What's pink and fluffy and takes off all your makeup? Why, it's a Nima Mitt!

And what exactly is a Nima Mitt I hear you ask? Don't act like you're not even a little bit curious! The Nima Mitt is an Irish (woo, Irish!) eco-friendly (extra woo for eco pals!) makeup removal mitt brought to us by Nima Brush - you remember them, right?

So it's already clear that I'm a big fan of this brand and their wonderful products - so much so, that I was telling everyone about this little gem having only seen it in action once! As soon as my own came through the door, I literally couldn't wait to take my makeup off! And that's not something I say very often!

Bargain Alert! 25% Bia Beauty "Feed your Face" Gift Set!

Well it's safe to say that not only are we Irish pretty creative, we're also damn generous too!

It's my stupendous pleasure to bring you a second amazing Irish brand with an incredible offer - just in time for Christmas!

Bargain Alert! Nima Brushes 20% Off

You'll thank me for this. 

NIMA brush are a newly launched (since October) Irish brush company from Dublin make-up artist Niamh Martin. Many an Irish blogger are falling hard and fast in love with these, the brightest brushes in Ireland.

Now, I could go on and on about how lovely these brushes are, and I fully intend to, but I'll keep this short as I have some very exciting news to get to.

Christmas Wish list

Christmas Wish list by lisa-san featuring satchel handbags

If I was to try and list everything I'd like for Christmas in a perfect world I would have a list miles and miles long. But a girl can dream - and this is what my dreams look like!

Lisa

xXx

#NOTD December 10th

I'm quite in love with this colour - I hope the colour is clear. It's Blush by e.l.f. A gorgeous light copper/gold colour with a slight rose-gold look to it. Rose Gold is most definitely one of my favourite colours of all time. I ordered this little baby on an #ELFnight with fellow nailvarnish-addict Avril (an ELFnight is a night where we drink wine and impulse buy on eyeslipsface.co.uk) a number of months ago. If memory serves me correctly, it was Avril that came across this little gem, both of us ordered it (I also ordered Copper, equally as shimmery might I add) but sadly both polishes remain largely ignored until a few days ago.

With a busy week of events to attend, I trawled through my stash for something striking, on-trend and something that would go with as many outfits as possible. I had painted my thumbs with Copper, but I didn't do a very good job so that didn't last long. But I loved Blush so now I'm rocking an all over, shimmering rose gold nail on every finger.

To say I'm obsessed is an understatement. As far as I'm concerned these nails will go with anything - and can't see myself changing them any time soon ...

What are your favourite metalics this season?

Lots of love

Lisa

xXx

7 Days of Skincare - Day 6 - If it ain't broke ...

You skin has been acting up, you happen upon a product that finally seems to make a difference. All is well and happy and shiny. Then why, oh why would you stop using it?!

We've all been there, you get caught up in a special offer, you read a review somewhere or some shiny packaging catches your eye and your old reliable gets left by the wayside. This happened to me with Nivea Soft

Chloe boot love

Chloe boot love by lisa-san featuring leopard boots

While I will always love biker boots in some shape or form, the quirky western ankle boot has been catching my eye on more than one occasion recently. I casually checked Net-A-Porter to see just how much the iconic Chloe boots were and almost choked on my coffee when I saw the €900+ price tag.

Thankfully if there's one thing the high street does well it's imitation. It is the greatest form of flattery after all. Even Jeffery Campbell and Steve Madden have their own, equally as stunning, versions. Personally, the boots have to black or red - and with gold, has to be gold studding. (Although the daydreamer in me think's a copper/bronze version would be stunning .. but alas no such thing seems to exist)

So considering I won't be paid again until Christmas Eve-Eve (I can't be the only person who says that, right?) the majority of my current paycheque is going on Christmas presents for other people, I may treat myself to pair of one of these boots on my way home from working Christmas Eve ...

Which pair of Chloe-inspired boots are your favourite?

Lisa

xXx

You know you have a weird boyfriend when ...

... you wake up with this song in your head

7 Days of Skincare - Day 5 - Got milk?

Legend has it that the secret to Cleopatra's radiant beauty had a lot to do with her fondness for milk baths. Now without going into a history lesson - it has been well documented, and has since inspired centuries for luxurious skin care. Rather than bathing in a giant milk jug, a simple cup of milk (or powdered milk) added to your bathwater can make all the difference - adding in lavender, sandalwood or honey for an extra special treat.

