My Pay Day Must Haves for Autumn!

Hey everyone!

 So we're at the end of another week and for a lot of us that means payday!

feeling so boss by having all that money appear in your bank account only to blow it all in the first few days, be it a night out, some nice makeup for yourself or for a lot of us spending it on food.. then we're all back to eating pot noodles until the next payday.

We all love to pick ourselves or friends or family some nice bits every now and again, so i'm here to give you a few of my must haves that in my opinion are completely worth the money and that i'm loving at the moment and some few bits that I buy every Autumn!

1.) Vichy Idealia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream for Dry skin

I picked up this cream maybe two weeks ago. I just ran out of my L'Oreal skin perfection moisturiser which i enjoyed, but i was looking for a product that would focus more on uneven skin texture as i find i get bumps on my skin sometimes! This Cream is targeted towards skin showing signs of ageing with dullness and uneven skin texture. Exactly what i was looking for. I was a bit hesitant to buy this as it is retailed at €26.99. But as i always do, I looked up a few reviews online which seemed promising and decided to give it a go. I have to say i am loving it! my skin is a bit dryer since the cooler weather started and this is leaving my skin feeling so moisturised and soft! I can really notice a difference in my skin texture which is a big deal because i've tried so many products that have been a let down, but so far so good with this one! If you have any of the skin concerns i do, i think you will love it too!

                                                               2). Primark A/W Interiors

                                                                       

I dont know about anybody else but i can't go into penny's without hitting the home section! They always have the most up to date trends at such good value!

They're really after coming a long way with their styles, even down to the way , their styling their candles, i'm loving the new mason jar style! You can deck out your room with almost everything from the home section from penny's and it will and not break the bank! A must have for me every A/W is throws, pillows, candles and of course fairy lights! I love vamping up my room this time of year to make it extra cosy and penny's is always my one stop shop for it!

3).The New Cocoa Brown Pink Velvet Tanning Mitt

Marissa Carter just launched this new tanning mitt for cocoa brown tan and its amazing!

It's double sided so you're not going to get any product coming through the mitt and staining your hands. It's machine washable and it works amazing with either mousse or spray tan (i.e Lovely legs or Sally Hansen) And the best part is it's only €5.99! When I first heard about this through her social media I was thinking it was going to cost near to €10 but it's an absolute steal for such high quality! It Leaves my Cocoa Brown tan Flawless and makes the application so much easier due to it being double sided! 

4). Instant Nails

I love to have my nails done! It makes me feel just a little bit more polished and put together, I can't wear nails at work so these are my saving grace when I have something on, but don't have time to paint my nails, or get them done. You will have these on in under 10 minutes, no waiting for them to dry or worrying about smudging,they really are so convenient ! They look flawless and come in a load of different styles and colours. The ImPRESS range have an adhesive tab that you can peel off and stick straight onto your nails, or you can get ones that include nail glue, such as elegant touch. You can buy these online or in boots and in Participating pharmacies. I always have a a packet of these on standby! One of my favourite products ever!


Thank You so much for reading! If you have any questions or requests please ask through my Facebook or Instagram!

I hope you all have a great weekend,
see you next week!

Kelsey xo

Splurge VS. Save

Hey everyone! Welcome back! 

Hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday, even though it's a fairly dull, rainy day down here in cork, nonetheless it's still nice to have a Sunday off, and given that its a rainy day it's even more of an excuse to laze around and watch films for the day!

I'm delighted to be back blogging, I've been out of action the last few weeks unfortunately! My laptop is after getting a few viruses and it's making it difficult to blog and do research, but hopefully I'll have him back up and running by the end of the week!

So this weeks post is focused on some of the industry's most popular, most loved high-end products and finding duplicate products for half the price but the same standard of quality and widely available!

Lets get started!


1. Glamglow Supermud VS. LUSH Mask of Magnaminty

Lets start of with the Glamglow supermud. This mud mask retails for a fairly steep €51 in most shops and You get 34g of product. 

