I have never done one of these "rambly" type of blogs before but I just wanted to give you an update on...well 'me' I suppose. I haven't been writing as much on my blog and my social media has been quiet also but life is just very busy at the moment!!!. So here is a run down on how my new healthy lifestyle is going and the new makeup and skincare products I have been trying out in 2016. Health & Fitness As with most January's I decided I really needed to lose weight but more so I needed to get fit (well fitter than I was anyway). My brother James is getting married at the end of February so that was a great intensive for me to make a start and an obvious first goal. Lucky for me I have a friend who is a qualified personal trainer and she was up for the challenge (I still don't think she has realised how tough it will be!!!!) and so on January 5th I hit up Dunnes and bought some fitness gear, joined the gym and started to eat "clean". I have done every "diet" ever known to human kind over the years including Slimming World, Weight Watchers, Lipotrim, 7 Day Juice Diet & Cambridge however as soon as I fall off the wagon I put back on whatever weight I had lost.... plus some!!! So not wanting to cut out any food group or deprive myself I am doing my own thing from a combination of what I have learnt from my friend Denise (who is a nutritionist - you can find her at www.irishpaleogirl.ie), my new favourite nutrition coach Joe Wicks aka The Body Coach (http://www.thebodycoach.co.uk/) and four brilliant bloggers/snapchatters - Ursula @momfitnessdiary, Tara Farrell @tara_makeup (Tara Farrell Makeup), Rosemary @rosemarymaccabe & Sharon @sharonleavy (Behind Green Eyes). These 4 ladies post healthy homecook recipes & fitness inspiration on their snapchat, Instagram & blogs so check them out. Preparation is key - It's all about being prepared - have your ingredients bought and stored at home, prep your meals in advance and give yourself some "you time" to plan & cook your meals. Breakfast tends to be a smoothie, overnight oats or eggs, lunch is homemade soup or leftovers and dinner will be whatever I fancy!!! I love meatballs, stews, bacon & cabbage, Shepard's pie, chicken...I honestly don't think I have ever cooked as much and surprisingly have been really enjoying it. I try not to use anything from a packet, jar or tin, I read the labels on all my food and am making a huge effort to eliminate added sugar from my diet (which is so frickin hard). And I try (but don't always succeed) to have protein, a healthy fat and loads of greens with my meals and after a workout throw in some form of healthy carb. Now I didn't weigh myself at the start of all this because I become OBSESSED with the scales - Joe Wicks calls it the sad step and I agree with him. I would start to weigh myself every day and if I didn't see a loss or god forbid I had an increase I would get upset and end up eating my body weight in chocolate (I am an emotional eater!!). So I can't tell you how much I have lost but I am down a dress size and all my clothes are fitting much better - I can even pull down my jeans and work trousers without opening the buttons :)....However my obsession with the scales hasn't gone away - I do know what I weighed before Christmas and I am going to weigh myself at the end of this month so hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised. So I'm a full month in and things are going really well on my health kick. I try and do some form of exercise at least five days a week and usually do a mix of walking/jogging, cardio, circuits & weights. The eating is going well too - I plan ahead and have my meals sorted and as for the demon drink - well I pretty much has a dry January except for one cheat - I had a friends 30th on the last day of Jan so we had an India and drinks but I'm having a quiet few weeks before the wedding so that's all a huge help. And as I type this my bestest sister-in-law just text to say she got me Roz Purcell's Natural Born Feeder cookbook!!!! EEEKKKK I'm so excited. Skincare & Makeup I haven't bought a huge amount this month even though I was in Dublin last week but what I did buy cost me a fortune!!!! I'm not going to do a full review on these products yet as I haven't been using them long enough but I just wanted to give you an overview. If you are a regular reader then you will know I'm into my skincare products and research as much as I can before buying something. So the first product wasn't an impulse purchase and trust me I thought long and hard before handing over my hard earned cash. Its the Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil. This costs a whopping €105 for 30mls but it's supposed to be the bomb!!!. It is a Retinol product which promises to "reduce pore size, improve appearance of damaged skin and helps fight wrinkles". It would want to work for that price!!!! Next up is the REN Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial (€38 for 75mls). I have read so many good things about this mask over the past few months so had to include it on my never ending shopping list. This mask contains water activated Vitamin C and claims to "instantly revitalize and visibly rejuvenate the skin leaving it looking firm, toned and smooth while reducing the signs of fatigue, photo ageing and skin imperfections". And lastly from my skincare haul is the No7 Beautiful Skin Hydrating Mask (€17.50 for 100mls). I got this at the start of January for my poor winter battered skin. This gives skin an intense moisture boost and with the way my skin drinks it up its