Cherry Pick of the Week ~ Penneys Individual Lashes ~ Killer Peepers for Pence!

In the beauty world there are things that I usually shy away from. Think hair extensions, overdrawn lips & false lashes. It's not that there's anything wrong with any of the above, they've just never been for me. As far as lashes go that may have something to do with one unfortunate encounter with a Groupon. My pal and I went in to the opening of a lash bar and I opted to go first, while she ran to the loo. Her eyes widening to saucers when she saw me reincarnated as Daisy the blinking cow were enough to put me off for life. Enter Penneys Individual Lashes. 

My First Foray into Etsy: Bargalicious Bling!

For the longest time I've associated Etsy with handmade treasure trove and personalised prettiness in my mind but had never actually taken the time to log on and check out the bajillion Etsy shops and their respective wares. When a newsletter from the self billed 'World's most vibrant handmade marketplace' made it into my inbox though I was drawn in. (Yep, I'm a marketer's dream). 

You'll find anything and everything you can imagine from sellers worldwide but naturally I was drawn to the jewellery (It ALWAYS fits) and was completely spoiled for choice. I eventually settled on just two pieces from the same seller (BestQuality666) and was completely blown away when they arrived from Japan 10 days later. 

First up, this literally stunning neck piece with intricate detailing and chunky brushed gold effect chain. It's heavy weight and gorgeously bright with each of the glass settings cut to catch the most light. 

I've already worn this over a simple black t shirt and jeans and had 5 compliments within the first 30 minutes. I. LUB. IT. 

The only thing I Lub more? The price! This stunner set me back just €11.97 - for realsies.

ELEVEN. NINETY. SEVEN

Next are these beautifully intricate Summer bright earrings. I'm a fiend for unusual and unique earrings and these shell flower glass gem stone drops are no exception. 

Beautifully intricate and eye catchingly bright these set me back a mere €2.90, that's right, less than three euro. I would have paid up to ten times that. 

Aren't they dinky? Again I've been receiving so many compliments with these little beautys. They're so easy to wear and complement every colour featured (that's a lot) but also contrast against white beautifully. 

One word of warning when buying with Etsy that I've found though, both of these picks have already trebled in price from the same seller! I can only imagine that there's been a lot of interest so she decided to up her asking price and who can blame her. Because of this I'd advise buying a bargain as soon as you spot it - it's certainly what I'll be doing in future. 

Are you an Etsy fan already? I'd love to see some of your stash if so. If not you can peruse the prettiness here - I accept zero responsibility for melting Lasers by the by... (including my own). 

Real Techniques Limited Edition Duo Fiber Brush Collection - Review!

I mentioned at the start of the month that I'd managed to bag the Real Techniques Limited Edition Duo Fiber brush collection for a bargainous €11.36 WITH delivery from iHerb.com. 

They arrived at my office 7 days later so how have we been getting on since then? 

'Duo Fiber' brushes aren't duo fibre at all - They're just synthetic

First impressions of this collection is how sparse the hairs are in comparison to regular Real Techniques brushes (some of my all time favourites).  The handles are white aluminium with this collection, making them lighter to use, it also means they stand out in a sea of black handles. 

I was a little dubious as to how effective they'd be once I realised that their density was lacking but pleasantly surprised that they add a new dimension to my make up collection for that very reason. 

First up the Face Brush is ridiculously soft and the sparsely held synthetic fibres make the ideal brush for finishing powders when setting your make up. 

The powder seems to be drawn to the fibres as tapping the brush doesn't release the excess yet when applied to the face you still manage to get an airbrushed effect as the powder skims over the skin. 

The Contour Brush is more densely packed than the Face Brush but as you can see reacts similarly with powder. Flatter than most contour brushes this fits into the hollow of the cheeks (I have them, honest) and buffs contouring colours beautifully. 

I've also used this one for blush and the effect is the same, airbrushed loveliness. 

As I've said the original Real Techniques brushes are some of my all time favourites, not least because of their eye collection but this feathery soft Duo Fiber Eye Brush is an absolute cracker for blending out and crease work. 

Again, the brush is shaped perfectly so that it sits on the crease of the eyelid and sweeps across gently. The trick here I've found is to let the brush do the work for you. Add more layers of shadow for a deeper pigment but never more than gently press onto the skin. 

So overall would I advise you pick these up? Abso-lutely. I have nothing like them in my collection and I don't imagine you do either. Handcut and 100% cruelty free, there's not a lot not to like. 

I'll go back to the main clincher though, these are professional quality brushes for a pittance in price. My order came from iHerb.com, they've given me a share code for all first time orders RLL469 that will get you between $5-$10 dollars off your order. Of course if you wanted to stock up on other bits that'd be your chance to do so as the site appears to be full of bargains. I stopped looking - pesky kids and their need to eat every day (selfish). 

If you've managed to bag a set of this collection I'd love to hear your thoughts? 

