I came home from New York on Monday, and I've been so looking forward to sharing all the beauty items I bought while I was there! I went a little bit crazy, so I'm dividing the haul into two parts - this will be the high-end make-up from Sephora and MAC, and the following part will be drugstore, Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret items.

If you want more in-depth reviews on any of the products mentioned, be sure to let me know! I can guarantee you'll be seeing a lot more of these goodies on my blog in the next few weeks anyway! So let's get started:

Sephora Favourites Give Me More Lip Set

This set is apart of this year's Christmas collection, and it was the only one of the sets that interested me. As a self-confessed lipstick junkie, nothing excited me more than the opportunity to trial 17 different lip products! It's organised according to colour, and includes glosses, lipsticks and balms. The brands included in the set are Too Faced, Benefit, Bite Beauty, Laura Mercier, Kat Von D, Stila, Makeup Forever, OCC, Sugar Fresh, Sephora, Hourglass, Tarte, Buxom and Bare Minerals. I love the fact that 16 of these products are mini sized, as I never get through a full lipstick anyway. It also gives you the chance to try a variety of finishes and brands that you may not have been exposed to prior to this. For me, I loved the fact that it contains so many brands that aren't available here in Ireland. If you'd like a full in depth review and swatches, let me know!

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette 

I've been coveting this palette for a very long time, but I made myself wait until I got to New York as it was remarkably cheaper than it would have been to buy here. I have more neutral palettes than you can imagine, but there's just something so unique about the colour selection in this palette. The colours also have really cute names like Haute Chocolate, Triple Fudge and Strawberry Bon Bon! The palette itself is packaged as a chocolate bar, and the shadows are made with 100% natural cocoa powder. Eyeshadow scented with chocolate - what's not to love?! I'll be doing plenty of Makeup Of The Day looks with this palette so stay tuned for those.

Too Faced Melted Kisses Lipstick Set

One thing I noticed about the Sephoras I visited in New York, is that they are incredibly cleverly laid out. When you are queuing to pay, the whole queue is lined with new goodies and little gift sets. For someone with no self-control like me, this is bad news! I ended up buying more standing in the queue than I did walking around the shops! I saw this while I was waiting and I thought it was too cute to resist. I've always wanted to try the Too Faced Melted Lipsticks, but we have limited availability of Too Faced here in Ireland so I thought a mini set consisting of the four best selling shades was a good way to go. You get Melted Nude, Melted Peony, Melted Fuschia and Melted Berry. I adore the look of Melted Berry!

Marc Jacobs Genius Gel Super Charged Foundation

Marc Jacobs' beauty line has not yet reached Irish shores, so this foundation was top of my list to pick up in America. I've heard countless fantastic reviews of it, particularly for oily skinned girls like myself. The lady in Sephora helped me choose shade 14 Ivory Medium, and it's a perfect match. Like all of the products, I haven't played with this yet but I'll be sure to do a full in-depth review letting you know how I get on with it. I have incredibly high hopes for it, so I'll keep you updated!




Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Concealer

Kat Von D is another brand that has never made its way to Irish seas - as far as I'm aware, it's exclusive to American Sephoras as I've never seen it in the many European ones I've visited.
I was debating whether to try the concealer or her famous Lock-It Tattoo Foundation, however I found the foundation was just too thick for my liking. I concluded that I would buy the Marc Jacobs foundation for light to medium coverage, and then use the Lock-It Tattoo Concealer to cover anything that the foundation didn't. I actually tried this on in the shop and I absolutely love it! The coverage is like nothing I've ever seen before! I got it in the shade 16 - Light.

Tarte Pin Up Girl Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush Palette

The Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes are some of the most raved about blushes on the market. Again, they're incredibly difficult to get a hold of if you don't live in the US. This is a limited edition Christmas palette that contains five brand new shades. From left to right they are: Breathless, Embraced, Whimsy, Bashful and Irreplaceable. The colour selection is beautiful, and you get two mattes and three shimmers. My current favourite is Embraced, which is the second on the left! This palette was $42, making each blush just $8.40, which I thought was exceptional value considering one full sized blush will set you back $26.


Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black Rollerball

Elizabeth and James is the luxury brand created by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and they recently released two perfumes called Nirvana Black and Nirvana White. Beauty bloggers raved tremendously about the fragrances, so I made a second trip to Sephora on Times Square to check them out. From reading the notes of the fragrance and various reviews, I thought I would prefer Nirvana White, but when I tried the two of them in the shop I hated the smell of Nirvana White! I can't quite explain it, but it just didn't appeal to me in the slightest. Nirvana Black reminds me ever-so-slightly of Chanel's Allure perfume - it has notes of violet, sandalwood and vanilla.

Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 Palette

This was another purchase that I made standing in line to pay for my already too full basket! I'm a huge fan of the Urban Decay Naked Palettes - I own all three, but I took a pass on the original Naked Basics. I considered it for quite some time but I concluded that my collection of warm, basic neutral colours was too big and I didn't need any more. However, while I was in full-on shopping spree mode in Sephora, I reasoned with myself that my cool-toned collection was severely lacking a good basics palette. I love cool-toned colours with my eyes and my skin tone, so I thought it was only right to treat myself to yet another palette! I think this palette will be a fantastic every day staple as the matte colours are perfect for quick, on the go looks.

NARS Blush and Bronzer Duo
My final purchase was another one that drew me in as I stood with my bulging bag in the queue. NARS Orgasm blush and Laguna bronzer are arguably two of the biggest cult beauty products in the world, and I have never tried either. So when this little guy popped out at me in the line, I didn't think it was fair to leave him behind. The two shades are absolutely stunning, and I can definitely see why they are so sought after. I also love the fact that I have them both contained in one little compact so I can take them on the go with me. This was excellent value for a NARS product too - it was $24, which is a steal for NARS, as you all well know!

That concludes the shopping I did in Sephora. However when I went to pay, the lovely ladies at Sephora gave me this gorgeous VIB tote bag to carry my items in. As I had a Beauty Insider card, I was able to avail of both the birthday gift and my 100 point perks (I had two!). I opted to use up the points on my first night as I didn't expect I would get another chance to use them, so I got two Formula X nail polishes in A+. I was a little disappointed that they were both the same colour but I'll definitely be giving one to my friend - they're so cute! I also received two of the Makeup Forever birthday gifts, I'm not quite sure why I got two, but I'm not complaining!

I love the little tote bag they gave me - it was so handy for carrying my makeup around with me until I got it back to the hotel - it's still in this bag as I haven't gotten the chance to organise my makeup drawers since I got back!

After I shopped up a storm in Sephora, I made a quick pit stop into MAC in Macy's. I knew exactly what I wanted so it was a short and sweet visit! MAC is so much cheaper in America that I wanted everything, but I limited myself to three items!



MAC Lipstick in Brave

Brave by MAC is one of the most popular shades used to achieve the famous Kylie Jenner lip look, however my local MAC counter is always sold out! I'm so glad it was in stock in Macy's, as I think it's going to become my absolute go-to lip colour. I think it looks best paired with Soar lip pencil - it's the perfect subtle pinky-brown colour that goes effortlessly with any makeup look. It's also a satin finish, which is my favourite finish from MAC. This was $16, which converts over to about €12, which is a much nicer price to pay for a MAC lipstick than €19.50!



MAC Lipstick in Pervette 

The second lipstick I chose from MAC is Pervette. Again, this always seems to be sold out when I go to buy it, so it was another priority to pick up whilst I was in Macy's. Pervette is a difficult colour to explain - it's a sheer, lilac-but-pink shade. I got my makeup done in MAC once and the makeup artist used this on me, paired with Viva Glam Nicki 2 lip gloss and I absolutely loved them together! Unfortunately Viva Glam Nicki 2 was limited edition, so if anyone knows any good dupes to the lilac lip gloss please let me know!



MAC Blush in Melba

This blush has also been on my wishlist for quite a while, as it's a cult favourite of MAC lovers. The reason I decided to get this one of all the colours on my wishlist is that I felt my blush collection was seriously lacking a colour like this with no shimmer, just a good basic blush that would match any lip or eye look. I love getting new makeup items that aren't like anything I already own, so I can't wait to start playing with this!





So that is it for my high-end beauty haul! Let me know if there's anything you'd like any more information on, or anything you'd like reviewed. I will definitely be doing plenty of posts on the products I love, so be sure to keep an eye out for those. Also check back here next week for part 2 where I'll show you all of the drugstore goodies I picked up!

Zara :-) x

New In: Miners Cosmetics X Hayley Sparkes Top Beauty Picks!

Miners Cosmetics are currently collaborating with top blogger Hayley Sparkes to bring beauty lovers the latest make-up trends, from blue eyeliner to bright lips. I'm going to walk you through Hayley's picks, giving you my opinion on them and how I would wear them.

