Sunday, February 20, 2022

Empties 1- €1000 Worth of Empty Beauty Products

This post contains affiliate links
PR samples are marked with an asterisk*
 

I was going through all of my empty products last weekend as I've been collecting them for 3.5 months now. I usually post them on Instagram with a short caption sharing my thoughts on each product and I thought it would be a good idea to write an 'Empties' blog post too so that I can keep track of the products I've used up and what I think of them. 

I decided to amp it up for the blog post and try something I've never done before which is to add up the combined value of all of the products. Obviously prices can fluctuate and most of these products were bought with some kind of discount because I tend to wait until there is a discount code or sale or offer to purchase anything. I rarely buy full price because I hardly ever have the need. If there was a bit of a price difference between online retailers I took the average price and tried to include links where the product was the least expensive, still in stock and most widely available. 

I also thought it would be interesting to calculate how much money I spent versus how much were PR samples. I found the difference quite surprising. I've been doing a low key "no buy" since December in order to get better use from the products I already have and I have also been enforcing a one in one out rule with products. I'm only opening a new product when I have finished one and have no other similar ones open. This way I'm not wasting anything, I'm using things up within their expiry dates and I'm properly testing every product rather then having three moisturisers open at the same time. 

I'm aware that I have a certain privilege when it comes to doing a no buy because I do get sent a number of PR samples from brands. I absolutely take that into account and that's another reason why I've been trying to exclusively use what I have and not buy anything I don't need. I want to really test out products properly and give honest and thorough reviews. 

Even with the number of products I receive I still buy a lot myself as you'll see with the numbers at the end. I'm going to try to give short reviews of each product as I have a lot to get through.




Uoma Beauty Stay Woke Concealer (White Pearl T1) 5ml, €23

I love this concealer and I can't wait to repurchase it. I have 4 other concealers open at the moment so in following my self imposed rules I can't buy another until I've used all 4 up (or they are expire, whichever comes first) which may take me a while. There are 19 shades so it's not the most extensive range but very inclusive and the Uoma Beauty Say What?! Foundation has 50 shades and one of the best shade distributions I've seen. It's a creamy and easy to blend texture and it's quite pigmented so a little goes a long way. I can't fault this. I've had it for a year and a half and I used it up in that time. The shade I got was in correlation with the foundation shade I got but the concealer is darker. When I repurchase I'll buy shade 0.5 or 0.75. 
 


Refy Brow Pencil  (Medium) 0.06g, €18
 
I was hesitant to try this because of all the hype (which usually puts me off wanting to try a product). But it's genuinely as good as everyone says. It's a twist up, fine, waxy crayon style pencil and the nib is very tiny meaning you can actually draw individual hairs if you like to do your brows in that way. Sometimes I find these kind of brow pencils to be too big or too soft so you get a more blurred look but you don't with this. It's comparable to the Urban Decay Brow Beater and the Delilah Brow Line which I've also enjoyed using. However if I was to choose one in formula and pricing I would repurchase the Refy one again. And that's exactly what I'll be doing once I've finished up the one I'm currently using. 
 



I have mixed feelings about this, I thought it was an excellent setting spray for the look I enjoy which is a bit of a glow to my complexion but I still want my makeup to stay in place. It seems like a contradiction but I think Danessa Myricks has nailed it. When I'm wearing powder products it takes away the powdery look and makes them melt into my skin. I'm torn though because I like having the Urban Decay All Nighter as I feel it sets my makeup like no other setting spray and I also love the Pixi Glow Mist which is a proper glowy finishing spray more suited to drier skin types (it contains 21 different oils). This Danessa Myricks one is almost a combination of those two so in a way it's probably better value. But then there are days I just want All Nighter or Glow Mist depending on the weather, time of year, how my skin is behaving and what products I have used. My Glow Mist is almost finished so I'm thinking I might repurchase this instead this time following my one in one out rule. If you like a setting spray but you still want a glow to your skin, you won't be disappointed with this. It's definitely pricey, similar enough to the Urban Decay All Nighter but I'm sure you could get it at a discount if you shop around. 
 


This is another setting spray I really enjoy using. It works exactly as you'd want it to and it smells like coconuts (not to everyone's taste but I love it). I would have probably repurchased this if it hadn't been for the Danessa Myricks one. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this and it's less expensive so a great option but I think the DM one just tips this off the list for me. 
 


 
This is the second tube of this I have used up. I liked it but I didn't love it. I found it got quite clumpy when I tried to build it up which isn't always a bad thing but it just wasn't my favourite mascara. I much prefer the Urban Decay Perversion Mascara. There are also less expensive ones that I like better. If I was to buy a mascara for in and around €24 I'd buy the Clarins Wonder Perfect 4D which was much more impactful. 
 


 
Another mascara that just didn't do it for me. It wasn't necessarily bad but it just wasn't my favourite. I much prefer the Monsieur Big or even the Hypnôse Doll Eyes that I bought recently. If I was to spend €32 I would buy the Pat McGrath Labs Dark Star or YSL Beauty Volume Effet Faux Cils which both do much more for my lashes then this one. 
 


 
I was given this brush at a press event for IT Cosmetics shortly after they launched in Ireland back in November of 2018. I was so excited to try it out as I'd heard it was a beautiful brush, especially to apply the Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream. It really was beautiful, I enjoyed using it so much until about a year and a half later when I started getting the tell tale signs of a dying brush. It would shed hairs all over my face and it gradually got worse until half the hairs were halfway out of the ferrule and it became completely unusable. I kept it this long because it's a double ended brush and I thought I would keep using the concealer side but I just didn't. It was awkward to store with the larger end down and I ended up finally giving in and getting rid of it. It's such a pity because it applied foundation beautifully. I have less expensive brushes much longer that are still in perfect condition so I was very disappointed, especially given the price. Even more frustrating is that I bought the Love is the Foundation Brush almost exactly a year ago because I had heard great things about it and I saw it was on sale. I'd had it maybe 6 months when the same things started happening and now it's pretty unusable too. I absolutely loved it for applying foundation so once again I was left disappointed. I was actually sent the same brush in PR a couple of months after I bought it so I do have a spare but I'm thinking the same thing might happen again. As much as I love the performance of the IT Cosmetics brushes I just wouldn't risk spending my money on them now after having two bad experiences. 
 


 
This is another brush disappointment. I actually got sent a set of the Rebeluna brushes by Brand Ambassador and fellow content creator Gracey O'Connell. She was sharing the brush sets and I was chatting to her about her favourites and then she offered to send me some to try and I was so delighted to take her up on it. She sent me the 7 Piece Starter Set and a sponge which was incredibly kind of her. I don't actually know what happened with this but not too long after I got it one side must have come away from the glue and it's all sticking up as you can see from the photo. I loved using this, it's a great foundation brush because it's small and flat so it works really well at applying foundation on small areas. I actually bought more of the brushes myself because I loved the ones she sent me so much. I use them all the time and this hasn't happened to any of the others so I'm assuming it was just one of those things that happens. I've actually been meaning to buy a replacement but because I have a few foundation brushes I haven't yet. I do still highly recommended Rebeluna if you're looking for good quality brushes that don't cost a fortune and are excellent at applying makeup. 
 


 
I bought the Brush Cleaning Bundle which includes this and the Microfibre Brush Cleaning Towel when it was on offer for around €45. I had wanted one of the brush towels for ages and I hadn't bought a specific brush cleaner in years so I thought it was worth trying. I love both of these products. I use the towel every single time I wash my brushes. It's so handy I actually don't know what I did without it. The soap is amazing too, I don't think I've ever used anything that has gotten my brushes as clean as quickly and it smells wonderful (clean cotton apparently). The textured side is great for deep cleaning stubborn makeup. I'm someone who is quite vigilant about brush cleaning. Once it's used, it goes in the pile to be washed. I usually do about 3 or 4 days worth of brushes at once. I do have a spot cleaner but I rarely use it. I'm just very careful with my brushes because I've seen how quickly bacteria can grow on used brushes and I don't want that going on my face and ruining the job I've been doing with my skincare routine. As much as I love this brush cleaner, at the rate I wash my brushes, it only lasted me two months and if I was to buy it on its own full price at €32, it works out quite expensive. I don't think I realised the full price when I bought the set and now I'm raging because I know how good it is but I do feel it's expensive for what it is. I think they should sell refills because you could definitely reuse the tin with the rubber side which is actually what I've been doing with dish soap. The regular one is less expensive, €27 and it comes in Sea Salt and Vanilla and Bergamot and Grapefruit scents if you did want to try it at a lower price. Would I buy it again? If I didn't wash my brushes as often or spot cleaned them in between or if it was discounted I probably would. It's also €6.95 for delivery to Ireland which brings the price up to €39. I really love this product but it's too expensive for a brush cleaner that only lasted two months for me. You can actually get one of the regular Spectrum Brush Launderette Bundles on Beauty Bay for €37.50 which is better value if you want to buy both. 




 
I got sent this in PR in late 2019 and I only finished it last month so I'm sure it was expired. I remember buying Bioderma in Paris 10 years ago after I'd been reading beauty blogs for a couple of years and Bioderma was always named as one of those products that makeup artists love and use all the time. You couldn't buy it here so I was delighted to get it in Paris. It's since become available in Ireland along with so many brands that have come out with their own micellar waters but I still think this one is the original and best. However I don't use micellar water day to day anymore. It's just not my prefered way of cleansing. I prefer to remove my makeup with a balm or oil which is why it took me two years to use this up. I mostly use micellar water to clean up my eye makeup if I need to. If anything I would repurchase the small bottle of this as 500mls is more than I would use before it expired. I currently have a 500ml bottle of a Garnier micellar water so I won't be buying one again for a while. However if micellar water is your thing and you haven't yet tried the Bioderma one, it's absolutely worth trying. 
 


 
I received this a while before I started using it because I had several other cleansing gels/second or morning cleaners to use up first. I didn't enjoy using this and I wouldn't buy it again. It's not necessarily a bad cleanser but I didn't like the texture which is quite slippery. Hannah Louise Poston actually reviewed this recently and said the exact same thing about it. It's not an enjoyable experience because of the texture. It's gentle and inexpensive but I just wouldn't spend my own money on it. 
 





This is one of those products that I'd heard great things about for years. Fresh hadn't been available in Ireland until maybe a couple of years ago and I wasn't in a hurry to try this but the cleanser I was using was almost gone and I had a discount code for Cult Beauty so I decide to order it and see if it was worth the hype. Long story short I wasn't crazy about this. It says it cleanses eyes and face but it's a foaming/gel style cleanser and I don't like to remove my makeup with that kind of cleanser. I ended up using this as a second/morning cleanser. I think €35 is too expensive for a second cleanser. It was quite gentle so those claims are absolutely true but it's just not my preferred texture for removing makeup and it's probably my own fault for not reading about the texture before I bought it. 
 

 
This is the second time I've bought this product. I got it after the below cleanser was used up and I hadn't repurchased it yet as it was quite expensive and I didn't want to buy it full price. I got this instead as I knew I liked it and it was significantly less expensive than the Then I Met You one. I really like this, it's an unusual texture almost like a thicker gel but it acts as a balm or an oil would. It removes makeup well but I find I do have to go again with more on my eyes if I'm wearing a long lasting mascara. It doesn't melt it away as easily as it does with an actual oil or balm cleanser. That being said I do find it enjoyable to use and I would buy it again. I like the REN Cleansing Balm too as it comes in the same packaging and removes makeup very well. 
 

 
 
This is one of those products I almost wish I hadn't tried because nothing else seems to compare now. I had read rave reviews of this for a while and I really liked the look of the brand and the idea behind it. It was created by Charlotte Cho, the co-founder of Soko Glam, a website dedicated to Korean beauty products. She moved from California to Korea and learned about the Korean philosophy that skincare should be an enjoyable experience and an investment into our well-being. After launching Soko Glam in 2012, she subsequently got her esthetician license and used her knowledge of Western and Korean skincare to create her own brand, Then I Met You. This cleanser really does give that enjoyable experience. It's described as sorbet soft on the brand's website and that's exactly how it feels. It's one of those skincare products that is pleasure to use. As much as I love skincare and my routine, sometimes it can be a chore and I wish I could just click my fingers and my makeup would be off my face but having this cleanser made me genuinely look forward to removing my makeup because everything about it is a joy. The packaging, the texture, the scent and the result. It has ingredients like grape seed, olive and seaberry oils, rosemary, persimmon and grapefruit and vitamin E. I love this cleanser and I have since repurchased it and I just started using it again after finishing the REN one. It's expensive but I think it's worth it. It's definitely my favourite balm cleanser from the array that I've tried from Emma Hardie, Pestle & Mortar, REN etc. If you can afford it, it's absolutely worth trying. 



 
This is another product I had for a while before I opened and started using it. It's a water activated fruit enzyme exfoliator, a similar idea to the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant if you've ever tried that. You pour some of the powder out and mix it with some water and then apply the paste to your face. I didn't think I would enjoy this. I don't tend to like fiddly products like this as they require more effort than I'm usually willing to put in but I did enjoy using this even though I do prefer chemical exfoliants usually. I have the REN Daily AHA which is a lactic acid exfoliator and that's what I like to use as it's quite gentle. However I like how old school this feels, like using a facial scrub as a teenager and rubbing your face to get that smooth feeling and later you realise it's not actually good for your skin. This gives you that feeling but it's very gentle and doesn't have those horrible microbeads. Instead it contains rice starch to gently buff your skin, vitamin C to brighten skin tone and calamine powder and allantoin to calm and soothe your skin. Would I buy this again? Yes, I absolutely would. I think it's a great price and I noticed a difference to my skin. It's almost like a quick exfoliator for when you haven't been using a chemical one but want your makeup to apply more smoothly. Is it going to be as good as the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant? Probably not, but it's also not €59. I found it to be quite gentle on my hormonal skin too which was much appreciated when I couldn't use my lactic acid exfoliator for a while there as it irritated my skin. It's a great option for anyone who doesn't want to or can't spend lots on a gentle exfoliator. 



 
I bought this is the Summer of 2020 as I was suffering from breakouts from wearing my mask all day in work and I was looking for a mask I could use weekly to hopefully help my skin. To be honest, even though I enjoyed using this I just didn't find it did enough to make it worth buying again. Like any Aesop products I've tried it smells amazing but that's not everything. It's a kaolin clay based mask that contains lots of oils like tea tree, evening primrose, sage, lemon and rosemary oil. It also has glycerin for hydration and bentonite clay which is an anti-inflammatory and absorbs excess oil. Maybe it's that my skin needed more targeted treatment but I just didn't find it did much except maybe calmed my skin a little (it did tingle a bit too). For that price I really wanted it to do more so I wouldn't buy it again. I preferred the Dermalogica Charcoal Rescue Masque which I used years ago and loved but I haven't bought since because I hadn't really needed it. I think I will now If I'm looking for a similar mask in the future as it's the only mask of it's kind that I found actually made a visible difference to my skin. 



