giveaway: one hundred followers;

Hello, lovelies!  On Thursday, I reached 100 fabulous followers, so to celebrate I've decided to host my first ever giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive a Soap & Glory Lid Stuff eyeshadow palette in What's Nude (gutted I didn't pick one up for myself, it's gorg!), as well as a L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Confetti top coat.  This giveaway is open internationally. To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  The only mandatory option is to follow this blog via GFC (link)!  There's a few extra entries up for grabs, too.  Simple!  The giveaway will close on Friday March 8th (that's two whole weeks away), so get entering!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
(p.s. I'd just like to mention that I bought these prizes with my own hard-earned cash as a special thank you for all you lovely, lovely people.  Thank you so much for following!)

Thanks for reading!

review: soap & glory sexy mother pucker;

I'm sure I don't need to mention at this stage how big a S&G fan I am, and these glosses are no exception.  I've read/heard mixed reviews about these, so I thought I'd throw in my own two cents!

Let's get the negatives out of the way first, shall we?  These smell horrendous.  Although you can't smell them when they're applied (thankfully!), the smell from the tube can be really off-putting.  They're also quite sticky, which is a big no-no for a lot of people.  However, the only thing that I really disliked about these glosses is the tingling tongue/mouth if I was unfortunate enough to lick my lips when it was freshly applied.  Very unpleasant indeed!

Now, onto the positives!  First of all, I have tiny lips, so the "LIPSWELL™ Volume Boost Technology" in these really sold them to me.  I haven't noticed a huge difference, but a little is better than none!  It does tingle quite a bit, which is expected from a plumping gloss, but not so much that it's uncomfortable.  Second, these are so moisturising!  The formula is very thick (which some people might see as a negative), but it sinks in nicely, and I found it worked wonders on keeping my lips smooth and soft   Sexy Mother Pucker comes in a great range of colours, too, from a dark neutral to a shimmering pink, and it's also available as a clear gloss.  The glosses are quite sheer, but they do give a lovely hint of colour. 

Overall:  I love Sexy Mother Pucker!  I mean, I'm not a big fan of lipgloss in general, but I own three of these!  I will definitely repurchase these, maybe some of the other colours, when I start to run out.

Rating:  8/10

fotd: green eyes and amethyst;

In keeping with my resolution to introduce more colour into my life, here's my first ever "Face of the Day" post, featuring green eyes and purple eye make-up!  This eye look was created using the Urban Decay Vice palette; - Anonymous (cream/almond, matte finish) on the inner corner and brow bone. - Laced (taupe, matte finish) all over the lid and blended up to the brow bone. - Vice (deep purple, frost/duochrome finish) all over the lid, into the crease. - Muse (deep, earthy brown, shimmer finish) in the crease, and along the lower lashline. - Provocateur (mauve, metallic finish with heavy glitter) applied using a damp brush to the centre of the lid. My circle lenses are the GEO Angel Green lenses (14mm and super comfy!), which I bought from Sweet Soul Shop. On my lips, I'm wearing Up The Amp from MAC, with a dot of Soap & Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker in Candy Gloss in the middle. This look is completely different from what I'd usually wear, but I think/hope I still managed to keep it wearable.  I've never been drawn to purple as a colour, but I'm quite pleased with how this turned out.  I hope you like it too! Thanks for reading!

favourites: soap & glory;

(Sorry for the awful photo. Life without Photoshop is miserable!)

I have mentioned Soap & Glory too many times already, I know!  However, I've yet to make a post entirely dedicated to this fabulous brand.  Well, today is the day.  Here's a quick run-down of my favourite Soap & Glory products!

(1) Clean On Me:  One of my all-time favourite shower gels, after Snow Fairy.  It has that classic S&G scent that stays on your skin for hours, yet it's still incredibly kind to my sensitive skin.  It lathers really well, and the bubbles are lovely and creamy.  A little goes a long way, and considering the size of the bottle (500mls), it lasts aages.  

(2) Scrub Your Nose In It:  This is a facial scrub/mask which works wonders on blocked pores, blackheads, and blemishes (salicylic acid is a babe!).  It's minty/tea tree scent is delish, and it even smells like it's good for you!  It can be used as a quick-rinse scrub, or left on longer as a face mask.  Or a combination of the two!  The scrubbing beads are quite small so it's not too hardcore but, as with all scrubs, be careful not to over-scrub! I use this once a week, and it really helps to cut through any leftover residue/oil from the weeks make-up, and it leaves my skin feeling soo smooth and fresh.  Five gold stars!

