Come, Look At My Trash! #2

It's that time again where I root through my empty beauty containers, photograph it like a big weirdo and put it on the internet. These have been collected for the last few months. I've no empty make-up bits today, just skincare and nail treatments oddly enough.

Soap & Glory Flake Away Body Polish

This is actually just a mini size but even at that it lasted a surprising amount of time. I've been using this, The Body Shop Argan Oil scrub (HERE), Ziaja Shea Butter scrub (HERE) and Cocoa Brown Tough Stuff (HERE) simultaneously (I like to mix it up a bit when it comes to body scrubs, clearly) and like them all equally. I just decided to focus on this fella first to make more room in the shower. I'd gladly buy this again, I love Soap & Glory and this works really well. It's quite thick in texture but exfoliates excellently because of that. I really want to try the Lime Crush range from the brand next- I don't even know how I haven't, given that I make a point of smelling it every time I step into Boots!! Soon..

Origins Starting Over Age-erasing Moisturiser

I spoke about this pot of loveliness HERE and have scraped every last little bit possible out of it. I stopped using this for a while to try a different moisturiser and I feel like my skin actually missed this. When I went back to it I felt my face relax a bit from the relief- I don't get that awfully tight feeling that using an inferior moisturiser gives my dry skin so this really does work for me. Again, this works nicely under make-up and absorbs well. I would buy a new one but I actually can't afford it (sob) plus I, like most beauty bloggers am eager to try something new. If you have any inexpensive yet amazing moisturiser options for me, do let me know in the comments.

Ziaja SenSitive Soothing Day Cream.

I reviewed this HERE as part of the Ziaja SenSitive range and this, along with the micellar water were my favourite from that line. This is again, brilliant for dry/sensitive skin and worked really well under make-up. My skin loved it; it's very soothing and comforting plus it has SPF 20. I will definitely buy this again but may wait til Summer as it's on the light side- I feel like I need something a bit heavier in Winter thanks to cold weather/central heating issues.

Lancôme Bi-Facil eye make up remover for sensitive eyes.

This is my second or third bottle of this, it came out on top in a review of four different eye make up removers I reviewed HERE. I'm already onto a new bottle of this; it takes even the thickest mascara off with ease, no eye redness or soreness and it's non-greasy. Big fan.

OPI Nail Envy Matte
I got a double pack of these last year- a regular bottle and a matte version and I used this one up first. I always have a bottle on the go as my nails are prone to weakness and breaking easily and I find Nail Envy works well to keep that at bay. I just started a new bottle today!

Dior Nail Glow
I'm so sad I finished this. I used it practically every day since I bought it and it gave my nails a really lovely pink sheen. They looked so pretty. Sigh. I will buy a new one once I can justify the price again. Full review of it HERE.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

This isn't actually fully empty but I've had it for the recommended two years and oddly, once that 24 month stage hit, the scent changed (it's normally a peachy scent, now it just smells a bit..off, if that makes sense) and I didn't feel like it was working as well. Thankfully, there's only a small amount left but I think it's better to just chuck it now. I did love it though; it's ideal for those of us with super dry skin, it worked really well for me and I may well repurchase it some day. I'm currently using La Roche Posay Hydraphase Intense Mask (review HERE) that works in a similar way and I'm happy with that at the moment.

Soap & Glory Hand Food 
I love this stuff, it smells incredible and is just a really good hand cream. I always have a few different ones on the go but I'll definitely repurchase this one. In fact, I have a new one all ready to go!

Have you used any of these? Any you want to try?

XX

NYX Christmas Gift Guide 2014

I know, I know, it's only just November but as I've stated previous years, I start my present buying early. It's weird obviously but I like to have as much sorted as possible so I don't find myself in the unfortunate position of roaming Grafton St like a lost soul on Christmas Eve. Besides that, all of my favourite make-up brands are bringing out their Christmas gifts now so really this is the best time to talk gift shopping, before they all get snapped up. 

NYX came over to these shores this year and have become a firm favourite for many, featuring "holy grail" products at a decent price point, they've now brought out these fab gift sets which I think most of us would be delighted to see under the tree. 

Wicked Dreams Palette, €17.99.

