MEMEME Cosmetics: The Ultimate Eye Palette 'Classic'

Hi fab things,

I've been using the MEMEME Cosmetics Ultimate Eye Palette 'Classic' for the while and I'm enjoying it. 

You need a good primer for the shadow to last all day. The colours are gorgeous. I love the variety. The only downside for some people is the fact they are very talc but I don't mind it at all.  

It blends very easily and the colour pay off is very good overall. I've been contemplating buying this palette for months and months and I'm delighted I finally got around to it. 

It's quite handy if you're travelling you can pop it in your bag and go. I usually go for a light smokey brown eye for the day. 

The palette is €12.99 and you can get the one I have 'the Classic' or the 'Rich Plum' palette which will be my next investment. 

You can get the MEMEME cosmetics in most pharmacies or online at www.mememecosmetics.com

Until next time beauties,

A x

MAC Lipliner Review: Edge to Edge

Hi lovelies,

Just a quick review on today's face of the day. I was treated to some MAC yesterday by my adorable Mammy because I had a weird week and I was just out of the dentist, spoilt is the word!!! 

She knew I had been looking at the lipliners for a while and I picked up one yesterday - Edge to Edge. 

I wear it on it's own but you could wear it with several pale pinks or nude pink lipsticks.

I popped the 'Free like a Butterfly' Cinderella Mac Lipstick over it for extra shine and gloss. It is an absolutely stunning colour - fab with everyday make or night time makeup. It lasts absolutely amazingily even after eating and drinking bits through the day. 

The price is €16.50 and you can purchase it at any MAC counter or at www.brownthomas.com

Until next time beauties,

A x

Party Planning Guide: Birthday Celebrations

Hi everyone,

Today's blog is a little different, more of a lifestyle blog. It's something that's very relevant at the moment so I'm looking forward to sharing it. 

I'm turning 21 in June so exciting - so at the moment I'm planning a party. 

                                

I've thrown parties before but they've usually been at a house, never a venue so there's a bit of planning involved. I actually love the planning aspect it's exciting and I love the challenge of it. 

If you're like me and you're in the process of planning a party, be it a 18th, 21st, 30th etc or thinking about one, you know there's quite a few factors you have to consider but the one I found the hardest was finding a Venue. I knew that things would book up very quickly as June is a very busy summer month so I started my research around Christmas but also when I would go out on a night out I'd consciously be looking at pubs that would have parties on or would be the perfect place to have one. 

                            

Luckily I booked a fantastic venue last week. I emailed to enquire about the venue and they rang back immediately and told me I could pop down to have a look but they only have one weekend in June left but fortunately for me that was the weekend I was looking at. I jumped at the chance. I'm lucky I got in there early. That's key to planning - do things early!! 

I find a check list really helps when planning and of course everyone's check list will be different but this is mine and you can use it as a helping hand. 

1. The Venue. If it's your house, at least you wouldn't have to worry about booking a venue but you would have to take into account - food, music, cake, balloons, decorations. In some venues like the one I've booked they've included finger food in the price of room which is so handy - at these parties you don't want to be serving 3 course meals just bits you can nimble on. Also in my case, they have included a dj in the price of the room and I can make my own playlist which is brilliant. I have got a bundle for the Room, Food, DJ, Balloons, Photos and a few other bits which works out at a fantastic price compared to if I was trying to organise these things separately and on my own. 

                     

2. The Outfit. As you would for any big event you want to find the perfect outfit. I have ideas of dresses in my head but nothing definite. These are a few styles I saw on Pinterest that caught my eye. I won't get around to dress shopping until after my college exams are over in May but I look forward to it. 

                       

3. Make-Up, Hair, Nails and Tan- sure you might aswel go all out for a birthday. I love doing my makeup but for the night it'll be nice to be pampered and get it done. I haven't decided on which makeup brand I want for the night yet. I know I want to be all about the eyes. I'm actually going to Urban Decay in April to get my makeup done for my boyfriends birthday night so that's always an option. I'm a major UD junkie. I have a lot of their palettes, lip glosses, lipsticks etc but I don't know what the foundation is like - it apparently suits every skin type but I'll wait and see how it goes and you'll definitely be kept up to date!! Hair doesn't stress me out so much. A wash and a blow dry is usually perfect and I can always throw a few curls in myself with a thong. I can see on the night what I feel like. Nails are another aspect I'm looking into but again nothing you have to stress over. I am a little unsure about the tan though. Hopefully the sun will pop out in May and I usually get some bit of a colour but if not I will definitely opt for a developing tan like Vita Liberata over an instant tan for the night just so I wouldn't have to worry about the colour coming off so easily. An instant tan is brilliant if you're in a rush or a normal night out. A developing tan is perfect for an occasion and it can last up to a week.

                      

                        

4. Music. Variety is everything. Everything from the cheesy 80s to the cringey 90s up the 00s etc. No harm in throwing a bit of everything on from the Summer of 69 to Manic 2000 to Uptown Funk. Something you can dance to or sing along to is important.

