February Beauty Favourites

Its absolutely crazy to me that we are in March already..it feels like it was Christmas last week! I know it is almost traditional to say something like that at the beginning of every monthly favourites, but seriously where is the year going already?! I really enjoyed experimenting with make-up this month, trying out different looks and using new and pre-loved products. I have a new everyday make-up routine so if you would be interested in seeing what I use, let me know in the comments. But for now, here is a quick rundown of what products I have been using and loving this month!

Clarisonic Mia 2*

I was actually sent my Clarisonic this time last year but didn't fall instantly in love. I never committed to it, once the purging stage happened I freaked out a little and stopped using it. This month I purchased a new head- the delicate one- and started to give it another go. I found the new head a lot softer on my skin and not as harsh. The infamous purging did happen for about two weeks but my skin at the moment is so smooth and soft. I only use it in the evenings with my Kinvara cleansing oil and I find them a match made in heaven. My skin never feels as clean as it does when I use this. I can really see where the hype has come from now and it has made its way to a permanent item in my daily skincare routine. 

 

 Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer

I spotted this in Boots this month and snapped it up. I have been really impressed with it, and have been using it pretty much everyday since getting it. I got it in the lightest shade available, and have been using it for highlighting and concealing under my eyes. It gives excellent coverage but at the same time it is very easily blended and doesn't look or feel cakey. It gives a gorgeous natural illumination under the eyes without the presence of glitter or shimmer. It lasts so well on me though out the day, and it looks more expensive than it is! Definitely worth giving a go, if you are on the hunt for a new concealer. 

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

This has been featured in so many favourites throughout the years on my blog, I've actually lost count. This is my holy grail mascara, and one that I will always end up going back to. I repurchased this around Christmas time and have been using it constantly since. It is just un-rivaled in what it does as a drug store mascara. It gives amazing volume and lift, but while still holding a curl. This is the closest I have gotten to the "false lash look" while wearing a mascara. It has a natural bristle wand that has a slight curve to it, so you can really grip every lash and evenly coat them in product. If you are looking for a new mascara that won't break the bank, pick this one up- you can't go wrong!

Bioderma Micellar Water

This is something I first tried years ago but re-purchased again around Christmas time and have been using pretty constantly since. This was one of the original micellar waters that everyone went crazy for. It removes every scrap of make up, including the Inglot gel eyeliner which normally doesn't budge! It is so gentle on the skin, it literally feels like water. I have been using this as the first step in my skincare routine, to remove the bulk of my make-up before I go in with my Clarisonic. It really does an excellent job at gently removing make-up and is a brilliant alternative to make-up wipes. Now that Bioderma is finally more readily available in Ireland I want to try more of their products, so if you have any recommendations, let me know! 

MAC Blankety

I had a few items for "Back to MAC" this month, and god knows I don't have enough nude lipsticks so I picked up Blankety. This is very like another favourite of mine - Honeylove but with a different finish. This is alot more moisturising on the lips and alot easier to wear for everyday. It is a gorgeous pink-toned nude that really just goes with so many different looks. It is non-offensive shade that so many people can wear. This has been the lipstick that has been in my handbag this month and the one that I have reached for the most. 

 MooGoo Fresh Milk Cleansing Bar

I picked this up after seeing Laura Dempsey speak about it on her snapchat for cleaning her make-up brushes. This is a very natural soap which makes it perfect for the job. I have cleaned my brushes twice with this and it makes the job so much easier. I just rub the brushes straight on to the bar of soap and rinse under the tap. It really just cuts the time I would spend cleaning my brushes in half and even cleans the likes of my Sigma F80, which is normally a killer to get completely clean. If you can get your hands on MooGoo products, give this a go for cleaning your make-up brushes, you won't know yourself!

So they are the stand out products for me this month, let me know what you have been loving this month and if you have tried any of my favourites!