 
I had read excellent things about this mask over the years but never thought to buy it until I saw it was in the Boots €12 Tuesdays offers. I jumped at the chance to try it because I can always do with a hydrating mask and I was interested to see if it was as good as the reviews say. I was delighted to find it didn't disappoint. The manuka honey locks moisture into the skin and it's antibacterial which helps with blemishes. I probably would buy this in lieu of a separate hydrating and anti-blemish clay mask because it does a bit of both. You can get a smaller 15ml size of this for about €8 if you want to try it first before paying for the full size. I absolutely will buy this again. 
 


 
This is my second time buying and finishing this mask. I really love it. It's quite similar to the Antipodes one in what it achieves for your skin. It comes in a glass jar and the product itself is a sticky consistency like a thicker version of honey but not as sticky if that makes any sense. You apply and massage it into your skin for a minute or two until it turns white and leave on for about 10 to 15 minutes. Just to warn, it does feel hot on the skin once it's massaged in and I've read reviews of people saying it tingles. I know some people won't like that sensation so it's something to keep in mind in which case I'd say the Antipodes one is probably a better option. It's less expensive and you get more in the tube too. I'd happily buy either mask again as I love the process of using this. It also has a genius addition that I've never seen in a skincare product before which is a magnetised lid that the little metal spatula sits on top of so it doesn't get lost. It makes it so much easier to use and it's something I wish other brands would do as it's much easier to store and more hygienic. They have recently released a Honey Potion Plus Ceramide Hydration Mask which I might try next time I buy it as it sounds like an even more nourishing version of Honey Potion. 
 


Glossier Zit Stick 3.5ml, €14
 
I was sent Zit Stick in PR when it first launched and have repurchased it a couple of times since. I'm in two minds as to whether I'll repurchase it again. It definitely worked for me at reducing that red swelling caused by angry spots. It's a salicylic acid and tea treat oil targeted treatment so if you only get the odd breakout this could be a good way of just treating those small areas rather then applying something to your entire face. It's probably the ideal product for someone who only gets blackheads and breakouts the odd time and only in certain areas. Instead of using this I've switched to the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHS Liquid Exfoliant which is a treatment for blackheads, acne and clogged pores. I've been using this all over my face because my skin has been more congested over the past year. I feel like it's better value for money too as you only get a tiny amount compares to the Zit Stick. If my skin improves I may switch back but for the moment Paula is my gal. 
 


 
I bought this myself maybe 5/6 years ago and I loved it. I've mentioned this before but just in case there's anyone reading this that may not have read my blog before, the skin around my eye area can be sensitive. I know most people are probably the same but I have found certain eye creams can be too much and I end up with a kind of dermatitis under my eyes or on my lids. I've also had milia in the past so I have to be careful with what I use that it isn't too heavy or too active (I can't use vitamin c eye creams for example). This is a serum so it's lightweight and hydrating and doesn't irritate my eye area in any way. I know some people don't use eye cream and think it's a bit of a scam. Those people are probably able to use their moisturisers on their eye area but most moisturisers are too heavy for me. The skin there is thinner and more more delicate and I just find specific eye creams work really well for me and improve the look of makeup in that area too, particularly concealer. You could probably use this and then an eye cream too as it's a serum but I used it alone as I didn't want to overload my eyes. It contains reflective mica to give the appearance of brighter under eyes, if dark circles are a concern. However you could also use a brightening concealer too. I'd happily buy this again as it genuinely worked for me and if it's within your budget it could be worth trying if you have similar skin to me. 
 


 
I bought this simply because I found it on a website for €8. They must have been trying to get rid of their stock because they no longer offer Pestle & Mortar products. I always use a facial mist before applying my serum as having damp skin is known to help products absorb more effectively into your skin. I also love the ritual of it. I would never pay €32 for a facial mist. I just wouldn't. I would rather spend that money on a better serum or on SPF as a facial mist is one of those steps that isn't all that necessary even though I do love it. I enjoyed using this but I just couldn't justify spending that money on a facial mist. You can buy a 30ml bottle for €15 if you did want to try it without buying the full size.  
 



My heart is a little bit broken by this one. I went to find a link to it for this post and I couldn't find one anywhere. The only place I found it was on Amazon and I refuse to buy skincare from there as I don't know if it's legitimate. I was panicked so I emailed Liz Earle customer service to enquire about it. They replied saying the packaging isn't as sustainable as it could be and they have removed it from sale until they find alternative packaging. I was devastated as I've been using it for years and it's one of my favourite parts of my skincare routine. Thankfully the original Instant Boost Skin Tonic is still available in the 200ml size. The lady who replied to me suggested refilling my old bottle with this but sadly I'd already thrown it out. I have had the original one before which you apply by pouring it onto cotton wool or your hands and then onto your face. I just prefer the spritzer so I'm thinking I might buy a reusable bottle and the original Skin Tonic and pour it into that. I've emailed them with some suggestions so I'm hoping they will bring it back eventually. I'm always happy that brands are thinking of more sustainable ways of creating products and packaging so it's a good thing in the long run.



 
This was my second time using up a bottle of this serum. I absolutely adore it. I think I've realised over the years that hyaluronic acid serums just don't cut it for me and my skin needs different ingredients for hydration. This one is packed with ingredients that work like niacinamide, glycerin and squalane, peptides saccharomyces lysate (a probiotic yeast used to normalise the skin's microbiome, frequently used in anti-aging products) and the 'Long Life Herb' which is a Japanese superfood full of vitamins and minerals, it strengthens the skin and improves tone and texture. This is one of those products that just works for me. I notice the difference in my skin straight away and it makes my makeup look better too. It does everything it claims to and leaves my skin feeling smoother and more hydrated. I've been trying to use up the other hydrating serums I have before I use this again but I really miss it in my skincare routine when I'm not using it. It is expensive but you can get a 30ml for around €42 and the last time I checked the 30ml + 15ml gift set was still available on sale from Boots and McCauley Pharmacy at a sale price. If you're in the market for a hydrating serum I highly recommend getting this smaller size on sale to try out.
 


 
This is the hydrating serum I was using before the bareMinerals one. It's not bad by any means, it's a basic hyaluronic acid serum but for me there's just no comparison between this and the Skinlongevity. It's less than half the price but to be honest I'd rather buy a less expensive moisturiser and spend more on a serum. If I was going to spend close to €30 on this, I'd rather pay an extra €10-€15 and get the 30ml size of the Skinlongevity because I know it does more for my skin. Having said that, if you find hyaluronic acid works well for your skin and you don't want to spend a fortune, this could be a good option.
 


 
Like the bareMinerals serum this is another product that I can see makes a big difference to my skin. It's a 2 phase serum, one side is a vitamin C rich water with 3 types of potent vitamin C and the other side is a lightweight oil that contains squalane, tamarind extract and evening primrose oil. The texture is lightweight but still feels nourishing and it makes my skin look brighter and smoother. I've bought this twice now and I would have bought it again but I was sent another vitamin C serum to try so I'm using that first, although I definitely don't like it as much as this one. Again, it is expensive but both times I bought it with a 30% off discount so it's a bit more manageable and I only use it in the morning so it lasts a long time. If you're looking for a vitamin C serum and you can afford it, this is such a beautiful product and I can't wait to have it back in my skincare routine.
 


 
If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen me mention that my skin had gotten quite bad just before and for a few months after I had my daughter. I had pregnancy acne with a lot of congestion and no matter what I did it just wasn't getting better because it was hormonal. I found my skin was more sensitised and products I used all the time were giving me a reaction. I decided to completely pare back my routine and stop using most actives. I just used a cleanser, hydrating serum and a simple moisturiser. I was so frustrated one day that I went out and bought this because I know it had worked for me in the past. It contains niacinamide to reduce the appearance of spots, salicylic acid and lipo hydroxy acid to unclog pores, glycerin to give hydration and zinc to control excess sebum. I just wanted a one and done product and it's the only thing I found made an actual difference to my skin. I would definitely buy this again if I felt my skin needed it but it's doing much better at the moment. 

 


 
This is another product I used to help my post pregnancy hormonal skin. I got a delivery of this just at the right time when my skin was at its peak breakout stage. It was also quite red from the marks left behind by spots and from being more sensitive then usual. This product was the perfect thing to use as it has creates an optical illusion that corrects redness, it's a lightweight, gel texture that feels refreshing on my skin but it also leaves it feeling hydrated. It also calms and soothes any sensitivity. I would say this would suit anyone who wants to neutralise redness in their skin, is perhaps a bit more on the oily side or for the warmer months when you might want a more light moisturiser. I would definitely buy this if I found myself in the same situation with my skin as it really did work. They also have a Calm-Essentiel Restructuring Oil which I haven't been using for too long but so far I'm finding it a pleasure to use.



 
I was so excited when Ultra Violette launched on Cult Beauty as I had been wanting to try their products for a while. I bought two of their sunscreens last year and loved both but I'll just talk about this one for now. I got this particular one as it's a mineral sunscreen, fragrance free and formulated for those with sensitive skin. It has a slight tint to it, more so to cancel out the white cast a mineral sunscreen can sometimes give the skin. Once it's blended into my skin I didn't notice it. The texture is somewhere between a gel and a moisturiser and it blends in so easily. I found it worked great under makeup too which is always a must for me. I do tend to prefer an SPF 50 which is the only reason I wouldn't buy this again but in the Winter months when I'm not outside as much I don't mind wearing SPF 30. I think the next one I want to try is the Queen Screen Lightweight Skinscreen SPF 50 as it's meant to be a serum-like texture which sounds exactly like my kind of product. If you're looking for a good sunscreen to wear under makeup of in general, I've really been liking the Ultra Violette products so far.
 


 
This is one that I bought last Spring and for some reason I still had it in with my skincare even though it was empty. I was looking for products for sensitive skin when I was pregnant last year as I know sometimes your skin can react to certain things when pregnant so I thought I would err on the side of caution just in case. I really like Paula's Choice as a brand and so I was happy to see they had an SPF moisturiser for sensitive skin. It's thicker than the Ultra Violette one and definitely more of a moisturiser texture but it absorbed into my skin no problem. I'd probably be more inclined to use this during the colder months as I prefer a lighter textured SPF in the Summer. I enjoyed using this and it worked well under makeup. I highly recommend trying it if you have dry or sensitive skin, I would absolutely buy it again.
 


 
I don't want to write too much about this because I already reviewed it in my recent 6 Minute Face article. I tend to prefer potted lip balms at night and a stick or tube during the day as they're more hygienic for when you're out of the house. I enjoyed using this, it worked great under lipstick and my lips felt hydrated. A stick lip balm is always so handy to have and this one is lovely. However I can't see myself spending €27 on a lip balm. I have a few new unopened ones in my collection so I won't need one for a while but I prefer my Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, it's less expensive and there's more in the tub so I'd buy that instead.
 



I was treating myself to one of the Voya Lavender, Rose and Chamomile Candles and I came across a gift set with their shampoo and conditioner. I was in the market for some hair products and they had 20% off so I decided to give them a try as I hadn't tried many of their products before and I'm always happy to support quality Irish brands. I enjoyed using these, the scents are incredible but to be honest I think I need to stick to products like the Aveda Be Curly Co-Wash for my hair type. They were lovely products but I just have others I prefer as my hair needs a lot of moisture for my curls to be as manageable as possible. I do still want to try their Relaxing Bath & Shower Oil at some point. Their products smell amazing and they make great gifts. If these products sound good to you, you can save money by buying the gift set which is what I did. You can find them on Foxford.com and McGorisks.ie  



 
This is one of those products that was super hyped up and therefore I probably wouldn't have bought it myself. I always have reservations when a product is everywhere on social media like this was. I tried it anyway even though it's meant for long, damaged hair I said I'd give it a go to see what all the fuss was about. I used it and then loosely blow dried and heat styled my hair. Surprisingly I definitely felt this made a difference to my heat styled hair. It seemed more sleek and less frizzy. I don't use heat on my hair often and especially not at the moment as I'm going through some post-natal hair loss. I do think this did what it said it would and as it's not too expensive and I wouldn't use it too often I probably would buy it again. I'm using what I have at the moment first though. If you have longer hair and you blow dry, straighten or curl it, this is definitely worth a try, especially as it's so inexpensive.
 



 
I bought this because I follow Ashley Streicher on Instagram and I love her hair content. She collaborated with R+Co on a line of products so I had to buy them. Well, I bought two, one of them can't be shipped here as it's an aerosol but hopefully I'll get to try it some day. I absolutely love this and I used it all the time on damp hair and also on dry hair to refresh it and add some moisture back in. First of all it smells unbelievable, they actually have this scent in a candle called Stars Align and it has deep palo santo, white cedarwood, smoky tobacco leaf, waterlily and fresh pine needles. Sadly I can't find anywhere that stocks it that ships to Ireland but again, maybe some day. If they made a perfume of this scent I would absolutely buy it. I just find this product works so well for my hair, it has ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, vegetable collagen and coconut oil extract. I will definitely be buying this again, but as I mentioned already I'm trying to use the products I have first and I have another leave-in conditioner I'm trying to get through at the moment.
 


 
I bought one two of these last year for my sister and I and we both loved it. I've been trying to leave my hair as natural as possible recently and this product has been great to use on damp hair and then dried with a diffuser on the cool setting. I find it gives my hair volume, definition and moisture and it also smells wonderful, the scent has sicilian lemon, tangerine, eucalyptus, green tea, tree moss and crisp amber. I love how my hair looks and smells when I used this and I would buy it again but I have a couple of other curl creams I have to get through first.
 


 
I bought this at the beginning of 2019 after my hair stylist used it on my hair. I loved what it did and the scent (as you can see scent is of huge importance to me when it comes to hair products). I used it so much in 2019, every single time I heat styled my hair I would used this to finish it off. It's excellent at taming frizz and fly aways and for if I want to slick back my hair too as it makes everything so sleek. I obviously haven't been styling my hair as much in the past two years but once I do I'll be buying this again as I haven't found anything like it and it lasts for ages too. 
 



Body skincare is probably the last thing on my list at the moment. If I get to shower and wash and dry my hair I'm happy. I probably moisturise my body once or twice a month if I'm lucky. So having a body moisturiser that encourages me to use it is a good thing. This is my second bottle of this one and I love it because it's a 400ml size so it lasts for ages, it smells incredible, the pump is convenient and it hydrates my dry skin. There's not much more I can say about this except that I would definitely buy it again.





This is a culmination of 14 weeks of empties. The 36 products totals €1082.50 with €334 worth of PR samples and €748.50 worth of products purchased by me. I definitely didn't spend that amount as most products were bought with some kind of discount. I've had some of these products as far back as 2018/2019 so it's not as though I'd use up €1000 worth of products every few months, I've just been making a concious effort to use up what I have recently. I think I'm going to keep these posts up for the year and track my spending, my PR samples and hold myself for accountable for what I use. I hope you found this interesting, I'd love to know if you've tried any of these products.

