Face Of The Day- Pink In The Afternoon

It's been a while since I've written one of these Face of the Day posts and yet they're some of my favourite to do because I love writing about lots of different products in the one post, giving an overview of some of my current favourites and anything that isn't working for me. 

I've been wearing very minimal makeup recently, barely any liner or eyeshadow mainly focusing on brows, blush, lashes and lips. Entirely influenced by wanting extra time in bed in the morning and by the ever inspiring Katie Jane Hughes who I've been following for a while now and if you are into makeup in any way, you should definitely check out her Instagram and Youtube channel. 

In my mission to try to 'shop my stash' and wear more from my makeup collection, I took out an old favourite, Revlon Pink in the Afternoon lipstick and created a very simple, minimal sixties inspired look to go with it. 

The reason I decided on a sixties look is because Pink in the Afternoon is reportedly the lipstick Audrey Hepburn wears in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany's. After much online research there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer as to whether it actually is the lipstick from this scene where Holly Golightly utters the famous line "A girl can't read that sort of thing without her lipstick" in the back of the cab at the end of the film. There is a lot of evidence that it is the lipstick, the packaging for one is very similar to images I found of Revlon lipstick packaging from the 1960s which at the time was all gold. A few years before she made Breakfast at Tiffany's, Hepburn starred in a film called 'Love in the Afternoon', she was also in at least one Revlon ad that I found. There was also a vintage Revlon lipstick ad I found with a model dressed as Holly Golightly. I don't know if anyone knows for sure or if it just started as a good guess that became "fact". If anyone has any definite proof please let me know. It was fun to research all the same!

I began by using the No7 Skin Illuminator all over my face as a primer to add a glow to my skin before foundation. I love this stuff, it's great to blend onto the high points of the face as a subtle highlighter or for a more natural glow. It's not too obvious which is perfect for the days when you want the more "lit from within" look. It also works amazingly as a primer for any foundation, but maybe steer clear using it all over the face if you have oily skin. For foundation I used No7 Stay Perfect which I hadn't used in a long time and I had forgotten what an excellent foundation it is. If you love No7 Stay Perfect Superlight like me, but you need/like a bit more coverage, this is a good alternative as it blends just as easily and lasts all day. 

After foundation I always do my brows, this time I used another favourite, Soap and Glory Archery Brow Filling Pencil and Brush in the shade Brownie Points which if I'm not mistaken is the middle shade of the three available and a little lighter in colour than my usual shade but I like a lighter brow coming into Spring and Summer. I lightly filled in my brows only where needed and set them with my beloved Lancôme Sourcils Styler. 

I wanted to create a big winged liner as I haven't worn liner in ages, I used the Rodial Smokey Eye Pen first and blended it out, then the YSL Couture Eye Marker which is an interesting concept as it's a felt marker but the tip of it is cut at an angle meaning you can create thin or thicker lines depending on what angle you hold it at. I have to say it took me a few times to get used it, I didn't find using it as easy as I thought I would at first. Once I got the hang of it though, it was actually easy enough to create a wing quite quickly and it dries matte which I love. However I find with both this and the Rodial pencil, after just a few hours of wear my liner is smudged around my eyes and the wing starts to disappear which I hate and is the reason I tend to go for long lasting or waterproof liner and mascara to ensure that it doesn't happen. Both products are fine for just creating a thin line along the lashes but they just don't last on me if I wing them out. I don't even have particularly oily eyelids either. If YSL made a waterproof version of this it would be much better, but at €29 I expect excellent staying power. 

To finish off the eyes I used Lancôme Hypnôse mascara which was a Christmas gift (I'd never tried it before) and needs to be replaced but is an unbelievable mascara that gives everything I love, length, volume, definition and is buildable. It's not waterproof but I've had absolutely no issues with smudging or flaking. 

I put on a little bit of Catrice Liquid Camouflage under my eyes and on a lovely hormonal spot on my  chin. This is a great budget concealer, the shade range is excellent and it's waterproof so it's amazing on blemishes if you tend to get oily throughout the day. 

