Favourite Bronzers

June 2016

Favourite Bronzers

Hello! It's been so long since I have blogged, and I feel this is an appropriate time to come back and do a post on, Bronzers! As it is June and unfortunately living in Ireland we are not blessed with sunshine, so faking it as much as you can with a ton of bronzer is the best way to go, in my opinion.

 I wanted to share a few of my favs for both daytime and evening, from cream to powder! 

So enjoy :)

Firstly onto cream bronzers, I have two that I am currently loving for both day and night, one is an oldie that I have been loving for a year now, and the other is a recent purchase that I have really been enjoying!

To begin, Chanel - Soleil tan de chanel. If you are using creams for the first time and want to try something that is easy to work with, a dream to blend, and does not budge....this will be your best friend. I love this product, it was the first liquid (besides from foundations) I had ever put to the test. I was nervous to first try it out...I definitely had a fear of liquid bronzers, only imagining how wrong it could go, but honestly it's the best. I apply mine as during the day with a Real Techniques Buffing brush and just buff it on the points of the face where the sun would naturally hit. I would usually not go over it with a powder bronzer for day times, as I like to keep it 'as subtle' as possible! 

For the evenings use, I would go all out! I use the Real Techniques foundation brush and fully contour. Hollows of the cheekbones, around the forehead, under the jaw. The full shabang! Although it is quite a warm tone and technically it is a bronzer, looks great as a contour, I would usually use an ashy colour on top to get the full chiseled Kim K look! 

Although it will set you back €39.00 you still get 30g of product and you only need a tiny amount for each use. So definitely worth the spend in my opinion.

CHANELSOLEIL TAN DE CHANEL

Chanel- Soleil Tan De Chanel.
€39.00 In Brown Thomas.

To finish up with the cream bronzers, this one is more of a contour shade. It has that Ashy/grey contour tone that works wonders to carve out killer cheekbones. I would prefer this for more of an evening look as it is quite intense, but can be used for both day/evening!It is the Clinique Chubby Stick - 01 Curvy Contour. 
I haven't had this product for too long, but I have been testing it out a lot and I am really enjoying it. If I had to chose I would prefer using the Chanel- Soleil Tan, Although they are very similar products, I just find the Chanel one a lot easier to blend. The Chubby stick has a large tip so it can be harder to get the super fine line. In saying that, it is a really good product, it retails for €23.00 and you get 6g of product. It is super practical and so easy to travel with, it is basically like a contour marker! I have been using a beautyblender or the Artis Oval 7 brush to buff this in, then setting it with a bronzer on top i the evenings, or just setting with a translucent powder during the day to make it last as long as possible!

''CLINIQUE'' Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour- 01 Curvy Contour.
€23.00 In Brown Thomas

Moving on from cream products... I am going to talk about two really nice day time bronzers i have been really enjoying, for a luminous/bronzy glow. One I originally bought thinking it was a highlighter, and when I applied it to the high points of my face....It looked like mud. Not great! So recently I have been using it as an all over bronzer, and it works a charm.
Mac Mineralize Skinfinish - Global Glow
If you have darker skin it would a beautiful highlight, It is a bronzy finish with gold flecks throughout and it makes your skin look so healthy, glowing and luminous.  I apply this all over with the Real Techniques Blush brush, on all the points of the face the sun would naturally hit, it is dark enough on me as I am severely pale, so I usually apply a light coat of tan to my neck and decolletage then apply this to my face and down my neck and it looks fabulous, It wears really well with both light-full coverage foundations, or even on its on just to give you a sunkissed glow. 

''Mac''Mineralize Skinfinish - Global Glow€31.00  Brown Thomas

The next luminous/glowy bronzer I have to mention is

      TOO Faced SWEETHEARTS BRONZER  BAKED LUMINOUS GLOW BRONZER - Sweet Tea

 I am really loving this, unlike a lot of their other products recently, this is not scented! But it is a beautiful product. There are two sides, ones a medium bronze shade with a gold hue, the other half has more of a pearlescent finish. You can either use one side, or the other. But, I love to mix the two together, it gives a far nicer end result. Super long lasting, blendable etc etc etc. If you have ever used Too Faced products before you know they are an absolute dream, and this is no exception!!

 

TOO FACED SWEETHEARTS BRONZE- SWEET TEA
€29.00 dEBENHAMS

The last 3 products are more of evening, matte bronzers that I love using to contour!

I am going to begin with a palette I love, you get 6 shades. 3 Highlight, 3 Sculpting shades. I bought mine in Sephora Sydney Australia. I am sure it can be bought online for anyone who isn't in the Us or Australia who is not near a Sephora.