Guys and Gadgets at Dundrum Town Centre

If there is one fail-safe present for the guy in your life this festive season - it's some form of gadget. Guys and gadgets are a match made in heaven, great for the guy who has everything and a welcome break from socks and jumpers. There's a gadget for every guy - from the art student to the sports fanatic, and Dundrum Town Centre has them all catered for!

What season is it?

This happened 15 minute ago ...

*phone rings*

Me: Hi

Himself: Hey, are you free to come outside for a second?

Me: Sure, yeah - everything okay?

Himself: Yeah, do you have a Euro by any chance?

Me: Haha, okay. I'll be down in a second.

*goes outside*

*Himself hands me the cup pictured below*

Earlier in the day I mentioned how I was sleepy. He needed a Euro for bus fare because while he had got a student travel card he had to top it up and spent his change on the above coffee. It's a gingerbread latte, in a red cup, and I heard my first Christmas song on the radio. Not far off a month away now ...

... I guess it might be time to start getting into this whole Christmas thing (says she with half her presents bought already)

Windy weekend

I spent a majority of my weekend on hills of some sort.

Saturday saw me at the DSPCA at Puppy Obedience classes - which is again up the mountains.

Sunday was my granny's anniversary mass. The only, and I stress only, time I will go mass. There's usually two masses, one in Dublin and one in Wexford and so on Sunday the family converged on the tiny church - which is again, up the side of a hill.

Burnout

Between migraines, head colds, being too nice a person and being too lazy - I'm wrecked.

Tired, aching, in need of the reboot. I'm not even burning the candle at both ends, I'm just burning it continuously. At some point you need to stop, let the heat go out of it, the wax to cool and reform and then, only then, start again.

Hmmm, candle analogy. Didn't see that one coming.

I'm going to bed for the weekend. See you all on the other side!

xXx

Lisa

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Benefit Make-up Challenge - we're in the Final!

You may have seen my previous post on the Benefit Make-up Challenge where Ben, future make-up artists extraordinaire and only 4 years old, gave me a make-over.

Well we made it to the finals! It's very exciting all together :)

The voting is open to the public. So take a look at the other wonderful entries and cast your vote :)

7 Days of Skincare - Day 4 - Water, water everywhere

Thermal water to be exact. A common theme in French skincare I have found - Vichy, La Roche Posay and Avène utilise the healing properties of natural thermal springs to create their products which are very often friendly to sensitive skin and soothing to dry skin.

Somewhat of a cult classic, Avène Thermal Spring Water is one of those products with no defined purpose but a multitude of uses.

Benefit Blogger Challenge

Benefit Cosmetics set us a challenge - we were asked to put our beauty skills to the test and teach a son, dad, boyfriend, husband or any guy we know how to apply a FULL face of make-up!

This is Ben, I work with his mum Gill who was kind enough to volunteer him - and hilarity ensued.

7 Days of Skincare - Day 3 - Let there be light

"The best skin is skin that can reflect light." Francois Nars 

7 Days of Skincare - Day 2 - Failing to Prepare...

"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail"

My biggest skin worry was, admittedly, quite shallow - I worries as to how it looked to other people. As much as I loved make-up and spent all that time working on it, my skin would let me down. I was afraid people would think - Who is she to talk about make-up when she can't get her skin sorted out.

The most important steps in make-up application are the steps before you even open your make-up bag. You need to prepare your skin. Prep - to many people this may mean putting on a primer before your foundation, but I'm talking even before that.

7 Days of Skincare - Day 1 - Darkest Before the Dawn

For the next few days I plan on detailing my skincare overhaul - which is still on-going, but I'm going to get started before it spirals out of control!

I discussed this in a previous post - but unfortunately my skin has since changed. This happens. Also, this routine was obviously lacking something my skin needed.

I learned this the hard way (or what I perceive to be the hard way at least) when I was caught up having a foundation tested on me and as the assistant was applying it she said "Eh ... what are you using on your skin?" and that was when it dawned on me. I knew my skin wasn't great, but I never thought there was something wrong.

Glam Nights Out at Dundrum Town Centre

Check out this post on the Dundrum Website

Let's face it, if there's one thing we girls do well it's dressing up - but that's not to say we always know what to wear. Now I don't need to tell you how much choice there is in Dundrum Town Centre when it comes to glamming up for a night out, but all that choice can seem daunting so let me break it down for you. When it comes to fun, flirty outfits for nights out with the girls or date-night dancing with himself - let's look at 5 Categories of Key Pieces and I'm sure everyone will find something to suit their own personal taste.

