There's nothing I love more than a good contour kit, but they are products generally associated with high end brands. Now that the drugstores are starting to produce more contouring palettes, I'm on the hunt to find the best sculpting powder to give me cheekbones á la Kim K.

I discovered this new palette from Maybelline in Boots last week, and having not heard anything about it online, I decided to give it a whirl. This one, as you can see, is autographed by Mollie King of The Saturdays. This is because yesterday Mollie was announced as the new face of Maybelline, and the Master Sculpt Contouring Palette is her first endorsement for the brand.

I have the shade 01 Light/Medium, and there's also 02 Medium/Dark. If you're interested in snapping up a kit signed by Mollie, from what I can see she has only autographed the Light/Medium kits.

Anyway, onto the product itself. It's divided into two sections - about a third of it is a highlighter, the rest is the contouring powder. The contour powder is the perfect matte brown that isn't orange or muddy looking - it's very soft and finely milled, and the pigmentation is just right for controlling the amount of product you put on your cheekbones. It strikes that perfect balance between having no colour pay-off at all, and being so pigmented that you can't even use it without looking like a contoured mess!

I absolutely love the highlighter - I've recently gotten really into highlighting, and this is by far the best I've tried. It's quite subtle, so if you're opting for a night-time look I'd definitely recommend getting your fan brush and generously applying the highlighter to get a good amount of pay-off. For the daytime though, it's the perfect natural sheen on your cheeks.

Before, After Contouring, and After Highlight

I would describe this palette at the ultimate day time contouring kit - it's very subtle and easy to wear. Usually I find that contouring kits are designed for dramatic, dark looks, whereas this is definitely formulated to cater for those who want light definition during the day. I personally prefer this as I'm always worried that my contour will look too much during the day!

Normally I use NARS' Laguna bronzer to contour, but the contouring shade in this palette is much more soft to wear during the day, so I think my beloved Laguna will be retired for the time being.

The contour and highlight are incredibly long-wearing, and don't wear off or start to look patchy during the day. The powders are super soft and really blend seamlessly into the skin.

In terms of packaging, it really reminds me of Maybelline's Fit Me range. The packaging is sturdy and compact, and actually has two layers to it - the first layer holds the product, then if you lift the flap up, you'll find a good sized mirror and a brush! This is quite a popular addition to products in the US, so I'm glad that we're starting to get some nice compartments in our products here!

The Master Sculpt powders are in stores now and retail for £6.99/€9.99, and it's an absolute bargain. I would highly recommend checking these out if you're in need of a contour kit, it certainly won't disappoint!

What's your favourite contouring product?

Zara :-) x

Makeup Products That I've Used Up!

Empties videos and blog posts have become really popular over the last year, but I personally find them quite tedious unless they're purely makeup related empties. I find it quite interesting to see what makeup items that other girls loved so much that they used the whole thing up. Today I'm going to be sharing all the makeup products I've used up over the last few months. I've been holding out on doing this post for a while as I wanted to have a good bulk of products finished up.

I have a few MAC products, which is what inspired me to do this post, as I only need one more item to get myself a free lipstick - and as I'm typing this, I actually think I have a lipgloss that's a bit past it sell by date... perhaps a trip to MAC is needed after I finish this post!

As we go along I'll tell you what I recommend, what I wouldn't necessarily repurchase, or what I've already repurchased! Anything that is yet to be repurchased, will be bought after my spending ban has been lifted in July - you can read more about my spending ban here!

Last note - this is quite a long post, I've saved up a huge amount of empties to do this! I'd recommend a cup of tea and perhaps a biscuit before continuing.

Beauty Favourites Of 2014!

Happy New Year! I honestly can't believe how fast 2014 went - it seems like only yesterday we were in 2013.
I've spent the past few days whittling down my makeup collection to compile a list of my ultimate make-up picks of the year. I've taken inspiration from the lovely Vivianna Does Makeup and used her categories to list my choices for the best beauty items of 2014.
2014 was a fantastic year makeup-wise, particularly for us Irish gals. Many of the world's most popular beauty brands made their way to our shores, including Charlotte Tilbury, NYX, Physician's Formula and Wet'N'Wild, to name but a few.
If you've read my blog at any point since I made it last June, I'm sure you'll recognise some of these products - I tend to blog about my loves immediately so many of these items won't come as a surprise. So let's get straight to business: (Wait! One more thing - swatches of everything is at the bottom of the post!)

