The Lo Down - Marks and Spencers Rosie for Autograph Beauty Range

Hey Guys and Doll,

I've never tried the Rosie for Autograph range from Marks and Spencers. I've looked at the products in store but I've never splurged on the them.

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to win two products from the range on Lisa Eldridge's Instagram competition. The prize was a lipstick and a liner from the Rosie for Autograph Spring 2017 collection. I was beyond excited and I love both the products alot.

Having not tried any products from this range I was very impressed. My favourite, the lip liner in the shade Lace is such a nice neutral pink shade, perfect for underneath any lipstick. The lipstick which is called Sour Grapes is a almost plum shade. This may be better for nights outs but can used patted down for a daytime look.

Now for the price I'd definitely call these products high end. The lipstick is €19 and the lipliner is €17. I love the packaging on these products, I'm a huge fan of rose gold. I'll be definitely checking out more products from the range soon. I already have my eye on the Amazing Radiance Cream as the name suggests it looks amazing.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Just Dreaming

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Dreaming everyone does it don't they? I know once I hit the pillow at night I head off to dreamland that's for sure. Some say that dreams are memories, I don't know if I believe that one but I do think that dreaming is a way for our brains to recharge themselves. For a couple of months a few years back I had the dreaded insomnia I was really anxious especially at bedtime so it resulted in me not being able to sleep one wink which drove me crazy. Sleep is so important to me I must have though eight hours or I'm such a hard person to be around that's for sure. Getting a few hours at night is a way to recharge and turn off the oul batteries in a way and without it like I know already you can get pretty sick which isn't good for anyone.

When I got my sleep patterns back in the right order last year, they thing I missed the most bar sleeping was dreaming. I like nothing more than reading a book at night and drifting off into lala land. I have some pretty good dreams, ones that are fun and then the ones that are god damn weird to say the least. My Dad and I always chat about the weird dreams together so we get a bit of a laugh out of them in the end. 

I'd love to pick up a dream book and diary and jot down my dreams and learn more about them. I think it would be pretty cool to know what my dreams are all about. I'm pretty sure you can get books on Dreams in Easons so once I pick one up I'll definitely do a updated post. When I was sick my friend bought me a dreamcatcher which I photoed above and I love it. It was such a sweet gift and I hang it up just on the shelve beside my bed. It's wooden and has the most prettiest feathers on it. I actually have no idea where she bought it but I definitely want to pick up some more for my room and for gifts as I think they make a lovely one.

I think it would be very interesting to get into the study of dreams. I think it would be so informative to find out what your dreams are actually about.

Do you have a dream diary? What's your opinion on them?

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Rimmel Insta Fix & Go Primer and Setting Spray

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I'm not one to give a bad review as I hate negativity unless I really genuinely don't enjoy a product.I bought the Rimmel Insta Fix & Go Primer and Setting Spray in Boots a couple of weeks ago and I was expecting really good things. I just couldn't get my head around the scent of this product. Don't get me wrong this could have been an amazing product but yeah the smell isn't so good at all. It smells really strongly of cucumber which some people may like but me not so much.

For €10.99 I was left really disappointed from this product. I'm a huge fan of setting sprays and this could of been so much better. It was such a huge let down as I'm usually a really big fan of Rimmel products.

The spray head also isn't the best, it sprays out too much product which can drown your face and ruin your makeup which isn't good. I don't know what I'm going to do with this product as I'm probably not going to use it. I may give it to someone to see do they get on a bit better.

What is your favourite setting spray?

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipsticks

Hey Guys and Dolls,

After trying their Vice lipsticks I couldn't wait to try Urban Decay's Vice Liquid Lipsticks when I saw they were being launched. I was sent the shade 22 which is a pinky mauve shade and it's perfect for me I'm in love!

I've used this everyday since I received it and it's longlasting and beautiful. It's so pigmented and when I say it literally lasts all day it does when I put this on in the morning it doesn't budge one little bit until night time which is amazing.

There are 18 shades to choose from and they all look so pretty. I love the neutral shades from this range the most. I definitely want to try some more of these lipsticks as they retail for €18, they're not too pricey either.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - NYX Cosmetics Lip and Lid Lingerie

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I've tried a couple of NYX Cosmetics products in the past, it's definitely a brand I love. I really like when they have new launches as there usually fabulous. I was recently sent some products from their recently launched range of lip and lid lingerie products.

I was sent seven shades in total from the lip and lid lingerie range. I received Night Glow, Fame & Fortune, Gold Standard and Morning Sky from the lid lingerie range and Ruffle Trim, Push Up,  and Honeymoon from the lip lingerie range. I adore all the lip lingerie neutral shades they are my favourite, I love Push-Up in particular as it's a beautiful light neutral shade. They are so wearable and go perfectly with any makeup look.

