Wet n Wild 'Balm Stain' and 'Silk Finish' Lipstick

I'm a sucker when it comes to affordable makeup brands. So when I hear of a new brand such as this gracing our shores I'm all over it! However it took me a while to actually get my hands on some Wet n Wild products as they don't sell them in my area, so I'm a bit late with the review! Nevertheless, this is the first of three parts. So read on to see how I faired in round one....

I love new lippies! I have a tendency to go for the same colours, but who doesn't need 12 different shades of red, right?! Naturally the first thing I couldn't wait to try were their lipsticks and lip crayons, so I picked up one of each. So lets start with 'Megaslicks Balm Stain':

I went for the colour 'Lady and the Vamp' which is a lovely rich plum colour. As it's in crayon form I don't tend to use a lip pencil to line my lips with this. It's also super handy for touch ups on the go if needed.

It rings in at €3.99 which is very cheap compared to many products like this on the market today. It doesn't require a sharpener as it twists at the bottom to release more product, though this may make it sightly harder to get a clean edge on the lips when the crayon wears down slightly. It claims to be a moisturising lip colour and I absolutely agree with this statement. It glides on the lips with no dragging, is quite pigmented and last very well during the day even through eating and drinking.

The flash has slightly washed out the colour as it is more opaque in real life. I really do like this and definitely will be purchasing it in some different shades.

Next up we have 'Silk Finish Lipstick' in the colour 'Hot Red':

The first thing I noticed about this was how cheap the packaging looked, but I didn't let this put me off! These are only €1.99 and come in a range of shades from nude to pink to red. The colour is more of a true red than the orangey tone shown in the shot. Again I found this glided really easily on to the lips with a lovely colour pay off. I didn't use lip liner and it didn't seem to feather at all throughout the day. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality and longevity of this lipstick! I think I may be picking up a few more shades in this too. And fyi, for those obsessed with strong smells in makeup like myself, it doesn't have that "typical plastic cheap lipstick" smell!:)

(When you put these in your handbag you may want to pop them in a small makeup bag first as the lids aren't that sturdy and you don't wanna be scraping lipstick from the bottom of your favourite River Island tote :) )

Available in Dunnes Stores and selected pharmacies nationwide.

Til next time,

Toodles,

Blank Canvas Cosmetics F20 Flat Buffer Brush

Occasionally while sifting through the world of cosmetics out there, you come across a product that you cannot help but rave about. The F20 brush is one such product!

I picked up this brush over a year ago I think, and haven't put it down since! I had been searching for a brush that would give me a flawless base with minimal effort for those mornings where I was in a hurry. I never liked flat foundation brushes and had been useing a Duo Fibre one. I saw reviews online about the F20 and said I'd give it a go! I literally use this everyday. Even if you aren't used to applying you makeup with a brush, this quite literally does all the work for you. It's bristles are dense synthetic fibres that are perfect for both stippling and buffing.

I've never had such an airbrushed effect from any brush before. I recommend that everyone who does any kind of makeup, be it their own or other peoples, to have it as part of there kit. 

I have lost count of the amount of times clients have complimented how soft this brush is, saying it is like having a face massage while I apply their foundation! This is part of the HD collection on blankcanvascosmetics.com and can be bought in a set or on its own for €13.99. Great price, great quality:)

Til next time,

Toodles,

Sleek Matte Me Lip Cream

Hey hey hey :) So back with another review today. In general I don't like putting up negative reviews, however when I'm reading blogs myself I like to get an honest review. I also had very high hopes for this product.....

So this is Sleeks Matte Me Lip Cream. The blurb from the site reads as follows : 

"Sleek Matte Me is a lipgloss with a smooth matte finish that glides on in one smooth application, with no need for a second coat."

The light as air texture provides you with comfortable wear for hours, that doesn't cake, flake or dry out, ensuring long lasting colour all day."

The colour was the first thing that caught my eye. Lately I have been venturing into the more vibrant colours for lips so this shade was a must have! Also I love the look for a matte lip (provided it doesn't look dried out). Let me show you want the colour looks like when first applied:

The pictures aren't showing quite how vibrant it is on the skin. It's a quite bright, which I love. Unfortunately it's the only thing I love about it. When first applied it wasn't nearly as pigmented as I imagined. I had to build about three layers on to my lips to get it as opaque as I felt it should look. I immediately noticed it felt dry and tight on my lips. I would have taken it off there and then but I was running out the door to a shoot. Needless to say after an hour and two drinks from a water bottle, it had faded greatly and started to flake. I tried to reapply over the remainder but this just made the flaking worse. So off to the bathroom I went, scrubbed off the last, and stuck with Carmex for the rest of the day. It has since gone in the bin! One of my least favourite lip products ever :(  

If you do want to pick this up(!), it's available in Boots priced at €5.99

Till next time,

Toodles,

Reusable silicone mascara wands - a MUST HAVE for every makeup artists kit!