Base:

• Best Primer: My primer of 2014 is the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, without a doubt. I've got incredibly oily skin and I have never found a primer as long-lasting as this little guy. It feels light and velvety, keeping my skin matte and my foundation in place. Love, love, love!
• Best Lightweight Foundation: NARS Sheer Matte. Although marketed as a sheer foundation, it's most certainly a buildable choice that you can make into a medium coverage if you wish. I chose it for my lightweight foundation as that's my preferred way of wearing it - it's so natural yet flawless, with fantastic longevity. It's a pricey base choice but in my opinion it is definitely worth investing in. 
• Best Full Coverage Foundation: I'm giving this prize to Maybelline Better Skin Superstay Foundation. I bought this back in June and it is my top foundation of the year, dare I say it. The coverage is nothing short of flawless, it feels light on your skin and blends in seamlessly. It's most definitely the best foundation I've ever come across at the drugstore. 
• Best Tinted Moisturiser: I'm not the biggest fan of tinted moisturisers, however I discovered the Stila Oil Free Sheer Tinted Moisturiser about two years ago and it has become a staple for me in the summer when my skin is clear and behaving itself. It's incredibly sheer but it can be built up to a nice light coverage with two or three layers. The formula is very light so there's no worry that it's going to cake up. It's very long lasting so it's an excellent option for the summer time when you don't need much coverage anyway.
• Best Concealer: No prizes for guessing what I've chosen here - of course, MAC Pro Longwear Concealer! I went through two of them this year, and got a new one for Christmas to keep me going for 2015. There are no concealers on the market that compare to it - it's ideal for highlighting under the eyes as well as covering blemishes. I've also started using it as an eyeshadow base and it works better than any primer I own! 
• Best Powder: Again, no surprise here - my beloved MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Natural. As you can tell from the picture above, it's very well loved! It'll have to be my first beauty purchase of 2015. I would describe this powder as a filter for your face - it just glides over the skin and banishes any imperfections with a light dusting. It has a light coverage so you can even use it on its own with a bit of concealer if you want a natural makeup look. I don't think I will ever find a powder that will overtake my love for this little guy! 
• Best Bronzer: Michael Kors Bronze Powder in Gleam. I love a bronzer with a good sheen to it, no chunky glitter. It's a stunning true bronze with a hint of gold, which is complimentary on every skin tone imaginable. The powder is very finely milled and delivers the most beautiful bronzed sheen to the skin. It's really the only non-matte bronzer that I reach for in my collection.
• Best Blush: I am awarding this to MAC's Dainty blush. It's part of their mineralise range, and is a stunning pink with a golden shimmer, but like the Michael Kors bronzer, it gives a sheen rather than becoming a thick glittery mess on your skin. This is my go-to blush as it looks beautiful paired with any eye and lip look, it's so effortless. 
• Best Contour: I'd like to say Laguna by NARS as I'm obsessed, but I don't think it's a fair pick as I've only had it for the last month or so. Hence, the award is going to NYC's Smooth Skin Bronzer in Sunny. It's the most fantastic contour shade as it's completely matte and is a true golden-bronze, not an orange or muddy brown. It's not too intensely pigmented, so you have great control with it and applying it is a breeze. It's also as cheap as chips, so there's no room for complaint here.
• Best Highlighter: This was a complete no brainer for me. Without a doubt, my highlighter of 2014 is Makeup Revolution's The One Blush Stick in Dream. It is the most stunning, pearlescent pink highlight that is so natural yet striking. I reviewed the whole collection of Blush Sticks, which you can view here. I love Dream because the formula is just outstanding - it has a cream to powder effect and you are in complete control of how it looks on your cheeks - you can apply it sheerly or apply it heavily for an intense highlight.

