Five-And-Ten

I don't know about you but I love to get to the airport early to have a look around the Duty Free and sit and relax before a flight. I've become a bit of a nervous flyer as I've gotten older and so being there with plenty of time to spare just makes me feel so much more at ease. JFK is one of the best airports I've been to, there's lots of shops and places to eat and it makes all the difference especially before a long flight because there's a lot to keep you occupied.

I wanted to pick up a few presents for people and didn't really have any intention of getting anything for myself after clearing out the Glossier Showroom and Sephora. I was browsing the OPI stand and I noticed they had a Breakfast at Tiffany's collection which I've since learned was their Holiday 2016 collection. I hadn't heard of it or seen it anywhere even though we now have OPI here in Ireland. I don't tend to keep with with nail polish brands as much as I used to but OPI are one of my favourites along with Essie and they always do great collections. 

I had a look at the shades and there were a few I liked but I ended up buying Five-and-Ten which is a champagne/silver shade with micro glitter. It's such a pretty shade that looks gorgeous under lights or in the sun and the glitter is quite inoffensive so it could act as a nice neutral too. 

I love the OPI nail polish formula, I find it so easy to apply and like Essie they have a bigger brush that I prefer for my nail shape. I had a look around online and the collection doesn't seem to be available in that many places anymore. A lot of websites won't ship nail polishes outside of their country but I found this shade here and here on sale! Some of the other shades are available on Nail Polish Direct and HB Beauty Bar as well as on Amazon and eBay. I also bought the set of 4 mini shades for my mam and sister and I kind of regret not buying one for myself. I bought another OPI polish from Rite Aid while I was in New York so I'll share that one soon too because it's part of their permanent line. It's seems my not buying nail polish spell is over!

What have you been wearing on your nails recently?

Emma x

Kiehls Actively Correcting and Beautifying BB Cream

Recently I promised myself I would wear a facial SPF 50 in some form every day that I'm outside, all year round. I was looking for something that I could incorporate into my daily routine easily and that would benefit my skin in other ways. My other facial sunscreens from my holiday last year had since gone out of date so I needed something to take me into this Summer. I decided on the Kiehls Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream after hearing so much about it over the years. The girls at Kiehls recommended it highly and told me it that can be used alone or underneath your usual foundation.

This is a two in one treatment because it's both a broad spectrum SPF 50 but it also has a tint that unifies and corrects the skin tone. It has a high level of Vitamin C which brightens and clarifies the skin. The formula helps to reduce fine lines and the appearance of pores as well as providing long lasting hydration and improving texture. 

For anyone that doesn't quite understand it, broad spectrum means that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply and are the main cause of skin aging and contribute to the development of skin cancer, they are what cause the skin to tan. They are present all day even during the Winter months which is why it is so important to wear SPF all year round if you're going to be outside. UVB rays however are what cause sunburn on the skins superficial layers and are key in the development of skin cancer as well as contributing to tanning and aging, they are most prevalent from April to October during the middle of the day (from 10am-4pm), but again they can damage you skin all year round. PA+++ basically means that the product provides very high protection against UVA rays.

I'm such a sunscreen fanatic. When I'm on holidays I wear SPF 50 all over my body including face and I reapply frequently. I'm very fair skinned so I burn easily and I need this high protection from the sun. However it's so easy to forget that your skin can be damaged during the Winter months too, even if it's cloudy. I'm definitely guilty of forgetting this which is why I've been making myself wear some kind of SPF 50 on my face and neck for the past few months every day that I know I'll be outside for a while. 

Every single time a skincare expert is asked what their best advice is for having good skin or preventing premature ageing, the answer is always to stay out of the sun or use high sun protection. It's something that's so easy to do but also so easy to forget. Most people like to look tanned when they come back from a holiday but really the only way to looked tanned in a healthy way is to use fake tan. Save yourself the expense of having to buy loads of anti-aging skincare prematurely and just use a high protection sunscreen now!