This mask claims to be a detoxifying mask which helps all skin concerns i.e (Brightens the complexion; creates a more youthful smooth skin tone; de-clogs and minimises pores; fights breakouts; improves elastin and collagen; etc.) I purchased this mask myself twice and must say I loved it, I had no real issues with it, it did what it said on the tin, but i was always afraid to use it because it's just so expensive! So i mostly used it as an over-night application on any breakouts I had! If you want to buy this product i would recommend it, but i'd advise you to try this next mask i'm going to tell you about first!

The LUSH Mask of Magnaminty is the clear winner in this round for me! i couldn't believe how similar these products are and for such a huge price difference. You can buy either 315g €13.39 for or 125g for €7.55. Thats still more than what you get in the glamglow mask!

It is advertised as a mask for face and back. It contains China Clay and Peppermint which gives your pores a deep clean and pulls out any gunk hiding in there! This mask is intense, It slightly tingles on application but feels so refreshing. It contains vanilla which will calm any redness in the skin and homey to soothe it, This works wonders on my skin, I use it weekly to give my skin a deep clean after a week of makeup buildup and it leaves my skin feel refreshed, clean and soft everytime! and for the price it's a no-brainer! So if you are interested in a clearing mask, i would suggest trying the Mask of Magnaminty before parting with your money for the Glamglow, because personally I find they do the exact same thing!

2.Original Beauty Blender VS. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

I love these next two products equally, again I've tried them both and I get pretty much the same result.

Starting with the beauty blender, if you are familiar with YouTube beauty gurus you must have seen nearly everyone raving about this sponge! Unfortunately we can't buy it here in Ireland but you can order it online Here. The original beauty blender retails for €22.60.

I bought one of these a few months ago in Sephora while I was at a family wedding in Poland. I was a bit hesitant to spend so much on a sponge but I wanted to compare it to the Real Techniques sponge which I was using for months before ever trying the beauty blender. You can buy real Techniques sponge in any Boots, most pharmacies and of course online. It retails for €8.33 when you buy online Here

To be honest theres not a staggering difference in these products! They both need water to expand, They both blend foundation beautifully and make application really quick and simple! The only real difference i notice is that i find the beauty blender lasts just a little bit longer that the Miracle complexion sponge, and I also noticed it soalks up less product! But at the end of the day if you are looking for a foundation sponge I would suggest the R.T sponge, €8? Can't go wrong really!

3.Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel VS W7 Wakeup and Glow

Last but certainly not least is a little gem i found this week in Sam McCauleys!

I have been lusting over the beautiful Soleil Tan De Chanel for months but just can't bring myself to spend the money on it, It's €39 and you can buy it In Brown Thomas. It's well loved in the beauty community and is known for giving such a beautiful tanned healthy finish to the skin, and ofcourse being Chanel it's packaging is beyond luxurious.

Then I spotted this product in my local Sam McCauley's and i couldn't believe my eyes! It's a full on dupe for Chanel! I swatched it and grabbed myself one straight away! The brand W7 are known for their take on Higher end brands, they have done their version of all the NAKED Palettes, Benefit Hoola Bronzer And "They're real" mascara along with many more for super affordable prices. I tried out the Wake up and Glow base bronzer the past 2 mornings and i absolutely love it! 

It's a perfect tan shade, not too orange and not too grey, It's Ideal for Cream Contouring. It leaves a really healthy, glowing finish to the skin and doesn't end up looking muddy or cakey! As for the packaging it couldn't get any closer to the Chanel packaging I think!

This is a great product, be it if you're having a minimal make-up day, just light foundation, mascara and this blended into the temples and cheekbones. Or if you are getting done up the nines on a night out, this is going to add an extra bit of glam to your makeup! I bought this for only €7.99. I cant wait to do a full contoured face with it on a night out soon. My favorite find in a long time!

I hope everyone has a great week!

Until next time!

Kelsey xo

My Tips for keeping your hair as healthy as possible!

Hello Everybody!
Hope everyone's week is treating them well! 

In this weeks blog post I'm going to talk about taking proper care of your hair. I've been on quiet a journey with my hair! Made a lot of mistakes and learned how to come back from them!

