Product Review: Urban Decay 24/7 Perversion Liner

Urban Decay is a brand that I don’t see praised enough. I’ve used a few of their products, and loved them all. Their Naked palettes have become cult classics, however. I went to pick up a Naked palette for a friend when I spotted the newest liner winking at me from the stand.

This baby is the softest, blackest and best eyeliner I have ever used. I used to have Mac Smoulder but Perversion blows that out of the water completely. I’ve used it as a base for a liquid line (to keep it in place) and I’ve used it on its own, both ways, I am besotted. It looks amazing when used in the waterline or as a base for an intense smokey eye. I’ve used it with some navy and bronze shadows over the top and was impresse by its malleable and long-lasting qualities.

I wouldn’t wear this during the day, as it’s just so intense, I tend towards browns and purples for that but at night, there is nothing more gorgeous than a good liner that stays put.  If that’s your thing, then you’ll be needing one of these.

This cost me about €15 in House of Fraser, Dundrum.

Famous Friday Five: The Neon Bible

Arcade Fire seemed to have some sort of prophecy a few years back, didn’t they? For the past few seasons, we’ve seen neon make such a comeback, they’re even making running shoes in neon shades, and the ever neutral Bobbi Brown has released a collection featuring neons, a sure sign a trend has made it!

If it’s not in cycling shorts and leotards a la Mr Motivator, it can be very chic and a great contrast to nudes, in particular. It’s particuarly great in accessories as you don’t have to part with wad loads of cash to stay up to date, I am mad for a neon satchel.

Isn’t this so fresh looking?

less in your face

Pink Satchel I neeeeed!

Summer Beauty Update

Even if this is a brief spell of sunshine, we’ll enjoy every second of it. That’s one thing I really love about our nation, our complete willingness to drop everything, if we’re blessed with good weather.

There’s also something about the summer that makes us want to look more pared down and natural; red lips and heavily lined eyes are replaced with skin sheen and sheer candy coloured lips. Here are a few tips in how to achieve the glowy but still polished look.

Sheeny Loveliness

SPF is where it’s at.

No matter what you think, your skin is going to be damaged by sitting in the sun. This has been proven again and again, and we’re still reluctant to do the sensible thing and wear SPF.

Part of the reluctance, I think, is that SPF used to be thick, heavy and oily, not something anyone would want to put on. Since Vichy kindly sent me out their latest Factor 50, I am a changed woman. This is non-oily with a thin consistency, smells gorgeous and doesn’t clog the skin. I have no excuse anymore.. and neither do you. Go buy some… and wear it!

Laying Foundations

Unless you’re very conscious of your bare skin, now is the time to give something lighter a go.  Try one of the latest BB creams (17′s one is a big hit with Áine) with light reflecting concealer under your eyes (Clinique’s Airbrush concealer is the best I’ve tried).  Use a little translucent powder that doesn’t complete mattify your skin, for glowiness.

Bronze it Up

For daytime, I would always recommend a matte bronzer, as anything with shimmer in it can look too glittery in daylight. Most pharmacy brands are doing great matte shades (try Bourjois, Catrice or The Body Shop).

Hot Blushes

Put away the powder blushes for a month or two and try some of the newest cream or gel blushes on the market. They’re so easy to use (fingers or a stippling brush) and look so much more natural than a powder finish.  I use a Stila one (in Lilium), other popular choices are Benefit’s Posietint or Bobbi Brown’s Rouge Pots, though Max Factor and Essence are doing some too.

Lip Loving

Put down your matte screen siren red and go for something sheer. There are so many beautiful pinks and corals on the market in everyone’s price range. Here’s Áine’s choice L’oreal Caresse in Cheeky Magenta, a perfect perky pink. I am currently loving my Mac Tinted Lip Conditioner (with SPF!) in Petting Pink.

Mac Lip Conditioner in Petting Pink

All about eyes

In keeping with the natural look, the brows are beautiful when they’re kept in shape but not too sharp looking.  A brow powder and an angled brush should do the job for you.  With eyeshadow, I like to keep it simple and clean looking, a matte or a sheeny creamy vanilla and some barely there brown liner finishes the look.

Wedding Wednesday: Accessorising the Individual

You’re on a night out with the gals, you happen to bump into another gaggle of ladies in the bathroom, and you realise, you’re almost looking at a reflection. It’s all big hair, scarily big lashes and massive heels. I hate when that happens, and I think the same can be said of weddings, and bridal looks.

Most of the dresses I’ve seen are figure-hugging, or the flipside, hippy ethereal looks, and with good reason. Both of those looks work. However, if you want to look a little different, without completely changing things up, accessories are the way to go.