                         

5. Food. Something simple like finger food is ideal like chips or sausages. Snacks like chrisps, chocolate and sweets you can include too if you like. 

                         

Of course the cake is an important aspect. Basically I'm planning everything through Pinterest so these are a few ideas for cakes. Depending on how many people you're going to have depends on the size of your cake. Something everyone can have a taste of anyway. 

                          

6. Decorations. You can go all out or you can just keep it simple. Many people op for a big 2 and a big 1, balloons, some table decorations and pictures of the birthday person. I personally love decorations so I will definitely be putting details into it. 

                              

I think I've covered all the essentials that can be looked at for throwing a party. I will keep up to date with the process. If you're not planning anything big I hope you enjoy this style of blog and for those with events coming up happy planning don't stress things work out!!

                            

(All images courtesy of Pinterest)

Until next beauties,

A x 

(Signing my blog off as A just reminds me of the Season Finale of Pretty Little Liars I watched on Wednesday, June can't come faster for another reason!!!)

MEMEME Cosmetics Flawless Concealer Review

Like: Creamy, medium coverage, the applicator, colour, covers blemishes

Dislike: Nothing 

Hi fab things,

I've been using the MEMEME flawless concealer for a while now and I love it. 

                              

I am particular about concealers because even though I have normal skin - it can get dry due to the weather, air conditioning and a few different factors.  If I'm highlighting I do my forehead and down my nose and that's where foundation or highlighter sits the most on me if my skin is dry on a particular day and with the MEMEME one it doesn't do this which I'm absolutely delighted about. 

                 

It is a very creamy concealer, medium coverage and the applicator is a stick - so you won't use too much or too little and the colour finish is brilliant. There are three colours: Porcelian, Beige and Honey. I use Porcelian as I focus on mainly highlighting but it would be ideal for someone with paler skin - I will more than likely purchase Beige as soon as possible as it would be nice to have a concealer that blends in with foundation. 

                   

It's a fantastic concealer for a night out - as you could be a roasting hot pub or club and there's nothing worse than makeup melting off your face so I find with the MEMEME concealer it's stay intact. 

I would highly recommend this product if you're on the market for a new concealer or a highlighter and it is only around 6 euro. You can MEMEME in a lot of pharmacies across Ireland or from their website

Until next time beauties,

A x

Getting Organised

Hi fab things,

Writing is a fantastic way of expressing yourself, I've loved writing since I was young. I love to blog, trying to find the time can be hard but I told myself February is the month I get myself organised as I received a lot of beauty related gifts for Christmas and I've tried a lot of new products in January. There is so much I want to share beauty wise, and everyday I learn more about all things to do beauty wise. Once I'm finished my degree, I plan to do a beauty course as I've always loved everything to do makeup and skincare, I would love to learn more and more.

My mam is a big influence when it comes to skincare. She has fabulous skin, and she's always looked after so I'm lucky that she's taught me to look after it from my teens. My main rule is I always have to look after my skin or my makeup won't compliment my skin at all or as the saying goes: "Beauty is skin deep". Starting next week, I'm going to blog to my hearts content and work hard on my posts. Its going to contain: favourites, a review or two, likes and dislikes, skincare, lifestyle and overall tips I find effective and that may help you.

Looking forward to posting and keeping up to date about things.

Until next time beauties,

A x

Contour and Highlight

Hey lovelies,

I hope everyone's January isn't going too bad. It really is one of those months that drags on isn't it? All the major festivities and partying has died down and its back to 'reality' with work, college or school. But its not all bad as new spring fashion comes out and there is always new makeup to be found and in my case reviewed!

Anyway today I'm going to talk about one of my favourite makeup steps: Contour and Highlight. This make up step really took off not so long ago and there has been a lot of enthusiasm about it. It is a case of hollowing out your cheekbones (while sucking your cheeks in making a duck face) and building on your own cheek bones, around the top of the forehead, down the nose (makes it look more narrow) and down along the jaw line for a more subtle defined look along with highlighting your features such as the top of the browbone, top of cheekbones, forehead, chin,nose, above the centre of the lip lip all to make your face look more oval and longer. It is a case of enhancing your own features but definition and brightness. 

I'm very excited to write this blog. I remember it was sometime in 2013 and the gorgeous beauty blogger Suzanne Jackson aka SoSueMe had a blog post about the sleek contour palette Here and then she brought out this Youtube video all about contouring. I was so excited to try it immediately and I wanted to find products similar to the ones she used.

So back in September 2013 I purchased the seventeen instant glow contour cream and the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer as I thought they were a good combination to try out.

I remember googling what products to use to get some ideas and at the time American brands came up that I didn't have easy access to so these two products were perfect for me.
I used it the whole time. I love the colour of the seventeen cream bronzer as you can make it subtle or build it up for a night out. It completely changed the way my makeup looked. I also love the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer and find that the two of the them compliment each other perfectly. I have only good things to say about this Rimmel product, it is the most amazing concealer/hightlighter. 