Boheme Chic Nude Matte Palette, €19.99.

Nude On Nude Palette, €29.99.

Butt Naked Palette, €29.99.

Smokey Look Kit & Bronze Smokey Look Kit, both €12.99.

Purple Smokey Look Kit & Nude On Nude Natural Look Kit, both €12.99.

Anything catching your eye?

xx

Halloween Reads 2014!

I've been making a concerted effort this month to read more creep-inclined books to get into the Halloween spirit. Not all of these are technically horrors but they do all have some spooky or disturbing element. Actually, I'm also only realising now that nearly all of these are books of films that I've already seen..hmm. Not sure how I didn't notice that..

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Probably not the first one you'd think of but as with the film version this is rather disturbing. Set in a dystopian future with a culture of extreme violence (or ultra violence as per the book), our narrator is a teenage Alex and his "droogs" who communicate with each other through "nadsat", a Russian-influenced language used by youths. Together they terrorise their city; sleeping during the day and then at night, roaming the streets; attacking, torturing, raping and murdering those unfortunate enough to cross their paths. So far, so unpleasant. What sets this aside from being just a plain old "nasty" is for one; the incredible use of language. I had previously read a review of this by an American blogger who claimed you could only read this with a word key, otherwise it was almost impossible to understand. Yeah, it really isn't though. The words are derived from old gypsy slang but are mostly made up by Burgess himself so at first there's no frame of reference and they make little sense. It becomes really obvious though what they mean and your brain just substitutes the words for what they should be normally. Also, the use of such unfamiliar words works to blur the violence somewhat; you're aware of what's happening but it seems less visceral somehow. This was what Burgess intended apparently. Anyway, the other thing that sets this apart is what happens when Alex is caught and sent to jail. He convinces the warden to admit him to a new rehabilitation program that's recently been set up, knowing nothing whatsoever about it other than that it'll result in him avoiding further jail time. It actually involves a new experimental behaviour modification technique where Alex is exposed to graphic violence until the sight or even thought of it makes him intensely ill. It's kind of an extreme type of aversion therapy. From there it becomes fascinating to see what happens to him- whether it can work or if he'll return to his old ways. The book also becomes quite philosophical; are we born evil and if so can we change? Are we truly capable of change or are we just inherently the way we are and that's it? I really loved this book, it wasn't always an easy read but even at that I couldn't put it down. If you think "I've seen the film, I don't need to read the book" then you're wrong- they're similar but the book is definitely better (I feel like I say that at least once a week). Read it!

Misery by Stephen King

My love for the work of Mr King is well documented at this stage. Again, I had seen the film version of this many times but had never actually read the book and if reading The Shining has taught me anything it's that the book is always 100% worth a read. That and always be wary of topiary animals. Shudder. Anyway, in Misery, best selling author Paul Sheldon finds himself coming to in an unfamiliar bed in a fog of pain and analgesia but also somehow acutely aware that he's in extreme danger. He discovers he's been in a car crash in the middle of nowhere; his car having gone off the road during a sudden snow storm. Local farmer and ex-nurse Annie Wilkes happened to spot the wreck and rescued him but then claimed he couldn't be brought to a hospital due to the state of the roads, so she splinters his legs (which are basically destroyed) and starts to nurse him back to health. Unfortunately this involves getting him so addicted to codeine that he goes into respiratory arrest several times and because she turns out to be more than a little unhinged, he really suffers at the hands of her sadism. She's also his number one fan which is both a blessing for him (as it means she'll keep him alive to write a novel just for her) and also a curse (as she punishes him for the things he's done to her favourite fictional character, Misery). Really, he doesn't stand a chance. We know it and he knows it, right from the start. In spite of that inevitability, this is just so gripping from the first sentence until the very end. Heads up though, it's way more graphic than the film; if you could only watch certain parts of that through your hands then the book isn't for you. Damn though, Stephen King can write. I've yet to be disappointed by any of his books. Love it.