Miners Cosmetics Moisture Effect Lipstick in Kiss Me Quick, £3.99

Bold lips are always on trend, as they truly are the optimum way of sprucing up a look with minimal effort involved. I think the most wearable option when it comes to bright lips is a coral colour - it's fun yet so simple to pull off. However in the winter months it can seem a bit too summery, so Miners have found the solution! Kiss Me Quick is a red lipstick with a coral undertone, making it the perfect colour to transition between seasons. The colour itself is beautiful - it's moisturising and glides creamily onto the lips. It has fantastic lasting power too - it slightly stains the lips to ensure longevity.
I'm also a big fan of the packaging - I love when you can see the colour of the lipstick without having to open up the tube! I think this lipstick would look beautiful paired with matte eyeshadow and light contouring. As I said though, it's incredibly versatile. This colour gets a big thumbs up from me!

Dip And Define Eye Powder in Damson Dust, £3.49

 

When I first tried this product, I thought it was absolutely revolutionary! It's like a pigment that has been compressed into a tube that pops open, with an applicatior to actually transfer the pigment from the tube to your lids. I've never seen any other pigment like this, so I just thought the innovation behind it was extraordinary. Loose pigments are my worst nightmare as I'm simply too messy for them! The tiny little sponge-tip applicator makes this powder a dream to apply. The powder applies to smoothly and the colour is truly opaque. The colour itself is the most beautiful lilac shade that contains tiny silver metallic flicks. I think this shade works particularly well on brown eyes like mine
- I get so many compliments when I wear this on my eyes!

Colour And Kohl Eyeliner in Blue, £1.99

Blue eyeliners have been a huge trend recently - I think they're a fantastic way to add a bit of an edge to your look without looking crazy! However, I think that it's important to get the right shade for you, as electric blue isn't really ideal in anyone's waterline! The Colour and Kohl pencil is the perfect tool for achieving the ultimate catwalk blue, as it's creamy and highly pigmented. It's more of a navy blue, making it ideal for everyday use. The quality is impeccable for its inexpensive price - it glides on smoothly and stays put all day. It's also creamy enough to double up as an eyeshadow, (you know how much I love multi-task products!) so this is a must for your makeup bag.

Define and Line Liquid Eyeliner in Blue, £2.99

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know that I'm definitely not the biggest fan of liquid eyeliners - we just don't get on! However sometimes I find some true little gems that even I can make work! This is one of those little gems. I love liquid liners that have a short handle, I feel like it gives me the best control when I'm applying the liner. I also love when the brush itself is slightly stiff, again I just find that it gives the best application. It's incredibly easy to create sharp lines with this eyeliner, I really love it! I think this eyeliner would be a fantastic way to create a dramatic look with minimal effort - you don't even need to put eyeshadow under it!

And here's some swatches of all the products I mentioned!
You can purchase Miners Cosmetics from their website at http://www.minerscosmetics.co.uk/.
Let me know what you think of Hayley's picks, and what's on your beauty wishlist for this winter!


Zara :-) x

Holy Grail Skincare Item: Botanicals Nourishing Face Balm

I've always struggled with my acne-prone skin, so I absolutely love getting the opportunity to trial new skincare products in the hope of finding one that will work for my skin. 

I received this Nourishing Face Balm from Botanicals a few weeks ago and I can safely say that it is the best skincare product I own. 

Suitable for all skin types, but particularly effective for those with very dry or mature skin, this balm is a gritty, almost salt-like texture that turns to oil when you rub it into your skin. 

It's enriched with rose and camellia, meaning it smells absolutely divine, and that it is infused with revitalising properties. 

You apply a tiny amount of the balm to your skin before you go to bed, and when you wake up you'll find incredibly glowy, rejuvenated skin that looks a million dollars! It softens and enhances the texture of the skin.  

On my skin, I find that it dries up my spots and brings them to the surface, clearing my spots within a day or two. The texture is a little strange to get used to at first, but believe me - it's totally worth it!

The difference in my skin is remarkable - it looks so much more healthier and fresh. So much so, that even my mum wants to use my Nourishing Face Balm! 

I couldn't recommend this product more, it has completely changed my skincare routine and improved my skin significantly. 

You can buy your Botanicals Nourishing Face Balm from http://www.botanicals.co.uk/, and you get 50g for £27.95. Furthermore, until 30th November you can get £5 off your face balm by entering the code NOVOFFER (case sensitive) at the checkout! What's not to love?! 

What do you think of the nourishing face balm?

