The Lo Down - Essence Macaras and Liners

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Essence cosmetics is a affordable brand I just love. It has an amazing array of products to choose from at such affordable prices. I think they are a great alternative to highend brands when your on a bit of a budget which is good when your in college and stuff cause most of the time people my age may not have the disposable income to fork out alot of money. I've always been happy with my purchases from this brand, lipstick, mascara, glosses and foundation to name a few. I'm going to be doing a review on some of the latter soon as I think there really good and definitely worth the money I do believe they're like under €4 which is ace in my opinion. They have everything from high coverage to low coverage so there's something for everyone which is always a good sign. The range of lippy and glosses shades they have is great too, I actually seen alot of new launches in the pipeline online so I can't wait to try them when there released.

Today I'm going to show you some of their mascaras and liners that I've been trying and yes I have been very impressed with them.

First off is the mascaras and boy are the good. It's good to find an alternative to pricier mascaras as god I know I never have the money to fork out on them. The Forbidden Volume mascara range are a new launch and I couldn't wait to give them a go. You have the original dramatic volume mascara that has your usual fibre want, this gives enough volume for day to day use. Next up you have Forbidden Volume Rebel mascara which has a fibre brush aswell but a bigger curvier wand with shorter and longer fibres. This one gives us so much volume because of the brush so this would be perfect for a night on the tiles me thinks. These mascara don't leave your lashes looking really spidery either it gives a nice bit of va va voom. Lastly you have the Forbidden Volume False Lash Topcoat which is definitely a favourite of  mine as it will probably work over any mascara. It's a mascara wand that has fibres that cling on to your lashes when your brushing it through. This stuff makes you look like you are wearing falsies and makes your lashes look so fluttery I got so many comments on my lashes after using this stuff so that's a good sign. These mascaras also come off pretty easily too, I use my Garnier Micellar Oil Infused Cleansing to remove them and I've never had a problem which is good. I don't particular think much of mascaras that take ages to remove at night to be honest.

Now on to the eyeliners and I have to say these two eyeliners are in a league of their own. They are just soo good. I tried the Essence Waterproof  Liquid Ink and Essence Dip Eyeliner. Both did such a good job and are great for winged eyeliner. They both have small soft brushes that were hard to work with the first few times but once you get the hang of it there great. They do have a watery consistency once applied but don't worry they dry to a totally matte finish. When I say these liners don't budge they seriously do not move an inch at all for the whole day which is good when your super busy during the day like me. I haven't tried them out in the gym but I'll definitely give them a go soon. 

Above is a picture of me rocking this mascara yesterday and yes I loved it it's such a nice look.

For the price these are just incredible and I'll be definitely be repurchasing them soon for sure. They are great to have in the oul makeup bag.

Can you get Essence Cosmetics in your country? Have you tried them yet?

Laura<3

The Lo Down - New Products from Max Factor

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I've used Max Factor products for an age, I think I started using them back in secondary school when I started first. My school wasn't so strict on makeup at all so we could wear it when we wanted except in Home Ec when we were cooking or doing practicals for exams. I opted to use Max Factor Pan Stick which looking back now was actually a bit too dark for me but sure who could tell me anything because I know I wasn't listening one bit. I'm not too sure if you can even get it now anymore but I know it was a firm favourite with my sister.

I'm going to show you some products that have been released recently or in the past year or so. I've been using them a while and so far so good I like them.

Miracle Touch Skin Smoothing Foundation

I've used this foundation before and I was quite the fan. I'm pretty sure they've reformulated it in recent times but it's still just as good. The foundation itself comes in a compact which is so handy to chuck in the bag for on the go, even better for the odd touch up here and there. I feel this product best applies which the sponge that you get with it. I usually just apply a couple of dots to my face and blend it in. This foundation is quite medium coverage and fantastic for everyday. Now the only downside for me is the shade, I was sent the shade natural not too long ago and I'm a bit too fair for it. This shade could work really well when I have a tan over the Summer but in the meantime I'm going to lend it to my Mum as she's alot darker than I am.

Smooth Miracle Primer
To go along with the Miracle Touch Skin Smoothing Foundation we have the primer which I adore. I never apply foundation without a primer as I have oily combination skin which means my foundation tends to move around a bit if it's left to its own devices. One pump of this stuff is definitely enough for my whole face which is amazing as it means the product will last ages. It's quite a light formula which I do like in a primer as I don't particularly like ones that are too heavy on my skin. This primer smooths skin texture which makes for a great foundation application so I'm happy all around with this product. Plus it has a pump which I do prefer to squeezing products out of a tube or sticking my fingers into a tub.