Quick backstory on my own mane, I'm a natural blonde (Although a few people don't believe me when I tell them) but i am!
I started getting some highlights when i was 15 to maintain the blonde because I felt the colour was turning a bit mousey. And everyone knows once you start getting blonde highlights or bleaching your hair there's no turning back! The upkeep of blonde hair is hard but have beautiful results! 

It can also tend to become quiet expensive, which is why when I was 20 I made the catastrophic mistake of bottle bleaching my hair! 

I thought it was great at first. Convenient and cheap. But it was when my hair literally started falling out in clumps i realised maybe it wasn't my brightest move!

My hair is only just after getting back to a healthy place, so here a some of the products and tips and tricks I've learned over the past few years to bring my poor damaged hair back to life!

1) PUT DOWN THE BLEACH!

It is so tempting to do your own hair at home, and that's fine if you're brunette, darker or even a strawberry blonde would turn out ok. But pleeease don't go for a white DIY bleach from off the shelf. The long-term damage it does to your hair will leave you paying more to a hairdresser to fix it than you would have paid if you just went to a good hairdresser from the start. Also, you might think it looks amazeballs at the time but from my experience..9 times out of 10, it really doesn't. The white hair totally washed out my face, i remember having to pile on the bronzer but then the bronzer would transfer to my hair because it was so light. It was a losing battle. Here's what my hair looked like before. I had also just discovered back-combing.. cringing for my life. 

         

     

         

2) Avoid Sulfates,silicone & Alcohols in Your Shampoo & Conditioner and don't over-wash!

Sulfates strip your hair of it's natural oils and alcohol tends to weigh down your hair! look for shampoos and conditioner that say they are Sulfate and silicone free. My personal favorite is the Garnier Ultimate Blends shampoo and conditioner for Mid length hair, I've seen a huge turn around with the quality of my hair since I've started using this, It's widely available and it doesn't break the bank! I also love using the polish scrub mask once or twice a week! 

3. Leave your hair air dry and avoid towel drying.

After my hair started falling out from being so damaged from the bleach, I went to my fantastic hairdresser and she put a blast of low lights through my hair and I decided to go cold turkey and tried not to use hot tools as much as I was in the past, and once I did i noticed a massive difference. We all know heat isn't good for our hair but the majority of us can't avoid using it! Before I Had to have my hair dead straight or curled and backcombed to the heavens which was really damaging, Now I straighten my hair every two days and leave my hair air dry 99% of the time! And I never backcomb my hair unless i'm wearing my extensions for a night out or special occasion.  When I do blow dry it I make sure to put plenty heat protector in it, and don't brush your hair when it's wet, It causes hair loss and breakage, you're better off waiting until your hair is dry before detangling it. Avoid rubbing your hair with a towel when it's wet, They are quiet rough causing friction and frizz! Use a T-shirt or a soft Turban, and if you do use a towel make sure to pat your hair rather than rubbing!

4. Rinse and Condition your hair in cold water.

This might sound a bit strange but it is effective! It doesn't mean you have to take a cold shower but when you are rinsing out your hair, switch the dial to a cool temperature for a few seconds. The cold water will help seal in moisture, and lock in any conditioner you use. The same goes for blow drying your hair, alternate between hot and cool air, it closes the hair shafts and leaves your hair soft and shiny! 

5. Don't Over-wash

Over-washing, it can strip your hair of its natural oils, which actually causes your scalp to produce more oil, resulting in greasy hair! If you train your hair for a few weeks washing it every 2 or 3 days, you'll notice it gets less oily and you won't need to wash it as much! If you feel like it's getting too greasy try and resist the urge to wash it and resort to the good ol' reliable Hun-Bun! #onfleek

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you found this helpful :) I stand by all of this advice, it really does make the biggest difference! If anyone has any questions or comments feel free to leave a comment! All my social media is linked at the top of my blog.

I hope you have a great and safe weekend! :)

Until next week!

Kelsey

xo

My Top 5 Under €5!

Hey everyone! Long time no post, I know!

