Katy Perry "Killer Queen" Eau de Parfum

This was my favourite bargain that I picked up in the sales. This gorgeous gift set was reduced to £15.00 in my local chemist. I had tested this perfume before and quite liked it, so thought I might as well buy it!

I am not a Katy Perry fan at all, but I do quite like her perfumes. I have the original Purr in the absolutely incredible cat bottle, but that scent it definitely not as pleasing to me as this one.

I love the gorgeous bottle. It looks so regal and is so unusual in it's design. I love the little designs on the lid, especially the cat logo!

Anyway, on to the actual scent. Normally I am attracted to very sweet and fruity perfumes. This is a little bit different for me and it totally an Autumn/Winter scent in my mind.

Heart Notes - Red velvet flower, Rainbow Plumeria, Natural jasmine sambac

Top notes - Dark plum, Wild berry, Bergamot

Base notes - Cashmeran, Natural patchouli heart, Liquid praline


To me, this perfume has an incredibly deep, woody scent. It is definitely a floral type fragrance. This scent is just so glamorous, to me it smells quite expensive, not very "teenagery" like a lot of celebrity perfumes.

The only problem is it fades very quickly. I sprayed this on my neck and wrists earlier today, and right now I can barely detect a trace. But it was so cheap for me that I do not mind spraying it a lot!

I also have to say that the body lotion in this set is simply divine! It is quite strongly scented and seriously lasts all day. So it is worth layering up the scents!

Recent Purchases - featuring Kerastase, Chanel, Burts Bees and more!

In the run up to Christmas and over the holidays, I really wanted to restrict the amount of cosmetics I purchased. In fact, it's part of my new years resolution. I don't *need* that really. But here are a few things which I did treat myself to. I work full time and I do enjoy buying myself little things here and there. These are some items which I got over the last 4 or 5 weeks.

Burts Bees Lip Balm Blueberry and Chocolate - While browsing one evening for shampoos on Feelunique.com, this little lipbalm ended up in my shopping cart. I do love lipbalms, and I think Burts Bees are actually the best lipbalm out there. But the Blueberry and Chocolate version is something that I had never heard of before and I really wanted to try. The balm itself is so lovely and moisturising like all Burts Bees lipbalms, but the scent is absolutely incredible. Admittedly it is more blueberry than chocolate, but it is amazing nonetheless. I adore it!

Kerastase Bain Divalent Shampoo - I had been using Kerastase Bain Exfoliant Purifiant for dry scalp for the last year or two, and lately I noticed that it has been doing nothing for me. So I decided to go with a different shampoo this time. This one is for oily roots and sensitised lengths, which describes my hair perfectly. It lathers up really nice and has a nice scent. I have noticed that I have been getting an extra day out of my hair, and it seems to be a lot kinder to my coloured hair too. Brilliant!

Deborah Lipmann Wicked Nail Polish Trio - I did not actually buy these but my sister's friend in America sent them over for me, because I love nail polishes and I love Wicked! This nail polish set is limited edition and exclusive to Sephora. The shades are (left to right) Defying Gravity, Popular and One Short Day. I love them all but Popular is my favourite! And I will be wearing them when I go to see Wicked again in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre on it's last day of the Ireland shows.

Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel - I have wanted this product for so long and on my recent trip to Dublin I popped into Arnotts and just decided to buy it. I don't usually wear bronzer, but since I got this I have been wearing it nonstop! It is an even better product than I thought it was going to be! Some days I just wear this all over my face on it's own when I don't have time to put on make up. It is absolutely amazing and I can imagine I will use it plenty in the summer months!

Katy Perry Killer Queen 50ml Eau de Parfum - I had tested this perfume before and thought it was nice, but I had to get this gift set when I saw it reduced to £15.00 in my local chemist! It is such a lovely  Wintery fragrance I think, and the bottle looks absolutely extraordinary. I will do a more in-depth review soon, because I really do think this perfume is very special!



It's ok to treat yourself now and then, isn't it?!

The Best of 2013 (Beauty Edition)

It is so difficult for me to believe that 2013 is at an end. I have to say that it has been a wonderful year for me, and I hope 2014 will be just as good. I wish everyone a very happy and prosperous new year.

I started this blog in January 2013. I have always tried numerous, varied products but ever since I started blogging I find that I have bought things that I wouldn't normally have looked at, thanks to everyone's great reviews and blog posts. 

I had to think long and hard but I have chosen seven products which have entered my life in 2013 and hopefully will never leave!

1. Clarins Instant Eye Make Up Remover - This is one item which will now always be a staple in my skincare routine. This eye make up remover has an oil and water layer which you shake together and which really cuts through all eye make up with one swipe. It is so gentle on your eyes, there is no need to tug or pull on the skin. It is £15.00 a bottle which normally lasts me about 10 weeks. It is worth every penny!

2. Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan Mousse - I never used to wear fake tan, until I discovered this. Now I wear tan every single day. Isn't it funny how things change? I don't know what I would do without my Cocoa Brown. I don't look normal without it. Actually I don't even remember what I look like without tan. It is just the most natural looking tan, so easy to apply and it is dry almost instantly after applying. Sure it is so handy, why wouldn't you wear it all the time?!

3. Lancome Teint Idole Foundation - I decided to invest in a good foundation back in May and I am so delighted I chose this. I have not spent this much money on a foundation before, but I can tell you that you can actually feel the difference in quality compared to other foundations. This is without a doubt the best foundation to ever land in my make up collection. It is so light yet gives great coverage. It has a nice scent, and I love the glass bottle with the pump.

4. Art Deco Dip Eyeliner - I used to be so crap at applying liquid eyeliner. I don't know how I can apply this little beauty so easily, but I can. The formula, the brush, everything about it makes it so easy for me to line my eyes. And it has lasted so long too and hasn't started to dry up or anything. Although, I am incredibly upset now that I have just realised Debenhams do not stock this anymore! I don't know what I will do when this runs out!

5. Lancome Hypnose Mascara - After trying my first Lancome mascara earlier in the year (Hypnose Star) I can confirm that out of all the brands of mascaras I have tried, nothing even comes close to the quality of Lancome. I love the formula and the wand. My lashes are so amazing looking when I use this!

6. Illamasqua Cream Blush - Remember the Illamasqua 50% off sale everyone went crazy for? The only thing I bought was this cream blush in the shade "Dixie". I didn't really get on with it at first, but I have worn it every single day and have not even hit pan yet! I like to apply it with the Real Techniques Stippling Brush or I tap in on with my fingers. Even if I am wearing a powder blush, I always put on a bit of this underneath as a base. It is absolutely brilliant and well worth the money,

7. Urban Decay Naked Palette - I snubbed this palette for such a long time. I didn't like the idea of "nudes", I mean what is the point of wearing eyeshadow at all if you are going to go nude? But when I first saw this palette up close in real life, I quickly realised that my assumption was wrong. These shades are all so beautifully shimmery and in my opinion they are not what I would call "nudes". I love bronzey, gold shades and this palette is packed full of them. Since I got this palette I have worn no other eyeshadows! I like the idea of Naked 2 and now Naked 3, but in my opinion, the original Naked palette is the best.

Do you like any of these products? What products have you tried in 2013 that you love? Please let me know in the comments below.

Beauty stuff I got for Christmas

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a nice Christmas! I certainly did. It is so good being off work for a while. I have been enjoying just being at home, watching movies, eating chocolates and just generally chilling out! It's going to be so difficult getting back into a routine in the new year. But I will cross that bridge when I come to it.

So on Christmas Day, it was so much fun being at my sisters house. We played games, ate great food and just had a really nice day. Christmas is so not about presents for me, although I did get some lovely things. I just enjoy having fun. But, I will now show you what beauty stuff I got for Christmas. Admittedly, I did buy a lot of this myself with money I got. (Thanks dad!)

Clarins Eye Contour Balm - I chose this as I really need to start using an eye cream again. I have read good reviews about this one and the texture is so nice. I don't see any results just yet but I swear I will apply this religiously every night!

Lancome Rouge in Love Lipstick - I adore the cute packaging of this lipstick! The shade is "Midnight Rose" which is a gorgeous deep, raspberry pink. Unfortunately I have been unable to wear it yet due to a horrible outbreak of coldsores :( but this shade is so beautiful. I cannot wait to wear it.

Clinique Party Tips Nail Polish Trio - I love these gorgeous nail polishes, and is it just me or are they the most perfect shades for New Years Eve? I am kind of excited to try out Clinique polishes for the first time. They come in such a cute bag too.

YSL Touche Eclat - Oh my God, where has this been all my life? You know how I always complain about my undereye area looking less than impressive, and no concealer helps? Well this is so light and brightening, it is exactly what I needed! I got shade 2. I swear this is the best thing I have ever tried, and the only concealer that has ever made any kind of difference.

Sampar Sea Scrub - I have been lusting after this for some time. The scent of this product is to die for, it just smells like a luxurious spa. I actually thought this product was for your face, but it is a body exfoliator. I have used a small amount on my face though. It is the most expensive product I have ever used! (it was around £50.00). It is so nice and so effective.

Lancome Hypnose Mascara - After buying a Hypnose Star mascara earlier in the year, I have decided that I think Lancome do the best mascaras. I had a tiny sample of the original Hypnose which I loved, so I decided to buy the full sized version. The wand is just perfect and the bristles are so soft. It makes my eyelashes super long and full. I love it!

