favourite products 2014

First of all id like to say happy new year to all my followers! I cannot believe we're all the way back to the 1st of January again!How did everyone ring in their new years? Did you sit at home with your loved ones, throw an awesome party OR just simply have a quiet night in by yourself? Either way let me know what you all got up to :)

Now, I'm super sorry that I've been M.I.A recently, I currently have no camera, and had terrible Internet connection. But I'm back! So without further adieu, here are my top products(In no particular order) of 2014!

MUA LUXE LIP LACQUERS

These babies are utterly astounding.

Forget limecrime's velvetines, these tubes of velvety goodness are JUST as good! And at only 3.50 each who can say no? I own nearly all  the colours available and my god I adore them. I wear 'reckless' on most nights out. It is my go to perfect red. Looking for colour that doesn't budge an inch? Then look no further!

Available in Superdrug

MAXFACTOR MASTERPIECE TRANSFORM MASCARA

I recently went to a blogger event and found this loveliness in the goodiebag i received, I was delighted because this was just what I needed as I was running out of mascara! And i adore it! It makes my lashes suuuper long and thick looking!Love They're real by benefit but hate the price? Then switch it for this baby for a fraction of the price (13.99) The brush is great too but be warned it does take a fair while to dry so be careful!

GARNIER MICELLAR CLEANSING WATER

Where has this stuff been all my life?! As previously stated in past posts, I suffer from Rosacea so my skin is quite sensitive and nearly everything makes me break out. So that's why I was delighted to find this! This holy water is suitable for even the most delicate skin. Removing makeup has never been so easy! Think Bioderma Micellar water but way waaay cheaper! Now 4.19 in boots!

GARNIER ULTIMATE BLENDS - THE NOURISHING REPAIRER 

My hair is in an absolute heap. Its atrocious. That is in no way an exaggeration either.

The years of dying my hair every colour under the sun and having dreadlocks has taken its toll on my poor locks, and I can never ever find a shampoo/conditioner that gives my hair the right amount of moisture. Until now! 

If you have very dry / damaged hair then look no further than these glorious bottles of heavenly smelling hair stuff! Guaranteed to leave your hair feeling healthy and looking incredibly shiny.

URBAN DECAY - ORIGINAL NAKED PALETTE 

I know this one is quite generic but seriously, can you go wrong with this palette? The answer is no. I recently received this as a super generous Christmas gift from my best friend Dolly. I was gobsmacked when I opened the wrapping paper, I've wanted this palette since it came out!And now i have it and seriously cannot stop using it. So thank you Dolly! You know me so well :)

HOUSE OF HOLLAND NAILS - VAMPS

I also piked these up at a logger event, and they are seriously my most favourite nails ever! Just look at them, they're so gorgeous. I went to a Christmas Dinner and so many people were asking me where I got them done! Super gorgeous nails! Usually 10 Euro in boots

RIMMEL LASTING FINISH 25 HR FULL COVERAGE FOUNDATION

Now, I'm going to just come out and say it...

I'm not the biggest fan of Rimmel, I do not get the hype at all...its all crazy to me.

But a recent trip up north made me rethink! I found this foundation for just £3!!!!

So I decided to take it home with me and slap it all over my face. and OH my god I am in love. I don't think I will ever buy any other full coverage foundation ever again! This one is magnificent! hands down the best foundation I have ever come across!

What have been your favourite products of 2014? I'm dying to know! 

The Parma Violet

Dreadlocks and Straighteners *HAIRCARE*

Looking to update your products?

I have been dying my hair for as long as I can remember. You name the style, I've had it! Blue,Pink,Orange,Purple,Black, Red..you name it I have dyed it that colour. Mohawk,Dreadlocks,Shaven,Ultra long,Undercut..I've had them all! Some hair styles id rather forget but some I have adored over the years. Sticking with a plain black dye at the moment (to try make it healthier) my hair has been through the wars over the years, it is in terrible condition, its singed and ALOT thinner than it used to be! It lacks shine and that all important oomph were alllll looking for! Luckily enough I have wondered around and found some recent products that I adore!

