maccosmetics Archives - Irish Beauty Blog Beautynook

Posts

Easy Coloured Eye Liner Look

Coloured Eye Liner doesn’t have to be scary and it doesn’t necessarily have to be used just in the traditional sense. This is a look I do alot when I want to do something fun, but don’t want to faff about too much. It’s simple and packs a punch 🙂

Here’s the mug with some foundation and brows done.

To begin with I took a taupe shadow and added some definition into the crease, you know the drill by now if you’ve read my blog before 🙂

I want to keep the lid colour pretty simple but still look ‘done’ if that makes sense? Satin Taupe from Mac is a brilliant colour for this.

I packed this all over the lid.

To blend it out and deepen up the crease I used a warm brown on a tapered brush in the crease.

Then to just conceal any redness and lighten up the brow bone, I added a light shimmery shadow.

I did a thin line of brown liner to the top lashes.

And added some concealer and added some mascara.

Not necessary but for a little definition, I used a couple of my beloved Penneys individual lashes on both eyes.

I added a little wash of Satin Taupe under my eye and some mascara.

I used Makeup Geek’s Shimma Shimma in my inner corner.

Then onto the fun part, the liner 🙂

I chose one of my all time favourites but anything you have that’s pigmented will work. You could even put a light liner on and then add some shadow of your choice over top.

This is Inglot’s Matte Amc Gel liner in 87, I’ll put a link to it here

Mine has certainly seen better days but a drop of Duraline (review here) brings it back to life.

I use a pencil to apply gel liner to my waterline. I find a brush too ticklish and uncomfortable, so dipping a liner pencil into the gel works for me, even if it’s not the same colour. You can always wipe it off after you use it 🙂

And the eyes are done! An easy coloured eye liner look 🙂

This is one of my favourite looks to do and as you can see it’s so simple. I always get compliments too which is nice.

Here’s the finished look.

Will you give coloured liner a go? Let me know. (that rhymes ha)

xxx

January 20, 2016/by Gem

Makeup

Top 5 Blushes Of The Moment

I am not a blush monogamist by any stretch of the imagination. I flutter from one to the other depending on my mood and of course what colour or finish I want on that day. Lately I’ve noticed my hand has been reaching for the same 5 blushes in my makeup drawer though. 5 is still probably alot in a normal case scenario I know, but for a makeup fiend this is a pretty respectable number 🙂 So I thought I would share them with you today as they are actually quite varied (as blushers go anyway).

First up is one of the first Mac products I ever had in my collection. Don’t worry I’ve gone throught a few of them since then, but you can still see this is well loved.

This is Mac’s Sheertone blush in ‘Pink Swoon’. At one point this was the only blush I had in my possession.

I like the Sheertone blushes because you can build them up to your own preference. I think Pink Swoon is the perfect matte pink cheek tone. It suits my skin tone well and I can wear it day or night. Pink Swoon is available for €24 from Brown Thomas here.

My second choice is another Mac Sheertone blush, but in the shimmer formula.

This is ‘Springsheen’ which I think is a bit of a Mac cult classic. You can buy this from Brown Thomas for €24 here.

It’s light peachy shade with a gold sparkle running through it. Probably more suited to the warmer months, but I love Springhsheen if you gone to town on your eye makeup or your lippie and just want a subtle pop of colour to your cheeks. It’s a good staple to have in your collection.

The third choice I have been grabbing for of late is a blush I actually spoke about in My Everyday Makeup Routine here.

This is the Catrice Illuminating Blush in 030 ‘Kiss Me Ken’.

This is a more mauvey toned blush I think, with just a little sparkle running through it.

I tend to grab for this when I’m going for a mauve toned lip, which I have been loving at the minute. I think the similar tone of colour on the cheeks and lips go well together.3

Number 4 is the priciest of the bunch. It’s £32 from Spacenk here.

This is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in ‘Diffused Heat’.

It looks pretty scary in the pan, right? But as you can see when it swatched on my arm, it’s a lovely peachy pink shade. You have a swirl of intense colour, but then you are kind of diluting it by mixing it with the lighting powder running through it. This is such a pretty shade and the formulation of these blushes are really lovely and so blendable too. I use this blush alot when I’m going for more of a fresh face approach to my makeup, if that makes sense? :p

I left this blush until last, because it’s really the one I reach for the most.

