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beauty blogger irelandThe 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.

La Girl Pro Matte Foundation

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’.

La Girl Pro Matte Foundation

I have the shade Natural.top beauty blogger ireland

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.La Girl Pro Matte Foundation

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

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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 🙂

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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.

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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.

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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

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kiko cosmetics haulThis is definitely a bit repetitive. My last blogpost here was a makeup haul from Brown Thomas. Forgive me. I had a voucher for BT. And we are just back from a couple of days away in Brussels where we had the best time. Belgium also have Kiko Cosmetics though, so I couldn’t resist picking up a few bits in store.

Kiki Cosmetics haul

Kiko have a pretty decent sale on at the minute online and in store. A lot of their stock have 30% off. Also, they are selling off a lot of their limited edition collections aswell.kiki cosmetics ireland

The first thing I got was the Smart Cult Eyeshadow Palette in Matte Revolution.kiko milano

I would have picked up the Shocking Sparkle Shades one also, only they didn’t have it in stock in store. These are pretty new palettes, but they are currently 30% off here.kiko irelandirish beauty blog

I had actually shared a pic of these on my social media a couple of weeks ago eyeing them up so I was delighted to get at least one and with the 30% off it only set me back €11.85, which I thought was pretty damn decent.

Like any brand, Kiko Cosmetics for me, can be great and not so great. I’ve picked up some things over the years and they’ve ended up in the bin. I think that happens with most brands though, not everything is going to suit. Not everything is going to be good. One thing they do very well though is cream eyeshadow sticks.

I already have a fair few of these. They come in an abundance of colours. I was restrained, mostly because I’m poor, and just picked up two shades 🙂irish beauty blogger

They are €6.95 a pop in store or online here.beauty blog ireland

I got 36 which is Golden Mauve.

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And also 38 Golden Taupe.

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Both of these are actually quite cool toned. That wasn’t on purpose but I am definitely venturing into the more cool toned shadow world again at the moment.top beauty blog

Another pencil buy was their Ever Lasting Colour Precision Lip Liner in 402.top beauty blogger

I’ve never tried these before, they were on sale, (again 30% off here), and I thought 402 looked like a good everyday lip colour.

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These are retractable and have a sharpener built in which is always super handy too.

My last two Kiko Cosmetics purchases were of the shimmery variety. I definitely do not need another highlighter but sure look, do I really NEED any of this?

I swatched their Glow Fusion Highlighters and decided on 02 rather than getting the lightest shade 01.beauty blog

It’s a little more golden (it is called Heavenly Golden after all), and all three shades are currently 30% off in store and online here.

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The packaging is also very swish, so I thought it was well worth €6.95 just for the magnetic closure 🙂

My very last buy was a Metal Eyeshadow from their Arctic Holiday Collection.beauty vlogger

These are currently 50% off here.

I bought this completely based off swatching it just before I got to the till.

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I liked the reflective shimmer in it and it was €5.45 and limited edition, so need I say more really? Looking at it now, it’s super similar to the highlighter it just has a bit more chunkier shimmer running through it, but sure look 🙂irish beauty blog beautynook

And that is my Kiko Cosmetics haul done. Now I’m excited to get stuck in and play with these bad boys! Anything tickle your fancy?

xxx

Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage FoundationI had seen the Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation advertised on their Instagram page. I often take screenshots of product, to either spread the word, or to remind me to keep an eye out for them in store.Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation

Maybelline say that it: ‘delivers 24-hour wear for concentrated coverage and a flawless finish that doesn’t fade or shift all day’.irish beauty blogI was in Dundrum Shopping Centre a few weeks ago and remembered to go to the stand and have a look. I was actually surprised we had it. We don’t always get the new releases as quickly as they do in the states.irish beauty blogger
I’ve been using it on and off for the past few weeks. Blindly, I picked up the shade Ivory. I didn’t swatch, I just picked it up assuming it was my shade. It’s probably a shade or even two too dark for me. There is a lighter shade in the collection, so if you’re a similar skin tone to me (NC20), get that one.
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 It definitely is a medium to full coverage foundation. The consistency of it isn’t too thick though. For example, I reviewed the Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation & Concealer here a while ago. This is a full coverage foundation and I find it harder to work with because it’s thicker in formula. I also find I can feel it on my skin even after it settles. I don’t find this with the Super Stay.
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For me, the Maybelline offering is easy to blend for a more full coverage foundation. It doesn’t dry too fast so I can use a brush or a sponge with it and they both work really nicely. It covers redness and applies well over textured skin.top irish beauty site

The finish isn’t too drying either. I would class it as a satin matte finish. Not quite satin, not quite matte 🙂 It lasts reasonably well on me too. I do get some t- zone shine after a few hours (with primer and powder). There’s no oxidisation or major movement though.

Overall I really like it and find myself reaching for it a lot since I bought it.
 I picked up the Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation from Boots for €15.99. I think that’s a bit steep for a more ‘drugstore’ foundation. However I found it online here for €11.99. Have you tried it?
xxx

You know I love me some waterproof mascara. If I’m talking non waterproof it’s generally because it’s really bad or really good. For me, theBalm Mad Lash Mascara is really good!

theBalm Mad Lash Mascara

I used it for the first time in a video here using all theBalm products. You can see there that I was impressed from the get-go!

