Outfit Details: Baby Blue Cowl Neck Cropped Jumper and White Skinny Jeans

I posted the above photo before Christmas and just realised I didn't post the outfit details. This was my attire for work one day and I really loved it. Pastel blue and white are some of my favourite colours to wear. 

Baby Blue Cowl Neck Cropped Jumper

I love this! I got it in New Look just before Christmas. The fit is just gorgeous and it's perfect for the Winter. It's slightly oversized and sits just above the bellybutton (on me anyway). Blue is one colour that actually does me justice but this is also available in grey and cream. Get yours here or in store for only €29.99.

White Skinny Jeans

I got the jeans I am wearing above from Zara. I bought them in the Summer sale for €9.99. I was so happy with the price that I didn't stop to try them on... Sure enough they were way too big (hence the belt), but they were the only pair of white jeans that I had so I just had to wear them, even though I wasn't a fan of the little tears. Since then I have ordered a pair of white skinny jeans from Topshop. I love their jeans so much, especially their highwaisted ones. Highly recommend! These ones are yet to arrive but no doubt you'll see me wearing them very soon. Hehe! I bought mine here (online) for £36 (not including delivery) but they're also available in store in an aray of colours.

Shoes

I picked up these little beige/tan suede brogues from Penneys/Primark last Summer and only got wearing them now. I don't think they were more than €10. Penneys always have these types of shoes available all year round. They are so affordable and I find them quite cute and quirky.

Accessories

Belt: I teamed my outfit up with a beige/tan belt; firstly, to keep my jeans up and secondly, it matched my shoes. Hehe! It was hidden away in my Mam's wardrobe and I have no idea where it's from but if you are on the look out for something similar then Penneys have a huge selection of belts in every shape, size and colour.

Socks: My Mam didn't like me going out in the cold sockless and insisted on making a trip to Tesco for a pair of matching socks. She came back with a three pack, all of which were in or around the shade of my jumper. Never would I have thought of matching my socks and jumper. Ahaha!

Earrings: How lovely are these little snowflakes? They came as part of a Christmas multipack from Claires Accessories. I was feeling festive and thought they were just so cute. 

So thats it folks! Hope you are enjoying these OOTD posts as much as I enjoy doing them. Let me know if there is anything you would like to see. Thanks for reading! Mwah!

Holly X

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Christmas Haul (Part 2)

Hello my lovelies! Hope you liked part one of my Christmas Haul. If you haven't seen it and would like to, click here. This is going to be a continuation of the previous so lets get started!

MAC Keepsakes Holiday Collection 2014 - Natural Face Palette

Firstly, how gorgeous is the packaging? Glitter is my fave! This was, once again, compliments of my Nanny. MAC bring out a Christmas collection annually and this year offered an array of pigments, eye shadow palettes and face palettes. My Nanny picked this one out for me. Fab isn't it? It contains two lipsticks, a cream-coloured base, three eyeshadows and an iridescent face powder. I'm yet to try it but MAC's products and the quality never fails to impress me. At this very minute this palette is completely SOLD OUT on the MAC website but it's still available from Brown Thomas for €60.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse O.R. Shimmering Dry Oil

This has been on my wishlist for a long time now. It is a multi-purpose oil that can be used on your face, body or in your hair. It claims to be non-greasy yet still promises to moisturise and nourish whether it be skin or hair. It's also an illuminator as it contains golden shimmer. It is available without the illuminator but just imagine how gorgeous this would look over a tan.  Perfect for Summer! See the picture below using the flash. Look at it glistening! So excited to use it. I plan on doing a full review once it has been tried and tested. Get yours from feelunique.com, the Nuxe website or selected pharmacie nationwide for €26.88 (50ml) or €43.52 (prices may vary).

