Tried and tested: Does Penneys €3 mascara live up to the hype?

May 8, 2019

Getting a decent mascara is one of those annoying problems that everyone deals with.

Mascara is so important because it completes a look, it opens the eyes and well, it's pretty much always top of the list when it comes to desert island beauty staples.

So when a mascara comes along that is also a bargain, we fall completely in love.

That's where Primark's latest collection of fab mascaras come in.

Eagle-eyed beauty lovers copped that their wands and brushes looked exactly like the Better than Sex by Too Faced ones.

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They will set you back 23 quid while the Primark ones are three euros.

So, a dupe at a fraction of the price sounds great but is the Primark version any good?

First up, the line of mascaras includes Aqua Lash, Fake It, Dramatic Lash, False Lash, and 3D Lash.

We tried Fake It and were pleasantly surprised by it.

All we want from mascaras is that it's not too clumpy and that we don't have to reapply it regularly.

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Fake It was applied in the morning while getting ready for work.

The brush is small and coats the eyelashes with enough product that makes it look like they've just been tinted.

If you're the kind of person that wants a fuller lash-look, this one isn't for you – it had to be applied several times before there was a thick enough layer on the lash.

Once it was applied though, it only needed to be topped up after a few hours.

For the price tag and the similarity to Better than Sex by Too Faced, it's definitely worth it.

Dealz are now doing Harry Potter merch and it’s SAVAGE

Dec 10, 2018

by Sorcha McManigan

If you're in need of a small pressie or Secret Santa gift, you'll want to check out Dealz.

They've got a brand new Harry Potter range and it's every Potterhead's wet dream.

And don't worry if you're on a tight budget, they've got some magical gifts for incredible prices – so you don't have to dish out the free hugs come Crimbo morning.

They've got something for everyone, so add an air of magic to their morning cup of coffee with a Hogwarts Crest or Dumbledore mug.

If they're a badass b*tch, don't let them enjoy their warm beverages like a muggle, add a little dark lord into their day with a Voldemort cup.

And if they're into writing, jotting or drawing – there's a selection of HP notebooks that will go down a charm with any witch or wizard.

Prices start at just €3 which is an absolute steal.

The range is hitting the shelves today – so get shopping.

Feature Image credit: fahrandole/Instagram

YEEESSS! These snazzy disco ball drinks cups are just €3 in Penneys

Lifestyle

Jan 27, 2017

by Amber Saunders

A snazzy disco ball drinks cup – complete with straw. Oh and they cost just €3-a-pop too.

Yup, we are ALL OVER these beauts – which come in gorgeous pink and metallic hues – as spotted recently in Penneys by the always fab Prosecco And High Heels.

Dubliners Nicola and Emma, who run the blog, posted a snap of the items to their Facebook page, commenting: "I swear how cute how are these. €3 in Penneys."

Then, highlighting a sentiment we're all sorts of on board with, they added: "Gin would taste amazing outta them… in fairness gin tastes amazing from anything!"

Here at SHEmazing! we're furthermore envisioning garden party soirees once the weather picks up.

And as always with any gems from Penneys – you better be quick to nab these glitter disco ball drinks cups!

OK, so this supermarket bottle of prosecco is on sale for €7 for NYE

Dec 29, 2016

by Amber Saunders

We're fond of a glass of bubbly around SHEmazing! Towers way – so suffice to say one just-announced supermarket offer has really caught our attention.

Yup, Tesco is currently selling bottles of Borsari at a wholly bargain €7. *STOCK UP!*

It's usually €12 too so this is definitely a great value-for-money option for those who want to toast the arrival of the New Year on a budget (Stephen's Day in the pub took the last of our pennies).

Still, if your aunt slipped you a couple of fifties late on Christmas Day and you want to go all fancy, Tesco also has Louis Delaunay champagne priced at €20; Mumm champagne at €25, and Moet & Chandon champagne at €30.

Otherwise, litre bottles of Captain Morgan’s, Gordon’s gin and Smirnoff vodka are €25.

Happy New Year!

IT’S NOT TOO LATE! 50 must-have Black Friday codes for Ireland

Lifestyle

Nov 25, 2016

by Amber Saunders

For the diligent few – Black Friday kicked off at 12 midnight. But others looking to get in on the discounted shopping action should not lose hope just yet.

That's because most of the really great sales are running until at least 12am tonight.

Here are more than 50 discount codes to put to good use today if you're based in Ireland.

Enjoy!

‘Dish out the bangers and mash’: So Adele wants a BARGAIN wedding

Nov 19, 2016

by Amber Saunders

Despite recently being named the richest British celebrity under the age of 30, it looks like Adele is going down the low-key route to marry her longtime love Simon Konecki.

