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!
When I'm doing my makeup there is usually only one product I reach for when it comes to brows and that is MAC Dipdown Fluidline. My holy grail product for perfect brows every time. Sometimes though it's nice to jump out of your comfort zone and try something new especially when you review products on your blog....it's kind of important to switch it up.
My latest leap has been trying out the Maybelline Brow Satin Pencil in Dark Brown. Basically the idea behind it is very simple one end is a retractable brow pencil and the other end is a smudger. Lets talk about the pencil end first. Colour wise it is a perfect match for me and the pigment is really good. It's quite a creamy pencil so there is no need to drag the skin when applying the product. It gives more of a subtle look so if you rock the power brow then this might not be for you. Lasting all day it and being easy to remove gives it a big thumbs up in my book.
The opposite end is where I find myself a little baffled. There is a smudger brush and some dark brown powder in the cap and the idea is that you fill in your brow with the pencil first to define your shape and then smudge the colour into the brow. Now, unless you have mighty big brows a la Bert or his pal Ernie then you might have some trouble using this. If it had a little angled brush then it would be a little more practical but for €9 in Boots it's a fairly decent pencil.
I have actually been trialing the Brow Wiz by Anastasia Beverly Hills for the past few weeks and have noticed that these pencils are quite similar the only difference being the nib of the Brow Wiz is thinner!
I hope you found this review helpful, let me know below what is your HG brow product?
Although I have been blogging on and off now for a couple of years I still get overly excited when I get emails inviting me to events. Way back I got invited as a plus one to an event for GHD by my lovely friend Gracey (which you will know as Long Hair and Lashes). Now, you all know me when it comes to hair you can just forget it. I can just about brush my hair in the morning and even that is a challenge. There's been plenty of times I have had insane thoughts of just shaving my head but have managed to keep my sanity intact thanks to fantastic hair tools and a little bit of determination.
The event itself was for mainly hairdressers to showcase the new GHD Platinum styler and what it can do and how it does it. When we arrived there were rows of styling stations with brushes, tools and hair products. There was also a big stage right in the middle of the room for the demonstrations. The GHD Pro team demonstrated three looks which you can see in the images below, the Jessica Rabbit killer curl, the avant-garde braid and the boho wave. And boy do they make it look so easy! Then we got a little bit of time to test them out for ourselves i.e a GHD Pro came along and gave me a hand which was brillopads for me because I could then annoyingly pick their brains with all the stupid hair questions I had. Then when we were leaving.....they gave us a brand spanking new GHD to try at home. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor!
So enough of that let me tell you a little more about my new hair saviour and what I really think... It is described by GHD as "the ground-breaking styler that takes the guilt out of heat styling. The GHD platinum styler delivers our best-ever styling results for all hair types, including harder to style hair.". So with all that said what is the actual styler like? Think sleeker, more effective and less damage. Sometimes I think it is harder to review items like this and instead you really need to see it in action...so I made a mini review and demo of the look seen on me in the pictures below, which just so happens to be my usual hair style.
The styler has a brand new design that features the Wishbone Hinge to help keep plates aligned so you get an even better curl and straighten. I've also mentioned in the video it's an added bonus if you have longer hair like me! I also noted the swivel cord which makes styling easier. The plates on either side of the styler have also improved hugely due to the added sensors to ensure that they are heated evenly so you don't miss any sections of hair, they call it tri-zone technology. GHD boast claims that it is 50% less damaging than other stylers and I have to be honest since I have been using it my hair hasn't been as dry and I have noticed a lot less split ends! It also comes with a nifty little silicone protector to prevent damaging surfaces after styling. A silly side note but it also has a universal fuse which means you can take this anywhere in the world and it will work perfectly.
I also get asked quite a lot whether I prefer my L'oreal Steam Pod or the new GHD Platinum and I do go into more detail about that in the video if you are curious. So let's talk price....brace yourself...this styler costs €215 which is not cheap by any means. BUT let me just say a GHD is not just for Christmas it's for life. I can't even tell you how long I had my last GHD and it's still going strong. Its an investment so if you are thinking about upgrading your straightener then I would say this is its replacement.
With all that said I would love to know your thoughts, is €215 too steep for a hair styling tool or is the GHD your hair bestie? Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear your thoughts.
I love blush just as much of the next girl but me and blush have a very tumultuous relationship. I want naturally flushed....I get aunt Sally. I want glowy....I get oily. After a long battle I have finally found the three perfect blushes for my pale skin and I want to share them with you all (can you spot the coral trend?).
First up is Elf Tickled Pink blusher. It looks like Nars, feels like Nars but it costs only $3! I picked this up way back when I was in New York and have literally used it religiously ever since, can't you tell by how little is left. The texture of this blush is just perfection, it has great pay off and lasts all day on the skin without being too drying and or clinging to dry patches. It has the tiniest hint of shimmer that gives the skin a beautiful glow! A product I would definitely repurchase again and again.
Next up is the Face Form palette in Fair from Sleek Makeup. This trio is all you need to contour, highlight and blush your pale skin to perfection. A light hand is vital here as this palette is super pigmented and this highlighter literally gives me life (take that Mary Lou). The blush is a beautiful rose gold shade and is a good dupe for Nars Orgasm blush. Brace yourself as it does have a good bit of shimmer and you can see by the swatch above that again....a light hand is key.
