Showing posts with label Irish BBloggers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Irish BBloggers. Show all posts

Wednesday, 2 September 2015

London Makeup Haul


If you follow me on social media, you'll know that I was in London towards the end of August. While there, I couldn't help picking up some makeup in Superdrug and other stores that we don't have in Ireland!

                                      

I picked up products from Makeup Revolution, MUA, KIKO, the Make Up Store and L'Oréal.


Makeup Revolution is one of my favourite budget beauty brands. They are fantastic at releasing great quality dupes for high end products. Their Blushing Hearts collection is a dupe of Too Faced's Sweetheart Blush collection. I have been lusting over Goddess of Love for months and I was so happy that it was in stock. Goddess of Love is a triple baked highlighter that gives off a golden sheen. I have not used it yet but I cannot wait to review it for you guys!

Goddess of Love can be bought in selected Superdrug stores and on the Makeup Revolution website for £4.99.


The Good Life Mono Eyeshadow is a gorgeous highlight shade with a pink sheen. I bought this shade with the intention to use it in maroon smokey eyes for the autumn and winter months.

All of the Mono Eyeshadows can be bought in selected Superdrug stores or on the Makeup Revolution website for £1.


I have heard so many great things about MUA LUXE's Bronze & Sculpt Contour Kit that I just had to try it for myself! 


The Bronzer and Highlighter are both lightweight powders that I cannot wait to try out. 
At only £5, this contour kit can definitely give other kits a run for their money!

You can buy the Bronze & Sculpt Contour Kit in Superdrug stores and on the MUA website!



KIKO is an Italian makeup brand that have stores across Europe. Their store on Regent Street is the closest to us and it is always packed! There were so many Infinity Eyeshadows that I would have loved but the majority of the shades I wanted were not in stock. In the end I picked up Shade 284 - Silver.

All of the Infinity Eyeshadows were on sale for £1.80, you can also purchase them from the KIKO website.



The Make Up Store is a Swedish makeup brand that has taken European bloggers by storm over the past few months. I came across the store when I was exploring Shoreditch and decided to take a look at the shops in Boxpark.

Diva is one of their Microshadows and I love the maroon shade so much. Obviously my obsession with the colour has spread through my lipstick collection and into my eyeshadow collection.


The second product I picked up in the Make Up Store was their Tinted Eye Primer. I needed a new primer because I am not a fan of MUA's primer. Honestly, I just don't think it works. 

The primer usually retails for £13 and the eyeshadow is normally £11.
The Makeup Store had a sale on so I picked up the eyeshadow and the primer for £5 each!



Liquid eyeliner is a staple in my makeup bag and I lost mine on the second day. Funnily enough I found it when I arrived home but I still caved and bought one while I was over there. I am no stranger to L'Oréal's Super Liner range but I have never tried the Ultra Precision one so I had to buy it when I saw it in Boots! The gold packaging was also pretty nice....

The Super Liner eyeliner cost £6.49 in Boots.

Have you tried any of these brands before?
What did you think of them?
Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.

Bloglovin: www.bloglovin.com




Wednesday, 29 July 2015

MAC x Giambattista Valli Review


MAC launched their new collection with Giambattista Valli two weeks ago in Ireland. The collection consisted of five lipsticks and a crystal glaze gloss.

I was working the day the collection was released and I knew it would sell out quickly so I sent my sister into town to pick it up for me! The MAC counter in Brown Thomas on Grafton Street was the only store carrying it in the country, there was also a limited supply available on their website.


I got Tats, a vibrant hot pink shade. I'm not one for corals, the reviews I read about the light pink shade were not great, the only red lipstick I will ever wear is Ruby Woo and I own way too many berry colours so I went for Tats.


The lipstick cost €21.50.
I am so in love with the packaging because it's the same colour as the lipstick, a first for MAC. 


Tats is such a pretty colour and it's perfect for the spring and summer months! The lipstick itself is a matte lipstick but it is not drying on my lips at all! As with any matte lipstick, you should moisturize beforehand.


I swatched the lipstick on my arm so you could see the colour. It is a completely buildable colour although I found one swatch was perfect for the look I was going for. 

I love MAC and this collection was no different.
Did you buy anything from this collection?
Do you have any suggestions as to what I should try next?
Let me know in the comments below!


Ciara,

xoxo.

Bloglovin: www.bloglovin.com



Tuesday, 21 July 2015

Vanity Nails Review


My holidays started on Sunday so I decided to treat myself and get my nails done beforehand. I had never gotten my nails done before and Vanity Nails in Dun Laoghaire had a special offer going on so I thought I may as well!

They are doing gel and acrylic (I got acrylic) nails for €35 at the moment which is amazing and the girls are lovely, I would definitely book an appointment with them soon!

Maroon is my go-to colour for any season because it is my obsession. I love it and it is so obvious when you see my wardrobe that I have an unhealthy obsession with the colour. So, when asked what colour I would like, I said maroon with a glitter ring finger. That's when my nail technician showed me Le Chat's Mood Changing Polishes and I fell in love with Crimson Nightfall!

