afforfable makeup lovesI am back with another installment of current affordable makeup loves. This has just become a bit of a thing now on Beautynook. I am constantly trying out new makeup, but there is always certain products that stay in the main makeup stash!

affordable makeup loves

My last installment of affordable makeup loves was here if you fancy checking it out.

I have five makeup products to talk about this time. First up is actually two products I hauled from Beauty Bay on Black Friday. (You can check out the full haul here).

They are both from the brand LA Girl. The first one is their Glide Gel Liner in Brown.irish beauty blogger

I have worn this nearly every day I’ve worn makeup since it came. It is so damn creamy and pigmented. I am going to sound really dramatic here, but it’s a dream to use. I find now since I’m getting older. The skin around my eyes isn’t as tight as it once was. I’m in my 30’s now, sad times. Some kohl pencils can drag a bit on the upper lash line.irish beauty blog

This honestly does exactly what it says on the tin though. It glides on, lasts really well and they also come in loads of different colours as well. They are €4.70 on the Beauty Bay website here.

My other LA Girl love, that again, I’ve been using every single day is the Shade Slim Brow Pencil.beauty blog ireland

I have the shades Medium Brown and Espresso. I’ve definitely been reaching for Medium Brown more though. It’s a tad cooler in tone. I love a micro brow pencil and these are a really great one. They are €5.90, again from Beauty Bay here.beauty blogger ireland

My next affordable makeup love is one of the Bourjois Rouge Velvet Lipsticks.top irish beauty blog

I literally haven’t stopped harping on about these. (I have a full video and blog post on them here). The shade 02 Flaming’rose has become my everyday lip shade in particular though. top irish beauty bloggertop beauty blog ireland

It’s a really flattering pinky nude shade for paler, more pink toned skin like mine. These lippies are uber pigmented, apply really smoothly and last really well on the lips too. I would for sure recommend them. They are the cheapest online from Feel Unique here.

I have a eyeshadow brush for my fourth product. I actually received this in a goodie bag. It is the Blank Canvas, Rose Gold, E01 Round Eye Blending Brush from their Dimension 1 Collection.dublin beauty blog

I had this on my desk still in the package when I decided to wash and sort through the main brushes I use. My eye brushes were still drying when I had to put on a face of makeup, so I picked up this. I literally did a whole eye look with this one brush.irish beauty siteirish makeup blog

It’s a good size for crease work and using on the lower lash line too. You can apply product with it, but it’s also nice and fluffy so you can blend with it too. A great all rounder. You can find it on their website here.

And that leaves us with one more favourite. This is the limited edition Under The Midnight Sea highlighter from Wet n Wild.top beauty blogger ireland

It’s from their Midnight Mermaid Collection which is in stores now, I believe.beauty blogtop beauty blog

It’s lovely cool toned gold, soft powder highlighter. Wet n Wild have had some absolute highlighter gems over the past couple of years. This is definitely one of them. It’s gold but has like a green iridescent to it. Very wearable though and very pretty. I’ve been wearing this lots since I got it in the post.

And there concludes my current affordable makeup loves. Let me know what you think 🙂
xxx
*******CONTAINS PR SAMPLES*******

 

Primark PS Pro Makeup BrushesThis is my second Penneys post in the space of a couple of weeks. That must mean I am either going mad, or they are really stepping up their game! The last one was about their new individual eyeshadows here. It was more just a show and tell. This post is going to be on the Penneys PS Pro Makeup Brushes.

Penneys PS Pro Makeup Brushes

I’ve have been using these for a good chunk of time now, so think I can give a decent review on the ones I own. I wanted to use them and to clean them a few times, so I could show you properly how they fared.

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They have pretty much all manner of brushes in this collection. I picked up the ones that I thought people would be interested in and of course I would actually use myself. They are all synthetic and from what I can see all under a fiver too.

I have nine brushes from the collection. Five eye brushes, and four face.

Penneys PS Pro Makeup BrushesPenneys PS Pro Makeup Brushes

I have the Duo Precision Brush Set. This was €4.

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It contains two eye brushes. One duo fiber pencil brush and a blending brush with a more splayed out tip.