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Urban Decay Brow Beater

I have been committed to the NYX brow pencil for a long time now. Its cheap, cheerful and gets the job done. But lately I have been getting bored (beauty blogger problems) and have been itching to try something new. So after seeing Karen (LovelyGirlieBits) rave about the Urban Decay offering I went straight out and purchased it. I am a big fan of Urban Decay make-up so I had high hopes for this, especially after hearing Karen's reviews on it. 

The shade I went for was Neutral Brown, because out of all of the shades I felt it was the most versatile and best suited for my brows. That is the one thing I will say about this product- is that there are not a lot of shades in the range. I am hoping that Urban Decay plan to add more because I really do think everyone will adore this and it would be amazing if they could have shades that would suit most people. 

When I first tried this I had flashbacks to when I first tried the Anastasia Brow Whiz, it was love at first application. As you can see from the pictures the nib on the pencil is absolutely tiny. Which makes it perfect to mimic brush hairs. It is very hard to go over board with products like this. It is so easy to gradually build up the brows when you are using something like this, compared to something thicker or a pomade. The colour is absolutely perfect for my brows. It is perfect for everyday on its own, and if I wanted to amp it up I would use my Inglot Brow Gel which is another absolute staple in my make-up bag.

Even the spoolie on this is amazing, it is really thin and sturdy. It really is the little details that make a product like this so nice to use. Plus the packaging is gorgeous! It won't break the bank at €18.50 and is available from Debenhams online or from Urban Decay make-up counters nationwide.

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MAC | Custom 15 Eye Palette

I was so sure that I had done a post showing my MAC palette before, but I went back through all my posts and couldn't one so I decided to do one detailing my eyeshadows. Letting you know which are my favourites and which ones I use the most. I have been building this up over a couple of years. Some shadows I got in MAC and others I bought in blog sales. This is definitely not something I went out and filled up in a day. I took my time and really picked out shades that I thought I would get the most wear out of.

As you can see from the picture, the majority of the shadows I own are neutrals. In fact all of the shades are very wearable and they can all be worn in many combinations with each other. When I first started collecting MAC shadows, I always tended to go for matte shades, but as time went on I started to dabble with the other finishes that were available and have a nice mixture to my collection.

Nylon- One of my all time staple eyeshadows, and one that I would reach for almost everyday. This is a very frosted white shade with a shimmer to it. I use this for my inner corner highlighter and as a highlighter for under the brow bone. It really does add a pop to any eye look.

Naked Lunch- Another old favourite, Naked Lunch is a shimmery champagne pink shade. I would sweep this all over the lid as a base for my shadows. It creates a gorgeous sheen to the lids without adding too much colour. 

Woodwinked- I haven't actually used Woodwinked in ages, and writing this post has reminded me how much I used to love it. I picked this up in a blog sale years ago when it was the "it" product. Again it is a shimmery shade but it looks so unusual on the lids when applied. It is a gorgeous golden brown which gives a dimensional look to the eye when applied. It makes you look like you've done alot more work than you have.

Omega- As you can see from the pictures this is a well loved shadow. I used to use this everyday for my brows as well as an eyeshadow. This is a neutral toned brown shade that would suit a lot of different skin tones. I loved this for so long on my brows but it is just to dark for me at the moment and I haven't been using powders in my brows. But if you are looking for one, I would definitely recommend this one!

Wedge- Not all that different from Omega, but slightly more warm toned. This one I tend to use all over my lid as a base, or in the crease to add some dimension. If you own Omega you don't really need this too.

Espresso- This is one of my all time favourite MAC shades even though it is just a simple matte dark brown. It gets so much use in so many different looks. I love wearing this in a smokey eye.

Cork*- This is a more recent addition to my collection. It is a very unusual yellow-toned brown that still has a touch of warmth to it. This is my ideal lazy day shadow. I just put this all over the lid and I am good to go. It does add a nice pop of warmth to any other eye looks.

Patina- I always think that this would be the perfect bride eyeshadow. It is a gorgeous cool toned golden shimmer, and really unlike anything I have ever seen before. This is another gorgeous all over the lid colour, and it also pairs lovely with Cork.