I was very surprised by the amount of coverage this BB Cream gave my skin. As you can see below it really does even out the skin tone and help with pore visibility. You will need extra concealer if you have particularly red spots or blemishes but apart from that I've been very impressed by this product. If you're oily you might want to powder but I tend to just use blotting papers instead because I've been enjoying the look of not using powder recently. The only negative I can think of is the scent which is that slightly sunscreen scent mixed with Vitamin C which can be quite strong too. It doesn't bother me at all but you might want to give it a sniff before buying it just in case. It comes in five shades, I have the lightest one which is Fair and it's a perfect colour match for me. 

no make up/ just Kiehls BB Cream

I wear it both ways depending on the coverage I need, it works perfectly alone and underneath any of my foundations. Just be aware that if you're having your photo taken with a flash it may be an issue but that shouldn't be a problem because it's not the kind of product you'd wear on a night out. I'll definitely be wearing this all Summer when I don't need too much coverage. I also have the Ultra Light Daily UV Defence which is a great alternative if you don't want the tint element. I love how easy this is to use, it blends in quickly and evenly and it means I have my sun protection and coverage in one and significantly streamlines my makeup routine.   

full make up, no powder

There are plenty of brands that make excellent sun protection protects, some of my favourites include La Roche-Posay, Bioderma and Eucerin all of which are very affordable. This is priced at €30 for 30ml, but worth every cent. Think of the money you'll be saving on skincare or other anti-aging methods in the long term. 

What are some of your favourite sun protection products?

Emma x

I'm Crossing You In Style Some Day

Greetings from Queens, New York! I'm currently sitting in our Airbnb writing this with a view of the Manhattan skyline. I can't even begin to describe what an experience this trip has been so far so I'll wait until we get home to go through the hundreds of photos I've taken and write about it properly then. For now I wanted to share some photos we took in Brooklyn at the weekend. 

Shirt- Uniqlo
Trousers- Uniqlo
Shoes- Adidas via Schuh
Scarf- ASOS (similar here and here)
Earrings- c/o Lulu and Belle
Sunglasses- ASOS (similar here)
Lipstick- No7 Brick Red

We walked the Brooklyn bridge from Manhattan and after lunch, visited DUMBO and I figured it was too picturesque to not make the most of it and take some outfit photos. It was almost 30 degrees that day and luckily on our first day here we went to Uniqlo (which is amazing and I wish we had it in Ireland) and I picked up a couple of things that were a bit more weather appropriate. I got this cotton and linen mix shirt and the wide leg pleated pants that look more like a maxi skirt. It was a great outfit for walking around in because we forgot sunscreen so I was covered up without feeling too hot. I've been living in these Adidas Stan Smiths since I got them on sale after Christmas. They're so comfortable and they go with everything so I've been wearing them all over New York.

My earrings were another gift from Irish jewellery brand Lulu and Belle who you may remember from this post back in February. Every other pair of earrings I wear irritates my ears except for the ones I have from Lulu and Belle so I've been wearing them lots over the past few months. I love how delicate they are and you can actually wear them the other way around too. You can find them on Etsy and Not on the High Street as well as on Facebook and Instagram. There's lots of gorgeous personalised items too if you're looking for a gift.

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more of my New York adventures!

Emma x

*This post was not sponsored, the earrings were a gift but all thoughts, opinions and words are my own

** This outfit was completely inspired by Marisa Tomei in Only You.

YSL Volupté Tint-in-Balm

YSL Beauty released their latest lip innovation, the Volupté Tint-in-Balm earlier this month. They come in 12 shades, ranging from nude, coral and pink all the way to deep berry. The lip shaped core offers a sheer tint of colour and the surrounding bullet is a balm that gives the lips nourishing care. Every time you reapply, your lips are hydrated even more and the tint of colour intensifies. 

I was given a sample of shade number 12, Try Me Berry which is a raspberry pink colour with a lighter pink core. When I first opened it I was struck by the packaging which let's be honest is incredibly pretty. This is my first YSL lipstick (although I suppose technically it's a lip balm). I wrote about some shades from the Vernis à Lèvres Vinyl Cream collection last year which are gorgeous. I think YSL really excel at innovative lip products and I love that they have so many different kinds of lip products. 

If I'm completely honest, lip balm type products don't really excite me. I find them all very much the same, especially the tinted ones. I like strong, bright, pigmented lip products so tinted balms just don't do it for me. That being said, one way to get a girl excited about a lip balm is to give it this glorious packaging and already being a fan of YSL lip products I was interested to see how this was going to differ from your standard drugstore tinted lip balm. 