I don’t talk too much about mascara here, because I tend to be a creature of habit when it comes to them. Which is not very good when you class yourself as a beauty blogger I know. But I just have crap lashes generally. They’re straight and a bit lack lustre. So when I find something I like I tend to stick to it on a day to day basis. But, I do try lots, I just don’t talk about them because they don’t work for me. However theBalm Mad Lash Mascara does!

theBalm Mad Lash Mascara

Reviews are obviously up for interpretation and subject to what you look for. For me, a plastic spoolie generally works better. Not all of the time, but, alot of the time.

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I like when the bristles are small-ish and there’s plenty of them. It means you get a good amount of product on the lashes, but it doesn’t get too goopy and out of control.

As I have naturally straight lashes, I always curl them, unless I have a lash lift. If I have a lash lift, other formulas can work for me too, as they don’t necessarily hold a curl. theBalm Mad Lash has a tubing formula, I believe. So it forms a tube of mascara around each lash. It means it will hold the shape and also tends to be easier to remove than waterproof at the end of the day too.

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On my lashes, this mascara ticks all the boxes. It elongates them, gives me volume with a smidge of clumping (I kind of dig that look), and above all holds a curl, this is the thing I want most.

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The formula doesn’t smudge when I use it on my top lashes. I can get a bit of smudging on the lower ones, but I’m actually a bit of a mascara brat and tend to use a separate formula on my bottom lashes. (I love the Mac Extended Play, review here).

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Overall, I am a fan of theBalm Mad Lash. If you like a bit of clump with your volume and curl, I think you would be too. It is available now from Debenhams in store or online here. What do you think?
xxx

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My makeup prayers were answered a couple of weeks ago when a very generous blogging friend posted me some makeup. I was having a miserable few weeks, so she literally couldn’t have picked a better time so be so lovely. And then to top off her generosity, this was in the envelope! The Tarte Shape Tape Concealer!!

Tarte Shape Tape ConcealerI have wanted to try the Tarte Shape Tape for so long. It seems to be the go to concealer for every makeup lover across the globe at the minute. Tarte Shape TapeThe shade I have is Fair, which works really well for me. It’s really light, so for my skin tone (NC20 in Mac), it works really well under my eyes.

Tarte Shape Tape Ireland
Tarte Shape Tape Review
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I’ll start with what I don’t like about it, because it won’t take long 🙂 First off Tarte is hard to get hold of here in Ireland, that’s a con for sure. You can buy it but we are overcharged and that just pisses me off! You only get 10mls of product in the tube, which isn’t alot at all! And then finally the applicator is ginormous.

Now to be fair this doesn’t bother me too much. I don’t really sculpt with concealer, I just blob it on so I don’t need major control over the applicator. I know some people have issues with it creasing on them under the eyes. Personally, I have not found this to be an issue for me as of yet. I generally just apply one layer of it, buff it in and set with powder.

Now onto what I love about Tarte Shape Tape. The formula is super pigmented. A little goes a really long way with it. And best of all it blends like a dream. It takes no effort at all to blend it in with a brush or sponge and conceals so bloody well. I can really understand the hype. I don’t find it overly drying on the skin although it does set quite quickly. You can’t feel it laying on the skin either, which can be the case sometimes for more hard hitting concealers.

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It reminds me alot of one of my very favourites the Clarins Instant Concealer. I reviewed this yonks ago now here. You need less Shape Tape to cover up any darkness though, and I find it more brightening too. It also comes in so many more colour choices. It works well as an all over concealer too, not just for under the eyes which is great. I don’t suffer with a huge amount of darkness, but I do have some discolouration and it really evens that out and makes me look more awake.

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The downside of liking the Tarte Shape Tape? To get another one I will have to bribe friends who are going stateside to pick me one up, or fork out £28 (plus shipping) from QVC here. Although it does come with a sponge!

Have you tried it before?

xxx

I received a very cute package in the post this week from Benefit Cosmetics.

Benefit Cosmetics Hoola

Seriously, they do the cutest packaging in the business! The Hoola family has expanded and there is also a new box highlighter in the mix too. I thought I would give a closer look at them, and of course swatch all the products here too.

Benefit Cosmetics Ireland

I am a big fan of the original Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Bronzer.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

It’s just a really good, build-able matte bronzer. You can find it on the Debenhams website here. At €34, it is pricey, but they do last a really long time.

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They’ve now released a new version, Hoola Lite.

benefit hoola lite As the name would suggest, it’s Hoola, but lighter 🙂 It is matte and slightly cool toned. Definitely more suited to paler skin tones.

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It is in the same box format, containing 8 grams of products. You can find it on Cloud 10 Beauty here.

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The second new product being welcomed into the Benefit Cosmetics Hoola family is their Quickie Contour Stick.

top irish beauty bloggerThis is a cream stick version of Hoola.

Benefit contour stick It’s super creamy and easy to blend. I think I would personally use this for warming up the face or for layering colour to help with longevity.

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You can buy it online from the Debenhams website here.

The last newbie on the scene is Dandelion Twinkle Highlighting Powder. Benefit Dandelion Packaged the same as any of the boxed products. You get 3 grams of product within.

benefit highlighter Benefit describe it as as, ‘delicate strobing powder’. It is a really soft light pink shade with a silvered sparkle running through it. It gives a very subtle highlight to the skin.

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Dandelion Twinkle is available from for €34 from the Debenhams website here.

And now, you’re up to date with the all the Benefit Cosmetics Hoola news 🙂

Any of the products tickle your fancy? Have you picked up any of them yourself?

xxx

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