Satin Taupe- This was one of the first every MAC shadows I purchased and again it was one of the "it" products at the time. This is one of MAC's most popular shadows. Depending on what you use with it, it can look purple, brown or silver, and it can also change depending on the light.

Blackberry- Again one of my more recent additions, I spotted this in the "cool-toned palette" and fell in love. I bought it in pan form to pop in my palette. Again this is another unusual one, I would describe this as a grey-toned purple shade. It is still a very wearable shade and one I do tend to wear on a day to day basis, just for something a little different.

Twinks- Twinks is another shadow that I haven't worn in so long, but it was a well loved shadow back when I first got it. It is a gorgeous burgundy shade with a slight sheen to it. I have been loving the warmer toned shadows lately, so this is definitely something I will have to break out again!

Cranberry- Cranberry did the rounds on the blogs a few years ago and I picked up then but was too afraid to use it for so long. This is a red shimmery shadow that is not for the faint hearted, but lately it is one that I have been going for. This looks lovely all over the lid with a darker shade in the crease.

Sumptuous Olive- Another famous eyeshadow from back in the day, this would never have been something I would have picked myself. It is a green shimmery eyeshadow which looks so scary in the pan but when I seen it in pictures and different swatches I realised how surprisingly wearable it was. I usually pair this with the next shadow I am going to talk about and the two really do go hand in hand.

Club- This is the eyeshadow I pair with Sumptuous Olive. It is a gorgeous duo-chrome shadow which goes from brown to green. It looks so complimentary on the eyes because it looks brown until you hit the light and you get that slight green tint.

Carbon-  Not much to say about this one, it is just a classic matte black that is essential to everyone's collection.

That is a quick run down of my MAC palette, I do have a few single shadows and a few new additions that are not in this palette - so if you would like to see a post on some of them do let me know!

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Make-Up Geek | Insomnia Pigment

This is the first ever "Make-Up Geek" product that I bought. I had read so many rave reviews about the company online, and in particular this pigment. It is called "Insomnia" and is one of their most talked about pigments. At that stage I hadn't really delved into the world of the "Make-Up Geek" eyeshadows, so I'm ashamed to say that this was the only thing I put in that order. Safe to say there would be a lot more in it now! But I was absolutely delighted to get my hands on the pigment. 

The best way of describing this would be that it is MAC Club's eyeshadow in pigment form. It is a very finely milled powder so it is so easy to work with. This is a duo-chrome shadow that goes from green to brown depending on the light. This is perfect to create the most gorgeous smokey eye that has just that little something different. 

It looks gorgeous as an all over the lid shade blended out into the crease, or as a pop in the crease. As my first venture into anything "Make-Up Geek" it was very positive experience. For the price I paid, the quality and pigmentation was absolutely amazing. If you mix it with a tiny bit of Inglot's Duraline it really amps up the intensity of the pigment and adheres it to the lid easier.

I am currently planning on making an eyeshadow order for a couple of their colours. They all look gorgeous and I just can't decide which ones! If you have any suggestions of what colours I need in my life, please let me know!

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MAC | Ellie Goulding Collection

MAC are really doing well with their collections over the past few months, they have just been releasing one good one after the other and there has been something from every collection that I have had my eye on. One of the most recent collections I was lucky enough to get my hands on was the Ellie Goulding collection. I have the Bronzer/Blush duo in "I'll Hold My Breath"*, the lip crayon in "Revved"* , and the lipstick in "Only You"*. I think everyone has commented on the fact that the packaging looks like it has the Deathly Hallows symbol on it from Harry Potter, and it is always what I think of when I look at it. The packaging is so nice and sleek. It is a little bit more shiny than the regular MAC packaging and it has rose gold detailing, if you know me and of my obsession with rose gold, you will know I was instantly sold when I seen it!

