Dr Martens.

Dr Martens are definitely a Marmite shoe- you love 'em or hate 'em. Personally, I love them-its been a while since I last wore a pair (the only ones I own are covered in flowers-big mistake). I've been coveting these low rise ones for a while now and finally decided to get a pair! They literally go with everything- I've been pairing them with thin black tights and rolled down white socks- definitely a schoolgirl-esque vibe but I like how it looks. They look great worn with girly dresses as it really offsets how clunky they are.
They do set you back a fair bit of cash but they really are worth every penny as they will last you for years. I picked mine up in Office where they were around €110/115 and with a student discount I got them for €96. They have them in loads of different styles-I also have my eye on the burgundy pair!

New MAC Lippies

 

As you can see I have recently acquired some new MAC lipsticks. I'm quite a sucker for the MAC lipstick counter and can spend a rather long time swatching every colour under the sun on the back of my hand.
First of these two lovely lippies is MAC's Lady Danger- I have wanted this lipstick for SO LONG. I already own MAC Red and Ruby Woo and for a long time convinced myself that I didn't need another red lipstick. However, when I was on holidays I decided that what the hell, I really do need this lipstick in my life! I'm so glad I did make this spontaneous purchase as its such a gorgeous colour. A really vibrant orangey-red, unlike Ruby Woo's blue toned red, it really packs a punch on the lips. I like to think its quite a quirky colour and that it really stands out against my pale skin. Another huge bonus is that its a matte lipstick, which I love. I hate re-applying constantly and with MAC's Matte range there really is no need, they have some seriously good staying power!

Top- Lady Danger. Bottom- Plumful.

 Another new addition is MAC's Plumful. This is a shade I've also had my eye on for a while- any followers of Essie Button will know she is a huge fan of this shade, and after hearing her rave about it I swatched it for myself- alas it was love! Not my usual go to colour as it is quite muted for me (I do love a red lip) however I've found it to be so nice as an everyday colour. Bought for me by my two best friends as a graduation present I don't feel too guilty that I have yet another lipstick in my collection- especially as I know I shall get so much wear out of it! The formulation is a Lustre which is something I would never usually go for- its quite sheer and creamy with a slight shimmer to it. Normally this would be a no-no for me, but in this particular shade I love it! The lasting power isn't quite there but I think this may be that I'm more used to MAC's matte formula.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Review

In the past I have never been a fan of MAC foundations, for two reasons. Firstly, the shade range- Oompa Loompa was the only option for me unfortunately! Secondly, the smell. Does anyone else get that distinctively paint like smell from MAC foundations or is it just me?

On a recent holiday I decided to treat myself to a new foundation and thought I'd check out the new shade offerings from MAC. I was very impressed- finally a MAC foundation for pale girls like myself! I currently wear the shade NW10 which suits my skin tone perfectly, something I usually struggle to find. The only other foundation that has suited me as well is Bobbi Brown's Skin Foundation in Porcelain. The reason I switched to the MAC this time is that my skin has been quite a problem lately and I needed a foundation with a higher coverage.

I graduated from college not long after buying this foundation and for me, it was a really good way of testing the longevity of Studio Fix Fluid for a number of reasons;

1. It was quite hot on the day of the graduation- and combined with some seriously heavy robes I didn't want my make-up to be sliding off my face! Thankfully this didn't happen and it stayed in place despite the heat.

2. The nerves and stress leading up to the graduation played havoc with my skin-meaning I had to wear quite a lot of make-up. I followed the tried and tested Lisa Eldridge technique of applying a few thin layers of foundation and letting them set in-between, rather than one super-thick layer. This technique really works with MAC Studio Fix Fluid. I applied one layer, followed by concealer and then one more thin layer of foundation. This gave me the perfect amount of coverage without looking like a caked on mask.

3. There were so many photographs taken on the day, and looking back on them I'm very happy with how this make up photographed. The finish of the foundation is slightly dewy (not as glowy as Bobbi Brown's Skin Foundation) which I like but for such a long day I did powder the skin to set everything in place. I used Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent. This combination left my skin with a slight glow in photographs but not an uber- shiny face look.

