Just Do it

I know it can be annoying to see fitness and exercise plastered everywhere but sorry guys, I'm joining in. The thing is, fitness is actually really, really important. I'm not saying you need to become a mega gym bunny but getting your heart racing every now and then doesn't do any harm- your future self will thank you! Also guess what? Exercise doesn't have to be boring. I'm going to give you a few fun way to get fit. Their easy and also don't cost a fortune!

• Zumba

Zumba is a Latin dance type of exercise. If you have two left feet, don't be disheartened! Zumba doesn't require any previous dance experience and it is super easy to follow. It's honestly so much fun! Extra bonus- it burns a ton of calories (about 500 per hour). If typical workouts bore you, I would definitely recommend attending a Zumba class. There available everywhere and a quick google search will let you know of your closest Zumba class.

• Hike/Cycle with your friends!

I'm not gonna lie- I'm not really into hikes. However if you're in the right place with the right people, they can actually be pretty fun. Hiking in a beautiful area, makes you feel like you're not even exercising. Soak up your surroundings and it can become an experience! The same goes for a cycle. I prefer cycles because you can cover a lot more space very quickly in comparison to walking. 

To check out some trails see www.irishtrails.ie

• Wii Games

If you prefer to exercise from the comfort of your own home, then why not invest in some Wii games. There are so many games specifically designed for workouts. My personal favourite is Just Dance. It's super fun and doesn't even feel like your exercising. If boxing is more your thing try Punch-Out! Another great game is Active Life: Outdoor Challenge. You don't even have to leave your house so you have no excuse!

These are a few of my recommendations but my best advice is to do something you love! Joining a sports team is great if you love a particular sport, and it will also motivate you to go to your training sessions. I can promise you one thing- you will never regret doing a workout. You'll feel great and in turn, you'll look great!

Let me know your favourite ways to workout below!

My Obsessions | Wildflower Phone Cases

If you have an iPhone, you're probably always on the hunt for a new case? Or maybe that's just me... Regardless, you will be after I show you these cases. 

Wildflower cases are a new Californian company. They started off making phone cases but have now expanded into clothing also. Each case is handmade and features gorgeous designs and studs. Whatever your into, you'll find a case that suits your personality. They have everything from floral designs to their newest donut design! You may recognise their cases from many instagram pics. Their cases have been sported by the likes of Kylie Jenner, Hilary Duff and Miley Cyrus.

I purchased this case last November after eyeing them up for months! It has kept up great, and provides really great protection for my phone without being too bulky. The studs have tarnished a tiny bit but besides that, it's definitely lasted extremely well. It is lined with rubber around the edges and the floral design is material which is covered by a protective layer. It is no doubt made extremely well.

For such a great case, comes a price. Their cases are $35 with International shipping costing $19.95. $55 seems a lot for a phone case but they don't get much cuter and more unique than this. I receive so many compliments whenever I have this case on my phone and I am yet to see someone with the same case. Wildflower only make limited quantities of their cases to ensure you have an original product!

Definitely the prettiest and most fashion forward cases in my opinion!

Wildflower cases available from their website

Review | Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser

Hello lovelies! Sometimes I feel like I can be a bit of a failure at being a girl. I get so lazy when it comes to certain beauty routines and one of those routines is moisturising. If you're like me, then this product will be a saviour! 

Vaseline are better known for their petroleum jelly, multi-use product. Their newest product is their spray & go moisturiser. It is pretty much what it says on the tin. The packaging is akin to that of a deodorant and you use it in the same way too. Simply spray this about 10cm from your body and then quickly rub in. The entire process takes about 2 minutes. So much quicker than a traditional body cream moisturiser. It comes in three scents; Pure Oat Extract, Aloe Fresh and Cocoa Radiant. I went for pure oat extract and I really like the scent. It's sort of fresh and homely if that makes any sense at all.

So it does what it says, but how good is it at actually moisturising? Very. It sinks into the skin quickly and leaves skin moisturised but not damp with moisture as I often find cream products to do. If you need an intense moisturiser, I'm not sure this will fulfil your needs. However, if you don't have particularly dry skin but just like to add a bit of extra moisture to your skin, then this product is perfect.

Overall I definitely think this is a product worth checking out and for €6.15 you can't go wrong! I'll definitely be re-purchasing. 

Available from Boots- €6.15

Nars Laguna Bronzer | Review & Swatch + Bronzer Recommendations and Tips (#TheSoProject)

Phew, these past few weeks have been pretty manic in my world and I don't see things slowing down anytime soon. Unfortunately, due to that blogging has been taking a bit of a back seat. I am making my best efforts, but I do wish I could post more often. At the moment- twice a week is about the maximum I can manage. Anyway, today I am bringing you a review of my current favourite bronzer which is none other than the infamous Laguna bronzer by Nars (€33.83). This is also my fourth instalment of the The Starting Off Project (click here to find out more).

