Fashion - Five Wardrobe Staples Every Girl Should Have

Welcome back to my blog!

I'm all for trying out new trends, but I believe there's five items that every girl should have in her wardrobe, no matter what her individual style is.




1. Leather Jacket 
This is my go-to item in my wardrobe and probably my most worn item of clothing. At the moment, I have a black jacket with gold buttons I'm wearing in the photo there that I've worn in a previous blog post (see HERE), and just can't get enough of it. I got it in Penneys (Primark) for only about €20 too, so don't for a second think you have to spend a small fortune to get a decent one.

The best thing about a leather jacket is that I can wear it with skinny jeans and a plain white tee and ballet pumps for running errands in town during the daytime and then wear it to toughen up a dress to party at the night-time. There's loads of different styles available, with studs and what not, but I find the more basic the better, and the more likely they are to go with whatever you're wearing. A black one will go with pretty much every colour as well.



2. Good pair of skinny jeans

I realise I'm a budget blogger, but I'm also an honest blogger, so although I love Penneys (Primark) for their makeup, and shoes (oh my God, the shoes!) and their jewellery and most of my wardrobe is from there, I really must say that I dislike their skinny jeans with a fiery passion - I've found over the years that after about three washes they stretch quite a bit and are pretty much finished for and good to bin. Good thing that they're range around the ten euro mark or I'd be fierce angry!


My theory is that if you're going to wear an item of clothing a lot it's fairly acceptable to spend a reasonable enough amount of money on them - I feel it's more of an investment than anything else. I invested in those pair of jeans I'm wearing on the right and even though they were €70 at the time, they have lasted me nearly five years, I practically wore them to death at college,  and when you think of the amount of Penneys jeans I would have gone through in five years you'll know that it worked out a lot cheaper for me in the long run!

Much like the leather jacket, the skinny jean is a very versatile item to have in the wardrobe. They went quite well with and balanced out the crazy print top I'm wearing in the photograph there, but they also work well with just a plain white T-shirt and a leather jacket.

Blogpost which features the outfit there is HERE.

3. Dress that you can dress up or down
I wouldn't describe myself to be the girliest of girls, but I do like wearing dresses during the day and for night. I particularly like dresses that can be worn at both times! The flowery dress that's I'm wearing above is a good example of such a dress. Usually for day time I wear it with black tights or leggings with ankle boots or black ballet pumps and a black leather jacket, and for night-time I ditch the tights and ballet pumps/boots and apply tan and stick on a pair of heels. Going from casual day time to dressy night time has never been so easy!

4. High heels that you can walk in.
High heels have always been a wardrobe staple among women for many reasons. The obvious one being is that they look so pretty. The styles in Penneys as well as other high street stores at the moment (leaving out designer shoes because to be honest they're in a league of their own - too fecking pretty), and I say this as someone who wouldn't even consider herself to be that crazy about heels.

Other reasons behind why they are staples - can make you look taller and legs look longer, works your calf muscles (who doesn't want leaner legs?), self confidence (encourages you to walk tall) and can help you go from a day in the office outfit to a night out outfit without much else change to your outfit (great when you're rushing!).

You would imagine that this would go without saying, but an important point I must add is that you should practice walking in them and make sure you're able to walk in them. I've lost count of how many girls I see constantly walking up the street on nights out like something that resembles a new born calf. I can't lie - I've often been like it myself - but these days I try to stay away from ridiculously high heels that I know I can't walk in (and to be honest, I look odd in anyways given how tall I am anyway).

I find it's easier to walk in high heels if I have a strap on them. The metallic heels below are one of my most worn pair of shoes because of that very reason, I got them in Penneys (where else?) a few months back for the barganious price of €7 reduced from €16. I also find they glitz and glam up any outfit I wear them with.

I bought the pale pink wedges also pictured below because sometimes I like wearing something with height in the day time with a pair of jeans or a skirt, and these beauties fit the bill. As well as looking so pretty, they are also so comfortable to wear, I've often worn them all day and my feet don't feel sore after. They cost €16 in Penneys.

