Mascara Collection

Today's post is all about the mascaras that I currently have on the go. From looking at what I use, I have realised I use all high street/drug store brands. I have never been one for high end mascaras, I guess I don't tend to rate mascara as important as some of my other beauty products.

Here is the current selection of mascaras that are making their way into my make up back over the last couple of months.

I have come to find I use them all at different times and depending on what I'm doing. Some are better for day time/office wear, while others are my preferred options for going out. Sometimes I also like to combine two different types. In terms of subtle day wear I personally think the Max Factor Falsh Lash Effect (5th mascara) is the best (which is in complete contrast to what the name suggests). If I have been wearing this Max Factor for the day in work and I want more dramatic eyes for the evening, I bring Rimmell Lash Accelerator with me (last mascara), a layer of this on top of the Max Factor mascara is perfect. When it comes to a more dramatic look for going out on the town, I reach for the Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless (1st mascara). I feel even one layer is sufficient, but two layers makes it even more dramatic.

I have shown all the various wand types below to give you a feel for each mascara.

What mascaras are you currently using?
What brands would you recommend for day time and night time looks?

Summer Series | Holiday Essentials

Okay apologies are in order. There has been a massive delay between my last post and this one. July seemed to pass me by in a flash. Granted it's now August, but until schools are back, it always still feels like summer, so I have the final post in my Summer Series, you can find post one here and post two here.

So the reason my July was so jam-packed was mostly due to holidays. This year I decided to do a series of small trips and as a result my make-up bag needed to stay light. So I'm going to share with you what made the cut.

Since I spent some time travelling around Ireland as well as the UK, airport security was also a factor. Keeping it basic was key (full details of products below).

I made sure to keep it really minimal, I left out things like primer, eye lash curlers, extra brushes, brought no more than one of each type of product.I brought the two essential brushes (and the NAKED palette comes with one), I figured anything else could be blended with fingers. I guess my main piece of advice, even if you think you need everything, there's surely a couple more things you can cut out. I know personally when I'm away on holidays, I just want to spend the minimal amount of time on getting ready as there is so much to go out and enjoy and experience. I even know some days I won't want to wear make up. So I really factor this into my final choices. Essentially a good rule of thumb is: no more than one of anything. I find the biggest thing that will weigh you down is have three different mascaras and five types of lip gloss. Choose the bare essentials and your back will thank you for it, when you don't have to lug it all around from city to city.

I teamed my make up collection with the a couple of nail varnishes (again look for cheats like using the same polish for your base coat and top coat). I kept it bright, summery and simple.

So the running theme is basic and minimal. What are you holiday essentials that you can't live without? Do you pack light or do you pack everything, including the kitchen sink?

Face
Make Up For Ever Face & Body Liquid Make Up (#20)
NARS Creamy Concealer (Custard)
Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Pressed Powder (Pale Yellow)
Bourjois Blush (48 Ashes of Roses)

Brushes
Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
Real Techniques Powder Brush

Eyes
NAKED Palette (No. 1)
Essence Eye Liner Pen (Black)
Maybelline The Rocket Volume Mascara (Waterproof - Black)

Lips
Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer (Big Bang)
Make Up For Ever Rough Artist Natural Lipstick (N22 Pink Peach)

Nails
Essie Top Coat (No Chips Ahead)
Rimmel Salon Pro - Kate Collection (Purple Rain)
Models Own Splash Collection (Pink Paradise)

Summer Series | Nails

So this is post number two in the Summer Series, you can find the first one here. This time I'm looking at nails. Summer is always the perfect time for bright colours of course, but Summer 2013 seems to be all about really bright neon colours. So I think this bright orange is a perfect addition to any summer collection.

This is Barry M's Gelly Nail Paint in the colour Mango. The finish of this nail varnish is great and the colour is so bold. It reminds of Shellac nails in the finish actually. So you get expensive looking nails, without the expensive price tag. I picked this one up on ASOS for €5.29. So it is a really affordable polish. However with the reduced price tag, does come reduction in quality. I find it applies quite streaky and sticky initially and it starts drying quite quickly, so if you're trying to fix an error, you can make a mess of your nails.

However as it is drying, it does tend to smooth itself out. So my nails above are on my first attempt. As I was applying it, I didn't imagine it would turn out so well. So just be patient with it. Of course since this is such a bright colour, be certain to apply a base coat (if this something you would normally skip) since it would be very likely stain your nail. Finally in my experience, it didn't chip until the third day, which for the price, is very good going.

Overall I was impressed with this polish and I think it's a perfect shade for Summer 2013!


Pros: great finish, beautiful colour, bargain price
Cons: need to be patient applying it



Have you tried the Barry M Gelly Nail Paints?
What are some of your favourite shades for summer?

June Favourites

So we're already into July and full swing into Summer, even if the weather only sometimes appears to reflect that here in Ireland. Below I have shared my favourite products for the month of June. They are all compact, small products that feature this month. I guess in the summer time you have less pockets and smaller handbags, it's compact make up's time to shine! For reference I have included the full names and shades of all products at the end of this post.

Hair Care - Tangle Teezer

I have always been a little sceptical of this comb which claims to de-tangle your hair. As someone who bleaches their hair blonde, there are a large number of products I've tried that aren't quite up to the task. A few weeks ago I decided to take the plunge and bought a Tangle Teezer and boy was I proven wrong. I would recommend this to everyone and anyone. I have done a complete flip and am utterly in love with this product. After washing my hair and towel drying, I apply a leave in conditioner/de-tangler spray and then glide this comb through my hair. There are no snags or pulls. Magic! I bought the travel version, so it is great as it comes with a cover to keep the bristles in tact when you're on the move.

