MAC x Giambattista Valli Review

MAC launched their new collection with Giambattista Valli two weeks ago in Ireland. The collection consisted of five lipsticks and a crystal glaze gloss.

I was working the day the collection was released and I knew it would sell out quickly so I sent my sister into town to pick it up for me! The MAC counter in Brown Thomas on Grafton Street was the only store carrying it in the country, there was also a limited supply available on their website.

I got Tats, a vibrant hot pink shade. I'm not one for corals, the reviews I read about the light pink shade were not great, the only red lipstick I will ever wear is Ruby Woo and I own way too many berry colours so I went for Tats.

The lipstick cost €21.50.

I am so in love with the packaging because it's the same colour as the lipstick, a first for MAC. 

Tats is such a pretty colour and it's perfect for the spring and summer months! The lipstick itself is a matte lipstick but it is not drying on my lips at all! As with any matte lipstick, you should moisturize beforehand.

I swatched the lipstick on my arm so you could see the colour. It is a completely buildable colour although I found one swatch was perfect for the look I was going for. 

I love MAC and this collection was no different.

Did you buy anything from this collection?

Do you have any suggestions as to what I should try next?

Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

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July Favourites

July is coming to a close and I'm trying not to think about the stressful year ahead. I have been on holidays for the majority of the month and I won't be home until late August so this month's favourites are a mix of food and beauty!

I love Rimmel lipsticks and this shade is definitely one I always have on hand! 077 Asia is my absolute favourite! It is a beautiful pinky-mauve colour that is perfect for day-to-day makeup!

Revlon Colorstay is definitely a full coverage foundation. I use the shade 350 Rich Tan when I'm on holidays because it is the perfect shade for when I get a tan or when I use fake tan!

Traditional Irish Sweet Shops are popping up all over the place and I am in love with Aunty Nellie's! I know they have two stores in the country, Cobh and Greystones, although they may have more. I just love candy sticks and rhubarb & custard sweets that I have definitely been a regular throughout the month of July!

Tan Organic is my favourite fake tan. I posted a review back in April, from reading that you'll see why it is my favourite. This time around I used a mitt to apply it and I have to say, I prefer the look when I don't use one!

I only use a sponge to apply my foundation because I find it so much easier to blend! Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge has to be my favourite. It is so easy to wash (I didn't have time to wash it today!) and it doesn't soak up my foundation as much as other sponges have!

Last month it was The Vampire Diaries, this month it's The Originals. The Originals is a spin-off from The Vampire Diaries and I love it. Klaus is one of my favourite characters from the show and it's full of good looking actors. That is a perfectly good reason for you to start watching it on Netflix!

Although July wasn't as sunny as it usually is, I had a great time! 

What were your July favourites?

Let me know in the comments below!

Sorcha Guilfoyle-Donaghy was the winner of my birthday giveaway!

I sent the prize off on Friday and she should be receiving it on Monday, congrats Sorcha!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

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Vanity Nails Review

My holidays started on Sunday so I decided to treat myself and get my nails done beforehand. I had never gotten my nails done before and Vanity Nails in Dun Laoghaire had a special offer going on so I thought I may as well!

They are doing gel and acrylic (I got acrylic) nails for €35 at the moment which is amazing and the girls are lovely, I would definitely book an appointment with them soon!

Maroon is my go-to colour for any season because it is my obsession. I love it and it is so obvious when you see my wardrobe that I have an unhealthy obsession with the colour. So, when asked what colour I would like, I said maroon with a glitter ring finger. That's when my nail technician showed me Le Chat's Mood Changing Polishes and I fell in love with Crimson Nightfall!

When warm, this polish turns into a bright red colour. I dipped my hand into lukewarm water to demonstrate the colour change.

When cold, the polish changes from a bright red to a deep, almost black, maroon shade. I dipped my hand into cold water to demonstrate the colour change.

I am so in love with the colour change. I usually have the transition colours on my nails as the base is warm, due to it being my actual nail and the tips are cold.