badly needed. Keep an eye out for a full review shortly. I haven't bought a huge amount of makeup mainly because I've wore feck all in January. No point when you are just going to sweat it off in the gym!. But I couldn't leave Brown Thomas without nothing :). First up is the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (€45 for 30mls). Again this has been on my shopping list for a long time. I actually tried the Nars All Day Luminous Foundation first but it was far too drying on my skin. Now the lovely girl that was applying it did tell me they recommended it more for oily/combination skin so it was a definite no from me. I moved on to the next one on my list which happened to be the Armani Luminous Silk. Now the counter assistant wasn't the friendliest of ladies but she did colour match me to shade 4.5 which is actually pretty good. I have been wearing this for the past week at work and been loving it so far. Next up is the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Sandglow (€30). I love cream eyeshadows but alot of them then to crease quite quickly so after reading rave reviews about these one I picked up this beautiful bronze shade. It has a lovely gold shimmer through it and lasts for hours. And lastly I picked up two MAC items during the month - MAC Hot Gossip Cremesheen Lipstick €20 and MAC Cork Eyeshadow €10. Hot Gossip is a beautiful Pinky Plum colour and one I think will be perfect for alot of my brides who want a little more colour for their wedding day. And Cork eyeshadow is a muted golden brown and a perfect transition shade for blending out darker colours. Two lovely additions to my kit. So I think that's all I have to tell you. I hope you liked my little rambly blog and please keep your fingers crossed I stayed on the "health buzz" wagon.
Thanks for reading. Susie xxx
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Hey guys Happy New Year to you. I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas. Today's blog is going to be my 2015 Makeup Favourites. Some are new products for me and some are old favourites that I keep going back to time & time again. But they are all ones that I have used and loved the most. Primer has pretty much stayed the same since I discovered this product. It's the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer and I use it both on myself and in my professional kit. It is a lightweight creamy gel that leaves skin with a beautiful radiant appearance. Lovely to use on its own for "no makeup" days or perfect under your foundation to help it last longer. There are two foundations which have really stood out for me this year and the first one is the Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation. This has firmly become my everyday go to base. It evens out my complexion and hide any redness around my nose whilst lasting brilliantly throughout the day. Amazing budget foundation. For something with a little more coverage I have been loving the Clarins Everlasting Foundation. I am a loyal Estee Lauder Double Wear user however this has definitely taken over from it. It feels really light on your skin but still has great high coverage with a beautiful finish. No caking in sight!!!! I know I have raved about this concealer on loads of occasions but it really is my favourite go to. It's the Maybelline The Eraser Eye and is my most used and most loved concealer. It doesn't crease or sit in my fine lines and manages to cover most of my dark circles...Sure what else could you want!!!! The Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer wasn't an instant WOW product for me but after seeing so many people rave about it I decided to give it a 2nd chance. And boy am I glad I did. It is now a firm favourite in my makeup bag. I use it on days I need extra coverage for dark circles or for any blemishes I may have.This stuff doesn't budge...brilliant concealer. So to hold my foundations in place and prevent shine I still go back to the Rimmel Lasting Perfection Powder. It adds a little extra coverage and stays in place for the day. My favourite bronzer is an old favourite. It's the Soap and Glory Solar Powder. This has two shades...the darker shade is a matte bronze and the lighter shade has a lovely golden shimmer. I love using this with a big fluffy brush to warm up my complexion. It adds a lovely glow without being too shimmery.... Outstanding blush has to be the Max Factor Creme Puff Blushes...I have about four of these and am a massive fan. They apply beautifully to the skin, the pigmentation is great and it blends really well. To contour I love the Sleek Face Form palette. This contour colour is the perfect shade for me and is totally matte. I also love the blush and highlight that comes with this. It's just a great all rounder palette. Highlighter will be no surprise as it has taken the world by storm this year. It's The Balm Mary Loumanizer. This is the perfect glowy champagne colour. I always use an eye primer and this is another product that hasn't changed over the past twelve months. I apply a thin layer of the MAC Painterly Paint Pot all over my lid to even any discolouration and to hold my shadow in place all day. This year I have been loving cream eyeshadows and my favourite has been the Max Factor Colour Excess in Bronze. It 's super simple to use, adds a lovely wash of colour all over the eye and is perfect for a quick makeup look. It lasts all day and can be used on it's own or as a base for powder shadows. A new discovery for me this year has been the Makeup Geek eyeshadows. I have about 6 shades but