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High End Makeup – My Five Most Expensive Products

I have a lot of nice makeup that’s worth a few quid. These five products though, would be my most high end makeup products in my collection.

All five, funnily enough are only from two brands. And none of them I bought myself. They were all gifts from either John, or family and friends. Thanks guys 🙂

I chose these as my most high end makeup, simply on the price of them per product. It’s crazy money and you don’t need to spend it at all. I just thought it would be fun to delve into them a little in blog post form. I do love a good makeup rummage 🙂

I will go by brand and start with Tom Ford. I have three different products from the brand. All picked out by John and by John alone. He prides himself, when he buys me makeup, on getting as little help from the sales assistants as possible. First up, is his latest Tom Ford purchase. He had made a mental note of me saying if he was ever stuck to buy me something, a fancy lip balm would always be appreciated. So for my birthday this year I received the Tom Ford Lip Balm in L’Odissea. You can see it on the Brown Thomas website here. They cost €35!

Now, I do believe he didn’t know you could get these in slightly different hues. This wouldn’t have been by first colour choice. Also, it is tiny, I am more than halfway through the bullet already. It is something I would never have bought myself though, and I do feel very fancy using it and popping it into my handbag.

I do own one Tom Ford lipstick as well. For the past few years John has gotten me a red lipstick for Christmas. He did it one year, I liked it, so made him continue it on 🙂 One year it was Tom Ford’s Cherry Lush. €48 from the Brown Thomas website here.

Crazy money for a lippie I know, but as a makeup whore, it was so lovely to open at Christmas. And it is a beautiful lipstick too. Probably a bit old to use now, but I will still keep a hold of it.

The last Tom Ford product I own, came with the lipstick. They were a package deal from Mr John. This is the Eye Color Quad in 05 Silvered Topaz.

This is €74 from Brown Thomas here.

I was very much a cool toned eyeshadow gal for many a year, until I discovered I can make warm shadows work for me. This was the perfect and fanciest addition to my makeup collection at that point. The shadows are lovely. Super pigmented and blendable (thank god). The packaging is also very fancy….and magnetic. There’s a dark purple matte, two silvery shimmery tones, and a silver glitter shade for a pop of sparkle. I got so much use out of this palette. Don’t reach for it as much anymore, but it has still been known to make it into an eye look every now and again. Oul Tom makes a lovely eyeshadow, I must admit :).

My final two fancy high end makeup products are both from Chanel. The first one was a very generous gift from a family member It is one of the Chanel Rouge Allure Glosses in 17 Suprème. They don’t seem to have this one on the Brown Thomas website anymore. But there is similar colours available here, and they retail for €33. The packaging on this is so damn fancy. You click down the top and the applicator pops up. The click is so satisfying.

It’s a really lovely magenta pink gloss, a little sticky on the lips but lasts really well as a result. I don’t always reach for a gloss, but when I do it is something like this. So, it’s always nice to have an extra fancy one to choose.

The only other Chanel makeup product I own right now was a very lovely gift from my friend Ella.

She picked this up for me in the airport really recently, I believe it’s from last Autumn’s collection. It’s a Les 4 Ombres eyeshadow quad in 268 Candeur Et Expèrience.

These are the only Chanel eyeshadows I have ever owned. And I am sorry to say they are pretty gorgeous. Their quads retail for €51 on the Boots website here. I can’t find this exact one because the collection is from last year.

High End Makeup My Five Most Expensive Products_1692

High End Makeup My Five Most Expensive Products_1693

They are such gorgeous matte earthy tones. After picking up the Urban Decay Heat Palette (review here), this is completely my jam at the moment. I am getting lots of use out of it. Unfortunately though, it just makes me want more of their shadows…I better start saving 🙂

And there you have the five most high end makeup products in my collection. Now come on and tell me yours so I can make a wish list 🙂

xxx

September 4, 2017/2 Comments/by Gem

Makeup

L’Oréal Infallible Blush Paint

Now normally I wouldn’t be posting about something right after I get it. Unless it’s a new release and I want to show you swatches and up close pictures. The L’Oréal Infallible Blush Paint Longwear High-Intensity Palette, kind of falls into that category. And I will not be calling it it’s full name throughout this blogpost, it’s too bloody long 🙂

I wanted to get a post up about it quickly because well they are new. But, they are also on special in Boots at the moment. A few people were intrigued when I showed this one I got on social media. So, I thought I would rustle together a quick post showing you it in action.

There are two shade ranges in the L’Oréal Infallible Blush Paint Palettes to choose from.

A more orange, peachy toned one called ‘Amber’, that looked a little dark for me.

I picked up the ‘Pinks’ one, just because I thought it would suit my complexion more.

