Festive/Party Makeup, Part 1: Winter Cranberry

I know that I have said this before, but can you believe that it's almost Christmas already?! It feels like this year has flown by!

As we're getting closer to "party season", I am starting a series of Christmas/Party makeup ideas and I'm starting with "Winter Cranberry". Usually I stick to fairly neutral/nude tones but when it comes to this time of the year, I love adding cranberry/burgundy tones to my makeup.

The products I used:

Face:

Foundation: Rimmel Stay Matte Mousse Foundation in 100 Ivory

Concealer: Essence Match 2 Cream Concealer

Powder: Maybelline Fit Me Powder in 120 Classic Ivory

Contour: Rimmel Natural Bronzer in 022 Sun Bronze
Highlight: Catrice Prime and Fine Highlighter

Eyes:

Primer: Inglot Eye Primer in 001
Highlight: MAC Satisfy (from Infatuating Rose palette from years ago!)
Browbone: Urban Decay Naked
Lid: MAC Bon Fete
Crease: MAC Cavort
Outer Crease: MAC Feast
Outer Corner: MAC Deep Feelings
Tear Duct: MAC Satisfy
Brows: Catrice Eye Brow Set
Mascara: Maybelline The Colossal Volume Waterproof Mascara
Eyeliner: Essence Gel Eyeliner

Lips
Essence Soft Rose Lip Liner

As there is so much going on with my eyes, I decided to keep the skin and lips fairly simple. I love using cranberry and burgundy colours during this time of the year! 

What's your favourite look for this time of the year?

Linda, x

FOTD: Natural Everyday Look

My everyday makeup routine usually involves some neutral eyeshadows, flawless skin and a little bit of contouring to the cheekbones. Sound like a lot? It's actually not and takes under 5 minutes for me to do.

Products used:

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation in 100 Ivory,
Essence Cream Concealer,
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in 003 Peach Glow,

Catrice Prime and Fine Highlighting Powder,

Urban Decay Naked and Buck eyeshadow as a contour.

Catrice Eye Brow Duo,
Urban Decay Naked and Buck eyeshadows,
Essence Get Big Lashes Volume Boost Mascara.

I don't wear makeup everyday but this is what I wear if I'm going somewhere important or if I have something planned.

What's your favourite everyday makeup products?

Linda, x

Rimmel Stay Matte Mousse Foundation REVIEW!

When I saw the newly formulated Rimmel Stay Matte Mousse foundation, I could hardly contain myself! I picked this up for €6.99.

I wasn't a fan of the original Stay Matte foundation so I had high hopes for this newly formulated one! The original texture of this foundation was a liquid but they've changed the texture to a mousse. Not a massive fan of mousse foundations but I was willing to give this baby a go!

There are six shades. The shade that I chose was 100 Ivory. Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation is available in Boots, Superdrug and pharmacies nationwide.

Right...let's get down and dirty! The claims that come with this foundation...

"A Feather-light, liquid mousse that blends flawlessly for natural-looking and an all day shine control
Silky smooth formula for a perfectly matte, baby-soft finish.
Lightweight texture won’t feel heavy or greasy.
Minimises the appearance of pores."

So let's tackle these claims! When blended into the skin, it definitely is feather weight! It does blend beautifully on the skin, leaving the face looking natural but beautifully flawless. Regarding the all day shine control, I disagree. After a short time after applying this, shine began showing through. It definitely doesn't feel heavy or greasy but the more foundation that I applied to the skin, it began to feel a little tacky on the skin. On first application, it definitely minimised my pores but I needed to apply a primer beforehand though because without it, the foundation settled into my pores.

So on to the review! On first application, I was impressed. Initially, I applied this with the Real Techniques Stippling Brush and then gave a little extra blending using the Real Techniques Buffing Brush. However, I preferred using the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. It gave an airbrushed finish to the skin. This evened out my skin tone beautifully and covered up redness around my chin and my nose very well. An added bonus too, I needed to use less concealer with this!

So before I go on, I should say that I have combination skin but it tends to be more oilier than dry. It's not extremely oily but I can't get away with not applying powder to those parts of my face so this foundation was formulated for people with my skin type.

Back to business! I have used this foundation everyday for a month and I can honestly say, I'm disappointed. When initially applied to the skin, it leaves the skin looking flawless and beautiful but that's where my love affair with this ends. It didn't leave my skin completely matte which, was disappointing. Obviously, if you apply a face powder to those parts of the face, you will mattify that area but as the foundation claims to be a matte foundation, I definitely expected it.