I delved into my makeup collection once again and brought out another old favourite, MAC Well Dressed blush. It's a pretty cool toned pink very similar to Benefit Dandelion both of which are perfect shades for fair skin ladies like myself. 

I added a slight touch of theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer on my cheeks just for a little extra glow. 

Revlon Pink in the Afternoon; Bellápierre Cosmetics Cat Walk; Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk

I finished the look with the lipstick that started it all, Pink in the Afternoon. I was obsessed with Revlon lipsticks back in the day and they're still some of my all time favourites. You really can't go wrong with a good Revlon lipstick after all these years. As you can see from the photo above I found some shades that are similar to Pink in the Afternoon, but both are a lot more expensive. 

You can see from the photos of the liner the how it looks with my eyes closed and looking forward. The shape looks a bit strange when my eyes are closed but when I look ahead you can see the wing is perfect for my eye shape.

I really hope you enjoyed this post and my little paragraph on makeup history.

Have you tried this lipstick?

Emma x

*Press samples include the No7 Skin Illuminator and the YSL Couture Eye Marker. All opinions expressed are my own and are completely honest.

Estée Lauder Modern Muse Nuit

It's been a long time since I've written about a perfume. It's something I find the majority of bloggers tend to stay away from because scent is such a personal thing and there's no way someone is going to buy a perfume just from reading about it whereas I might do with other beauty and skincare products. You really have to experience a perfume yourself, even if you think you might like something I always think you need to try a perfume for a while before deciding whether it's for you or not as a scent can change and develop as you continue to wear it throughout the day. 

My latest perfume purchase is Estée Lauder Modern Muse Nuit, the latest addition to the Modern Muse family and is was one that is relatively new, both to me and to the market having just launched last year.  Kendall Jenner was the face of the campaign which markets the perfume as a nighttime scent for what Kendall herself describes as a strong, stylish and feminine woman.

I first tried this at an Estée Lauder counter around Christmas time and my mam and sister tried it and loved it too. I'm a long time lover of Estée Lauder scents, Sensuous Nude is probably my all time favourite perfume so any time they release a new scent I'm always interested in trying it. You know you love a perfume when you spritz it on yourself at every opportunity. I've actually gone into Boots just to have a quick spray of this because I loved it so much. So when my boyfriend was going through the Duty Free in the airport last month I asked him if he'd pick me up a bottle and he kindly obliged. 

Let's begin with the bottle which is a gorgeous mixture of gold with deep blue/purple/green liquid inside a clear bottle topped off with a pretty bow that matches the packaging of the other incarnations of Modern Muse. The Estee Lauder site describes it as an Oriental Floral scent with notes of rum accord, jasmine absolute, sandalwood, musk and amber. I had a browse around on some perfume specific websites and there seems to be a consensus that their are top notes of mandarin and blackcurrant/cassis, middle notes of jasmine, chamomile and heliotrope and base notes of sandalwood, patchouli, amber, musk, Madagascan vanilla and tonka bean.

I haven't a clue what a heliotrope is (ok so I just looked it up and it's a purple flower), but I can definitely get the mandarin, sandalwood and patchouli when I spritz it first, then it develops to reveal the musk, jasmine and vanilla. That's just my personal take on it. I know scent can be different depending on the skin in comes in contact with which is why it's always good try try it yourself because it can smell completely different on someone else.

 Yes, this is marketed as a nighttime fragrance, but I wear it during the day because if I like a perfume I'll break all the rules and wear it whenever I want! Having said that it is quite a sophisticated, sexy and powdery scent that would be an ideal perfume for an evening out (or in, winky face).

If I hadn't tried it myself, I probably wouldn't have been inclined by reading it's description as I'm not usually a fan of anything too rich, however the notes all work together to make such a complex and beautiful scent that has quickly become one of my favourites. I'm completely obsessed.

Modern Muse Nuit is priced between €65- €126 depending on the size and is available from Debenhams, Boots, Arnotts and Brown Thomas.

Have your tried this or any of the other Estée Lauder perfumes? What's your current favourite scent?

