Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoo in Metallic Pomengranate

First up, if you think there'll be photos of this actually on my eyes, go away. I spent FORTY FIVE MINUTES trying to get a photo of this at work.. They all left me looking like I had the eyelids of a 90 year old or a severe eye infection. But I promise, Maybelline's Colour Tattoo in Metallic Pomegranate is actually nice.. In real life anyway. 

The story behind this is that I bought a variety of Colour Tattoos before I went to a festival last year, figuring they'd be handy to just smear on my eyelids (They were.) Back to reality, & I realised as hard as I tried, bright blue & purple eyelids weren't going to take me far. So I picked up a few more wearable colours, like Metallic Pomegranate. (It's a serious effort writing that just so you know.)

The colour tattoos are housed in a clear glass jar, with a black & coloured lid that corresponds with the colour inside. Handy until you realise you put the wrong lids on the wrong pots & your lovely white highlight is actually now cranberry & you look like you have a bruised eye.. But anyway.

Metallic Pomegranate is a cranberry coloured creamy shadow, with little flecks of gold shimmer. It's soft & easy to work with, plus it can be patted onto your lid or built up for intense colour. They also work as excellent bases for powder eyeshadows - I've been putting this under a shimmery cranberry colour from the Sleek Celestial palette & it keeps it perfect throughout the day. They can also of course be worn alone, but be careful, especially if you have oily eyelids - Primer is needed, or they will crease a tad & start to fade. It's not very pretty.

It is red-toned, but not overly so - It's more of a purple-red-brown. I know, I'm killing it with descriptions today. My point is, it's actually really wearable! Especially when you want a bit of a smoky eye that's not just blacks & silver.

Even if Metallic Pomegranate isn't your colour, I recommend checking the range out if you haven't already - I have about seven at this stage & use them regularly! They cost €10.49 in Boots, but are often on 3-for-2 offers etc.

Chloe x

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

Maybelline Big Eyes Volum' Express Mascara

One of the best things about a new country? New make up to try out... Especially new mascaras. Maybelline make some of my favourite mascaras so I was unbelievably excited to find a new one here! Big Eyes is a dual ended mascara, with one end (the purple) being for top lashes, & the other (black) being for bottom lashes. Definitely an idea I can get on board with! Most mascaras aren't really suitable for bottom lashes, & I left my Clinique Bottom Lash mascara at home. So I picked this up mainly for my lower lashes but with high hopes for the other mascara too!

The packaging is very slim for a Maybelline mascara. As you can see, it's half purple & half black, so you know which end is for which lashes. Not much more to say really! The brushes are attached onto the main part of the tube, & the removable sides of the mascara are the tubes of the formula. (Hopefully that makes sense!)

Left - Top lashes brush. Right - Bottom lashes brush.

The brushes are quite different. The one for top lashes is a bit bigger, & the bristles catch on to A LOT of mascara. Honestly? Not a fan. It does offer a bit of volume, but nowhere near as much as my other mascaras, & length isn't improved majorly. I also feel like it clumps my lashes together just a bit too much. It's not awful, I just much prefer my lashes to be more dramatic! But all is not lost - The brush for the bottom lashes is much smaller & neater, & the bristles are quite small & only dispense a bit of mascara onto your lashes. The wand is also longer, so it's perfect for getting under your eyes without smudges!

But..While I'm definitely going to continue using this on my bottom eyelashes, & won't hesitate also using the mascara for the top lashes in an emergency, I can't wait to get my Clinique back, and wouldn't bother repurchasing whatsoever. I hate writing negative reviews, but while I loved the concept, it just didn't deliver. That said, it's handy to throw in a bag, & if the thought of spending €16 on a mascara for just bottom lashes makes you feel sick, it is a decent alternative - This costs €10.99. While I don't believe it is yet available in Ireland, you might see it on your travels, if it's something you'd like to try.

