When I went shopping on Beauty Bay, I bought my first ever Milani products. I spoke about the one of them here, and now I am going to give my first impressions and a demo of the Milani Conceal & Perfect Foundation.
I do disclaim it in the video, but the shade I have, 01 Creamy Vanilla is definitely not the right colour match for me which is a bit annoying, as it’s the lightest shade. I did throw on some tan in hopes that it doesn’t look too odd on my skin.
The Milani Conceal & Perfect Foundation claims to be:
Medium to full coverage.
Lightweight, oil-free formula.
Long wearing, water resistant and sweat proof.
That is a hefty amount of claims! I thought my oily skin would give a good indication if any of this rings true.
I mention this in the video too, but I really like the packaging. It’s a 30ml glass bottle and it has a pump too which is always appreciated.
Not really a pro or a con because it depends on what you like personally, but it smells nicely. Kind of clean but does dissipate when the product is applied.
The texture is thick and it gives a good medium coverage to the skin.
You can see more in the video here, but I wore the foundation for about seven hours and then checked back in. I actually really liked how it performed. Here is my skin before, after and then seven hours later.
I would say I have a particularly oily t zone, so the shine doesn’t bother me majorly after seven hours wear. Overall, my first impressions are good. I like the finish, the coverage and how it wears. If they did a lighter colour, I would definitely stock up on another bottle!
You can find the Milani Conceal & Perfect Foundation on Beauty Bay here. It costs €13.50.
The Too Faced Born This Way Concealer was majorly hyped when it first came out!
I am way late to the party that’s for sure, but I did get there in the end 🙂
The Too Faced Born This Way Concealer is meant to be a ‘naturally radiant concealer’.
It’s said to ‘vanish the appearance of dark circles, blur the look of lines and wrinkles for complete coverage’. It contains coconut water and hyaluronic acid.
You get 7 grams of product in the very nicely packaged tube and it has a standard doe foot applicator.
For me, the consistency of the Too Faced Born This Way concealer is really nice and light. It blends evenly and smoothly onto the skin. I have the shade ‘very fair’, which has a more pink undertone. This is the shade I was matched up to by the lovely Elaine in Debenhams. I think it’s a good match for me.
Because the consistency is so light, I prefer to blend it in with a brush. I find a damp sponge soaks up too much of the product and you end up using way more. Here is one layer applied to one of my eyes so you can see the difference it makes.
Before:
After:
You can see my where I have applied the concealer is definitely a tad more bright, but the darkness is still visible. I do really like the finish and how easy it is to blend though. However, I have to add a couple of layers to see a difference:
On me, I haven’t noticed any creasing or flaking throughout the day once I set it with powder. It doesn’t settle in lines and it does glide over fine ones making them look less visible.
If you don’t suffer with major darkness under your eyes, this would be a great concealer for you. It does a great job at brightening and highlighting. My dark circles are not something I am majorly concerned about. I do have some discoloration though and find I usually have to layer up this product to counteract it. Most of the time I use a colour corrector and then the concealer. I don’t mind using two products, but if you like less steps in your makeup routine, obviously this wouldn’t be ideal.
The Too Faced Born This Way Concealer is available in store and online from Debenhams here. It costs €24.
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I have already harped on about the other theBalm Meet Matte Hughes shade in my collection Charming here. I was browsing theBalm section in Foody’s Pharmacy and saw that they had the shade Committed and the rest is history 🙂
I love this shade so much, I felt like it needed it’s very own blogpost #obssessed or wha’? 🙂
I think Committed is like Charming’s nude best friend. Like all of theBalm Meet Matte Hughes Liquid Lipsticks. Committed has a minty, but still sweet smelling (without being too overpowering), they have a creamy formula when first applied, are opaque and dry down to a matte finish on the lips. Although they are matte, they’re not super unconfortable to wear, although as I said in my previous post, it always helps to have your lips in tip top condition to get the most out of a matte liquid lipstick. theBalm Meet Matte Hughes are super long wearing and do little to no transferring unless of course you break into the greasy foods, it will start to separate.
Committed is the perfect pinky nude shade. I am a girl who likes a bit of pink in her nude, no that is not an innuendo, get your mind out of the gutter 🙂
Really paled out lips just don’t suit me though so I’ll always opt for one with a bit of pink to it, I think it warms up a lighter complexion more.
You can see it here swatched on my lips.
Here it is swatched beside Charming, just in case you want to see the difference between the two. Charming (on the right) is definitely more mauve.
Committed is one of those really easy shades that will work with any makeup look no matter how simple or bold you might go. You can even just dab a little onto the lips and add a balm or some lipgloss under it or over top for a long wearing, but glossy version.
You can pick up the theBalm Meet Matte Hughes of course from Foody’s Pharmacy, but you can also get them online from Cloud10beauty here for €16.50. Now, the question is….which one do I pick up next?