Emma x

Wishing I Could Fly To Fantasy Island

It's been a while since my last style post and I'm completely blaming the Irish weather. Every time I had a free day to do it, the weather was rainy, windy or horribly cold. Which is why I wanted my first outfit post of Spring to be a colourful one.

I bought these earrings in H&M last week and I immediately pictured myself wearing them with clashing bright pink. You may remember I have the white ones too which I wore in this post last Summer. This is the fourth time I've styled tassel earrings in outfit photos over the past year (seen in this post and this one) all of which happen to be from H&M. I just love how much of a statement they make, I can see myself wearing these with dresses in the Summer too like I did with my white ones when I was in France last year. 

Coat- Dunnes Savida (the red version is still available in stores but there are some similar styles here and here)
Shirt- Penneys/ Primark (similar here)
Jeans- Next (similar here)
Boots- ASOS (similar here and here)
Sunglasses- ASOS (similar here)
Earrings- H&M (black version, similar here)
Bag- Penneys/ Primark (similar here)
Lipstick- Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge Rose Lancôme

The clashing colours trend, particularly with pink and red is one of my favourites this year and I was excited to try it myself. Between the earrings, coat and lipstick there is a lot going on here which I love, but it meant I wanted to keep the rest of my outfit very pared back with a white shirt and jeans. These sunglasses are my favourite purchase of last Summer, if they were still available on ASOS I'd probably have bought a back up pair. I saw them on Erica from The Edited last year and ordered them straight away. My friend saw them on me and bought them too. I just think they're so unusual with the colourblock acetate frames and such a flattering shape on my face. I have my eye on these amazing colourblock ones from & Other Stories for this Summer.

I've featured the bag and boots here already, I love finding new ways to wear the items in my wardrobe. For me, it's not possible to wear completely new outfits all the time. The average person doesn't have the means to keep up with that kind of lifestyle either and it promotes fast fashion which I'm trying to steer away from (new H&M earrings aside). I've been cutting down my wardrobe significantly over the past few months, donating A LOT to charity and it doesn't mean the I have less to wear. I love seeing the creative outfits of people who have a capsule wardrobe, I'm not quite there yet but I'd love to have something along those lines myself.

I'm so happy Spring is finally here and the sun is out again! At the moment I'm gearing up for my trip to New York which is is just over three weeks time. If you have any suggestions of things to do or places to eat please let me know, I still have so much planning to do!

I hope you're all having a lovely Sunday and enjoying the nice weather.

Emma x

Birkin Brown

Birkin Brown is one of those rare shades that is completely unique to my lipstick collection. It's not a shade I would have gravitated towards at all had I not seen it on Viola from Killer Colours. I put off buying it thinking it probably wouldn't suit me or I wouldn't wear it too much. Then one day before Christmas I was in Arnotts and passing the new Charlotte Tilbury counter and decided to ask the sales assistant if I could try it on. This is something I don't think I've ever done before, I usually know straight away if a shade will suit me. However seeing as this is quite a unique shade and costs €30, I thought it would be best to try it out first.

So as you can see I ended up buying it and I'm so glad I did because I love how it looks on. I already knew I loved the Matte Revolution formula, I have Red Carpet Red, Secret Salma and Pillow Talk  and all three are beautiful. 

What makes this formula different from your average lipstick is that it contains lipstick tree and orchid extract that protect the lips from UV damage and pollution as well as soften and hydrate them. It also contains 3D glowing pigments to make the lips look more full. The formula is silky smooth thanks to a combination of triglycerides, oils and waxes. 

I love the texture of these lipsticks, they apply so smoothly and feel hydrating and comfortable throughout the day. However I don't find them as long lasting as some of the other matte lipsticks in my collection, they most definitely benefit from using a lip liner first, depending how long you need them to last. The Charlotte Tilbury website recommends Iconic Nude or Foxy Brown depending on your skin tone. My friend has Birkin Brown too and said that Hollywood Honey is a great match for it but I reckon any liner in a similar shade would work to just give it a bit more lasting power. 