Zara :-) x

New In: Eylure - The Brow Revolution

Eylure are world renowned for their incredible eyelash collections, and I'm so excited to be able to share some pieces from their brand new eyebrow collection! They have launched a line of products designed to shape and colour eyebrows. Their extensive range has absolutely everything you need to create the ultimate brow look at home.
The products I'll be reviewing for you today are the brow pencil, the brow kit and the brow stencils.
I'm absolutely loving these brow products at the moment, so let's take a closer look at everything!

Eylure Brow Palette, €12.99
The brow kit pictured is in Mid Brown, and features a brow wax, a brow powder and then a matte highlight shade to highlight the brow bone. First and foremost, I love the packaging! It reminds me of NARS/Sleek, and it's both compact and sturdy. It's the perfect size for throwing into your make-up bag, and the packaging doesn't get dirty like the rubber packaging of NARS. I really love the dual sided brush that comes with it, the angled eyebrow brush is really handy for working the wax through your brows.
The product itself is phenomenal - it's so easy to use and the results are incredible. You just run a little bit of the wax through your brows, then define them using the powder and you get the most natural, flawless-looking eyebrows! The product sets so well into the brows and doesn't smudge at all. It's even  waterproof! The highlighter is gorgeous too - there's no  shimmer so it's the perfect everyday brow bone colour. Even without an additional setting gel, the product will stay secure and give you defined brows  all day long! At €13, you really can not go wrong with this product. The brow palette is available in blonde, mid brown and dark brown.

Eylure Brow Pencil, €6.99
I've never been a huge fan of brow pencils until I got my hands on this little guy! This is a waterproof brow pencil that provides long lasting results. What I love about this pencil is that it's firm - I hate overly waxy or creamy brow pencils that are just too pigmented and too messy to achieve a natural yet defined looking brow. I've always found that eyebrow pencils are more for use when creating incredibly defined, statement brows, however this pencil is completely buildable appropriate for both natural and dramatic looks. I like a really nice, natural looking eyebrow and this pencil has been my go-to to create that. I also really appreciate the spoolie on the other side of the pencil - I spend my life searching for my spoolie brush when I do my eyebrows, so having one on the other side of my pencil is a lifesaver! The pencil gives you optimum control and is the essential tool for helping you emulate the perfect brow shape that you desire. If you're on the hunt for an exceptional brow pencil, look no further than your local Eylure stockist.

Eylure Brow Stencils, €6.49
This pack of reusable stencils includes four different arch templates, making it effortless to achieve your desired shape. The four rubber templates you receive are: High Arch, Full Arch, Slim Arch and Medium Arch. My personal favourite is the medium arch, as it's similar enough to my own brow shape and just helps me get a really precise finish when I fill in my brows. I think these stencils are an absolute must for your makeup collection as they are ideal for creating salon-finish brows at home. You can simply use your Eylure brow powder or pencil to fill in the stencil, then simply tweeze away any hairs that aren't in the stencilled shape. I have tried templates from other brands and I have found that sometimes they are completely ridiculous looking shapes, so it's truly refreshing that Eylure have created realistic stencils that actually emulate real brow shapes. I would definitely recommend having a pack of these handy in your makeup stash for those days when you feel like revamping your
eyebrow game!

I'm majorly impressed with this brand new collection from Eylure. They have truly raised the standard of brow kits, in my opinion. The Eylure Brow Revolution collection is available right now from Boots, McCabes Pharmacy, Sam McCauley Chemists and other leading drugstores.

What do you think of this fantastic collection from Eylure?
Zara :-) x

New In: Makeup Revolution The One Blush Sticks

Makeup Revolution are really packing a punch with their new launches at the moment! They have just come out with these brand new colour sticks that can be used on your lips and cheeks, similar to the famous NARS Multiples, only at a mere fraction of the price.

The range consists of eight shades - four mattes and four shimmery. For every matte shade in the collection, there is a corresponding shimmery one. I absolutely love the packaging - the matte shades have a gorgeous, sleek matte container, and the shimmery colours' packaging has a glossy finish. 

 You can use the sticks dry for high-intensity, vibrant colour, or wet for a sheer wash of colour. 

The consistency of these blush sticks is impeccable - they apply so smoothly and they're incredibly creamy. They feel really soft and they blend like a dream, you don't even need a brush to blend them -  a light tap of your finger is enough to blend the product out. They don't budge throughout the day or look patchy. The wear is absolutely incredible! They're also only £5 each. Are you in love yet?!

