My daily makeup routine!

Hey girlies!

This post is basically about my makeup routine and what products I'm currently using on a day-to-day basis!

I am currently using...

1. Chanel Mat Lumière liquid foundation in Beige #40.

Click here to read my review on this foundation; I also have an updated review coming soon.

I apply it with my..

2. Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Brush.

Review coming up soon!

Or sometimes my...

3. Beautyblender.

Review coming up soon!

I also use my Beautyblender to apply my...

4. MAC Pro Longwear concealer in NW25.

Click here to read my review on this concealer!

I then use my...

5. MAC Large Powder brush #134.

Click here to read my review on this brush!

To set my foundation with...

6. Chanel Mat Lumière Luminous Matte Powder in Pastel #70.

If you'd like me to review this power leave a comment.

I apply a little bit of this onto the apples of my cheeks with my fingers...

7. MAC Creme Blush in Ladyblush.

Click here to read my review on this blush!

I contour my cheeks with...

8. MAC Bronzing powder.

If you'd like me to review this bronzer leave a comment.

Using my...

9. MAC Large Angled Contour brush #168.

Click here to read my review on this brush!

I curl my eyelashes with my...

1. No7 Eyelash curler.

If you'd like me to review this eyelash curler leave a comment.

I then generously coat my lashes with...

2. DiorShow mascara.

Click here to read my review on this mascara!

Now for the brows; I fill in any gaps with my...

3. Laura Mercier Eye Brow Pencil in Warm Brunette.

If you'd like me to review this eye brow pencil leave a comment.

Then I brush them with my...

4. No7 Lash & Brow Brush.

If you'd like me to review this brush leave a comment.

And just so they stay in place I use...

5. No7 Lash & Brow Perfector.

If you'd like me to review this product leave a comment.

After applying my foundation, I always make sure to apply some...

1. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream.

If you'd like me to review this product leave a comment.

I'm currently loving...

2. MAC Lipglass in Pink Poodle.

If you'd like me to review this Lipglass leave a comment.

And if I'm really in the mood I define my lips by lining my lips in a similar colour lipstick with my...

3. MAC Lip brush #316.

If you'd like me to review this brush leave a comment.

After doing this product I can't believe how many products I use just for my day-to-day face; 17 beauty products!!!

Do any of you beauty addicts use similar products? I tag you all to do a similar post!

xxoo ♥

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Weekly Roundup!

Just in case you missed any of last weeks posts here's a roundup for all of you beauty addicts!

✮ Haul : Moroccan Oil, Beauty Blenders, Urban Decay, Make Up Store, LUSH, Smashbox, Montagne Jeunesse, Eco Tools (pictures)

✮ LUSH Coco Lotion (review, pictures)

✮ "aaannnddd I really love it!" (video of the cutest beauty guru ever)

✮ MAC Viva Glam Lady Gaga promo video (video)

✮ Give and Makeup (if you haven't read this post definitely check it out)

✮ Montagne Jeunesse face masques : Review (review, pictures)

✮ LUSH It's Raining Men : Review (review, pictures)

I had a week off from uni - 'reading' week, so just for fun, here are some highs and lows of my week!

The 'lows'.

✮ My boyfriend got sick; man flu = my version of hell.

✮ I got sick!

✮ My laptop crashed but I was able to reformat it and it's working fine.

✮ All my nails broke, waahhh! Time for the Revitanail again!

The 'highs'.

✮ My boyfriend rented a car so we went exploring the city - it was really fun having the freedom you get with a car. Even if it was 2am and we were bored we'd just hop in the car, blast music, get snacks and drive to the most random places!

✮ I had loads of new products to play around with and test out!

✮ I got my phone working again!

✮ I recieved a little package in the mail; post coming soon!

xxoo ♥

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LUSH It's Raining Men : Review

I bought this shower gel based purely on all the reviews I've read about how amazing it is - yes, I finally got the LUSH It's Raining Men shower gel for body and hair!

What they say...