I tend to keep the rest of my makeup quite minimal when I wear it because I feel like it's quite a statement shade. It took a bit of time to get used to such a strong, unique colour but I think it has enough of a hint of red in it that it's still very flattering despite it being predominantly brown. I also really like that on the Charlotte Tilbury site there are photos of the lipsticks on an array of different skin tones making it easier to tell if a shade will suit you.

What do you think of Birkin Brown? Do you know of any similar shades to this one?

Emma x

I'll Paint You Mornings Of Gold, I'll Spin You Valentine Evenings

A few weeks ago I met with the lovely Sandra who owns Lulu and Belle Jewellery, an online jewellery brand based in north county Dublin. We had been following each other on social media for a while and I was delighted when she asked if I'd be interested in meeting up and chatting about styling some of her jewellery. She selected some of her gold pieces that she thought would suit my style and she was spot on, I loved everything.

Last weekend I wore two of the pieces, the open hoop earrings and initial necklace and we took some photos in the freezing cold Merrion Square, somewhere we've never used as a location before. I wanted the jewellery to be the main focus so I tried to keep the outfit, hair and makeup quite minimal.   I feel like the outfit was subconsciously inspired by my love of Marisa Tomei (especially in Only You). 

Coat- ASOS
Shirt- New Look
Trousers- New Look
Scarf- Zara
Bandana- ASOS (similar here)
Bag- Penneys/Primark (similar here and here)
Shoes- Marks and Spencer (similar here and here)
Socks- Penneys/Primark
Lipstick- Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk
Nails- Essie Eternal Optimist
Jewellery c/o Lulu and Belle

I've mentioned recently how my preference over the past few years has been for more minimalistic jewellery. As you can see, the earrings and necklace are so pretty and delicate and could be incorporated into so many different looks. I'm so impressed that Sandra picked pieces that I was drawn to myself. I've been wearing at least one of them every day since I got them and I've gotten so many compliments. The jewellery is 14K gold filled meaning that the quality is excellent. The pieces are handmade to order and Sandra is more than happy to customise each piece however you like whether it be length, size or personalised with names or initials. She also has sterling silver options which is great for anyone who isn't a fan of gold.

Lulu and Belle Jewellery is available to buy on Etsy and Not On The High Street and a new website will be coming in the next couple of months too. You can also follow on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

What kind of jewellery do you like to wear, silver, gold or both? Do you like statement jewellery or a more minimal style?

Emma x

*This post was not sponsored, the items were kindly gifted to me by Lulu and Belle. All opinions expressed are my own.

Pillow Talk

The beauty world went crazy less than two weeks ago when Charlotte Tilbury released a limited edition lipstick version of her now cult lip liner Pillow Talk. 

I ordered two straight away, one for me and one for my sister. We're both huge fans of the liner, I actually bought it after seeing how nice it was on her. I had no qualms about not trying it in person first because I knew I loved the shade of the liner and I figured the lipstick couldn't be too far off. 

I waited impatiently for the postman to arrive (delivery was really fast though so I wasn't waiting for long) and like a good blogger I then waited until I had time to take photos before I tried it on. When I eventually did try it, I loved it straight away. It was exactly what I hoped it would be, the perfect match to the liner in a formula I already knew I loved. I have three Matte Revolution lipsticks, Red Carpet Red, Birkin Brown and Secret Salma and I love all three. 

In the photos below I tried to recreate the look on Charlottes Youtube channel that she did using the lipstick. 

Wearing only the lipstick in the two photos above

L-R Pillow Talk Lipstick, Pillow Talk Lip Cheat

Wearing only the liner in the two photos above

Bitch Perfect, Pillow Talk lipstick, Pillow Talk Lip Cheat, Secret Salma

I thought it would be interesting to compare Pillow Talk to some of the other CT lipsticks I have in my collection just for a colour reference. As you can see above, it sits almost perfectly in between Bitch Perfect and Secret Salma. 

