#CorkBlogMeet15 FOTD

Yesterday, I was one of 20 bloggers to attend the #CorkBlogMeet15 hosted by the absolutely gorgeous Zoe Holman of Zoe With Umlauts. Because it was set to be an amazing day, I knew I was going to have to make a big effort with my make-up, so I'm going to recount all of my products for you! 

As always, I cleansed with Nivea Daily Essentials 2 in 1 Cleanser and Toner, and then applied the Nivea Q10 Plus Serum Pearls before moisturising with Nivea Q10 Plus Energizing Day Cream. While that set I drank a cup of tea and laid out my war-paint, as it were!! 

First, I primed with W7 Prime Magic and gave it a moment to set in before I applied my beloved (and sadly almost empty) Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation in Shell with my BCC F20 brush. Can you say "Holy grail combo"?! Love it!!! For concealer I went in with a touch of Maybelline FIT ME Concealer in the lightest shade under my eyes, around my nose and on my chin and dabbed it in with my ring finger. Then, I lightly contoured my cheeks with the warm bronzer shade of my Look Beauty Cheeky Trio and my BCC Flat Contour F30.  To set my make-up I went in with my Rimmel Lasting Perfection 25 Hour Powder and my RT Powder Brush. 

Time for them brows, girl! For my brow routine now I keep it really simple, by brushing them with a spoolie, and then lightly going through them with the Rimmel Brow Gel in Medium. That's it!!

Next it's time for the eyes. I primed with Urban Decay Primer Potion and used the Naked 2 to create my eye look. First I swept Tease through the crease for a transition shade. Then, I took Half Baked all over the lid, and blended Snakebite into the outer V. To add definition I very lightly took a touch of Busted through the outer V and into the crease. For my lower lash-line, I took Half Baked from the inner corner to halfway and then blended Snakebite from the middle outwards. I haven't been into liner really lately so I just tight-lined with a black pencil liner and added a few healthy sweeps of W7 Absolute Lashes and Maybelline The Rocket to complete the eye look. 

To finish my look I took my blush from my Look Beauty Cheeky Trio and swept it over my cheeks lightly, and then used the highlighter to highlight my cheekbones, brow bone and lightly down my nose. I applied MAC Faux for a neutral lip to balance out my bold eye look and that completed the whole look!! 

What do you think of my look??

Drop me a comment!!

xo

Amy

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Soap And Glory MAC Dupe???

As you all know, my newest obsession is MAC Cremesheen Creme Cup Lipstick. 

I have worn it daily since I got it and I can't seem to part myself from it. It's gotten so bad I feel like I'm letting my blog name and reputation down with the obsession formed over this MAC lippie. 

However with that said, I've found a dupe for Creme Cup if its not exactly in your price range. Enter, stage left, Soap and Glory Fabu-Lipstick in "The Missing Pink". This is a satin finish pink nude. 

Left: Soap and Glory "The Missing Pink"
Right: MAC Creme Cup

So, how does it stack up against MAC Creme Cup?? 

The Missing Pink smells the same, and has the same lasting power but has a slightly duskier tone compared to Creme Cup. The finish is the same, that satin-feeling, super moisturising texture. On the whole, MAC comes off slightly pinker on the lips whereas Soap and Glory is a slightly more muted nude. 

Top: MAC Creme Cup
Right: S&G The Missing Pink

MAC has a tendency to show up more imperfections on the lip, and The Missing Pink seems to fill them in allowing for a more polished look all around. For a fraction of the price, you can have almost the same product with the exact same finish. 

Soap and Glory The Missing Pink is 11.50 in Boots 
MAC Creme Cup is 19.50 in Brown Thomas

Have you tried any other dupes for MAC? 

Let me know down in the comments!! 

Amy xxx

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MAC Prep and Prime Lip Base - My Greatest Purchase of 2014?!

I adore MAC, they make amazing products. Sometimes though they are incredibly over-hyped. This is not one of those times.