The lid lingerie range is really good aswell they are amazing under eyeshadow but I would recommend using a primer with them. The shade Morning Sky a pretty emerald green shade would look perfect on St Patrick's Day.

These product come in lots of different shades which is great as there's more choice. They retail at in and around €10 which is good value indeed.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Casper & Coal Makeup Bags

Hey Guys and Dolls,

As you all know I have a tonne of makeup bags, sure you never know when you might need one plus I have a lot of makeup so I need somewhere to store it all. The team at Casper & Coal sent me out two makeup bags recently and I'm in love with them both. They are so so pretty. Casper & Coal is a online store that sells makeup bags as well as bath and body products, everything is all natural which is good too.

First off is their Signature Marble makeup bag and this is by far my favourite out of the two. It's very spacious and has enough room in it for lots of makeup. There's a little inner pocket which is handy and I adore the fabric, it's wipe clean which is amazing cause I know I usually put my foundation fingerprints on everything. This makeup bag retails at a affordable €18.

The second makeup bag is the Bucket Cosmetic bag in Banana Leaf. This makeup bag is €17.99 which like the Signature Marble makeup bag is really good value indeed. This is probably the most unusual makeup bag I've ever seen. I really like it, it's perfect. It has areas around the side of the bag which would be perfect for holding my makeup brushes. All my products can stand up right in this too so that's pretty cool and convenient. It also has a draw string, that means all your products will be safe and you don't need to worry about your makeup falling over when your travelling.

I've been really impressed with these makeup bags from Casper & Coal, they're so pretty and yet very affordable, definitely worth the purchase.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Loreal Pure Clay Glow Scrub

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I bought this product recently in Boots as it was on offer. I purchased it for €3.99 which is pretty much next to nothing. I've used the face mask from this range and I'm in love with it so I was expecting good things from this product and it delivered.

I apply this to my face in a circular motion then rinse it off with luke warm water. It cleanses the skin aswell as lightly exfoliates. It leaves the skin super clean and glowing which is exactly what I need in my life. This product has been welcomed with open arms into my skincare collection.

For the price €3.99, I really think this is an amazing product and I love it. If you want to add a new 

product to your skincare collection I'd definitely suggest giving this a go the next time your in Boots.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Too Faced Love Flush Blushes

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I like a nice blush, there's nothing like wearing a nice natural blush that gives a hint of colour to the cheeks. I recently got the chance to review two from Too Faced, a brand that I've been loving lately.

The blushes they sent me are from the Love Flush blush range. They are said to be long lasting 16 hour blushes. I wouldn't say they do that but they stay on the cheeks for ages during the day. The two shades I got are Justify my Love a beautiful baby pink and Love Hangover a lovely coral shade. I like both of these shades equally they give a nice hint of colour to the cheeks. They are soo pigmented aswell.

I love the packaging on these products, they remind me of Polly Pockets from back in the day, so cute They're magnetic aswell so rest assured they will not open in your makeup bag which is always good to know. I do think these products would look amazing as a part of anyones makeup collection. I definitely want to pick up some more soon. These blushes retail for €30 so they are on the expensive side but they're definitely worth looking into if you want to add a new blush to your collection.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Giorgio Armani Smart Moisture Serum

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I like using highend products as I feel if you have a good base your makeup application will be amazing and your skin will look flawless. I've never tried Armani Skincare as it has always been a bit out of my price range. Last year I was invited to one of their events and I got to try some products from their newly launched Prima range and boy is it good.

The packaging is very clean and sleek which immediately drew me towards it. The formula is also light weight and absorbs into the skin right away. This product has a pipette applicator which is very hygenic and a little bit goes a long way. My skin after using this is smooth and instantly hydrated.

For €80, this product is pretty pricey I'm not going to lie. I don't think I'd honestly have enough money on my budget to buy this usually. Having said that it is a lovely product so if you want to treat yourself go for it.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Urban Decay Full Spectrum palette

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I'm not into bright vibrant shadows but I couldn't not buy the Urban Decay Full Spectrum palette. I bought it in House of Fraser Dundrum Town Centre, this palette is usually in and around €50 but I got it for €32 on offer which is such amazing value.

The Urban Decay Full Spectrum palette contains 21 shadows in all the colours of the rainbow and with different finishes from matte to shimmer this is a great palette for any makeup lover. I like how the shades are grouped into different shade groups so everything looks super organised.

The palette also contains a double ended eyeshadow brush. The brushes that come with these palettes are always amazing which is good too. The Urban Decay Full Spectrum palette is so different to any eyeshadow palettes I have in my collection even though I'm not into bright, vibrant shades I've been using  this lots since I bought it a month ago.