Eyes:

• Best Brow Product: Benefit's Gimme Brow has been my favourite brow launch of the year. I've found that this year in particular, every reputable makeup brand has stepped up their brow game, but I really think Benefit were on to a winner with this product. It's a brow gel that emulates the look of real hairs so you can have a natural looking brow that isn't sparce. I tend to use this on its own if I'm too lazy to do a full face of makeup with defined brows, and it gives my brows a nice bit of definition without looking like a huge amount of effort went into doing them. I will most definitely be repurchasing this.
• Best Eye Primer: I've raved about this primer countless times here on my blog, it's the Essence I Heart Stage Eye Base. I've used this for about two years now and no other primer comes close to it for me. It has a slight tint to it so it eliminates any discolouration or veining on your lids to provide you with a smooth blank canvas to apply your eyeshadow on top of. 
• Best Single Eyeshadow: I chose Givenchy's Mono Eyeshadow in Modish Brown. I did a full in depth review of it here which you can refer to for swatches and more detail. It's basically a single eyeshadow, a light chocolate brown, that is divided into four squares to give you four finishes. Fairly suave, non? It's so versatile and as you know, I'm a packaging junkie so I adore the classy Givenchy casing. I'm also a fan of a good magnetic closure, so this is an all rounder by my standards.
• Best Eyeshadow Palette: I don't think will come as a surprise to any of you. Charlotte Tilbury's Dolce Vita eyeshadow palette - also known as the make-up love of my life (well, maybe my second as I think my Tom Ford lipstick has won my heart...). Like my Givenchy eyeshadow, I've done a full in-depth review of the palette with swatches which you can view here.  Charlotte Tilbury Cosmetics took the beauty world by storm in 2014, and this product is a true testament as to why she is fast becoming the queen of makeup.
• Best Eyeshadow Stick: I actually had a few in mind for this category, but my winner is the NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk. NYX launched in Ireland this year and Milk was near impossible to get until about a month after it launched! Anyway, it's the perfect opaque white eyeshadow base or eyeliner that is so versatile. I love to put it under my eyeshadows to really intensify them and improve their longevity. It also looks fabulous as an eyeliner on the waterline.
• Best Eye Pencil: My go-to eye pencil of the year has been the Chanel Intense Eye Pencil in Noir. I read countless reviews of how excellent this one was, so I decided to step away from my beloved Rimmel eye kohl and give this one a whirl. It was most definitely worth it! It's the most long-wearing, intense black eye pencil I have ever tried. It's completely smudge resistant and doesn't budge at all. It's ideal for the tightline as it doesn't transfer at all.
• Best Mascara: The winner here is the Kiko Ultra Tech mascara. This is another firm love that I was introduced to this year when I went to Italy. We don't have Kiko here in Ireland and at €3, I had to snap this mascara up. It's an excellent volumising mascara that is clump free and adds a false-lash effect to your eyelashes. I didn't get the waterproof formula but it doesn't smudge or dry incredibly hard, it's a very comfortable mascara to wear. It's the best I've tried in a while, without a doubt!

Lips:

• Best Lip Balm: I'm awarding this to the famous EOS lip balms. My younger sister is a massive fan of them - her collection proudly boasts over 20 of them! My collection, however, is a little more demure and holds six different flavours. They all smell divine -my personal favourite is Summer Fruits- and they're incredibly moisturising without leaving a greasy residue behind. Their egg shape makes application a dream, and also quite fun! They're a handbag essential for me - I can't be without my little egg lip balms!
• Best Lip Gloss: I found myself scratching my head a little on which lip gloss to choose - it made me come to the realisation that I've definitely been neglecting glossy lips recently! Anyway, I concluded that the best gloss I've tried all year has to be the NYX Butter Gloss in Peaches and Cream. The name is a little misleading as it's certainly not peach - it's a true pink colour that's highly pigmented. It smells like vanilla, almost similar to the MAC lipsticks, and is very buttery - and ultimately true to its name! I plan on trying more colours this year, so let me know if you've any recommendations.
• Best Lip Pencil: An absolute no brainer for me - MAC's Soar lip pencil. Kylie Jenner took over the beauty world with her lip lining techniques, and when it was confirmed that Soar was her weapon of choice, there was not a Soar pencil to be found at any MAC counter. I've used mine non-stop since October - I think I've worn perhaps five make-up looks without it! It's the most versatile lip pencil in my collection, it works well with every lip colour under the sun. I particularly like to put it under light pink lipsticks, it makes them much more flattering and adds a lovely deep tone. If you only have one lip pencil in your life, it has to be this one! 
• Best Nude Lipstick: I've chosen my Essence Stay Matte Lip Cream in Soft Nude. I'm not the biggest fan of nude lipsticks, so as you'll see from the swatches below, this is more a mauve-toned nude. I would go as far as saying this is one of my all-time favourite lip colours - the formula is impeccable, it has fantastic staying power and it doesn't feel drying on your lips, nor does it sit into any dry areas on your lips. The smell is slightly off putting, it smells like very sweet marshmallows, which can be overpowering after a while but it's worth it for such a beautiful lip colour, in my opinion!
• Best Bold Lipstick: My favourite bold lippie of 2014 has got to be MAC's Dodgy Girl lipstick. It was part of May's Kelly Osbourne collection, and it's a matte lilac which is absolutely beautiful, as you can see below. Even though this is the bold lipstick category, I think it's worth mentioning that this lipstick can easily be made into a wearable one by simply adding a slightly darker gloss. It's a true winner that I love in my collection!