Whatever shade my nails are, I adore the change and it always looks great.

I am also loving this hand chain I picked up in the New Look sale today.

Check out all the hand chains they have left in the sale here!

Don't forget there's just under one day left to enter my birthday giveaway!

Click here to enter.

Have you ever gotten your nails done before?

Do you have any suggestions?

Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

Instagram: instagram.com/ciarakittyk

Bloglovin: www.bloglovin.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sparkleofpink

It's been a year...

As embarrassing as it is, here's my first post on Sparkle Of Pink.

My Very First Post

I have been a blogger for a year now and I have to say, it is one of the best decisions I have ever made! I love blogging so much! I have an excuse to buy more makeup, I get to blog about what I love and I have gotten to meet some amazing people through blogging! 

To celebrate my year of blogging, I'm doing a little giveaway! Everything in the giveaway was bought using my own money, except for the Wet n' Wild lip gloss and eyeliner which I got at the Irish Blogger Conference. These two products are part of the giveaway because I know I will never use them and I should give them to someone who will!

The giveaway has some really nice things I have picked up in shops over the past few weeks!

                                    

You can enter the giveaway below and on my Facebook page!
The giveaway is open until Thursday July 23rd 2015 and is only open to residents on the island of Ireland.

The Irish Blog Awards are also coming up soon and I would love if you could nominate me! It would be amazing and only takes a few seconds :)

Nominate Me Here!

If you've been here for a year, thank you for sticking around! If you just dip in and out of my blog, thank you! If it's your first time checking out my blog, thanks for taking the time! Thanks to all of the companies and brands that have worked with me during the past year and I look forward to working with you again!

Here's to the next year!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

Instagram: instagram.com/ciarakittyk

Bloglovin: www.bloglovin.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sparkleofpink

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My Summer Essentials

Someone told me the other day that we are halfway through summer already. 

I don't like that at all because that means September is closer than ever and so is 6th Year.

Over the past few weeks, I have seen myself leaning towards the same things each day and eventually, they became my summer essentials.

First of all, this concealer smells amazing. Bourjois products always smell so good! This concealer is great for the summer because it gives full coverage but feels light on my skin, perfect for the summer! I use Éclat Medium, there is also a darker and lighter shade.

Healthy Mix Concealer is available in Boots for €9.99

MUA's Fixing Mist is a godsend for hot summer days! The Fixing Mist keeps my makeup on all day and it doesn't take too long to dry after spraying which is great.

MUA's Fixing Mist is available from their website for €6.95

Rodeo Drive is a medium nude with mauve undertones. I love this lipstick because it completes any summer look and I adore the creamy matte finish!

Rodeo Drive is available from the Gerard Cosmetics website for €16.66

I adore my Ray Bans. I got them two years ago, after the Junior Cert and I wear them all the time when it's sunny outside. I would definitely invest in a pair!

Wayfarers are available from Raybans and range from €148 to €202

I bring my journal everywhere. It is so helpful to jot random things down in and helps to keep me organised. I also love how sleek the journal looks and the paper is great quality.

Journals can be bought in any good bookstore.

What are your summer essentials?

Let me know in the comments below!

The Irish Blog Awards are also coming up soon and I would love if you could nominate me! It would be amazing and only takes a few seconds :)

Nominate Me Here!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

Instagram: instagram.com/ciarakittyk

Bloglovin: www.bloglovin.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sparkleofpink

11 Things You Didn't Know About Me

I've been tagged by Coral over on http://coral-lawson.blogspot.com.es/

The only rules for the tag are to answer the eleven questions your tagger has asked and to tag ten other bloggers to answer your eleven questions!

Here are the questions:

Have you ever had any pets?

Sadly, no.

What do you think is the best quality in a person?

That they can be comfortable with who they are around you.

What kind of movies do you like?

80s teen movies. Pretty In Pink is such a good movie!

Do you prefer sweet or savoury foods?

Sweet, I have a massive sweet tooth!

Can you play any musical instruments?

