Makeover at Laura Mercier

About a month ago I was in Laura Mercier in Belfast and it just so happened that they had some dates coming up when one of their top MUAs would be visiting and doing makeovers.  I wasn't really all that interested but I booked a date anyway.  It cost me £15 to book which was redeemable against amy purchase made on the day.

As the time came closer I really started lo look forward to it and today was the big day.  So off I went this morning, sans makeup, in preparation for my makeup to be applied professionally.

First my base was applied by one of the girls on the counter, then I was hand over to the MUA who would focus on a specific point of interest to me.  I chose eyes and in particular winged eyeliner.

So here is the finished look:

I have to say that over all I am quite pleased with it but it turned out a little more glowy than I would like.  She went for a smoky eye as I'm heading out tonight and thought why not.  You only live once and it was a great opportunity to try something a bit different and step out of my comfort zone.

The winged eyeliner is extremely subtle which is what I wanted.  I just wanted it to be slightly noticeable when My eyes are closed.  I did not want a huge cat eye as I think I'm just a wee bit too old for that.  She used a beautiful navy eyeliner on me rather than black and I love the result.  She tight lined my upper lash line.  Something I just cannot do myself.  It was uncomfortable when she was doing it but not unbearable.  I really must practise this some more.

I also love how she did my eyebrows.  The look fuller but not made up.  Perfect in fact!!

Of course the whole drive for this was for them to make some sales.  Of course I just had to partake.  There were also some freebies to be had when spending over £100.

The freebies consisted of a compact foundation in a colour to suit me and an eyeshadow base.

There was also box of chocolates.  Happy days!!

I bought a few of the items the MUA used on me.

I also bought the Invisible Loose Setting Powder which I'd been wanting to try for ages.

I will do more detailed reviews of these items as and when I use them.  For now I want to focus on the experience of today.

I am very happy with the service I received.  The girls were all so lovely and friendly.  I had a very enjoyable morning and I would thoroughly recommend anyone wanting to go for a makeover to go to Laura Mercier in House Of Fraser Belfast.  Obviously if that's convenient to you.  If not then check out your local Laura Mercier counter.  I am relatively new to Laura Mercier products.  I have owned only a couple of items prior to this but I will most definitely be returning to try some more in the future.

Estee Lauder Perfectionist Youth-Infusing Makeup Review

I recently went to my local Estee Lauder counter to try a sample of this.  It totally sounds like the perfect foundation for me and I knew I'd just have to give it a go.  Estee Lauder is great because they let you take a small sample away with you for free.  This means you can give the foundation a really great road test before spending your hard earned cash on something that may not even work for you.  They give you a sample that should last around 7-10 days.

I was colour matched to Desert Beige.

Unusually for me this is not the lightest offering they have.  I have been using it for a few days now and feel I am ready and have tested it enough to share my experience.

This foundation comes in a glass bottle with a pump.  It looks luxurious and so it should at £37.

It has an SPF of 25 which is really great for a foundation.  It claims to firm, brighten and hydrate and give a medium coverage with a satin finish.  So far I agree with that although I haven't been using it enough to comment on the firming effect.  

I love the coverage it gives.  It's definitely medium and looks really natural.  No cake here!!  It lasts well.  I have given it a trial for a few days and have even managed to wear it for 22 hours.  It lasted really well over the 22 hours.  I'm not someone who touches up make up other than lipstick.  So here's a scary picture of me at the end of 22 hours of wear.  If you are of a nervous disposition look away now lol.

Overall this is a really great foundation.  I am so happy with it in all aspects.  It is pricy though so for now I won't be purchasing the full sized bottle (which is the bog standard 30ml) but you can be sure that I will be tempted at some point in the near future to buy it.  Probably at the next Gift With Purchase I find.  In the meantime though I am enjoying my sample and as I have quite a number of Estee Lauder counters near me I may pick up another sample before purchase.

As with any Estee Lauder foundation I would definitely recommend trying a sample yourself first.  Why not? You've got nothing to lose and you may find your Holy Grail foundation.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend xx

How To Keep Your Face Flawless in Hot Weather

This is how I'm keeping my face as flawless as possible in the current spell of hot weather we've been having.  It's been working really well for me.  All I have to hope for now is more good weather lol

Summer Nail Tutorial To Make Nails Look Longer

This is my 300th post!!  Amazing if I say so myself lol.

