HIDDEN GEMS: DRUGSTORE MAKEUP

When buying new makeup products, I always go by what is popular in the beauty blogger world, but sometimes I like to venture out and try things that I haven't really heard much about.

There are so many great products out there that I love and don't feel they get as much recognition as they deserve, so I thought I would show you some of them.

Natural Collection Mascaras

I was looking for an affordable mascara to use every day, and after seeing good reviews for these mascaras I thought I would try them out - and they are so good!! They are only £1.99 and they are amazing for that price, especially if you're just starting out with makeup!

 Max Factor CC Cream

 This is really great for when you want more coverage than a BB Cream, but don't want to use a full on foundation. It has really good coverage but never feels heavy on the skin and looks really natural and healthy.

Miss Sporty Eye Pencil

For only £1.99 this eyeliner has really good pigmentation and stays on really well throughout the day. Great for the price and also really good for a starter kit if you're new to makeup.

Maybelline Dream Touch Blusher

I used to stay well clear of cream blushers because I knew I would end up looking like a clown, but I tried this and it makes it so easy. All you need to do is tap your brush in it once and it is so pigmented, so it will last you ages. It makes you look so much healthier than a powder blush, and stays on really well. I would really recommend this to mature woman as it gives you a really nice glow to make you look younger!

xo, Orlagh

Instagram - @_orlaghmccloskey

Twitter - @_orlaghmarie

GCSE LAST MINUTE REVISION

If you've clicked on this you've more than likely thought you had loads of time to revise, but then realised that it's a week until your exams and you've procrastinated the entire year.

Like me, I'm sure you don't want to be able to spell fudge with the grades you end up with in August, so hopefully these tips can help you out a little.

1) Flash cards

If you have't used these before, you're missing out. I know from my exam boards that they like to ask for definitions a lot, so these are a great way of memorizing them.  I write the word on one side, then the definition on the other. You can get someone to test you by holding the card, as the word you need to define can only be seen by you, and the definition can only be seen by them. I know it seems really simple but they are so effective.

2) Get rid of all distractions

I always find that when I'm trying to revise, I'll check Instagram every 3 seconds, so you're better to get rid of your phone or even turn off the internet. I know it sounds absolutely terrifying, but you will get so much more done.

3) Take breaks

By this I don't mean blankly staring at a book for 5 minutes then accidentally watching three hours of Friends on your 'break'. Say for every 45 minutes, take a 5 minute break. It's hard to stay concentrated on the same subject for a long time, so if you take short breaks and switch subjects, you'll be more likely to absorb what you are trying to learn.

4) Use weekends to your advantage

If you're always really tired after school and find it hard to study, you will get so much more done during the weekends. I know you probably want to do more interesting things, but I would rather take a few weekends out and be happy with my results in August than have to worry all summer because I know I could have done more.

5) Prioritize subjects

If you're really short on time, there's no point wasting time studying for subjects you find easy. Instead, try and focus on the subjects you struggle with most. Write down all of your subjects in order of how hard you find them, then spend more time revising for them.

6) Use colour in your notes
This might not work for everyone, but I find if you put information that is more important (dates, facts etc.) in colour, they stand out a lot more and seem to stick in my brain a lot better.

7) Try and eat healthier
I'm not telling you to go on a diet or become vegan for a month, but just try to cut down on fast-food and fizzy drinks. Drinking water sounds so stupid but the difference it can make is actually amazing. When you're dehydrated its a lot harder to focus, so drinking more water will help you stay concentrated and you'll take more things in. It will also help you to concentrate in your actual exams.

and finally...

8) Try not to have a mental breakdown
I know at this time of the year we're all on the verge of one, so if you find yourself getting stressed, do something that calms you down. You've only got 2 months to go! If you can get through exams you can get through anything.


Hopefully this helps you out a bit if you're starting to panic, and try to stay calm!

xo, Orlagh


instagram - @_orlaghmccloskey
twitter - @_orlaghmarie

REVIEW: CLEAN AND CLEAR MORNING ENERGY FACE WASH

Hi! 

First of all, I apologize for the lack of blog posts recently, I hate making excuses but I have my GCSE's next month so studying for them is my top priority at the minute. Don't worry though, I'll be posting loads in the summer!

My old face wash ran out (Nspa melting gel cleanser), so I thought I would pick up something a little different. I liked the look of this Clean & Clear face wash because it seemed that it would be very energizing and help wake me up a bit in the morning.