Have you come across dual ended mascaras? What do you use on your bottom lashes?
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

La Roche Posay Hydraphase Intense Masque

Anyone who follows me on Twitter will be all too aware that I have been sick. (I've been constantly whinging.) But basically, I wasn't feeling well since last Saturday, but only went to the doctor on Thursday. So for Saturday-Thursday, I was getting up, slathering on some make up, then not taking it off properly because I was way too wrecked. Because I was still training a few times a week & neglecting my skin, it was a disaster. After skipping make up on Tuesday & Wednesday because I couldn't find the energy, I was absolutely disgusted on Thursday morning when I put on some foundation to go to the doctor. It literally flaked off my face because it was so dry.

 I love the squeezy tube, it's so easy to get out & it's handy to throw in your bag!

I ran (staggered) home, and cleansed my face straight away. And that night, I covered my face in LRP's Hydraphase Intense Masque. It's a white mask that absorbs into any dehydrated spots in your skin, & it is magical. Like, unicorn & fairy magical. If you look at yourself, you can literally see your skin drinking up as much cream as it can.

The mask is a light, white cream.

LRP recommend applying a thick layer on your face, leaving it for 10 minutes, then patting off the excess. I prefer to apply a thin layer, and just leave it on overnight. The result is lovely, soft, moisturised skin in the morning. I'm writing this about 24 hours after applying the mask & I'm happily stroking my baby soft face. Not in a creepy way, honest..


For €16.50, I can see why it's so raved about. I've gotten sic uses out of mine so far & it doesn't feel anywhere near empty yet (Though that may be different if you use a thick layer more than once a week.) I got mine in Sam McCauleys, but it should be available in all LRP stockists.

What are your favourite remedies for dry, icky skin?
Chloe x

Lancome Alber Elbaz Drama Eyes Palette

Hello there from The Worst Blogger Ever. I've used up my I had no laptop/ I lost my camera excuses, so today's excuse is: I have zero time. Like, so little time that I barely wear make up. So I was ridiculously excited to even do my make up to take blog pictures.

I picked up the Drama Eyes eyeshadow palette from Lancome's Alber Elbaz collection two weeks ago, & after two weeks of occasional use (i.e. when I had a spare two minutes in the morning), I'm going to tell you all about it.

In love with the packaging

First up: Packaging is stunning. Even the exterior cardboard box is just lovely, covered in doodles of eyes (not in a creepy way.) The Drama Eyes palette is covered with pretty little polka dots, is quite sturdy, & clicks shut securely. It houses a mirror in the lid and also contains two brushes. So far, so good.

In the pan, the shadows are beautiful - I've really grown attached to pink eyeshadows, and since I'm a glittery eyeshadow kinda girl, the slight shimmer in the shades appeals to me. Here, there's a mid grey with shimmer, a pale shimmery pink, a sparkly pale silver, a glittery deep grey, and a matte black. Basically, all the essentials for a smoky eye!

Pan - Mid grey, pink, dark grey, black, silver

I won't lie - The pigmentation could definitely be better. But the shadows are easily built up, and intensify once used over primer. This obviously has both advantages & disadvantages - They can be used during the day & not look too over-the-top, but can still pack a punch later on. I've mostly been using the pink/ mid-grey shade all over, with a bit of dark grey in the crease, for work, but also loved doing a smoky eye.

Staying power is fabulous - They've been lasting all day, even when applied at 6:30AM, they last through work & 3 hours of training. I'm definitely liking coming home at 11PM to perfect eye make up! They do cause a bit of fall out though, especially the two darker shades, so be careful if you do want to touch them up.

Using all the shadows for a light smoky eye (majorly sorry about the awful application.. Cringe.)

In summary, big thumbs up from me, & I'd love another - If I had a spare €49.00 (Thank God for vouchers!). It is expensive, but considering a single eyeshadow is €25, it balances out & is a nice bit of luxury. It can be picked up in Boots, Debenhams, Sam McCauley & many other stockists!

What do you think of the Alber Elbaz collection?
Chloe x

Make Up Forever HD Foundation

After realising that I hadn't actually reviewed most of my June favourites, I figured I'd better get a move on. And there was no hesitation when deciding what to review first - Make Up Forever's HD Foundation was top of the list.

MUFE describe it as using 'innovative formulas to create a new generation of make up which is invisible on HD cameras and to the naked eye; the oil-free medium-to-full coverage liquid foundation covers skin imperfections, is easy to apply and leaves the skin soft and radiant." It sounds absolutely amazing, & is massively hyped, but some reviews claim that's all it is - Hype. So I was a little bit nervous about spending €39.50 on something that could be awful. But I did, and I don't regret it.