5. Statement Jewellery
I've mentioned throughout this post that you sometimes need an item that takes you from office style to nightclub style within minutes, and statement jewellery is possibly the easiest way to do so. Be with rings, bracelets or necklace, it jazzes up a plain dress/shirt within minutes and makes it more eye-catching. I will offer some words of advice though: resist the urge to go overboard. Go with statement ring or necklace or bracelet, not all three together. Also, try not to go too bling bling when it comes to picking out this kind of jewellery keep it fairly simple. There is a fine line between classy and trashy and it's ever so fine when it comes to this kind of jewellery. I found this image on Pinterest and immediately fell in love with the whole outfit. The skirt is the statement outfit piece, and the white shirt balances it out, and you can also see the statement necklace jazzing up the top half a little to make it less drab and dreary to fun and quirky. As to where other statement necklaces can be bought, Penneys have a humongous selection, ranging in price from €3-8 so depending on your budget you can find something that suits you, you don't need to go super expensive.

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Fashion & Beauty - It's my birthdaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!

I'm only starting to get back into blogging after what can only be described as an extremely hectic two weeks! I'm starting university in England tomorrow (eeep!), having moved over from Ireland on Wednesday to get settled into my new surroundings. I'll have a blogpost up in the future talking a little bit about the city that I'm currently living in for uni (Carlisle in the north west of England). Although I'm about to become a full time student again, I have decided to keep blogging as I really like to write so much and as creepy as it may sound, I have made tons of online friendships from all over the world because of it. However, I will say that instead of blogging once/twice/maybe three times a week, I'll blog when I can and when I have time, as the priority will obviously be university and everything that goes with it, but  I wouldn't want to publish anything on my blog that wasn't of good standard and great material.

 My blog will still be beauty, fashion and lifestyle on a budget, but it will be obviously much more student orientated. Even though I bought some makeup from British brands the other day, I'll try to keep things as relevant as possible for all my lovely Irish readers!

Anyways, this blogpost is all about my birthday celebrations. My 23rd birthday wasn't until yesterday (19th September), but as I won't be returning to see my friends and family in Ireland again until Christmas break, I wanted to spend as much time as possible with them and wanted to celebrate my birthday with them, so with that in mind, I decided to have last weekend (the 12th September), as a birthday celebration and also as a kind of going away celebration as well. Celebrating my birthday a week early? Yes please!

The dress I'm wearing is from AX Paris. They have a website, and although the stuff on it is fabulous, they are more than bit expensive on there, even items on sale. This dress costs €52.50 online and if you wish you can still buy it at http://www.axparis.com/products/Lace-Detailed-Top-Midi-Dress.html. A boutique in my hometown in Ireland however was selling it on sale for just €12, reduced from the price they were selling it at which was €42. Can't go wrong with that can you?!

The metallic heels I'm wearing are from Penneys (Primark), I have mentioned them in previous posts, I got them on a reduced sale of €12 reduced from €16. They are so nice and easy to walk in that they are actually the only pair of high heels I own that made the cut into the suitcase to England!

Regarding makeup, I'm not sure can you see it clearly enough in the photo of me above, I didn't actually manage to take a selfie that night before I went out (what is becoming of me?!), but most of the products I've used before on nights out. The foundation I used was my holy grail night time foundation, MaxFactor Skin Luminiser in the shade '40 Light Ivory' (€15.99), concealer I used under my eyes and on blemishes was Rimmel Wake Me Up (€6.99, review of that product is HERE), powder I used was Primark Loose Powder (€2, review of this product is to come), blush I used was Catrice Defining Blush in Sunrose Avenue (€4.49, review of that product is HERE). In terms of eye makeup, I created a subtle smoky eye using the W7 In the Nude eyeshadow palette (I'll have a blogpost on this palette up shortly) before adding some drama with my all time favourite false eyelashes, Primark Sultry (€1.50), before lining with Essence Liquid Ink liquid eyeliner. I lined my lips with Primark lipliner in a berry shade before applying Primark Matte Long Last Lipstick in the shade 'Ladies Day' (€2). This lipstick is super matte and drying so do please use some lipbalm like the Nivea Essentials lipbalm (€2.09, review of that product is HERE), before applying, though this lipstick will stay on all night.

