My regular readers will know how much I love mascara and I just adore the Lancome range since my days working at the Lancome counter in my first pharmacy job many many moons ago. They are such good quality and I don't mind paying a little extra for them. I picked up their latest offering at Christmas as part of gift set. It came with the mascara (obviously), a travel size Bi Facils (Lancome's amazing eye makeup remover) and a Black Kohl pencil (you can never have too many black kohl pencils) all for €30. Bargain!!! What makes this mascara so different to others is the new "Swan Neck" shaped brush. Lancome claim that "this new application technique will effortlessly create open full and even lashes because the high precision brush can grab lashes close to the root and perfectly fan them out, corner to corner". So what did I think? This mascara grabs EVERY little lash including the annoying inner corner ones so if you have short lashes this is perfect for you. My first few attempts were a little bit fiddly but take your time and get used to the brush. It's easy to coat each lash from root to tip and this formula delivers on its promise of super lifted, fanned out lashes. And after a full day of wear there were no smudging or flaking!! My only critique would be that once you apply a second coat things can get a little messy. My lashes tended to clump a little but nothing a lash comb didn't sort out. Would I repurchase? Yes! I know it's a little bit expensive but in my defense some days my makeup can just consist of concealer and mascara. So when I find a mascara that makes my lashes look long, separated and fanned out I'm going to stick with it. But don't take my word for it....Check out your local Lancome counter and ask the very nice people there to either give you a sample or try it on so you can see for yourself!!! It is available nationwide for €33. So I hope you enjoyed this quick review...If there is anything else you would like me to try out just let me know in the comments below.
Until next time...Be Happy!!! 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 If I could only pick one makeup item to have for the rest of my life then it would have to be a mascara. I LOVE it. Mascara can thicken, define & lengthen your lashes.....It opens up tired eyes in the morning and adds sexy smokiness at night. A must have in every makeup bag. I pretty much buy every new drugstore mascara that comes on the market...some I love some I hate..... I recently grabbed the Bourjois Volume 1 Second Mascara in Ultra Black on one of my many random spending sprees. However when I got home I realised I already had the original one...Booooo!!!! Waste of €12.99. As you can see from the above photo the brushes are exactly the same with the only difference being the Ultra Black has a lot darker pigment. Perfect for those who want the blackest of black lashes. It has a large rubber head with lots of different sized bristles which ensures that every lash is coated from root to tip. One coat is perfect for day-time wear and two coats gives you amazing fanned out thick dark lashes. Because the formula is quite thick any further coats may cause your lashes to clump so just be careful. As you can see from the above photo it does an amazing job of adding length and thickness to my lashes.
However I don't know what it is about this mascara but it won't be making it into my holy grail collection.....I think it's the brush that I just don't love. I mean it's grand but not one I reach for every day and one I won't be repurchasing. But if you love this type of brush then this is a great mascara. It doesn't budge once applied and adds instant volume and length making your eyes pop. Have you tried it? Let me know in the comments below what your favourite mascara is!!! 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 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 I was in my version of heaven last week (Boots in Liffey Valley) but only had a quick half an hour to look around. I needed to get a new eye cream and day moisturiser (that was my excuse for going in - like I would need one though). So what did I buy? Super Facialist by Una Brennan Neroli Firming Super Lift Day Cream SPF 15 RRP €19.49 What attracted me to this cream above all others in the store was the smell. I love Neroli (Bodyshop have a Neroli Jasmin Range and its smells amazing). But upon reading the info on the packaging I decided it would suit me just fine. It's an anti-wrinkle, anti-ageing day cream with Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic Acid hydrates and plumps dry and aging skin. Now I know I'm only 33 but the dreaded little wrinkles and lines are starting to appear and I am a firm believer that prevention is better than cure. And did I mention that I LOVE the smell of it. I actually think I am going to buy the whole Neroli range just simply because of the smell :) Super Facialist by Una Brennan Tea Flower Deep Clean Pore Purifying Clay Mask RRP €10.99 For those of you who read my blog on a regular basic you will know I have problematic skin. I suffer from hormonal breakouts ALOT so a good clay mask is essential. This is the first product I had heard about from the Super Facialist range so I couldn't wait to try it. And at €10.99 it's a bit of a bargain. The mask promises to unclog pores and restore skin balance. I will do a full review on it soon...Im actually wearing it as I type this :) Botanics Radiant Youth Hydrating Eye Cream RRP €13.49 I just finished the Clinique Repairwear eye cream and have to say I was a little disappointed. It didn't make any difference to my eye area and is pretty pricey for something that didn't work. So I had read great things about this eye cream from Botanics. It's a lovely light cream that applies smoothly and I love the tube (I hate sticking my fingers into pots). It says " This hydrating eye cream smoothes the appearance of fine lines and hydrates, with protective ginkgo. Anti-oxidant vitamins help protect for a younger looking eye contour". Well we will see.... L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Excess Black Mascara RRP €16.49 I have a small obsession with mascara and have been very impressed with L'Oreal's mascara's in the past. So after reading a blog where this was mentioned I just had to buy it. It has a rubber brush and the brand's new anti-clump wiper which removes surplus mascara so no overload & no clumps. Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream RRP € 13.99 & Bourjois CC Eye Cream RRP €10.49 I am really getting into the swing of these CC creams. This is my second one in as many weeks. (Must stop buying makeup!). I love all the Bourjois Foundations so said I'd give the new CC cream a go. It is a light coverage cream which evens out your complexion using colour correction pigments. It contains green pigments to cover redness, apricot pigments to cover dark circles and white pigments to brighten. I really hope it works as CC creams are really quick and easy to apply and save me alot of time in the morning. So fingers crossed. The CC Eye Cream comes in a little twist up applicator with a silicone tip. (Not too sure about it though). From just testing it on my hand it looks like a nice creamy concealer. I will do a review on both of them soon for you. Soap and Glory Super-Colour Fabulipstic Collagen Boosting Lipstick in The Missing Pink & Red My Lips RRP €11.50 Firstly I just love the names that Soap and Glory give their products. They always make me smile (People must think I'm mad smiling away to myself whilst looking at makeup). Anyway I was looking for a pinkish nude basically a my lips but better shade and The Missing Pink is just that. Gorgeous everyday colour and really moisturising on. Red My Lips is a funny name for the second lipstick as its in no-way red in colour. It is a beautiful neutral plumish colour. (Check out the photo below as both lipsticks are swatched to give you a better idea of the colour). Both lipsticks apply like a dream, feel gorgeous on the lips and I will definitely be going back for more. Rimmel Colour Rush Balm in Drive Me Nude RRP €7.95. Rimmel are the latest to jump on the "Chubby Stick" lipstick/balm wagon. I think they are a great idea because they are so handy for your handbag, easy to apply and most have a stain quality to them meaning they last on your lips for hours. I have loads of them from Clinique, Bourjois, Revlon and Catrice but wanted to try the Rimmel ones after reading loads of great things about them. I actually didn't have a nude one so chose this beige nude stick. I think there are seven or eight shades in total. As you can see from the photo above it's a lovely creamy deep nude shade great for everyday wear. (It actually comes out a little deeper on the lips so be careful when picking colours). And at only €7.95 I will be stocking up on a few more of the shades. So that's my latest haul.
If you have any questions you would like answered or use any of the products mentioned above and want to let me know what you think of them leave me a comment below. Until next time...As always... 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
Here is a round up of my beauty and makeup favourites from 2013. I tried to keep it to my very favourite products buts its sooo hard to choose!!! I have it broke down into categories to make it a little easier to read...So grab yourselves a cup of tea or a glass of wine and enjoy!!! SkincareClarins Double Serum 30ml (€69.50). I got this at the end of November (because of the start of a massive crater creeping across my forehead) but haven't done a full review on it yet as I like to use a product for a least a month before giving it a full & frank review. It's 27 years in the making and claims to activate the skin's 5 vital functions: nutrition, oxygenation, hydration, regeneration and protection. Basically a skin firming, pore minimizing, wrinkle reducing miracle in a bottle - oh and it evens skin texture also. This is where I have noticed the biggest improvement. My skin tone is alot more even and the GIANT WRINKLE I noticed on my forehead seems to have retracted back into what ever little hole it crawled out of (for now anyway)!!! I use it morning and evening, don't find it greasy and love the smell of it. At €69.50 it is expensive but I will definitely be repurchasing it. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm (€28.00 for 125ml). I love this Balm. It just melts the makeup off your face. You only need a small tiny amount, massage it into your skin and use a warm face cloth to remove all the grime, oil and dirt from your face. Your skin will feel sooooo clean but without feeling tight or stripped. And honestly the pot will last you ages. I also love the Take the Day Off Eye Makeup Remover. Soap & Glory - Clean On Me Shower Gel, The Righteous Body Butter and Breakfast Scrub (€10-€14 & ususally available on 3for2 in Boots) I keep returning to these three products from the Soap & Glory Range for my shower routine. I just love the smell of the Clean on Me Shower Gel and the Righteous Body Butter whilst I just want to eat the Breakfast Scrub. It smells like maple syrup mmmhhhh yummy!!!. MakeupLaura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance 50ml (€36.00) This is a great product. I got it mainly to use for Bridal makeup but I have become addicted to it. Its beautifully moisturising which helps your foundation glide on and last all day without any dry patches showing through. And boy does it make your skin glow. Even with a full coverage foundation like the Estee Lauder Double Wear this stuff leaves your skin looking dewy. If you have oily skin you could just use it on your high points like your cheek bones, temples etc. Estee Lauder Double Wear 30ml (€36.50) This was a new discovery for me this year. Sometimes I love to use a really good full coverage foundation (you know when your skin is mis-behaving) and this ticks all the boxes. It gives full coverage but still looks natural, lasts all day without having to touch up, doesn't cause flash back in photos and basically is a great all rounder. You only need to use a tiny amount and I blend it in with a Real Techniques buffing brush. LOVE!!! Bourjois Happy Light Foundation 30mls (€16.99) I am a big fan of Bourjois Foundations and have used the Healthy Mix Foundation and the Healthy Mix Serum Foundation for years now. The Happy Light Foundation was launched in September it has been a staple 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. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer (€8.99) I am slightly addicted to concealer, I have ones for dark circles, spots, blemishes, highlighting and I buy everything from Bobbi Brown to Collection 2000. My biggest problem is dark undereyes so I am usually looking for a concealer/brightener. EVERY concealer I have tried to date has creased under the eye area and sits in my fine lines (Even the Bobbi Brown creamy concealer which is supposed to be one of the best). Anyhow in my never ending quest I decided to buy the Maybelline Fit Me concealer and low and behold its amazing. It blends like a dream, covers and brighten my dark circles and doesn't sit in my lines. Magic and all for only €8.99 Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (€5.99), Soap & Glory Solar Powder Bronzer (€14) & Benefit Rockateur Blush (€34). If you have been an avid reader of my blogs then you will know I love the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder. It's cheap, does exactly what it supposed to do and a brilliant all rounder. The Soap & Glory Solar Powder Bronzer is a fairly new product to me but its just the perfect colour. Being pale and a red head, it can be very difficult to find a bronzer that doesn't look muddy or dirty. You get two shades, the lighter I use for dusting over my forehead, cheeks and nose for a sunkissed look and the darker shade for contouring. I use this on clients also and the texture and pigment are great and it blends so easily. And finally the newest offering from Benefit. The Rockateur Blush is just a gorgeous Rose Gold blush. It has a very light shimmer going through it and gives you a beautiful pinky/bronze finish. Beautiful!!! Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter (€11) & Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick (€10). These are just two great products. The Revlon Lip Butters are a marriage between a lipstick and a lipbalm and its amazing.They contain hydrating mango, shea and coconut which keep the lip well moisturised throughout the day. They glide onto the lips and leave a sheer to medium buttery shine. Perfect for everyday wear or a laid back evening look as they feel light & creamy and comfortable to talk, eat and drink while wearing. The Soap and Glory Mother Pucker Gloss Pencils are another handy handbag staple. They have a luxurious feel to them and are more like a lipstick/gloss hybrid. They have a creamy formula that glides on and melts into the lips. I have alot of other "chubby stick" type gloss/balms but these feel like a treatment on the lip. Whilst more glossy and hydrating than their competition, they're completely free of any stickiness. And finally..... L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara (€12.85) This is my new favourite mascara. This mascara makes my lashes so dramatic and full of volume. But they are defined, clump free, and so long looking! Seriously, the first time I put it on, I was shocked by how great my lashes looked! So that's it...I hope I haven't bored you all to tears...I will continue my hunt for new and exciting products and keep you all updated on my findings.
If you would like me to try out a product and review it for you just let me know in the comments below or message me on Facebook. Have a brilliant weekend Chat soon Susie xxx Ok guys I went a little mad on the shopping spree but I wanted to get some of my favourite products to giveaway to you so you could try them out. So here goes a full list of what is in the bag:
Thanks to you all for checking out and reading this blog. Best of Luck to you all Susie xxx I popped into town today cause I needed to get a few essentials and of course I had to buy some new makeup. I was really interested to try out the new L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau de Teint foundation (I got it on offer for €7.99 but I think its going to retail at €13.99). It claims to give undetecable coverage, a natural even, shine free look and feels as light and fresh as water. I will do a full review of it during the week after I've wore it for a couple of days. Maybelline expert wear blush in Flash Plum 79 (€7.49). I saw this and thought was a great autumnal colour. Don't be afraid of darker blushers because even though they look severe in the package they can be applied quite sheer. Just apply a small amout to your blush brush and blend well. You can always add more if you want a deeper colour. I've heard great things about the L'Oreal Voluminous mascara (€10.99) so picked one up whilst out. Now as it so happens L'Oreal own Lancome and I think this L'Oreal Voluminous mascara is a great dupe for my all time favourite mascara Lancome's Virtuose. Both have a curved brush which coat the lashes brilliantly without any clumps and really curl the lashes upwards. eeekkkk I think I have found a new favourite mascara and for a third of the price :) Yippee!!!!! Catrice have a great range of colours for Autumn. I picked up this gorgeous plum nail varnish from their huge selection. They are great value at only €2.99 and if you use a good base and top coat they will last you a few days without chipping. They also have a great selection of individual shadows and are right on trend with the metallic shades in their Liquid Metal range. I love this one called "Mauves Like Jagger". Its a beautiful grey/purple shade and will be perfect for the party season. And at only €4.49 you can't go wrong. I also picked up their highlighting powder (€4.99) which gives a beautiful golden luminous glow. Just apply it on the tops of your cheekbones, down the ridge of your nose and on your cupids bow to make these features POP!!! And last but not least I picked up this Cala crease brush. It was only €6 but feels really soft. It's made from 100% natural hairs and is a lovely size. You can use it for applying under eye concealer also as it blends it out nicely leaving no harsh edges. So have you bought anything new lately? Maybe something to update your Autumn makeup collection or have you tried a new foundation that I should know about? Let me know in the comments below or message me on Facebook. Thanks for reading guys :)
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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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