What I Wore: A College Ball

We had a fabulous night! 

Dress: Wallis 

Shoes: Shoe Rack

Make-up

Primer: L'oreal BB Cream in Light

Foundation: Esteé Lauder Double Wear in Tawny

Blush: MAC Mineralise Blush in Dainty

Contour: MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural in Medium/Dark

Eyes: Urban Decay Naked 3 palette and eye primer potion in Sin

Lips: MAC lipstick in Angel 

Real Techniques Duo Fibre Brushes

In case you didn't know, I love make up brushes. I wanted/needed to add brushes to my collection. My first choice was sigmabeauty.com but when I got to the checkout, shipping to Ireland was $20 plus the total amount of the brushes. I just couldn't justify it. Sigma will have to wait. I needed a bronzer/blush brush, contour brush and another eye brush. 

Just pictures of the packaging! Check Samantha Chapman out on YouTube!

These brushes are definitely for minimal application of product. They are so soft and fabulous to use but I find product application is very light.

The largest brush is a powder brush and compared to my first Real Techniques powder brush it definitely applied less product. However, to combat this I use the flat side of the brush and press it in to my powder. That has definitely helped with my application of powder, although still less than the powder brush below. 

The brush on the left is a contour brush. As a contour newbie this has been the perfect brush for me. As I said before the application of product is not heavy. This brush applies the perfect amount of blush to my cheeks and the right amount of bronzer to contour with. Also, this brush can be used for two purposes. Contour and blush! I use the top of the brush for contouring and the side of the brush for blush. The only downside is that if you do want to darken the blush and bronzer you do have to repeat your brush movements at least 3 or 4 times. It can be time consuming.

The eye brush in the centre is also a lovely brush. On the box it says to use this brush for finishing touches. I like to do the opposite. I like to use it for applying my base colour. It is a very good brush for spreading colour across the lid and also for blending. However, just like the other brushes if you do want to use it for applying colour you have to repeat the application a few times. 

Overall, I like these brushes. They're good for someone like me who he is still learning. I can practice techniques like contouring which can be challenging at the start and still end up looking human! 

They retail at €29.99 and can be purchased in Boots and online.

I hope this helps!

Miss Worth <3 

Naked 3

The most anticipated, in demand product for girls this Christmas! The Urban Decay stands were swamped with everybody trying to get their hands on this fabulous product!! I was lucky enough to be a recipient of this product and I am happy with it. 

I love the packaging. The brush that comes with it, pictured below, is also very good and a great addition to have in any brush collection! What you don't know until you receive it is that it also comes with Urban Decay's fabulous eye primer potion! A must for any make up bag!!

The colours in this palette are very pink. Something that I have found difficult to get used to. I am very conscious of the colours making my eyes look sore because naturally I have a pink eye lid any way. However, I am getting there. It is fun playing around with all of the colours! My top 3 have to be: Burnout, Limit and Mugshot. I also really love Darkside and Blackheart.

Here is a look that you could try with this palette!

Miss Worth <3 

Soft skin

So, I have sensitive skin. Which is a good and a bad thing. It means that I can't use products with a lot of scent and I have to be careful when choosing products to use. Luckily for me, I hit gold when I tried this Aveeno Body Wash.

I needed a body wash for the shower to use with my exfoliator mits that did not dry out my skin. I think I got much more when I purchased this product. 

Do you struggle to moisturise on a regular basis? I do. I just forget or don't give myself enough time to do it. I am a disaster. The only time I really make sure that I do is during the summer when I know that my skin needs protection from the sun. And by moisturising I believe that it definitely provides with a tan that is natural and long lasting. That is why this product is so perfect. Somehow, after I use this product I feel moisturised. My skin is soft to touch. It is amazing. A must buy.

This picture is awful I know. 

