I'm in Ireland!

       Hello everyone! Unfortunately it's been quite awhile since I've been able to do a blog post, and I may not be able to do a proper one until I get back. Can't wait to share the scenic views with you all, as well as the beauty and fashion items I've picked up! There's been a ton of rain here, but we've managed to get some shopping and site seeing done so far. I would say Ireland is pretty much how you would picture it, lots of green land, winding, narrow country roads and tons of pubs! Although I am really enjoying it, I still can't quite believe that I'm here! Here's a little peak below at Kilarney, where we visited today!

Talk to you soon! xx

Mini Drugstore Haul: Skin Care and Lipstick

       Now that I've gotten my skin used to more expensive face wash, I've come to slightly dread the time where I'll need to buy one again! I have seen a big difference in my skin since I've invested a little bit more, so I'm not too willing to go back to the products I used to use. However, I decided to try a new face wash this time, and picked up a few other little things from Shoppers Drug Mart that I needed while I was there.

I decided to stop purchasing full face wipes, as they're not the greatest for your skin, so I chose these instead. These are the Quo Mini Eye Make-Up Remover Pads. I find that it works just fine if I take my eye makeup off with a remover pad or eye makeup remover lotion, and use a washcloth for the rest of my face before going in with my cleanser. Quo is a Canadian brand exclusive to Shopper's Drug Mart, and I generally like their products. These come with 30 in a pack for $5.00, so it wasn't a bad deal. Hopefully these don't sting my eyes, as I've been having quite a problem with that lately!

I didn't go with my usual Biotherm this time, and picked up the RoC Multi-Action Makeup Remover Milk instead. I have never tried this brand, and don't know much about it besides the fact that it originates in France. It has everything I'm looking for in a cleanser for the winter months. As much as I like Biotherm, it always made my skin feel tight afterwards, and I'd have to apply a heavy moisturizer. This 3 in 1 cleanser is meant to remove face and eye makeup, tones and refreshes your skin, and moisturizes your skin for 24 hours. I will likely do a review on this once I've tried it out a few times. It's for all skin types, which is fine for me right now. This cleanser was about $17.00, $2.00 less than my Biotherm one.

Possibly a little TMI coming your way, but I've been having some skin related issues lately. I really needed something that would cleanse as well as soothe and calm my skin. I was originally going to go for the Avene Thermal Spring Water, which I'd tried before and liked, but they didn't have any available in the smaller size. So, I picked up the 1.69 fl oz size of the Vichy Thermal Spa Water for about $7.50. People buy these products for all kinds of reasons, normally to spray on their face in the summer time. I decided to use this for other reasons, as the Vichy Thermal Spa Water has 15 rare minerals, is 100% natural and soothes and protects your skin. I used this when I got home, and right away experienced some relief. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is experiencing sore, irritated skin. 

Finally, I picked up Rimmel's Lasting Finish Lipstick in Airy Fairy. I actually wanted to try this colour, because it's the colour Anna Saccone Joly aka the Style Diet wears all the time, and it looks fantastic on her! This colour is so pretty when swatched, so I'm really looking forward to wearing it. It feels creamy and moisturizing, which I need right now, so let's hope it works out. I'm tired of searching for the perfect lipstick!

That's it for my little haul, hopefully some good reviews coming soon!

xx

Decorating On A Budget: Christmas Edition!

          Being a student, I am always on a budget and Christmas time is no exception. Whatever the occasion, I need to find thrifty and inexpensive ways to decorate my apartment for myself and my boyfriend! As I have finally completed all I'm going to do for this year, here's a look into the Christmas decorations in our apartment, including where I got them from. Get ready for lots of pictures!

I am a huge fan of Bath and Body Works, so I was thrilled to see these Christmas themed liquid soap sleeves for this season, as opposed to the original silver that just go over the top. Both these and the holiday themed liquid soaps are an inexpensive and easy way to dress up your bathroom for any occasion or season. Surprisingly, I haven't seen these holders for sale online, but they should be available in most stores. I would highly recommend the soap that I bought with it, which is the Enchanted Evergreen Luxury Hand Soap. It smells amazing, definitely the best one I tried that day. They had a buy 3 get 3 free deal that day, so I was able to get 6 items to complete my Christmas gifts and decorate my apartment. I also had a coupon for $10 off on top of it, so you definitely can't go wrong with those prices. I ended up paying $10.70 for the soap (which is actually pricey for their liquid soaps) and $8.10 for the soap sleeve. 

