September Favourites

1. Ellie Saab - this is a fresh scent which is really nice for evening time. The scent is similar to Jean-Paul Gautier.

2. Pearl and faux diamond necklaces - I love to wear these with mohair or cashmere jumpers. They bring a little sparkle to a plain item of clothing.

3. Essie "Bikini so teeny" - this is the perfect colour to wear all year and I especially like it in Autumn because all of my clothes seem to be very dark at this time of year.

4. Clarins Lip perfecter - it is a cross between a lip balm and a lip gloss. I love how this looks, the colour and the consistency.

5. Collection "No clumps" mascara - this mascara is excellent value and if you need a mascara to add to your makeup bag at the last minute, this is perfect. It won't last very long however, for the price this is perfect to try out.

6. Garnier roll on concealer - I use this under my eyes and it glides on smoothly and blends in really well. I bought this in a shade lighter than my skin tone, and recommend this for under the eyes to hide any redness or dark circles.

Anti-Wrinkle: When Should You Think About It?

It is probably something I fear the most - when will I get the dreaded wrinkles! Your eyes are apparently the first place to show your age. I have read numerous articles and blogs that suggest you should start to use eye cream in your 20s, before you start to get wrinkles. I, however, was too busy buying other products that I pushed this thought to one side. Until recently, on a trip to boots when I saw L'oreal Revitalift eye cream. I use it in the morning and the evening and to be honest, it is just like a normal moisturiser on my skin! I can't tell the difference so maybe I shouldn't be using this yet! I read the packaging about two weeks after buying this and it has an age diagram, suggesting 40 year olds should use this. I am still debating with myself whether I need to use this or not, and so many people have mixed views, some people in their early 20s to people who don't start to use it until they are in their late 30s. It is a question that I will continue to ask myself!!

For now, I will use this as a moisturiser until the pot is finished and then I will debate again as to whether I need to repurchase. In terms of a moisturiser however, it is a 10/10!

Lush: Midweek Treats

As I walked past the Lush shop next to Trinity College in Dublin, the perfumed scent of bath bombs and soap filtered through the air. Two American girls in front of me were laden down with Penneys bags packed to the brim with shoes and clothes. One turned to the other and said "Oh I love Lush!!" the other responded with "What is Lush?". Her friend responded with "Oh you have to try it, their products are amazing!". I pass Lush on a regular basis but I always seem to be running somewhere else so don't have the time to browse. You definitely need to have time on your hands when you go into a Lush shop for a number of reasons:

1. There are about a hundred different types of products to try from bath bombs, to moisturisers to lip balms. 

2. Lush employs an array of friendly staff who want to help you choose a selection of products. They know their stuff so they will talk to you for a while. It is difficult to just run into the shop for a few minutes, you will be in there for a least 15!

3. The products smell so good you just want to hang around!

Now that winter is slowly creeping upon us, I felt I would treat myself to one of their incredible bath bombs. We were lucky to have a warm summer that a bath was completely out of the question until now. I choose two bath bombs which act as a moisturiser also. I can't remember the names as they don't have those on the packaging but if you go into Lush and ask for moisturising bath bombs they will show you a huge display with many scents and colours to choose from!

Every girl deserves a little mid-week luxury!

Urban Decay: Basic and Naked 2

If you are a girl who loves the original Naked palette, you will also have been intrigued by Naked 2 and the basic palette. Whilst I love the original, I longed for a matt coloured palette which the basic palette delivers on. The colours in all of the Urban Decay Naked range are perfect for everyday subtlety and can bring you into evening with the darker shades "Creep" and "Gunmetal".

The Naked Basics palette is my essential palette for everyday. I use the colour "Crave" on my eyebrows, "foxy" on the inner corners of my eyes and "faint" across the eyelid.

These palettes are an essential in my everyday makeup kit and really useful if you are travelling or going away for a weekend - you know you will have every colour you need!

Autumnal Nail Colours

With the summer drawing for a dramatic closing faster than I can say "where are my winter boots", it's time to put summer in a box and select beautiful autumnal colours. I received both bottles of Chanel polish as birthday presents. The first, "Lilis" is a coral-orange colour which looks fabulous with brown and cream clothing. I usually wear this during the day and sometimes finish the top of the nails with a splash of glittery polish.

The second polish is a deep berry red called "Suspicious". It is perfect for a night out, especially to brighten up a dark outfit. I generally wear black if I am going out so adding a pop of colour on your nails or your handbag is essential.

