My current May favorites

Seeming as I'm down in the absolute dumps with Gastroenteritis (Honestly - I have no bowels left) I decided to so something nice and light!
May has been a month of amazing finds for me so far & I'm really liking healthy glowing skin as of recent! so I thought I'd share with you what I'm loving this May :)

Lacura Aqua Complere Multi Intensive Serum - Aldi - €4

After hearing only amazing stuff about this bottle of joy I decided to go out and try it out for myself, and I am SUPER happy that I did! This serum cost's less than a fiver and is most DEFINITELY one of the best ones I have ever used. 

This serum is super refreshing when applied and instantly wakes up your skin. After a month of using it I notice that my skin is way more radiant, less spotty, and nice and firm.

One thing I found though - as with most serum's - don't use this over your spots, avoid your spotty areas.

Glow highlighter from Topshop €14

This little pot of bliss is my new best friend. I'm usually not one for cream highlighters but I decided to give this one a whack! I love this highlighter so so much! It doesn't make your face look like a disco ball AND it doesn't wear off in 10 minutes. I usually mix this in with my foundation to give my skin a healthy, natural looking glow.

Glow lotion - Soap & Glory €7.69

I picked up this stuff for a friends birthday recently and then realised i HAD to buy myself a bottle! This glow lotion looks incredible on the legs and decolletage AND has that blissful signature Soap & Glory scent that we all dream about. This can obviously be used as a highlighter on the face as well but seeming as I have sensitive skin, I'm not willing to risk it as such. Although this does wear off, it still gives you a beautiful glow and scent that looks really really natural. 

Rimmel Exxxagerate lipliner in Eastend Snob €7

This is my go to everyday lip liner since I bought it. I Love the colour, i love the texture and i love the fact you that its twist-able so you don't need to sharpen it! Although you don't get an awful lot in the stick itself its still a gorgeous nude colour that will suit nearly every skin tone 

Lace Flares from H&M Coachella collection €19

The second I saw these, I knew they had to be mine! I never knew a pair of trousers could represent me in so many ways (joke, but not really) Some of H&M's Coachella range can be a bit pricey and was expecting these to maybe be about 30 or 40 Euro. Well i only legged it to the till's when i seen they were only 19 euro! I went in the next day and they were completely sold out! I cannot wait to wear these on a summer night in a beer garden somewhere with friends.

Handbag €57 & Matching Purse €22 - River Island

After landing myself a new job I thought it was only fitting to ''Treat yo' self'' as they say. I had my eye on this matching set in River Island for SO long, but it was always 100% out of my price range. So I bit the bullet and went for it and I am so happy I did! I get so many people complimenting the handbag when I go out shopping or on a night out. If you want a good sized handbag that's not too much of a fuss BUT is still a statement piece, then this is the one for you! 

All work & no pay makes skin a dull pain

Oh holy mother of shite it has been SO long since I last blogged! I just bagged myself an amazing job in Nando's in Tallaght (Dublin) so I haven't even got time to sleep let alone blog! I'm super excited about this because its actually my first ever proper job eeeeek! So I'm uber sorry I have neglected you all! Has anyone else out there bagged themselves a job in the new year? If so then this post is just the one for you!

So lets have a look at the stuff that gets me through my working days

No7 BB Lips beauty balm in Ballerina 

Working in a highly air conditioned place can really, really dry out your skin but it can also really dry out your lips! I found my lips getting super dry/chapped super quick whilst working so that's why I whacked out this bad boy! This luscious lip balm is super hydrating and continues to nourish that pucker for hours! So no need to keep topping it up! absolute lifesaver!

Boots Essentials Fragrance Free Moisturising Cream

As most of you know my skin is a nightmare, i have the most sensitive skin due to rosacea , which means almost nothing ever works for me. But THIS moisturiser is the bomb! Again, the air conditioning in work is drying out my skin so so much, i find that applying this once int he morning and once in the evening is keeping my skin hydrated and healthy looking without being harsh on my skin, result! 

Soap & Glory Heel Genius Foot cream

I recently splurged and treated myself to some soap & Glory goodness and oh my god I am so glad i did.

