buildable Archives - Irish Beauty Blog Beautynook

Mac Cosmetics Current Favourite Lip Combo

Yet another post about Mac Cosmetics. I am having a bit of an obsession at the moment it seems.

My last post here was on my most reached for Mac eyeshadows. This one will be chatting about my current favourite lip combo from the brand.

Mac Cosmetics do a damn good lipstick. No one can deny that. I have always been a fan and have always had a few in my collection. They do a mean lip liner too and the more I have gotten into lip lining. (Yes, I am late on that bandwagon 🙂 ). The more I have added to my stash.

My current favourite lip combination just happens to be two products from the same brand, so I thought it justified a post.

Whirl lip liner isn’t new to me. I’ve owned it for a while now.

It’s the perfect mid tone brown shade. I use it alone and under similar lipstick shades. I also use it under not so similar lipstick shades. For me, It’s great for adding a bit of dimension or shade under lighter tones aswell.

This will set you back €17.50 here.

I have been loving pairing it with one of my newest Mac Cosmetics finds. This is definitely not a new lipstick. I hear people talk about it all the time, so I needed it in my life.

It’s a lustre finish lippie. This means it’s more shiny in finish. Doesn’t last as long on the lips as a matte finish, but it does leave behind a bit of a stain.

I am a mauve lipstick WHORE so this shade is just my jam. It is the perfect everyday mauve shade with a hint of pink. I wear it in it’s raw state too 🙂

Wearing it over Whirl just darkens it every so slightly and also makes it last a bit longer also. I can even out my lip line with Whirl too before adding Syrup over top for a more defined look. Using it on it’s own is a little softer.

You can find Mac lipsticks on the Arnotts website here.

Of course there is no need to use both, this is just my current lip combo fave and I wanted to share it with you 🙂 Have you a favourite Mac Cosmetics lipstick?

xxx

September 13, 2017/1 Comment/by Gem

Makeup

L’Oréal True Match Foundation

I have been declaring alot of love for L’Oréal makeup products of late. My ride or die affordable foundation has to be their Infallible 24 HR Matte ( I have a full review of it here). A while ago they did a huge new campaign for their cult classic the L’Oréal True Match Foundation. The shade range has grown and they have reformulated it. It claims to be more luminous, while still being long lasting on the skin.

I hadn’t used it since I was probably a teenager, but when the new campaign came out, I thought it was time to give the new formula a test run. So, here are my thoughts on the new L’Oréal True Match Foundation.

It comes in a 30ml glass bottle with a nifty pump which I always appreciate. It just takes the thinking out of dispensing. I’m usually a pump and a half kind of gal.

The Irish Boots website currently has 23 shades in stock to choose from. They cover light to dark skin tones but also undertones too which I think is brilliant. I am pale with a pink undertone so I went with the shade 1.R/1.C Rose Ivory. It matches me really well.

The formula is quite light and loose. It is really easy to blend and I enjoy using a brush or a damp sponge to apply it. Depending on your application, you can sheer it out or build it up. You can get decent coverage out of it though.

Here it is in action on my spot prone and red skin.

You can see it definitely evens out my skin tone, and helps make my active breakouts a bit less scary looking 🙂

Although it has a medium, build-able coverage, it doesn’t mask the skin. It has what I would call a satin finish on me anyways rather than luminous as it states. But, I do usually use a mattifying primer underneath. If you used a more illuminating primer or if you don’t need one at all, you might get a bit more of a glow from it. For me, It isn’t the most long lasting foundation. The Infallible 24 HR Matte is definitely better from that perspective. But it isn’t formulated for oily skin specifically and I can get a few hours out of it before the shine begins to come through so, I am completely ok with that.

I think it is one of those elusive foundations that does work for the most skin types. I can definitely say I am a fan. It has been great for me over these colder months especially. My skin tends to be a little dryer and generally more unhappy in Winter. This glides over the unhappy parts. It doesn’t cling to dry patches and it still manages to balance the look of imperfections. If I want it to be a bit more long lasting I mix it with the Infallible 24 HR and they actually work really well together.

You can get the L’Oréal True Match Foundation instore or online from Boots here and it will set you back €14.99.

Are you a fan?

xxx

November 27, 2016/by Gem

Makeup

L’Oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation

Cushion foundation and products have been getting alot of press of late. They are definitely not a new phenomenon, originating in Korea, but now they are making their way slowly to our shores. In Asia, cushion foundations would be deemed a fusion of makeup and skincare in one, so kind of like a bb or cc cream but in compact form. This obviously makes them easier for travel too. The cushion is supposed to make the formula of the foundation lighter and offers you a lighter application of the product inside. So there’s a quick synopsis on cushion foundation (in case you ever wondered), now let’s get into my thoughts on the new L’Oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation 🙂

Within the L’Oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation compact, you get an applicator sponge in the top layer.