I purchased this Snowflake Nightlight last year from Bath and Body Works as well, and they still have the same one online for this year. I prefer the nightlight wallflowers by far, as they are so convenient to light up any dark area of your house/apartment or to have in your bathroom, while making the room smell great. Even when I run out of fragrance bulbs (which I did here!) I still keep them plugged in as nightlights. This nightlight currently retails for $8.50.

I had bought an extra string of lights to put on our tree, but because the tree we bought this year was so small, I decided it didn't need anymore. So, I just ended up stringing them over our bar stools! With these lights in one end of the apartment and the Christmas tree lights in the other end, it makes the apartment feel really festive and cozy. I bought this small string of lights at the dollar store for $2.00.

These were new this year as well, and another really good deal! We bought this 6 set of Christmas candles at Homesense for $10.00. They are all scented, and look so nice on our island area. 

This sparkly Christmas candle is one of my favourite decorations in our apartment, also bought this year. I believe it was $7.99 at the most from Homesense as well. I don't think I'll burn this candle or the candles in the previous photo, as they are just going to be for decoration.

When I saw this porcelain manger at my parents house, I asked my Mom if I could take it, as I thought it was so pretty! It used to belong to my great-grandmother, which makes it even more special. I'll definitely be bringing this out for years to come.

This swan isn't particularly Christmassy, but seeing as I love swans and didn't want to put it away, I cut some red fake flowers that I had gotten from the dollar store and put them inside to dress it up a little. I bought this swan a few months ago at Value Village for $2.00.

We bought this snowflake candle holder from Homesense once again, for $9.99. We've had these hooks on the ceiling of our kitchen since we moved in, so I've finally found a use for them! I have another glittery, silvery star next to it (not pictured) that I got from the dollar store for $1.50.

I have this little arrangement hanging on our kitchen wall. The little canvas is actually from the Dollar Store, and the Christmas pillow is from Value Village, so the two combined were only $3.00! I don't recall where I got the angel hanging above them now, but it's always in our kitchen on the same hook.

When we don't have a million things piled on our dining room table, this is what it looks like! We picked up this Christmassy tablecloth from Homesense for $12.99 at the most. It's super hard to find smaller table cloths at Homesense, but we managed to dig this one up! The snowman and Santa salt and pepper shakers are from the Dollar Store, and the little candy cane plant was $4.99 from the grocery store. The little pine cones were about $1.25 from the dollar store as well.

This mosaic style glass plate from Jysk was only $0.99, which was an amazing find! You can't really see here, but it's red on top and green on the bottom. They actually have 40-80% off their Christmas items right now, so it's a bit dangerous to go in there if you don't want to spend too much! Unfortunately, the Novelty Tin Candle on top of it wasn't the best deal. It's pretty to look at and smells nice, but it doesn't give off a lot of scent, especially for the price. I got it for $16.00 from Urban Outfitters! :( Not the best random purchase. However, it's now on sale on the Urban Outfitter's website for $9.99, which is much closer to what it's worth in my opinion!

This is a close up of the sparkly pine cone candle wreath that I got for our coffee table, also from Jysk. I thought it was so pretty and unique, and was only $5.00.

This is our little Christmas tree! As you can see, it's a little frazzled looking from being knocked over and picked up again so many times, (the joys of having a kitten) but we really didn't need one much bigger than this for our apartment. It's a real tree, and we bought it for $14.99 at the grocery store. I think next year we'll opt for a slightly bigger plastic tree, but it's fine for this year! As you can see, I went for a light blue and white theme for the decorations and the wrapping paper this year.

What kind of cat lady would I be if I didn't have stockings for my kittens? I've never gotten my pets stockings before, but I actually saw these at the dollar store and thought they were way too cute not to buy, especially for the price. These were about $2.50 each.

Last but not least, some Christmas teddy bears for the couch! The one in the green sweater we actually have all the time, as that is our Ireland teddy bear. I didn't buy any Christmas themed pillows this year, so these bears work just as well. I got the Ireland teddy bear from Value Village for about $2.50, and the smaller teddy bear I borrowed from my parents house.

And that's it! Thanks for taking the time to look at this loong blog post, and I hope it gave you some ideas!

xx

First Impression Review: The Tarte of Giving Collector's Set and Travel Bag

          I received the Tarte of Giving Collector's Set and Travel Bag by Tarte Cosmetics from my boyfriend as an early Christmas present, and I"m already in love with it! I had only ever tried the Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment by Tarte, so this was a fantastic way to try out some of their greatest products. 

