It’s OK to not be OK

Something a little personal that I think everyone can relate to at some stage in their lives.

If you are feeling down or sad or maybe a little lost.. just read the title again. It is ok to not be ok. It is ok for you to feel sad or down. It is perfectly ok to just have a little cry. We are all human after all and we can’t just sail through life being happy and smiley and comfortable in ourselves 24/7. But just remember, it is so very important to talk about how you feel. May it be your other half, your best friend or a family member such as your mam, dad, uncle, or even your cousin. You need to talk about those feelings that you have building up inside. Even if you think it’s only something small that’s bothering you, it doesn’t matter because if it’s bothering you it’s important because YOU are important.

I realize and understand how it feels to bottle things up and not want to talk but believe me, opening up to someone close or just to someone you know will listen will give you such relief.

I am certainly no expert but I have been through some stuff myself and I just know how it feels when things get you down and you just feel sad. But just remember, you are important and, it’s ok to not be ok. Remember that you matter and there are so many people around you that care about you more than you will every begin to know. Open up, talk and get whatever it is that’s bothering you off your chest. You will feel the benefits as soon as you begin to speak, I promise.

YOU are important.. no matter what xx

 

El xx

 

The Liquid Lipstick your Makeup bag NEEDS 💄 💋

Does anyone else hate matte lipsticks that dry your lips out and that go all bitty on your lips? I’ve tried so many the past couple of years and after one go I get rid of them because they either don’t stay on, they literally come off in little bits or they just dry out my lips more, so I am therefore not the biggest fan of Matte lippes. I like my lips to be soft, like I would wear lip balm every day, and I always put it on at night (literally cannot go to sleep without it on…weird?) I just can’t stand when my lips are dry.

So if you are like me – I am here to change your world because I have found the best Matte Lippie that you seriously need to try✌️.

I am sure many of you have heard of Jeffree Star and you probably follow him on Instagram and Twitter like me. The Jeffree Star cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipsticks are honestly to die for, the colours alone are amazing. When I saw that Beauty Bay were going to start stocking them I was counting down the days until they landed on the website. Now.. unfortunately for me, the two shades I wanted sold out pretty quick so I went on to the Jeffree Star main website and ordered there, the shipping wasn’t actually that expensive and when they came there were no custom fees (winning). They came in less than a week which I thought was pretty impressive considering it was coming all the way for the US.

I ordered two of the Velour Liquid Lipsticks in the shades “Scorpio” and “Androgyny”.

Scorpio & Androgyny

I cannot even begin to explain how unreal these are😲 The formula is really light and creamy and it dries so quick (there is a weird smell from it them but I believe it is because they are free from many chemicals and are also Vegan). The spongey tip applicator is slanted so it makes
applying to your lips super easy. ANNNNDDD they stay on pretty much forever 😂😂 Nah I’m just joking, but they do stay on for a good 8 plus hours.. For example I wore one for a 12 hour shift one day and I kid you not I only topped up after my lunch because I had soup and I dribbled and naturally had to wipe the aul mouth 😂😂

 

Now, before you think “ah no these are going to be mad expensive” they’re actually not, they’re only €19.00 on Beauty Bay (link is in the first paragraph) and Beauty Bay offers free delivery

(Left) Androgyny (right) Scorpio)

to Ireland on orders over €21.00. If you haven’t heard of this website you really need to take a look because they have so many brands that you can’t get here in Ireland unless you order direct from the brand.

Guys, if you’re looking for a Matte Lippie that doesn’t dry out your lips and lasts for hours – you NEED to try this!

I have added some photos below of the shade “Androgyny” on.

As always, thank you so much for reading 😘

El xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favourite Face Masks

As promised, here is a post on my current favourite face masks. We all love and deserve some quality “me” time and what better way to do it than with a face mask. I’ve started to use them a lot more as I have noticed some improvements in my skin, and I’m not going to lie, I love a little pamper night to myself 💆🏽 These are in no particular order by the way and also, they are all cruelty free ☝🏽

1. H&M Face Masks – I picked up some face masks in H & M ages ago, they were only €2 in the sale and they were really cute, so naturally I bought them! One little pod is enough for one face mask, I got loads of different ones, clay ones, peel off and a sugar one. They all left my skin feeling so soft and clean and they do have so many to choose from. They specify on the packaging what skin type they are for, I always opt for oily skin.

