Essence Live.Laugh.Celebrate Trend Edition

Hey Guys and Dolls,

As you all know I'm a huge fan of Essence Cosmetics, I've been using it for years, all through school and even now I have so many favourites. I was surprised to hear that they were celebrating their 15th anniversary this year, jeez I feel so old.

To celebrate this momentous occasion Essence Cosmetics brought out the Live.Laugh.Celebrate Trend Edition and I loved it. The stand out product for me is their My Must Haves Palettes that are glammed up. There is also new shades specifically from the Live.Laugh.Celebrate collection to go in them.

I went for a eyeshadow, highlight, blush, lip base, lip powder and setting powder and they are all amazing. The eyeshadow that I've been using the most is called T.G,I.F and its a limited edition matte brown shade. It's beautiful all over the lid for a natural look.

These palettes are available in 4 pan and 8 pan, I bought bought as they are really inexpensive at €1.90. It's €1.90 for each individual pan aswell so that's pretty amazing too. I'm sure this collection is still available in Penneys so snap it up while you still can.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - NYX Cosmetics HD Finishing Powder in Banana

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Having been a beauty blogger for almost 7 years now I'm surprised that I've never tried a banana powder. To be honest I didn't really know what it did plus I don't really like loose powders but when I saw that NYX Cosmetics had a pressed version I decided to give it a go.

I'm glad I did as I love this brand and they never disappoint me. This product came in at €11 which isn't too bad at all. Banana powder is said to reduce the appearance of an oily complexion whilst brightening and highlighting so it gives that beautiful glow which everybody wants don't they?

It's not too powdery either so it sits beautifully on the skin which is amazing. I enjoy using this product and it has definitely become a staple in my makeup bag. I'm starting to run out of products to try from NYX Cosmetics so definitely let me know your favourites.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - NYX Cosmetics Matte Bronzer

Hey Guy and Dolls,

As it's getting a bit nicer out I like taking the bronzer out and doing a bit of contouring that's for sure. I have quite a few bronzers in my collection but my favourite has to be NYX Cosmetics Matte Bronzer. I use the shade light and it's the perfect shade for me. The colour in the pan looks pretty orangey but don't let this deter you in the slightest as it does look natural on the skin.

I was undecided between getting light or medium but I'm glad I went with the light option in the end. This matte bronzer just gives you the nicest chiseled out cheekbones ever, it's perfect for contouring. This product comes in at €13 mark which in my opinion is good value and is definitely worth the money.

There is also the option to buy the Highlight and Contour Pro palette. In this palette you get 8 refillable shades foi €29. I own this palette and I use it alot so it's certainly worth having a look at.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - My Makeup Trolley Case

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I own alot of makeup as I have a blog I get the opportunity to try alot of amazing products. Don't get me wrong though I did have a tonne of makeup before I started blogging aswell as I always wanted to be a makeup artist when I was younger. As you can imagine it is pretty difficult to store it all, I have to take a trip to IKEA soon I haven't been there in so long. In the meantime I use my Makeup Trolley Case that I got off my Nanna and Aunty for my birthday a year or two ago. It doesn't store all my makeup but it is pretty handy all the same.

It's big and spacious which will be perfect when I start my Makeup Artist course in September, I'm sure they bought it in Salon Services. As I've said before I have this trolley case for quite a while and I always use it. I like how theres pull out trays and a deep centre which is really good for storing bigger products. It has wheels and a big handle so it's pretty easy to transport this from A to B. It's doesn't take up too much space either which means this definitely gets two thumbs up from me. I'm already considering buying a mini one of these to put on my shelf so I'll keep you posted. I seen that NYX Cosmetics have one so I may get that.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Ilove Charlotte Tilbury, they have such a wide range of amazing products. I recently bought their Airbrush Flawless Finish powder. I use the shade 2 Medium and it's the perfect shade for me. I always keep this in my makeup bag, it's great to have at college as I need to powder my face alot daily as I quite oily.

I love the packaging on this products it's so pretty and compact. I apply this with Blank Canvas powder brush and buff it onto my skin over my foundation of course. Viola my oily skin and forehead is no more. It sets beautifully over my Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation, I love it plus it gives a bit of coverage aswell. I've heard this powder doesn't work well with some foundations but I fingers crossed have not had that problem yet and I hope I don't either.

All in all I really like this product and it may possibly have become one of my favourite products from Charlotte Tilbury at the moment.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - March/April Favourites

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I can't believe another two months have flown by, it's insane. You know what that means it's time for my favourites and I'm so excited to show you guys what I've been loving this month. I have quite a few so lets get started.