And finally, that is everything that I have been loving in 2014! Wishing you all a very Happy New Year - here's to plenty more favourites posts! 

Zara :-) x

November Favourites!

I'm so excited that it's finally December! I literally live for Christmas all year long, so I'm absolutely loving the countdown (with the help of my One Direction and Frozen advent calendars, of course!). To mark the beginning of December I thought I would share my favourites from the month of November. I bought a huge amount of make-up when I visited New York last month, however my favourites is made up of old products that I've re-discovered recently. I have lots of make-up to share, as well as a little bit of skincare, haircare and music thrown into the mix. So let's go!

Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Foundation

I bought this foundation when it was released around June of this year, and I loved it from the moment I put it on my skin! However I normally tend to use my Sephora Hydrating Foundation as it's a nicer summer foundation and the colour matches my tan better, so this foundation was banished to the back of my drawer to be recovered in the winter. I used it on and off for a few months, but in October and November I really clamped down on it. It's hands-down one of the best foundations I've ever tried! It has medium coverage and the lasting power is amazing, even on oily skin like mine. It makes your skin look so flawless, but is weightless on your face. I love foundations that don't feel like they're there, but they still do the job you expect them to do, so this is an absolute gem in my book! I wouldn't agree that it improves your skin, as I haven't noticed any difference in my skin from using this product, but I didn't purchase it in the hopes of bettering my skin, I bought it in the hope of getting a new holy-grail foundation - and I certainly got that!

MAC Lip Pencil in Soar

I got the famous Kylie Jenner lip pencil back in October, and I'm in love with it! I wear it pretty much every day, either on its own or underneath another lip colour. I love the diversity of this lip pencil - it looks good under pretty much every lipstick I've put on top of it! I have done a blog post on how I achieve the Kylie Jenner lip look which you can view here, but even if you have no interest in emulating her look, I couldn't recommend this lip pencil enough! It's a beautiful brownish nude, which compliments every skin tone and every make-up look you pair it with. I could rave about this pencil all day, it's my all-time favourite lip colour!

NARS Blush in Gaiety 

I really love NARS products, particularly their blushes. I bought Gaiety about two years ago and used it religiously for months. As my make-up collection expanded, I kind of pushed it to the side in favour of new products. Last month I began using it again and remembered why I loved it so much in the first place! Gaiety is a cool toned, candy pink that has a matte finish. I've definitely been favouring matte blushes of late, I just think they look better in the winter! It's very finely-milled, and has a light pigmentation that's buildable. It's one of my favourite blushes in my collection, so I would highly recommend checking it out at your local NARS counter. I recently purchased Orgasm, so I'm looking forward to seeing if it matches my love for Gaiety!

Collection Lasting Colour Gel Eyeliner

When I ran out of my Maybelline gel eyeliner, I picked up this one on a whim and I'm incredibly impressed by it! The longevity of this eyeliner is incredible, it's a true jet black and it's completely smudge-proof. It's so easy to work with, it just glides onto your lids. The eyeliner also comes with a handy little brush, but I tend to use my MAC 209 brush to apply it. The best part of this eyeliner is that it's so inexpensive - I'd definitely recommend checking it out!





Victoria's Secret Coconut Passion Fragrance Mist

I've always loved the Victoria's Secret body mists, and I love to rotate the one I use regularly, but the past month or so has been all about Coconut Passion for me! The one pictured is my mini one that came in a gift set I received for Christmas last year, but I bought a full sized one in New York when I was there. It's a coconut and vanilla scent that is the ultimate summery fragrance. It smells fresh and girly without being overpowering. My favourite way to use the Victoria's Secret fragrance mists is to apply them straight after the shower - you'll smell like a Victoria's Secret Angel! They have the most diverse collection of fragrances that I'm sure you'll find something for you if you're not a coconut fan.