now that they are more easily available on Beautybay.com I will definitely be adding more to my collection.They blend really well, have great pigment with very little fall out. My favourite shade is this beautiful rich cranberry called Burlesque. My 2015 favourite eyeshadow palette will be no surprise to my regular readers...It's the Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita palette. This is basically my go to perfect palette. I love the colours, the shadows are buttery soft and blend like a dream and even the packaging is gorgeous. If I was stuck on a desert island and could only have one makeup product it would definitely be mascara. And I am totally in love with these two. First up is the Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara. This gives great volume and curl without looking clumpy. The perfect everyday mascara. And for a more dramatic look I love the Lancome Grandiose. It gives great volume, separation and a fab long lasting curl without any of that nasty flakiness... Another cult favourite which has been massive this year is the Inglot No. 77 Gel liner. This glides on easily and once it sets it will NOT budge!!! My go to pencil eyeliner has to be MAC Teddy. This is a silky smooth bronze that glides on easily. It's not as harsh as black so great for day wear. Eyebrows are still "big" this season and my favourite product has to be the Eylure Brow Palette. It comes in 3 shades Blonde, Medium Brown & Dark Brown and each palette contains a powder colour, gel colour & a matte brow highlight shade. Its super easy to apply and very long lasting. Basically fool proof!!! I have fallen in love with lip pencils this year and often use them on their own with just a bit of gloss for colour. It was hard to choose just one favourite but when I actually thought about it the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk is the one I reach for the most. This is the perfect nude pencil and is great for adding shape & definition to your lips. Honorable mention has to go to the Essence & Catrice lip pencils. I must own every shade of the NYX Butter Glosses. These are just brilliant. They are well pigmented, creamy and so comfortable to wear on the lips. Brilliant budget buy. MAC Creme Cup has to be my favourite nude lipstick both personally and for professional use. This is a beautiful light pink with a blue undertone (so it makes your teeth look whiter!!!). And as with most MAC lipsticks its very comfortable to wear. My go to darker lip colour has to be the Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick in Divine Wine. This applies nice and creamy and then dries to a comfortable matte finish. The pigmentation is incredible and it wears really well without going patchy. I love makeup brushes and sponges so of course had to give a mention to my favourite tools. First up is the Cailyn O WOW Foundation Brush. This looks strange and takes a bit of getting used to but it makes applying your foundation really easy. Next up is the Blank Canvas F15. This is the most versatile brush I own. I use it to set my concealer and for contour because it has a great tapered head and for blush & highlight because it is super soft and blends the products so easily. I have about four of them for my professional kit. Amazing brush. And lastly...it's the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. This makes applying foundation & concealer super simple and gives a beautiful airbrush effect to the skin. So that's it...My 2015 favourites!!!!
What have your been loving over the past 12 months? Let me know in the comments below or pop over and say hi on Facebook/Instagram or Snapchat (you will find me at makeupbyrubysue) Thanks for reading guys!!! Susie xxx So it was my birthday last month and I got lots of vouchers!!!! I never used to like vouchers....Always thought they were kind of a "lazy" present however of late I have been loving them. Letting a few build up, making a shopping list and then hitting off for the day!!!!! Oh the excitement..... So this is what I got last weekend in Galway...Apart from 2 pairs of tights, a portable phone charger and a pair of slipper socks everything else was skincare or makeup.... Oh and this is goin' to be a very picture heavy post :) Brown Thomas: YSL Luxurious Mascara for Instant False Lash Effect €32.50. This came as a gift set with a mini Top Secret Eye Makeup Remover and Instant Moisture Glow (no extra cost). MAC 217 Blending Brush €26 (My all time favourite blending brush) MAC Brush Cleaner €15.50 MAC Lipsticks in Brave & Diva II €20 each MAC Pro Long Wear Concealer NW20 €23 MAC Eyeshadow (pans) Sketch, Handwritten, Trax, Quarry, Jest, Embark €10 each Then I popped into Cara Pharmacy Cara Pharmacy: Cocoa Brown Deluxe Double Sided Pink Velvet Tanning Mitt €5.95 Cocoa Brown Lovely Legs €7.99 Ardell Natural Demi Wispies €4.95 And finally a mix of Penny's, Boots & McSharry's Pharmacy. Penny's, Boots & McSharry's Pharmacy Slipper Socks €3.95 Tights €3.00 each Mega Power Bank €9.00 Lip Pencils €1.50 each Essence I Love Extreme Volume Mascara Waterproof €3.49 Essence Make Me Brow €3.00 (I think!!!!) Indeed Hydraluron Moisture Booster €21.99 I'm off to the Professional Beauty Show in Dublin's RDS this Sunday. I was lucky enough to be invited to a champagne reception by TanOrganic and I hope to catch up with a few of my blogger peeps - Erin from Chasing Ruby Chats (http://chasingrubieschasingpearl.blogspot.ie/), Jen from Too Dolly (http://toodollymakeup.blogspot.ie/) and Charlene from Charlene Flanagan Makeup (http://www.charleneflanaganmakeup.com/)