False Lash Epic Mascara
Now the thing that always comes to mind for me when it comes to Max Factor is their mascaras. They really are just fabulous, I've tried quite a few and they do leave my lashes looking amazing which is what you want isn't it? This mascara has quite an unusual brush it's sort of oval shaped and it fans out, at the end it has a little spikey ball which is perfect for picking up those pesky inner corner lashes. In December at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show makeup artist Tom Pecheux used over fifty tubes of this stuff to give the models showstopping lashes which goes to show that this stuff is the best.

Colour Elixir Marilyn Monroe Lipstick
Lastly we have a lipstick that everyone is sure to love. Max Factor released the Marilyn Monroe lipstick collection not too long ago. I remember at the time everyone was going mad for them and I can definitely see why. There is four lipsticks in the collection, three are made to suit different skin tones whilst Marilyn Ruby Red is the iconic red. I think this is such a good idea as some people like me may not be the biggest fan of a red lip but with this collection your sure to find a shade that suits you. I love Marilyn Cabernet, this lipstick is for darker tones but I do believe it suits me to a tee. It's a gorgeous deep red shade which would be great during the day blotted down or at night when it's all vibrant. The other shades in this collection are nice too don't get me wrong, I'm definitely going to try to wear them all more during the Spring and Summer months this year. I love the packaging on these lippies too as there just so sleek and look so pretty in my makeup bag. I definitely think Max Factor did a good job on this one.

I'm really impressed with all these products that I've mentioned. In the picture above I created a look using them all and I have to say I think the look came together really well. I'd definitely wear this look either day or night it's beautiful. Whats even better is that these products can be bought in the drugstore and aren't too pricey either which is always good to see. I'd recommend looking on the Boots website cause you can always see what products are on offer at any given time. If Max Factor is on offer I'd definitely recommend picking up the primer and mascara first, you'll always get use out of these two products that's for sure. All the products above retail for under the €20 euro mark which isn't too bad at all.

Are you a Max Factor fan?

Laura<3

Maybelline Volum' Express Big Eyes Mascara

When I first saw this mascara being launched Stateside I couldn't wait to see it hit our shores. On a trip to Boots in early February while I was having a browse on my lunch from work I spotted this beaut on the stand. I'm so glad it has finally been released over here as it is quickly becoming my favourite mascara.

Why do I think this mascara is amazeballs? It contains not one but two brushes one for my upper and one for my lower lashes. I'm not one for lashing mascara on my lower lashes as I think it can sometimes be a little OTT unless I'm heading out on the town, that's another story completely. The mini mascara brush reminds me so much of Clinique's Bottom Lash mascara, it just looks really natural and is perfect for everyday. I'm lucky to have pretty long eyelashes but they are ridiculously straight, oh to have everything. After curling my lashes, I apply to coats of Big Eyes mascara and not only does it give that extra oomph of volume my lashes need but it also holds a curl for pretty much the whole day. I couldn't really ask for anything more from this mascara. The last Maybelline mascara I was really impressed with was their Mega Plush mascara, this one definitely knocks it out of the park. Big Eyes is also really easy to remove I've been using Garnier's new Micellar Cleansing Water which I can't rave about enough, literally soak two cotton pads with the stuff and voila the mascara is on. No panda eyes in sight!

In all my recent Instagram selfies (let's not lie we're all guilty of them!), I've been using this mascara. It's definitely my most reached for mascara at present. I love how you can need a couple of strokes and your ready to go for the day. I don't see this being hit off its perch for a while. I'd definitely recommend checking it out the next time you take a much needed shopping trip to Boots. They are also running their 3 for 2 on beauty products at the moment so there's no excuse not to pick up this gem.

Have you tried Maybelline's new offering? What do you think?

