blanc Archives - Irish Beauty Blog Beautynook

Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation

Am I right in saying the Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation has had a bit of a moment since it’s release? Some may say blogging is dead, but I 100% wanted to try this foundation because of all the hype online.

Now I will say I have seen some not so great things said about it. But sure balance is key in this industry and not everything can work for everyone (generally). We’re all different, looking for different things and different results. It’s one thing I love about this beauty world.

I picked up the Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation when ASOS were having a 20% off everything sale. I had gone in to buy it a couple of times in Brown Thomas, but they never have my shade. It’s also important to note too, Nars counters never give out samples, which I think is a load of baloney! But sure didn’t I buy it anyways 🙂

So what do Nars say about this foundation? They say it has:

‘Liquid texture.
Luminous finish.
Fade resistant for up to 16 hours.
Available in 33 shades’.

I colour matched myself to the shade ‘Mont Blanc’. And it’s a pretty perfect match.

My thoughts on the Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation are kind of contradictory if I’m being completely honest. I love the packaging, it’s very sleek. I love the formula. In my humble opinion it’s has really good coverage, but not oh shit, I’ve just put plaster all over my face, good coverage. Although you can definitely build it up.

I wouldn’t call it ‘luminous’, although it’s not flat on the skin. There’s definitely a bit of a satin sheen to it. It blends like an absolute dream. And when I first apply it, I could probably say it’s one of my favourite foundations ever. The term ‘weightless’, I can 100% get on board with though! However, there is a ginormous but! Saying it’s a fade resistant for 16 hours foundation in my very humble opinion is just plain madness. I did google other opinions on it because obviously I would have more oilier skin, and people with combination and even drier skin types were of the same opinion. It just doesn’t last. On me, it starts to break down after probably the second hour. Considering I use two primers, powder and setting spray, its just not cool! Where I’m more combo, it lasts a little better. But still, at the end of a day wearing the Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, I look super greasy.

Here it is in action in video form:

I want to love this foundation with all of my heart. Dramatic much Gemma? I love the finish, the application and the coverage. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t last the test of time for me, even with all the makeup accoutrements 🙁 In all honesty I probably went for the wrong Nars Foundation. I should have went for the All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation. Lesson learned!

Have you tried it yet? I would love to know your thoughts on it.

xxx

September 14, 2018/by Gem

Makeup, Monthly Favourites, Youtube Video

January Favourites

Yep it’s happening, it’s January Favourites time!

I am panicking a bit, not going to lie. We are properly into the second month of 2017, eeeekk! But in blog/vlog world that gives us an excuse to recap and look over the month and pick out some of our most used bits and bobs. I do this in video form now, but I do like to still do a blog post too.

My January Favourites for 2017 consist of a couple of fashion bits, a skincare item and of course my one true love, some makeup as well.

I have a bit of disclaimer, I filmed this feeling a little bit under the weather. I have the cold that so many people have at the minute that just won’t go away. So it’s a bit of rambley video, hope that’s OK ha. I am a bit zonked on cold medication 🙂

The products mentioned are:

A Zara bag pack, that is gone from the website now, I apologise if you liked the look of it.
Coverse Hi Top runners. You can get these in so many places, but I’ll put a link to them on the Schuh website here if you want a closer look.
Asos watch: I can’t find a to the exact one, but they have lots of similar (and actually some nicer ones) here.
Cailyn Dissolv’It Makeup Melt Cleansing Balm. I got given this at an event, but it retails for €25 from their website here.
Isa Dora Matt Fixing Powder. I got this as a press sample. But, I found it on the Feel Unique website here for €17.86.
Zoeva Blanc Fusion Palette. I have a review and info on all of the palettes within the Plaisir Box here.
Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liners. You can pick these up in Boots in store or online here. They are €5.49
And then finally Mac Extended Play Mascara. I have a whole blog post about this here.

And that is all of my January Favourites. You can watch the video by clicking on it above or going to my YouTube channel here. Have you any stand out products from the month?

xxx

February 8, 2017/by Gem

Makeup

Zoeva Plaisir Box

The Zoeva Plaisir Box is one of the fanciest makeup products I have ever owned!

Well it’s actually three products in a very swish box, but you know what I mean 🙂

I spotted Anna from TheAnnaEdit chatting on her blog about it before Christmas and shared her post on the Beautynook Facebook page, just because it looked so pretty. So many of you lovely people told me just how much you loved the Zoeva eye shadows. That alone sold me so thank you! I have lots of Zoeva brushes in my possession, this is my first step into their makeup products. But, after this experience I would 100 percent buy more!

The Zoeva Plaisir Box comes impeccably packaged. It is in the same vein as a swanky box of chocolates. The box is sleeved as well as the individual palettes. Honestly, I know I sound a tad over the top, but it’s a joy to unbox.

The three palettes (which are available to buy separately) are all named very chocolate appropriately. There’s ‘Caramel Melange, ‘Blanc Fusion’ and ‘Cocoa Blend’.

The eye shadows themselves in my opinion are a joy to work with. They are soft, rich in pigment and I, as of yet have experienced minimal fall out when using them. There is a mixture of shimmers (almost foil like), mattes and a couple of satin finishes. You have warm and more cool toned colours within the mix too. The shades on a whole lean more towards the neutral side, but there is a couple of fun ones thrown in for good measure as well. I, myself wouldn’t use all of the shades on a general basis, but the majority as shades I would gravitate towards for everyday makeup and for the evening too. There is ten shadows in each palette, each pan is 1.5 grams.