Botanicals Nourishing Face Balm

I won't go into too much detail about this skincare item as I did a full review on it a few weeks ago, which you can see here! This face balm has saved my skin tremendously, as it was acting up all last month! It's a gritty balm that turns to oil when you rub it into your skin. You put it on before you go to bed and when you wake up your skin feels refreshed and is glowing! It completely softens and revives the texture of your skin, and brings any impurities to the surface. I honestly can't imagine my skincare routine without it now - it's a lifesaver! You can buy Botanicals products from their website.

VO5 Revive Me Daily Shampoo

I actually think this is the first time I've mentioned haircare on my blog, but this gem is completely deserving of a mention! I've tried a considerable amount of shampoos in my time, but I've never loved one like I love this! This shampoo gives my hair the most incredible shine to it, which is something my hair has been lacking for quite a while now. It makes my hair a dream to brush through, and it leaves it feeling so soft and silky. The shampoo also smells fantastic, which is always a bonus! It stays true to its name too - it gives my hair so much volume and makes it look like it's been professionally blow-dried every time I use it. Quite possibly my favourite of all my favourites this month!

As for my music favourite this month, it has to be the latest album from One Direction - 'Four'. I'm a massive One Direction fan, so I was eagerly anticipating its release last month. In my opinion it's quite different from their other albums, but it lived up to my expectations of it! My favourite songs are 'Change Your Ticket', 'Night Changes' and 'Stockholm Syndrome'. As I said, it's certainly not what you'd typically expect from One Direction, so even if you're not a fan I'd definitely recommend checking out some of the songs on Youtube. I've had it on repeat since it was released!




So that's the end of my favourites for this month! Let me know your favourites for the month of November!

Zara :-) x

New York Beauty Haul Part 2: Drugstore, Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret!

Today's post is the follow up to last Friday's high-end beauty haul from New York. I did the majority of my beauty shopping in Sephora, however it was only right to check out the drugstore's offerings whilst I was in the States. I limited myself to a few items, however my excitement got the better of me in Victoria's Secret and Bath and Body Works!
Let's start with the drugstore!

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous Three in One Foundation

This is by far one of the most popular drugstore foundations out there at the moment. We don't have Covergirl here in Ireland (apparently we used to but they vanished and never returned to our shores!), so I was eager to get my mitts on this little guy when I found myself in Duane Reade. I got the shade 825 Buff Beige, and luckily it's a perfect match. I've worn the foundation once and so far I'm incredibly impressed - the coverage is phenomenal, as is the staying power. A more in-depth review shall follow! This foundation was $13.99,



Milani Baked Blush in Berry Amore 

Milani is another brand us Irish gals can't get hold of, and anyone who's familiar with beauty bloggers or vloggers will have heard of the Milani Baked Blushes. The stand I visited was nearly sold out of everything, but they had just one Berry Amore left. I chose it because I've often heard Lauren Curtis on Youtube rave about it, and I always admired the colour on her. What I particularly love about this shade is that it's so unusual - I don't have anything like it in my collection. I wore it with the Covergirl foundation the other day and several people complimented the colour! I also think it's the perfect shade for this time of year.

Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Peach Satin

We have an excellent selection of Maybelline products in Ireland, however there are certain little gems that seem to slip through the cracks with regards to Irish launches. The Dream Bouncy Blushes have been available for about two years now in the US, and it seems to me that both Youtubers and bloggers have mixed views on them. The beauty blogger in me was desperate to put it to the test, so I decided to pick one up when I saw the Maybelline stand. I chose the shade Peach Satin, which is aptly named! Your finger definitely bounces back when you push it onto the blush, which has given me unfathomable amusement. I've yet to properly use this product, so I will keep you updated.

Covergirl Lashblast Volume Mascara

This is another cult beauty product that I was desperate to get a hold of when I went to New York. This is a complete side note, but I was intrigued by the packaging of mascaras in the US - in Ireland generally the mascaras aren't even packaged! The mascaras in American drugstores are sealed like this, and you remove the little lid on the tube of mascara and put the wand in yourself. Random, but I was fascinated by it! Anyway, onto the mascara - it is well and truly worth the hype! I've worn it three times since I got home last week and I always get asked what mascara I'm wearing when I have it on! It's smudge proof and it gives the most amazing, doe-eyed look. I wish I bought more!