Working as a hostess/waitress/cashier  means being on your feet all day and being on your feel all day means painful, radiating blisters from the pits of hell

Aside from it smelling fucking magnificent, this tube of goodness works wonders, i find it really cools my feet and restores moisture to them awful painful dry spots! So run a bucket full of hot soapy water , grab a cuppa and soak your feet for a while then lather this on your pretty feet and relax :)

MUA LUXE lip lacquers

If I'm on host, I usually give my look a pop of colour with these amazing lip lacquers from MUA cosmetics!

Goes on wet and dries completely matte! How amazing, and the best bit is you dont need to top these bad boys up at all! They cling to your lips for dear life! So not even eating, drinking or even kissing will make this amazing lacquer budge! These are a perfect dupe for Limecrimes Velvetines, and at just £3 they're a fraction of the price too! 

NO7 Protect and perfect intense day hand cream

&

NO7 Beautiful skin dry skin rescue

Both of these are sent from above, they just have to be

The hand cream is super luscious and thick and keeps your hands hydrated all day!

The dry skin rescue is fantastic for your elbows, Ive noticed the skin on my elbows getting quite dry and flaky ( that had NEVER happened before) , this instantly cures all flaky dry skin and makes skin appear healthy and radiant! 

Sure for Women, Maximum Protection Cream Deodorant

This stuff is NEEDED when you have a fast paced job

Simply apply to your underarms in the morning and this will last you all day with not even a tiny hint of sweat! A little goes a long way with this deodorant stick! it smells so fresh and clean and REALLY does the job! 

Clear nail polish

Most Jobs don't allow you to wear any nail Polish, and that kind of sucks, so that's where clear polish comes into play.

not only does it give your nails a healthy shine but it will protect your nails!

It's also great for keeping your buttons on your shirt in place, shining up your belt buckle and great for preventing that dreading green tinge from cheap jewelry! So this is handy to bring everywhere!

Dry Shampoo

I try not to use dry shampoo alot but its hard not to when you finish your shift at midnight, get home for 1am and you re up again at 8am. It's impossible! So that's where everyone's best friend & worst enemy dry shampoo comes into play, I find most dry shampoos can be a tad pricey. That's why I pop down to my local Superdrug and pick up their own brand dry shampoo! It's a god send 

I hope this post was helpful to all you working ladies out there! What are your working saviours?

Let me know by commenting below!

The Parma Violet

Ziaja skincare - *Review*

Hello everyone, hope everyone is keeping on top of their skincare regime, I know I am, thanks to this absolute savior duo!

I received these two beauties at a blogger event in Dublin earlier in September. I'm always quite skeptical when trying new skincare products as the majority of them make my skin break out or effect it quite badly, as I suffer from Rosacea, So I decided to give them a whirl.

Natural Olive Micellar Water - This bottle is Paraben, colourant and fragrance free and its also Hypo-allergenic which is JUST what I need! Its key ingredients are glycerin , olive oil and pro-vitamin B5 which shocked me! And no alcohol too!
This water is used not only to remove makeup to also to add moisture to your skin, due to the added ingredient of Olive oil, this will soften your skin and soothe any irritations you may have. This can be used on the most sensitive of skin and I will definitely be re-purchasing this!
Score: 9/10

Natural Olive Cream - Another astounding find! Moisturiser is the one thing that always makes my skin flare up, so I took a real chance with this, and I found that it has been working wonders on my skin. This cream frightened me a tad because the texture is so rich and creamy, that's usually a bad sign for anyone who suffers with Rosacea, but as I applied it, it felt heavenly,you only need the tiniest dot and it gets to work straight away. Again because of the added olive oil, this cream softens skin, prevents dehydration and makes skin baby smooth. I would definitely recommend this if you have dry skin or suffer from Rosacea .
Score: 10/10

You can check out they're full olive oil collection here, with everything from skincare to hair care, there is something for everyone in their natural olive range.

If you suffer with Rosacea and would like to find more products to help, please get in touch!!

The Parma Violet

Vaseline through the years - Event

Hello everyone hope you're all well and good, and welcome October(my birthday month, yay)!!

earlier in September I was invited to celebrate Vaseline's superb party in none other than the penthouse suite in The Morgan hotel Dublin.