The tan I wore wearing is the amazing Cocoa Brown Day & Night tan (review of that product is HERE).

If you're a regular reader of my blog you'll know that over the past month I have not been biting my nails and using Sally Hansen Nail Growth miracle treatment to speed up the growth process (I wrote about my thoughts after using the product for five days HERE) and actually hope to have a second blogpost after using it for month up shortly. They have finally become long enough to apply nail polish to. I chose New York Color Gel Gloss in the shade '800 Greenwich Shopper', which is a matte black colour which wouldn't distract from the dress or the makeup. I find it an OK product, you need to apply two coats to the nail because anything else just looks transparent. It cost €2.20.

For the actual day of my birthday, I spent much of the day exploring around my new city surroundings. Even though I've spent so much on clothes and other bits the last few days since moving over, I had to buy a few presents for myself - sure if you can't treat yourself on your birthday when can you?! I picked out a brown skirt, a brick red crop top and black heeled boots in New Look. I thought the colours together looked so autumnal and really bang on trend.  I reckon I'll do a blogpost soon enough on the clothes that I bought.

Later in the evening I strolled into the city centre to have a few cheeky birthday drinks. I randomly passed the Irish pub on the way home and had to pop in for one - sure why not. All and all I had a really great birthday - here's to being 23, yeaaah!

Thanks so much also to those who wished me a happy birthday on my Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or through good auld calls and texts - it was very much appreciated!

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Beauty - Review of Boots Botanic Micellar 3-in-1 Cleansing Solution (All Bright)

Forgive me father, for I have sinned...

I'm cheating on my Garnier Micellar cleansing water with this Boots Botanic Micellar 3-in-1 Cleansing Solution (All Bright). I know I know, how could I do such a thing, especially after all we've been through... However, I promise it's not what you think!
I've mentioned in passing before that I'm moving to England in just over a week for university (eeep!) and as everyone knows you can't bring liquids on the plane (well not as much as this 250ml bottle). So instead of having things go to waste my sister gave me this Boots Botanic stuff to use up before we head off and since I've been using it the last week, I decided I may as well do a quick review on it.

Much like the Garnier micellar water (see review of that product HERE), this cleansing solution dissolves your makeup, unclogs pores and acts as a toner (hence the 3-in-1). This is alcohol and soap free, which is great for anyone that has sensitive skin like myself. This cleansing solution, along with the other products in the Boots Botanics range, is created by Boots scientists working with experts in plant science at Royal Botanic Gardens in the UK. I haven't tried out the rest of the products in the range, because when I find a skincare routine that works for me I tend to stick with it for years (for example I've been using the Simple Kind to Skin Light hydrating moisturiser for about five years), although I hear from other bloggers that the radiance balm is well worth picking up, so I may try that out sometime.

Anyways, back to this micellar cleansing solution. It differs from the Garnier Micellar Water in that it contains plant hibiscus which is "nature's brightening booster". Natural alpha hydroxyl acids (AHA's), from the flower act as mild exfoliators to help leave skin smoother and brighter. Don't get put off by the word alpha whateveritis, because they're naturally occurring in most plants and have actually been found to play a big role in anti-aging treatments (which is a story for another day). However, because this product contains this, it may increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun, so if you're going out in the sun (on the off chance that it may reappear in Ireland before the year is out), use a sunscreen while using this product and limit sun exposure during and even for a week after use of the product has stopped. This product claims to be "fragrance free", but when I first smelled it, I felt like there was a slight smell to it - it's definitely not as natural as the Garnier micellar water.

