A Haul Bigger Than Your Face

Waddup Bloggers!

First of all, I'ma apologise for the lack of posts over the last couple of weeks. I know you all don't wanna listen to a long ass spiel, so to cut a long story short I've been locked away in my room finishing off college work for my last semester evaarrr. Although blogging was a very tempting method of procrastination, I resisted the urge!

As of Monday, I submitted my very last assignment and other than one exam in the middle of May, I'm freeeee!

Now with that outta the way, time to give my blog some TLC!

So what did I do as soon as I handed in my last paper? Some retail therapy... Duh!

Now don't judge me... some of this stuff has been sitting in my room for the last 3 weeks in anticipation of poppin' up on the blog in some shape or form! I just thought I'd group it all together in one huge collective haul for all you guysesss!

And just for your ease of reading I've grouped them all into categories... fancaayyy.

Numero Uno - Lip Products

... or lip product? haha. I've been on the lookout for awhile for a nude lipstick to primp my pout for Spring. I've had a thing with always having to wear something on my lips recently and all of my lipsticks are quite in yo' face, so I needed something a little more subtle for everyday wear.
Enter MAC's 'Creme Cup'.

This is a Cremesheen Lipstick so it's not crazy matte, which is perfect for what I was looking for. It's more on the pink side of the nude spectrum but isn't too overpowering. Real pretty for Spring gurls!

2 - Things I Put On My Face (Makeup)

If you've checked out the Date Night Look that I posted a little while ago, then you've already seen 3 of these products - soz guys, but here they are...

- Urban Decay 'Naked 3' Palette

- Bobbi Brown's Sheer Finish Loose Powder in 'Pale Yellow'

- Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in 'Eden

I also got my mitts on Chanel's Perfection Lumiere Velvet - which is the god of all foundations in my eyes at the minute - and the cult product for bloggers, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer - which, thanks to a fab birthday giftcard from my gurls, I actually got for nothing. Did I luck out or what?

Lastly I was in need of a new primer. You'll all be as surprised as the MUA that I purchased it off to find out that The Porefessional, being one of Benefit's most popular products, was one of the few I had yet to try out. So I made my way home with it and it's now sitting pretty in my makeup stash. 

3 - More Things I Put On My Face (Skin Care)

I thought I'd try out the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water. Erryone knows this is supposedly the Bioderma dupe, so for a teenie tiny price tag I thought it'd be worth trying out.

To unclog all my faboosh pores I picked up the Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips and Soap and Glory's The Fab Pore 2-in-1 Facial Mask & Peel. Attempting to get my skin prepped for the Summer, ya'll know the drill!

My Kiehls moisturiser had just run out and I was in the market to try something new, so I picked up Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion +.

And lastly, I picked up some Eve Lom Eye Cream - went though a few samples of this stuff and lahhved it!

3 - Things I Put On My Nails

Drumroll pleasseeeee! I finally made the plunge and picked up some of Deborah Lippmann's polishes. This colour screams Spring to me... and can we just talk about the name for a minute? 'Build Me Up Buttercup' - I mean come on! Adorbs!
I also picked up the Hard Rock Base and Top Coat, cuz we don't need that pretty new polish to chip!

And breeeaath...
I think that's all - I hope that's all! haha. If you'd like me to review any of the gazillion products above I'll gladly do so, just sound off in the comments below!

XO, G.

Micro-Fashion | Alaia Rose Barbier

Say hello to Alaia Rose, one of the worlds most stylish kids who has been giving me some serious closet envy lately. Who ever thought I'd be looking to a little human a quarter of my age for some serious style inspo?

Alaia's the adorable baby gurl of stylist Monica Rose - yes, the same Monica Rose that counts the Kardashian fam as her clients - and if you've been keeping up with her Instagram account as much as you've been keeping up with the Kardashian's you'll know that Monica's taken to dressing her pint sized fashionista as she would one of her clients.

Bow down ladies, at the age of 4, Alaia's got a wardrobe that would put many of us to shame. I'm takin' Celine nano bags and miniature Balenciaga.

Prepare yourselves for a kick ass wardrobe...