August always seems to be the busiest month for me! I had family home for my dads anniversary so i was spending as much time as i can with them as they live in the U.K and i don't get to see them often unfortunately!

But I'm itching to get back into blogging and cant wait to share with all of you my top 5 current favourite products for under €5!
These products are tried and tested by myself for the past few weeks and i must say I'm thoroughly impressed and they are now essentials in my shopping basket!

So lets get straight into it!

P.S. Love "Double Trouble" Eyelashes by Primark (€2)

These need no explanation! Full Lashes. €2. whats not to love!? These are really flattering on the eye and give them a very sultry look. They're a bit long on my eyes so i like to cut a small bit of the end and then keep them to use as corner lashes for a more natural look! i find them easy to apply, but just a tip id use a different eyelash glue to the one that comes with the packaging to ensure longevity and a seamless application. one of my favorite things about these lashes is you can reuse them so many times! they have a nice thick band so they pretty much never go out of shape!

Catrice Long Lasting Lip Pencil in "That's what Rose Wood do!" (€2.29)

I swear by Catrice Lip Liners! Creamy, long lasting, highly pigmented and they have a huge variety of shades to choose from! For €2.29 you cant really go wrong. This shade is one of my favourites at the moment, Its like a "my lips but better" shade, You could wear this on its own or under almost any nude shade of lipstick or gloss. A Very versatile shade! Love it!.

Primark P.S. Fashion Nail Range (€1.50)

 These nails are by far my favourite find this month! A huge varitey of colours and designs and can we appreciate the price? €1.50!? They're a steal. Quick and easy to put on, no waiting around for nail varnish to dry or filing shapes..Whats not to love. Nail glue does come with these but like the lashes i would suggest using elegant touch or broadway glue, just again to ensure longevity! I've had a set on for 2 days and so far i have no issue with them, no chipping or anything! Delighted with these, penny's is really stepping up to the mark and offering great products lately! 

Essence Lipstick in 07 "Natural Beauty" (€2.60-€2.99)

Essence are another brand i really love, especially their nail varnishes and lipsticks. They are great quality and so inexpensive! This lipstick i have been wearing non-stop paired with the Catrice lip liner, they were made for each other! This lipstick lasts so long on my lips i was really surprised the first few times i tried it out. When it does eventually fade it leaves a really nice light stain on the lips, It's a very natural colour so it looks very flattering! No issues with drying or bleeding either! This lipstick kind of does it all, i actually prefer it to a similar MAC lipstick i own! Nothing negative to say about this, it's my new go-to lipstick!

NYX Auto Eybrow Pencil (€5.99)

I could've sworn this was €4.99, I'm gutted! It may not be under €5 but i still have to include it. This brow pencil is my holy grail! I have tried loads, high end and drugstore and i was never happy with one until i used the infamous Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. I heard so much about it through YouTube and Social media that i decided to order it off CultBeauty. It Retails For nearly €18 but i have to say its an amazing product, except i ran out of it after maybe 3 weeks and i just couldn't bring myself to spend that much money on a brow pencil again! So i decided to try NYX which isn't long after landing in Ireland. Oh my god It is the exact same as the Anastasia Brow Wiz! I can't get over it! It's very precise and not a bit waxy (Which i personally don't prefer in a brow pencil!) Very long lasting and the colour matches me perfectly. I use the shade Taupe. If you are looking for a new Eyebrow pencil i really do recommend trying this out! I would be very surprised if you didn't like it! I've been repurchasing for months now and I can't see myself switching to another product!

So that it for my Top 5 Under €5! (and one under €6!) I hope you enjoyed this post and if you purchase any of my favourites I hope you enjoy them just as much!

Have a great week everyone,

Until the next time!

Kelsey

xo

My Secret to Salon Quality Nails For under €20!

Happy Saturday everyone!
Welcome back!

I cant wait to share this post with all of you, I've been Planning it for a while!

I absolutely love wearing false nails, always have! They give me a boost of confidence and make me feel really put together, but seeing as i work with food as my full time job, there is no point in getting gel or acrylics done because i couldn't wear them to work!