This is a product that I initially bought to wear on holidays because I knew that my foundation would just melt off my face in the heat. Originally, I didn't like it. I chose the 'light' shade as there were only two options in Boots. (Light or Medium) But the light shade still appeared a bit too dark for me. Then one day, I had no choice. I was completely out of foundation. I had to wear it to college. And, to my surprise, it worked. I put it on, put my concealer under my eyes and over any redness that I had, then added my  everyday pressed powder and my face was ready for the day ahead. Now, when my face needs time to breath it is the first thing I grab. I love it!

Beware, it offers absolutely no coverage, just colour. It is a 24 hour hydration cream. It works like magic. It first comes out white on to your hand and then as you move it in to your skin it changes colour. It really is 'magique'. This product is now one of my recommended products. Is your skin tired from foundation? Are you unsure of what to wear on days when you don't feel like a full face of foundation?? Well then, this is for you!

Also, I saw on a YouTube video that a beauty vlogger used it as a primer for her foundation! BONUS! 2/3 products in one! Go get it....

Miss Worth <3 

Alfie <3

Facial Rejuvenation

Over Christmas I was working so much that it affected my skin. My skin was tired from wearing make up day in, day out. It was getting dry. After using my cleanser my face felt tight. That was when I knew I had to do something about it. 

I have recently discovered Lush. I visited the Lush store in Dublin and was talked through some of their products by one of the very helpful sales assistants. I took a brochure and that was it. I was sold. So a couple of weeks ago, I went in again to ask about facial cleansers. I am so glad I did. My face feels fabulous after using this product. It has been restored to its lovely, plump, healthy looking and feeling self. 

Ultrabland

Lush Products

This makes purchasing their products even more enjoyable

Ultra effective, ultra gentle face cleanser

A rich, soft oily cleansing cream that cares gently for all skin types.

Is 'oily cleansing cream' sending alarm bells off in your head right now!?? I know when the sales assistant first said it to me, I felt alarmed. Oil usually means, shine and grease! Well, thankfully, not with this. I have combination skin. Sometimes I'm oily, sometimes I'm dry. This product rejuvenated my skin. That is not an exaggeration. My skin felt so plump and a nice amount of moist after use. I highly recommend this product! It also affectively takes off make up. BINGO!

Honey Trap Lip Balm

White chocolate balm for vanilla-honey kisses

My lips were chapped. On my same visit to Lush I decided to take the plunge and also purchase one of their lip balms. I honestly, LOVE it. It smells lovely and it also moisturises my lips perfectly. During my day I do a lot of walking between different lecture halls. More often than not theres wind and rain. We do live in Ireland after all. This lip balm offers the perfect protection from harsh weather for my lips and keeps them lovely and moist. If you haven't tried this already then I definitely would!! 

 Miss Worth <3

Urban Decay - Optical blurring brush

Make up brushes consume my brain on a daily basis! If I can help you choose the right one then that would make me very happy! 

This is the Good Karma Optical Blurring brush. It is €29. It can be bought in Debenhams or online. 

PROS: 

1. Bristles are tightly packed and dense, resulting in even application
2. Doesn't cause liquid foundation to streak
3. Is great at blending
4. Can be used for bronzer, highlighter and blush also
5. Not too large, easy to transport

CONS

1. It takes FOREVER to dry. If washing this brush it is essential to have a spare one in case it hasn't dried in time.
2. €29 is a high price. However, I believe it it totally worth it and definitely worth having in your make up bag.

Miss Worth <3 

Naked Basics plus a few more!

This is all about the Naked Basics palette. However, I decided to put my foundation in too. I love Esteé Lauder Double Wear light. And, trust me, I know how hard it is to find the right foundation. I have tried a lot of them! I have combination skin and I do get the odd spot every now and then. This foundation is great as it can be built up for going out or left nice and light for work or everyday wear. I wear shade number 1.0.

I have started using the Urban Decay 'Optical blurring' brush as my foundation brush and I have to say, I really do like it. I simply use circular motions all over my face and it applies the foundation very nicely and evenly.