I'm excited to share todays post with you! As a makeup artist, I must use disposable mascara wands on clients for hygiene reasons. I usually pick up the packs in Flair. However I find these cheap looking and basically rubbish for putting mascara on someone. But now, my prayers (to the god of makeup) have been answered! Behold, reusable silicone mascara wands!

I've put the word reusable in italics as this is my favourite part about these. Ordinarily you have to throw out your mascara wands after one go, but these can be easily cleaned with hot water and antibacterial soap making them much more economical. The wands come in various styles. The silicone material also makes it incredibly easy to coat the lashes in comparison to the fluffy crappy wands we're used to! :)

These wands were created by makeup artist Nichola Graham and are available starting at 3.00 for a pack of 20. Trust me, you need these in your kit. :)

Till next time,

Toodles,

L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara

I'll be the first to admit I love nothing more then picking up some new makeup, whether it's repurchasing old favourites, or trying something new. However, I'm never too adventurous when it comes to one product: mascara. 

I usually stick to the cheaper brands (namely Catrice) when it comes to mascara as I feel most are pretty much the same. My lashes are reasonably full (on one eye anyway!) and long enough. I don't feel any super formula or new style of brush is going to really change this!

Earlier this week I was in Boots and the stand for the new L'Oreal Miss Manga mascara caught my eye. I threw caution to the wind and decided to give it a go :) It comes in black, turquoise and purple. I stuck to good old black.

The most interesting thing about this product is the wand. It's their first '360 degree flexible cone shaped brush'. It also contains collagen spheres and a trilogy of polymers for hold and staying power.

So all these claims aside, how did it fair? Well I have to say I really like the shape of this wand. I find it easy to cover all my lashes, even the smallest. However if you are too heavy handed you can end up with spider lashes so tread lightly. With regards to the flexible wand, in my opinion it's pointless. You would need to push the brush quite roughly against your lashes for it to bend at all, so to me it seems like a pointless gimmick. The formula doesn't flake during the day, and it is a deep black colour which I'm happy with. And about it's claim of 'mega volume'... judge for yourself:

Overall I'm not too impressed with this mascara. I mainly only picked it up as it was on sale for 8.99. It's regular price will be 13.49, which I think is more than it's worth. I really don't feel it's that much better than my usual 4.49 one! Although I will use this tube, I won't be repurchasing.

Till next time,

Toodles,

Maybelline's Color Tattoo 24HR Eyeshadow

Over the Christmas I picked up, and received, quite a few makeup bits. Admittedly, I don't ever really need an excuse to buy new makeup, but it's nice to have one anyway...

So although I was a bit slow to pick up these next bad boys, now that I've gotten my hands on them I can't do a makeup look without them! I'm talking about Maybelline's Color Tattoo 24HR Eyeshadow.

I picked up two colours as they were on offer. I chose 'Permanent Taupe' and 'Pink Gold' as I wear a lot of natural colours day to day. 'Permanent Taupe' is a matte taupe (duh) while 'Pink Gold' is a pink toned shimmering gold (again duh). So they do what they say on the tin! Seems good so far.

Immediately I loved the colours, although they don't show up too true on camera with the flash. The 'Pink Gold' isn't quite as shimmery in real life... The flash gave it a bit of an extra kick!

So that's all well and good, but how do they last? They're a dream to apply. I used a fluffy brush to sweep them over my lid and into my crease. I tested these both with eyeshadow over and without. They work beautifully as a base, and my eyeshadow didn't budge at all, all day! I was more wary to try these by themselves as they are cream shadows, however they lasted amazingly well! After about 8 hours they started to slightly crease, however with a little blending of my finger, my eye makeup was good as new!

I'm a huge fan of these, and at €10.49* in Boots I think these are brilliant value as they will last you a long time. I'll definitely be picking up more colours soon.

Until next time,

Toodles,

* I was in Boots today (7th Jan) and these are priced at €7.49, not €10.49 as said on website

Go'wan d Oirish!

You all know my love of ranting about the industry and our woes as poor makeup artists etc. etc. etc. well, for a change I wanted to pay tribute to some of the amazing Irish brands that grace our shores.

These success stories should be enough to keep us buying Irish and encourage us to admire and respect those that excel in this tough industry.

So without further ado and in no particular order here are my fave Oirish brands and the people that continue to make them a success.

How could I not start with NIMA BRUSH. A great Irish brush range created by the lovely Niamh Martin. Now yes, there are a number of Irish brush companies out there but for the most part they are private label brands (nothing wrong with a private label brand of course, quality is usually great but it’s certainly an easy option in terms of creating a brand in this way, we have all done it, believe me, so I know!)