This is the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in 15 ‘Seductive Pink’.

The beauty community went nuts when Max Factor first released these blushes, as they are such a lovely and affordable alternative to the Hourglass offerings that I talked about a minute ago. I think Seductive Pink is a blush everyone should have in their collection if I’m being honest. It’s just a great all rounder, and ticks all the boxes for me. It’s pink, but has a rosey tone to it aswell, it’s not completely matte, but it doesn’t interfere with your makeup at all, it will work on so many skin tones, it works with all types of makeup looks and the formula of Creme Puff blushes is so lovely as well. They’re soft, pigmented and easy to blend. Can you tell I love it? 🙂 You can pick it up from Boots here

Do you have a favourite blush or blushes that you reach for constantly? Do you even rate blush?

Let me know 🙂

xxx

October 14, 2015/6 Comments/by Gem

Makeup

My 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.

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

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 🙂

This is Rebel and this is a Satin finish lipstick.

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.

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.

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’.

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

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.

This is their Retro-Matte lipstick in ‘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

March 24, 2015/2 Comments/by Gem

Welcome To The Darkside…

The only things I really like about the colder weather coming is wearing jumpers and changing up my makeup, the rest of it…not so much. My main makeup love in Autumn and Winter is rocking dark lips. I just love how it looks with a neutral eye, and it can really dress up a plain look and give it more dimension. Since the 90’s is alive and kicking in the 00’s, dark lips are so on point at the minute.

I have a few favourites in my collection, so thought I would show you some of my most worn for some lippie inspiration.

I think one of the most well down dark shades is Rebel by Mac.

This is the first darker lipstick I ever bought. I gave into the hype and I am not disappointed in the slightest! This is the perfect plum colour. It’s a satin formula, pigmented, easy to apply, blue toned and lasts really well on the lips. The flash on my camera doesn’t quite do it justice.

Ok, the next two were just impulse purchases. I have to be honest, they are both nearly the same colour as Rebel, that’s when you know you’re a makeup junkie! I get shopper amnesia!! Saying that, if you couldn’t get near a Mac they are fantastic dupes.

Urban Decay’s Venom is more of a creamy formula with a sheeny finish on the lips, which is comfortable to wear but it tends to wear and move more quickly.

I adore the packaging of these Revolution lipsticks, they feel so luxurious in your hands and I love the gunmetal finish. You can find Urban Decay in Debenhams.

If your budget won’t stretch to the Mac or the Urban Decay heights, Inglot do a fantastic version of the plum lipstick trend, number 293.

Like Venom it’s a more moisturising formula than Rebel.

Inglot do really great lipsticks, this was the first one I have bought, but I definitely will buy more in the future.

I would always try to use a lip pencil with such dark, pigmented colours to help to get a crisp line and even lip shape. Mac’s Currant lipliner is well known to be best friends with Rebel.

Sleek do a great version of the colour in the Eau La La Liner collection called ironically Venom too though so no need to break the bank.

Mac’s Heroine is well…pretty out there as lipstick colours go.

As you can see, it’s purple 🙂 It’s a matte finish with a warm undertone, so if you are conscious about the whiteness of your teeth, Heroine is probably not the best choice for you. Of course, this colour is not for the faint hearted, but it is the pantone colour of the year, so very on trend.

We are big fans of Sleek Makeup here at Chatterbox. It’s such a great affordable brand. With Boots in Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown stocking it now too, it makes getting your hands on it even easier. Their matte liquid lipstick in Fandango Purple, for me is a great mix of the plum and purple trend. I think it has elements of both colours incorporated into it.

As the name suggests these liquid lipsticks are a matte formula, so your lips need to be in tip top condition before application. They last really well on the lips though and come with a doe foot applicator so a little easier to apply than straight out of a bullet if you don’t possess a lip brush.

Of course, these are by no means all the dark lippies on the market, just a selection of the ones I own and have worn and tested. Are you bold enough to wear a plum or purple lip? I think,just like a red or an orange lip it makes your makeup feel extra special and can make you look like you made an effort when you might have just thrown on some BB cream and mascara. If you are too scared to wear the colour full on, pat it into the lips for a more diffused look, it will still look beautiful.

But I say give it a go, it’s only makeup, you can wash it off 🙂

Gemma

xxx

August 30, 2014/1 Comment/by Gem

Pink Lipstick Overload!