The top row is full of beautiful smokey shadows. This is probably my favourite group of shadows they're so pretty. They are gorgeous in the crease. The second row is definitely more vibrant and harder to use in a everyday makeup look. The last row are beautiful subtle shades which I really like.

My favourite shadows are the purple shades as I think they are so much easier to use in any eye look especially the smokey shade. 

If this palette is used right you can create looks that are perfect for everyday if you incorporate some neutral eyeshadows. I'll definitely do a post soon featuring a eyeshadow look including this palette.

The Full Spectrum palette is beautiful and certainly worth the buy especially if you can get it on offer so definitely have a look out for it.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Loreal Infallible Total Coverage range and Infallible Fixing Mist

Hey Guys and Dolls,

As always Boots had a great offer on when I payed a visit on my birthday so of course I couldn't say no. 

First of there's the Infallible Total Cover Full Coverage Long Wear Foundation. I really like this stuff, I use the shade 12 Natural Rose which is the perfect shade for my skin tone. I've been using this foundation pretty much all the time since I bought it and I have nothing but good things to report back to you guys. The finish of this foundation is matte but it doesn't look or feel drying on the skin which is a good sign. It's also full coverage and long lasting so it stays put all day as well as covering all those pesky imperfections. Just be wary this foundation is very thick so I blend it in a bit with my fingers before using one of my makeup brushes. I really do like this foundation and I can see myself using it alot.

Second up is the Infallible Total Cover Full Coverage Concealer Palette and boy is this amazing, it's probably my favourite concealer palette. In this palette are five shades, a beige trio of concealers and two colour correctors and they are so unbelievably pigmented. So in a nutshell this is and amazing concealer and colour correcting palette that is really straightforward to use. This is probably my favourite product I bought on this trip to Boots it's very good I seriously think everyone should have one in their collection. I enjoy using this palette alot.

Lastly I bought Loreal's Infallible Fixing Mist. This is one of the better budget setting sprays I've tried on the market. I do really think it's good. I spray a couple of spritzes over my face and viola done. It keeps my makeup looking fresh and intact all day long. It's doesn't drown my face either which is a good sign.

All and all I really like these products and I'm glad I purchased them they were on offer as well. They were on 3 for 2 so I got all these products for in and around €20 which is a bargain.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Uriage Thermale Water

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I love thermal waters I find them so hydrating on the skin and it's amazing when you spray it on your makeup throughout the day to freshen it up. Uriage skincare is a french brand that I'd never heard of until I went to a skincare event recently. I'm really into these sort of products because aswell as having great skincare benefits, they also leave my skin looking fresh which is exactly what I need throughout the day.

Uriage's Thermal Water has a extremely high mineral content and is 52 times richer than any other brands on the Irish market which is amazing. So basically in a nutshell it moisturises, soothes and protects all the skin especially the most sensitive, it's just a really nice all round protect. You can also use this on in your eyes aswell though my eyes usually don't stay open for long enough I'm always blinking when I spray this stuff.

It comes in a 150ml can which I'm sure will last an age. I'd love to purchase the mini size to fit into my makeup bag. You can pick a mini one up for €3 or get an even bigger can for €14.50 so I probably will pick up both next week and I'll show you a picture of the sizes on my instagram.

For €9.50 you get this 150ml can which compared to other brands on the Irish market is amazing value. I really want to try some more products from Uriage skincare soon.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Essence Shine Shine Shine Wet Look Lipgloss

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I'm not huge into lipgloss cause I feel if it's even that tiny bit windy out my hair always gets stuck into. I found a lipgloss recently that isn't like that at all and I really like it. The lipgloss in question is from Essence and it's from their Shine Shine Shine lipgloss range. I can tell already there going to be really popular indeed.

First off there are 12 beautiful shades to choose from this range from neutrals to purples there is a lot of choice. I definitely have my eye on a couple of neutral shades that's for sure. In the picture below I'm wearing no.8 Indie Romance on my lips it's a gorgeous light pink shade that gives a my lips but better look and I think it looks really pretty indeed. These lipglosses are being launched in March but there is three shades available in stores at the moment to neutral shades and a purple. I can't wait for the full line to launch very soon. Essence Cosmetics new Spring Summer range looks incredible there's so many good products to choose from. I saw they were bringing out colour correctors and make your own eyeshadow palette so I definitely want to pick up these once they launch. Back to the lipgloss, it's really pigmented and doesn't feel sticky at all which is always good in my books. It just looks really natural so it would look perfect with any makeup look.

My verdict for the price €2.49 and the shade range as I said is amazing, I really love this lipglosses and I definitely give them my approval plus two thumbs up from me.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Weightloss Update #4

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I'm four weeks into my weightloss journey and I'm happy with the progress I've made so far. As I've been doing so well lately I wasn't too sure how I'd get on this week. I've eaten healthy but you can never predict what the scales is going to say.

