The Wide-Eyed and Blind Playlist X.

Stuff I've been listening to. 

P.S. Oh, hai, Brendon Urie. 

LOVING the new album. TOTES check it out!

Wide-Eyed and Bargain - SEVENTEEN SUPERlash Mascara

Another new segment here on Wide-Eyed and Blind is going to be bargains I share with y'all. This probably won't be a weekly post but I'll try to do one every time I've got a good'ne.

I mentioned having bought SEVENTEEN's new mascara in a previous post. Now, I'll admit to having initially been suckered in by the cute packaging - it intrigued me, what can I say? I've never bought anything from the brand before but have been previously tempted by its price bracket and packaging.

The pop art style of design and reference to superheroes in the bold primary colour scheme immediately drew my interest but it was the bargain that cinched the deal. At the moment, if you buy it in Boots, it's at a lower introductory price of €5.99 plus with a free gift of their SUPERlash eyeliner pen.

So, I bit the bullet and gave it a go.

And boy, am I impressed by both products. The mascara has a wand with a small brush that creates a fuller lash look that is very natural and suited to everyday use. The combination of the eyeliner pen (the first I've used) and mascara promises to be great for more dramatic event or evening looks. The eyeliner is very dark and the shape of the nib means that it can be applied quite thick or more thinly and precisely if you have a steady hand. I certainly am going to need some practice if I want to get the hang of it.

Overall, I'm impressed. The mascara is probably going to become a regular favourite and it rivals my sister's recent purchase of the Mac Extended Play mascara, at a much lower price. The liner proves tricky for someone as inept with makeup as I but I like it and it'll be fun for procrastination days.

If you're in search of a new mascara, look no further - especially if you're not up for spending a whole lot.

What (crazy stuff)'s in my bag? WEaB-style.

(WEaB - It's short for Wide-Eyed and Blind...I just thought that setting up a short-hand miiight just be easier for everyone in the long run.)

So, many of you will be familiar with What's in my bag? videos, blog posts and interviews but mine has a wee bit of a twist.

You see, when I was in first year of my undergrad degree, in the first term, very near to the start of the year, I went to a comedy gig. It was my first and I was nervous - I'd seen dvd's of live comedy gigs and it had put the fear of God into me. I knew not to sit in or near the front row. My party, however, had other plans. Horror of horror, the comedian (who I shall not name but now like to call my Arch-Nemesis just because I like the idea of having one - I'm not that bitter, I swear) spotted my shopping underneath my seat and proceeded to empty my bags on stage.

I took it better than I thought I would, I laughed along and agreed that I had a pretty weird collection of things. There was a lunchbox-grater, a season of Angel on VHS tapes, a wireless mouse, Microsoft Office something and other things that now evade memory.

The point of all this is that, traditionally, my friends have known me to be the person with weird crap in their bag. Whether it's an attempt to be prepared for anything, a shopping expedition I forgot to unpack or having spotted something bizarre that would make a particular friend smile, there's generally a reason for the weird. But it doesn't make it any less weird.

So, now, as a light-hearted take on the What's in my bag? and a fun new weekly post, I introduce what was in my bag two days ago. 

Bag: Longchamp Nylon Le Pliage in Beige. See here. 

Wallet: Mulberry. Similar here.

Sunglasses: Topshop. See here.

Random Crap:

I went into the two euro shop for one thing...and then ended up buying...
Pirate sword and mask set (so fun),
Travel mug,
Spray bottle (for a DIY coming soooon),
Hello Kitty Glow Jewellery Kit,
Knight helmets x 2 (AWESOME),
Spongebob Squarepants sweets.

I also had my passport, dayplanner, pencil case (with an Andy Warhol print, bought by my uncle in the Met), Smarties in case I got peckish and a Miro notebook.

A visit to Fallon & Byrne (a supermarket) saw me purchase Mulled Wine spice bundles for the 'rents because it may no longer be the season but they are still fans.

Nourish, a health food store, saw me pick up a new toothbrush which is biodegradable and made from sustainable materials.

And, finally, in Boots I grabbed a Real Techniques blending sponge and a SEVENTEEN SUPERlash Mascara plus free eyeliner. These are all great and I will review very, very soon.

Kinda eclectic, huh? Tune in for next week's edition!

Colette out.

