Drugstore & NYC Haul

A while back I picked up the NYC Blushable Crème Stick and I was so impressed by the quality, pigmentation and more importantly the price that I have been dying to try a few more products!

Yesterday I managed to do just that when I made a quick trip to the local pharmacy (dragging poor hubby along for the ride!). I picked up three NYC goodies and a Bourjois Bronzer as my existing Rimmel Bronzer is running low.

So what was the damage to the bank and the products bought?

Bourjois Bronzing Powder - €9.99
NYC Expert Last Lipstick in Candy Rush - €2.49
NYC 16 Hour Lip Stain in Berry Long Time - €3.99
NYC Expert Last Nail Polish in Mint Macaroon - €1.99

I'm really excited about the nail polish and the lip stick as they are both perfect colours for Spring and I will post some swatches below with the product pics. I'll get testing and have reviews soon!

Mwah!
xo

Real Techniques Brush Review

Howdy luxers!

Happy Saturday! I thought I would start the weekend catching up on some long overdue reviews! January Boots Haul anyone? Yep that's when I picked up Samantha Chapman's Real Techniques Core Collection Set. I didn't want to go out and buy all of her brushes but I figured I would get a good idea of quality with the Core Set.

Lets start with the basics, packaging; the set comes in a handy little carry case, which you can also flip into a stand if needs be. I myself haven't used it as a stand but I take the case everywhere!

Price wise the set was €28.99 - for the four following brushes;
A Detailer Brush - super mini concealer brush which I found excellent when blending creamier/ stick concealers. I still prefer to use my finger tip gently when blending liquid concealers.

Pointed Foundation Brush - listed as being the perfect partner in crime for liquid foundations.

Buffing Brush - initially I thought 'eh hello, aren't you a little on the small side?' As I am used to using larger buffing brushes, but I adored this brush! It was perfect for applying pressed powders (I hate using the sponge applicators with those!) and for the first time ever I was getting a great finish over my under eye concealer. Normal my attempts to set my under eye concealer leaves it a little 'cracked' looking but this brush sets it perfectly!

Contour Brush - this teardrop shaped brush is a godsend. I found it super when trying to get noticeable definition while also ensuring it is blended right. As the packaging says 'delicately applies highlighter to contour or create sheer, soft focus finish'.

As you can tell I am really liking these brushes. I think for the budget conscious make up lover this set and brand in general are a great addition to anyone's collection. They are light weight, have a really durable finish (read: not likely to fall apart any time soon!). I have had zero shedding from these brushes, the bristles are taklon so they are so incredibly soft. As taklon is a synthetic fibre the brushes are CRUELTY FREE (yeay!) and the brush heads are hand cut to ensure and even finish.

But that's not all, because the brushes are the mastermind of YouTube beauty guru Samantha Champan (pixiwoo) she has also posted tonnes of make up tutorials which you can find on the Real Techniques website http://realtechniques.com/videos/blog#the-looks

All in all I am delighted with my purchase. I would highly recommend the Core Collection Set. However... While I know the brand is trustworthy and really good quality I have far too many eyeshadow brushes to even think about investing in more (just yet!). You can buy a Real Techniques set online or, in your local Boots store!

Enjoy!
Mwah
xo

Sleep in Rollers

So as some of you may know I went to the Irish Beauty Show at the weekend and was delighted to pick up the much talked about Sleep in Rollers. This is a product I have wanted to try out for a while because my hair is so unbelievable fine (not fine as in 'Gurrl he fiiine' but fine as in 'thin'). Yep my hair is the most lacklustre, falls down in a heartbeat sorry excuse for hair! Ever. Period. I guess because of that I've barely really given it the TLC it deserves, in short, I am rubbish at hair and hairstyling!

So armed with my own self defeatist attitude, I sat down before work yesterday to give them a whirl. Before you roll your eyes and think 'but you HAVE to sleep in them' the simple answer is: you don't.

When I purchased the Sleep in Rollers I also picked up the Hairdryer Hood, oh the hood... Wait till you see the picture, I have never laughed so hard at myself! I swear, some of the comments from friends later ranged from 'you look like a 50's Alien' to 'you look like Frenchie from Grease' ha!!!

Enough about all that - lets get down to the business of reviewing.

I paid a total of €35 for which I got, 20 of the squishiest softest rollers (perfect for sleeping on!), a hair net (for nighttime wear) a DVD, the Hair Dryer Hood and two cute little drawstring carry bags. You all know I'm a stickler for bargains so all in all that's a helluva lot for €35. Ding ding, that's the first gold star for the sleep in rollers.