Weekend Favourites

With a week lasting 5 days and the weekend only 2 days, it is hardly fair. We have to make the most out of 48 hours to make sure we can squeeze as much fun in as possible. My ten favourite things about the weekend are:

1. Weekend brunch with friends
2. Shopping
3. Wearing my favourite casual weekend outfit
4. Getting dressed up for a night out with friends
5. Nice food
6. Watching films and streaming TV shows online
7. Time to write my blog
8. Using a smaller bag because I can't seem to go to work with a small bag
9. Weekend free minutes from my phone network means phone conversations that last for hours
10. Sleep

The one thing I hate about weekends is.......they are too short!

Revlon "Just Bitten"

Revlon are one of the first brands I remember from a very young age. I was always more intrigued with brands such as MAC, Chanel, Dior, Rimmel rather than Revlon which I just thought had a "boring" product range. How wrong was I?! A few years ago on a trip to the States, I noticed that every Walgreen's and Duane Reade had beautiful shelves filled with Cover girl and Revlon makeup. The type of Revlon make up you would never see in the UK or Ireland. I wasn't sure if I was more annoyed at the fact I didn't know this for so long or because the same products weren't available at home! Over the last number of years, Revlon has changed their product range and I love the lip butters and balm stains. I bought "Just Bitten" balm stain in the colour "Lovesick". It is a very deep berry colour which lasts a few hours. I don't think any lip balm stain, lip stick or gloss stays on my lips longer than a few hours. It is doing well if it can get past the one hour point! 

I only have one negative comment about this product and it is the smell. It has a strange mint taste which I thought was just on my product, but I have read other bloggers have said the same thing. I can't quite work it out and it doesn't deter me from wearing it, but there is a strange taste!

Have you tried any of the lip stains or lip butters by Revlon? What do you think?

Sleek "Pixie Pink"

Superdrug is like a little piece of heaven located on various street corners across the UK. They are sparingly dotted around Ireland so I can either travel to one of those tiny dots or wait for a trip to London to bask in the wonderful goodness. For those of you who don't have a Superdrug nearby, you will know what I am talking about. A few months ago, I completed a make up course and the make up artists had some sleek products in their kits. Sleek is a very reasonably priced brand with good quality products. I am obsessed with the Storm eye shadow palette and even more obsessed with the Pixie Pink blush. It is the ideal colour for my skin tone, particularly in the summer when I have a slight tan. If you are quite pale, I would suggest opting for a paler pink blush but you will have so much to choose from within the Sleek range. You can always buy Sleek online and I do this when I want to repurchase something however, when you are testing something for the first time it is always nice to go into the store. 

I am now a sleek-aholic and can't live without it. If anyone who is reading this hasn't tried Sleek, it won't break your bank balance so go ahead, but be warned, you will want to go back to Superdrug every week to see if any new products have arrived.

Topshop: Back To School

The summer has been and gone and the only exciting part of moving into the cold winter months, is the thought of a new wardrobe! For the past few months, my coats and jackets have been strangers. A distant memory. It is not quite cold enough for a big winter jacket so I decided on a lightweight, but still cosy jacket. The above khaki jacket with gold button detail cinches in at the waist so you can create a fitted jacket or wear loose. 

Recently, I have found it easier to wear a plain top but make it look different with a statement necklace. There is an abundance of cami tops available in different colours in most shops this Autumn. I would ideally like to find a silk cami top in every colour but they don't exist everywhere. Silk sits really well and taken care of carefully, can last forever. The above top is only £17 and in a classic black - you can't really go wrong!

The black boots with buckle detailing are casual and can be worn during the day at college, work or a weekend trip to the shops. I love wearing these boots with a pair of black leggings and a chunky knitted jumper. The boots are lined with faux fur which make them really comfortable.

What is on your wishlist?

Revolutionary Skincare: Bioderma

"Bonjour. Je m'appelle Bioderma." 

This little French gem was hiding from me. It was missing from a my life for so long and now I am never letting it go! It was born and made in France and was only available in a select few pharmacies. I saw a couple of beauty vloggers reviews who couldn't speak highly enough about Bioderma. It eventually was imported into the UK and available in a few pharmacies. Finally, on a recent trip to Sorrento in Italy, I popped into a Pharmacy to buy some after-sun and came across a Bioderma display. Three bottles later, I carried a heavy shopping bag back to the hotel.

I have oily dehydrated skin which is prone to blemishes every now and then. My skin is significantly clearer since using Bioderma everyday for the last three weeks. Skincare specialist's advise to try a new product for 28 days in order to see the true results. I try to do that before making a final decision on a particular product. I knew within a week of using Bioderma that I can't ever be separated from this beauty revolution.

Merci beaucoup to the French for making this...and thanks to all of the beauty vloggers who tried it first and sold it to me! My skin can't thank you enough!

