Top 16 makeup products of 2016 featuring Too Faced, Natasha Denona, Marc Jacobs, Hourglass & more!

It's hard to believe that it's the almost the end of another year - I really think that this entire year has gone by in the blink of an eye. Instead of doing a December favourites, over the next few days, I am going to share my 2016 favourites - today is makeup, tomorrow skincare and then on Thursday, it will be my favourite blogs from the year before taking a break for Christmas. I couldn't have narrowed makeup down to a Top 10, so instead, because it is 2016, I have compiled my top 16 of the year! Some are recent to my collection but others are long-term loves so let's get started!

The Autumn/Winter Glow Edit Part Two: Make-up featuring Natasha Denona, BECCA, Anastasia Beverly Hills & more!

Last week, I shared with you my favourite skincare products to achieve glowing skin in Autumn/Winter (here) but sometimes we all need some extra help because no matter how much water we drink or how well we take care of our skin, it can look dull. I find that if I don't get enough sleep or am just generally very run down, it shows in my face, so today I want to share with you some of the products that I reach for to add some life and glow to my skin!

The Autumn/Winter Glow Edit Part One: Skincare featuring Oskia, Korres, Estée Lauder, Omorovicza & more!

Healthy, glowing skin is something that I think we all aspire to - I'm not talking about a dewy finish, just radiant, glowing skin, which can be quite difficult to achieve in Autumn/Winter. Today, I want to share the products that I use in my skincare routine to achieve that sought after glow and later this week, I will share my favourite glow-giving makeup products because sometimes my skin needs that extra help! Some of the products were sent to me and have been previously reviewed but most I bought myself - opinion on all of them is completely honest. I am on long term antibiotics, which has really affected my hair, nails and, most definitely, my skin so I work really hard at trying to combat dryness, dullness and fatigued skin. I also have an open fire and the central heating sucks the moisture out of my skin. If you suffer with the same issues, I hope that you will find some inspiration here today!

The face mask edit featuring Oskia, REN, Omorovicza, GLAMGLOW & more!

As a sell-professed skincare addict, there is little that I enjoy more than having a pamper evening and applying a face mask (or 3!) and do so at least twice weekly. My skin always looks and feels better afterwards and depending on what my skin needs I may multi-mask (apply different masks on different areas of the skin according to its needs) or go for the ultimate pamper - a triple threat facial (clay mask, exfoliating mask and finish with a moisturising mask). Today, I want to share with you my current mask collection and I have broken them down into five categories: clay, exfoliating, firming, moisturising and sheet. If you are on the hunt for a new face mask, you are bound to find something suitable here! For reference, I have dry skin but sometimes have congestion on my chin and the occasional hormonal breakout along my jawline. My skin is also sensitive. Let's get started!

20 love at first use products featuring Natasha Denona, BECCA, Omorovicza, Sarah Chapman, Clarins, Essie, Xen Tan & more!

Love at first sight - does it exist? I'm not so sure, lust - yes, but love usually requires a little more than an aesthetic attraction. We've all made this mistake, whether in terms of the chocolate in the box that looked so appealing but ended up being a dud, the good looking man in the bar who was actually a twat or the beautifully packaged make-up product that made your eyes water or caused a breakout! Sometimes though, the magic is in the first taste, kiss or use and that's it - you've fallen hook, line and sinker! Today, I'm discussing the products that had me at first use - there are no slow burners here, just 20 products that I loved as soon as I applied them. I have a mixture of skincare, makeup and general beauty products to share with you, so let's get started!

Autumn lip options featuring MUD, MAC, Nars & Urban Decay

Like most people, I like to change up my make-up seasonally. I won't lie, I am lamenting the end of summer but because berry tones are associated with Autumn, it makes the transition a little easier! Today I want to share with you the lipsticks that I will be reaching for most this season and guess what? There isn't a nude lipstick in sight! 

Holiday make-up: the beach holiday edition featuring Stila, Urban Decay, Make Up Forever, Charlotte Tilbury, Too Faced & more!