This was my first event so I was super excited & nervous, not realising that I could bring anyone I attended all by my lonesome... awwww.

As I walked into the penthouse suite, I genuinely could not believe the effort Thinkhouse & Vaseline went though to throw this gorgeous, classy, girly party. There were cocktails upon arrival, prosecco, a nail bar and a hair & beauty station! I was blown away! It was really refreshing to meet other bloggers and people in the business too!

There were little tubs of Limited Edition Vaseline everywhere! As well as candles, food, drinks and laughter

The rooftop deck is where it was all happening, the decor was to die for, complete with 1950's style caravan doubled as a bar handing out an array of marvelous cocktails! 

On exiting, we all got handed a gorgeous goodie bag full of Vaselines skincare and lip care range! I was thrilled! I met some genuinely amazing people, had a brilliant time, got a little tipsy and had my hair styled, got spoiled by Vaseline and got to actually see what a penthouse suite looks like. It was an amazing event.

Congratulations Vaseline!! You must be doing something right!

Photo's by Thinkhouse.ie

The Parma Violet

Is volcanic ash the next big thing in skincare?

Good morning! And yes you heard that right!

Volcanic ash or Charcoal has been used in skincare products for many years, but now, there has been a sudden explosion *Pardon the pun* on the skincare scene.

Is it any good? Is it expensive? If so, are they're any dupes? Well, lets find out shall we?

First of all we have MAC's Mineralize volcanic ash exfoliator. This baby can be used as an exfoliating scrub, or as a lovely warm face mask. So what did I think?

When I used this product, I used it as a face scrub as using anything as a facemask usually tends to make me break out into awful spots.

It feels great when applied on the skin, the gorgeous sugar crystals get right to work when you give your face a good aul thorough scrub. I must admit it doesn't smell like the nicest daisy but it works miracles. 

When washing off I found it left my skin, super soft and insanely moisturised!

I must say,I was truly shocked, my skin usually breaks out if I try any new skincare products, but this made my skin baby soft with a healthy glow. The only set back is the price! This retails at a whopping 30EURO! 

So...Is there a dupe?

YES! And it's SO much more affordable! Introducing Boot's own brand - Teatree & Witch Hazel Charcoal facemask and facescrub 

This product I find smells nicer and works just as well, if not better!

These bad boys will save you a pretty penny and save your pretty face.

These deep cleansing gifts from god are to be seriously tested for yourselves.

At 5.50EURO each these gorgeous lifesavers should definitely be a staple in every girls skincare routine. Especially if you suffer from blackheads/acne.

These are currently on offer in boots for 3 for 2! so run down and get your lovely mitts on these two fabulous products!

The Parma Violet

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**Dreamdots- Review**

Hello and good afternoon! Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the last few days of summer (thats always such a sad sentence to hear) 

Anyway, I recently received some complimentary packages, and i'm trying my best to get through them all! So today we have the newest spot solution - Dreamdots.

I have always had problems with spotty skin as I suffer with Rosacea, so I love finding new products that really work! So here's what I thought of thee here Dreamdots.

The packaging is basic, giving straightforward info, which is always good.

The idea behind these babies is that you apply a circular plastic dot, atop of which ever spot is bothering you before you go to sleep, and when you awake in the morning, voila!-the spot is gone.

Before I went to bed I noticed I had a horrible, ganky, cluster of spots just above my right eyebrow. I began to apply the Dreamdots. Although they're slightly tricky to remove from the packaging, applying them is a piece of cake. So as I went to dreamy snooze land, this was the result.

Step by step

1. Clean your skin before applying the dot ( apply to dry skin only )
2. Cover your unsightly spot with the dot
3. Leave overnight
4. Remove dot and cleanse.

Its that Simple!

(Sorry about the colour difference, terrible camera)

As you can see the spots on my forehead were reduced dramatically, this is because I used the dream dots for two nights. I found them quite fast acting, and also it leaves the area around the spot baby soft! 

(THIS RESULT IS AFTER TWO USES, NOT ONE)

As you can see I have a dream dot applied on the inside of my eye (sexy) so I am awaiting the results of that one.

All in all I think this is a relatively good product!Absolutely PERFECT for when you've woken up with a nightmare spot but are planning on going out that night. I usually sit around the house wearing them during the day so that my spots will appear less angry during the night! 

or more information, or if you would wish to try out Dreamdots for yourself click here!