This week I lost  one pound so that means in total I'm down one stone 3 pounds in 4 weeks which is beyond amazing. The progress I've made has been soo good and I really want to keep it up for sure I'm just getting started.

I would love to lose 7 stone I know it's alot but it's what I'd like to lose in the long run. I'm not going to put a time frame on it I'm just going to take everyday as it comes and just try my best. Sure your best is all you can do at the end of the day. This week I've been eating pretty healthy foods, I did treat myself to a sneaky KitKat Cookie Dough and it was beyond worth it so yummy. I thoroughly enjoyed every last piece.

I've also pretty much cut out eating bread completely which has been helping alot. I haven't replaced it with anything as I'm not missing it too much at all to be honest. I was told by a specialist a while ago that it's not too good to replace food with other things as there is a chance you could end up overeating that food, I totally agree with him as I'm guilty of that.

I have started back going to Aqua Aerobics classes this week. My Nanna and I were busy last week with it being my birthday and all, I missed it alot so it was nice to get back into the pool even though the water was freezing. I love having my partner in crime, my Nanna, we have all the chats and a good laugh when we go swimming. 

I'm going swimming twice a week now and I might be starting to go three times a week next week and I can't wait. Swimming is so good for you, it works every muscle in your body. I do be so tired after a class. The classes only cost €6.50 a pop and go on for 45 minutes. I love the music they play during their classes, it's soo old school. I feel the swimming has definitely helped me shift some of the pounds since I started my weightloss journey. If you were looking for a new hobby to help you lose eight I'd definitely recommend swimming to anyone. Not only is it great for you it's also really enjoyable.

So yeah all and all I'm so happy with my progress losing almost one and a half stone in four weeks has been reallty good going. I'm really hoping to lose my one and a half stone target next week. I'll be even more thrilled. I'm definitely going to treat myself to something nice when I do maybe some new makeup products or a bag. If course I'll keep you posted on future weightloss in upcoming posts.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - My Tattoos

Hey Guys and Doll,

I like tattoos, I feel like every one has a story to tell. I didn't get one until a couple of years ago when I started experiencing my mental health issues. I waited a while to get one as I always thought they would be very painful but I was wrong.

I now have two tattoos, a star behind my ear and a saying, Ohana from the Disney movie Lilo and Stitch on my wrist. I love them both lots. I got them done in Wildcat Ink in St Stephen's Green Shopping Centre. I like getting my ink done there.

Both of my tattoos took less than an hour to complete and cost €60-€80. I'd definitely recommend researching what tattoo you want to get wisely. The last thing you want to do is to wake up in a couple of years time not liking what you got and thinking what the world you were up to all those years ago. A obvious one one is to not scrub the tattoo with water for a week or two after getting it done. Lastly  always apply some Tattoo Goo which you can get in your tattoo parlour or vaseline to your tattoo to help the healing process and to keep the colour vibrant.

I'm looking into getting two tattoos next week and I'm soo excited. I'm thinking about getting the moon and a sun symbol on both my arms. They're going to be pretty small so I can keep them covered. I also want to get a robin in the future as they always remind me of my Aunty Kate that passed away when I see one I always think of her.

I'm happy how both my tattoos turned out. I hope my next two tattoos are just as good.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo+ Unifiant

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I've always been a fan of La Roche Posay, I've been using it for years. I've tried alot of their products over time so I was excited when I heard of their new product, Effaclar Duo + Unifiant. I couldn't wait to give it a go.

This product works the same as the orignal hero product, the only difference is that it's tinted. I was sent the light and medium shade to try. At this time of year I'd be definitely more on the lighter side of things but I'll certainly use the darker shade in the Summer months.

This has pretty good coverage and I would be happy to wear this product alone with a bit of concealer and powder. I also really like the smell of this product it's very fresh. I do really like this product it has many good benefits and my skin looks amazing when I use it. It certainly is a great new find and I'll definitely use it more in the future. I'm pretty sure it costs in and around €20 which isn't too bad as a little bit goes a long way.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - NYX Highlight and Contour Pro Palette

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I'm big into contouring recently, I love the effect it gives. I've been a big fan of a couple of products which you can check out here. Today's post is going to be on the NYX Cosmetics Highlight and Contour Pro Palette. It contains four highlighting shades and four contour shades.

I've been using this palette so much since I got it for a gift and I love it. It has the perfect amount of shades and if you use any shade up there refillable too which is great to know. This is definitely my favourite contour palette in my makeup collection. I already have my eye on the NYX Blush palette aswell at the moment. It has so many pretty blush shades and I like the look of it.

