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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