The worst month of the year is over! January is always a bit of a downer after Christmas, but luckily my January was broken slightly due to my holiday earlier in the month. Anyway, today I'll be sharing the products I have been using most frequently over the last month or so. I'm also trying to make it my goal to do these favourites posts each month, as they were incredibly scarce last year!

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

The Perfect Palette Tag!

This tag has been going around for a good year now, but after cleaning out my make-up collection I thought it would be a fun tag to do!
As the owner of a ridiculous amount of eyeshadow palettes (just at the tip of 50....) I found it understandably difficult to whittle down my favourite palettes, but I managed to do it!
So let's get into the questions!

1. Best Packaging?

Not off to a good start, but I've cheated and chosen two! They're both luxury eyeshadow quads that house some beautiful neutral colours.
The first is the Her Cocoa palette from the limited edition RiRi Hearts MAC collection that Rihanna did with MAC last October. I absolutely adore the rose gold casing with her logo printed on it. It also has a magnetic closing, which is always fun. It's a very sturdy palette without being bulky, so I love it for travelling.

The second one I've chosen is from Charlotte Tilbury, and it's her Dolce Vita palette. Just look how beautiful that packaging is! I love how simple and sleek it is - it looks so elegant on my dressing table! On the inside I adore how the shadows are held in a little golden section with Charlotte's name ingraved in it. The cute little star on top of the mirror is also a gorgeous effect!






2. Best Colour Payoff?

For this one, I chose Urban Decay's Vice Palette. This came out about two years ago, and Urban Decay have released two more Vice palettes since - I believe they're released as part of the Christmas collection every year. Anyway, I got this one for my birthday in 2012 and I absolutely love it. The colours are certainly more 'out there' than your regular every-day eyeshadow palette, but the pigmentation is impeccable. It's actually quite rare to find a palette with such bold colours that has the pigmentation to match. I would definitely recommend checking out the Vice 3 Palette if you're on the hunt for a fantastic palette of bold colours.

3. Most Versatile?

This was a tough one for me, as I have so many palettes that could fit into this category, but I think the most versatile palette in my collection is the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. I adore all three of the Naked palettes, but I definitely think that the Naked 2 has so many transitional colours that can bring your look from day to night with just one or two extra shades. The left side of the palette has some fabulous neutral, everyday shades, while the right half of the palette is packed with the most beautiful shadows that are perfect for darker looks. To be honest, I think you could slot any of the Naked palettes into this category - it's so hard to choose the best of the three of them!

4. Best For Travelling?

I'm going to cheat again and go with my new Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 Palette and NARS' Ride Up To The Moon palette.. I bought the Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 recently and I just think it's the dinkiest of palettes! It houses six eyeshadows, which are predominantly matte - there's only one satin shade that can be used for highlighting. They're all cooler toned neutrals, as it's designed to go hand-in-hand with the Naked 2 palette. I think this palette is ideal for travelling as it's so compact and there are so many looks you can do with just these six shadows. If you have darker hair like me, you can also use a shadow to fill in your eyebrows! You could pack this palette and maybe just one shimmery pigment and you'd be able to do a huge variety of different looks.
I also love the NARS Ride Up To The Moon palette as I think the shades are perfect for both day and night wear. The colour selection is both practical yet beautifully unique at the same time. As you can tell from the picture, I dropped mine and cracked two of the shadows but they still work all the same! Unfortunately this palette was limited edition, but NARS release some fantastic palettes all year around so keep an eye out for them!

5. Biggest Regret?
I actually have to skip this question as I have absolutely no palettes that I regret buying! I don't tend to impulsively buy palettes, so I usually have done a good bit of research into them before I go and purchase them. I obviously have a few palettes that I don't use as often as I should, but I still wouldn't say I regret them!