If you have tried Dreamdots or any other spot treatment, simply comment below or get in touch @ theparmavioletblog@gmail.com, thank you 

The Parma Violet

 

Get that healthy shine for only €1.49

Argan Oil for cheap?

Last year introduced the BOOM of healthy essential oils for hair and skin! The number one oil everyone seems to be going crazy about is Argan oil! 

Argan oil is one of the most beneficial and diverse oils there is on the market at the moment! It can be used as anything from a moisturiser to a nail and cuticle softener! Its extreme diversity makes it so appealing! But what everyone REALLY wants it for, is for their hair! Ever wonder how Nicole Scherzinger gets her hair so shiny and smooth looking? ..yep..Argan oil! 

So, the real question is...is it expensive? Well, yes it can be a bit steep. So when I popped into Dealz I was pleasantly surprised when I found these! 

An Argan oil infused shampoo, conditioner and hydrating hair mask all for €1.49 each!

And the tubes are quite big too!

This trio is well worth popping in for! I found after one single use that my hair was SUPER shiny without looking greasy, not to mention very soft too! This leaves hair smelling and looking gorgeous! 

So if anyone out there is looking for a quick,cheap and healthy hair transformation then head down to Dealz and pick these guys up! You wont regret it!

**Shampoo and rinse hair, proceed to towel dry then apply hair mask to root to tip, leave for 8-10 minutes, then rinse, apply conditioner to roots of hair, leave for 2-3 minutes and rise.**

If you have any queries, or would like me to review a product please comment below or simply mail  me on theparmavioletblog@gmail.com, thank you

The Parma Violet

The truth about lip balms

Are you damaging your skin and your health?

Lipbalms drive me insane! I hate nothing more than seeing someone with chapped lips applying some god awful plastic based 'lipbalm' Or overhearing someone say ''has anyone got any Vaseline?'' So i'm here to tell you the truth about lip balms! No matter how hydrating they may make your lips feel!  So here we go...

Whatever you do, please, for the love of god, stay away from Vaseline!

Vaseline use special tactics in order for you to buy these little pots of hell. For example 'Vaseline with Cocoa Butter'. They colour the tin to coordinate with the new nourishing ingredient, so your brain is mainly focused on 'Cocoa butter' rather than 'petroleum jelly'.

 We all know Cocoa butter is super moisturizing and nourishing. But what about the Petroleum Jelly?  Well believe it or not petroleum comes from the same place as gasoline..that should say something..not very Eco friendly . 

Vaseline actually dries your skin up like there is no tomorrow! These greasy substance sits on top of your skin and traps your bodies toxins underneath! Ew! I don't care how cheap these crap tins are. stay away!

Next we have Carmex!

For years this has been the 'go to' lip product! Its cooling and soothing sensation leaves people wanting more..So is this really doing anything for your lips! NO, would be the answer to that question.

The ingredients in Carmex include Phenol, Camphor and Menthol! When you apply it gives the illusion of soothing, but in reality it quickly dries up and needs to be reapplied!Thats because this product contains OL (alcohol) Which dries up everything! So stay away from this lip damaging product. ESPECIALLY when lips are chapped

There are no words for how much I hate these.

You're basically rubbing toxic plastic on your lips. ANY kind of pound shop, dealz, pound-world,euroshop store lipbalms,will be in this catagory too. They are all the same! They contain a whole heap of Alcohol and other substances that dry out your skin immensely. Sure they might look cute, taste great and smell amazing, but that is ALL they're worth. These will make your lips, dry,chapped and sore after continuous use. Stay away from these god awful creations.

So here are some Eco friendly,skin friendly and purse friendly alternatives!

Burts Bees-Beeswax balm

Lush-Honey Trap Balm

Eos-Passion fruit Balm

Nivea- Lip Butter 

If you have any questions or queries simply comment below or mail me on theparmavioletblog@gmail.com , thank you

The Parma Violet

Transform your skin

Transform your skin for Summer!

Before I start off can I just say thanks to everyone for following, I just started up my own twitter page for my blog if anybody is interested  Click here to view my brand new twitter page!

