L’ORÉAL GLAM SHINE BALMY GLOSS IN FALL FOR WATERMELON: REVIEW AND PICTURES

I saw this advertisement in a magazine and I knew I had to have one, I mean really, can you have too many lip crayon type thingies? No and anyway this one is different, it’s super shiny and glossy according to the ad. When I headed into Boots and there was a 3 for 2 offer on, then really it would have been just wrong not to get one. I choose a bright bright pink colour since my other lip crayons are shades of dusky and plum pink, so totally different then.

I have to say it’s not quite what I was expecting. Because of the ad I was expecting more of a pearlescent shine (I have a bit of a thing for pearlescent shimmer). Now it is glossier than my other crayons but nowhere near as pretty and shiny as I thought it would be. It’s no replacement for lip gloss. I know all about airbrushing in ads and all that jazz and I didn’t expect it to be the exact same but it is a let-down when something is nowhere near as pretty in reality as it is in the advertisement.

Having said all that, it’s still a nice lippy. I thought the colour would be slightly coral but it’s quite a strong bright pink on, so more of a going out lippy for me. It is very comfortable to wear and lasting time is what you would expect from these crayon type lipstick / balm hybrids; a couple of hours as long as you don’t eat or drink. As the colour fades it leaves a stain but more so around the outer part of your lips so keep an eye on that or you may end up looking like a child that just had a Popsicle. All in all it is pretty and it’s nice to wear so even though it’s not exactly what I expected it’s still a good lip product especially for €10.75.

 

FRIDAY STYLE: CHECK SHIRT AND SKATER SKIRT

The weeks are flying by and I can’t believe it’s Friday again (I know I say that most Fridays). Today’s post is light and bright along with cheap and cheerful (am I missing any cliché’s). Check shirts are one of those wardrobe staples and most people would have at least one hanging around (I have five). Usually a check shirt would be kept more casual and paired with jeans so today I thought I would dress this one up a bit.

 

This check shirt is from Penneys. I like blue and orange together so I didn’t think twice about buying this. The fine knit jumper is also from Penneys. It only occurred to me last night to wear the two together, since the aqua blue is the same.

In an effort to break the reoccurring Penneys theme I have going on here, I have this skater skirt from boohoo.com. Skater skirts have been around for a while now and I was only wearing this one with dressier tops for nights out but I have decided to get more wear out of it by wearing it to work.

These little pumps are from, yup you guessed it, Penneys. Yea it’s finally dry enough, sometimes, to leave the house in flat pumps.

Do you ever wear your check shirts with skirts?

PANTENE PRO V DRY OILS FOR HAIR: REVIEW

My last few hair care posts have been all about the products that will help us get big voluminous hair (like these Aussie Mousses). Just as us mere mortals have access to affordable products that will help us get big celebrity swishy hair, what happens? That’s right! X-Factor news breaks and Cheryl Cole goes and steps back into the public light with smooth sleek hair. As much as I hate to admit it, love or hate her, the fact is that she drives trends and if she continues to step out with sleek straight hair then we will all be shunning our new found volume for slinky sleek hair. Luckily I was sent Pantene Pro V’s new Dry Oils. There are two, Vitamin E Repair and Protect and Argan Oil Smooth & Sleek.

The problem with volumising products is that they add the volume by creating texture. Texture basically means it’s impossible to comb your hair, especially when it is wet and when it’s dry there really isn’t much shine. So I have been using these dry oils after my volumising shampoo and conditioner. I keep swapping back and forth between Vitamin E Repair and Protect and Argan Oil Smooth & Sleek. I find one pump is enough for me, my hair is long but it is also straight and fine. I start at the ends and work it up the hair before blow drying, I also love rubbing any excess into my hands and cuticles. My hair still has some volume but now it is lots shinier and easier to brush. Even though they are oils, they are dry oils so they are lightweight and hair is left with plenty of movement. They also smell nice but the fragrance is subtle and delicate.

The Smooth & Sleek Dry Oil with Argan Oil helps repair dry and damaged hair, leaving it looking healthy and shiny. The Repair and Protect Dry Oil with Vitamin E helps prevent damage from styling so your hair won’t get fried by your straighteners. Luckily I have both so I don’t need to decide which one I need but at €8.99 you don’t have to agonise too long over your decision. Since one pump is enough for me, these will last me ages, so they are good value.
Will you be ditching the volume for smooth and sleek hair?