Let's take a closer look at each shade:

• Matte Malibu:  this is a seriously good dupe for NARS' Laguna Multiple! It's almost a terracotta shade, it's quite dark. It's the perfect contour shade for getting those really sculpted, Kim Kardashian-esque cheekbones. When I first applied it, I thought it was very dark on my skin, but when I blended it out with a damp makeup sponge, it looked beautiful. I would definitely recommend using it wet to get the best result!
• Matte Pink: this is a beautiful bubblegum pink with a blue undertone. It makes the most stunning blush shade - it gives a beautiful pink flush to the skin without being too harsh. On the lips, it's smooth and doesn't dry the lips at all. It reminds me of Snob by MAC.
• Matte Rush: Matte Rush is my favourite of all the matte shades! It's the most stunning coral colour, that looks equally incredible on the lips and cheeks. The only coral blush I have aside from this one is Sephora's Coral Crush, which is just too shimmery for daily use. Matte Rush is the perfect everyday colour that really injects the right amount of colour onto the cheeks. I personally prefer wearing all these products on the cheeks as opposed to the lips, but this particular colour will look incredible in the spring/summer time.
• Matte Dream: This is such a unique colour that I'm so glad I can add into my collection. It's the most breathtaking pale baby doll pink, which is just so striking on the cheeks. As my skin is on the paler side, I don't use this on my lips as it emulates the dreaded concealer lip look on me.

• Dream: this is my favourite shade of the whole collection! It is the nicest highlighter I own, it's a very pale, pink toned highlight. I love using it as an inner corner highlight as well as on the tops of my cheekbones and under the brow bone. What I love about it, as well as the other shades, is that you are in complete control as to how it looks - you can choose to wear it sheerly or really build it up for an intense colour. If you only check out one shade in this range, it has to be Dream!
• Malibu: Malibu is quite a dark, warm toned brown. It's obviously not suitable for contouring as it is a satin finish, but used lightly, it looks beautiful to give a warm glow to the face. If you're on the paler side, I would definitely recommend using a light hand with this product as a little goes a long way and it can look quite overwhelming on paler skin tones if you're not careful.
• Pink: I absolutely love this blue-toned bubblegum pink! On the lips it reminds me of Snob by MAC, as it has that same satin finish. On the cheeks I would compare it to Dandelion by Benefit, just perhaps a slight bit darker and cooler. It's not even a fraction of the price of both of those products, and you can get the same effect of both in one convenient tube. Win-win if you ask me!
• Rush: Rush is the best dupe I have ever come across for Orgasm by NARS! It has the same finish, colour pay-off and formula. It's a beautiful warm pink with golden shimmer. If you've ever wanted to try Orgasm by NARS, be sure to pick this little guy up - I'm in love with it!

For me, these products are faultless. Their performance and quality really rival premium brands that offer the same products at crazy prices. Makeup Revolution is fast becoming the drugstore makeup brand to watch!

Let me know what you think of the Makeup Revolution Blush Sticks!

Zara :-) x

Skincare Staple: Boots Essentials 3 Minute Clay Mask

Today I have something a little different for you. Up until now I've only ever dealt with make-up here on my blog, but recently my skin has been acting up so much for no reason, which has resulted in me trying lots of new skin care products to try clear up the problem.

I picked up this clay mask from Boots a few weeks ago with Emma Jane , who had told me she'd tried this product and hadn't had any issues with it. For €1.50, I thought it'd be worth a go.

This is a clay mask with cucumber that you apply for 3 minutes. It's a thick, creamy mask that doesn't actually set on your face - I much prefer this to your conventional, hard face mask as I had the sensation on my face! Before applying this, I wash my face using the Clean and Clear Morning Energy Face Wash, then after drying my face I apply the mask liberally. I set my timer for 3 minutes, and usually as I wait for it to work its magic I just wash my make-up brushes. After the three minutes, you simply wash it off with warm water. Your skin feels fabulous! My skin felt so soft, clean and moisturised. I follow up with my own moisturiser but my skin doesn't feel dry at all after using the mask. Your skin looks so fresh and clean when you look in the mirror - the results are amazing! However, the only bad news is that it is a temporary result. Your skin stays glowing for the duration of the day, or if you use it at night, it will still look radiant in the morning. But once you come home at the end of the day your skin goes back to looking like it did before you applied the mask. 

Boots recommend using this mask once or twice a week, which I have been doing for the last few weeks. 

