Review: Butter London Lippy in Trout Pout

Today I am going to talk about Butter London Lippy in Trout Pout. I have only really read about Butter London online, as it is not very widely available in stores in Ireland. I know the nail polishes are a bit of a cult blogger favourite and when I heard they were releasing lip colours I was very intrigued. So you can imagine my delight when I stumbled upon a display of Butter nail polishes and the coordinating lip colours in the new Avoca store at Malahide Castle.

Image via www.dermstore.com

I was immediately drawn to Trout Pout for its coraly pink colour which is gorgeous and extremely wearable. It was €17 which I think is a fair price, because it is stunning on! Its really full coverage colour, not like the usual sheerness of gloss. It's the perfect colour for wearing with a smokey eye, or for when u don't want to wear a fussy lip colour. It applies like a dream and wears really well, for about 3 hours which is like a lifetime on my lips! It comes packaged in a really sleek tube with a doe-foot wand which is my favourite type of lipgloss applicator. There is also a matching nail polish colour, Im not the type of girl that matches her nails to anything due to the fact i get gel nails done every few weeks so dont really paint my fingernails, but I can still see the appeal of a matching polish as it is such a nice colour. 

As far as lip products go, this is definitely one of my better purchases!! 

Overall I am very impressed with this product and I see myself going back for more colours.

I will update this post with swatches and a picture of me wearing this, as it has to be seen on to show the true loveliness of it.

Review: Bourgois Intuitive Liner

Today I'm going to review this new eyeliner from Bourgois. It is a much cheaper version of the newly launched Clarins 3-Dot Liner. From the other reviews I have seen online I thought this was going to be a life changing product, but I can't say it has made much of an impression on me. I love a good winged eyeliner look so I hoped this would make life easier, but I was can't say it has.

Image via: /http://www.beautyandthedirt.com

It is a slim, 3-pronged pen-style eyeliner. The idea of the liner is a good one and I can see it working for people that mightn't have a steady hand and just want a little bit of definition but for a full on cat-eye flick it just gets messy. I also found it transferred onto the crease of my eyelid after a couple of hours which is a serious pain in the arse.

The one use i did find this liner good for, is for defining my lower lash-line. When I'm not going for full on liner on the waterline (I usually just use Benefits Eye Bright pencil on my waterline to take away any redness and make my eyes look bigger) I find this does a great job at giving subtle definition along my lashes without being too heavy. I just press the liner in along my lash line and it is very natural looking.

I am always very hard pressed to find a worthy replacement for my trusty Rimmel Glam Eyes liquid liner, which I have been using for years now. It just can't be beaten on price or formula and ease of use. I think this liner is a good buy if you're looking for a product to add a hint of definition to your eyes, or if your hands aren't the steadiest, just not the product for doing a cat-eye flick. 

3 Budget products I cant live without

I will be the first to admit I can be a bit of a make up snob, prefering MAC and Urban Decay over cheaper brands, but there are some budget brands and products out there that do a ten times better job than their high end counterparts. I have mainly found these products through reading the numerous beauty blogs I regularly visit.

The first of my cant live without products is Collection(2000) Lasting Finish Concealer. This is probably the most raved about concealer on the internet and for good reason. It comes packaged in a slim tube with a spongey doe foot applicator, like a lipgloss tube really. It is very similar to the Estee Lauder Double Wear concealer in terms of packaging and formulation. The product is a liquid that has serious lasting power. I have it in two shades, Light and Medium. I use the Light for under and around my eyes as it is slightly pink in tone and covers any dark circles and I use Medium, which is more yellow toned, on any blemishes and around my nose. I use the Real Techniques Setting brush to blend it in, as it is a lovely sized, soft fluffy brush which ensures it applies perfectly every time. I get a full days wear out of this product, which says a lot as my skin is quite oily and most products just slide off after a few hours. I have compared this to the Estee Lauder concealer and I have to be honest, I have never even noticed a difference between the two products. Apart from the price tag that is, the Collection Lasting Finish Concealer retails for around €6ish, while the Estee Lauder Double Wear is around €24. Needless to say I wont be buying the Estee Lauder one again!

Image via:http://lucy-boots.blogspot.ie/

Next up is a recent purchase, Boots 17 Mirror Shine Lipstick in Beehive. This is another apparent blogger favourite, and is almost identical to my favourite MAC lipstick of all time, Hue. 

This to me, is the perfect nude lipstick. Perfect for daytime, night-time with a strong smokey eye and everything in between. It is a slightly peachy pinky toned nude which works for my colouring but I know some girls find lip colours like these make them look a bit lifeless so it is not for everyone. Beehive is a very glossy lipstick with medium pigmentation, it needs frequent reapplication but I don't mind that too much. I feel it actually wears better than Hue, as it doesn't dry out my lips as much. I think Beehive retails for around the €7 mark (i shall be keeping receipts from now on!) which is a great price compared to €17.50 for Hue.

