Face of The Night - Steampunk Night

You can see from the time on the camera that this was at the end of the night and I apologise for the rest of the photos being taken half through the night. I need to start taking photos before I leave the house but, yeah, so please ignore the shiny bits and the bad photography!  

Here is a terrible close up of the eyes! 

• I used MAC Goldmine in the inner half of the eye and up into the inner crease.
• Then I used MAC Embark on the outer half of the lid and up into the crease.
• I then used MUA eye shadow in 11... Which looks like this swatched: 

And I absolutely ADORE it. 

• I darkened up the outer part of the crease with a Black matt eye shadow.
• Then I blended out the edges with Urban Decays Buck from the NAKED pallet.
• I lined the upper lid with Essence Waterproof Liquid Eye liner and the bottom waterline with Maybelline's Gel Liner. 
• As a highlight under the brows I used Urban Decay's Virgin from the NAKED pallet. 

And of course the most important part of this look is the Lashes. 

I got them in the Art and Hobby shop in The Jervis Street Shopping Centre. They were about €6/7. I hadn't had the nerve to wear them before this night but because it was a dress up night I felt I could try them. You can see them here. They do some really out there lashes. 

The look was finished with my favourite lipstick which is MUA In Shade 1. 

Here is another photo of the look: 

I think the next look of the day I will do is a zombie look in a few weeks. Anyone got any zombification tips for me? 

Face of the day - Masquerade Ball Make Up

I apologise for the glare on my forehead the lighting wasn't very flattering but this is my first face of the day/night post.

For my face I have used:

1. MAC Studio Sculpt  Foundation in NC20
2. MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW 20 - for my under eye bags.
3. Benefit High Beam - Just under the mask.
4. Benefit Cha Cha Tint - on the cheek. 
5. MAC Powder Blush in Style. 
6. MAC Mineralised Skin Finish Natural in Medium/Dark.

For the eyes I have used: 

1. NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk in the inner corner.
2. Gunmetal from the Urban Decay NAKED Palette on the inner third of the lid.
3. MAC Club on the outer two thirds of the lid.
4. Glamour Doll Eyes shadow in Undead in the crease and outer V. (because I was going to wear a mask I made sure to put the mask on after I had done the shadow so I could see what parts were not covered by the shadow and I filled that space in while wearing the mask which left a very fun V shape on my eye.)
5. Virgin  from the Urban Decay NAKED Palette - just below the inner top corner of the mask to blend out the crease colour and give that highlight you can see in the picture.
6. Essence Liquid Eyeliner  Waterproof on my top lid.
7. Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Liner on the bottom lash line and in the waterline. 
8. MUA  (Make Up Academy) Eye Shadow in Shade 20 (Black) - Matt to seal and smudge the Gel liner. 
9. Maybelline The Falsies Volum' Express Waterproof Mascara

AND for my lips I used MUA (Make Up Academy) Lipstick in shade 1.

Here is a closer (not as wonderful as I would have liked) shot of the eyes. 

And another one just for the craic:

Let me know what you think or if any of the products I have mentioned you would like a review on.  Also I do apologise for the photo quality but they were taken on my iPhone as I never thought I would put up a photo of my face ever! 

London MAC Haul and First Impressions.

So recently I went to London to see a Play. I was literally there for 22 hours which was crazy in retrospect but I had an amazing time. I stopped in MAC in Dublin Airport to have a look at their travel range and came out with a few things including the above travel set.  The best thing about this set is that it only costs around the €38 mark and the products are all full sized. A serious bargain BUT only available in Airports.

I am going to go through what it includes and give you a run down of the colours and then there will be swatches. 

MAC Look In A Box: Girl Next Door

 Grand Entrance - Frost

This is a beautiful Champagne colour (I know it doesn't really show up on this picture and I apologise for that but it shows up better on the swatch picture below. 

Smoke & Diamonds - Frost

This is a smokey taupe colour. Again the swatch is below.

Cremesheen Glass - Deelight

I was very surprised by this one. I thought looking at it that it was going to be sticky (which I hate) but it's not the texture I thought it was going to be. It is a gorgeous sheer, high sheen, brownish pink. 

