INGLOT Gel Liner & Duraline.. MUST HAVE! ♥

If there is one staple brand in my kit, it is INGLOT Cosmetics. I am so happy that I've discovered INGLOT (The brand is in capitals, I swear I'm not shouting! Haha). It's a luxury makeup brand without the designer pricetag. The eyeshadow pans are huge, highly pigmented and such good value for money. I could go on and on, but I won't... on this occasion!

I just thought I would do up a quick post for you about my pure favourites...

Gel Eyeliner #77 & Duraline

I don't think I've ever seen such a range of gel eyeliners as I have in INGLOT. They have every colour under the sun that I'm yet to experiment with, even white! They are all so creamy and multipurpose. You can use a black one for your eyeliner, a brown one for your eyebrows, a shimmery one for your eyelids, and a white one to get creative with around your eyes! Never before have I experienced a gel liner that glides on as effortlessly as INGLOT's. Oh, and it's waterproof, which means it can be used in the waterline too! It doesn't dry up as fast as the other ones I have tried, but let's be honest - they all do! Retails at €15

Sometimes you'd think 'What's the point?' but this is where 'Duraline' comes in. 'Duraline' is a liquid formula specifically designed by INGLOT to moisten eyeshadows, turning them into eyeliners and keeping gel products wet. Without it, I'd be lost! Retails at €12

I, myself, would go through a typical 'Duraline' maybe every 6 - 8 weeks, though I use it pretty much every day - multiple times a day. So for your average Joe who wouldn't be applying winged liner on a regular basis, it would last that little bit longer. Saying that, my gel eyeliners will last me anywhere from 6 months to a year, if not more. They really really do last. Now that I'm here, I use INGLOT every single day in my kit and not one of my eyeshadows has ever emptied. Really good value for money! 

To apply my wonderful INGLOT products, I use my favourite eyeliner brush - MAC Cosmetics #263 brush. Super skinny and super firm for maximum control!

I hope this was helpful!

Martha x

Don't forget to 'like' me on facebook here & INGLOT here!

NIMA Brush - Full Product Review!!!

Hey guys, guess who's back to blogging! I really did miss it. I have been absolutely swamped with tonnes of makeovers on a daily basis that blogging has been on the bottom of my to-do list, but now that Debs season has come and gone, I feel it's time to start bringing you guys some great product reviews on a regular basis to get you through the winter months. So sit back with a cuppa' and enjoy!

NIMA Brush are an Irish makeup brush company dedicated to Makeup Artists and lovers alike, aiming to bring you top quality products at affordable prices. And who better than to bring out a brush company than a Makeup Artist herself? Niamh Martin founded NIMA after working in the industry for over 10 years!

Okay, so let's get started. Firstly, how beautiful are these brushes? It's very rare that the word 'beautiful' would come to mind when faced with a makeup brush, but the colours of the NIMA brushes are what make their appearance so unique and girly. The copper handles are from 'The Elite Collection' whereas their duck-egg blue brushes are from their new exclusive 'The Artistic Collection' - even the name is swanky! . Another thing unique to NIMA is that none of the newer brushes are numbered, but named after girls! Already, I'm loving them!

 The Elite Collection

Round Head Kabuki (left)
I absolutely love these brushes for blending flawless foundation onto my clients skin. What's great about the round, subtle edges is that you're not left with any marks or lines on the skin, as a typical flat foundation brush would leave you. Therefore, minimal time, minimal effort.
Retails at €18.00

Flat Head Kabuki (right)
Whenever you hear the name 'Kabuki brush' this is what they're typically best known as - a flat head with an outter cone shape. A lot of my clients prefer the flat head, whereas I'm used to the rounded one. It's all about preference. This brush has a slightly bigger face compared to the round one, so will cover more surface area faster.
Retails at €18.00

Small Duo Fibre

I love Duo Fibre brushes. It does exactly what it says on the tin. They're made from multiple fibres to create the best and softest finish possible. Another thing I love about them is that they're usually great for multi-purpose use. I would personally best use NIMA's Small Duo Fibre brush for highlighting the cheekbones, tips of the nose, cupids bow, etc.

