August 2015

Posted on August 27, 2015

YSL Black Opium: Your autumn/winter fragrance hunt ends here!

With sunny season coming to an end, we’ll soon have to say goodbye to summer attire like open-toe sandals, crop tops and sun dresses. It’s not long until light clothing will be replaced by heavy coats, and scarves and winter boots will become a regular part of our #ootd

While some people enjoy wearing oversized jumpers and woolly socks, others can’t bare the thought of it. So if you’re a summer lover in need of something to look forward to this autumn/winter, then worry not, because I have just the thing: YSL Black Opium.

30ml , €57.00, Arnotts

Black Opium is a scent that will awaken your senses in ways that not all fragrances are capable of. It has a warm, oriental and spicy touch that is very hard to dislike. Not only do I find it sensuous, but I also like how the packaging is a reflection of the scent itself. The subtly textured black glass represents mystery, while the glazed glitter represents glam and femininity.

The notes:

Top: black coffee – this gives a shot of adrenaline

Middle: white florals – to entice and seduce

Base: vanilla – for sweetness and sensuality

YSL describes this perfume as an audacious and electrifying fragrance, and I couldn’t agree more.The notes alone are enough to make you want to give it a try and the combination of the three notes give you a sensation of ecstasy.

First there is the wake-up call. The coffee bean note hits you hard, jolting the senses. Next, it becomes softer and more feminine with the flowers of jasmine sambac and absolu of fleur d’oranger to finish incredibly addictive and emboldened by the ambrosial appeal of vanilla and the woody notes of cedar and patchouli, giving roundness, depth, and mysterious elegance.

Some people regard Black Opium as an all-year round fragrance. But, I personally think it works better as an autumn/winter night time scent. I think it is be bold and seductive without being over the top. It is intended for a modern woman who loves to live in the fast lane.

Have you tested Black Opium? If so, I’d love to hear what you think of it! 🙂

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The New Voyage Collection from The Body Shop
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If you’re a fan of The Body Shop, then you will be very happy to hear that their New Voyage collection will be on the shelves and ready to make their way to your comforting homes, by the end of this week – let the countdown begin! With best-selling products…
Review: Green Angel Skincare
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Ziaja Cocoa Butter Creamy Shower Soap & Body Scrub
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Last Thursday, I attended the 25th Anniversary of Ziaja Skincare in Cleary’s Pharmacy, Talbot Street Dublin. Emma of Mastering Your Makeup hosted the event, and gave us a quick talk-through of some of the Ziaja products as well as an opportunity to test out the body butters. Throughout the event,…
Missguided Boss Babe VS Babe Dreams
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Missguided is famously known for its statement looks and affordable fashion picks. But following the successful launch of its debut fragrance, Babe Power, the fashion powerhouse will now be loved for its bargain fragrances too. The fashion brand has recently added three new fragrances to join Babe Power, the orange…
Tags: perfume, fragrance, black, opium, ysl, scent
Win!!! A soft green floral fragrance by Miu Miu
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And the winner is Manal Awan! Congratulations Manal and thanks to everyone who entered! Watch out for my next competition! Happy Easter xx It’s my birthday month!!! So to celebrate, I’ve decided to run another competition for you guys! One of my lucky readers will soon be bathing in the…
Tags: will, fragrance, perfume, scent

Posted on August 24, 2015

Irish Fitness Gurus that will inspire you to hit the gym

fitness/ Health

We all know that social media is absolutely saturated with fitness addicts, healthy eaters and dedicated gym goers. I’ve personally found Instagram to be one of the best sources when it comes to finding fitness motivation. While there are plenty of international fitness junkies out there like Jen Selter (I honestly think she should trademark that ass), I do find it more inspiring to follow the journey of those who are closer to home and based on Irish soil.

I think the transformations that some of these ladies have undergone are unquestionably mind-blowing and I honestly think that anyone who has even the slightest interest in health, fitness or both, should see these images for themselves – I am actually in awe!