MAC Zoom Lash Mascara

I was all ready to hate this and to have it running down my face (I have weepy eyes) but fortunately it didn't run at all. I wore it one day for over 10 hours and there was the little run away smudges but then I had been crying in the theatre too. So I was very impressed. I was also impressed with how black it was and that it makes my lashes seem quite long but I also need something that makes hem look a little thicker so while this mascara is amazing at what it does it may not be the best for me but I do like it and will use it until it dries up. 

MAC Iridescent Pressed Powder in Belightful

I couldn't take a picture of this that did it justice nor could I take a swatch that would either so I am afraid you will have to just trust my description of it. 

It is a gold/bronze based iridescent shimmer powder with small particles of glitter in it. It is subtle on the skin (unless you pile it on) and I can see myself using this as a highlighter for both cheekbones and eyes.

So that was what was in "The Girl Next Door" but I also got sidetracked by a blush, a very beautiful blush: 

MAC Powder Blush - Style - Frost

I seem to be a big fan of Frost finishes, I am not sure why but I think it's the sheen that they leave. This, guys, is a beautiful bright peach shade which blends beautifully. 

Now on to my swatches.

From L-R Style blush, Smoke & Diamonds, Grand Entrance

Cremesheen Glass - Deelight

Have any of you had any of these products? How did you find them?

My Emergency Night Out Make Up Bag (Picture Heavy)

These things I just cannot leave the house for a night out on the town without. I don't know if anyone is actually interested in seeing them but I have seen loads of "what is in my bag" posts so I said why the hell not! 

My bag is a freebie Clinique make up bag. It's pretty tiny but it fits everything I need. 

Just had to show it to you cause it is so freaking cute but here is what I usually keep in it.

I always have to have my MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural and a blush with me. This is the perfect opportunity to introduce you to my new favourite blush.

Yes!! I went to MAC on the first day of the Quite Cute collection and picked up this blush. Giggly is beautiful and apart from the Candy Yum Yum lipstick was the only thing I really wanted from this collection. 

Also, I want to introduce you to my favourite liquid eye liner at the moment. I have terribly weepy eyes, so I need a good waterproof one and this is the one I use. I am pretty sure it is under €4 too, which is a bargain!

I always carry a black eye shadow, angled brush and my Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Zero for top ups to the water line and eyebrows. This black eye shadow is Rimmel Colour Rush Eye Shadow in Jet Black. 

I also carry wipes, a tiny bottle of Lancome's Bi-Facil and cotton buds and pads, well a girl never knows when she may need them. 

 

Eyelash glue is also an essential and usually there is tweezers too but for some reason I forgot them that night, It's grand, I didn't need them anyway. 

Also hair grips!!! You never know what state your hair is going to be in the next day or after a lot of dancing so I make sure I have these so I can control it somewhat. 

Then of course my lipstick and lip Primer which is Mac Prep and Prime lip. Which is fast becoming a necessity and my lipstick which this night was MAC Viva Glam IV and Lancome l'Absolu Nu in 103.

Anything you couldn't live without? Am I missing anything that I absolutely should have with me?



p.s. I just want to apologise for the photos. I am taking them with my iphone. My poor camera is a bit sick and I don't know where to take it to be fixed. Does anyone know of anywhere reliable in Dublin that repairs cameras?

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Review

I had been looking for a good contouring powder for a very long time and I finally gave in and trapsed into MAC in Dublin to have a look at their range about a month ago. The sales assistant was very lovely and pointed me in the direction of the Mineralize Skinfinish Natural. I have to say that when she recommended the Medium Dark I was a bit hesitant to even try it but I gave her the benefit of the doubt.

I am loving this. It is a beautiful soft powder. It is suppsed to have a matte finish but to be honest it has a teeny tiny sheen to it but because I have dry skin that is VERY welcome. 

I am very sure that in the summer when my skin gets darker this powder will go from being my contour powder to my all over face powder. 

If you are in the market for a new contour powder or even a new all over powder I would definitely recommend this one. It is definitely my favourite powder I have EVER purchased. Go give it a look! 

Have you tried this out before?

MAC Viva Glam IV Lipstick Review

I have been trying to get my hands on this product in Dublin for AGES!! Finally last week I managed to get one. I was unbelievably happy and I continue to be.

It is a deep rose colour with a goldish shimmer/frost to it. I had never owned a MAC lipstick mainly because I tried my friends Russian Red Mac Lipstick and had found it so terrible drying, but as the sales assistant told me Russian Red is a matte lipstick and so can have that effect.