NIMA BRUSH is different. Niamh Martin (www.irisheyesmakeup.ie) has been a good friend of mine for many years now and I know so much about the ridiculous amount of research, testing and adjustments she has made to her brush line in order to bring us a range that is both great quality and fantastically priced.

Niamh has two brush collections currently in her range, the Sunshine Collection and the Elite Collection. And who could forget that amazingly colourful range of brush caddy’s or cylinder’s as they are often called! Available in 5 colours – pink, yellow, teal blue, purple and dark pink. Each cylinder holds about 30 brushes, keeping your brushes neat and secure whilst travelling or working.

Not only all of that, but her website also covers all of the information you could possibly need in terms of brush know how. With sections on how to use the various brushes and a section on how to keep them clean and in turn lasting for years.

It’s very easy to see why NIMA BRUSH has been getting the serious publicity it has since it launched just over a year ago and it really is a credit to Niamh Martin. This truly is Ireland’s Brightest Brush Company!

Available online at: 

www.nimabrush.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/NIMA-Brush/219992084765421

I came across the HUMAN+KIND brand in a pharmacy in Drogheda, or as we like to call them, a good ole chemist! I love that their products are firstly completely natural but also that they are simple! They have an all-in-one anti-ageing cream, an all-in-one day and night cream, all-in-one body oil and an all-in-one family remedy cream.

No chemicals | No colourants | No parabens | No perfume | No animal testing on product and ingredients | No additives

They HUMAN+KIND products are made in Cork and truly are 100% Irish. They were created for women everywhere who are tired of wasting time and money on unnecessary products – simple, superior natural and dependable beauty products that multi-task as much as you do! What a fantastic ethos.

HUMAN+KIND eliminates the need for multiple skincare products to achieve beautiful and healthy skin. Over the decades the beauty industry turned the simple act of cleaning and protecting our skin into multi step, multi skin type, selling unnecessary products, just packaged differently for the same problem.

I have been using (and highly recommending) the All-in-One Family Remedy Cream for quite some time now. This truly is a miracle product. It soothes, heals, relieves and reduces the appearance of a multitude of skin irritations including: Eczema | Psoriasis | minor burns | itching and razor burn | acne | stretch marks and scars | cold and bed sores Nappy rash | Athlete’s foot |insect bites &stings | brittle nails |sunburn | hydrates dry, cracked and sensitive skin. And at a price point of just €22.95 it’s worth every penny!

Uncomplicated products that do exactly what they say on the tin/jar/pot/tube!

http://www.humanandkind.com/where-to-buy/

https://www.facebook.com/humanandkind

ÓGRA restores skin to a youthful state in a natural and effective way.

This is revolutionising skincare at its best. ÓGRA harnesses the natural power of peat through science and technology. Skincare from the rich bogs of Ireland, now you can’t really get much more Oirish than that!

ÓGRA, meaning youth, is Ireland’s only full range of cosmetic products that uses peat as an integral ingredient in its range. (For those of you that don’t know, peat is the main constituent of a wetland known as a bog (peatland). Peat is basically the material that is formed when plant remains partially decompose i.e. the organic soil layer to be found immediately below the vegetation layer of a bog. In its natural state, this peat layer will contain about 90% water and the remainder being dry matter.)

So why is peat good for your skin? Here’s why:

It promotes youthfulness – Peat contains strong anti-oxidants that can combat free radical damage. This free radical damage is generally recognised as the main cause of premature ageing. It also promotes increase collagen production which helps to increase cell re-generation and slow down the ageing process.

For its astringency – It binds together skin tissues giving your skin a smoother look.

It detoxifies – It stimulates the lymphatic system and is therefore a very effective detoxifier. Peat removes dead skin cells, toxins and other impurities from your skin.

It contains natural essential oils – The natural abundance of essential oils, fatty acids and lipoids penetrate into the skin re-establishing the skin’s natural PH balance.

 

What more could you want!

There is a list of products from ÓGRA as long as your arm but my two fave products are:

ÓGRA SKINCARE

ÓGRA Peat Face and Body MaskThis hero product is known for it's rejuvenating properties as well as being used in a facial routine. 

100% peat and priced at €39.95

Cucumber & Orange Toner

This soothing toner with cooling ingredients that include cucumber and orange is perfect to help tighten up the pores after cleansing.

Benefits

Detoxifies and tightens the skin

Calming and anti-inflammatory

Returns natural PH to the skin

You can buy all of these products and more from:

http://www.ograskincare.com

https://www.facebook.com/ograskincare?fref=ts

Lucy Annabella Organics was born in the heartland of Northern Ireland. This is where they formulate, develop and create their entire organic range in the bliss of Co. Tyrone.