Stephanie O’Quigley

Instagram: @stephanieoquigley

It took Stephanie two and a half years of healthy eating and exercising to lose five stone and now she is committed to that lifestyle. While she likes to keep her body guessing with different types of exercises, HIIT training works the best for her. She eats a high protein diet and tries to avoid dairy. For more on Stephanie’s eating habits, check out her blog snappedup.ie or Instagram.

Kelly Donegan

Instagram: @itskellydonegan

Kelly Donegan is the ultimate health and fitness queen. Her life revolves around clean eating and making sure her abs are in check (no wonder they’re perfecto!). Finding fitness was a massive saviour for Kelly as it gave her a new outlet to be successful. She has participated in competitions in the past and she continues to throw herself in challenging environments. She is currently developing her website kellydonegan.ie, but has plenty of workout inspiration on her Instagram.

Faces by Grace

Instagram: @facesbygrace23

Here we have yet another remarkable transformation of a driven and focused gal . Not that she needs much of an introduction, Grace Mongey, widely known as Faces by Grace is a qualified MUA and beauty blogger. While I think she is extremely skilled with a makeup brush, I find her fitness journey the most inspiring. Her hard work has led to her becoming the brand ambassador of Miss Skinny Fit Tea and an idol for those looking to embark in a life of health and fitness. For healthy recipes, fitness tips, and more, check out her YouTube and Instagram.

Grainne Nash

Instagram: @insta_gra_88

Last, but not least, is Grainne Nash. A dedicated weight lifter who is currently prepping to compete in the Nabba and Ribbf bikini competitions. She is committed to clean eating (full fat clean food up to 10 times a day) and pays frequent visits to the gym. Just looking at these photos is enough motivation for me! For progress photos and more #fitspiration, check out her personal Instagram account @insta_gra_88.

I commend every single one of these ladies for being so devoted to their health and fitness. I think it is evidence of strength, courage and an exceptional work ethic.

I truly find them inspiring and think they are evidence that making the right diet choices and being consistent with workouts, eventually will pay off. While all four of these ladies are huge fitness influencers for me, I would be delighted if even just one of them inspires you to start being the best version of yourself!

And because no fitness post is ever complete without a motivational quote, here is one of my favourites…..

It’s a shame for anyone to grow old without ever seeing the strength and beauty of which their body is capable of

Thanks for reading my post, hope you all have a meaningful and productive day 🙂

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7 reasons your ‘diet’ isn’t working
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There’s nothing more annoying than spending so much time in the gym, doing calorie counts at a restaurant, avoiding all your favourite snacks and still seeing no results. Despite all your efforts and ability to maintain will-power for so long, the number on the scale doesn’t seem to want to…
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The truth behind unsuccessful dieting
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Summer is officially over, the New Year is approaching and you’ve already decided that one of your resolutions will be to go on a diet and stick to it - like always. However, there’s a chance you could be wasting your time and money trying to follow diet plans that…

Posted on August 21, 2015

New beauty range alert!!! The Body Shop Oils Of Life & Spa Of The World

Beauty/ Events/ Skincare

Yesterday evening saw the launch of two new ranges from The Body Shop: Oils Of Life, a skincare range which uses natural seed oils to revive, replenish & revitalise the skin, and Spa Of The World, a collection of pampering-session products which were created using naturally sourced ingredients from different parts of the world.

To mark this special occasion, a group of bloggers were invited to get pampered in their Grafton Street store, and being an avid fan of the Italian Summer Fig, I was delighted to be asked to attend the event.

Unfortunately, I showed up a tad bit late, so I missed all the lovely talks and speeches. However, I still got the chance to get my beautiful henna tattoo done, indulge in some gourmet popcorn from Cornude and fresh strawberries from Nudiefoods and of course, have a look at the new collections.