This bronzer comes neatly packaged in a sleek, matte, black compact. It is the typical, non-exciting Nars packaging here. I think it looks classy and expensive but by golly do these get grubby looking quickly. It is near impossible to not have your fingerprints all over this due to the finish of the packaging. There is a great sized mirror housed inside the compact, which makes it perfect for on the go application

Finish wise, this is an almost-matte (there is a teeny tiny bit of shimmer that isn't noticeable on but is faint in pan) brown that should suit most light-medium skin tones. It is not very dark so if you are on the darker side of the skin tone spectrum, this may not show up on you very well. It is very easy to build up and is a perfect contour and all-round bronzer. It's very natural looking which I love and lasts the entire day.

Overall I love this bronzer and it has become apart of my daily makeup routine during the past few weeks. I finally know what all of the fuss is about! However, if Nars is a bit out of your budget there are plenty of other great bronzers on the market. 'Bourjois Delice de Poudre' (€8.99) is a great highstreet alternative. It also smells faintly of chocolate which is always a bonus in my books! Another favourite of mine is Hoola by Benefit (€34). Definitely not exactly pocket friendly but it's a great one to try if you're on the hunt for a new bronzer. 

The Bronzing Basics

If you're new to the bronzing world, here are a few tips to get you on your way. If you're like me, you'll never look back!

• Bronzer can be used for a number of reasons. The most obvious reason would be to bronze your face, and make you look more tanned. Another major reason is to contour your face. This means that you would use the product to accentuate certain features or hide others. The best place to use bronzer is under your cheekbones. Make a fishy face and apply product from the edge of your face until you reach the outside of your eye in a downwards motion. You can also apply the product along your temples and down the sides of your nose (this creates the illusion of a smaller nose). 
• Make sure to blend! Nobody wants a VCL (that's visible contour line, don't you know!). Harsh lines are a no no.
• Don't apply bronzer onto your inner cheeks, this will just make your makeup look patchy and muddy. Never a desired look.
• Use a contour brush to apply bronzer. This makes contouring a lot easier than using a big powder brush.
• If you're afraid of using bronzer- don't be! It's the perfect product to create a natural, sun-kissed look and really helps highlight your best features.

They're my tips and recommendations for bronzers. I hope you enjoyed this and let me know of any tricks or product recommendations in the comments! 

DIY | Homemade Frozen Yogurt

I'm *trying* to eat healthier recently. No crazy diets, just cutting out junk food here and there. However, those sugar cravings can be a killer. One thing I love and has become a bit of a fashionable food, is frozen yogurt. I find it difficult to find in shops so I decided to make my own!

What you need:

• Yogurt - Preferably organic. Use whatever flavour you want your froyo to be. Mt favourite brand is Glenisk!
• Vanilla essence/extract.
• Sugar (optional)
• Honey

Method:

1. Grab a small bowl and put as much as yogurt as you like into it. I use 4/5 dessert spoonfuls per person.

2. Pour a drizzle of honey into the bowl. 

3. Add a drop of vanilla. Use this sparingly as it's very strong!

4. If you want it a bit sweeter, and to taste more like the frozen yogurt you but in shops, add a little bit of sugar. 

5. Mix it all together! You can add more honey, sugar or vanilla to taste. 

6. Pop your mix into the freezer for at least 2 hours. Make sure to mix at least every hour as otherwise only the outside will freeze, not the inside. By mixing it will solve this problem.

7. Eat up and enjoy your healthy treat!

I hope you enjoyed this little recipe! It's a nice little step away from the beauty and fashion. Let me know if you try it out and what you think :)

Best Foundations (#TheSOProject)

Another week, another instalment of The Starting Off Project. If you don't know what #TheSOProject click here. 

 This is week number three. Week one was Skincare and last week was concealer. Today I'm bring you my recommendations for foundations!

When it comes to bases, I like to keep it light for everyday where. If you're more into heavy coverage- I'm afraid these products won't be for you. I believe makeup should enhance your natural beauty, rather than cover up your entire face. That is why I've chosen these products!

First up is the 'Rimmel Wake Me Up' foundation. This is a loved foundation by many. It gives a gorgeous light coverage, but still covers everything. It's quite dewy and has a very faint shimmer, which isn't very noticeable but just provides a nice glow to the skin. This is my favourite drugstore foundation. It's perfect for those days where you want extra coverage, but don't feel like wearing a lot of makeup or you just want pretty, natural-looking coverage. To see a full in-depth review click here.

€10.99 Boots - link

The latter of the two products is Garnier BB Cream for oily skin. I love this product and out of all the BB Creams I've tried, this is definitely my favourite. It gives amazing coverage for a BB Cream, and allows your skin to breath at the same time. This is the perfect product if you're still in school or just don't really like the feel of typical foundations. Again, I've also previously reviewed this item so click here if you're interested.

