YSL La Laque Couture- Le Nu

YSL have released chromatic replicas of four iconic shades from their Rouge Pur Couture lipstick range in the form of the Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stains and La Laque Couture matte nail lacquers. The four shades are Le Rouge, Le Orange, Le Fuchsia and Le Nu. The Vernis à Lèvres are a high shine formula with intense colour and luminosity while spherical silica has been added to the La Laque Couture to give a modern matte finish to the nail colours. The idea is to mix and match the contrasting shades and finishes on your lips and tips. 

I was sent Le Nu, a refined and minimalist soft beige, which isn't a shade I would normally choose. I usually avoid nudes as they tend to be too pale and unflattering. However as soon as I applied Le Nu I was taken back by how much I loved the colour. It's the most chic nail shade and the matte finish gives it just the right amount of edge for such a toned down colour. 

For me, this is to the nails what Charlotte Tilbury Bitch Perfect is to the lips. Flattering, understated and goes with everything. It's the perfect combination of brown and pink that I feel would look great on any skin tone. 

The other thing that sold me both this straight away was the application. It has a wide brush that makes applying it so quick and easy. The formula is perfect too. Sometimes brands get it right with the brush but the formula is too thin and you end up having to apply three coats or it's to thick and difficult to apply evenly. You could get away with one coat of this and achieve full opacity. 

The wear time is another bonus, I had minimal wear on the tops of my nails after four days and that was with a very hectic week in work where I was using my hands all day every day. The matte finish also starts to wear away after a few days and there is more of a shine to the nails but I don't have a problem with that at all, you could even add a top coat to achieve a shiny finish if you wished. The packaging is also second to none. The gorgeous little gold lid lifts off and there is a second smaller round one underneath so don't worry you won't have to hold that square lid to apply the polish. 

Having never tried a YSL nail lacquers before, I am now a full convert and I'm already thinking about which shade I want to try next. The La Laque Couture range retails for €24 which I have never spent on a nail polish in my life, but I genuinely would pay it for another one of these I was that impressed. The collection is available at Brown Thomas from October 1st. Will you be checking these out in person?

What are you wearing on your nails this Autumn?

Emma x

Autumn in Zara

I'm just back from the most relaxing holiday in Nice and it seems the Irish Summer is truly over (what little Summer we had). As sad as I am that the hot weather of the French Riviera will soon be a distant memory, I'm very excited for my favourite time of year- Autumn.

I've already been doing some shopping for Autumnal clothing and accessories to add to my cold weather wardrobe. I had a look in Zara when I was in Nice and saw so many things I loved so I decided to share some of my favourite pieces from their new collection with you today.

Autumn in Zara by olgreeneyes featuring zara boots

As much as I love the 70s trend on other people, most of the clothes just don't do anything for my curvy figure, however I do love a good blouse with my jeans and this Loose Fit Blouse screams late 70s Stevie Nicks to me. The V-neckline is something I try to go for with looser fit clothing because it just makes it that much more flattering on me. I could see myself wearing this with black jeans and this amazing Leather Jacket, heeled boots like these Combined Ankle Boots and a wide brimmed hat. I love these Sparkle Ankle Boots that my boyfriend has nicknamed the David Bowie boots. I think they would be a great alternative to heels for the Christmas party season as they're dressy yet more comfortable for walking around in the cold weather. Another way of bringing the 70s trend into my Autumn/Winter wardrobe is with a statement coat like this Jacket with oversized sheepskin lapels. I adore the colour of this and at only €59.95 for a wool mix it's an inexpensive way to keep warm and look stylish this Autumn.

One of the things I love about Autumn/Winter clothing is playing with textures. I love this fluffy metallic and navy Leopard Print Sweater and this burgundy Mock Croc Messenger Bag for adding dimension to an outfit. Another way I like to incorporate trends into my wardrobe is with my accessories and as much as I love the fringing and tassel trend I think I prefer it on shoes/bags/jewellery as opposed to clothing. This stunning pale green Leather Messenger Bag with Tassels is a great way to bring colour into your Autumn wardrobe, I absolutely adored the pastel trend last Winter, I think paler shades look really chic in the colder months.