Lee Stafford Coco Loco Shampoo and Conditioner

As I've told you in a couple of posts already, I love trying new haircare and I get the opportunity to try these two products over the last months. I love them both and I was so impressed. They smell of coconut which to me is so yum!! They also leave my hair looking amazing and squeaky clean, just what I want from any shampoo and conditioner. I highly recommend them both and I can't wait to try some more products from this line once I recover from my head surgery. I did a review recently which you can check out here.

MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick and NYX Lip Lingerie Liquid Lip Glosses

I have two lip products to share with you guys this month. First up is MAC's Velvet Teddy lipstick. This lipstick has a huge following and is definitely one of the most popular MAC lipsticks that they have to offer. It's so easy to apply and looks beautiful on the lips. It has a matte finish and just goes perfectly with any makeup look which is why I love it so much. I'm almost all out of mine so I will definitely be repurchasing it really soon. A review of this product can be found here. The other lip product favourite of mine is from NYX Cosmetics which is one of my favourite drugstore brands at the moment. I haven't tried a product that I didn't like yet which is really good. My favourite product of theres at the moment is their Lip Lingerie Liquid Lipsticks. They are just amazing, I adore them. They apply as a liquid and dry to a matte finish lipstick. There are so many shades to choose from and I have quite a few that I couldn't pick just one. It's definitely worth your while to go to your local counter to have a mooch if you ask me. If you want to check out my full review you can find it here.

Uriage HandCream

I love a good hand cream as my hands do get so dry as the weather is so changeable out there at the moment. I've been using a new handcream from Uriage lately and I think it's really good. It's nice and thick but it sinks into my skin right away. I carry this everywhere with me and I'm forever pulling it out of my bag when my hands are needing that extra bit of tlc. I recently was sent that intense version of this so I'll definitely let you know my thoughts soon. This handcream smells lovely too by the way. I posted a review of this a couple of weeks ago which you can see here.

Blank Canvas Makeup Brushes

I like having good tools to apply my makeup and I've looked no further than Blank Canvas Cosmetics brushes lately. This is an Irish brand and they are such good quality. I owned a couple of their brushes then when I seen that they had a sale over Christmas I purchased the Dimension Series Hamper and I'm so glad I did. It contains so many amazing brushes from face to eye so it gives great variety. I have been using these so much lately and I definitely want to pick up another set soon. If you want to see my post on these brushes you can check it out here.

Reading

Yes you read it right, I love to read! I've been reading just about anything I can get my hands on lately. I think it's so important to keep your mind active and I love being transported into another world that I made up after reading a good book. I've been reading since I was about 6 and everyone in my house calls me the reader, I'm definitely a bit of a book nerd. I've read quite a few books over the last while so if you look back over my blog you'll definitely find a good few book reviews and there'll be more to come in the next while aswell.

College

Since I did my last favourites post I started college, I actually did a post on it already a couple of weeks back. It had to make it into my favourites as I'm enjoying the course so much at the minute. At present I'm chilling out after getting minor head surgery on Thursday but I seriously can't wait to get back into college when I'm better next week. I'm learning so much and the course is full with interesting content so I'm loving it. If you didn't know I'm studying Social Media for Business in a college in Dublin and I think this course will really help my blog in the future. It's not fully focused on Social Media all the time though which I like, there's alot of marketing content. I studied Marketing in college before so I definitely have an advantage at the moment as I love the module alot. I'll definitely keep you posted with how I'm getting on with the course. Another post about my college life is actually going up on Monday or Tuesday so keep an eye out for that for sure.

That's it, my favourites for the month of April and May. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it, which is alot by they way.My next favourites post will be up in July so definitely come back for that.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Urban Decay Naked Skin One and Done Hybrid Complexion Perfector

Hey Guys and Dolls,

After loving the Naked Skin Foundation I decided to pick up Urban Decay's Naked Skin One and Done Hybrid Complexion perfector aswell while I was doing my Urban Decay makeup course. I know the name is a bit of a mouthful indeed. I've been trying this product  alot lately and though it may not overtake Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation but I do like it.

This product is a hybrid between a foundation and tinted moisturiser. It also has a tonner of skin benefits including reduced pore size and more vibrant skin. A little bit goes a long way with this product. It has a pump so you can control how much product you use. I feel this product applies best with a brush and it gives such a good finish.

It has pretty good coverage for a complexion perfector I have to say. I think this would be a great product for the Summer months or if you are on holidays. I do like this product but I'm uncertain if I will purchase it again. I'm sure this tube will last me a while though.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I love Urban Decay, I have alot of their products and I'm in love with them all. I used their old foundation when it first came out and I didn't like it, it clung to my skin in all the wrong places. When they launched their Naked Skin foundation I couldn't wait to try it and of course I was in love.