Get soaking wet and lather up just like the Weather Girls first commanded back in the disco days. Only this time, you're armed with one of the best shower gels you can buy. It’s Raining Men is made with lotus flowers to soothe your winter-ravaged bodies and moisturising, cleansing British honey from Wales. Our honey hand and body soap has become such a huge favourite that we just had to create a honey shower gel with the same scent. It smells like toffee-fudge, with refreshing sweet orange and bergamot oils to give it a little extra sweetness for you or your Valentine.

Its other ingredients include rosehip and tiger lily infusion - mmmmmmmm, sounds so luscious!

What I say...

✮ I'll start off by saying this smells amazing - but when I smelt it I wasn't blown away by scents of toffee and fudge. More like yummy sweet honey and other gorgeous scents like sweet floral scents. Mmmm I'll smelling it now; so nice - but not really toffee like.

✮ As you can see in the picture, its consistency is like regular shower gel and it's the colour of light clear honey.

✮ I don't know why but I didn't really expect this to lather up at all but it did - it worked up a nice little lather of bubbles of suds!

✮ A little goes a long way - a large teaspoons worth of shower is more than enough!

✮ Considering honey is one of its main ingredients (and no, the shower gel isn't sticky!!) and honey is know to be a natural skin softener this did leave my skin feeling soft.

✮ It didn't leave a residue on my skin - which is one of my pet peeves - just feeling soft.

✮ I didn't use this in my hair so I can't really comment on that!

Overall, this product didn't disappoint!

I've never really used many LUSH products before; the odd bath bomb every now and again but that was it; but I've recently found this love for LUSH products. I love the whole concept behind LUSH of using natural ingredients, being home made, vegan friendly, environmentally friendly - love it!

Would I buy this product again?

Maybe - I really liked it but I still want to try out all different kinds of shower gel.

Would I recommend this product?

Yes - if you're looking for a gorgeous smelling shower gel that leaves your skin feeling soft and consists of natural ingredients then this is the shower gel for you - but be warned, the LUSH It's Raining Men range is limited edition so if you want to try this shower gel out make sure you get one as soon as possible

This LUSH shower gel comes in 3 different sizes 100g, 250g and 500g. I bought the 100g one for €5.40.

I don't know how much the larger sizes are in euros but in pounds the 100g is £4.25, the 250g is £7.95 and the 500g is £14.25 so that should give you all a rough idea on the prices.

So what do you girlies think? Have you used this shower gel before? Do you like it?

What's your favorite shower gel?

xxoo ♥

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P.S. I forget to mention this in my LUSH Coco Lotion post but if you bring back 5 clean LUSH pots you get a Fresh Face Mask for free! This just makes me love LUSH more - it's nice to give people an incentive to recycle!

Montagne Jeunesse face masques : Review

Hey girls!

Earlier this week I showed you 2 Montagne Jeunesse face masques I got in my haul post!

I decided to try out the Squeezed Lemon Green Tea Peel Off Detox & Pore Cleansing Masque first!

What they say...

'Re-energise your skin with natural minerals, uplifting green tea, healing root ginger & reviving properties of squeezed lemon to reveal a deep cleansed toned & radiant complexion.'

How to use it?

Cleanse, apply the masque evenly on your face, leave it on for 15-20 minutes, and peel off.

What I say...

✮ As you can see in the picture, its consistency is a clear yellow gel like substance.

✮ It smells subtly nice, not overpowering and I can't distinguish a distinct scent - I have a bit of a cold, maybe lemony(?) - but it does smell nice!

✮ After applying the masque, I felt a cooling sensation and it was dry within about 3 - 4 minutes.

✮ In the one packet, there was enough product to apply the face masque 2 time.

✮ Ahh and for the fun part - peeling it off! When my 2o minutes was done there wasn't really much left to peel off as I kept peeling off little pieces of the masque throughout the 20 minutes! Here's a picture of what the masque is like once dried and peeled off:

✮ When I was done, I rinsed my face with warm water and patted my face dry.

Pros:

✮ It's so inexpensive - less than €1.75 and you get 2 applications out of it!

✮ Has a light subtle refreshing scent.