For my birthday last month, my husband very kindly surprised me with a holiday to Tenerife and we leave this afternoon! I am really looking forward to a week of sunbathing, relaxing, reading and eating! Today I am sharing with you the makeup that I am bringing with me for the week. As usual, I probably have too many lip options but I've tried to be good with everything else!

Are Natasha Denona products worth the hype/price?

I first heard of Natasha Denona late last year when I saw Tati & Jaclyn Hill talk about her eyeshadow palettes in their videos and I thought that the palettes looked beautiful and sounded amazing but wondered how on earth the price could be justified (€239 here). I then started to notice Natasha Denona products crop up on some of my favourite blogs and on pinterest and her signature glowy look had me hooked. I almost placed an order on several occasions but the customs charges were always high and I never quite got around to it. When Beauty Bay announced earlier this summer that they would be stocking Natasha Denona products, I knew that I would succumb and place an order! Beauty Bay have really upped their game this year and stock some amazing brands now and their shipping has improved, thankfully! I'm not sponsored by them - I bought all of these products myself but just wanted to let you know where I purchased them in case anything catches your eye.

REVIEW: Vichy Double Glow Peel Mask - a dupe for Oskia Renaissance Mask?

We all know by now that I'm a skincare fanatic but it can be an expensive obsession so I like to keep my eye out for products in the mid-price range that might replace at least some of the more expensive products in my regime. When I read about Vichy's latest mask releases, the one that grabbed my attention immediately was the Double Glow Peel Mask. It is aimed at skin that lacks radiance and uses volcanic rock and AHAs to refine and renew the skin. I am obsessed with Oskia Renaissance Mask and hoped it might be a dupe for that at around 1/3 of the price. 

The dream cheek duo featuring Milani and Laura Geller

I received both of these products for my birthday a few weeks ago and I am ridiculously in love with them and haven't used any other blush or highlight since receiving these two beauts. The products in question are Milani Baked Blush in the shade Luminoso and Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator in the shade Peach Glow. 

The budget foundation that rivals luxury brands: Milani Conceal & Perfect 2 in 1 foundation & Concealer

Foundations are generally the most expensive products in my make-up collection with Armani, Estée Lauder, Nars and Charlotte Tilbury being amongst my favourites. It's not that I'm a make-up snob as such but I just never found a budget base that worked as well as my high end ones but that has now changed with this beauty! Milani is a brand that I have seen lots of American youtubers talk about but it wasn't easily accessible this side of the Atlantic but BeautyBay now stock Milani. I added this foundation to my birthday wishlist and was lucky enough to receive it and want to share my thoughts on it with you today.

Top 5 high end skincare buys featuring Omorovicza, Sarah Chapman, Oskia & more!

Last week I posted my top 5 luxury beauty/makeup products (here) so I decided to follow that up today with my top 5 luxury skincare buys. As you probably know, I am a bit of a skincare junkie and my skin is dry, (was) dehydrated, is sometimes uneven in tone, has some visible pores across the cheek area and is sometimes congested on my chin and along my jaw line - I really paint a pretty picture, don't I? Therefore, I look for products that will hydrate, moisturise, refine pores, improve texture and generally make my skin look radiant and plump - I don't ask for much! I had a difficult time choosing my top 5 products because I have a lot of skincare products that I use regularly but these are the ones that I know I can rely on to give the best results and actually make a difference to how my skin looks and feels. I have also slightly cheated by adding one product that deserves an honourable mention! 

Top 5 high end beauty buys featuring YSL, Marc Jacobs, Hourglass & more

I know from experience that high end prices/brands don't always equal amazing products or results but today I want to share with you my top 5 high end beauty purchases that I believe are worth the price tag. I have quite a large make-up collection that consists of mainly mid-high end products with some budget gems in there too and I have tried quite a lot of high end brands but when I got to thinking about this post, I finally narrowed it down to these five products that really stand out for me and I would wholeheartedly recommend to others who want to make a luxury make-up purchase. I haven't included any skincare because I will do a separate post on my top 5 high end skincare buys another day. So let's get started!

The summer lovin' tag

The beautiful Leanne from Lpagebeauty tagged me to do this and because I love summer, I thought it would be fun so here goes! I have to say that I really don't think I will be able to choose just one option for each category so be prepared for some cheating!

