March Favourites

We are in April, can you believe it? I can't. And if your like me, any bit of sunshine and the shorts are out and sun cream is getting slapped on like no ones business! Holy mammy I got out to the garden and went wild with the photo taking and flower picking (while no one was looking that is- risky stuff picking your mothers prize flowers.) I have a load of different things I've been loving this month and can't wait to tell you all about them, so lets get crackin'!

I did a make up face yoke kind of post ages back here and also a comparisons post on this Wet'n'Wild concealer palette against the Catrice one. I said Catrice was much better in my Jan Favs, in my BOBBlogChallenge here and here and I still stand by that. Honest to god, I pure rave about the stuff after looking back at all those links! Its more creamy, better selection of colours and doesn't sting near my eyes. But over the last month I have been using this non stop because my poor Catrice is no more. Surprisingly enough I'm noticing all its great qualities. Its cheap, it lasts much longer then the Catrice palette even with daily use, it covers well and bonus points for the highlighter which I've been slapping on the face whenI contour (Yes, I now contour. Close your mouths, I shocked myself enough as it is.) So Wet'n'Wild gets a big thumbs up this month. But boo on the slight stinging.

 I got a W7 In The Buff eye shadow palette only the other week from the Cosmetic outlet - post here on all the goodies I hauled! And since then it has been true love. Like head over heals love. Its meant to be a dupe for the Naked 2 palette and for a fraction of the price. I bet this is bringing all the boys to the yard, promises of milkshakes or not! I have done a tonne of different looks with all the 12 nude matte and shimmer goodness(es), things I would never normally think of or have the confidance to do. Take a goo at my Twitter or my Instagram to see some of the photos of recent colours I've used. I'm going to do a full post on this in time, just to brag about how badly I can wipe powdery colours across my face. Sexy, non?

My Cleanse Off Mitt? No words can describe my love, as someone who is a lazy arse about taking her makeup off. If I come home from a party or night out then boom, 2 second scrub round the chops with this beaut and I'm already half way to bed. Read my full review of it here - warning though, I make faces and some of them aren't purtty.

Ah, Timotei you sly dog you! Here was me thinking it was the kind of cheapy brand you could nab in the pound shop and did the job ok. But oh no, they went off and brought out a dry shampoo without informing me of its wonder, great power and general magical abilities. This is without a doubt the best dry shampoo I have ever tried. I know right, what is she on about? Has she lost the run of herself altogether now? Its all that fresh air, not doing her the least bit of good! Go way and stop that sort of thinking! I'm going to do a better review of this really soon, but for now just take my word for it, run like crazy and buy ever bottle you can find. Then send some to me. It doesn't leave white residue like Batiste, gives the locks volume and it lasts all day. You'll never need to shower again. - Ah here, slight exaggeration but you get what I'm jabbering on about. I found mine in Tesco on sale. Go, run!   

Next is nail varnish, a slight obsession of mine. Seventeen is a brand that can do no wrong in my eyes, they do amazing dupe concealer for Benefits Boi-ing, they do gorgeous eye shadows and they now do amazing nail varnish. Who created the brand and can I marry them please? This is the new colour clash nail effects in 'in the surf'. Blue speckled nails with white. Orange. Baby pinks! Oh be still my beating heart, its almost too much. You only need one coat of this stuff, it makes the most divine looking nail art and I will be wearing it all summer. I mean allllll summer. Prepared to get bored of my nails fast. 

Another little gem is my Anatomicals headache relief balm soother. I got it the same time I ordered my Cleanse Off Mitt from Cloud10Beauty. I got it on a whim, thinking it wont work but it was cheap and thought it might be something cute and different to try. It actually does reduce my headaches, I'm shocked to say. It smells really lovely and slightly minty, its hard and compact in the tin but the moment you touch it it tuns into this lovely oil thats so easy to spread over your temples. I even use this before bed sometimes to relax me and help me sleep. I'm considering this as a stocking filler already! (No one shoot me, I am 24/7 365 days of the year about Christmas, ok!?) 

Lastly, my Penneys shoes. Would you look at all that blue glittery goodness packed onto one pair of shoes! I got these bad boys last year and I have a feeling they might bring out something similar again this year. I didn't wear them much as they cut the footies off me but after saying fuck it and breaking them in, I now want nothing else on me. Happiness is glitter feet. They are comfy, finally and aren't too unstable like some of the shoes Penneys dishes out. I think I paid about €7 for these. I need to go back and stalk the shelves in there for the summer, just in case they pop back in! 

TopShop Haul

Another haul, I know. But this time its nothing to do with the Christmas sales I promise! I have never bought any Top Shop make up before and after reading a few posts on their lipsticks I wanted to go in myself and have a little look at what they had on offer! I actually didn't get any lipsticks sadly as Stephen was complaining that I was taking ages so I have to go back on the sly!

