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I am a big fan of ‘drugstore’ more affordable mascaras. As you know if you’ve been around these parts before, I am a waterproof mascara junkie. It’s been a while since I had tried a high end one so I traipsed into Brown Thomas a few weeks ago, had a look around, asked you lovely people on Snapchat what I should get and left with the YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Waterproof mascara.

ysl volume effect faux cils waterproof mascara

May I add the girl on the counter was super lovely and friendly which made the experience so much nicer. I love going to Boots and picking up bargains, but I do also love splurging every now and again on more luxurious items. As Tom Haverford and Donna from Parks and Recreation would say “Treat yo’self’ and that I did with the YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Waterproof Mascara 🙂

ysl volume effect faux cils waterproof mascara

I have to be honest I kind of hoped I wasn’t going to really like it, because it means if it runs out I am going to want to buy one again. Alas, it was love at first use, damn you YSL!

The packaging alone is pretty glorious, right? They definitely get brownie points for that.

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The formula of the YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Waterproof is wet but still very build-able without clumping together on your lashes. It has quite a thin tapered bristled wand that is great for really getting into the roots of your lashes.

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The reason I always go for waterproof is because I have really straight lashes and waterproof formulas seem to hold a curl better throughout the day for me. I also have oily eye lids and normal formulas can sometimes transfer and make a mess.Since getting this mascara I have always used a eyelash curler before application, just to give my lashes an extra bit of oomph, for the purpose of this post I didn’t though and I was actually quite happy with how my lashes turned out regardless. For me and my crap eyelashes, there’s volume, there’s length and there’s a bit of curl too!

Here’s my lashes before application.

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Then here is my upper lashes on one eye with a couple of coats of the YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils.

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I even use this mascara on my bottom lashes too, as the wand it not too big and the formula doesn’t flake or transfer. This means I don’t have to necessarily buy a separate tubing mascara from my bottom lashes which I normally do. That’s penny pinching right there 🙂

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Here’s the before and after on each of my eyes.

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And then here’s the YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils applied to both eyes.

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I do still prefer giving my eyelashes a quick curl with the eyelash curlers because I want maximum lash.

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But if I forgot to do it or didn’t bring an eyelash curlers away with me, I wouldn’t be in panic mode as I have been in the past 🙂

I bloomin’ love this mascara, it’s pricey for sure, but it really ticks all the boxes for me. I may not use it exclusively forever because I do like to try new products, (it’s what I do ha), but if I HAD too, I wouldn’t be too unhappy about it at all.

You can pick up the YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Waterproof mascara from Boots instore or online here and from Brown Thomas instore. It costs 32.50.

What do you think, would you splurge? Let me know what you’re favourite mascara is?

xxx

I’ve had the Benefit Porefessional License To Blot for a long time now.

benefit cosmetics ireland

 

It’s something I actually pick up quite a lot and just forgot to ever talk about it. It an unusual little product.

Its looks a bit like a pritt stick for your face 🙂 When it comes to comes to marketing and packaging the Benefit team are some of the best in the business, they really are and the Benefit Porefessional License To Blot is a really innovative little product.

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According to Benefit: ‘This instant oil-blotting stick with tiny invisible blotting spheres mattifies shine for up to six hours after application. The specially designed triangular tip targets shiny zones: the sides of your nose, forehead and chin. Oil has finally met its matte!

The Benefit Porefessional License To Blot is pretty much designed to throw into your handbag for blotting on the go. It comes in a retractable tube and the product itself is in a triangular shape so it can get around the contours of your face.

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The product itself has like a balm texture to it, it’s colourless, so would work on any skin tone. It does have a scent to it, but it’s really very slight.

So does it work?

It definitely blots off any excess oil you might have creeping through your foundation. It also softens the look of any pores that might come through aswell. You should really use a light hand with it and pat it onto the skin as Benefit encourage you to, as it can leave a silicone like film over the top of your makeup. It doesn’t however promote caking like adding powder might do. The fact that you’re applying the product from the tube can get a little grubby as you’re left with makeup marks on it after use, so you have to be sure to clean as you go. I can’t say that it keeps the skin matte for six extra hours, not on my skin anyways, but I would say at least half that time for sure.

I sometimes use the Benefit Porefessional License To Blot in a way it’s not intended too also. Because it works for minimising the look of pores and it is good for blotting, I’ll use it in conjunction with whatever primer I have on the go in my real problem areas on my T-zone before applying foundation (and even sometimes after foundation, if my skin is really acting up).