 With flash

Without flash

New Look Stone Faux Fur Gilet

Is it just me or has everyone been wearing gilets this Winter season? I highly approved of the trend and wanted in, so I kindly asked Santy to drop one under the tree for Christmas day. I struggled to find a nice one that wasn't overpriced... I saw this one in New Look and just fell in love. I had to have it! It's lined with satin with great quality faux fur. It isn't too long in length and sits just below my hips. It's inbetween a stone beige and lilac colour. It feels so soft and looks great on. Unfortunately, they sold out like hot cakes and there was only size 10s left so it is slightly too big but nothing too outrageous. This was one of the less expensive gilets that I found but it still came to €49.99. I think a lot of people feel the same as they are currently out of stock online as well as instore. New Look do have a variety of other gilets if you are looking but if you still think the price is too steep why not take a look in Pennys/Primark. I spotted a cream woolen gilet with a brown tie around today. It was gorgeous! Grab your gilets quick girls because it won't be long before the Spring collections start taking over.

Benefit 'Girl Meets Pearl' Highlighter

 Shimmery highlighters have become one of my favourite make-up products. I was delighted when I got this from my boyfriend's sister. I now have another to add to my collection and to help me achieve that sought after dewy look. As you can see from my swatch below, this liquid highlighter is more of a metallic pinky pearl colour. Can't wait to use it on my face. As for the packaging? You can see for yourself that Benefit have the cutest and prettiest boxes and containers and this is certainly no exception. Pretty in pink! Available from any Benefit stockist including Debenhams and larger Boots stores for €35.

Rimmel Pink Rose Blush

My 12 year old little sister is so cute and always makes sure she has something to give me on Christmas day. I got a gorgeous ring as well as this blush. A couple of weeks ago, I was home in Cavan and had forgotten to pack blusher so had to go rooting through my Mam's make-up bag. I had found this little beaut and fell in love with the shade (wearing it below). It is a deep pink shade and really gives you rosey cheeks. It's very soft and subtle. It is one of few drugstore products that I really like and Rimmel is easily available to everyone. Nearly every pharmacy stocks the brand along with some selected supermarkets and it costs no more than €6. BARGAIN!

So that's it for my Christmas Haul of 2014! I hope you enjoyed it. One of my New Years resolutions this year is to try and blog as much as I can. Its not a task .. I love it! The problem is finding the time between college and work but I'm a woman on a mission. Mwah!

Holly X

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Christmas Haul (Part 1)

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a fab Christmas and New Year! I've been working non-stop so it was so nice to get home, even if it was only for two days. I missed my family and friends so much and it made my Christmas being able to spend it with most of them. I don't believe Christmas is about the presents (call me old fashioned) but I got well and truly spoiled rotten this year and I thought I'd share some of my pressies with you since last years Christmas haul was such a hit. I plan on doing it in two parts as no one really likes heavy reading ..

Alex and Ani Bracelets

I think Alex and Ani bracelets were a popular choice this year. Everyone seems to be sporting them. If you havent heard of them I recommend you take a look at the brand here. They're delicate little bangles with a coin shaped charm. Each charm has a meaning and I think they're just gorgeous. You can wear them alone or collect them and stack them up. I've had my eye on them for a while now and even threw a few hints to the boyfriend. Ahaha! There was a particular Swan charm that I fell in love with but unfortunately it was discontinued just before Christmas. Still I was lucky enough to get two this year; one from my parents and one from my boyfriend. They come in gold and silver. I was delighted I got one in each colour as you can see below. I even picked one up for my Mam. She loved it! The standard price is €30 but may vary.

EOS Lip Balms

My Nanny never fails to keep me stocked up on the latest trends. The EOS (Evolution of Smooth) lip blams have been proving popular in the last year and even celebrities have been spotted using them. They're paraben and petroleum free and contain natural and organic ingredients. I think they have become so popular due to their unique shape. They come in a sphere shape, not your typical pot of balm or push up tube. They also come in a variety of delicious flavours. I got one in Pomegranate Raspberry and Strawberry Sorbet. They smell quite sweet but it's nothing too overpowering. I love the packaging. They are so handy to throw in your handbag or pop in your pocket (they haven't left my side since the day I got them). They really do leave your lips feeling soft and smooth. They relieve that dry feeling without leaving a sticky or greasy coating. Definitely going to try some more flavours when these run out. My Nanny picked these up in Boston and I am yet to see them here in Ireland but watch this space !