I know so many wonderful bloggers have done their version of beauty favourites already so apologies if you’ve been inundated. I think it’s a really great idea though and I haven’t done monthly faves this year, so I thought I would do a yearly round of my beauty favourites 2015!
First up is an easy one. I know the Urban Decay Gwen Palette came out late in the year, but it has become one of my most reached for eyeshadow palettes.
I am completely head over heels for it. There is neutrals galore, transitional shades, fun sparkly shades and even a couple of cray cray shades to keep things interesting. Gwen, I bow down to you and can’t wait to see the new releases you and Urban Decay have up your sleeves for 2016 🙂 Full swatches of the palette can be seen here and I even did a makeup look with it here if you fancy a nose.
Next up is the very coveted Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop.
No joke I have used this pretty much everyday since I got it. When I first got my grubby little mitts on this in mid 2015 it was only available in America. Now the lovely people of Spacenk are stocking it here, so everyone can bask in the Champagne Glow. Another one of my 2015 finds was the brush I use to apply the Pop 🙂
This awesome F28 brush from Blank Canvas Cosmetics. The lovely Ashling from Total Makeup Addict introduced me to this beauty and I will forever be in her debt for it. It’s the perfect cheek bone highlighting tool.
My favourite setting powder of 2015 would have to be the Chanel Vitalumiere Powder Foundation.
I have pretty much used this exclusively for the past year.
I have a whole review if here. It’s a foundation so there is coverage with it, which I personally like. You can build it up or thin it out depending on application or what brush you use so it’s really versatile. Pricey but versatile 🙂
My next beauty faves are a little more pocket friendly.
Again I have a review of these here, but they are two of the All About palettes from Essence. Essence have a few different colour choices in these really handy eyeshadow palettes and they cost less than a fiver, bargain! Oh and they’re damn pigmented too!
2015 was definitely the year of budget friendly favourite for me. Another one is the Catrice Glamour Doll Waterproof mascara.
For the latter half of the year this is the only mascara I was (and still am now) using. And what do you know, I have a full review of it here 🙂
My favourite under eye concealer duo have been the Catrice Liquid Camouflage and the Flormar Perfect Coverage.
Cheap as chips and together for me are a dynamic duo. You can see them in action here.
My favourite blush of the year has to be the Max Factor Creme Blush in ‘Seductive Pink’.
This is just the easiest blush colour to wear. It goes with everything. I love the formula of these too. They blend so nicely. You can see it swatched here if you fancy a nose 🙂
My lip liner find of 2015 probably has to be Whirl by Mac.
This lip liner got a life of it’s own in 2015. It’s a great all round colour though that you can use on it’s own, under nudes and even under darker and brighter shades of lippie. It’s great for evening out the lip line too. I have it swatched here if you want a closer look.
The Only Lipsticks from Rimmel are another makeup find of 2015 that I am very happy with.
They came at the end of the year I know, but I’ve been obsessed with them so I had to include them. These two lighter shades have been the ones I grab for most but I own six of them and I wear all the shades alot. I love the finish, the pigmentation and the price point. (yep, I have them all swatched here 🙂
I have two facial skin care faves for 2015 that I wanted to add in aswell.
Serozinc from La Roche Posay.
I think I’ve gone through about 4 of these so far and I will repurchase! There’s a full review of it here, but I use Serozinc as a toner, to freshen up my makeup and as a finishing spray when I am finished my makeup. It’s a great all rounder.
My last fave is from the Oils Of Life range from The Body Shop.
This is their Intensely Revitalising Gel Cream. I use this as a night cream. I have oily skin, so heavy creams can sometimes clog my pores. This stuff feels so light on my skin and soaks in really quickly but still leaves behind nice soft hydrated skin. May I add it smells incredible too!
That’s my Beauty Favourites for 2015 done and dusted. Seriously, where did that year go?
Should I do below the neck beauty favourites too, as in more body orientated stuff ha. Let me know.
I already delved into all the skincare goodies I’m bringing for our Christmas trip away here I thought it was only natural to show what will make it into my holiday makeup bag. I say a bag, lets be honest I’m bringing a couple of bags I’m not gonna lie 🙂
My makeup bag is definitely overflowing, but as I said in skincare post I like to be prepared!
First up is eye products.
I’m bringing 3 palettes, excessive I know, don’t judge, one of the zpalettes does contain my Inglot blushes though and a yellow under eye setting powder so it’s kind of ok, right? 🙂
I’m bringing the new Urban Decay Gwen Palette which I have swatches of here I bloomin’ love this palette and don’t want to be without. Also some Makeup Geek shadows in a zpalette and then the palette of a few Inglot shadows and some blushes.
Eye primer is essential in my world so I have a mini Urban Decay Primer Potion being added to my makeup bag. Then, in case I’m feeling posh I’m going to pack the Charlotte Tilbury cream shadow in Bette, I have a full review of this here. Rather than a black gel liner I have been loving using a dark grey one at the minute so I’m bringing my Inglot matte gel liner in 78. Then two kohl pencils. A grey L’Oreal one and a brown one from Rimmel.