Emma x

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Sunday, February 6, 2022

Every Makeup Product I Used In 2021

This post contains affiliate links. 
PR Samples are denoted with an asterisk*


I don't think I've ever written a yearly favourites post before so I decided to try something different for 2021. I went through the 102 makeup looks that I posted on Instagram throughout the past year and I made a list of all of the products I used and how many times I used each one. Granted 102 days is less than a third of the year but I thought it would give me an idea of what my most used products were and what ones haven't been as heavily featured in the rotation. I started composing this post in mid December and planned on publishing it at the beginning of January but it ended up taking on a life of it's own and I found myself adding more and more detail in an effort for it to be as comprehensive as possible.

For the first five months of the 2021 we were in some form of lockdown (and I was pregnant and not feeling the best) so on weekdays in work my makeup mostly consisted of something to make me look more awake and fresh faced around my eyes as that's all anyone could see of my masked face. There are products I have used more than they are listed below as they were staples in my Monday to Friday routine. Glossier Boy Brow for example is generally all I used on my brows most days in work. No7 HydraLuminous Moisturising Foundation is mentioned as being used just twice below, however I know it was one of my most used foundations to wear in work as it is so reliable and I knew I could blend it easily when I was getting ready in the dark during the Winter months at the beginning of the year. 

Writing this post has been helpful for me if nothing else. It's reminded me to use products that I've underused or forgotten about and it's really made me think about what I buy and why, which kinds of products I don't use and which kinds I love and use all the time. I've spent the month of January revisiting some products that I only used once or twice in 2021 and it's made me rethink my opinion on them. 

I won't be able to go into too much detail about each product but I will elaborate here and there otherwise this will be the longest blog post of all time. It's still probably going to be a long one so let's get into it. I've listed the products alphabetically by brand and then chronologically by product.

 



About Face Beauty


Matte Fluid Eye Paint (White Noise, Dionysus)

I loved using these and playing around with different application methods. They can be used as liner or blended out over the lids. I think I chose shades that are too similar to the Danessa Myricks Colorfix in Latte and Lift and I tend to reach for those more. I should have probably bought different shades. If you want to try colourful liquid eyeshadows and not spend too much money, these ones are a great option. 

Shadowstick in Creature, Light Lock Highlight Fluid in Fight or Flight, Matte Fix Lip Pencil in Cradled and Light Lock Lip Gloss in Such Great Heights
 

Light Lock Highlight Fluid (Fight or Flight) x11

I love this stuff. It's definitely more on the intense end of the liquid highlighter scale, however it can be made more sheer if you apply a small amount (a little bit goes a long way) over hydrated skin. Just remember to blend fast. I used this a lot in conjunction with Glossier Cloud Paint in Haze and Storm as it's more cool toned and gives me that flushed cheek look I adore, especially in the Winter. It's almost a look all on it's own. I've seen Halsey use this in tutorials and she applies it under her base product too which could be a good way to use it if you want more of a subtle highlighted look. I used it much more than 11 times. Probably not one for those who want a sheer highlighter. The have a powder and a cream stick version of this too for anyone who prefers those textures.


Matte Fix Lip Pencil (Cradled) x3

This is an excellent liner formula. I hadn't used this in a while and took it out again recently and was annoyed at myself that I hadn't used it more. I think I'd just been using the same liners over and over and had forgotten about this because I keep my lip products separate to the rest of my makeup. It's a gorgeous colour on its own too and so easy to apply but long lasting. 

 

Matte Fluid Eye Paint in White Noise, Matte Fix Lip Pencil in Cradled, Matte Paint-It Lip Color in Slumber, Light Lock Highlight Fluid in Fight or Flight
 

Matte Paint-It Lip Color (Slumber)

I think most people are over the dry liquid lipstick formula, this is definitely a more comfortable and modern liquid lipstick but I think I just didn't love the shade I ordered. It was a bit too deep and warm for my skin tone. I found it hard to see the true colour on the website and I ordered it when they had just launched so there wasn't enough reviews and swatches for me to gauge the shade accurately. They have since launched more shades and they look like they would suit me much more. If you like liquid lipstick, these are definitely worth trying. This particular shade was actually used on the character of Maddy in Euphoria season 2 recently so I think I might try out a Euphoria inspired look and use this again.

 


Shadowstick (Creature) x2

Really love the formula of these. More user friendly than the Matte Eye Paints and probably more forgiving too. I found it so easy to create a really graphic eye with this blue shade I bought. Can definitely be used as a liner or an eyeshadow base too for added longevity or opacity. Very easy to just apply and blend and you're done. 


Light Lock Lip Gloss (Such Great Heights) x2

It wasn't really the year for lip gloss sadly as they're not exactly mask friendly. But if you like a comfortable, thin feeling, minty scented gloss then you'll love these. It's actually more like a glossy lip oil as it has coconut, lavender and peppermint oils in it. I don't have anything bad to say about these really, I just haven't worn lip gloss much this year. Paired with a slightly darker liner it looks amazing on the lips. I've really enjoyed the About Face Beauty products I've tried so far and I definitely want to try more as the price point is very reasonable. The brand is now available on Cult Beauty which is great as the shipping was expensive when I made my order from the US website just after the launch. This is a brand for people who like to experiment and have fun with makeup and play with colour and texture. 


 

 

Anastasia Beverly Hills





Modern Renaissance Palette x4

This is one I'm probably going to retire soon. I bought it for my sister in New York four years ago and she ended up giving it to me because she wasn't wearing eyeshadow that much. It's probably one of the oldest palettes in my collection now and passed it's expiry date sadly. It's still one of the best out there if you want something with both neutral cool and warm shades with a few more colourful ones in there. Excellent formula too, so easy to blend. It's a cult classic for a reason. Read the full review here.


Auric Cosmetics



 

Glow Lust Radiant (Morganite) x47

One of my top products of the year. I LOVE this so much. It's $45 which works out at just under €40. You can see how many times I've used it and I've actually used it much more than that. It's actually almost completely empty now. It was sold out for a long time after it first launched and when it came back it had been made into a lighter shade which I think was a good call. I have no issue with the original shade clearly. It's a similar tone to the Charlotte Tilbury HFF but that's more yellow tones whereas Morganite OG was more peachy and therefore worked better for my skin tone. As far as I know the new one is lighter and more neutral so probably better suited to my skin tone and lighter. I love how versatile this is. It can be used as a pinoint highlighter under foundation, all over the face under foundation as a luminising primer which is how I prefer to use it as I find it quite hydrating and almost blurring. It also looks amazing as a liquid highlighter on top of foundation or mixed in with liquid blush. It is very similar to HFF but it's just better for my skin and skin tone. I'd happily pay the extra shipping which makes it more expensive. I had HFF for 2.5 years before I used it up whereas I've used this up in less than a year and that just shows me how much more I like it. Well done Samantha Ravndahl! 

 

Cream, Powder, Both
 

Smoke Reflect (Ego)

Ok I haven't used this much at all which I'm actually really annoyed about looking back on it. I definitely want to get it out more as it's a gorgeous product but I think I just bought (and received in PR) so many eye products in 2021 and late 2020 that I just haven't given this a fair go. It's such a beautiful product, the packaging, the shades, the mousse-like texture of the cream eyeshadow. All gorgeous, but I guess I figured I'd used it once and created a a look with it and what more could I do. I want to try the cream with different toppers and the topper on its own or with different bases. The other shades look gorgeous and I probably would have worn those more but I won't be buying another as I have similar shades to those. If you don't have anything similar and like a one and done product, these are definitely worth looking at. 


bareMinerals


*Strength and Length Serum-Infused Brow Gel (Coffee) x22 (Clear) x14

I used both of these much more than mentioned above. Especially in work as they involve little to no thought. You can apply them without a mirror if you had to. I especially like the shade Coffee for when I was trying to get my makeup done quickly in the morning. It's one of the few tinted brow gels that doesn't get messy on the skin around your brows. As an added bonus it actually doubles as a brow treatment so if you're looking to grow yours, this could be a good option, or applying the clear one at night too. The only thing I'd say is if you have thicker brows, this might not give you the hold you need but other than that I can't fault it. 

 


*BAREPRO Performance Wear Liquid Foundation (05 Sateen) x10

I love this foundation. One of my favourite foundations of the past two years. This is my second bottle. I've used it much more than stated above. It's one I wore a lot in work when I needed more coverage but didn't want to faff about with face concealer. It's full coverage but not heavy and can be adjusted to suit your needs depending on how you prep your skin. One of the PR team for bareMinerals told me about a trick she uses where she combines it with the Skinlongevity Serum to make it more hydrating/sheer and it works a treat. I reckon this would be a great one for weddings as it's so long wearing too. See it in more detail here.

 

*bareSkin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer (Fair) Discontinued, bought by myself originally and then sent in PR. 

This has sadly been discontinued. My OG. My favourite concealer. The only thing that has come close to the hydrating, lightweight beauty of this one is the new Original Liquid Mineral Concealer but the shades are not the same which I'll explain more below. 

 

Complexion Rescue Gel Cream, Original Mineral Foundation, Original Liquid Mineral Concealer, Gen Nude Blonzer, Warmth Eye & Cheek Palette, Original Mineral Veil Powder, Strength & Length Brow Gel, Strength & Length Mascara, Mineralsit Eyeshadow Palette in Burnished, Mineralist Lipstick in Memory and Focus
 

*Strength and Length Serum-Infused Mascara x7

This is the mascara version of the brow gel in every sense. It's effortless. It's excellent at lengthening and separating but not so much at volumising. This is definitely more of a day time mascara for me. It's ideal for when you're wearing little or no eye makeup as it doesn't look too intense on your eyes. I loved wearing this in work as it's so easy to apply. You don't have to apply multiple coats of it. It's actually been one I've come back to since having a baby as it's great for when you want to get ready quickly. Again it has a serum in the formula that helps to condition your lashes, which combined with the fact that it's very easily removed would make it great for anyone who wants to look after their eyelashes. 

 

Original Liquid Mineral Concealer, Stength & Length Brow Gel, Gen Nude Powder Blush in That Peach Tho, Gen Nude Neutral Eyeshadow Palette, Strength & Length Mascara, Original Mineral Veil Powder, Mineralist Lipstick in Memory
 

Gen Nude Powder Blush (That Peach Tho) x3

I don't wear powder blush anymore, in fact I just have three in my collection. This is a gorgeous shade and I actually have worn it more than the three times mentioned above, it's particularly good in combination with the Original Mineral Foundation as you tend to need a powder blush on top of that foundation. However the second bareMinerals blush I have is much more me which I'll explain below. 


Gen Nude Eyeshadow Palette (Neutral) x5

One thing I'll say about bareMinerals is that they do very concise products, particularly eyeshadows palettes. There's no filler shades that you would never use. The formulas are also just so easy to blend. If you're someone who hates the thought of blending and doesn't like too much pigment, get yourself a bareMinerals eyeshadow palette. They're ideal for anyone who just wants an easy life when it comes to eyeshadow. Sometimes more pigment isn't always better. It's a very chic and refined formula that can be hard to find.


Original Mineral Veil Powder x9

To be completely honest, I find most setting powders to be boring. It's not a part of the application process that excites me and for the most part I find them to be pretty much the same. That being said I actually really like this one. I could probably be a touch lighter for my skin tone so I tend to wear it with my darker foundations. 

Balance, Grace, Focus, Presence, Optimism, Joy, Energy, Wisdom, Intuition Purpose
 

Mineralist Hydra-Smoothing Lipstick (Memory) x3, (Balance), (Focus) x4, (Grace) x3, (Energy)

I absolutely adore these lipsticks. I was sent a whole set of them last year and I would say alongside the Lisa Eldridge ones they're my most worn lipsticks of the past few years. I gave some of the shades in the set away to family and friends as I knew they would love them too. I've definitely worn the above shades more then mentioned above. Read my full review here.


BAREPRO Liquid Foundation, BAREPRO Concealer, Strength & Length Brow Gel in Coffee, Warmth Eye & Cheek Palette, Strength & Length Mascara, Gen Nude Powder Blush in That Peach Tho, Mineralist Lipstick in Energy

*BAREPRO Concealer (Fair/Light Neutral 03) 

I put off using this concealer because I loved the now discontinued Complete Coverage Serum Concealer so much. I'm usually not a fan of stick concealer as I find them to be dry and hard to blend. I left this is the back of my collection and assumed it wouldn't be for me until recently. I started watching Kackie Reviews Beauty and she kept saying how much she loved this so I used it again and I can totally see why. The only issue for me is the shade which is a bit too dark to match some of my foundations. I apply it onto my skin and tap in with my fingers and it's much more creamy than you would expect from a stick concealer. I think the lighter shade would be better for me but overall it's a great stick concealer.

 

*Original Liquid Mineral Concealer (Fair 1N) x11, (Fair 1W) x13, (5C) x2

This is a funny one. I was sent the shade Fair 1W at first which is quite yellow, so I requested the Fair 1N which I figured would be more neural but it's actually quite warm. So neither of the shades work on me alone but together they do. I like my concealer to match my foundation so I find when I mix the two shades it works much better. It's actually a beautiful formula, quite similar to my discontinued favourite but the shades are just off. I've seen other people mention it too. If they reworked the shades and made these lighter and true to undertone I think this could be holy grail status as it's such a beautiful formula. 

 

Bare skin/ Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream and Original Loose Powder Foundation
 

*Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream (Opal 01) x3

I'd wanted to try this for a few years as it always gets such good reviews and luckily I was sent a PR Sample during the Summer. It definitely lives up to the name and the hype. It's super hydrating and another bareMinerals product that is just so effortless. I particularly enjoy this on days when I'm not wearing much makeup just to brighten and even out my skin tone. 

 

*Original Loose Powder Foundation (Fair 01) 

I haven't worn this much but every time I do I am reminded of how great my skin looks with it on. It's a great one if you have redness or breakouts. The only thing that puts me off wearing this is I never know how to prep my skin as I usually like a lot of hydration before makeup but if your skin is too glowy before applying this it can catch on the skin. I think I just need to work on how I prep my skin beforehand. I know so many people swear by this foundation. 

 

*Warmth Eye & Cheek Palette x3 (Limited Edition)

This is last year's holiday palette and it's one I return to much more than the three times mentioned above. I don't want to talk about it too much as it's not available anymore so there's not much point but these limited edition palettes are great gift ideas or just if you like a palette with a few products in one. 

 


*Mineralist Lip Gloss-Balm (Peace) x2

I have worn these more than the two times mentioned above. They're great for throwing on without a mirror if you're short on time but still want something on your lips. I can't fault this formula, it's liquid lip balm with a glossy finish. Beautiful and easy to wear shades and they feel so comfortable on my lips. I think any gloss lover would enjoy these. Read my full review here.