Despite the temporary results, this has become a staple in my skincare routine as it makes my skin feel so amazing! It's the perfect quick fix the night before an event or a time when you want your skin to look and feel flawless. And at less than €2, you have no excuse! 

I couldn't recommend this product enough - it's as cheap as chips and gives such a luxurious feel to the face. 

Let me know if you've tried this or anything else from the Boots Essentials range!

Zara :-) x

Beauty Q And A With Pixie Lott!

The highly acclaimed Magnitone brushes have been a major success of late, (you can read my review here!).
 They recently announced that Pixie Lott is their new brand ambassador. In addition to this, she has designed a limited edition brush!
In light of this, Magnitone and Look Fantastic organised an exclusive Q and A broadcast with Pixie, which I was so lucky to get to take part in. So if you've ever wanted to know Pixie's beauty tips and tricks, read on...

Why do you use Magnitone?
Pixie: It gives me confidence - it gives me glowing skin, which I love. You gotta work with what you got, so it really helps!

Did you notice a difference in your skin after 7 days?
Yes! It really improved my skin. It also made a huge difference to how I apply my make-up and moisturiser - they just glide onto my skin after using my Magnitone.

What's the best thing about the Magnitone for you?
It gives me the glow I want - it gives a natural youthfulness that all girls want.

Considering your hectic schedule, what does your beauty routine consist of?
I always cleanse with my Magnitone, using a good quality cleanser with it. I always keep the products consistent too. I don't wear makeup every day, if I don't have to. If I do wear makeup, I always choose a foundation with no impurities that are kind to the skin.

What are your ultimate skincare tips?
Take your makeup off religiously! Don't use makeup wipes, they're so bad for your skin. Using something like my Magnitone is much quicker as it only takes a minute to remove all your makeup with it.

What's in your beauty bag?
I love glowy skin, so I use my highlighter from Benefit to continue that glow after I use my brush.

Who was your beauty icon growing up?
I was very inspired by the 60's. I loved the big eyes and classic looks. I loved Brigitte Bardot. I also thought Britney Spears was beautiful.

What's your must have beauty item when you're on the go?
My Magnitone, obviously! I also love lip balm in the winter, especially first thing in the morning.
(Side note: you can also use your Magnitone on your lips gently to remove any dry skin!)

What's the beauty product you can't live without?
A tinted moisturiser.

What's your biggest beauty extravagance?
I do love spa days!

What helps boost your confidence?
If I feel comfortable. If I'm comfortable around the people I'm with, with what I'm wearing - the perfect little black dress maybe! If I'm happy with my makeup or hair, that really boosts my confidence.

Thank you so much to Magnitone, Look Fantastic and Pixie Lott for organising the broadcast, I had so much fun hearing all of Pixie's beauty loves and tips!

In her role as brand ambassador, Pixie has designed her own limited edition Magnitone Lucid in Pink.
I've raved about my Magnitone so many times on my blog, so I would highly recommend adding one to your Christmas list.
You can purchase your Magnitone Lucid, both the permanent collection and the limited edition Pixie Lott brush, from https://magnitone.co.uk/shop/ or http://www.lookfantastic.com/brands/magnitone.list for just £69.99. As I've said before, this is exceptional value for a product that will truly be the best thing that'll ever happen your skin!

I hope you've enjoyed reading Pixie's tips and tricks!
Zara :-) x

The Ultimate Kim Kardashian Nude Lip Featuring Lippy Girl & Smashbox!

Like a lot of beauty lovers, I'm incredibly inspired by the Kardashian clan's make-up looks - I think they're all absolutely beautiful and I love all their respective signature looks.
Kim in particular is a make-up icon of mine, and I love to recreate her red carpet looks. One thing she is famous for, is her perfect nude lip. It's difficult to know what she uses exactly, but I'm very pleased to report that I have found the ultimate nude lipstick from Lippy Girl, combined with a gloss from Smashbox. Let's take a look, shall we?

I love this nude lipstick so much - I've worn it so much since I received it last week!
This nude shade is called Ski Bunny, and it's a stunning nude shade, which is comparable to Creme Cup by MAC, only less pink. It has a matte finish, but it doesn't feel drying on your lips. It glides on creamily and smoothly. I did find that it clung to any dry patches on my lips slightly, so be sure to moisturise your lips well before applying it. It's incredibly pigmented and lasts all day on the lips. What I love about this nude shade is that it has a slight pinkish tone to it, so it avoids the dreaded foundation lip look! It's not a flat matte colour, it has such a beautiful finish.
It's such a versatile colour too - it looks incredible when layered over different lip pencils. I'm currently obsessed with layering it on top of Soar lip liner by MAC!
 Lippy Girl's Vegocentric lipsticks include only natural organic ingredients, which is great news too! The Lippy Girl lipsticks cost £12.50 and are available from http://www.botanicalbrands.com/

In order to achieve the perfect Kim K look, I decided to top it off with my current favourite lip gloss from Smashbox in the shade 'Illume'. I've done a full review on this in my Smashbox Try It Kit Review so you can refer to that for more detail. 