Bare skin - Just foundation

Okay, I skip foundation A LOT these days, but I cling on to it for dear life in a night out or special occasion. I fully admit it - I'm vain & want my skin to look its best, especially when photos are involved. And HD foundation really does help with that. I don't find it to be cakey or too thick. After application with a few brushes, I've decided that buffing it into your skin works best to give you a flawless complexion without any streaks or patches. I have dry skin & it lasts all day/ night on me, but it doesn't seem too fade a lot around spots, etc either, so I think it should work for oily skin tones too - It's actually oil free!

No make up - Foundation (and eye make up!) - Full make up

The packaging is just standard clear plastic, but it comes with a pump which is brilliant. I tend to use a pump & a half - two pumps for full coverage. I have shade 118, which is a good bit darker than my skin, but matches my fake tan beautifully. It's quite runny, but spreads well, & should last quite a while (so €39.50 for 30ml seems a bit more bearable!)

I just like putting up photos of myself. In which you can see the kinda 'soft focus' effect.

Basically, I think my skin looks pretty damn deadly when it's on - It covers spots, evens skin tone & my pores seem smaller. It's definitely not one I'd wear every day (Though I have worn it during the day & didn't find it too heavy) but for Special Occasions, I think this HD might just be my HG.

Do you have a special foundation?
Chloe x

Maybelline Volum Express The Rocket Mascara

I don't know if you can tell from all my wittering on.. But I LOVE mascara. If I ran out of everything, mascara would be my first repurchase because I have no eyelashes, just a few invisible hairs somewhere around my eye.

 I love the bright tube. The brush is also one of my favourites.

One of my favourites was Maybelline The Falsies, but I find it far too hard to repurchase a product, so I ended up slipping The Rocket into my bag. (After paying for it, obviously.) In fairness, the bright blue & pink packaging is so bright that everyone's eyes are on it! I'm a big fan of the packaging, and while the brush isn't anything new, I do like big, spiky brushes because they are ideal for getting in at lashes & zig-zagging.

Eh, hello eyelashes. I didn't realise you existed. This is with a quick two coats.

Add to that, the formula is proper black & it should be a-may-zing, right? That's not even a trick question, because it's beyond amazing. I text several people to express my delight at my lashes, & also fluttered them like crazy when in the presence of anyone I thought might appreciate them. (It worked.)

Now, I clearly am head-over-heels for The Rocket, but just to warn you - I like A LOT of volume, with as much length as possible added in. This means I can deal with clumps. I can't say I've had to cope with too many clumps, but they are possible, at least if you throw on a few coats, like I tend to. No matter how many coats though, I haven't managed to smudge it, & there's been no flaking.

Not gonna lie, this photo scares me a bit. Like, one intense eye, one un-defined eye.

So, if you're looking for dark, thick lashes, €11.99 (or so) in Boots, Superdrug, Sam McCauleys etc will make you happy.

And just a normal one coat of mascara, going around day-to-day.

What's your favourite brand for mascara?
Chloe x

Topshop Highlight in Crescent Moon

Okay, this is very much not one of my 30 Things, but I was getting a bit sick of talking about myself all the time, & missed blathering on about make up!

Since leaving college to come home for summer, I have also massively missed Topshop in St Stephen's Green (and it's only been a week!) So I decided to bring out one of my favourite highlighters. Crescent Moon is a pearly, champagne powder highlighter, with finely milled shimmer.

The packaging is cute, like all Topshop packaging - A sturdy white plastic case covered in hand-drawn stars. Some people may think it looks cheap, but I like it! It contains a nice 6.5g of product, & seeing as I've been using it for a good year now.. It will last forever.

You can see it on the left of my face, where the light hits it!

The colour is more pink-toned, but it's quite in the middle (a little bit silvery), so suits a range of skin tones. Pigmentation is strong, so you only need a light application - I apply to my cheeks using my NIMA Brush Dome Blush Brush, & use a Stila #9 All Over Blending Brush for my brow bone, cupid's bow, etc.

