21st Birthday Wishlist

Hey guys!

In case you didn't know, I'm turning 21 on November 19th and I cannot wait! I am beyond lucky to be going away to a mystery destination (I've asked not to be told until I'm in the airport) with my Godmother for the weekend and the following weekend, I'll be celebrating with my friends and family!

21 is a 'big birthday' and I'm gonna be honest and say I cannot wait to be so extra for my birthday party!

Birthday Wishlists are pretty much a tradition for me at this point so here are some of the things I would love to get for my birthday!

Glossybox November

I don't have a fixed-term subscription with Glossybox. Instead, I order a box every few months or if I accidentally forget to unsubscribe, two in a row! I love the concept of the box because you literally don't know what you're going to get before you open the box. Overall, the subscription is also fairly affordable on a monthly basis and they have a student discount!

Use my code on glossybox.ie to get 20% off your first order with them!

Mario Badescu Spritz.Mist.Glow Set

I have heard so much about these facial sprays. While Mario Badescu recommends using the three combined as facial sprays at different intervals throughout the day, a lot of people use it both before and after applying makeup.

These facial sprays are so hyped and I would love to try them out for myself.

This set is available from Beauty Bay for €17.95.

Makeup Revolution Pressed Glitter Palette - Hot Pursuit

Makeup Revolution is an affordable brand that I have been using for years. They recently launched on Beauty Bay which is fabulous for me because I can bundle enough in to get free shipping along with such a wide range of other brands. 

This palette stood out to me because I love a good glittery eye and I mean there are some fantastic pink shades, so what's not to love? I have yet to be disappointed by anything from the brand and I'm sure this palette wouldn't change my mind.

Hot Pursuit is available from Beauty Bay for €11.25.

MAC Look in a Box - Blazing Haute

I saw this set in Dublin Airport before I went to Portugal and completely regret not buying it! They're mini lipsticks which is perfect for me because I have so many, I do not need any more full size products! 

Full of fiesty reds and gorgeous nudes, this set is perfect for the winter months. The finish on each lipstick is different as far as I know, so the set is so versatile!

Blazing Haute is available in Arnotts for €40.

Urban Decay All Nighter Pollution Protection Setting Spray

The regular All Nighter Setting Spray is a staple in my routine and the pollution protection spray has all the benefits of the original along with additional ingredients that help protect against oxidation due to pollution.

I have been dying to try this since its release but because I always have a spare bottle of All Nighter in my drawer, I haven't gotten around to purchasing this yet.

All Nighter Pollution Protection Setting Spray is available from the Dublin Urban Decay store for €33.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Camera Black

I have been lusting over Instax cameras for years and while I initially wanted a pink one, I much prefer the refined look of the Mini 90 model.

I love the idea of capturing a moment on camera and being able to hold the picture almost instantly. I also think the travelling pictures (J1 next year anyone?) with this would be absolutely fantastic!

The Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Camera is available from the PhotoSpecialist for €119.

Donations to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association

I don't think I have ever said it on here but I lost an aunt to MND when I was younger. MND is a neurological condition that attacks the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Eventually, messages from the brain stop reaching the muscles. It can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and even breathe.

While there is medication to slow down the process of MND, there's still no known cure or causes of the disease. That's why, for my birthday, I would love people to donate to the IMNDA.

If you would like to, you can do so here: IMNDA, Donate online.

Crosley Cruiser Portable Turntable with Built-in Stereo Speakers - Pink

I love the idea of playing music from this rather than a phone or CD player (yes, I still own one). The worst part about this one is I can imagine exactly where it would fit in my room and the first vinyl I would buy is clearly Taylor Swift.

The Crosley Cruiser is available from Zavvi for €68.50.

Spectrum Collections Water Brush Set

I love the quality of Spectrum brushes and love the idea of having a brush set related to your birthday (Water is the element for Scorpios). I mean, who doesn't love getting to play with new brushes?

The  bag that these brushes come in is also so pretty! I need new face brushes so this set would be ideal for me.

The Water Brush Set is available from Spectrum Collections for €76.

Flight Vouchers

There's so much of the world I haven't seen and still so many places I would love to visit. With my travel bug along with planning a J1 with my best friend next year, a flight voucher would be such an ideal (practical) present for my birthday.

