Dior Tie Dye Collection Summer 2015 ~ The Cherry Picks ft Pink Sunrise, Coral Sunset & Cosmic Pink!

We've established I'm a beauty addict, right? The last 4 years of writing & pining about beauty haven't gone unnoticed I'm sure. Even with that level of grá though, there's still something a little bit special about a product (or two, or three) that haunt my thoughts until I possess it. Case in point: Dior Nude Tan Pink Sunrise & Coral Sunset blushes. Can I get an A.MEN!?

Dior Diorskin Nude Tan Limited Edition Tie Dye Blush Pink Sunrise €57 Here

I mean. Do I even need to? One glimpse at the tie dye beauty of Pink Sunrise and I was hooked. While our Travel writer, Corrina, has always been a Dior fiend (to the point of her credit card company calling her after a splurge in Vegas) but I was never bitten by the brand bug. That all changed when I saw the Tie Dye collection. 

Dior Pink Sunrise Nude Tan Tie Dye Blush, to give it its full title is as beautiful a blush as I've seen. A stunning array of mauve shimmer, smokey pink matte, tan matte & white shimmer, the world really is your lobster with application here. Concentrate your brush on the colour you'd like to see more of or swirl that sucker for the most beautiful rose pink effect. Ideal for paler skin tones and work day looks. 

It was only when I brought myself to actually use Pink Sunrise that I realised the colours are not spray on, they're right the way down to pan so swirl to your hearts content and just one blow will bring back it back to its former glory. It really is a thing of beauty. So much so that Coral Sunset haunted my ever waking minute. These blushes are seriously spendy at €57 but they're also limited edition - the two words that can strike fear into any makeup lovers' heart. 

Dior Diorskin Nude Tan Limited Edition Tie Dye Blush Coral Sunset €57 Here

Again. Just look at it. I erred when picking up Pink Sunrise because even though I am eternally drawn to peaches and corals, I genuinely believed that Coral Sunset would be more suited to a darker skin tone. I was wrong. 

Here were talking almost fluorescent orange shimmer, candy orange matte, warm coral matte and, again white shimmer highlight. It. Is. STUNNING. Application is exactly as with Pink Sunrise but I find you can build blush more easily with Coral Sunset. Not only that but I've even managed to forgo highlight when sporting these summer stunners. 

Just a word on the brush for application, you're given a densely packed kabuki for application and to be honest, it's the only let down of these blushes and this collection for me. The brush itself is far too small to create the airbrushed effect you're after with colours like these and I've found can concentrate the pigment and make the blush difficult to work with. It's a huge shame, as when paying luxe prices you'd expect luxe accessories. As travel contour brushes though, they're perfecto. 

Dior Diorskin Nude Tan Limited Edition Tie Dye Blush Coral Sunset Swatch - Pink Sunrise Swatch

Last but not least of my Cherry Picks from this collection is one of their limited edition lippies in Cosmic Pink. Again I couldn't pass up the design. Each of the four shades has a predominant colour with a contrasting colour in the CD logo that runs right through the bullet to give the shade an extra dimension. Cosmic Pink was made for me. 

 

Dior Cosmic Pink

The main bullet is a dusky pink with hot pink shot through. When it comes to spending serious sheckles on lipstick then I'm always sure that it's a colour I'll wear again and again (I'm not that blinded by beauty). You best believe I'll be wearing Cosmic Pink to the very, very last. From the iridescent heavy weight Dior tube to the moisturising bullet within, I love everything about this lipstick. Everything. 

DIOR Dior Addict Lipstick- Tie Dye Edition Cosmic Pink: €35 Here

While I appreciate this collection and Dior as a brand are on definitely on the high end of the spend spectrum, I truly believe these pieces are worth it. Whether it's a present for a special someone or a celebratory self gift for your very self, I'd highly recommend you get to see Dior Tie Dye before it inevitably flies off counter.   

What make ye of this collection? Are you tempted? 

Tom Ford's Adriano & Giacomo. Pictures, Swatches & Review!

Can we just take a minute? Just inhale deeply and behold the beauty that is Tom Ford lipsticks. I'll readily admit that I have never been swayed by Mr Ford's hella expensive products before but when I saw the Goddess of beauty blogging that is Temptalia swatch the entirety of the Tom Ford Lips & Boys limited edition collection. I knew I'd have to have at least one. That's how Adriano & Giacomo here became the newest boys in my life. 