The wear time isn't amazing, but it lasts a standard day (about 10 hours).It's easy to re-apply anyway! My one issue is pricing - It's £10 in the UK, but more like €15 here. Which annoys me, but the product is still decent.

What highlighters do you recommend?

Chloe x

The Body Shop Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream

I usually refrain from posting about skin care a lot, because it is something that seriously is different for everyone. My cleanser might break you out, your moisturiser might make my skin go flaky. But for someone with the same kind of skin as me (combination but mainly dry) this could work wonders for you. It claims to be for all skin types, so it might even work for sensitive/oily people.

 Pretty standard pink plastic tub, won't look awful on your dresser!

I used to just throw on an extra bit of moisturiser at night, even though I knew my skin was dry. It was just less hassle. But my skin suffered so I thought I'd give it a bit of a helping hand. I'd heard fabulous things about The Body Shop's Vitamin E range, which included a night cream. So away I skipped to pick it up.

Can I say that it's thick but feels light on your skin? Am I contradicting myself? Well I'm saying it.

I'm not lying when I say I could feel the effects the next morning. My skin just felt smoother & more hydrated. Now sadly I'm not faced by the same amazement every morning, but that's just because the effects are lasting. If I do forget to bring it with me for a few days, etc, my skin doesn't regress to its shoddy state, but after starting to re-use it, I can tell that it was needed.

It's not extremely thick, but I do always use thick moisturisers. It feels quite light for a night cream, & non greasy for sure. I may have used it once or twice in the morning when I didn't need to do my make up straight away.. If you're in the market for a new night cream, & could do with some nourishment, it's definitely a contender. You get 50ml for about €16, which isn't the worst!

Do you use an extra night cream?

Chloe x

I'm also counting my exams down by my blog posts. When this publishes, I will have one exam done, & will probably still be awake studying for today's. No-body said college would be like this.

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

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

So, Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer is one of THOSE products - hyped up beyond belief, with a major emphasis on price. Yes, it is relatively cheap, but I don't care how cheap something is, if it doesn't perform. With that, let's take a look.

Packaging is quite cheap

Packaging is standard, a tube with a screw-on lid & doe-foot applicator. I always apply with my finger, to avoid getting bacteria on the little sponge. You can see the writing wears off easily - This tube is quite new,, but one trip in my bag, & it's destroyed.

It's available in 4 shades, & I have 01 Fair. Well done to Collection, because this is actually a light shade. So much so, that I can use this on my skin & undereyes. But here's the truth - I don't think this is amazing. It is good, & I will buy it again. But more because it's handy to throw in my bag for touch ups, than because it's a Holy Grail product.

No concealer - Applied under left eye - Both eyes

Due to exams, I'm currently rocking major dark circles under my eyes. They are covered up quite well, but this took THREE LAYERS of concealer. In fairness, it still doesn't look cakey, but throw that much of anything under your eyes & it will start to settle into little lines by the end of the day.

It's difficult to see, but my spots were quite red & have been covered up

Like I said, I use it for blemishes too. Because it's a creamy formulation, it blends well over spots & isn't drying. I always use it over foundation & tend to set it with powder so it will last, but if I'm out for a while, there's never any hassle re-applying it.

To sum up, I will use it & buy it again, but I do have better products. Despite saying that I use my good products daily, I tend to keep my amazing concealers for when I'm going to be scrutinised by a camera! (I promise to show you these products soon.)

Also, while Lasting Perfection still only comes in at around €6.35, it does seem to just get more expensive every time I'm at their stand. It used to be under €5, which is a bit of a jump.

Does it annoy you when brands increase the prices of popular products? What's your favourite concealer?

Chloe x

YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation in BR 20

I used to be one of those people who, when I found a lovely foundation, would save it purely for special occasions. I have no idea what I used to do daily but these days, I am much more willing to break out any product during the day! I think it might have been YSL's  Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation that convinced me that I should use all my nicer products more often.

I'm sure everyone has heard of the foundation YSL developed to match their Touche Éclat, but if not: It's available in 22 shades, with different tones for the different colours, to match undertones. It's also developed without talc & other ingredients to prevent it from settling in fine lines & give a luminous finish.

