Hello There

Hi everyone,
I haven't posted in a very long time, I've missed my blog so much but like every hobby, life gets in the way. so all sob stories aside I'm really looking forward to getting this blog up and running again. I want to start introducing my LOVE...Obsession with handbags. Before I ever hand over money for a luxury or more expensive item, I always do my research online for blogs, reviews, anything that can give me more information on the product and everybody will have different pro's and con's of each item. This is the kind of information I want to hear, but often enough you just cant seem to find a lot of info on certain handbags. so just like the products I have been reviewing, hopefully there will be some bags being featured as well.  I'm really looking forward to starting this new little chapter on the blog!!

#bodyUNashamed | Breaking Negative Body Image Piece By Piece

So this post will not be about beauty or another product I'm obsessed with, this post is going to be about something that is real and I can guarantee you can relate to. Recently in the media, and also personal social media's there are people who think they can say what they want and spread their unwanted nasty opinions of other people freely, and this is NOT OK! Body shaming/bashing is something I have come to witness a lot lately and to be quite honest is gets me so wound up every day.  (While this post is mainly discussing body image in relation to women, I am fully aware this happens with males too, but because I really don't know much about how it effects males, I think I will leave that up to the male bloggers to share their opinion on the matter.)

As a plus size girl I know how hard it is for girls like myself to be confident and to be body proud as we see everyday in magazines and TV these idealized picture perfect women who we are "supposed" to conform into. until recently I would have said to be bigger person in this society is one of the worst positions to be in, but I have also witnessed body bashing onto naturally skinny women, the slogan I hear all the time is "Real" woman have curves. This sentence rattles my bones because every woman is a real woman, we should all be in unity against the image we are supposed to have but rather than woman helping other woman when media bashes our size and looks, woman turn on women and because of this we have people with low self esteem and extreme body issues.

 I brought this topic to a number of my friends of different sizes & looks and they all had something they didn't like about themselves while all I could see was they were all flawless. this proves that none of us know the next persons story or feelings towards their own image.

This is were #bodyUNashamed comes in, the gorgeous Penny from  @lilliesandlove
started this project about people coming together and sharing positive body image and about women being positive about one another. The media will never change there will always be a certain type they will put in to the public's eye but if this project can get everyday women to spread good words about each other and for women to look at themselves in a positive way, I think this in itself is a huge success.  

                                       ( Image source - Beautiful-body-types )

As part of this post we were giving another blogger to write about, we were asked to write three things about this person we think are great, the blogger I was giving was @NickiKinickie :)

Now I could write a whole post on how this girl is amazing and great but I will list three, I went through her blog and social media sites and really found a true gem.  Nicki is an amazing lifestyle blogger who writes really interesting post about everything she feels she has an opinion on, She is a mum and wife and has two adorable bunnies (I want one now after seeing them!) As I was going through some of her posts I could really relate to the situations she was writing about, I loved her post on friendship, how they can come in and out of your life, it's a brilliant read I would definitely recommend it! So as I was learning more about Nicki, I was sad I hadn't found her sooner. 

The three things that I think are great about Nicki are:

1 - Nicki has gorgeous eyes, its the first thing I see when I look at people. And on a side note I wish I had her eyeliner skills!!

2- I love her passion when she introduces her blog in her YouTube introduction video, you can tell she writes about stuff she genuinely has an interest in and I think when you can give your honest opinion, it's a big thing in the blogging world. 

3 - I am in love with Nicki's hair, I think it suits her face so much and the cut & length is just fab!



The second part of this post was to wrote three things about ourselves we thought were amazing which like most women I find hard to do but here's what I came up with:

1 - I like my smile, I have straight enough teeth and I like to smile, I think it can turn a bad day into a good one. 

2 -  I love my pale skin, I embrace the pale!

3-  And finally I like my eye colour, it can change depending on what light I'm in.

I'm still on a long road to loving myself and accepting my body image,  but changing your hate towards your body image is the first step you have to take and I encourage all of you to think of three things you think are great about yourself :)

Well that was my #bodyUNashamed post, and I really hope you took something from this. I hope now when your on social media and see a nasty comment or someone body bashing you will write a comment and use the hashtag #bodyUnashamed because we need to work together and spread POSITIVE body image!

By Terry Ombre Blackstar | Review

So this product is not new on the scene but lately its been getting a lot of hype. A lot of bloggers & YouTube'rs have been featuring these and I got so intrigued I had to go into Space NK and I had a goo at them.

 The By Terry counter in space nk is so amazing, I took a few moments swooning over everything but I was on a mission. I spotted the beautiful selection of colours available in the ombre blackstar. My hand was totally swatched with numerous fab colours but I decided on the colour "bronze Moon" unfortunately they had sold out so I had to look again but Bronze moon is on my list! My second choice was "Misty Rock" and its absolutely stunning! my descriptive talent wouldn't be as good as the picture below so I will let the picture tell you how lovely it is.