I have been working since I came home but every little helps because I don't want my bank account to be drained next summer!

So there you have it! My 21st Birthday Wishlist!

I would be thrilled to get anything off the list for my birthday and am looking forward to celebrating the day with my friends and family.

Ciara,

xoxo.

Twitter: twitter.com/ciarakittyk

Instagram: instagram.com/ciarakittyk

Bloglovin: www.bloglovin.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sparkleofpink

Snapchat: Ciarakxo

Summer Empties

Hey guys!

So over the summer I really didn't wear much makeup but I did get to the end of some products, albeit mainly skincare.

My empties posts seem to be some of the most popular posts so here are the products I finished over the summer!

Ardell Demi Wispies 

I tended to lean towards using lashes rather than go for a full eye look and these lashes were perfect for creating a dramatic look. I went through a whole multipack along with half of this one during the summer because these are my go-to lashes. 

I did try out some of the SOSU lashes as well but I always find myself going back to these because they're dramatic without being over the top.

L'Oréal Pure Clay Purity Mask

I will always repurchase this mask! I love it so much and it is so handy to just apply at night, have a cup of tea and just rinse it off before bed. The purity mask helps to mattify skin and eliminate impurities, something that really works on my combination skin!

I found the jar had more than the ten applications advertised and all you need is a flat brush to apply it and a cloth to rinse off! For €11 and 10+ applications, you really can't go wrong with the L'Oréal Pure Clay mask range.

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara

For the first few weeks in work I actually bothered to wear minimal makeup and this mascara helped me to look alive in the mornings. It lengthens my lashes a lot when I use a curler beforehand and I love the formula, it doesn't clump and rarely flakes throughout the day.

It is also easily removed with some eye makeup remover which I love! I hate stubborn formulas that won't come off!

Garnier Summer Body - Light

I used this moisturiser before Portugal and have repurchased the bottle since I've come home, in hope of saving my tan!

I use a body moisturiser anyway so having one that has a hint of fake tan in it really helped me look sun-kissed before I went off and hopefully will help prolong my tan over the coming weeks. 

It also smells really good which is always a bonus.

Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme

So there's like a teeny tiny bit of product left inside here but I can't get it out, I've decided it's never going to come out and it's time for the bin.

I did love it though! With a sweet vanilla scent, this lip gloss actively plumped your lips from application. It did tingle about five minutes after application each night but made my lips look fabulous and long-term application can result in permanent effects.

I always try minis before I buy a full-size product and I will definitely be purchasing the full-size soon!

Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads

These pads have become a staple in my skincare routine and I have repurchased them so many times since I first tried them out a few months ago.

I use the pads every night before bed; the glycolic acid retextures and resurfaces the skin while the hyaluronic acid  moisturises and refreshes along with the blue daisy soothes and calms the skin.

Overall, the pads have helped my breakouts and I love how smooth my skin feels at the moment!

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

It's no surprise that this concealer features in my empty products from the summer. Whenever I wore any makeup, it was this concealer and I will always repurchase it because it is the best concealer I have ever used.

They have also recently expanded their shade range so the brand is getting even better!

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution

Combined with the pads, the salicylic acid solution has really helped my skin improve over the past few months. This did give me chemical burn on some patches of my face so I discontinued use in those areas but overall it has helped my blemish-prone skin.

I'm not sure if I would repurchase this as I have so many Ordinary products to get through and my skin clearly had a reaction to this.

What products did you use up during the summer?

Did we finish any of the same products?

Do you have any recommendations for me?

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
Snapchat: Ciarakxo

Things To Do in The Algarve

Hey guys!

From my social media and previous blog posts this summer, you'll know that I was on an internship in Quinta do Lago, Portugal. Lucky for me, Quinta is in the Algarve region of Portugal so on my days off, I explored the region and took in all of the amazing sites!

I went to so many new places and compiled my favourite things to do and places to visit in the Algarve for anyone who is going to visit in the future!

Lagos 

Lagos is a stunning town along the western coastline, home to Ponta da Piedade and stunning beaches. I went on a day trip to Lagos and got an Uber to Ponta da Piedade, where I walked down through the rugged rocks to reach gorgeous little hideaways like the one above. 

The Lagos coastline is dotted with grottos and hidden beaches where you can easily lose hours sitting on the golden beaches and swimming amongst the caves.