This palette is great for travelling and I can see myself getting so much more use out of it. This palette costs €20 and for what you get and the quality of the product that is amazing value.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Mane 'N Tail Detangler

Hey Guys and Dolls,

My hair is hard to manage sometimes it can get quite messy and tangled which can be pretty annoying I'm not going to lie. I got my hair cut in a long bob towards the end of last year. It's alot more manageable but of course it still gets tangled.

A product I have been using to combat this issue is Mane 'N Tail Detangler which I believe is a bit over the €10 mark so it's not too pricey either. I've been using this product for ages but I haven't gotten around to reviewing it yet. First off I wash my hair and then after quickly towel drying it I spray a couple of spritzes into my hair and brush it through with my tangle teezer. My hair instantly feels and looks alot less knotty. I then blow dry my hair and it couldn't look as good.

I seriously don't know where I'd be without this product, my hair is so thankful for it. It definitely gets two thumbs up from me and I'm definitely going to check out some more products from this range soon.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Nimue Tinted Sun C SPF 40

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I know it's a bit early to be talking about suncare as we're only in February but that pesky Sun is still lurking behind the clouds. I do tend to get sunburned at times so I choose to use a high factor sunscreen.

Nimue Skincare has been one of my favourite skincare brands for the last while, when I discovered that they had a sunscreen with a SPF 40, I had to try it out. Plus it's tinted which makes it even better.

I've tried this alot over the past week or so, applying it before my makeup and moisturiser. It's easy to apply and a little goes a long way. It doesn't have a lot of colour to it but it does give a nice glow, it looks great under my foundation.

For €39.50, I don't think this price is too bad at all. I feel you always need a good suncreen as looking after your skin from the Sun is very important. I know when I'm older I don't want to suffer from sun damaged skin so I know this product will help prevent that.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - My MAC Eyeshadow Collection

Hey Guys and Dolls,

MAC is one of those brand I've been using for years from paints pots to lipstick, there's so much to choose from from this brand. I adore their eyeshadows, they such an amazing selection of shades.

Last Summer I bought one of their empty palettes that fit 30 eyeshadows, sure you can never have too many MAC eyeshadows. Well I can't anyway. I've already filled up a half of the palette already so if you have any recommendations for the other half definitely let me know.

Top Row - Cork, Expensive Pink, All That Glitters, Nylon, Brule
Middle Row - Brown Script, Rule, Antiqued, Coppering, Texture
Bottom Row - Amber Lights, Shadowy Lady, Tempting, Sketch, Embark

The newest shade to my palette is Shadowy Lady and it's a very dark purple shades that would be great in the crease and in the outer corner I think. As you can see all the shadows I have are on the neutral side of things. I prefer to go with a natural eye as opposed to a vibrant look. I'd be too scared if it all went wrong to be honest.

My favorite eyeshadows are Coppering, Sketch and Embark. Coppering is a gorgeous all over the lid shade and the other two look perfect in the crease blended out. I really like all these eyeshadows though they are extremely pigmented and really pretty.

I use this palette alot and I like how you can choose the shades you like. I'm probably going to get a few more neutral shadows considering they are only €7 a pop which is such good value.

What are your favourite MAC eyeshadows?

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Just a Everyday Makeup Look!

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I like wearing a bit of makeup everyday it makes me feel more put together and alive, even when I'm not wearing my usual everyday makeup I slap on a bit of tinted moisturer and mascara. For my everyday makeup I like to keep things as simple as possible as I like to get those extra few minutes in bed. Sure isn't your beauty sleep very important.

The look above is my current everyday makeup and it's so easy to achieve even when your in a rush. As you can see it's very simple indeed, a nice base with a natural eye. Most of the products I used are from budget brands and are easy to find in Boots stores, they're sometimes on offer aswell which is always good to hear.

First off I applied my new favourite foundation and concealer from the True Match range. These two products are amazing, I use the shade Vanilla if your wondering. They blend seamlessly into the skin and they look incredibly natural which is always a good sign. Again I use my favourite foundation brush at the moment, the Louise Young Super foundation brush. If you can still get your hands on one of these brushes I'd highly recommend it.

Now onto the eyes, today I used Urban Decay's Naked Ultimate Basics palette. I love this palette it's so handy for travelling or in your handbag cause it has an amazing array of shades plus the mirror is huge so perfect for applying makeup on the go. For this particular look I used Pre-Game all over the lid with Extra Bitter in the crease. The latter is definitely my favourite shade in the palette, it's such a nice colour and it's soo pigmented. This is probably my favourite Naked palette ever and that's saying something. Lastly for mascara I've used Max Factor Fusion mascara. I'm not going to going to harp on about this but I love the effect it gives to my lashes, incredible volume.

While I was writing this blog post I've been listening to Christina Perri's I Believe from the movie Pan. I love the movie and adore the song. If you haven't seen it go get the movie it's so good!