The rest of my eye goodies consist of lashes, my fave individuals from Penneys, a pair of Amazing Shine lashes that I love, you can now buy these in Mr Price which is really handy. Then some Duo glue to apply them, an eyelash curler from Shu Uemura and finally some Catrice Glamour Doll Waterproof mascara, I have a full review of this here I love it 🙂
For the face, of course I am going to bring a few options because I am very fickle, and like to change my mind…alot. Also I think you need day time options and night time options too.
The Botanice Radiance Balm is coming. I have a review of this here The primer I have been using for the last while is the Wet n Wild Coverall. I really like it for my oily skin. I have the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in a shade darker in case I get a little bit of colour, I can mix it with my tried and tested Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude foundation (review here) and a tester of the Makeup For Ever Ultra HD which I really like too. I’m also bringing the Benefit Porefessional License To Blot which is such a weird product. It’s a cream blotting stick and it bloody works!
My concealer choices for the week are my beloved Mac Full Coverage foundation. I love using this as a concealer. Then, my favourite under eye concealers of the moment (again another full review here 🙂 The Flormar Perfect Coverage and the Catrice Liquid Camouflage.
Powders consist of four faves…yep four I have problems ha! I have Nars Laguna in this really cool palette (it’s called Tahiti) and it comes with a mini Ita brush! Then the Chanel Vitalumiere Powder Foundation, sorry for dropping all of the links but I reviewed this too . the cult classic Champagne Pop from Becca is coming, I have this reviewed too here .The last one on the right then is to bring with me for touch ups, it’s the Mac Studio Fix Powder.
For contouring (and cream highlighting) I have a couple of old reliables. The Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium (yep review here 🙂 and the Smashbox contour and highlight sticks (demo here 🙂
Brow products consist of the Soap & Glory Archery Pencil, then three Billion Dollar Brow products, you can buy these from Boots. I have their brow brush, brow powder and brow gel.
I have a full colour spectrum of lip choices to choose from going into my makeup bag. A red from Tom Ford called Cherry Lush, a Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Ping Pong, Essence liquid lipstick in Show Off (review here) and then one of the Rimmel The Only One Lipsticks in Naughty Nude (I have a load of these swatched here) A couple of lip liners join the crew too. Rimmel Eastend Snob and Mac Whirl.
To apply all the slap some brushes are essential, right? I have the Nima Brush Girls On Tour travel set, I’m so excited to use these beauties, you can see them up closer here. I have a mini Mac 217, a random mini flat Nars brush and a big Powder n Pout P230 which I have yet to try so the hollier will be a good test. I think these will keep me going for the week, right?
That’s all the makeup that will make it into my suitcase. I’m definitely an overpacker I know, a couple of makeup bags will be needed.
If you want to have a nose at what I get up to, be sure to follow me on Snapchat. I love snapping. My username over their is ‘Beautynook’.
https://i2.wp.com/beautynook.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/irish-beauty-blog-makeup-bag-1.jpg?fit=1600%2C1434&ssl=114341600Gemhttps://beautynook.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Logo.pngGem2015-12-21 19:30:122015-12-17 23:46:49What’s In My Holiday Makeup Bag
Flormar has kind of taken Ireland by storm in the last few months. I won’t bore you with the details, I have more info on the brand here , a review on a couple of their eyeshadow palettes here and a review of their undereye concealer here All of these will give you extra insight if you want to know more 🙂
For now, we are going to talk Flormar lipsticks.
I have a few different colours in my possession now. Flormar do two different price points of lipstick.
The long Wearing Lipstick are the cheaper of the two €5.95.
Then the Revolution Perfect Lipstick where the packaging is a bit more snazzier are €6.95.
I like both formulas. Both are creamy and pigmented and come in a plethora of colours…no complaints.
Onto the swatching 🙂
Here are some of the long wearing lipsticks.
This is L35. It’s a glossy hot pink shade.
L09 is a true glossy brown colour.
L08 is a satin finish brick red colour. I actually don’t have anything else like this in my lipstick collection.
I have four of the Revolution Perfect Lipsticks here to show you.
First up is R12, a satin finish opaque hot pink.
R02 is a cool toned satin finish purple lipstick.
R10 is a true satin finish orange shade. Really pigmented and easy to apply.
Then finally I have R13, a deep plum red shade, perfect for the winter 🙂
Hopefully this gives you an insight if you were curious about the lipsticks and the quality. I honestly can’t say anything bad about them. I’m a big fan!
If you are looking to buy Flormar, they have a list of stockists over on their Facebook Page here Simply Foxy also stock the brand online here
Let me know what you think and if you’ve used any Flormar what’s your favourite products.