✮ After removing it, my skin definitely seemed brighter, soft, and refreshed!

Cons:

After using this, I realized that I personally don't like peel off masques - I spent the whole 20 minutes picking off little pieces of the masque and fiddling with it - way too distracting for the likes of me!

Would I buy this product again?

No - only because after trying this I've realized that peel off masques aren't for me!

Would I recommend this product?

Maybe - depends on whether you like peel off masques or not; if you do like peel off masques then yes, this is a nice inexpensive masque that leaves your skin brighter and refreshed!

Later on in the week I decided to try out the Skin Clearing Blemish Mud containing soothing Aloe Vera juice & Willow.

What they say...

'For normal, greasy and t-zone skin. Why put up with blemishes? Our special blend of aloe vera, willow, rosemary and witch hazel naturally target your problem areas for a clean complexion. Clear & clean, combats blemishes.'

How to use it?

Cleanse, apply the masque evenly on your face and neck, leave it on for 10-15 minutes (or until dry), rinse off with warm water and pat your face dry.

What I say...

✮ It is light grey and has a thick creamy clay-like consistency - I prefer these types of face masques much more!

✮ It had a light scent of witch hazel.

✮ After applying the masque, within a couple of minutes it dried up, hardened and turned white - as this was happening I felt a cooling tingly sensation which I really liked; it felt like it was working!

✮ There's enough product for at least 3 face masques but it dries up fast so make sure to seal it up tightly! I pushed all the extra product to the bottom on the packet and wrapped it up tight and 4 days later it was still as good as new!

Pros:

✮ Inexpensive.

✮ This masque left my skin feeling fresher, and much more cleaner.

✮ It genuinely felt like it worked and made a difference to my skin.

Cons:

Honestly, I can't think of any!

Would I buy this product again?

Yes - it's cheep, cheerful, and felt like it worked.

Would I recommend this product?

Yes - if you have blemish prone skin that's normal/oily and are looking for something that has a deep clean sensation then this is the mask for you!

So it's clear that I definitely liked the Blemish Mud masque more - much more my kind of thing!

I just had a look online at the other Montagne Jeunesse masques and I can't wait to try out their peach kernel & walnut exfoliating masque, white chocolate masque, dead sea anti-stress masque and cream & honey skin polisher - they all sound so nice!!

For anyone in the UK you can buy Montagne Jeunesse face masques online here.

For everyone else in the rest of the world, click here to find out where Montage Jeunesse face masques can be found in your area.

And, for anyone in Ireland I got mine from Boots for about €1.20 - 1.70 - I need to start keeping receipts!!

Do any of you girls use Montagne Jeunesse face masques? What are your opinions on them? What's your favorite face masque?

xxoo ♥

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Give and Makeup

Calling all beauty addicts in the UK!

I saw this post on Pearls and Poodles and I love a good cause so I had to tell you guys about it.

It's about a cause called Give and Makeup - a non-profit initiative whose sole purpose is to get everyday essentials into the hands of these women and children who need them the most.

What is 'Give and Makeup'?

Give and Makeup is a non profit organisation that doesn't ask for donations of money, but for donations of everyday beauty essentials that every woman needs.

Once they have recieved donations, they distribute them to Refugee and Women's Aid centers in the UK - all the donations go to woman and children who have fled from domestic abuse and who are in need of products and everyday essentials that we would usually take for granted.

What can I donate to 'Give and Makeup'?

✮ If you'd give it to a friend, they'll accept it.

✮ They only accept new items of anything with an applicator wand such as mascara, lip gloss, and certain concealers - anything else that has lightly been used is fine.

✮ 'Gift with purchase' sizes are welcomed, as well as samples.

What they need...

✮ Everyday essentials - shampoo, conditioner, bath & shower gel, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, body lotion, feminine hygiene products, shaving products, at-home hair dye colouring kits.

✮ Skin care products - cleanser, toner, moisturiser.

✮ Makeup products - foundation, concealer, powder, blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara.