As most know Viva Glam was set up in 1994 to help raise money for MAC's HIV charity.

EVERY cent you pay for this lipstick goes to this charity, which makes it even more appealing to me.

I do find that this colour is difficult to remove but this also makes it very long wearing. If you are aware that it takes a wee while and a bit more effort to remove and you still love the colour then I would absolutely recommend the purchase of this.

It goes quite well with my dark hair and eyes and still doesn't look like too much of a statement for daytime wear and if worn with a gloss it is perfect for a night time look. All in all well worth the money.

I do think I will try to limit my purchase of MAC lipsticks to the Viva Glam range as it does feel good to know you are doing something good for HIV charities as well as getting a beautiful lipstick.  I hope they do something good with my €17.50.

Have you tried any other MAC lipsticks, especially the Viva Glam ones? Can you recommend any? What is your favourite MAC lipstick?

Concealing Rules!

There are two general types of concealer: Liquid concealer and stick/cake concealer.

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The liquid one is light and, well, liquidy in consistency and usually used for under eye blue/black circles. It usually has a light peach tone to it as peach is opposite to blue on the colour wheel so it helps to conceal the blue under the eyes.This product should be a shade lighter than your skin tone too.  A good example,of a drugstore one of these is Rimmel Match perfect concealer.  I actually use the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer. I have a review of this product here.

The stick/cake one is usually creamier in consistency and is used predominately to cover blemishes. I would never use this for the under eyes as it can settle into fine lines and makes them more visible. I use the No7 stick one it is good but I don't use it very much as I don't really get blemishes. 

There are also coloured concealers if it is redness you are looking to cover then a green concealer is the best and as I said for bluish areas peach is the best. 

General tips for applying concealer: 

• Moisturise!!!! Seriously, especially when using stick/cake concealer. It can be very drying.
• Use a light hand, don't put too much on initially, you can always add more but it's harder to take away. 
• Use clean fingers (best to use the ring finger as it doesn't put too much pressure on say the delicate under eye area.)to tap it in to the skin rather than rub it in because the heat of your fingers will help it settle better.
• Make sure that the colour is right for you.
• Remember blue under eyes require peach tones and redness needs green based tones.

 If anyone has any recommendations of concealers or have any opinions on any of the products mentioned please let me know. 

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation and Pro Longwear Concealer.

So I took a trip to MAC just after Christmas to try to find a good foundation. As I have quite dry skin, especially in the winter, I was very aware what I wanted from a foundation, HYDRATION! While I recently started to get big on the auld moisturisation and face care I still felt I needed extra hydration from my foundation. I find so many foundations dry out the skin.

The lady on the counter sat me down and asked me a few questions:

1. What kind of coverage I was looking for?

2. What my skin is usually like?

Once I had told her I was looking for full/medium coverage (because I have very, VERY pigmented cheeks) and that my skin is pretty  dry she immediately reached for the studio sculpt foundation in NC20 and put it on my face.

I found it almost immediately hydrating and soft but was still sceptical because I had never used it before. Then she grabbed the Mac Pro Longwear  Concealer in NW 20 and applied it to my under eyes, which I will admit are very dark. 

So I left MAC and went for a wander to see how it wears and as you can see from the above photos I now own both of these products. 

I have to say I struggled to apply the Studio Sculpt for a while. 

I wouldn't suggest finger application for this foundation. I found that it needs to be buffed into the face a bit more than any other foundation I have tried but for the coverage and finish I am happy to put in that extra bit of effort. It is almost like a mousse in texture and very rich.  The coverage is definitely medium but what I love about this foundation is that it is VERY easy to build up to the coverage you want. I would of course use a light had around any fine lined areas as it can set.  

I was advised to purchase the 187 brush from MAC to aid application but I just couldn't justify €45 for a tool when the foundation cost less so I now use my Sigma F80 and it works a dream. 

The MAC Pro Longwear  Concealer is amazing. I absolutely adore it. I would not be without it. Although the pump is a little over excited and sometimes you get a bit too much product in one pump, it is a fabulous product. It really does lift my under eyes, which I said before, are pretty dark. 

All in all a very successful trip to my local MAC counter. 

Have you had any experience with these products? How did you find them?