FOTD: Golden Smokey Eye.

So last Wednesday I went out & the next day morning I shared a photo of my make up on Instagram because I loved it. You know when you have like three hours to watch Youtube videos & get ready and everything just comes together?
Then the lovely Sarah from RaraGiggles asked me to do a post on what products I used, so here it is! I also decided to check how much my face costs, because using a previous picture means I;m not actively trying to use certain products!

Eyes

Essence I Love Stage eye primer - €2.99

Urban Decay Naked Palette (Naked, Buck, Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse & Creep) - €44

MUA Up All Night palette (No 1 & Hot) - €4.99

L'Oreal Infallible Eyeliner (Black) - €7.79

Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner (Black) - €11.99

Maybelline Colossal Go Extreme Mascara (Black) - €10.49

Maybelline One By One Mascara (Black) - €11.99

Urban Decay Browbox (Brown Sugar) - €25

Face

Benefit Porefessional - €34

Nars Sheer Glow (Mont Blanc) - €40

P2 Dress Code Happy Concealer - €3.95

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (Light) - €6.35

Benefit Booing Concealer (01) - €24

NYC Blushable Creme Stick (Big Apple Blush) - €3.49

Bourjois Bronzing Primer - €13.99

ELF Shimmering Facial Whip (Pink Lemonade) - €2.40

Lips

Korres Lip Butter (Pomengranate) - €9.95

Rimmel Exaggerate Lipliner (Eastend Snob) - €5.49

MAC Satin Lipstick (Snob) - €19

Total

€281.86

Waaaaah that is a bit of a crazy total... But I suppose it's my hobby, plus I used a lot of products! It'd be pretty easy to leave out a lot of these products & get a similar result. I couldn't go without the Naked palette though, the golds & browns are beautiful!

This is not in any way a tutorial because I cannot do that for the life of me! But for reference, I blend Buck & Naked just in/over my crease, Half Baked goes in the centre of my lid, with Smog on the outside & Darkhorse applied on the outer V of my eye, with Creep blended over that. Then under my eyes, I started with Darkhorse on the outside, Smog in the middle, and Half Baked in the inner corner. I used the colours from MUA Up All Night as highlights, but Virgin from the Naked palette is one of my favourite eye highlights ever. (I'll stop gushing over Urban Decay now).

So that was my face last week!

Chloe x

MAC Satin Lipstick - Snob

So on one of my many, many trips through the airport recently, I decided I needed a nude lipstick for work. As much as I love neon pinks/ dark purples, they get overlooked when I'm working! I did think about Creme Cup, but I figured Snob was a bit more up my street.

The packaging is standard MAC - A black tube with silver writing. I'm not sure why I bother throwing in a photo of the packaging anymore, plus it's impossible to photograph! But anyway, I like it, I have a lipstick stand with little black tubes & it looks quite nice & organised!

MAC call Snob "a ladylike mauve". The bullet does look like a pinky mauve, but on the lips it's a lot pinker. It's quite warm toned & I do worry it might make teeth look a bit yellow. It still falls into the nude category for me though!

It's a satin finish, & I think it lasts about 5 hours. It's pretty opaque applied straight from the bullet, but it does settle into the lines on your lips a bit. I think satin might be my favourite finish - I don't find it drying, but it has good colour payoff and sticks around.

MAC lipsticks are not cheap at all, at about €19, but I've picked a few up in duty free & I'd rather buy one of their lipsticks that I loved the colour of, than two high street lipsticks. I can see myself wearing Snob quite a lot throughout the summer so I think it's worth it!

I'm so tannedddddd.... Despite the 28 degree sunshine, this is Cocoa Brown. #lifesaver

Chloe x

Revlon Colorburst Balms - Showy, Elusive & Whimsical

Hello!

I've seen loads of reviews on Revlon's latest lip offerings recently, and finally picked up the three that I thought I'd like, and wanted to show them off. (Because, you know, no-one I actually know in real life cares.) This meant two matte balms & one lacquer are now mine, for about €10 each I believe. I bought them in Shaws, who always have discounts on make up, but they're not TOO much more in Superdrug/ Boots.

Top to bottom - Showy, Elusive & Whimsical

The packaging is the same as the original Just Bitten balms (which I loved and keep meaning to dig out), except the matte balms have matte packaging & the lacquers are very glossy - I like the matte, though it cearly gets rubby quickly. Maybe that's just me & my bottomless bag though...

Showy, Elusive & Whimsical.

Showy is a matte blue toned pink. It's a bright one, but makes teeth a bit whiter & it;s one of those colours that really just wakes your face up! I'm a neon lip girl & I find it completely wearable. 