 

*Complexion Rescue Defense Radiant Tint Protective Moisturizer SPF 30 x6

This is a primer/moisturiser/SPF hybrid product and it does exactly what it claims. I like it for when I don't want to or have time to apply three separate products. It gives my skin hydration prepping it well for makeup, radiance in the form of a luminous finish and sun protection. I can't really fault it, great for when you don't want to think about skin prep and just want to get it done quickly. 

 

*Complexion Rescue Hydrating Foundation Stick (Opal 01)

I'd heard great things about this and I was open to trying it because my mind has been changed about stick foundations since trying the Lancôme one and the Milk Makeup one. They're not as drying as I remembered. This one is the most hydrating of the three I've tried. It's actually ideal combined with the previous product as you can just swipe it on where you want/need coverage, it blends in seconds and you're done. It makes my skin look so healthy and fresh. I've particularly enjoyed wearing it during the colder months as it's so hydrating. 



Gen Nude Blonzer (Kiss of Pink) x6

This is the one bareMinerals product I paid for myself as everything else was sent in PR. I had seen a few people use this and I loved how it looked but I was hesitant because I don't usually wear powder products anymore. I went for it though and I haven't looked back. The idea is that it's a blush/bronzer hybrid that can be almost used to sculpt the face (which is what I tend to do with blush anyway). It is gorgeous! The shade, the finish, the seamless blend. It's what I always wished powder blush would be. There is only three shades but they would absolutely work across all skin tones. If anyone from bareMinerals is reading this, please please bring out more shades. THE MOST gorgeous powder product! 

 

Original Liquid Mineral Foundation, Original Liquid Mineral Concealer
 

*Original Liquid Mineral Foundation (Fair) x4

I love the formula of this and how it looks on my skin, it's like a lighter coverage version of BAREPRO. The only complaint I have is the shade. I was sent Fair 01 which is my shade in most everything from bareMinerals but it looks much darker than the same shade in BAREPRO. It's the same issue as the concealer. If it was a lighter shade it would be perfect so I've been mixing a lighter foundation so that I still get use from it. I can still wear it alone as long as I don't apply it everywhere and my neck is covered. It's not a huge issue as I've had it happen before because I'm so fair but it's just strange that the same shade in two different foundations doesn't correspond. 


Original Liquid Mineral Foundation, BAREPRO Liquid Foundation, Original Liquid Mineral Concealer, Strength & Length Brow Gel, Strength & Length Mascara, Gen Nude Blonzer in Kiss of Pink, Warmth Eye & Cheek Palette, Mineralist Lipstick in Grace, Original Mineral Veil Powder
 
Complexion Rescue Gel Cream, Original Mineral Foundation, Original Liquid Mineral Concealer, Gen Nude Blonzer, Warmth Eye & Cheek Palette, Original Mineral Veil Powder, Strength & Length Brow Gel, Strength & Length Mascara, Mineralsit Eyeshadow Palette in Burnished, Mineralist Lipstick in Energy
 

*Mineralist Eyeshadow Palette (Burnished) x 3

This is one of the most recent releases from bareMinerals. There are 6 colour ways and I have the Burnished one which is warm, peachy and a bit smoky. It's one of those palettes that has every shade you need to create a full eye look. At first I thought I wouldn't use it much because it's not as exciting as my other more colourful palettes but I find myself reaching for it again and again because the shadows almost blend themselves and it claims to give your eyelids a smoothed look which somehow it absolutely does. One of those great every day palettes or for anyone who doesn't want to have to work to blend eyeshadow. I'm so impressed and I've been using it so much. 

 


Becca Cosmetics


Under Eye Brightening Corrector (Light/ Medium) x89

I think the number of times I've used this says it all really. I was blessed with naturally dark undereyes and this helps to cancel out the blue/purple colour so well. Obviously Becca Cosmetics are no longer but Smashbox who are owned by the same parent company are continuing to produce it as it was such a great seller. They've actually added two more shades, which is still only four and not ideal. I have a back up of this product but when that's finished I'll be trying to find a more inclusive version of this product. 

 

Skin Love Glow Shield Prime & Set Mist x6

As mentioned above Becca are no longer with us so what I think of this doesn't really matter. Definitely prefer my other setting sprays so I wouldn't have repurchased this anyway. 

 BITE Beauty 

 


Changemaker Supercharged Micellar Foundation (L15) x2

A friend kindly brought this back from the US for me in February 2020 as I was dying to try it. I did like it, but I didn't love it and definitely not enough to pay €45 again. I think you can get better foundations for a similar price or much less. Read the blog post here.



Yaysayer Plumping Lip Gloss (Cider Donut) x2

BITE Beauty have since come to Europe and are now available at Boots. I had seen Samantha Ravndahl rave about these glosses multiple times, so when they arrived on the Boots website I bought one. I love how it looks and feels on my lips. It's a plumping gloss but without the tingly feeling. It has a light cinnamon scent so if you don't like that I'd 100% avoid. They are however €26 so I think unless you get it at a discount I'd probably recommend the Fenty Beauty ones, the bareMinerals Gloss-Balms, About Face or Glossier ones instead, all just as good and less expensive. In fact the e.l.f. Lip Plumping Gloss is €7 and maybe not as good quality but a great gloss all the same. 
 

BH Cosmetics


Gem On Decorative Face & Body Jewels (Pearly)

I've used these twice now. I bought them specifically to do this look but I definitely recommend these if you want to play around with face jewels. They're inexpensive and easy to apply. Probably not the most cost effective if you need lots of them but fun for a once off. 

 


Bodyography


 

Halo, Bubbly, Eclipse, Stellar, Prism, Get Down, Caviar

Spirit Quartz, Blue Morpho, Aura Glow

 

Glitter Pigment (Spirit Quartz) x3, (Aura Glow), (Blue Morpho), (Eclipse) x2, (Caviar), (Stellar), (Prism), (Bubbly)

I've written about these multiple times on my blog over the past few years. The best glitter pigments I've tried and the least expensive. Forget the Charlotte Tilbury, Hourglass or Victoria Beckham Beauty. Save your money and try the Bodyography ones instead. They have an amazing shade selection too. I use them again and again. Read the full review here along with all of my other posts featuting Bodyography.

 


 *Natural Finish Foundation (100 Light)

I have definitely used this more than once. I was sent some of the Bodyography base products by Guru Makeup Emporium and I'm so glad I got to try them because they really are beautiful. This is exactly what the name suggests, a natural finish foundation. Really beautiful medium to full coverage in an easy to blend, lightweight formula. However there are just 10 shades available in this foundation which is just not enough. I think a foundation range would have to have at the very least 30 shades to be considered in any way inclusive. It's such a pity because the product is beautiful but I just couldn't justify repurchasing a product that only 10 different skin tones could wear. 

 

*Blur, Set, Perfect Loose Finishing Powder x4

This is a lovely setting powder. It does what it says, blurs, sets and perfects. Like I've already said, setting powders are probably my least favourite makeup product to talk about. Most of them do the same thing. I can't fault this one. 

Sun Defense Tinted Moisturiser, Disco 'Til Dawn Palette, Glitter Pigment in Spirit Quartz and Caviar, Blur, Set, Perfect Loose Finishing Powder
 

*Sun Defense Tinted Moisturizer (1) x2

This is a more hydrating version of the foundation with an SPF and similar enough coverage. I've said it before but I'm not a fan of tinted moisturisers and foundations that use the inclusion of SPF as a marketing tool. I'd never be applying the amount of foundation I would need to have the appropriate amount of coverage for the SPF to do its job. That being said rating this as a tinted moisturiser it's a beautiful one. I do have two issues with this however, the shade range is poor. There are only four shades, Light, Medium, Dark and Deep. For a product that claims to have medium coverage you absolutely need a proper shade range. With sheer coverage you might be able to get away with less shades but four is just nowhere near enough. I do understand Bodyography is a smaller brand but I really feel like if brands can't commit to being inclusive by making a proper shade range, they should just avoid base colour products altogether. The other issue is the brush applicator attached to the tube. I'm really not a fan of these as I find them difficult to clean and I don't like the idea of applying directly with a brush I can't clean properly. I understand why brands do it, it's the same with the Surratt Beauty Surreal Skin Foundation. I think it would work much better in a normal tube, but that's just me, some people might find it handy having a brush attached. 


Disco 'Til Dawn Palette x2

I bought this on a whim last year when it was on sale from Sally Beauty and it turned out to be a palette I have used over and over, much more than the two times mentioned above. I wasn't expecting to use it as much as I do but it's a great little palette if you want something mostly neutral to warm with a hint of fun. 

 

By Beauty Bay


The Pastels Palette (Euphoria and Daydream)

Ok so I've only used this once to create a blown out pastel pink/purple look. I bought it in August, it was very inexpensive and I wanted to try the Beauty Bay eyeshadows because Robert Welsh always says how great they are. He wasn't wrong, the pigment is great, they blend so easily. I love these pastel shades but we were coming into Autumn by the time I got around to trying them after my daughter was born. I definitely want to play around with this palette more and see what I can do with pastels. The Beauty Bay palettes are great if you want to try out bright colours but don't want to spend a fortune on an expensive palette. 

 

By Terry


 

Hyaluronic Hydra Foundation (100 N) x5

This is a foundation that requires some finesse when it comes to how I prep my skin beforehand as it's such a hydrating foundation. I actually bought it when they had a discount alongside the next product. It's €56 full price which is definitely one of the most expensive foundations I've ever bought. It looks nice on the skin once you get the prep right but I just found I had to work at it and for that price I want something a bit more effortless. I actually used this again recently and I'm not sure what went wrong but it just did not blend and sat on top of my skin even though I didn't use much. Then I used it again another day after that and it looked so much better. I have foundations that are less than half the price of this one that perform better on me. I will try to use this up but I won't be repurchasing it as it's just too much hassle getting it to look good on my skin.


Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder x55

This on the other hand was a huge hit. It's €46 full price which I didn't pay, I think I got about 30% off which is still expensive for a setting powder. But I really wanted to try it as it always gets mentioned among the best setting powders. I've been using it almost every day that I've done my makeup. It sets but is undetectable on my skin and incredibly lightweight. However there are a few reasons I wouldn't buy this again despite the fact that it's an excellent product. It's expensive, €46 is what I would spend on a luxury foundation but for a setting powder it's too much money. I don't use a lot of powder when I set my makeup, just a touch in the centre of my face and the expiry on this particular powder is only 6 months which means after that time it won't work as well. I've used this a lot more than the 55 times mentioned above and yet there is still a lot left in the tub. There's no way with my usage that I would get through it in 6 months. Unless I was the kind of person who applied powder all over my face or used it for baking. It's just not a cost effective option for me even though I used it so much. So I definitely think it's a great product that lives up to the hype but only for certain skin types and makeup users. If you like to use powder all over your face but not have your skin look powerdy, this is a good option, but just be warned that after the 6 month expiry date it starts to deteriorate.

 


Chanel Beauty


Rouge Allure Velvet Extrême Lipstick (130 Rouge Obscur)

I think this is a beautiful lipstick but I haven't worn it enough to justify the price. Also I compare every lipstick to the Lisa Eldridge ones now and if they're not as good (which let's face it, none are) then what's the point in having it. I did buy this in the airport so it was a little bit less expensive but I think it's also taught me a lesson to not buy expensive lipsticks in shades like this one. I'm going to try and wear it more this Winter to get my money's worth. Read the full review here.

 


Charlotte Tilbury



Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder (1 Fair) x14

This is one of the few Charlotte Tilbury products I've tried that I feel is worth the money and the hype. It's a beautiful powder and the packaging reflects the price which isn't the case in some of her products (the eyeshadows quads for example). I can totally understand why this is so popular and I would gladly buy it again but I have several powders at the moment so I'll be getting through those first. See the powder on here.

 

 Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter in Fair, Auric Cosmetics Glow Lust in Morganite (Original)
 

Hollywood Flawless Filter (Fair) x2

I loved this. It lasted for ages (although I'm not a fan of the packaging, I feel a pump would be better). It was a great multi-use product, under foundation, on top as a highlighter, mixed with foundation or liquid blush etc. I would have repurchased it if it hadn't been for the Auric Cosmetics Glow Lust. They work out at around the same price with the current conversion rate. €40/$45. I preferred HFF as a liquid highlighter so I didn't get through it as fast and it was probably expired before I finished it. The Glow Lust I prefer all over the face, it also makes a stunning liquid cheek highlighter or works beautifully mixed with the likes of Glossier Cloud Paint if you want some luminous blush. Glow Lust works out more expensive with shipping costs but I have already repurchased a back up. I just prefer it to HFF overall, and it has a pump rather than a doe foot applicator. There's nothing wrong with HFF but I just prefer Glow Lust and the fact I'm willing to pay more for it says it all to me. The reason I only used it twice is because the bottle was almost finished coming into 2021.

Pllow Talk Lipstick, Pillow Talk Lip Cheat
 

Lip Cheat (Pillow Talk) x9

One of my favourite CT products. I have a good few of the lipsticks but I just don't love the formula of them especially for the price and compared to Lisa Eldridge, well theres just no comparison to me. I find the CT lipstick formulas to be very uneven depending on the shade and even patchy in some cases and I've heard other people say the same. However I love the liners. I have repurchased the original Pillow Talk liner three times and would buy again. It's a gorgeous formula and a great shade for my skin tone if you want a more cool leaning neutral pink. Read my full review here.


Clarins


*Mineral Sun Care Compact SPF 30 x2

I loved the formula of this, and especially when I was pregnant I was trying to use mineral sun protection as chemical ones can irritate the skin sometimes and I wanted to avoid that as much as possible. The only issue was the shade which was just too dark for me so I had to give it away. If they did a few different shades including a lighter one this would be an ideal one and done base product as I do love a tinted sunscreen. 

 

*Skin Illusion Foundation (101 Linen)

I only used this a few times at the beginning of 2021 as I was almost finished the bottle. This is such a gorgeous foundation. It's one of those ones that when I looked back on photos of my makeup looks and thought my skin looked particularly great I was always wearing this. I will absolutely repurchase in the future but I'm trying to get through the foundations I have at the moment. Highly recommend if you want light to medium coverage and are more on the combination to dry skin type. See it in more detail here, here and here.

 

Joli Rouge Velvet (Spicy Chili)

Such a gorgeous shade and formula. It's lightweight and not drying at all, lasts so well and has a beautiful velvet finish. In fact I'd say this is the only matte orange red that rivals Lisa Eldridge Velvet Morning for me. 

 

 
Sandy Pink

Pop Pink
 

*Joli Rouge Lacquer Lipstick (Sandy Pink) x2, (Pop Pink), (Joli Rouge)

I adore this lipstick formula. Clarins always do such amazing lip products and I think this is probably my favourite. The finish is shiny but not overly glossy. They can be worn more sheer or built up for more opacity too. Gorgeous texture, scent, shades, everything. Read my full review here.