It is off course...

Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour and Sculpt Palette.

There are off course only certain shades I can use on myself, but if you are a MUA and have clients with all different skin tones this would be a perfect product. For setting my under eyes, I use the middle shade 'Lyric', I use either a damp beauty blender which works a dream, or a flat brush to really dab it on. It is very full coverage and can leave your under eyes a bit dry so I usually would use this in the evening time because it can look too much for day time use.

The two contour shades I mix to achieve the perfect colour, is 'Sombre' and 'Shadowplay' which are the two bottom left shades. Sombre is that typical grey tone contour colour, where as Shadowplay is a more bronzy tone so when you mix them together you get the perfect mix. I apply this with the Real Techniques Contour brush, and then I bake underneath using Ben Nye White No Colour Powder and I apply it with either the Blank Canvas F30 Sculpt brush or a damp Beauty Blender to clean up any mess I would have made when doing the bronzer, and to get that perfect clean contour. The only negative is these bronzers/highlights are very powder and highly pigmented...so be careful of that. The tiniest bit goes the longest way!!

Kat Von D Shade + Light Contour Face Palette
AUD $64 - Sephora Australia

My second last bronzer, I bought on a bit of a whim. I am not a major fan of this company's products. I have a few of their eye shadows and I don't think they have fabulous colour pay off. But I had heard a lot of good things about their Bronzers....not like I needed another one but I bought it and I really love it.

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder - Golden Light

Most people that I had seen using this product used the Shade Medium, but I found Medium to be very red toned which I wasn't a massive fan of, so I chose Golden Light. It is a matte bronzer, really nice shade for contour. It is not overly pigmented, so you just just the right amount of product when you swirl your brush around in the pan...It does not look cakey or heavy. I bought mine in David Jones in Sydney, but Bobbi Brown Is available worldwide, so definitely swatch this beauty if you ever pass a Bobbi Brown counter!! It is also super sturdy and great for travel as it is super compact!!

''BOBBI BROWN'' Bronzing Powder - Golden Light
AUD $60.00 - David Jones Sydney
€37.00 Brown Thomas

Lastly, This is such an old staple I think everyone has tried once in their makeup wearing days.

Its is Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder. 

I am not going to go too into this product because I can almost guarantee everyone has heard everything possible about this product. It is just the most perfect contour colour I think there is, I always end up going back to it. It is definitely a bit OTT for me for day time, but, in the evenings with a strong tan it looks incredible. One major con for me is... the packaging. Mine always seem to crack and break, other than that. It is such a staple, if you are searching for an incredible contour shade. Look no further!!

''BENEFIT'' Hoola Bronzing Powder
€34.00 In Brown Thomas

Hope you enjoyed this post!! 

Niamh xx

September 2015 Favourites

September Favorites

Hello Hello Hello! J Welcome to my blog! I honestly cannot believe we have come to the end of September! It is officially Autumn here in Ireland…crazy! I love Autumn/Winter, It is my absolute favorite time of the year, I am so excited it is here again and that Christmas is so soon!

To start off my Favorites video, I need to mention a drink I have discovered and cannot live without, it is my every morning drink on route to work. It is the ever so yummy Starbucks Caramel Macchiato. It is so delish, I was never a coffee drinker up until recently and I am now officially hooked. Also because it is now Autumn, the cups are very autumnal which are the cutest! This is definitely a drink I shouldn’t be having everyday but it is such a guilty pleasure.

Starbucks Autumn Cups

 Next is a scent, I am a funny one when it comes to perfumes, I will spend crazy money on makeup, clothes etc but when it comes to perfumes I just cannot justify spending over €100 on one. Am I the only one? This scent is crazy money, but it is my favorite. I wear it all year round, but it really is an autumn winter scent in my opinion. Its is Jo Malone Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne. It is very hard to describe any scent, but this one is a musky deep smell (if that makes any sense) If you are near a Jo Malone counter, go have a smell! It lingers for hours after I spritz it. Jo Malone just have the most incredible fragrances, you would never find the scents anywhere else, they are so unusual. Another two I love are Blackberry & Bay And Wood Sage & Sea Salt.

Jo Malone Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne 

This product is one I have been testing out for a while now, I originally put off getting it for ages, but finally bit the bullet after hearing just about everyone rant and rave about it! It is Chanel Soleil De Tan. For it being Chanel, it isn’t actually overly expensive. This is the first cream bronzer I have ever used so it has definitely taken me some time to figure out how I use it and just to play around with it. I love this stuff, you can get a super contoured chiseled cheekbone look, or an everyday bronze and it looks so good. I apply this with my real techniques foundation brush, it is super slim so it is perfect, and then buff it out using the Real Techniques buffing brush. A little goes a very long way, Don’t be scared to try this, it is a lovely product!