Obviously this can’t be a full on review, I haven’t used the product enough. But I can give you a first impression and thoughts. Off the bat, the powders, yes they are powders, the name is a little misleading. They smell like sweets. If sweet scents isn’t your thing, this could be a deal breaker. You get 5 powdered blushes within the palette, totaling up to ten grams of product.

The pans are approximately a third bigger than a standard single Mac eyeshadow. Not the easiest to get a brush into, but it is doable.

Here they are swatched on my arm from left to right:

‘Ballet Dream’:

‘Despinkable Me’:

‘Poeny Rose’:

‘Fuchsia Afterhours’:

‘Flamingo Dance’:

On first swatch and application, I think the blushes are really nice. They feel soft, have good colour pay off and blend nicely into the skin too. The lighter colours need a bit mroe building then the two intense shades. I am OK with that, it means I am in control of the amount of colour I apply. And they do build up nicely. I also think I personally will get use out of all five shades in the ‘Pinks’ palette. That’s an added bonus as sometimes there is one of two that just wouldn’t float my boat. Now as you can see not all the shades are pink, there is a couple more of a peachy tone, but we won’t split hairs 🙂

Ballet Dream

Despinkable Me

Fuchsia Afterhours

At the moment the L’Oréal Infallible Blush Paint palette is available from Boots in store and online here for €10.99 and L’Oréal are on 3 for 2. That’s why I wanted to get this post up now, as this palette normally retails for €16.99. So, if you like what you see, get shopping 🙂

xxx

March 22, 2017/1 Comment/by Gem

Makeup

Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Lipstick

I am a big fan of the original The Only 1 lippies. They have a creamy but pigmented formula with a shiny finish. I have a full review of them here. Now, we have have a newer verion in the form of the Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Lipstick!

These come in a red matte bullet in the same shape as the original with the colour of the lipstick in a band at the base.

The Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Lipstick has a similar distinct fragrance to its predecessor. Be aware, it is potent!

The bullet is diagonally shaped, which I really like. Here in Ireland we can get our mitts on 9 shades of these lippies. The colour choices are nothing new. They range from nude, pink, red to deeper reds. Of course, as you can guess from the name, these lipsticks are of the matte variety. I have a few to show you in action here so you can see them up close and applied to the lips.

200 is a light pink matte nude.

rimmel the only 1 matte lipstick swatches

700 is a light brown matte nude.

120 is a bright matte coral pink shade.

The last shade I have in my possession is 810. This a deep matte blue toned red.

I am a big fan of the formula of these. Just like the original, they are pigmented, creamy and easy to apply.

Even though they have a matte finish, they don’t feel drying or pull on the lips. Because they are more creamy though, they will move around when you eat or drink. But, you are left behind with a stain. If you aren’t a fan of the liquid lipstick trend because of the dryness but still want a matte finish to the lips. These could be of interest to you 🙂

The Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Lipstick (s) retail for €8.99. You can get them instore or online from Boots here. Boots are running an offer at the moment with Rimmel. The products are two for €12 across the range!

xxx

October 23, 2016/2 Comments/by Gem

Beautynook Tips, Youtube Video

Long Lasting Makeup Tips

I’m like a broken record, I know, but I have pretty oily skin and as a result of this makeup, as much as I love it, doesn’t particularly love me. It sinks into my skin, oxidizes and just doesn’t hang around too long. So, as a result, over the years, I’ve tried and tested lots of different ways to make it last longer on my visage. I’ve done a post about this in the past, but I’ve updated and added some different steps, so I thought I would put together all of my Long Lasting Makeup Tips in video form and demo them on my mug 🙂

Before Makeup

After Makeup

There is a lot of long lasting makeup steps in the video, I don’t expect anyone to do them all, unless of course you’re really oily like me. But if you struggle with your makeup slipping and sliding, or have a special occasion, some of them might help you a little. You can click on the video up above or go to my YouTube channel here to watch.

Just in case something takes your fancy, I’ll link any reviews I have done in the past of the products I talk about in the video.

Waxperts Wonder Pads. Review here.

La Roche Posay Serozinc. Review here.

Vichy Normaderm Anti Blemish Care Moisturiser. Review here.

L’Oreal Infallible 24 Hour Matte Foundation. Review here.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude Foundation. Review here.

Nyx Micro Brow Pencil. Review here.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer. Review here.

L’Oreal Infallible Fixing Spray. Review here.

Makeup Revolution Ultra Contour Palette. Review here.

I really really hope you find something helpful within my waffling. These are by no means my personal long lasting makeup tips. I’ve just picked them up along the way on my makeup journey and tried and tested them on my skin.

As always, thanks for watching and if you have any other long lasting makeup tips to add to the pile, please do comment. I would love to try more 🙂

xxx

July 16, 2016/by Gem

Smashbox Contour Stick Trio

Guess what’s on the agenda today? How did you know 🙂 Yes I am waffling all about the Smashbox Contour Stick Trio. I decided I was going to pick these up with my Boots points, so I had been patiently saving my points and then I went online to browse the Boots website. They were on special for €38…and so… they were bought and the story begins.