Laura<3

The Lo Down - What I Got for my 27th Birthday!

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Last week I celebrated my 27th birthday, it was so nice to spend some quality time with my family and boyfriend during the week. I got some lovely gifts and I was so spoiled. I'm going to show you guys what I got on the day.

From my parents I received a Marc Jacobs perfume set. I'm a huge fan of Marc Jacobs perfumes so I was so happy with this gift, it was so thoughtful of them. The scent they got me is called Decadence and it's the latest fragrance from the brand. It came in a beautiful giftbox with a shower gel that I can't wait to to use. I love this gift and I can see this becoming my signature scent.

From my boyfriend I got a couple of gifts. Firstly he got me Season 2,3 and 4 of Once a Upon a Time. A T.V series that I'm really enjoying at the moment I watch it every night before I go to bed I love it. I can't wait to get stuck into these. I like nothing more than cuddling up in my pyjamas and watching this show. I'm actually going to do a review on Season 1 really soon. He also got me a Harry Potter Hogwarts Crest Light. He knows I'm a big fan of Harry Potter so this was the most perfect gift. I'm trying to find somewhere nice to put it in my room at the minute.

Of my sister, Lisa I received the new Nicholas Sparks book, Two by Two which I can't wait to read as I like this author alot. If you don't recognise the name he is actually the write behind much loved book/film The Notebook. If you haven't read/seen this it's definitely a tear jerker so don't forget the tissues, they're much needed. As she knows I love blogging and jotting down my ideas on the go so she bought me a beautiful notebook from Penneys/Primark. I love it she knows me way too well. Lastly she bought me Catrice's Matt Plush foundation. I'm a big fan of this brands foundations so I can't wait to try this one.

From my brother Gerard I got five scratchcards and I luckily won €25 which was great. I bought a few Loreal products which you can see in the picture above. These are just newly launched and they look great so I will be testing them out very soon.

My Nanna and Grandad gave me a beautiful card with €40 in it which was much needed and I got some lovely stuff in Penneys. They also bought me a beautiful Yankee candle in the scent Cappuchino Truffle. This candle smells amazing. Yankee Candles are definitely my favourite candles ever. I have nowhere to put it at the moment in my room but I'm going to take a trip to IKEA soon to pick up a new desk.

Lastly my Auntie Val got me JK Rowling's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Screenplay. I love Harry Potter so I know I'm definitely going to love this. I haven't seen the movie so I'm looking forward to reading this first.

So that's what I got for my birthday I got some amazing presents so I'm very thankful indeed.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - My Top 5 Taylor Swift songs that weren't released as Singles

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I'm a huge Taylor Swift fan if you don't know already. Before she was even mainstream I was listening to her music on My Space back in the day, so that wasn't today or yesterday as you can probably imagine. I've been to see her twice in concert in Manchester and Dublin. Both concerts were amazing but Manchester was probably my favourite as I met Taylor's Mom and she gave me a guitar pick. I actually don't have it anymore but the whole experience was indeed magical.

Here is my favourite Taylor Swift songs that weren't released as singles. It's in no particular order.

Enchanted

I've always loved this song it's beautiful. Taylor Swift wrote it after meeting Owl City's lead singer as she was so infatuated by him. It's one of those songs I could keep playing over and over again. I'm actually listening to it as I'm writing this post. Wonderstruck a word in the lyrics of the song is actually the name of Taylor Swift's perfume which I love alot. I guess we all have a guy like the one mentioned in this song in our lives that give us butterflies and that we hope we run into again.

Innocent

Okay we all know who this song is about, Mr. K.West we're looking right at you. After the MTV awards debacle it was obvious T. Swift was going reciprocate so what a better way than to do it in a song. This is one of my fave songs on the album Speak Now. It's alot different to any of her other songs and it's all about growing up.

I Know Places

I love, love, love this song. I always play it with the volume turned up in the car with my Dad. I'm sure he knows all the lyrics by now too. This song is off Taylor Swift's latest album 1989. I think it's about when your first in  relationship and everyone wants a piece of it and how you want to get away from all the drama.

I'd Lie

This is an unreleased song by Taylor Swift but definitely worth a listen to. It's one of the first songs she ever wrote but didn't make it on to her first album. It's another one of my favourite songs cause lets be honest there's always a guy that doesn't want a relationship that your crazy about and head over heels for.

Long Live

Another great song, can this woman actually do wrong? For me this is a song about having the time of your life with the people you care about the most. It's a really feel good song and I love it!

What's your favourite Taylor Swift song?

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Nimue Skincare Starter Kit

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I've done a couple of posts recently on Nimue Skincare which shows that I'm a big fan of the brand. If you are new to the brand and haven't tried anything from the brand I feel a good way to start is to try their Starter Kit. They are four options to choose from depending on your skin type.