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The other double pack is The Duo Blending Brush Set. Again, this was €4. top irish beauty blogThis contains a black bristled tapered shadow brush and then a blending brush very much like the Mac 217 just synthetic.
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top beauty beauty blog ireland
My last eyeshadow brush from the Penneys PS Pro Makeup Brushes range is probably my least favourite out of the ones I have. This is €2. beauty bloggerIt’s their Eyeshadow Shading Brush. Just personal preference but I find this a bit too soft to pack on colour with, and that’s what I would mostly use this shape brush for.  I don’t get much use out of it.
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beauty blogger ireland
I have their Touch Up Brush with is a duo fiber little domed brush. This costs €3. top beauty blogger irelandGenerally, I use this for under eye powder or highlight.
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This is the Large Duo Buffing brush is €4.

affordable makeup brushesTo me this is a standard enough large stippling brush. I have been loving this for applying bronzer.

affordable makeup brushes
penneys makeup brushes

I have been using their Large Powder brush for it’s complete name sake and loving it. This costs €4.

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I’ve actually purchased very similar tapered brushes to this in the past that I found shed alot. The dye also ran dreadfully when I washed them. I can confidently say, neither of these things has happened with the Penneys version.

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top irish beauty site

The last brush I have from the Penneys PS Pro Makeup Brushes range is their foundation brush. This costs €4.

irish beauty blog beautynook This was the hardest brush to get my hands on and the one most people told me to get! It’s a soft, but densely packed, rounded, with a slight slant, kabuki brush.

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Overall, I am a big fan of the Penneys PS Pro Makeup Brushes! I have used other brushes from the brand in the past that have ended up in the bin. These, however have made it into my daily rotation. I am picking up some of these brushes instead of my Zoeva, Sigma, Blank Canvas and even Mac. I have washed them all a few times now and haven’t had much hair shed as of yet. They all washed really well. (Have a click here to see how I clean my brushes).irish beauty youtubertop irish vlogger

The handles are plastic, so if you enjoy a more weighty makeup brush, these won’t be for you. All of the ones I have are soft, and do pretty much what they are supposed to do. I honestly cannot say anything bad about them, and generally I try to be objective here! If you’re in the market for some new brushes that work and don’t want to break the bank, look no further.

Have you tried any of them? What other ones do I need in my life?
xxx

 

 

Real Techniques Brushes

I have spoken a lot about Real Techniques Brushes (and their sponges too).

Real Tecniques Brushes

But, with all their new releases at the moment, which on a side note, I need everything! I thought I would bring it back to some of their basics, and the Real Techniques brushes I reach for on a daily basis.

Real Techniques Brushes

I’ve split it into face brushes and eye brushes. Just a coincidence that there’s three of each 🙂

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First up is one of the first Real Techniques brushes I ever bought. Although this is a newer version of it. John broke my old one when he attempted to do my makeup. You can check out the lolz in that video here. This is their Blush Brush.

affordable makeup brushes

Although I definitely do not use it for blush. I love that the fab Pixiwoo ladies always say their brushes do not need to be used for their namesake. Use them for what they work for.

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top irish beauty blog

I use the Blush Brush for bronzer. I love the tapered shape for doing some light bronzer contouring too. It’s €14.99 from the Boots website here.

My next choice is their Setting Brush. It’s again tapered and like all of their brushes synthetic.

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I don’t specifically use it for it’s named purpose either. This, for me works great for setting my lids with powder rather than my face.

beauty blog ireland
beauty blogger ireland

I also use it for highlighter too. It’s €9.50 from Cloud 10 Beauty here

My last face brush choice is the one I probably use the most. It’s the Cheek Brush. top beauty blogger irelandI use this to pack on setting powder. It’s domed and moderately dense, so I find it great for applying powder quite liberally. As well doing a good job of getting in around the nose and the brows.

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Because I have oilier skin. I tend to go in hard with the powder and then use buckets of setting spray to make me look less like a powdery mess 🙂 This was part of the Nic’s Picks limited edition collection, so you can’t buy it individually unfortunately.

Onto my eye brush choices. beauty bloggerThese all have purple handles, and are all part of kits which is super annoying, I’m sorry. But they have such similar brushes still available and you can still find the kits in chemists and stores.

Feel Unique have the Starter Kit here, which contains the Deluxe Crease Brush.

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I bloody love this brush for under eye concealer. But I generally use it on lazy days when I just want to put a wash of colour across my lids. There’s no faffing needed, it does the job in a couple of swipes.

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I do use my other choices for their actual purposes 🙂 I love the Base Shadow Brush for building up colour on the lid.

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It’s quite small and tapers at the tip so works great for blending and application. You can kind of blend with it as you go.

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drugstore makeup brushes

I love using it for applying loose pigments and glitter aswell. It works well with powders, creams and mixing mediums too.