So for nights out etc. I started doing my own,they come off easily after the weekend and I must say look pretty professional,as I've heard from a lot of people!

So if you're interested I'm going to give you a run down of my favourite products and techniques I use to get a professional looking manicure at home, which is long lasting and at a purse friendly price point!

First on your list of what you're going to need is any type of bare false nail set! you can pick these up from a lot of different brands that carry all different shapes, but my personal favourite is the:

Elegant Touch Totally Bare Stiletto 003 (RRP €6.49)

These are amazing and so inexpensive! They look so classy and stay on me well over a week! Nail polish takes beautifully to them and never seems to chip or leave my nails damaged after removal! and if you don't like having the same look for too long you can easily remove and re-apply polish!

Next what your going to need is nail varnish, this is completely down to personal preference, keep it simple or go completely mad, totally up to what you like!

Lately I've been loving a simple polish with a statement nail! To achieve this i use the following.

SOSU by Suzanne Jackson in "I Do" (RRP €7.99)

I'm Honestly amazed by this polish! It's the first one i have tried so far in the collection and if the rest are as good as this one, my bank account will be getting a rattling! for a nude shade it applies so evenly and opaque! only two coats is what you need with this and it leaves no brush strokes and looks so elegant! and its from an Irish Blogger..Love Love!

Next for a statement nail and a top coat are actually two Essence varnishes! Cheap as chips, and they have a massive variety. I use a glitter polish from the "I Love Trends" Line in the colour 04 cupcake topping. I cant for the life of me remember the prices unfortunately but i can say it was definitely under €3! I Top it all off with Essence "Gel Look Plumping Top Coat" again I'm sure is under €3. They really finish off the look and make it look salon quality in my opinion!

And Here is the finished look!

I'm in no way qualified in nails but i don't think they look too shabby!

Who doesn't love affordable glamour!?

I really hope you enjoyed this post everyone! and thankyou for reading!

 I really do recommend all these products, if you try it i guarantee you'll love it!

Have a great weekend!

Until the next time :)

Kelsey

xo

My Favourite Instant Tan At The Moment!

Hey Everybody and welcome back!

This is a blog post I'm really excited to share with everyone! When it comes to tan My go to has always been Sally Hansen airbrush legs in medium, you cant beat her! The only quarrel i had with Sally Hansen is the price, Retailing normally at around €13.59 It's a bits steep for a 75ml but then Penny's saved the day and started retailing it at more than half the price! I love Sally Hansen for nights out, its quick, fool proof and leaves a flawless result! It's designed originally as leg makeup to cover bruises, veins etc. But someday someone used it all over their body in medium or dark and a new way of tanning was born! The only thing with Sally is, its technically not a "Tan" so it does tend to leave some transfer on clothing, and i do find it a bit heavy to wear everyday, and kind of a waste of money as it just washes off at the end of the day! (Which is also the beauty of the tan after wearing it on a Saturday night).

So Because of those little issues i was looking for an instant tan that would apply flawlessly, leave a nice colour and glow and HOPEFULLYYY last up to a week. And I think I may have found the one!

The New Rimmel London Sun shimmer Instant Tan Mousse (My preferred shade is in medium)

This Instant tan is a must have if you're looking to apply it on a Monday night and still want it to be there by the end of the week! During the summer I always self tan my arms and Decolletage, just incase the sun wants to come out even if for an hour!

This never leaves me down, once i am exfoliated this applies like a dream and stays like one too!


Lets look at its official claims:

• Lightweight
• Dries Within 2 Minutes
• Up To 24 Hour Moisture
• Natural Looking Streak Free Tan
• No Self Tan Smell
• Develops in 1 Hour & Lasts Up to 7 Days.

I Have to say they do not lie! Its an Extremely Lightweight Mousse, and has a colour guard in it so you can actually see where you're applying your tan. It Does Dry within a few minutes but you do feel a little sticky while its drying. 

The one huge factor I notice about this tan was how moisturising it is! Some other tan's I've tried in the past I've felt were a bit drying on my skin, and they would fade faster and start cracking up quickly in the crease of my arms or my neck and i honestly do not get that with this tan at all!