Elusive is a medium nude pink - I'm not really sure why I bought it, because I wouldn't usually bother with anything as normal. but it's become standard in my daily make up bag for work! 

On the other end of the scale, I thought Whimsical would be ideal for me, but even though I love the deep colour & the shimmer, I suppose I wish it wasn't so glossy. (I know, that's the point of being a lacquer. Just saying, I'd like a more opaque one.) But it is very pretty on the lips.

Bare lips, Showy, Elusive & Whimsical.

Like the original balms, both the lacquer & matte versions have a slightly minty scent. In terms of lasting power, the matte are obviously better, & I find they are still okay about 4 hours later (depending on what you've been doing), whereas the lacquer started to disappear after about an hour, particularly from the centre. I think I'm biased though, because the other colours I'm convinced I need are matte as well. (Shameless & Mischievous, just in case...)

So basically, I like these balms & if there's a colour calling your name, you may as well pick it up. (Especially if it's matte. I'll shut up now.)

Please let me know if you've tried any of the other shades - I need to reassure myself that it's okay to buy more!

Chloe x

Maybelline Colour Sensational Vivid Lipstick in Vibrant Mandarin

Today, you can check me out over on CherrySue Doin' The Do, talking about Maybelline's Big Eyes Mascara. I can't say I loved it, so to counteract that, I decided I should post about a new Maybelline lipstick that I picked up. (That's a lie - I picked up two shades..I can just never say no!)

The Boots website says "Color Sensational Lipcolor hydrates lips whilst delivering bright, rich, pigment- saturated coverage." The packaging is attractive, it's a plastic lid that corresponds with the lipstick colour, and it's squared off, while the base is silver. And shiny. While I like sleek black tubes, etc, they get a bit boring & these are much more attractive in my lovely new make up holders.

So Vibrant Mandarin sounds orange, but to me it's more of an orange toned red. Seeing as orange lipstick scares me, it's a good way to start dipping my toes in the water! It is a beautiful shade, & lives up to its name, coz this is vibrant with a capital V.

On the lips (as opposed to anywhere else you'd put your lipstick), it's smooth & incredibly pigmented. One coat gives full opacity, but because it's so smooth & slightly glossy, it's a terror for bleeding & smudging. I rubbed a spot near my mouth & had beautifully stained fingers to match the smudge down my chin. Similarly, as with any glossy lipstick, it will start to fade quicker than a matte - Though I found it didn't seem to transfer to my glass, so a bonus point for that. 

I really like this release from Maybelline - I go weak at the knees for bright lips, but it's nice to get one that a) isn't matte & b) doesn't highlight every dry patch. I haven't found the purple shades but when I do, they will be mine! Until then, I'll wear Vibrant Mandarin & see if I can work up the courage to try Electric Orange.  Colour Sensational Vivid Lipsticks cost €9.99, which I'm happy to pay & are available widely!

Have you picked up any of this range? What do you think of orange lips?

Chloe xx

Essence Longlasting Lipstick in 09 Wear Berries!

A few months ago, I picked up another of Essence's Long Lasting Lipsticks & was impressed, big time. I mentioned that I wanted to try out a few other shades, & for €2.49, it would be rude not to buy another. Or another three. But today, I'm going to show you the one that's taking up space in my bag for the last while.

Wear Berries is a pinky-purple shade. At first glance, I thought maybe it was similar to MAC's Up The Amp, but it's definitely a lot pinker. In the bullet, it's a deep berry shade, but swatched, it's quite a bit lighter. And, just to say it again, pinker.

I actually cannot deny how well these lipsticks apply - They're so creamy, & do not dry my lips out in the slightest. There's a slight sheen to them, but they're not glossy at all - Just very creamy and smooth! I'm not sure about the long lasting claims though - Three hours later or so, & my lips sport a barely there berry stain, but wear time isn't that impressive. However it does fade very evenly, & I find that it's a colour I have no problem applying on the go because it's not too bright or dark. 

I did originally think that Wear Berries was going to be a real winter shade (it's snowing here, winter shades are still appropriate) but it's definitely an all-round kind of lipstick - It translates to a deep but natural colour on the lips. I wore it to my oral exam yesterday & that went well, so I'm putting it down to the lipstick. And using it as an excuse to go buy every other colour.

Do you like purple toned lipsticks?

Chloe x

P2 Matte Deluxe Lipstick in 050 I Adore You

To follow on from the dark nail polish I've adopted for winter, here's a dark lipstick. I've found a few budget brands over here with decent products, & this is one of my favourites! P2 is a German budget brand, aimed at teenagers & is seriously affordable. I haven't tried much yet, but I will!