My summer make-up picks featuring Urban Decay, Hourglass, Clinique, Marc Jacobs & more!

Summer has finally arrived here in Ireland and it gave me the kick up the bum that I needed to finally sort out my make-up and put my summer-appropriate products in my Muji drawers that sit on top of my storage so they are close to hand. I'm into glowing skin, coral cheeks, bronze/brown eyes and bright lips for summer so if that is you sort of thing, keep reading!

Firming masks compared: Omorovicza Ultramoor Mud Mask Vs GLAMGLOW Gravity Mud

So you want firmer skin? Look no further! I am not anti-ageing, in fact I see ageing as a privilege but that doesn't mean that I don't want my skin to look good, no matter what my age. In your 20s, firmer skin isn't a primary concern but once you turn 30, I find that you look for products that will brighten and tighten the skin. Obviously a good daily skincare regime is very important but I find the inclusion of masks really ups the ante. Some masks give immediate results, others do more over time. The two masks in today's post fall into the former category so they would be brilliant to use before a special event/night out/or when you just want to look good & feel better in yourself. They are Omorovicza Ultramoor Mud Mask and GLAMGLOW Gravitymud. 

Sick day/week essentials featuring Tatcha, Soap & Glory, Eucerin, Colab & more!

You might have noticed a lack of posts on here recently and that is because I've been very unwell with pneumonia, vertigo and a very bad sinus infection. I was sure I would have a six pack from all of my coughing, but no such luck! Today I thought I'd share some products with you that were essential to me over the last 10 days and I think can make getting through a sick day (or week-fortnight in my case!) more bearable. Don't get me wrong, these products can't make you look like Kim K-W fresh out of hair & make-up but when you're in the midst of a snotfest, surrounded by tissues, they will help you make you feel a little more human and look a little less Rudolph-like! To be honest, when I am extremely ill, looking good isn't exactly a top priority but these products helped to calm and soothe my skin and made me feel a little more comfortable.

Five cleansers for dry skin featuring Omorovicza, Aurelia, Oskia & more!

I have a bit of a thing for cleansers - there is just nothing nicer than taking your makeup off at the end of the day (slight exaggeration, but it's something I really enjoy doing!). I love taking the time to massage products in and making sure my skin is thoroughly clean and ready for the next step. I like cleansers that will cleanse thoroughly without stripping my skin because my skin is dry enough without using products that will aggravate it further. Today I am sharing five cleansers that from my current skincare collection that I reach for most often. There are some other cleansers that I have previously used and love, but just don't currently own, that I would also recommend for the dry skinned ladies out there - Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm and Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm. These cleansers will also suit other skin types too, but in my experience, they work really well for dry skin.

Spanx for your face! Omorovicza Ultramoor Mud Mask & Omoressence review

If you have ever worn Spanx, then you will know that your stomach/hips/thighs are totally pulled in and you look tighter, firmer and more toned, right? Well listen up, ladies because today I am going to tell you all about two products; one that will make the skin on your face and neck look and feel tighter and more toned and another that will banish any signs of dehydration! Got your attention? Good! Now let's get started! 

If I could only keep 10 items of make-up featuring Armani, Charlotte Tilbury, MAC, YSL, Hourglass & more!

When I saw this post on Rachel's blog last month (check her blog out if you haven't already because she is a very talented make-up artist), it got me thinking - imagine if I could only keep 10 make-up products, what would they be? To be honest, I shudder at the thoughts of it! Of course there are more important things in life than make-up and of course I would manage with only 10 products if I had to, but I couldn't imagine being so restricted - even just having 10 eyeshadows would be tough, never mind just 10 products in total! I thought long and hard about it and found that some came to mind instantly and others took a little longer to choose but today I am going to share what made my top ten!

My Jo Malone fragrance collection

This time last year, I didn't own any Jo Malone products but I've been hooked ever since my husband bought me a bottle of Lime, Basil & Mandarin last April and have added a few more fragrances to my collection since then, or rather, my husband has! Today, I'm going to share my thoughts on the five fragrances that I own and how I like to combine them.