EOS Lip Balms

I actually bought these in Ricky's Beauty Store, which was an absolute gold mine for me! It was full of brands such as NYX, Ben Nye and ELF that are so hard to get here. I limited myself to a few EOS lip balms, though! I absolutely love EOS lip balms, I already had Mint, Summer Fruits and Pomegranate and Raspberry at home, but my sister has the Strawberry one and I love the smell, so I bought one too! My younger sister is obsessed with EOS lip balms and has every single flavour, so she was able to recommend some good ones for me! I bought the Blueberry Acai for my friend Emma Jane, and my sister
showed me the middle one, which is brand new and called Coconut Milk. My favourite is definitely the Strawberry though! These were $4 each.

That is it for my drugstore purchases, so let's move swiftly on to Bath And Body Works!

I bought a fair amount of hand sanitisers, purely because they're so inexpensive and so cute! My sister and I must have bought the whole contents of the PocketBac stand! The scents I got (from left to right) are:
-Fresh Sparkling Snow
- Mahogany Teakwood (I bought three of these - they're my favourite!)
- Candy Cane Bliss
- Winter Cranberry
- Stress Relief
- Sweet Pea
- Pure Paradise
- Dancing Waters
- Dazzling Diamond
                                                                                    - Japanese Cherry Blossom
                                                                                    - Sugar Plum Dream
                                                                                    - Too Many Cookies
                                                                                    - Raspberry Meringue
                                                                                    - Frosted Wonderland
                                                                                    - Vanilla Bean Noel
                                                                                    - Warm Vanilla Sugar
So as you can tell, I'm obsessed with these mini hand sanitisers! They're so handy to keep in your pocket or in your bag, so I made sure to stock up on them!

Finally, I bought a few body sprays in Victoria's Secret. My favourite shop that I visited in New York was most definitely Victoria's Secret - I spent a fortune in there! It's girly paradise, I absolutely adore it!

These body mists are my absolute favourite fragrances, I use them every single day. My favourite is Coconut Passion, but I like to rotate them every day! My favourite way to use them is to put them on straight after the shower - you smell divine all day long! The scents I chose are:
- Strawberries and Champagne
- Aqua Kiss
- Coconut Passion
- Secret Craving
- True Escape
- Sheer Love
- Snow Mint
- Pink Sunkissed Mini Spray

So that concludes my New York Beauty Haul! I hope you enjoyed both parts, and be sure to let me know what you'd be interested in hearing more about.

Zara :-) x

Make-Up Of The Day: Matte Brown Smoky Eyes!

The autumnal make-up is in full swing! Today's Make-Up Of The Day is a matte brown smoky eye paired with nude lips and lots of contouring and highlighting! It's such a simple look to recreate, and I think it looks beautiful with any lip colour.
I can see this being my go-to look for the autumn time!

                                         

                                                   FACE

• Beauty UK Prime FX Foundation Primer
• Maybelline Better Skin Foundation in 30 Sand
• Mememe Cosmetics Flawless Concealer in 05 Beige
• Sleek Face Form Kit in Fair

                                                    EYES

• Beauty UK Prime FX Eyeshadow Primer
• Paese Cosmetics Kashmir Eyeshadow in 671 
• I Heart Make-Up 'Make-Up Geek' Eyeshadow Palette (stars beside colours used!)
• NYX Jumbo Pencil in 'Milk'
• W7 Souffle Mascara
• Stila Major Lash Mascara

 The white stars indicate the colours I used! They're just three basic colours really - a dark matte brown, a matte black and a shimmery white to use as a highlight in the inner corners. I thought the shimmery highlight looked beautiful in contrast to the matte eyes.

                                                       LIPS

• Michael Kors Lip Lacquer in Diva
• Mememe Cosmetics Light Me Up Lip Gloss in 02 Illuminate 

I will have more in depth reviews on some of these products coming soon, and I've already reviewed some of them, which you can read by clicking the name of the product! 

What's your go-to look for autumn?

Zara :-) x

Make-Up Of The Night: Janoskians Edition!

Today's post is another make-up of the night post! Last night my friends and I went to see the Janoskians and I wanted to share the make-up look I wore! It's a little bit more autumnal, as I personally prefer winter make-up with darker colours! We didn't have much time to get ready for the show so I chose to keep my make-up relatively simple - I just used my new MAC eyeshadow and did a quick winged liner look with a matte black eyeshadow!

