Chanel Stylo Eyeshadow - Laurier Rose

 This is another new product I picked up on holidays. I was just randomly swatching things in Sephora and this one really took my breath away. All of the Chanel Stylo Eyeshadows looked lovely, but the Laurier Rose shade in particular just looked fantastic to me. It was €30 from what I remember, so not cheap but I knew I'd get plenty of use out of it.

I actually used to be really obsessed with pink shades on my eyes but I haven't worn eye looks like that in a long time.

Isn't that swatch just heavenly? It almost has a metallic quality to it. It's a really warm toned pink with a subtle sparkle. Actually Chanel describe the shadow as having "fresh and iridescent effects". I definitely get that, and the eyeshadow has a cooling effect too when applied to the eyelid. It's very creamy and glides across the eyelid with ease.

I have never actually used an eyeshadow in a pencil form before, but I literally just swipe it over my eyelids and blend out the edges for a simple everyday look. It just adds a little "something" to the eyes, but when I want something a little more eye-catching I deepen the crease using some shades from the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette, as below. 

I just adore this Stylo Eyeshadow so much, it's a fantastic product and I am so delighted how easily it applies. I actually would love a couple more shades so that I can play around and experiment and try out a whole entire look using the Stylos.
The wear time is really good, I got a good 8 hours wear time before it started to crease (I always wear it over my MAC Painterly Paint Pot).

I'm just so in love with this Stylo Eyeshadow. It's so incredibly easy to apply, and you can make it as simple or dramatic of a look as you like. It has definitely impressed me! Who doesn't love a bit of Chanel!

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette

I am so so excited about this palette! I haven't been this much in love with a make up product in a while.
I had watched many a Youtube tutorial using this palette and while I always thought it looked beautiful, I wasn't that interested in it because I personally thought it was a little too expensive for me when I hadn't heard much about the brand Too Faced before. But, when a Too Faced stand popped up in Debenhams and I got to swatch it for myself, it was true love at first sight. I thought about it and thought about it and finally bought the palette in Sephora when I was on holiday in France. You know when you can't get a make up product off your mind that it is true love!

I love how there is a great selection of shades, and while they are neutral colours they are by no means "nude". Which is good for me because that is exactly what I want in a palette! There is a good selection of blending shades and highlights, and amazing eye popping shimmery shades. Also I like how out of the 16 shadows, only 5 of them are matte. I much prefer a shimmery metallic shadow over a matte!

The shadows themselves are like nothing I have ever tried. They are incredibly pigmented and so soft and easy to work with. I am getting on a lot better with this palette than I ever did with the Urban Decay Naked palette!

Also I should mention - these eyeshadows smell like chocolate! When you open the palette you are greeted with the unmistakable scent of chocolate, as these eyeshadows are actually made with cocoa powder…it's wonderful! It makes me crave chocolate so bad though!  Also the names of the shadows are so cute, when people ask what you have on your eyes and you say "marzipan, hazelnut and milk chocolate!"

 Left to right - Gilded Ganache, White Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, Black Forest Truffle, Triple Fudge

 Salted Caramel, Marzipan, Semi Sweet, Strawberry Bon Bon, Candied Violet, Amaretto

Hazelnut, Creme Brûlée, Haute Chocolate, Cherry Cordial, Champagne Truffle

There are so many different looks you can create with this palette, from very basic daytime looks to dramatic evening looks. I have really had a lot of fun playing around with this palette and I actually am excited to use it when I get up in the mornings (sad, right?!). I have been wearing this palette every day which is a big deal for me because I don't usually bother wearing eyeshadow for just going to work. So that tells you how much I love using this palette!

Beauty Buys from France and Duty Free

Hi lovelies! I am back after a bit of a break. I was kind of out of inspiration on the blogging front but also I was on my holidays in France! I had the most amazing time, it was a very laid back relaxed holiday. Visited some very historic places, ate some great food and just had a lot of fun. I had to make a few stops at different pharmacies though! :) To be honest I was completely overwhelmed because I do not speak very much French and I ended up getting the same products that I can get at home, but I don't mind because I am well stocked up on my regular skincare.

I will start off with what make up I got. I was actually mad looking the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette after I finally saw it in my local Debenhams before I left for France. Don't buy it I told myself, save your money for your holidays. Yet I couldn't get it off my mind. I hunted the entire Sephora store but I couldn't see a Too Faced stand. I actually let out a loud gasp when one of the Sephora staff opened up one of the drawers and there were some Chocolate Bar palettes! So into my basket it went, along with a gorgeous Chanel eyeshadow stick. I will do a closer look at these products in a blog post very soon.

From the Loop Duty Free I got a MAC Studio Careblend Powder (the best powder I've ever used!), MAC lipstick "Vegas Volt"  and the Clarins Instant Smooth Line Correcting Concentrate! I've been using all of these religiously since I got them and I am so impressed!