When warm, this polish turns into a bright red colour. I dipped my hand into lukewarm water to demonstrate the colour change.


When cold, the polish changes from a bright red to a deep, almost black, maroon shade. I dipped my hand into cold water to demonstrate the colour change.


I am so in love with the colour change. I usually have the transition colours on my nails as the base is warm, due to it being my actual nail and the tips are cold.


Whatever shade my nails are, I adore the change and it always looks great.


I am also loving this hand chain I picked up in the New Look sale today.
Check out all the hand chains they have left in the sale here!

Don't forget there's just under one day left to enter my birthday giveaway!
Click here to enter.

Have you ever gotten your nails done before?
Do you have any suggestions?
Let me know in the comments below!





Tuesday, 14 July 2015

It's been a year...


As embarrassing as it is, here's my first post on Sparkle Of Pink.

I have been a blogger for a year now and I have to say, it is one of the best decisions I have ever made! I love blogging so much! I have an excuse to buy more makeup, I get to blog about what I love and I have gotten to meet some amazing people through blogging! 

To celebrate my year of blogging, I'm doing a little giveaway! Everything in the giveaway was bought using my own money, except for the Wet n' Wild lip gloss and eyeliner which I got at the Irish Blogger Conference. These two products are part of the giveaway because I know I will never use them and I should give them to someone who will!


The giveaway has some really nice things I have picked up in shops over the past few weeks!












                                    

You can enter the giveaway below and on my Facebook page!
The giveaway is open until Thursday July 23rd 2015 and is only open to residents on the island of Ireland.



The Irish Blog Awards are also coming up soon and I would love if you could nominate me! It would be amazing and only takes a few seconds :)

If you've been here for a year, thank you for sticking around! If you just dip in and out of my blog, thank you! If it's your first time checking out my blog, thanks for taking the time! Thanks to all of the companies and brands that have worked with me during the past year and I look forward to working with you again!

Here's to the next year!




Wednesday, 17 June 2015

What's in my Makeup Bag


I have seen so many 'What's in my makeup bag' posts that I just had to do one myself! I only keep my makeup in a bag when I'm travelling, otherwise I keep it in a box because it is so much easier to access! I used an old tea box to store my makeup.


I'm using Rimmel's Wake Me Up foundation in 103 - True Ivory. I love this foundation! It has great coverage and is the perfect summer foundation.

I ordered BH Cosmetics liquid foundation in Sand a few months ago. When it arrived and I swatched it, it was way too dark for me! So now I use it whenever I wear fake tan. It is definitely full coverage and this foundation smells really good.

Whenever I don't want to wear foundation, I use Natural Collection's Tinted Moisturiser in Beige.


Collection 2000's Lasting Perfection Concealer is my holy grail product. I love this concealer. It has amazing coverage and lasts throughout the day!



I vary each day to what highlighter I use. I use No7's Instant Radiance highlighter the most. I love how creamy this product is and it lasts for hours!

I bought Rimmel's Good to Glow highlighter in the shade Notting Hill Glow on a whim. I don't use it that often because I am not a big fan of it. I'm just not a huge fan of the formula.

W7's Catwalk Face Shaper is one of my favourite highlight and contour kits out there! The pigmentation is great and it is such a bargain!


MUA is one of my favourite brands. Whenever I don't use liquid highlighter, I use MUA's Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter.

I use MUA's bronzer in shade 3, I love the pigmentation and the quality is great!

I adore mosaic blush and MUA's English Rose is gorgeous! The four shades create the perfect natural blush!

Rimmel's Stay Matte powder is my favourite. I use shade 001 - Transparent. 


If you've read my review on Wet n' Wild's Brow Kit is my favourite brow kit out there!

I usually get early shifts at work and I am so tired and don't put a lot of effort into my makeup. If I don't feel like doing my brows I just use clear mascara to shape them.


I'm currently using Benefit's They're Real mascara and Collection 2000's Fast Stroke liquid eyeliner in black. I like Fast Stroke but I have used better eyeliners, I don't really like the brush for this eyeliner at all!


I use a combination of these eyeshadows each day. I recently bought the Barry M Dazzle Dust in shade 39 and I love it!

I also use MUA's eyeshadow in Copper, MAC's Espresso, Essence Metal Glam eyeshadow in Frosted Apple, MUA's eyeshadow in Chamoisee and Bourjois' Smoky Eyes trio eyeshadow in 03 - Mordoré Chic.


I love NYX's eye pencils. I use 608 - Cottage Cheese to highlight under my brows and the inner corner of my eye. 617 - Iced Mocha is perfect to blend into your crease!



My favourite liner at the moment is Catrice Cosmetics' Longlasting Lip Pencil in 150 - Vintage Rose. It is a really nice pinky nude and this compliments Collection's Cream Puff Lip Cream in Powder Puff 2 when you want a statement lip!