Anyway here's a wee nail tutorial I have done.  It's easy, cute and will help to make your nails look longer.  Ive had lots of compliments wearing this.

Have a lovely weekend xx

XO Beauty Flat Top Face Brush Review and Demo

My latest beauty addiction is foundation and of course that goes hand in hand with brushes.  I've been eyeing this brush up for a long time and now I finally own it.  I'm loving it so far.  It gives a flawless finish.  It cost me just under £20 including postage for it to be shipped from New Zealand.  It was quite quick too given the distance it travelled.

It smelt like chemicals when I got it but one wash soon solved that.  No shedding yet either.

All in all a great purchase so far.  I've done a demonstration of it's use on my youtube channel.

Thanks for stopping by xx

What's In My Z Palette

This is my video showing the contents of me Z palettes and how I have them organised.

Thanks for stopping by xx

How To Make Your Micellar Water Last Longer

A quick and free money saving tip for cleansing with micellar water.

You'll wonder why you didn't do it before.

Thanks for stopping by xx

Take One Thing

Ok so a couple of months ago I decided to concentrate my efforts on using up specific products in order to reduce my stash.  I picked two items and tried to finish them.

I am pleased to report that I have finished one of them.  Yay me!!

It is the Max Factor Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation in Creamy Ivory 40.  And here's the picture to prove it.

It's such a great feeling to finally finish this.  I really liked this foundation but being a makeup junkie I am completely fickle and switch brands quite often.  Who doesn't?  It's completely normal right?


What the description says:

With a unique lightweight solid to liquid formula it removes the need for the traditional concealer, foundation and powder combination and instead creates the perfect base in just one easy application. The result is a flawless, fresh and incredibly smooth complexion that glows with radiance.

I used it in conjunction with a concealer and a powder.  I just cannot skip those two steps.  It just doesn't feel right somehow.  It did last all day using my method though.  I'm not sure it would stand up to that without a powder on top.  I easily got 16 hours wear with only very minor patchiness appearing on my chin area.  This can be a problem area for me and I find that most foundations wear off in this area first.

It's not particularly cheap at £12.99.  I think this would be at the higher or possibly highest end of drugstore/chemist pricing.  However, in Boots and Superdrug there are very often offers on, the most common being 3 for the price of 2 across all the makeup brands.  Recently when this offer was on I bought 3 of these foundations.  So great was my love for this foundation at the time of purchase.  I still love it of course but there are so many other foundations out there that I've yet to try.

You an view it here on the Boots website - Boots

I have it in the shade Creamy Ivory 40 which is such a great match for me I just want to test all Max Factor foundations in the same shade.  This could be my next project.

Have a great weekend everyone and thanks for stopping by xx

More Makeup Geek Shadows

I have been so in love with my four shadows from Makeup Geek that when I saw the Starter Kit and Z Palette Bundle was available on the website I just had to snap it up.  It's a good job I did because within a week it was out of stock again.  Must be a popular way to start with their shadows.

So here is what the gorgeous shadows look like in the Z Palette.

They are starting at the top and working Left to Right:

Mocha, Prom Night, Unexpected
Cocoa Bear, Corrupt, Creme Brûlée
Drama Queen, Glamorous, Shimma Shimma

I have dutifully swatched them for you.

The swatches are in the same order.

Mocha, Prom Night, Unexpected, Cocoa Bear and Corrupt.

Creme Brûlée, Drama Queen, Glamorous and Shimma Shimma.

These were applied without using a base and no flash was used.  As you can see the pigmentation is excellent.  The pictures were taken in natural daylight.

Again the service from Makeup Geek was excellent.  The items were packaged well.  This time they took slightly longer to arrive, taking 12 days.  They are worth waiting for though and they do have to cross the Atlantic so all in all not too bad.

I'll not be buying any more just yet as I think I have enough to be getting on with for now.  However a true makeup addict should never say never.

I have done a Youtube video showing me unboxing my Makeup Geek goodies.

Have a great weekend everyone xx

Makeup Geek Eyeshadows Review and Face of the Day

I recently decided that it was about time I tried the Makeup Geek Eyeshadows.  I'd been admiring them from afar for far too long.  It was time to order.  I'm so glad that I took the plunge.