Wearing both lipstick and liner in the two photos above

Clockwise from top left: bare lips, only lipstick, only liner, both together

The packaging is obviously gorgeous as it is with all of Charlotte's products and I really love the Matte Revolution formula, I find it easy to apply and hydrating all day. I think the liner is ever so slightly more muted and pink toned than the lipstick on my lips, however when I see them side by side there isn't much difference at all. The liner is incredibly long lasting, way more so than the Matte Revolution formula of lipsticks which I don't find as long lasting as other mattes in my collection. They definitely benefit from being used with a liner. However it all depends on the look you're going for. You could wear this alone and maybe patted onto the lips for a more casual undone look and then with the liner to really enhance your lips and give better longevity for all day wear. Personally I'd be inclined to wear the lipstick alone on a daily basis as I'm not too fussed about lip liner most of the time.

Please excuse the millions of photos of me but I just wanted to give as much detail as possible because I'm aware that for now the lipstick is exclusive to charlottetilbury.com. However I have it on good authority that it will be coming into Brown Thomas stores in two weeks time so if you're still not sure whether to take the plunge unseen, you'll be able to go in and try it on if you're in Dublin. If you're unsure, €30 is a lot to spend on a lipstick, so I'd definitely go in and have a look at the liner to see if you like that shade first.

If you decide to order online, delivery is €3.95 (free on orders over €100) delivered by courier and you get to choose two little samples too which to me is a nice touch because you get to try out some products that you might have been curious about but didn't want to splash the cash on without trying first. I got a sample of Scent of a Dream and the Magic Eye Rescue, both of which I've been loving.

So are you one of the many beauty obsessed that couldn't wait and bought it already? Is this your kind of shade? Is there anyone that hasn't tried Charlotte Tilbury yet? Let me know your thoughts!

Emma x

Recent Skincare Favourites From Kiehls, REN and Lancôme

I haven't written about skincare in a long time even though I've been trying out and loving some amazing new products over the past year. I wanted to get back into sharing some of my favourite skincare products with a post featuring three of the best discoveries of the past year. I'm a huge fan of all three brands featured and had high hopes for each of these products, thankfully I wasn't disappointed. 

Beginning with Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate. Yes, the name of this product is a mouthful, but it's a name fitting to the product which packs a lot of punch. When I first read the press release for this I was incredibly excited to try it out. It sounded like exactly the kind of product my skin needed. As I was getting closer to entering my thirties I was using serums more and more. I found that they worked miracles on my dehyrated skin. (I'm usually normal/combination). I was starting to see the effects of ageing and felt I needed a daily dose of hydration in order to keep my skin and my make up looking its best.

This product claims to plump the skin which reduces the appearance of fine lines, helps smooth the texture and reduces dull, tired looking skin all of which can be caused by age-related dehydration. An imbalance of moisture in the skin as we get older means that we can suffer from premature skin aging. Kiehls have created a product the floods the skins deepest surface layers with moisture in order to restore a more youthful appearance to dehydrated skin.

Two of the key ingredients are plant-based Glycerin and Shiso Leaf Extract. The glycerin is a "moisture magnet" and absorbs water from the surrounding environment into the skin, it also increases the skins ability to hold water which aids elasticity and the barrier function of this skin. The Shiso Leaf Extract helps protect against the loss of naturally occurring Hyaluronic Acid in the skin (Hyaluronic Acid does wonders for keeping skin hydrated by holding the right amount of water that the skin needs).

The big question is does it work? From the first time I used it I could see its effects. I used it day and night before moisturiser and I found it did exactly what it said it would. I could see that my skin was more plump and looked brighter. To be completely honest I rarely write about skincare products because it's not often that I can genuinely see a product make a difference to my skin. But after noticing the first signs of my skin aging over the past year I was delighted to find a product that actually worked.

It feels beautiful to apply, almost becoming more fluid upon contact with my skin. It sinks in quickly so you can apply a moisturiser almost straight away. For €49 you get 50ml of product. I used mine up faster than I should have because I was using it twice a day but once a day would be more than sufficient. It also comes in travel friendly plastic packaging with a pump. If you're finding your skin is looking dull and dry and make up doesn't apply as easily any more, you should try this out. It's one I'll definitely be repurchasing despite the price tag. It's available from Arnotts and the Kiehls store on Wicklow Street.

