Summer Essentials Part 3: Make-Up Products

Make-up can be a bit of a struggle when away in the hot weather. The heat and humidity can make you look like a hot mess and can result in make-up sweating off your face. I am one of those girls who chooses to go make-up free during the day. It's not very often an Irish girl gets to soak up some Vitamin D so I'm taking the opportunity while I can. Plus, I always feel my skin's appearance improves when it's exposed to the sun (with SPF, of course). In saying that, I like to make a bit more of an effort in the evenings whether it be going out for dinner or drinks or just going for a little stroll. Minimal make-up is something I have begun to take a liking to whilst away and I find myself not wearing half as much make-up as I would at home. I like the appearance of a fresh face and always hope to achieve an awake and natural look. I love dewy skin, groomed brows, plump lips and rosy cheeks. The following products are just a few of what I like to use to help achieve this look.

MAC Strobe Cream

One of my favourite products right now is MAC's Strobe Cream. It is an illuminating moisturiser which is the type of product currently on trend due to the introduction on the 'strobing' technique. Strobe Cream can be worn alone or as a base before you apply your make-up. I like to apply it on the places I like to enhance, i.e. the centre of the forehead, down the bridge of my nose, the top of my cheeks and on my cupids bow. Instantly, your skin looks brighter, smoother and more radiant. It gives your skin such a boost. I feel it really hydrates the skin and gives it a gorgeous glow without making your face greasy or look overly shiny. 

MAC's Strobe Cream retails at €33.50 and can be bought from any MAC store or online.

MAC Studio Face and Body Foundation

My next essential make-up product for the Summer season has to be the MAC Studio Face and Body Foundation. This is such a great product and I feel together with the Strobe Cream, they make a great combination. I'm usually a girl who likes full coverage but when away I like something lighter in coverage. The Face and Body foundation is perfect for this. It helps even out skin tone while also allowing the likes of freckles to show through. It leaves a dewy finish on the skin but can be mattified and set with a small bit of powder. The watery consistency of this foundation is what allows it to be so lightweight and sheer in coverage. I went up a few shades from my natural colour and got C3. It is a great alternative to wearing fake tan on your face. It gives the skin a natural looking glow and can also be used on the body. It helps to even out uneven skin tone, add colour and give the appearance of smoother skin. You will find it is often used on brides as well as catwalk models. MAC's Face and Body proves to be very popular with the professionals.

This foundation retails at €31.50 for a 50ml bottle and can be bought from and MAC store or from the Brown Thomas website.

Inglot Freedom System Pressed Powder

If you would like to go that extra mile and still want to include contouring in your make-up routine, the Inglot Pressed Powders are great for sculpting the face. I use the shade 17. I always opt for a cooler, ashier shade when contouring as cool tones have a slimming effect on the face. I like this as a bronzing powder as it can be used in small amounts to achieve a natural, light contour or can be built up to give a full on chizzled look. I would definitely advise powdering before applying this otherwise it can appear mucky and go quite patchy. 

The Inglot Pressed Powders come in an array of shades and retail at €22. You can pick up yours from any Inglot store/counter or online.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes

If you would like to add a little warmth to your skin, the Mac Skinfinishes are products I would highly recommend. They are shimmery mineral powders that come in a variety of different shade. I have three of the Mineralize Skinfinish powders; Lightscapade, Global Glow and Gold Deposit. I prefer 'Lightscapade' for Winter if warmth is what you want for Summer as it is a cooler white tone compared to the rest. It makes a gorgeous highlighter and is subtle enough for everyday use. 'Global Glow' is more of a nude shade with a silver sheen. It comes out a very neutral colour which is perfect for highlighting or shading depending on your skin tone. I like using this as a contour on my forehead and to blend out any severe cheekbone contour lines on fairer skin but makes a gorgeous highlight on medium to dark skin. It adds warmth and structure to the face as well as a little shimmer. 'Gold Deposit' has to be my absolute favourite. It is the perfect golden shade which I love using to bronze up the skin. It is one of those products that could even be worn alone. I usually use this on my forehead, chest and sometimes cheeks and nose to add a shimmery glow when I'm tanned. 'Gold Deposit' also makes an amazing eyeshadow which really makes blue eyes POP! It can also be used on the body. If you're after the Hollywood glow and want shimmering legs like Beyonce or JLo, a couple of sweeps of one of the skinfinishes and you will be one step closer to achieving the look of the stars.

The MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes are €30 each and can be bought from any MAC store or online.

KIKO Blushers

Blushes are definitely a must whether you decide to contour or not. Blusher adds life back into your skin as well as warmth. It can make you look fresh and awake. Coral and peachy pink colours are always a must have for Summer and they seem to have become very popular within every make-up brand. 