I've gone through a couple of bottles of this foundation and I'm in the shade 3.0, I did a Urban Decay makeup course in Debenhams last year that came to €200. The €200 was redeemable on products which was amazing. I bought a couple of items and this was one of them.

This foundation is medium coverage but it's buildable and blends beautifully into the skin. I use either my Real Techniques Buffing Brush or one of my Blank Canvas makeup brushes to apply it. I'm really looking forward to trying their new All Nighter foundation.

Again this is another highend foundation at €34.50 but I've already gone through so many bottles of this stuff. It's definitely one of my favourite foundations.

Laura<3 

The Lo Down - What's in my Makeup Bag?

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I've decided to do a What's in my Makeup bag post as I thought you guys would find it interesting. I decided to do it in a video format as it would be easier for you to see whats in there. I think it turned out pretty good and I hope you like it. So lets get started.

That's what's in my makeup bag I love the bag it's probably my favourite one I own. It fits everything into it which is always good. Hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed making it which is alot I have to say.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Simple Night Out Makeup Look

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I love creating simple makeup looks more than any. I know I don't particularly like spending hours doing my makeup unless it's an absolute necessity on my part. On Tuesday I created a really simple makeup look using some of my favourite products and I thought I'd share it you guys.

For my base I used the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation and concealer.  This is the newly reformulated and repackaged one and I was so impressed, it could be even better than the original in my honest opinion. You can find the review for these two products here. I apply these products to my face using the So Su Pro Blender and Complexion sponge and it gives such a nice finish. I'm not one for using sponges but I must admit I've been using this everyday since I my Mum gave it me. I reviewed this a couple of days so if you want to read my thoughts on it you can check out the review here.

For blush and contour I used two products from Benefit Cosmetics, their Dew the Hoola and Dandelion Dew. Both are probably my favourite products from this wonderful brand and that's saying something. They are on the pricey side of things but I'm delighted I spent every last penny on them. There such good quality products and secondly they'll last for ages which is always good to know as you only need the smallest amount. I do love the packaging on both these products as well there so pretty and of course look so well on my makeup shelf. I also did a full review on both these products that you can check out here and here.

Lastly I tried out a new product on my face and the was the NYX Dewy Finish setting spray. I love a good old setting spray it has to be said. I like how it holds my makeup in place and makes it look fresh. This spray in particular gives a nice dewy finish so it looks like your glowing from within. My skin can look dull some times so this is exactly what I need. As you already know I'm a huge fan of NYX and their affordbale products and this was not different it was only €10 which is really good when you consider the prices of some setting sprays on the market at the moment. 

So that's my finished makeup look, again another quick and easy one. All the products are great to work with and I'm glad I splurged on one or two. I really enjoy doing these makeup look posts and I really hope you do to.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Too Faced & Kat Von D Better Together Eyeshadow Palette

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I recently bought the Too Face & Kat Von D Better Together eyeshadow palette, ever since I saw this collaboration I knew I had to get it. I was intrigued by all the products so in the end I bought the eyeshadow palette and I'm very happy with my purchase.

I have seen mixed reviews on this palette but I'm fairly impressed with it. The collaboration was well thought out and it's such a good idea to have brought these two amazing brands together. I've never tried any Kat Von D products so I was really looking forward to trying their products.

The eyeshadow palette is just amazing it's shaped like a heart and is magnetic so can be separated which is such a good idea for travel and if you want to fit it in your makeup bag as when it's together it could be a bit impractical. There are six shadows in both palette which totally different shade ranges, the Kat Von D side is definitely that little more daring in my opinion. All the shadows are so pigmented except for the shade Lovely in the Too Faced palette which was kind of disappointing.

I don't have a favourite side as I've been drawn towards both. I love a neutral eye look so I've been using the Too Faced side that little bit more. I love the shades, Friendspiration and Power Couple. The latter is amazing blended into the crease while the other shadow looks perfect all over the lid.

I love how there is a little message on the inside of both palettes, it's just  a extra special touch. The palette itself retails for €68 on Debenhams website which isn't too bad considering you get a full sized mascara and liner. If you are a fan of both these brands I'd definitely recommend picking up this palette it's such a nice addition to my makeup collection, having never tried Kat Von D products I can't wait to try more in the future.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Charlotte Tilbury is a luxury brand that I use alot, I'm in love with their products. Everything I've used is such good quality so I know when I buy a product of theirs it's going to be good. Of course after forking out alot of money you expect it to be up to par.

