Posts

I definitely didn’t do any favourites for the month of September. I was too busy sunning myself on holiday and completely forgot. So we’ll scrap that month and just go into October favourites here on Beautynook. Hope you don’t mind 🙂

top irish beauty blog beautynook

My October faves are all beauty related and 100% reflect the changing of the seasons. They are definitely skincare heavy with a touch of hair care and makeup talk thrown in for good measure.

irish beauty blog beautynook

As always, here on Beautynook, I’ll list all the products and link what I can. Just in case anything takes your fancy and you want to explore it more. I use my favourites to just have a casual chat about what I’ve been enjoying. I don’t go too deep into reviewing. Sure it’s just a bit of fun 🙂

beauty blogger ireland

First up is the Alfaparf Semi Di Lino Diamond Crystalli Liquidi. That I definitely wasn’t able to pronounce in the video. I referred to it as hair oil. It is lovely though.

top beauty blogger ireland

I’ve been testing out more than just two products from the Alex Steinherr X Primark range. But these are the two that have been standing out for me and I’ve been using religiously since picking up.

top beauty blog ireland

I have been obsessed with the Ella & Jo 3 in 1 Hyaluronic Skin Mist since getting it too. The ladies behind the brand are going from strength to strength and sure jaysis, aren’t they Irish? 🙂 It’s such a lovely product.

irish beauty site

I picked up the Palmer’s Coconut Body Oil completely on a whim. I wanted something extra hydrating and it was on special. What more can a girl ask for? I’ve been thoroughly enjoying it too.

Lastly, I chat about the JCat Extreme Access Pocket Eyeshadow in Walk Of Stardom. This little €9.95 beauty caught me completely off guard and I totally need the whole collection now.

irish beauty blog

beauty blog ireland

And that is it for my October Favourites. You can catch up on all the ramblings over on my Beautynook YouTube channel here. Thanks for clicking.

Gemma

xxx

********CONTAINS PR SAMPLES***********

Mac CosmeticsI wasn’t going to do this just because I haven’t really played with them enough. But, a few of you asked to see swatches of my new lovely Mac Shiny Pretty Things Party Favours. I have the gold ones. There is also a pink version to choose from in Brown Thomas. 

MAC Shiny Pretty Things Party Favours - Gold

My lovely mate Cherry Sue and I were in BT perusing the Mac Christmas ranges. She decided to treat herself to the gold Mac Shiny Pretty Things Party Favours. But, she also very kindly picked me one up too. For no reason other than she’s sound. And yes, I cried, so thanks Sue 🙂Mac Cosmetics Ireland

Mac know how to do Christmas. And this year is no different. Yes, I said the C word. Halloween is over, it’s officially the festive season. Get your garlands out 🙂irish beauty blog

top irish beauty blogger

A full sized Mac pigment and glitter is €22 and I feel like although they’re awesome, you’ll never get through an entire pot in a lifetime. Unless you are hardcore or a makeup artist. So I love that they’re doing minis now. The minis on their own are €12. The Mac Shiny Pretty Things Party Favours in gold and pink are €30, so you make a decent saving. There are four pots per pack. Try saying that really fast.MAC Shiny Pretty Things Party Favours - Gold

You get two pigments and two glitters within the pack. I ripped mine open quick smart when I got it, so I just have a stock photo here for reference.Mac Cosmetics Pigment

top beauty blog ireland

From left to right we have: English Gilt (pigment), Gold (glitter), Copper (glitter), Shiny Time (pigment).

I applied the pigments dry with a flat brush. I did used some setting spray with the glitters, just to adhere them to the skin.

beauty blogger

I will 100% be showing you these in action on my eyeballs over on Instagram over the coming weeks, so pop over there if you want to see that. Are you going to pick anything up from the Christmas range? I think there’s a lot of great beauty lover present ideas within it for sure.

xxx

I picked up the PS Pure Glow Highlighter Powder Palette after seeing my lovely and very talented YouTubing friend Eimear McElheron rocking it at a beauty event. Honestly, her makeup videos are awesome, you should totally check her out here 🙂

PS Pure Glow Highlighter Powder Palette

Her highlight was blinding and I was extremely intrigued to know what she had used. She was lovely enough to let me in on the budget friendly secret!