    

   

2. Quick Fix Facials – Anti Blemish Mud Mask – I’ve been using this face mask the longest. This is only €6.99 in Boots and the best thing about it is that it has Salicylic Acid in it. In case you don’t know Salicylic Acid is good for oily or spot prone skin because it breaks down oil and it helps to reduce redness… and it does lots of other sciencey stuff but I won’t bore you with that!

    

   

3. Le Mara Face Mask – I picked up this little bargain
   in Aldi for only €4.99. It is an Irish brand called Rí na Mara and Irish made in Galway. Full of Natural and organic ingredients this clay face mask leaves your skin feeling gorgeous, mine literally glows after I use this.

    

    

    

   

4. Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel with Active Charcoal Face Mask – I actually only picked this one up yesterday in Boots. I got the little sachets for €1.49 each and they were 3 for 2 (I love a little bargain!). But the bottle is only €4.99 to buy. I tried it last night after my shower and my skin is literally gleaming and so soft! Tea tree oil is good for blemishes and redness and then the witch hazel is really good for oily skin. As for the active charcoal it helps to remove dirt and clean out your pores.

 

I hope you enjoyed this blog post – if you have any questions feel free to ask!

As always, thank you for reading 😚

El xx

 

 

 

 

Must Haves for Oily Skin 🤗

Hello everyone! I’m sorry that I have been MIA for a while, I had my end of Semester exams in college and I finally finished up on Friday – THANK GOD!! I forgot how stressful exams are, and I know they shouldn’t stress you out that much because at the end of the day all you can do is your best – and what is better than your best right? Anyway, now that they’re over and done with I will be back blogging weekly 😘

So, as I mentioned in my Slay-liners post, I have really oily skin that I have battled daily since I was about 13. You know, I do realize that having oily skin is both a good and a bad thing, the main bad thing for me is that my make up slides off after a few hours, and I get a shiny head and let’s be honest – shiny heads are not really a good look. While I am aware that strobing and dewy skin is a thing, I am more of a matte person… who loves a hella lotta Highlight 😅.

I am constantly changing my skin care products to help and the one product that has changed things dramatically for me is the Simple Light Moisturizer. I have tried so many Moisturizers that are oil free and mattifying and specifically for oily skin and one day I decided to try the opposite. I used to use it years ago when I was a teenager as I have sensitive skin and at the time I was starting to get some teenage pimples (nightmare!). My friend Ashley gave me two bottles that she wasn’t using and I just said I would try them again.  I remember reading somewhere that your skin produces oil due to a lack of moisture – so I thought, these oil free and mattifying moisturizers could potentially be drying out my skin and therefore making it oilier, or just not helping things. The Simple Moisturizer is fragrance free, colour free and has no crazy chemicals either (also it’s cruelty free). So since I’ve started using this, my skin is literally glowing and I’ve found that my make up is lasting much longer now that I’ve started using it. It’s also definitely not as oily as it used to be.

Another thing I’ve started to use is facemasks – If you follow me on Instagram and you watch my Instagram stories you’re probably aware that I love facemasks and do one at least once a week. I have tried loads – and I have decided just this second that I will save this for another post this week. So – keep an eye out for a Face Mask Blog Post 💆.

Now – for this week’s Makeup Must Have Monday I have chosen three products that are my ultimate Makeup Must Haves for oily skin ☝🏽