My last choice is the Essential Crease Brush.

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This is just super dainty and great for precise crease work. The bristles aren’t too tightly packed so it still gives you scope to blend colour as you go.

top beauty blog
top beauty blogger

I love using this for blowing out colour on the lower lash line too.

And there you have my most used Real Techniques Brushes! I am a huge fan overall of the brand. They have brushes to cater to most budgets and needs. They are all synthetic and cruelty free. And for me, generally wash really well too. Have you a favourite?

xxx

 

Brushes are a crucial part of any makeup lovers arsenal. I think we sometimes forget just how important they are. I know I do. I thought I would do a run down on some of my favourite makeup brushes right now.

Favourite makeup brushes

The ones I reach for time and time again. I have accumulated alot of brushes over the years and do dip in and out of some of them. Or as I’m sure you can relate, become obsessed with one in particular and then just forget about it a month later. This makeup addict business is very fickle 🙂

favourite makeup brushes

This little grouping has been in constant use over the past few months. So much so I’ve really only been washing and using them… dare I say exclusively. They are all from pretty affordable brands too. I have notions of owning some more fancy brushes in my makeup future. I find it hard to splurge though when I know there are affordable brands out there making great tools for a great price point.

There is no real rhyme or reason to this list, but if you’re in the market for a specific brush for a particular use, you might find it helpful 🙂

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Zoeva 102 Silk Finish:

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affordable makeup brushes

This is my go to foundation brush when I’m not using a sponge. I use and like others, this is just my most picked up. I like that it’s quite tightly packed so it doesn’t splay when you’re buffing in product. The rounded shape makes it easy to get around the contours of your face. It’s also really soft and quick to wash too. It’s €14.50 from the Zoeva website here.

My next choice is in the same vein as the Silk Finish. This is like it’s little sister. The Zoeva 110 Face Shape.

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zoeva

It is pretty much the same brush just a third of the size. I saw Lisa Eldridge reach for this so much in her videos, I just had to have it. I adore it for buffing in concealer and cream contour. This is €13.50 here.

Next up is the Real Techniques Setting Brush:

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This is quite a small tapered brush. I use it for setting product under the eyes or for when I want to apply a light powder contour. It also works really well for highlight too. The synthetic bristles are soft and moveable. So, it doesn’t apply too much product. I found it on the Feel Unique website here for €8.95.

The Zoeva 126 Luxe Cheek Finish brush has been the only blush brush I have used probably for about two years now.

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It’s domed and is a mixture of natural and synthetic hair. It is super soft and allows you to build up product and buff it into the skin all at the same time. I love it. It is on the Zoeva website here for €17.50.

The Real Techniques Blush Brush is another favourite I’ve had for a while. This one is well loved.

beauty blogger ireland
top beauty blog ireland

It has rounded duo fiber bristles. They aren’t very tightly packed on top, so I love using this for bronzer. I think it’s a bit big to use as a blush brush. It applies powder product quite sheer, so you can build up as you go which is my personal preference. This is on the Boots website at the mo for €9.99 here which is great. It’s usually €14.99.

The Blank Canvas F28 is my go to for applying highlight.

blank canvas cosmetics
top beauty blogger ireland

There’s a bit of a domed brush theme going on here, I realise. They just seem to float my beauty boat. The F28 is small and fluffy. It’s a real hair brush, so is very soft. The bristles are long in comparison to the brush size, so it works great at blending highlight really well into the skin. This is currently €7.99 from the Blank Canvas website here.

My last face brush fave is another Real Techniques one. This is their Cheek Brush:

beauty blog
beauty blogger

I use this for applying face powder. As someone with oily skin, I need to apply a good layer. I like using a smaller brush to make sure I am getting powder in to the places that really need it. Like the sides of my nose and my chin. This does a great job as I can be precise, but it doesn’t cake my face in product either. There’s a fine line 🙂 This was part of the Nic’s Picks Set, but I believe they do similar individually now.

The Inglot 31T is my go to for eyebrows whether I am using cream or powder:

inglot ireland
inglot cosmetics

It’s made of Taklon, so it can be used for either. It is really petite, slanted and narrow so you can be really precise with it. I’ve often used it for liner too and it washes out really well. It is €14 from Inglot in store or online here.

I have four eyeshadow brushes to end things with.

The Debs from Nima is the perfect goat haired blending brush:

nima brushes
top eyeshadow brushes

It’s super soft and a little bigger than the OG Mac 217. I reach it for it more than the 217 generally because it covers more lid space and it blends out quicker as a result. It is €12 from the Nima website here.