      

 

(Blended out as much as it could be)

Apart from the amazing shade range the ombre blackstar is so easy to use. I'm not the best at eye makeup so when I find something that pretty much does the work for you I'm sold! it comes in a stunning fancy tube which is an easy pen form, you just swipe onto the eyelids, its very build able so you can get the intensity you want. To finish the look off just take a blending brush and blend out any harsh lines in the crease, its SO simple.


Although these are on the pricy side I have to say you get what you pay for, a little goes as long way as they are very pigmented. I also have to say once the product has set on your eyelids there's no budging it. When I swatched it on my hands I could wipe it off, I had to take a eye makeup remover to get it off. This would be great if you need an eye look to stay all day and still look flawless at the end of the night. All in all I love the ombre blackstars and if I could I would get all the colours!

Have you tried the Ombre Blackstars?

What did you think?

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder | Review

I've been swooning over this particular powder for a very long time, everyone went crazy for the Hourglass palette that came out before christmas but I just didnt like it that much so I decided I would buy the one I liked and that suited my skin type. The Hourglss websites states that each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photo luminescent technology. It also is a universal finishing powder that creates the lighting effect you desire. All the powders are paraben free, talc free, fragrance free, nano-particle free and gluten free.

Each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photoluminescent technology. - See more at: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ambient-lighting-powder/#sthash.58duMsBn.dpuf

Each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photoluminescent technology. - See more at: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ambient-lighting-powder/#sthash.58duMsBn.dpuf

Each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photoluminescent technology. - See more at: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ambient-lighting-powder/#sthash.58duMsBn.dpuf

Each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photoluminescent technology. - See more at: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ambient-lighting-powder/#sthash.58duMsBn.dpuf

Each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photoluminescent technology. - See more at: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ambient-lighting-powder/#sthash.58duMsBn.dpuf

Each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photoluminescent technology - See more at: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ambient-lighting-powder/#sthash.58duMsBn.dpuf

Each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photoluminescent technology - See more at: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ambient-lighting-powder/#sthash.58duMsBn.dpuf

Each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photoluminescent technology - See more at: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ambient-lighting-powder/#sthash.58duMsBn.dpuf

Each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photoluminescent technology - See more at: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ambient-lighting-powder/#sthash.58duMsBn.dpuf

I made my way out to Dundrum, and popped into Space nk in Harvey Nichols. I spent quite a while trying to pick between the different powders because they are all really amazing but I finally decided on the one I could wear everyday if I wanted to and that would suit my oily/combo skin type. So I went with "Ethereal Light".

Ethereal light is an opalescent sheer, cool white powder that eliminates shine and mimics a moonlit glow even in broad daylight! And trust me this little beauty really works. I always knew it would be a holy grail product but what really proves itself to me when other people/friends comment on how well you look when your wearing it. Ultimate day made!!

If this doesn't sound like your cup of tea don't worry my friend because there are 5 other powders to choose from ~

Diffused Light: A soft, warm, pale yellow that reduces redness, eliminates shine, and gives skin clarity.

Dim Light: A neutral soft beige that provides a perfect balance of warm and cool tones to blur imperfections.

Mood Light: A soft, sheer lavender pink that mimics the softest, most forgiving light and brightens the complexion.

Luminous Light: A champagne pearl that creates a soft, incandescent candlelit glow—day or night.

Radiant Light: A sun-kissed golden beige that enhances the overall complexion with believable, subtle warmth.


These powders really are stunning but at €41 euros they don't come cheap. But if you have the money and you would like to treat yourself these powders are gorgeous & I know everyone will find one that suits them and that they will fall in love with! You can pick one up here ~ Ambient Lighting Powders

Have you tried any of the Ambient Lighting Powders?

What did you think?

Each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photoluminescent technolog - See more at: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ambient-lighting-powder/#sthash.58duMsBn.dpuf

Each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photoluminescent technology. - See more at: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ambient-lighting-powder/#sthash.58duMsBn.dpuf

Each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photoluminescent technology. - See more at: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ambient-lighting-powder/#sthash.58duMsBn.dpuf

Each powder captures, diffuses and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking photoluminescent technology. - See more at: http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/ambient-lighting-powder/#sthash.58duMsBn.dpuf

Venturing Into The YouTube World

So it's finally happened, Simply Beautify Me has now become a YouTuber as well as a blogger. I have been wanting to start my own channel for absolutely ages and I finally plucked up the courage to do it. I filmed and put up my first video about What I Got For Christmas this year. I picked this to start off with because it was a nice & simple thing to film!