And yes guys... she did dress up as Karl Lagerfeld for Halloween. Gurl is FIERCE!

Anyone out there as obsessed with Alaia's micro fashion as I am? ... Anyone?
Keep up with Alaia's fashion on her moma's Instagram account - monicarosestyle

XO, G.

What's On My Face | Date Night Makeup

Just puttin' it out there... my fab college schedule doesn't really give me much of an opportunity to stray from my go to neutral makeup look. The hour I usually have before I run out the door to college is gold dust and straight up just isn't the time to start being experimental in the makeup department. So when I get the chance to switch up my makeup look a little, I take it and run...

Enter Date Night - On Friday I took a little jaunt to the cinema with my main man to check out the new Captain America movie, The Winter Soldier. Raise your hand if you're a fellow Marvel movie lover! This is the makeup look I came up with...

It's pretty much based around the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. Sceptical as I was about picking it up, I finally did it last week. Honestly, I think the last time I used rose toned eyeshadows was 3 years ago and I wasn't sure if it was worth purchasing an entire palette full of them - but shock horror, I heart it! I think I've used it erryday since I've got it!

Don't get me wrong - it's still a pretty subtle look. I picked tones more on the mauve side and highlighted them with a pink glossy lip and blush. Usually I'm not much of a blush person, but there's just a little somethin' somethin' about spring that made me wanna give my blush a little lovin'.

 Here's all the lovely thangs I put on my face...

- Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser (Primer) | Maybelline

- The Big Easy | Benefit

- Fit Me Concealer | Maybelline

- Sheer Finish Loose Powder | Bobbi Brown

- 'Hoola' Bronzer | Benefit

- 'Breath of Plum' Sheertone Blush | MAC

- Girl Meets Pearl | Benefit

- Browzings (Eyebrow Powder) | Benefit

- 'Eden' Eyeshadow Primer Potion | Urban Decay

- Naked 3 Palette | Urban Decay

- Exaggerate Liquid Eyeliner | Rimmel

- Colour Show Eyeliner | Maybelline

- Scandaleyes Extreme Black Mascara | Rimmel

- 'Lychee Rose' Lipgloss | Dior Kiss

What's your go to makeup look for a date night?

Would you like me to review Urban Decay's Naked 3 Palette?

XO, G. 

Bring On The Brows | Benefit's 'Gimme Brow'

Oh lord... remember that one time I said I had a bit of a Benefit addiction. Yep? Well this happened. I really do have a prollem.

If you know me, you know I love a good strong brow - always looking for the next wonder product that will keep my brows looking slick throughout the day. Brow powders have always been my go to for years to tame those lovely babies. I'd never ventured into the world of gel as it just scared the shizz outta me, but hold on to your seats bloggers - as of Sunday, I put an end to my brow powder rut and picked up Benefit's Gimme Brow!

This product was the winner of the Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2013 - so it's gotta be good right?

The lovely people at Benefit claim that this brush-on fiber gel sticks to both your eyebrow hair and skin - sounds a bit weird - but that means it pretty much magically creates brows where there were none before. HELLO! Answer to my sparse brow problems! 

And how adorable is the little tapered brush, I mean come on.... 

I'm really looking forward to trying this stuff out! Thick, lush arches are always a good thing!

Have you tried out Benefit's Gimme Brow? What do you think?

Would you like me to review this product?

XO, G.

French Fancies - Marcel's, Dublin

Let's face it, it's quite easy to get stuck in the rut of returning to the same restaurants time after time when you're deciding to eat out! Not that there's any problem with that, but sometimes for me it gets a little boring and I like to switch things up a little. I'm always on the lookout for little hidden gems, especially in Dublin where the same restaurants are always popping up as the new "spot to go to".

Enter Marcel's ...
My parents stumbled across this chic French inspired bistro awhile ago by accident. They had planned to do brunch at the hugely popular Expresso Bar when they realised it had been replaced by a new restaurant, Marcel's. The orange canopy and green boxwood lured them in and they havn't turned back since - in some cases traveling from Monaghan to Dublin specifically for the food (yes it's that good).