Another great use would be for concealing the under eyes, or eyeshadow blending; once all of your product has been applied upon the eye, you could blend with your small duo fibre really lightly for a flawless finish on that smokey eye! I tested this out on my Debs clients today and they almost all say "That brush is so soft!" Success!
Retails at €12.00

The Artistic Collection

The Erin 

I own a few of these babies in my kit, and more than once I've been asked by clients 'What is that brush for?' and unless you're a Makeup Artist, it can be unlikely that you're in the know. This fan brush is also multi-purpose. When I was studying in college, we were told it was to remove any excess brush hairs from the face after the makeup application - which is great. I always hate finishing a makeover, looking back at my photos and realizing that I've left my client with a hairy face! Oops! Even worse is trying to pick it off with a cotton bud or something teeny tiny. A simple swoop of the 'Erin; brush will remove any brushes without causing the client or yourself discomfort. 

Although that's what we initially learned in college, I've recently found that these fan brushes are typically used for applying highlighter. Simply dab the 'Erin' into your highlighter and gently glide it along the areas of the face you wish to highlight. A lot of my clients ask me what brushes they'd use for highlighter, I'd recommend investing in one of these. It goes on a treat!
Retails at €12.00

                                         The Tara

This is a must have in any makeup kit. Whether you prefer to use
it for contour or blush is completely up to you. I personally use a round brush for blush and stick to this fluffy angled one for contour. To use it as a contour brush, place the brush upon your cheekbones and tilt it to the side, having the longer side towards your ear. Gradually buff it down upon the cheekbones, towards your nose, adding a little product in every swoop if necessary. 

If you'd prefer to use it for blush, place it upon the apples of your cheeks, with the long side towards your nose, while gradually and gently working the product upon your cheekbones towards your ear. As I say, this is a must-have in any makeup lovers kit. 

Retails at €16.00

The Nichola

If there's anything I'm a sucker for, it's blending brushes. For some reason, I never seem to have enough. They are a staple to have as a Makeup Artist and I couldn't do my job without them. This type of blending brush is exactly up my alley. It's extremely soft and feels amazing blending upon your lid, yet it's also a little bit firm so you still have a certain level of control when applying your eyeshadow. If anybody is looking to slowly build on their brush collection, and are after a new blender - this bad boy is for you.
Retails at €12.00

Makeup I did using the NIMA 'Nichola' brush to blend out the eyeshadow

That's it guys! I hope my review has enticed you a little to check out this great affordable brand. You can order your brushes and browse the collection here, and don't forget to like them on Facebook here too. It means so much to me to hear feedback on my reviews. Please feel free to comment beneath this post to let me know what you think, or let me know on Facebook here!

For Your Eyes Only - Eyelash Review

Recently, I was in with the AMAZING Eve-Ellen from 'For Your Eyes Only' in Portmarnock. My hometown, super handy. I'm heading on holidays on the 27th July and didn't want to deal with the stress of applying eyelashes every time I go out at night. I'm perfectly fine with applying them on other people, but jeez when it comes to myself I'm a glue-in-one-eye, glue-in-one-eyebrow, lash-on-my-cheek kinda lady! Eve-Ellen is one of my loyal clients & dozens of ladies pop into me with their fabulous lashes on, so I was only dying to treat myself when the time was right.

Upon it's beautiful garden setting lay the salon. I was seriously impressed with the décor. It felt extremely professional yet very cozy at the same time. We had a brief chat about what I wanted to go for before laying on the bed with a fluffy blanket with my eyes closed. 'Friends' was playing on the TV in the background, so it really made me feel at home. Eve-Ellen is always telling me about the amount of ladies that actually fall asleep during their lash application. So as you can imagine, super relaxing and pain free!

The lash application started & went like a breeze. I lay there having a chat before it was all over and I was asked to take a look. Though part of me didn't want to sit up, I wanted to lie in the coziness all day! As you can imagine, I was absolutely deee-lighted! She had listened to everything I had said & really took it on board. The Before & After photo speaks volumes in itself. It also makes me realize the amount of god darn freckles I have despite lathering myself in SPF50 on a daily basis. *cries*

As you can see, pretty amazing, right?

I had asked for them to be quite full and the tiniest bit more natural in the inner corners. I was absolutely delighted that it turned out as I had hoped. Eve-Ellen really is a perfectionist, and in my opinion one of the best in the business. As soon as I sat up, my lashes felt absolutely no different from my own. It barely even feels as though I'm wearing mascara. I can't see them, they're not irritating and I keep forgetting they're there!

Now, down to business... here come the prices!

Mascara Look €65.00

This look is really natural, but will still allow you to stand out from the crowd. With about 100 lashes applied directly to each eye, this type takes around 90 minutes.

