Top Ten Alternative Shops

Top Ten Alternative Shops

My Top Ten Beauty Buys of 2014

In no particular order here are my top ten picks for 2014!

1.Wet N Wild Comfort Zone
This is my go to palette since being sent one of few months ago by Publicity Loft. It's inexpensive (you can pick it up in Penneys) and the pigments are fantastic. 

2. Clinique Chubby Stick Lip Balm.
Santa can you bring me one in every colour? I was gifted one on one of my visits to the lovely girls at Beauty Bootcamp and now I always keep my chubby stick in my pocket or hand bag. It's been so cold that my lips have been turning blue so having a hint of colour as well as moisture is great.

3.Yon Ka Dry Skin Toner 

Godsend to my skin! Can not recommend enough. I received this in one of my Chic Treat boxes and will definitely been hinting for this to be in my Christmas stocking.

4. The Body Shop Almond Oil Nail Varnish Remover 
I change nail colours a lot so I wanted to hug the PR staff at The Body Shop for this beaut! Smells lovely and takes off colours without ruining my nails.

5. Wet N Wild Megalast Lipstick.

This stuff stays on all night and the next day! Best budget lippie ever!

6. NIMA make up brushes 

Was hearing a lot about these brushes and after buying a set for my birthday I can get what the hype is about. So affordable for the quality you get. Can't wait to complete my set!

7. Physicians Formula  Happy Booster Blush 

This is the cutest thing ever and the perfect shade of blush for my pale skin. There need to be more Physicians Formula outlets in Dublin as I live nowhere near their stockist in Swords but if you do live in Swords pick this stuff up it's great.

8. The Body Shop Super Volume Mascara 

The only mascara I've worn this year that hasn't clumped my eyelashes. Will be restocking on this!

9. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer 

The best concealer in the world. I rarely ever wear foundation. On bad days it's a wisp of Lasting Perfection and I'm good to go.

10. Bia Beauty  Stop The Clock Gel 

Saw visible results with this very shortly after I started using it. Very good value and you only need to use the tiniest bit so it lasts ages.

River Island Christmas Haul

October Chic Treat Club Box

This month's Chic Treat box was a special one as 2 euro from each box was donated to Breast Cancer Research. A lot of Irish people have had their lives touched by Cancer so I always think it's fantastic when companies spread awareness. Triona McCarthy edited this month's Muse magazine, which comes free with each box, and dedicated it to her late sister Tricia, whose artwork decorates both the box and cover of Muse. Something that really caught my eye in this month's magazine was a poem titled 'She Is Gone'. I received my box just a few days after what would have been my Grandmother's birthday so it really tugged at my heartstrings. I think it's worth sharing so I've re-written it below.

She Is Gone

You can shed tears that she is gone or you can smile because she has lived

You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back or you can open your eyes and see all that she's left

Your heart can be empty because you can't see her or you can be full of the love you shared

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday

You can remember her and only that she's gone or you can cherish her memory and let it live on

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back or you can do what she'd want:

Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

The contents of this box are wonderful and it was really hard to pick a favourite out of the products. There was a great mix of lotions and cosmetics which I feel is Chic Treat's strong point. I used to subscribe to a different beauty box and as well as small samples, which you could get free at any cosmetics counter, a lot of the products were creams and wash products, and while that's great I was finding my bathroom exploding with tiny tubes of creams and half of them I couldn't use on my skin.

Since subscribing to Chic Treat I've been greeted by generously sized products and a 50/50 ratio of lotions to make up. 

It was hard but my favourite product this month is the Yon-Ka Invigorating Mist Dry Skin Toner. Since receiving this product I've used it every morning and night! My skin is very sensitive and the cold weather makes it dry and cracked so this toner has been a god send and I will definitely be stocking up on it once I've used up the one I was sent! I've been working on film sets all month and having makeup applied, scrubbed off, re-applied so I've had my Yon-Ka toner on stand by in my hand bag for when I can feel my skin literally on the brink of packing it's bags and leaving me for torturing it so much. It smells beautiful and is full and natural ingredients and I think a full bottle is a bargain at 30 euro. Might not be as cheap as others but I think it's worth spending the little extra when you find a product that really works for your skin.

My second pick is NYX Powder Blush in Rose Garden. This shade really suits my fair complexion and I've worn it both as eye shadow and blush since I was sent it. It feels really light and soft to the touch on my skin and doesn't feel cakey like some powders. At 7.49 you can't go wrong.

Next up is Roger & Gallet Body Sorbet in Fleur de Figuier. When I opened this up I was immediately hit with the fresh smell of grapefruit! I love citrus scents and this is another product that has been living in my handbag. Whenever I give some to friends to use if we're out and they need hand cream they always comment on the lovely smell it leaves on their hands afterwards. A full bottle cost 15 euro and contains 200ml.

Another great make up brand included is one of my favourites, Wet N Wild with their Mega Last Lipstick in Think Pink.  I'm a big lipstick girl and Mega Last has become my go to range. Think Pink is a fairly neutral pink that should work with most skin tones. I would usually opt for a brighter shade of lip colour but it is something I will definitely use as it's a workable lipstick that transitions well from day make up to evening make up. Mega Last lipsticks come in at 2.99.

The last product is Purederm Botanical Choice Exfoliating Foot Mask which I'm very glad I now know exists. I'm always on my feet and heading to a spa or salon to sort them out just isn't in my price range so these are excellent. I'm heading to Spain at the weekend so I'm saving mine as a feet treat for when I get back. Can't wait to pop them on! They can be bought for 3.99.

If you've any questions about the products just pop me a comment here or on Twitter!

Looking forward to seeing what next month brings!

October Loves!

1. Clothes from Pretty Bones Jefferson
2. Pink Lemonade 
3. Spoiled in white by WetnWild
4. CHANEL's runway looks & bags
5. Physicians Formula  . Why oh why don't they sell it in Ireland?

Pink Pics for Breast Cancer Awareness

Some of my #PinkPics from over the years!

Text Pink to 50300 to donate 4 euro

Paint It Pink for Breast Cancer . The first of October

During the month of October I'm going to be putting together a series of pink themed looks to raise awareness and funds for The Irish Cancer Society along with the help of Chunk.ie, The Publicity Loft, Beauty Bootcamp, National Beauty and The Body Shop Ireland.

You can keep an eye out here, on my Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and Chunk.ie

To donate 4 euro to The Irish Cancer Society text PINK to 50300