stay in place everywhere else and also keeps my bronzer and blush in place all day. I just need to come to terms with not being able to apply it anywhere near the centre of my face and that it is hard enough to apply! Haha..! Sounds like a disaster, but if you can also work around all of the above, I am sure you will love it!!

Please let me know your thoughts on it if you have tried it!!

Until next time,

 Niamh  xx

Products I've Used Up- Empties

Products I've used up

Hello, Hello, Hello! I have been M.I.A recently but I am so happy to be back! For my first post in 100 years, I will be doing a product empties post. I have literally a collection of empty bits and pieces. A few I've loved, others I used up but they made no real difference. I thought i'd share them all and I hope you enjoy reading!

I am going to start off with something I absolutely love. It is Bio-Oil…..this stuff is a god send, I use it for everything!! It is amazing for scars, stretch marks, dry skin…you name it! I love putting this on my face before makeup and it is an incredible base. I have used it in the end of my hair, on my cuticles, lips, everywhere! It is amazing, it is about €17.00 for the large bottle but it lasts forever and a little bit goes the longest way. If you have any scars or stretch marks it works as a life saver! Also super moisturizing!!

On the topic of moisturising…MY NUMBER 1 product is Clinique Moisture Surge extended thirst relief moisturiser. I have such dry, sensitive skin and this stuff is just insane. I use it morning and night and never have to worry about my skin being tight and painful. It is honestly one of the best moisturiser i've ever used. I am now on my third pot and I also have it in the spray and eye roll on cream. I just can’t get enough, although it isn't super cheap, I can definatly not fault it and do not mind spending the money because it really works. It keeps my skin so hydrated all day! Love love love.

I named these two products only recently, but unfortunately I have used up both and have been without for a while and have definitely been missing them! They are Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter & Breakfast Scrub. Firstly I have to say…the scrub smells like heaven, It’s smells like syrup and works like no other exfoliator i've ever used, and is not abrasive at all! Ugh it is honestly the best product. The Righteous butter is such an incredible body moisturiser, it smells so good, works like no other and drys so fast. I cannot fault either of these.

I have had a few bits that have been empty for a while now but I have been waiting to talk about them. The first one I have to mention is Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. This was the first balm I’ve ever tried and I didn't really know what I was doing when I first got it. But, after playing around with it for a while I fell in love. You can use it for an everyday cleanser, but I found it works best with removing makeup. I took some between my fingers added a splash of water and rubbed it all over my face and eyes. It comes with a muslin cloth (which is sooo soft!!) I just wet the cloth with water and softly removed everything…and I mean everything! This took EVERYTHING off! It felt so luxurious…I always went back in with my Clarisonic and a different cleanser to just have a proper deep clean. It turns into an oil and it just feels incredible, it always left my skin so soft. Also this smells amazing. Really a product worth checking out if you're looking for a good cleansing balm. It also lasted me for about 6 months!

Another cleanser I have to mention, is Shu Uemura cleansing oil. This stuff is pretty expensive, and again I never really knew what to do with it. It was my first time using an oil, I am so used to my standard foaming cleansers, but this is lovely stuff. I used mine with my clarisonic.  I bought the smaller bottle, I don’t know if I would repurchase it because it didn't have any amazing benefits and I didn't see any amazing results, although it is a beautiful product, very luxurious and It would be a stunning present for someone!

A cleanser I will probably use forever and have recommend to everyone is Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser. This is a product I need in my life, If I had to choose one thing I couldn't live without…it would be this! It is the only foaming cleanser I have ever used that doesn’t dry my skin out. It is so kind to skin, has basically no scent to it, nothing fancy just an amazing product. I use this with my trusty Clarisonic and it works a charm. It is a very good price, would be so similar to the prices of drugstore skincare brands but 1000% times better. Can’t say enough good things!

I have a lot of skincare brands this month! To add another is a toner. I bought this after seeing Caroline Hirons rave about it, It is Pixi Glow Tonic. To be honest I would still exfoliate using a beaded exfoliator about 3 times a month, as well as using a chemical exfoliant twice a day. But, I know chemical ones definitely do help remove dead skin and deep clean. I have to say out of the many I have tried this is probably my favorite. It never dried my skin out…ever! It is so refreshing, and I always felt like it was doing something, which probably sounds a bit silly, but if you have used it you may know what I am talking about. It left my face so soft and just…clean!! I ordered mine online because I have never seen it in Ireland before but this stuff is great and definitely worth giving it a go if you like using a chemical exfoliant. It is also a really good price!!

Another Kiehl's product I wanted to mention is their Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. I am unsure about this product, it is the first eye cream I have ever used so I didn’t have anything to compare it to but.. I don’t really know what I was expecting to be honest but I didn't really notice anything different. I used it morning and night and it just became part of my routine, but like I said I am not really sure what I thought of it. All I can say is it’s a nice product it was soothing on my eyes but I think there is probably better options on the market and I more then likely would not repurchase. I have heard Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye is very good, so I might give that a go and let you know what I think!

OK OK OK!! This product is EVERYWHERE! I never used face masks because I had too many bad experiences, sensitive skin and a face mask is never a good mix, but when I heard about GLAMGLOW SuperMud that apparently was amazing for blocked pores I knew I needed it. The first time I used this, my face was plum for about 24 hours, I took a bit of a reaction, but any use after that I was fine. I have to say I found it good if I had a breakout or a forming spot that hadn’t broken through the skin yet it really brought it out and helped dry it out. It also did really deep clean my skin and It was a nice product to pop on and relax…but It did nothing for my blackheads and they are unfortunately very much still there. That was a MASSIVE disappointment for me, I paid nearly €60.00 for it to get rid of the buggers and it didn’t. I don’t know if I would repurchase because I did like it for a mask but it is just so expensive. I have tried all the other one’s (In samples not full size) And I wouldn’t write home about any, but the Hydrating one is a lovely one, especially for flying! It leaves your skin like silk!! The testers are €5 each and are 15g each and the full sizes are €50 and above that for a 34g pot…so if you do the math, so not worth it. Definatly buy a few samples before you buy the full size and see if it works for you!!

A fake tan I use over and over is Cocoa Brown, zero complaints about this! It is great, never goes green and fades like a dream! Plus it's so cheap. It is also an Irish brand so I am not sure if it is available worldwide but if you can get your hands on this…Do! It’s the best.

Last from my empties is Nars Sheer Glow. For about 5 years now I have been trying to find that wonder foundation. Safe to say… I am still looking. I have been using this foundation since christmas. Terrible foundation, at least on me. Looked great when I first put it on but after a few hours it would disappear and take every bit of bronzer/highlight and blush with it. People rave about this foundation but I don’t get it. It just wasn’t right for me. I tried it with powder, without powder, with so many different primers, without primers. Nothing worked!!

Hope you enjoyed my empties post! I decided on using Images of the products instead of my own awful photography pictures! Please let me know If you have used any of these products and what you thought of them! J

Until next time,

Niamh xx