I applied some to my skin on a make-up pad after a day of wearing makeup. It got rid of my makeup quickly and easily, and while it stung slightly around the eye area, it quickly stopped. However, I was surprised by how my skin felt after. Usually after applying the Garnier micellar water to my face, my skin feels re-freshed so much so that I even feel like I don't have to apply any moisturiser to contouract any dryness. While my skin did feel refreshed and toned to a point, it did feel slightly tight in areas indicating dryness. For that reason, I felt like it wasn't as kind to my skin as the Garnier micellar water, and I just didn't really like the smell of it either, so for that reason, I wouldn't purchase this product for myself as part of my cleansing regime once I arrive in the UK. I did hear afterwards that there is a version of this product available for sensitive skin, so maybe I'll try out that.

It costs €3.49 in Boots.

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Beauty - Beauty Trends Autumn 2015

I wouldn't describe myself as being a slave to trends, but as a blogger it's part of my interest to keep an eye on what's going on regarding them. Over the past few weeks, from checking out beauty websites, other blogs and social media, I have been compiling a list of beauty trends that are going to be huge this autumn and what better day to post this than the first day of September (really feels strange writing that, I thought the day would never come but it has actually come around so so quick!). I hope to do a blogpost tutorial on each of the looks I'll mention here over the course of the season, but I am about to become a full-time university student soon so you'll have to bear with me on that one!

1. Face
The harsh regime of contouring that the beauty world has been experiencing the last while is out the window this season and in it's place comes a much more wearable regime. This trend is all about natural makeup. Picture the scene - you're coming in from work/college/school after a chilly windy day and look in the mirror (unless you're like me, then you do not look at yourself after a day of college as you're confident you look like shite). Chances are you'll have a natural flushed, peachy, rosy colour in your cheeks. This beauty trend is not only so nice on but it's so, so easy to recreate. You don't have to be fiddling with 1237 brushes and wonder if it's all blended in or whether someone can check out your contour lines (a genuine concern of mine on most nights out!). Bit of blush, natural lips (lipstick or gloss, whatever one most floats your boat) and simple hair and eyes. Rosie Huntington Whiteley has the look nailed and looks stunning as always (though in fairness, the girl would look stunning with any kind of makeup or clothes on her).

Now where's my modelling contract?

2. Lips:

(i) Bold red lips are a huge trend this autumn. I find red lipstick so glamorous and so effortlessly sexy that it is a beauty trend that will never go out of style ever and it's one beauty look I really like to embrace not just in autumn but all year round. At the moment the red lipstick I'm currently loving is Boots Seventeen's Stay Pout, as it applies to the lips well and is matte so will stay on all night. Oh, and it's a steal at €5.60 too.

To really rock a red lip, keep the rest of your makeup simple (as the red lips really are the star attraction here), with matte skin, a bitta light blush and a slick of winged eyeliner. Taylor Swift knows the craic. Fab!

.

(ii) This one is a bit of a no-brainer - vampy, dark sultry lipstick is always a huge beauty trend come autumn. The trend of black lipstick is floating around recently, and even though I'm keen to give it a go just for experimental sake, I really don't think it's flattering on many people and it isn't exactly that wearable unless you have lips the size of Kylie Jenner as the really intense black tends to make lips look a lot thinner and plus it seems too costume like even for me - I really can't imagine anyone walking around my local Tesco wearing it!

Dark berry lips and dark purple lips are a hell of a lot more flattering on us mere mortals with not plenty of cash to flaunt on lip fillers like the pampered Jenner sister.

First thing's first - don't be put off or intimidated by wearing a darker lipstick shade. Makeup is all about experimentation and if you don't like it, you can always wipe it off and say you gave it a go.