Real Techniques Duo Fiber Brushes - Bargain Price from iHerb.com

I've a bit of a bargain watch for you this morning. I caught a glimpse of these new limited edition Duo Fiber brushes from Real Techniques a couple of months back but they've yet to be released in the UK or Ireland. 

Because I'm a huge fan of the Real Techniques brushes I've bought so far I knew I'd have to get my mitts on these. The three brushes boast ultra-plush, synthetic taklon bristles, they're hand-cut and 100% cruelty-free with white aluminum handles to make them lighter than standard wooden brushes. 

Directly from the Real Techniques site, this collection will set you back $20 but from iHerb.com you're going to get a better bargain than that.   I managed to order the collection for $19 but availed of the 20% sale at the time and a first time customer code (like the one below) and these beauties are en route to me for a nifty $14.99. 

That's just €11.38 including delivery!  

Orders are shipped via Global Priority Mail by DHL, for this order I was charged $4, considering I was charged $15 (!) for 3 bottles of nail polish from 8ty8beauty only last week using the same mode of delivery, that's a definite bargain. 

Because I made this order they gave me a personal iHerb gift code to share with you lovely peeps. Enter RLL469 in the promotional codes box just before purchase. 

New customers receive $10 off their first order of $40 or more, or they can take $5 off orders less than $40. Just a quick squizz through the site will give you an idea of the other bargains on offer. 

The not so great news is that once these puppies go on sale you've got to order fast. They've sold out three times since I bought them. They're out of stock at the minute but you can opt to be notified when they're back in on the site. 

I'll have a full review up once I get to play with them but in the mean time lemme know if you manage to bag a set. Yesh?

It's BEE-Ginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas: Burt's Bees Christmas Gift Ideas

You might remember that Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm very easily made it into my top 3 of all balms a little while back. The story of the company's set up and continual growth makes for very interesting reading as does their commitment to keeping natural products natural. It's no wonder then that their products are on many a HG list, not just mine for balms. 

This Christmas season Burt's Bees have taken the sting (geddit?) out of gift buying with their beautiful pre made gift sets. If you're a natural product lover or buying for one then there's without doubt something here that'll float your boat at a price you'll like. 

I've picked out a couple of my favourites to give you a look but there's many, many more available in pharmacies, health stores, Avoca and Easons (Yes, Easons) nationwide.  

Burt's Bees Basics

Burt's Bees Tips & Toes

Burt's Bees Basics comes in two sets:

• Balm & Hand salve
• Balm & Lemon Cuticle Creme

Burt's Bees Tips & Toes contains everything you'll need for hand and foot care with:

• Almond Milk Hand Cream
• Hand Salve
• Honey & Grapeseed Hand Cream
• Coconut Foot Cream
• Lemon Cuticle Cream
• Replenishing Lip Balm

The brand have very kindly sent me the Burt's Bees Travel Basics set so you can have a looksee at exactly what's contained below. Lovely, right?

Burt's Bees Travel Basics Gift Set

Burt's Bees Favourites: Pomegranate 

And my final pick of the crop that just so happens to be the most expensive of the lot is the Favourites gift set in pomegranate that contains: 

• Cranberry & Pomegrante Sugar Scrub
• Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Lotion
• Pomegranate Lip Balm
• Body Wash Puff
• Body Bar

What do we think? Could they BEE any cuter? (OK, I'll stop now)

Psst: Just a quick heads up,

I stumbled across BeautyFeatures.ie

with several of these sets at reduced 

cost! If you like 'em, buzz over there quicksmart

(Swear that's the last one)

Have You Made the Prudent Purchase Yet?

When the lovely gals at Prudence approached me about featuring their newly made over September/October issue it really was a no brainer. Prudence, you see, is the only magazine that I resubscribe to, without fail. 

The reason(s) I do that?

• It's 100% Irish
• Their bumper beauty sections mean there's always up to the minute products
• The advice given is always completely honest and unbiased
• The style pages give the perfect mixture of high street and high end fashion
• Their fashion features not only predict trends but make them accessible to every purse
• There's always a great mixture of culture, courses for many interests and pop culture 
• The ethos behind Prudence is just that, Prudence, the spotlight is always on money saving and savvy advice. Who doesn't need that?

Now this month, there's more reason than ever for you to forego just one coffee and pick up this issue: 

• The new redesign is chock full of bright, glossy photos and up to the minute info
• A whopping 30 fashion pages of affordable Autumnal looks
• A chance to attend an exclusive movie screening of Ruby Sparks (it looks hilarious)
• Two readers will win a very generous €250 for their autumn wardrobe
• A huge 20% voucher off gorgeous nail brand Ciaté that can be used for 6 weeks!

As I've said I automatically resubscribe every year for both my Sis & I, that means we get Prudence a couple of days before it hits shelves, which I love. The annual subscription is only €15, which always comes with a fantastic reader offer (this month it's Avène Eluge Eye Cream worth €35). If you're stuck for a gift for a friend or family member, you really can't go wrong with a gift that keeps on giving, such as a magazine subscription. 

