My Letter To Santa

Hi Dolls!

So this week's theme for 'Into the West Blogger Network' is 'My Letter to Santa' so here it is:

Dear Santa,

I hope you are keeping well and I'm sure you're super busy what with Christmas being less than one month away and all, but if you have a minute I'd appreciate if you could read my letter.

I have searched high and low to find things to add to my list this year, so please read my letter carefully.

1. Shoes - because there are very few things life can throw at me that a new pair of shoes won't fix. Plus I live by the motto 'Give a girl the right pair of shoes and she can conquer the world'.

River Island

2. A watch - if I'm going to conquer the world in my new shoes, then I had better be on time!

Dolls and Dreams

3. A dress - Mostly because I love this dress but also conquering the world probably requires clothes.

Penny Lane Boutique

4. A bag - to store all of world conquering tools such as my phone, make up and iPad...by the way I don't have an iPad so you might want to throw one of those in there too.

Cari's Closet

5. A jacket - in case it rains or gets cold (a.k.a pretty much 50% of the year in Ireland)

Spoiled Brat

6. A Mi Moneda Necklace - 'Carpe Diem' means 'seize the day' so you know, it will serve as my inspiration for 2014, and its really pretty AND it everyone who is anyone has one!

LilyWho

I hope Mrs.Claus is keeping well, I heard she was having issues with some of the elves?! Anyway I suppose after asking for so much from you, I 'd like to offer my services, have you thought about social media? I could teach you a thing or two!

Let me know,

Happy Christmas, see you on the 24th!

Love Megan

Recessionista HQ

xx

Ps, If you decide to hire me to take care of your PR and Social Media, I'm sure we could work out an easy form of payment, perhaps a car? I know it won't fit down my chimney but you can park it outside and just pop the keys under the tree! I'd love a Mercedes Benz ;)

(Image: Wikipedia.org)

Walk The Line

Hey girlies!!

This week I have decided to do a post about liquid eyeliners. Its one of the products I don't think I'd survive without, and, well, I'm sure if I can't live without it then it's got to be a staple for lots of other people too, and finding the one you love is a major priority. It's like finding the right bra! I have reviewed 8 liquid eyeliners (in black) and I have rated them out of 5. My top liner is my favourite budget one and the following is my favourite couture one. 

Enjoy ;)

Rimmel - Glam Eyes Professional liquid liner

This liner is my favourite of all time. Not only because of the price. Its so easy to use too. I've been using this since I was around 15 (and that's a long time) if it's been around that long it must be doing something right! And it is! I think with many products that you would use for years, you would get used to it and feel like a change, or want to see what else is out there but always go back to the one you love? That's this product for me. This liner has a brush tip. It glides on effortlessly with no need for corrections. Its long lasting and transfer and smudge resistant. Also easy on the pocket!

(Image: www.rimmellondon.com)

Priced: €7.19

Rate: 5/5

Clarins - Instant liner

This is my favourite couture liner. It's not even the priciest one here but it is from a designer cosmetics brand. I love the spongey tip, it makes application very easy. It drys very quick. It's very black (which I love). Its easy to do both thick and thin lines so its suitable for all looks. It doesn't smudge or transfer onto eyelids which I think is the most important factor and it lasts all day!

(Image: www.nordstrom.com)

Price: €25

Rate: 5/5

Estée Lauder- Zero Smudge Double Wear Liner

This brush tip liner is close favourite to the Clarins one. Its easy to use. Its also transfer and smudge resistant. Its one of my absolute favourite and I have it in my makeup kit for using on clients.

(Image: www.perfumeemporium.com)

Price: €27.50

Rate: 5/5

Dior Style liner- Intense liquid liner

Another of my favourites! Does exactly what you want it to. It's really black aswell. Love it :) Its felt tip and lasts all day!

