Product Review: Rita Ora Rimmel London Nail Polish

So today, these two lucky nail polishes had a lil photo shoot ;)

I had to do a post about these nail polishes because they are my new favorite thing!!!

I am such a nail person, I never wear false nails because my nails are quite thick and long and I have been told by nail technicians that I will ruin them :( so instead I just ensure I always have them painted myself and as a result I am forever buying new nail polish.

I recently purchased these two Rita Ora nail polishes by Rimmel and I am amazed by them! First of all, the selection of colours is perfect, there are 17 shades altogether. The two I have in my images are 'Bestival Blue' and the pink shade is 'Sweet Retreat'. Next on my list is a gorgeous yellow called 'Daisy Days' and a peach called 'Peachella'. There are different shades of greens, blues, pink, yellow, red, you name it! And all in beautiful summer shades which you can check out on the Rimmel London website HERE!

But that's not even the best part! The polishes claim to have 3 in 1 technology which lasts up to 10 days and to my surprise they genuinely did last over a week before even slightly chipping!

They also have one stroke application, I must admit, the pigment was great with one stroke but they did chip quite a bit sooner compared to when I applied 2 coats.

For best results on any nail polish I always apply a base coat, 2 coats of the chosen colour and a shiny top coat to finish it off. With most nail polish they still chip within the first week but these Rita Ora Rimmel polishes have lasted nearly 2 weeks without needing to be re-done. I would definitely recommend them! They are under €5 each and can be purchased in most Penneys, Dunnes and pharmacies that stock Rimmel.

If you purchase them, let me know what you think of them in the comments below or on my instagram @SassieDoll I would love to hear what you think and what your favorite colours are?

Lots of love,
SassieDoll

July Favourites

Hi Guys,

This is my first time doing a monthly favorite's post...yay!!! It's all just beauty / skin care products this month as I received a good few beauty products for my birthday last month which I have been using throughout July... Enjoy :) xXx

The first product I have been loving this month is the Garnier Micellar cleansing water. I talked about this recently in my skincare routine (you can read that HERE!). However this month I tried the new one for combination to oily and sensitive skin. I don't really have sensitive skin but I do have combination skin and sure there's no harm in using a product that is lighter on your skin anyway. So I tried this one out and I love it just as much if not more than the original, it is light weight, excellent for make-up removal and really refreshing on the skin. I have been using this twice daily as part of my current everyday skincare routine.

Staying with skincare, the next products I have been loving this month are these 3 products by Sanctuary. My Godmother got me a Sanctuary set for my birthday in June and I have especially been loving the body butter, feather light moisture spray and the intensive heel balm.

I hate thick moisturizers and body butters that don't spread smoothly and take ages to dry but this one is quite light for a body butter and smells lovely! I have been using it around once a week when I need a good moisture! 

The feather light moisture spray is amazing! It is a light moisturizing oil that is so handy when you are in a hurry and need a quick, light bit of moisture. You just spritz it lightly on the skin, rub in briefly and it dries in so quick and leaves your skin feeling really soft and smooth with a light glow, love it! 

Then last of my fave sanctuary products this month is the Intensive heel balm. I have never really been one to moisturize my feet as I never really needed to but I have noticed recently that my heels have been getting quite dry so I decided to give this a go. After one use, I noticed a huge difference, the next morning my heels were already much smoother and the dry skin had eased loads, so I will definitely be continuing using this throughout the summer and before holidays.  I love the smell of sanctuary products too, they smell like a salon and are therefore really relaxing!

Now onto make-up... this month, I had ran out of my L'Oreal true match foundation which I have been using a lot recently so I had a sneaky peek in my mam's make-up bag and discovered the Clarins Eclat minute base illuminatrice de Teint and Clarins Skin illusion mineral foundation and fell in love with both products! The foundation is light and natural yet has good coverage! I really love the texture and the natural finish. It goes on great after first applying the base which has a gorgeous glow to it. Although it is much pricier than the L'Oreal foundation, I will definitely be purchasing these myself this month.

I have been using the Rimmel Wake me up concealer religiously over the last couple of months so I thought I should include it in my fave's. It isn't as full coverage as my MAC prolongwear concealer but it is so brightening and doesn't get clogged in any creases under the eyes. I have been using ivory under my eyes, down the centre of my nose and any other areas that need a bit of a lift.

I also picked up the below liquid ink liner by Essence and I am loving it! The thin, soft brush makes it easy to apply and it last all day without smudging!