"I'll Hold My Breath" Bronzer/Blush

This was one of the main items I was so excited to see in the parcel I received. This compact contains 2/3's of a bronzer and 1/3's of a blush. Both have the smallest bit of shimmer going through them which makes them ideal for this time of year. The bronzer is on the sheer side and is a warmer toned bronzer. You could use this as a contour but just be careful with the shimmer that you don't go too over board. I am a massive fan of the blush in this compact. It is quite similar to the "Spellbinder" blush that I have been raving about the past couple of weeks. A gorgeous pink/coral that completely brightens up the complexion. This is lovely and pigmented with the slightest hint of a golden shimmer running through it. This was definitely one of the standout products in the collection for me.

"Revved" Patent Polish Lip Pencil

I had never tried any of the lip crayon style products from MAC before this one. I love these sorts of lip products because they are so handy to throw in your handbag and use for on the go touch-ups where you don't necessarily need a mirror for it. This is a gorgeous coral shade, so again for this time of year it is perfect. It gives a gorgeous sheer wash of colour - combined with a gorgeous glossy finish. It's not the longest lasting lip product, but products with glossy finishes are never generally long-lasting. I do love this as I said for a quick fix to throw on during the day as a quick pick me up. It smells gorgeous too which is always a bonus!

"Only You" Lipstick

Another stand out product from the collection for me was the lipstick. I didn't actually want to use this when I first got it because it just looked so gorgeous and I didn't want to ruin the embossing on it. I got over that quick enough though. This is a gorgeous rose/nude shade that really does set off any make-up look that you might be wearing. It works equally well during the day or for a night-time look. It is a "Cremesheen" finish so it has a gorgeous pigment to it as well as being really nice and moisturising on the lips. I have been going between this and my beloved "Honeylove" lipstick the past couple of weeks and I have been enjoying wearing a more pink toned nude as I have been so obsessed with the brown toned nudes for so long. 

Over all I am very impressed with this collaboration from MAC. As far as I know, this collection is still online and at MAC counters. So if there is something that you have your eye on, go get it quick before it sells out!

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Soap & Glory | The Perfect Ten Eye Shadow Palette

I want to start of this post by apologising, I'm not sure if this palette is actually still available from Soap & Glory because I picked it up in the Boots Christmas sale. I am sure I've seen palettes like this from Soap & Glory before, so if you can't get your hands on this one, there will definitely be something similar on the market that you can get your hands on. 

I did slightly impulse buy this palette, I spotted it reduced on the shelf and instantly snapped it up. I am a big fan of Soap & Glory make-up already so I thought it would be a safe purchase. I am a big fan of their Solar Powder, their Archery brow pencil and their Smoulder Kohl eyeliners. I've found that their make-up are really good quality for a really affordable price. 

On first look, you may think instantly "Naked 3 dupe" but after swatching it and using the shadows abit further I think that there is a little more variation in shades in this palette. The quality of these shadows is amazing for what I paid (I think it was around €10 reduced in the sale!) They are not overly powdery and really nicely pigmented. They pick up easily on the brush and transfer nicely onto the lid. I found that I did need a primer, as always with these shadows but if you don't have overly oily lids you should be fine. I used my regular Primer Potion from Urban Decay with this and I found that they lasted all day on me during work. 

There are only two matte shadows in this palette and the rest are all shimmers. They are all really wearable shades, that all really work well together. You can create a number of looks with this, from a simple day-time look to an smoked out deep look. I love that the darkest shade in this palette is actually a dark blue, it makes a nice subtle change from the regular black that normally comes with palettes like this. 

If you can get your hands on this palette, I would definitely recommend it as a nice everyday eyeshadow palette. You should check out Soap & Glory make-up in general because I think you will be surprised at the quality and the choice! 

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My Tanning Essentials | Cocoa Brown & WOW Brown

 If you know me at all, you will know that I am an absolute tan-aholic. I am naturally very pale (see-though!) so it is a rare occurrence that you'll see me without tan. I am a creature of habit when it comes to my tan and I am very loyal to certain brands. I have tried the majority of tans on the market and because I am so fair alot of them tend to look completely over the top on me. I have found three products that I absolutely love, that never let me down and that I always have in my collection. So if you are a lady with fairer skin, these would be the products I would recommend for you.