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I bough MAC Prep & Prime Lip Base in Cork recently and sweet mother of Holy Grail, I am in love! I intended on picking up a new lipstick, but when I explained to the lovely assistant that I hated how Ruby Woo felt on my lips and wanted to try a different finish, she suggested I try Prep and Prime instead. She slicked Ruby Woo on the back of my hand, and asked me how it felt. It dragged and felt uncomfortable. Then, she slicked on some Prep and Prime, and glided Ruby Woo over that. it applied like a dream but stayed matte and there was no distortion of the pigment.

Sold.

At €16.50, it's not cheap, but it works under all lipsticks and keeps the product lasting much longer, as well as being moisturizing and filling in any cracks in the surface. I haven't been so obsessed by a product in a long aul time, let me tell you. This is possibly the greatest thing I've bought all year and it's gonna take a lot to knock it off the top spot.

I promise you, you need this in your life.

Keep your eye out for my updated "Ultimate Red Lip Essentials" coming soon!

Drop me a line and let me know what other MAC gems I'm sorely missing!

Amy

xxx

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Red Lips for Every Budget

Red Lips are timeless and classic. They can lift a woman's confidence to dizzying heights, bump up her sex appeal and embolden her to boot!

These days I feel I'm pretty qualified to give my opinion on rocking a red lip for every budget! 

Low Budget: 

I have no shame in saying that I find myself drawn to the low budget brands or "bargain" brands, because not only are you getting value for money, but these days you are getting brilliant quality too. 

Brands like Essence and Catrice have taken the beauty market by storm with their pocket-friendly offerings.

Essence Stay Matte Lip Cream in Silky Red is a fantastic red lip color for very little, retailing for €2.49 a tube. If you feel like treating yourself a little more, for €1.89 you can pick up the lipliner to match in the shade Femme Fatale, meaning for under €5, you can rock a beautiful, cool red lip, which wears beautifully and doesn't dry out your lips.

If Essence doesn't take your fancy, why not try some of the other budget offerings by the likes of Catrice, Collection or Natural Collection? I can verify that the Natural Collection lipstick in Crimson is a beautiful, well made lip product and is only 50c more expensive than Essence.

Mid-Range Budget:


The Mid-Range budget, by my reckoning would include the likes of Revlon and Maybelline.
One offering I particularly like is Revlon ColourStay Ultimate Suede in 095 "Finale".

One thing I will say about this lipstick is that upon first application it looks glossy, but as it dries it locks in, beautifully matte and pigmented.

This product is wonderful, I can attest to that. I wore this to lunch during the height of summer, with my mum and it never budged, and I wasn't using a liner with it. At €10.20, it's reasonable, but may be difficult to justify for some budgets.

Now that's a result!!

Top Tip: For extra opacity with this lipcolour, apply a first coat, blot, and then top up with a second coat before allowing to dry. Hello, Hollywood glamour!!



High-End:

Credit to Miss Penny Dreadful
http://misspennydreadful.blogspot.ie

The only lipstick that I think deserves a place here, is the much beloved, insanely popular MAC Retro Matte lippie, Ruby Woo.

This lipstick doesn't come cheap, at €19 a tube, but it is absolutely unbelievable. I would recommend this to anyone who was out to treat themselves to a lovely red lipstick.

Have you a birthday coming up? Need something for the Christmas wishlist? This is the lippie for you!! It has a gorgeous matte finish, lasts for ages, and smells divine.

If you are passing a MAC store, on Henry St or a MAC counter, treat yourself to this baby, I promise you wont regret it. It truly is the best red lipstick I have tried, and trust me, I have tried a lot.

Top Tip: For the best wear time and appearance, be sure to give your lips a good scrub with a sugar-scrub such as Lush Bubblegum Lip-Scrub, and moisturize with a good quality lip-balm. This will avoid it showing up the imperfections we all invariably have on our lips.


Christmas is the time to rock a festive red lip, no matter your budget, there is a red lip for you.
Will you be rocking a festive lip this season?

Amy
x