The next product is one I was very excited to try after attending the launch last year. I'm a huge fan of REN and I've loved everything I've tried so far. The Instant Brightening Beauty Shot Eye Lift, another mouthful, is the Instant Firming Beauty Shot for the eyes (I haven't actually tried the facial version so I don't know what it's like). 

It's a gel-serum consistency that is supposed to brighten, lift and tighten the eye area reducing puffiness and fine lines. It's recommended that you apply a small amount all around the eye contour including the eyelid in a massage motion without rubbing. You can also reapply during the day over your moisturiser or make up for an instant lift. 

One of the main ingredients in the Beauty Shot Eye Lift is sodium hyaluronate which can penetrate the skin much easier than Hyaluronic Acid due to the size of its molecules. It can hold and attract water like no other substance making it an excellent ingredient to hydrate the skin and reduce the appearance of skin aging. Although the results are temporary, it does help to protect the skin from the environment and other causes of skin aging. 

When I first tried this I could feel the tightening effect immediately. I had been suffering with dryness on my eyelids for months and this was the only thing that got my eye area back to normal. I loved how it reduced puffiness in the morning and hydrated under my eyes so that my concealer blended in easily and lasted better throughout the day without looking dry which can happen sometimes. I haven't tried it over make up yet but the texture is light enough that I can't see it being a problem. 

You can find REN in Space NK, Marks and Spencer, Cloud 10 Beauty and Arnotts. The Beauty Shot Eye Lift is priced at €40/£30 for 15ml, but you only need a very small amount so it lasts for a few months.

The final product I wanted to write about today is the Lancôme Énergie de Vie Liquid Moisuriser. I'm currently on my second bottle of this after first trying it out over the Summer after a press event. The Énergie de Vie range is marketed for the "millennial" consumer with Lily Collins as the face of the campaign. It's basically aimed at 25-35 year olds who have a busy, active lifestyle and need their skincare to give them a boost and keep them looking fresh faced.  It was developed by the Korean skincare labs inspired by new Korean beauty technology.

Lancôme used a trio of key active ingredients- Lemon Balm, Goji Berries and Gentian Root. Lemon balm to soothe the skin and protect it, goji berries which are an antioxidant, energising and rich in sugars, minerals, polyphenols and lipids and gentian extract which has been used for years as a digestive aid, it stimulates the skin and gives it an energy boost. These anti-oxidants protect your skin from tiredness, pollution, stress and dryness and leave it feeling more fresh, smooth and bright.

At first it felt really strange using this consistency as a moisturiser. It felt more like a serum and that I  should have been using a moisturiser on top of it but once you get used to the texture I absolutely loved how it felt. I loved using it during the Summer months as it was quick and easy to apply because of the liquid texture it sinks right into my skin and feels refreshing. It's oil free too so it made a great base for applying make up. I love how my skin looks and feels after using this, it feel hydrated and looks brighter. I even used it under my eyes as it feels light enough to do so. It's a great one to use in the Summer months or even on holiday. It doesn't contain an SPF which is my only concern but it's light enough that you could layer a specific SPF on top of it and it wouldn't feel too heavy.

I love the bright green packaging as it's quite a departure from the rest of the Lancôme skincare ranges, it really does draw you in and reflect the whole campaign which is for the modern woman on the move. The only problem I have it that it's a glass bottle so it's not the most travel friendly, however I'm willing to overlook that because I love the product inside so much. It also comes in two sizes a 30ml which is €37 and a 50ml which is €55. I will definitely be repurchasing this, I feel like it's a great quality moisturiser for the price point and if you have no major skin concerns it's perfect.

Have you tried any of these products yet or can you recommend any great products you've tried recently?

Emma x

see here for more details about Sodium Hyaluronate
*These products were press samples, however all opinions are my own.