(Image: www.allure.com)

Price: €33

Rate: 5/5

MAC liquid last liner

This is my least favourite of all the liners. I was so disappointed as I love love love MAC but this product was a complete let down. It was just messy. It irritated my eyes! Maybe the reason it was messy was due to that irritation. I'm not sure, but I couldn't wait to get it off and it ruined all my eye-shadow too.

(Image: www.beautylish.com)

Price: €21

Rate: 0/5

Rimmel Scandleyes Thick and Thin Eyeliner

I wanted to try this product after I saw it on Rosanna Davison's Instagram page. She was raving about it saying how amazing it was. Soooo I went out the next day and bought it. It wasn't at all how I expected it to be. Totally the opposite. It smudged into my upper eyelids and faded away after a couple of hours. I expected it to be amazing considering that she loved it and because it's made by the same people as my already favourite liner. I wouldn't recommend it.

(Image: www.beaut.ie)

Price: €6.99

Rate: 0/5

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

I really wanted to give this product a 5/5. It's really good! I love it! The results are fab it lasts all day it doesn't smudge or transfer...if you have eye-shadow on!? If you're like me and get days when you're fed up off having a full face of makeup and only want to wear some liner and mascara on your eyes then don't use this product on those days as it will smudge but its amazing every other day. It was going to be my favourite couture product until I discovered this flaw. I'm disappointed but it's okay I will still wear it!

(Image: www.feelunique.com)

Price: €17.50

Rate: 4/5

Catrice Waterproof Liquid Liner

This liner was recommended to me from a fellow blogger. She absolutely loves the product! I went and bought it and I have to say I'm not a huge fan. It went on lovely and I did love it for a while but it didn't last all day, took ages to dry and it smudged onto my upper eye lids. I was getting excited about this product as I thought it was going to be my new favourite but it let me down. I know its great value but I think of the saying "you get what you pay for" when I think of this liner.

(Image: www.coolspotters.com)

Price: €4.30

Rate: 3/5

Below I have posted a pick of my eyes before liner and then after and with lashes added for effect. It's amazing the difference eyeliner can make to your whole makeup look! Anyone can do it. It just takes practice, and practice makes perfect!

Tip:

To apply liner to the eye. The trick is to lay the applicator down parallel to the line of your eye. Don't hold it the same as you would a pen straight out from the eye. Small strokes are the best and start from the inner corner or middle of the eye and work your way out wards. If you make a mistake, use a q-tip, it will come in handy to wipe away any smudges.

Happy lining! ;)

Sammy

xx

Irish Tanning Companies Reviewed

Hi ladies!

My next post is for the "Into the West Blogger Network"

The theme is "All Things Irish" so I have decided to write a post about 2 very successful Irish tanning companies "Cocoa Brown Tan" and "TanOrganics" and some of my favourite of the products that they provide.

I thought that giving the time of year, with party season fast approaching it would be great to review the perfect Irish tanning products to give those pins a "natural sun-kissed ", "just been on holiday look."

I want to start with "TanOrganics"

The Kildare native Noelle O'Connor is the driven business woman and entrepreneur behind the brand. She pitched her self-tanning product to the dragons of "Dragons Den" back in the depths of the recession in 2010 looking for a €50,000 investment for the brand that's now worth millions. Not only are the products available in this brand, amazing for being Irish and for the story of how it all started, but because they are lovely products to use that really do work and give a lovely bronzed tan moisturised glow to our naturally pale Irish skin tones.

They have won numerous awards ie: "RSVP Beauty Award 2013" & "Social and Personal Best Buys". "Tan Organics Original" self tanning product doesn't leave that horrible curry smell and it doesn't fade away in patches that leave you looking like a sick Dalmatian which wins it for me alone. I have read mixed reviews about this product but I have to say I love it! The only downside is that it doesn't last as long as I would have liked.

It has ultra moisturising ingredients, hydrates the skin, gives a radiant glow, 100% natural organic and paraben free.