We all love a bold red lip or a nice nude, but I am sure I’m not the only one with pinks dominating my lipstick/stain/balm collection? Pink Lipstick overload 🙂

Ever since I decided to get braces maybe 3 or 4 years ago, which made me more confident, my lipstick obsession has grown and grown. I wish I didn’t wait this long to enjoy them though, I think there’s colours and finishes out there for everyone, we just have to try and test to find what we are most comfortable with. I thought I would round up some of my favourite pink hues and finishes that grace my own personal collection in hopes to inspire you to maybe go out of your comfort zone even a little. If I can do it, anyone can 🙂

I’ll ease you in to my pink frenzy gently with this.

This is an Elf lipstick in the shade Gypsy. It’s the perfect every day pink colour. For me, it’s a my lips but better shade. It feels nourishing, and lasts really well on me and I can literally just smear it on without any hassle. You can buy Elf online, it’s such a reasonably priced brand with a huge range of products. This lippie cost 2.39. Madness! You can buy it here.

Next up is a bit more on the pricier side, but still a very wearable shade.

How pretty is this packaging? This is a YSL Rouge Volupte in the shage 29. It is a creamy nude pink. I like to wear this dabbed on the lips for a subtle hint of pink that is very moisturising. The YSL Rouge Volupte’s are very much a treat product. They are priced at 33 Euro. You can buy them from Brown Thomas.

Now that I’ve lured you in I’ll go onto a little bit more of a brighter shade of lip colouring, still very wearable though, don’t want to scare you yet 🙂

This is a Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Addis Ababa. I love the Nyx Lip Creams, they are very buildable so you can just do a wash of colour or layer it up for a more intense effect depending on what you fancy. They are called Matte lip Creams, but I think they have a slight sheen to them and do not completely dry on the lips like other brands (I may talk about one later 🙂 ). They last well and can be very well priced. However the Nyx brand can be hard to get your hands on here in Ireland. Beauty Emporium do stock the brand but do not always have a lot of items in stock. Littlewoods Ireland are stockists also. I usually buy mine from Ebay if I can find a decent seller.

Ok, I’m going to get into some of the more colourful pinks that I stock in my stash 🙂

This is Lime Crime’s lipstick in Countessa Flourescent. Lime Crime do the coolest lipstick packaging ever! I know what your thinking Barbie bubblegum pink overload, but the formula is quite wearable, it’s pigmented and creamy and goes on really opaque. I will admit I probably wouldn’t wear this quite as full on as in the picture above, I am not that brave, but I love to dab this lipstick on and rock it a bit more washed out. I bought this lippie at London Imats, but you can buy Lime Crime from Love Makeup and Cocktail Cosmetics. The lipsticks are £12.50 GBP.

I have a Mac firm fave next.

This is Mac’s Show Orchid. It is an Amplified formula, which is a fab blue toned hot pink. Girl About Town from Mac is probably one of my first pink loves from them, but Show Orchid I think is a lovely choice too because it’s not completely matte, it has a nice sheen to it. If your a makeup fanatic like me, I suggest both, I can’t choose between them 😛 You can buy Mac from the usually stockists eg: Brown Thomas for 19.00Euro

My last pink lovely to show off is an offering from Bourjois.

This is one of the new Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks. This is number 6 of the bunch, there is a few to choose from. I love these!! I have three of the shades and I love every one of them. They go on a dream, the doe foot applicator makes the extremely pigmented colour glide onto the lips really easily. The colour dries matte (my camera flash gave it a bit of a shine but I promise it’s matte). This stuff lasts all day. I went out for a drink one night with the boyfriend just to test it out of course 🙂 and I had a fair few beverages and it was still there in all it’s glory at the end of the night and even some the next day as it does stain the lips. They don’t transfer very much either when on,, which keeps smearing to a minimum. I know lots of brands have their own version of these, but these are my favourites of the minute. You can buy them from Boots for a reasonable 10.99. I got mine on 3 for 2, score 🙂

So there you have it, a sneak into my pink world, according to my lips. I have lots more but I think these are the ones I have been reaching for most often and there is an option and shade in there for everyone.

Hope you enjoyed. If you have any suggestions for more be sure to tweet us, facebook, instagram us or pop it below, I love chatting to you.

Thanks,

Gemma

xxx

May 21, 2014/3 Comments/by Gem