I spotted a cheap as chips €1 hot/cold penguin hand warmer. I'm a massive cute animal print fan so how could I say no. That and its normally about €9 if peeling off the little stickers underneath is right. I also got lovely shiny pink sliver and blue leopard-like printed wrapping paper for only 50cent, its normally €3, yonk!

First off I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw an eye shadow palette for only €4. There wasn't anything wrong with it apart from the outter packaging being a bit battered. But smokey eye Tawny had to come home with me. I love this so much! From looking on the Top Shop site there is a palette similar to this for £12 that you can see here.

Lastly I couldn't help but get some glitter while I was there picking up 2 nails in dark knight. And the cute packaging for the polishes, gahh!! At €3 I had to get one for my giveaway that I am going to be running some time side of 2014.. Promise ;) I also just had to take the 2 for €13 offer on all their nail varnishes up. They have new matte shades that are to die for. I picked up a light lilac in mellow and a light blue in whisper. You can see a little photo of them in action on my Instagram. I'll also do a review soon too as they are to die for spring colours!

Keep on smiling and have an amazing week! Its almost the weekend too, yay!

NOTD: Star Gazer

I feel like I haven't done a NOTD in so long. For some reason the past few months I've been neglecting my nails and just leaving them to bite on occasion. (worst habit ever, I know!) 

This is from Star Gazers ultra cover nail varnish collection in 304, that I got in the Ilac Center for €2.99. Its a lovely dark blue colour that has so much shimmer and tiny yellow/green glitter. This colour reminds me of Gosh nail lacquer in 540 Ocean but much more affordable.

As you can see from the photo I use this loads when I do pay attention to my nails that is. It goes on easy and about to two will make sure its bold and perfect. The varnish lasts about 3 days before it starts chipping. Its very easy to take off, however it leaves a blue stain on your nails that has to wear off as nothing will remove it. Bit of a fail there.

The brush in this isn't anything to rave about, I found it a little big for my liking and couldn't help but knock off the edge of my nail onto my skin - see the awful paint job below. But still, that might just by my awful painting skills. The bottle is one of my favourite that I own in my ever expanding collection, next to my models own bottle. (If it wasn't seen as weird I would frame that gorgeous bottle.) Its simple, a lovely round glass bottle and the lettering on it stands out from the varnish colour, great stuff. 

What nail varnish are you wearing?

Make sure and come back soon, I'm going to be holding a Halloween giveaway!

NOTD: Essie Bikini So Teeny

You can clearly tell I was playing with picmonkey.com! Covering things in hearts should be a daily thing

Its been a while since I've done a nail of the day post so I thought as I have new Essie nail varnishes I might write a little one. I have a feeling I'm last to the party here (like I always am) as every blogger and vlogger has been raving about this range for only god knows how long. Normally Essie costs an arm and a leg (about €10 in the shops) so I never gave it much notice, but when I picked it up for £1.99 online from FragranceDirect I was a small bit delighted with myself. 

Bikini So Teeny is a really gorgeous lavender bluey colour that has a hint of sparkle in the bottle but less so once applied. This colour reminds me for some reason of Barry M's Blueberry, but of course its a lighter shade then this Essie one. The brush is a nice, full easy to use one but I have yet to find a replacement for essence brushes, they are still number one in my book. I have to say the packaging is nothing special but then again maybe it was the simple clean approach Essie were going for and its gone over my head. The varnish itself needs about 2 coats before it becomes completely opaque and lovely looking. The first picture on the right here shows 2 coats on all my fingers apart from my middle finger, just to show the difference. It does need a good few minutes to dry but once it does there is no smudging like there is with some polishes when you layer coats on top. I didn't feel the need to use a clear top coat with this as it was such a shiny good quality. 

Wear-wise it lasts about 3 days before it starts to show wear. I'm not counting the fact that because I sometimes bite my nails the chipping always starts early. I'm not sure if I would repurchase a nail varnish this expensive as I can't really justify it, but if any more catch my eye online that are the bargain price of £1.99 like this one was then I will definitely nab it. 

NOTD: Essence Choose Me!

Lots of colours could be matched with this.

Just a quick nail of the day for you all. I can't get enough of this shade at the moment and have been reapplying non-stop. Its Essences Colour and Go range Choose Me! in number 38.

 Its a beautiful and full of glitter deep bluey green colour. You need 2 coats to make it really stand out and get about 3 days wear before it starts to chip. I always put a clear finishing coat on top just to try and make it last a bit longer. Its really easy to take off as well, no scrubbing required! Ignore the silver nail in the middle, I was trying out some of a friends collection and didn't bother to take it off. I think the colours go well together.

Essence is a cheap as chips brand that I have been buying from for ever. You can get yours in Boots, most chemists and Pennys (Primark.)  There are so many shades of nail varnish to choose from and for as little as €2 you would be mad not to try some of them out. I'm a big fan of their eye liner and finishing powder too. 

Candles and a messy basket of earrings!

Have you ever tried the Essence range?