I found two pictures of two talented actresses online - Lily Collins and Selena Gomez - both rocking the dark, vampy lip colour to perfection. Lily, like myself and like many of my readers, is pale and fair skinned while Selena is olive skinned and tanned. As you can see, it suits them both, and so it's not so much about your complexion but rather what makeup you accompany your vampy lip with. Like the red lipstick mentioned earlier, you should focus on keeping the rest of your makeup fairly simple, which is exactly what these two girls have done. Eyes should be simply made up, with just a nude colour and a hint of mascara, and blush should be kept to a minimum to let the dark lipstick take centre stage.

I have been loving dark lipsticks since earlier this year and I'm obsessed with Rimmel Lasting Finish lipstick in Starry Eyed. As you can see from the swatch on my hand below it's a beautiful dark berry shade, which complements my pale skin so so well. It costs €5.50.

3. Eyes

(i) As our lives become more dramatic going back to school and college and all, so becomes our eyeliner! The key with this trend is to not take things too seriously and just have fun with it. Go dramatic as you dare! If you don't feel comfortable, even just extending a basic cat eyeliner flick out a few inches and making the eyeliner slightly thicker will do the job just as well. If you suffer with shaky, granny hand syndrome like myself, invest in an eyeliner pen like these beauties from Catrice that will allow you to draw a thin line to get a gist of where your eyeliner is heading in, they work well for me and better still, they only cost about three or four euro. If you are really struggling with the eyeliner but want a dramatic eyeliner shape, not to worry! I'd recommend you to check out this innovative eyeliner called 'The Curve' by NYX Cosmetics. It has a unique shape that basically makes the eyeliner easier to hold and grip so you can apply eyeliner without a hitch. I am very keen to try out this product soon, I've heard such good reviews about it, it's definitely one on my wish list! I haven't actually tried out any products by NYX yet, so I hope to change that very soon! It costs about sixteen euro if you're interested in checking it out.

Here are just a few pics to get you inspired:

(ii) Another big trend for the eyes this autumn is a metallic eyeshadows, with golden and copper tones. It looks fabulous in the picture below, doesn't it? I think it looks amazing teamed with a nude lipstick as seen on the beautiful Lily Collins (does that girl ever get it wrong in the beauty stakes?) but I think it just looks exquisite with a purple or a berry lipstick. Again, the rest of the makeup must be kept quite simple to allow for the eyes to be the standout of the look.

I hope you enjoyed this blogpost, and found it informative and learned a trend or two from it! I'm really excited to show you my interpretation of some of these makeup looks too, so stay tuned for that over the coming season!

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Beauty - Kylie Jenner Inspired Makeup

I've done a blog post on Kendall Jenner makeup (see HERE) but it's her younger sister Kylie's makeup I'm focusing on today.



I'm sure we've all seen pictures of Kylie with this sort of makeup - matte light brown lipstick teamed with simple eyeshadow and some winged eyeliner, she wears it a lot in pictures and it's pretty much her go to look as you can see by the other pictures of her there. I really like it too as it's simple and easy to re-create, and is made up without looking too glam or overdone - my kind of makeup!

Kylie has revealed that the lip products she uses are Mac's Whirl lipliner and Velvet Teddy lipstick. As everyone knows, these are not only super expensive products - with the lipliner alone retailing at about €17 - but extremely hard to get your hands on (I've heard from numerous beauty bloggers that Velvet Teddy is almost always out of stock). However, I was in Penneys (Primark for you in the UK) and was looking through their own brand beauty section. I have used their lip products before and have their lipsticks and lipliner in a purple shade, but I was intrigued by their matte light brown lipstick and lipliner. Could these be dupes for Velvet Teddy and Whirl, I thought. They were both inexpensive at €1.50 for the lipliner and €2 for the lipstick so for that price I didn't have to think about it any longer - I knew I wanted to buy them and try them out!

