Suzie Q Reviews: Charlotte Tilbury La Dolce Vita Eyeshadow Palette

Hey Ladies,

In case you missed it I posted a video on my YouTube showing you the latest addition to my makeup hoard, the Charlotte Tilbury La Dolce Vita Palette. I wanted to do a blog post with some swatches and a little more info about the palette in case you aren't a subscriber to my channel.

First off lets talk about the packaging...stunning. Charlotte has really hit the nail on the head with this beautiful art deco inspired packaging. With a warm burgundy case and a pop of rose gold on the inside and a HUGE mirror this product looks expensive right off the bat. Please note there is no useless sponge tip applicators so you get more product for your money!

There is four shadows in this palette simply named after what they are intended to do... prime, pop, smoke and enhance. The shadows are buttery soft and can be used wet or dry and in most of Charlotte's tutorials she doesn't use too many brushes and opts for applying the glitter with her fingers. The colours are definitely wearable hence what inspired my YouTube tutorial as you can easily take this palette from day to night. If you are a matte eyeshadow fan this palette won't be for you as all four of the shadows have a shimmer to them but you could put down a matte base before hand and add one of these shadows as a pop of shimmer.

Value wise this palette is EXPENSIVE with a €50 price tag but it is so worth it. It is honestly one of very few palettes that I have used and liked every colour. Usually when it comes to eyeshadow palettes I find a few colours I like and the others go to waste. In terms of versatility as I mentioned before you can switch this up for day to night and you could easily make this palette work with any other eyeshadow palettes in your collection. You can tell this palette has been makeup by a truly talented makeup artist as all four shades perfectly harmonise with each other, no duds here.

As I received this as a Christmas gift and didn't buy it for myself, and I know €50 is a lot of money for makeup but this would make the perfect wedding day palette or a gift for a friend. What girl doesn't get excited when she sees a present from Brown Thomas, less Charlotte Tilbury. I would love in the future to pick up another palette from Charlotte Tilbury and Supermodel Body is also on the top of my want list. If I was to purchase at the CT counter in Brown Thomas I think I would make the most of my money and book myself in for a makeover which is redeemable on products, and that way you can also pick the brains of Charlotte's well trained staff!

So there you have it, the burning questions is would you spend this much on an eyeshadow palette? Let me know in the comments below!

Suzie Q Reviews: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream

Hey Ladies,

My lipstick obsession continues and to be honest it's starting to get a little bit out of hand. The latest additions to my collection are the Soft Matte Lip Creams by NYX that I picked up in New York before they became available here in Ireland. The texture of these lip products are incredible they are long lasting but I found they are more hydrating than drying and the pigmentation is second to none, no lip pencil required. Did I mention that they smell like vanilla cupcakes, added bonus. I picked up the shades Copenhagen, Prague and Istanbul. The only downside to the Soft Matte Lip Creams is that if you try to layer them they can ball up on the lips but using very little product you can easily avoid that. 

                        

Liquid lipsticks really had their moment in 2015 but I don't see them slowing down any time soon so definitely add one of these to your shopping list, there are 20 shades in the range. I have also just seen that NYX are releasing a new product called Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick that boast long lasting/waterproof lip colour with a suede finish so if you don't like the matte look this might be your guy.

   Copenhagen

 Prague

Istanbul

It's safe to say NYX have lip products covered. You can pick up the Soft Matte Lip Creams online on Boots.ie for €7.75 and you can also find the recent additions of the Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks on there too for €9.25!

Ta Hun Sure It's Only Penney's: Lip Pencil Edition

Hey Ladies, 

I swear for the last two months I have been on the biggest lipstick binge, as if I need anymore lipsticks... honestly like a hole in the head. But I just can't help myself but thankfully my latest two faves only cost €1.50 each so it's not going to break the bank or leave me feeling guilty.

I swear Penney's is just getting better by the day, the clothes are on trend and the home ware is to die for and their latest beauty range is making headlines everywhere so naturally enough I tottered down to Penney's to see what the fuss was about. I was hearing reports that one of their lip pencils was a dupe for MAC Spice and by golly it is. Think Spice and Soar mixed but for a fraction of the price, sure you wouldn't even get a cup of tea for that much! 