                                                     FACE
                                           - Benefit The Porefessional Face Primer
                                           - Bourjois Bronzing Primer
                                           - Maybelline Super Stay Better Skin Foundation in 30 Sand
                                           - MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20
                                           - MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Natural in Medium
                                           - Milani Sunset Duo Bronzer in Sunset Breeze
                                           - MAC Sheertone Blush in Blushbaby
                                           - MAC Mineralise Skin Finish in Centre Of Attention

                                 

                              EYES
      - Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden
      - MAC Eyeshadow in Antiqued
      - Sephora Matte Black Eyeshadow
         - MAC Gigablack Lash Mascara
                                         
                               LIPS
             - Essence Wear Berries Lipstick
                                                                 





I realise my make-up was very MAC heavy - I've definitely been on a bit of a MAC hype recently! I will have a Best Of The Brand featuring MAC coming soon for my fellow MAC lovers.
Anyway, I hope you liked the make-up look!

Are you going to the Janoskians Got Cake tour? Let me know!
Zara :-)

Make-Up Of The Day: Smoky Eyes!

Today's make-up of the day post features a darker eye look than I would usually wear - I wanted a change from my neutrals so I decided to try something a little more smoky.
I used the Wet'N'Wild Comfort Zone Palette to achieve this look and paired it with my favourite false eyelashes too!

                                                             FACE:
                                                  - MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20
                                                  - Bourjois Bronzing Primer
                                                  - MAC Face and Body Foundation in C3
         * I used the MAC concealer to highlight and the Bourjois primer to contour, then I applied the MAC Face and Body to blend it all together!*
                                                   - Wet'N'Wild Blush in Pearlescent Pink
                                                   - NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer in Sunny

EYES

- Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eyeshadow Primer

- Wet'N'Wild Comfort Zone Eyeshadow Palette

- Wet'N'Wild H20 Proof Liquid Eye Liner in Ultra Black

- Chanel Intense Eye Pencil in Noir

- Maybelline The Rocket Express Volum' Mascara

- Cheryl Cole Eyelashes by Eylure

LIPS

- MAC 'Hug Me' Lipstick

                                               The Wet'N'Wild palettes are so perfect for creating both day and night looks - I couldn't recommend them enough!

So that's my make-up of the day, let me know what you think!
Zara :-) xx

Best Of The Brand #2 - Maybelline!

Maybelline is one of my top three drugstore make-up brands - I think they tick all the boxes in regards to product range, quality and price. In today's Best Of The Brand, I'll be sharing my top 5 Maybelline products that range from their base products to their famous mascaras. So let's go!

5. Maybelline Dream Touch Lumi Concealer (€10.49)
This is a highlighting concealer designed to conceal under-eye imperfections and illuminate the face. These concealers are very popular on the market at the moment, with every brand releasing their own offering. I'm lucky in the sense that I don't tend to suffer from bad under-eye circles so I use these concealers just for a bit of dimension on my face when highlighting, as I usually use matte foundations. I got this concealer around the same time I got my beloved Chanel Eclat Lumiere Highlighting Face Pen, which I have featured in my make-up of the day posts. If I'm being totally honest, I don't see a huge difference in them! As you can see from the picture I have almost used this whole thing up and I would definitely repurchase! To me it provides the same coverage as the Chanel, just at a cheaper price! If you're on the market for a YSL Touche Eclat-esque product - look no further than your local Maybelline stand! I have this in the shade 01 Ivory. The one downside to this product is the limited colour range - it's only available in 01 Ivory and 02 Sand.

4. Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner (€11.99)
When it comes to eyeliners, I completely avoid liquid eyeliners as I just can't master them! I'm still practising and I'm improving, but until I can do a perfect even line I will stick with my trusty gel liners. I've tried many gel eyeliners, from Rimmel to MAC, but I really like this little Maybelline number! It comes with a brush, but I didn't really find it much good so I just use my MAC 209 liner brush. I've had this eyeliner for about three months now and surprisingly it hasn't shown any signs of drying out yet! My one issue with the MAC Fluidline was that it dried out quite quickly for such an expensive liner.
Maybelline's gel eyeliner is a deep black that can be applied softly for a more subtle look or you can use a heavy hand and make it the blackest of blacks. This is the only eyeliner I have used for months now and I love it! Also practicality-wise, the packaging is excellent as the cap screws on very tightly and securely to avoid it drying up prematurely.