'My Burberry' Perfume

Another pressie from my Nanny (she spoils us rotten). Hehe! She had seen my feauture on the Shemazing! website and had noticed that I mentioned one of my favourite scents, Burberry Baby. I use to rob it from my Mam. My Nanny looked everywhere for it but no where in Boston sold it so she picked me up an alternative. I was over the moon when I pulled this gorgeous 'My Burberry' gift set out of the bag. I love switching up my perfumes and I tend to do so every year. The gift set came with a 'My Burberry' Moisturising Body Mist and a big bottle of perfume. They both smell devine! The Body Mist has a light infusion of the perfume itself which has become one of my new favourites.They say perfumes smell different on everyone and to me this is a very classic scent. 'My Burberry' was inspired by 'the trench coat and its heritage of Britsh deisgn and craftsmanship' - Burberry. At €55 (30ml), €82 (50ml), €118 (90ml) and €2,600 (900ml, if you're drinking the stuff...), it ain't cheap but if you're like me and use perfume sparingly then you mightn't mind paying the money for quality and something that is going to last. I believe if you have a good perfume there should be no need to drench yourself in it. People should be able to smell it off you after a few spirts.

New Look Black High Waisted Skinny Jeans

Santy brought me some fab clothes this year but these are my new looove ! I may seem biased since I work in New Look but I can honestly say they're the best fitting jeans I own. River Island and Topshop are usually top of my list when going to buy jeans and trousers but I have been won over. I have such long legs that I struggle getting jeans that aren't half way up my leg. Not every shop does jeans in long length but fortunately for me Santa knew exactly what I needed when browsing on the New Look website. Hehe! I was in need of a pair of black skinny jeans and high waisted are my favourite. I find them so flattering on everyone, any shape or size. These in particular fit like a second skin. They're from the New Look Premium collection and are €44.99 which is a great price for a quality pair of jeans. Get yours here.

Penneys Silver Metallic Heels

Penneys have been stepping up their game recently, especially with their footwear. I spotted these a couple of weeks ago and my sister insisted she'd buy them as part of my Christmas present. They are so fab and surprisingly comfortable. They are very high but I ended up lasting the whole of Stephens night in them. Also the price is ridiculous! €18 is dirt cheap for a pair of heels. Grab them quick girls before they're gone.

Be back in the next couple of days with part 2 lovelies. Stay tuned! Mwah!

Holly X

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Christmas Haul (Part 2)

As promised here is the second past of my Christmas Haul ! Before I start I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has shared and liked the page ! It mightn't be much to some but I really appreciate it ! So on with the haul !

1. Inglot Freedom Shadow Palette 

If any of yous have been in any Inglot store then yous will know that when buying an eyeshadow , blush , bronzer or lip palette you can choose the colours and palette size yourself ! For eyeshadows the palettes can be 2 squares , 4 squares , 5 squares ( which I have as shown above ) or 10 squares ! They also do larger palettes going up to 40 squares ! Inglot have a huge variety of colours all varying in shade and finish ! Above is a picture of the palette my lovely boyfriend bought me for Christmas ! I chose the colours myself and have been searching for orange shades for a while now ! I have been dying to try the Inglot shadows after hearing great things ! I got a matte neutral base colour (355) , a shimmery goldy/peachy tone (AMC Shine 01) , a shimmery peachy/orange tone (15) , a bright orange colour (51) and a dark brown (421) ! I was so impressed after using them ! They blend so well and you can easily acheive the smokey eye look with eyeshadows that blend as well as these ! I will be doing a make-up look using these soon ! For €6 a square you really can't go wrong ! All together , including the palette , it came to €36 ! I love Inglot products ! They are of such good quality and reasonable too ! I will definately be returning to an Inglot store very soon to pick up a few things ! 

2. Real Techniques Brushes

 I have used numerous make-up brushes including Mac and Lancome but the Real Techniques top them all ! Firstly , I'm going to start off with the Core Collection ! 