1. The Urban Decay Original Primer Potion. This little gem is my all time favorite eyeshadow primer. I always apply this to my eyelids and I apply a small bit under my lower lash line before I apply my eyeshadow. It’s really easy to use I just put a small bit on my lid and rub it in with my finger or a kabuki style concealer brush. It makes blending my eyeshadow easier and also really helps to bring out the eyeshadow’s pigment. It dries really quick and invisible. Before I used this all my eyeshadow would  gather in my crease and ruin my hour of blending and perfecting my eyes – which as we all know, is so fucking annoying!! So now when I use it my eyeshadow lasts an 8 hour shift in work – or a night out dancing in a hotbox nightclub😄. Urban Decay is a cruelty free brand and you can get in Debenhams for €21.00. One little bottle lasts me ages because you only need to use a small bit on your eyes per application.
2. The Catrice Prime and Fine Pore Refining Anti Shine Base (that’s a
   really long name isn’t it or is it just me 🤣). After I apply my moisturizer I apply this primer all over my face, bar my eyes. It doesn’t dry matte or anything it just absorbs into your skin really quick and leaves your skin feeling and looking silky smooth. I really like this product because my foundation DOES NOT, I repeat, DOES NOT move. I wear it under my foundation or my bb cream, whatever I’m in the mood of wearing, and my face stays shine free for at least 8 hours. You can get it in Penneys and some Bradley’s Pharmacy and I thinnnnk its about €5.00? (and just to add – this is also cruelty free).
3. The Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Setting Spray is by far one of the best setting sprays I have ever used. I picked mine up in Sephora when I was in New York and was so impressed with it I have used it ever since. I just spray it on my entire face when I am finished all my make up and VOILA. It sets your make up and
   leaves a nice matte finish. I’ve worn it on a 12 hour shift in work, all day and night at a wedding and my make up didn’t melt or go shiny – nada. 100% a must have for your make up bag people! You can get it in Debenhams, the travel size which is the one I have is €40.00.

 

I hope that you all enjoyed this week’s Makeup Must Have Monday. I will have a few more blog posts this week so if you enjoyed this, keep your eyes peeled 😘.

P.s. In case you’re wondering why I am saying the products are cruetly free is because I have recently decided that I am now only going to use Cruelty Free products. I am still doing loads and loads of research so if anyone has any cruelty free brand recommendations that you think I might not know about, I would love to hear about them!

As always – thanks for reading 😘.

 

El xx

 

Glow Baby Glow ✨✨

How did we ever take selfies without a bomb ass highlight?? I don’t know about you guys but I love finishing off every make up look with a highlight that could cut a b***h. Speaking of which, did you know that you can achieve this super slay highlighty glowy b***h cutting look for under €5.00? … tenner bets you didn’t 🙃.

For this weeks Makeup Must Have Monday I bring you the..

Makeup Revolution Highlighters ✨✨

These Highlighters are so pigmented and shimmery it’s just not even true! Makeup Revolution is already a brand that I really like, it’s really affordable and the products are amazing quality. I have loads of their eyeshadow palettes and they too are really pigmented and just amazing quality. I mean it’s not often that you come across amazing products that are pocket friendly.

Anyhoooo, the photo above, from left to right, these highlighters are called; Pink Lights, Golden Lights and Peach Lights. I have all three, I got the Golden and Pink Lights first, I picked them up in a chemist in Spain (either before I knew this brand was already available in Ireland or before it launched). I normally wear the Golden Lights one when I am going out because its really really shimmery. I tend to pair it with brown or nudey eyeshadows.

Then the Pink Lights I like to wear if I wear a really dark eye. I think it kind of brightens up the look. I got the Peach Lights recently and this one I would wear to work or college, it’s my every day highlight as it is a little more subtle than the other two. It’s still really shimmery and gorgeous it’s just more of a day time highlight, I like to keep my make up subtle during the day! The best part about these Highlighters? They only cost €3.99! You can get them in Superdrug in the Square, or in some of the Bradley’s Pharmacy’s. I’ve noticed that a lot of the pharmacy’s are now stocking Makeup Revolution lately, my own local Pharmacy even has a small stand! Here are the links if you would like to pick them up online – 

 

• Matte to Metallic Online Store
• Superdrug

FYI: The Matte to Metallic girls are queens when it comes to Makeup Revolution, they always post amazing makeup looks using these products and host various masterclasses too. Defo worth a follow guys!❤️

Guys, thanks again for reading and wishing you all a fabulous New Year ❤️

El xx

 

 

 

First Adventure of 2017 is booked – Cancun, Mexico ✈️🌴

Hi everyone! And Happy New Year to you all, I hope that you all had an amazing Christmas with some well deserved time off. I worked my little brown bum off for most of it and I’m finally off for a few days to get my shit together! I have some college exams coming up too so if you are reading this, and you have a little teenchy bit of sympathy for me, light a candle please!