Want your skin to look flawless and dewy this summer? Well I've got a few handy tips up my sleeve with affordable products that will transform your skin in the blink of an eye! Here is a few of my transforming favourites!

 I've always had problems with my facial skin, it has always been spotty, red and bumpy and extremely sensitive! I recently got diagnosed with Rosacea (A common facial skin problem causing spots, red harsh skin and itchiness) So to combat this i am taking medication, but of course, that alone won't work. So after searching high and low for the best skincare products for those with sensitive skin I have finally found some desirable products which are gentle on your skin as well as your pocket.

1. Boots Essentials Moisturising Cream (Fragrance free) - This moisturiser is one of the most nourishing and beautiful I have ever come across, absolutely perfect for all skin types. For those with dry skin, do make sure to put a decent amount on and massage smoothly in to your skin. 3.75EURO
2. Avene Thermal Spring Water Facial Serum - Serum, believe it or not, is one of the most important parts of a skincare routine. This Avene serum is perfect for those with a slight red tinge to their skin, it has a cooling action that takes the redness right down while replenishing your skin!Perfect for all skin types!Aldi do 3 diferent types of facial serum for half the price of any others, all three which are suited to ones own person skintype! Avene Serum 25.00EURO
3. NUXE All Purpose Dry Oil - This stuff is magic in a bottle! It can literally be used anywhere on the body. Hair,Nails,Skin you name it! Not to mention the heavenly exotic smell, but how it works is amazing! Just a tiny drop of this makes skin youthful and vibrant looking. Oils are becoming more and more popular in the beauty spectrum because they restore all the oils lacking or lost. Prefect buy, I would truly recommend this to anyone!it's a bit pricey but will last a lifetime! 35.00EURO
4. Simple Oil Balancing Facial Scrub - I dont think theres a bad word to say about this product really.This is aimed for those with sensitive skin, Simple is my go to skincare line! Its perfect and fragrance free! This scrub is powerful enough to remove dead skin and deeply clean skin and pores, while gentle enough to keep skin feeling smooth and soft. 5.29EURO
5. Bio Oil - Now, the reason why I have bio oil here, is because believe it or not Bio Oil is a better anti aging oil than anything else, AND it reduces the look of scaring from spots,chicken poc marks, skin discolouration etc. This is a dream product for anti aging and so reducing them unsightly scars. 10.99EURO
6. LUSH BB Seaweed Facial Mask - This is my favourite skincare product of all time. This gorgeous pot of heaven reduces redness,removes spots, tightens pores AND rejuvenates skin leaving it looking young,fresh dewy and simply healthy! Just pop this tub in the fridge, and use 2-3 times a week! If youre looking for an overnight transformation, then look no further.
7. L'Oreal Youth Code Pore Vanisher - This tube, is full of magic and wonder! This (Which is a Dupe of Benefits Porefessional'') Is a life saver, this tube has TRIPLE the amount of a tube of Porefessional by benefit and in my opinion works just as well! I like using this after I do my skin care treatment to take the shine off of my face and to reduce the image of my pores.  25.00EURO

Now on to lips!!

People always seem to forget lip products!! Lip products are just as important as all the rest. Theres no use having gorgeously,smooth,radiant skin without having the lips to match! So here are my two products that i Swear by

1. Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub - This is a godsend, this little put will set you back around 7EURO, but last's a fairly long time. This is also free of any alcohol or anything else that would dry up your skin, and its Vegan!!How does it work? Well simply scoop some of this fantastic smelling scrub onto your finger and scrub your lips,be quite forceful as this bad boy takes off all the dead skin and flakes. Now...before you eat the whole tub...stop.
2. Nivea Lip Butter n Raspberry Rose - This luscious pot of joy smells out of this world and tastes just as good, but works even better! This butter has no petrolium or anything else that could dry up lips. enriched with oils and the wings on an angel, this stuff works wonders for your lips leaving them feeling silky and ....buttery 3.75EURO

Have you any beauty products you cannot live without? Want be to review a product? Simple comment below for mail me on theparmavioletblog@gmail.com, thank you!

The Parma Violet 

My April Favorites

IT'S SUMMER!!!