Starting off I moisturised my face with my trusty Simple Kind To Skin Light Hydrating moisturiser (€5 - review of this product plus other skincare products I use is HERE) and applied some Nivea Essential Care lipbalm to my lips (€2.09 - review of this product plus other products I have been using that cost under 10 is HERE). I have used this Primark beauty lipstick before in different shade and I find that it's extremely matte and drying so your lips need to be well moisturised before application, though it being so matte it will last all day on your lips. As this look involves using eyeliner and I often mess it up, I worked on my eyes before my base.

I applied some Catrice Prime and Fine eyeshadow base (€3.20) to act as a primer. Taking the lightest, champagne shade on the left of the Catrice Absolute Nude eyeshadow palette (5.49 - review of that product is HERE). I sweeped that all over my eyelid and up to my browbone. Taking the colour beside that shade, I applied that in the crease and on the top of my eyelid, then blended it out with the lighter eyeshadow shade. I also applied some of the darker shade to my lower lashline. I carefully applied Essence Liquid Ink liquid eyeliner (€2.49) on the eyelid and flicked it out slightly at the outer corner. I then applied some New York Color Big Bold NYC Mascara (€3.20) to my upper and lower eyelashes.

The foundation I selected to use for this look was the Primark Beauty liquid foundation (a steal at only €3), as it's more matte than my usual Rimmel foundation. I applied only a tiny layer of this because I find with this foundation if you apply too much it can easily look like a cakey mess so do take care when applying it, however that said it is a really great foundation for the price you pay and is well up there with a lot of other expensive foundations I have tried out. I patted some Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer (€6.99 - see review of this product plus other Rimmel products HERE) under my eyes and on my blemishes using my fingers, and set the concealer with my Primark loose powder (€2.50). I then set the rest of my base with a very light dusting of Catrice All Matt Plus powder in '010 Transparent' (€3.49) before adding a tiny bit of glow with the Catrice Defining Blush in 'Sunrose Avenue' ( €4.75 - review of that product is HERE). Regarding eyebrows, I filled them in so they looked groomed using my Primark Beauty browkit (€2 - review of that product is HERE). I am planning on doing a blogpost soon on my eyebrow routine actually.

Onto the lips. I didn't  overline my lips. I think that just looks strange to be honest, but each to their own. Instead of applying lipliner inside of my natural lipline I applied the Primark lipliner on my lipline (if that makes any sense), then coloured my lips in with this shade. I think it looks far more wearable and anyways I really don't want to be walking around with huge inflated lips (my lips are big enough anyways!).  I then applied this matte lipstick.

Hope you enjoyed this look!

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Beauty - Sally Hansen Nail Growth Miracle Treatment: Part 1

As a beauty blogger, I'm constantly in Boots or a chemist searching for new make-up to try out, and of course because all these make-up brands have nail polishes, I end up looking at them too and feeling disappointed that I can't try out these really nice nail polish shades on my own nails.

I bite my nails. So so bad. I have done so since I was about ten years old. It began mostly out of habit and gets significantly worse around the time of stress, i.e. exams (final year college exams I literally had no nails whatsoever).

I decided enough was enough. I'm 23 in a few weeks, plus going to be starting my second degree soon, and I just felt that the nail biting was something a bit childish and implies an unprofessional attitude.

With that in mind, I was in Boots the other day and decided to get something that might help my nails to grow a bit stronger. I picked up Sally Hansen Nail Growth Miracle for €10.50.

This is marketed as a salon strength treatment that promises to give 30% longer nails in just five days. To quote what's on the back of the pack:  "Exclusive soy protein formula helps strengthen and lengthen nails without brittleness. Keratin formula protects nails against splitting, cracking and tearing. Collagen and multi-itamins formula promotes healthy nail growth."

The packaging is quite basic - all plastic with a gold cap. The brush is big to allow for easy application. The liquid is clear and you apply it to your bare nails much like you would do with a regular nail polish. It does have quite a strong smell so when you apply it sit beside an opened window so you won't die from the fumes!

This blogpost is basically a part one of how I got on with it after five days and what was my initial thoughts on it. I'll have another blogpost in a month when I've tried it out that long.

