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

My Fitness Journey...Week 4, 5 & 6

Hi everyone,

Welcome back to my Fitness journey, I missed the last couple of weeks as I was on holidays in the beautiful Puerto Banus, Spain.

I just want to do a quick catch up on how I've been getting on. Obviously while on holidays I did drink alcohol (including beer) and we ate out every night (as you do on holidays) so it was hard to stick to a strict diet. Therefore as of this week I am not down any further weight since before holidays. While on holidays I did go to the gym once or twice and myself and my boyfriend would do a few crunches, planks and press ups in the hotel, but you know the saying 'You can't out run an unhealthy diet'! So on Monday, after returning I headed to the supermarket after work and picked up my usual yogurts, chicken fillets, salad and veg and am trying to get back into my routine this week. Today will be my first proper day back at the gym as-well since returning so I'm looking forward to that since my workouts on holidays weren't very intense. (I was on holidays after all) :)

I do believe that clean eating and exercise are the right way to do it but I am considering a detox after holidays to help get back on track and really push myself so any suggestions and success stories would be great?! You can contact me through private message on Facebook HERE! or e-mail me at sassiedoll.outlook.com

Until next week...

Lots of Love
SassieDoll
xXxXx

My Fitness Journey...Week 2

Hi Everyone, 

I have just finished week 2 of my new Healthy lifestyle and I am feeling great already :) I have lost 3 pound this week and I am delighted! I know it's not a huge amount but slow progress is better than no progress, right? :) I have also been told that losing up to 2lb a week is the average healthy pace for long term weight loss and prevents muscle loss!

Aside from actually losing weight I have noticed my moods improve and my energy levels have improved a serious amount! I have been waking up earlier and I have been getting straight up and making my breakfast and then preparing my lunch for work. 

So, what have I been doing this week? Well, a friend of my Sister's who has lost 5 stone in less than a year e-mailed me some of her tips on both diet and exercise and I found this really motivating as she has really worked so hard to see results, so the next day I went grocery shopping and picked up some of the things she recommended to start incorporating them into my diet. Some of these included, Flaxseed, Natural/Greek Yoghurt, Coconut Oil and berries. Most mornings this week for breakfast I have had strawberries and grapes mixed with Greek Yogurt and sprinkled on top with Flaxseed, it is so yummy and is so refreshing first thing in the morning. Flaxseed is great to add as it contains Omega 3, Protein, Iron and Magnesium among many other things that are health beneficial. 

For my lunch I have stuck with my marinated chicken fillet and salad, I have been cooking the chicken in coconut oil this week. I

also want to start using coconut oil on my skin and hair so I will do a separate post on that :) 

I was really craving chocolate this week so on Sunday I had a lil cheat and had a bowl of Cocopops with low fat milk and a low fat hot chocolate. I know cereal isn't great and is full of sugar but you have to allow yourself a lil treat sometimes so as not to deprive yourself and end up binging! (Excuses, excuses!) Haha! 

I worked out 4 times this week and I tried yoga with a friend. It was fun and relaxing and I had sore muscles in my stomach and arms the next morning so it must have done something right! And another day I went on an hour long cycle in the park to mix things up a bit! For the week ahead I plan on sticking to the same eating plan as last week and just increasing my weight training in the gym as I have still been doing mostly cardio this week with just a few weights mixed in at the end. However I know that the more muscle you build, the more fat you burn as well as shaping your body and toning up so I am defo going to take that on board this week in my workouts! 
I think that's everything for this week :) and remember if you have any questions or any advice you'd like to share with me then you can e-mail me at sassiedoll@outlook.com or Private message me on facebook HERE

Thanks for reading, I'll be back next week with another Fitness update... 

Lots of Love, 
SassieDoll xXxXx

A bit of celebrity Body Inspo for this week...

BEAUTY: My Top 3 Summer Foundations...