Zara has become one of my favourite high street shops for jewellery in recent years. In terms of statement jewellery, they have some incredibly cool pieces like these Long Geometric Earrings that could be an amazing alternative to the usual sparkly Christmas bling. This black Chain Necklace is in the same vain as the earrings, a statement piece of jewellery without looking like a Christmas Tree. It looks incredible in person.

Lastly is my favourite Autumnal accessory, the blanket scarf. As soon as the weather gets chilly I have to have my neck covered and I'm always on the look out for a gorgeous cosy scarf to keep me warm. When I was in Nice I saw this Zig Zag Scarf and fell in love but I knew I wouldn't be able to fit it in my already full suitcase so as soon as I got home I went into Zara to buy it. While I was there I also saw this Animal Print Scarf and it's now at the top of my list to buy on payday. It looks amazing on and it's so soft and cosy. I love a printed scarf for adding some style to a plain coat in the Winter. I'm now excited for the weather to get colder so that I can wear my new scarf (I must be completely crazy).


What's on your Autumn/Winter shopping list?

Emma x

Bourjois Parisian Summer

The Irish Summer has pretty much been (for about five minutes) and gone already which is why there has been a complete lack of Summer inspired posts on the blog. However I'll be going on my holidays to France in a few days so I'll finally get to wear my Summer wardrobe and use the Summer make up products that I had been waiting to use for the past few months.

I attended the Bourjois Summer press event at the beginning of the season and we were treated to a preview of the gorgeous Parisian Summer collection.

Sunlight Elixir, BB Bronzing Cream, Mat Illusion Bronzing Power, Sun Illusion

The Sunlight Elixir is a tinted sparkly dry body oil. It has the same wonderful Summery scent as the rest of the collection and comes in a glass bottle which is less travel friendly than the BB Cream. I've mainly been using this on my arms, décolletage and legs for a very subtle glow and a soft sheen to my skin. It also has SPF 15 making it ideal for those days when you want to look slightly more healthy very fast and still have some sun protection. I have to be honest I'll probably only wear this on really sunny days or when I'm on holidays because it's too much for everyday use. At €16.99 it's not cheap but it should last you for next Summer too.




The weather was so bad this year that I think everyone has had to fake their Summer glow. This is where the BB Bronzing Cream came in for me. I don't like to sit out in the sun unless I'm wearing very high sun protection so the only colour I really get on my face is some enhanced freckles. This BB Cream is one of my favourite products from the collection, I prefer to wear it beneath my foundation as a sort of bronzing primer (unfortunately the Sun Illusion, pictured below was the wrong shade for me). Worn alone it's slightly too dark for me, but I intend on bringing it on holiday with me to wear instead of foundation.

The Bronzing Cream claims to have eight benefits in one product, those include: a golden glow effect, an even skin tone, radiance, 24-hour hydration, tan enhancement, a fresh effect, SPF 15 and high resistance. I can't speak for some of these as I had no tan to enhance, nor did I wear the product for 24 hours so I can't say as to whether it would keep you feeling hydrated for that long. I do find it very refreshing on the skin during application which is always a bonus in hot weather. I agree that it does give a golden glow, radiance and an even skin tone. It just makes you look instantly healthier and like you've been on holiday, which is never a bad thing. It also smell incredible and comes in a handy tube which is great for taking on a plane.






It surprised me how much I liked the Mat Illusion Bronzing Powder. It only comes in two shades so it's not going to work for every skin tone, however the Light Glow shade actually works quite well on my fair skin. As you can see in the photo above it gives an overall healthy look to my face which is mostly what I use bronzer for. It's supposed to offer a matt finish and smooth refined look, so this could be nice to wear as a substitute for your usual setting powder if you want to wear less make up on holidays. Once again this has the amazing coconut/fruity scent of the other products in the range that instantly brings to mind Summer holidays.




I was given two shades of the new Aqua Blush range, 04 Berry Nice and 02 Cocoricorail. I've never before tried a blush formula like the Aqua Blush. It has a very light mousse/gel texture and a little goes a long way, you only need a small amount of this to get a gorgeous natural flush. You can apply with your fingers, but I prefer to use a stippling brush. You do have to work quickly to blend it on otherwise I've found it can leave a slight stain on the skin. Despite the fact that these are a Summer launch I can see myself wearing them in Winter to get that natural rosy look to my cheeks. I think Berry Nice could look amazing in the colder months with minimal make up, lots of mascara and matching berry lips.