This could be a total fail and I'm prepared for that. The way I see it is I tried it and gave it a go and if I continue with it and enjoy it then that's a bonus. If I completly hate it well at least I tried & I can never say the dreaded "What if?". 

So I hope you all enjoy the video and would love if you could go have a watch and tell me what you think?

What did you get for Christmas? 

Comment below, I'd love to hear!  

Urban Decay's Naked 3 Palette

Well girls, yes everyone and their mother right now is talking about this palette and yes I really think its worth all the hype, talk and love! When I first heard this was coming out I was a little sceptical about his because I have the first Naked and love it but I didn't see the point in buying Naked 2 even though it is very pretty. So when I saw the shades in the naked 3 I fell in love instantly. The rose toned shades in this are Divine and I thought they would look lovely with my skin tone.

I love the packaging on this one, the naked 1 has a cardboard Velvet packaging that has a magnetic closure which I do like but like the naked 2, the naked 3 has the tin packaging which has a click and secure closure. The naked 3 has a rose gold tin with ruched detailing. In this palette you get a doubled ended eye brush that has a side to pack on colour on the lid and another fluffy side to blend colours in the crease. Also in the box you get a sampler of Urban Decay's eye shadow primers. You get four little pots that say you have a weeks worth of primer. The samplers you get: Original, Eden, sin and anti-ageing.

So the same as the other two, this palette has 12 shades which range between two fully matte shades, satin mattes and then shimmery shades.

The shades are as follows:

Strange
Dust
Burnout
Limit
Buzz
Trick
Nooner
Liar
Factory
Mugshot
Darkside
Blackheart

                                    (A dodgy photo of swatches but at least you see the shades!)

I love all of the shades in this palette obviously I have my favourites which are burnout, limit, buzz, nooner and darkside. but I can honesty say I don't dislike any of them. The one I have a slight problem with is Dust because it is a strong glitter shimmery shadow you get a lot of fallout but I can live with that. These shades like all of urban decays eye shadows have incredible pigmented and they blend super well.

All in all this is by far my favourite of the three nakeds from Urban Decay. I just think the rosey toned shades suit me more and its more my style. I think this palette is nice to have and for me I'm going to get a LOT of use out of it.  If you are someone who has the other two naked palettes I can honestly say this is nothing like them and I do think it is a nice contrast from the other two naked palettes.

I really don't know how I happened to get this palette early because I was told by a Urban decay shop assistant that this palette would not be out in Ireland until the 16th but one day after college I went to have a look at the naked 3 in another Urban Decay shop and the lady told me there they would be selling it on the 12th. So I obviously went in on the 12th and got it. There was only a few left when I got mine. But as far as I know this is available in all Urban Decay stores on the 16th of this month and be warned this will sell out fast!! The sales assistant even told me in build up for this palette to be released they had sold out of the Naked 1 & 2! So if this is on your daughters, girlfriends, mother or anyone belonging to you Christmas list I would be up early on the 16th to grab it before it goes!

 Have you got Your Naked 3 Palette?

What did you think? 

My Favourite Drug Store Base November '13 | Revlon

Revlon Colourstay Foundation ~

 You are probably all thinking you are so late on the bandwagon with this one and I know I truly am. But I always walked past this foundation in boots and never gave it much thought until recently. I was at the Revlon stand at the lipsticks when I decided to have a look at their foundations. This is where my dizzy head comes into play though, I had my boyfriend with me who was getting slightly tried of walking around boots so I decided to hurry up in picking the last few bits up. I picked this foundation in the colour "Ivory" and headed for the tills.

The next day I was dying to try this so I applied it and LOVED it would be an understatement! It look so amazing on my face and the finish is beautiful. I took a second look at the bottle and I had actually picked up the one for normal to dry skin one and immediately could have face palmed myself! I have really oily skin lately so I thought this would be a disaster, but I had no time to take it off and re-apply something. So I finished my makeup and headed out.

When I got in after quite a busy day running around doing various things I was pleasantly surprised at how well this foundation had lasted on my face. I wasn't a grease ball and my face actually looked the very near same to what I had looked like that morning.  This baffles me still? I'm tempted to pick up the formula for oily skin to see what the difference is? If anyone has tried both please leave a comment  because I'd love to know what other people think.

The texture of this foundation is really nice, its feels very soft and velvet. I apply this with my fingers as I just find it quick and easy but I think this foundation would work really well with a brush also!

All in all, I really love this foundation despite my worries it has really impressed me. I would really recommend this if your looking for a new base, I wear this now as my everyday foundation. They have a good shade selection and a formula for every skin type!

Have you tried ColourStay?

What did you think?