Let's go on a little VOYA, shall we?

VOYA cosmetics tick a lot of my boxes. They are an Irish family-owned company which is carbon neutral, organic and ethical. The products are lovely (review to come soon), that's obviously important too. But their new brand ambassador, the first face of VOYA is such a refreshing (heh, accidental pun) choice.

Not everyone needs to be a role model but it's nice to see a voice being given to someone that has done something with their lives. Katie McAnena is, at 27, a working doctor, All-Ireland Ladies Wind-Surfing Champion and has ranked on the world arena too. She is the first woman to windsurf 'Jaws', an infamous surf break off the coast of Maui and the second Irishperson to do so. It, of course, helps that she's not too hard on the eyes but she is the face of a beauty brand after all.

The imagery, shot by Johnny McMillan, is selling us the image of a complete person, more than a pretty face. Something to aspire to, not just ape. A lifestyle. Health. A glow.

Well done, VOYA, well done.

(Images courtesy of VOYA © Johnny McMillan)

VOYA products can be purchased online, in Avoca and House of Fraser stores nationwide or carried in spas in 150 locations around the world - see the website for stockist information.

A stroke of genius.

I love art. I love fashion. I love when those two worlds collide. Ergo, Peter Lippmann's imagery for the Christian Louboutin S/S 2014 collections has me DYING. Love, love, love. It's not the first time the brand and photographer have worked together but this particular lookbook is achingly lovely.

I may not be the biggest still life fan but it's funny how enlivened they are when you stick a hot accessory in the mix. Each image references a great master from Brueghel up to Van Gogh. And I'm having such a Van Gogh moment.

Dang.

(Just three of the images. From Elle UK. Go here to see more.)

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (Plus a Giveaway)

Lol. I'm only messing. There's no murder, murderers or murdering in this post. There is, however, perfume.

A particularly common Christmas gift is some sort of fragrance. Many of us will have experienced this first- hand very recently. The attitudes towards gifting perfume are summed up by the following exchange in Father Ted.

Dougal: Perfume is the ideal woman present, isn't it?

Ted: Yes, well that's why God invented perfume, so you don't have to put any thought into it whatsoever.

Now, of course most people actually gift perfume with the best of intentions. However, as I have discussed before, it is a tricky gift to give. Perfume is quite personal and terribly subjective. Most people don't stray much from their favourites. In fact, for the first five or six years that I used perfume, I stuck rigidly to one at a time. So much so that Armani Code is sixteen year old me to my friends and Daisy by Marc Jacobs is first year of college. If I wear either now, it freaks Daniel out a little.

Since then, I've come around to having between three and four perfumes on the go at any one time. Still, I would only trust my mother to pick a new scent for me - no one else in the world.

My rule of thumb is; unless they already wear it/said they wanted it, don't buy it.

My mother was my educator in all such things. She always has the most beautiful perfumes and calls the new 'it' scents. My early perfumes were hand-me-downs or inherited and taken on as my own. As a family, we have run through quite a few scents, as a result of Mammy's passion and knowledge. I decided to gather all that was in the house; unfinished, out-grown, forgotten, old, new, gifted and chosen.

It turns out we have a shit-ton. It's a bit mental, really. So, I've decided to rummage through it all and do some reviews.

Here goes.


Men's Scents.

Chanel No. 5
This cologne has such a powdery scent that it makes me think of talcum powder. It's rather gentle and a little sweet. Not really my cup of tea.
3.5/5

Gucci Guilty
A traditional aftershave scent it has a minty undertone. It's very pleasant and I love that the packaging looks like a hip flask.
4/5

Calvin Klein Man
A traditionally masculine scent it has notes of liqourice. There is nothing particularly unpleasant about this cologne but it, again, does not suit my tastes.
3.5/5

Intimately Beckham
A fresh and light scent, it is warm and smells like a nice bath.
4/5


Celebrity Scents.

Halle by Halle Berry
A sweet and citrussy scent which is light and fresh with powdery notes this was a real surprise and show-stopper. I have never owned any celebrity perfumes of my own but my sister receives them on a regular basis from friends. I'm so impressed by the quality and lovely coppery packaging. My mother uses another two scents by Halle Berry and both are also pretty - clearly the celebrity to smell like.
4.5/5

Christina Aguilera Inspire
A light, powdery daytime scent, it is very traditional and harmless. Not much to say for or against this one.
3.5/5

Kate Moss Velvet Hour
Light but kind of musky and very subtle - again I was pleasantly surprised.
4/5

Curious by Britney Spears
Floral and sweet it is unremarkable and unoffensive.
3/5

Earliest Scents.

Anna Sui Sui Love
This is one of the first perfumes I ever used and was more grown-up than I remember. It is sweet with a hint of musk and is diverse - it could easily be worn during day or night.
4/5

Anna Sui Secret Wish
It is very sweet and floral with something dark underneath it all. I can't believe I forgot how delicious this is. It's going back into regular use.
4.5/5

Touch of Pink by Lacoste
Powdery, light and sweet this perfume was a favourite for a long time. I couldn't believe how much of this perfume we actually had left - 4 bottles which were almost full.
4/5

Dunhill Desire
Dark and musky but still not particularly strong - it didn't leave much of an impression.
3.5/5

Very Irresistible by Givenchy
A very traditional scent which is, for me, slightly pongy and doesn't smell expensive. Not a fan.
3/5

So...wild?
This scent really surprised me. It's a drugstore/pharmacy brand unlike all the others which are high end and yet it was surprisingly nice and quite subtle. It's also lasted very well as I must have been in my early teens when a girl in my class gave it to me. However, this sweet scent is somewhat unremarkable and doesn't last on the skin well despite being strong at first.
3/5

Touch of Sun by Lacoste
Very fruity, uncomplicated and pleasing.
4/5

Discovered Unused Perfumes.

Polly Mixture by Ted Baker
I think Anna got this as a gift at some point and I want to steal it! Sweet and very floral, it's just lovely.
4.5/5

Beautiful by Estee Lauder
No idea where this came from but, frankly, it can go back there. It's pongy, old-fashioned and unremarkable.
2.5/5

Andy Warhol 
Again, the origins of this is a mystery but it has always intrigued me. I guess some part of me knew it'd be horrible and, so, I'd never tried it before today. What a disappointment! And it's packaged so awesomely. Pongy, unremarkable and cheap-smelling.
2.5/5

The packaging is cool though.

Clinique Happy Heart

Along with a gift set of Touch of Pink I found one of Happy Heart. Powdery and sweet, it is very pleasant indeed.

4/5

Samples.

Roses de Chloe
Must. Have. This is one of three samples I found among all our perfumes and I LOVE IT. Flowery and sweet it is rather traditional but ever so lovely.
4.5/5

Down Town by Calvin Klein
Citrussy and powdery and just enough of everything.
4/5

Versace cologne
I guess it's just called Versace? No other name on the bottle. It's so cute, non? Musky and traditional but just right.
4/5

My Currents and All-Time Favourites.

Armani Code, Lacoste and Daisy have remained constant favourites over the years which I return to again and again. New loves are Amore Mio Forever and L'Occitane's Cherry Blossom. I'll get around to doing a full review of both at some point.

So, there you have it, analysis of a crapload of perfumes! Hopefully, this will help inform you in buying perfume as a gift or give you ideas for a new scent to try.

And, as a bonus, I have a giveaway for y'all, my dear lovely readers - A Closer by Halle Berry set with perfume, body lotion and shower gel. All you have to do is be a follower of the blog, like me on facebook and comment below. Competition will close at midnight on Sunday the 12th of January. It's that simple. Good luck! x

Winona Forever.

I'm having such a Winona moment.

It began (all over again) on New Year's Eve. Daniel and I were stressed trying to make plans so we ultimately decided to be alone and make cocktails and watch movies. The movie was Heathers and the only agreement on it that we had was that Winona is and was a babe.

And then I, of course, started googling her streetstyle. Hooooo, boy. That's the clincher. Per-fection.

Winona is the epitome of ease, cool and boyishness. And her varying hair is always so ON. Very very. Things I love and aspire to. These are, perhaps, some of the most blogged pictures ever but what can you do?

Not streetstyle but it's just so pretty. That hair!

Instagram for December.

Instagram and I have become good friends this Christmas. Here's just a taste of what I've been 'gramming this month and the kind of things you can expect from me in the future. Mostly it shows my awful consumerism and random artsy shots...heh... x

Find me here : http://instagram.com/wideeyedandblind