Anyways, the lip liners are part of their new P.S Love range and there are a few colours but I only picked up the nude and the plum. Now if someone said Penney's brought out makeup I would have thought "you get what you pay for" and the quality would be rubbish but surprisingly enough these liners are giving MAC a run for their money, they are far more covetable than the Kylie Jenner effect on Soar earlier this year, these Penney's lip liner have been out of stock for AGES. That's saying something. 

I have been putting them to the test in terms of quality of colour and durability and so far they're doing brilliant. The quality of pigment is opaque so there's no need to have to pile a whole load on and they last quite well. Now, if you're eating you will need to reapply afterwards but so far they've held up really well. Since testing them I couldn't tell you how many compliments I have gotten. In fact preparing for this post I wore the plum shade today (how similar to MAC Rebel is this!) and so many people asked what I had on, one friend of mine actually said "I bet its MAC!" and I said no actually it's Penney's and she was shocked! 

So there you have it and just a side not my favourite thing I love about these pencils is that I can bring them on a night out or away with me and not be afraid to lose them! 

Tell me have you tried any of the Penney's makeup and what did you think?

New Video: Festival Essentials

Hey Ladies,

Just incase your not subscribed to my YouTube channel (which you should be obvs tut tut) I just posted a new video all about packing the essentials for a festival. I have never been to a festival before but IF I was to go these are the things I wouldn't dream of leaving home without. I actually bring quite a few of these in my bag on a regular basis and they are so handy to have. So, if you are lucky enough to be going to Longitude or Electric Picnic you best check out my video and I will also post below my Festival Makeup Look if you are in need of some makeup inspiration!

I really hope you enjoyed this video and I will be back next week with another!

A Look Inside My Most Used Palette

Hey Ladies,

Bit of a late one for you but I really wanted to share this post with you. We all do it, we buy the latest palette on the market that EVERYONE and their granny is talking about (I'm looking at you Urban Decay) and it's not long before it sits gathering dust in a drawer and we only dig it out to use one or two shades. That is why I love my MAC palette, its customisable so I only put in colours that I like and will use. No wasted space!

As you can see many of the shadows have hit pan and these are the shadows that I have repurchased over and over again and already have backups to fill their spot once they've gone. Building a MAC palette can be expensive but I have added to mine bit by bit (30 shadows at €10 each...YIKES) starting with a single palette to then moving to a double palette and I'm already onto my next palette. I literally use this palette every single day and its the only one I bring when going on holiday.

I have listed all of the shades in the palette just in case you want to have a snoop. Lemme know in the comments what are your favourite MAC shadows? My top 5 would have to be Vanilla the perfect everyday base, Embark the perfect warm brown to deepen the crease, Woodwinked the only shadow you need when you have 5 seconds to do eyes and lastly either White Frost or Vapour as they are my go to brow/inner corner highlight!

My Everyday Essentials

Hey Ladies,

Today I thought I would share with you my everyday stash that I couldn't be without, a little treasure trove that lives on my desk right next to my trusty brushes. I was getting ready for work the other day and I realised that I have never shared with you the products that I use everyday without fail and have repurchased over and over. So it is safe to say they are firm favourites...this is why I haven't done a favourites video yet because all of the products would be the same every single month. I can literally bang out my work face in 10 minutes flat using these products or I could spend hours adding in other bits and bobs, they are the core products to every makeup look that I do.

A little more about my skin if your new around these parts. I have dry skin that is very prone to acne breakouts, my skin tone is very pale so I like to make my everyday face as natural as possible. And once I put my makeup on I want it to last because I hate touching up during the day - primers are an essential. The only thing I haven't included in this post is my eye shadows and brushes but don't worry I have separate posts coming up on them soon! Also please note that my lip colour is the only product that changes in and out regularly because I go through phases of different shades.

So dig into my stash...and let me know do you see any of your favourites? What are your everyday essentials? Want me to do a tutorial on my daily look?

I'll Be On Hoarders:Lipstick Edition

Hey Ladies,

So Marilyn famously said "diamonds are a girls best friend" but to be honest Tom Ford wasn't around in them days. Tom Ford lipsticks are a thing of sheer beauty from the stunning packaging to the creamy formulation that tastes like a vanilla cupcake minus the calories. It's the only lipstick I would re-mortgage my house to afford!