4. This foundation has some serious lasting power. Given that I put my make-up on at 10.30 that morning- it was really put through its paces. With the ceremony in the afternoon, a meal afterwards and a night out in the city to follow it really had to last all day! I'm happy to say that when I haphazardly came through the front door at five the next morning my make-up wasn't looking too worse for wear.

Sorry for the rather long review but I think this might be a holy grail foundation for me as it is the perfect shade, coverage and finish!

Nike Free Runs

 About two months ago I joined the gym- something I should have done a long time ago! For the first while the runners I was wearing were ok- however as I started jogging more I could soon see that I would need to invest in something a little more supportive- shin splints are not great!
After hearing so much about the Free Runs and seeing everyone wearing them I thought I'd see what they were like. Needless to say I think they're great, they're so light it makes running feel far easier. They're also surprisingly supportive considering how light they are. My favourite thing about them though is that they don't look like typically ugly gym trainers, instead they come in a variety of different colours- with lots if neon. I opted for the blue and neon pink pair and I love them!
They definitely are an investment purchase, at €99.99 in Foot Locker they weren't cheap but in the long run they'll be worth it!

*All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me.

Bioderma

Surprisingly enough, after reading beauty blogs and following beauty YouTube channels for a number of years I have never tried Bioderma. I do have an excuse, seeing as it isn't readily available in Dublin yet- I think House of Fraser in Dundrum is the only place you can get it!
So after a recent trip to Germany, I spied this cute little bottle in a pharmacy. At €6.90 for 100mls its not exactly cheap, it was definitely more sensible to get a bigger bottle but I couldn't get a large one in fear of my case being overweight for the flight home!
So far, I can really see what all the hype was about- something I didn't think would happen. For a product that seems so simple- its just a make-up remover, it really is someting I've fallen in love with. I very rarely use facial wipes to remove my make-up as they completly dry out my skin. However, occasionally if I'm home late and am feeling lazy I reach for the wipes. Bioderma is a great way of taking your make-up of in a rush wihout feeling guilty for your poor skin by using wipes!
It definitely needs to be stressed that this isn't a replacement for your cleanser but a nice way of effectively and speedily removing your makeup before you cleanse.

As it is such a small bottle I'd say I'll be running out very soon, Dublin needs to start stocking it or I'll have to buy online!




*All products mentioned in this post were purchased  by me.

Thermal Sprays

So after we've all seen how silly I look in the above picture we can talk about thermal sprays. They've been around for a while now but its only recently I've had some in my stash, I had previously had a try of an Avene one my Mum had but didn't really get the hype.
After a recently holiday my opinion on them changed for a number of reasons;

1- Being in the middle of a city in 30 degree heat for four days makes you very hot. These sprays are great when you're really hot and want nothing more than to splash your face with cold water. Except us make-up lovers can't really do that without a mascara meltdown! By using one of these you get a nice refreshing mist all over your face that cools you down and doesn't destroy your make-up.

2- Speaking of make-up and city breaks these sprays were lifesavers when it came to midday touch-ups. After a day filled with sightseeing in the heat touch-ups are definitely necessary, especially if you're heading straight from a day of museums to a bar. By lightly spritzing your face your make-up looks refreshed and dewy and allows you to apply more where you need it without the risk of looking cakey.

Possibly the biggest endorsement for these is that our male friends on this holiday laughed at us spraying our faces with these on day one. However, by the time we were on the flight home they were as addicted to using them as us!

These are the two sprays I have tried.
First up is Vichy Eau Thermale- decribed as rich in rare minerals, paraben free and suitable for sensitive skin. This was my favourite of the two as it sprayed quite a fine mist which didn't leave your face too wet.
Secondly is La Roche Posay's Thermal Spring Water- described as a natural antioxidant and  soothes and softens sensitive skin. This was also lovely but sprayed slightly heavier than the Vichy which made it slightly less usable when you're on the go.

Overall, I would have to say I'm converted and would never go on holiday to a hot destination without one!




*All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me.

Rimmel Salon Pro Polishes

After hearing many a good thing about Rimmel's latest nail polish offerings I decided to check them out....which has led to me buying quite a few!