These are brushes which I personally would only use for the face ! The set includes four brushes ; Buffing brush , detail brush , pointed foundation brush and a contour brush ! After using these for the first time I couldn't believe the results ! I used the buffing brush to apply my foundation and it was flawless ! When applying bronzer under the cheekbones , down the sides of my nose and across the temple I found that the contour brush did the job perfectly ! The pointed foundation brush is great to get into those tricky areas and the detail brush is just as good , whether its applying concealer to blemishes or defining the brows ! The bristles are so soft and feel gentle on the face ! The set also comes in a carrier case which is ideal for keeping your brushes together ! I got mine from cloud10beauty.com for €24.99 ! The official website ( www.realtechniques.com ) only ships to the US ! They can be found in boots and on numerous websites including amazon.com , iherb.com and ebay ! And while your at it why not have a look at the creator of the brushes' blog and tutorials ( www.pixiwoo.com ) !

Now I'll move on to the Starter Set !

I have been waiting to find eyeshadow brushes that I love and I have finally found them ! The Real Techniques Starter Set are amazing ! The set includes 5 brushes ; Base shadow brush , deluxe crease brush , a brush for pixel point eyeliner , an accent brush and a brow brush ! I apply my base colour or any colour that I put on my lid with the base shadow brush ! It always gives me an even , smooth coverage ! I use the deluxe brush for blending and it is fantastic ! It gives the best blending effect out of any brush I have ever tried ! Everyone needs one of these in their make-up bags ! I don't use the eyeliner brush for eyeliner but what I do use it for is setting gel liner with a matte shadow ! It is perfect for the job ! The brow brush is for applying powder to the brows or defining them with concealer ! In my opinion , each brush is what you make it ! Just because it is meant to do only thing doesn't mean it can't have multiple purposes ! This set also comes with a carrier case ! Like the brushes from the Core Collection , the bristles are so soft and are a joy to work with ! These brushes are brilliant and I would recommend them to anyone ! This set is €24.99 and I also got this set off www.cloud10beauty.com ! You can find them in boots , aswell as on amazon , ebay and iherb.com ! Real techniques have numerous brush sets available but you can also buy single brushes ! 

4. Fuschia Gel Eyeliner

Okay ! So anyone who knows me well enough will know how much I love eyeliner ! I have tried so many including gels , pens , liquids and pencils ! I love a thick flick of eyeliner every now and then and for me it is so important to find the perfect eyeliner ! I mightn't have found it yet but Fuschia's gel eyeliner is pretty close ! I have tried so many gel eyeliners but have found that all of them transfer onto my upper lid ! I love liquid eyeliners but I was determined to find a gel that worked for me ! I first heard of this when SoSueMe mentioned it as one of her favourites so when I was in Fuschia I decided to make a little inquiry ! I spoke to the girl working there and told her about my problem with gel eyeliners transferring to my upper lid ! She recommended I tried a matte eyeshadow over the liner to dry up the oils ! I decided to give it a go and guess what ? It worked ! I applied this with my Fuschia pointed eyeliner brush and it went on so smoothly ! Not just that but you can also wear it on your waterline as it is completely waterproof and I find it so much easier to fix if I make a mistake than liquid ! It doesn't dry too quick so you have plenty of time to work with it ! Fuschia's gel eyeliner comes in 6 colors ; Blackout , chocolate , peacock , blackcherry , ivy league and marcasite ! I bought it in the colour Blackout but will definitely be picking up a few of the others ! The eyeliner is €18.75 and the brush was €11 ! You can find these on their website ( www.fuschia.ie ) or in any Fuschia store ( E.g. The Pavillions , Swords , Dublin or Scotch Hall , Drogheda , Co. Louth ) ! Fuschia are an Irish brand so why not support local !

I hope you's enjoyed my Christmas Haul !

Thanks for reading ! Mwah !

Holly X

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Christmas Haul ( Part 1 )

It may be a few weeks after Christmas but sure why not show off some great products I got over the festive season ! This is my first proper post so bare with me please ! I got some fab pressies , some of which I just have to share ! It will be split into two parts !

1. Benefit 'They're Real' Mascara

Want long lashes without the hassle of putting on falsies ? Well this is the solution ! This is by far the best mascara I have ever tried ! I , myself , don't have the longest eyelashes naturally but after a few coats of this my lashes look longer than ever ! I even got asked last night was I wearing falsies ! To my friends surprise I told her 'They're real !' (Hence the name) The mascara brush catches every lash and elongates each one ! The brush even has smaller bristles for those tricky outer and bottom lashes ! I would highly recommend this mascara and don't plan on changing mine anytime soon !