I will be snapping as much as I can so make sure to follow me @makeupbyrubysue to see what I get up too. Hope you enjoy this... Until next time....Be Happy! Susie xxx I love these type of blogs mainly because I'm really nosy!!! I love knowing what people carry around in their bags so I though maybe you would like to know what I have in mine . My handbag is filled with all the knickknacks that I need on a daily basis and I just couldn't manage without it. Also, I think the contents of someones bag says alot about them!!!! And looking at mine.... I think it says I'm a little bit of a makeup addict - but then again you all knew that anyway!!! So my bag of choice is a Michael Kors Jet Set Top Zip Saffiano Leather Tote. (A massive thanks to my gorgeous husband for buying it for me). So Ya I carry alot of stuff around with me but I just wanna be prepared for any situation that may arise. I'm a little bit of a freak like that but I hate being out and about and needing a hair bobbin or safety pin and not having it so I pack EVERYTHING into my handbag (hense why it's so fricken heavy!!!) My purse - it's a simple black Michael Kors. Perfect size. Has a zip compartment for change, large slot for notes and plenty of little slots for cards etc. Car Keys, iPhone & Charger - Yes my iPhone has sellotape on it...I keep dropping it and the screen has completely detached itself from the rest of the phone. I'm due an upgrade soon so I just have to wait a few more weeks!!!! I always carry a charger because any of you who own an iPhone know the battery life is just terrible. If you use it for any length of time at all it will just die. And that is not good news especially for a blogger (and self confessed phone addict). Tampons, Pads, Hand Sanitizer & Wet Wipes - a must have in every girls handbag. I love the Soap & Glory Hand Sanitizer cause it smells lovely and doesn't leave your hands sticky. I go through packets and packets of wet wipes because I'm always swatching makeup on the back of my hands so I need to have something to remove it. Otherwise I manage to get it all over my clothes (especially when I am wearing white!!!). Hair Bobbins, Gum, Breath Spray, Nail File & Safety Pins - more must haves that don't take up much room and are easy to carry around. How cute is the breath spray. It's by a brand called Hello and I just loved the packaging. Diary, Pens, Business Cards & Beutifi.com Voucher - My diary was a Christmas present & I love it. It has a weekly planner on one side and a notes section on the other. Pens are just a random selection mostly from work. My business card holder was a gift from my lovely friend Lorraine and I think it's super cute. The Beutifi.com voucher I got at our last ITWBN meetup but haven't had a chance to use it yet. I love the idea behind this website - it lets you "search, browse & book 1000's of salons & freelance beauty professional near you" all with the click of a button. Brilliant if you are travelling to a strange town for a wedding or event and don't know the local salons. Saves alot of time and hassle. Roscommon Rose of Tralee Gala Ball Tickets - Cannot wait for this event in April. I am chairperson of our local festival here in Castlerea and every year we put forward a young lady for the Roscommon Rose of Tralee Selection. We get all dressed up and enjoy a fabulous night out. La Roche Posay Badge - This I received a few weeks ago after completing my LRP General Training. I just have to put it on my uniform. Supplements/Tablets - I am currently taking CoQ30 for energy and Chromium which is supposed to reduce sugar craving. I always carry some form of painkiller (ibuprofen/paracetamol), Motilium for an upset tummy and I have Otrivine Nasal spray for a blocked nose. So nothing really exciting on the drugs front. Random selection of lip products - God I really am addicted to lip products. How many lipsticks/glosses/balms can one girl need in her handbag? Anyway from left to right are L'Oreal Nude Collection Privee by Julianne (lovely peachy nude), NYX Lipstick in Tea Rose, Clarins Balm Perfector in Coral, Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in Stoned Rose, NYX Butter Gloss in Truffle and finally Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in Honey. My Makeup Bag - More lip products!!!! Hahahaha I'm very bad but I do have other essential items in here aswell. The bag itself is just a little IsaDora bag I received as a gift. It's the perfect size for my handbag and is easily wipe clean. It's contents are as follows: Dove Deodorant - Hate being sweaty! Bourjois Healthy Mix Pressed Powder - This is a great compact as it is really slim and has a big mirror. Nivea Lip Butter - Blueberry (I actually have all the flavours but keep losing them) MAC Select Cover Up Concealer in NW20 - Great coverage without looking too heavy. IsaDora All Day Long Last Mascara* - Black (sample size) Hair Grips The Body Shop Coconut Hand Cream - This just smells AMAZING Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Liner in Pillow Talk - Perfect Nude shade IsaDora Powder Brush* Vichy Aqualia Thermal Lip Balm Dior Lip Glow & Dior Lip Balm - There is nothing worse than having chapped sore lips so that's why I always carry at least 3 different lip balms with me. And finally Perfume - I decant into this handy Travalo which is the perfect handbag/travel size.Currently inside is one of my all time favourite perfumes Chanel Chance. Jeez I can fit quite alot into a small bag!!!!!! And that's it. Do you think I am mad for hauling all of this stuff around?