Chanel Soleil De Tan

I mentioned this product is a recent empties post. It is Bio Oil! This stuff is great, I can’t actually say enough good stuff about it. I love applying this to my face before bed and I wake up the next morning with the softest, most hydrated skin. I Much prefer this to my Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery concentrate and it is more than half the price!

Bio Oil

This is random enough, but I have been non stop wearing cosy jumpers/cardigans this month! They are just the best things ever, you can wear them whether you are going super casual or dressy and they are so snuggly and fab! My favorite is a zara one I got about 3 years ago and it is the best!

Autumn Winter wardrobe staples!

Now onto the media side of things! Every morning when I am on the train to work, I love listening to FM104. They literally have the best morning show and they help me get through the awful hour journey to work each morning!

Fm104

A Youtube channel I only found recently (I didn’t know what I was missing) is the gorgeous Jaclyn Hill. Oh My God! How did I live without seeing this girls channel. She is everything. She is soooo gorgeous. She is probably the best makeup artist I have ever seen. She also gives me serious relationship goals with herself and her husband John. If you were like me and had no clue about Jaclyn Hill, you're missing out!! Please go watch her. She has 2 million subscribers and she deserves triple that. She recently teamed up with BECCA and brought out Champagne Pop Highlighter, This is nowhere to be found in Ireland…but I need to get my hands on it. It looks A M A Z I N G.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Jaclynhill1

Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop

Jaclyn Hill

My last favourite is such a guilty pleasure, but the best thing ever. The Jenner/Kardashian apps. Love these, you can see everything from Kim’s makeup to Khloe’s workout, Kendall’s best travel picks and Kylie’s everything! I love it. Only thing is you get a 7 day free trial for each app and after the 7 Days it is €2.99 per month per app. I definitely do not think I will be continuing with the subscription. In my opinion the app should have been €2.99 and free throughout, but it is still great! Definitely go for the 7 day trial, Kylie’s app is my fav! Love her

Kendall, Kim, Khloé & Kylie Apps

Thanks so much for reading! I didn’t have too many new favorites this month, but I wanted to get back into the swing of blogging and share a few bits with you all!

Until next time,

Niamh xx

London Makeup Haul

London Haul

Hello again, I am just back from my trip to London! I was there for a few days and have to say I cannot wait to go back, I love love loved it. We stayed in a hotel beside the London tower and had a view of the river thames from our window. It was quite amazing! I picked up a few makeup bits while I was over there and I thought id share them with you! So enjoy!!

In the Airport on the way over I had to repurchase my favourite Clinique extended moisture surge moisturiser. When I went to go buy it I ended up purchasing a little trio set off the Extended moisture surge moisturiser 75ml, The Moisture surge Facial spray and all about the eyes serum. It was about €5 extra then the moisturiser alone and have to say I am so so happy I got it. Before take off on the plane I spritzed myself with the facial spray, Its so hydrating and cooling. Prior to my trip i had an allergic reaction for the first time ever!! So my under eye area was insane looking I had two bee sting like lumps under both my eyes and was in need of something hydrating to take down the swelling. And I have to say this eye serum did the trick, by the next morning all the swelling was practically gone! Its a little metal roller ball on top so it's so hydrating and you just roll a little under the eye and wahhlaaa! Definitely a new favourite of mine! 

On the second day we went to Selfridges, I have to say I was expecting to buy more than I did but nothing really caught my eye or was different to what I could get at home! One thing I knew I wanted was the new Kendall Jenner  Lipstick by Estee Lauder. It is in the colour 340 Restless. Its a matte shade but it isn't super drying.  Its a gorgeous orangey/red shade. I usually would never vere away from nudes but I love this!! It has to be worn with a lipliner though because it bleeds like nothing else and you do not want this colour shade all over your face! I love it packaging its a magnetic top and its navy matte and has her signature at the top! I would definitely say have a look at it if you're near a department store that sells Estee Lauder! I have used Mac Cherry lipliner with this although it's a bit more red It works!

Next in Selfridges I needed more of my favourite Kiehl's Ultra Facial cleanser! I love this stuff I included it in my skincare favorites blog post a while back! I use mine with my Clarisonic and it is amazing! It doesn't dry out my skin or irritate my skin and it does the job! 