 

Lip Comfort Oil Intense (07 Intense Red)

This is a beautiful product but sadly I haven't gotten as much use out of it as I would have liked because it's quite a pigmented shade and glossy texture which isn't great for mask wearing. But I really can't fault it apart from that.

 

Beauty Flash Balm x2

An original favourite. I've been using this for years and I still love it. This was a deluxe sample size which is why I only used it twice but I've owned this and worn it countless times over the years. The scent is pure nostalgia to me. 

 

*SOS Icy Primer x3

This was sent to me just at the right time. I used it more than the three times above as it was great for during the Summer when my skin was more red from hormonal breakouts and just being too hot and heavily pregnant. It has an almost cooling effect which I greatly appreciated. It's an excellent primer for the summer or for anyone with redness. 


*Lip Twist Duo (02 Purple Escape) 

I bought the orange red shade in this formula which I prefer and it's actually a great under mask lip product as one side is a stain and the other is a balm. This shade just wasn't as flattering on me but I think it's a great product. I'd love to see some neutral shades in this formula too. 



*Bronzing Compact x2

I'd been curious to try this for years thinking it would probably be too dark on me but it actually worked. It's a beautiful powder bronzer, I actually only have one other powder bronzer which I've been trying to get through before I continue to use this but it's not as nice as this one. I tend to prefer cream and liquid bronzers as I find they work better with the texture of the foundations I use which tend to be more hydrating and glowy. But I can see why this is such a favourite every year. I know there are three shades in the one pan but they will only work on a certain number of skin tones. I'd love to see Clarins release more of a shade selection. 

 


*Ombre 4 Couleurs (Golden Hour Gradation) x2

This is a gorgeous little palette. The golden/ summery colour story is exactly my kind of thing and I think it's probably the best formula I've tried in these quads. I haven't used it as much as I would like to but these are great for anyone who likes easy to use and wear eyeshadows. I'd advise using your finger to apply the gold shade as it gives the most intensity.


*Fix' Make-Up x3

I haven't used it enough to say what I think of it as a setting spray. I had three on the go when I tried this and two are almost gone so I'll get back into using this soon and report back. 


*Twist to Glow Healthy Glow Powder 2-in-1 Eyes & Cheeks (02 Radiant Pink)

As I mentioned above, I rarely use powder blush. However I was intrigued by this when I first saw it. It has quite unique packaging which kind of reminds me of a loose setting powder. You twist it and some powder comes out of a net at the top. At first I thought the shade wouldn't work for me but it's actually beautiful. I'd love to see them come out with more shades in this formula. I haven't used it as much as I'd like because I always tend to reach for my cream and liquid blushes but if you do like powders this is a gorgeous one. You could also layer this on top of cream or liquid blush if you wanted to set it and add longevity. 


Beauty Flash Balm, SOS Primer in Icy, Bronzing Compact, Twist to Glow Powder in Radiant Pink, Ombre 4 Couleurs in Golden Hour Gradation, Water Lip Stain in Red Water and Candy Water

*Water Lip Stain (Candy Water, Deep Red Water)

I've been really loving these over the past 6 months. I mentioned them in my last blog post where I wrote about the products I use when I need to get ready quickly. I basically use them the same way I use the Lip Twist Duo. I apply it as a stain and then pop a lip balm over it. It's my go to day to day lip product for when I want a bit of colour on my lips that I don't have to worry about when I'm wearing a mask. They also feel hydrating even though you wouldn't necessarily think it and smell amazing too. 

 


ColourPop



 

At Forest Sight Palette x 2 (Limited Edition, the It's A Mood and Play It Jewel Palettes have simlar colours)

I've used this a few more times than the 3 mentioned above. But not nearly as much as I would have liked to. I don't find myself reaching for it mostly because it's the opposite of the bareMinerals and Clarins palettes in terms of formula. It's a pressed pigment palette with two shimmers/toppers. I just don't love palettes with mostly matte shades because I'm all about the glitter and a lot of these mattes are quite dark. Whereas if I'm using mattes they tend to be light to mid tones that I use along my lash line or to add depth. I just find this requires a lot more time and patience then I have right now. I don't want to go into too much detail about these ColourPop products either because most of them are not on sale anymore. 

 


Super Shock Shadow (Mycelium) (Limited Edition, I Heart This, Ladybird and Ritz are quite similar)

This is a gorgeous shade. I prefer this to the shimmers in the palette itself. I like to use this by applying with fingers withe rally over or in the centre of the lid. I'd wanted to try the Super Shock formula for ages and I'm delighted I have this it's ideal for anyone who likes glitter pigments but not the mess they can make. 

 


Creme Gel Liner (Marigold) (Limited Edition, Step Back looks very similar)


I'd also wanted to try the Creme Gel Liners for ages as I've always heard great things about them. I wasn't disappointed with this one, I really love the formula of it. I'd love to get more shades as they're inexpensive and super creamy and easy to blend. Looking back I probably shouldn't have gotten the RBK yellow but just a more neutral shade from the core collection as I don't wear yellow liner very often. However I've been meaning to use this as a base for yellow gold eyeshadow so maybe I'll try that soon. This is a good example of me jumping the gun and buying something because it was limited edition even though I knew I probably wouldn't wear it much. 

 


Lux Gloss (Glacier)

I had actually written about this back in December and raved about it. I've since used it again and I was quite disappointed. I don't know whether it's that it's a year old now but I just didn't like the formula. It felt thick, heavy and sticky (easy now) and gathered on the inside of my lips. It's worlds apart from the elegant formula of the Lisa Eldridge Gloss Embrace, BITE Beauty Yaysayer Plumping Lip Gloss or the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb. 

Mandalorian The Child Palette x2

This is one of those palettes that made me realise I need to think more about the makeup I buy. This was actually a Christmas gift in 2020. Those damn makeup brands know how to get us with cutesy limited edition collaborations. They had me at Baby Yoda. But I've only actually used this palette twice, possibly three times. There are some really beautiful greens in this palette  however I can get a very similar look with the Natasha Denona Mini Gold Palette and I prefer that formula. I just didn't need it and I can't see myself using it that often. I think ColourPop do some things really well but this year I want quality over quantity and the ColourPop Mandalorian palette was never ever going to be my favourite of the year. A lesson learned. 


Danessa Myricks


Beauty Oil x13

So this, the Prism FX Lotion and the Vision Cream Cover are for me the holy Trinity of Danessa Myricks skin. I apply Prism FX first for extra hydration. Then I mix half a pump of VCC with half a drop of Beauty Oil. That tends to work for my skin when I don't want much coverage. But what I love is that these three are such adaptable products that you can mix and match depending on your needs. You don't need all three but I love how they all work together. DM knows her stuff when it comes to skin. Her products are now available on Danessa Myricks Europe, Makeup By Claire (Irish Stockist, I have a 10% discount code- EMMA10), Cult Beauty, Beautylish and Beauty Bay.

 


**Prism FX Hydrating Face Lotion (Original) x14

As you can see I've used this quite a bit just like the Beauty Oil. It's one of those hydrating primers that leaves an iridescent finish. You obviously don't necessarily need a product like this but I find it works really well to prep my skin for foundation, particularly the DM one. I find I need less foundation as it almost evens out my skin tone. It comes in three shades Original, Golden and Peach. 

Twin Flames in Obsession and Soulmate
 
 
Prism FX in Original, Beauty Oil, Vision Cream Cover in No. 2, Vision Flus in Nutcracker, Bread n' Butter and Tiara, Colorfix Mattes in Chocolate, Twin Flames in Obsession and Lightwork III Palette
 
 
Colorfix Mattes in Latte and Twin Flames in Bae

Twin Flames Multichrome Pigment (Soulmate), (Obsession) x3, (Bae) x3

These are such beautiful products. You can wear them alone or over eyeshadow as a topper. They work so well blended over a matte Colorfix so you can see their true shine and beauty. They have to be seen in person really, photos don't do then justice. If you like sparkle and shine you will love these! 

 


Beauty Oil, Prism FX in Original, Vision Cream Cover in No. 2, Balm Contour in Light 1, Colorfix Neons in Rainbow, Vision Flush in Bread n' Butter, Dew Wet Balm in Morning Dew 

 

Vision Flush (Bread N'Butter) x29, (Nutcracker) x8, (Tiara) x9

I love these, so much so that I've actually used up my Bread n' Butter shade. I've used them more than is listed above for sure. I prefer these on my cheeks, although Bread n'Butter looks great on the lips too. Nutcracker is a great contouring blush shade for me. They apply and blend so easily and look seasmless, but as with all DM products remember a little goes a long way. They also have a strong scent which some people may not like on the lips. It does dissipate but it's just something to be aware of if you're sensitive to scent. 


Dew Wet Balm (Clear) x6, (Morning Dew) x5

I like this but I don't love it. I typically apply it on my cheeks over a liquid or cream blush in lieu of a highlighter and it's great for when you want to add shine but not colour. I tend to mix a liquid highlighter or luminiser with a liquid blush most days so I don't get the use out of this. I actually like the Morning Dew shade more than I thought I would (it's a clear with gold micro glitter). I just have other highlighters I prefer. 


Prism FX in Original, Vision Cream Cover in No. 2, Balm Contour in Light 1, Vision Flush in Bread n' Butter, Dew Wet Balm in Morning Dew and Clear
 

Vision Cream Cover (No. 2) x12 

Love love love! This is a base product that can be used all over or as a concealer. It is super pigmented and therefore full coverage depending on how you use it. For lighter coverage I use less than half a pump mixed with some kind of hydrating primer type product or the Beauty Oil. If you have dry skin you'll probably want to do this too whereas if you have oily skin it may be fine alone. Basically it's a customisable base product. Big fan, especially for when I want more coverage. 

 

Balm Contour in Light 1, Fenty Beauty Match Stix in Amber, Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer in Baked
 

Balm Contour (Light 1) x35

Well you can probably see by how many times I used this that I liked it a lot. It's marketed as a contour product but for my skin tone it's more of a "brontour". It's warmer than the Fenty Match Stix in Amber which is my ideal contour shade. So I use this more as a sculpting bronzer. It's a cream texture and it's definitely pigmented but it blends out into a much more sheer coverage. If you like cream bronzers I think you'll like this too. 



Colorfix Mattes in Chocolate, Fruit Punch and Latte, Colorfix Metallics in Goldmine and Odyssey, Colorfix Foils in Twinkle, Venus and Nebula 
 
 
 Beauty Oil, Prism FX in Original, Vision Cream Cover in No. 2, Balm Contour in Light 1, Colorfix Metallics in Twinkle and Odyssey, Vision Flush in Bread n' Butter on cheeks and lips, Dew Wet Balm in Morning Dew
 

Beauty Oil, Prism FX in Original, Vision Cream Cover in No. 2, Balm Contour in Light 1, Colorfix Mattes in Lift, Colorfix Neons in Rainbow, Colorfix Glaze in Clear, Vision Flush in Nutcracker, Bread n' Butter and Tiara, Dewy Forever Mist Hydrating Setting Spray
 
 
 Beauty Oil, Prism FX in Original, Vision Cream Cover in No. 2, Balm Contour in Light 1, Colorfix Mattes in Latte, Chocolate and Fruit Punch on lips, Colorfix Glaze in Clear, Vision Flush in Bread n' Butter
 
 
Beauty Oil, Prism FX in Original, Vision Cream Cover in No. 2, Balm Contour in Light 1, Colorfix Mattes in Latte, Colorfix Foils in Venus, Colorfix Neons in Rainbow, Vision Flush in Nutcracker, Bread n' Butter and Tiara, Dew Wet Balm in Clear

Colorfix Mattes (Chocolate) x4, (Latte) x6, (Lift) x2, (Fruit Punch) x2

Colorfix Foils (Twinkle) x4, (Venus) x3, (Nebula), (Milky Way) x2

Colorfix Metallics (Goldmine), (Odyssey) x2,

Colorfix Neons (Rainbow) x4

**ColorFix Glaze (Clear) x5


The Colorfix cream colors are a waterproof, multi-use product that can be used safely on lips, eyes or face. They're one of my favourite products of the year. Once you get the hang of them, they're the ideal product for creating high impact looks with little effort. Again, super pigmented so you need the tiniest amount and make sure you close the lid properly so they don't dry out. My favourites have to be the foils as they give you so much shine so quickly and easily. You can also get great neutral shades that can be softly blended out all over the lids. The Colorfix Glaze in Clear is essentially a clear gloss, like a lip gloss but for the whole face. You're only going to use this if you like playing around with more editorial looks like glossy eyes or if you want a clear gloss for your lips. I can't imagine the average makeup user would get use from this but I love having it in my collection and I use it more than I thought I would. See them in more detail here.

 

 

Balm Contour in Light 1, Waterproof Cream Palette in Primary and Dew Wet Balm in Clear
 

Waterproof Cream Palette (Primary)

I think I've only actually used this twice. I bought it with the intention of playing around and mixing shades but I just haven't and it probably wasn't the best purchase as I just haven't gotten the use from it. I'm definitely going to make an effort to try it out more because I don't want to waste it. It's the kind of product that takes time to use which is probably why I haven't used it much. This is one of those DM products that is probably best suited to a professional makeup artist. 

 

Dewy Forever Mist Hydrating Setting Spray x21

I love this, I've definitely used it more than 21 times and in fact it's almost empty. Great for the colder weather if you want to take away the dry look of your skin. There is also a matte version. Can't really fault this, it's probably more similar to Pixi Glow Mist than the likes of the IT Cosmetics setting spray or UD All Nighter. 

Beauty Oil, Prism FX in Original, Vision Cream Cover in No. 2, Vision Flush in Nutcracker, Bread n' Butter and Tiara, Lightwork Volume III Palette, Dewy Forever Mist Hydrating Setting Spray
 

Lightwork Volume III- Infinite Light Palette x3 (Limited Edition)

I feel like I can't give this a proper review because I've only had it since the beginning of December. However I've probably used it about 7/8 times now and it's absolutely beautiful. The price is quite close to the Pat McGrath Mthrshp palettes (which I don't own yet but the Huetopian Dreams is firmly on my wishlist). And I was very close to buying one of those instead but I went for the Lightwork III because it's limited edition even though I have a problem with limited edition products, my general rule is that I try to not buy them because it bothers me that if I like it I can't repurchase it. Anyway this palette caught me at a weak moment when it went on sale at 5am Irish time and I happened to be awake feeding my daughter. I had watched swatch videos before it launched and it just really grabbed me, much like every launch from Danessa Myricks. Like I said I've only had it since December but I've already used it more than palettes I've had for a year so that probably says it all. I can't even do a full review of this because it's no longer available. I'll have to try it out more but I don't regret buying it.

