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Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer

I ordered the Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer along with their stick foundation and new liquid liner on a whim at like three in the morning. I couldn’t sleep so I was scrolling through Instagram and something came up about them. The trigger was pulled, and they were ordered 🙂

There is so many comparisons being made online to it and the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer. I own Shape Tape, so that was justification enough in buying it, right? Makeup Revolution are more than well known for releasing ‘dupe’ products. Mostly of more expensive brands, which they do for a much more palatable price.

The Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer is definitely a more reasonable price, coming in at €4.99! I have to admit, other than the chubby packaging it comes in, I can’t really compare it to Shape Tape. I feel like they’re two different formulas. ST is a much thicker consistency, longer wearing and more full coverage, in my humble opinion.

The Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer comes in a bucketload of shades, which is bloody awesome! 25 to be exact with different undertones to boot. I have the colour C1 which is a good match for me.

I actually like the doe-foot applicator more on the MR concealer over Shape Tape. It’s a bit smaller and easier to clean up under the eyes with.

The consistency of this concealer is what I would describe as thick-ish. Perfect english I know. I just mean, it’s not Shape Tape thick, but it’s not runny either. It’s somewhere in the middle 🙂 You can apply a fairly light layer of it and it will give grand coverage, or you can really build up the opacity. For me, it works better in a couple of lighter layers.

It is a super drying formula, in my opinion, so that is something to note if you suffer with creasing under the eyes. It sets super quickly too, so you have to work fast with it.

I don’t get much creasing personally and always set my under my eyes, so I haven’t had a problem with it myself. Here it is in action on my skin.

Overall, I think the Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer is a damn good, more high coverage concealer for the price point. On my skin type, I will just be sticking to using it under my eyes. I don’t think the staying power is quite there for the rest of my more oily skin.

Have you tried it?

xxx

September 19, 2018/2 Comments/by Gem

Makeup

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

Beautynook Tips, Makeup

Makeup Tips Beautynook’s Top 5

I know this isn’t a new idea, but I was doing my makeup the other day and started doing something that I thought was worth sharing. I was about to jump onto Instagram stories and share it, but then I had the idea to do it in blogpost form for future reference purposes 🙂 I’m calling it my top 5 makeup tips but I can’t guarantee I’ll keep it to 5 🙂

There’s no real rhyme or reason to these makeup tips. They’re really just things that came to mind and things I’ve learned over the years.

If you’re using a thicker foundation and find it hard to blend. Try spraying your foundation brush with makeup setting spray. It’ll make it easier to blend without compromising the longevity. It works if you’re using a sponge too.
If you have trouble putting gel liner in your water line. This is something I learned from Marlena aka Makeup Geek. I use to attempt to do it with a brush but it just tickles too much! Instead, try using a similar coloured eye pencil to apply it. Dip the pencil into the gel liner pot and use it as the tool. Makes tight lining so much easier. Thanks Marlena 🙂
Don’t directly powder over wet skin ie: oil or sweat, it leaves holes in your foundation. If you need to touch up, always try blot and then pat powder where necessary onto the face.
Filing indexes aka sticky notes or even sellotape works. Just me sure you take the access stickiness off on the back of your hand. (You don’t want to pull your eyes). They make a great eyeliner guide. Apply to the edge of your eyes in the direction you want your flick. Apply your liner or eyeshadow and then slowly pull the sticky notes off away from your face. You should be left with a clean line. It takes practice, but I promise it works.
We know dampening your brush makes metallics shadows and highlights apply more vibrant, right? If you don’t want to do that, you can use your setting spray as normal on your face and before it dries, apply your highlighter on damp skin. This will make it pop a little extra too and help it last longer.
Cheap eyeliners are often hard to use. If you want to soften the pencil and get use out of it. Run the tip through the flame of a lighter for a couple of seconds. Obviously be sure that it’s not hot to the touch when applying it to your eyes. But it will soften it and make it much easier to apply.
If you have an eyeshadow that you don’t get much pigment out of but love the colour. Try applying concealer or a white base (like the NYX Jumbo eye pencil) before it and pat it on with your finger. It will help with the opacity. Dampening your eyeshadow brush with water, setting spray, Duraline or even eye drops before application will help too.

I did a post here yonks ago about keeping your lashes curled all day. I thought that might be helpful to throw into the makeup tips mix too. And here is a demo of the winged liner tip in practice. The pictures and videos are horrendous but the methods still stands 🙂

If even one of these makeup tips helps you, I’ll be very happy, so please let me know. I definitely went over the quota of five ha!

xxx

July 13, 2018/by Gem

Makeup, Youtube Video

Kat Von D Lock It Foundation Review

I thought I would chance doing a review in video form. I don’t do these very often just because I am more comfortable writing my thoughts than saying them out loud a lot of the time. It’s hard sometimes to show the coverage and finish of product in pictures though. So, here are my musings on the Kat Von D Lock It Foundation in all of their rambling glory 🙂

I’ve already done a post on the Lock It concealer here if you’re interested in my thoughts on that too.