Hi there :)

Here is a brief review and break down of my top 3 foundations for the summer. I have been trying to find something with lighter coverage and a light weight feel for during the summer and I want something that is still long lasting throughout the day in work. I'm still not sure if I have found the PERFECT summer foundation yet for my skin but these 3 are coming pretty close (especially the Rimmel one) so I thought I'd share them with you...Enjoy xXx

1. RIMMEL - WAKE ME UP FOUNDATION

I only tried this foundation recently for the first time and it is probably my favorite out of the three that I am talking about today for a good, summer, long lasting, day wear foundation. It has a really light, smooth texture on the skin which is perfect for the hotter days so you are not left feeling like your skin is trapped under a layer of foundation in the heat. It gives a gorgeous dewy glow to the skin as well which I love. I have wore this one to work the last couple of weeks and a few people have complimented it and said it looks very natural. Another great selling point for this as a perfect summer foundation is that it contains SPF15 so it is ideal for wearing during the day when you are out and about to protect your skin. The best part, it is so affordable at only €10.99 in Boots.I currently have this foundation in Soft Beige 200. The shade is ideal for a more natural look with little to no tan however it is a bit too light for me when I am wearing a bit of tan so next time I'll be picking up the next shade darker.

2. MAYBELLINE - DREAM SATIN LIQUID

I first tried this foundation a couple of years ago and loved the finish it leaves on your skin. It has a lovely smooth coverage and as it says on the bottle it gives a 100% Pore-less look and an Airbrush finish. I chose this as one of my fave Summer foundations because it is a really light silky feel on the skin and the shades it comes in have a perfect golden under tone for blending with a tan. The only problem I have with this foundation is that it is not that long lasting and I find during the summer your make-up tends to wear off quicker due to the heat and oils so it's not great if you have to go work in somewhat warm conditions for more than 4 hours or so. But otherwise it is a lovely foundation and again very affordable at €11.99 in Boots.

3. MAC - MINERALIZE  FOUNDATION

I have only recently tried a sample of this foundation as a few girls I know have been wearing it and it looks gorgeous and glowing on them. I have wore it the last two days and it has a gorgeous summer glow and again it is a light weight feel on the skin. Another great thing is that like the Rimmel foundation, MAC mineralize has SPF 15 in it and is very moisturizing on the skin. My only negative about this foundation is that I tend to have an oily T-zone and after wearing this foundation for a couple of hours I found my skin looking quite oily rather than glowy. However I know girls who wear it all day in work and it is gorgeous. So I suppose it just depends on your skin type! I think it is around €37.50 in BT2 and Brown Thomas stores.

So there you go, My Top 3 Foundations for Summer 2014!

If I find any better in the mean time I'll be sure to update you. Also if you have any favorite Summer foundations then defo let me know so I can try them out...I'm always on the look out for new products!

Lots of Love 

SassieDoll 

xXxXx

https://www.facebook.com/SassieDoll

E-mail: sassiedoll@outlook.com

MAY WARDROBE: TEODORA KIRILOVA

Hi Girls,

Welcome back to a Brand New 'I Want Her Wardrobe'.

This months wardrobe is owned by a friend and fellow blogger of mine, the beautiful Teodora Kirilova, also known as 'Rocababe' on her blog which has an amazing 16,000 followers on instagram!

'Rocababe' is admired on instagram for her amazing fashion sense and her flawless make-up techniques and we are lucky enough to have a peep inside her wardrobe here on SassieDoll, so Enjoy it... :)

I asked Teo the usual questions that we feature in this section and here is what she had to say... :)

Q. Who is you fave designer at the moment?

Teodora's Answer: My favorite designer at the moment is Roberto Cavalli, he is known for exotic prints and for created the sand blasted look for jeans.

Q. What is your fave high street store?

Teodora's Answer: My favorite high street stores are ZARA, H&M and RiverIsland, but I also love shopping on Aliexpress and E-Bay.

Q. What is your fave trend this season?

Teodora's Answer: My favorite trend this season would be destroyed denim jeans, they are just so effortless, comfy and trendy at the same time. Pair them with a high strappy heel and a white t-shirt and your good to go! :)

Q. What is one item in your wardrobe that you couldn't live without?

Teodora's Answer: Oh that's a hard one...let me think...I probably couldn't live without my jeggings! :) 

Below are pics of Teodora wearing some of her favorite looks from her wardrobe which are also featured on her blog...