I was out one night & admiring my friend's lipstick from afar. A few vodkas later, I asked her what it was, convinced she'd say it was MAC Rebel. But nope, she pulled the small silver tube out of her bag & told me it was a lipstick she'd picked up that day for about €2. The next day, I wasn't too hungover not to go sprinting into town to find it.

It looks unbelievably scary in the tube.. But it's more nicer than first impression.

 The Matte Deluxe Lipstick comes in 6 shades, one of which is I Adore You - A deep purple-pink shade. I always think it can be hard to find a decent matte lipstick, especially on a budget. So many of them just dry out your lips & settle into every line that you need ten different lip balms before applying them, which ruins the matte effect. But I Adore You is matte, without being drying. It does tend to apply a little bit unevenly though, so you have to pay attention on application.

I don't actually own MAC Rebel, but I imagine this to be close to it. On the night in question, my friend told me the lipstick I was wearing was identical (Kate Moss 107), but I Adore You is much more pink toned! It is quite similar in finish to the Rimmel Matte lipsticks though, & like 107, it is perfect for cold winter days.

I Adore You cost €2.95 in DM, a German pharmacy. 

Also - Does it bother you seeing things that aren't available in Ireland? If I do a give-away of German products, would this interest you?

Chloe x

Rimmel London: Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss Lipstick in 107

Gonna put my hands right up & say that for the past year, I've been referring to this as "that dark red Kate Moss lipstick" & just had to Google the real name. Which is a bit of a mouthful. That said, it's quite possible my Favourite Red Lipstick. Not that I wear red lipstick a lot, which makes the fact that I like one quite special.

I know, the world & his granny have probably picked up one of Kate's lipsticks by now, & quite possibly 90% of those grannies got 107 because everybody seems to love it. But just in case, I thought I'd list the reasons it's so fabulous.

The packaging is sturdy, & despite just throwing it in the bottom of my bag, the lid has never come off. I like the red casing, though it does annoy me slightly that the lipstick can't be stored upside down, so if you have a few of the matte lipsticks, you have to turn them all upside down to find the one that you want... I know, first world problems.

That aside, I hadn't really been looking for this shade until November 1st. It's a total winter colour, not just because I'm far too cold to get out of bed in the morning so it's easier to throw on some lipstick instead of trying to focus on my liquid liner & smokey eye. The deep red is literally just a winner - I haven't yet seen someone that it hadn't suited. (Maybe they're out there.) Even though I'm not a red lip person, I don't mind a deep red like this... It's less attention grabbing, I think, but still makes a statement.

The middle photo is frightful, but the only natural light photo I had - Oops!

I thought there would be problems with the matte finish, but it hasn't dried my lips out in the slightest, & doesn't highlight dry patches any more than any lipstick does. Naturally, the one complaint I have is that it does feather slightly.. So yesterday, I invested in a red lipliner. Problem solved. Even without the liner though, this has serious staying power. I put it on yesterday before going to college & after a morning of talking, drinking & biting my lips, then coming home & having curry & a Kinder Bueno (a free Kinder Bueno! Yum), there was still an impressive colour left.

Is it obvious that I love this lipstick? Literally, I apply it from the bullet, blot it, re-apply, & I'm good to go. I live in fear that it will be discontinued & I'll be comparing every deep red to this. I may stock up. Kate Moss lipsticks are €6.99, but you can usually get them on 3 for 2 in Boots, etc, so even if you don't like this shade, you should still try another colour - 101 is my favourite nude-pink.

Do you own this? What's one of your 'winter' beauty items?

Chloe x

Stila After Glow Lip Colour in Festive Fuschia

It's not usual that I get a product, put it on & instantly want to review it. But there's a first for everything. Thursday night, I arrived home to my prize from Sarah of Rara Giggles' give away - A Stila After glow Lip Colour!

Two things I want from lip products are a decent colour, and good wear time. Everything else tends to be a bonus. So, the nice sleek packaging - All good. I like lip products in a crayon form, because I think the bullet wears down evenly (Is this a thing? Some of my lipsticks seem to end up being really pointy!) & It's pretty handy just to throw in your bag. The black with pink writing is different to the norm, so I approve! It twists up too, which I prefer to a sharpener.

But, no good having a pretty product if you don't like it. first up - I adore the colour. Pinks are my thing. Particularly a well-pigmented deep or bright pink. And this delivers! Sarah couldn't have sent me a more perfect colour. Even though it is quite bright, I have no problem wearing even neon pinks during the day, so this is definitely going to become my go-to lip product! Plus - the niche of these is that under UV lights,they GLOW IN THE DARK. I have not yet tested this out but I most definitely will. For the craic.