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Overall I really like the Benefit Porefessional License To Blot. It has its flaws but overall does what its supposed to do and may I add at €21.50, it’s cheaper that the primer, but kind of does the same job 🙂 You can pick it up from Debenhams here

xxx

 

 

Beautynook Wet n Wild Megalast Lipsticks

Welcome back to Beautynook and if it’s your first time here thanks for stopping by 🙂

The Wet n Wild Megalast lipsticks are awesome, simple as that. They’ve brought out a whole new range of matte colours here in Ireland. I picked up 8 of them to swatch and show you. At €2.99  a pop you get so much bang out of these lipsticks it’s pretty impressive. Some of these colours wouldn’t be my go to lip choices but I am hoping there is a colour in the eight that suits everyone who comes by to read. Although I think there will be more pictures than words in this blogpost 🙂

First up we have ‘Dollhouse Pink’

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Dollhouse Pink

Dollhouse Pink swatch

Wet n wild Megalast Dollhouse PinkSecond is ‘Don’t Blink Pink’.

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Don't Blink Pink

Don't Blink Pink Swatch

Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick Don't Blink PinkThird up is ‘Pinkerbell’

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Pinkerbell

Pinkerbell Swatch

Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick PinkerbellUp fourth is ‘Purty Persimmon’.

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Purty Persimmon

Purty Persimmon Swatch

Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick Purty Persimmon

Fifth is ‘Cherry Picking’.

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Cherry Picking

Cherry Picking Swatch

Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick Cherry PickingSixth in my Wet n Wild Megalast lipstick shopping spree is ‘Spiked With Rum’.

Spiked With Rum

Spiked With Rum

Spiked With Rum Swatch

Wet n WIld Megalast lipstick Spiked WIth RumNumber seven in the list is ‘Ravin’ Raisin’.

Wet n Wild Beautynook

Ravin' Raisin Lipstick

Ravin' Raisin Swatch

Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick Ravin' Raisin Then last but not least Megalast lippie number eight in my countdown ‘Vamp It Up’ The darkest of them all.

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vamp it up

vamp it up swatch

Wet n WIld Megalast Lipstick Vamp it upYep my lips are a bit sore now 🙂

There are even more new shades on Wet n Wild Stands now. These are just the ones I picked up in my local Dunnes.

I can honestly say nothing bad about the Megalast lipsticks. And you can see for yourself how pigmented they are! If you walk by a Wet n Wild Stand, have a swatch and see for yourself.

So what do you think? What colours call out to you? I think my favourite are ‘Cherry Picking’ ‘Spiked With Rum’ and ‘Don’t Blink Pink’.

Thanks for reading and I hope this helps a bit if you’re a tad undecided 🙂

xxx

Clarins Instant Concealer

I picked up the Clarins Instant Concealer after seeing so much positive feedback on it in the blogging community.

There may not be many of us around but I am definitely one of the few people who did not get the hype about the Nars Creamy Concealer. I found it hard to blend and kind of drying to be honest. So I did buy the Clarins Instant Concealer hesitantly as it seemed to be the next big thing in under eye concealers since the Nars offering.

I can report…I bloomin’ love it!! I picked up the shade 01, which was hard to get a hold of actually so there must be lots of pale gals like me throwing it into their baskets.

Clarins Instant Concealer 01I find this a very good shade match for my skintone. The concealer itself I would describe as dense but very workable. You can slap it on both eyes and will have plenty of time to blend it in without worrying about it setting too quickly. It does set though, you are not left with shiny under eyes that need an abundance of powder.

Clarins Instant ConcealerThe coverage of the Instant Concealer is really great. I can even bring it down around my nose and find it covers flaws and large pores. It has really great staying power too. This concealer highlights even paler skin like mine. As you can see below, it does brighten my under eye area as well as conceal.

Clarins Instant Concealer Before

Before Application

Clarins Instant Concealer After

After Application

I know I don’t suffer with huge under circles, but I do have some darkness as well as pigmentation and freckles. A small amount of the Instant Concealer gets to grips with this very easily.

I am really impressed overall with this product. Clarins is not a brand I find myself reaching for much when I am in the market for new makeup, but I think I will be making more time for it in the future.

A 15ml tube of the Clarins Instant Concealer will set you back 25 euro in Brown Thomas, Boots or alot of leading pharmacies.

xxx

Beautynook Top 5 Mac Lipsticks

I could probably make a list like this at least once a year. I know Mac lippies are a bit expensive and other more afforable brands do brilliant alternatives that I have and love, but Mac lipsticks were the first ‘higher end’ makeup I ever owned. I love going into Mac full stop, but coming home with a sleek black bullet full of colour just gets me so excited and less face it they do great lipsticks. You can pick them up in Brown Thomas or in some BT2 and they are priced at 19.50 euro.