PS Pure Glow Highlighter Powder Palette

It was this €6 PS Pure Glow Highlighter Palette from Penneys! Now, I am very aware that Penneys beauty products can be very hit and miss! I actually bought another highlighting palette first thinking it was this one and it was so crap, it went in the bin. There is definitely some hidden gems within the brands though. I actually have a post on the PS lip liners here, that I really like and they only cost €1.50 each. Not bad at all.

PS Pure Glow Highlighter Powder Palette

This highlighter palette comes with four shades in a pretty decent cardboard magnetic palette. From left to right we have:

‘Desert’, which is an icy shimmer.

irish beauty blogger

‘Glimmer’, which is a soft, light golden shimmer.
top irish beauty blog
‘Eden’. This to me is more of a shimmery rosy blush shade.
top irish beauty blogger
And then finally ‘Firefly’ which is a deeper, more bronzed golden shade.

beauty blog ireland

beauty blogger ireland
top beauty blogger ireland

All of the powder are pretty bloody good for the price. They are reasonably soft to the touch and apply really well with a brush, as well as with your fingers. If you are more of a subtle highlight fan, this palette might not be your jam, as the shades are super shiny. If you apply them with a damp brush, they pack even more of a punch. They last really well on my oily skin too.

I think you get the best look at highlight when it’s actually on your mug, so here is ‘Desert’ and ‘Glimmer’ mixed together on my non existent cheekbones 🙂

irish beauty websitetop irish beauty websitebeauty blog

Each pan is 7 grams of product. I myself, have been gravitating more towards the top two ‘Glimmer’ and ‘Eden’. They seem to work best for my skin tone. All of the shades will be pretty useful in different capacities though and they make really pretty eyeshadows as well.

penneys makeupirish beauty blog

Overall, the Penneys PS Pure Glow Highlighter Powder Palette gets a thumbs up from me! I am super impressed with it. Have you tried it? I’d love to know what you think.

xxx

This is a weird sentence, but it took me a while to warm to highlighters. With my oily skin, adding glow was just never a thing I wanted to do. But as makeup has developed and become more long lasting. I can mattify and then add shine when I want too. I feel liberated 🙂 Over the last couple of years I have been adding them to my makeup collection like a fiend. Powder more than anything else. One of my latest highlight purchases I want to talk about it the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in ‘Pearl’.

Becca shimmering skin perfector pearl

I know how good Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors are. I have ‘Champagne Pop’ and ‘Prosecco Pop’ in my possession already. And although I love them and reach for them, they are both a little dark for my complexion. But by god I make them work!

becca cosmetics ireland

I had some Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket a couple of weeks back and pottered into Spacenk. I bloody love that place. On the spot decided I wanted a new Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector. The formula and pigmentation is just so nice. They melt into the skin. They also don’t disappear completely on me after a couple of hours of wear. I had a swatch of all of them and after careful thought, went with ‘Pearl’. Believe it or not, I actually don’t have a highlighter in my collection that is this icy white. Comparing it to the other swatches I thought it would compliment my pink toned Irish skin the most.

becca pearl highlighter

It swatches on the arm how you would expect. Icy and shimmery.

irish beauty website
beauty blogger ireland
top irish beauty blog
top irish beauty blogger

When you apply it with a brush to the skin, it’s much lighter and leaves more of a cool toned shine with a hint of shimmer. The formula allows you to build up the intensity too without looking too powdery.

irish beauty blog
Becca Shimmering Skin perfector pearl
irish beauty blogger
beauty blog ireland

I have nothing bad to say. It’s a great addition to my collection and I’m delighted my shopping whim paid off 🙂

The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector comes with 7 grams of product. I picked up Pearl in store here in Dublin for €36. You can get them from the Spacenk website here too for £32.

I bought the L’Oreal Infallible Fixing Mist because it was new and you don’t see many of the ‘drugstore’ brands doing these types of makeup setting sprays, at least at the moment.

loreal infallible fixing mist

I did buy Penneys Makeup Setting Spray a while a go and can’t say I got along too well with it, maybe I am just too oily I don’t know but it doesn’t hold my makeup…and stings a little on application too which is a bit off putting.