The Smashbox lipgloss is just the perfect top coat for this lip look - it provides a gorgeous shimmery shine to the lips that is essential for a Kim Kardashian lip. This lip combination looks absolutely beautiful paired with a smoky eye, as it really tones it down and evens out the make-up.

 Are you a fan of the Kardashian make-up trends like me? Let me know your favourite Kardashian-inspired products!
Zara :-) x

New Foundation: Honeypie Minerals Golden Fair Foundation

I love trying new foundations, particularly from exciting brands that I've never had the opportunity to try before. I was kindly sent this foundation from Honeypie Minerals to review, and I am in love!
I've never used a mineral foundation prior to this, nor have I really used powder foundations, so I'm delighted to report back that this was a huge success for me!

This Golden Fair Foundation provides a flawless matte coverage that absorbs excess oils and minimises the appearance of pores. I love the medium to full coverage it provides without looking cakey or too done up. Although it's a matte finish, my skin had a beautiful glowing appearance - I didn't look flat with it on!
If my skin isn't good on a day that I wear this foundation, I just apply a little bit of concealer on my blemishes and then apply this and I'm good to go.
The staying power of this foundation is impeccable - it lasted on me for eight hours with no shininess or oiliness. It didn't gather around my nose or sit on any blemishes - it reminds me of my beloved MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Natural, only with a better coverage and a better price!
Packaging wise, I really like the sifter jar it comes in - it eliminates the worry of applying too much

I would highly recommend this foundation for oily skinned girls who wants a matte, flawless finish without the worry of it gliding off throughout the day.

Honeypie Minerals is formulated with 100% natural ingredients so their products are a perfect option for girls with sensitive skin too.

This foundation will set you back a mere £11.99 and is available from http://www.honeypieminerals.com/shop/ and the foundation is available in 15 different shades!

What do you think of mineral foundations?
Zara :-) x

New In: Nanshy Masterful Collection Brushes

The most important aspect of good make-up application is definitely your tools. Most of you will already know that these tools don't come cheap! It's insanely difficult to find good quality brushes for a price that won't break the bank.
I'm delighted to report today that I have found the most incredible brushes at an affordable price! This is also fantastic news coming up to Christmas, so be sure to take note!

Nanshy have just launched their brand new Masterful Collection - a collection of 12 brushes which feature specialised design in shape and contour, giving you the perfect kit to create a flawless make-up look.

Today I'll be specifically reviewing the blending brush from the collection, while giving you a brief overview on the rest of the brushes.

The brushes are made from synthetic hairs, which I absolutely love as you can use them with both cream and powder products, and they're much quicker to wash!
What I love about this specific brush is the diversity of it. It's marketed as a blending brush, but you can use it for a multitude of different applications - you can apply highlighter with it, blend concealer, apply eyeshadow all over the lid - the possibilities are endless! It's also fantastic for travel - a brush that's a true multi-tasker is invaluable when you're on the go!

The blending brush is incredibly soft and comfortable to use. It seamlessly blends out product and isn't too stiff. It's also anti-bacterial and 100% Vegan, so it's a true win-win product.

I would highly recommend checking these brush kits out - you can get it in both black and white, and they retail for €62.62. When you break this down and consider you're getting 12 brushes, working out at just over €5 each, this is fantastic value.

You can purchase your Nanshy Collection brushes here: http://nanshy.com/product/masterful-collection

Let me know what you think and what your favourite brushes are!
Zara :-) x

Christmas Gift Ideas: Smashbox Try It Kit!

Now that November is upon us, it's time to bring out the Christmas blog posts!

Today I'll be sharing the niftiest little kit that my cousins got me for my birthday a few weeks ago - the Smashbox Try It Kit. 

The kit contains five mini sizes of Smashbox's best selling products, giving you the opportunity to trial them all before deciding whether to make the splurge and buy them all full-sized! 