Rate 4/5

Price: €19.99

Available from: www.tanorganics.com

A sister product to this is the fabulous "Oil Arganic" which is intended to be a preparation for the tan but it is great as an everyday body moisturiser even when you're not tanning. I love this dry body oil spray especially because of how it absorbs so easily into the skin. You can dress straight after application and you won't feel a residue left on your skin like other oils. Gives a lovely radiant glow to your skin and instantly hydrates. It contains 8 different plant oils. Can be used on skin and even hair! Improves stretch marks also.

Rate: 5/5

Price: €24.99

Available from: www.tanorganics.com

Cocoa Brown Tan is another very successful Irish self-tan company. It was also set up by an Irish female entrepreneur. Marissa Carter who is a Blackrock native and owner of the already very successful Carter Beauty Salon, Beauty Editor of Irish Parent Magazine and Beauty Expert on TV3's Xpose, is the lady behind the brand. She developed "Cocoa Brown Tan" to meet her customers lifestyle needs which were to have a naturally bronzed looking tan. The products available are 1 hour tan , Night and Day Mousse and Tough Stuff Body Scrub. The 1 hour tan is an amazing instant tan product that you leave on for between 1-3 hours depending on how dark you would like it. Then you shower and within another 2-3 hours you have your gorgeous sunkissed tan. It claims it doesn't have a "biscuit smell" but don't expect to have a completely odourless tan, as in my opinion all tans have some sort of smell.

Rate: 4/5

Price: €7.99

Available: www.carterbeauty.ie and various chemists

The Night and Day mousse is my favourite of the 2 as it gives a darker tan. It's really easy to apply as it goes on dark. Doesn't take long to develop and lasts a few days too. It says it lasts 5 days but I'd say maybe 3-4. Its a great tan for that Christmas party if you want a flawless and dark tan.

Rate: 5/5

Price: €7.99

Available: www.carterbeauty.ie and various chemists

Love Sammy

Recessionista HQ

xx

All Things Irish - My Top 3 - Fashion Special

Hi Ladies,

We've got more exciting news!!! We have been asked by the fabulous Sinéad from Yummy Mummy Fashion and Lifestyle Blog to join her brand new network for Irish Bloggers! The idea behind Into The West Blogger Network is that each week a theme is selected and all the Irish bloggers that are involved write a post related to that theme, then they are all put together and promoted on one platform to make it easier for readers to find new blogs and posts to enjoy!

It is a really lovely way to unite bloggers and to help us to help each other. Blogging for some has turned into a sort of cat fight, stealing each others content and intentionally being nasty about one another when in reality, blogging is a platform for your personal views, stories and more, and so we aren't really in competition with each other.

 I love to read blogs and when I find a new blog that I enjoy, I certainly don't stop reading the other blogs that I previously enjoyed. If your work is your own and you write it yourself for your love of the topic or for your love of writing itself then that speaks to your audience and people will read more than one blogger's work. I love the idea of bloggers helping each other out and supporting each other in any way they can. 

Personally I have had nothing but nice experiences with bloggers such as Aoibhe Devlin from The Secret Obsession and Nicole and Shauna Spain from Flutterby Fashion Styling/Custom Flutterby all three of these girls are more than supportive and have given me great advice about blogging! I have also had the pleasure of meeting some other lovely Irish bloggers and I've had the same response from them all!

Anyway, without going on too much of a rant (bit late now)and sounding like an extra on the Miss Congeniality movie wanting world peace, lets get down to business. This week's theme for the Into The West Blogger Network post is 'All Things Irish' so I have decided to write a post about three of my favourite Irish Shops/Companies!

1. Flutter On By / Custom Flutterby

Nicole and Shauna Spain are a mother and daughter duo that have taken the industry by storm! Nicole has worked in the fashion industry for the past 12 years and daughter Shauna began hair styling at a young age, in 2010 they decided to come together to bring you, what is now one of the best out there, a blog that keeps you up to date with all things fashion, beauty, hair, celebrity, fitness, a very successful fashion styling school and if that wasn't enough they also own www.customflutterby.com a site that allows you to order customized levi's shorts, jackets, converse and more!