Clean&Clear always get it spot on with their packaging, as it is very colourful and eye-catching, which I personally really like. (who wants all boring colourless bottles?) 

The bottle is what drew me in at the start, as I just bought it randomly and had never heard anyone talk about it. This is really strange for me because usually I will do some serious research on reviews for a product before I buy it.

What it says on their website:

'This unique gel cleanser with Vitamin C and Ginseng wakes you up with a fresh citrus scent while soft BURSTING BEADS® burst with energy and vitamins, leaving your skin feeling clean, energized and ready to face the day.'

I do agree with what they say to a certain extent. It definitely makes your skin feel clean, and it feels nice and refreshing in the morning. What I would say is that I expected it to be a lot more energizing than what it is, but it is still a really good face wash and it makes your skin feel fresh.

It has a gel-like consistency, which I quite like for face washes. Since I have oily/combination skin, I used to think that foaming cleansers would be the best choice, but they actually really dry out my skin, so gel cleansers are great for combination skin. 

I was quite surprised when it didn't go foamy, and it was quite hard to form a lather. I don't mind this however, as it still made my face really clean.

As you can see in the picture, it has orange beads through the cleanser, which apprently 'burst with energy and vitamins'. Personally, I think things like this are just a gimmick and don't really make a difference, but maybe it does - i'm not a skincare professional!

Overall, I really like this face wash, and I would highly recommend it to anyone with oily to combination skin types. You can't really go wrong as it is only £3.49, and I do think it is amazing for the price.

xo, Orlagh

SPRING BEAUTY: NAILS

Spring is officially here - thank god! I don't know about you but at this time of year I always get sick of the dark wintery colours and want to update my wardrobe/makeup/nails again.

Pastels are one of my favourite colours, so I love wearing them in Spring, whether it be a lipstick, what I'm wearing - or my nails.

Here are a few of the nail polishes that I've been loving at the minute and I think are great for spring time:

(L-R: Les Lolitas in No.3, Topshop in Flamingo Coral, Topshop in Easy Breezy,  Maybelline Super Stay in Porcelain)

(sorry about the messy application!)

Let me know which one is your favourite, and if you have any recommendations/nail polishes you've been loving, let me know in the comments!

xo, Orlagh

My social medias:

Instagram - @_orlaghmccloskey 

Twitter - @_orlaghmarie

Bloglovin - bloglovin.com/blog/13215749

THE DO'S AND DON'TS OF RED LIPSTICK

Red Lipstick... It can be a touchy subject.
It's a great way of making a statement, and can completely transform your look. However, for all of you out there who are terrified of even the thought, I completely understand.

Red lipstick is a tricky thing to master as it can be very messy and when I first tried it, I looked a bit like Miranda Sings (YouTube reference).

After trial and error, I've realized that there are some things you do and some things you definitely don't do. Hopefully some of these tips can help you master red lippie!

Do's:

Do: Research 
This may sound silly, but it is so important that you know what shade of red will suit your skin tone because the wrong red lipstick can completely wash you out or clash with your skin. Before I knew this, I bought a red lipstick with an orange tone, but I soon realized that it did not look good with my ridiculously pale skin, so these shades of lipstick look best with darker skin.
Here are the type of shades which will look best on you according to the shade of your skin:

Do: Use a lipliner

This step can make all the difference. Since red is so eye catching, you want to make sure it's applied neatly, as people will be staring at it all day. Messy red lipstick? Not a good look.

Do: Touch-ups
The last thing you want when wearing red lipstick is to have it on the entire day without checking and then coming home only to realize it had been on your teeth the whole time! I always check every hour or so to see if it has faded so I just apply more

Do: Use lip balm
This makes applying the lipstick sooo much easier; especially if it's matte.



Dont's:

Don't: Apply straight from the bullet
Unless you have incredibly steady hands, I wouldn't recommend this. Using a lip brush can give you a lot more control and precision.

Don't: Be afraid!
Don't be scared to step out of your comfort zone, just have a little fun with it! The way you present yourself is an expression of your personality, so if you like something, don't be afraid of what anybody else thinks! If you feel confident in your own skin, it will be so much more obvious on the outside.


I hope these tips helped you out, please leave your thoughts in the comments and don't be afraid to ask me any questions you have!

xo, Orlagh

My social medias:

Instagram - @_orlaghmccloskey 

Twitter - @_orlaghmarie

Bloglovin - bloglovin.com/blog/13215749