There's just no getting away from the price with these miniature lippies, with each of the 50 strong wardrobe coming in at a hefty £26 (€33.49) for just 2g of product. TWO GRAMS OF PRODUCT. But this, dear reader, is where any beauty addict worth their salt will tell you, it's an illness. I HAD TO HAVE THEM. 

Of course I spent the two weeks before release on Stephen's Day googling and regoogling swatches. Hmming and hawing about which colours I absolutely, positively couldn't live without and that's how Adriano & Giacomo found their forever home in my stash. 

Before my Selfridge's order even arrived to Parcel Motel, reviews began to filter through the blogging world of disappointment with the product amount. Not with the lipstick itself, because Tom Ford but with the weenchy bullets that arrived for the money dispatched. I began to regret my purchases before these lads even arrived. But then they did. 

The packaging is classic TF black and gold and is surprisingly weighty for its size. Though the bullet weighs in at just 2g, gram per gram these are the same price as their full size counterparts. That news lifted my spirits immediately. Then came swatches, from the shaft of the bullet at first because who wants to ruin that TF embossing? Of course once I'd seen one swipe I wanted more and went for a full swatch each. 

Adriano is a bright coral with orange leanings but just enough pink to make it wearable for me. Completely opaque in one richly saturated swipe, I found it incredibly moisturising and soft for such a long wearing lipstick. I favour this one on evenings out with a subtle matte shadow look and lashings of mascara. It's as brave as I've been with lipstick and I'm loving it. 

Giacomo is a much pinker coral with a extremely subtle golden microshimmer. Again it applies like a dream and wears for hours on end, without the need for retouching or checking it's stayed in place. That doesn't stop me looking at it again and again as I'm wearing it though. It might just be my most perfect colour. 

So the question is thus, are they worth the spend? In my honest opinion? HELL YES. 

I've been carrying both little boys in my mála since they arrived a fortnight ago and I never thought I'd be saying this but I've already got my eye on 3 more, once my freelance sheckles clear (Guillermo, Richard & Alejandro).... (and maybe Cary) Wha? I can't help myself! 

You can pick them up exclusively on Selfridges here but they are limited edition and some colours have already sold out. That sentence is enough to give any beauty fiend sweaty palms right there. 

Tell me, would you part with €33 for 2g of lippie? Even more importantly, if money were NO object, which of the boys would you be buying? I'd love to know!

The Supermodel from Charlotte Tilbury ~ Special Edition

Dublin Twitter was abuzz last week with a visit from the MUA of the moment, Charlotte Tilbury as she jetted into the city to launch her Special Edition 11th Look, The Supermodel. 

Charlotte has cleverly designed her entire product line so that it can be grouped into Looks. You can choose the entire package to achieve the desired look or, like me, you can mix and match to personalize the final effect for yourself. This has taken a lot of the guesswork from make up buying and has helped make beauty counters a lot less daunting than before. 

I've made no secret of my grá for the high end line and you'll see it pop up on my Insta and my kisser more often than not but to say I was enamoured with the lady herself is an understatement. She spoke with more passion for her products than any beauty legend I've met thus far. Down to earth and instantly likeable, I will never read 'Darlings' in any other accent but hers from now on. 

What of the new Look though? 

Inspired by the heavenly supermodels of the 1990's and the trailblazing icons of today’s catwalk, from Linda, Cindy, Claudia, Helena and Naomi, to Kate, Cara, Jourdan, Joan and Miranda. The Supermodel is channeling the legendary makeup of these perfect, glamazon women who understand the power of the ultimate smoky eye paired with a sultry nude lip look.

Special Edition Supermodel Look: €250

As with most of Charlotte's line, the real concentration is on the eyes with this look and the stunning Fallen Angel palette fits the bill perfectly. The ultimate metallic smokey eye palette for the holiday season, the new formula can be used wet or dry to amp up the drama. 

The shades: pale golden pearl, antique silver, velvet black, and molten, metallic bronze can be used separately or together to create a look that can bring you from desk to dancefloor with ease. Ideal for the Christmas party season. 

