Beauty - Shaaanxo Inspired Look: Collaboration No.2

So I mentioned in my last blogpost I am now doing collaborations with other bloggers I interact with on Instagram (@kissandmakeupnow_blog if you haven't already followed me!). I thought it would be a great way to gain new ideas and keep my blog fresh. If you haven't checked out my first collaboration, I'd appreciate it if you did HERE please.

This collaboration is with @arcoirisnumbatom  and is a look inspired by the New Zealand YouTuber Shaaanxo. If you don't know who she is, you need to climb out of whatever rock you've been hiding under and check her out! She is amazing, my very first blogpost was on an inspired look of hers, and I have a few more of her looks planned to do soon as well. Her Facebook page is HERE and subscribe to her YouTube HERE too.

This collaboration was supposed to go up on Monday, but between trying to sort things for university and my mum's birthday, it completely skipped my mind! But sure better late than never as they say!

@arcoirisnumbatom decided on a Shaaanxo purple eyes and nude lips, she put it up on Monday obviously. Please give her a follow and check her out!

For me personally I decided to do a look based on modern pin up look. I thought the ombre eyeliner looked so cool as you can see in the pictures of both that you can see below. I just took inspiration from Shaaanxo, I didn't copy her look completely.

So first off I moisturised using Simple Kind to Skin Light hydrating moisturiser (€5). When that was absorbed into my skin I used my Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour foundation in 100 Ivory (€9.99) as a base, concealed with Kubiss London concealer and set both with Catrice All Matt Plus setting powder in 010 Transparent (€3.49).

Shaaanxo used all eye pencils for the look and so did I. I obviously didn't use the expensive brands she used though. I used Essence Kajal Pencil in White (€2.20) from the start of the eye to two thirds in; used Essence Long Lasting Pencil in 'Tu Tu Turquoise' for the bright blue and used Essence Long Lasting Pencil in 'Deep Sea' for the navy. These eye pencils are both €2.20 in Penneys. The gel eyeliner I used was Rimmel Scandaleyes gel eyeliner (€7.20). I used New York Color Big Bold Volume Mascara (€3.20) to my upper eyelashes. For the rest of the skin, I used Technic blush (got it as part of a make-up set so don't know the individual price) to the apples of my cheeks - this is a light, very natural blusher. For lips, you could use any colour, but I decided to use New York Color Expert Last Lip Lacquer in Fidi Fuschia (€3.70), which also featured in my previous blog post.

Beauty & Fashion - May Bank Holiday Weekend Look of the Night

I went out on the Saturday night of the May bank holiday weekend, so wanted to do a  blogpost about my look I was wearing that night. Why I've only got round to writing it up now, I don't know!

The play suit I'm wearing is from a boutique from my local town called Guna Nua (new dress in Irish, for my overseas followers!). Unfortunately, I got this play suit as a present a few months back so it's not available anymore (boo!). But I would highly recommend you ladies to check their Facebook page out here. I would love to buy all that is in their shop, put simply! The delivery is free to anywhere around Ireland and the UK too, and shipping worldwide isn't too expensive either (€8-10).

These metallic heels I have already mentioned in my previous fashion blogpost (flowers and metallics). I love them! This was the first night I had worn them, and they while my feet hurt at the end of the night, they're not overly uncomfortable to walk in. I got them in Penneys, reduced to €7 from €12.

The tan I was wearing was Cocoa Brown Day to Night tan. I've been meaning to finish off the blogpost reviewing this tan, and also the Cocoa Brown scrub, so hopefully that will be up on the blog very soon.

The make-up look is very natural, so it's very similar to other make-up routines I've used before. The only difference is I used Max Factor Skin Luminiser foundation (€15.99). This is my night-time foundation, because it is full-coverage, it just doesn't budge, and gives my skin a really flawless effect. My shade is in 40 Light Ivory. The smokey eye was created using Catrice Absolute Nude Eyeshadow palette (€5.49, Penneys), the liquid eyeliner used was Essence Liquid Ink Eyeliner (€2.49, Penneys) and the lipgloss is Catrice.

My hair is completely natural as well. This is my natural curly hair. No mousse, no gel, no nothing. This is the first time in ageeees it's been like this for nights out!

Hope you enjoyed this look! x

Beauty - Natural Eyes with a Bright Lip: Collaboration No.1

So to make my blog a bit more exciting and to support other bloggers, I've decided to start doing collaborations with other bloggers on Instagram. There will be one each week for the next few weeks. If you haven't followed me on Instagram HERE  what are you waiting for?! This is my first collaboration with a lovely beauty blogger called @tangram_. Her Instagram is HERE , you definitely should follow her, she's beautiful on the inside as well as the outside and so talented too!

For our collaboration we decided on a really summery day time look  - consisting of natural, low key-eyes (with some glitter - sure why not!) and a super eye-catching bright lip - inspired by the beautiful YouTuber Kathleen Lights. If you don't know who she is, you should definitely check her out! I follow her on Instagram and am subscribed to her videos on YouTube, what I really like most about her is she uses mostly affordable products and her videos are super simple to follow too, and I am already planning on having another make-up look inspired by her uo soon on my blog! A link to her channel is HERE and her Instagram is HERE.