Ideal Light Brush on Illuminator 

Placed in a V under my eye, and then I tap and blend with my finger

Apologies for the poor pictures up above. I was disappointed with the packaging of this Esteé Lauder product as it destroyed my make up bag and the coating just shed everywhere. Hence, the patches in the picture and why you can see the reflection of my phone. Anyway aside from that, this is a good product although when it runs out I am going to change it. I get dark circles under my eyes very easily so I did want a concealer for under them. This technically isn't a concealer, it is an 'Illuminator' but for now it does the job. It is also good to use on your eye lids. I recently learned that you are in fact not supposed to put foundation on your eyes! This is one of the only concealers I have used so I cannot compare it and say whether it is very good or very poor. 

Now on to Naked Basics.

Primer Potion

This is the amount I use on one eye

The palette

Venus - Foxy - W.O.S - Naked 2 - Faint - Crave

I love the packaging

I now have this palette about three weeks and I think I have worn it everyday. Initially, I was a bit disappointed with the palette. But, it did grow on me. After I spent time playing with the colours and deciding on my favourite look I really began to see why it is very popular. I like to create a soft smokey everyday look. This is what I have demonstrated below.

Real Techniques brushes with a Bobbi Brown brush and an Urban Decay shadow brush

Foxy

I apply 'Foxy' all over the lid. 

'Naked 2'

 I then apply 'Naked 2' in the crease of my eye, while keeping my eye open, using windscreen wiper motions. I gradually bring this colour out to the corner. 

'Faint'

 I use the colour 'Faint' with the same methods as 'Naked 2' just to darken the crease and outer corner. I do not bring 'Faint' the whole way in to the inner corner of my eye. 

'Venus'

I apply 'Venus' from the inner corner of my eye across my lid. I love shimmery eye shadows and this one is a gorgeous subtle shimmery shade. I love it.  

I then use the colour 'Walk of Shame' (W.O.S) or 'Venus' all over the lid. I do this to blend out any sharp lines or differences between colours on my lid. Blending is key when creating a look using eye shadows. I love blending. My aim is to create a soft look. So, for this it is essential to blend the colours together.

24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil Naked Basics 'Venus' and 'Crave'

I saw this eye pencil being used on a Vlog and I just could not wait to get my hands on it. Firstly, I just have to share that this eye pencil is only €16 while to buy the colours separately it would cost €18 each. I have never used a light eyeliner before and I was dying to give it a go! In the picture below I have applied the 'Crave' colour to my upper lash line. It didn't come out very well in the picture but I also didn't apply it very heavily.  

I then applied the 'Venus' colour to my lower lash line. You can see in this picture that it did clump to my lashes. However, I put this down to experience with the product. I only bought it yesterday. I am staying open minded. 

I then applied 'Crave' next to 'Venus' and used the Brow Brush shown above just to smudge the eyeliner. Again, going for a soft look.

Esteé Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Pressed Powder

Real Techniques Powder Brush

I applied my Esteé Lauder Double Wear powder in colour 2C1 to set my make up and give it that clean 'flawless' finish. 

I curled my lashes using 'Models Own' eye lash curler.

I then applied Maxfactors False lash effect mascara in colour Black Brown. I have been using this mascara for SO long. And I really do like it. However, I think I would like to change and try a different shaped wand. As you can see from the picture above my lashes don't look very long and they just look blurred together. I would like to combat this. 

LIPS

So I previously posted a blog about trying to find the right lipstick. Well, thank goodness, I have finally found it. I wanted to try a darker colour on my lips as previously I have always played it safe. But because it was my first time branching out I didn't want to do anything too drastic. A friend recommended Topshop lipsticks so I decided to have a look. Low and behold I found this beauty. I LOVE it. Its the perfect shade between pink and purple. It is lovely and creamy and moisturising. I do like to put a clear lip gloss on top but thats just simply because my lips are sensitive to drying out. 

This is the finished look! I usually add bronzer but I am currently in search of a new blush/bronzer brush and a bronzer. I really hope this post helps and if you have any questions, please ask! All of the products I used can be found in Debenhams online and in store. The brushes I used can be found in Boots or on Amazon.

Miss Worth <3