#NOTD 25 October - Nude nail and mint accent

A recent trip to The Square in Tallaght saw me in one of only two Superdrug stores in Dublin. I picked up quite a few things, reviews to come later, but I spent quite a while in front of the Me Me Me counter. I've never seen so many dupes in one place! More investigation is definitely needed!

Surprise Benefit sneak peak!

I had the pleasure, and pure pleasure it was, of attending the Benefit Blogger Christmas Party (because apparently once it turns October it's perfectly acceptable to talk about Christmas ...) where we got to gaze lovingly over all the lovely gift sets and a few newer products. Let's just say my Christmas wishlist is a mile long now!

And speaking of  new products - we got a sneaky peak of something extra special. Traditionally, Benefit ring in the new year with the launch of a new box blush - but never ones to play it safe they've decided to  change it up and release ...wait for it ...

... a cream blusher!!!

Menswear Uncovered

Men and shopping may not traditionally be two words one would put together – but if you add Dundrum Town Centre in to the mix, things start to make sense. Menswear is not the mystery we may think it is – because let’s face it, men and women alike can find it somewhat baffling, but never fear your Dundrum blogger is here and I’ve enlisted the help of the professionals! I spoke to Przemek and Jacques, House Brands Specialist and Menswear Stylist of House of Fraser, Karen O'Sullivan from Marks and Spencers and Daniela of Harvey Nichols who shared their insight into the world of menswear.

“...life if colourful, you have to enjoy it – and fashion is one of those things that can help enjoy it.” (Przemek, House of Fraser)

Watch this space ...

Menswear blog will be up tomorrow - until then...

Here's Archie!

He's getting big - and slightly better at going outside for bathroom breaks :)

What the hell, Chanel?!

Eh ... new CHANEL N°5 campaign staring Brad Pitt. No. Just no.

Sorry Lagerfeld, but while the gravely voice is quite nice; the wrinkled shirt, wiry facial hair (which I have never been a fan of) and these picture - are not! 

I'm very confident that I would have done a better job in my first year of college. In fact I would have been laughed at if I handed that in.

But well played Chanel, well played. Thinking about it, they'll never have to air this ad on TV or print it in any magazines. The buzz around this campaign will market itself between Google images, blogs (like this, yes I'm playing right into their hands) and Youtube - it's well worth the 30min of effort the whole thing probably took. If even.

For future reference, this is the perfect Chanel campaign

Marilyn for life.

Thought, opinions, arguments?

Lisa

xXx

How was Blogger Brunch?

It all started, as most things do, on Twitter. As is custom on a Friday I tagged a number of Irish beauty and fashion bloggers in a #FF (Follow Friday, it's a Twitter thing) post. On the back of that Annemarie (of Stylebiscuit) suggested we should have a blogger breakfast or lunch, get together some of the Irish gals to finally put faces to names, and so blogger brunch was born (not quite breakfast, not quite lunch but a great example of alliteration) and yesterday saw me up and out early on a Saturday morning as it came to light.

The venue: 37 Dawson Street - one of the newer hotspots in town, where they claim all is not what it seems, and somewhere that's more than happy to serve Prosecco at noon.

The fabulous guests: Avril of Blushful Beauty, Aoife from Fashion Turn to the Right, Tara from Beauty and the Binge, myself of course, and Annemarie aka Stylebiscuit

And the equally fabulous results:

Brunch menu. So much choice

French toast with berry compote and vanilla marscapone - yum!

Aoife and Avril looking lovely and myself forgetting the "don't look straight at the camera" rule

Tara and Annemarie looking gorgeous (not pictured, Tara's seriously sparkly jewelry!)

Goodie bags - because I'm that kind of host

Tara's Baileys coffee - it packs a punch, I'm getting one next time!

First of all I may as well explain the slightly-fizzy phone photos - you'd never think it but out of 5 bloggers there wasn't one camera! What were we thinking? But that's all the more reason to have an other one, right? To get more pictures.

It was a really lovely afternoon. I know Avril and Aoife from years of schooling and awkward teenage years, but this was the first time we were really hanging out together as bloggers! And it was great to finally meet Tara and Annemarie having spoken to them on Twitter and read their blogs for so long now.

It's really good to get a bunch of people together with a shared interest - because you don't run out of things to talk about! Whether it's product recommendations, brand comparisons, the perils of working in retail or how you got started blogging - it's so great to be with people you instantly have loads in common with! I can express enough how much fun it was.