Anyway, as you can already read from the title I have booked the first of many trips away for 2017. Sean and I had been discussing various destinations and one that we kept coming back to was Cancun, Mexico. Something about the all inclusive, beach, spa, relaxation and amazing weather that Cancun has to offer is just so majorly appealing we decided to just go for it. Hoping of course that it wasn’t going to cost us an arm and a leg. We had a look at a few different Travel Agents and initially we were going to try and do Vegas and Cancun in one for about two weeks, but it was just working out too much with spending money and then it was taking up all of our holiday days in work. Soooo we decided to stick to just the one place and for 10 days. Anyway, I did my shopping around and loads of research on all of the different Hotels/Resorts (I love research, if I could get a job just looking up things that would be a dream come true!😄). I read review after review on Tripadvisor trying to suss out the best Hotel/Resort, Tripadvisor is really amazing when you are going somewhere new because some of the blogs are really really helpful and full of info. After days of looking up places there was one place that kept standing out and that was the Sun Palace Resort (The Palace resorts were recommended to me already by a friend who had stayed there recently, and we all love when we get recommendations right? So I knew that the Palace Resorts were definitely going to be amaze). The Sun Palace is a couples only resort, so that means no kiddies or families (now honestly, don’t get me wrong, I am baby mad and I love kids and families but imagine how quiet a couples only place will be?). The resort is right on the beach and not far from the strip, it has the following amenities plus many more:

• 4 Restaurants
• 3 Bars
• A swim up bar (seriously though, a swim up bar! I can do my laps of the pool to the bar and back🤣 Double G&T please!🏊🏻🏊🏻
• Spa with indoor pool, sauna and Jacuzzis
• FREE WIFI 💘
• 24 Hour Room Service

Some of the travel agents didn’t get back to me (obviously didn’t want my money) and then others the deposit was a little high for us at the time. I got on to Tour America and basically told them that I wanted to go to Cancun, stay in the Sun Palace for 10 nights in early September and my budget is €2,200. And if the deal is good we would be interested in booking New York too. That wasn’t too much to ask for was it? I like to be straight to the point, can you tell?!😂😂😂😂 The agent got back to me literally the following morning and offered me a HUNREAL package, and you know what the deal breaker was? We only had to pay a €150 deposit. But cmere and I tell you, this woman knew what she was doing. Me being me I emailed back and asked a couple of questions, I always have questions, about upgrading and resort credits etc. She got back to me within the hour with a new package that included an upgrade to a Junior Suite for like €100 extra.. and wait for it, she told us we only had to pay a €50 deposit if we booked in December. Like, whoever taught her her sales skills deserves a pat on the back because I was literally running into the Tour America office throwing my €50 at them 😂😂😂 Coming from a hospitality and customer service backround there is literally nothing that I love more than prompt, efficient and friendly service, and this agent just had it all. I won’t name her but if you are looking to book a package holiday like Cancun, or Vegas or New York etc (they do cruises too) you have to check these guys out, amazing and 100% worth it.

So, we booked the Junior Suite which has an ocean view with a balcony, and wait for it… there’s a Jacuzzi in our room with a mini bar too!😍 We are leaving on the 9th of September and I cannot wait for it already. It will be turtle season when we are there and I read a few reviews that said the hotel clear the beach at night for the Mammy Turtles to go down and lay there eggs, and if you are lucky enough they have a baby turtle release day and you can release the babies into the sea 😍😍😍😍 I CANNOT CONTAIN MY EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!! I thought that booking a holiday so far away would just be torture but I thought about two things; ONE:  I can start shopping for my holiday wardrobe now and pick up loads of bits for the next like 8 months. TWO: More time to save loads of money 🤑🤑🤑. Not that I will need much as it is all inclusive but, you have to account for some airport shopping right?

As always, thank you for reading, I will be doing a blog post on what to pack etc. so stay tuned!

El xx