Also from the Loop I got my very first Jo Malone fragrance which is Wood Sage and Sea Salt! I really love this scent, it's just so fresh and perfect for summer nights!

The three Le Gel Douche in the picture may seem like a bit of a random purchase and I would agree, but I bought the mango one when I first arrived in France because I didn't bring my own shower gel, and I couldn't get over how nice the smell was and how the scent completely filled the bathroom for hours after I had a shower. So I just picked up another 2 bottles to take home with me! I'm not usually bothered about shower gels, any old one will do but I completely fell in love with the scent of these.

I made a quick stop at L'Occitane as well and got the lime ultra soft cream (I got one of these in Paris last year and have never gotten over how nice it smells!). I also got a mini hand and foot cream and a rose lip balm. Really enjoying these. I definitely want to try more L'Occitane stuff, I might invest in some of their skincare.

And lastly, from the pharmacy I got some of my beloved La Roche Posay skincare! I had no idea there was such  thing as the jumbo sized cleansers (they had huge containers of the miceller water too, never seen them in Ireland before!) so I stocked up on the Toleraine cleanser and got a moisturiser, and I just bought the eye make up remover because I just happened to see it, I've never actually tried this one before.

Almost forgot to post these! These are the swatches of the Chanel eyeshadow stick and MAC Vegas Volt lipstick!


I hope this post was of interest to you! I am so sad now my holidays are over. I loved France so much and would love to go back there!

More new NYC nail polishes!

I am a bit of an NYC nail polish addict! They are just so affordable to me and in my opinion are brilliant nail polishes. I bought another 3 colours to add to my collection and just thought I would share a few pics with you!

This deep raspberry pink is called "NY Haute Couture" and is from the Gel Gloss range. This one is so easy to apply, it's so glossy and shiny and has a brilliant finish. It lasts me several days with no chips which is amazing! Also I've had this one on my toes for nearly 2 weeks and apart from a little wear the colour still looks good! This is a fantastic nail polish!

I adore blue nail polishes so got this one "Hudson River". This one is from the Shine in a Minute range. I have to say that this polish has been very problematic for me. I cannot apply it without getting air bubbles and I just cannot get a smooth texture with it. I do want to love this because the colour is right up my street but I don't think this polish is as good as the Gel Gloss ones.

Red polishes are not really my thing, I don't think they really compliment my skin tone but I loved the shade of this polish "Tribeca Style", also a Gel Gloss polish. This was an absolute dream to apply and wear, and it is a beautiful shade of red, not cheap or garish looking in the slightest. Wear time was fantastic and I got a good 3 or 4 days out of it.

So I am really loving the NYC Gel Gloss polishes and I think I want to add more to my collection!

L'Oreal & Rowenta Steam Pod

I have been massively excited about the Steam Pod for a long time. I first came across it when my hairdresser used it on me in the salon and I couldn't believe the texture or the finish of my hair afterwards. I contemplated for over a year getting one for myself, and now I finally have one. I found it for a pretty good price on allbeauty.com where I also bought the Steam Pod smoothing protective cream.

I'm not going to lie, the Steam Pod is a bulky enough unit. You have your water tank, power lead, steam cord and then the hair tool itself. There is a removable comb (I personally like the comb although be careful if you have tatty hair like me!) and you can see the little jets where the steam comes out. That is where the magic happens!

I don't know about you but even though everyone raved about GHD's it must be for over a decade now, they didn't really do much for my already straight hair. They got the job done, sure, but they made my hair look really flat, dehydrated and a little lacklustre. The Steam Pod has really changed everything for me. Where I may have washed my hair and styled it with the GHD, my hair would have been so greasy a day later and badly in need of a wash. For some reason, I can style my hair with the Steam Pod, and not have to style it again until my next wash, up to a week later. I don't know how I am getting longer between washes but I am. Also, my hair remained poker straight the entire week, not a single kink in my hair like I would have seen by day 2 of a GHD styling.

Just after a colour, cut and Steam Pod treatment from the salon

If you are used to straightening your hair, the Steam Pod works in the same way, just make sure your hair follows the direction of the arrows so as it passes through the steam. 

The benefits of the steam are that it completely nourishes your hair, adding glossy shine and a smooth finish. If you use it with the Steam Pod protective cream, which has pro-keratin technology it will really help your hair to look more healthy. 

I of course have been using my Steam Pod since I got it to straighten my hair, but I have also experimented with other styles too.

I love the big bouncy curls you can create with the Steam Pod, but just be aware that it does not have a swivel cord so it is a bit tricky to do on your own. It almost creates a curly blow dry effect. I have no layers cut into my hair but I imagine if I did the curls would be even more bouncy.

After using the Steam Pod, it's incredible how "swishy" and light my hair feels. It's like the steam has infused each individual hair and it leaves my entire hair feeling so soft and smooth, and full of bounce and body. I have never had this feeling using any other hair tool. That is why I have fallen in love with the Steam Pod. I feel like I could be in a hair ad!