Their shorts are amazing and are favourites of tv babes such as TOWIE's Lauren Pope, Lauren Goodger, Billie Faiers, Jessica Wright even Bobby Cole has some of the men's ones! Corrie's Brooke Vincent is also a FlutterBabe!

TOWIE's Lauren Pope (above) and Corrie's Brooke Vincent (below) in Custom Flutterby Shorts

These girls are amazing as if they weren't busy enough blogging, teaching and making all their customized products, Nicole still works as a stylists and is regularly out on shoots and Shauna runs her own business Shauna Spain Hair Styling and they are often working as a team on shoots too!

There is no stopping these girls and we couldn't love them any more than we already do, make sure to follow them on twitter (@flutterbystylex @ShaunaSpainHair) and check them out on Facebook too!

2. Gorgeous VIP

Gorgeous VIP is a young, fresh, Irish, online fashion boutique that was set up by Jessica Kelly in 2011 (formerly known as DropDeadGorjess). Since then  Gorgeous VIP has fast become the first port of call for hundreds of style savvy young ladies in Ireland, the UK and now all over the world!! 

Jessica Kelly - Owner - Gorgeous VIP

Jessica saw a gap in the market for an online boutique that is inspired by the catwalks but with prices that suit practically every budget and the reputation she has built for herself is phenomenal!

Gorgeous VIP also sells a range of accessories!

Not only is Gorgeous VIP a one stop shop for dresses and accessories, Jessica also runs Gorgeous VIP Blog where you can read about all things fashion, beauty, celebrity and lifestyle! Jessica is also great for advice about all things fashion, beauty or blogging related so make sure to follow her on twitter (@GorgeousVIP_com) and be sure to like her Facebook Page too, she's definitely one to watch!

3. Fi Bourke Fashion

If you haven't already heard of Fi Bourke Fashion then you must be living under a rock! But fear not, we're here to fill you in anyway! Fionnuala Bourke founded FiBourke Fashion, and as she says herself her grandparents were costume makers ('the Bourkes of Dame Stree') making it a natural progression for her to begin making costumes! Now she is one of the best in the business and has made costumes for Katherine Lynch, Davina Devine and Victoria Secret (two of Dublin's most famous drag queens) Miss Ireland Rebecca Maguire, former X- Factor contestant Rebecca Creighton and many more!

Singer (and former X Factor contestant) Rebecca Creighton in a Fi Bourke Dress

The fabulous Fionnuala now makes the best custom made phone covers in the business, with prices ranging from €15 to €45 there is something to suit every budget! Fionnuala can create personalized phone covers for any phone along with passport covers, photo frames and more!

Here is an example of some of her amazing work!







Here at Recessionista HQ we love to find celeb style at high street prices, and with Fi Bourke fast becoming a celeb favourite, you can literally get almost the exact same phone covers as some of your favourite celebs (I say almost the same because if you are ordering your phone cover, it is meant to be custom so you should just use the celebs choices as inspiration and choose your own pieces).


Charlotte from MTV's Geordie Shore with her Fi Bourke Cover


Former Miss Ireland, Rosanna Davsion with her Fi Bourke Cover



Model Rachel Wallace with her Fi Bourke Cover


Corrie Babe Michelle Keegan with her Fi Bourke Passport and Phone Cover

TOWIE babe Maria Fowler posted her Fi Bourke Cover on Instagram this week!

So why not get ordering now for the perfect Christmas pressie to yourself or for you girlfriend, best friend or sister! Check out her facebook page facebook.com/fi.bourkefashion or follow her on twitter @fibourkefashion but hurry, Christmas orders must be in this week!


Although choosing my top 3 was very difficult as there are so many amazing Irish companies/services/brands/products I will hopefully get to showcase many more when our new site is launched!

Have a great Tuesday and keep an eye out for Sam's next beauty post coming later this week!


Meg
Recessionista HQ
xxx