The last two weeks for me have been extremely stressful (you can see more about that on my Instagram @WhatsNewWithSuzieQ) so I thought I would treat myself to a little somethin somethin to cheer me up. Meet Indian Rose, the perfect balance between brown and pink. The ideal candidate to accompany my beloved Soar Lip Pencil by MAC. 

  

It might be expensive but it is SO worth it. Putting it on makes me feel so elegant and lady like! I have done a blog post on Tom Ford lipsticks before and like I mentioned in that this would be the perfect lipstick for a Wedding Day or special occasion. Alternatively if you want to score some major brownie points, buy this for a friend/sister/girlfriend as a present! 

Would you spend €47 on a lipstick or is that absolute madness? What is your perfect lip combo? Let me know in the comments below. 

Purple Smoke With By Terry

Hey Ladies,

For the past few weeks I have been doing the same makeup look...almost everyday. I bought the highly talked about By Terry Ombre Black Star in Misty Rock back in February and have been getting on famously ever since. At €30 its a steep spend for just an eye shadow stick but it is literally the most gorgeous thing I've ever laid my beady eyes on.

Even those who are eye shadow challenged will be able to master this beauty, simply twist it up and pop it all over the lid and either blend it out with a finger or with a blending brush. I find this fades to a soft brown shade around the edges so its not necessary to add any more shadows with it but you can if you want! Once it's on its sets so you don't have to worry about creasing, although if you do have an exceptionally oily eye lid I would recommend a primer before hand.

So I did a little tutorial using this shadow so you could see it in action:

Product List:
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
MAC Strobe Cream
Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 010 Light Porcelain
No Brand Buffing Brush
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC15
Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
MAC Studio Fix Powder in NW13
MAC Painterly Paint Pot
By Terry Ombre Black Star in Misty Rock
Clinique Eye Shadow Brush
Urban Decay Shadow Brush
MAC White Frost Eye Shadow
MAC Cork Eyeshadow
MAC Wedge Eyeshadow
MAC 224 Brush
MAC 217 Brush
MAC Sketch Eyeshadow
Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer in 1N Extra Light
MAC 212 Brush
MAC 219 Brush
MAC Dipdown Fluidline
MAC 263 Brush
Rimmel Brow This Way in Deep Brown
Inglot Gel Eyeliner in 77
No Brand Paint Brush
MAC False Lashes Mascara
MAC 109 Brush
NYX Powder Blush in Taupe
Crown Brush Contour Brush
MAC Stereo Rose Blush
Real Techniques Blush Brush
Sleek Face Form in Light Highlighter
Nima Brush Wendy
MAC Peach Blossom Lipstick

So would I spend another €30 quid for a different colour from the collection? Definitely! My sister also picked up the same shade and gets great use out of hers! So let me know would you spend that much on an eye shadow pencil? Or do you have any dupes from a budget brand I should know about?

Suzie Q Reviews: Essence and Essie!

Hey Ladies,

Passing through Penney's recently and I topped by the Essence stand and boy has it been a while since I've picked anything up. And to be fair I was very good I only picked up one thing...I know how restrained was I?

My nails have been in rag order lately especially my cuticles so I picked up their Fast Cuticle Remover to see if I can nurse them back to health. For only a few bob I didn't expect much but I was presently surprised. Basically you pop it on all over your cuticles, leave it for 15 seconds and push them back with a cuticle pusher. Easy peasy! If your like me and you do your own nails this will give you the look that you have been to the salon and will make them easier to paint. Taking care of your cuticles is vital if you want your nails to grow and strengthen.

So with my nails looking the picture of health I wanted to pop on a subtle and soft polish that was a little more pastel so I chose Go Ginza by Essie. A polish that goes with everything and every time I wear it I think to myself that this would be a fab nail polish for a wedding day. It's different but won't look tacky as sin when you look back at your photographs in 20 years time. It is a pop of colour but won't take away from anything else and it suits all skin tones from pale to tanned gorgeously.

So if your a bride on a budget these two products will give you the perfect mitts for the big day!

How To Brow For Those Who Don't Know How!

Hey Ladies,

Brows..... I'm sure you haven't heard that word a bazillion times this month. Brows are back in a big way (Although I'm sure they never really left..), my YouTube timeline is chock-o-block with brow tutorials and tonnes of Instagram posts boast the hash tag #eyebrowsonfleek. So I thought I would do a video on my YouTube channel all about my brows...talking about hopping on the band wagon. Instead of just filling them in though I'm gonna take you through everything from tinting, to tweezing/threading and then filling them in.