As mentioned there was an instructional DVD... Which NATURALLY I did not use... Heh... To be honest, the instructions are printed on a tag with the bag, and there's a link to a YouTube beauty blogger where she shows you how to use them.. Again, I ignored them (honestly I was just too excited to get going!)

As previously mentioned, hair is not my strong point as you will see from my pics below, but I set about rolling my hair.

Start with hair 80% dry (you know when you think it's dry but you keep finding damp patches - that's perfect)
Take hair in sections the same width as the rollers (about two inch sections)
Roll clockwise starting with the crown of your head. Pin rollers, or like me, don't and hope the Velcro is sticky enough (it was!)
Cover head completely with the hood and pull drawstring making sure no air can escape.
Attach Hairdryer to hood tube and set to medium heat and medium speed (I blasted first high and hard for 5mins) leave for 15minutes or however long it takes to put you war paint on for the day.
Take hood off, and leave rollers in hair to cool for 10mins.
Remove one roller to ensure hair is totally dry - you will notice a noticeable bend or bounce in the curl.
Start from the bottom and work your way removing all the rollers.
Lash a little bit of hairspray into the hair and run your fingers through hair.
Et voila - glorious, sexy, vampish hair is yours!

I LOVED this product, even though my attempt at using the rollers was mediocre at best the results were awesome. I got tonnes of compliments in work yesterday from the gang and people were stunned when I said I did it myself. The volume lasted for pretty much most of the day too.

Honestly if you can, get this product - you will not regret it!!!

Enjoy the pics! If you liked this post share share share!
Mwah!
xo

MIMI UPDATE: okay... You guys asked for a before shot from the same day... *cries* please excuse the non makeup blank stare look... Not very chic! Pic added below! x
http://www.sleepinrollers.com/

NYC Blushable Crème Stick Review

I'm on a roll today my lovelies! Another review!

I've never really purchased an NYC product in the stores... They've always been TOO budget friendly for my liking and therefore leaving me über suspicious of their quality. (Read: cheap = acne breakout) So I tended to steer well clear.

However, I was keen to find a bargain to add to my collection so I went ahead and picked up the NYC blush stick, or more eloquently put, the Blushable Crème Stick, in Plaza Pink. At €3.50 they're a TOTAL bargain. I have fallen in LOVE with this product so much!

Zero nasty breakouts, gorgeous colour, super easy to work with, and most importantly gives my MAC blush a serious run for it's money.

Also, did I mention, I love how when I first apply it I feel like a super girly American Football player... Don't believe me? Check out my pictures below!

Tell me what you guys think!

Mwah
xo

Rimmel Wake Me Up Review

So, I finally became brave enough to post my first review! Eeek! Where to start? With the basics I guess - foundation!

I'm such a BB Cream slave but in the cold/windy/wet weather it just doesn't cut the mustard so alas.. Without any recommendations I bit the bullet and picked up the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation. My colour of choice #200 soft beige, yes I know I'm not tanned enough for such an oh so dark colour but Rimmel don't make anything in the shade 'ghastly white'. Plus I like to laugh in the age old advice of never buying foundation that's darker than your natural tone for fear of the dreaded Oompa Lompa effect!

So here it goes at 11 squid it definitely doesn't break the bank, but I do like the packaging... I've dropped it more than enough times this week to know it's smash proof!

My skin (as you will see in the picture below) is typically 'Irish' in the sense that it is pale and pasty with flashes of red, a smattering of freckles, and most recently an outbreak of acne. It's also wildly unpredictable in the sense that one day it's as dry as the Sahara and the next it's so oily I almost announce a natural disaster has occurred on my face. Therefore it's vital that I reviewed this over a number of days wear and not just one! (Which I diligently did!)

Colour wise there's not that many shades to choose from but I can live with that as soft beige did me just fine! Here's the best bit... The coverage - it totally evened out my skin tone and even managed to cover some nasty red acne skin when I built it a little. Needless to say I'm delighted with this.

Is it durable?! Well, on my Sahara days it never cracked and I had a nice dewy glow even after 8 hours. On my oil slick days I'm happy to report it didn't just slide off my face but I did have to reapply some setting powder.

As for the anti fatigue effect it promised? Well, I'm not too sure, it definitely did deliver a soft sheen finish, but I guess I would be my own worst critic - what do you think of the before and after pics? Do I look more awake?

Lastly I must say I loved the smell of the foundation, it didn't ever feel like I was wearing any either and added bonus it has an SPF of 15! Winning!! Overall I give this a solid 9/10.

Mwahx