M.I.A, Taken Hostage By Study

Hello lovelies!

Ok so I have to admit I have been a bit on and off over here during the past few weeks and that's not because I've given up on the whole blogging business it's just that I have this thing called the Leaving Cert that I have to sit in a week and basically how I do in these exams decides my fate. (Yeah sure no pressure at all then.)

For the next few weeks I will be hard at work like the diligent student I am and completely dedicated to my studies but I thought I'd come clean to everyone here and set the story straight. I just need a little time, just for a while not too long, don't panic, I'll be back. (Arnold Schwarzenegger style)

But just to keep all you lucky things who don't have exams next month happy; I have so much planned for this summer it's unbelievable. I'm talking London, lake houses, work experience with head buyers, SHOPPING, food, perhaps Paris, the whole sha' bang. So stay with me here because I will be a good little blogger the second my exams are finished.

Thanks for reading as usual,
Ciara.

The Met Ball 2013 'Punk: Chaos to Couture'

Hello lovelies!

Since today is such a drab, rainy and dark 'summer's' day I thought I'd cheer myself up with a bit of MET Ball Fashion. 

Monday night the fashionable stars of the world met at New York's Metropolitan Museum under flashing light bulbs to celebrate the opening of the theme of 'Punk: Chaos to Couture'. On one of the most celebrated fashion events of the year celebs were adorned in edgy black studded creations and chaotic patterns as they strode the red carpet. 

So why don't we have a look at who got it right and who weren't quite to the punk point!

Once again super brand Topshop edged its way into the high fashion world with Jourdan Dunn, Chloe Greene, Nicole Richie and Ashley Madekwe all sporting custom made gowns. 




Alexa Chung went for an elegant yet edgy dress from Erdem with gorgeous cut outs and a high collar. You can never go wrong with a bit of  Erdem.



Short sticky fringed hair styles seemed to make multiple appearances throughout the night but Anne Hathaway certainly aced it with a new platinum do and Vintage Valentino.

 

Stunning Cara Delevingne wore a studded black and gold number from Burberry however I'm not to jazzed about her choice of a white and gold purse.



Diane Kruger now the face of Chanel's new beauty line was of course dressed in one of my more preferred Chanel pieces. As if to spice up her look more Kruger added a pop of ultra punk pink with dip-dyed hair.



Although not quite punk but definitely energetic and adventurous Elle Fanning was mesmerising in a spiral tie-dyed Rodarte A/W 13 gown.



Miley Cyrus definitely got the dress code and was, for lack of a better word, shocking in Marc Jacobs.



January Jones was slightly cosmical maybe even extra-terrestrial wearing a sequined Chanel number, muilticoloured Nicholas Kirkwood sandals, striking eye make-up and white out eyebrows.



Moving away from the predictable black and typical 'punky' gowns Jessica Pare was gorgeous in this shocking Jason Wu peplum dress.



Kristen Stewart was strong in a Stella McCartney jumpsuit.



One of my favourite looks was Sienna Miller's angelic white Burberry gown contrasted with a powerful studded leather biker jacket. Not at all boringly punk but definitely dynamic and youthful, classic Sienna.



It seems as if Zooey Deschanel completely missed out on the whole 'punk rock' theme but all the same she was wonderful and pretty as always in custom made Hilfiger. Is it just me or does she look even more radiant sans eye-makeup and that characteristic fringe? 



Rosie Huntington-Whiteley showed off her amazing figure in a dirty gold satin Gucci dress.



Lastly the queen of the MET Ball in my mind will always be Sarah Jessica Parker and this year she wore the Philip Treacey crown to match. Elegant yet still featuring a bit of edgy, dynamic punk essence.



Oh and hats off to Kim Kardashian for attempting to pull of a glove/dress/curtain concoction. You have to admire her confidence! 



So over all I was quite impressed, as per usual, by the standard at the MET Ball. Most of the looks were quite interesting and managed to capture the theme of the night: the definite energy and fearlessness of punk slightly tamed by the regal and mature nature of couture.

As always thanks for reading,
Ciara.

(I don't own any of these photos) Sourced from http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/celebrity-photos/2013/5/07/met-ball-2013

Spring Wish List

Hello lovelies!

Today has been one of the few sunny and fresh days that really remind you Spring time is in the air. After a cold blistering week that started off with snow (yes, snow) it's a refreshing start of Spring day that has put me in the mood to go shopping and snap up some Spring time staples for this season. But as I can't get to the shops today I thought I'd write about some of the pieces that have been on my to buy list for a while now.

Neon Brights
What's Spring/Summer without a pop of bright colour to liven up your look? Previously to this year I've never been much of a neon girl but for some reason I've been eyeing up some neon key pieces. Just one integral item added to your look will give it a spot of energy without going too over board. 

 
 

Colour Me Cobalt Blue
Always a gorgeous colour to have in your wardrobe as it appears regularly in trends and I always find is such a striking tone of blue.

 



Sandal Me Up
I always hate it when my feet get all hot and sticky during the summer when I'm wearing heels but sandals are the perfect way to keep your feet cool. Heeled sandals are a great idea for work outfits as their heel is not usually too high.
 

Accessories
One item I've really been lusting for is a see-through plastic purse. Now it's not the most practical if your bag is stuffed with old tissues and empty chewing gum packets but if you're a tidy and confident bag owner you'll be fine. 





And of course ever since I saw this beauty on 'The Londoner' blog I have fallen in love with it. It's this Céline  wonder.
 

A Perfect Match
I'm not sure if I'd ever be able to pull off the co-ordinate look but when I find the perfect pattern and shape I can't help but wish.





Pop Art
Very recently the pop art trend has come into view and I think it's an easy way of working a bit more dimension and youth into your look. (I have to say however; that I'm not the biggest fan of pop art.)

  

Beach Bod

It's getting to be that time of year when us lassies start to prepare for beach body season. Stash away that Easter chocolate girls!

 

  

 

I'd go on to my beauty wish list but I have to stop before this list gets too long and I begin to look just the slightest bit materialistic ;) But  you get the idea. Bright colours, simple silhouettes and over all energetic looks.

Thanks for reading,

Ciara.

I don't own any of these images.

My Daily Skincare for Sensitive and Normal Skin

Hello lovelies!

Lately I've been getting quite a lot of problems with my skin due to stress and starting back to school where undoubtedly my hands are covered in germs and dirt and which gets transferred to my face when I touch it. So I thought I'd do a post about the type of products I use to keep my skin clean and healthy.

Please note I am not a beauty pro so most of the products I use are pretty basic and may disgust those of you that know their skincare products.

Overall my skin is pretty normal apart from the occasional red blemish and redness around the nose and cheeks so I don't really use any specialised products. However the skin is very sensitive and fragile so it is important to use natural and gentle products so as not to damage or irritate your skin.

My first confession is that in the morning I don't actually wash my face. I know I know many die-hard skin fanatics will cringe at this fact but personally I feel that my skin gets too irritated if I mess with it too much so it's best for me just to give it a wash at night and moisturise in the morning.  

For my cleanser I like to use Good Things Stay Clear Mango and Blueberry because it's full of anti-oxidants which are great for the skin and leaves my skin freshly clean.

 

After that I use a liquid exfoliator because it's less harsh on my skin than a granule one. The product I use is from La Roche-Posay and is from the Effaclar range. Apply with a cotton pad and smooth around the face in circular motions.

A toner is always handy to give the face a plump and healthy texture and also to remove any last remains of the day's make-up you may have missed whilst cleansing. A lovely and gentle natural toner is Rose Water and Witch Hazel which can be bought at any local pharmacy.

One of my saviour products which help reduce red blemishes and prevent spots is La Roche-Posay's Effaclar K serum. I like to use this at night and in the morning and could not live without it. As you can see from the photo I'm in need of a refill too.

 

Finally you've always got to moisturise the skin in order to keep it hydrated and soft especially during the cold months. My preferred moisturiser is a simple daily cream from No. 7  for normal/dry skin. It says daily but I like to use it at night too primarily because I find night moisturisers very heavy and tend to clog up my pores and make my skin more oily. This product is also hypo-allergenic and doesn't contain any nasty fragrances which can often chemically irritate the skin.

However when I think my skin is in need of a more intense treatment I have 3 other products I like to use.

For a stronger cleanse I like to use Vichy Normaderm Gel.

To tackle bad blackheads and spots I use St.Ives' Apricot Scrub which contains small particles which smooth away dead skin and deep rooted dirt. Since exfoliating the skin with a granule exfoliator everyday isn't the best I only use this product 2-3 times a week.

 

To combat the drying and invasive effects of a strong scrub I tend to use a slightly creamier and heavier moisturiser to prevent my skin getting too taught and dry. For me, Boots' brand Botanics Mattifying Day Cream with extract of willowbark is a good choice because it leaves my skin almost instantly softer and fuller.

So that's my usual skincare routine for the week, I hope it's given some of you a little advice on how to take care of your sensitive skin.

Thanks for reading,

Ciara.