Other than the colour, it definitely lasts well. It is glossy, but (like most lip crayons) stains the lips. However, I've found that the glossiness & top layer of product actually hang around for quite a long time! Obviously eating/ drinking reduces the shine, but you don't have to worry about it disappearing quickly. Because it's glossy, it's also fairly moisturising & won't highlight any small lip problems.

Have I sold it? I actually may possibly be in love. For around €16 on Asos, I am most definitely willing to pay the price for one of the nicest colours I've seen in lip crayons.

What's your favourite lip crayon?
Chloe x

Essence Longlasting Lipstick in 03 Dare To Wear

Hey!

So out of all the lovely new make up brands over here... I chose to go with something I recognised. I've never tried an Essence lipstick before, but after swatching it, I liked the colour & it was only €2.49 - Where could I go wrong?

The packaging looks better than Essence's usual offerings, a matte black plastic tube with a stripe across the middle to show the colour. The lid clicks on well, so it feels pretty sturdy! I also like the 'e' embossed on the bullet.

When swatched, I thought this was a deep pinky red (similar to a Rimmel lipstick I left at home!) and because I love any pink lipstick, I threw it in my bag. Or basket. Because I did actually pay for it. Either way, after applying it, I realised it's not really pinky toned. There is a hint there, but it's predominantly  a mid-deep red.

Pigmentation is good, & it applies well. I suppose it's a satin finish - Not quite matte, but not glossy either. I had lipbalm underneath, hence the shine! But above all - Essence say it's long lasting. Which it is. If you're sitting at home twiddling your thumbs. Yes, it lasts if you're just running around, & it fades evenly. But kissing & eating mean it'll pretty much smudge around your mouth - Could be solved by lipliner, but I don't have one with me!

That said, I probably will wear it during the day, just not on a date night or anything like that. And it hasn't stopped me from wanting to try some of the pink shades!

Have you tried Essence lipsticks? Does it annoy you when swatches are different to the actual colour?

Chloe x

Dainty Doll Lipstick in It's My Party

I'm sure we all saw the recent craze for Dainty Doll products; The brand created by Nicola Roberts popped up on Fragrance Direct heavily discounted & soon after, Irish website Cara Pharmacy were selling the products even cheaper - €1.29 for a lipstick? I'm not complaining.

Packaging is simple but nice

Especially for something of this quality. I tend to shy away from reddish lips because I'm a scaredy cat but I haven't even tried the other two lipsticks from the brand because I'm really loving this bright coral. It's almost a neon shade but at the same time, I find it wearable - Probably because it is just seriously moisturising. A bit of nibbling on my lips has left them in a serious state but it still went on smoothly, minus any mishaps.

Bare (very chewed, dry) lips - Two coats of lipstick

Yes, it left lovely marks on my lunch-time wrap, but the colour remained for a few hours. I'm going to stay it's standard wear time - It won't withstand anything heavy but doesn't drip off either.

My one gripe with all the Dainty Doll products would be the lack of name on the packaging. It's nice & simple, but printing 'It's My Party' instead of just '03' would be a massive help! It wouldn't stop me from repurchasing though.

This was the best fake smile I could come up with. It is slightly pinker in person.

I was going to apologise for my hair but this is after I straightened it. I have no power over it..

Cara & Fragrance Direct seem to be out of stock, but keep an eye out for its reappearance. Alternatively, Ebay is always an option.

Did you pick up any of the Dainty Doll products?

Chloe x

MAC Up The Amp

Hi lovelies!

So, last week, I thought I was BRILLIANT. I went to Boots & left with just the deodorant I went in for. I walked out with my head held high. Straight into Brown Thomas, where I just wanted to see Up The Amp in person. Just a swatch on my hand convinced me that I had to have it, and €18 later, I can now wear purple lipstick while living off pasta & water 'til I get paid on Thursday.

Standard MAC packaging

Is it worth it? Well, the colour is gorgeous. Maybe I'm just a weirdo with a penchant for strange colours, but it's such a nice alternative to normal pink/nude/red lips. It's not an 'obvious' purple - There are pink tones so it's incredibly wearable. It's also nicely pigmented & goes on like a dream. The amplified cremesheen finish means it's not drying, & it's not actually that dramatic. It can be built up, used over lip liner, or covered with a lipgloss to make it ore intense but I quite like two coats of it, on its own.

Bare lips - Up The Amp

Its one downfall is lasting power. While not horrific by any means, it does fade quite quickly, depending on what you're doing. With eating, drinking, etc, you might get two hours wear time. Otherwise, going about as normal, around three hours seems to be the norm.