After an hour, I noticed that my face was beginning to get oily. By the second hour my face was considerably more oilier and the foundation had started to fade from those areas of my face. Plus, it had settled into my pores and the drier areas of my face. Let me tell you, this wasn't a pretty sight! By the fourth hour, it had completely worn off of my face. So disappointing!

With that being said, when I applied face powder to my face, the foundation lasts a little bit longer but not a lot longer. I only wear this foundation during the day, when I don't need to be anywhere important because there's too much touching up to be done with it.

So there you go! But, hey, that's just my opinion. What doesn't work for me, may be your holy grail product!

What tried and tested products are you disappointed with?

Linda, x

PS: I apologise for the quality of the lighting in these pictures. I'm still getting used to all of this! :)


Picture of Product Credit: http://ie.rimmellondon.com/

NOTD: Beige Style! 💅

Now that winters made it's debut here in Ireland, I usually love painting my nails darker colours. This year though, I'm leaning towards nude colours.

The colour that I'm loving at the moment is Rimmel Lycra Pro in Beige Style. 

What are your favourite nail polishes for Autumn/Winter? Any recommendations for me? 

Linda, x

October Favourites 💖

Now that Halloween's out of the way, we can all get excited about Christmas, right?!
But seriously though, how fast is this year going by?

This was a hectic month for me. With birthdays, parties and lots of other drama, this has been a crazy month but it was all gooood!

My favourites this month range from haircare to skincare and everything in between! So let's get down to business...

Last month, my best friend made my lifeless, unexciting hair into fabulous, beautiful ombré hair! The colour on the top part of my hair is a copper/brown and on the bottom is a dirty blonde colour. To keep the blonde part nourished and try to keep the brassiness away, I've been using the John Frieda Colour Renew Tone Correcting Shampoo. The conditioner I use is the John Frieda Go Blonder Lightening Conditioner. I love these two. They do an amazing job together!

Next is body moisturiser. The one that I have been loving recently is the Dove Intensive Nourishment Body Lotion for Extra Dry Skin. It does exactly what it says on the tin. My skin is noticeably more hydrated after just a short while of using it. LOVE!

As winter has well and truly arrived here in Ireland, my pale skin is in desperate need of some colour. My favourite (ever) tan is the Cocoa Brown Night and Day Tan. As I am so pale, I always find it hard to find a tan that actually looks natural on me, and this one definitely does just that! This winter, Cocoa Brown tan and I are going to be the best of friends!

As I've already mentioned, winter and the dreaded cold weather has arrived with a bang here in Ireland. Already, my skin, lips and hands are so dry. My holy grail lip balm for the past year has been the Burt's Bees Original Lip Balm. This is some serious stuff! A little piece of heaven in wax form! 😍

On to my favourite makeup products for ze month of October! For me, I always go back to the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation. No matter how many times I stray away, I always come back to this piece of amazingness. No other drugstore foundation ever compares to it for me! My favourite makeup tool to apply it? The Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. Check out my review here. For such a small, odd shaped thing, this thing can work wonders! *awkwardly hugs sponge*.

Last month, after hearing people say how surprisingly good they thought the Catrice Eyebrow Set was, I had to try it for myself. And I've got to admit, it is pretty good for the price. I think I paid €4.49 for this. It's a powder duo with a light brown and dark brown. I mix both together and it's a pretty dead on match for my brows. It's the only thing I have used on my eyebrows during October. The next two things are finds from Essence that I have been pleasantly surprised by. They're the Match 2 Cover Cream Concealer and Get Big Lashes Volume Boost Mascara. Both are great for everyday use and both save me a lot of money too! Bonus! 👍

I had to include the piece of jewellery that I have worn everytime I've gone out in October. It's a necklace - a black cross with diamonds in the middle. I think it looks beautiful for both casual wear or for a night out. It's from A-Wear and it's precious. So there.

With the arrival of October, saw the return of two of my favourite television shows The Walking Dead and Love/Hate. I adore this show. Both amazing shows definitely worth checking out if you haven't already.

So there you have it! My October favourites. What have your go to products for October been? What tv shows have you been loving?

Linda, x

Halloween Shenanigans! 🎃

When it comes to Halloween, I'm not really a massive fan of it but this year I really loved it and definitely got into the spirit of it! My nephew's excitement for Halloween was contagious. :)

Whilst watching The Nightmare Before Christmas, I got inspired by Jack Skellington. This was the finished look!

Judging by my nephew's reaction, I was afraid I'd scare the younger trick or treaters so I washed that off and this was the look I went for when bringing my nephew trick or treating! 

So now that Halloween's over, it means CHRISTMAS is only around the corner!! Exciting!!!

What did you do for Halloween this year? Did you know it's only 52 days until CHRISTMAS?!

Linda, x