Since then, I've had my ear talked off with my parents telling me I had to try it out. Being a bit of a self confessed foodie (I got it from my Moma ... and Dad), I have a feeling that they knew I'd enjoy it. So for Mother's Day on Sunday, we sent my parents off to Dublin for the day and surprised my Mum later that evening by showing up to Dinner in Marcel's. It ended up being a bit of a treat for all of us.

When you walk in the doors, you're immediately greeted by the chic decor - orange leather seats with black piping running along the edges (I want!) & retro wall paper - it makes a great first impression. So trendy. Overall it gives the feeling of being in a private restaurant in London or Paris - not Ballsbridge.

The menu itself - like most these days - is quite small, with 6 or 7 options for both starters and main courses. However, this gives more than enough choice, offering something for everyone - even the pickiest of us (cough, cough - I'm lookin' at you bro).

For my starter I went with pan seared Scallops with a pea emulsion and crispy pork skin - so good, I'm drooling! And for my main I decided on the roast breast of Chicken with fondant potato - also amazing. I do have to say I was a little jealous of my brothers Duck which was cooked pink and looked like something I would just devour, definitely trying that next time.

What made the night for me was the ambiance. The staff really deserve a mention. They're attentive, make you feel at home and most of all are hilarious and aren't afraid to have a joke with the customer - something I really appreciated. The faint sounds of Outcast playing in the background didn't go amiss either, I think that alone shows what the restaurant is all about - really great quality food, with a whimsical twist.

If you're planning to eat out in Dublin soon, I can't recommend that you check this place out enough. It's a must for a great dining experience.

Find Marcel's here:

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*I didn't have my 'big girl' camera at hand on the night, just my phone - but I think Marcel's photo's are enough to entice you. lol.

What's your favourite restaurant at the moment?

Have you visited Marcel's?

XO, G.

Easy Peasy | Benefit's 'The Big Easy'

Calling all of my fellow oily skinned gals! I may have just found a pretty damn good product for you guys!

I picked up this lovely lookin' thang just hours after it was put on the shelves in Brown Thomas, Dublin on Sunday. After hearing so many positive reviews on Benefit's 'The Big Easy' from other bloggers, I couldn't not pick it up! Also, being a little bit of a Benefit addict, I feel I was obliged to give it a whirl.. well in my head it made sense. lol. 

Benefit claims that this stuff does a lotta things.. 

Firstly, it's supposed to balance moisture and control oil. Secondly, the 'cushiony liquid-to-powder formula' is supposed to melt into your skin like a cream but finish with a lightweight and velvety look like a powder (sounds like magic to me). It claims to give light-to-medium natural coverage and to even out skin-tone and conceal imperfections.

So what do I think? 

It pretty much does what it says on the tin. Personally, I feel like The Big Easy is almost like the POREfessional: agent zero shine's bestie. As someone that constantly struggles with oily skin and attempting to control that shizz, this stuff has become a sort of a go to product for me because it's so long lasting (minimal touch ups needed). Granted, I've only been using the product for two days but for some reason the Irish weather seems to have been a lot warmer than usual which means The Big Easy has had a battle of sorts with my stuffy car during my jaunts to college. 

Benefit - 1, My Car/Oily Skin - 0.

It's super easy to apply - no brushes necessary. Just make sure you've moisturised! I pair it with my Maybelline 'Fit Me' Concealer & the POREfessional: agent zero shine, and voila! Hello lovely complexion. It gives a natural finish and it's coverage is really build-able which is perfect for the Summer when you don't wanna be wearing a really heavy base. Best of all, it's full of SPF 35 so you can give that lovely smush extra protection! 

Overall, I've no complaints at all about The Big Easy so far! It seems to be my skin's new bestie! If you feel like investing in a straight up really great product, I think it's totally worth the €37 price tag. I've a feelin' that spending my dolla on this will save me spending more on products that I have to purchase more frequently to help with the upkeep of make up that simply does not say on my face. lol.

Have you picked up The Big Easy? What do you think?

What's your go to BB Cream? 

I'd love to hear what you all think! Sound off in the comments!

XO, G.