Alot of the makeup setting sprays do have alcohol as probably their main ingredient (other than water) so if you have sensitive, be conscious of that fact. My skin rarely has reactions to things, so I don’t be too bothered taking one for the team 🙂

L’Oreal say their Infallible Fixing Mist is anti-fade, anti-melt and anti-crack. That it gives a longlasting finish and extends the just applied makeup look. They are some pretty big claims, right?

I’ve been using the L’Oreal Infallible Fixing Mist everyday for a good month now and I have really oily skin, so I think I can give it an honest and well rounded opinion now.

Firstly, I like that the bottle is clear, you can see how much of the product you are using. You can also see that there is a white layer on the top of the liquid (I am assuming that is the presence of silica, I could be mistaken though). So, before every use you need to shake up the L’Oreal Infallible Fixing Mist really well. You need to do this with the majority of setting sprays so that’s not a big deal. The spray is pretty fine, but does come out of the nozzle quickly, it can give you a fright in the mornings 🙂

irish beauty blogger

When I started using the Fixing Mist first, I just applied it after all of my makeup was done. I closed my eyes and sprayed in an x formation across my face a couple of times. The liquid has a nice subtle scent to it and it doesn’t sting or feel tight and uncomfortable, in fact it feel quite nice and refreshing. I did notice that it took a little longer for the shine start to show around my t-zone which was great.

irish beauty blogHowever, you can use the L’Oreal Infallible Fixing Mist before you apply your makeup and during the process. So, I started using it after I had applied foundation and concealer too. This for me, really made a difference. Using the mist twice on my skin really helps with keeping the natural oils from coming through my makeup.

I am no stranger to setting sprays. I have used more pricey ones from Urban Decay, Skindinavia and Mac. I can honestly say the L’Oreal Infallible Fixing Mist does the same job as it’s more expensive counterparts.  Like them, It helps your makeup last longer, and if you have been heavy handed with the powder like I always am, it takes away the chalky look from your skin.

Overall, I am a fan of the L’oreal Infallible Fixing Mist. It does the job well 🙂 You can pick it up from Boots in store or online here and it will set you back €10.49 for a 100ml bottle.

 

 

Rimmel have made some of my very favourite affordable foundations. Their Lasting Finish Nude which I reviewed here not too long ago would probably make it into my top five favourite ever foundations, so yes I’m a big fan 🙂

So when they release a new on odds are I’ll pick it up and give it a go.

Rimmel Match Perfection is the newest kid on the foundation shelf.

Rimmel Match Perfection review

I have the first Rimmel Match Perfection and to be honest I can’t really tell much difference between the two of them.

The older version has spf of 18, the newer one has spf of 20. They’re both medium coverage and give the skin a satin finish.

The newer Rimmel Match Perfection claims to blur pores, I don’t really see it doing that to my skin and I have pores  a plenty. It also claims to cover dark circles too, can’t really say it does that either, you would definitely need a separate concealer, unless you have great skin of course.

However, I do think it’s a really nice foundation, just not if you particularly oily like myself.

It goes onto my skin nicely. I use a buffing brush to apply it. That tends to be my weapon of choice for foundation because I can use the dense brush to really buff the product in. This particular brush is from a set I bought off ebay for really cheap and I have to say I am really enjoying them. I have the shade 100 Ivory.

makeup and beauty blog

As I said it has a lovely satin finish, and it does claim to be a hydrating foundation, so I don’t expect it be as long lasting as a foundation made for oilier skin. I don’t always like a complete matte finish to my skin though so I do like to give some of the more hydrating foundations a try in hopes they don’t oxidise on me.

Here is my skin with nothing on it:

Irish beauty blog beautynookHere is a good layer of the Rimmel Match Perfection applied:

irish makeup and beauty blogbeauty blog

Then here’s my face with all my makeup finished and the foundation powdered into place. I really like the finish.

beautynook beauty blog

After about three hours of wear, this is what my skin looks like:

beautynook irish beauty blogI’m a bit of a shiny mess!  I don’t mind having to powder my nose after a few hours of wear, but with this I would have to powder my whole face after a couple of hours, not really practical.Ah well. I’m sure this will be a lovely foundation on you drier folk out there, but for me it’s not meant to be 🙁

You can pick up the Rimmel Match Perfection in Boots or any place that stocks Rimmel and it will set you back €9.99.

Have you tried it? Let me know how it fares on your skin 🙂

xxx