The first product I tried from Charlotte Tilbury is their Wonderglow. This is such an amazing product and I really like it. My skin gets pretty dull and dehydrated sometimes and this works like a dream to combat that issue. I apply a small amount to my skin before my foundation and it gives a awakened lit from within look. A perfect base for makeup application.

Wonderglow costs €49 which may sound expensive but this is such a good product you won't regret the purchase.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation and Concealer

Hey Guys and Dolls,

My favourite foundation when I was younger was the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation. It was always so affordable and such a nice foundation. It was recently reformulated and repackaged so I was looking forward to seeing what it was like as I loved the original alot.

The latest version really lives up to my expectations. First off I love the packaging it's so sleek and pretty. I decided to buy both the foundation and concealer. I bought the latter in light and foundation in Vanilla which are the perfect match for my skin tone. I usually go for the shade Vanilla in most brands as I am on the pale side of things.

The formulation is very similar to the original and it smells amazing and looks lovely on your skin giving it a nice healthy glow. I bought these two products on Cloud 10 Beauty's website. My favourite site for buying all my beauty products. They were actually on discount when I purchased them and I think they still are. I got the foundation for €8.95 and the concealer for €6.95 which is really good value so I'd snap them up while you can.

I almost like the newer version more than the old one, sometimes relaunches can let you down but these products certainly didn't.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - St Patrick's Day Inspired Makeup Look

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Seeing as St Patrick's Day is on Friday I thought I'd do makeup look inspired by this special day. To be fair I don't really venture into town on Paddy's Day as Dublin can get a bit messy at times. However I did go to the parade in Greystones a couple of years back with my Dad and that was pretty good. This year I'm going to see Beauty & the Beast with my Mam so I can't wait. I've been really looking forward to seeing this movie for ages. Emma Watson looks like the perfect Belle in my opinion.

So for today's look I focused mainly on the eyes. I decided to use my fairly new Urban Decay Full Spectrum palette. I'm not big into colour but when I saw this on special I couldn't leave it behind. I did a full review on this palette here. Of course I used the greens from this palette for the look, I used the shades Hundred and Hatter. Both these shadows are sooo pigmented I love them, they really make a amazing Patrick's Day look. 

I adore this palette lots, it contains so many beautiful shades that are so pigmented. I'm definitely going to create more looks using this palette.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Weekend Vibes

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I've decided to do a post on the makeup I used yesterday on my face. I used two new products in my collection, Paula's Choice Resist Smoothing Primer Serum SPF30 (review coming soon) and Lancome's  Teint Idole Ultra Foundation which I did a review of here. I'm really impressed with both of these products as my makeup literally didn't budge all day which is exactly what you need on the weekend don't you think?

I just really like how this makeup look all came together perfectly it was quite natural with a nice neutral smokey eye. My favourite! Over my makeup I used the Too Faced Born This Way concealer which I have to say is probably one of my favourite concealers on the market. It covers all imperfections I may have on my skin. I use two shades fair and light depending on which way my skin is looking. I absolutely love the smell of this concealer it has a really nice coconut scent, it's not overpowering though. I also reviewed this product here. Lastly on the eyes I used the Too Faced Sweet Peach palette which is a dream to work with all the eyeshadows are so buttery. I like how this palette contains a nice mixture of shades to choose from, I'm a big fan. All of the Too Faced eyeshadow palettes are amazing quality and definitely worth the €47 price tag in my opinion. I have them all and I'm delighted to have them in my makeup collection. I did a indepth review of this palette which you can find here. As you all know already I now have eyelash extensions so I haven't been using mascara lately as it's not really needed at the moment.

I really like this makeup look it is great for day or night, it looks so pretty and it's easily achieved. I like makeup looks where you don't have to use loads of products, it keeps your cosmetic bag feeling alot lighter I have to say!

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I've tried a couple of highend luxury foundations in my time as a blogger but I never tried any from Lancome. That changed recently when I got to try their Teint Idole Ultra Wear. This foundation was recently repackaged and got a name change from Teint Idole Ultra 24H. I like the new name alot.

I've tried their primer in the past after being recommend it by my friend Helen and I was really impressed by it. This foundation is said to be 24 hour wear and retouch free I can vouch that it does last for ages and have great coverage. This foundation does not look cakey and it doesn't streak. There is an amazing range of shades, 40 to be exact so there is a shade to suit everyone. You don't need much of this foundation I literally used only a pump to create the coverage shown below. This just proves that this foundation will last an incredibly long time.