First up is a gorgeous pastel-lilac shade that- so far- is my favourite of the bunch. This shade is called Ultra Violet and is a gorgeous spring/summer shade that keeps me looking at my nails whenever I wear it! The best part is that its completely opaque after two coats, which can be difficult to achieve with some pastel colours.
Next is Disco Fever a deep pink/purple that looks heavenly on toes. I'm not one for muted tones on toes so this is definitely a keeper in my book- as it really pops- it goes especially well with a sneaky shoe purchase I may have made this week!
The darkest of the bunch, aptly named Punk Rock is a colour I absolutely love. As much as I like black nail polish, it really is a pain in the arse to take off, so this colour is a slightly easier way to achieve dark nails without all the faffing about at manicure time. Its an unusual colour which is why I chose it- a dark grey, with a hint of mauvey purple.
Lastly is the most muted of the pack- Soul Session. A great staple nail polish- everyone needs a good nude, for days when you need to look understated and polished, like a job interview or if you just want to keep it simple. This ticks all the right boxes- plus its also nicely opaque after two coats.

So far I'm loving these polishes (if you can't already tell) as they are advertised as having a gel like finish, which they do. They look super glossy and are nice and long-lasting.
I can definitely see myself expanding my collection as they have quite a broad colour range!

Hope you enjoyed this post!
H x

Fashion & Beauty Haul: April 2013

Hello!
I filmed a video for my YouTube channel today featuring some recent fashion and beauty purchases from the picture below! Not a particularly large haul, just a few things I've bought recently! If you don't already follow me on YouTube my channel is also called CrumpetsAndMarmalade. http://www.youtube.com/user/CrumpetsAndMarmalade?feature=mhee

This week on Instagram #1

 

 Bought myself some new gym gear at the beginning of the week in the hopes it'll get my arse in gear.....so far so good!

 

Catching up on the newest editions of ELLE and Vogue.

 

Love the smell of this candle I bought during the week. Its from Dunnes and is scented with Freesia, a really pretty Spring smell!

 

Need to get myself one of these massive Starbucks mugs. Perfect for those completely necessary bowl-like cups of tea.

 

Absolutely addicted to this show at the moment. Finally got around to starting Season Three this week!

 

 

 

Went to see the new Ryan Gosling flick with the boyfriend this weekend- The Place Beyond the Pines. A seriously good watch. Be warned though, leaves you feeling inexplicably sad and also with a strange desire for a motorbike/acid wash jeans.

 

 

Its been far too long since I last had Converse. Treated myself to a simple black low-rise pair this week, forgot how much of a summer staple they are!

 

 

Thats what I've been up to the past week, see you soon,

H. x

MAC Ruby Woo

Mac's Ruby Woo is a lipstick that gets a lot of hype in the beauty world, however I only purchased it recently. I was quite indecisive, torn between Ruby Woo and Russian Red. I eventually settled for this shade as Russian Red is a lot darker and deeper and more appropriate for the winter months, Seeming as we are (supposedly) coming into Spring/Summer I thought that a more bright and vibrant shade would look good on summer days.

 

 Ruby Woo is quite a blue-toned red and it seems to suit almost every skin tone! It is a matte texture which I usually don't like as I find it can be too drying on the lips. This however, provides a beautiful matte texture which I think makes my lips appear slightly bigger as well as giving it amazing staying power with out leaving my lips looking super dry!

I have read before that this lipstick can make your teeth look whiter and it definitely does! I have to say I think that might be my favourite thing about this lipstick as quite often reds aren't very flattering for your poor teeth, but with Ruby Woo I don't feel so self-concious when I smile!



Below- Worn with Mac Cherry Lipliner.

 

 Overall, I think this is fast-becoming my go to red lipstick, previously it was Mac's Mac Red which is also lovely. I think this one is a real Hollyood-red, a classic colour that is always good for days when you need a little more oomph! Below is a picture of me wearing it on a recent night out (excuse my incredibly pale face!) it stayed on all night, I only needed to touch it up once!

 

 

H. x