Fallen Angel: €59The entire look contains: 
-The Supermodel: Luxury Palette in The Fallen Angel
- K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Confession
-Lip Lustre in Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (or L.S.D)
-Cheek to Chic Blush in Sex on Fire
-Rock ‘N’ Kohl Eye Pencil in Bedroom Black
-Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pillow Talk
-Full Fat Lashes Mascara.

Of course the show stopping way to shop this look is to buy the entire box in one go but €250 is a pretty large chunk of change to spend when the other products are more of a background to the luxurious eye palette. That being said, if you're dropping hints to your significant other about one kick ass gift this year, there's not enough neon signs in the world for me to point at this box. 

If buying for yourself though? Had there been a saving when buying kit and kaboodle I would have chased every one of ye out the door, card in hand. As it stands, I genuinely like every element of the Look but feel that there are other blushes and other glosses from the range that might suit different skin tones better. Half the joy is in the swatching, right? 

You can see the entire Look demonstrated by the lady herself below and make up your own mind as to the must haves and maybe leaves from The Supermodel: 

I'd love to hear your take on it?

Bourjois Summer 2014 - New Sunshiney Shades

When it comes to 'ahead of the curve' beauty and up to the minute products at affordable prices, French brand, Bourjois have it down. Each launch brings something that instantly enters my makeup rotation and often they don't ever leave until discontinued. Summer 2014 is no different, Bourjois have extended their shade range in several top offerings to add a little sunshine to our stash and they've done very, very well indeed. 

Bourjois Cream Blush: Sun 05 - €10.49 Here

If you're a cream blush lover yet haven't tried these little award winning pots of awesome then you, my friend, are missing out. Foolproof for even the most cack handed among us, this silky soft formulation can be applied with either stippling brush or fingers and built up to the colour desired. 

Pink Sunwear is one of the two summer shades, this corally microshimmer blush leans bronze on the skin and instantly gives a fresh faced glow. Can't. Get. Enough. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Grand-Cru & Nude-ist - €12.49 Here

The beauty world has been ablaze with the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet matte lip colours. Intensely pigmented and extremely long lasting, my aim in life (one of 'em) is to own every single shade of these Velvets I can. 

Grand-Cru is a dark burgundy/red and once blended in with my finger is as wearable a statement lip as I'm likely to brave. Nude-ist on the other hand, once applied directly elicited a Churchill 'Ooooh Yess' from me - I'm a big fan of muted lippies you see. Nude-ist and I are going to be firm friends for a long time to come. 

Bourjois Dynamint & Gold Shine €6.99 & €8.99

This release brings 5 new Waterproof liners with matte, glitter or pearlescent effects. Dynamint here is a fresh matte mint that glides on effortlessly and stays put. Perfect for festival or summer holiday make-up. 

Gold Shine is a stunning meltallic felt tipped liner that applies with absolute precision. It can be worn as either liner or all over the lid for a gorgeous metallic shadow look and just like Dynamint, once dry, it's not going anywhere. If you pick up just one summer Bourjois offering, make it this!

3D Lipgloss in Or Feeric - €10.49 Here

Gloss lovers will know Bourjois' 3D lipglosses of old. Or Feeric is a thick, clear gloss with lashings of gold microshimmer thoughout. Applied to bare lips, it gives a volumising effect. Used on the centre of the lips it can make lips seem more plumped or worn over your favourite lip shade, it add hours of gloop free shine. As glosses go, it's gorgeous. 


Now not to enable anyone, that doesn't need enabling, the entire Bourjois Summer range is available now on 3 for 2 from Boots. Not only that, if you are tempted to buy 3 products you'll also get their gift with purchase: 

Not bad, huh? 

Tell me, anything here tickle your summer pickle? 

New L'Occitane Limited Edition Frisson de Verveine

If there's one thing I look forward to each summer, aside from the fortnight or so of clement weather, it's the limited edition verbena release from L'Occitane. The summer time marks the start of the verbena harvest in Provence (home of L'Occitane) so it makes sense that we're spoiled with the bright, fresh products every year. In 2013 we had the minty fresh Verveine Menthe and this year we're all about cooling refreshment as Frisson De Verveine is set to hit stores in July. 