Last in Selfridges, whilst at the Kiehl's counter I got the Cucumber Herbal Alcohol Free Toner ( what a mouth full) I haven't really used this enough to give a review on it, Ive just finished of my Pixi Glow tonic so Ill have to see if this one compares! I have heard great things about it so im super excited to try it out!

In the Airport on the way home I felt like a last splurge before we headed home. I went to the YSL counter and decided I wanted one of their lipsticks. Ive heard everyone ranting and raving about these but I was reluctant because they are super pricey and I just love my MAC ones. But I bit the bullet and i went ahead and got the Rouge Volupté Shine in no.7. I haven't really had a chance to wear this for long but from what i can see it's super moisturising and it's a stunning colour! With MAC Spice lip liner it looks insane! 

When in the airport I couldn't help but be drawn to the perfume section. I knew what one I wanted but I just haven't wanted to spend the money...I finally got it. Chanel Chance. I am not even going to get into how much I love this scent it's so fresh and summery! Definitely my new favorite scent,

Lastly from my London purchases was a little set of benefit goodies in miniature sizes. This was a real impulse buy because it was at the checkout and I just decided at that moment of time I needed it! Could have probably done without but sure!

Anyway, Thanks so much for reading my newest post about some purchases I made while I was in London!

Until next time,

Niamh xx

June Favorites

June Favorites 

I have found so many new loves this Month! To start off with my June favorites is one I previously mentioned in my skincare routine. It is the GlamGlow super mud. I love this! I put this on whilst in the bath or after a shower and leave it on for about 20 minutes then wash it off and my face feels and looks amazing. The morning after using this any blemishes that were developing have come up and are nearly healed. Its now a staple product in my skincare routine! I purchased mine in Brown Thomas for €51.00

Another skincare product I have been using a lot this month is the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. I sometimes leave this on for about 10minutes as a mask or just wash my face with it and use a muslin cloth to remove. It smells so beautiful and I feel i've had a facial everytime I use it. I bought this in Arnotts for €45.00 back in December and still have loads left, It lasts so long and is so worth the money.

As I am as pale as pale can get I love to be tanned and bronze. I'm constantly searching for the perfect bronzer and this month I finally went out and bought the SOLEIL TAN DE CHANEL, Bronzing Makeup Base. This was €39.00 In Brown Thomas. Its so gorgeous and you can either use it to lightly bronze all over the face or do a heavier contour with it. Its super buildable and gorgeous. Its a cream product and I love applying this with the Real Techniques contour brush or the Real Techniques Buffing brush to get a gorgeous even finish and application.

The next is such a must have for me and i have gone through 2 already this month. That is Carmex lip balm. I get the driest lips in the world so this is such a must have for me! Its super cheap and the best lip balm i've tried so far. There is not much I can say about this one other than it's an essential!

This is such an oldie but such a goodie. It is Mac Modesty Lipstick. This is my Favorite Mac lipstick, no matter what one I buy I always go back to this. Lips have become such a huge trend since the whole Kylie Jenner epidemic. I never hear anyone raving about this Lipstick. It is gorgeous with Mac Spice or Soar Lipliner. 

This is the best Makeup brush i've ever used, It can be used for Blush, Powder, Bronzer, Highlighter, Contour, Foundation...The list goes on. It is the Real Techniques Blush Brush. It was created by Pixiwoo on Youtube, otherwise known as Sam & Nic Chapman. The Real Techniques are just great better then any high end makeup brushes i've tried yet. As they are synthetic they can be used to apply cream or powder products and are non shed. They are super cheap so they won't break the bank. I bought mine in Boots for €12.99

This product is by the Irish blogger and Youtuber Suzanne Jackson, SoSueMe. Its her new gel nail polish line 'SoSu', Didn't really know what to expect from this range but I adore it. I purchased the shade Rock Candy. There is such a gorgeous selection of colours for such an affordable price. I am so so impressed. I feel like i've just been to the salon the standard is so good! I bought mine in my local pharmacy for €7.99 and is so much better than my usual nail polish go to O.P.I. This is definitely my number one favorite of June

Now onto my Non Beauty favorites of this month!

My favorite TV Show of this month has been Big Brother! Loving it so much, I'm hooked. If anyone else watches it let me know what you think!

My favorite Youtube channel is DramaticMac.

She is an Irish Beauty Guru from Ireland and she is great! She seems like a lovely girl and is too good at makeup and gives great tips! Definitely Check her out!

https://www.youtube.com/user/DramaticMac

Hope you all had a lovely June and have been enjoying the gorgeous weather!

X Niamh