Here are the links to most of the products in my makeup box at the moment:

BH Cosmetics Liquid Foundation €2.68 (Currently on sale)
W7 Face Shaper €7.25
MUA Highlighter €4.15
MUA Bronzer €1.40
Wet n' Wild Brow Kit - Dunnes or Penneys €3.99
Clear Mascara €3.99
They're Real €26.50
Smoky Eyes Trio €10.99

Do you use any of the products in my makeup box?
Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.












Saturday, 13 June 2015

Gerard Cosmetics Review


I ordered five Gerard Cosmetics lipsticks about three weeks ago and they arrived a few days ago! After all the hype from beauty bloggers and youtubers alike, I caved and bought some when I saw a 50% off code online!

I paid €42 for the five, €8.40 each. The lipsticks are usually €16.66 each, close enough to what a MAC lipstick costs. 

After I ordered the lipsticks, I noticed that they had slightly overcharged me and it took four different employees to finally figure out that the mistake was on their end and they refunded me the money. They were fairly prompt with sorting out the issue but I do not find calling something 'Love' or 'Beautiful' is professional at all.

My first impression of the lipsticks was pretty good, I liked the packaging because it is just like the  MAC packaging but on closer inspection, it is made from really cheap plastic, something you wouldn't expect from the price! The lipsticks also smell like crayons, there is no scent to them. For €16.66, that's really bad. Even drugstore lipsticks have a scent to them so it's obvious Gerard Cosmetics are trying to cut corners!

The five shades I got are 1995, Nude, Lilac Moon, Rodeo Drive and Underground.


1995 is a matte, nude brown lipstick. The formula for this lipstick is pretty good, I didn't find it too drying but the longevity of this lipstick is a different story. I haven't worn it out yet but I did put it on purely to see how long it would last. The lipstick lasted about two hours before I had to reapply it and I only had a drink during that period, I didn't do anything that would make the lipstick wear off.


I bought Nude for my sister so there isn't much I can say about this shade. I did swatch it and it's a really nice creamy matte lipstick!


Lilac Moon is the perfect pastel colour with a creamy finish. Again, I put this lipstick on to see how long it would last and I was so sad to discover it lasted less than an hour! I love pastel colours though so I will definitely be wearing this during the summer!



Rodeo Drive is a medium shade with mauve undertones. This lipstick also has a creamy matte finish and it does not dry out your lips! If you're unsure of which Gerard Cosmetics lipstick to buy, Rodeo Drive suits most skin tones so you cannot go wrong with this shade!


Underground is another lipstick I bought for my sister. The only thing I can say about this lipstick is it is a very close dupe to Limecrime's Cashmere! I cannot wait for you guys to see the look my sister creates with this lipstick for the 1989 World Tour on June 29th!



Do you own any Gerard Cosmetics products?
Did you have a similar mishap to mine?
Let me know in the comments below!

Ciara,

xoxo.





Thursday, 11 June 2015

Beach Beauty Essentials - Blogger Collab




With summer right around the corner, the weather is going to get better which can only mean one thing, BEACH DAYS!
I love the beach so much, except when sand gets everywhere ☹
Get beach ready with my top five beauty beach essentials!
http://www.vanityandbeyond.com/ebay/garnier_ambre_solaire_clear_protect_20.jpg
Sun cream is a must! You need to protect yourself from the sun. For obvious reasons (Ireland doesn’t get that hot in the summer at all), I normally use factor 20 but if you’re in a hot country, use at least factor 30! I love Ambre Solaire clear sun cream because you’re never left with any white streaks around your body.
http://www.salefestival.com/uploaded/Carmex%20Cherry%20Moisturising%20Lip%20Balm%20Tube%20SPF151.jpg
I always have lipbalm in my bag. During the summer it is even more important to protect your lips from the sun because nothing is worse than burnt lips! I love Carmex, it is literally my favourite lipbalm ever and it has SPF 15 in it to protect your lips from the harsh UV rays.
I usually wear minimal makeup to the beach because it's the beach, there's no need for a full face!
http://blog.pianetadonna.it/sfumature/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/maybelline-dream-fresh-bb-cream-spf-30-mdn.jpg
BB Cream is a great way to get minimal coverage to cover any blemishes and hide dark circles. Maybelline’s Dream Fresh BB Cream is perfect for the beach because it has SPF 30 in it so you don’t have to use sun cream on your face.
http://pics1.ds-static.com/prodimg/222595/300.JPG
Mascara is the only other makeup I wear to the beach. Maybelline’s Colossal mascara is waterproof and the volume it adds to your lashes is amazing!
http://image.brazilianbikinishop.com/images/products/5099821009878-GALERY%5b1%5d.jpg
You cannot go to the beach without aloe vera gel! Just in case you do get sun burnt, it is always handy to have a bottle of aloe vera gel in your bag to soothe your skin straight away. I have always used Hawaiian Tropic aloe vera gel and don’t think I’ll ever use a different brand because I love it so much!

When you’re heading to the beach this summer, don’t forget your shades and have a great time hanging with your friends!

My Beach Beauty Essentials are part of a huge summer-themed blogger collab! Be sure to check out all the other posts below and let me know what you bring to the beach in the comments !