The kit itself contains six decent sized products from the range including the conditioner I love. I seriously can't be without this stuff I'm glad I have a little mini travel size now too. It also contains their SPF in the set. I like to apply this underneath my makeup to protect my skin from the harmful Sun's rays.

I think this Starter Kit would be great for travelling as all the products are the perfect size for your travel makeup bag. It's also good if you want to try the products before you splash the cash on the full sized products.

For €70, I think this set is great value for money so definitely worth checking out for sure.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Benefit Cosmetics Dandelion Dew

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I loved Benefit's Dew The Hoola liquid bronzer, it's such a lovely product. I recently bought Benefit's Dandelion Dew liquid blush off Cloud 10 Beauty and I couldn't wait to test it out.

I love the packaging it's almost identical to Dew The Hoola except it's a pretty green colour. Now the product itself is soo good, I only apply two dots to the apples of my cheeks and blend it in using a Blank Canvas brush and that's it. Simple as that! Your left with a subtle hint of pink that looks so natural. I don't particularly like vibrant blushes as they me look like a doll or worse a clown and no one wants that. This product isn't like that at all and that's why I like Benefit products so much. Like I said in my Cloud 10 Beauty Benefit Haul you can only purchase this product from their website it's not available on counters in Ireland. It is on the pricey side €30.95 but I think it's totally worth it's soo good.

I can't decide which is my favourite between Dandelion Dew and Dew The Hoola, so if you were going to purchase one I'd go for the one you need most as they are both great products.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Urban Naked Ultimate Basics Palette

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Wow when this palette was released I knew I had to get my hands on it. The Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics palette was released in 2016 and it is by far my favourite palette I'd know as I basically have all of them. This sleek palette is so pretty I adore the rose goldesque packaging it have a great size mirror which is great for when your on the go.

The palette consists of twelve new and exclusive matte neutrals which are so buttery and pigmented. I just love it. I do own a lot of eyeshadow palettes I'm not going to lie so I try to use this alot. When I stay in my boyfriends this is my go to and I usually bring it as it's so versatile. The palette also comes with a pretty good blending and smudger brush which is way better than alot of mediocre brushes that are in some palettes. My favourite shades in this palette are extra bitter and lethal I think they are both very wearble and are so pigmented, they are amazing for a great smokey eye for day or night you decide. My go to look is Blow on the brow bone as a highlight, Nude all over lid, Extra Bitter in the crease and Lethal blended into the crease and outer corner. This look is ace and I've rocked it alot it's what I'm wearing in the picture below.

I think this is a great asset to any makeup lovers collection, there's such a great array of shades and countless eye looks to create.

What is your favourite Naked palette?

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Weightloss Update #3

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Three weeks ago I started my weightloss journey and I've come a long way since then. I began this journey cause of course first and foremost I wanted to lost weight but I also wanted to make some healthy changes to my diet. I'm happy to say I did just that.

I weigh myself every Friday morning when I get up in the mornings which is sometimes pretty early. I like to weigh myself at the same time as I get a better idea of my progress.

This week I lost a further two and a half pound which brings my total weightloss to date to one stone two pound. I couldn't be happier to see all the progress I've made so far. It shows that the simple changes to my diet have worked. I don't like calling what I'm doing a diet it's more of a lifestyle change. I did Slimming World and personal training in the past so as they aren't really in my budget anymore I decided to take what I learned before and put it into action which I thought was the best thing to do. It has definitely payed off so far. I haven't made too many other changes to my diet although I have pretty much cut out Pepsi Max completely, I only had one can this week and I didn't miss it that much at all to be honest. I'm aiming to lose another two pound next week which I feel is pretty achievable. Daragh and I have started to go on long walks aswell so I definitely think they have helped alot this week indeed.

I'm still eating the food that I enjoy, sure last Friday I went out and celebrated my 27th Birthday in a beautiful Thai restaurant with my family and my boyfriend. Like you can treat yourself at times but remember always get back on track the day after. I always go out for a long walk the day after as it clears my mind and I know I'm doing something healthy aswell. I missed out on swimming this week cause my Nanna and I had other things on so it was important for me to get a walk in. We will definitely be starting back swimming next week though cause we definitely both miss it alot.

As always I have the best supporters ever who always give me such good feedback on my Facebook weightloss status which is so nice and again much appreciated. I know it's a small thing but it means a great deal to me indeed.

So far this hasn't been difficult at all. It's simple and easy to make simple changes it's just really important to stick to it because that's where I believe this factor can let people down sometimes. If  I can do this anyone can.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Pure Results One Day Detox

Hey Guys and Dolls,

On the 4th of March, Pure Results One Day Detox event is being held in the Radisson St Helen's Hotel in Stillorgan. It's will be starting off at 9am and finishing at 5pm, it's going to include boxercise and yoga classes plus lots more including workshops so it's definitely going to be a great day out.