While in Spain, I picked up a number of blushes for my kit as I felt it was one thing I was lacking. I paid KIKO Cosmetics a visit for the first time. I found it so hard to choose just a few items so picked up loads (they had a 50% off sale) including three blushes; Soft Touch Blush 103, Colour Veil Blush 03 and 06. The Soft Touch Blush 103 is the perfect peach colour. It is kind of reddy pink with gold specs. It has a slight shimmer so it's perfect for Summer. The Colour Veil Blush in 03 is a matte pink shade. It is so pretty and adds a subtle hint of colour to the cheeks. 06 is little more brown in colour. It is a nude shade which looks great on tanned skin. I can not get over the quality of KIKO's products. They are so cheap yet so pigmented.

The Soft Touch Blush is €7.50 whilst the Colour Veil Blush is €7.90. Unfortunately, KIKO are yet to come to Ireland and can't even be delivered to the Republic but if you are on holiday in Spain or even the UK, I'd highly encourage you to check if there is a KIKO store in town.

Sleek Rose Gold Blush

I also picked up a blusher from Sleek. Another fantastic and affordable brand (If you haven't tried their eyebrow or contour kit you are missing out). I am in love with their Rose Gold blush. It is almost identical to Nars 'Orgasm'. It is the perfect shade of peachy pink. It has a slight shimmer which creates a golden sheen on the skin. I love it and this little gem is only €5.99 from Boots. Sleek is available nationwide from numerous pharmacies. For a list of full stockists in Ireland click here.

MUD Volumizing Mascara

Now I don't like to go to OTT on my eys when on holidays, A small bit of mascara is what I usually go for. I am quite fair so can't pull off the look of thick black lashes without looking completely false. Therefore, I usually opt for a more natural look. I really like the MUD Volumizing Mascara. I got this as part of my college kit and wasn't a fan until I started using it on myself. It really grabs all your lashes coating them lightly with mascara. The brush is really good at coating all of your bottom lashes which I think is really hard to find in a lot of mascaras. I feel it really lengthens the lashes. You can build it up to add more volume without it looking clumpy. It isn't waterproof but for me it has never transfered or made my eyes run which is often a problem for me when in the heat. I'd highly recommend this mascara if you are looking for natural looking lashes but if you want something more intense this may not be for you.

You can buy this mascara online for €18.91 from the MUD website.

MAC Prep and Prime Translucent Finishing Powder

Last but not least is a product I use to set my make-up, the MAC Prep and Prime Translucent Pressed Powder. This is my all time favourite setting powder and I am on my third or fourth compact. It reduces shine without completely mattifying the skin. It is translucent so doesn't leave a white overcast or lighten the make-up. It doesn't adhere to dry patches or dehydrate the skin which I find a lot of powders do. It keeps my make-up in place all day but may need to be reapplied.

The Prep and Prime Powder is also available in loose form and retails at €26. It can be bought from any MAC store or online.

MAC Fix+ Setting Spray

I like to finish any make-up application off with a couple of spritz of my MAC Fix+ Setting Spray. I have a full review here. It is great for getting rid of that powdery look or freshening up your make-up. It's so hot over here in Spain at the minute so even to just cool you down, the Fix+ is a great product to have at all times.

You can pick up yours from any MAC store or online for €20.

So that's all for my Summer essential series. I hope you enjoyed it. If you have any questions about the products mentioned don't be afraid to get in touch by commenting below or contacting me through one of the links below. Thanks so much for reading! Mwah!

Holly X

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Top Tips for Brilliant Brows

I posted a picture on my Facebook page promising a blog post on a few tips and tricks for making the best of your brows and also about the products I use ! Eyebrows are actually one of the most important things to get right ! Eyebrows can completely change the look of your face and finding the right shape is essential ! Keeping your brows groomed and maintaining the shape really isn't that difficult so here's a few tips on how to do just that !

1. First of all , when plucking , waxing or threading try not to overdo it because if you overpluck your brows may take a long time to grow back ! I have never got my eyebrows done professionally and still don't feel it is a necessary step when trying to get the perfect brows ! Now it has taken a few trial and errors to get them as they're now and even at this point I'm not 100% happy with them but they're on the way ! 

2. Always pluck from underneath the brow rather than above ! I have made this mistake and it isn't pretty when attempting to regrow the plucked area ! 

3. Try to choose the right eyebrow shape to best compliment your face shape ! Here is a diagram to help you find out which is best for you !

Finding it hard to get your eyebrows the right shape then why not try this ? 

