Major spoiler alert. Most of this video is slightly out of focus! Why may you ask? Because stupid Gemma (i.e me) focused the camera and then proceeded to sit in the wrong position like a dope! I debated on whether or not to scrap it. But I am mostly chatting about the confidence boosting beauty products in my life and just applying them as I go. Being able to see my potato head clearly really isn’t necessary in the grand scheme of things. Sure the beginning and end is in focus, you can see me in all of my glory there 🙂
I did a video a while ago here about products that make make me happy. Things that have a meaning to them whether they be connected with memories or people. I thought this was a good continuation on from that. We all have certain confidence boosting products in our beauty drawers right? Things that put a spring our step, that we know look good on us?
I thought I would chat about mine. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that makeup necessarily equates to happiness. I am not that narrow minded, This is just me talking lightheartedly about certain products that I keep in my life because I know they work for me 🙂
The eyeshadow shade ‘half-baked from Urban Decay.
A good eyelash curlers.
Eyeliner in my waterline. I used the Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel in 96 (you can see it swatched here).
Mac Cosmetics Springsheen blush. On the Brown Thomas website here.
theBalm Mary-Lou-Manizer highlighting powder. The tone of this just works for me. I have an old review of it here.
Mac ‘Girl About Town’ Amplified Lipstick. You can get it from Brown Thomas here. I just realised I have two Mac products listed! Not on purpose, promise 🙂
Setting Spray. I am loving the L’Oréal Infallible Fixing Mist. (full review here).
My confidence boosting fragrance is Viktor & Rolf ‘Flowerbomb’. An oldie but a goodie. You can get it from Debenhams here.
Instant Tan! The ones I mention are the Vita Liberata Body Blur and the Bellamianta Skin Perfecting Instant Tan.
Then finally, my last confidence boosting beauty product is nail polish, or at least just having my nails did :). I chat about the Wet n Wild 1 Step Wonder Nail Polishes. I honestly love these!!
And that concludes my ramblings. So tell me, do you have any particular confidence boosting beauty products in your stash? You can watch the video directly over on my YouTube channel here.
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.
https://i0.wp.com/beautynook.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Beautynoom-Top-5-Mac-Lipsticks-25-1.jpg?fit=1600%2C1069&ssl=110691600Gemhttps://beautynook.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Logo.pngGem2015-03-24 15:13:552016-01-25 19:22:32My Top 5 Mac Lipsticks