MAYBELLINE BIG EYES EYESHADOW IN BROWN: REVIEW PICTURES AND LOOK

While trying to decide on my third product in Boots when they were having a 3 for 2 offer I spotted this little gem. I have been on the search for my perfect orange eye shadow for a while now and the orange shade in this little quad appeared to be exactly what I was looking for. I have been dipping the tip of my brush into the orange part of MAC Summer Haze mineralise eye shadow because I love the look of orange eye shadow on my eyes. It’s well known that purple and plum shades look good on green eyes but orange is another colour that really makes the green stand out. Also orange can be a brighter alternative if you are tired of always wearing dark colours on your eyes.

Maybelline Big Eyes Eyeshadow quads are very handy because you have all the shades you need to do a complete eye look in one little compact. This quad would definitely be perfect for lightening up the load in your makeup bag when travelling. As for the formula, all the shades are soft, creamy and blend able. There was little to no fallout, and the colours are buildable from sheer to strong pigmented colour. All in all I would say you get four quality shadows for €10.50. All the shades last all day and night with a good primer; I use MAC Paint Pot in Painterly.

Here is how I used all four shades in the look below:
Darkest Brown Shade: outer corner, and smudged over liner on top and bottom lashes
Lighter Brown Shade: crease
Orange: Lid
Lightest Shade: used as a highlighter in inner corner, under outer brow bone, top of cheek bone

I lined my eyes with MAC Coffee eye liner and used Max Factor Wild Mega Volume Mascara.

There are five of the Big Eyes Eyeshadows quads available in Boots, have you tried any of them? Do you wear orange eye shadow?

FRIDAY STYLE: COLOUR BLOCK FINE KNIT DRESS

If this week has thought us anything it’s that it’s not quite warm enough for the summer clothes just yet. I certainly got carried away with all the bright colours appearing in the shops but like the Irish Mammy would say “if you strip off too early you’ll catch your death of cold”. Some of you may already be suffering from the sniffles after shunning the layers last weekend.

Today I am showing you a lovely knit dress from Vero Moda, which I picked up in Carraig Donn recently. This is a great dress for the crazy changeable weather we are having. It’s a fine knit so it is warm and comfortable without being too heavy. I won’t end up sweltering if the sun does decide to shine for a few hours. The colour block panels also make this super flattering, even if I do say so myself. This dress is equally perfect for working in an office or for casual wear.

While it does look good with pumps, I think it looks dressier and smarter with these boots. Also the extra heel height adds to the slimming effect of the panels. These boots are from Penneys.

I always feel a round neckline needs a little something so this statement necklace is perfect. I picked this up in Portugal.

How are you coping with the ever changing weather?

PARI MINERAL PERFECTION: REVIEW AND PICTURES

I honestly haven’t tried a compact foundation in years. The last time was when I was in college and I asked a sales assistant in a pharmacy that had a few high end brands for a foundation that would give my oily skin a matte finish. What I got was a thick waxy paste that was way too dark for me. It didn’t control shine so I ended up looking like a greasy oompa loompa, whose pile of slap entered a room about 30 seconds before my face. When you work full time and you buy a dodgy foundation, you try it a few times and then chuck it in a drawer; eventually you either throw it out or give it away. However, when you are a broke college student that is living off of store brand pasta and Koka noodles and you have to layer up to go to bed because you can’t afford to heat your damp dank flat, you have no choice but to wear it and make it last. The experience left me scarred emotionally so I was apprehensive about trying this compact from Pari when it arrived in the post.

Pari is a brand that apparently is quite popular in Canada and now it is being launched here by well known makeup artist, Rachel Murphy. Pari products are made from minerals along with skin enhancing ingredients meaning that the Pari Mineral Perfection is a cream to powder mineral foundation and like all mineral foundations it has a natural SPF but this one also has anti-aging ingredients to help improve the condition of fine lines and crow’s feet with continued use.

I was pleasantly surprised by how perfect the shade (MP02) Light Nude matched my skin tone considering it was sent to me as a press sample rather than me picking it for myself. It comes with a sponge applicator, which blends easily and flawlessly and the coverage is medium but buildable for fuller coverage, but I don’t think you would want full coverage with this. The finish is a my skin but way better and it feels so light on the skin. This is proving to be quite the time saver; it’s quick and easy to apply. It lasts really well throughout the day without a primer; I get the full work day out of it before any shine needs to be tended to.

No makeup in first picture, just Pari Mineral Perfection in the other two.

Full face of makeup

I quite like this, so much so that I am no longer dead set against compact foundations. You can find this for €33 on rachelmurphymakeup.com where I will be keeping an eye to see what other products Pari have to offer.  Have you tied anything from Pari? Have you any compact foundation horror stories?