The clear water along the coastline is something else! While being able to see the fish was not my cup of tea, the water itself was heavenly and refreshing.

After relaxing on the beach, head back into the town where there are countless coffee shops to spend your last few hours people watching and sipping on a coffee.

Spending just a day in Lagos was lovely, if you have longer, definitely go out on a boat trip where you can see the coastline from the sea. 

Lagos is easily reachable by car or train!

Indulge in Fantastic Food

The food in Portugal is just phenomenal. I went to so many different restaurants both inside and outside of Quinta do Lago and the local food outside of the resort was just fantastic. 

I was brave enough to try some food I hadn't eaten before and some food I didn't quite like but my taste buds have completely changed! 

Both Almancil and Loule have some amazing restaurants, like Casavostra, 11 da Villa and Vegan Joe's! The pizza above is from Casavostra and oh my goodness was it fantastic! It had four cheeses, including the gorgonzola and goats cheese that you can clearly see. It also had parma ham, pine nuts and grapes. As all of the flavours worked so well together, there was no need for a tomato base and it was the best pizza I have ever had.

Along with the fantastic food, the Portuguese wine really made every meal special. The lack of Portuguese wine back home is ridiculous and stores need to stock it because it is amazing,

Walk Along the Ria Formosa

Whether you start in Quinta do Lago and head towards Faro or do it the other way around, the walk is really something else! I started in Faro and walked back towards Quinta so I could relax on the beach after my walk.

Walking along the trail is amazing as it has a nature reserve on either side and as you come into Quinta, one of the golf courses breaks the scenery with glorious green hills surrounded by fish jumping in and out of the water.

The crabs along the marshes were also so mesmerising, I even stopped a few times just to stare at them! Having a beach at the end of the trail is lovely as after walking for forty minutes in the blistering heat, the sea is a welcoming sight to jump into!

Enjoy the Sunsets

Definitely something I miss is how the sunsets were different each and every night. I loved heading down to the beach in the evenings, a few drinks in tow, and just watching the sun go down along the horizon.

I'm not usually one for craft beer but after trying a few of the Algarve Rock beers, I have been converted! The stout in particular was fantastic! There were hints of chocolate and coffee and it was a perfect pairing with the sunset.

Losing an evening on the beach happened far too often and it is something I wish I could do all the time!

Shop!

Having Mar Shopping so close to me was amazing! What I found so weird was the fact that the shopping centre along with the outlet side were open until midnight every night!

There was even a Primark so I felt right at home! There were some fantastic shops in both sides of the complex and a cinema for the rainy or overcast days (there were only two in the entire time I was there)! 

Mar Shopping really had everything from shopping to entertainment and food, you could easily spend hours walking around!

There were so many places in the Algarve I loved to visit and cannot wait to go back to! My highlights were 100% the food and the sunsets coupled with the unbelievable coastline.

Have you ever been to the Algarve? What were your highlights? 

Did you do any of the same things as me?

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
Snapchat: Ciarakxo

Summer in a City Makeup

Hey guys!

If you've been following my Portuguese adventure over the summer, you'll know I spent a few days in Lisbon at the end of July. I've been working in Quinta do Lago in the Algarve but didn't want to come to Portugal without visiting the city. 

I spent two days in Lisbon and it was hot! We're talking 35+ degrees....

I didn't even try to wear makeup during the day because I knew it would make my skin feel horrible. However, on my last night I did some makeup. It wasn't a lot at all but it was perfect for a warm city during the summer.

I got so many compliments about it that I've decided to show you guys what I used for the look!

Base and Finish

As I went out after sunset, I didn't bother with an SPF but if you are considering doing this during the day, you must wear some!

For my primer I used Sleek's Mattifying Primer. I hadn't used this primer before coming over here but had it in my mkaeup drawer and thought it would come in handy with the heat in Portugal! It has a velvety finish and really helped keep my shine at bay.

Sleeks's Mattifying Primer is available in Boots for €10.49 and is currently in their buy one get one half price offer.

I also used my holy grail concealer, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Cool Medium 2 along with MAC's ProLongwear Concealer in NC25, I usually wear NC15 but I have a tan so this is perfect for my skin.

The Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is currently available in Boots for €4.99 and MAC's ProLongwear Concealer is available in Arnotts Beauty Hall for €23.50.

The only powder I have ever used is Rimmel's Stay Matte powder because I have never found a powder that works as well for me.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder is currently in Boots 2 for €13 offer so if you like their foundation, it's definitely worth getting! Otherwise, it retails for €5.99.

I also used the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray to set everything in place when I was finished my makeup. I have tried and tested so many different setting sprays and All Nighter always does the job, even in hot and humid countries. 

I was kindly gifted this setting spray by Urban Decay and will always repurchase as it is my holy grail setting spray!

Urban Decay's All Nighter Setting Spray is available in Debenhams and is currently on offer for €27.90.  

Brows and Lashes

As I wasn't going to use much makeup at all, I decided lashes were the perfect thing to finish the look off. I used the SOSU Gigi Lashes which are available from the SOSU website for €5.95.

I also used the Klenacolor clear eyelash glue which I bought on ShopMissA last year. For $1 it was fasntastic and I would 100% repurchase.

For my brows, I used the Wet n' Wild  Ultimate Brow Kit in Ash Brown and a clear brow gel that the label has rubbed off so I have no idea where I bought it from! I only use powder in my brows and then set it with the gel because my brows are fairly full as it is.

The Wet n' Wild  Ultimate Brow Kit is available in selected Dunnes Stores for €4.79.

Highlight 

I love a good glow and only used a little on the high-points of my face and a little on my cupid's bow. I knew I would tan while over here so I packed my Urban Decay After Glow Palette due to the gold hue in the highlighters.

I used the shade Side Piece from the set and originally bought it in Debenhams but I think it has been discontinued since.

Lip liner and Lipstick

I was very good and only brought one lip liner with me, NYX Professional Makeup's Wonder Pencil in light as it doubles as an eyeliner for my waterline. I use it with almost every lipstick as it lines your lips but matches my skin tone so you can barely notice it!

I was kindly gifted NYX Professional Makeup's Wonder Pencil a few months ago and have since repurchased it as I love it so much!

NYX Professional Makeup's Wonder Pencil is available in Arnotts for €6.

I also used Kat Von D's Studded Kiss Crème in Lovecraft. I love this shade because it's is the perfect mauve nude for the transition from summer to autumn and it looks good with almost everything I wear. I got this in the Give Me Some Lip set from Sephora (check out my last post to hear all about it) but it is available in Debenhams for €21.

Do you guys have any of the same summer must-haves as me?

Do you have any other product suggestions for hot weather?

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
Snapchat: Ciarakxo

New York Haul Part 2

Hey guys!

Wow, it's almost been three moths since my last post. I took a break from blogging this summer because I have been interning in Portugal and after a 40 hour week, on my days off I made the most of them and the crappy wifi in my house didn't help at all.

I'm home soon (August 31st) and have a lot of posts planned for before I go back to college and during the year. I will be heading into the final year of my degree so posts will be less frequent but I will aim for a new post every two weeks.

For now, I finally have part 2 of my New York haul which includes everything I bought in Sephora and the sweets I brought home with me!

Sephora

Tarteist™ Creamy Matte Lip Paint in TBT

I bought this matte lipstick in TBT because I am a sucker for nudes and while I was there, it was on offer for $12 so I couldn't say no.

I haven't used this yet because I tried (and failed) not to bring too much makeup over to Portugal and left this one at home! I cannot wait to wear in coming into autumn and you'll definitely see this shade on my feed in the coming weeks.

Tarte's matte lip paint is available here for $20

Tarte To Go Mini Sets

I picked up these two mini sets from the Sephora mini section before leaving NYC.

The first set is a mascara, blusher and bronzer, I haven't opened the set yet but it is no longer available on the Sephora or Tarte website. I also have not had the chance to try any of these out because I left so soon after I got home! This set cost $12.

The second set is the Wide Awake skincare mini which was such good value! Advertised as a "3-piece travel set to fake a full night's sleep" the set has a pair of 911 undereye rescue patches, their famous lights, camera, lashes™ 4-in1 mascara and a deluxe maracuja C-brighter™.

All three of these products have received stellar reviews and I cannot wait to use this set, which I got for a steal at $12.