I know everyone seems to say it but it feels like it was only Christmas yesterday! This year seems to be running away with itself!! Seeming as it is already May, I might aswel show you all my favorite products from April!

WetNWild Lip Liner in Plumberry

WetNWild Varnish in Wet Cement

WetNWild Varnish in Private Viewing 

Rose&Co HandCream in Suggared Violet

For ages and ages I have been meaning to try Wet N Wilds Megalast nail varnishes but it had always slipped my mind as I am not too into Nails. So I grabbed these two gorgeously nude shades 'Wet Cement' and 'Private Viewing'. These were 2.99EUR each in Dunnes Stores and they're beautiful! I applied two coats and boom they were done! Although they dry fairly slow, the end result is gorgeous!

Excuse the shabby job!

These neutral colours are perfect for the run up to Summer! Fresh,clean and sophisticated looking! Love these varnishes!

As for the Plumberry lip-liner, it is a gorgeous deep plum colour but im afraid it lacks staying power! But at only 1.99EUR who can say no!

This hand cream..I cant imagine anything more perfect! 

Infused with Sweet Almond Oil,Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter this baby will keep your hands feeling silky smooth all day long! With NO petroleum in this little jar of happiness this product wont dry out your skin! I adore the packaging! Its cute and girly with a 1950's vibe from it! Not forgetting how AMAZING this pot smells! It smells JUST like parma violets, I cannot get enough of it! Its only downfall is that for this tiny tub its 6.50EUR in Avoca! But if you're looking to treat yourself, do pick some up :)

These Mugs and Plates from Dunnes are probably the cutest things I have ever seen!

Apparently these cuties have gone down a euro or two since I got these! these sweet enough to eat plates are perfect for holding your bobbi pins,slides,rings,earrings etc! Such a lovely piece for anyone's bedroom/vanity!  

As I have posted before I have very sensitive skin and Rosacea therefor alot of creams and facial wash's make me breakout and make my skin very red! I Recently discovered Boots own brand Facial care! I bought the facial wash and the Moisturising Cream , both are hypoallergenic and are fragrance free  which is just what I need! And also they're bargains at 2.29EUR each!

WISHLIST!

 Floral summer dress 40.00EUR from Dunnes Stores
I need this 50's style schoolgirl dress in my life ASAP!
But seeming as im saving for a Holiday to Portugal next week the dreams of owning this dress are slowly dying!

And I just want everything here from Dunnes!

These gorgeous french styled,girly storage cases range from 10-20 EURO

These candles and cases are sure to transform any room into a fresh and girly french boudoir 

Do you have any products that have changed your April? If so comment below or email me on nadinestephens1990@gmail.com

The Parma Violet

THE TRUTH ABOUT DUPES!

DUPES!

We all love them, there is really no denying it. But are they REALLY as good as their brand name buddies? I've been scouring the scene trying to come up with the ultimate bargains. And I have struck GOLD!

First up is skincare!

Micellar Water

I have heard SO much about 'Bioderma's' Micellar Water' recently and how amazing it's supposed to be for skin, especially those with sensitive skin! But unfortunately it costs a bomb at 28.14EUR!So this week I got my hands on some dupes, they seemed to be sold out everywhere until I walked into Superdrug and there were loads there! So I picked up 'L'Oreal's Skin Perfecting Micellar Water' at only 3.05EUR!!and 'Garniers Micellar Water' at 5.95EUR! Which has the exact same ingredients as the more expensive 'Bioderma' brand!!

These bottles have TOTALLY changed my skincare regime! Can be used on eyes,lips,face,skin and most importantly its hypoallergenic! Extremely soft on sensitive skin!Cleanses and Tones in one!This baby is used to remove trapped dirt,makeup,oil etc! This stuff is literally magic in a bottle! I would honestly NEVER buy Bioderma's bottle, simply because its far too expensive to have as a staple part of your skincare routine, and the dupes are a carbon copy!!Cannot express my love enough for this product! I find Garniers and L'Oreal's versions to be pretty much the same, although you get more in Garnier's bottle!

Seriously, rush out to get these bottles! They will change your skin and life for the better!