Mink Luxury €95.00

This bad boy is what I got for myself. They're totally weightless, soft-to-touch & no need for mascara (duh!). They're the most natural looking lashes on the market. They last between 4 - 6 weeks. With about 200 lashes applied per eye, this type takes around 180 minutes. 

Refills €45.00

Refills are recommended every 4 weeks if you want to maintain your fuller-looking lashes. This takes 90 minutes.

So, there you have it. There is absolutely no pain involved when getting them applied - you barely even feel it! There is very little aftercare involved. You're advised not to shower for 24 hours after the application as the glue is still sensitive. Then regarding makeup, work away! Though be advised to use oil-free products on your face & eyes as that can loosen the glue. Piece of cake! I've already invested in the Simple Eye Makeup Remover for my holiers. Besides that, don't be a silly moo. If you really want to be bold and wear mascara (even though there really is no need), there are a few oil-free mascaras on the market, such as Maybelline Great Lash which I'm running out to buy tomorrow (just in case hehe).

Well that's it guys. Any more questions please feel free to comment beneath this post or else ask Eve-Ellen herself. Here's the link to her website & facebook page. I'll let you guys know I get on over the next 4 - 6 weeks with them. Really excited to head away now ;) Thanks for reading & don't forget to 'like' me on Facebook here!

**UPDATE - These lashes have been a breeze! They were nothing like I had expected. I've heard from many clients about how they found them awkward in the shower etc but I literally didn't even notice they were there. As they've gradually fallen out, you don't feel any pain or sensation at all. I've worn eye makeup three times with them (in two & a half months) so I think that really helped them stay as long as they did. How long, you ask? Well.... Update Photo!!!

Yes I did just take this as I'm writing the update and yes I am in bed with my onesie. I'd roughly say I have about 5-10 eyelashes left on each eye. Oh, the date? 1ST OCTOBER!!! I could not recommend these highly enough and I cannot wait to get them done again!**

Martha xx

Mememe Cosmetics Intro

Hey guys, so I'm gonna let you know about 'Mememe Cosmetics' - (find their Irish facebook page here, official UK facebook page here). While it's origin is from the UK, Mememe is slowly but surely making its way across the pond! They're wanting to bring you luxury products without the luxury price-tag. It's currently spreading its range in a lot of chemists across Ireland. Find the full list of Irish stockists here.

So, I was sent a few lovely items from Mememe last week. One of which was 'Angels with Halos Skin Illuminator' - two words; love it! There's nothing more that I love than a glow. About a year ago, I went through a bad acne breakout for a couple of months and was afraid to illuminate my face & make it dewy as my pores would show up. But now, a year and a lot of tablets later, my skin is perfect! Freckles that I dislike, yes... but spots, no! So now that my skin is clear, I've been really looking for new things to make my skin stand out & glow. I love the dewy look and there's a lot of products for luminosity I live by - so needless to say, I was delighted receiving this!

The shade I have is '3001'. It says on the box that you can wear it alone without any foundation to give your face a bit of a pick me up, or you can mix it in to give a healthy glow to add to your every day look! I took a little swatch and the light instantly reflected the iridescent colours. This particular shade is too dark for me to wear without any fake tan as I am as white as a ghost!

I squirted a little bit of this onto my hand and spread it out. This tiny little blob would have covered my face and more! It does have some level of coverage in it, so it's great to wear on 'No Makeup' (illusion) days!

Left photo - My bare skin with just the skin illuminator applied. Notice the slight iridescent glow as my face catches the light! 

Right photo - Foundation applied on top of the skin illuminator. Your best bet is to mix it up with your foundation and apply at once, but thought it'd be easier to show you this way! I'd recommend applying it with your fingers and act fast as it dries in quickly! 

I love the iridescent glow it gives when hit with some light. Angels with Halos Skin Illuminator... €12.99

I also had a go of their non sticky 'Lip Glaze' - A quite highly strong pigmented gloss that, as it says on the tin, is non sticky! Yay! I personally find it quite hard to get my hands on non-sticky glosses! I never really buy big brand lipglosses, as I figure they all do the same thing really! Rich Colour Lip Glaze... €7.99

You may be thinking 'Hmm, why was this review worth my while?'
Well besides giving you the low down on this bargain brand, I may just have some Mememe Cosmetics to give to one lucky reader!! ;) Stay posted! Until then... have you entered my current competition? One of the prizes is actually a Mememe Cosmetics 'Cherub's Blush - Cheek & Lip Tint! Enter here

Hope you enjoyed! Martha xx