The Woman In Black by Susan Hill

So I had actually seen both the play and film of this and as they both ended differently I was intrigued to see how the original wold turn out. This was first published in 1983 but is written in the style of a Gothic horror. Arthur Kipps is a retired solicitor enjoying Christmas with his wife and stepchildren when he is forced to remember a horrific experience from his youth. He decides to write his story down and so we learn about the event that changed his life irrevocably all those years ago. While still a junior solicitor he's sent to a small town on the North coast of England to settle up the affairs of Mrs Drablow; an elderly woman who's just died. Her large home is situated in a secluded area that can only be reached by horse and carriage and gets cut off from the mainland by the tide at certain times of the day. When he attends the funeral he sees a mysterious and creepy looking woman in black hanging around and added to that, all of the villagers become monosyllabic when he speaks about visiting Eel Marsh House, where the old lady lived. Still, he's not superstitious so he carries on with his plans and begins to sort through her paperwork. While at Eel March House he begins to experience strange occurrences and generally starts to freak out. Which to be honest, is understandable. Although it is super creepy, I only really felt actual goosebumps during about three parts of the book and I thought it took a long time for the story to fully establish itself. I mean, I was fifty pages in before Arthur gets anywhere near the house, which is pretty far in for a book that only has 200 pages. Having said that, the ending gave me an actual jolt of horror so full marks for that.

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Again., saw the film, liked it, picked up the book. It's pretty much just the story of this blog post. This is a YA Rom/Zom/Com. Like Shaun of the Dead but with less falling over fences. 'R' is a zombie and our narrator. He remembers nothing of his life pre-Z other than that his name started with an R. He hangs out with a load of other zombies in an abandoned airport and they all just roam around aimlessly until they need to go for food- when they do they shuffle to the city and hunt down some humans to eat. While on one of these trips he eats this guy but instead of also eating his girlfriend, Juliet, he finds himself drawn to protect her and so brings her back with him to the airplane he calls home. Somehow being around her makes him more human. He begins to speak in four syllables or more, feels little flutterings in his heart and an overall warmth when he's around Juliet (who by the way is pretty cool. She doesn't generally need rescuing and takes no crap from anyone). It kind of turns into a zombie version of Romeo and Juliet when her father finds out about their blossoming love and overall it's pretty heart warming. I've never actually read anything from the perspective of a zombie before so this was certainly a novel concept. It is by the way, absolutely terror-free.

Point Horrors 

For some reason, this month I developed a strong urge to re-read some Point Horrors. I used to love these when I was a pre-teen and my library in Limerick had a really great selection. I actually don't remember reading any of these three but the lovely Sharon from Behind Green Eyes very kindly sent them on to me after we discussed our mutual fondness for these mildly scary 90's books. They all have fairly similar plots; a school or college student finds themselves in a creepy situation with what seems like an obvious culprit who is usually just a red herring. In spite of not remembering these specific books, it was still really enjoyable taking a walk down memory lane- they are all basically the exact same book at the end of the day. Kind of nice being eleven there again for a while!

Do you read themed books depending on the time of year or is that just me being a big book nerd?! What's your favourite horror read?

XX

Seventeen Brow's That! Eyebrow Kit | Review

Last week I was delighted to be sent this fella along with the Seventeen Contour palette (separate review to follow) to review and so far I'm loving using the Brow's that! kit. Seventeen is a brand that has been on great form over the last year- I loved their cheek stamp (review HERE) and am a big fan of their mirror shine lipsticks (review HERE). I think they have many gems in their stable and are constantly adding to them with more and more clever products like this eyebrow kit. 

Inside you'll find a wax, a powder, a highlighter for the brow bone, a very handy little brush and a mini brow pencil. You also get a removable "how to guide" that serves as an application guide in case you need any help. The case is a sturdy black plastic- nothing too aesthetically stunning here but it's functional and comes with a fine big mirror on the inside. You could throw this into your bag and not be worried about it falling apart on you. 

The products inside are all generous sizes as well and for the price (a minuscule €7.59) you're getting a serious bargain here. And that's what sets this aside from the many similar kits you'll find on the counters of other brands- Benefit, Clarins, Urban Decay etc all do versions of this but the quality of this is as good as any of those, for a fraction of the price. 

L to R- brow pencil, powder, wax, highlighter.