Or what else do you think I should add? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading. As always....Be Happy Susie xxx Well January has come and gone and I really don't know where it went to. It's not my favourite month so I am glad to see the back of it to be honest. For my January favourites I have some brilliant new skincare that has made a huge difference to my freckly little face, a gorgeous perfume that I am slightly addicted to and I rediscovered some amazing beauty products. So stay tuned!!!! If you are a regular reader of my blog or Facebook page then you will know I got not one but two bottles of Jo Malone's Peony & Blush Cologne for Christmas. Well I decided to return one of them in exchange for a different fragrance and after what seemed like an eternity I finally decided on Blackberry & Bay. Jo Malone describes Blackberry & Bay as: Childhood memories of blackberry picking...A burst of deep, tart blackberry juice, blending with the freshness of just-gathered bay and brambly woods. Vibrant and verdant. Blah Blah Blah...To me it smells beautifully fresh & citrusy... my idea of spring in a bottle. Jo Malone is available in Brown Thomas and with prices starting from about €50. This little bottle has hands down been the best purchase I have ever made. It has made such a massive difference to my skin and I don't know why I didn't buy it sooner. It is ladies and gentlemen the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner. This isn't like your old toner...NO...the new generator of toner are designed to exfoliate, even skin texture, tighten pores and brighten the skin. It works by using acids (calm down they won't damage your skin) to exfoliate and encourage cell renewal. This brightens the complexion and also helps fight against wrinkles. I use it at night, let it dry and then apply my night cream. It costs €31 so a little on the pricey side but if you suffer from breakouts, uneven skintone, large pores or are worried about aging skin then this is the product for you. I got the Vichy Idéalia Eye at a training day I attended back in October and as I had just finished my NeoStrata Eye Treatment it was perfect timing. My two main eye concerns are dark undereye circles and the demon fine lines have started to creep in so I couldn't wait to start this. It contains illuminators to instantly brighten the area and a load of ingredients to help reduce dark circles plus a load more to smooth out the fine lines. And I have to say it actually does work. After about 2 weeks I noticed my skin was more hydrated and my dark circles seem a lot less noticeable. Result. There is still loads in the tube so even though it costs €28 you will have it for months. I have had this MAC Creamblush in LadyBlush for ages but it got pushed to the back of the drawer and I forgot about it. That was until Tanya Burr used it in a recent tutorial and I dug it back out. And I am so glad I did. This is basically a "healthy glow" in a pot. It is a beautiful warm neutral coral shade and is so easy to blend. This will definitely be a staple in my makeup bag for the spring. Another rediscovery is the Vichy Dermablend powder. I have this in my kit but for everyday I use the Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder. However I dug this little pot of translucent powder back out and it is now firmly back in my daily routine. Don't be afraid of the colour as it sets completely clear on the skin and it just makes your makeup last the whole day. It costs €20 but will last you forever. And last but not least it the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. Again I have had this forever but since I got my Blank Canvas F20 it kinda got pushed to the back of my drawer. This just blends your foundation perfectly and gives a fabulous airbrush finish to the skin. You can build up coverage, use it to apply concealer and cream blush and basically it is a brilliant all rounder. Available from pharmacies nationwide €6.