Another Nima brush I use probably more is the Crease Blender from the 5 Piece Eye Detail Set:

irish makeup blog
beauty blog ireland

It’s a natural hair brush. Great for blending out socket colours and I love it for applying washes of colour all over the lid too. The five piece set is €30 from the website here.

The Large Shader brush is another favourite of mine from the set.

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nima brush

I use this for the exact job it was created for. For applying base eyeshadow colours and for setting my eyeshadow primer too. Super soft and easy to use.

My final pick is the Zoeva 223 Petit Eye Blender:

top beauty blogger ireland
zoeva cosmetics ireland

It’s another Taklon brush, so great for creams. I use it to apply shadow on my lower lash line though. It’s quite dense but tapered at the top. So you can apply a good amount of product with it, blending it out as you go. A blown out lower lash line has been my go to look of late. The 223 is €10.50 from the Zoeva website here.

And there you have my favourite makeup brushes right at this moment in makeup time 🙂 Tell me, what are your favourites?

xxx

I have a full blown cold, like most of the people in Ireland at the minute, right? Lovely start to the year 🙂 Life goes on though and we have to suffer through. This is my go to  simple makeup for when I’m feeling a little under the weather. Let me blow my nose one last time and we’ll begin…

I have oily skin so I wouldn’t be adding radiance to my face on a regular basis, but when I am under the weather my skin does tend to dry up a little more so I can weirdly take advantage.

botanics radiance balmI added a good amount of the Botanics Radiance Balm onto cleansed skin (I have a full review of this stuff here, we all need it in our lives).

For some lip hydration I applied some of the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, literally can’t be without this. I apply it every night before bed, and when I have a cold it goes under my nose too helping with the extra dryness.

eight hour creamirishbeautyblog

I still have to prime, so I did and then it’s foundation time, thank god! I used a damp Beauty Blender to apply a thin layer to my skin.

beauty blenderirish beauty bloggerI think the sponge feels more kinder to your skin when you’re feeling a little rough.

I used it for concealer too.

irish makeup blogirish makeup bloggerI applied some waterproof concealer around my nose, just a light layer, it’s going to diminish pretty quickly with all the nose blowing, but if you set it with powder you’ll get a little time out of it 🙂

For the actual makeup look, I think the softer the better.

I filled in my eyebrows.

soap & glory archery brow pencilI used a skin colour eyeshadow primer to conceal any redness on my lids.

irish beauty blogTo brighten up the eyes I applied a light gold cream shadow stick all over the eyelid.

irish makeup and beauty blogirish makeup blogOver the top I applied a similar coloured shimmery shadow.

irish makeup bloggerTo add a little definition, I added a matte taupe shadow lightly into my crease.

sick day makeup lookbeauty blog irelandI applied a a light shimmery shade to the brow bone.

irish blogLastly, I added a really small amount of the taupe shade on the lower lash line too.

irish bloggerI needed a touch more concealer under the eyes then…those bags ain’t Chanel 🙂

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To brighten up the eyes more I applied some skin coloured eye liner to the waterline. This is a great step to tackle any redness and make you look more awake.

easy makeup look

Curl the bejesus out of your eyelashes. I know it’s simple makeup, but I never neglect the lashes.

simple makeup lookThen, lots of mascara on the top lashes. I opt out of mascara on the bottom ones because lots of watery eye shenanigans happen and of course the compulsory sneezing…it’s not worth it even the waterproof kind.

Makeup For A Sick Day (23)

Bronzer is a nice addition, to warm up the complexion a smidgen. There’ll be no contouring today though 🙂

fresh makeupmakeup tutorialI added some peachy blush rather than pink, as I already have enough pinky flush going on.

mac springsheen blushsimple makeup lookI applied some light setting powder all over the face, nothing to heavy. There’ll be alot of face touching throughout the day, no point caking it on. You can always re apply.

irish beauty bloggerI couldn’t resist a little highlighter, but it’s not necessary whatsoever. A little in the inner corner of the eye always helps I think though 🙂

the balm maryloumanizeririshbbloggerinner corner highlightTo finish off this simple makeup look I just applied some glossy balm to the lips.

catrice lip smoother

And we’re done!

gemma beautynookI didn’t go into depth with the products I used, because I think they’re all stuff you already have lying around or that you use everyday. This is definitely not a glam face of makeup, it’s more of a I want to look human and survive the day makeup!