Yup, I can play the guitar.

What do you like most about blogging?

Being able to talk to other bloggers about the things I love!

How long have you known your best friend?

Four years.

Do you wear glasses?

Yes, but only for school.

Flip flops or sandals?

Hands down, flip flops.

What is your dream camera?

Canon  Eos 5D Mark III.

What are your top five tv shows?

The Vampire Diaries

Criminal Minds

Pretty Little Liars

Saved By The Bell

CSI Cyber

The blogs I am nominating are:

https://hanhharris.wordpress.com/

http://www.ohheythererachel.com/

http://mammarazziblog.com/

http://nourishmeclean.blogspot.co.uk/

http://pinkfrenzymissl.blogspot.nl/

http://cominguprosestheblog.com/

http://www.prettylusciousthings.com/

http://www.zoewithumlauts.com/

http://www.drainedbeauty.co.uk/

http://beautystyleandcharm.blogspot.ie/

My questions are:

What is your favourite music genre?

Do you have any summer goals?

What is your favourite film?

MAC or Nars?

Contouring or Strobing?
What is your favourite season?

What is your favourite Disney movie?

What is your dream handbag?

Can you drive?

Where is your favourite place in the world?

How long have you been blogging?

There you go, eleven things you (hopefully) didn't know about me before!

The Irish Blog Awards are also coming up soon and I would love if you could nominate me! It would be amazing and only takes a few seconds :)

Nominate Me Here!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

Instagram: instagram.com/ciarakittyk

Bloglovin: www.bloglovin.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sparkleofpink

June Hits and Misses

Happy Independence Day to everyone in America! Fourth of July also means the start of a new month, I used so many new products and tried new things in June. Some of them I loved, others not so much.

I have listened to this album all month. Probably because of the concert last Monday but you have no idea how much I love this album! It is definitely my favourite album of the summer, probably even the year! Wildest Dreams is fab. The tour is fantastic and Tay is perfection.

I have tried to cut back on fizzy drinks this month because they're not great for my skin and they definitely do more harm than good! V Water is amazing! I love the pomegranate and blueberry flavour, it is much better than any fizzy drink! The pomegranate and blueberry V Water has vitamin C, E, Se and Zn in it which is good for you as well.

I've blogged about this lipstick before. I am in love with Barry M's Palest Lavender lipstick. It is the perfect pastel shade for summer and I have been putting it on whenever I get the chance!

Inglot's makeup base is great for keeping my makeup on throughout the day, even during the mini heatwave we've had!

Seen as it's summer, I decided to dip-dye my hair before I get it cut at the end of summer. I used Bleach London's bleaching kit before I tried out a few of their temporary colours. Washed Up Mermaid is the first I have tried and I love it! It has almost washed out now but it was a really cool turquoise colour for the past week!

I got this as a present and it is at least two shades darker than me!  Maybelline Fit Me Anti-Shine Stick (Shade 130) I use it to contour and I love how easy it is to blend!

I have finally found a foundation that matches my skin tone! When I was in Inglot, I asked them to match a foundation to my skin tone, one that is suitable for dry skin! I probably got the palest foundation you could - AMC Cream Foundation in LW 100. 

I am 100% addicted to The Vampire Diaries. It was so good. I have binged on the show in the last few days and I cannot wait for season 7! If you haven't watched it yet, you need to! You have no idea what you're missing!

I had one major miss this month. After seeing so many bloggers and YouTubers rave about Twinings Salted Caramel Green Tea, I just had to try it for myself! I don't like it at all. I don't know whether it was a bad batch I bought or whatever but I couldn't taste the caramel at all. I could definitely smell it but I couldn't taste it, even a tiny bit. So Twinings Salted Caramel Green Tea was definitely my miss on the month!

What were your favourite products of the month?

Let me know in the comments below!

Sparkle of Pink turns 1 this month, keep your eyes peeled for a little surprise!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

Instagram: instagram.com/ciarakittyk

Bloglovin: www.bloglovin.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sparkleofpink