4. Grab a pencil or something straight ! Hold it against the side of your nose , this will guide you to where your eyebrow should start ! Looking directly into a mirror line the pencil up to the centre of your eye keeping the end against your nose ! This will lead you to where your natural arch should be ! Lastly , again keeping the end of the pencil against your nose , line it up to the outer edge of your eye ! This will lead you to where your eyebrow should end ! This is only a guide if you are struggling to find a shape that suits ! 

5. This may sound strange but some people trim their eyebrows and I am one of those people ! My eyebrows aren't thick but can look long and scraggly and this can take away from the groomed look even when make up is applied ! I like to grab an eyebrow spool/brush and brush upwards trimming off any hairs I feel are out of place ! I recommend you take your time with this step as you don't want to cut off half your eyebrow ! The hair does grow back but you just have to keep trimming just like a normal haircut !

6. Tinting or bleaching your eyebrows is another step which can help you achieve the look that you want ! Tinting is a semi permanent dye which allows you to darken or change the colour of your brows ! This is great for those with light hair to make their brows stand out more ! Bleaching whitens the brow hair ! It is a trend which seems to be becoming more popular with models and celebrities now sporting the no-eyebrow look ! Some people like this bare look but others do it for a better effect when make up is applied to the brow area ! It's not to everyone's taste !

Now , moving onto eyebrow products that I use !

1. Sleek Eyebrow Kit

I got this two months ago and My God ! I do not know how I ever survived without it ! It is said to be a dupe of Benefits Brow-zings ! It comes a small compact case with a mirror ! It contains a brow powder and a wax , a tweezers , an angled brush and a flat application brush ! It comes in four shades ; Light , medium , dark and black ! I got the light and was a bit scared it would be too light as I like my brows to be darker than my hair but it is the perfect shade ! I start off by taking a spool or eyebrow brush and brush the brow into place ! I then take the small angled brush with a small amount of the wax and outline the outside of my brow creating the desired shape ! I then brush it through the brow blending out the harsh lines ! Next , I grab the flat brush and apply the powder all over my brow making sure to fill in any gaps or patches ! This kit is so quick and easy to use and gives fantastic results ! It is long lasting and I definitely recommend it ! You will find the Sleek Eyebrow Kit , along with other Sleek products , on their website ( www.sleekmakeup.com ) , www.cloud10beauty.com , Boots and Amazon for just €9.99 !

2. Rimmel Match Perfection 2-in-1 Concealer and Highlighter

Some people might wonder what I would use a concealer for when doing my eyebrows but this is an essential product for me when trying to get the perfect brows ! After using my Sleek Eyebrow Kit , I use this to sharpen and neaten the look ! This concealer in particular is perfect for this job because it acts as both a concealer and a highlighter ! It also has a brush which is great for getting around the brow ! I squeeze a small amount onto my hand making sure there is only a small amount left on the brush ! We don't want to much concealer as it is quite thick and we want a smooth application ! I then place the brush under the inner edge of my brow and glide it underneath creating a smooth and straight look ! I repeat this all around my brow ! It may look a little scary at first with a severe line around your brow but worry not ! Next , I blend out the concealer away from my brow using either a foundation or buffing brush ! This gets rid of the harsh lines but leaves you with neat eyebrows ! This is also a highlighter so can be used under the eyes or down the bridge of the nose ! I use the Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in shade 030 Classic Beige ! You are guaranteed to find this in any pharmacy or supermarket that stocks Rimmel products for €7.65 ( Prices may vary ) !

3. Essence Eyebrow Designer Pencil

Essence is known as the cheap and cheerful brand but I feel it's underrated ! They have some great products and this is one ! This was what I use to use to fill in my brows before I got my hands on my Sleek Eyebrow Kit ! Some people rather pencils than waxes or powders and the Eyebrow Designer Pencil is just as good as any more expensive brand ! This comes with an eyebrow brush allowing you to brush your brows into place ! I would then start to outline my brows ! I would then fill them in completely ! I have this eyebrow pencil in shade 03 which is perfect for fair or blonde hair ! I am unsure of the price as it has been a while since I have purchased this but I'm 100% that it was under €4 ! You will find Essence products in Dunnes Stores and numerous pharmacies !

4. Hairspray

Hairspray is great for keeping those brows in place ! It's great when brushed through the brows with a spool or eyebrow brush ! I only use it on a night out but is a cheap and great alternative to brow gel ! I don't recommend any particular brand but I would say stay away from strong hold as you don't want rock hard eyebrows flaking with hairspray !

If you are on a budget and don't want to spend money on eyebrow products than why not use the likes of a gel or pencil eyeliner ! Eyeshadow is also great to fill in the brows ( try to use a neutral shade that suits ) ! 

I hope you enjoyed this post ! Don't be afraid to drop a comment or message ! I love hearing from everyone ! Thanks for reading ! Mwah !

Holly X

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