September Favourites!

So I know it's been a minute since I've blogged but I stupidly signed myself out then forgot my password but none the less I am back and have lots of amazing blogs planned. Even though we're a good 2 weeks into October I've decided to share my September favourites anyway. This definitely won't be a monthly thing because I am such a creature of habit and once I find something I love I use it religiously but on the off chance I find several new products I love all in the same month, you can expect a little favourites blog. So now, finally, onto what I've been loving this month...

Makeup - 

Pippa Palette - Lulu highlighter. So I think it's pretty obvious from the picture below that I have an undeniable love for this highlighter from the Pippa Palette. It is the most amazing highlight for pale skin, the colour really gives it the natural look. Praying to God that this is released as a single so I can stock up. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills - Dipbrow Pomade in Auburn is possibly the best thing to ever happen to my brows! I have an entire review on this product from months back and this is still a favourite and a daily used product. 

Here you can see my favourite highlighter and brow product. The sheen across the tops of my cheeks, yup that's Lulu & those perfectly shaped brows are all thanks to Anastasia. 

Limecrime - Velvetine in Riot is my go to for a bold lip. I love these Velvetines for overdrawing my lips. This is a deep red with burgundy undertones that also dries matte which adds to the intensity. This product is long lasting and very durable. 

PS Love individual eyelashes have been a top pick for a lot of bloggers and MakeUp Artists since they first hit the shelves and rightly so. Althought I don't use the glue that come with the lashes they are a steal for just €1.50. The lashes come in clusters of 3 individual lashes which make them a lot easier to put on. When putting the lashes on I use duo glue and taking my tweezers I dip the lash band into the glue then place the as close the the lash line as possible, starting from the outer corner working my way in.

Urban Decay - All Nighter Setting Spray is marketed as a setting spray which prevents makeup settling into fine lines and avoids caking. It is meant to make your makeup look fresh last up to 16 hours, and boy does it live up to the description. It is perfect for using especially in humid climates, spritizing this over your face will cool your skin while setting your makeup in place. 

Hair - 

Back in August I got micro bead extensions and since then I've been making a conscious effort to keep them nice and healthy and shiny looking. 

Boots Coconut & Almond Leave in Conditioner / Intensive Hair Mask have been the perfect combination. Once a week I use the intensive hair mask and every time I wash my hair after towel drying I spray the leave in conditioner then style as normal. It's so important to keep your extensions moisturised because they are cut from the root so the hair isn't being nourished by your natural oils like you own hair is. Using these products have ensured no split ends and minimal heat damage showing. 

Pin Curling has been a God sent since having my extensions and I've don't it a lot this month. It's so simple to do with amazing results. I use my Tangle Teezer to brush through my hair before curling and as I curl each section I simply pin the curl to my head and let it set. Generally the longer you leave your hair to set the better the curl holds but I've found if I spray with hairspray before curling they will be okay to take out after about an hour( roughly the length of time I take doing my makeup for an event or night out). After I take all the pins out, I take my Tangle Teezer again and brush out the curls and I'm left with big bouncy curls that will last perfectly until the next day. This hair style is perfect for an all day or even two day event. 

Music & Movies - 

Legend was released at the start of September and as soon as I heard Tom Hardy I was in the que! Legend is based on the true story of The Kray twins, two East London gangsters in the 1940/1950's where Tom Hardy plays both characters. During parts of the film you actually forget it's one actor playing both roles, but just imagine two Tom Hardy's! Word of warning, there are fairly violent parts throughout, as you can imagine for a film about London gangsters, it's definitely not for the faint hearted but I really enjoyed it. 5/5

Ella Eyre has been around for a little while but recently I came across her cover of "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off" and her voice had me hooked from there. I went back to listen to some of her old stuff and found a song I had completely forgotten about. "Comeback" http://youtu.be/KnnvfHz7qzA is one of the most perfect break up songs I've ever heard and what girl doesn't love a good break up song. Ella is only 21 but has such a unique and recognisable voice, definitely the kind of artist I'd want to be if I ever had a shot at a music career. 

The Weeknd released his album "Beauty Behind the Madness" this month. The Weeknd has been around for years but got his big break when his song "Earned It" was featured on the 50 Shades of Grey Soundtrack. There are a couple of interesting features on this album lie, Lana Del Rey & Ed Sheeran. I've been loving this album since it was released, definitely worth the purchase.

Years & Years also released an album this month called "Communion". This is an easy listening dance pop record. Some of my favourite tracks are "Desire" & "Take Shelter". Years & Years are performing in Dublin this November but unfortunately I didn't manage to get tickets, I'm still holdi out hope.