My sister, Lisa and I are going along to on the day, we're really looking forward to it as we've never been to a event like this before. Lisa has actually never been to anything like this so this will be her first and it should be great as this event is the first of its kind in Ireland. We believe this event is perfect for us as Lisa is big into fitness and is a qualified nutritionist and I've started my weightloss journey only recently. We both think we can benefit from this day out and take so much from it as I'm sure it will be really informative indeed.

Tickets cost €99 included in that price is a breakfast on arrival, lunch, a Q&A with Kathryn Thomas and the Pure Results fitness and wellbeing experts, classes, workshops and an amazing goodie bag filled with health and beauty products which is sure to go down a treat. Pure Results run fitness and nutrition retreats in the country during the year so this one day event would be a taste to see what there like and if it would be something that you would be interested in attending in the future.

If you yourself are looking to attend a fun and interesting day out which I'm sure will be really informative with lots of fitness and wellbeing tips along the way you can purchase tickets here.

This is a event not to be missed I'm sure a amazing time will be had by all and I hope to see some of you there too. Pure Results Bootcamp can be found on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook under the username @PureResultsBootcamp if you're looking for information.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Boots Skincare and Makeup Haul

Hey Guys and Dolls,

This is my second Boots Haul in a short while I have a serious shopping addiction you guys. Some of the deals are just too good to pass up though sometimes I guess and Boots have some great ones at the moment.

First off I bought some skincare. I'm a fan of Garnier's original micellar water so when I saw there 700ml bottle was only €6.50 the same price as their average size I had to snap it up. This bottle is huge and it's definitely going to last me ages. I also picked up two packets of their wipes as they were on special for €5.00 again great value as one packet is €4.50. I already did a review of these wipes on my blog which you can check out here. I already put up a review of these on my blog. Lastly with the skincare I bought the Loreal Pure Clay Glow Wash as it was on special for €3.99. I've already tried the mask from this range and it's amazing.

I then bought some makeup. I've tried alot of Loreal foundations in the past and I've found them really good. I've heard alot about their True Match range so I was expecting good things. I picked up their foundation and concealer so I'm excited to try them both. I picked up the shade Vanilla which I usually go for so I was hoping it was a good match for my skin tone and it was. I've been using this alot lately and it was my base in both my Valentine's Day Look and 27th Birthday look.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - My 27th Birthday Makeup

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Last Wednesday I celebrated my birthday and I had such an amazing day. I actually did a blog post on the day which you can check out here. I just chilled out really and spent it with my family. I'm meeting up with my boyfriend over the weekend though for drinks so that should be fun indeed. I need to relax with a nice Gin and Tonic that's for sure.

My makeup day on the day was quite simple yet a little glam as of course it was my birthday after all. I used some of the products I used for my Valentine's day look as they are just so good and staples in my makeup bag at the moment. I don't think I could be without them even though some of them are newbies.

So the makeup products I used are as follows. On the face I used Loreal's True Match foundation and concealer. I only bought this recently in Boots on offer for 2 for €15 and I'm delighted I did. It gives a nice amount of coverage and isn't drying on the skin one little bit. As I said in my Valentine's day I apply this foundation using my Louise Young foundation brush and it gives the nicest finish. I bought this in Harvey Nichol's Dundrum a couple of years ago now so I'm not too sure if you can still get it there. It is on the pricey side of things at €30 but it's a really good brush to have I use it all the time. It gets into all the really hard to reach areas on your face and it makes applying foundation a dream.

Now on to the eyes, I used two products on the eyes and I absolutely love both of them. For eyeshadow I used the Too Faced Sweet Peach palette, this palette is pretty new to my collection. I bought it back in January but I've been using it alot especially the shade Luscious all over the lid. It looks amazing and I hope I don't hit pan on it for ages. I actually did a review on the palette which you can check out here. Out of all the Too Faced palettes it's probably my favourite one. For mascara I used Max Factor Fusion mascara as I said in my Valentine's Day post this is amazing and works wonders on the oul lashes I have to say. It gives a really nice volume and makes my lashes look a million dollars, now that's saying something. I do know when I run out of this stuff I'll definitely be buying a new one that's for sure.

Lastly I straightened my hair. I have a long bob at the moment and it looks ways better when it's straight even though I do wear it curly from time to time. I feel like the bob is much easier to handle than my long messy mane.

So that's my 27th birthday look in a nut shell. It was very simple and didn't take too long to create at all which is great as I had more time to celebrate my birthday. I'm definitely going to do more of these style posts in the future as I enjoy reading them myself.

Laura<3