Check out Prudence.ie for more information, hints, tips and fantastic competitions and do be sure to let me know what you make of this issue. 

Estée Lauder - Blockbuster Bounty

As some of you may know I depleted my Boots points last week in favour of Estée Lauder's blockbuster of gorgeousness. Unfortunately I haven't hared home quick enough from work all week to catch the daylight & take the pics. Today I managed to get some.

Fancy a goo inside? Course you do...

First up, exhibit A M'Lud. My (latest) empty bottle of Sensuous, my signature scent (I always feel as though I should be wearing twinset & pearls when I say that). If you haven't tried this, please do. It's the most beautiful musky, citrussy scent. I've never once worn this without compliments. Aaand it smells like CherrySue (Win/Win). This one is completely empty, thus proving my NEED to avail of this offer, k? K. 

Original pic of all the loveliness

4 fantastic quality brushes. I love these with the muchness always my favourite part of EL's offerings

18 pure colour eyeshadows, mattes, shimmers and satins. The consistency of these is nothing less than velvet. Colour pay off is great dry & I haven't even attempted them wet. (Yet).

This Gentle Eye Make Up remover is tough enough to remove They're Real! That's my kinda gentle.

Here we have 3 very wearable shades of lipstick, coming from a non lipstick wearer. Top to bottom are: Candy (Shimmer), Exotic Orchid (Shimmer) & Barely Nude (Creme). They'll definitely be featured in my future looks. 

Oh man I love the gloss. 2 Shimmer Glosses in Electric Ginger and Orchid Passion. They're long lasting and delicious. Lightly stickier than your average EL gloss but not too much so. Electric Ginger hasn't been off my kisser since purchase.

The beautiful Deluxe All Over Face Compact. I can't look too closely at this one as it's a prize (including the brush) in mah current Facebook Only Giveaway. I sicken myself.

A Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara with a black & brown Soft Smudge Pencil. I have to admit these pencils aren't very soft or smudgey. I'm thinking they'd have to be heated slightly for best effect. 

And a handy Colour Stylist Look Book for attempting simple but effective looks using your new bounty.

Last but fo' sho' not least, the redness. One huge red patent vanity case with a matching purse and laaaarge mirror to go with. To be honest I'm not 100% sure what I'm going to do with these, I'm thinking future Giveaway, for the purse and mirror at least...

So what do we reckon? This 'gift' is €69 with any Estée Lauder fragrance purchase but contains products to the value of €360. Great deal in my opinion, considering I will use the majority of it (& regift the rest)

Are you tempted? 

NYC - Cheaper than Chips but just as Tasty!

Have you seen the latest from NYC budget beauty brand yet? If not, you're in luck!

I had the very lovely honour to be invited along to the swanky Morrison during the week to check out some of their new range and celebrate the fact that this fab affordable brand is now available in Penney's. Be afraid, Essence, be very afraid.

Some of the new After Dark range

First up we have the new shadow palettes IndividualEyes, which cater specifically for your eye colour. Green, Blue or Brown. These palettes for €3.99(!) contain all you need for a custom smokey or more subtle look. They include a primer and highlighter and a nifty how to guide on the back of the box for the less shadow abled amongst us. 


IndividualEyes are only available in Ireland and a definite must have if you're wanting an affordable way to play about with the 'Colour me Beautiful' ways of Smashbox et al for complimenting shadows with súiles. Have to say I likes 'em. The Gals over on Beaut.ie managed to get a couple of shots of  a finished look using them so be sure to check that out. 

Next, the much anticipated Creme Blush Stick. These come in two shades (Plaza Pink & Big Apple Blush) for €3.49. They're a soft and blendable formulation that's really easy to work with. One swish for a subtle colour or they work brilliantly as a blush primer for your own favourite powder blush. Big Apple Blush + Benefit's Coralista = Da Bomb. Fact. 

The ShowTime Glitter Eyeliners looked a little bit glittery for my office wearing ways but once applied are nothing like I'd thought. The silver glitter particles act more as a highlight than all out bling. Of course they can be built up & smudged for a more dramatic look but for now this navy baby is replacing my beloved Essence pencil. 

Lip stain swatches, the morning after the Evint! (Purposely not washed, naturally)

Finally from my press bag of pretty we have the Lip Stains in Persistent Pink & Berry Long Time. There's great colour payoff here. I'm not a huge fan of lip stains, having been let down badly by Revlon and a puckered mess by Smashbox but these I'm liking. The lighter pink two days later did seem a little dry but the colour is still very pretty and wearable. 

The fact that nothing in the range is over €3.99 is a huge bonus considering the quality of product for the price. I know I'll be picking up a polish or two when they hit the Pennés shelves. (wha? It's me!) You could easily fill a makeup bag for €20 and what girl doesn't want that kind of stocking filler, eh?

So what do we think, lovelies? Anything here catch your eye?