The pair have a four-year-old son together, and Adele recently sparked marriage rumours while on her tour.

An insider told The Mirror: “Adele said she doesn’t want her wedding to be formal and show-offy.

“She wants it to be about who they are as a couple. Adele would happily have a small ceremony, then dish out the bangers and mash afterwards.

“She’s not tight – she’s happy to pay for everyone to have a great day – she just doesn’t want it to be stuffy.

“Adele is still on tour so she would be happy with a simple registry office and knees-up with her closest friends.

“It won’t be star-studded, either. She’ll invite all her mates she grew up with as well as old friends like Alan Carr and Sid Owen.”

Of course, many of her fans have voiced their opinions on social media and want her to have a big, lavish wedding, but to each their own, hey?

We're sure Adele will look and feel smashing either way.

This Penneys version of the Urban Decay palette is just about to land

Style

Feb 17, 2016

by Amber Saunders

Sure – the Urban Decay Naked palette is DIVINE! But, it's also a rather steep €47 a pop – which means it's largely consigned to Christmas/birthday present from your parents territory.

Fear not, however.

Because we have now laid eyes on the Penneys version: same gorgeous neutral shades of purples and browns with a gentle shimmer (it especially looks like the Naked 3 version), same great packaging – but all for a fiver.

Yup, €5.

Clearly we're not the only that have been oh-so giddy with excitement, however: when the PS range palette arrived in stores recently it sold out pretty much immediately.

At least this morning we've been given some good news: we've been chatting to Penneys and they've confirmed that more stock IS LANDING very soon.

Hallelujah!

Sadly, they haven't been able to give us an exact date – but we will keep you posted.

And in the meantime, keep your eyes peeled in Penneys because the second batch is sure to prove every bit as popular as the first.

Get in! A €39.99 NutriBullet dupe is about to hit the shelves at Aldi

Feb 9, 2016

by Amber Saunders

For anyone who loves (or wants to start loving) juicing, a bullet-style blender is the way to go.

All you do is chop, fill, blend and go – what could be simpler at 7am when you're still rubbing sleep from your eyes, debating whether you have time to wash your hair?

Sadly for our pockets though, the oft-championed NutriBullet doesn't exactly come cheap, starting at upwards of €85 depending on where you purchase it.

So we are downright shaking with excitement for the launch of Aldi's new smoothie and juice blender, which hits shelves next week.

The Nutrient Blender has a 700W motor (more than the standard NutriBullet's 600W), comes with a large 700ml cup, two smaller 350ml ones, two travel lids and a variety of blade attachments.

The best part? It retails at just €39.99. WIN.

Aldi's original smoothie maker/juicer, released back in October, also flew off the shelves – and while this one is slightly pricier, it's also heaps more powerful than the original 300W motored one.

Aldi confirmed today that the blender (available in gunmetal grey, champagne or red) will be available in stores from next Thursday February 18, which gives you just over a week to bribe someone to camp outside the store with a sleeping bag all night.

Okay, you don't quite need to go to those lengths, but we do recommend getting to your local Aldi early on as these are bound to sell out.

Beauty steals: 10 essential makeup products… all for a fiver or less

Nov 6, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Why must updating your makeup bag involve a lotto win? Pish-posh, we say! In fact, there are a LOAD of killer products that – incredibly – come in at just a fiver or less.

Here, SHEmazing! rounds up the best budget buys that have caught our eye in recent times…

1) Pump Up Booster 24H Waterproof Mascara: €4.99 boots.ie and pharmacies nationwide

2) Collection 2000 Natural Matte Foundation: €3.99 Boots stores nationwide

3) New Look Pure Colour Nail Varnish: €4.49 newlook.com/eu

4) Carmex Cherry Lip Balm Tube: €4.49 available nationwide

5) Revlon Colorstay Shadow Links Eyeshadow: €4.40 asos.com

6) Zoella Beauty Tutti Fruity Kissy Missy Lip Balm: €4.11 feelunique.com

7) Barry M Lip Liner: €4.50 marksandspencer.ie and stores nationwide

8) Rimmel London Professional Eyebrow Pencil: €4.40 asos.com

9) Essence I Love Nude Eyeshadow: €2.99 Penneys stores nationwide

10) Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail Polish: €4.99 pharmacies and supermarkets nationwide

PS… OK so it's not quite a fiver, but it's mighty good value: the Lipstick To Lashes November GLOSSYBOX is worth more than €62 but it available for just €13 throughout November from glossybox.co.uk while stock lasts. Hurrah!

Shoe porn alert… ALL for less than €25, Heatons ups its footwear game

Nov 4, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Party season is officially here. And before you panic about your lack of suitably festive attire combined with your lack of funds, we have one word of advice: Heatons.