Laura<3

My Beauty Bootcamp Experience

Just over a week ago I was lucky enough to attend the All Ages Beauty & Hair course at Beauty Bootcamp on Upper Fitzwilliam St. When I left my house at 9 o'clock that morning I didn't really know what to expect from the day, but I ended up having such an amazing time. I like the idea of seeing how a certain look/style is done and trying to recreate it yourself, I really think it's the best way to learn. The Georgian building that Beauty Bootcamp is held in is absolutely beautiful and the rooms where the course takes place are big and spacious. On arrival I met the lovely Emma Jane who walked the group (10 in total) through different hair looks. My hair is a disaster at the moment after years of using the straightener so it was quite hard to get the styles to say put. During the 3 hours before lunch, we all learned the basics in blowdrying, curling and how to achieve a glamourous up do (I enjoyed this the most!). I also have my eye on the Remington Volumiser Hot Brush, come payday next week this will be mine. I could see myself using this alot instead of straightening my hair, as it adds that bit of volume and bounce which I really need. I decided on going for a fancy french twist, which the lovely Emma Jane kindly helped me with, I couldn't be happier at the way my hair turned out. All in all I really enjoyed learning a few tips on different hair styles. I don't tend to do too much with my hair in general but I found this super interesting. After lunch it was time for makeup, my favourite part. I know I do have a beauty blog but you can never have to many tips and tricks when it comes to makeup. All the beauty products were provided, all I needed to bring was my mascara and foundation which was optional as there was a great selection of foundations there. The super talented makeup artist, Leonard Daly showed us how to achieve a flawless foundation with a smokey eye, step by step which I found great. I always apply my foundation with a brush and after listening to Leonard for the three hours, I may be converted to using my fingers. It may not be the quickest compared to brush application, but you end up using so much less product in the process which is a plus if you own a rather expensive foundation. My favourite part was when we learned how to contour as it wouldn't be something I do enough. Another product I must buy is the Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate, I love everything about it including the packaging. I may be waiting a while though as this stuff isn't wallet friendly, but it's amazing for contouring and may indeed be a makeup bag must and these claims come after I tried it once. I don't contour enough and the different it makes is quite extraordinary, it looks like I have amazing cheekbones which I didn't think was possibly by just using one product. I loved the look I achieved at the end using minimal makeup but still getting a flawless finish, I kept my eyes quite simple with some browns and purples. I finished the look with my new favourite mascara Giorgio Armani Eye to Kill mascara*. My lashes look so long and full of volume after I use this, it doesn't clump or leave me with spidery lashes. I'm going to do a full review on this soon. At the course you also get given a booklet which shows easy step by steps to creating a makeup look which I found ever so helpful and it's great that I can refer back to it if I need to.

Here are some before and after pictures, I'm half asleep in the no makeup picture, along with my extremely frizzy hair that is almost impossible to work with in the mornings. Being the first no makeup picture on my blog, I wasn't sure if to put it up but I think it's a must with this post.

I really enjoyed my day at Beauty Bootcamp, I learnt so much in the space of a day. I'd love to book a course for my Mom and I before Christmas. It's something I know she'd really like to do herself as she loves learning new tips and tricks. If you want to check out some of the courses Beauty Bootcamp have to offer you can check out them out here. The day course itself would be great for before a hens or even someones birthday party as you'd be all glammed up for the night ahead.

Laura<3

New products from Catrice....

I love Catrice. I know that's a very stronge statement to make but this budget brand is amazing. All the products I've tried bar one or two have been such great quality. Every month they release Limited Edition collections which always get snapped up in my local store. When I went in to have a look at their latest collection, unfortunately it hadn't launched yet. Of course a few new products caught my eye. Everything that I got came to about €16, you can't get any better than that.

Applied Dry

Applied Wet

Vanilla Sky Ride, Lunch at Tiffany's, Charly's Chocolate Factory

Here are Catrice's beautiful Intensif'Eye Wet & Dry shadows. They are completely new to the brand, I bought three that I could see myself using. They remind me alot of MAC's Mineralize eyeshadows, certainly a cheaper alternative that's worth having a look at. As the name says, you can use the eyeshadows wet or dry. So far I've only applied them dry and I love them. As you can see from the swatches, they are very pigmented shadows. I've been using a primer before I apply them as they do tend to crease without one. All three shadows are glittery, so be warned there can be fallout and if you don't like shimmer these probably aren't for you. My favourite shade from the bunch is Lunch at Tiffany's (love the quirky shade names), it's a really nice all over the lid colour.

I've tried two other Catrice mascaras in the past and I wasn't a fan of them. I found the formula too wet and it left my lashes clumpy. This mascara was different. I've long thin lashes and this makes them really thick. Today in work, people were asking me all day if I was wearing false lashes. No, it was this! As you can see this isn't a particularly long brush but it's very large. It's wide at the bottom and narrow at the top (perfect for my tiny inner lashes). When I take the brush out of the tube, I do find it covered in too much product but this is easily removed. Once on the eyes, it didn't flake at all. I took this picture after a full day at work so this mascara holds a curl. I hate getting a mess of mascara under my eyes, especially when I work in retail everyone seems notice. The only thing that I don't particularly like is the smell, it's too strong for my liking. Seriously it reminds me of marzipan (the stuff you put on Christmas cakes), not the nicest smell at all.

What Catrice products have you tried?

Laura<3