Cocoa Brown 1hr Tan

If there is ever a time where I don't have a bottle of this in my collection, there is something very wrong. This is my holy grail tan and I could never be without it. You can leave it on for one hour like it says on the bottle, or if you want a more intense shade you can leave it on over night to develop. It gives a gorgeous golden glow, that doesn't look orange, muddy or green. It is the most natural tan that I have ever found. It is a moose formula that is slightly tinted so you can see where you're putting it- so no dodgy streaks! When you shower it off, just let the water wash it away- I don't use any shower gels or body washes. With this there is no "fake tan smell" it has a gorgeous scent but it doesn't really linger so if you're not a fan of it you don't need to worry about it. I really can't recommend this tan enough, for the price you can't go wrong so go out and give it a go!  

 Wow Brown Ready to Glo Dark Tanning Liquid

This is a more recent addition to my tanning routine. This is what I use when I want to look intense dark but not unnatural looking. This is a tinted liquid so like the Cocoa Brown you can see where you are putting it which avoids any mishaps! A little goes a long way with this tan which I love. This gives a gorgeous deep glow with a slight red undertone on me, so it really does look like you've gotten a natural tan in the sun. This can last up to 7 days on me if I look after it properly, and when it does start to come off it always fades instead of coming off in patches. It has a lovely, light scent too it. I love when tans avoid the traditional biscuit scent. If you are looking for a tan for a night out or if you just like a darker everyday tan, this is your go-to! I really love this tan and again it is one that I wouldn't be without now!

Cocoa Brown Gentle Bronze

This is what I use for maintaining my tan. A couple of days after applying my main tan, I will pop this on at night just for a bit of a top up. I use this all over my body and my face, because of the formula of the moisturiser it will not clog your pores so it is safe to use on the face. This has the same scent as the 1hr tan which is quite pleasant. This is a nice top up mid way through the week just to add a little bit more colour and to even things out if the tan underneath starts to fade. If I wanted a very natural colour I would just use this on its own for a few nights to build up a colour. It leaves my skin feeling lovely and moisturised too. If you don't like an overly intense colour, give this a go! It's nice because you can build it up to the colour you want and it moisturises your skin at the same time- win, win!

So those are my top 3 picks at the moments for tanning. I couldn't live without them and they are complete essentials in different ways. I recommend you give these a go, and let me know how you get on!

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Current MAC Beauty Favourites

When I started to write up my monthly favourites this month, I noticed that a lot of products were from MAC. When I actually went through my make-up bag I noticed that 80% of the products I was using on a day to day basis were from MAC. So instead of including the MAC products in my favourites post, I decided to just dedicate an entire post to what I have been loving from MAC lately. My blog has been slightly MAC orientated lately but I have just been loving so many different products from them that I had to share!  

MAC Fix +

This is one of those products that you don't need in your collection, but it is a lovely addition to have. I use this on a daily basis as a finishing spray for my make-up. I think that it is a really nice step to give that finished look to your make-up look. It just seems to tie everything all together, it takes away that overly powdery look to the skin and gives a nice glow. It is a really nice product to use during the day as a refreshing mist too. I love the scent of it, it smells devine! 

MAC Gigablack Lash Mascara*

I have only discovered this mascara recently even though I got sent it months ago. It is a really small slim brush and it is perfect for using on the bottom lashes. I have only started using this in the past couple of weeks, but I love how it separates and coats my bottom lashes without looking too heavy. It also doesn't drop down or smudge which makes it perfect for the bottom lashes.

MAC Pro-Longwear Concealer

I use this in NW20 and I usually stick to under my eyes with this concealer. It has amazing full coverage but the thing I like the most about it is that it doesn't look or feel heavy on the skin. It applies and blends beautifully and lasts all day on my skin. The tiniest bit really goes a long way and it can be easy to go over board with this concealer so a light hand is advised!

