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 So this is basically a quick review of a few skincare & beauty products I have finished over the past few months. I know there isn't a huge amount of makeup but that's because I am continuously buying new products and actually very rarely finish any of them!!!!! Eye Makeup Removers: - I LOVE smokey eyes and lashings of mascara so a good eye makeup remover is essential for me. I think the biphase formulas are much more efficient at removing stubborn liner/mascara so that's what I tend to stick to. So in no particular order these are the ones I have been using over the past couple of months: Garnier Express 2 in 1 Eye Makeup Remover (125ml €4.50 approx, available in pharmacies nationwide) - Fantastic, does the job brilliantly without leaving any greasy residue. Have repurchased this a number of times. Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover All Bright (150ml €5.99 approx, available in Boots) - Another great one. Lifts mascara and liner away easily. Can be slightly oily but because I remove my eye makeup first this isn't a problem. I just bought a new bottle of this but have been reading that they changed the formula so I'm hoping it works aswell as my last one did. Elemis White Flowers Eye & Lip Makeup Remover (125ml €28.80 approx, available on www.feelunique.com.). I actually only had a travel size of this but it was perfect to bring on holidays with me. I try and use waterproof/sweat-proof/heatproof products on holidays to prevent my makeup melting off but they are always harder to remove. However this little bottle made quick work of everything leaving me with no panda eyes in the morning. This is a great one for your skincare routine if you have the budget for it. Vichy Pureté Thermale Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover (150mls €14.99 approx, available in pharmacies nationwide). Another great all rounder. Works on waterproof mascara and doesn't irritate my eyes. That's eye makeup removers sorted so it's on to skin cleansers now. Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm (125ml €29 available in Clinique stockists nationwide). I LOVE this stuff...You just scoop out a small amount warm it between your hands where it changes to an oil and apply all over the face. It melts off all your makeup even mascara. Well worth the price tag and definitely a repurchase for me. Bioderma Micelle Solution (250ml €14.50 approx, available in selected pharmacies nationwide). I can't fault this...it is great at cleansing and removing makeup. But to be honest the Garnier Miceller Water does the exact same job at a fraction of the cost. L'Oreal Skin Perfect 15 Second Miracle Cleansing Oil (150ml €10.50 approx, available in pharmacies nationwide). Another great makeup remover. Two pumps, apply all over the face including lips & lashes and then remove with a damp facecloth. Ta Dah! All signs of makeup are gone. It does contain mineral oil though but to be honest it's not on your skin long enough to cause much damage. Will be repurchasing!!! Next up is Serums: I would highly recommend using a serum...I actually think they are more important than moisturiser. I use a serum to treat my skin problems (in my case dehydration/aging) day & night and don't mind investing a little money in a good quality one. Vichy Idéalia Life Serum (30mls €34.99 approx, available in pharmacies nationwide). This is a nice enough product but to be honest I didn't notice a difference in my complexion after using it. It makes an excellent base for makeup though and feels lovely and moisturising on the skin. I much prefer the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum which is a Holy Grail product for me. Clarins Double Serum (30ml €69.50 approx, available in Clarins stockist nationwide). This was the first serum I ever used and I loved it however I never actually got around to repurchasing it. My skin looked more even and had a lovely glow to it. I think it's just because I am a product junkie that I never got around to buying a second bottle but it is definitely on my list. Lush Ro's Argan Body Conditioner (225g €19.95 available in Lush Dublin). I LOVE this stuff and have already repurchased a new pot. You simply use this like you would use your hair conditioner. Apply to wet skin whilst you are still in shower then rinse off. Once you get out of the shower just pat your skin dry and Ta Dah! you have beautiful soft skin. And it smells AMAZING!!!!. I have a full review of it so just click here (http://makeupbyrubysue.weebly.com/blog/lush-after-lush-ros-argan-body-conditioner). My favourite makeup product would have to be mascara so this is actually one product I do get to finish.
L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara (€11.50 approx available in pharmacies nationwide). This is a fantastic mascara perfect for adding volume without clumping. It is a staple in my personal and professional kit. Lancome Virtuóse Mascara (€27.50 approx, available at Lancome stockist nationwide). I firmly believe that Lancome make the best high end mascaras and always have at least one on the go. This is my all time favourite as it adds volume and a great curl to the last. Definitely will be repurchasing. So that's it...I can finally throw these all in the bin!!!!. Thanks for reading. Until next time....Be Happy!!!! 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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