This amazing bag folds out into a 3 compartment set, which works out perfectly as a travel bag (which I'll need really soon!) This first compartment contains:

0.23 oz Deluxe Pure Maracuja Oil

0.17 oz Deluxe Cheek Stain in Flush

0.16 Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara

0.08 oz Deluxe Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment

0.05 oz Deluxe Limited-Edition Amazonian 12-hour Clay Blush in Memorable

The second compartment is the one that I was originally most excited to try. When I had asked for this set for Christmas I couldn't believe the amazing price, especially given the fact that this palette was included. This is a beautiful palette, with the perfect amount of extremely wearable matte and shimmery shades. It contains:

20 x 0.7 oz Limited Edition Amazonian Clay Eye Shadows

Even though I'm generally not into silvery shades, this shimmery eye shadow (Staci's Charm Bracelet) caught my attention right away. Such a beautiful colour!

I was very interested to try the third compartment in this set, as I have never been much of a lip gloss fan, but had heard really great reviews on Tarte's lip products. This compartment contains:

8 x .059 oz Deluxe Marajuca Lipglosses

I wanted to try out as many products as I could for this first impression, (and also because I was just really excited to try all of them) so I started with skin care.

I first applied a few drops of the Deluxe Pure Maracuja Oil all over freshly cleansed skin, which absorbed completely after a few minutes. I then applied the Deluxe Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment underneath my eyes. This cream is extremely thick and takes a little while to sink in.

After this, I just applied Smashbox's Photo Finish Foundation Primer before my foundation, which is L'Oreal's True Match Lumi Foundation in Porcelain/Pale Ivory. I then contoured my face with Bourjois Bronzing Powder in 51 peaux claires/medianes. 

After my skin was ready to go, I applied Tarte's Deluxe Limited Edition Amazonian 12-hour Clay Blush in Memorable to the apples of my cheeks. Right away, I was in love with this colour. It doesn't appear that this particular colour is for sale in their full size blushes, so I really hope they decide to make one! It's the perfect light pink colour with a hint of shimmer.

I decided to go for a different look for me on my eyes so I could try out more of the colours. I used:

Kim's porcelain doll (white matte)

Leigh's Locket (shimmery gold)

Erica's dollhouse (light shimmery bronze)

Maureen's soccer ball (dark brown)

Scott's skateboard (matte navy blue)

Staci's Charm Bracelet (shimmery silver)

I found the colour payoff to be a lot better on the darker colours, as a few of the lighter ones seem to have very little pigmentation, but overall the colours were all  beautiful.

I used the Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara, along with my Physician's Formula Eyebooster 2-in-1 Lashboosting Eyeliner + Serum in Ultra Black. I do like this mascara, although I did not like it as much as the mascara I'm currently using, which is the Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in Jet Black. 

I then completed the look with a Deluxe Maracuja Lipgloss, labelled SB51 ro, which is the lightest pink. I am already obsessed with these lipglosses. They are sooooo moisturizing! Perfect for the winter months. Even the colours I wouldn't normally wear are amazing. They also smell like mint, and give your lips a nice tingling feeling. These seem to be limited edition as well, as I can't find any of these lipglosses in full size.

Overall, I am a huge fan of this set and am so thrilled I got it as a gift. It's currently sold out at Sephora, but you should still be able to find it on Amazon and/or Ebay. This set is worth over $200, but was sold for about $59 at Sephora, so it really is excellent value!

Thank you once again to my lovely boyfriend! :) xx

Review: Pantene Expert Collection Advanced Keratin Repair Line

         I have never been a big fan of Pantene Pro-V Products, mainly because I never really bothered to buy them. I haven't heard a lot of raves about any particular Pantene product. So when I received two samples with my order from beyondtherack.com of the Pantene Expert Collection, I didn't have high expectations. I do love trying new hair products, so I decided to give them a go. At the time, I received the sample size of the Advanced Keratin Repair Conditioner, and the sample size of the Advanced Keratin Repair Split End Fuser (pictured above). 

I did not look up anything about these products before trying them. My first impression while using both, was that I loved the consistency and the smell. Everything about it reminded me of a high end product. They are both relatively thick in formula and quite creamy. The conditioner was extremely easy to rinse out of my hair, and I felt it detangling as I ran my fingers through it. Once dry, my hair felt nourished and looked quite healthy! All a big thumbs up!