MAC Give Me Sun! Bronzer

I got this before Christmas and it has been the main bronzer that I have been using since. It is one of their Mineralize Skin Finish powders. This bronzer looks perfect when I have tan on. It is a slightly red-toned bronzer so it does give the illusion of a natural tan. It goes on with a sheer finish so it is alot easier to build up, and it's nice that it doesn't come off with an intense block of colour straight away and you can build up to the colour you want. 

MAC Spellbinder Blush

I have already written a whole blog post about this blush here but I had to include it in this favourites post because I love it that much. This was released as part of the MAC Faerie Whispers collection in the past few weeks, and after spotting it on one of Jacyln Hill's videos I ordered it straight away. Like I mentioned in my original blog post about it, I think that this is the perfect blush for that Winter/Spring transition. It is a gorgeous brightening blush, but gives a very natural sheen to the cheeks. It is the perfect mix between a bright pink and a coral- it sits somewhere in the middle. The blush has a "satin" finish so it doesn't come off overly strong on the cheeks which is perfect for me since lately I have been preferring not to wear blusher. This has reintroduced blush back into my make-up routine and I absolutely love it.

MAC "Everyone's Darling" Eyeshadow*

Another limited edition collection item (sorry!) but something that has been in my make-up bag constantly since I got it. It is a very deep burgundy, and it is one of those eyeshadows that I can reach for on an everyday basis that creates a subtle difference in what could otherwise be a boring everyday look. It is a matte finish but is still amazingly pigmented and so easy to work with. I would just do my everyday make up look and add this to the crease to give a bit of colour to my eyes. It doesn't look too much but it is lovely for a slightly different look. 

MAC Burgundy x9 Palette*

Leading on from the "Everyone's Darling" eyeshadow, this is the eyeshadow palette that I have been reaching for the past couple of weeks. Again, it gives a nice look to the eyes by adding a bit of colour without looking too crazy for everyday. It has a gorgeous mix of matte, shimmer and glittery shades- all with a warm burgundy tone. My favourite shades in the palette are Quarry, Embark and Sketch. I would use the three of these in conjunction with each other and they just work beautifully together.

MAC Honey Love

This is one of the most recent lipsticks I have gotten from MAC and I have been obsessively using it since. It is a gorgeous brown-toned nude. It is a matte finish, so it can be a tad drying but it will stay on your lips for ages. I love wearing this with a brown, smokey eye and lots of bronzer. I think it would only suit fair to medium skin tones because I think it might tend to wash out darker skintones. But this has been one of my go to lipsticks for the past couple of weeks and I have worn it down so much already.

MAC Viva Glam II

This is the second lipstick that I have been using pretty much constantly the past couple of weeks. As you can see from the swatches, it is not a whole lot different from Honey Love. It does have a slightly more mauve undertone compared to Honey Love. A lot of people compare this to MAC Velvet Teddy, but I actually prefer this. It is a lot lighter than Velvet Teddy and is a lot easier to wear on a day to day basis. Again it is a matte finish, so it is really long-lasting but still feels creamy on the lips. 

MAC Whirl

I pair this with both of the lipsticks mentioned and I love it equally with both. I would have this on the outside of the lips outlined and the lighter lipstick in the centre of the lips, it really gives the illusion of fuller lips. It looks gorgeous on its own with a bit of lipbalm or with different lipsticks layered on top. I think it is one of those lip liners that everyone needs to have in their collection and you can create so many different looks with it. 

MAC Stripdown

Again this is another liner that I have been loving wearing on its own with a little bit of lipbalm dabbed on top. But it is the perfect liner to pair with Honey Love lipstick. That combo has been my go-to for weeks! It looks beautiful with a tan so I do tend to wear it when I am a bit more tanned or bronzed up! The lipliners from MAC are amazingly pigmented and so easy to apply. I just fly through lipliners from MAC, you need to try one if you haven't already!

 

 Let me know if you use any MAC products that you think I would like and let me know what your favourite MAC product is!

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