Nuxe Creme Fraiche de Beaute moisturiser - In desperate need of a new skincare routine, I chose this moisturiser. It is so thick and creamy, and I think it is designed for dry skin. It feels so nourishing and has a beautiful scent. It is such a luxurious product and my skin feels so soft and plump even after just a week of using it!

I also got a ton of Lancome and Clarins samples when I bought my products, so I am really excited to try these out too!


I hope Santa was good to everyone!

Checking in....and Checking Out for Christmas!

Hi everyone, sorry my posts have been few and far between lately. The truth is, now we are in Winter it is exceptionally hard for me to take decent photographs, and at weekends when I do have a chance to blog I always seem to just lose track of time. Plus, Christmas is just around the corner and as such, money is tight and I honestly have very little to blog about.

I am well and truly excited for Christmas, and I am going to be taking a long break from blogging, to rejuvenate myself and to come back inspired with plenty of post ideas!

All my Christmas presents are bought, I am so organised so I really just can't wait to take some time off work and totally relax. Hopefully Santa will bring me some new beauty products to play with!

I won't really be doing anything special over Christmas, but I will make sure that I get watching some of my favourite films....

"It's a Wonderful Life" honestly completes Christmas for me. I will never get tired of it, and I always shed a tear at the end! It is the most beautiful film, with the most beautiful message. Of course, "The Wizard of Oz" is there too, the film that started my love for the classics. Even though I know every single word of the script and every single detail, I still watch this and it feels like the first time seeing it. And it always reminds me of Christmas.

Another of my favourites is of course "Little Women" - the 1949 version with Elizabeth Taylor. I just think this is the ultimate version... June Allyson was born to play Jo! And Elizabeth is just so funny...and so beautiful too.

So, I want to wish all of my lovely followers and fellow bloggers a wonderful Christmas and best wishes for new year. I hope it is full of love, laughter and good health. Thanks everyone for reading my little ramblings here, and to all the lovely bloggers I have met this year for inspiring me to continue writing here. I will leave you with some pictures of my cat playing with the Christmas tree...

a very WICKED day!

So after months and months of waiting, today was finally the day that I got to see Wicked for the very first time. I am very much acquainted with the soundtrack though, and watched many sneaky Youtube vids, but nothing is quite like seeing it in person and sitting with an audience who is laughing, cheering, applauding, crying.....or maybe that was just me!

For those who do not know, Wicked began its 9 week run at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre this week. The BGE Theatre is an amazing theatre and the perfect venue for the likes of this show. I have been here several times for different show but I have never been as blown away as I was today seeing Wicked.

I am a long time Wizard of Oz fan, I mean properly obsessed. I know every little detail of that book and 1939 film. Normally I do not usually like prequels or sequels (Return to Oz, anybody?) but I think the plot of Wicked is so cleverly put together that it ties in with the original Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

I travelled down to Dublin with my niece and we hit the shops for a while (I of course self gifted and made a cheeky Chanel purchase...) and we hit up Eddie Rockets which is out favourite place for food when we are in Dublin. For the occasion, I wore my Wicked nail polish which my sister's friend kindly sent over from America. If you would like me to review these properly then please let me know.

Right now I am pretty exhausted and unfortunately another week beckons us...I don't think I am ready for Monday morning yet!! :(

Make Up Studio - Moon Dust Eyeshadow - "Radiant Opal"

On a recent visit to the Make Up Pro store in Newry, these selection of eyeshadows really caught my eye and I couldn't leave without one. The Moon Dust shadows come in six shades, each of them has a black base with an amazing shot of colour in the sparkle and shimmer. I chose Radiant Opal as I don't really have a shade like this in my collection. Actually, I do not have any black based shadows at all. But I love the shot of blue throughout. They come in a generous sized pot with a screw off lid, however you can custom build a palette if you are purchasing more than one shade.

You really need to see this in real life to see the effect. It is so sparkly! The blue colour gives kind of a metallic finish. I do not usually wear eyeshadow so bold like this but I adore it. I used Virgin from the UD Naked palette to diffuse out the edges. I love how it looks and it is perfect coming up to the festive season, I would wear this to any christmas party!

Make Up Studio is a brand that I have not tried before. They have an extensive range of really incredible make up and I guess they would be somewhere along the lines of MAC. This Moon Dust eyeshadow is of an excellent quality although as I'm typing this 8 hours after applying the shadow, it has begun to crease slightly despite using my trusty ArtDeco eyeshadow base. Perhaps that is normal for darker shades, I am not sure because I have never worn dark shadows before!

I absolutely love this Moon Dust and I am very eager to pick up the purple and green shade in the near future.

Also, if you haven't been to the Make Up Pro Store yet I highly recommend that you make a visit. They have a shop in Newry and in Belfast too,  they run one day courses for beginners and advanced level which I hope to enrol in perhaps in the New Year. The selection of make up is phenomenal and the make up artists are so beautiful and their make ups are incredible. Check them out!