See, it's really not a very scary colour!

What do you think of Up The Amp? Any other lipsticks I should try out?

Chloe x

Barry M Touch of Magic Lip Paint

Hi lovelies!

So, like a lot of people, I have major love for Barry M nail polish. But I also really like their lip paints - ESPECIALLY the one I'm about to show you.

The packaging does tend to get a bit grubby - It's quite rubbery, like NARS packaging.

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. It is a green lipstick. Don't worry, I'm not overdosing on the St Patrick's Day spirit! Green in the tube, it comes out as a shade of pink on your lips. It depends on the pH of your lips, but it tends to come out as a deep/ bright pink on me, depending on the time of day/ what I've eaten, etc.

It is a little bit gimmicky, but it's definitely eye catching. I can't count the times someone has screamed "Are you putting on GREEN lipstick?!" Plus my mother nearly had the wooden spoon after me when doing her make up for a wedding & I whipped this out.

Bare lips - One coat of TMLP

It is more like a stain than a lipstick (in my opinion) but it's not drying at all, and does last a good few hours (at least 4). But, if you have a few dry patches on your lips, exfoliation & moisturising is a must. Otherwise, you will end up with patches of different colours, which might be a bit weird..

How it adapts on me

I love this lip paint, the colour it adapts to on me is really pretty & it doesn't require too much maintenance. For around €5.50-€6 in Boots/ Superdrug, I'd definitely recommend it!

Have you tried make up that 'adapts'?

Chloe x

MAC Archie's Girls in Daddy's Little Girl

Hi girls!

Well, like I said on Saturday, here is the other lipstick I picked up from MAC's latest collection. Veronica's 'Daddy's Little Girl' is a 'mid-tone pink violet satin' lipstick.

The bullet looks really purple!

It's definitely opaque, and comes up as quite a bright deep pink, with blue undertones. The satin finish wasn't drying, and lasted as I gobbled down my dinner so you won't need to constantly re-apply it! It also didn't seem to stain glasses, etc as much as other lipsticks and as it faded, it was even & just ended up looking like a stain after a few hours.

Without flash - With flash

I love pinky purple lips, so this is right up my street. Even though it's quite bright, I feel more confident with shades like this than paler ones! It's not neon, but with a few coats, it does stand out.

On pale skin

Daddy's Little Girl is €19.50, in Brown Thomas.

Which colour do you prefer? 

Chloe x

MAC Archie's Girls - Betty Bright

Hello lovelies!

I'm not usually a big MAC fan, but I was actually really excited by their latest collection, Archie's Girls. Yes, the entirety of the blogging world seems to find it tacky but I'm a lover of tack. Enter, my first two MAC lipsticks.

I think the packaging is adorable!

I was instantly attracted to Veronica's colours, being a big deep pink/purple girl when it comes to my lips. But I decided to show you a lipstick I wouldn't normally go for first - Betty Bright is a 'light vibrant peach with a satin finish'.

Without flash - With flash

It is slightly peach, but I'd describe it more as a coral. It's a bit of a chameleon - It seems to go between looking more orange to a bit pinker, but either way, it's still relatively bright. Definitely a coming-into-Spring colour! It's pretty opaque after two coats & doesn't dry my lips out at all. However, it did cling to a few dry patches. It lasted nicely & wore off evenly, but I noticed that it completely covered my water bottle, glass, etc so you have to be careful.

How it looks with my pale skin-tone 

Overall, I do like the colour, as an initial foray into warmer-toned pinks. However I'm still really excited to show off the other colour I picked up! Betty Bright cost €19.50 and is available in Brown Thomas.

Did you pick up any of the Archie's Girls products? Link me if so!

Chloe x

Stila Black Cherry

Hi guys!



Last Friday I showed you all the Stila Lip Glaze set I picked up, with promises of individual swatches. So first up, the shade that really appealed to me: Black Cherry. I've wanted to try out some new, deeper shades for my lips and what better way to start than with a lipgloss?

Black Cherry is second from left.

Applied on its own, Black Cherry adds a berry tinge to the lips, or can darker up any lipstick. Wear time is average - It lasts for a few hours depending on what you're putting it through! I have found it to be a little sticky though, though nothing near the stickyness of something like Soap & Glory Motherpucker.

Adds a dark tinge to lips.

Not too obvious on the face.

Black Cherry is a permanent shade of Lip Glaze so you can pick it up from any stockist; such as Harvey Nichols or online, for around €13.50. Maybe a little expensive but there's always deals to be had!

Do you prefer dark, bright or neutral colours?
Chloe x