So now the question remains - who's organising the next one? Dinner? Drinks? Dancing?

Lisa

xXx

PS - A special mention has to go out to 37 Dawson Street who, considering hiccups like sticky-floor crisis, comped ALL our drinks! All of them! That's not something you see every day :)

NOTD - October 11

A friend and I treated ourselves to manicures last weekend. We had been trying to plan it for weeks, eventually we agreed to meet up in Dundrum and just go for it. We headed for Harvey Nichols where I was pleasantly surprised (read: unnaturally excited) to learn the nail bar was stocked with Essie polishes!

A File and Polish is only €20 - which I thought was perfect considering the cost of the polishes themselves (upwards of €10). I chose Merino Cool for my manicure - it's a soft purple-grey colour, (Instagram does not do it justice) quite unusual and goes so well with autumnal tones like burgundy and navy, it's a real chameleon colour. I was instantly drawn to this sophisticated darker tone, which my lovely nail artist Karla said compliments longer nails well. She was also kind enough to shape my nails in a lovely long oval shape after I mentioned I loved Lana Del Rey's nails (I know they're fake, but a girl can dream).

Four days in and my nails are still perfect. My right index finger and thumb are showing the tiniest bit of wear from being caught in a zip and typing on a keyboard all day but they're still super shiny and the colour is flawless. I highly recommend treating yourself to at least a file and polish once in a while - especially, if like me, your nails are that bit longer and harder to shape at home.

Also new word - greige - a colour that is a combination of grey and beige. Bit of a buzz word, especially in relation to nail colours this season like Chanel Frenzy and other lovely neutrals on the scene.

I know I'm a little late to the party (this being the first time I've ever had a manicure), has anyone else treated themselves lately?

Lisa

xXx

Which hand cream am I loving lately?

I wasn't much of a Hand Cream Person up until now, and even then I was aware you could pay anything for one and there's no guarantee it will be worth it. My mum would usually have tube knocking around somewhere, but I never thought of it as a product I would seek out unless maybe I was giving myself a manicure - and then I would be looking for a hand and nail cream and the greasiness and strong scents turned me off the idea. I tried my Nivea Soft for a while, as it's marketed as Face, Body and Hands cream, but I found it took a little bit too long to sink in for a hand cream.

Date Night in Dundrum Town Centre

So it's here at last - my first blog as Dundrum Blogger in Residence! I was asked to look at Food and Leisure in Dundrum Town Centre so I decided to package it as "Date Night" suggestions! I hope you'll all be pleasantly surprised by how much is on offer in Dundrum

You'd be forgiven for thinking Dundrum Town Centre is just a fashion hot-spot, but there's so much more.

Have you ever considered Dundrum as a date venue? Well you should! Whether it's a first date, fourth date or a special occasion, I guarantee there's something for you. With over 40 places to eat, not to mention cinemas and mini golf, it can all seem a bit overwhelming - so I'll break it down for you!

Activity Dates
Break the ice with something different and check out Rainforest Adventure Golf. Boasting the title of Ireland's first indoor South-American themed mini golf venue. You don't have to worry about the weather here, which is always a plus! But it doesn't have to end there - make a real date of it and follow it up with some grub!

Compare putting tips over a milkshake at Eddie Rocket's Shakeshop. Plenty to choose, so everyone is happy and you'll learn a lot about a person by their milkshake choices!

Chicken-lovers and vegetarians alike will love Nandos - still quite new to Ireland, it's a fun experience and with so much choice of toppings, flavours and drinks even picky eaters can put together their perfect meal. Go easy on the spice though, no one likes a runny nose on a date - when in doubt, play it safe!

Keeping it casual, but making it an experience, head for Wagamamas - lively atmosphere and lightning fast-table service will guarantee no awkward silences, and you can't go wrong with a good chicken curry or a steaming bowl of ramen (not just your ordinary noodle soup!) Don't worry if you've never been here before, friendly staff will explain it all to you and before you know it you'll be regulars!



Cinema Dates
The classic date scenario - but best saved for a second or third date as sitting in a dark room for two hours is no way to get to know someone! Be sure not to hog the popcorn - and don't fill up on it either,  remember this is supposed to be a date so I recommend grabbing a bite to eat too - and what's great is that Dundrum Town Centre has you covered with stellar meal deals.

TGI Fridays offer a classic burger and chips with a soft drink and a cinema ticket for €21.50! A a great place for some pre-movie cocktails and comfort food - it's a winner on all levels.