I love the packaging on this foundation it's so luxurious and smells amazing. Teint Idole Ultra Wear is €41 so it is on the pricier side of the scale but definitely worth it.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - About Face by Aisling McDermott & Laura Kennedy

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I'm a big reader I have so many books but I love beauty related books in particular. Most of my collection is made up of beauty books. Not only are they great to read but they also make amazing coffee table books. I can't wait to get my own apartment with my boyfriend Daragh.

A book I got a couple of Christmases ago was About Face by Aisling McDermott and Laura Kennedy. This book is basically described as the Smart Women's Guide to Beauty and it's so so good, I love it!If you don't recognise the authors names already you must be living under a rock this book is written by past Beaut.ie founder Aisling McDermott and Irish Times columnist Laura Kennedy who make a great combination with all their knowledge combined.

Like every great beauty book it's split into easy to ready sections e.g makeup, skincare etc. I love the imagery in this book it's so beautiful and all the pictures look really well. I think good pictures make a book for me to be honest. This book is huge, it has in and around 200 pages which means it's jam packed with lots of beauty tips and tricks, just what I wanted. It's just so informative.

About Face retails for €22.99 which I think is amazing value and you'll take so much from this book, I guarantee it. I'm definitely going to do more book reviews in the future as I really enjoy doing them.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Flormar Illuminating Makeup Primer

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I like a good primer to prevent my makeup from slipping and sliding throughout the day. I used a couple of primers over the years some good some bad. Recently I've been using the Flormar Illuminating Primer and I'm a big fan.

This stuff costs €9.95 so it fall into the budget brand category so it's pretty affordable which is always good news. I use one pump for my whole face and it sits really well under my makeup plus it smells amazing. As you only need a pump this product will last for ages. Flormar is a hard brand to get a hold of I haven't seen it in too many stores out where I live so I bought this online.

I do really like this primer as it's amazing and so affordable I'd definitely recommend it.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Today's Simple Makeup Look

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Today I kept my makeup look nice and simple. I used minimal makeup products as I was getting eyelash extensions so I didn't want to wear too much. I will be doing a post about my eyelash extensions soon don't worry but yes they look amazing. I love them!

I didn't put on any mascara for obvious reasons as it would just be coming off once the eyelash extensions were being put on. I went to Araya Beauty in Leopardstown, it's such a relaxing environment and I enjoyed every minute of my treatment. Of course my eyelashes look amazing I really like them alot.

So back to what I wore on my face today. I started off with Flormar Illuminating Primer. If you haven't tried this stuff already it's unreal and leaves your skin glowing which obviously everyone wants from a good primer I know I do. This product cost about €10 which isn't too bad at all. Next up I used Rimmel Match Perfection foundation in the shade Ivory. I'm quite fond of this foundation it has a nice bit of coverage with a natural finish which is exactly what everyone wants right? Sometimes Boots have pretty good deals on Rimmel makeup so definitely keep an eye out. For concealer I used Too Faced Born This Way concealer in the shade Fair. I actually have two shades of this concealer but I do think Fair suits me alot better than Light at this time of year. If you want to see my thoughts on this product you can check out my full review here.

Lastly on my lips I used the new Yves Saint Laurent Tint in Balm which is such a lovely lip product. It's quickly becoming my favourite lip balm, I can't get enough of it at all. It's so hydrating on the lips and perfect for on the go cause your never going to make a mess with this one that's for sure. I actually reviewed this product earlier on today if you want to check it out here.

So that's my makeup look for today, I know pretty simple isn't it? I love these sort of makeup looks for chilled out days when you don't want to be putting too much makeup on.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Marks and Spencers Rosie for Autograph Beauty Range

Hey Guys and Doll,

I've never tried the Rosie for Autograph range from Marks and Spencers. I've looked at the products in store but I've never splurged on the them.

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to win two products from the range on Lisa Eldridge's Instagram competition. The prize was a lipstick and a liner from the Rosie for Autograph Spring 2017 collection. I was beyond excited and I love both the products alot.

Having not tried any products from this range I was very impressed. My favourite, the lip liner in the shade Lace is such a nice neutral pink shade, perfect for underneath any lipstick. The lipstick which is called Sour Grapes is a almost plum shade. This may be better for nights outs but can used patted down for a daytime look.

Now for the price I'd definitely call these products high end. The lipstick is €19 and the lipliner is €17. I love the packaging on these products, I'm a huge fan of rose gold. I'll be definitely checking out more products from the range soon. I already have my eye on the Amazing Radiance Cream as the name suggests it looks amazing.

Laura<3