(3) The Righteous Butter:  I best not mention this again or y'all will get tired of hearing about it! Read here, invest, indulge, and enjoy.

(4) Pulp Friction:  And the award for Most Clever Name goes to...? Pulp Friction is a body scrub, which is a 2in1 body wash and scrub.  Perfect for saving time in the shower!  It has a mild fruity smell, which isn't exactly my favourite,  but the product itself more than makes up for that.  I use it primarily to exfoliate before applying false tan.  Because the exfoliating particles are quite small, I can use this more often than other once-weekly scrubs, and I've found that this has made a big difference to my skin. It's the type of product that prompts you to ask strangers "feel how smooth my legs are!". 

So there you have it!  Have you tried any S&G products?  What are your favourites?  Thanks for reading!

empties: november;

I always enjoy reading monthly empties posts, so I thought I'd write one of my own.  Now, I know November isn't quite over, but my schedule is fully booked for the next week or two, and I'm not going to use up anything else in the next two days, so here you go! Enjoy!

(1) Garnier Simple Essentials Toner (for sensitive skin):  Here's where I need to ask, what is the point of toner?  Don't get me wrong, I always use one, but only because I've been told I should.  I just don't know why.  I've used reasonably expensive toners, cheap toners... but to be honest it's all much of a muchness.  They don't really do anything.  Or do they?  Anyway, mini-rant aside, this toner is fragrance free (always a plus), was fairly inexpensive, and as far as I'm aware, it did the job.  I might repurchase this when I need more toner.

(2) Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs (Water Resistant) - Light Glow:  Everyone needs a bit of Sally in their life.  It's like foundation for your body!  I use fake tan quite a bit.  I prefer instant over developer, and I prefer Airbrush Legs over everything!  It's easy to apply (all of my mitts have disappeared so I'm currently using a fluffy sock), it smells nicer than any other tan I've used, and the colour isn't orange at all.  And it has great coverage, which is a huge plus for me and my freckles.  I'll definitely be buying this again within the next few days.

(3) Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter:  I'm assuming that at this stage that I don't need to explain my love for Soap & Glory again.  The Righteous Butter is my ultimate holy-grail item.  This body butter leaves my skin moisturised for days, isn't greasy, and it smells delish (fyi, it doesn't taste as good as it smells).  It's a bit pricey considering how often I buy it, but it's definitely worth the money.  I'm already partway through a new tub!

(4) Revlon Colorstay Foundation (110 Ivory):  I really like this foundation.  It's nice to find one that's actually as pale as my skin!  I buy the one for combination/oily skin, and it works a treat, keeping the oil at bay for hours.  It's an everyday essential, and I've already bought a new bottle.

(5) Natural Collection Pressed Powder (Cool):  This powder is one of the best I've ever used, and it  costs less than a fiver!  It gives some coverage as well as keeping my foundation in place for the day.  There's not much else to day.  As far as pressed powders go, it's a good 'un!  I've already hit pan on my 'new' one.

(6) No7 Beautiful Skin Eye Make-Up Remover:  This eye make-up remover is a godsend (insert choir of angels here).  Give the bottle a shake, pour some onto a cotton pad, and remove all your eyeshadow and eyeliner in one swipe!  Two swipes for mascara and eyebrows.  It's so gentle on the general eye area, which is always a bonus, and it left my skin feeling really soft and moisturised.  Truth be told, I only bought this because I had a money off voucher and it's so expensive (it costs over €10!!), but if I had money to burn, I would buy a hundred bottles!  I'm going to miss it.

(7) Kate by Kate Moss:  I am awful at describing scents, but according the internet, this is "a beautiful scent with subtle blends of lily of the valley, magnolia and roses"?  All I know is that it smells divine, I wore it almost everyday, and I will definitely be repurchasing this.

(8) Motilium:  An odd one, but this month I finished a pack of Motilium.  Available in chemists, these are tiny, magic pills that make nausea go away.  Seeing as I have the immune system of a small child and I catch every stomach bug that goes around, these are a lifesaver.  They're not a cure, but they certainly bring relief.  They also work wonders on hangovers.  I always keep Motilium in the house, so yes, I will be repurchasing these.