What have been your September favourites? 

Love, A x

Hair Extension after-care!

Last week I gave in and decided to get my hair done. I got micro-beads back in for the first time in over 3 years. I bought the hair myself from Hairspray on Henry Street. I went in and the girls in there were very helpful, they matched my colour and suggested how much hair I needed. I got a half a head (4-5 bales of hair) 22" Spanish hair. For the first couple of days they were a little painful just because they are so fresh and tight but that's totally normal and expected, but by now they have settled in and don't hurt anymore but pain is beauty and it was so worth it! When my hair was done all I wanted to do was to swish & hair flip! 

So here are my top tips for taking care of and getting the most out of your extensions. 

1) When you get your extentions try to let them settle in for 2-3 days before washing for the first time. 

2) Aim to wash your hair once or twice a week but if you feel your hair needs to be freshened up dry shampoo is a great alternative to washing your hair. Only use it around the crown/frontal area on your natural hair as dry shampoo soaks up oil. As the extension hair is cut from source there is no nutrients or natural oils to keep it healthy and nourished like your own hair, so over washing and styling can have a drying effect on the hair overtime. However styling techniques will last longer in extension hair than in natural hair so once or twice a week becomes a little easier. 

3) When washing, always have your head up. NEVER wash extensions upside down as this will cause the bonds to knot and tangle.

4) Moisturising your extensions is important. The extensions do not receive your natural scalp oils and so you need to have moisture added so spray in a small amount of leave in conditioner on mid lengths and ends, not the bonds or beads. This will prevent the hair becoming brittle, leading to split and ratty ends. I've been loving the Boots Coconut & Almomd range for my hair, I like to spray my hair every second day with the leave in conditioner and when I wash my hair I use the intense mask. 

5) When washing your hair use shampoo and conditioners with no sulphate or harsh chemicals that will damage the extention hair. 

6) Always brush out all knots before you wash your hair, swim or sleep. Start at the bottom and work your way up slowly. I find tangle teezers the best for this. The same goes for drying and styling, brush your hair well and use a large soft bristle roller brush when blow drying your hair to minimise pull and damage to the hair. I always use this GHD brush whether I have extentions or not, it always gives my hair a smooth sleek finish. If you spent a little extra time blow drying your hair this will eliminate any extra styling or heat eg straightening. 

7) Use a good heat protection spray when blow drying, using straighteners, tongs or heated rollers. This will prevent your hair from drying out under the heat.

8) Always tie your hair back at night using a soft scrunchie or plat them to the side or behind, this will keep them tangle free during the night.

Here is a before & after of my hair. Even though this is just a half head of extentions you can see the extra volume and body is gives my hair. 

If you have any questions about micro beads or any other kind of extentions comment below and I will get back to you.

Love, 

A x

Confidence is Key!

So normally I only post about hair, makeup, general beauty stuff and occasionally fashion but recently I've decided there's so much more I want to talk about and after all this is my platform to talk about whatever I need/want to. 

During the week I saw this quote on Instagram & I had to repost it (my Instagram @alimartinx). 

When I read it, it was like something just clicked with me and it felt like it was directed at me. Growing up I wasn't one of those girls who had naturally perfect skin or hair and I was always bigger than most other kids my age. I didn't have much self confidence at all but growing up and learning who I am and who I wanted to be made my confidence grow but I felt people shunning me for it sometimes. As if just because I wasn't confident before doesn't mean I don't have the right to be confident now. 

When people ask me how I over came that and how I'm so confident and comfortable with myself now, I firmly believe it's because I know who I am, it took me 22 years but I know what's important to me and what's not. No, I'm not happy 24/7, I'm not flawless but no one is and that's perfectly fine. I can be an absolute mess of a person sometimes but that's just me, I am a work in progress.

If you want to be confident you need to accept yourself for who you are, flaws and all. Don't change yourself or your values for anybody else because at the end of the day you are only responsible for your own happiness. When it comes to yourself the only opinion that matter should be your own. You don't been to be validated by other. If your confidence depends on how others see you then you're never going to be 100% happy with yourself. 

Social media is a great thing, especially for bloggers etc., but it can give you a false sense of reality. It is all over produced content, most Instagram pictures go through several filters before being uploaded. People are selective with what they put online, they only put out there what they want people to see and know. We need to remember this when looking online, otherwise our sense of reality will become warped and this will definitely effect our self confidence.