I also thought I would switch it up a bit and include some new products that I have kindly been sent by Eylure and give you my first impressions. I wanted to disclose that I was sent these items but that won't in any way hamper my opinion, I guarantee you have my complete honesty. I have also left the instructions for use when tinting brows below if your unsure of the process. So let's cut all the waffle and get right into it..

And here for your pleasure are some embarrassing pictures of my brow past...from bushes to tadpoles its been a struggle. Oh the shame.

Also quick instructions on how to use the Permanent Tint by Eylure 

1. Sensitivity test is essential apply a small amount of dye behind the ear and look out for a reaction.

2. Cleanse the eye brows to remove any natural oils and makeup using an non-oily cleanser.

3.Apply a barrier cream around the edge of the brows to prevent staining. Vaseline will do the job!

4. Squeeze both sachet 1 and 2 into the bowl provided and mix.

5. Using a clean mascara wand apply the cream mixture to the brows.

6. If you happen to get dye on the skin quickly cleanse with a non oily cleanser to prevent staining.

7. Leave on for 1-2 minutes depending on your hair colour and how dark you want the brows to be.

8. Remove the dye after the dye has had time to work using a non oily cleanser.

Suzie Q Reviews: Sephora Cream Lip Satin

Hey Ladies,

So since the whole scandal with Lime Crime earlier this year (google it!) I have really wanted to try more lip products that are similar to my beloved LC Velvetine in Red Velvet but I am not willing to take the risk with a dodgy company. Instead I started on a quest to find something similar, my first stop was Sephora to try the much talked about Cream Lip Satins. I picked up two shades when I was in Copenhagen and you might have already seen them in my haul video back in February! I picked up the shades 03 Strawberry Kissed and 06 Pink Souffle. Strawberry kissed is a vibrant matte pinky red colour which stands out against my pale skin and Pink Souffle is a gorgeous matte dusky pink which I have worn with my favourite MAC lip pencil Soap and they are stunning together - Kylie Jenner eat your heart out!

Texture wise I am honestly surprised at how good these are. For Sephora own brand I was a little bit snobby and thought they were going to be rubbish but they honestly are phenomenal. They go on with a glossy finish but then dry down to a comfortable matte finish. They are super duper long lasting and hold up really well if you happen to be eating or drinking. I also find with most matte lipsticks that they leave your lips in a haggard state for about a week, oh no not these babies! All in all they are bloody brilliant. I honestly can't remember how much I paid for these as I paid in Danish Krone (most confusing currency) but they wouldn't have been much. I can honestly say I won't be tempted to order from Lime Crime again and instead I will be counting down the days until I get to Sephora again!

Have you got any liquid lipsticks that you would recommend? OR would you purchase from Lime Crime regardless of all the scandal? Let me know in the comments or hit me up on Twitter @WhatsNewSuzieQ.

Smashbox X Donald Robertson

Hey Ladies,

It's very rare for me to walk up to a beauty counter, fall in love with a lipstick, pick it up and walk straight to the tills no questions asked (no swatches either). Literally when I seen the new Smashbox X Donald Robertson collection I knew it was love at first sight, especially when it comes to the new matte lipsticks. I just HAD to have at least one of the shades so as soon as it hit counters on Tuesday I picked up Femme Fatale. Doesn't that name just scream girl power, love it.

Its a beautiful deep plum colour and even though we are nearing Summer and more brighter colours, I love this shade all year round. It's a matte lipstick but it's very different to what we formally know as a matte. I found this lipstick was extremely comfortable on the lips (infused with Shea Butter) and didn't leave my lips dry afterwards which is a huge plus as I love MAC matte lipsticks but your lips do be in rag order for days after.

It's a very creamy formulation so when applying it, there is no dragging and just one swipe gives you a good layer of coverage so no need to build it up. I've worn it for a good few hours to test it out and it does last very well on the lips and once it starts to wear off there is a slight stain underneath which means you won't have to re-apply too often.

The Donald Robertson collection is on counters now and at €21 a pop I may buy another one of these lipsticks to add to my ever growing lipstick collection! Until then this little unexpected splurge will be my new baby and will probably be featured on my Instagram in the near future.