The budget-conscious department store has traditionally offered a mixed bag of merchandise, but if you haven't popped your head in recently – you definitely NEED to check out its shoe department.

In fact, we've spotted a LOAD of style steals in there. With prices from just €14.40, everything that caught our eye came in at €25 or less.

And if you're just not a stiletto kinda gal, fear not: Heatons also has some killer casual shoes too that can be jazzed up or played down as your social diary demands.

Here, SHEmazing! brings you the best of what's on offer right now…

Cut-out ankle strap, €22.50 [also available in red]
Cut-out shoe boot, €22.40

Leopard loafter, €20
Diamonte court, €25
Patent fringe loafer, €20

Pointed Chelsea, €22.40
Tassel ankle boot, €25
Snake Chelsea, €14.40

Glitter black boot, €22.40
Quilted hidden wedge in taupe, €25
Croc gold wedge, €22.40

PLUS… four €15 or less bags we couldn't resist

[clockwise] Cross-body buckle bag, €14; Structured lock bag in pink, €15;
Chain cross-body bag in raspberry, €14; Printed clutch in leopard, €14

A Mean Girl? Or Clueless? These €3 socks from Penney are a MUST-buy

Aug 19, 2015

by Amber Saunders

We're having a major love-in with Penneys lately.

Its autumn stock as just landed – and contains a number of key, killer capes, boots, hats and jewellery that we're coveting until pay-day.

But the retailer also does fun and funky accessories rather well – and when we spotted these AMAZING socks, well, let's just say that we'll be stocking up (socking up?) with at least one pair in each design.

Costing just €3, the items feature either a Mean Girls or Clueless motif, and come in a soft pastel hue.

Two relevant catch-phrases – "On Wednesdays we wear pink," and "Ugh as if," also adorn the socks.

And we reckon for an added spring in our step, slipping these on under winter boots would be just as much fun as wearing them around the house.

Off to college? Hurrah! Now, where did you leave the tin-opener…

Aug 18, 2015

by Amber Saunders

You did it: you sat and survived your Leaving Cert – even nabbing a miraculous B1 in Honours Irish in process. You collected your results and held tight until yesterday morning when CAO tallies were released.

In short, you’re now a proper adult; ready and willing to embark on your third-level education.

In fact, you reckon you have a whole host of challenging matters totally sorted: Sixth Year holiday; Debs date; term-time accommodation… not to mention a few mean dance-floor moves.

Still, have you considered the essentials? You know – like things to actually cook food with? Or devices on which to study?

No? Well, at least from next week Aldi is releasing a load of AMAZING kitchen essentials, gadgets and technology items to make the transition to college as hassle free as possible.

On sale from Thursday August 27 (stick the date in your phone), we reckon that a load of returning second, third, and fourth years will be updating their kitchens and their desks too with a few of the bargains.

Mini oven; €27.99

Accessories include baking tray, grill rack and tray handle – available in black, red or white.

Double hot-plate; €29.99

Super handy as it means you can have two pots cooking at once. Comes with an adjustable thermostat.

Table-top fridge; €89.99

This has a 45-litre capacity and an icebox with two fixed door racks with a removable wire shelf. Available in black or white.

One-cup coffee maker; €19.99

Yes! One of our favourites, it features a reusable mesh filter and also includes a stainless steel thermo travel mug with a lid, so you can bring your morning coffee to lectures with you.

Plus…

Kitchen basics, from €1.99

Don’t forget about Aldi’s oven dish (€4.49), colourful wok (€5.99), chip and pizza tray (€3.49) and kitchen tools (€1.99 each) including a slotted turner, spaghetti spoon, masher, ladle or slotted spoon.

Kitchen gadgets, €1.99 each

Get a cheese grater, peeler, pizza cutter, tin opener, garlic press or corkscrew. Available in five colours.

Sandwich box, €2.99 each

Keep your sandwiches and snacks fresh in Aldi boxes – a must-have for anyone on a budget. Available in blue, pink or green.

And away from the kitchen, Aldi also has some handy, great-value gadgets for study…

MEDION AKOYA notebook; €229.99

An ideal budget-buy. It’s lightweight and features Windows 10 Home and Intel HD graphics. It also has a HD display, 32GB of flash memory, and 2GB memory. Then there’s the high-definition audio with two loudspeakers, an integrated webcam and microphone, and up to nine-hours of battery life.

Multi-purpose powerbank; €14.99

The pocket-sized power bank is the perfect accessory for travel or when you know you’ll be out all day and will need to charge your devices at some stage.

Bluetooth headphones; €24.99

High-quality sound on the move! These headphones are nice and light and allow you to stream music and phonecalls wirelessly. Available in four colours.

For all of the above and more to make the transition back to college even easier, head to Aldi on Thursday August 27 while stocks last.