The first thing I noticed when I applied it is the gorgeous mango scent, so if you're not a fan of fruity scents, straight off this won't be for you. I love it and it makes it so much more addictive to reapply. It feels soft, smooth and buttery on my lips but not thick. That's something I like about a balm in bullet form is it's obviously going to be more hygienic but also I don't end up putting too much on (which I always end up doing from a pot) and having to keep rubbing my lips together until it sinks in a bit. 

You can see in the photos that it gives a light shine and a hint of colour. This was just one application but I do find the colour intensifies the more you apply it, which you definitely will because like I said it's so addictive to reapply. I wear this a lot in work because it's so quick and easy to apply and doesn't even require a mirror. I find that some lipsticks can feel drying on my lips throughout the day and when you work somewhere with air conditioning it can effect your skin and lips. I love how nourished my lips feel after a day of wearing this. 

There are plenty of lip balms that will nourish your lips like my favourite NUXE Rêve de miel, but I've never come across any with packaging as gorgeous as this. They are definitely more of a lip colour that a balm to hydrate your lips, I don't think anyone is going apply this before bed at night. The colours are all sheer enough that you can't really go wrong when choosing a shade. If you like fuss free lip products that you can apply on the go without worrying about getting on your teeth or feathering or if you suffer from dry lips and like them to feel hydrated all day, this is definitely a product for you.

They are priced at €33, it's YSL so you know it's not going to be cheap but I think they would make a lovely gift because you don't have to worry about the shade selection too much. Would I repurchase this once I run out? Yes I would, mostly because I don't actually have too many products like this (or any actually) I'm an absolute sucker for the packaging, I love the lips shaped core too, I think that's such a nice touch. If I'm going to be wearing a lip balm all day I do like it to have a bit of colour and I like how this colour builds up throughout the day. Also it's just such a pleasure to apply, after I put some on I keep pouting my lips to smell the mango scent (I know I'm not the only one!)

You can find them at Brown Thomas, Arnotts, Debenhams and any other YSL Beauty stockist. 

What do you think? Have you tried this or any other YSL lip products?

Emma x

Nude And Neutral Lipsticks

I've been wanting to write a series of posts about the different colour families of lipsticks I have in my collection for a long time now. Sinead from The Beautiful Truth wrote about Nude Lipstick for Every Budget recently and it got me looking at my collection of nudes. I didn't realise how many I actually had, I'm obviously a red girl through and through but I think in my quest to find the perfect nude for fair skin I've ended up trying so many of them that I thought it would be a good idea to share them with you in the hopes it might help someone find their perfect shade of nude lipstick. 

I've written about several of these lipsticks before in more detail, Estée Lauder Crystal Baby, Rimmel 03 and 08, Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk, Rosie for Autograph Lady Rose and No7 Spiced Latte. I don't want to repeat myself too much so you can read those posts if you're interested in knowing more detail. I'm aware I look like a narcissistic egomaniac with the amount of photos of me in this post but I wanted to give the best overview I could and compare the shades side by side both on my lips and with the context of my entire face because I think you always need to see what a lipstick looks like with all of your face in mind. 

Givenchy Voluptuous Nude, Charlotte Tilbury Penelope Pink, MAC Crème Cup, Charlotte Tilbury Bitch Perfect, Rimmel 03, Rimmel 45, Clinique Nude Pop, Estée Lauder Crystal Baby (same below)

You can see from the swatches exactly how each shade compares to the others. Voluptuous Nude is by far the palest yellow based shade, whereas Crème Cup is it's blue based equivalent. They are probably my two least worn out of the lot because I do find they can wash me out unless I have done a specific makeup look and used certain colours. The packaging of Voluptuous Nude is gorgeous and the formula is on the more sheer side so I tend to wear this over some kind of lip balm to make it a bit more wearable. I'd definitely be interested in trying another shade from the Givenchy Rouge Interdit range because I love the formula of this. Crème Cup is probably the least flattering, but pared with winged liner and the right shade of blush it can actually look quite nice. It's just not as easy to wear as the others and I'd imagine if you have darker skin than me it could really wash you out.  

Clockwise from top left: Voluptuous Nude, Penelope Pink, Crème Cup and Bitch Perfect (same below)

I was given a gift of three miniature lipsticks from Charlotte Tilbury a few years ago and two of those lipsticks were Bitch Perfect and Penelope Pink. As you can see I ended up buying the full size of Bitch Perfect. I love both shades but I just felt Bitch Perfect was a more flattering shade on me. Penelope Pink (which I don't find is all that pink) is probably more of a conventional nude. Again, paired with the right makeup look it can be gorgeous. You can see Penelope Pink in action again here and Bitch Perfect here. 