Eye makeup removers!

honestly since I found the Micellar water I haven't looked back and would only use eye makeup removers as backup! But If anyone is interested THIS is amazing! 'Rimmel Gentle Eye Makeup Remover' is an exact copy for 'Estee Lauder Gentle Eye Makeup Remover' in my opinion, and at a fraction of the price, its perfect! I usually find eye makeup removers tend to mess up my eye makeup and then finally after ages of wiping my makeup eventually comes off, leaving me with red and sore eyes! Not with these! Makeup glides off effortlessly, leaving no oily or sticky residue behind! Great dupe with even better results

Volumizing powder!

I think every girl wants that sexy, full and thick look to their hair, I know I do!That's where these little lifesavers come in. Not totally great for your hairs condition I must say but these are totally inexpensive products with 'Schwartzkopf Got2b Powder'ful' being 4.89EUR but if you're really stuck for cash Dealz do 'Just4u Max Volume' at only 1.49EUR! I find these to be nearly the exact same, only Dealz version has less staying power, so you will find yourself carrying this around in your handbag and throwing some into your hair whenever you get the chance. I prefer the Got2b powder over the Just4u powder anyday, but it really is perfect for those on a budget!

Now onto makeup!

Getting Naked for cheaper?!

No not like that! I'm talking about the world famous 'Urban Decay Naked range'!

Everyone knows how gorgeously pigmented these pallets are but we also know how terribly expensive they are too! So here are some cheap and cheerful duplicates that will have you getting naked in no time.

MUA cosmetics have brought out 'Undressed pallet' (The black pallet on the left) even the name is similar! The colours are exact to that of the Naked 1 pallet and they are awesomely pigmented! This pallet only cost 5.15EUR in Superdrug compared to Urban Decays Naked which retails at 50.00EUR!I also picked up 'MUA Undressed too' which is an exact copy of the 'Naked 2' pallet. Again wonderfully pigmented and long wearing! The casing isn't as fancy but hey..We can deal with it

The products in the above picture are again from MUA in Superdrug. They have brought out 'Undress' foundation. I wasn't expecting much from it but I was extremely wrong! Its perfect for everyday wear and is cheap enough to be able to do so! The coverage is moderate and has been kind on my skin.This foundation is 7.00EUR and comes in a big enough tube. This foundation includes light reflecting particles to give off that healthy glow!And compated to 39.00EUR its definitely worth it

Again MUA have brought out 'MUA Undress Flawless primer' I got this on sale for 3EUR a couple of months back and I adore it! Makes skin feel baby soft without having a chalky residue, it also eliminates pores and makes your foundation sit perfectly! I adore this product and I will be going back to buy more!

MUA'Pro Base Fixing Mist' I love love love this spray! I always find setting spray to be very highly priced and have always steered clear! This spray was on sale at 3.50EUR so I thought I would try it out, when using it I realized it is the EXACT same (if not better) than Urban Decays 'all nighter makeup setting spray' which retails at 30EUR I have bought this product many times! Kind to sensitive skin and makeup will not budge an inch! Definitely worth it!

MAC!

'Barely there' by Wet n Wild (2.99)Is an exact dupe for MAC's 'Cherish'(19.00) and at a fraction of the price you can't say no! this peachy nude lipstick is classy and undeniably beautiful.All Wet nwild lipsticks are available at  Dunnes Stores and Penneys

Staying power is excellent! Adore Wet n Wild's lipsticks, they never let me down!

'Sugar Plum Fairy' by Wet n Wild is a dupe for MAC's 'Rebel' 

I have always wanted Mac's Rebel but my purse was always too empty, then I found this PERFECT match. A sexy vampy lipstick to extenuate your entire outfit (Excuse the lighting it was a nightmare and so looks a different colour, when i assure you it is exact)

'Cherry Bomb' by Wet n Wild is a dupe for MAC's 'Diva'

Again the lighting is awful and I do apologize but these are exact! The staying power on this lipstick is amazing!  

'Mauve Outta Here' by Wet n Wild is a dupe for MAC's limited edition 'Nicki Viva1'

I found this to be quite an exact duplicate! Again staying power is fantastic! This colour is perfect for the upcoming summer months!

Have you any dupe experiences that you would like to share? if so let me know by mailing me on nadinestephens1990@gmail.com or simply leave a comment below.

The Parma Violet