Of all the oils, scrubs and creams I got to play around with, I must say that my favourite was the Japanese Camellia Cream. It is velvet moisturising body cream that has a soft and silky texture. I fell in love with the smell of it and found it subtle, but still very captivating. It’s definitely going down on the wish list!

To make up for being late, I stayed towards the very end so I got the chance to catch up with my fellow blogger friends and even meet some new ones (the perks of being in the blogging world!).Unfortunately, I didn’t get to take home a goodie bag, as they were all out – sign of a good event!

However, the lovely Revolve girls are sending one out to me so be sure to keep an eye on my mini reality TV show a.k.a Snap Chat to see what I’ll be getting! 🙂

And before I leave you, how amazing is the design on my henna tattoo?

A big thank you to Revolve, The Body Shop, Cornude, Nudiefoods for such a fab evening!

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The New Voyage Collection from The Body Shop
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We're often told to go for products with certain ingredients. If you dry skin, you're told to go for a moisturiser with an emollient and if you're at the other end of the spectrum and have oily skin, then a cleanser with salicylic acid is your winning ticket. But what…
The Body Shop Amazonian Saviour Balm*
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For centuries, Amazonian communities have relied on potent natural ingredients to care for wounded and tattooed skin. These same natural oils are used to enrich our Amazonian Saviour Multi-Purpose Balm If you know me personally, then you would know that I don’t just use the hashtag girls with ink for…
Tags: skin, tattoo, ingredients, body, shop

Posted on August 17, 2015

Review: W7 Cosmetics Ebony Range

Makeup/ product review

If you follow me on Instagram, then you would know that I was recently sent a full range of makeup products from a brand called w7 cosmetics. Some of you may have come across w7 products in your local chemist, as they are widely known for having Naked palette dupes – gotta love a good duplicate!

W7 cosmetics has been in Ireland for the past three years. In such a short space of time, the budget-friendly brand is in over 400 stores nationwide and has over one hundred individual makeup products for eyes, lips, skin and more.

The products I’m going to be reviewing today are from their new Ebony range, which hasn’t officially been launched in Ireland. However, it is available to buy online from Amazon or Ebay.

Without further ado, let’s see what w7 cosmetics has for us dark skinned gals!

SHAPE & DEFINE €6.50

These palettes are available in three different shades; light , medium and deep. Each palette comes with a compact mirror, and a short guide on how you can achieve that Kim K look:

Apply the sculpting powder to your cheeks. Then apply the highlighting powder above and below the cheekbones for a defined contoured look

Light Shade

As much as I love the highlighter, as you can see, this contour shade isn’t right for me at all. It is far too light, and since highlighting and contouring is about creating shadows, the light palette would just defeat the purpose of it for me. I think this shade would suit somebody who has a fairer skin tone than myself.

Medium Shade

The medium shade on the other hand, works a lot better with my skin tone. Out of the three, this was definitely my favourite. It gives my face just the definition it needs. With a few brush strokes, it doesn’t give a hugely obvious highlight and contour, making it perfect for day time wear.

Deep Shade

Although the deeper shade looks ridiculously dark, I think it works really for nights out. Since it is quite pigmented, you don’t need to go to heavy with it at all. With the right techniques, this shade can give you that sculpted and defined look without looking like a drag!

BLUSH PERFECTION €3.95

These blushes are available in four different shades. Sand Dune, Pink Sands and Sea Shell have a matte finish, while Red Dawn has a bit of a shimmer in it.

Sand Dune

This shade is definitely too light for my skin tone, it has a bit of a coral hue to it. It would suit someone who has a fairer skin tone than me and wants to create that natural ‘no make up’ look.

Pink Sands

This shade has a pinkier hue. It is one of my favourites for day time makeup because it gives you a natural flush. With this shade, I can have people thinking ‘I woke up like this.’:)

Sea Shell

I quite liked this shade and I found that the colour and texture really works well with the shape and define palette. It is slightly darker than the other two, but doesn’t make your face look too heavy. It is very much suited for night wear.