I am absolutely thrilled I purchased the Steam Pod and only wish I bought it long ago! I can only imagine this would be an absolute godsend if you had frizzy hair. I really like the fact that when you straighten with it, the hair stays straight. I am going to take this with me on holiday, though I have to think about how I will pack it as it isn't exactly that travel friendly, but I don't think I can be without it at this stage!

Crocs Huarache Sandals

I never thought I would ever be wearing a pair of Crocs! That is until I spotted the Huarache sandals online that I knew I wanted to get a pair for summer. They are so cute and colourful! They looked very comfortable and now that I have them, I can say that they are!
They feel really "bouncy" to wear and the soles are extremely flexible. The footbeds are kind of squidgy too. The back of the heels rub a tiny bit so I wear plasters on my heels in order to prevent blisters, but other than that, I cannot get over how comfortable they are! Even the colourful straps are so soft and flexible, and do not hurt me like the jelly shoes of the '90s.
I ordered these Crocs from the Schuh website and I have a very pleasant experience and fast delivery.

What do you think of these sandals? I just love them and I am so happy I got them!

Ultimate Beauty Icon #HoFBeautyAmbassador

Love them or hate them, there is no denying that the Kardashian women are absolutely beautiful. This time last year, I didn't know a thing about them but over the Christmas holidays I slowly began watching their TV show and I kind of took an interest in them. 

A lot of people are frankly obsessed with Kim K's make up but I am absolutely taken by Kourtney's simple, natural and carefree look! I have been doing everything I can to recreate a fresh, glowing look like Kourtney's, and I will show you what products I have been using.

What I like about Kourtney's make up is that it doesn't have to be perfect, just keep it very simple and natural, and add a pop of colour on the lips if need be. It's all very bronzed, glowy, boho chic….and it's perfect for Summer actually!

So, here are the products I have been using for a fresh bronzy look like Kourtney! You can get a lot of them from the House of Fraser Beauty Section here - http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Makeup+Make+Up/100,default,sc.html

Base

Chanel Vitalumiere Foundation

Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel

Clarins Instant Concealer

Clarins Mineral Loose Powder

Lancome Blush Subtil Palette

I am really into the Chanel Vitalumiere foundation at the minute. It's perfect if you want a really nice, lightweight foundation. As someone who normally prefers something with a bit more coverage and a bit more matte, I can't believe how well my skin looks when I use this foundation!

I'm also using my favourite Chanel cream bronzer as well, it's just extremely user friendly and it really warms up the complexion. I use this under my foundation as well if I want a really bronzed look. 

For under my eyes, nothing beats the Clarins concealer and I also used the tiniest bit of the Clarins loose powder - I just lightly dusted it through the centre of my face. I don't want to completely lose that "glow". Then to finish I used my Lancome Blush Subtil palette in the shade Nectar Lace. It has a really great contour and highlight powder and the blush is a gorgeous shimmering coral.

Eyes

MAC Paint Pot

Sleek Eyebrow Kit

Maybelline Brow Drama

Clarins the Essentials Eyeshadow Palette

Clarins Waterproof Eye Pencil

YSL Babydoll Mascara

I am obsessed with this Clarins eyeshadow palette right now! I thought it was a limited edition palette for Christmas but it's still available on House of Fraser's website! First though I lay down my base which is the MAC Paint Pot (Painterly) and I use the shade numbers 5, 7 and 8 for this look. I tight line my eyes with the Clarins waterproof pencil, which is great because I have quite watery eyes but this pencil does not budge all day!

I can't wear flash lashes like Kourtney does but I swear by the YSL Baby Doll mascara which gives my lashes some serious length, it's phenomenal! For my brows I use my trusty Sleek brow kit, following my natural brows just filling them in, then set with the Maybelline Brow Drama.

Here's a closer look of the eyeshadow palette! I love all of these shades and think they are very Kourtney!

Lips

Clarins instant Light Lip Balm Perfector

Clarins Jolie Rouge Lipstick

I usually switch between both of these lip products for a Kourtney look! The Lip Balm Perfector is amazing for every day wear! This is my favourite shade Rosewood. It is a perfect nude shade and is so comfortable to wear.

Today though, I am wearing the Jolie Rouge lipstick in the shade Coral Dahlia. It is the most beautiful shimmering coral. This is a very sheer lipstick so it's perfect if you're not confident enough to wear a really bold lip but still want a pop of colour! I have heard Kourtney likes to wear the YSL lipstick in Le Orange! It looks beautiful and I really must get it next time I am at a YSL counter!

Here is the finished look! I'm really happy with it and I think it is a nice fresh make up for Summer. Also you could easily take this look from day time to night time, it's very versatile.

This post was created as my entry for the House of Fraser Beauty Ambassador competition! Check out the details here and don't forget to stop by the House of Fraser make up department! They have a fantastic selection of products and brands, so much stuff I want to buy!