Accessorize Closing Down Sale

I remember still being in University when the first stages of the almighty recession hit Ireland. I, alongside hundreds of other people were worried we would never find a job. The impact was immediate for some businesses, but others battled through. Accessorize is one of my favourite shops to browse and pick up something nice to add to a plain top or dress. It is also the ideal shop to buy a little present for a friend. However, more recently I saw a huge 50% off sign in the window and it immediately caught my eye - I'm only human!! Next to the 50% off sign, there was a teeny tiny sign which said "We are closing on the 15th". Directly across the street, lay a vacant HMV. I felt really sad that two of my favourite shops to browse were disappearing. My Sunday's during the winter were filled with a trip to Starbucks (either a Chai latte or hot chocolate in the Christmas cup) followed by a quick sprint around M&S to grab some food for dinner, a browse in HMV which resulted in an even larger DVD collection, finished off with visit to Accessorize. 

Even though I benefited from the 50% closing down sale, I still wish it was there, alongside HMV. I miss those days.

Italian Summer

Visiting Sorrento in Italy was a dream come true. It is one of the most beautiful places in Europe and in fact, in the world. The beautiful landscape with cliffs cascading along the Almafi coastline were breathtaking. I wish I could go back immediately, but I will just have to save up and return next year!

The evenings in August are very warm so I dressed quite casually in shorts and a coral cami top. The shorts are from Forever 21 and I felt they could transform into a winter ensemble with some opaque tights and a chunky knitted jumper. Being Irish, you always have to think of a summer outfit which can adapt to winter and vice-versa.

Until next year....

Dream Big

Image: iheartifb.com

“Every second that you live you are never going to get back. You are never going to get to change what you said, didn’t say, did, or didn’t do. Live how you want to live. Act how you want to be remembered, because you never know how long or short you are going to be here.”- Emily Doberstein

Today's post is taking more of an inspirational life approach rather than talking about an outfit of the day which can inspire...but in a different way. I am the girl who always says "life is too short" as I eat that second scoop of ice-cream. I spend every last penny on clothes and holidays rather than savings. Once again I live by my rule of "life is too short." I also believe that life is too short to be in a job that you hate. I don't like to hate. I don't love to hate. I don't live to hate. 

Many people go through life, not knowing what to do, what they should be and what they want to be. Too often, we live by the stereotypes of what we think we should be. Stereotypes created by other people who don't know you. Only you, truly knows who and what you are and where you want to go next.

One of the most difficult aspects of growing up, and then continuing to be a grown up, is the realization that life is hard. Decisions are never easy, from the simplest decision to the most trivial. Making decisions, is something that I never find easy, but I make them a lot.

Ever since I was 11, I knew I wanted to write. I loved English and always got A's in all of my exams in school. Then I had a teacher when I was 17 who knocked my confidence. She didn't encourage us to write and asked us to learn pages and pages of Macbeth quotes. I stopped writing. When I left school and started University, I started to write again. I wrote funny stories that happened to me during my time in University - at least stories I thought were funny! Halfway through a Business studies course I regretted not applying for a Journalism course but I am a firm believer in never quitting something once I have started. I also wasn't confident in my writing ability so I kept it a secret and didn't tell anyone.

I started a blog after University called "Rails of Style". I wrote two posts before telling myself it was an awful idea and stopped. My confidence was knocked and I only had one person stopping me from writing - myself.

Finally, on a cold winters evening in 2012, I set up my blog "Reserved For Ruby" and started to write. I didn't think anyone would read it, and I was just content with writing. Month by month, people would read it and leave lovely comments. Something which might seem small, means a lot.

If you are reading this, remember it's never too late to start something you love. It's never too late to change the way you are living life to make room for the things you love to do. 

Dear Winter Coat

Original Image

Dear Winter Coat,

You mean so much to me. You really do.  As soon as Burberry hits the catwalk with a new Fall-Winter collection I know there is going to be at least one impeccably wonderful coat which I long to add to my wardrobe.  You usually appear at the end of summer when it is still quite humid outside. Just like a handsome man is snapped up faster than you can say “where is my credit card” one needs to act fast. To own a simply beautiful coat, you need to be thinking on your feet, ready to take action at the right time. Timing is everything.

Once I find you, it is important to take it slowly so I don’t wear you out. Even though I know it is love at first sight, I can’t let that show too much. If I wear you at every occasion possible, you won’t seem so unique and the intrigue might die. But slowly, through time, I will wear you everyday. Even when the sun shines and it is too warm for a coat, you will be there.

Oh winter coat, you are special and you should know, you are the key part of any wardrobe.