After using it for five days, applying it to my nails once a day and not biting my nails for over a week (bit of an achievement for me!), they appear to have become stronger. I'm not just saying this, but I definitely did feel like they had got longer. I can scratch things now, yay! Haha. After five days that is pretty phenomenal.

I've added some before and after application photos below, you can decide for yourself whether it's helping to grow my nails. Bear in mind though that this is only after five days of usage!

I do apologise if I gross anyone out with before and after pictures of my nails.

Before

After

Fashion & Beauty - Girly Summery Outfit of the Day

I was rooting through my blog and it came to my attention it's been a while since I did a blog post on an outfit of the day. Truth be told, I was wanting to do a summery outfit of the day for quite a while but as the weather in Ireland this summer has been more like winter, with rain and cold, I just had to keep postponing it, as I didn't want to catch pneumonia in a short little dress! But we got 'lucky' in Ireland earlier this week when we got one day - yes, just one day! - of good weather, so my outfit of the day post had to be snapped then!

Anyways, I bought this dress in a charity shop in my local town at the start of the summer. Initially, I thought it looked quite old fashioned, but when I tried it on I immediately fell in love! It is such a perfect fit on me and it's quite a nice length too, so the five euro price tag was the sprinkles on the sundae for me. 

The floral headband was bought in Penneys at the start of summer, and I actually bought it shortly after I bought the dress. I thought the both items would go oh-so-well together, and they do! It cost €5.

I bought the pale pink wedges in Penneys also about three months ago. They were €12. They are so comfortable to walk in, I really like them.

As for my hair, I washed it and used a hair mask before rinsing and leaving it to dry naturally. I was sitting out in the sun earlier in the day and my hair naturally dried in the sun, there's no product added to it bar what was added to it in the shower - no mousse, no gel, no nothing. I don't wear my hair like this too often, I prefer to have it straightened. I think many other girls are the same - if you have naturally curly hair you want straight hair and vice versa. Sometimes I feel like curly hair goes better with many of my looks especially girly, feminine looks like this so it worked with this look. This will be the last blog post that you will see me with this length hair by the ways - the day after I took these photos I went for the chop and my hair is now in a short bob!

I wanted to have my makeup 'glowing' and healthy looking, to tie in with the whole girly summery theme of this look. I moisturised with my trusty Simple Kind to Skin Light Hydrating Moisturiser (€5 -review HERE) before starting to work on my eyes. After I priming my eyelids with Catrice Prime and Fine eyeshadow base (€3.20), I decided to go for a very soft pink, romantic smoky eye created by my W7 In the Nude eye shadow palette (€9.99) before applying Essence Liquid Ink Liquid Eyeliner (€2.49) and adding lashings of New York Color Big Bold Volume by the Lash Mascara. (€3.20).

I applied a light layer Rimmel Match Perfection foundation in 100 Ivory to my skin to keep things quite natural, with my Primark beauty blender, then added Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer under my eyes and on my blemishes using clean fingers. (review of these Rimmel products is HERE), before setting my complexion with just a tiny amount of Catrice All Matt Plus powder in '010 Transparent' (€3.49) where needed. I added some Catrice Defining Blush in the shade 'Sunrose Avenue' (€4.75 - review of this blush plus my review of some other makeup products under €10 is HERE  to my cheeks and filled in my eyebrows with Primark beauty browkit (€2 - review of this product is HERE).  For my lips I went for a natural look and applied Boots Natural Collection Juicy Lips (€2.70). To really bring out that glowing summery look I applied some Essence Cinderella highlighter powder. This was part of Essence Cinderella's range and the review of this product is HERE. 

The nail polish I'm wearing on my fingers and toes if anyone's wondering is Catrice Ultimate Nail Lacquer in the shade 'Raspberry Fields Forever'. That picture of the colour there is not mine obviously - don't have any nails as I bite them - it's just a photo I got from internet to give you an idea of the shade! I couldn't find my own bottle to take a quick pic of it!