Ok here is part 2 of my long overdue makeup brush series. These are my eye & concealer brushes. I know it might look like there are alot but I will explain each one to you. First up is my all time favourite blending brushes. On the left is the Blank Canvas E26 and on the right is MAC 217. These are the exact same brush as far as I am concerned. The only difference is the price. The Blank Canvas brush is €6.99 whilst the MAC one is €25. Wow!!! I use these brushes every day. They are perfect for running a wash of colour all over the eye but are also brilliant for applying colour to the crease area. Super soft and fluffy these take all the hard work out of blending. Next up is another MAC brush (on the right). The 239 is the perfect size for packing shadow on the lid or blending colour underneath the eye. I have had this brush for years (it was one of my first MAC brushes) and use it daily. It washes really well and keeps it's it shape perfectly. It is €28 so a little on the pricey side. (A more affordable equivalent is the Blank Canvas E35 which is €6.99) Beside the 239 is the Mint Brush 20 Blending Brush. Mint brushes were created by one of my all time favourite makeup artist Eman. I have followed her videos on Youtube for years and she is one of the main reasons I decided to train as a makeup artist. (https://www.youtube.com/user/makeupbyeman). Anyway the Mint Brush 20 is brush is perfect for applying eyeshadow in your crease area and is so soft it blends the shadow out perfectly. It has a pointed tip which allows you to achieve great precision with shadow application. I also use this brush for applying highlight to the inner corner of the eye and along my check bones. It is available from http://www.mintbrushes.com for $15. These next three brushes have been in my makeup bag pretty much since I started to use makeup. I cannot remember where I bought them and the names have long worn off the handles. On the left is my spoolie. I use this for brushing through my brows before applying any product and again after to keep my brows looking as natural as possible. In the centre in my pencil brush which I use for smudging shadow & liner and on the right is a small angled brush perfect for apply gel liner or shadow along the lashline/waterline. You will pick up similar brushes from any good brush company. This is my big fluffy MAC 224 tapered blending brush. This is a great brush for beginners as it is brilliant for blending out shadows and fits perfectly into the crease. It is available from Brown Thomas for €32.50 And last but not least are two eyeshadow brushes but I actually use them for concealer. The brush on the left was just a generic blending brush I picked up in my local pharmacy for €6. It blends out concealer perfectly leaving you with a beautiful airbrushed finish. On the right is the Real Techniques Dome Shadow Brush. This is brilliant for getting into the inner corner of my eye where it is the darkest. I push/press on my concealer for better coverage. You can pick up all the Real Techniques Brushes from pharmacies nationwide. And that's it. My essential makeup brushes.
If you are just starting out I would recommend the Real Techniques brushes and the Blank Canvas Cosmetic Brushes. Both companies make fantastic quality brushes and very affordable. You will pick up the Real Techniques brushes in pharmacies nationwide or on http://iherb.com (best value) and Blank Canvas from http://blankcanvascosmetics.com. What are your favourite brushes? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time...Be Happy!!! Susie xxx Obviously as the season's change so should your makeup. So here is a few of my favorite things for summer. For lips I love bright colours. I have two favourite go to products. Firstly is the Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayons. I love these glossy pencils as they glide on really smoothly and are incredibly pigmented. My two favourite shades are Fuchsia Libre which is a bright pink and Peach on the Beach which is a beautiful pinky/peach that is just perfect for summer. They have SPF 15 and have a beautiful glossy lightweight finish. They are availble in six shades from pharmacies nationwide and cost €9.49 My other favourite lippy product for summer is Revlon Lip Butter. They look like a lipstick but feel like a balm and contain mango, Shea and Coconut butter - all the good stuff for hydrating your lips. On the lip they feel light and moisturising and are available in a huge amount of shades. I have three favourites. Macaroon is a neutral mid dark pink shade that would suit every skin tone. Peach Parfait is a beautiful peach shade with a little glitter. And Strawberry Shortcake is a cotton candy pink. It just screams sunshine. They are available nationwide and retail approx €10 I have mentioned this blush before in a previous blog but I had forgot all about it until I done a recent clean out. This is a lovely Rose Gold blush. It has a very light shimmer going through it and gives you a beautiful pinky/bronze finish. Beautiful!!! I have two go to foundations for summer. My old reliable is Bourjois Happy Light Foundation. Again I have blogged about this before. It just leaves you with beautiful dewy skin. MAC Face & Body is a cult product with a lot of makeup artists. However I could never get used to it as it is quite a watery product which made it difficult to work with and I always found it to be very light coverage. But after trying it again recently I have fallen in love with it. As the name suggests you can use it all over the face & body as it is waterproof and has great staying power. You need to buff it well into the skin and you can build up the coverage from sheer to medium. It feels lightweight on the skin and leaves you with a beautiful dewy finish. It is perfect for normal to dry skin. I have had the original Urban Decay Naked palette in my kit for over a year now and it still remains one of my favourite shadow palettes. This contains a brilliant selection of warm neutrals that will bring you from day wear right through to night. The two matte shades Buck & Naked are perfect for blending into your crease, Virgin is a beautiful highlight shade and they rest of the colours can be mixed to use in what ever way you want. I think it is approx €42 and I promise if you buy any one of the 3 different Naked palettes you won't be disappointed. Clinique Chubby Stick Tint for eyes is another rediscovery for me. I bought this ages ago but never got around to using it. I have the shade Pink & Plenty which is a beautiful rose gold shade and can but used on its own for a soft wash of colour over the eye or as a base for powder eyeshadows. This is new to me also. I have always just filled in my brows with a matte brown shadow but this is a handy product to have when you're in a hurry. Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara is available in 3 shades Blonde, Medium Brown & Dark Brown. They all look natural and add great definition to your brows. It is available nationwide for €7.49 This is an old favourite but I still love it. L'Oreal mascaras are great and this has a beautiful curved brush with gives great curl and volume to your lashes. I love this new product from Rimmel. I have tried the light shade and loved it so was dying to try the medium colour. This instant tan promises to smooth, soften, moisturise, even skin tone, create a healthy glow, cover, perfect and last up to 24 hours. It is kind of like apply foundation to your legs and leaves a flattering velvet finish with a slight glow on the skin. It also makes the skin look lovely and even. And that's it....my staples for summer.