Clockwise from top left: Rimmel 03, 45, Nude Pop, Crystal Baby (same below)

I'm a big fan of the Rimmel Lasting Finish lipsticks, I have three of their nudes in my collection and they're all flattering, long lasting shades. You can see 03 is more yellow toned and 45 is more cool toned. Nude Pop and Crystal Baby are very similar as you can see above. I actually got this mini version of Nude Pop free with a magazine and along with Crystal Baby which I've had for years, it's one of my favourite nude lipsticks. The formula of both is similar in that it's not fully opaque but has just enough colour payoff. I would say these two would be the most flattering for most skin tones.  

Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk, Rimmel 08, Rosie for Autograph Lady Rose, No7 Spiced Latte (same below)

I decided to separate the nudes and what I'd call the "my lips but better" shades. These are all probably a lot easier to wear and might serve as nudes for those with darker skin tones than me. Pillow Talk is the most recent addition to my nude collection and you can read a very in depth review here. As you can see it's probably a shade lighter than Rimmel 08 and Lady Rose which are both very similar to each other. These shades are all quite rosy whereas Spiced Latte is again more yellow based. 

Clockwise from top left: Pillow Talk, Rimmel 08, Lady Rose, Spiced Latte

As you can see I have a lot of similar shades, I definitely don't need all of these but some were gifts and some were press samples. I'd say my favourites are Charlotte Tilbury Bitch Perfect and Pillow Talk, Rimmel 03 and 08, Nude Pop, Crystal Baby and Spiced Latte. Those are just the shades I feel look best on my skin tone and have the best formulas for their price. 

It is difficult to find the right shade of nude, but don't be afraid to have a sales assistant try some shades on you if you're in the likes of Brown Thomas, Debenhams or Arnotts. It's not as easy as that with the more budget friendly brands because I wouldn't be putting those samples near my lips but even watching it on your skin can give you an indication of whether it will suit you. 

It also depends on the look your going for, whether you want something completely nude, or more of a neutral or whether you prefer warm or cool tones. I feel like after a lot of trial and error I really know what suits me now, not that I'm going to need to buy another nude lipstick for a while!

What do you think of these shades? What are your favourite nude shades? Are any of your favourites here?

Emma x

*No7 Spiced Latte was a press sample

YSL Top Secrets

I've mentioned YSL Top Secrets Instant Moisture Glow a few times here before and how much I love it. I was sent it a while ago and now that it's almost completely finished and I so desperately want to repurchase it I thought I'd give it a full review because it's such an amazing product. 

When I first received it, I wasn't sure if it was a moisturiser or a primer and according to YSL it's actually both. It's described as a moisturiser and blurring radiance enhancer that can be used in three different ways- alone, before foundation or on top of foundation.

Used alone as a moisturiser, it intensely hydrates and improves the skin's texture. When used as a primer it blurs imperfections and gives a great canvas for applying makeup, prolonging wear time and glow. It can also be used throughout the day as a top up to instantly plump the skin and make it appear more radiant. 

The formula contains a hydractive complex for supercharged hydration, a neo-skin powder the helps to smooth and even the skin and a backlight complex that gives a super luminous finish. The gel texture breaks into micro-sized water droplets upon application and leave the skin instantly and durably hydrated.

It's all well and good using big words like "hyperactive complex" (I have no idea what it actually means), but the most important question is do I feel like it delivers on what it claims it will do for your skin? I can unequivocally say yes. I find this product an absolute joy to use. I have normal/ combination skin which I know I've said before but I think it's always helpful to note the kind of skin a person has in relation to any skincare review. My t-zone can become oily throughout the day, I have normal sized pores and I can suffer with dehydration and dryness too. One of the biggest things I struggle with when wearing foundation is finding a product that controls the oil in my skin but leaves the other areas of my face hydrated so that my foundation doesn't cling to dry patches.

This is where the Instant Moisture Glow really helps my skin. I can apply it only where I need to or all over my face if my skin is a bit more dehydrated. When I'm wearing long lasting foundations like Double Wear Light, I always use this as a primer to give my skin optimum hydration before applying the foundation. I find that it provides such a great base for any foundation and keeps my skin looking hydrated throughout the day which in turn makes the foundation last longer and look so much better.  