I absolutely love this kit and highly recommend it as a gift for any beauty lover in your life. So let's take a closer look at what you get in the kit:

• Photo Finish Foundation Primer

This is the most raved-about primer of all-time, so I was anxious to see how it would perform on my super-oily skin. It claims to smooth the appearance of fine lines and pores while creating a flawless canvas for make-up application, and it's also oil free. It has a velvety texture that makes it a dream to apply onto your face, and it reduces the look of pores. It's similar enough to Benefit's Porefessional without the tinted colour and silicone feel. I've never found a primer that has genuinely kept my make-up looking flawless with no need to touch-up or anything - I just kind of concluded that my skin was too oily and I would have to deal with constantly touching my foundation up throughout the night. 

The first time I wore this was to an 18th a few weeks ago. I applied my foundation at 5pm and when I got home at 2 the following morning my foundation still looked perfect! I hadn't used any powder, and it didn't have a greasy touch. I always doubted that a foundation primer would be worth €35, but this one certainly made me change my mind! It's my favourite item in the kit and I will most definitely be purchasing a full size.

• Photo Finish Lid Primer

From the same family as the Foundation Primer, the Photo Finish Lid Primer is another winner. It has a nude tint to it, and it feels almost powdery to the touch. It reminds me a little bit of the Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden, only it feels a little more dry and it isn't as opaque on the lids. I really enjoyed using this primer, it's crease resistant and really improved the vibrancy of the shadows I wore over it. It didn't allow oil through and kept my eyeshadow on all day. I love how it has a doe-foot applicator, as it minimises wasted product, unlike those tubes of primer that you always end up using far too much of! The Photo Finish Lid Primer retails for about €19, which is relatively standard for a high-end eyeshadow primer, and I would totally recommend it if you're on the search for a good quality eyeshadow base. 

• Full Exposure Mascara

I'm a self-confessed mascara junkie, so I absolutely love getting new ones to try out! The Full Exposure mascara promises to expose your longest, fullest lashes with no clumps or flakes. Thankfully, this mascara stays true to its promises! 

The wand of the brush is quite big, but it's not difficult to coat your smaller lashes in the inner corners. The wand allows you to fan out your lashes to give them ultimate length and volume. It's rare that a mascara can deliver both exceptional length and volume, so this mascara is a must-have for me. It doesn't clump your lashes, nor does it make them look spidery. It doesn't flake or smudge throughout the day, even though it's not a waterproof formula. I've always been an advocate of drugstore mascaras over expensive ones, however if you're wanting to splurge out on a mascara, it has to be this one! The Full Exposure Mascara retails at €20, which is actually quite good value for a high-end mascara!

• Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx

I never thought I would find an eye liner pencil that I love more than my Chanel one, but the day has come - Chanel has been replaced! The Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx is a true jet black pencil that is waterproof and is smudge proof and budge free. The formula of this pencil is fantastic - it has a creamy consistency that doesn't drag or pull your eye, and although it doesn't smudge, it can be blended under your eyes without hassle. I love how soft the pencil is, it makes lining both your waterline and tight line so simple. The full size of this pencil will set you back €17, but it also includes a built-in pencil sharpener! I love this sample size for throwing in my bag and taking with me on the go, although I never need to touch it up! Once it sets, it's not going anywhere!

• Lip Enhancing Gloss in Illume

I've always heard great reviews of the Smashbox glosses, so I was really eager to play with this beautiful golden nude colour. The gloss is quite sticky, but it lasts a long time on the lips. I'm personally not too fussed about overly sticky glosses, I tend to just blot them into a tissue after application and then I'm good to go! I really loved this colour, it gave my lips a beautiful sheen and it looks stunning paired with dramatic eyes. It looks very shimmery in the tube however when you apply it it's much more subdued. To me, this smells very similar to the MAC lip glosses - I'd describe it as a sweet vanilla scent. I would recommend checking this out if you're looking for a nice everyday lipgloss that you could also pair with a dark smoky eye. It's a winner in my book! The full sized gloss is €20.50

As you've probably concluded, I couldn't recommend this kit enough. I absolutely love it and I think it's a fantastic means of trying Smashbox's best selling products. Before I got this kit I hadn't tried anything by Smashbox, but it has made me add some of the products to my wishlist! 

I think this would make a fantastic gift for any make-up lover, or even someone just getting into make-up. The set is €22, which is exceptional value in my opinion.

Let me know what your favourite Smashbox products are in the comments!

(Also thank you to my cousins Alanna and Katie for getting me this, I absolutely love it!! :) ) 

Zara :-) x