✮ Tools - makeup bags, makeup brushes, hairdryers, curling tongs, straighteners.

✮ Baby products - all of them!

Click here to see the full list.

Where to send these donations?

There are drop off points in London, Manchester and East Sussex and smaller packages can be posted. Click here for the full details on drop off points and posting details.

'As part of their continuing commitment, BeautyBay.com will be offering FREE postage on all Give and Make-Up donations until 1st March 2011.

BeautyBay.com will supply a free delivery label to stick to all parcels, simply email online.marketing@beautybay.com to receive a copy.

Note: these labels will have a 2kg weight limit so if you’re sending more than 2kg, please split in to suitable weighted parcels.

To say thanks for all donations, a 10% discount code will be sent to each person who sends a donation via these labels (it will be emailed across after the parcel has been received). If you have any questions, contact BeautyBay via online.marketing@beautybay.com

Click here for more details.

So, if you're like me and have a few lightly used products that you no longer use cluttering up your bathroom and storage space do something good and donate them to people who need, and would appreciate them more.

Will you be sending anything to Give and Makeup? What do you think of this initiative?

xxoo ♥

MAC Viva Glam Lady Gaga promo video

I just saw this online, and like everything that I find online that I like - I had to share!

Just in case you haven't seen it, here's the promo video for MAC Viva Glam.

Lady Gaga looks beautiful and the whole video is so sexy and seductive!

I do find it a bit funny though how the actual lipstick only features in the clip for about 15 seconds - but I guess 'Gaga' sells?!

What do you guys think? Do you like the promo video?

xxoo ♥

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"aaannnddd I really love it!"

I saw these videos going around on twitter and I had to share!

Check out this 5 year old makeup 'guru'. Isn't she adorable!?

LOL!

'And I really love it' - too cute!

xxoo ♥

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LUSH Coco Lotion : Review

I've been using the Vaseline Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning range religiously for the past year - maybe even more than a year - but I decided to branch out and try something new!

I got the LUSH Coco Lotion, which is a body and hand cream. I was in a rush and basically got it because I read the word Coco and assumed it was similar to cocoa butter and bought it based on that.

Although I was mistaken, I wasn't disappointed but instead pleasantly surprised.

Firstly, if you're looking for a scented body lotion and have 'scent expectations' then this isn't the one for you - it's fragrance free.

But obviously everything smells like something! This Coco lotion smells light and natural; nothing distinct - just the mix of ingredients I'm guessing. I don't mind that it's fragrance free mainly because I'm getting into more natural products as well as natural organic scents - it also doesn't clash with my perfume which is nice!

What they say...

'Inspired by the bountiful blessings of the Caribbean, with fresh pineapple juice, extra virgin coconut oil, mandarin and rosemary infusion. No added perfume; smells brilliant all the same. Lavish lashing all over your hands and body for toned, brightened, smoother skin.

Other than all those luscious sounding ingredients, it also contains pimento berry, nutmeg, star anise, peanut oil, sesame oil, and organic pumpkin seed oil - sounds amazing right!

What I say...

✮ When I first opened the tub, just by looking at it, I expected it's consistency to be thick like body butter but it's actually very smooth and light weight.

✮ I've never tried a fragrance free lotion before and I actually like it because my perfume stands out and isn't mixed in with other scents. Even though it's fragrance free, as mentioned, there's a very light natural scent to it.

✮ It took about 5 minutes maximum to fully absorb into my skin and for hours after my skin felt uber soft and smooth. I used this after shaving my legs and it seriously made them feel so soft! Even though it's lightweight it's definitely moisturising.

✮ I really, really like the packaging! I love the simplicity of it - in general I really like LUSH packaging.

✮ Even though I'm not a vegetarian I like the fact that it's vegan friendly and I also like the natural ingredients used.

Would I buy this product again?

Yes - not immediately as I want to experiment with different lotions, but I would definitely repurchase this again in the future.

Would I recommend this product?

Yes - if you're looking for a lightweight, very moisturising lotion, that's scent free, contains natural ingredients and won't clash with your perfume then this is the lotion for you!

