To add a bit of a mix into my usual style and outfit posts... let's talk beauty! The focus of this post is a close look at some of the products I wear as part of my make up routine on a daily basis. It's a bit of long one, so let's get right into it...
Nars Sheer Glow Foundation (Medium 1 'Punjab') - This foundation is literally gold in a bottle. I discovered it about a year or two ago and I've never looked back. It gives the most perfect smooth and dewy finish, and I find the lasting power of it is brilliant - I actually think it nearly gets better as the day goes on! I've had many compliments and questions about what foundation I'm wearing when I have this on, it really just gives the skin a flawless finish without being too heavy. It evens out the skintone and feels lightweight on the skin. I also really like that it has a dewy and sheer finish, as I find matte foundations can sometimes look too 'cakey' and unnatural. This foundation looks good applied with just your fingers, or else I usually use the Real Techniques buffing brush to give the ultimate flawless finish. There's so many raving reviews about this foundation, and it's easy to see why once you start using it.
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (Medium 1 'Custard') - Another Nars product which I use on a daily basis and absolutely love is their radiant creamy concealer. It's the perfect match for the sheer glow foundation, as again it's really dewy and moisturising on the skin. It's not too heavy or drying as some concealers can be, and it just provides the perfect amount of natural coverage for blemish areas after applying foundation, and it does a really good job of brightening up the under eye area. As it's quite a light coverage concealer, it wouldn't be the best product for those looking for a heavier coverage, and as it's quite sheer its lasting power is not as strong, especially for those with oilier skin. One negative I find with it is the amount of it you get in the bottle - I find I'm always running out if it so fast!
Hourglass Ambiant Lighting blusher (Luminous Flush) - THIS. I literally cannot describe how nice of a product this is. Not only is it a gorgeous blusher, but it also has the added benefit of providing a beautiful highlight and radiant light to the cheekbones. I picked this up at a beauty event last year in Space NK having read rave reviews about this brand. I'd never seen the products before, but I was eager to try one of the powders or blushers. I generally like quite a peachy, dark pink as a blush, as it suits my skin tone, and this shade is the perfect colour. It looks a lot brighter than it actually is on the skin, providing just a natural glowy flush to the cheeks. Also - the packaging!! The gold mirrored finish makes the product so classy and elegant and really adds to the luxury of the product. May I also add the value for money - I purchased this product last year and I use it every day, and it still looks almost untouched. I couldn't recommend this product or brand enough. I'm definitely going to take a trip to Space NK again soon to have a look at their other shades and products again.
Nars Laguna bronzer - Another of Nars' golden products, and one of my absolute beauty bag musts! I have been using this bronzer for years now, and don't think I'll be switching up any time soon. Although the colour is a little scary in the pan, it just gives a really warm glow to the face. I also love this product for contouring; I always use this to add some definition to my cheekbones, and down the sides of my nose and across my forehead.
Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter - This is a product I've actually been using for years now (and it's still the same one I've had for about 2/3 years - is that a good or a bad thing...?!) I usually add this as a highlighter just under my brows as it gives the perfect shimmer and lifts the brows -I find it also does a good job of hiding any stray eyebrow hairs if your brows are in need of a bit of tlc! I sometimes also add a bit down the bridge of my nose for the perfect natural highlight and reflection.
Anastasia Beverly Hills BrowWiz pencil (Ebony) - On we move to eyebrows, aka my beauty obsession. Having black hair, I find it so hard to find an eyebrow product that doesn't look too dark and unnatural. Drugstore products generally only do dark brown as their darkest shade, which is annoying, as it's usually too light for my colouring. After many years of trying out different products, it's only when I came upon the Anastasia brand that my eyebrows were truly transformed for the better! I can't even remember now where I first stumbled upon the brand, but so many beauty bloggers and celebrities rave about her products and I'm not surprised. Not only is the shade Ebony a perfect match for my hair colour, the brow wiz pencil is literally the ideal way to naturally fill in your eyebrows. It's a really thin pencil and has an eyebrow brush/blender on the other end to smooth out the product after applying for a natural finish. You definitely don't need a heavy hand for the product, as a few light strokes gives the perfect finish and the perfect amount of shading and definition. Because the pencil is so thin, it's also ideal if you just want to add some depth to thinning or over-plucked eyebrows. It's literally my favourite eyebrow product, but it's unfortunate that it's not for sale in Ireland. I order it off CultBeauty.co.uk, which stocks loads of cool makeup brands and offers very fast delivery.
Maybelline Lash Sensational mascara - When it comes to mascaras, I'm not generally loyal to one product or brand in particular. Recently, I've been using this Maybelline one and really loving it. A must in a mascara for me is one that really lengthens and dramatises the eyelashes, - the more black and bold the better! And this one does just that. I already have quite long eyelashes, but it gives incredible length and fullness to them. The only downside of the product is that it's really hard to remove, it's not even the warerproof one that I have, but it doesn't come off with my cleanser alone. So recently I've been using the Garnier Micellar Water as a further eye-makeup remover (even at that there's still sometimes remnants the next morning!) It's a really great mascara though for bold and full lashes, and holds a curl really well.
Shu Uemura eyelash curler - This really is the best eyelash curler and lives up to all of its glowing reviews! I wasn't always one for using eyelash curlers before I came upon this, but now I find I couldn't go a day without it! It adds such length and depth to the lashes and gives the best curl in only a few seconds, which lasts for hours with a good mascara over it. Even on no makeup days, this does wonders for your eyes - I don't go a day without it!
Illamasqua Precision Ink liner (Abyss) - I love love love this liquid eyeliner. I generally wear the classic cat-flick most days (...when I'm not feeling lazy), and I find this has the best glossy black finish and has a really easy to use tip on it for getting the perfect flick. It's major selling point though is its lasting power - you put this on in the morning and it will last you right through the day without fading or smudging. Again, like the mascara, this can be quite difficult to actually get off with makeup remover, which shows just how well it stays put!
Mac Paint Pot (Painterly) - I have a few Mac paint pots, but this is the one I use every day. Paint pots are basically a cream-based eyeshadow, they're easy for no-fuss days as can be easily applied and blended in using your fingers. The colour 'Painterly' is basically the colour of my eyelids, so I use it to even out the eyelids for no-eyeshadow days, and also as a base/primer for days when I am wearing eye shadow and want it to last the day without creasing.
Hope you enjoyed this post as a little something different! Check back soon for more style posts & keep up to date with my #ootd's over on Insta..
Janine x
Janine x