What products will you be repurchasing this month?  Thanks for reading!

gift ideas: €20 or less;

(1) Snow Fairy Gift Set // (2) Yankee Candle Cherry Blossom medium jar // (3) Soap & Glory Small Wonders gift set

(4) Melting Clock hanging shelf clock // (5) Melee Mug // (6) Don't Scare Me wooden sign

December is almost here, which means the coming weeks will be full of secret santa, gift buying, and empty pockets aplenty.  Here are six items that I found that would make a perfect gift this christmas, and all for €20 or less!
 
(1) Snow Fairy Gift Set:  It just wouldn't be christmas without Snow Fairy, would it?  This gift set includes a soap, a shimerring body bar, and a bottle of Snow Fairy shower gel.  For those uneducated few who don't know what Snow Fairy is, it's a bottle of delicious, sugary, christmas-time only, cotton-candy goodness available from LUSH.  Perfect for BFFs.

(2) Yankee Candle Cherry Blossom medium jar:  If your friends/family love burning candles as much as I do, and I'm sure they do, a medium jar candle from Yankee Candle would make a wonderful gift.  Not too big, not too small, a medium jar burns for up to 90 hours!  As for the scent, Cherry Blossom is one of my favourites (*hint*) and the jar is so, so pretty, but Yankee have a gazillion scents to choose from, and they always have special offers coming up to christmas, too!

(3) Soap & Glory Small Wonders gift set:  If you haven't already heard, I am a huge Soap & Glory fan and I have yet to try a product of theirs that I didn't like.  So, I would highly recommend this gift set, which includes miniatures of some of my favourite Soap & Glory products; The Righteous Butter (!!!), Clean on Me, Hand Food, Scrub of your Life.   Another thing I love about Soap & Glory gift sets is that the boxes look super cute and decorative, and I always save them and use them for storage.  This gift set is guaranteed to look, smell, and feel more expensive than it actually is.

(4)  Melting Clock:  This quirky clock, available from Littlewoods, hangs from the edge of a shelf/bookcase/cupboard, and you can't deny that it looks pretty darn cool.  Again, it looks far more expensive than it actually is, and it would make a great gift for that art-buff friend of yours.

(5) Melee Mug:  I don't know about you, but I drink an awful lot of tea.  And what's better than a delicious cup of tea?  A delicious cup of tea in a bad-ass mug.  I think we all know someone who is a serial tea-drinker, or failing that, someone who collects weird mugs.  Available from ThinkGeek for just a few euro, you'd be wrong not to.

(6) Don't Scare Me wooden sign:  Don't judge me, I have a perfectly reasonable explanation for this one.  First of all, it's laugh-out-loud hilarious.  Secondly, it's handmade, each one is a little different from the last, making it totally unique (to say the least).  Thirdly, can you think of anything more perfect to give to that one friend with the strange sense of humour?!  And finally, the seller (found this on Etsy, btw) makes several different signs with less vulgar but equally hilarious slogans.

Happy shopping, and thanks for reading!

about me;

Hello!  My name is Shona, and this is my third attempt at running a blog.  Third time's a charm, right?

So to start off, I thought I'd tell you a little bit about myself, let you know what you're letting yourself in for, 'cause I hope we'll have a long and prosperous relationship.

That face, up there, is mine.  I live in small-town rural Ireland.  I'm a student, primarily, in my fourth year of studying Multimedia Applications Development (read: advanced finger-painting and some sums) at Waterford Institute of Technology.  I work part-time as a checkout chick in Tesco, and my name badge has a watermelon on it.  I drive a Ford Ka that still has a cassette tape player in it (currently playing: Give Up Yer Aul Sins).  I have a cat, two dogs, three goldfish, and a tank of sea monkeys.  I have awful taste in movies and tv, and I mostly listen to music that normal humans would call a 'guilty pleasure'.  I have read all three 50 Shades books.

Make-up and beauty are my true passions, and it's a dream of mine to one day qualify as a make-up artist.  My eyebrows are the most important part of my life, I'm fairly sure, and I often suffer from eyebrow-envy.  I've had the same un-businesslike haircut and colour for nearly three years now, and using a straightener is about as technical as my hair styling skills get.  I also have zero fashion sense.  I love seeing how other people dress, but my life spirals out of control when I attempt to translate trends or looks onto myself.  I believe I have mastered the art of using gel liner.  I smell like Soap & Glory almost 100% of the time.

You can find and follow me on twitter, tumblr, and instagram.

And that's about as interesting as I get!  Thank you so much for reading, don't be afraid to comment, and see you again soon!