For something a little bit special, head on over to Douglas and Kaldi and fill up on a main course and soft drink before cashing in your cinema vouchers - prices start from a cool €18.95 so you've no reason not to go!

Theatre Dates
If you really want to make the night one to remember, why not take a night at the theatre? It's a great excuse to dress up and try something different. Check out What's On in The Mill Theatre and whisk your special someone off for dinner and a show. Some fine dining venues include:

Ananda - I guarantee you've never had Indian food the way they make it. A chef friend of mine went over a year ago and she's STILL raving about it. Part of the Jaipur restaurant chain, it boasts a self-confessed "impeccable pedigree" of fine dining and ethnic cuisine - it's a real hidden gem and a show stopper when it comes to a night on the town.

L'Officina Dunne and Crescenzi is a perfect  combination of value and quality. The little sister of the well-established D&C chain, it's the perfect combination of laid-back atmosphere and fine dining. Great wine list, classic Italian dishes, sharing platters - I could go on, but I'll leave you to find out for yourself.

Siam Thai inviting you into a whole new world of luxury and a guarantee of a unique and memorable dining experience. An extensive, mouth-watering menu will cater for anyone's tastes and be sure to sample the cocktails while you're there! From exclusive couples private dining to relaxing lounge booths and dinner served until late you can really make a night of it.

Dinner Dates
Dinner dates don't need to break the bank, a good meal is an old faithful when it comes to dates and good food only gets better when you're in good company. Keep it simple with a dinner date - but there's nothing simple about these knock-out eateries.

Jamie's Italian - newly launched, there's quite the buzz surrounding Jamie's. Book Ahead! Book Ahead! Book Ahead! Popular with families during the day, there's plenty of space and such a great atmosphere it's hard not to enjoy your meal. Staff are friendly, there's fresh bread on display and the menu is a refreshing take on Italian with no expense spared when it comes to flavours and presentation. Value-wise it's also a winner and if you can't decide on a starter split a sharing platter - be sure to try the famous polenta chips too! You'll thank me later.

Cortinas - Mexican is slowly becoming more popular in Ireland, and Cortinas proves it's more than just nachos. Cool interior, no gimmicks, and an endless list of tequila - Cortinas is committed to fresh, authentic food and they offer gluten free, dairy free and wheat free menus. If you've never tried Mexican you'll be a convert after an evening in Cortinas, and if you're feeling brave you can take on the "ludicrously hot" Ghost Chill sauce. You have been warned!

Harvey Nichols - Yes, you can eat in Harvey Nichols! Whether it's the First Floor Brasserie or the Ground Floor Café you're guaranteed fine food and a venue like no other whether you're looking out on the dancing fountain of the Mill Pond or relaxing in the stylish surroundings upstairs. If you're looking to impress a fashionista or your other half is partial to the finer things in life, dinner in Harvey Nichols is a clear winner!

No Fuss Informals
If you want to go back to basics, set aside some time for a catch-up, or the idea of booking tickets and reservations sounds a bit too official - let's keep it casual!

Want to try something a little bit different? Head on over to Yogism, self-service frozen yoghurt - how many of those dates have you been on? It's a new take on going for ice-cream and it still feels like a tasty treat as well as a healthy one . Don't worry about the chill in the air, some warm seasonal toppings like hot berries and apple sauce will be there to greet you as you walk into what feels like Willy Wonka's factory and you have the choice of pulling up a bench or taking your fro-yo for a walk. Keeping it casual has never been so tasty!

Looking for a light bite to eat  - try Yo! Sushi, not quite a dinner date but so much more than your average prepackaged meal. Sit yourselves at the counter and swap sushi knowledge, or lack thereof. Keep an eye out for all-you-can-eat offers (not that an eating contest is an ideal date) and watch out for the wasabi!

So, I hope that has inspired you, I know I'm hungry now after talking about so much amazing food! Whether you and your other-half are looking to spend some time together, or you're trying to pluck up the courage to ask someone out I hope you've found a few ideas for planning the perfect date at Dundrum Town Centre.

Lisa
xXx

Channelling Chanel on Asos

Channelling Chanel on Asos by lisa-san

If you haven't seen Chanel's Spring Summer 2013 Ready to Wear Collection - Do it now!

I won't get caught up talking about a certain hoop-bag, but I will say I loved the obscure oversized shapes, and the cool botanical look has lessened my dreading of Spring - even though I am well and truly in Autumn-mode and I don't plan on moving any time soon! But with this ahead of my, I think I'll handle it alright.

Enjoy x