I've been using all of the products but if I had to choose a favourite, it'd be the brow pencil. It's quick and easy to use and makes it easy to define your brow. Having said that, it isn't as natural on it's own without the powder and wax so I tend to use all three together. The highlighter is a subtle, soft champagne shade with a nice shimmer and absolutely no glitter. It's very nice indeed.

I can see this becoming a bit of a holy grail product for those of us on a budget, which let's face it, is a lot of us in these recessionary times. It's on Seventeen stands now, I'd recommend going and having a look for yourself or you can check it out on Boots.ie HERE.

What's your favourite brow product? Do you use a kit like this or do you prefer a plain old pencil? To the comments!

XX

Winter Brights With O' Donnells Boutique, Limerick.

One of the things I really miss about living in Limerick is the City's selection of unique little fashion boutiques, so I'm always glad of the opportunity to peruse these treasure troves and one I love in particular is O'Donnells Boutique on Catherine Street, Limerick.
Recently I was lucky enough to be invited to check out what they have in store for us for the chillier months ahead and the good news is, we can expect plenty of bright woollen coats, stylish hats, leather accents, stunning accessories and perfect wedding guest attire.

First up; coats. Zesty citrus shades such as these stunning lemon and orange wool coats are the perfect pops of colour to help banish the Winter blues. As you can see, the girls paired them with simple silhouettes in white and black, the idea being to keep your outfit as classic as possible so when you introduce a bright colour like this, it still looks chic. I actually can't make up my mind which one I prefer although I think the orange would go nicely with my own brown leather knee high boots.

That lemon is surprisingly wearable in a skirt too- worn here with a leather accent black jacket and in the middle photo with a 70's style hat and opaque tights. I'm also loving that grey pleated skirt in the photo on the right- it looks perfect with a buttoned up shirt and another fab leather accent jacket. In the middle photo again you can see a print puffa jacket- the 90's look is still very popular and although it's not really my thing, I was taken aback by how well it looked on the model. 

There's that puffa jacket close up. In the middle is possibly the worlds most beautiful coat. Oh the swooning that was done over that floral beauty. Sigh. Imagine it over a plain dress with a pair of killer heels. That's the perfect wedding outfit right there. 

Although that photo on the right is a close second. I REALLY love that dress. The designer apparently picks a different completely unique print each season to adorn her dresses with so you really are getting one of a kind. The fuchsia is perfect with the grey and I love that cut.

Hats are big news this season, which is excellent for me as I have more bad hair days than you could shake a large stick at. I dare anyone to try wearing that 70's style on the left and not look like a lady- it'll make any outfit instantly stylish. I actually really love that purple cardigan it's paired with (it also comes in a bright pink..again I was torn about which one I preferred but I thought the purple had a nice Wintery vibe). The pink cloche hat on the right is again going to be perfect for any event in the upcoming months but would be ideal for a wedding in particular. 

They also have a great range of jewelry to complete your outfit. The rose gold bracelets on the left are delicate and look stunning layered together while you can also find cuffs like the one on the right to balance out your look. Below are just some of the collar necklaces available- perfect for adding oomph to a plain black dress.

You'll also find a good selection of Mad Men style hand-held bags like this powder blue beauty on the left and that gorgeous grey and blue on the right. 

While I was there I couldn't help but admire the choice of shoes that the models were wearing, which are all available from Serendipity (shops on Roches St, Limerick and in Adare), also a great Limerick shop! So I popped in there too to have a look. They've a huge selection, in particular they

 have lots of booties like these two- those fur trimmed ones are great for Winter- you'll be warm and well dressed, which lets face it is difficult at the best of times.

Sorry, was just wiping the drool away there. Would you just look at these. Pointy toed, stilletoed with a bow detail to the heel and available in three different colours. My kinda shoe.

Had to put up a second photo there just to show off the shoes a bit more. Sweet lamb of God, they're just perfect. If anyone's looking to buy me a new pair of shoes, I'll take those red ones in a seven. 

Ta very much. 

And that's just some of what's on offer from these fabulous stores. You can see more from the range in O' Donnells on their website HERE and more from Serendipity HERE.

What's the stand out piece for you? Are you liking the current Autumn/Winter trends?

XX

*This post was not sponsored, I just really like my Autumn/Winter fashion!