Once again Bourjois have given these a fresh rosy scent which I adore, but if you're not a fan of scented make up products you may want to test it out first. It also has a similar cooling effect to the Bronzing Cream making it an excellent choice for applying on warmer days. The claim is that they last up to 12 hours and I've found they really do last well, so much so that I'll be bringing them on holidays with me to wear in the hot weather and in the water. At €10.49 it's definitely worth picking up at least one of these.




So what are your favourite Summer products? Do you have any recommendations for any hot weather essentials?

Emma x

Flowerbomb

Viktor and Rolf's iconic perfume Flowerbomb recently celebrated it's tenth anniversary and for shame I hadn't actually tried it until recently. I can't believe I'd never spritzed it on myself on one of the many times I've been browsing around the Brown Thomas perfume hall. 

Allow me to begin by telling you that I absolutely adore this scent. I'm a big fan of floral scents, particularly those with Rose in them. Stella by Stella McCartney and the original Chloe are two of my favourite scents. I don't know what I was expecting from a fragrance named 'Flowerbomb', but it's the most intricate, sophisticated yet playful floral scent I've ever laid my nostrils upon. 

Since discovering Flowerbomb, I've learned that it's such a popular all-time favourite/Wedding day and signature scent for so many people I know and I can see why. The fragrance was designed by studying every facet of a bouquet, they wanted it to be the ultimate luxury- a thousand flowers in just one bottle. It's notes include tea and Bergamot, Sambac jasmine, orange tree, Cattleya Orchid, freesia, Centifolia rose and Patchouli. Mixed together, they create a rich, intense floral scent with fruity warmth. 

As you can see the packaging is a stunning glass grenade. It really stands to the fact that Viktor and Rolf are true artists, the bottle they have designed is as beautiful as the liquid it encases. 

The only problem I have is the price because I know I'm going to want another bottle once this one is finished. At €65 for just a 30ml it's definitely on the higher end of the scale, up there with brands like Chanel and Jo Malone. However you only need a small amount of this as it has incredible lasting power so a bottle should last you for a long time. 

Flowerbomb is available in Debenhams, Boots and Brown Thomas. 

Do you have a signature scent? What's your favourite perfume at the moment?

Emma x

Instant Outfits #2

My outfit posts have been non-existent lately mostly because I'm working so much that I only really get to wear what I want to wear on the weekends. I thought I'd share some "recent" Instagram outfit photos to show you what I've been wearing over the past couple of months.

I wore this for a brunch/shopping date with my best friend.

Coat- Helene Berman; Jeans- Next; Shirt- Monsoon; Sunglasses- ASOS; Shoes- New Look; Bag- Stella and Dot Tia Cross Body(this features in almost every photo); Necklace- Zara

I wore this outfit to a No7 event launching their Youth Defence range. This is only slightly different to the outfit above.

Jacket- Marella by Max Mara (vintage); Jeans- Next; Shirt- Monsoon; Boots- Topshop

I wore this very comfortable outfit walking around London back at the start of May. 

comfortable shoes were an absolute essential.

Jacket- Penneys/Primark; Shirt and Trousers- H&M; Runners- Nike Roshe Run

I wore this to the Bourjois Summer event in the Morgan Hotel.

Dress- Zara; Jacket- Penneys/Primark; Nameplate Necklace- ONecklace

This is what I wore to my niece's christening, the only bare legged photo of the bunch because alas I missed all of the really nice weather because I was working.

Dress- ASOS; Bag- Zara; Shoes- New Look (similar here); Necklace- Stella and Dot Rebel Pendant

I wore this for a family day out in Skerries a couple of weeks ago.

Kimono- H&M; Top- Monsoon; Jeans- Next; Sandals- Clarks; Sunglasses- Boohoo; Necklace- Stella and Dot Rebel Pendant

So this is a Summer in Ireland outfit! The weather is so rubbish at the moment, it's been rainy and not very warm. This is what I wore to lunch at the weekend as it was raining heavily when we left the house. 