Currently €10.99 (usually €13.99) Boots- link

Foundation Tips 

• Blend, blend, blend. Please do not allow yourself to have a line between your jaw and neck. Blend in your foundation!
• Less is more- do not cake on product. You can always add more where you need it, it's a lot more difficult to take off product if you overdo it.
• If you have good skin- don't wear foundation! This is particularly for young teenagers. Hold off wearing heavy makeup for as long as possible. A little concealer and powder is all you need!
• Try not to wearing foundation everyday. This has benefits for your skin but also mentally. If you don't wear makeup everyday, you won't feel the need for it to make you feel pretty. Also, don't worry about other people's opinions, the only person who cares is you- trust me!

I hope these tips and recommendations have helped you. Let me know any tricks you have and your favourite products! 

Review + Swatches | L'Oréal Magic Nude Liquid Powder

Do you ever come across a product where you wonder how it was never invented before this, yet the idea never even entered your mind? Well the new Magic Nude Liquid Powder by L'Oréal is one of those products!

I picked up this baby on holiday in Florida (read all about it here). Since then I have been absolutely loving this product. It's a bit of a new concept in the beauty world so I'll give you low-down on it before letting you know my thoughts. Basically this looks like a light liquid foundation-type product at first glance. However, once applied you begin to see the magic of the product. It glides on to a powder-finish - no greasy looking faces here! It is described as a 'skin perfecting base' and I cannot argue with that. It provides great coverage for such a light base and creates a flawless complexion. Of course, for major blemishes and under-eye circles you may need some extra coverage with a concealer but otherwise it does a great job of perfecting any minor imperfections. 

The packaging is also very sleek and looks much more expensive than it is. It comes in a glass bottle that has an ombre effect. The dispenser isn't the most convenient as you basically have to pour out the product onto your fingers, which isn't the easiest to control. Besides that and the fact that it isn't very travel-friendly, the packaging is pretty and will look lovely on your makeup stand!

My favourite part about this product is the way it feels. It really feels like you haven't got any makeup on at all, yet it makes my skin look so much better than many heavier foundations do. Plus it has built-in SPF 18. Lasting power is good, about the same as any typical foundation and usually lasts about eight hours with wear signs around the 5 hour mark. Another bonus is that there is a range of twelve shades which is quite impressive for a lower-end brand.

Now on to the downside. Unfortunately there has to be one. This product is quite difficult to get your hands on. If you live State-side it's easy, it's available anywhere L'Oréal is sold. If you live in Ireland/UK/Europe or anywhere else for that matter, you're gonna have some difficulties. I will link some sites where you can purchase the product below but I'm really hoping L'Oréal release this product here soon because I really don't know what I'll do when I run out! The main message here is if you can, I 100% recommend picking up this product as it's quickly becoming a firm favourite of mine.



L'Oréal Magic Nude Liquid Powder- $12.95 here

My Favourite Concealer | #TheSOProject

Hello everyone and welcome to another instalment of the Starting Off Project. Last weeks topic was 'Skincare' and this week it's all about concealers. I am a lover of concealers because I often don't feel the need for a full face of foundation- I just pop on a bit of concealer and I'm good to go. This week I'm sharing with you my current favourite concealer. It's one I haven't much experience with yet, but so far I'm really liking it and it comes in the form of the 'Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer'.

Before I get onto that, let's do a quick run through. First off, what are concealers? Basically they're products used to cover up blemishes, under-eye circles and anything else that needs extra coverage. They are typically thicker than a foundation and are used to target specific areas, not used as an all-over base. To use the product, you can either use it directly from the tube with the included applicator (not the most hygienic), with your finger or with a concealer brush. I prefer to use it with my finger as the warmth of your finger helps blend the product.

Another commonly asked question might be what colour to get your concealer? A lot of people recommend going a shade lighter than your skin tone. This often doesn't help much as it actually can highlight the blemishes you're trying to cover up! The best shade to get is the shade that best matches your skintone. If, however, you're stuck between a lighter shade or a darker shade, go for the lighter.

Now onto my favourite concealer of the moment! I decided to try this product because I love the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation. The entire 'Wake Me Up' range is all about making you look refreshed and not caked in makeup which is a look I'm always trying to achieve. This product comes packaged in your standard plastic cylinder tube with the orange lid- as with all products in the range. It also has a doe-foot applicator as with many concealers. 

The concealer promises to have an 'anti-fatigue' effect. Although this is clearly supposed to target under-eye circles I find the concealer to work well on blemishes too. The consistency of the product is lovely as it's not thick and cakey at all. It's quite the contrary, as it blends easily and looks very natural. You could definitely get away with looking like your wearing no makeup at all, whilst still hiding any blemishes. The lasting power is also very good and lasted the entire day for me (about eight hours). 

A few other concealers I have loved is the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer and the Estee Lauder Double Wear concealer. Both achieve very similar results but there is a huge price difference! The Collection one is only €6.49 (click here for link) but it is only available in 4 shades. Whereas the Estee Lauder product comes in eight shades but has a heftier price tag at €24.50. The Rimmel product featured here also only has four shades and retails at €6.99. So if you're looking for better shade selection, you may need to pay a bigger price. However if you're looking for a product that does a good job, you can find just as good quality concealers on the high street.

Let me know your concealer recommendations in the comments below!