Red Dawn

This ones for our sparkling divas. I don’t usually like shimmering blushers, but I was surprised by this one. It works well on the days I don’t have a highlight, but I still want to brighten up my face.

Overall, I was impressed by these w7 products as they were super easy to apply and they set really well on the face. I was very surprised by the quality of them and think they’re an absolute steal! It’s also worth mentioning that the packaging does not give the price away s it doesn’t look cheap at all. You would never guess by looking at them that they’re so affordable!

Here, I used the Shape & Define medium palette with Sea Shell blush and the tiniest bit of Red Dawn:

Other products in this range:

Trio Concealer €3.95
Lipsticks €3.95
Cream to powder foundation €4.95

Hope you enjoyed my write up, keep an eye on the blog for more reviews of other products from this range 🙂

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Review: Green Angel Skincare
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Get a sun kissed glow with MeMeMe Cosmetics
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For this review, I’m going to be looking at the MeMeMe products that were sent to me a few weeks back. If you are familiar with MeMeMe, then you've probably noticed the brand’s growing presence in Ireland. Years ago, MeMeMe products were always under stocked and generally not the easiest…

Posted on August 13, 2015

How to get back to healthy eating after a holiday

fitness/ Health

Lisbon, Portugal

Let’s face it, when it comes to holidays, many of our healthy eating habits go way out the window: alcohol consumption increases, lazy days out in the sun become a norm and the technique behind leg raises become a long and distant memory.

I for one know all too well about this – especially on the alcohol side of things! After having spent a week in Portugal, I think this article and all the practices that come with it are very much needed! If you follow me on Snap Chat (@FilomenaKaguako), then you would know exactly what I’m talking about.

So if you happen to be on the same boat as myself and are in desperate need of a post-holiday detox, or if you just want to get back to healthy eating after falling off track, then here are some tips that may help:

1. Get straight back into it

Don´t leave it for too long before you get back to healthy eating. It might not seem like it now, but the longer you wait, the harder it will be. Make a plan to start no later than three days after you arrive because the last thing you want is for your holiday indulgences to develop into bad habits.

2. Meal Plan

As you probably know at this stage, meal planning is so important. Without planning ahead, making unhealthy food choices becomes very very easy. Make a list of all the things you need to get to recharge your body. Think green, think protein, think water. Steer clear of junk food!

3. Water, water, water

Whether it’s lemon water, cucumber water, coconut water or just plain H20, your body needs to rehydrate after all those days you spent relaxing in the sun. Drinking your eight glasses a day will give your body a reboost of energy. It’ll also clear your mind and improve your mood meaning you will spend less days sulking about being back – speaking from experience here!

4. Go alcohol-free

Yes, I am deadly serious. If you’re a drinker, then one can only assume that a lot of drinking rules were broken while you were abroad. Cold beers, fresh bubbly and cocktails were probably on the daily menu. Going alcohol free for a few weeks will do your body some good, as well as that it, it will help your bank account!

5. It’s all about shut eye

Sometimes, we don’t realise how tired we are until we actually get back to our sweet beds. So be sure to give yourself a good amount of shut eye the days following your arrival. Not only will your body thank you for it, but it will also take the sting out of getting back into the routine of waking up early for work.

6. Socialise wisely

When making plans to meet with friends, try to make arrangements to meet up during the day. I always find that making evening plans can result in eating out (or in other words, overindulging), followed by a few drinks in a bar. I think this is less likely to happen when you meet up during that day.

Those are my top tips for now and I hope you find these suggestions useful and even decide to put one or two things into practice! I’m slowly getting back on track myself, as I spent a lovely evening in the gym yesterday and felt so much better this morning! Remember, it’s okay to fall of track, so long as you get back up. It’ all about moving onwards and upwards! 🙂

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8 ways to motivate yourself to exercise
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Tags: body, drinking, alcohol, water, healthy, help, good, tips