 The packaging is beautiful too - Glass & gold.

Does it live up to the hype? Well I definitely think so! I would say that it's a very buildable foundation, so it can be applied sheerly, then the addition of another layer gives more coverage, without any cakiness. It is quite a 'glowy' base but doesn't make me look oily. I do always use powder though!

The shade matching can be a bit hit & miss. The first two times I was matched up, the MUA's suggested I go for BR 30. Seeing as I had presumed I'd just be the lightest shade, I was not a fan of that! But Beige Rose 20 is lovely on me, & corresponds with my pink undertones. The YSL counters are quite nice about giving shade samples though!

You can see my skintone has evened out & redness & spots have been covered.

The one drawback is lasting power. I have applied it on its own, & it only lasted about 5 hours. It also completely faded on my spots! With primer, powder & concealer though, it does last me the day. However if I want to stay out longer, it can handle an extra layer which is handy.

No make up, & just foundation.

I apply it sheerly over my face, then apply extra to my cheeks & my chin (where breakouts appear)

Application seems to work well with a flat foundation brush. At first, I used my Real Technique's Expert Face Brush, which required a pump & a half, but I've swapped to my NIMA duo-fibre - amazingly, I can use one pump for two layers on my face! That, is what you call a miracle.

As I said, the YSL counters can give you a 7 day sample, if you're interested in trying it out. It's the standard 30ml, & costs about €38.

Do you keep your 'nice' products for special events or use them daily?

Chloe x

P.S. Can you BELIEVE that I took these photos at 8PM? Praise the joys of longer evenings & having a sunny back garden.

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

Models Own Ice Neon Pink Punch

Well hello there lovely ladies, look at me with posts four days in a row! You won't hear from me now for a month, no doubt. But onto today's offering; A colour from Models Own's new(ish) Ice Neon collection. I picked up three & first up is Pink Punch.

Let's get this straight - IT IS NOT PINK. It's more of a neon coral. Or something like that. It looks orange, but next to pink polishes, it does start to show some pink. Either way, it definitely packs a punch! I am a huge lover of matte/ creme polishes & this is my type of finish.

Models Own tell you that the bottles are frosted glass so you can pop them in the fridge to keep them bright. Honestly, I'm not sure if this is just a gimmick, plus my housemates might think I'm a freak. As a result, I'm trying to figure out the best hiding place in my fridge... I'll keep you posted.

Wear time is decent, it got a bit scraggly on my tips after 2 days but look at the state of my nails. It probably could have been prevented with a top coat but then I'd lose the lovely creme finish - Nail polish problems!

I can't wait to show you Pukka Purple & Bubblegum and I'm tempted to pick up Toxic Apple & Luis Lemon, despite already having them both in a regular polish. I know, I need to stop hoarding. The polishes are around €7 but quite otfen on 3-for-two, etc in Boots.

What do you think? Another gimmick or something you'd buy?
Chloe x

Tresemme Split Remedy Leave In Treatment

Let's face it, years of dying my hair hasn't been too kind to it. While my hair is actually in pretty decent condition, I cannot get rid of split ends - I'm the girl who sits there breaking her hair off. I can't really remember why I picked this up though, I think hair care was on 3 for 2 so I decided to try something new!

Honestly, I wasn't too impressed at first. Despite applying two pumps to the ends of my damp hair every time I washed it, I could still see damaged ends. Tresemme claim that it will protect your hair from breakage, frizz & dryness but I wasn't feeling it.

But.. One weekend, I didn't bother with it when I went home. Sweet Lord, my hair felt drier than something that's incredibly dry. Honestly, it just looked like a tangled, damaged mess. While on one hand, this clearly shows that the treatment wasn't working long-term, it also meant that it was actually doing something for my hair.

So basically, it's not going to smooth your split ends into a glossy mane. But it is decent at controlling your mess of a head and smoothing the ends temporarily. I probably won't repurchase this straight away, because I like trying out new products but I do want to pick up the accompanying Masque, to see how they work together. In fairness, it has lasted over three months with use every second day, for the low sum of €7.39, so it works out nicely.

Have you tried any products that didn't seem great, until you stopped using it?
Chloe x