Last but not least is this lipstick from Estee Lauder. I got this in a set at Christmas so I am not sure if it was a limited edition but I have only started using it the past month or two because it is a perfect summer, peachy shade. The colour is 'Crystal Coral'. It is also really glossy and has a light shimmer so it is gorgeous on sunny days with a nice bronze glow on the skin!

I hope you enjoyed my first monthly fave's! It will hopefully be a bit more interesting next time with a mixture of different things!

Lots of Love,

SassieDoll

xXx

My Top 5 Nail Colours this Summer

Hi there :)

Although the weather has been absolutely miserable in Dublin these last few days, I decided to do a run through of my top 5 nail polish colours for this Summer. Let me know what colours you have been loving this Season too? Enjoy x

1. Sky Blue - I think a nice pale blue is a lovely transitional colour for Spring into Summer. Kylie Jenner has been seen wearing this tone on her nails a lot this season, as seen on her instagram and in numerous snap chat videos! Below is an affordable blue colour from NYC available in Penneys and selected pharmacies, this one is colour 325 Raindrop.

2. Lemon Pastel - I have been loving yellow nail polish this season. Again, Kylie Jenner has been seen rocking this colour. Unfortunately I tried it myself last week and wasn't that fond of it, maybe I didn't have the right shade, or it doesn't suit my skin tone but I still love it as a Summer festival colour and it looks great on Kylie!

Kylie Jenner with Lemon nails (pic from instagram)

My attempt at yellow nails, haha!

Above is two affordable yellow nail polishes, one is from the Rita Ora collection from Rimmel and is only round €3,50, the second is from the pastel range for Essence.

3. Coral - I love a good coral nearly all year round but it is especially nice with a tan during the summer months. My favorite one is 'Spring Tulip' by NYC. A good Coral also looks great on your toe nails during the summer!

4. Nude - Everyone loves a good classy nude on the nails. Pink nudes are lovely in the summer if you like to keep things subtle and elegant. A light, classic nude is great with a tan and perfect for summer weddings.

The Nude colour on my nails in the above picture is by Essence.

5. I am not sure what to call this last colour, it is like a dark mint, or a greeny / blue turquoise. Whatever it is, I have seen it on a lot of nail counters this summer and I love it. The one I have been using is 'Wimbledon' by Catrice Cosmetics. (The color came out quite dark in the pic below, the second pic is more true to the genuine colour).

I hope you enjoyed!

Lots of Love,

SassieDoll

xXx

REVIEW: FIRENZE CLINIC DUNDRUM

Hiya,

So I just wanted to do a quick review on a Spa / clinic that I went to last week with my mam. I am not sure of the price of our treatments as it was my birthday present from my parents, however the full package would usually be worth around €300 but my Mam got a great deal (which she said was well worth it) over on pigsback.com. Apparently there is often deals and special offers for this clinic so I will leave a link to their website at the end for you to check out! :) Also keep an eye out on discount sites such as pigsback, groupon etc.

The treatment clinic we attended is called 'Firenze Clinic' based in Dundrum. The clinic is all about promoting good health for the mind, body and soul. Therefore they not only offer beauty treatments, they also offer psychotherapy, counselling and weight loss management.

On arrival we were brought up to a little waiting area to fill in our details on a form. The building felt quite old and "Vintage" but it was decorated really nice with flowers, pretty pictures on the wall and vintage style arm chairs to wait on.

The reception / waiting area.

I was called into my treatment room which had relaxing music playing lightly in the background. The massage bed was also extremely comfortable. My treatment started with a body scrub of my legs and arms, then a back and shoulder massage which was lovely! And then my fave treatment to get...a facial. I love facials, I find them so relaxing and rejuvenating! This facial consisted of a deep exfoliation and cleanse, a face massage, a jet peel (which is for texture improvement, wrinkle reduction, removal of unwanted pigmentation and overall skin rejuvenation), vacuuming to deep cleanse the pores, and then an oxygen treatment which pumps oxygen into the skin (don't worry, there are no needles or anything involved in these treatments). Parts of the facial weren't as relaxing due to the noise of the machines and processes however overall I was so relaxed and was really impressed with the treatments. Myself and my Mam were both very impressed with our therapists and our treatments.

When our treatments were over (about 2 hours later) we were brought back down to the reception area where there was herbal tea (it was mint and coco flavor and was sooo nice, they sell it in the clinic), cupcakes and grapes waiting for us. While enjoying our refreshments, the owner of the clinic talked us through some of the Organic products they use and sell at the clinic.These products are by the brand 'Eminence' which you can check out HERE!

