So it’s a new year a new blogpost and my first of many monthly favourites (I hope) . With it being January a couple of my Christmas presents have made the cut this month along with a few other bits and pieces. So lets get started 🙂

First up is my favourite eyeshadow palette of the month. Why is it my favourite? Well its been pretty much all I’ve been using except when I am testing other products here and there. It’s definitely seen me through a few smoky eye looks when going out through January:

This is the Tom Ford 05 Silvered Topaz eyeshadow quad. I know I know ridiculously luxurious and overpriced (70 euro) in Brown Thomas but isn’t it pretty? And I can justify it since it was a gift….I suppose.

These eyeshadows are a dream to work with they are super blendable and super pigmented too, but in an understated way, the swatches above do not do them justice at all. If your ever in Brown Thomas with time on your hands, go to the Tom Ford counter and have a play, it’s worth it 🙂 The glittery one on the top is literally like putting a glitter pigment or liner on but with no fuss, glue and no fall out. I go medieval and just whack it on over my completed eye look with my finger, can’t fault it. If your a makeup fan I insist you get some Tom Ford in your collection, you won’t be disappointed.

Next on my list is the list is a much more purse friendly find from Wet n Wild. If you haven’t heard of this brand yet. It’ an American brand that have set up shop recently here in Ireland. They can be  found in most Dunnes Stores throughout the country and stock some great affordable treats. This in particular has been my go to lippie for work this month to make me look less dead in the mornings, you can see it’s been well loved and I only have it a couple of weeks:

This lipstick cost me (I kid you not) 2.99Euro in Dunnes. It’s a gorgeous pigmented, creamy matte, mauvey pink that is easy to apply and lasts hours on the lips. Even when it fades you still have a hint of colour left over which I love this.

I can’t get enough of this lipstick and will be stocking up on more colours very soon. We are loving this brand at Chatterbox and I see more of their products on our blog in the future. If you are looking for a guilt free makeup shopping trip, check them out.

My skin favourite of the month is the Soap & Glory Butter Yourself Moisture Lotion:

I love this stuff! It smells like coconut with the hint of the known and loved Soap & Glory fragrance. You use it after showering while you skin is still damp. Kind of like the Nivea In Shower Moisturiser but you don’t rinse it off. I love this because you can still feel the moisturiser on your skin and it still smells intense as you are not washing any of it away.

It’s creamy and luxurious and I can’t get be without it now. I am going through this bottle very quickly indeed, I will be repurchasing for sure. I got this in the big Soap & Glory Bumper pack at Christmas, but you can buy it on it own from Boots for 14euro.

Next on the list is not a beauty product, but it is something you will have seen in many of myself and Anita’s posts in the month of January:

It is an amazing Diptyque candle. This is in the scent Mimosa which my boyfriend kindly bought me for Christmas because I wouldn’t stop rattling on about them. It is nearly like a bloggers right of passage to have them in your photos :). I first smelt this scent when I worked in the amazing Siopaella  in Temple Bar. Ella used to have the roomspray with the same scent wafting about the shops. Diptyque is not cheap, this mini candle will set you back 24Euro in Brown Thomas or House of Fraser. The scent is described as “A journey of the senses, it recalls of the French Riviera where mimosas, brimming with the scent of hay and honey”. Can’t say I know much about that, but I know it smells yummy and I wish it came in a perfume. It is for sure a luxury product and we definitely burn them very carefully but even just leaving it on my vanity in my bedroom I can smell it when it is unlit, so it nearly doubles as an air freshener (nearly)!

My next favourite is another smelly item:

Elie Saab perfume. This is my second bottle, I ran out close to Christmas and restocked in the January sales because I couldn’t be without it. This is an unusual perfume and it’s not for everyone. My mother for example thinks its one of the worst things she has ever smelt. It is orangy,with hints of jasmine and honey. It’s quite a sharp smell when you spray it first, but if does die down on the skin. This is more of a musky fragrance so if you prefer a more flowery scent, steer clear of this. You can buy it in Debenhams and prices start from 51 euro for the eau de parfum.

I have a hair thing next on the agenda:

The V05 Plump it up. It is a dry backcomb spray, that helps…well plump it up. I am not the greatest with my hair. I have alot of it and its quite long so find it hard t0 manage. I spend an hour on my makeup going out for the night and then I leave myself 10 minutes to try sort my mane out. I usually just dry it and curl the ends. My hair is soft when first washed so backcombing can be a bit difficult but this stuff helps with that. You spray it in the roots and it gives them a bit more texture so you can backcomb and it lasts rather that just falling flat. It also doesn’t leave behind a greasy residue so I can usually get the next day out of my hair too before having to wash it. I bought this in Boots. On its own it is 4.59Euro, there’s usually some kind of deal on that you can get 3 for 2 or 2 for 7Euro on their stuff though so keep an eye out.

My next favourite is an old and trusted one that I have dipped in and out of using for many years:

The Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder. I always have this in my makeup drawer and my hand bag for touch up emergencies. It is lightweight, translucent and gives very little coverage. Sometimes I prefer a no coverage powder if I am using a more full coverage foundation which I have been this month, hence I have been using this powder more or less everyday in January. This stuff is cheap too and easy to come by. Alot of pharmacies and shops stock Rimmel.It will set you back about 6 quid, not bad at all.

Second last on my list is my eyelash curlers. Boring I know, but I really really love my eyelash curlers 🙂 I have short, boring and very straight lashes so without them I would be lost:

I own the Shu uemura gold (and silver) curlers and I will admit that having used these and used cheap ones in the past I will say with investing more money in them you do get a better product that does the job very well and lasts much longer too. Shu uemura are a cult brand when it comes to their eyelash curlers and I can really see why. You can buy them in Brown Thomas at their counter for 20 euro, it’s worth it though I promise 🙂

Last on my list of lovelies is my fashion favourite of the month. This was my “main” pressie from the boyfriend that I knew I was getting and picked out myself and I am very glad I did:

I am the proud owner of the Michael Kors Selma in brown. I’ve had my eye on this bag for a while and I was kindly gifted it for Christmas. It can be bought in Brown Thomas, Harvey Nicholas or the Michael Kors Shop in Dundrum Shopping Centre, although when I was buying this I had to get in in Harvey Nicks, they didn’t have it in the flagship Michael Kors store, weird?!

I paid 390Euro for this, well he did :). It is the perfect sized bag for me. I am a bit of a child when it comes to carrying things, I hate lugging things around. This bag is big enough to fit all my “necessities” in without being overbearing and hard to manage. You can also hold it in the crook of your arm or it has a sturdy enough over the should strap that can be used when your arm needs a rest. I like the classic shape, colour and look to this bag too as I do find some of the Michael Kors stuff can be a bit too busy for my particular taste. It has plenty of storage inside with side pockets that fit your phone nicely and your lipstick,lip gloss,powder. you get the idea. And it does come in a multitude of different colours I just went with the brown to be a grown up.

The pockets mean your lovely bits n bobs don’t go missing in the bottom of your bag with all the lipsticks,lip glosses,powders that you put in last week but aren’t using at the minute 🙂 I love this bag overall, the leather is nice and sturdy and easy to maintain and it’s not too horrific of a price (like a Chanel 2.55…ahhh one day I will own you).

So this sums up my faves of the month of January, hope they have given a little bit of shopping inspiration if you’re that way inclined.

Thanks for reading and I hope that February has loads of lovely things in store for everyone.

Gemma

xxx