L'Occitane Frisson De Verveine: 100ml - €45

Frisson De Verveine is again a unisex scent, great news for gift buyers, not so much for me as I've been stashing this uplifting beaut from grabby teen mitts every single day. 

Smellophones needed!!

The sparkling, citrussy notes are rounded out with a base of musk and cedar wood that makes this EDT one that will appeal across the board. 

Fresh Shower Gel: 250ml - €17.50

As I do every single year, I'm going to recommend this fresh shower gel as an experience you need to have. Bubbles of air suspended in the citrus gel burst on contact to give an almost fizzy effect on the skin - glorious after a long muggy commute in the summer sun. 

Frisson De Verveine Icy Gel for Legs & Feet: 50mls- €23.50

Probably the stand out of the collection for me this year is the Icy Gel for Legs & Feet. This seriously cooling gel is dispensed using a cool metal roller ball for instant relief of tired calves and feet. 

I've been keeping this in the fridge for extra cooling sensation and I can't tell you the relief it's given me from sciatica and general summer cankle awfulness. If you know a lady of the pregnant variety, I urge you, buy her this. She will love you. Long time. 

The Frisson De Verveine cooling collection is rounded out by this refreshing little lot. While I'm not sure I'd ever take a bath to cool myself down so the salts aren't for me, both that hand cream and Refreshing Body Mist will be joining my desk summer stash toute suite. 

Frisson De Verveine is not due to hit L'Occitane stores until July but, if you're quick, you can nab the EDT online for the reduced price of €42 here. If you haven't decided on your summer scent yet, I'd advise you, strongly, to smell this first. 

What's your go to summer scent? 

Dr Hauschka Limited Edition Chorus Collection for Spring/Summer 2014

In a world seemingly gone mad at the slightest sniff of a nude palette, the launch of Dr Hauschka's limited edition Chorus range is a sight for bland eyes. Bold, bright shadows that shouldn't work but do and incredibly so are paired with more subdued hues and tones to give your make up stash the shimmer and matte Spring awakening it needs. 

This six piece strong edit has just hit counters and if you haven't yet sampled anything from this natural skincare and makeup line then I'd urge you to dip your toes with Chorus. 

At the heart of the collection is the matte & shimmer blush trio. Housed in a sturdy compact, smudge proof (WE LIKE) and sedate but for the holographic accents, this all in one product can be used for a wash of colour in a natural day time look or built up to get you from office to an evening out. 

Flattering on all skin tones there is nothing here not to like. Well pigmented and soft to the touch these colours can be used separately or swirled lightly together for an all over skin finish. 

The gloss is non sticky with a slight sheen. Scented of lavender, this and the neutral toned, slightly shimmering, scent free lippie are the ideal accompaniment to not only this collection but any strong eye look you might be hoping to achieve. As always with Dr Hauschka, you can be pretty much guaranteed that the natural ingredients used will have your pucker in top condition as it naturally nourishes lips throughout wear time (approx 2 hours). 

Both Eyeshadow Duos are not colours I would have ever thought to put together but just seeing Karim Sattar (Dr H International Gorgebag) use them on Roz on the evening of the launch was literally eye opening - as in my eyes widened as I saw the results he achieved with little or no effort using these shimmery soft and matte shadow couplings. 

The soft taupe kajal liner is precise enough to up the ante with your eye look but soft and smudgeable enough (if you work fast) to create a more muted effect. 

Let's be honest, Karim had a stunning canvas to work with but LOOK at those colours together

Available online here or in all good pharmacies and some health food stores

As you can see prices aren't that spendy, considering the quality of product on the counter. Made using all natural ingredients, Dr Hauschka's Chorus is naturally pretty on every skin tone and for that reason I'd nod my head toward a counter near you before it leaves us in late March. (Momma's Day, anyone?)

Are you a Dr Hauschka fan, anything here tickling your Springtime pickle? 

NOTD: Rimmel Precious Stones - Diamond Dust

I'm a firm believer in the term 'Glitter, it's not just for Christmas' but Rimmel have knocked it out of the park this holiday season with their Precious Stones polishes. This one pictured is Diamond Dust and I'm a little bit infatuated. 

Taken in dimmer light you can see that the sparkle is very wearable and isn't about to take the eye of anyone. But once the light catches this glitter, it truly comes to life. 