Hope you enjoyed the read Until next time...Be Happy!!! Susie xxx So my sister pointed out that I never give a product a bad review on here. Generally I only blog about product I think deserve mentioning but sometimes I do come across products that are rubbish or just aren't worth the hype that they get. So in the interest of keeping things fair (and of course it might potentially save one of you money ) I am going to do a regular blog on products I have been disappointed with. Now bare in mind that just because I didn't like the products or that it didn't work for me personally, it doesn't necessarily mean that you won't like it either. I will explain why I didn't like the product so it might help you figure out wither it will work for you or not. So here goes!!! 1. Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream - This has a very watery texture which provides very little coverage. It left a greasy sheen on my face after wearing it for only a short time despite it being oil free. It's just not all its cracked up to be. Didn't work for me at all.... 2. L'Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation - I had great hopes for this makeup. It applied well and I loved it at first however after about 2 hours it left my skin looking very shiny and after 3 hours it had completely disappeared. 3. L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream- This just makes you look orange. It starts off a a white cream and is supposed to blend to match your skin tone. However unless you want to look tangoed I'd stay well clear. Oh and it applies like cement! 4. L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau de Teint Foundation - I done a full review on this when it first came out. It's very light coverage and its very watery and me and it just don't get on. 1. Clinique Chubby Stick Lip Mega Melon - Not great colour payoff, didn't last very long and I may aswell have bought a chapstick especially for the price. 2. Rimmel Apocalips Nude Eclispe - Blah is the only word that comes to mind. I love the Apocalips range but there isn't a huge colour selection and this is the only nude shade. Its not a great nude far too beige on the lips. 3. Bourjois Effect 3D Max Lip Gloss - I didn't mind the actual lipgloss. It was the applicator that makes this awful. It is shaped like a spatula therefore making it imposible to apply with any precision and either trowels it on or scrapes it off. Benefit Erase Paste - I loved this at first as it covered my dark circles really well and brightened up my undereye area however like a huge amount of undereye concealers it just enhanced my fine lines and settled into creases. I was expecting perfection for the price but it just wasn't to be. Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Mascara - I had read such great things about this mascara and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. However it flakes like crazy, the brush is too big to get smaller lashes and it dries out really quickly. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Petticoat- This is just too shiny on the skin. It is far to pink to use as a highlight and is too glittery to use as a blush. I do love the Mineralize Soft & Gentle though L'Oreal Skin Perfection Serum - This didn't improve my skin pigmentation or tone. I only bought it because the gorgeous Cheryl Cole was promoting it and I really should have known better than to let advertising influence me. It did sink straight into my skin and left it feeling soft but didn't make any difference to my pores or skin texture. ROC Gentle Exfoliating Cream - Well I know it's for sensitive skin but jeeze you might aswell be rubbing cream into your skin. It didn't do anything for me and there are alot better exfoliators on the market L'Oreal Luminize Moisturising Day Cream - This just didn't do anything for me. It is a beautiful cream which left my skin really soft and I was hoping for a dewy glow as promised by the packaging but I was left disappointed. I just think you can get better day moisturisers for the money. St. Tropez Gradual Tan - At first the smell is bearable but after a few hours the dreaded fake tan odour kicks in. Then the colour payoff isn't great either. It remained very light even after 3 applications. It just wasn't worth the money. So now Breda (that's my sister) there you go a whole load of bad reviews for you. I hope it makes you happy :) After reading back over it poor old L'Oreal have got terrible abuse but I do love alot of L'Oreal products (just not the ones mentioned above). I hope you found this somewhat helpful. And if you have any questions about a product (even if I have never mentioned it in a blog) just message me or contact me on my Facebook page. Until next time....As always.... Be Happy!!! Sue xxx