For me personally my weight was always an issue and it was directly linked to my lack of self confidence. My weight loss journey wasn't just about a number on the scale or about size, it was and still is about how I feel. When I started loosing weight I felt more comfortable going to the gym, which meant I would go more often and push myself harder. Another issue I had was being a tomboy. When I was in secondary school I was quite young, one of the youngest in my year, some of the girls in my class were nearly 2 years older than me. This mad me feel very boyish and behind when it came to hair, makeup, clothes. So I started to watch YouTube videos to teach myself how to do my hair & makeup but I didn't come into my own until 6th year/ my first year of college. It has been a long process and it's still on going. 

                               

As women we need to change the way we speak about ourselves, we need to stop comparing ourselves to other women and we need to putting ourselves down. It's easier said than done, I know but what worked most of all for me was 'faking it until you make it'. I believe the universe will reflect back what you put out. 

                                                                Love,

                                                                  A x

Blank Canvas Cosmetics Pippa Palette Review

There's nothing more I love in this industry than seeing Irish bloggers doing well and being supported by other girls in the industry. Pippa O Connor is a model turned blogger while also being a Mam. Her collaboration with Blank Canvas Cosmetics has been hugely anticipated and extremely popular. 

This palette is available directly from the Blank Canvas Cosmetics website and also from Cloud10Beauty.com. It retails for €34.99 which some would think is on the slightly more expensive side. However when you consider the quality of the product inside, the sleek packaging including a decent size mirror as well as eyeshadows and face products, I think this palette is well worth the money! 

The palette includes 6 completely matte neutral eyeshadows, a matte contour shade, a gorgeous pink blush shade and a highly pigmented highlighter. What I love most about this palette is that it is almost completely matte, anything matte is a winner in my books, but it also has a multiuse shimmery shade. With the palette being so versatile and the slim, compact packaging, it makes it perfect for travelling or if you're trying to commence your day to day makeup bag. I have used this everyday since I got it and I've been really impressed. The product itself are of such a high quality, all the shades are extremely pigmented, smooth and blendable.

The eyeshadow shades range from an off white shade which is perfect as a base, with a range of mid tone to darker browns finally finishing off with a perfect matte black. The face trio is the perfect combination. The contour shade reminds me of a slightly lighter version of Benefit Hoola Bronzer, it suits pale skin very well but it is buildable so if you aren't as pale as me you can layer it until you get your desired shade. I normally don't wear blush but when I do I would usually go for a peachy shade so I didn't think I would like this blush but I gave it a go and I was pleasantly surprised, using a light hand you get a very soft light pink colour which was a nice change. Finally this highlighter shade is AMAZING! I am all about that highlighted life so a beautiful pigmented highlighter is a necessity. 

This is my everyday look with the Pippa palette. I created this soft, buffed out minimal eyeshadow with a soft contour and statement highlight. For a day to day look I used the 4 lightest shades of the eyeshadows along with a little bit of the contour shade in the crease and the highlighter in the inner corner. I love how many different looks you can create from this palette from a soft daytime look to a full on glam nighttime look. 

Have you gotten your hands on the Pippa Palette? What's your favourite shade? 

Love, 

A x

Mini Penneys Haul

Yesterday I popped into Penneys for 2 things and as usual I came out with everything but the things I originally went in for! Admittedly this is probably the most random Penneys haul ever, definitely a mixed bag of stuff but shockingly no clothes whatsoever. 

Even though I still live at home the homeware section of shops always manage to draw me in, particularly Penneys. They are constantly restocking and adding new items to their collection. Recently there has been a copper tone theme and I am loving it! This candle doesn't have a very strong scent but I was more interested in holding onto the jar afterwards. I also got this gorgeous ampersand sign, purely for decoration and to look quirky. 

Candle €4. Ampersand €5.

What trip to Penneys would be complete without a look in at the beauty section? I've had this concealer palette from Catrice before years ago and I loved it so it was finally time to repurchase. The green counter acts red pigment and the peachy/pink shade is perfect for neutralising dark under eye circles. The other 3 shades are perfect for concealing and the darkest shade can even be used for cream contouring on lighter skin. I've heard good things about this Catrice Prime & Fine eyeshadow base as well and it was cheap and cheerful so I'm going to give it a go as a drugstore alternative to some of my other eyeshadow bases. 

Concealing palette €3.79. Eyeshadow base €3.99.

Hands down my favourite tan is Cocoa Brown 1 hour tan by Marissa Carter in the new dark shade. I am super pale and it generally takes a couple of layers to build up a decent tan on my skin, well not with Cocoa Brown! I use this stuff religiously and will continue to use it, if it ain't broke and all that! 