 

Daniel Sandler Makeup


**Watercolor Liquid Cheek Colour (Cherub) x4

This is one of those products I wanted for a long time completely influenced by makeup artists and YouTubers. I finally bought it a year ago and it's one of those products that is beautiful and I love how it looks but I have similar products I like better. The Glossier Cloud Paints and Lisa Eldridge Enlivening Blush are two liquid blush formulas that I prefer to this one. I find it quite watery and a bit more tricky to apply and this shade is quite pale even for me. I have to build it up which is hard to do. Once it's on it looks gorgeous but it involves too much effort for a pay off that isn't as perfect as I would like. Perhaps I'd like a different shade better. If you find liquid and cream blush too pigmented and difficult to use you might actually like this one as it's hard to overdo it. 

 

Delilah Cosmetics


Brow Line Retractable Eyebrow Pencil (Sable) x45

This is very good brow pencil, I've bought it twice now so I obviously like it. It's €23.50 full price but I've always bought it with a discount. It's a toss up between this, the Refy one and the Urban Decay Brow Beater. To be honest they're all quite similar. Next time I need one I'll probably just buy whichever ends up being the least expensive. You can get cheaper versions of this from NYX Professional Makeup and Soap and Glory. 

 


Gel Line Long Wear Brow & Eyeliner (Ebony) x9

This is an excellent gel liner. I first saw Nikki Makeup using it so I decided to try it and it's great. The texture is perfect for a gel liner so it applies smoothly and lasts so well too. 

 

Estée Lauder


Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Makeup (1N0 Porcelain) x2

I love this foundation but because it has such a high SPF I actually gave it to me sister when I found out I was pregnant because I was worried about my skin reacting to the chemical SPF. I think it was one of those things where I panicked after reading articles about skincare ingredients that may not be suitable when pregnant. The scaremongering got to me when I was vulnerable. In retrospect I may have been a bit hasty. I'll definitely be buying this again I absolutely loved it. 

 


Double Wear Light (1N2 Ecru) x2

Another one of my favourite foundations, even though it was reformulated. I have been wearing this for over ten years and it's just such a failsafe. Great for wearing under a mask as it's transfer proof and super long wearing but not too heavy. I've worn it a lot in work. It was almost gone halfway through the year but I kept the bottle so I could use the tiny bit left for swatches and shade comparisons. I haven't repurchased it yet as I have a lot of foundations on the go at the moment but I definitely will in the future. 

 

Fenty Beauty


Match Stix (Amber) x84

Again, the number of times I've used this says it all. It's the perfect contouring shade for me. Easy to use and reliable. I don't think I ever need to try another one. 


Pro Filt'r Amplifying Eye Primer x3

I only used this three times because I actually got rid of it after that. I just really didn't like this at all. I found it to be quite sticky and almost like it didn't dry down so when you applied shadow over it, it stuck and went patchy. I went back to my old faithful Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion after that. 


Snap Shadows Mix & Match Eyeshadow Palette (8. Pastel Frost), (4. Rose) X2

I bought two of these little palettes not too long after they launched. They're cute, I love the packaging but the formula isn't my favourite and I rarely reach for them. Nothing necessarily wrong with them, just not my favourite. See Pastel Frost in more detail here and Rose in more detail here. 



Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint (1) x5

I love this, I've worn it a good bit more than 5 times. One of my favourite combinations is wearing this on top of the Auric Cosmetics Glow Lust. I would say it's a bit more coverage than the average Skin Tint and more of a matte/natural skin finish. It's a great one for when you don't need/want too much coverage and maybe more of a matte finish. 

 


Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush (Strawberry Drip)

I love this, I may have only worn it once in my looks I post to Instagram but I've worn it a lot just day to day. This was another one I featured in my last blog post as I wear on days when I don't have much time to get ready but still want to look a bit more fresh. It's a beautiful formula, especially for anyone who wants to try cream blush but doesn't want anything too pigmented. 


Glossier



Futuredew x12

I still love this so much. I'm almost finished my second bottle since it launched in 2019 and I have a backup too. I probably haven't used it as much in the past year as I did the first year I had it because I now have more of these kinds of products. A great one for anyone with dry/combination/normal skin. It's a serum/oil hybrid so might be too much for oily skin. I use it as a makeup primer rather than a skincare product. One of the better Glossier launches of the past few years.

 


Brow Flick x28

I still love this too. It's great at drawing on fake hairs which thankfully I don't need a lot of but it's my preference when used with soap brows. I go between this and a thin brow pencil so it just depends on the look I'm going for. This gives me a lighter more feathery look whereas I use the pencil when I want stronger brows. 


Boy Brow x16

Another one that's still a favourite. I've had this almost constantly since I first tried it in 2017. I would say this and the bareMinerals Brow Gel on coffee are my favourite tinted brow gels. This one is better for if you have thicker brows and need more hold. It also has fibres which make your brows look more full without using a pencil or marker. I particularly love this for when I'm getting ready quickly and I don't have time to do much to my brows. I just run this through and they look a bit more full and groomed. Read my full review here. 



Cloud Paint (Dusk) x10, (*Beam) x3, (Puff) x6, (*Storm) x2, (Eve) x2, (Haze) x3

One of my favourite Glossier products, I have every shade and I've repurchased Puff, Dusk and Haze. These have been my most used blush of the past 4 years and have only been edged out this year by the Lisa Eldridge Enlivening Blush. The shades are different enough that I find use for both products. I love mixing these to make custom shades and mixing them with liquid highlighters too to add some luminosity. They are quite pigmented so I would say be careful of what shade you buy and how much you use. Cloud Paint was almost the pioneering liquid blush product but I do think formulas are getting better and these may not be the cream of the crop anymore. I do still love them though. Read my full review here.

 


Lash Slick (on lower lashes) x2

I really like this. I don't love it but it's great for the lower lashes especially as it's a tubing mascara so it doesn't flake off (one of the most annoying makeup issues I have). Great for a natural eye look too as it gives great length and definition, but not so much volume. If you like a tubing mascara or a more natural every day mascara you would probably like this. Read my full review here.

 


Pro Tip x6

This is another Glossier product that was a "holy grail" and has now been pushed over slightly in favour of another product, the Hindash Heroline. The Glossier is €5 cheaper so it has that going for it and it's still a great liquid eyeliner. The Hindash one just has something more (which I'll talk about further down). If you don't use liquid liner much and therefore don't want to spend too much on it, the glossier one is €17 and is a great liquid eyeliner option.

 


Lip Gloss (Clear) 

I think I only used this once all year. As I mentioned before, 2021 just wasn't the year for glosses. I repurchased this because the one I had needed to be thrown out as it was expired. It's a great clear gloss but I probably don't need this and the Danessa Myricks ColorFix Glaze. I probably wouldn't buy it again for that reason but just the DM as that is formulated to be used all over the face. If you just want a clear lip gloss, I do really like this one and it's not too expensive.

 

Solar Paint Luminous Bronzer Crème (Flare) x30

I wasn't sure I'd like this when I first read about it even though it sounds exactly like my kind of product. I was worried the luminous part of it might be too much but I don't find it to be. As you can see I've used it a lot. I love the formula, it's so easy to blend and the lightest shade works perfectly for me. This was probably my favourite Glossier launch all year. I haven't tried the UltraLip Lipsticks yet and I wasn't overly interested in the monochromatic eyeshadow palettes but this is a real winner. Obviously if you don't like any shimmer in your bronzer you might want to avoid but I don't find it too noticable. 

 


Glitter Gelée (Phantasm, Bijoux Bijoux, Glass Bonsai)

Now we come to the sad part of the Glossier section, the discontinued Glossier Play products. I may be in the minority here but I absolutely loved Glossier Play. Yes, it had its issues (the packaging, the glitter etc.) but I remember the day I first saw the promo images and my jaw dropped. I actually thought it went so perfectly with the core Glossier makeup line. It was fun, high impact, fun makeup for the person who doesn't want to wear heavy looks that take ages to apply. It was the antithesis to the heavy Instaglamour looks. It wasn't meant to be taken too seriously as indicated by the name. But less than two years after it launched it was just gone. Which I found odd as they had only recently launched two extra shades of the Vinylic Lip Colour when they announced that it was being discontinued. It makes me wonder what actually happened. I loved the Glitter Gelées, the Colorslide Eye Pencils, the Vinylic Lip and the Niteshine Highlighter. There's not much point in me telling you what I thought because they're gone now but I did really love this range and I wish they had managed to make some changes instead of discontinuing completely. Fingers crossed they will launch some similar products soon. See them in more detail here and here.

*Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate (Platinum Rose)

I really loved this, it's quite like the About Face Light Lock Highlight Fluid if you want something similar. See it in more detail here.

Colorslide Eye Pencil (Hardcore Velvet), (Pretty Penny) x2, (Adult Swim) x2, (Disaster Class)

Loved these , but as I said above they're no longer available so I won't go into any detail. If you've been keeping up with beauty news you'll have seen there's been some controversy around Glossier with the recent dismissal of one third of it's employees. I've definitely noticed a shift in the brand and it makes me wonder what's going on and if there is a long term future for Glossier. 


Hindash


Beautopsy Palette x7

Another one of my top launches of the past year. I wasn't aware of who Hindash was before this palette launched and for shame. He's such a talented artist turned makeup artist and now he has launched his own brand which has been hugely successful thus far from what I have seen. It's very clear how his training as an artist has influenced the design of this palette. It's unlike anything I've ever seen and is a work of art itself. I would go so far as to say it you're a professional makeup artist you absolutely need this in your kit. If you're a lover of matte eyeshadow you need this too. There are 12 shades in 6 pans and each pan has a gradient of two shades and all 12 can be mixed to make custom shades depending on what you need. They can be used on eyes or anywhere on the face as contouring shades, bronzer, blush and brows. It's so versatile, I can't rate it enough. A genuinely unique and considered makeup item which is a rarity these days. 

 


Heroline Eyeliner x7

This is the second product launch from Hindash and at first I thought it was a strange choice for a second product but it makes perfect sense as it compliments the palette perfectly and his style of makeup too. It's also clear how much thought went into the brush. This is again where Hindash's experience as an artist has been invaluable in the design of this product. It almost reminds me of a calligraphy pen or a very fine paint brush. Just flexible enough to create a smooth, crisp line. I am so excited to see what he comes up with next.


Huda Beauty


Amethyst Obsessions Palette

As you may have guessed from my use of this just once in the past year, it's not my favourite. I got this as a gift and even though I love purple eyeshadow and probably wear it more often than the average makeup user, it just isn't my favourite formula. I actually had the Topaz palette in this formula too and it's a cute little palette for the price of €28. But I ended up giving it away because I had too many similar shades in formulas I prefer. Same with the purples. I prefer the Naked Ultraviolet palette from Urban Decay and I would probably always choose that one over this.  


IT Cosmetics


Your Skin But Better Setting Spray x24

I liked this, I would probably buy it again, it's probably a more dry skin friendly version of UD All Nighter. Setting sprays are a bit of a boring one for me, similar to powders but I did like using this and I do find setting sprays make a difference to my makeup. I know it's not exactly a necessary product but I always use one. This also smells great, like coconut which I love. So that's something to keep in mind if you don't like fragrance. 

 


*Your Skin But Better Foundation (Fair Warm 12) x10

I actually love this foundation but I probably used it more during the Summer because the shade is slightly off on me as it's warm. I'd probably go for the Fair Neutral 10.5 or 11 if I was to buy it again. It's always hard to tell how much you like a foundation when the shade isn't exactly right but I just find this super easy to wear, it looks great on my skin. It's like a lighter coverage version of the CC+ Cream and has skincare benefits too which is always a bonus for me.

 

 Kevyn Aucoin


 

Glass Glow Face (Prism Rose) x7

I really love this but I can understand why people wouldn't like it. It gives you that proper glass skin look as the name would suggest. It has very little pigment but this particular shade does have a rosy tint to it which I find works well on my skin. I'd imagine it would be a great makeup artist product too. I haven't worn it as much this year as I did last year because I got the About Face highlighter and the Lisa Eldridge ones but writing this post has made me remember to wear it again and I love it just as much now as I did when I first bought it. 

 

Lancôme


Lash Idôle Mascara x18

I really liked this mascara, it was quite hyped up but I found it lived up to it. I bought it at a discount, I don't know if I'd pay full price as there are L'Oréal and Maybelline mascaras I like almost as much that are less expensive. I just really wanted to try this and I'm happy I did.


Teint Idôle Ultra Wear Stick Foundation and Lash Idôle Mascara

*Teint Idôle Ultra Wear Stick Foundation (01 Beige Albâtre) x4

I've had this before and I'm not sure whether this new one with the Kabuki brush is also a new formulation. I'm a bit confused by the shades as they seem to have changed them but the old and new are available on the website and then there appears to be different names in the US. I was sent the lightest shade from what I can tell but it's definitely darker than the first one of these I had which was 010 Beige Porcelaine. All that aside I do really rate this foundation, it's more full coverage than the bareMinerals one but as I said with that one it's so handy to just swipe on and blend. It's super easy to use. I will probably keep it for the Summer when the shade will work better for me. I actually prefer the finish of this to the liquid Teint Idôle foundation. See it in more detail here.

 


*Hypnôse Palette (17 Bronze Absolu) 

I don't think I've ever used a Lancôme eyeshadow before and I didn't really know what to expect. I was guessing the formula would be less pigmented but I was surprised by how well the shadows performed. I got a really gorgeous look from it and didn't have any issues with blending at all. I decided to give it to my mam because I knew she'd love the colours and I have similar shades in other palettes like the Urban Decay Naked Honey. This would be ideal for someone who wants a small neutral palette with a bit of a pop of shine. Sometimes there's such a thing as too much choice. 

 


*Teint Idôle Ultra Wear Blush Stick (03 Wild Ruby) x2

I got sent two of these and two of the highlighters and I kept this and the highligher below as I felt the shades worked really well on my skin tone. I gave the other two to my mam and a blogger friend who I felt would better suit the deeper warmer shades. I wasn't sure if I'd like this before I tried it as I imagined it would be a more dry formula but it's actually so creamy, light and easy to apply and blend. This shade in particular is a beautiful pink toned red that works beautifully with my skin tone. Like I said about the foundation version, quick and easy to use and great for travel if anyone is doing that at the moment.

 

*Teint Idôle Ultra Wear Highlighting Stick (01 Vibrant Lilac) x2

Like the aforementioned blush this is super easy to use. It's a cool toned highlighter shade so probably better on pale skin tones. It's quite a similar shade to the About Face highlighter I have but much more subtle. The blush and highlighter sticks work very well together. I'll definitely be holding on to this as I do love wearing it. 

 


*Hypnôse L'Absolu de Noir Mascara x12

This is probably my least favourite mascara of the year. It's not actually bad but I just much preferred the Lash Idôle, Maybelline Sky High and the one I recently bought, the Hypnôse Doll Eyes. 