I got this LUSH Coco Lotion (225g) for €11.60.

Does anyone else out there use this body lotion?

Do you like it?

What's your favorite body lotion?

xxoo ♥

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Haul : Moroccan Oil, Beauty Blenders, Urban Decay, Make Up Store, LUSH, Smashbox, Montagne Jeunesse, Eco Tools

If you read my posts regularly or follow me on twitter you'll know that I had 2 big assignments due in for uni last week.

I spent the whole week working frantically, stressed out, and meeting the deadlines - I'm a last minute kind of person and work best under pressure that's why I left them both to the last few days.

Anyways, I promised myself that if I did them properly and handed them in on time I'd treat myself to some beautylicious goodies.

Here's what I splurged on:

✮ Moroccan Oil - the one I currently have is nealrly finished! For anyone in Dublin, I got this from Zeba Salon for €15.

✮ Beauty Blenders(!!!!) - Yes, I finally got them... I've been wanting a beauty blender for nearly a year now and I finally found them in Dublin; I got the set of 2 beauty blenders and 1 beauty blender cleanser. I'm so excited to try them out and do a review - watch this space!

✮ Urban Decay Primer Potion Set - Original and Sin, both full sized.

✮ Make Up Store Eyeshadow Brush (#106 - medium).

✮ LUSH Coco Lotion - I love cocoa butter and I've wanted to try out a new body lotion so I got this one to test out!

✮ Smashbox Wish For The Perfect Palette - it comes with a whopping 49 eyeshadows, 10 cream eyeliners, 6 brow powders, 1 brow wax, 8 lip glosses, 2 blushes, 1 bronzer, 1 highlighter, and 4 mini brushes.. phew! I can't wait to play around with this! And I got it for about €30 euro off!!

Then I went into Boots and got...

✮ Eco Tools Eyeshadow Brush - so inexpensive and the quality seems really good!

✮ 2 Montagne Jeunesse face masks; Skin Clearing Blemish Mud Masque & the Green Tea Peel Off Detox & Pore Cleansing Masque - they both seem so nice and I can't wait to try them out!

✮ I got this makeup bag for about €2, it's nothing special but I always need bags like this for extra storage!

eeeeeeeeeeeeek!

I can't wait to try out all these new beauty products, I'm all giddy and excited!

You'll probably be seeing reviews of these products throughout the whole week! If anyone wants anything in specific reviewed first, just let me know!

Do any of you girls own any of these products? Do you like them? Has anyone else spoiled themselves recently?

xxoo ♥

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MAC Large Powder Brush (#134)

Here's a quick review on the MAC Large Powder Brush (#134):

Sigh, isn't it just so pretty? Anyways...

'An extra large paddle-shaped brush featuring a fluffed, rounded tip. Of soft natural fibre, this brush is specially designed to provide flawless application of powder to face or body'.

✮ I personally use it to apply powder all over my face; like the MAC Mineralize Skin Finish or a loose powder to set my makeup - but it is a multipurpose brush. Even though it's pretty big, it's quite slim and can be used for applying blush and other powders and even contouring.

✮ It's perfect for applying and distributing setting powder all over your face because of its size, and gives you a nice even finish.

✮ I also love the fact that it's a big brush because it's perfect for when you're in a rush and on the go - sweep, sweep, sweep and you're fully powdered!

✮ It's really soft fluffy and picks up a lot of product.

✮ Because it's quite big, you'd expect it to be a killer to wash, but as long as you clean it on a regular basis, it washes perfectly and doesn't shed. It also doesn't shed as you're applying your make up. Click here to see how I take care of my brushes!

✮ The only con would probably be it's price.

In the picture below, you can see how big the brush head is:

To be honest with you guys, when I first bought this brush I didn't really like it - but after using it regularly, my opinions on it changed.

It's not a 'must have' brush, and you could probably find similar brushes for half the price but it's good quality, will last me years, and I love it!

This brush is available at MAC stores, or online for $52/£36.

What's your favorite MAC brush? Or favorite brush in general?

xxoo ♥

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