Sephora Favourites Give Me Some Lip

This set was a complete impulse buy on my last night in NYC. I had seen it in every Sephora I had been to and finally caved on my last night. It came with one full size Anastasia Beverly Hills matte lipstick in Ruby, Grande Cosmetics HydraPlump Semi-Matte Liquid Lipstick in Smoked Sherry, Tarte Rainforest of the Sea H2O gloss Lip Gloss in Bora Bora, Urban Decay Hi-Fi Lip Gloss in SPL, Kat Von D Beauty Studded Kiss Crème in Lovecraft and Bite Beauty Prismatic Multistick in Pink Pearl.

I gave my mum the full-size lipstick because she loves red lipstick and has worn it a lot over the summer. I left the majority of the box at home but did take the Kat von D mini and I am in love with it! It lasts for quite a few drinks and doesn't dry out my lips at all!

The set cost $28 with a total value of $68. It is still available from Sephora.

Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet Foundation

This was a repurchase for my sister purely because it is cheaper to buy in America and she's so pale I'm fairly sure you can only buy this shade over there. Sadly I left it at home though so I have no idea what shade it is. All I know is that she loves the coverage and finish of the foundation.

Boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding Intensive Wash-Off Treatment

I spent a certain amount (I honestly can't remember how much) so with the Sephora VIB card I brought over with me (It's my sister's from when she was in San Diego last year), I got a free gift. I chose this Boscia wash-off treatment because I had heard so much about their skincare. The full-size of this product retails for $38 and while this is not full-size, it is a very generous sample.

I left it in Dublin when I moved over to Portugal but I cannot wait to go home and use it!

 Glamglow Hello Sexy Insider Birthday Gift

As it was my sister's card, I also got to redeem her birthday gift while I was in New York. I chose this GlamGlow set as it had the GlamGlow Supermud mask and the Glowstarter Mega Illuminating Moisturiser in Nude Glow. I have never used GlamGlow products so this little gift made the most sense for me to choose.

Sephora Collection Eye Masks

I am a sucker for a good mask (eyes, hair, face, feet - the girls I've been living with will testify to that!) so I had to pick up some eye masks before I left. I find these so useful after flights or a long night out as they just reduce puffiness and feel fab after application.

I chose a selection of masks - algae mask for tonifying and detoxifying, green tea mask for relaxing and refreshing, lotus mask for reducing signs of fatique and the rose mask for a radiance boost.

 Sephora Collection Face Masks 

I always do a sheet mask at least once a week and seen as I cannot buy these masks at home, I stocked up on a few in NYC as well!

I chose a selection of masks I had never tried before including the pineapple mask for pore perfecting and smoothing, the grape mask as a shield for urban pollution, the avocado mask for nourishing and repairing and the algae mask for eliminating impurities.

I love these masks so much and will probably be picking some more up here before I leave!

Candy and Chocolate

Caramel M&Ms

I brought these home for my brother but now I wish I had gotten some for myself! I wouldn't quite call these caramel, they are more like a soft toffee and they are fabulous!

I bought these in Target but saw them in a lot of other stores too!

 Mint M&Ms

Also a Target purchase, I got these for my family (hence the large size) and we hadn't opened them before I left so they better still be there when I get home next week!

 Sour Patch Kids and Watermelon and Mike&Ike Intense Fruit

Anyone that knows me knows I am OBSESSED with Sour Patch Watermelon, I love them so much. I really did stock up on these before I left and also got a mix of other jellies and jelly beans for myself and my family to try.

 Swedish Fish

My brother really did well out of my trip. He asked me to bring home some Swedish Fish and I brought a very very very large bag home for him. They also disappeared very quickly!

 Trident Watermelon Twist Chewing Gum

I picked a multipack of this chewing gum when I went to Costco and I do not regret it at all! A pack of 15 cost $8 which was really good compared to the price in most stores. The flavour doesn't last as long as I would like it to but it's sugar free and tastes great!

Hot Fudge Sundae Pop Tarts

Another purchase for my very lucky brother and a very hard flavour to find! I went to at least 5 different stores looking for these and had almost given up hope until I saw these near to where I was staying.

I wasn't lucky enough to try these but my brother loved them so I'm sure they tasted good!

Have you ever visited America?

Did you bring back any of the same products/food as I did?

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
Snapchat: Ciarakxo