6. Best Colour Names?

This was an easy one for me! It has to be the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette! To be honest, I would have easily chosen the Chocolate Bar palette for the first four questions too but I felt that I needed a little more diversity in my answers! It's my absolute favourite palette at the moment and the names are just so cute. Each shadow is named after some sort of sweet treat, for example Triple Fudge, Haute Chocolate, White Chocolate, Cherry Cordial and Marzipan. In addition to sounding yummy, each shadow is scented with real cocoa powder and looks as good as it sounds!

7. Least Used?

This was also a bit of a struggle for me, however I did come up with an answer for this one. I picked my Catrice New York Collection eyeshadow palette. I've had this for about two or three years now, but I just don't use the colours anymore. They're all quite dark and difficult to transition for everyday use so I tend to stick it at the back of my drawers and leave it there. Despite this, looking at these photographs just made me realise how beautiful those two blushes are - maybe it'll be brought back to the front of the drawers...



8. Most Loved, Most Used, Desert Island?
Without a doubt my original Naked palette! It was the first high-end piece of makeup I ever owned, and I got it about three years ago. I've loved and used it religiously ever since. It's one of those palettes that no matter how many new palettes I buy, I always find myself coming back to the comfort of my trusty Naked palette. There is not one look you can't do with it, and the pigmentation is absolutely incredible. I honestly couldn't imagine my makeup collection without my little Naked palette perched at the top of the eyeshadow drawer!



So that's it for my perfect palette tag! Feel free to answer the questions in the comments below or tell me your favourite palette!
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 1: Sephora and MAC!

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

Think Pink: My Top Pink Make-Up Products For Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Today's post is a quick but important one! As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought I would share my top 3 nail polishes, blushes and lipsticks to show your support through wearing pink. At the end of the blog post I have some links and resources you can use to spread awareness further than your nails, but every bit helps! 

• MAC Mineralise Blush - 'Dainty'
• NARS Blush - 'Gaiety'
• Beauty UK Baked Blush - 'Popsicle Pink' 

• Wet'N'Wild - 'Think Pink'
• YSL Rouge Volupte Shine - 'Pink In Paris'
• Rimmel x Kate - '101'

• Champneys - 'Pink'
• OPI - 'Elephantastic Pink'
• Barry M - 'Strawberry Ice-Cream'

Here are some links to some great organisations that will provide you with the resources and information you need to spread awareness this October! 

• http://www.cancer.ie/get-involved/fundraise/action-breast-cancer#sthash.W4hFgV7P.dpbs
• http://www.mariekeating.ie/look-after-your-girls-.asp
• http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month

Let me know what your favourite pink products are, and how you plan on raising awareness this October!

Zara :-) x

My Top High-End Foundations!

Today's post is all about expensive bases and the ones that I think are worth the price. As all make-up addicts know, you can pay between €30 - €50 for a high-end foundation, so you want to make sure you pick the best one for you.
When you're considering these reviews bear in mind that my skin is oily - combination skin and it's quite acne prone, although it isn't sensitive - so what works for me may not work for you.
The best thing about high-end foundations is that you're able to get a sample before you buy, so make sure to do this before splashing your cash!

• NARS Sheer Matte Foundation, €40

NARS Sheer Glow foundation is one of the most raved about foundations amongst Youtubers and bloggers, so of course I was interested in trying out. So I went to the NARS counter in Brown Thomas to get a sample while I was buying other items there. The make-up artist didn't have any samples as in NARS they don't pump it out there and then, you get a little NARS jar with a tiny spatula to scoop out the product (it's quite cute actually!). Instead she gave me a sample of the Sheer Matte and I am so glad she did! 

It's quite a trial and error type product with regards to application, it took me about a week of use to find the proper tool to use with it as every brush I tried just didn't make it look right. Now I apply it with the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. 

Although it's called Sheer Matte, I think the coverage is perfect - it's not as sheer as a BB cream or tinted moisturiser, but it gives enough coverage that you can leave concealer out of your make-up routine. I normally apply a base layer and then add a little more to my problem areas if needs be.