Image via:http://just-jens-blog.blogspot.ie

Finally, probably my most used and repurchased beauty item of all time, is Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Eyeliner. This has been a staple in my make up bag for years and I still love it as much as I did at the beginning. This is one of those products that I would never even bother trying to replace, because what is it they say, "if it aint broke don't fix it"! This to me is the perfect liquid eyeliner for creating a sleek cat-eye look, which is one of my signature looks. You can create as thin or as thick a line as you want, and once this liner is dry you don't need to worry about it smudging or flaking. A great thing about this liner is, if you make a mistake or mess up your flick, it is so easily fixed with a swipe of a cotton bud soaked in eye makeup remover, unlike some eyeliners I have used (I'm looking at you, Inglot matte gel liner!!). This is the perfect example of a great budget buy, as it will only set you back approx €7/8, and lasts for absolutely ages, I'd say I get at least a year out of mine, and I use this every day!

Image via: www.polyvore.com

So all in all, some great cheap make up products are out there just waiting to be found, that give the high end brands a serious run for their money!

Review: Soap and Glory Smooch Operator

Relatively new to the Soap and Glory line is Smooch Operator lip butter, and like every other Soap and Glory product I have used,  it doesn't disappoint. It comes in a really cute pink and white tub, very typical S&G style. The flavour of the balm is coconut ice and while some coconut-y scents can make me a bit queasy I have to say that thankfully this one doesn't! It reminds me of the Carmex lip balm that comes in the tub, in terms of packaging and consistency. I know some people are funny about lip balms that come in tubs due to them being extremely unhygienic , but I am not one of those people! I have extremely dry lips which are prone to chapping and I find this is a really great product for keeping them hydrated and smooth. This also works great as a base for lipsticks and gloss, and prevents them drying your lips out. I have found this is a very worthy substitute for my usual favourite lip balm, Avene Cold Cream Lip Balm, which hasn't been on shelves anywhere for months sadly enough. It is pretty pricey at €8.50 for 9g of product but it is Soap and Glory so prices are going to be that bit higher than usual. 

                                             Image via www.soapandglory.com  

All in all I have to say I am very pleased with this product and will continue to use it, at least until I am reunited with my beloved Avene balm. 

My top 3 foundations

Im gonna get stuck in right away and start talking about my favourite foundations. Foundation might not be the most exciting purchase to make but it is definitely the most important. A good foundation can make or break a look so getting it right is imperative. Trying to find one that suits your skin and does what you need it to do can be a battle though. 

I personally have oily/combo skin so I need my foundations to have good coverage, be long-wearing, non-oxidizing, and comfortable to wear. I have tried many and only suceeded with a handful. 

These would be: 

Estee Lauder Double Wear This is my favourite foundation and I always go back to it. It is amazingly long wearing, with brilliant coverage and always looks and stays flawless. Some people think it is too heavy, I think with the right brushes and application it can be as light or as full coverage as you need it to be. It is perfect for long days in work, nights out and everything in between. 

image via www.allure.com

Face Atelier Ultra Foundation This foundation does it all! It applies like a dream and can be layered to your desired coverage from medium to full. It also wears really well and is long lasting while looking fresh and almost dewy. As there is no SPF in it, it photographs like a dream so is perfect for weddings and any events with flash photography. This is the primary foundation in my make up kit as i find it works for all skin types which is a rare find. I use it on my own oily skin, and it works equally as well if not better on dry, and mature skin too. A great buy all round, though it is not available in stores in Ireland. I buy mine from www.cloud10beauty.com and the full size 30 ml bottle retails for €38. I buy the pro 20ml bottles for €28 as they are easier to store in my kit. You can also buy samples for €1 to find your perfect shade match. 

image via http://www.beautypassionista.co.uk/2011/01/cult-beauty-at-selfridges.html

Bare Minerals Original Foundation Bare Minerals is an old love of mine, I have been using it on and off since i was 18 and it is one of those things that I pull out of my drawer every so often and wonder why I dont use it more. It offers great buildable coverage and looks so natural and fresh. You can layer it to your hearts desire and it is great for hiding any blemishes or spots. I use a Sigma Kabuki brush http://www.sigmabeauty.com/default.asp to apply and it looks perfect every time. This foundation works better for non-dry skin types from my experiences with it, as it can emphasize fine lines and dry patches. Apart from that its a thumbs up from me. 

image via www.guardian.co.uk

Let me introduce myself...

Hi there! 

My name is Rachel and I'm from Dublin. I am a professional make up artist, specializing in bridal make up, and I recently completed training in applying Mink semi permanent eyelash extensions, which I love doing. I juggle this around my full time retail job. I have always had a huge love of beauty, fashion and art and so to be finally doing what I love is very exciting. 

I am going to use this blog as a place to post make up tutorials, reviews on my favourite cosmetics, skincare and hair care, and any other rambles I may have along the way. 

Hope you enjoy reading!