It retails at €26 and can be found at Benefit, Cara Pharmacy, Boots, Debenhams, Sephora and any other Benefit stockists !

2. Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eyeshadow Primer

I think priming the lids before applying eyeshadow is essential , especially for those with oily lids ! I'm sure the majority of yous have heard of Urban Decay Primer Potion ! It is probably one of the most well known eyeshadow primers out there and without a doubt it is brilliant but I have come across this little beauty ! It is not as thick as the Urban Decay eye primer and goes on so smoothly ! It is a squeezy tube and doesn't come with a wand like one of the Urban Decay primers ! That doesn't bother me at all but some people have their preferences ! I love the packaging and it fits perfectly in my make-up bag without taking up much space ! This makes my eyeshadow last all day and also makes colours appear more vibrant which is always a good thing ! It also comes in numerous shades , Shadow Insurance , Candlelight and Lemon Drop ! I have Shadow Insurance and it's a nude shade which could also be worn alone ! Too Faced's products are cruelty free and of great quality ! I haven't seen Too Faced Products anywhere but I do know they can be bought on their website ( www.toofaced.com ) , beautybay.com , debenhams and on the boots website ( www.boots.com or www.boots.ie ) and their larger stores ! Price in euros starts from €26 !

3. Too Faced Primed and Poreless Priming Powder and Finishing Veil

This paraben free mineral face powder is just brilliant ! I would highly recommend this to anyone with oily skin ! After applying a small amount of this my foundation looks flawless ! Not just does it mattify my skin and get rid of shine , it also minimizes pores ! It acts as a primer and makes your foundation stay put all day ! I came home after a night out and my make-up looked as if I had only applied it and this was without any top ups ! This little pot is amazing and will last ages as only a small amount is required during each use ! As said above Too Faced products can be found on their website ( www.toofaced.com ) , boots , debenhams and beautybay.com ! It retails at €28.80 ( Irish price in Debenhams ) !

4. Gosh Velvet Touch Foundation Primer Cream

I love this so much ! I think this is a lot different to any other primers ! I is a cream and it moisturises the skin while preparing it for foundation ! It leaves your skin moisturised and velvety to touch ! It reduces the appearance of wrinkles , firms the skin , increases the thickness of skin , smoothens and reduces roughness ! It is also said to improve the dermal structure of  the skin ! It is easy to apply and is a great base for make-up making it look flawless and last all day ! I probably wouldn't recommend this to those with very oily skin but for me it is definitely my favourite primer at the minute and for a drugstore brand Gosh products are very high quality ! At €19.99 you can't go wrong ! Gosh products are available from most pharmacies or from their website ( www.gosh.ie ) !

5. Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan By Marissa Carter

Cocoa Brown hasn't been around long but Marissa Carter has created a range of fake tans that are becoming more and more popular ! There is the Cocoa Brown Night to Day Tan and the 1 Hour Tan which is by far my favourite ! I much prefer tans that develop as I feel they last longer and look nicer but it can still be a nuisance having to wait hours for it to develop ! This , my friends , is the answer ! This is a mousse formula and has a colour when applying so it is easy to get an even application ! You have a choice on how dark you would like your tan ! It is recommended you wash the top coat off after one hour for a light tan , 2 hours for a medium colour and 3 hours or more for a darker colour ! I love a dark tan so never even feel the need to wash the top coat off ! It leaves a gorgeous golden colour without leaving you looking orange ! I would recommend exfoliating well the night before and moisturisng areas such as knees , elbows , hands , wrists , ankles and feet before applying this tan for an even colour ! This tan is so affordable and great for those who need a last minute tan ! Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan retails at €7.99 and is availiable from Penneys and most Irish pharmacies ! Also comes in a 100ml travel size bottle which is so convenient if you are planning on going away anytime soon ! Marissa Carter has also brought out numerous tanning products which I hope to review in the near future !

I hope yous have enjoyed my first blog post ! Second part will be up soon ! Comment or message me if you have any questions ! Mwah !

Holly X

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