 

Laura Mercier



*Face Illuminator Highlighting Powder (Addiction) x7

This is a beautiful powder highlighter. When I first opened it I didn't think the shade would work for me but it's actually so fine and subtle that is just gives a beautiful warm sheen. I find it works really well with warm neutral, coral or peach blush shades. You can build it up too for more impact. I rarely wear powder highlighter but this changed my mind.  


*Longwear Lip Liner (Ruby) x4

This is actually the only blue toned red lip liner I own. Can't fault it at all, it's easy to apply, lasts really well and works with any classic red I've tried it with. 

 


*Secret Camouflage Brighten & Correct Duo (0.5N) x9

This is one I wore a lot in work as it's one of those products that requires very little effort. You can use one side alone or both if you want more coverage. It's very different to the texture of the original Secret Camouflage, much more creamy and blendable. 

 


*Tinted Moisturiser Oil-Free (0N1 Petal) x2

This is one of those cult beauty products that I'd never tried and now that I have I can completely understand why it's so popular. I may have only posted two looks wearing this on Instagram but I've worn it a lot more than that. I won't say much more because I actually have a blog post with my get ready quick products and this is one of them. As is the theme of the past years favourites, it's just easy. Love! 

 


Lemonhead LA



Spacepaste Illuminating Glitter Concentrate (Houdini, Mulholland)

I think I've only used these once each this year. They are probably expired but I'm holding on to them anyway. They are beautiful and so easy to use but I just haven't worn them as much as I should have considering the price. I actually just bought Houdini and got Mulholland for free with some promotion when they were being stocked on Cult Beauty. If you want a glitter gel, Lemonhead LA are the ones to get.

 

Lime Crime


Astronomical Volumizing Vegan Mascara (Blue Moon) 

I got this as a gift last Christmas and I was delighted because I wanted to try it for a while. Not necessary the mascara formula but this particular shade. I hadn't tried a non black mascara in a while. The last one was a burgundy Fenty one which was disappointing in both colour and formula. Now I will say the shade of blue isn't as vibrant on my lashes as it is in the imagery for the mascara so they have either photoshopped it or used a white primer. I did like it, decent formula, loved the colour and I actually wore it a lot in work on its own as it was something that stood out when I was wearing a mask. Would I buy it again? Probably not. I just don't have much call for a blue mascara. It was fun but I wouldn't wear it every day and mascaras generally dry up after about three months of being open so it would be a waste of money. 

 

Lisa Eldridge



True Velvet Lip Colour (Velvet Fawn) x14, (Velvet Midnight), (Velvet Carnival), (Velvet Affair) x3, (Velvet Ribbon) x4, (Velvet Morning) x4, (Velvet Muse) x3, (Velvet Blush), (Velvet Decade), (Velvet Cinnabar), (Velvet Intrigue) x5, (Velvet Petal), (Velvet Jazz)

I won't say too much about these because I think anyone who has read my blog or follows me on Instagram knows how much I love these. There's clearly shades I've worn much more than others but some I've worn more than is listed here. The best matte formula lipsticks, hands down. See all my Lisa Eldridge lipstcik reviews here, here and here.

 

Enlivening Blush in Pink Poetry and Pink Soap, Elevated Glow in Cosmic Rose and Gloss Embrace in Affair
 

Gloss Embrace Lip Gloss (Muse) x2, (Go Lightly) x3, (*Affair) x2, (Songbird) x3, (Dragon)

Considering it wasn't the year of the gloss for me, again, not by choice (masks) I actually wore these a fair amount. Again, more than is listed here as I used to pop these on in lieu of lip balm as a pick me up when I wasn't wearing too much makeup.  Gorgeous gloss formula, I can't say anything bad about it. See them in more detail here. 



Enhance and Define Lip Liner (Blush) x2, (Affair) x3, (Muse) x6, (Dragon), (Jazz) x2

I bought Blush liner last year as part of a set but this year Lisa Eldridge brought out all of her liners individually. I bought four of them in two different orders, I went with a warm neutral, a more cool pink/brown neutral, a warm red and a deeper red. I figured that was a good array of shades to suit most lipsticks I tend to wear. I'm delighted with all of the shades. Lisa has said that the liners are ever so slightly deeper than their lipstick counterpart which I think is a great idea as it gives that extra definition. These are seriously long lasting liners. I've actually found that wearing them on their own (with properly prepped, hydrated lips) is great especially for under a mask as they don't smudge. Not exactly necessary to go with the lipsticks as they are long lasting enough on their own but if you wear liner with every lip product I can't recommend these enough. See it in more detail here.

 

Pink Soap, Dante's Dream, Pink Poetry, Island Glow, Venetian Red

*Enlivening Blush (Pink Poetry) x5, (Island Glow) x8, (Pink Soap) x12, (Dante's Dream) x12, (Venetian Red) x6

Lisa Eldridge really went for it this year with the new product releases. I think I remember her teasing these blushes in March so I was waiting patiently for their arrival. As it turned out I was kindly sent a box of the new blushes, highlighters, lipsticks and glosses. It was emotional, it felt like Christmas morning. I am unbelievably grateful to have received them. I had placed an order myself too so I ended up being able to gift the products I bought to family and friends and I did a giveaway of four of the lipsticks too which was so fun. As you can see I've used these a lot since I got them halfway through the year. I had actually ordered all of the shades except Pink Soap and thankfully that was one of the shades that was sent to me because it's now one of my favourites. I usually tend to wear these mixed together like I do with the Glossier Cloud Paints. To compare them, the Glossier ones are more like the texture of a thin paint whereas the Enlivening Blush is more of a thick mousse texture. I adore the shades, they mix so well together and with the highlighters too. They really do just give that seamless look to your skin and an almost blurred look. The only negative I have is the packaging which seems inconsistent. Some of them come out very smoothly and others you have to really push to get the product out and that has lead to some packaging bursting open for some people so I am very careful with mine now. However I have it on good authority that the packaging will be changed/improved when they are restocked. Island Glow and Pink Poetry are such great Summer shades and I've found Dante's Dream and Pink Soap to be my most used which were actually the two I was most unsure about. I'll definitely be ordering more when they're back in stock. See them in more detail here.

 


*Elevated Glow (Cosmic Rose) x13, (Crystal Nebula) x19

These are gorgeous liquid highlighters. They're more of a liquid texture than the Glow Lust which I've found to be more creamy. They can be worn under base products for a subtle sheen, mixed in with foundation or on top of it. My favourite way to wear them is mixed in with the blush as it gives a beautiful glow to my cheeks. The formula again gives that almost blurred effect to the skin and therefore would be great on all ages and skin types. I gave my mam Island Glow blush and Cosmic Rose highlighter and they looked incredible on her. See them in more detail here. 

 

Enlivening Blush in Island Glow, Elevated Glow in Crystal Nebula, Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour in Kitten Mischief

 

*Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour (Kitten Mischief) x2, (Rose Official), (Painterly)

These are the kind of lipstick that I think anyone would like. They feel very smooth and nourishing and they're not too pigmented that they involve too much precision or upkeep. Just a very low maintenance lipstick formula with beautiful, easy to wear shades to suit all skin tones. I actually have more shades in this formula that I haven't opened yet because I haven't been wearing lipstick as much on a daily basis and didn't want to waste them. I'll report back when I do try them. I'm trying to have some patience and restraint. See them in more detail here.

 


Insanely Saturated Lip Colour (Rainbow Spill) x2

This was limited edition but I'm hoping it will come back in stock at some point because it's truly one of the most stunning shades I've ever worn. I use this sparingly because I'm worried I'll never be able to get a replacement (which I know is ridiculous because lipsticks eventually expire). The most stunning, vibrant, cheerful shade. It was the one I wore to my baby shower in the Summer as I felt the name was perfect and it always cheers me up when wear it. See it in more detail here.

 


*The Foundation (No. 01, No. 05) x5

This is one of my more recent makeup products. I've actually only been using this for about two months even though I tried the sample shades before that. I plan on writing a proper full review soon. This was the foundation so many of us were waiting for. When I first heard about it I was beside myself with excitement because I can't think of anyone better to create their own foundation. For an independent brand to launch a foundation with 40 shades is unheard of so she was already surpassing other brands in that sense. So many established and well known brands still only have 20-30 shades even when launching new foundations. There's just no excuse to not be as inclusive as possible anymore. Not only is there 40 shades but the range is excellent and I've seen many people say she's nailed the olive undertone which few brands have been able to do. I have used it more than the five times listed above. I was really hoping I would love this foundation and I'm so delighted that it hasn't disappointed. I matched myself to shade No. 5 after trying both 1 and 2. I like a neutral undertone to match my neck and the No. 1 was just ever so slightly too light although I could make it work and it probably matched my neck perfectly but I found No.5 was overall a better match. I don't know how she did it but it's a foundation that looks better as the day goes on. It almost settles after a while and meshes with the natural skin. It's in between a matte and a dewy finish, not too much of either but with different skin prep and primers you can bring it further in each direction depending on your skin type. You just have to play around and know how to best make it work as it's so down the middle. I like a more dewy and hydrating primer with it because I prefer a more glowy look and I have combination skin. It's also self setting and I find it doesn't need much powder depending on your skin type. If you're oily you may want to use powder. This is getting into full review territory which I don't want to do but after just two months of use I can already say this is a firm favourite. I love that it looks better at the end of the day than it does when I first apply it. It works so well for my skin tone and skin type but as always I'd advise getting a sample beforehand if you can, especially as it is a more high end price. I'm so happy with this foundation, I was sent it as a thank you from Lisa Eldridge and her team but I was willing to buy it myself before I knew that and I'll absolutely be repurchasing. 

 

 Elevated Glow in Crystal Nebula, The Foundation in No. 5, Enlivening Blush in Dante's Dream and Pink Soap, Liquid Lurex Eyeshadow in Diana, True Velvet Lip Colour in Velvet Fawn

 
Elevated Glow in Cosmic Rose, The Foundation in No. 5, Enlivening Blush in Pink Poetry and Pink Soap, Liquid Lurex Eyeshadow in Bianca and Liza, Enhance and Define Lip Liner in Jazz, True Velvet Lip Colour in Velvet Ribbon


Liquid Lurex Eyeshadow (Bianca) x2, (Diana), (Liza) x2

Another relatively new one, these Liquid Lurex eyeshadows launched in December and therefore I haven't been using them for too long. But I've used them more than mentioned above. I've definitely used Bianca at least 5 times and Liza at least 3. I was going to buy all 5 but I really had to restrain myself. I went for shades I felt would work well together or were shades I know I love. I was properly gobsmacked when I first used them. I just applied Bianca all over my lids and blended it out and it was so stunning. I've used a few liquid eyeshadows over the past year, these ones, About Face and Violette FR. These have been my favourite glitter ones although I haven't tried the About Face glitters yet. In the video preceding the launch Lisa Eldridge said that they're a 60 second eyeshadow and I have to agree. Such impact for such an easy to use product! I'm hoping she releases more shades this year. 


Lunar Beauty


Moon Prism Lip Gloss (Starlight)

This is such a beautiful gloss. I was totally influenced to buy this by RawBeautyKristi and Robert Welsh who have both raved about these glosses. The formula, shade and packaging are all gorgeous. If you're in the market for a new gloss, I highly recommend this one.

MAC Cosmetics


Glitter Pigment (Copper)

I got a set of these as a gift a couple of Christmasses ago and haven't used them too much because let's be honest, loose pigments are a pain to use. I actually used this on my lips as I wanted to buy the restocked Pat McGrath glitter lip kit and I slowly talked myself down and reasoned with myself that a glitter lip kit as gorgeous as it looks, is an incredibly silly purchase when I'm wearing a mask every time I leave the house. I realised I had the means to create the same effect with what I already had. I actually had another red glitter I could have used instead which probably would have been easier as it's in a palette. I can't see myself using these much as they're just too annoying. Especially as I have glitter gels, pressed glitters and glitter palettes. There's no need for loose pigments for me. I'm sure if you're a makeup artist who does editorial looks you might use them but it's just not worth the hassle for me. This was a good lesson in using what I have instead of buying new things I don't need.  


Eye Kohl (Costa Riche) x6

Great pencil and shade but I ended up getting a mild eye infection after using this recently which I'm fairly sure was down to the sharpener that I hadn't cleaned in a while but I decided to throw it out just in case. Probably unnecessary and a bit of a waste but I didn't want to risk it. And the sharpener has been thoroughly cleaned. Learn from my mistakes! 


Prep + Prime Lip x2

I've used this much more than twice. I absolutely love this for wearing under matte lipstick. I've repurchased this again and again over the years. I haven't found anything as good so if you know of something please do let me know. 

 

Make Up For Ever



**Artist Color Pencil (600 Anywhere Caffeine) x21

These are multi-use pencils, they can be used on eyes, lips, face. Therefore they aren't as long lasting as other liners but they apply smoothly which is always a must with lip liner. As you can see from the amount I've used this I love this shade so much. Just great pencils to have and they have so many shades to choose from. 


**Artist Color Pencil (604 Up and Down Tan) x9

This is a bit deeper than Anywhere Caffeine but they're both great shades when I'm wearing neutral lipstick. Great matches for the Lisa Eldridge lipsticks like Fawn, Muse and Affair. 


Maybelline



*Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara x8

I'm a big fan of Maybelline mascaras, they always perform so well. This latest offering is no different. I'd gladly buy this again. Gives enough length and volume but not too much.  

Milk Makeup


Matte Bronzer (Baked) x15

I bought this at the beginning of 2020 along with some other Milk Makeup products as they had launched on Cult Beauty and I wanted to try them out. I also bought the Hydro Grip Primer which I haven't actually finished in two years so I guess that says it all. This is the product I actually liked the most. I thought the shade might be too dark for me but it blends out much more sheer. I only need the tiniest amount and therefore it's lasted for ages and there's still so much left. I'd say it's probably expired at this stage and I got to using the Glossier one and left the Milk one behind. If you are going to buy this you'd be better off buying the mini size unless you're applying lots of it, as it lasts for ages. I've also heard lots of people say they didn't like the scent. I didn't mind it but just something to be aware of. See it in more detail here.

 


Flex Foundation Stick (Porcelain)

My least favourite of the three foundation sticks I've tried. I ended up having to bin this as it expired before I finished it which is never a good sign. It wasn't bad at all but just not my favourite and the smell of this actually put me off. It smelled like shoe polish to me and it really made me dislike using it. I just wasn't that pushed on most of the Milk products I tried. I also had a mini of their Kush mascara in 2020 and just didn't like it at all which rarely happens with mascaras. 