After I would set my whole face with translucent powder to keep it in place. Sometimes I would you C&H powders over my creams for a more defined contour look. 

A little tip, you can achieve Contour and Hightlight easily by either getting a powder two tones darker than your own one, like this MAC mineralize powder.

Or you can even a foundation that is two tones darker for the contour and two tones lighter for highlight.

FAVOURITE CONTOUR AND HIGHLIGHT PRODUCTS

The Laura Geller Highlighter & Blush - Spice Chai/Fr.Vanilla. This is absolutely beautiful combination and it has amazing pigmentation. This Laura Geller brush is one of my favourite brushes to use for contouring, it is fab and you can easily hollow out the cheek bones. 

  

The MAC pro longwear concealer - though it is quite a heavy concealer so I would only use this if I was going to an event early in the day and needed all day coverage like a Wedding or a Ball. It has quite a heavy texture to it so I wouldn't use it as an everyday concealer - but other than that it is perfect for highlighting if you need something to last. 

I use this sleek palette everyday. Its gorgeous for a subtle warmth and brightness to the face. It can be used as an everyday C&H but you can also build it up at night for a deeper look.

In this picture, I was at a Wedding during the summer

and I used a mixture of the Seventeen cream bronzer and Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer/highlighter, but I also put the Sleek palette on over everything at the end

This is a little blurry but I used the Laura Geller highlighter, the sleek bronzer and blush. I love mixing things up and using different C&H

BRUSHES

Personally the brushes I would use mostly commonly for contouring and highlighting would be the Laura Geller angled brush 

and the Real Techniques Expert Face brush. I found the Real Techniques blush brush fab for highlighting and blush

as the tip is flexible so it can narrowly put product on or spread it out.

I would also like to say that any of these brushes here would be absolutely perfect for C&H :

Any Angled, Tapered or Flat top brush that can easily hollow out the cheek bones.

Here are some extra brushes as a guide:

I hope my Contour and Highlighting guide has helped with tips and you can take away something from it. I remember one of my friends asking me to contour her face and she said "the contouring trend came out of nowhere and it's something I'm terrified to even try it". It is something different that has only become very well known and big the last few years but there are so many brushes and products out there these days which is very handy as you're always bound to find it someway and on any budget.

I really enjoyed writing this blog post as its my absolutely favourite step in makeup.

All the products mentioned in this blog post can be purchased from:

http://www.cloud10beauty.com/

http://www.feelunique.com/

http://www.qvcuk.com/

http://www.laurageller.com/

http://www.crownbrush.ie/

http://www.boots.ie/

http://www.sleekmakeup.com/

Until next time beauties,

A x

Current Beauty Favourites

Hey fab things,

 

Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone had a relaxing and fun Christmas. I'm back and ready for a 2015 full of new adventures. 

I'll kick off my first post of 2015 with my current beauty favourites. 

 

I use Shiesedo softener (forgot to include in the picture) and Lancome hydra zen neurocalm moisturiser both products absolutely brilliant for putting any missing moisture back into the skin especially in dry coarse weather. 

Next I use, Too Faced "Primed & Poreless" Primer. It glides onto my face and it maintains moisturer. I then spray my face with the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting spray. I find putting it on before my makeup helps the staying power even more and it's good because where I work im always on my feet, running here and there. 

My next step is my new favourite foundation - Lancome Teint Miracle. I absolutely love this (my review will be up this week). You can build up the coverage bit by bit. I let this set, and start on my eyes. I use the Laura Geller Baked Eye Stripes Cinnamon Strudel. There's three purple shades and you can have a subtle look or build it up for a dark smokey look.

My next step is concealer/highlighter I use Rimmel Wake Me Up. It really does what it says. 

I start on my eyebrows. I have three favourites - an essence one, Eylure, and a MAC one. At the moment I'm trying out an Eylure pencil which I'm liking so far and for under €10 why not try it out? 

I use an Essence thin and thick eyeliner for my eyes and a mixture of a No7 Intense Volume and L'Oreal Volume Million lashes mascara. 

With my foundation you don't really need a powder but I love using one. I use MAC Mineralise Skinfinish powder. It leaves your face looking absolutely flawless. They've repackaged the powder and I'm liking it. My next step, and my absolutely favourite step is contour and highlighting with my Sleek palette. I love this step. It really adds something to your make up. 

For the lips, for an everyday look - firstly I use Vaseline and then pop on 07 Nude Love Essence lipstick - it is an absolutely perfect nude - recommended by one of my besties and blogger Linda - her fab blog http://beauty-la-linda.blogspot.ie/?m=1 

I added in my new hair favourite - I use Keratase beautifying oil. It smells amazing and it's actually the first hair oil to keep moisturer in my hair especially because of dry weather or after the straightener. Leaves it silky smooth. 

These are my current beauty favourites! I hope you enjoyed my first blog post of 2015. 

Until next time beauties,

A x