Firstly they are the same size as Mac shadows and they are available as pans as well as in pots.  This means that they will fit in your own Mac palettes or your Z Palette.  I opted for putting mine into an ELF Elements compact.

I only ordered 4 so I thought this was the best option as it also has a great mirror.  However, today whilst filming a Makeup Geek Tutorial they fell out!!  I immediately thought it was the eyeshadows fault but on testing them in my Z Palette I realised that the problem actually lay with the Elf palette.  It's ok for now but I will be putting them into a Z Palette soon as this is a recipe for disaster!!

The colours I ordered are:

Homecoming, Bada Bing, Latte and Shimma Shimma.  They appear in this order in my first photo too.  They come in lovely wee envelopes which are similar to the Mac ones.

I prefer to have them in this form as it makes it easy for me to change them in and out of my most used Z Palette.

So far these shadows have not disappointed.  They are really pigmented and it's very easy to be heavy handed with them.  A little goes a long way.  I have used them over a Mac Paint pot and they have lasted all day.  I've even given them the 24 hour test and they passed with flying colours.

They are much cheaper then Mac shadows.  They work out at roughly £4.50 each depending on current exchange rates.  This includes the postage.  Makeup Geek seem to be a company that does not rip the backside out of shipping charges.  I found it to be very reasonable.  The service was quick too.  They took 10 days to cross the Atlantic to land with me.

I love these so much that of course I have placed an order for more.  I'm having a real eyeshadow addiction phase at the moment.  I think I have enough now lol.  With these being comparable to Mac shadows but much cheaper it means I can afford more.  Score!!

Todays face was created using these shadows.

I have Shimma Shimma all over the lid with Homecoming on the outer half and a slight bit on the inner corner too.  I used Latte in the crease and added a little Bada Bing in the outer corner and part way along the upper lash line.  I also added some Homecoming to the lower lash line and voila!!

These shadows are definitely worth the money and the wait for them to cross the pond.

I am also wearing Tanya Burr Lipgloss in Afternoon Tea.  Another current favourite.

Have you tried any Makeup Geek shadows?  Please feel free to share your favourites or recommendations xx

Current Favourite Eye Combo

Recently I have been reaching for the same eye products over and over again.  They are a firm favourite at the moment.  They are great for blue eyes but also look stunning on brown eyes and green eyes.  They also feel more summery and I'm using them in anticipation of the lovely summer we are going to have.

The products are:

Mac Paint Pot in Indianwood with Mac Eyeshadow in Tempting over the top.  Tempting is the top right shadow in the palette.  This is actually the Tempting Quad which came out a few years back.  I also love the top left colour as a highlight.  It's called Next To Nothing.

This combo brings out the blue in my eyes and this is something that I love to do.  After all beauty is really about enhancing what you've already got :)

Here I am sporting the Paint Pot, Tempting and I am wearing Mac Vanilla as a highlight in this picture.

Which eye products do you reach for more than any others?

Thanks for stopping by xx

Essie Fiji Nails of the Day

I have been very slack on the nail polish front lately as I have been swimming 2-3 times per week and have found it impossible to find a nail polish that will last through one swimming session let alone any more.

Enter Essie Fiji. Now I don't know if this will be true of all Essie polishes but I will endeavour to find out. I bought this about a month ago and just tried it for the first time 3 days ago. I have been swimming twice since. It has survived incredibly well. I am truly amazed. I did have a slight scratch in the polish before it dried completely but I can't blame the polish on my carelessness!

The second picture shows the polish freshly applied. First picture shows it on day 3 after 2 x 40 minute swimming sessions. It's pretty impressive.

I must mention that I have not used a top coat on this. I have applied a base cost followed by 2 coats of Essie Fiji. This omission may be the reason the polish survived the swims. I'm now wondering if using my normal top coat, which is Seche Vite, is actually reducing the longevity in water. I must find out if this is actually the case.

Take Two Things

In keeping with my theme of using stuff up for 2014 I have decided to take a more methodical approach to this.  So I am going to concentrate my efforts on two specific items.  In this way I will get to the bottom of some things (literally) and I will not become bogged down in too many items at once.

So first up on my list is

My Burt's Bees Lip Balm.  I've had this for quite a while and it's well used but still has a little way to go.  Hopefully it'll not take too long to finish this.

And secondly I am going to finish my Max Factor Miracle Touch Foundation.