Bag:MICHAEL KORS, T-Shirt:H&M, Jeans:H&M, Bracelet:BFlashy

Boyfriend jeans and Shoes: PENNEYS, Shirt:BERSHKA

Hat:ZARA, Clutch:DKNY, Skirt:H&M Bodysuit:MISSGUIDED

Shirt:AMBERSWARDROBE.CO.UK

Top: AMBERSWARDROBE.CO.UK

Jeans and Kimono:H&M, Bracelet:BFLASHY, Vest:RIVER ISLAND

Don't forget to check out Teodora's blog HERE!!!

Follow her on istagram @Rocababe

and you can 'Like' her facebook page HERE!!!

SassieDoll & Rocababe at the SS14 Arnotts Fashion Show 

Thanks for sharing your wardrobe with is Rocababe! 

Remember girls, if you would like to be featured on SassieDoll then private message me on facebook or e-mail sarah@sassiedoll.com

Lots of Love,

SassieDoll xXx

FASHION: Billboard Music Awards 2014 - Best and Worst Dressed

Hi Girls :)

I am sooo sorry I haven't been posting as much over the last few weeks, I had assignments due for my Fashion Buying course and also work full time so and not to mention my laptop was broke so it's been hard to find the time to write! But my assignments have been handed in AND my laptop is fixed so stay tuned for some regular new and exciting posts over the next while including a new 'I Want Her Wardrobe' which will be live on the blog by the end of the week!!! Yay! :P

So here's a quick Fashion fix to keep you going...My Favorite Fashion from the Billboard Music Awards 2014 and the Worst! Enjoy...xXx

Chrissy Teigen - I have seen this dress on a few 'Worst dressed' lists but this dress is definitely one of my Fave's of the night, it is so unusual yet doesn't look too over the top...love it!

Nicki Minaj - Nicki has really toned down her style lately and I think it is really doing her justice, she looks great in this simple cut out black number.

Kendall Jenner - Kendall looked Stunning in this simple sexy and chic look.

Jennifer Lopez - I'm not sure if this should be in the worst or the best dresses?! I am kind of 50/50 about this outfit, I think it is a bit more of a stage/performance look rather than for the red carpet but either way she always looks great!

Miranda Lambert - I have to admit, I love a bit of a barbie look sometimes, I think Miranda looks great in this low cut, Barbie Pink dress!

Lucy Hale - This look is cute and girly, my only complaint is the shoe, I think with the length of the dress this type of sandal shortens the legs but other than that she looks great!

Unfortunately there is always a few who don't do it quite right, here are my Worst dressed of the night...

Kelly Rowland - I like the skirt but this top is just a bit too much (or little) I love a nice crop top but the shape of the neckline is just so unflattering and a bit too revealing so I'm afraid this is a worst dressed for me :(

Kesha - I have never really been a big fan of Kesha's style and for some reason this dress just isn't working for me, what do you guys think?

Cher Loyd - This kind of looks like some sort of Halloween costume to me, not my fave, 

Soz Cher!

Natasha Bedingfiled - I'm not really sure what's going on here but I don't like it! Ha!

Little Trip to Paris and Madrid :)

Hi All,

I was just away on a little trip last week so I haven't had a chance to post much. Myself and my Boyfriend went to 3 cities in 6 days. We went to Bristol on Friday the 14th to go to Cheltenham for the horse racing (we had no winners though) :( Then the next morning we went to Paris for the Ireland v France Rugby match which was Amazing!!! We got upgraded to a junior sweet in our hotel too where we had a view of the Eiffel Tower from our balcony :)

We stayed in Paris for 2 nights and then headed to Madrid for another 2 nights. My boyfriend supports Real Madrid so we went to a football match while we were there too, I'm not a huge football fan but Ronaldo was playing so that made it a bit more interesting ;) I was a bit of a disaster for keeping my phone charged while we were away as there was a lot going on so I don't have any nice Fashionable photos to share, so here is just one or two of the trip in general such as Retiro Park in Madrid and the Stad de France Stadium where Ireland won the six nations :) I will be back tomorrow with a new 'Beauty Bargain of the Week'!

Lots of Love,
SassieDoll xXx