Essence NOTD

Hello hello hello,
Seeing as the first week of January is apparently the worst of the year, why not paint my nails something equally as gloomy? Haha in reality I've just been loving both of these polishes for the last month or two, but only now has it hit me - I should combine them! I did, & I'm loving the result.

Moonless Nights & Here's My Number

I used Essence 03 Moonless Night, which is the suede from the Dark Romance collection on all my nails, & then did an accent nail of their Sparkle Sand Effect polish, 165 Here's My Number. Moonless Night goes on really well, two thin coats gives perfect opacity & it finishes to a lovely matte. Yep, I'd call it more matte than suede, but I can forgive that because it's such a pretty, unique grey. It's quite smokey, but it nearly has teal tones to it as well. Definitely a winter shade! Here's My Number has even better coverage - One coat, good to go. (Though obviously it was layered over Moonless Night, so it didn't have to work as hard..) It's a dark grey grey base, with black & holographic glitter it - It's so pretty, I keep looking at the glitter changing from silver to blue to purple etc! It is a bit gritty to the touch, but it's not too bad if you only use one coat.

Please, looks at the polish, not at the state of the skin surrounding them..

I really like these two polishes together - I think the glitter contrasts nicely against the matte polish, but the colours tie in together. Plus, they're both around €1.49 -What's not to love? Essence is usually in Penneys & Sam McCauleys.

What's your favourite nail combo?
Chloe x

Tag - Make Up

Thank you to the lovely Cindy from Girl With The Skew Earring for tagging me! I only noticed this a month later haha, because I haven't been reading through blogs as much as usual when I arrived home. But Cindy's blog is one of the first blogs I started reading, because it's one of the main Irish blogs I absolutely love. Her Friday Funny posts were my favourite thing to cheer me up, & I love looking at her nail art. So go check GWTSE out!

When did you begin loving make up?

I first began using make up when I was about 13 - Just for discos, etc. I think I was about 15 when I started wearing it more, & learned more on applying it - I made the journey to Dublin to fork out on Bobbi Brown foundation, for my pale skin! (No idea where I got the money at that age.) In Transition Year, we got a make up class, & I got a make up application by Urban Decay that year too, which really encouraged me to figure out as much as I could! But it was probably around 17 that I really developed a passion for make up & kept learning as much as possible. It was around then that I started reading blogs too, & since getting a job, a lot of money goes on make up.

Chilling in the onesie without a scrap of make up.

How do you feel without make up?

Grand. I do much prefer myself with make up, but I can deal without it. If I'm in a rush in the morning, I throw my make up bag into my bag & just give myself a quick going over in work - Mascara & eyeliner makes me feel more myself. I go without foundation, concealer, etc quite often in college, but for work I try to make more of an effort - I feel & look more polished, which I prefer when I'm representing work. But for going out, etc, I go for a full face of make up. Obviously, when I've had lots of sleep, been eating well, etc my skin is better, so I'll happily just wear mascara! (I need that definition, at least.)

What do you like about make up?

I like how make up enhances features & changes how you look. It's just fun to experiment with different products, & to see how they work on different people. Obviously I love putting it on & making myself look better, but I like trying out things on other people too! Maybe I sound sad, but I can happily spend time trying out looks I've seen on blogs & YouTube, wondering if they'll suit me or drown my face.

Three Holy Grail make up products?

Eeeeek! I change products so much... I don't know if I have any with HG status! But 3 I probably couldn't go without are -
Urban Decay Naked Palette - I use it more than any other palette, & I know that if I could only use one for the rest of my life, I could survive with the Naked. (Though I still want Naked 3.)
OPI Nail Envy - I can't paint my nails without a layer of Nail Envy first. For the first time in my life, my nails are actually longer than half a centimetre.
Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara - Not something that would ever make my list of "OH MY GOD BUY THIS NOW" products, but I always like mascara on my bottom lashes, & I haven't found anything that works as well as this mascara specifically made for the job, so I'll be repurchasing.



For this, I tag -
Girl Friday's Beauty Blog
The Nail Affair
Rara Giggles
Too Many Muffins
Belle Morte Beauty

Let me know if you do it!

Chloe x

5 Things #10

5 Songs

One Republic - Counting Stars

Rizzle Kicks - Lost Generation

Emeli Sande - Read All About It

Hudson Taylor - Chasing Rubies

Ellie Goulding - How Long Will I Love You

5 To Look At

I shared this link on my Facebook page, but wanted to include it here too - If you saw the documentary on Donal Walsh, or know his story, I think it's worth a read for another perspective.

I know I can't be the only one suffering post-Christmas lack of funds. I caught sight of this template for a saving plan, where you start with €1 a week, & increase the amount by €1 every week, ending up with €1,378. There's also a kid's version (which feels a bit more realistic for me).

I saw Glitter Mama Wishes' 'Memory Jar' on her Instagram & when Yaz explained what it was, I loved the idea! & I'm going to make one this weekend.

Another 'goal' post I saw was Girl Friday's - The Day Zero Project, 101 goals in 1001 days! I also really like her list of aims - I'm not surprised it was hard thinking of them all!

Bad grammar really annoys me.. This picture is seriously something I just want people to know!

5 Things That Made Me Smile

Top of the list has to be spending time with my family over Christmas. I missed them like crazy!




Christmas dinner. Selection boxes. Stephen's Day dinner. Dessert. New Year's Day dinner. Ice cream. I feel like a queen. A tubby one, but so worth it.

When I came home, I added to my tattoo collection. I really like the ones I have :)

This compilation of 2013's best vines is long... But hilarious.

I went back to work for Christmas & got asked to work again when I'm home for February/ March - It's nice knowing I'll be earning money.

I'm going back to Germany on Sunday, which makes me a little sad, but like I just said, I'll be home in about 6 weeks! I know I'll probably end up even more homesick after being home for Christmas, while I'm studying in -25degrees haha, but that's life. At least I appreciate home!

Let me know how your Christmas & New Years went,

Chloe x