I have hit pan quite significantly on this foundation.  This was my Holy Grail foundation not that long ago but as with any beauty junkie I soon moved on to another foundation.  This did feature in my Holy Grail Foundation video.

I loved it so much that when it was on 3 for 2 in Boots a short time later I bought 3 of them.  Consequently I have 3 more after this to use up.  So it's about time I got stuck in!!

Feel free to join me in my quest to completely use up two products.

Thanks for stopping by xx

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How to Wash Your Makeup Brushes

It's important to keep your makeup brushes as clean as possible as they can harbour bacteria and cause the spread of infection.  However, this is a job that most people don't really like and can't be bothered with.  I am no exception!  I do not enjoy this task but when it's done I feel good about having done it.  Although I must admit that I am then reluctant to use my nice clean brushes as I don't want to have to wash them again.  It's a vicious circle lol

It's so quick and simple to wash your brushes though that there really is no excuse for having them dirty.

All you need is some warm water (not too hot), some mild baby shampoo and a clean towel or facecloth to dry.  You can simply place the brushes under running water or you can fill and empty your sink as many times as it takes to get the brushes clean.

I have done a video on the subject for you to see exactly how I do it.

I hope you find this useful and thank you for stopping by xx

Real Techniques Powder Brush Review

My thoughts on the Real Techniques Powder Brush which is currently my favourite powder brush.

It can be purchased at Boots for £12.99 and is well worth the money.

Have a great weekend everyone xx

How To Disguise Your Mismatched Foundation

We've all done it at some point.  Some of us are more guilty than others but most of us probably own a foundation that's a smidgen too dark.  Usually these are chemist/drugstore purchases that we have to take a wild guess at.  So here is my most recent video giving a simple tip to enable you to get away with this beauty crime and ensure that your foundation and money are not wasted.

If you have bought a high end foundation from a beauty counter and been matched by the assistant then you can take your purchase back for an exchange or refund if you get home and find the match isn't as good as it looked in the shop.  I have done this before with Clinique without any problem.

Another great tip for high end is to ask the assistant to match you and then let you have a sample to take home and try at your leisure.  You are under no obligation to purchase.  Again I have done this on many occasions with Clinique and Estee Lauder.  Mac also do it but you must bring your own container.  This is also a great pick-me-up if you fancy a makeup splurge but have no spare cash.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend xx

Essie Tea and Crumpets Nail Polish Review

I have owned this polish for quite a while but hadn't used it.  I tend not to wear nail polish a lot as I swim a few times a week and that reduces the longevity of the polish.  However, last week I decided to crack the bottle open.

I applied 2 coats on top of a base coat.  I didn't use a top coat.  I was pleased with the results.

It's a really pretty shimmery nude colour.  It's perfect for every day use.  I found that it lasted really well without any chips for 4 days.  After the fourth day the chips began to appear but not to the extent that I felt I had to remove the polish.  I was determined to keep it on for a full week.

Today the full week is up and here is the result.

As you can see from the picture there is more wear and tear on my right hand.  This is to be expected as I am right handed.

All in all I think the polish performed really well.  I've seen much worse after a week's wear.  This polish had to survive an hour in the swimming pool, multiple hand washes and quite a few dish washing sessions.  Not bad really.

I am beginning to really like Essie polishes and I have more to try.  They seem to last well and they aren't too expensive.  They retail for £7.99 and can be bought at Boots and Superdrug.

Have you got a favourite Essie colour?

Best Friends In Makeup

Recently I have found a few makeup items/products that work extremely well together.

If you are finding it difficult to get on with applying your paint pots with your fingers then watch my video as I have found the perfect partner brush to paint pots.  Not just Mac Paint Pots but all similar products too such as the Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tatoo.

I hope you enjoy the video and if you have any products that work much better when used with a certain other product then please leave a comment below and let me know.

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by xx

Using Stuff Up For 2014

This year I am determined to reduce the size of my stash dramatically.  I will try by best to buy nothing new that is not actually needed.  It'll be difficult but it will save me a fortune and create some space.  Both are good things :-)

I have done my first empties vidoe of 2014 and so far I have bought nothing.  Yeah me!!  I did have a sneaky purchase of the Naked 3 palette at the end of last year so even though it arrived in the new year I had actually paid for it in the old year.

Wish me luck and if you want to join in feel free to post any products you have used up so far in the comments below.