The most impressive part of this foundation for me is it's staying power - I wore this to a ball a few months ago and applied it at 4pm and it was still flawless at 2am - with no touch ups! I've never had a foundation stay that long on me, with or without extra powder!

I wear the shade Light 04 - Deauville and it's a perfect match. The NARS foundations have a great range of shades too, which is always a bonus!

• MAC Face and Body Foundation, €31.50

I would say that this is my all-time favourite foundation! This may seem odd coming from someone with bad skin, but I just love how light it is. I love this foundation for natural days - I just pop a bit of MAC Pro Longwear concealer (absolute holy-grail product) onto my blemishes, blend this over it with my Real Techniques Buffing Brush and I'm ready to go! 

MAC Face and Body is known as a firm favourite amongst make-up artists as it's so versatile - as well being designed for use on the body, you can wear it as sheer or as heavy as you want. I only apply one layer but it is so buildable you could wear it as a full coverage foundation! 

The packaging is also a great bonus as no product is wasted through the squeezy bottle, it doesn't have a pump, just a little nozzle to squeeze the product out through.

It's very runny but you don't have to work quickly with it. I apply it onto the back of my hand then just dip my brush into the product and work it all over the face.

This video by AnchalMUA on Youtube made me copy her contouring technique with the Face and Body and it looks beautiful! I wear this in the shade C3.

• Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation, €44

I discussed this foundation in my Best Of The Brand post a few weeks ago, as it's a firm favourite of mine. It's a medium to full coverage foundation which sets like a second skin. You have to work quickly with it as it sets very fast! It sets to a powder-like finish but it still looks natural enough to wear on a day to day basis. One thing to bear in mind with this foundation is that it has quite a strong scent - it's one of my favourite things about it but my skin isn't sensitive! So I'd definitely recommend getting a sample of this before buying it if your skin is sensitive to perfumed products. 

Application wise, it's a bit like the NARS one in the sense that it can be hit and miss until you find the brush that works for you and how you want the foundation to look. For me, I love the Real Techniques Stippling Brush to apply it. It works wonders and the brush is only about €16 (I have a post coming up on my top brushes so it'll be mentioned there!)

I have the shade 10 - Beige, which I find a tad too light now, so when I repurchase it I'll probably go up a shade or two. The main promise of this foundation is to keep your skin looking flawless all day. I would go along with that promise, as I rarely find myself having to touch this foundation up during the day.

Although it's a steep price, you certainly get your money's worth both in terms of wear and longevity. My bottle lasted me about five and a half months, with some weeks where I wore it every day. 

I would definitely recommend saving up your pennies to treat yourself to this little guy!

• MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation, €36.50

This foundation is a bit of a love/hate one for many people. A lot of people associate it with cakey make-up and breakouts, others can't live without it. 

Before I tried it, I was under the first bracket - I had seen so many people with heavy looking make-up who'd told me they use MAC Studio Fix Fluid, but one day in MAC one of the girls put it on me and I fell in love! She said a very true thing about it - application is everything. You can make this foundation as light or as heavy as you want, depending on how you apply it.

I love to use a regular foundation brush, like a MAC 190 and just apply it in strokes across the face.

This way it gives a light to medium coverage and looks so pretty without looking heavy or like you're wearing a lot of make-up. I wouldn't call it a natural look foundation, but it doesn't bother me as it gives me the coverage I want from a foundation. 

The staying power is good, but it's not exceptional on my oily skin. It stays flawless for about five hours, which is fine by me as I usually don't wear a foundation from morning to night, but this may be a factor you want to consider if you're choosing this foundation for an all-day wear.

The MAC staff are super helpful so don't be afraid to go to your local counter and ask for a demo or a sample of this foundation - I was lucky enough to get both before I bought it! I wear this in the shade NC15.

So they are my ultimate high-end foundations! Let me know what your favourites are and what you think I should try next!
Zara :-) x