Anyways this look is so nice - neutral, simple eyes teamed with a bright pink lip. It's definitely too subtle for me to wear to a night-time event. Just to say, this look is not for the beach, it's not that natural! It's if you were going to - let's say - a  summer day-time event.

Most of the products I've used, I've used before in other blog posts. The amount of make-up I have at the moment is far too much, and many of the products I have bought have never been opened, so I need to use them before I buy more things.

So first off, I washed my face using Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel foaming wash, (€4.79). My skin is super duper dry at the moment, so I moisturised my face using my Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Light moisturiser (€5) in three thin layers. I've done a review on these two products HERE as part of my skincare routine.

I used the green in my concealer palette (€5 from aliexpress.com) to hide the redness around my nose and on my cheeks. As this is a very natural look, I used Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour foundation (€9.99) using my Penneys beauty blender (€1.50). I've done a review on this foundation HERE, and while it isn't a make-up product that lasts all day for someone like me who has combination skin, it is very good for a day time look for a few hours. I used Kubiss concealer in No.2 Medium (€2, local chemist) where needed and set that and the foundation with Catrice All Matt Plus shine-control powder in 010 Transparent (€3.49, Penneys).

I created a very subtle smoky eye using the three shades on the left of the Catrice Absolute Nude eyeshadow palette (review of this product is HERE), €5.49. I applied the lightest colour on my browbone and inner corner of my eyes, the medium shade on my eyelid and the darkest eyeshadow shade on the outer edge and blended them together. To brighten up the look even more, I patted some of Catrice Liquid Metal Eyeshadow in the shade Under Treasure (€4.49), from my inner eye to nearly half way over the eye.

As this is a summery day time look, I skipped false eyelashes and went straight for mascara. The one I decided to use was NYC Big Bold Volume by the Lash Mascara (€3.49). My natural eyelashes are tiny and short, so that's why it hasn't come up as impressive as I would have liked.

For eyebrows, I filled them in using Penneys PS Beauty browkit (€2); I've reviewed this product (along with a  few other Penneys own brand make-up products) HERE.

As for the rest of my face, it's very natural again, and as it's a summery look, I used a little of Catrice Sun Glow Shimmering Bronzing Powder (€4.49) and a teeny tiny bit of Catrice Defining Blush in Sunrose Avenue (€4.49 - review HERE). I highlighted my skin using Catrice Prime and Fine highlighting powder. (€4).

The lips are really the standout star attraction of this look. I love how everything else is very natural and the lips are just BAM! You could choose any lip colour you want, even a nude lip would look really nice with this look. In the inspired look she's wearing lipstick but I think a lipgloss is more fun for summer, so I wore the unbelievable New York Color Expert Last Lip Lacquer in Fidi Fuchsia. I love everything about this product - the beautiful shade, the way it doesn't taste yukky on my lips, and the fact it stays on for yonks! Oh and it only set me back €3.70 too!

My hummingbird top is from Penneys - from a few years ago though - in case anyone's wondering.

Fashion & Beauty - Flowers & Metallics OOTD

This quilted flowery dress is from Penneys a few years ago. It was actually in the reduced sales items rack, I forget the cost of it off the top of my head but I think it was only €5. It is originally a shift dress and is a size 12. As it looked baggy on me when I first tried it on, I put a belt around my waist, you can get a belt just like it in Penneys for as little as €2.

The tights are basic ones from Penneys, they're €3.

But onto the shoes. Oh my God! I would have never thought myself to be a shoe-girl but I'm absolutely IN LOVE with these shoes. I got them in Penneys (obviously!), for only €7! They were reduced from €16. I love them as they have a strap on them. I really struggle to walk in heels without a strap on them, so these are perfect, and while they are high, I don't feel they are that high. I mean, I am still heads and shoulders above most people while wearing them, but not crazy tall wearing them!

The black hat is from aliexpress.com, and I've worn it in many other blogposts, I love it. It was €6.

I actually did my make-up before sorting an outfit, and was randomly trying out some new products. I was trying out Boots Seventeen Skin WOW! 3 way Highlighter on my skin (review is to come on that product!), and then ended up trying out a look by a talented YouTuber called Shaaanxo, in which she wore gold eyes (I used Catrice Absolute Nude Eyeshadow palette, €5.49), and this purple lipstick. I know a lot of people wouldn't be keen on wearing this lip colour, but I actually really like it and felt like it went with this look so much. Both the purple lipliner and lipstick are both Primark (Penneys in Ireland) brand actually. The lipliner was only €1.50 and the lipstick was €2. They are both all kinds of amazing.

The other bits of make-up I used was Primark Beauty liquid foundation (€3) - another unbelievably good quality product for the price (see my review HERE); Boots Seventeen Define and Conquer Contour Kit (I've also reviewed this product - see HERE!), W7 Absolute Lashes mascara (supposed to be a dupe for Benefit They're Real! Lashes, blogpost on this is to come!), Essence Liquid Ink Eyeliner, and Primark Beauty browkit (review HERE).