I bought the concealer and brightening powder (and the Shade & Light Palette), when the counter first opened here in Dublin. I was lucky enough to meet up with the PR here a while back and they kindly sent me home with the Kat Von D Lock It foundation. They colour matched me to the shade 46 Cool. I wanted a cooler tone to counteract the redness in my skin. The shades come in warm and neutral tones too.

As I say in the video, this foundation does oxidise and darken a little. I probably could have done with a shade lighter. However coming into the warmer months, I should just get away with it.

Overall, I am a big fan of this foundation, if you are looking for full coverage with a demi matte finish on the skin. I think the longevity is really good too without it being too drying either. Click on the video above or here to see it in action properly.

You can buy the Kat Von D Lock It Foundation in store from bigger Debenhams stores or online here. Have you tried it yet? Or any of the other Kat Von D products on offer here? I need to get my hands on some of the new brow products pronto 🙂

xxx

*PR SAMPLE**

May 20, 2018/by Gem

Makeup Tutorial, Youtube Video

Full Coverage Foundation Routine

Welcome to my Full Coverage Foundation Routine. Did I forget to take a decent thumbnail to put on the front of this video? You betcha, so this picture is pretty much as good as it’s going to get 🙂

My full coverage foundation routine doesn’t specifically rely on the foundation. As I explain more about in the video, I use a decent coverage foundation, but I rely on the concealer then to finish the job.

The two budget friendly foundations I use, (cos I am so extra). It’s completely unnecessary to use two, are the L’Oréal Infallible 24 Hour Matte and the La Girl Pro Matte HD. I use two primers as well. Again, unnecessary, but I explain why as I go.

I think when it comes to my full coverage foundation routine, skin prep is key. You need a good base for everything to sit on. Also sandwiching products really helps the longevity of your makeup.

Usually, if I was going more full on with my base, it would be for a reason and I would go ham with the rest of my makeup too. However, my plans for the day I filmed this video fell through, so I ended up just going more simple with the rest of my face. As I have oily skin that’s prone to some dehydration, that is what I focus on more here. I think the technique and most of the products would work across the spectrum though.

Disclaimer I say ‘tend to’ and ‘generally’, ALOT in the video, so please forgive me. I am always conscious when I am talking makeup techniques that I am not a makeup artist, that everything is up for interpretation and that I change up products and how I do things a fair amount. I am constantly learning 🙂

Let me know what you think of my full coverage foundation routine, I’d love your feedback. And tell me, what’s your go to full coverage foundation?

xxx

INCLUDES PR SAMPLES

March 30, 2018/by Gem

Bargain Buying, Makeup

LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation

The LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation landed here in Ireland before you could even get your hands on it anywhere else in Europe. I was lucky enough to go to the launch of it here in Dublin, so I got to bring a bottle of it home to try out.

According to the brand, the LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation gives a ‘suede like finish to the skin’. ‘Has buildable coverage for both day and night’. And is a ‘paraben free formula’.

I have the shade Natural.

Looking at the shades at the event, Ivory was too light and the other shades after that were a bit too yellow for my skin. Natural is a bit too dark, but it was the most suited out of the lighter colours. We have 14 shades to choose from here in Ireland.

It comes in a glass bottle and have a pump, that alone impresses me, I won’t lie 🙂

On me, the LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation definitely has a more medium to full coverage. It’s not super thick though like some more full coverage foundations can be. The formula definitely does dry down to a suede like finish as the brand suggests. So although it’s more matte, it’s not gonna crack if you smile matte 🙂

I have oily skin. I know I say it constantly, but especially for foundation reviews it’s really important to note. Generally, I use a more silicone heavy primer, as I find they are the ones that work best for my skin type. I actually used the LA Girl one here which I really like.

I use a synthetic kabuki brush to apply it and again that works well for me too. The formula is pretty pigmented so you really have to work it into the skin, so a more dense brush makes things easier. I find the formula can cling to more drier skinned areas so that is something to note. That’s why I think the more silicone heavy primers work better with it. It gives it a bit more of a slippy base. Once I use one though it glides over enlarged pores and doesn’t sit in fine lines either. I don’t apply foundation on or around my eyes.

On me, the coverage is medium, but I can amp it up to more full where I want it. It covers redness and slight pigmentation. My darker freckles come through but I am completely ok with that. I love that the finish, although matte, has a satin feel and look to it. It’s not just completely flat. I think it photographs really well too. It lasts well on my skin once I prime and lightly powder. I can get 6-8 hours out of it, with minimal shine or breakdown. It honestly competes with my very favourite L’Oréal Infallible 24 HR Matte in that department!

Overall, I am a big fan of the LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation. It has made it’s way into my everyday foundation rotation. Yes I have one of those 🙂 You can find it now in store from LA Girl stockists. Online from TRNDbeauty, and Beauty Bay. Have you picked it up yet?

xxx

PR SAMPLE

March 23, 2018/by Gem

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