Cocoa Brown €6.90.

You can never have enough makeup bags right? Well you probably can but this one was too cute to pass by. This one is from the P.S. Love range. I'm loving the whole holographic theme and it is also see through which makes it easy when looking for a particular item. 

Makeup Bag €5.

Gold hoops aren't everybodies cup of tea but whenever I wear them I always feel like I am channeling my inner Khloe Kardashian, FIERCE! 

Earring €1.50

Again this won't be to everybodies liking and ironically another Kardashion-esque item. A lot of the Kardashian-Jenner girls have been rocking around with similar items attached to their handbags or car keys. Very handy if you're prone to losing your keys... Cough cough*! This also comes in a navy and a grey colour. 

Keyring €3.

Have you been to Penneys/Primark this month? What's been your favourite item? 

Love, 

A x 

My Top 5 Highlighters!

Who doesn't look a good highlight? Personally I can tend to go a bit ham with the aul highlighter but with products like these I just want to be covered in them! I have an entire drawer full of highlighter but picking my top 5 was so easy because these are the ones I would reach for on a regular basis. I have chosen 4 powder products and 1 liquid product with a mix of drugstore and high end brands. 

No matter what highlighting product I use I always put t in the same places. Starting of with the cheekbones of course, next the bridge of the nose, Cupid's bow & finally Just a little bit across the forehead and above the eyebrows. 

1. MAC Soft & Gentle - This is such a holy grail product for almost every Makeup Artist/Blogger/YouTuber, and rightly so. This is hands down my favourite product to highlight with. A little really does go a long way. It has a gorgeous shimmery pink finish with small pieces of glitter in with which really reflect the light. Whenever I wear this I am guarenteed to be asked what highlight I am wearing, the proof is in the pudding & everyone loves it!  

2. MUA Makeup Academy Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter - This is another pink based highlighter, extremely pigments and smooth with no chunks of glitter. This also comes in a white shade.  It takes a couple of swipes to see the product on the skin but it builds up nicely. 

3. Wet n a Wild Coloricon Bronzer Reverse Your Cabana - This is a bronzer as the name suggests but definitely not your average bronzer shade, not even for extremely pale skin! Not all bronzers are matte, most actually have shimmer like this one, making it a good option for highlighting. I like to use this to transform a matte finish foundation to give it a dewy finish. You get the staying power of a matte foundation but the finish of a dewy one. This product can also be built up in areas to give a more highlighted look. 

4. e.l.f Baked Highlighter Moonlight Pearl - This is the one and only shimmery white coloured products out of my top picks. It is also the cheapest out of all my picks. This is gorgeous on pale skin with a slight pink undertone as it doesn't add any colour just shimmery reflects. This product is a baked highlighter so it can be applied with a brush sprayed with a setting spray to intensity the pigment and shimmer. 

5. Benefit High Beam - This is the only liquid highlighter and the only other high end product. I like to use this when I'm going for a minimal, fresh faced, dewy look. This formulation and pinkey colour gives a more natural look in my opinion. When I use this I dab it on with the brush then blend out by patting it out with my index finger. I do this in sections as it sets quite quickly. I use this directly after my foundation/concealer and powder after, if you apply this on top of powder it can turn quite cakey looking and can even smudge your base. 

 

What is your favourite highlighting product? Have you tried any of the ones I mentioned? 

Love, 

A x

One Brand Makeup Look : Inglot

Inglot has quickly become my favourite makeup brand and I have collected quite a few of their products. Recently Inglot has added some new products to their range, including a primer, setting spray and new brow products. I feel like I cheated a little bit because I used one products that weren't Inglot, I used an Anastasia Beverly Hills product for my brows but that's just because I surprising haven't got any Inglot brow products... YET! I'm looking forward to getting my hands on and trying out the new Brow Gels, so keep an eye out for a review in the near future. 

Base - 

Under Makeup Base

AMC Foundation LW400

Cream concealer Peach/LW100

Powder No.15

HD Sculpting Powder No.502

Blush No.50

Sparkling Dust No.02

Brows - 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Auburn

Eyes - 

Eye Makeup Base

Eyeshadows No. 318/106R/368/335/329

AMC Gel Liner No.77

Long & Curly Mascara

Soft Precision Eyeliner No.21

Lips - 

Matte Lipstick No.507/511 

Have you used any of the products I mentioned? What is your favourite Inglot product? 

Love, A