I used two thin coats over a base of Essie's Vested Interest (dark green) but the glitters in Diamond Dust are so densely packed into the charcoal jelly polish that you genuinely can't tell. I'd recommend a dark base regardless as worn alone, the polish can seem a little sheer, that and glitter is a pigdog for scratching the nail bed when being removed.  

As with all thick glitter polishes, Precious Stones is gritty to the touch so you'll need a topcoat to even it out, brighten the glitter (as if it needed it) and prolong wear time. Again, glitter is a fickle mare when it comes to chipping but two coats of this with a Seche Vite top coat meant I got three straight days with zero chips. I used my remover of choice, Cutex Moisture and it rubbed right off with no scrathcing or fluting about. 

There's two colours in the Rimmel Precious Stones line this and Ruby Crush (red & silver), they're €5.49 each but on 3 for 2 at the moment in Boots and you'll find 'em here. 

Are you a glitter fan when it comes to nails? Liking the look of Precious Stones? 

Lush Halloween Specials 2013

Even though I was delighted to catch a sneak glimpse at Lush's Christmas offerings a couple of weeks back, my inner voice is insisting on the natural order of things so before I show you Crimbo, I have to show you Halloween. There's 3 news additions for 2013, all for pocket money prices and all coming home with me on my next trip to the bath and body emporium. 

Pumkin Bubble Bar

First up, the Pumkin Bubble Bar, which I had previously misspelled. Turns out, it's a reiteration of the limited edition Mammy's Day 'Mumkin' Bubble Bar: 

"Crumble under a running tap to turn your bath water a vivid, rusty orange colour, creating mounds of sweet scented bubbles. With ylang ylang oil and orange flower absolute to leave you feeling uplifted and refreshed. His dairy free chocolate drop eyes and little liquorice hat complete the macabre look but he still can’t help looking cute!" (Vegan)

Lord of Misrule Bath Bomb

"This strange and magnificent bath treat, named after the ruler of the Pagan Feast of Fools, features a fragrance created by Gorilla Perfumer Simon Constantine. This bomb will slowly dissolve to reveal a wine coloured centre, with the added sweetness of the world’s first fair trade vanilla absolute. This is offset by the earthy scents of black pepper and patchouli oil. Arriving for Halloween 2013, the Lord of Misrule will be gracing us with his presence until Spring 2014." (Pssst You'll see Lord of Misrule feature in Christmas sets too!)

Soot Ball Bath Bomb

"Inspired by the ‘soot gremlins’ from Hayao Miyazaki’s film Spirited Away, this spooky little guy won’t turn your bath water black but instead fill it with a radiant golden lustre to make you feel as though you’re bathing in luxurious liquid gold. The olibanum (frankincense) is known for its calming and grounding effect on the mind, whilst the burnt caramel scent of tonka absolute and earthy sandalwood oil together create a sweet, spicy fragrance that wafts through the steam." (Vegan)

I'll definitely be picking up a couple of each for the little ladies in my life but, tell me, are you tempted by Lush Halloween 2013 specials? 

You'll find all of the above on the Lush.co.uk site here, which includes The Witches' Ball and Twilight Shower Gel but, truthfully, single packaged Lush bath bombs rarely make it across the Irish Sea intact due to their delicate make up, which is grand if you're buying for yourself and chucking it straight in the bath. For gifts though, I'd advise popping into your local shop.

RiRi Hearts Fall MAC Giveaway - Open Internationally!

You'd have to be living under a very large rock not to have seen the furore about this latest MAC collab this week. On Thursday at 11am RiRi Hearts Fall MAC collection launched online and hit MAC counters everywhere. That's when the madness began, sold out online within 30 minutes, there was a rush to get to MAC counters and get orders in for the high shine rose gold newest MAC limited edition edit. 

Well yours truly just so happened to get her mitts on my favourite two pieces of the entire collection, Talk that Talk (dark matte plum) AND RiRiWoo (a rich matte Hollywood red) and being the kindly soul that I am, I'm giving 'em away to you lovely lot. 

As ever, entry is simple and this time we're open internationally. IWe're using Rafflecopter so in just a couple of clicks you can skip the crazy rush and win yourself one of these gorgeous limited edition lippies. 

Winners will be announced October 19th. 

Best of Luck, everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway