What Crazy Crap is in Colette's Bag? - The experimental one.

A lot of the stuff you've probably all become accustomed to plus some Fruit-tella I've never tried before (truly juicier than the original!) as well as an eyelash curler, "Eyebrow Shapers", a hairband from Topshop, my trusty Topman beanie and a plastic bracelet from a Christmas cracker.

Beanies are standard attire for me but the hairband is part of why this collection of objects is labelled "experimental". I've a weird-shaped head so hairbands tend to slip off when I wear them. Sigh. Life is so friggin' difficult. Also, this is a somewhat striking piece - a little anime-esque. For both reasons I've worn it very little but I want to figure out how to style it right so I can wear it more. I really do like it.

The Fruit-tella were a new (and great) tastebud adventure.

And another adventure in the two euro shop saw me purchase the eyebrow shapers and eyelash curlers. The former wasn't very effective but the latter is quite good. I've heard spending more on eyelash curlers actually pays off but they were an experiment after all! So, a euro was quite enough to spend. I'm eventually gonna post a video of my first use of them - rather hilarious - but I'd been wanting to try some out for a while as I was irrationally terrified of them. Not actually so scary after all!

Yes, what an exciting group of adventures. *hangs head in shame* I'm so terribly uncool.

Wide-Eyed and Bargain: Rockstud Designer Dupe from Dunnes.

I love Rockstud everything.

However, Valentino are just running with the stud craze of recent years. They may have it down to a 't' but it isn't an original idea.

Dunnes (€25) do a clutch very similar to the Rockstud (€1050) but for 1/42 the price. Yep, forty-two times cheaper. It's not the same but it's making the Rockstud vibe viable for a larger audience.

You can debate the morality of highstreet taking from High Fashion, you can debate the difference between inspiration versus knock-off and you can debate the morality of designer prices some other time. Right now I'm giving my lovely readers a tip on how to save some money.

We'll talk about the tough stuff some other time.

Valentino Rockstud Clutch Designer Dupe by fitzpac featuring a valentino purse

Skincare Spree Super Fun Day.

Okay, not with the "super fun" but it can be rather relaxing to take a day and pamper your skin. My day to day routine is fairly minimal but every now and then I have a proper go at it. Here's a run down of how I do a pamper day.

I use nose strips from time to time and have done so since I was a teen. Generally, I notice a rather minimal difference afterwards. However, this Greentea Nose Pack from Etude House (one of my recent KollectionK purchases) actually offers real results. No, there aren't any miracles happening here but (and excuse the grossness of this next bit) but blackheads were visible on the strip afterwards and the skin was soft to the touch. As results go for this kind of product, it wasn't a bad one.

At this point I use a Lush Tea Tree Toner Tab. The tab is placed in a bowl of hot water and then you lean over the steam for 15-20 minutes with a towel over the head. I then pat my face dry gently with a towel.

Next I do a general cleanse with my VOYA Cleanse and Mend cleanser. I use about two pumps, put on the back of my hand and then massaged into the face with my fingertips. Then I rinse off the cleanser with some water and pat my face dry with a towel.

Now, I use the water from the Toner Tab earlier as a more conventional toner. This is applied over the face with a cotton pad.

Once the toner has dried I use my VOYA Softly Does It body moisturiser. Again, about two pumps on the back of my hand is enough and then massaged into the face - especially the driest areas such as my nose and jawline. Though this is a body mousturiser, it is organic and gentle and most VOYA products are multi-use, so I double it up on body AND face. 

Then I go in with the VOYA My Little Hero serum on top of this. One pump is enough!

Lastly, as I put on some Buffy in the background and settle on my bed with the lights off, I use Tony Moly's Panda Dream Eye Patch - again from KollectionK.

I also throw on a coat of Dr Bronner's Organic Lip Balm in Peppermint.

So, there you go. That's how my skincare regime looks if I'm being a real girl for once. Day-to-day, it's pretty minimal but with a lot of the same products. I usually just cleanse and moisturise but I use sun cream pretty much every day (need to get stricter on that one) and lip balm. I'm currently in the market for an organic toner, any suggestions? Let me know!

I'll probably cover my shower routine as that includes haircare at some stage but that's all for now folks. xxx

Well, now you've gone and Dunnes it.

I was wandering home one day, taking a scenic route as per, when I popped into the Dunnes on South Great George's Street - just by the HQ. Surprisingly, I'd never been inside before.

A look at Google Streetview shows that the shop looks very different now to five years ago. Whereas before it was rather run of the mill, now it's all glass, tasteful colour palettes and spaciousness. It has such an amazing high-end, boutique feel for a highstreet store. I was super-impressed by both the shop itself and the products inside.

This branch doesn't stock the main Dunnes clothing line but rather the higher end Savida, Gallery, Paul Costelloe and Carolyn Donnelly lines as well as homeware from Costelloe and Donnelly.

Donnelly's "The Edit" is amazing. It's really hard to believe it's from a high street brand, the appearance and quality are unbelievably close to true designer pieces. Looking for amazing basics? Look no more. Looking for cool work attire? Ditto.

And it's no secret that I love her "Eclectic" homeware line.

Plus, looking for super-kawaii S/S pieces in lovely pastels? Hello, Savida.

Statement necklace anyone?

Abso bargain of a bag?

Plus, though the Gallery collection is intended for a mature audience, there are some awesome accessories that'd suit for all ages.

Dang, girl

Dunnes, when did you get so cool? I'm liking it!

What Crazy Crap is in my Bag? - The bookish one.

So, a lot of the usual stuff plus a beer and a candle and lots of books. 

1. The candle is in Vanilla Pod from Dunnes and is really good value at €1.50

2. Yes, that's Pabst. Don't judge me, it was a euro and I just wanted a single beer with my dinner one night and not to have to spend loads.

3. I'm researching my thesis...ergo lots of books.

4. I also reread one of my favourite books as a teen, Sarra Manning's Guitar Girl and my uncle just gave me Edmund de Waal's The Hare with Amber Eyes to read.

5. Yea, my bag was really effing heavy that day.