My hair, if anyone noticed, was just freshly dyed the day night before I done this blogpost. It's really light blonde now, and I love it. There's often special offers on this ombré dye so definitely check it out! I've done a review on my personal hair care routine and how I got the ombré look HERE.

Lifestyle - May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

Rewind back to this time last year when I was in my final year of college. I had just handed in my dissertation on the Attitudes and Knowledge of students in my college to Mental Health and Mental Illness and was feeling disappointed by the predominately negative attitudes to mental illness among the student population.
I wanted to do something to lower the negative attitudes around the issue as some people seem to forget that we all have a mental health, and it it needs to be nourished and looked just as well - if not more - than the physical health, and it was then I got in touch with an Irish organisation called See Change. They are a national charity who work hard to raise awareness of mental illness as it is the belief that the more people know about the issue, the less frequent these negative attitudes and opinions will occur, and frustratingly enough, receive little funding whatsoever by the Irish government (because, like I've mentioned, Mental Illness is just not thought of as the same way as physical illness even though 1 in 4 people will suffer with a mental illness at some stage in their lives). They rely on volunteers completely, so I went along to their training day in Sligo which taught us how to start a conversation with people about mental health and openly discussing it.

May is Mental Health Awareness month, so it means it's a huge month for See Change's campaign to promote open discussion of mental health. Throughout the month, hundreds of local and national events will take place as part of the Green Ribbon campaign. This social movement, in it's third consecutive year, is led by partner organisations plus volunteers who attend training days like I have mentioned above. Many of the volunteers who attend training days also have some real-life experience of mental health problems ready to share their own stories to help others and end the stigma that surrounds the issue.

You can support See Change's stigma-reduction campaign by picking up your green ribbon at major Irish rail stations at at every Citizens Information Centre and MABS office nationwide throughout the month, and by taking part in National Time To Talk Day on Friday May 15th by simply making the time and space for a conversation about mental health with friends, family and collegues. See Change have set themselves the goal of having over 500 social media users similtaneously posting about the Green Ribbon campaign on May 15th, for more information please see here:
https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/25702-national-timetotalk-day-2015. 

Other ways to support the initiative:

• Wear the Green Ribbon on your Twitter or Facebook (or both if you have both!) profile picture in 3 super simple clicks (like I have done on the right!). To do this: please click HERE.
• Get a Green Ribbon banner to use as your business page Facebook cover page (download HERE).
• Get a Green Ribbon banner to use as your personal Facebook page cover photo (download HERE).
• Get the Green Ribbon email signature (download here, or if you're using Gmail, simply add this URL to your signature settings: http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y350/SeeChangeSorcha/Email%20Banner%201_zpsc39xxpga.jpg​​​
• If you're a blogger like myself, add the green ribbon bloggers badge to your blog (download HERE).

We often hear that we need to talk more about mental health and the simple Green Ribbon provides a practical way of turning that into action. The 500,000 people who will be wearing Green Ribbons this May will not only be showing their support for the campaign but also leaving the door open for conversation. For someone who might be going through a tough time, just knowing that they don't have to avoid the subject with you can make all the difference. You don't need to be an expert to start talking about mental health or be expected to have and know all the answers. You can go to the volunteer training day like I did, but you don't have to. I just went purely because I wanted to find out interesting ways to spark the conversation among college students.
Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is to let someone know you are there for them and simply listen! 

1.6 million conversations were started last year during Mental Health Awareness Month, so this year See Change are hoping there will be more, and with everyone's help it is possible!!

To find out more about See Change's inspiring work, please visit their website (www.seechange.ie) here. 

Fashion & Beauty - Clashing Prints Outfit of The Day

Clashing prints are a very big trend at the moment. I find they are more wearable however if both prints are in the same colour palette, such as black and white like I have done here.

The black and white dress is AX Paris, but like the navy version of this polka-dot dress that I wore in this blog post HERE, and like the navy version, I also got it in a charity shop in Dublin for €5!

The coat belonged to my sister, she didn't like the print on it anymore, so she gave it to me! It is by Jane Norman, and was quite expensive at the time. It is five years old and still excellent quality.

The brown ankle boots are Penneys, I've mentioned them in previous blog posts. I bought them just before Christmas for €15.

The tights are basic black ones from Penneys, they cost €3.

The black hat is from Chinese wholesale website aliexpress.com, I've also mentioned it in previous blog posts. It cost €6.

Make-up wise, it's very similar to what I have done before. The foundation I used was Rimmel London Lasting Finish 25 Hour foundation, and I've reviewed it on the blog before, see HERE. I applied that using my Penneys beauty blender (€1.50). It gives a very natural result.
The liquid eyeliner I used was Essence Liquid Ink Eyeliner (€2.89, Penneys).
The red lipstick is Seventeen Stay Pout lipstick. (€5.69, Boots).
The rest of the make-up routine I have already mentioned before in many other of my blog post.

For hair, I washed and conditioned it before applying V05 Heat Defence Spray (€5, Boots) and blowdried it straight, then straightened it again using my GHD straightener.

P.S. Apologies for my Michael Buble calendar photobombing in the background ;-)