Oh and not to mention the owner's adorable little doggy who sat with us while we had our refreshments which made the whole experience even better! :)

About 4 days after the treatment my skin broke out a little bit with small red bumps on my cheeks and neck however these were gone within a couple of days and my skin was good as new! This often happens after a facial as it is your skin's way of releasing the underlying blemishes that were cleansed during the treatment.

Check out the website for the clinic HERE!

Lots of love,
SassieDoll
xXxXx

MY CURRENT SKINCARE ROUTINE

Hi there :)

I thought I would do a run through of my current skincare routine. For a while I had got quite lazy with my skincare and was falling asleep with make-up on or using face wipes too often but over the last few months I have got into a routine with some of my favorite products that I have found work best for me. I definitely notice a positive change in my skin since becoming consistent with a good routine, so here it is:

Exfoliating: I use an exfoliating face wash about 3 or 4 days a week. The wash I use is this Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit daily scrub. I first discovered this face wash about 4 years ago when I was on a J1 in America. I picked it up because it was cheap and cheerful and then I ended up loving it! I have used other face washes throughout the years and always revert back to this one so over the past year I have stuck to using this.

Cleansing: My favorite cleanser right now is the Garnier Mi-cellar water. I am in love with Micellar water. I have never been a fan of cream cleansers, I always feel like they are left on my skin, clogging my pores. But with Micellar water it is so refreshing and leaves your skin feeling so fresh and clean. This one in particular is amazing for removing make-up yet still feels really light on the skin. I cleanse my skin with this both morning and night.

Hydrating Spray: After cleansing my face I then use a hydrating water spray. The one I have been using over the past few months is the La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water and I LOVE it!!! It goes really well after using a Micellar water cleanser as it is still super light on your skin and really hydrating. I find it so refreshing to spritz this onto freshly cleansed skin.

Moisturizer: Once the thermal spring water has dried it is then time to moisturize. I am currently using the Boots 'time delay youth maintain' day moisturizer with SPF15. I always make sure my day moisturizer has SPF in it. This moisturizer is a plus because it is anti-aging and has SPF. I have combination skin and some areas tend to get shiny throughout the day while others areas are dry so I find a light moisturizer the best option and this one is great!

Eye Cream: Since hitting the mid twenties I started noticing my eyes looking a bit 'Older'! So I have started using an anti-wrinkle eye cream. These can be very expensive so when I was hunting for an affordable drug store option I came across the Boots 'Time delay, anti-aging eye cream'. This is from the same range as my day moisturizer so they compliment each other really well.

So there you have it, that is my current day time skin care routine. Hope you enjoyed.

Lots of Love,
SassieDoll
xXxXx

Trying the latest Hair Trick...

Hi Dolls,

I'm sure most of you have heard of this latest hair trick by now as it has been all over social media.

Basically, hair experts have decided that we should be using our conditioner BEFORE our shampoo. Rather than the other way around. Artistic director for hair brand Kerastase has said "Conditioning before you shampoo is great for adding nourishment to fine hair without weighing it down."
So, I decided to give this a try and see if it made any difference.

I started by covering my ends in a Timotei conditioner blending a bit up towards the roots. I left this in for about 2 to 3 minutes before rinsing. I then lathered my hair in an Argan Oil shampoo which I picked up in Penneys for only €2 (see pic below).

As I was rinsing out my shampoo I already noticed a difference. Every inch of my hair was squeaking clean to the touch and felt really sleek and de-tangled as I rinsed the shampoo away. After getting out of the shower and lightly towel drying my hair I gave it a quick brush, my hair is very long so it tangles quite easily and to my surprise the brush ran through it quite smooth and easy. After I let my hair dry naturally it felt so much cleaner and lighter than normal.

So to sum up...I will definitely be trying this going forward and seeing if it makes a difference long term. I always use conditioner however I do find it always feels like it is still in your hair and weighs it down, so when you shampoo after its like completely rinsing your hair of all product and leaving it completely fresh and clean.

Give it a go and let me know what you think? :)

Lots of Love,
SassieDoll
xXxXx

The Tanicure...

Have you heard of The Tanicure?!

It is exactly what the title says...a tan and a manicure in one.

The treatment was thought up by tanning expert / Celebrity spray tanner James Read and Celebrity manicurist Sophy Robson. James has spray tanned the likes of Rosie Hintington-Whitely, while Sophy has worked on the hands and nails of Rita Ora and Cara Delevingne.

The idea is to make one of the most visible parts of the body look perfect at all times especially during the winter months when it can often be one of the only body parts on show, by applying a light spray tan to the hands and wrists only, along with Sophy Robson's glue on nails.