"Yo ELF/Sleek I'm really happy for you and Imma let you finish but MAC has the greatest blusher of all time"
Lastly my favourite blusher EVER, MAC Stereo Rose and by golly she's a thing of sheer beauty. I waited for this blush to be re-released by MAC for so long (it's limited edition) that as soon as I heard it was coming, I was the first Bridie in the queue. I gives the most beautiful flush and sheen to the skin. The powder itself is so buttery and soft it just glides on. No doubt MAC will release this again in the near future as it is so popular and if they do, I'll take 5. I'm taking this baby to the grave.
So there you have it, my top 3 blushes. I hope you found this post helpful if you are a paler girl like myself. Keep your eyes peeled this Friday as I have a new video coming....EEEP.
Until next time,
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.
I love a good browse in Penney's as much as the next person but I ALWAYS leave with stuff I don't need - Splurgy Sue strikes again. Thankfully this time I had a good excuse, its for the blog. That sentence constantly gets me out of a pickle.
The last time I was in Penney's I spotted that they had added to their "PS Love This' range. I have never actually tried any of their makeup items so I'll hold my comments until I do but I am constantly picking up their eye lashes whenever I'm in Penney's. There lashes range from natural to RuPaul-esque so they have you covered for every occasion. My favourite pair are the Double Trouble lashes and they cost only €2! I know, right?! I also picked up some individuals for my kit.
I also spotted the Makeup Brush Cleanser which I've seen being mentioned on Twitter a couple of times. It's alright not the worst in the world. It doesn't have an offensive scent and doesn't dry out brush hairs which is essential if you've put money into your brush collection. It's perfect for spot cleaning, beginners or people who are just too darn lazy to properly clean their brushes (I have a super detailed post on how to wash brushes here). In all honesty though if you pass one by I would pick it up for only €2.50 its a handy one to have lying around and it's not going to break the bank.
Also, how CUTE is the stationary in Penney's at the moment. I'm a well organised Bridie these days with my to-do lists and weekly planner. It makes my desk look like something off Pinterest.
So let me know in the comments what you think about the Penney's makeup rang. Have you tried it? What should I pick up next time I'm in store....c'mon enable me!
I GOT A STEAMPOD!!!! (<- can you tell I'm excited?)
To most people that would be a whole load of gobbledygook but this is something your going to see much more of in the future as it's slowly starting to make the rounds around the blogs. Look at me getting in before the hype storm. I am literally so excited to share this video with you... ever since I got this doohickey I have been dying to review it! This is literally the bomb.com if you have curly frizzy and unmanageable hair. I won't go into too much detail because everything you need to know is in the video including a demo of how it works.
So I didn't mention in the video where I got my Steam Pod from and that is because I wasn't very happy with the service but didn't want to bash the company I ordered from. I ordered mine from LookFantastic.com back at the end of October as it was my Christmas present from Himself and we wanted to make sure we got it early in case of any postage delays and at the time it was quite hard to get/out of stock. Well, we put in a code for next day delivery and it arrived over a week and a half late. AND it gets worse, the box was pulverised so much so that I'm surprised the Steam Pod was even in there. Now, don't get me wrong I know this happens but when your paying €160+ I expected for it to arrive at least in one piece. Anyways, if you are looking to buy a Steam Pod you can find them much easier now-a-days in the likes of Peter Mark and The Style Club as mentioned.
I really hope you find this video helpful! Let me know what you think in the comment section below!
Continuing on the search for the best mascara on the market I bring you my latest victim that has been thoroughly tried and tested! I present to you MAC False Lashes Mascara, which is a product I think I wrote off before I had even given it a fair chance. When this first hit the blogosphere there was a huge buzz about it but in my past MAC mascara experiences (all of which were awful!) I wasn't running out to pick this up.
Fast forward to the end of 2013 and I find myself in the CCO Antrim holding this in my hand debating whether to give it a whirl. For such a pittance I picked it up and put it in my back-up makeup drawer until I used up my fav mascaras first!
Well tickle me pink and call me Suzie this mascara is bloody brilliant. From the texture which is jet black, a non clumpy formulation right down to the cone shaped brush that coats every single lash. I have to honestly say that I am so pleasantly surprised and my faith in MAC Mascaras has been restored. I have been using this for a good bit now and there are no signs of the product drying out, it also lasts very well throughout the day with no transfer or flaking.
I am giving this on an 8 out of 10 and adding it to my shopping list for fear that I might run out!
Hey Ladies,
There is nothing more I love spending my hard earned money on than mascara. I am always on the search to find the perfect mascara that isn't too clumpy, gloopy or expensive. Recently I think I have really hit the nail on its head and found the perfect mascara for me!
Clinique High Impact Mascara in Brightening Black is the newest addition to my mascara wardrobe. I received this sample in my bonus time gift at the start of August and have used it almost everyday since. It is the perfect mascara at adding length (like I honestly need more length) and definition to my lashes to give me an everyday flutter lash effect. The consistency of the product is perfect, it isn't drying which means no flakes during the day on my cheeks or transfer onto my lid which is a must! The mascara is brilliant if you are like me and you're always on the go and you need something to last all day long.
The applicator is quite a large "fluffy" wand as I like to call it, perfect to give curl to the lashes and not to big so you miss out on the little ones in the corner. As this is a sample it doesn't have one of the plungers on the opening which means you get a bit more product than you normally would need. To combat this I like to swipe the wand along the rim of the tube so I get rid of any excess which prevents over use and clumping. Removing your make-up at the end of the day is also a doddle as one swipe with an oily make-up remover and its gone!
This mascara comes in black and black brown and is a steal at 19.50! This is one of the firm favourites of the Pixiwoo sisters which means it must be brilliant. This is quickly becoming my favourite mascara and I can soon see myself picking up a new one when my little sample has run out.