So if you too have dry,thin, frizzy and damaged hair then look no further! i have found the solution!

SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER

FIRST UP!

Its my most favourite products this year! Garnier's Ultimate Blends 'The Marvellous Transformer'' Conditioner and Shampoo!These babies are enriched with essential oils including that all important argan oil to give your hair that healthy, head turning shine! I have never come across a shampoo and conditioner that can seriously transform my hair in one simple wash! This stuff is literally gold dust! It is currently on sale in Dunnes Stores and Tescos for a mear 2.59! bargain or what! Not to mention its the best smelling thing on the face of the planet (except maybe for parma violets) It has a rich fruity holiday scent to it! My hair felt and looked smoother, the high gloss shine was amazing! my hair looked a million and one times healthier! no more dried out ends!make sure you run into Dunnes/Tescos and grab these bad boys before they go up to full price!  10/10 product..adore it!

NEXT

We have the haircare range everyone has been talking about 'L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology Thickening Range' 

For me, having thick hair is sexy and healthy looking, something I do not have. So when I seen that this range was comming out I nearly died with excitement! By the sounds of it, literally everything I needed! These products do exactly what they say on the tin, not only do they increase the volume of your hair substaltialy, they smell incredible and repair damaged hair! Its amazing! But for these to REALLY do their magic you not only need to buy the Shampoo and Conditioner, but you also need to invest in the thickening serum which really gives you that extra oomph! The thickening hair mask pot is absolutely incredible for those with damaged hair! The only downfall about these prodcuts is that it is a very expensive upkeep! I luckily got all these on sale in Superdrug last month! but if you dont mind paying for quality then I suggest to run out and snap these up asap! you wont regret it!

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner

Well I can safely say, no matter how good this smells,it still doesn't make me want to buy it again. The one thing I can say about this that it is certainly NOT deep conditioning, it doesn't even come close!I have always loved Aussie hair products! But this was a major disappointment for me.When I spotted this in Savers I thought It looked like it would work miracles! But my god was I wrong! When I put this into my hair, even wet, it didnt feel good. When I dried and styled my hair I was so disappointed, I was expecting a glossy, healthy shine, but all I got was run of mill boring conditioner!So be warned, this is not ''Deep Conditioning' as it states, dont waste your money or your time.. complete dud product.

HAIR POTS

Lee Stafford Bling Hair Rehab Intense Conditioner

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PRODUCT!

This transforms dry, brittle and lifeless hair into this shiny, gorgeous, healthy sexy hair! And again, the smell of every Lee Stafford product is unmistakable! And you hair smells devine and sexy after using this pot of happiness! I bought this for 4 Euro in Dealz, unfortunately they don't have anymore in stock! which I'm devastated about because it was so cheap and I haven't seen this anywhere else!  This is salon quality stuff! Get your mitts on it ASAP!

(Also amazing for removing dreadlocks)

BEFORE YOU DRY

Herbal Essences Tousle Me softly finishing cream

I have naturally wavy/curly hair but it is quite frizzy, So i hate leaving to to dry naturally after a shower! Until now! If Im feeling like just leaving my hair for well well desevred R+R I grab this! This 'finishing touch cream' accentuates your natural waves and takes away all that frizz giving you lovely smooth and soft waves! And also its violet scented so for me its perfect!  use this after towel drying your hair! An underrated product in my opinion! 

Pantene Pro-V NatureFusion finishing cream

I have blabbed about this product numerous times before on my blog but I have to say, if you're looking a de-frizzing, smoothing, great smelling product then look no further! Use a walnut sized blod of this, rub between hands, and smooth through towel dried hair! Makes hair feel softer and completely reduces frizz! 10/10 

R+B Revive and Balance hair moisturiser from Lush!

I know this is only a tester pot but because I use this very rarely I go into Lush and ask for free testers shhhh.