Yours truly,

A Fashion Addict

White and Peach

There is nothing more fulfilling than a spontaneous shopping spree. I had one of those days on Saturday and now..I am on a serious budget but it was worth it! First stop was Penny's and I made the mistake of not grabbing one of those "basket/bags. Sandals and Batiste and tops were falling out of my hands running searching for something new and pretty! The first item to catch my eye was this pretty peach skirt with white hearts. The photo doesn't really capture the precise colour but is a light peach colour! The material is a soft cotton (mixed with a bit of acrylic) and it has an elasticated waistband. 

I paired this with a tshirt which was on sale from Jack Wills.  

Skirt: Pennys Sandals: M&S Tshirt: Jack Wills

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Tribal Meets Boho

Trends trickle down from the top designers at fashion weeks in London, New York, Milan and Paris to high street shops. If a designer wishes to create a collection with white lace..then white lace will be on trend. If a designer decides to use graphic print...then this will trend on the high street. I think you know where I am going with this...the Tribal trend is no different. Tribal trended a few seasons ago..and it has re-emerged this summer. It's not as though you can't mix trends..this happens all of the time because so many different styles are available in abundance.

I mixed Tribal with boho by choosing a tribal print maxi dress and leaving my hair in waves with a boho hairband.

The dress is by George at Asda. 

Trish @reservedforruby 

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Pink Jeans.

I usually like to wear dresses and rarely wear jeans. However, during the Irish summer I can't bring myself to wear black 200 dernier tights and sometimes it's just too cold to go without. So I end up wearing jeans more in the summer. For that reason, I have become obsessed with buying bright coloured jeans. I even dedicated a Pinboard specifically to this "orginally" named "Jeans"!. The moment I saw these jeans in Zara, I had to buy them. They are so bright, a colour which you don't see that often in jeans. I styled the jeans with a cream blazer from Mango, a white top with beaded neckline from Zara and pink pokadot Tom's. 

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Summer Playsuits

The ultimate summer staple piece should be vibrant, comfortable and easy to wear. Playsuits are incredibly versatile, and with some clever accessories can take you from Spring-Summer right into Winter. The great thing with a playsuit is, you can throw this on and not have to spend more time thinking about which top will look nicer with your shorts or your skirt - it's an all-in-one-wonder! You can spend the time saved accessorising with pumps, flip flops, Ked's or Converse, throwing a light jacket over the top. Or you can wear tights and a chunky knit over the top in the winter. I have included some of my favourites below.

markethq

obaz.com

saboskirt.com



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Lasting Perfection Concealer

I have mentioned lasting perfection concealer by "Collection" many many times. But when something is THAT good, it doesn't deserve for people not to talk about it. I mean, when you love Maltesers or an Aero loads, you probably mention it a few times. And I bet if you love Ben & Jerry's Phish food over Caramel cups, you will also talk about that. To me, a good concealer means a lot to me. It means that dark under-eye circles and red blemishes can be hidden all day long. Believe me, I have been upset to find I walk into a bathroom after a long day in work only to find my concealer has fallen off my face and everyone is commenting on how "tired" I look. Well, not anymore! 

I could probably talk about this for days and days but I won't. This little tube of concealer has changed my world. I bet the creators of this didn't think that...but they have!! 

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Summer Nails

There are four favourite nail shades that I have been loving this summer. I tend to opt for the same colours when I am in a rush, but I mix and match these four.

Essie - "enuf-is-enuf"

I am obsessed with Essie nail polish and have quite a few colours. This in particular is a favourite for summer. It has a smooth finish and I generally don't use a top coat so this is fine on it's own. Always use an under coat however, because this can stain your nails when trying to remove it afterwards. I generally get two days out of this which is good for me....I type alot!!

Chanel - "Suspicious" pink

This was a birthday gift and I love it. This a higher end nail polish so when I have something like this I tend to treasure it until it's all dried up! This is a beautiful dark pink colour, perfect for night time in the summer. I would also wear this during the day. It is a deep, rich colour that also doesn't require a top coat. Love this!

Nails Inc - Jermyn St

I'm not quite sure how this landed in my collection - I think it was a free in Glamour magazine ...however I was pleasantly surprised when discovered this in amongst my other nail polishes a few weeks ago. I didn't realise I had it...I don't generally buy Nails inc but I love this colour. It is a mauve nude colour and is perfect if you just want to quickly colour your nails without having to worry about matching your outfit - this goes with everything.

Barry M Nail Paint- Pink (doesn't have a particular name)

Barry has such a wide variety of colours, they have one of the most extensive nail polish ranges on the market. The quality is great and it has good staying power (I usually get two days out of this) which I think is really good. Of course I'd love it to last a week but I have yet to find a polish that can do that!