3. Maybelline Baby Lips (€3.99)
These little guys launched in Ireland around this time last year, however my brother's girlfriend visited New York last June and was kind enough to bring me back the Pink Punch to try out. I used it once and fell in love! When they were released in Ireland, my sister and I went on a mad hunt to try and find every shade! I have Pink Punch, Cherry Me, Intense Care and Hydrate. I did have the other two but I gave them to my sister as she couldn't find hers! These lip balms have received mix reviews about their ability to perform as lip balms, but to be honest, I just enjoy the scent and the fun colours! I don't find them drying or anything like that, I think they moisturise well but I don't use them as my sole lip balm The colour pay-off is quite light - they just provide a nice wash of colour to the lips, nothing too wild. My favourite is Pink Punch - it is my go-to lip colour for natural make-up days! The scent of Pink Punch reminds of the YSL lipsticks, fruity and summery. They smell so good, they're inexpensive and the packaging is adorable - what's not to love?!

2. Maybelline Mascaras (€11.99 - €12.99)
Maybelline are famous for their mascaras - they are the best quality mascaras I've ever tried! I've tried nearly every single one! Here are five of my favourites - Big Eyes, Illegal Length, The Falsies Black Drama, The Rocket Volum' Express and The Lash Stiletto (the writing is different on my one as I bought it in Germany!).
There really isn't a fault in these mascaras - they don't clump, they don't smudge, they hold a curl and they're the blackest black. They tick every box on my mascara check-list! I did try the Great Lash mascara recently and I wasn't a huge fan of it - I didn't feel it did much for my lashes but I gave it to my mum, who seems to be enjoying it! I couldn't recommend these mascaras enough, and the best thing about them is that there is an incredible range on offer, so no matter what sort of lashes you like you'll find the perfect mascara for you! And they also offer a waterproof formula for all of the mascaras. My current favourite is the Rocket Volum' Express Mascara.

1. Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoos (€10.49)
These are my all time favourite Maybelline products! I'm a big fan of cream eyeshadows anyway, (especially to use as eyeshadow bases), but I've never loved any brand's offering more than these! I've tried the MAC Paint Pots and the Makeup Forever Aqua Cream eyeshadows, and in my opinion there's no comparing them. The MAC and Makeup Forever cream eyeshadows cost double the price of these Maybelline ones so you really can't go wrong! The two colours I have here are my favourites - Pink Gold and On And On  Bronze. I wear On And On Bronze on its own but I usually use Pink Gold as a base for under my Naked 3 eyeshadows.


So they are my top 5 Maybelline products! What are yours?
    Zara :-) x

Make-Up Of The Night - Dirty Dancing Edition!

I recently went to see Dirty Dancing - The Musical with my cousins and I wanted to share with you the make-up look I wore! The show was incredible - I couldn't recommend it enough! Unfortunately my make-up pictures aren't great because I couldn't get my camera working to take some pictures before I left! However these are the pictures I do have! I only used the Naked Palette 1 by Urban Decay to do a neutral smoky eye.
Here is the look I wore and the products I used:


                                                             FACE:
                        - Benefit The Porefessional Primer
     - Maybelline Better Skin Super Stay Foundation in Sand
      - MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW20
       - Chanel Eclat Lumiere Highlighter Pen in 20 Beige Clair
              - MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural in Medium
                                      - MAC Mineralise Blush in Dainty
                                      - Benefit High Beam Highlighter

                           
                                                          EYEBROWS:
                                      - Kiko Cosmetics Eyebrow Expert Styling Kit in 01
                                      - Benefit Gimme Brow Eyebrow Gel in Medium/Deep

                                                           EYES:
                                      - MAC Painterly Paint Pot
                                      - Urban Decay Naked Palette - Buck, Darkhorse, Smog, Half Baked and Virgin
                                      - Chanel Intense Eye Pencil in Noir (tightline)
                                      - Sephora Eye Pencil in Chocolate (waterline)
                                      - Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Black
                                      - Dior It Addict Mascara in It Black

                                                     





     LIPS:
                                       - YSL Glossy Stain in #4 Mauve Pigmente.