Its very natural looking and leaves a stunning subtle glow on your skin, something I've never seen in an instant tan before!

When it comes to the fake tan smell i personally do notice a subtle smell of just typical fake tan, but that does fade when i shower the next morning after application. In relation to how long it wears I do get a good 5 days before it needs to be removed and a fresh layer applied!

This retails at €10.49 as far as I've seen. And Pretty much everywhere stocks it at this stage!

And Finally The Pictures to prove the difference! In the first photo I'm just out of the shower and after exfoliating and the second it only 1 hour after the tan was applied!

 Before

After.

Obvious difference especially only after just one hour and i notice this darkens just a little bit more overnight!

The removal of this is so simple! just get yourself a pair of exfoliating gloves from penny's and a good foaming body wash and scrub it off! you can use an exfoliating scrub to quicken the process but i find it removes easily without one :)

Thank you for reading and i hope you enjoy this tan if you decide to purchase it!

and if you have any queries or requests please be sure to leave a comment!

Have a great weekend dolls!

Kelsey

xo

My Top 3 Ride or Die Longwearing Foundations! (High End)

Hey Everyone!

Welcome back! Today's blog is my top 3 reliable long lasting foundations, put to the test by yours truly. 

Before I get into the countdown, I'd just like to thank everybody for all the support on the launch of my first every blog post, I was honestly blown away from all the Positivity I received! You have all really given me a boost of confidence and I can't wait to get stuck into it, i have a lot of ideas and can't wait to share them with all of you:)

Now for the foundations! This list in particular is focused on higher end foundations, so they are a little bit pricey, but if you're looking for a trustworthy foundation that will last all day and look stunning, one of these might be what you're looking for.

• Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup

This foundation is top of the list for a reason! This is my Holy Grail! It really does not budge from the minute you put it on your face. I personally always set my foundation with powder, so that will help with it lasting even longer, but if you are on the dryer side, you could totally skip powdering! It's just all down to personal preference. I apply less than an almond amount size of this with a damp beauty blender, and it goes such a long way. It covers imperfections completely and dries to a semi-matte finish, so it looks really nice with or without powder. I work with food all day and have a lot of 6 a.m. starts and this lasts me until 8 p.m. or later! This will definitely always be repurchased by me. 1 bottle lasts me 4-5 months and I wear it almost everyday. My shade is 2N1 Desert Beige for anybody wondering. This Retails for €37.00.

• NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation

I have grown to love this next foundation! It's relatively new to the market. It got my attention straight away when i saw it was claiming 16 hour wear but still leaving a luminous finish. It's a very Liquidy formula and very highly pigmented, a little bit really goes a long way. The one issue i had with this foundation was that i found it hard to blend at the start, I noticed it kind of left some dry patches on my face. But after i amped up my skin care and started using a good moisturiser, dry patches were no longer an issue and it applies like a dream. This lasts all day but doesn't stay as matte as Estee Lauder, but it does leave a subtle glow. I keep this foundations more for special occasions or days off. My shade is Deauville and this foundation Retails for €43.00.

• MAC Pro Longwear Foundation

Finally we have the very popular Pro Longwear foundation by MAC. This one really is a lovely foundation to wear! Very light wearing but still gives a medium to buildable coverage. Lasts a very long time on the skin and gives a natural matte finish. I love this foundation, very reliable and easy to apply.Paired with the infamous Pro Longwear concealer you'll achieve a bullet-proof canvas for your makeup! My colour is NW20. This Retails for €36.50

And thats it for my Top 3 Longwearing foundations! I really do stand by these products! I hope you have found this helpful if you're looking for a holy grail foundation that wont slip or slide off your face!

All of these products can be found on http://www.brownthomas.com/  and they have a very fast delivery time! 

Again given these are high end i know they are pricey but I am planning a Drugstore Top 3 in the coming weeks so keep an eye out for that!

Thank you for reading and if you purchase any of these products based off my recommendations make sure to let me know how you get on with them! :)

Until the next time dolls! Take care :)

Kelsey 

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