But back when i had dreadlocks I needed to find something to keep them smooth and healthy whilst being stable enough to stay in place! thats when this baby comes in! I found that after washing my dreadlocks they would be extra dry, so i walked into Lush and got told about this product! i asked for a free sample and went home and tried it! I didn't think it was possible for dreadlocks to be shiny! But how wrong I was, they looked gorgeous!If sunshine had a smell, i'm pretty sure its this!

this is also perfect for those with extremely curly hair/frizz! Just use a dab of this and run your fingers through your hair!Plus its all natural and cruelty free! What more do you want :)

SERUM

Garnier Fructis style Spray on Serum

This can is perfect! I usually steer clear of serum as it seems to clump my hair and make it appear greasy! That is why i love this! Infused with essential oils this baby takes your hair from dull to bright! Shiny and even serum application makes hair lightweight and healthy! Apply this after styling hair and rub/brush through! you'll be amazed at how sleek and shiny your hair will look!

Got2b guardian Angel heat protection spray!

The only reason I picked this up was because I got it SUPER cheap on sale in Savers in Newry last year! I have to say I ALWAYS steer clear of heat protection sprays cause I think they're a waste of money and time until i learned how healthy and good they are for your hair. i'm not overly impressed with this product, it tends to make my hair sticky and hard if my hair isn't wet enough. Im a bit confused about this product tbh because i dont know how much protecting it has done, but it can definitely make your hair feel that little bit worse, so I avoid it whenever I can

Have you any amazing hair products I havent listed here? If so let me know by commenting below or mailing 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

FIRST BLOG EVER! *MINI HAUL*

Today I decided to start my beauty blog! Finally! I, like many other girls out there adore makeup, BUT I do suffer with Rosacea ( a redness of the facial skin which makes it dry/itchy/spotty) And i know how difficult it is to get rid of that red undertone when applying your makeup/beauty products! So I am here to help! I've been wanting to start this for so so long!

So today's post is just a few things I've picked up this week :)

MINI HAUL

I decided to pick up the new 'Garnier Ultimate Beauty Oil' after hearing so much fuss about it! And at 6Euro in Dunnes Stores its DEFINITELY worth picking up! It has become one of my all time favorite products!Leaves skin AMAZINGLY smooth and soft with an unbelievable healthy looking shine! Absolutely perfect for legs!It also smells divine!Skin looks moisturised,replenished and healthy when sprayed on,I honest to god couldnt approve this product enough!It doesn't have a greasy/oily feel to it at all, it goes on smooth and sleek! 100% summer essential.

• I also grabbed Maybelines new 'Baby Skin' pore eraser! small enough tube I must say but you do only need a teeny tiny amount so it will last much longer than you think!If you suffer from Rosacea/dry skin this product is perfect! Its very very similar to 'Porefessional' by Benefit and to be honest I find it MUCH better and at only 10 euro you can't go wrong! When I put my makeup on over it, my face looks so smooth and insanely soft, I even adore the packaging, the light pastel blue caught my eye straight away! yet another buy that has gone straight into my favorite products.

• I am beyond ecstatic that 'WetNWild' have now made their way to Ireland's very own Dunnes Stores and also in Penneys/Primark.I literally cannot get enough of their cheap and amazing products!I picked up some 'MegaGlo' bronzer/blusher! leaves cheeks looking radiant with a glistening shimmer! absolutely love this buy! It was only 4.59 in Dunnes Stores! I also picked up WnW 'Barely There' lipstick! The colour is amazing! But I have to say the staying power failed just a bit, but still a wonderfully sexy nude colour!

• Now on to the Avene Spray Thermal Water- I cannot stress how absolutely amazingly perfect this is for red/dry/irritable and breakout prone skin..it is a god send! at 10 euro a bottle it is a bit steep but I found it on sale in Boots for only 4 euro! I first used this product when I went to Joanne Larby's 'Fairy first birthday' and she included it in her goodie bag, I haven't looked back since!(even my boyfriend loves it) The cooling sensation of the mist is heaven on your skin and is perfect on rash/burns/at the gym and it can also be used as a setting spray for your makeup!!!ANYONE with Rosacea should DEFINITELY try this product out ASAP, especially coming up to the (hopefully) hot summer months!

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The Parma Violet