If you’ve been hit with the January plague like myself, feel better soon 🙂

xxx

 

 

I already delved into all the skincare goodies I’m bringing for our Christmas trip away here I thought it was only natural to show what will make it into my holiday makeup bag. I say a bag, lets be honest I’m bringing a couple of bags I’m not gonna lie 🙂

My makeup bag is definitely overflowing, but as I said in skincare post I like to be prepared!

First up is eye products.

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I’m bringing 3 palettes, excessive I know, don’t judge, one of the zpalettes does contain my Inglot blushes though and a yellow under eye setting powder so it’s kind of ok, right? 🙂

irish beauty blog beautynookI’m bringing the new Urban Decay Gwen Palette which I have swatches of here I bloomin’ love this palette and don’t want to be without. Also some Makeup Geek shadows in a zpalette and then the palette of a few Inglot shadows and some blushes.

beautynook beauty blog

Eye primer is essential in my world so I have a mini Urban Decay Primer Potion being added to my makeup bag. Then, in case I’m feeling posh I’m going to pack the Charlotte Tilbury cream shadow in Bette, I have a full review of this here. Rather than a black gel liner I have been loving using a dark grey one at the minute so I’m bringing my Inglot matte gel liner in 78. Then two kohl pencils. A grey L’Oreal one and a brown one from Rimmel.

beauty blog beautynookThe rest of my eye goodies consist of lashes, my fave individuals from Penneys, a pair of Amazing Shine lashes that I love, you can now buy these in Mr Price which is really handy. Then some Duo glue to apply them, an eyelash curler from Shu Uemura and finally some Catrice Glamour Doll Waterproof mascara, I have a full review of this here I love it 🙂

For the face, of course I am going to bring a few options because I am very fickle, and like to change my mind…alot. Also I think you need day time options and night time options too.

irish makeup and beauty blogThe Botanice Radiance Balm is coming. I have a review of this here The primer I have been using for the last while is the Wet n Wild Coverall. I really like it for my oily skin. I have the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in a shade darker in case I get a little bit of colour, I can mix it with my tried and tested Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude foundation (review here) and a tester of the Makeup For Ever Ultra HD which I really like too. I’m also bringing the Benefit Porefessional License To Blot which is such a weird product. It’s a cream blotting stick and it bloody works!

irish beauty and makeup blogMy concealer choices for the week are my beloved Mac Full Coverage foundation. I love using this as a concealer. Then, my favourite under eye concealers of the moment (again another full review here 🙂 The Flormar Perfect Coverage and the Catrice Liquid Camouflage.

irish beauty blog beautynookirish blog beautynookPowders consist of four faves…yep four I have problems ha! I have Nars Laguna in this really cool palette (it’s called Tahiti) and it comes with a mini Ita brush! Then the Chanel Vitalumiere Powder Foundation, sorry for dropping all of the links but I reviewed this too . the cult classic Champagne Pop from Becca is coming, I have this reviewed too here .The last one on the right then is to bring with me for touch ups, it’s the Mac Studio Fix Powder.

beautyblogbeauty bloggerFor contouring (and cream highlighting) I have a couple of old reliables. The Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium (yep review here 🙂 and the Smashbox contour and highlight sticks (demo here 🙂

irish blogger beautynookBrow products consist of the Soap & Glory Archery Pencil, then three Billion Dollar Brow products, you can buy these from Boots. I have their brow brush, brow powder and brow gel.

what's in my makeup bagtop irish beauty blog

I have a full colour spectrum of lip choices to choose from going into my makeup bag. A red from Tom Ford called Cherry Lush, a Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Ping Pong, Essence liquid lipstick in Show Off (review here) and then one of the Rimmel The Only One Lipsticks in Naughty Nude (I have a load of these swatched here) A couple of lip liners join the crew too. Rimmel Eastend Snob and Mac Whirl.

nima brush

To apply all the slap some brushes are essential, right? I have the Nima Brush Girls On Tour travel set, I’m so excited to use these beauties, you can see them up closer here. I have a mini Mac 217, a random mini flat Nars brush and a big Powder n Pout P230 which I have yet to try so the hollier will be a good test. I think these will keep me going for the week, right?

 

That’s all the makeup that will make it into my suitcase. I’m definitely an overpacker I know, a couple of makeup bags will be needed.

If you want to have a nose at what I get up to, be sure to follow me on Snapchat. I love snapping. My username over their is ‘Beautynook’.

As always thank you so so much for reading 🙂

xxx