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

I do have a few new products to review but somehow I don’t think too many of you will take the time to read blog posts today. I have a funny feeling most of you will be heading out to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and reading will be the last thing on your mind. So instead of a proper beauty or skincare post I thought now would be an appropriate time to  share with you a few pictures from one of my favourite places, Croagh Patrick.

This little collage was taken on Saturday, which as you can see was a beautiful day. The rest of the pictures below were taken oven the many times I have climbed the reek over the past few years.

Have a great St. Patrick’s Day everyone, wherever you are.

 

FRIDAY STYLE: GOING GREEN WITHOUT THE PADDY WHACKERY

With the week that’s in it, I felt that this Friday’s post should include green and we know how much I love green, but I’m not really the kind of girl that wears a green Póg Mo Thóin T-shirt. I thought I would do a post on how you can wear your green for St. Patrick’s Day but in an elegant way. While I will be heading into town to meet up with a few friends to watch the parade and then go for some grub and drinks, I won’t be spending the day getting entirely sloshed so I want to look a little classy.

Starting with the green, this blazer is by Cutie and I picked it up in Carraig Donn. It is more of a teal green. I have this blazer in a few colours now, I like the style and fit of them. I think they work so well to dress up most outfits.

This top is from Penneys. I personally think it looks a lot more expensive than Penneys. I love the beautiful floral print. I can also wear it with a raspberry pink blazer or cardigan for a completely different look.

The trousers are from Dorothy Perkins, I told you before that I love gold zips on black clothing. I think the gold zips on these trousers can make a whole outfit look a bit dressier than it would be with just plain black trousers or jeans.

The shoes are from New Look, again the gold strip on the back of the heel ties in with the trousers.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend and a great St. Patrick’s Day.

OLAY REGENERIST 10 MINUTE MIRACLE: REVIEW

I am at that stage where anti-aging skin care is very important to me. I grew up with people always thinking I was a lot younger than I was and I was still being asked for I.D. well into my mid twenties. It does bother me that in the last year or two, people are no longer surprised when they find out I am in my thirties. So I was quite happy when Olay Regenerist 10 Minute miracle arrived in the post. I got to trying it out straight away and have been using it every day since.

The idea behind this is similar to another product I reviewed by Olay (Anti-Wrinkle Instant Wrinkle Smoother) in that it works to instantly but temporarily blur fine lines and wrinkles as well as containing ingredients that will permanently improve the appearance of said fine lines and wrinkles over time with continued use. Instant and long term seems to be the direction they are taking their anti-aging skincare, which is good because when you are looking at your face every day waiting for a skin care product to show results you really won’t be able to notice any improvements. It’s so good to see instant results.

A little goes a long way with this so you don’t need a whole pump. The formula is quite silky and at first feels like a smooth veil on the skin. It does dry in quick enough but it takes 10 minutes for it to do its work; the smoothing and blurring. My skin is visibly smoother after I use this and fine lines do appear to be blurred.
This is not a serum or moisturiser but more an extra step in your skin care routine, kind of like a primer but you use it day and night not just before makeup. You might not want the hassle of an extra step but the results make it worth it. It’s hard to capture the results on my own face with my camera but you can see it in the before and after pictures on the back of my hand below.

This will set you back €38.49, not cheap but not bad value when you consider Olay’s reputation in anti-aging skin care and remember a little goes a long way.

REAL TECHNIQUES SILICONE LINER BRUSH: REVIEW LOOK AND PICTURES

Last week I picked up my first Real Techniques brushes and since there was a three for two offer on in Boots it would have been rude not to buy three. Real Techniques brushes were created by makeup artists, bloggers and vloggers Sam and Nic Chapman and have been a favourite of bloggers and makeup artist for ages but it’s only recently that they have been available locally for me. I have quite a few MAC brushes and because I have bought brushes online before and when they arrived they were quite different in size to what I was expecting I wanted to see these in reality before buying.

Today I am going to tell you about how I got on with the Silicone Liner brush. All I can say is that this little beauty is the business. Technically not a brush, it has a pointed silicone tip and with it I can do something I am normally afraid to even try; I can line my eyes with a liquid liner. I can’t tell you how annoyed I get when I make a big smudgy mess of my makeup with liquid liner, and then I have to remove it and start over. The Silicone tip on this is so easy to work with, the pictures below are of my first time using it, so I can only assume that with practice I will be able to get my liner absolutely perfect and be able to create different style flicks.
Products used:

Crease and lower lash line: MAC Satin Taupe
Lid: MAC All That Glitters
Inner corner highlight: MAC Nylon
Liquid Liner: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
Mascara: Lancôme Hypnose

 How do you get on with liquid liner? Have you tried this brush yet?