So as you can see there is three pencils. A highlighter, a bronzer and then a contour.

You get a sharpener in the box too which I think is very necessary as these pencils are really creamy so use up very quickly. I think if you were using these everyday you wouldn’t get a huge amount of time out of them.

Here they are swatched on my arm. You can see how pigmented and creamy they are.

The highlighting shade is pretty light, I could probably do with a shade lighter for my pale skin, this is the story for most of these kind of things.

The contour shade (in the middle) is a grey toned brown, perfect shade for it. And then the bronze shade is a warmer toned brown for warming up your complexion, as I am sure you know 🙂

So onto using it on my mug.

First up here I am without any of the Smashbox Contour Stick Trio’s applied and some lovely bed hair too 🙂

I first apply the highlighter stick.

I applied it under my eyes, the centre of my nose and eyebrows, the tops of my brows and above my cupids bow.

Then the bronzer.

Smashbox say use the product in an x formation and I think it does work best because you tend to use less product than just drawing lines around your face. I personally use it around the periphery of my face and then blend it down. You could use the contour shade in the same way too, I just like the warmer shade around my face. I don’t contour my nose or anything like that because I feel that it is pretty small already so I don’t really find it necessary.

I use the contour shade of the Smashbox Contour Stick Trio just on my non existent cheekbones.

I am only gorgeous I know 🙂 Again using the x formation around 2/3’s of the way down my cheek. Just follow where you naturally have a hollow. If you’re chubby like me do the fishy face to find out where it is.

So then onto blending. Blending the Smashbox Contour Sticks is actually really easy, they don’t take much work at all. I just use whatever foundation brush I used. I blend the bronze shade into my skin more, whereas with the highlighter and contour shades I keep the blending more isolated to where I applied them.

You can see the bronze and the contour shades do warm up my complexion and give a slight illusion of definition on my cheeks, happy days. The highlight shade really doesn’t do a whole load for me, I’m just too pale.

Here is the whole shabang with powders and lipsticks added and the gruaig looking a bit better too.

Overall, I really like the Smashbox Contour Stick Trio. They are easy to use, easy to blend and the colours are mostly good. They are by no means a necessary step in your makeup routine. For me, I like them for when I want a more pronounced contour for going out. I will layer contour and highlight powders over top. Or for a more subtle highlight, I will just set the Smashbox Contour Sticks with face powder. Obviously there is tonnes of alternative products to get your chisel on, the sticks are just a handy one as they are small and easy to control. It’s only a matter of time before the highstreet brands are all over it and bring out their own versions. I look forward to that 🙂

What do you think? Let me know.

xxx

June 17, 2015/3 Comments/by Gem

Makeup

Charlotte Tilbury- Velvet Underground

I thought this week was the perfect week of the year to talk about a love affair I have been having…with a lipstick. It is coming up to Valentine’s Day after all.

If you are a makeup fan you know who Charlotte Tilbury is. I had the privilege of meeting her and she is as cool in real life #fangirl 🙂

This is her K.I.S.S.I.N.G lippie in “Velvet Underground”.

The packaging bestowed on these lipsticks is beautiful, so I am just going to take a minute and say it’s so pretty and luxurious and rose gold…eeeek!!

It would want to be right? With the price tag of €30 (you can buy them here from Brown Thomas if you so desire). If you are the romantic type and are wanting something pretty for Valentine’s Day, get the other half over to the Charlotte Tilbury counter for a look, this would be the perfect Valentine’s shade 🙂

“Velvet Underground” is a blue based magenta colour.

It is quite a stiff formula in the bullet, especially around these cold parts i.e. Ireland, so to apply it precisely may I suggest a lip brush or any small brush just to perfect the outline.

For a pale gal like myself this colour really wakes up my complexion. It is a colour that you can wear boldly and proudly or of course like any lipstick patted into the lips for a more demure look. It smells really nice, not really important I know but it is an added bonus 🙂

Charlotte Tilbury also claim that these lipsticks contain an anti oxidant that protect your lips from UV damage and pollution, another added bonus.

“Velvet Underground” is the only one I own right now from the brand (I have my eye on “Love Liberty” which is one of the Matte Revolution lipsticks aswell), so I can only give my opinion on this shade. It is really pigmented, a little goes a long way, it lasts really well on the lips without drying them out or caking up. It has a satin finish, so there is a bit of a sheen to it, it looks lovely with a gloss layered over top too.

I really am in love with this. It is an investment I know, but if makeup is your thing or you are looking to invest in a special item, it really lives up to the hype.

What do you think, would you splurge? You can buy Charlotte Tilbury makeup from Brown Thomas in store or online here

xxx

February 10, 2015/by Gem