As some one who regularly pops a splodge of instant tan on my hands when running out the door to ensure my hands are not 10 shades paler then my face, I can understand where the concept came from however, In December 2014, the 20 minute treatment was only available at Harvey Nichols in the UK and it doesn't seem to have taken off elsewhere since. Could this be down to the fact that it is probably just as quick and easy to DIY this treatment in the comfort of your own home than spend money and time heading to a salon to have it done? What do you think? Would you head to your local salon for a 'Tanicure'?

Lots of Love,
SassieDoll
xXxXx

Mini Beauty Haul, Make-up Look & SLEEK product review

Hi Errrbody,

Today's post features my make-up look for the day and a lil product review of some new beauty treats I picked up yesterday!

I'll start with the products...I was browsing through the shops yesterday after being cooped up in bed sick for over a week with both a tummy bug and a throat infection (not fun!!!) I just had to get out of the house for a bit and what a better way to make yourself feel good after being sick than going shopping! :)
Although my whole career and background is in Fashion, I seem to spend more time and money on beauty products and make-up than I do on clothes. I headed to the Boots superstore in the shopping center and picked up a few bits (mini review below) and then headed to Penneys where I also picked up some more cosmetic items rather than clothes.

Below is some of the bits I purchased between Boots and Penneys.

What I got?
PENNEYS:
- Nivea Micellar cleansing water - I have talked about this product before, I am loving it!!!
- Catrice Lip liner in 070 I Got You Babe!
- Wet n Wild White eyeliner
- L'Oreal Elnett Satin hair spray
- NYC nail polish in '320 Blue Sky'.
- Sunglasses for ONLY €1.50
- Hair Bobbin - because you can never have enough hair bobbins!

BOOTS:
- Sleek Make-up contour and highlighting kit in 'Light'.
- Sleek Brow kit in Dark
- Sleek Brow corrector in 'Dark'.
- Johnson's face wipes (My fave wipes for removing make-up)

SLEEK MAKE-UP REVIEW:
OK so I didn't get that much in Boots but I just had to feature these 'SLEEK' products. I tried them this morning (all have been used in the look posted below) and I am in love with all of them. And even better, they are currently 3 for 2 in Boots!!!
The contour kit is sooo pretty, I just created a light contour today but it is definitely build-able and comes in a darker shade palette too! The 3 colours compliment each other perfectly and are gorgeous for a light summer contour and glow.
The brow kit has 2 small angled brushes and a mini tweezers as well as a gel based and powder based brow filler. It is so handy and compact.
And then there is the little brow mascara which I love, it is slightly tinted and keeps the brows in place so well! I actually tried this last night when I got home and I fell asleep with it on and woke up this morning wit perfect brows!!! In love!!!

I won't go into too much detail on the below look as it quite a plain and simple day look, as stated above, my contouring and brows are the SLEEK products. Foundation is L'Oreal true match and my lipstick is MAC relentlessly red.

P.S I am so bad at taking selfies, but it's gotta be done :P

Oh one more thing...I also got myself a NutriBullet :)
I have been dying to buy one of these and start trying to get back on the healthy bandwagon!
I haven't tried it yet but I picked up some Spinach, Kale, ginger, pineapple and apples to make myself a nice healthy juice.

If you have any good juicing tips please let me know and I'll do an update in 'My Fitness Journey' over the coming months!

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed!

Talk soon,

Lots of Love,
SassieDoll
xXx

THE MAKE-UP ADDICT TAG

Holy Moly I am so bold, I haven't  written a blog post in a month!!!
I have still been posting on my social media accounts for the blog though but back in November I started a new job as a trainee fashion buyer and it has just been so busy and super long hours that I really haven't had the time or energy over the last few weeks to compose good blog posts! But I just realized how much I missed it and I actually find writing/blogging very relaxing and therapeutic so here we go... :)

Today's post is the 'Make-up Addict Tag', I was tagged a few weeks ago by the FAB make-up artist/blogger and now youtuber... Fabiana Coppola. You can check out her website HERE! (On a side note... Fabiana is doing my makeup for a wedding I am going to on Saturday, so I will post the completed look she does on me after Saturday...stay tuned!). OK, let's get started!

1. What product do you keep buying more of despite having plenty of it in your collection?
I think this would have to be foundation...There are a few that I love but I am yet to find the perfect foundation so I am always buying new ones to try.

2. What is the one product you can't live without?
Um, this is a tough one. I have become very fond of MAC prolongwear concealer, so possibly that to brighten up my eyes and cover blemishes! Or mascara?!

3. Favorite make-up brand?
As of right now I think I would have to choose Estee Lauder. Since Christmas I have been using Estee Lauder skin care, mascara and eyeliner and I am in love with all of them!