Blusher - Bourjois

I am really enjoying this little blusher from Bourjois. I actually got it free when I purchased the Bourjois Foundation mentioned here, which is always nice. I like the simple packaging that matches the shade of the product, making it easy to find in my make up bag. It is a nice bright colour and a little goes a long way!

Corrector - Bobbi Brown

This little product has become a make up bag essential for me, it's so small and compact. It's Bobbi Brown's corrector. It is great for disguising bags under my eyes and just generally brightening up my eyes. I have had it for months, and as you can see I've barely made a dent. So while it is a little pricier than some brands, you really get your value for money in its longevity.


Eye Shadow - Maybelline

This Color Tattoo 24hour shadow is a relatively new edition to my collection. While I haven't heavily tested in terms of staying power as yet, I'm loving it as a neutral shade all over my lids when I'm going for a very natural make up look. It finishes your eyes off without drawing too much attention, I am in love with this shade. I have also used it once or twice a base for other eye shadows, with great effect.

**Star Buy** - Tangle Teezer

Tangle Teeezer - Compact Styler - Gold Rush
Bourjois - Blush - 48 Ashes of Roses
Bobbi Brown - Corrector - Extra Light Bisque
Maybelline - Gel/Cream Eyeshadow - Colour Tattoo 24hour - 35 On and on bronze


What were some of your favourite products in June?
Have you tried any of the above, what do you think of them?

High End Foundation for Dry Skin

So I previously covered a high street (drug store) foundation that is perfect for dry skin, in this blog I'm looking at a high end variety, Bobbi Brown's Moisture Rich Foundation.

After seeing a lot of recommendations for Bobbi Brown foundations, I decided to give them a try myself. I picked this one up in Brown Thomas after consulting with the girl behind the counter and trying it out (which is what I love about buying at make-up counters, you can really try everything out first). In the end I went for the shade Porcelain (0) as I have quite pale skin.

The formula is very runny and I would definitely recommend applying this foundation with a brush as I imagine it would be difficult to apply using your fingers. I use the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and I find it blends it in seamlessly. In my experience a little goes a long way and I can really use the smallest of amounts to get an even, beautiful finish. It is however build-able if you're looking for a little more coverage.

What I definitely love most about this foundation is how moisturising it is. As someone who suffers with normal to dry skin, it is difficult to find a foundation that doesn't ultimately accentuate my dry patches. My skin never feels dried out when I use this product. With a sweep of setting powder, I'm done. I would definitely recommend this foundation to anyone with dry skin.


Pros: Great for dry skin, SPF 15, good medium coverage,  build-able
Cons: In my opinion, the only one is, it is quite expensive (at €38)


What are some of your favourite foundations?

Summer Series | Scent

Okay so the day I decide to start the Summer Series, the day the sun goes missing, but we'll trudge on nonetheless. Over the next few weeks I will be (amongst regular blog posts) releasing the Summer Series posts. Each one will focus on something summery, whether a make-up look, hair style or accessory, they will all be (in my humble opinion) complimentary to Summer!

So to begin with is this fragrance from Paul Smith, Extreme (for women). This is a 30ml bottle and the average retail price is approximately €28, however it is constantly on sale on numerous websites and you can often get it for as a low as €20.

First off the packaging is so colourful and fun, it's a perfect addition to your shelf to bring the summer to life. But what I love most about this fragrance is how light it is. While it is floral, it is quite a subtle scent and definitely not overpowering in the slightest. It is perfectly refreshing for this time of year (maybe even more so with the return of the poor weather, when we need to create our own Summer-time).

Paul Smith describes it as "amber and musk mix with sandalwood and cedar for sensual but feminine undertones". While I don't claim to have that refined a sense of smell, I would definitely find this fragrance to be gentle and feminine. I would definitely recommend it as an everyday perfume for Summer 2013.

Have you tried any of the Paul Smith range before, what do you think?

What are your favourite summer scents?

Light Summer Foundation

Now that we're really getting some great sunshine out there, I thought I would talk about my go-to summertime foundation. It's perfect for summer days whether out on the beach (those couple of days a year when they're packed) or on a shopping trip with the girls. The foundation I am referring to is Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum.

Ok so while it is summer-time , I am still Irish and I am still rather pale. So I use the lighest colour available "51 - Vanille Clair". Which, when you are very pale, it's great they have such light shades as the last thing you want to do is have your face a few shades darker than the rest of you!

This product is available is available in a few places in Ireland, most notably Boots Pharmacy and is approximately €16 to buy. The reason this foundation is a great edition to your summer make-up collection is the finish. A fair warning, it is a low coverage foundation, however the liquid glides on your face and quickly blends in, leaving a soft, natural finish. I know for some higher coverage is important, but I think a low coverage is great for the summer months. It just evens out your skin tone and reduces redness, while leaving you looking very natural. If you pop on some of your favourite mascara, it's very minimal work for a great, fresh summer look.

While it is great for summer time, it is important to be aware there is no SPF in this foundation, so you will need to ensure to have SPF in your moisturiser/primer.

For those of you, like myself, who may suffer from blemishes, you can always make use of one of my May Favourites, Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer. The concealer can just be used in any area you need a little extra attention (including under your eyes).

I have dry skin and I think it is great to fine a foundation that does not dry my skin out. I also find I do not necessarily need powder to set, however for someone with oilier skin, a translucent powder would still offer you the fresh "bare-faced" look.

There is however the disadvantage of this light airy foundation in that you won't get a full day and night out of one application. I find when I have had this product on for approx 8 or 9 hours and I am heading out that evening, I would need to top up as it doesn't have the strong lasting power of some it's higher end counterparts.

Pros for Summer: Natural, lighweight, low coverage, not too expensive, pale shades
Cons for Summer: No SPF, no longevity


Have you tried any Bourjois foundations, what do you think of them?
What are your favourite summer foundations?