I can't believe that January is over already. It flew (well for me anyway). I tried loads of new products in January (mostly due to the fact I got loads of beauty stuff for Christmas) so with that in mind here are my January Beauty Favourites. Olay Regenerist 3 Point Cleansing System (RRP €29.99). I am in LOVE with this product. Originally I had wanted a Clarisonic but they cost nearly €150 so I wasn't willing to hand over my hard earned cash and discover that it didn't work for my skin. This products claims to: - Deepy cleans (removes dirt and makeup) - Gently exfoliates (remove dead skin) - It is water resistant - Enables better penetration of your skincare products - Make skin feel instantly cleaner & fresher - Skin texture is improved & smoother with continuous usage It comes with a tube of Olay Regenerist but I use it with my own favourite cleansing wash. I have been using it for over a month and it really has improved the texture of my skin and I haven't had as many blemishes either. It has 2 speeds so if you have sensitive skin you can still use it. I just love it. I will do a full review of it during the week so you can get all the info. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 (RRP €12.50) So as you can tell from above I love the Olay Cleansing Brush - However I might have over done it a little especially on the tops of my cheeks. I over exfoliated and really dried out the skin. Cicaplast Baume B5 is a Repairing Balm which soothes and repairs sensitive or irritated skin. It really is a wonder balm. It is very thick so you only need to use a small amount, warm it slightly between your hands and apply where ever needed. It makes a super primer and leaves my skin soft, supple with a dewy glow I am forever trying to achieve. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Lip (RRP €6.50) Another member of the Cicaplast family is their barrier repairing balm. If you are a regular reader of my blogs you will know I'm obsessed with lipbalm. And this one is amazing. It contains 10% Shea Butter which creates a seal over the lips so repairing can start from deep down and it has an anti-inflammatory soothing effect thanks to the 5% Panthenol. It promises to soothe and nourish the skin & preventing future chapping. So if you have sore chapped lips and nothing seems to work you should really give this a try. Topshop Lipsticks (approx €10) I have only recently discovered Topshop makeup and I'm very impressed. I really like the lipsticks though. They have a great colour range, are a great price and are very moisturising. You can blend them in easily for more staying power or wear them as is. Their range of cream blush are gorgeous also. Trigger is a gorgeous deep red and Innocent is a beautiful "your lips but better" shade. L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution (RRP €6.69) For those of you still using Cleansing wipes (tut tut) this is a great alternative. It dissolves makeup quickly and easily and leaves the skin feeling clean and fresh. You can use it on its own or as a pre-cleanse. It removes all makeup including eye makeup and stubborn lip colour. Just put some on a cotton pad wipe over the entire face Bourjois Happy Light Foundation (RRP €16.99) I discovered this towards the end of 2013 and it has been a stable in my makeup bag ever since. It has a beautiful velvety texture which blends into the skin for a luminous natural finish. Depending on how you apply it the coverage can vary from light to medium and if you lightly powder it will last about 8hrs. Basically this is a brilliant everyday makeup. DIOR Crème de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm (RRP €27.00) I know its a bit expensive for a lip balm but in my defence it was a Christmas present (thanks Tracey). That aside this is a beautiful luxurious nourishing and smoothing lip balm with a delicate rose fragrance. And every time I put it on it feels like a little bit of heaven. MAC Blush Warm Soul (RRP €23) Warm Soul is a natural burnt peach shade and personally I think it should be in every woman's makeup bag. It has a gold shimmer that is very fine and subtle and it just adds a beautiful natural warmth to the face. I am totally in love with it. So thats it for my January Favourites.
I hope you enjoyed them. Let me know what you have been lovin' in January Until next time - Be Happy! Susie xxx So MAC have finally jumped on the bandwagon and are releasing a nude/neutral palette. Well two palettes to be exact. They are launching a cool neutral and a warm neutral in March 2014. There will be 15 shadows in each palette and should retail about €80 which makes it fantastic value (generally a 15 palette case plus the insert would cost you €26.50 and each individual shadow is €12.50 making a grand total of €214.00) Warm Neutral PaletteThe palette's are a mix of new and existing shades and a complete mixture of textures. The colours in the Warm Neutral Palette are as follows:
Cool Neutral PaletteAgain the Cool Neutral palette's has a mix of new and exsisting shades and a complete mixture of finishes. The colours in the Cool Neutral Palette are as follows:
These palettes are made up of a combination of some of MAC's permanent eyeshadows like Brun & Black Tied and of some previous limited editions and some entirely new shades exclusive to the palettes.
At approx €80 each they are alot cheaper than making your own custom palette but double the price of the Urban Decay Naked palettes. They are a permanent fixture and I'm so tempted to buy them when they launch. What do you guys think? Will you be tempted to buy them? Let me know in the comments below. Susie xxx |
AuthorLover of all things beauty, Makeup Artist, Blogger & Wife . I am always on the look out for the perfect makeup or the best beauty product so keep reading to follow my never ending quest! Categories
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