4. How big is your make-up collection?
Not too big. It could definitely be bigger! :)

5. How do you store your make-up collection?
I have a 2 shelves and a drawer where I store all my make-up. Some is packed into make-up bags within the drawer. Lipsticks and brushes are in an acrylic make-up stand that I got from Home store and more. I carry my everyday items in my handbag at all times, and the rest is lose in a drawer.

6. How many items of make-up do you have in your handbag at the moment?
So I just counted and I am no longer wondering why my hand bag is so heavy! I think it's time to clear out my make-up bag... I currently have 14 items of make-up in my hand-bag!

7. If you could raid another bloggers' stash who would it be?
I think it would be Carli Bybel! I love watching her make-up tutorials and when she does a make-up room tour I just want it all!!! Check out her channel HERE!

8. How long does your usual make-up routine take and how many products do you use?
This one really depends. On a weekday morning before work I do my make-up in about 20 minutes, sometimes less if I'm in a hurry! I would use about 6 products on days like this - Foundation, powder, bronzer, blush, mascara and a brow pencil. But if it's for a night out, an occasion or just the weekend in general it would probably take me up to an hour or so.

9. Have you ever bought make-up knowing you will never use it?
I think I always buy things that I know I will at-least try out at home, but sometimes I buy things knowing I will probably never wear them outside my house!

10. Tag a few other make-up addicts to do this tag.
I am going to tag Teodora Kirilova from 'Rocababe'

Hope you enjoyed this post...until next time <3 p="">
Lots of love,
SassieDoll
xXx

90's INSPIRED MAKE-UP: Fun Summer Look...(teal Smokey eye and pink lip)

Hiiiii :)

I decided to have a bit of fun with my make-up today and went for a 90's inspired Summertime look!
A teal smokey eye with a light pink lip. See what products I used below...

Eyes:
Smash-box waterproof liner in Cabana.
Teal shadow and dark navy shadow from my French Connection palette
Catrice liquid liner in black
Estee Lauder Kajal liner in black
Estee Lauder Mascara
Envy eyelashed from Penneys

Brows:
Benefit Brow Zings ( Don't pay attention to my brows at the mo, they badly need to be done :P ).

Face:
L'Oreal Infallible foundation in colour 140
Powder - Rimmel stay matte powder in 001 translucent
Concealer - Rimmel Wake Me up concealer in Ivory
Bronzer: Natural Collection SunTint bronzing powder in 'Golden Glow'.

Lips:
MAC Please me & Snob

MAKE-UP: CUT CREASE SHADOW AND NUDE LIP

Hiya :)

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend, thanks for popping by for a look on the blog :)
Today I decided to try a cut crease eye-shadow look for the first time, I defo need some practice but I thought I'd share the look anyway and let you know what products I used.

Eyes: I started with the colour 'latte' from my W7 'In the nude' eye-shadow palette. For the crease I used a black shadow from a French connection palette I have but any black shadow will do the job. I just applied this with a thin, flat brush above my natural crease. I blended this upwards with a dark bronze shadow from the same French Connection palette. I then applied the gold colour 'Half Baked' from my Urban Decay Naked Palett over the latte base shadow. I then mixed the black and bronze colour and blended this under my eye.

Liner: I used Catrice Ultra Fine ink Liquid Liner to create a winged look. I used Estee Lauder Kajal eyeliner in blackened black for my water line.

Brows: Wet'n'Wild Brow liner in dark Brown

Mascara: Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme

Foundation: L'Oreal Infallible in colour 140 Golden Beige.

Contour: Natural Collection Bronzing Powder

Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte

Lips: MAC Please Me Lipstick

Lots of Love,
SassieDoll
xXxXx

Day Time Make-up Look: Product List

Hi All,

As promised, here is a lil product list from my day time make-up look I posted on my Facebook and Instagram yesterday.

Foundation: Rimmel Lasting Stay in colour 303 True Nude
Concealer: MAC Prolongwear in NC20
Contour & Blusher from an Estee Lauder Palette I got for Christmas

Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte in 001 Transparent
EyeShadow: Urban Decay Naked Palette 1 and French Connection eye-shadow Palette
Liquid Liner: Catrice Cosmetics - Ultra fine ink liner in Black
Eyeliner: Estee Lauder Intense Kajal eyeliner in blackened black
Mascara: Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme in Extreme Black
Lashes: Envy from Penneys
Lips: MAC 'Please Me' and Wet n Wild 'Pink Suga'.
Brushes used: Real Techniques (My new Fave!!! They are Amazing!)