M.A.C Pro Longwear

So i went a bit mad on my last shopping trip and bought all kinds of products of course not out of necessity but mainly out of desire... one of which is a new foundation which i was dying so try and i must say i'm so glad i did.

its mac pro longwear and im using shade nw20... there is a built in pump with this which is uber handy as i didnt have to buy a built in pump. as i've had oily skin for years and always buy medium coverage matte finish foundation this is a breath of fresh air into my make-up wardrobe.

the finish is really natural it has excellent coverage and does not settle into my pores and lasts really well through the day, i put this on at about 8am i might blot once during the day but it wears well into the evening. it looks make my skin look great even my boyfriend commented on how natural my make up look which is an amazing comment since he never says anything.

on youtube and other blogs i had heard people say there was a difference in colour compared to other mac foundations but i bought the same shade i use in studio fix and while the bottle scared me at first , once it was on my face it looked the exact same colour, so maybe this was just with me , comment if anyone has used this...

I.M.A.T.S London January 2010

International MakeUp Artists Trade Show...

I've not been to one yet, but am seriously thinking of flying to the london show this year. I regularly watch pixiwoo and kandee johnson on youtube and they are always so excited when talking about these shows, i know its not until january but im counting down the days. Id love to start a career in the beauty industry and this would be great to see people at work and really feel what goes on in the industry... if anyone has ever been to a show and has tips and advice for what to see when going please let me know.

M.A.C. Studio Fix Foundation NW20- review

I've been using this since about June now so its time for a review... When i used this first I hated it, regretted buying it and thought it was a waste of my hard earned money. Now its my everday foundation and i love it... how did i go from hating it to loving it, i hear you ask! well i spose with all things we have to give them a chance and after trialling this for a few weeks i began to compare it to other foundations i had used in the past and the pros were winning in favour of studio fix.

to begin, the smell is a bit funny but lets not let that bother us, when it stays put all day without touchups and wears well. I do my makeup at about 8.30 am and may blot with some powder at lunch but this is when i have time to look in the mirror. i usually take it off around 7 or 8, and find that it is after wearing really well and still looks fresh...

the finish is matte which i like but i add my own shimmer to my highpoints afterward... there is spf in it, now in the past ive had problems with a ghostly white face in pictures (el doublewear... im talking about you here! i love you but you dont look good in flash photography) to be honest i wear studio fix and have had no issues with the 'floating head' so bonus points for mac on that front...

i did have to have to buy a pump with this- and didnt like this extra cost but thought it was necessary for hygiene reasons, i have seen however that in one of their new foundations there is an inbuilt pump, this is with the mac pro longwear, which i will defo be buying and trying in time, if anyone has used this please let me know....

anyway on with the review... i think girls with oily/combo skin will like this foundation and even gals with normal skin, i think it would be too thick and not moisturising enough for dry skin girls...

to sum up this is a good all round foundation it does not hold hg status for me but it is pretty dam close... it wears well looks good in pics suits my skin tone and has the perfect amount of coverage to me which i can adjust to my preference.

My Skincare Routine

Skin, we all have it and we all have our issues with our own skin... The weather, our diet.... blah, blah... so much affects it, its a full time job taking care of it. I've started a new routine the last few months and its really working for me. I have problem skin (don't we all), its combination, oily t zone everything else is fairly normal, im not sensitive to anything nor do i have any ageing issues as im in my early twenties, i do get breakouts around my chin and jawline and also have a few old fading spots.

So my routine, I cleanse with Effaclar Purifying foaming gel for oily and sensitive skin, i got a jumbo bottle of this for €16 for 400ml, epic value for an excellent product in my opinion. this is great for a gently cleanse to remove dirt and oil etc... in the shower i usually use a st.ives apricot scrub but have recently cut this out and have replaced it with some vegetal sponges i got in boots and it is a much welcome change, i squirt some of the effaclar on the sponge and massage around my face and it does wonders at taking off makeup, my skin has defo improved with this change and is much smoother and clearer than when i was using the effaclar on it's own. These sponges can be thrown in the washing machine and reused so they are really good value and they were only a couple of euro!!!

I skip toner... i dont like to use anything too harsh as i am afraid of stripping my skin of its moisture! i don't thinks its an essential step but if i have lots of make up on i sometimes use toner....

on to the moisture factor!!!! this is the product i have always struggled with, in the past i have used guinot and other expensive brands but to no improvement to my skin, right now im using nivea's oil moisturiser and it does exactly what is says on the tin, its light yet moisturising and doesn't clog my pores... there is spf in my foundation so at the moment i don't use a moisturiser with spf when i wear makeup, when im not wearing makeup which is rare i use a roc moisturiser with spf 15, this is for combination skin and is in the hydra plus range.

at nighttime i use another cost effective product i got in boots, it is a tea tree and which hazel night treatment gel, i've had this in my beauty box for well over a year but the last month i've taken it out and love it, because its a gel it does not build up much gunk in my pores ( sorry thats rotten but had to be said) , its nice and light and at present dont feel i need a heavy night time moisturiser. this got brought out of the box because i had ran out of moisturiser and was frantic looking for something else, im glad im using it again as its really helping with the balance of my skin.

once in awhile i do a deep cleanse and exfoliate and steam followed by a mask. the one i use is queen helene mint julep mask, i ordered this on ebay for under €10 and the bottle is so big i know i'll get my monies worth... it is a green clay mask, i had read so many good things about this on http://www.makeupalley.com/ so i had to buy it. Im so impressed with it for the price, it really does calm down a breakout and is really 'clarifying' my skin... thumbs up for this product.

thats my routine, im going to stick to it for awhile as my skin is improving day by day.

Sleek Palette- 'The Original' & 'Sunset'

I got these palettes in June of this year and 3-4 months on, my love affair with them has continued. They are such good value and the colour pay-off is rival to some high-end brands. I have the 'Original' & 'Sunset'. I can't remember the price but its on the sleek website http://www.sleekmakeup.com/ .

'The Original'

I find the original one the best overall, it is so dynamic and can be used in so many different looks. The black colour, which is as far as i know, in all palettes, is a really good base black colour and can be used as a cake liner also with really good pay off and staying power. I am in love with the purple, i find it really vibrant and really striking when mixed with the navy. They are a lovely creamy texture, but there is fall down with them so be careful to mind your foundation etc. saying that, i've had fall down with more expensive products so i don' think its much to crib over.

To be honest in the sunset palette i mainly use the bottom row of colours as i find the top ones too harsh and i have not played around with them so much to know what suits me.

'Sunset'

These are not sold in Ireland yet to my knowledge, and i got these ones on a recent trip to liverpool, i'm going to the uk again shortly and will without doubt add to my collection of these palettes. I am also anxious to try their blushers and also the face contour kit, im hopeful that they will be the same quality and value of the other sleek products i have tried, so if anyone has tried these, please leave your thoughts in the comments.