It comes in a handy plastic tube making it hygienic and travel friendly, two things that are huge positives for me. It has a light scent which I quite like, nothing offensive and it doesn't linger on the skin for long. It has a smooth, light gel texture and you can almost feel it turn into water when it comes into contact with your skin. It ranges from €40- €42 depending on where you buy it so it's definitely a high end product, but if like me you need extra hydration, this is a great option. It's available at any YSL counter or online at Boots, Debenhams, Arnotts and Sephora.

The Top Secrets Lip Perfector is a similar products but just for the lips. It has the same plastic tube packaging with a plastic angled applicator and a similar light scent. It can be used alone or as a lip primer before applying other lip products. The aim of this product is to condition and comfort the lips while also helping colour payoff and longevity and a smooth application of lipstick and other lip products.

I tend to apply this before my foundation so that it has the time to condition my lips while I'm doing the rest of my makeup. You don't need a lot of product to feel like it's working so it's lasted me a long time. I've been using it every day since I was given it at a press event back in September and it's still going strong. At €34, you would really want to love this and that's the problem, I really do, however I don't know if I would repurchase it straight away because I love the MAC Prep and Prime Lip Base and the Urban Decay Ultimate Ozone Multipurpose Primer Pencil which do a similar job but are less expensive. I don't have particularly dry lips so I just make sure to exfoliate my lips and apply a good lip balm every night like the NUXE Rêve de Miel and then use one of the aforementioned products before my lipstick. However if you like a more sheer lip look or have particularly dry lips, the YSL Lip Perfector would be a much better option to condition and prime your lips because it takes longer to dry down and it feels more emollient.

It's available at Brown Thomas, Arnotts, Boots and Debenhams.

I wanted to quickly mention another product from the Top Secrets range, the Expert Makeup Remover. This is a Bi-Phase makeup remover similar to that of Lancôme, Clarins etc. I love to wear waterproof and long lasting makeup products so I usually have some kind of bi-phase makeup remover on hand along with my Bioderma Micellar Water just in case I need it. I've always used the Garnier one because it was so inexpensive and I used to so through it so quickly I didn't see the point in spending lots of money on one of the more expensive ones on the market. 

I was so annoyed when I first tried this because I really didn't want to like it as much as I did. It costs €29, which is 6 times more expensive than the Garnier one. However it's definitely the best bi-phase makeup remover I've tried. There was no need to rub my eyes too much like I usually have to with any of the other ones I've used in the past. The makeup comes off so easily, especially waterproof mascara, which would be great for anyone with sensitive eyes. It's such a pleasure to use. The only down side to this is the price. If I was using a waterproof mascara all the time I'd go through a bottle of this so quickly. However if you only used waterproof products once a week or so, you'd be able to ration this out a bit better. As much as I loved it, my budget only allows for the Garnier one at the moment. If I was spending almost €30, I'd much rather repurchase the Instant Moisture Glow because I really feel like it makes such a big difference to how my foundation looks and once it's gone, I most definitely will be repurchasing it.

Again, the Expert Makeup Remover is available from Brown Thomas, Debenhams, Arnotts and Boots. 

Have you tried any of these products? What primers and makeup removers do you use?

Emma x

*This post contains press samples but all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. 

Eternal Optimist

Anyone who has been reading my blog for a while will know I'm partial to an Essie nail polish (I just counted and I have 21 Essie polishes). It's definitely my favourite nail brand and I've tried a lot of them. When I first saw one of their newer shades Eternal Optimist on Alix from I Covet Thee, I had to have it. It's described as "a spiced tea rose with a dash of cream" which I'd say is pretty spot on. 

Eternal Optimist is pretty much the on trend dusky pink colour of the past couple of seasons. It's light enough to be worn as a neutral all year round but it's a particularly pretty shade for this time of year. The warmer tones make it a more grown up pink shade compared to the likes of Fiji by Essie which is a more true baby pink. I've been wearing it almost non-stop since I got it before Christmas. 

I haven't been buying nail polish all that much recently, in fact I think this could be the only nail polish I've bought in the past year. I tend to go for Essie because they're one of the most long lasting and easy to apply nail polishes on the market and I always love their new shades.

What shade is currently on your nails? Do you have a favourite nail brand?

Emma x