Love the belt

 

 

Today is now Shoesday.

I have quite the welt on my left heel, thanks to a black snakeskin platform that wasn’t made for walking in. Is it sore? Yes. Were they worth it? Absolutely. That extra few inches instantly transforms an outfit from nice to spectacular, and more importantly, makes you feel like you should be treading a red carpet.

Amen

I have yet to find a better feeling than finding and consequently buying, a bloody gorgeous pair of shoes. My heart rates accelerates at the mere thought. I realise that I’m shallow and that there are far more important and substantial thoughts that should make me feel this way, but for now, I am happy with good shoes.

At the moment, the range of heels appears to have stretched ever further, gravity-defying platforms haven’t gone away, thanks to Mr Louboutin, but there is also a trend towards a mid-heel which is in some ways more chic and less TOWIE. While researching for this blog post, I came across some particularly pretty pairs on Net a Porter.. Now which ones of these would you risk the welt for?

Louboutin colour block

Carven.. I love the bow!

Miu Miu Glitter

Midheel from Mulberry

Proenza Schouler

My word, Awear is having a moment!

Awear, the Irish store that has recently gone international has been coming up trumps lately.  Reasonably priced dresses, with a huge range of colours and shapes have particularly caught my eye. Here’s my top 5 of the current season. Have you picked anything up?

Similar to what Diane Kruger wore in Cannes..

Isn’t this fab? Sharon Corr wore it on The Voice!

Blouses are everywhere at the moment, how cute are the owls!

I can’t resist a quirky piece of knitwear..

Great shades.

Famous Friday Five: Lovely Laura

Laura Bailey is one of those ladies whose wardrobes I’ve always coveted. She’s been around for a while, is a real fashionista and does it with great understated panache. I love her hair, and they way she looks like she’s thrown her beautiful outfits together. She’s a little bit quirky and individual, and for that, she’s an icon of mine.

cute mix of pinks

Summer dress perfection

Doesn’t this rock?

Minty green casually gorgeous

A beautiful look

Lana Del Rey: Current Gal du jour

Gothic Lana

Since she pouted her way onto our screens and magazines, we’ve  been all fawning all over her sultry tones and rather fashion forward ways. Mulberry saw their next muse and went and named a handbag after her, which made her uber cool. I like her look, the long luscious hair, the old hollywood make-up which contrasts the very modern style of dressing. I’m not sure if I’d dress like her myself or pay €800 for a bag named after her.. but she’s got something about her, doesn’t she?

Lana does beachwear too y’know!

Cutesy

Mulberry Lana del Rey bag

Wedding Wednesday: Coco Chanel got it in one..

She famously uttered the words ‘Style never goes out of fashion’, I think this has even more resonance when it comes to weddings.  Unless you’re really into the wacky, quirky trend of the mo (I’m thinking mini cupcakes and bite size fish and chips!), why bother?

A simple, yet stylish affair juxtaposes the weddings which feature a dance routine, a crazy cake and fifteen bridesmaids in different shoes.. its elegance will stand the test of time in photographs and might be less stressful to organise too.

Below are some images to illustrate my ideas.. what say ye wedding goers?!

 

Place Settings

 

Simple

 

Like the dress and natural bouquet

 

I love this!

 

Neutrals and good jewels and flowers

 

Relaxed beauty

Product Review: Benefit Hello Flawless Oxegen Wow Foundation

I like me a bit of Benefit, I do. I have most of their boxed blushers, I’ve a few eyeshadows and I’ve given most of their mascaras a lash (I am too funny).

I however, hadn’t tried their foundations. The lovely Gemma sent me a sample of their latest and very much hyped liquid foundation to trial, but alas.. it went missing in the post. Some fear an phoist is currently glowing around the streets of South County Dublin, I’d say.

Thankfully, Gemma sent me another to give it a whirl. I’ve worn it during the day and for going out at night and, I like it! I tend to wear something quite sheer (Mac Face and Body is my go to) at work and something with a bit more coverage at night.

Benefit Oxegen Wow Foundation

What I liked about this was the coverage, it’s light but very buildable, so you could wear it several ways. It has quite a velvety finish to it and because it’s oil free it won’t clog your skin up.  The colour I’m wearing is ‘I’m so money, honey’ and it suits me well, not orangey at all and it doesn’t oxidise on my skin either. I put a little powder over the top to keep any shine at bay and this lasts well on me.

I’m not sure if this would make me want to give up on my very favourite Mac Face and Body for daytime but it is a lovely alternative for a glowy freshfaced night-time option. This costs €35 and is on counters now.