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Everyday Makeup

Every morning, I follow pretty much the same routine...which is highly necessary as I get up in a zombie like state until I get to work. "I wake up, brush my teeth...and pick out my school clothes" to quote Cher from Clueless. I don't have a catalogue of my clothes unfortunately, although I did attempt to do it via pose.com. You would need a lot of time to complete that, and I'm sure Cher has lots of help from Lucy her maid!!!

Anyway, let's get down to make up basics, and what I use every single day. After I cleanse my face, I apply Philosophy "hope in a jar" moisturiser for oily skin. My skin is oily-normal so I tend to stick to products for oily skin. This moisturiser also works as a primer so if you are in a rush...you can just use this. 

I tend to double up and use a primer. I have recently fallen in love with Catrice - Prime and Fine. This leaves the skin feeling smooth fresh. You can apply your foundation almost immediately after applying the primer as it just sinks into the skin and doesn't leave it feeling greasy or too oily. 

Next I apply concealer under my eyes, on any blemishes that might appear on any given day (yippee) and any red patches. Sometimes, I won't apply foundation and just use concealer and a little bit of bronzer.  I use Collection - Lasting Perfection concealer. If you haven't tried this, it's the best product I have discovered in ages. I would go as far as to say this is the best concealer ever. EVER. I don't have anyone forcing me to say this, I genuinely love this product so much. 

On the days where I feel like I need to use foundation, I use Rimmel - Wake me up foundation. Not only does this smell great (although I don't even think that's a requirement I look for in a foundation) but it is so light on the skin. The coverage is amazing and it feels like  you aren't wearing any foundation. It has a little bit of sparkle throughout so your skin looks instantly brighter. This is such a great drugstore/pharmacy makeup which is incredibly affordable.

I use bronzer everyday and can't live without it. I generally use Nars laguna but I need a new one so I searched through my old makeup stash and found my Geurlain - Bronzer. I was given this as a present from my Mum and because it's quite expensive I wanted to keep it for as long as possible. For that reason, I barely used this! But now I use it everyday and can't speak more highly of this product. 

In Tesco a month or two ago, I grabbed an eyeliner which I hadn't heard of before, L'oreal Super Liner. It has a spong applicator and it is one of the best eyeliners I have tried to get the "flick" look. I top this off with Rimmel - Glam Eyes Liquid Liner. I find the liquid in the Rimmel eyeliner helps to hold the L'oreal eyeliner in place for longer. This lasts all day. 

I picked up the Cover Girl - Mascara in the US last year. I tend to stock up when I am there but I have heard that Maxfactor are pretty much the same product. I just love how easy this is to apply in one touch of the lashes. 

Lastly, I finish with a little bit of blush. Right now, I am obsessed with Topshop - Cream blush in "Prime Time", I usually don't particularly love one blush over another and tend to mix and match everyday. This has surprisingly remained top of  my list for a long time. 

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Porcelain Blue & White

This is probably the first proper summer Ireland has experienced in years! I remember oh so clearly the summer of 2007.. Rihanna's song "umbrella" was number 1 for weeks and it rained for 60 days straight. Luckily, there are no songs about umbrellas just incase the two are related!!

The porcelain blue and white trend is big this summer and you can find dresses with similar patterns in high street shops like Miss Selfridge and Topshop. This dress is from Missguided and I bought it for sunny weekends (when we have them!) and going on holidays. This dress is so versatile you could wear with sandals or flip flips to the beach or wear with black accessories to make it slightly less casual. 

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Summer Sales

The summer sales crept up and suddenly I was bombarded with 20%...50% off signs everywhere. It is really hard when you are trying not to buy anything, but you can't really leave a good bargain behind! I did limit my purchases to just a few items in Zara and a new handbag!

The dress below is perfect for holidays - white with blue diamond detailing. There was 20% off and it was the last one..as I grabbed it from the rail, I could see a woman in my peripheral eyeing it up! I knew she was thinking the same thing..and also knew if I left it down it would be gone in two seconds flat. 

Actually shops would probably do great business from hiring other shoppers to stare at the clothes other shoppers have picked up so they know it's a covetable piece and they must BUY immediately!!

I am longing for a Prada bag which comes in quite a similar shape to this bag. I however, can't justify spending that much on a bag..and it would probably leave me bankrupt so I will leave that thought to one side. This DKNY is the ideal size, shape and colour to go with everything. There is one main compartment with two zip pockets on either side. Plenty of room for everything but not so huge you can't carry the kitchen sink inside!

Topshop, Zara, ASOS are my favourite shops to visit the sales this summer. 

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