After looking up these products online, I learned that they are meant to do the following things: fight damage and provide shine, as well as fight split ends, frizz,  dullness and dryness. I would say that they definitely fulfill all of these categories. When I went to buy the full sized conditioner (pictured above) I was surprised at how much it cost. Pantene Pro-V is known for being a budget friendly brand, and these products were $9.99 for the conditioner and $12.99 for the Split End Fuser at Target, as well as $2.00 more each at Shopper's Drug Mart. The Pantene Expert Collection line is designed to basically step Pantene's level of hair care up a notch. They have two hair systems, the Age Defy line and the Advanced Keratin Repair line. The Advanced Keratin Repair line is perfect for my hair, as bleaching strips your hair of it's natural keratin. These products are also meant to repair up to two years of damage. 

Overall, I would definitely recommend this product to anyone who colours/bleaches their hair and/or uses heat styling, and needs to start repairing the damage. I've noticed more difference while using these products than I have with any other drug store product in a long time. The only thing I'm not a fan of, is that I don't recognize one ingredient on the bottle, so they definitely don't use any natural ingredients with these products. Seeing as I'm a big believer in using natural ingredients in any product, I do struggle with this a little. However, it does work, so I can't complain too much! Great job Pantene! 

Get Her Look: Marilyn Monroe

        Anybody who knows me knows that I adore Marilyn Monroe, and have for a long time. She is definitely one of my idols, especially when it comes to body image and beauty. She was one of the most naturally beautiful women in the world, but still had a few key looks that made her truly stand out from everybody else. Here are some of my product picks for perfecting the Marilyn look!

NARS Guy Bourdin Holiday Collection Limited Edition Cinematic Lipstick in Cherry: Full, glossy, bright red lips have to be the most important part of creating this look! Marilyn had extremely fair skin like me, but she had this way of pulling off intensely red lips in a way I never could. This NARS lipstick is perfect for achieving this look, as it's glossy, highly pigmented and incredibly creamy. 

Sephora Collection False Eyelashes in Flair: When Marilyn's in full makeup, she seems to have an extra flair on her outside lashes only. These false eyelashes from Sephora are perfect for this, because they're made to do exactly that. Sephora does 10 different styles to create any look, but these are by far the best. As they're made with natural hair, they give a soft, natural effect when applied. 

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Foxy: If Marilyn wears any eyeshadow at all in her classic look, it's extremely light to the point where you can't tell she's wearing it. Foxy is perfect for this effect when it comes to light skin tones, as it's a completely matte cream bisque colour that makes your eyes pop, without looking like you're wearing anything on your lids. 

Diorskin Nude Skin-Glowing Makeup SPF 15: Marilyn either had amazing natural skin, or an incredibly talented makeup artist. Either way, this foundation gives you exactly the look that she has. Natural, hydrated and glowing. The best part is, with continued use, your skin becomes more and more radiant over time.

Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Aruba: Part of having a healthy glow like Marilyn has, is appearing ever so slightly sun kissed in just the right areas. A light, shimmering, sheer bronzer  like this one will give you that natural glow, without having to lose your natural radiance by exposing your skin to the sun. The lighter and more sheer the bronzer, the better.Just apply it lightly to the areas of your face that the sun would naturally hit! 

And that's it! Let me know if you enjoyed this kind of post! xx

Gifts For Her: $30 and Under!

It's not always easy to buy for everyone on your list, especially when you're on a budget. However, here are some cute and budget friendly options for the women in your life! All of these items are $30 and under, and can all be purchased either in store or online! Merry Christmas!


PRODUCTS FEATURED:


Fuzzy Cable Knit Sweater in Burgundy $18.80


Arm Candy Bracelet in Silver/White $29


Tassel Zip Tote in Snake $23


CIATÉ Tree Trinkets $25


Long Gloves in Coral Stripe $29.95


Too Faced Jingle All the Way Makeup Palette + iPhone Cover $30


Heeled Ballet Shoes in Clay Mate $12


Quilted Insert Ponte Skinny Legging $23.40

xx

Must Haves For Flawless Skin!

Here are my current Must Haves for achieving flawless skin! Step up your face care routine this winter to make sure your skin stays flawless!

PRODUCTS FEATURED:

Biosource Hydra-Mineral Cleanser Toning Mousse

Bioderma Sensibio H2O

Nip + Fab Scrub Fix

Neutrogena Naturals Multi-Vitamin Nourishing Moisturizer

The Body Shop Luxury Flannel Face Cloth

Tarte Maracuja C Brighter Eye Treatment

Current Offers!

The Body Shop 

Cyber Monday 50 % off site wide + free shipping with any $50 purchase! Valid 12/02. No code required.

AND

30% off all gifts! No code required.

Biotherm

Cyberweek Event 25% off orders $100 + and 20% off orders under $100 and free shipping!

Code: CYBER

Hope you all had a great weekend! xx