You then have an air tight lid to help prevent bacteria getting into the actual cushion and the foundation within it and obviously to prevent the liquid spilling out.

The L’Oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation is made in the same vein as the original Korean cushion foundations (and it’s also made in Korea too), so it has a light weight, water infused formula which contains SPF 29. It has a sheer coverage, but you can build it up to a more medium coverage if you want. That’s how I personally wear it.

It is said you get the best application from a cushion foundation using the sponge that comes with it. I have tested it with it and it does work, but I just find it a longer process and a bit of a pain. So, like a rebel, I use my foundation brush to apply it. Using the brush allows me to buff the foundation into the skin more too and fill in any deeper pores on my face (which I have plenty of).

I have shade number 1 which is porcelain and this is a good match for my Mac NC20 skin. If your skin is lighter than mine though, there’s really not an option for you which is a bit annoying.

There is 7 shades in total. I would recommend swatching in store before making a choice though.

Here’s the L’Oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation in action.

I just dab my brush super lightly onto the sponge.

And then apply it just as I would my normal foundation.

Before Application

The finish to me, is more satin than dewy and the formula feels really lightweight and comfortable on the skin. It knocks back redness and evens out the skin tone but in a natural way.

It obviously doesn’t last as well on me throughout the day like my ride or die L’Oreal Infallible Matte Foundation (there’s a full review of that here if you’re curious), but considering it’s a lightweight, satin finish, water based foundation with SPF 29, it lasts pretty well on my oily skin with primer and powder on top. I start to get some shine on my t zone after maybe the third hour, but if doesn’t oxidise or look unsightly, so I would probably wait until the fourth or fifth hour of wear before powdering.

Overall, I personally really like the L’Oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation. I am finding it a great addition to my Summer makeup and getting alot of use out of it. At €21.99 it is very much at the higher price end for ‘drugstore’ foundation, so it really just depends on whether you buy into the whole cushion foundation thing and if would work for your skin needs, so I hope I’ve given you a bit of insight into it anyway 🙂

You can buy the L’Oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation from Boots instore or online here.

I would love to know your thoughts on it and if you’ve tried any other cushion foundations. Keep me in the loop! 🙂

I have a separate post coming on the Glam Bronze Cushion De Soleil. I just thought this post would be way too long talking about both of them, so keep an eye out for that!

xxx

June 17, 2016/by Gem

Makeup

Clarins Ever Matte Foundation Review

I have been using the Clarins Ever Matte Foundation since the Summer time and I keep forgetting to review it. It just became part of my foundation rotation 🙂

Clarins foundations all have the same distinctive smell. It’s kind of sweet, kind of flowery and I love it. if you are affected by smells though, I suggest going to a counter and having a whiff before you go buying just in case.

As you would assume the Clarins Ever Matte foundation is…well a matte foundation (shock, I know 🙂 ).

It’s an opaque liquid foundation with a thin consistency.

As you blend it dries quite quickly so it needs to be worked with fast or with a damp sponge or brush. Once blended it feels really lightweight on the skin.

Here’s my skin before application:

Here’s my skin after a light layer of the Clarins Ever Matte buffed in with a buffing brush.

And after another layer applied.

I am in the shade 105 Nude and I think it’s a pretty good match for Mac NC20 skin. I think it has a medium but very build able coverage, which is what I look for in a foundation 🙂

Now onto the science bit…I am an oily skinned gal, so the Clarins Matte is ticks alot of skin boxes for me. It’s oily-free so it lasts really well on me (although I always powder my foundation regardless). It has a matte finish so doesn’t leave any residue behind once it’s set. It’s non-comedogenic so it doesn’t sit in pores and add more blackheads into the mix! It’s covers redness really well and it has an SPF of 15 which is handy too.

Overall, I really like this foundation and I reach for it alot day to day. If you’re oily skinned or even combination, get a sample and give it a go. Clarins is an understated brand and I think sometimes, we forget they know and do makeup well.

It’s not the cheapest of the bunch, the Clarins Ever Matte will set you back €33 and you can pick it up from Boots here

xxx

January 29, 2016/1 Comment/by Gem

Posts

Yet another post about Mac Cosmetics. I am having a bit of an obsession at the moment it seems.

My last post here was on my most reached for Mac eyeshadows. This one will be chatting about my current favourite lip combo from the brand.

Of course there is no need to use both, this is just my current lip combo fave and I wanted to share it with you 🙂 Have you a favourite Mac Cosmetics lipstick?

Here it is in action on my spot prone and red skin.

Here’s the L’Oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation in action.

I have been using the Clarins Ever Matte Foundation since the Summer time and I keep forgetting to review it. It just became part of my foundation rotation 🙂

Clarins foundations all have the same distinctive smell. It’s kind of sweet, kind of flowery and I love it. if you are affected by smells though, I suggest going to a counter and having a whiff before you go buying just in case.