Colleen Harte, the founder of Lucy Annabella*, is a Complementary Therapist and Clinical Aromatherapist who had been an organic health enthusiast for along time and lives by the ethos that 'Our health is paramount to our happiness'. In 2011 after travelling all over the world from Ireland, London, Thailand, Australia, Provence, France and beyond in search of knowledge and the finest ingredients and organically dedicated farmers, Colleen felt it had become time for her to actively combine all aspects of her life's loves and purse her passion, to formulate and blend beautifully organic ingredients and share them.

*Lucy Annabella was Colleen's grandfather's fond pet name for her. 'Lucy Annabella' has sentimental attachment and it sits close to Colleen's heart therefore it was the perfect name for her company when she took the leap to share her little pots of magic with the world.

My fave product by far:

Date Night Organic Bath Milk

An organic, aromatic bath milk. The seductive blend of organic Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, Nutmeg, Palmarosa and Mandarin essential oils will invigorate and arouse your senses. This exotic aroma is perfectly accompanied by an exquisite fusion of aromatic soybean, argan and coconut oils.

Priced at £43.00

https://www.lucyannabella.com

https://www.facebook.com/LucyAnnabellaIE

KINVARA SKINCARE

Low maintenance produce that all the family's can use, from Galway. In a nutshell, Kinvara skincare Is Good - Does Good - Feels Good!

My faves:

Kiss Me I'm Irish Lip Balm (10ml) priced at just €4.95

Express your in Irishness & protect your lips with this creamy protective balm. No need for constant application!

http://www.kinvaraskincare.com

https://www.facebook.com/KinvaraSkincare

ORGANIC BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Based on hand-harvested seaweed, Voya strives to bring you the full power of nature in its purest forms throughout their range. A family run business in Strandhill, Co. Sligo which was set up by Neil Walton. As the popularity of the Walton’s Seaweed Baths grew and spread, more and more patrons wondered if there was some way they could replicate the experience in their own homes and so, Voya Beauty Products were born!

VOYA products try to capture something of the sea and bring it to you in as pure a form as possible: whether it be the hand-harvested seaweed in their seaweed baths, renowned for its detoxing and skin moisturising effects; or the rejuvenating and repairing effects of their raw seaweed face mask, rich in minerals and oils from nature; or organic body washes, face creams, soaps and body lotions, which marry the finest organic ingredients, such as shea butter, bee’s wax, Dead Sea salts and pure Aloe Vera, to their own seaweed extracts.

Not only do these ingredients restore and rejuvenate the mind, the careful blend of Essential oils in each product balances the body and soul.

One of my faves:

SILKY BY NATURE Priced at €19.00 for 200ml

Create body and shine as nature intended with their organic shampoo. Infused with the natural purifying properties of wild organic seaweed, Silky By Nature’s vitamin- and mineral-enriched formula will leave hair healthy, shiny and full of vitality. Gentle and all natural, Silky By Nature is suitable for everyday use.

http://www.voya.ie

https://www.facebook.com/pages/VOYA-Organic-Beauty-from-the-Sea/89673660820

BURREN PERFUMERY

It goes without saying (I think) that this company creates their beautiful natural and organic cosmetics by hand from a small facility in the middle of the beautiful Burren!

My fave product:

Spring Harvest Eau de Toilette 100ml Priced at €35

Created to evoke the scents of an armful of wild herbs gathered in the Spring. A fresh, aromatic fragrance with top notes of Mint, Lemonbalm and Fennel.

Formulated without the use of parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, animal derivatives, GMO ingredients or colourants.

http://www.burrenperfumery.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Burren-Perfumery/122051287809210

SEAVITE

Created in 1993 by Patrick Mulrooney, a marine scientist who believed in the healing powers of the sea. He, and his wife Kaye set about bottling the goodness of the sea, and after years of research Patrick combined his in-depth knowledge of marine science and nature to create Seavite-Irelands original organic seaweed based skincare range.

They are passionate that only the finest ingredients are used in Seavite products, including hand-harvested organic seaweed, from the purest marine waters of the Atlantic , making the entire Seavite range suitable for sensitive skin.

My fave product:

Seavite Purifying & Detoxifying Mask (75ml) priced at €14.00

The Seavite Purifying and Detoxifying Mask contains nutrient-rich organic seaweed plants specially selected for their purifying properties.

Formulated with a natural mineral clay, kaolin, this face mask deeply cleanses and purifies, whilst potent marine vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants actively nourish and revitalize the skin. After use, the skin feels incredibly fresh and clean with renewed radiance and vitality.

http://www.seavite.ie

https://www.facebook.com/seavite

 

DECADENCE TAN

A luxurious Irish tanning brand, created by Kassy Lucas, who has worked in the beauty industry for over 13 years. Kasey worked closely with top cosmetic scientists in Ireland to develop the most beautiful tan on the market suited exactly to Irish skins.

Decadence tans are formulated with superior organic ingredients and a combination of high performance tan accelerators and also carries the guaranteed Irish quality mark.

http://www.decadencecosmetics.com/

https://www.facebook.com/decadencetan