Trench Coat- London Fog (Charity Shop); Dress- South via Littlewoods; Shoes- Dr Martens (from TK Maxx)

I'm going to Nice at the end of August so I'll finally get to wear my Summer clothes. Is there anything that you have been wearing a lot recently?

Emma x

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (username: emmadgrimes)

Kiehls Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector With SPF 30

I'm lucky that for the most part I have quite good skin, the only thing that really annoys me is the dark circles under my eyes. I always end up layering concealers to try to hide the purple colour and yet they are never completely covered.

I started using the Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Circle Perfector a couple of months ago and I have since had a noticeable reduction in the darkness under my eyes. I had been using the product, not really thinking much about it until a couple of weeks ago when one of my concealers ran out and I didn't want to go rooting for another one so I just used one under my eyes for the first time in a long time. I was surprised that I didn't actually feel that I needed any more coverage and that's when I realised it was this little gem from Kiehls's at work. 

Kiehl's chemists research showed that under eye discolouration can be increased with skin aging as it gets thinner and blood pools under the surface of the skin, poor circulation and UV damage can add to the problem which is why they created a product to address all of these issues at once. 

This is not a concealer, it is a tinted eye treatment that contains light diffusing mineral pigments to give an instant brightening effect. I took a before and after comparison photo which you can see below to show you what it does when you first apply it. You can use it over your usual eye cream as it has a very light texture. It gives a sheer coverage that aids with concealing but I definitely need a concealer on top of it. 

I like that it offers both immediate and long term benefits for the skin under my eyes. It contains Licorice Root Extract and Activated C, a Vitamin C derived ingredient used to correct discolouration and also clarify and smooth the skin tone and texture. It also contains SPF 30 and titanium dioxide, a mineral UV filter to protect the delicate eye area from premature skin aging caused by the sun. It also contains caffeine to reduce puffiness so you are really getting all round care for the eye area. 

I have really been enjoying using this product, not only could I see an immediate effect, but after a couple of months of use I am amazed at the long term effects and I'm so happy to have finally found a product that actually works at addressing the causes of my under eye darkness instead of just masking them. It comes in a handy small tube, perfect for travelling with or keeping in your handbag.

It doesn't come cheap at €34, however I've been using it for about 2 months and there is still so much left in the tube so I really think the price tag is worth it. I'll be going straight out to buy it again when I run out.

What's your biggest skin concern? Do you use an eye cream?

Emma x

Urban Decay Backfire and Lounge Eyeshadows

Urban Decay added eight new single eyeshadows to their range back in May. There were six duotones and two mattes introduced into the permanent collection, one of the mattes, Beware was actually a fan favourite from the Theodora palette (which I have) and it a gorgeous warm brown. I looked up swatches of all the shades and they are really beautiful, a mixture of colourful shades and more wearable colours.

I was sent Backfire, described as burgundy with a purple shift and Lounge described as brick red with a green shift. Being a huge Urban Decay fan I was expecting a lot from these and they didn't disappoint. Both shades took me by surprise in that they look very different on me compared to in the pan. Backfire is more purple than burgundy to me and has the least duotone out of all of the new shades judging from the swatches I saw. Having said that I really love this shade, I'm a big fan of purple smokey eyes as I think purple really brings out green eyes nicely. 

Lounge is another fan favourite and I can see why. It's one of those eyeshadows that you can just blend over the lid, add lots of mascara and you've got an easy smokey eye look with a lot of impact. As with all of my other UD shadows, the pigmentation is perfection and the texture is smooth and so easy to blend. For me, these shades are more Autumn/Winter shades and I look forward to wearing them more as the weather cools down.

Like most eyeshadows, these work best and last longest when you apply a primer first. The other great thing about the single UD eyeshadows is that you can actually pop them out of the two-part packaging and into a Build Your Own Palette which means that you can keep it as a single eyeshadow or add it into a palette. The gunmetal packaging, inspired by New York subway tokens, is practical, sturdy and looks amazing. At €18 I think these are really great value for your money as the quality is beautiful as with all UD eyeshadows. Fireball, the peachy pink shade is next on my shopping list as I don't have any other shades like it in my collection. 

Do you own any great single eyeshadows or are you strictly a palettes person?

Emma x