So I wanted to compile my top 5 for you. I thought 5 was a manageable number and I could get a good range of colours and finishes into the list, in case you are a Mac newbie or you are just looking for a new one to add to your collection 🙂 I will disclaim and say I am not really a nude lip gal. I have a couple of more nude options in my Mac collection like ‘Lovelorn’ and ‘Myth’ but they don’t really get a whole load of love. I wanted to be honest with my picks, so if you only wear nude lippies…I’m sorry 🙁

First up, I have probably the most wearable out of my 5 picks.

Mac Plumful

This is ‘Plumful’. This is a lustre finish lipstick. You can see from the bullet this is well loved by me.

Mac Plumful

It is a modest berry colour, that I think would suit a multitude of people. It has a lovely sheen to it with it being a lustre, so gloss does not have to be added if you like a glossy finish. It goes with any kind of makeup look and is so easy to wear, you can slap this on on the way out the door and you don’t need to worry about it. It last reasonably well too and will leave a hint of a stain behind when it starts to wear.

Next up I have Plumful’s more intense cousin 🙂

Mac Rebel

This is Rebel and this is a Satin finish lipstick.

mac Rebel

I have blabbed about Rebel a good bit since I have added it to my collection. It’s a medium to dark berry toned shade depending on how intensely you apply it and is cool toned. With it being a Satin finish, it is not completely matte, it has a subtle shine to it which makes it comfortable to wear. I love Rebel for a dramatic night out with minimal makeup, it really makes a statement. If you like a dark lip Rebel is a good option to have in my opinion, I get alot of wear out of it. Again, it lasts really well and is easy to touch up throughout the night or day as the Satin formula doesn’t cling too much to the lips.

‘Girl About Town’ is one of my favourite lipsticks ever ever ever.

Mac Girl About Town

Growing up, I had crap teeth, so in my teens and early 20’s I didn’t experiment with lipstick alot because I didn’t want to bring attention to them. A few years ago I got Invisalign (best thing I ever did). After a few months my teeth were straight and my lipsticks stash started to grow and grow. Girl About Town was one of the first intense colours I ever bought and will always hold a special place in my heart.

It is an Amplified finish.

Mac Girl About Town

This means it packs a bold punch, a little goes a long way. It is a fuschia pink with blue undertones, hello whiter teeth! Although it is nearly a matte formula when on, it’s a creamy lipstick and glides onto the lips really well. I love this shade, it makes you look brighter whatever your skin tone. If you don’t have it, swatch it the next time you are in Mac, it is really worth the look.

 

The last two on this Mac lipstick journey are matte formula lipsticks.

First up is ‘Lady Danger’.

Mac Lady Danger

Lady Danger is one of the coolest lipsticks I own ever, full stop!

Mac Lady Danger

It is bold, it is rich, it is orangey red and it has warm undertones, so not for the faint hearted. I think it is alot more orange than red, but I suppose it depends on who is wearing it that determines that. On me (Mac NC20) it is more orange. Lady Danger lasts a really long time on the lips. Although it’s matte its not the most drying lipstick I have ever used, it doesn’t cling too badly if your lips are not in tip top condition. Not for everyone I know, but I just love it 🙂

 

My last choice is a no brainer. Mac do red lipsticks and they do them well, so one had to creep it’s way into my top 5.

Mac Riri Woo

This is their Retro-Matte lipstick in ‘Riri Woo’.

Mac Riri Woo

This is the red that they collaborated with Rihanna on, but ‘Ruby Woo’ from the permanent collection is pretty much the same when applied, the packaging just pulled me in on this one.

Riri Woo is the perfect cool toned matte red lipstick. It is pigmented beyond belief but it is one of the most drying lipsicks you will ever use. You need to be prepared for that. It lasts for ages too and will stain the lips as it wears but if your lips begin to dry or flake you will feel it and notice it and it won’t be pretty, so you do have to keep an eye on your lips throughout the day or night. It is best applied with a lip brush for precise application as it can drag the lips a bit.

I sound a bit negative saying all of that, but it is so worth it for the lip colour you get in return, just prepare in advance for it!

There you have it. My top 5 Mac lipsticks. I am always in the market for more favourites, so be sure to tell me yours.

xxx