 

Nabla Cosmetics


 

Skin Realist Tinted Balm, Cutie Palette in Midnight, Skin Glazing Powder in Ozone, Bounce Matte Lipstick in Lust


Skin Realist Tinted Balm (Fair) x3

Nabla is a relatively new brand to me. I'd been following them for a while and had seen people using their products and have wanted to try them out. So for my birthday in August my sister actually bought me some of their products and then I bought a couple myself. I didn't get to try them out until the end of September as I wasn't wearing makeup for about a month after my daughter was born so I've only been using them for about 3 months. I wasn't sure what to expect but this was the first product I tried and I've used it more than three times. It's definitely one for those who like a lighter, glowy base product. As the name suggests it's a tinted balm, pretty much the same idea as a tinted moisturiser, I'd say it has a bit more coverage than the tinted moisturisers I have tried. I love the finish of this, it really does have a real skin look to it. My only problem is the shade range. There only 7 shades in the range. They seem evenly distributed and claim to be flexible which I genuinely think they are as the coverage is so light. However 7 shades is just not enough shades for any base product even if it is flexible coverage. 

 


Cutie Palette Midnight x4

This is one of the products my sister bought me. I loved the colour story of this as it's inspired by the night sky with shades of blue, gold and some duochromes. I've actually used it 5 times in 3 months which is quite good for a six pan palette. It's much more versatile than I had first anticipated. I like the formula, I find it applies and blends with ease and the duochromes are so beautiful, particularly the teal, I have nothing like it in my collection.  

 


Skin Glazing Luminous Pressed Powder (Ozone) x4

I was dying to try one of these Skin Glazing powders despite the fact that I'm not usually a lover of powder products. This is definitely one of my most used highlighters of the past three months. I wear it on top of the bareMinerals Blonzer and they make such a beautiful combination on my cheeks. If you like powder blush or highlighter, these are definitely worth check out. 

 

Skin Realist Tinted Balm, Cutie Palette in Midnight, Skin Glazing Powder in Ozone, Bounce Matte Lipstick in Lust
 

Bounce Matte Lipstick (Lust) x2

I've only worn this twice because let's face it, if I need a neutral lipstick I usually go to Lisa Eldridge. It is a lovely lipstick formula though, it's a creamy matte and the shade works so well on me. I definitely did not need this with the amount of lipsticks I've bought this year but I'm glad I've tried an array if products from Nabla now. I'm so impressed with what I've tried so far and definitely want to buy more at some point. 

 


NARS


Powermatte Lip Pigment (Funkytown) x2

Poor NARS didn't really get a look in. It's not a brand that really speaks to me to be honest, I haven't actually tried much of their products at all even though people swear by them. I bought this liquid lipstick as part of a Christmas set in 2019 and it's a beautiful orange red. I love this formula and I adore the name. I wish this shade was permanent as so many people asked about it when I've worn it which is probably why I haven't much this year as it's not available anymore. I still love it though.The shade Light My Fire is very similar.


Natasha Denona


Eyeshadow Palette 5 (Palette 09- Aluminum)

This was a gift from my friend who had been given it as a gift but knew she wouldn't wear it. It's one of two of the smaller Natasha Denona palettes I own. I have the Mini Gold too which was a giveaway prize I won. I've actually worn that a few times this year but none that I posted on Instagram so I didn't include it. I've only tried this palette once so I can't say much about it except it was a gorgeous silver glitter I used. The Mini Gold palette is actually beautiful though. I can see why people rate her palettes so highly. 



No7


HydraLuminous Moisturising Foundation (Porcelain) x3

I may have only worn this 3 times in looks I posted on Instagram but I know I've worn it so much more than that. I'm on my third bottle of this since it launched which is major for someone who has as many foundations as I do. I actually think it's the only foundation I've repurchased twice apart from maybe Double Wear Light. It's one of those ones that I don't have to think about. I can apply it over any skin prep and I know it will work. I like it for work because I'm often getting ready early in the morning when it's dark and do I need makeup that I can rely on. It's just such a great hydrating foundation. Once again it's downfall is the shade range. Unevenly distributed in favour of lighter skin tones and not enough shades. Brands really need to do better. If you're interested you can see it in more detail here and here.


NYX Professional Makeup


Lip Pencil (Nude Beige) x3

I really rate NYX Professional Makeup as a brand. I've used their products for years, they're more affordable but their products always perform. The lip products in particular are a favourite. This is a great shade for my skin tone if I want something light and neutral, it pairs well with the likes of Velvet Fawn from Lisa Eldridge. 

 


Suede Matte Lip Liner (Brooklyn Thorn) x7, (Lavender and Lace) 

Brooklyn Thorn is a great dupe for Endless Cacao from Make Up For Ever. It's a cool brown that's ideal for contouring the lips. I've toyed with the idea of buying Endless Cacao because lots of people I know really like it but this does the job so I'll keep using it up. I love this Suede Matte formula, it applies smoothly and can be blended out easily which is how I like to use this particular shade.  I actually bought Lavender and Lace after seeing Viola from Killer Colours describe it as the perfect liner shade to match her natural lip colour or something to that effect. We have very similar natural lip colours so I bought it and it's actually almost exactly the same shade as my lips so it's great for when I want to define my lips but not add noticeable colour.


Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick (Cherry Skies)

This is such a beautiful shade. I rarely wear liquid lipstick anymore but I do love this one. It's a matte but not dry looking or flat. This probably needs to be thrown out as I'd imagine it's definitely expired now but if you are looking for more affordable lip products with high impact, this is a great option. 


Slide On Eyeliner Pencil (Pure White)

I'm fairly sure this is only the second time I've used this and I can't even remember when I bought it. I suppose I don't have much call for a white eyeliner but I'll probably keep it anyway as it did what I wanted it to do which was add contrast to a liner look.



OPV Beauty


 


Rainbow Splash Palette 

I only used this once in 2021 and for shame because it's such a fun, happy palette. Since compiling this post I've been making a concerted effort to use more of the products I underused last year and this was one of them. I recently created an eye look using the matte pinks and I loved how it turned out. It's one I'm going to keep bringing out when I feel like wearing bright colours.



Pat McGrath


Dark Star Mascara x6

I bought this mascaras in late 2020 when I was making an order from PMG Labs and I said I'd try it out as I'd heard great things. Basically I just wanted to treat myself to a fancy mascara probably because I was feeling sorry for myself. Anyway part of me is raging that I did because honestly this is one of the best mascaras I've ever tried. It's actually annoying that I now know that. There's one other mascara later in this list that I would say is up there with this one as my top two. I didn't think I'd notice but when I look back at the photos of the looks where I'm thinking "ooh what's that mascara my lashes look amazing", it's always these two. Will I buy it again though? Possibly, PMG often does deals so I could get it cheaper but for now I'll keep searching for less expensive dupes. 

 

 
MatteTrance Lipstick in Femmebot
 

Mthrshp Mega: Celestial Divinity Palette MatteTrance Lipstick in 1995 

 

MatteTrance ™ Lipstick (Femmebot) x2, (1995) x2, (Elson)

Elson is the first PMG lipstick I bought, before they even shipped to Ireland. I had it sent to my brother who lived in Canada at the time and he forwarded it to me. Sadly when I first used it, the twist up mechanism broke and as I'd gone to such lengths to get it I didn't want to go to the bother to get a replacement especially since they didn't ship directly here. It still twists up but it's really fiddly and for $35 I think it was at the time, I expected more. That being said I loved the actual lipstick itself. The shade is that classic blue toned red, the formula is a creamy matte which is always my preference with mattes. It has only been topped by the Lisa Eldridge True Velvets. Last Christmas PMG was having a sale on the lipsticks for the ridiculous price of about €13 if I remember correctly and I think every beauty content creator I follow bought some of them. As they're usually €41 and I was put off buying another one because of the first experience I had, I decided I'd take advantage of the sale price and buy a few more (including some as gifts). I bought Venus in Furs, Omi, 1995, Femmebot and Skinsane which I'll mention below as it's a different formula. Looking back I can see how ridiculous it was to buy so many. I think I was worried if I bought just one the shade wouldn't suit me and I thought why not buy more since they're so inexpensive. If I'd paid €41 I wouldn't have been happy. They're beautiful lipsticks but I don't think they're worth €41. As it turns out they're all different shades of neutral on me and I probably like and wore Femmebot the most. I'm slowly learning that quality over quantity is better. I don't need to buy every shade just because there's a sale. Just one that I love and suits me and leave it at that. See my full review here.

 

Mthrshp Mega: Celestial Divinity Palette, Dark Star Mascara, BlitzTrance Lipstick in Skinsane

 

BlitzTrance™ Lipstick (136 Skinsane)

This is a more lustrous, creamy finish lipstick. I probably liked this the best out of all the PMG lipsticks I bought on sale. It's just a lot more flattering and easy to wear. Her lipstick formulas are quite full on and pigmented but I can wear a light layer of this and it's a great neutral shade on me. I'd say this formula would be more universal than the matte formula. 

 

Mthrshp Mega: Celestial Divinty Palette, Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Concealer in L2, Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Powder in Light, MatteTrance Lipstick in 1995
 
 


Mthrshp Mega: Celestial Divinity Palette x8

This was last year's limited edition Holiday palette. I had tried some single PMG eyeshadows and a smaller palette I'd won in a giveaway but I was thirsty for more. So when I saw this was significantly less expensive than the usual Mthshp palettes I jumped at the chance to own it. I paid full price (or maybe had a 10% discount). It worked out at about €75 which is a lot of money for any makeup item but I was very happy I bought it. I definitely used it more than 8 times but I looked forward to it every time. Especially trying to recreate some of the glamorous, glitzy looks from the PMG Instagram. I wasn't disappointed and I'm glad I bought it. I still covet one of the proper Mthshp palettes. There weren't any that I needed until this year when Huetopian Dreams was released and I thought, yes, this is my Mthrshp palette. I have been making a list of products I would like and trying to really think about them. €140 is a lot for anything, I know she often does discounts and you can get it for around €95 which seems a lot more attainable. This and the blushes are two products on my list for now and if they still are in a few months time and I haven't lost interest and been buying other things, I might treat myself. Having said that, I didn't really want this year's limited edition palette Celestial Odyssey. I resisted and resisted until I thought I had gotten it out of my system. But then they had a special discount and it went down to €51 and I couldn't resist any longer. I looked at the swatches on Temptalia again and I just went for it. So hopefully I'll get as much use out of this year's one.


Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Concealer (L2) x45

I bought this concealer and the matching under eye powder below as a set last Christmas as it had quite a good discount and I'd heard great things about both. As you can see from how much I used them I love these products. Definitely among my most used products of the year. This is a creamy full coverage concealer and you need very little of it but it blends seamlessly and looks natural despite it having so much coverage. Just remember a little goes a long way. 


Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Powder (Light) x30

To be honest, I use such a small amount of powder that I could probably just buy one of these to use and it would last me the year. You only need to touch your brush to this to get enough powder, don't go heavy handed or you'll waste it. It's so lightweight, undetectable on my skin and definitely gives a blurring effect. It's €33 for 4g of product, for comparison the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder is €40 for 10g. I bought that set which gives you a saving of €11 if you were going to buy both products anyway and then it had an extra 25% off. With the discount the price was totally worth it to me and honestly, I probably would pay €33 for the powder alone because as I said I don't use that much powder so it wouldn't last a long time. The problem I have with setting powders, especially loose ones, is that I rarely get to use one up. I love this duo and would absolutely buy them again.

 
 

Patrick Ta Beauty



Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush (She's So L.A.) x5

I bought this towards the end of 2020 after seeing some great reviews of this and seeing it in action on some YouTube channels I watch. I was intrigued by the idea of a blush duo consisting of a powder and a cream. I went for this shade as it's a warm neutral that I felt might be along the lines of Glossier Dusk. They are actually similar enough, She's So L.A. is maybe a touch more of a pink brown than a warm brown. If i remember correctly the idea is that the powder side is applied first and then the cream is patted on top almost like a highlighter. Obviously they can be worn separately too. I love this (and I'm going to mention it again) even though I'm not really a powder blush kind of person, although I now seem to be proving myself wrong. I think if they were sold separately I wouldn't be a fan of them alone but together I really like how they look. This duo is a great option for when I don't want anything too strong on my cheeks but still want some kind of colour. They're almost similar to a bronzer on my skin tone. I think the issue is that even though I like this product, I have other blush products that I prefer and once again I'm taught that I loved Glossier Dusk so why did I need something else similar. Now that I have Dante's Dream Enlivening Blush from Lisa Eldridge, I definitely don't need this. However it is a unique product and I do love how it looks on my skin and since putting this post together I've been making a conscious effort to integrate it into more makeup looks and I've loved how it looked every time. Did I need it? No. Do I love it? Yes!


Double Take Crème & Powder Blush in She's So L.A., Matte Suede Lipstick in She's Not From Here

Matte Suede Lipstick (She's Not From Here)

This purchase was heavily influenced by the looks I've seen on Patrick Ta's own Instagram page. I'm fairly sure I first saw this in a look he did on Kourtney Kardashian and even though I have a completely different skin tone to her I couldn't get it out of my mind. I decided to buy it when I had a 20% discount for Cult Beauty as it is over €30. Did I need another orange red when I already have Velvet Morning by Lisa Eldridge, Spicy Chili from Clarins, Tell Laura from Charlotte Tilbury and Obsessed by Pat McGrath? Absolutely not. Yet another case of me obsessing over a shade that I know I'd love and already have similar. What I will say is it's a beautiful creamy matte formula that gives all of the others a run for their money. It's my dream Summer red that looks incredible with minimal makeup, just my freckles and some mascara. I do not need any more orange reds. I am happy this is in my collection but I need to reread this if I get tempted to buy another one. 



Major Brow Lamination Gel x10

I wasn't sure what to make of this at first. I used it a couple of times and I felt like it just didn't work well over my brow pencil. I think it actually worked better after being open for a week or two, almost like it needed to dry out slightly the way some mascaras do. I love it now and use it all the time alone and on top of Brow Flick or a brow pencil. It's similar to the Refy Brow Sculpt in that it gives excellent hold but it's a thinner, stickier consistency and it's clear. You can set your brows normally with it, or using the back of the specially designed brush you can almost push the hairs up to give that laminated effect. I'm not too fond of the super pushed up, stuck to the skin, laminated look so I tend to just push my brow hairs up slightly almost like I do when I use Soap Brows. The hold on this is like nothing I've tried, you have to properly cleanse your brows to get it off. I'd say if you have thick brows this would be a great one to try as it really holds them in place all day.


 

Pixi Beauty



Glow Mist x59

As you can see this is one of my most used products of the year by far. I usually buy the bigger 160ml bottle when it's discounted as it works out much less expensive than the 80ml bottle. I love this because it takes away any kind of powdery or dry look your skin might have. If I have set with powder and used powder blush or highlighter I'll always spritz this across my face afterwards as it really makes the powders melt into my skin and look less obvious. It's also great for the Winter when my skin tends to be more on the dry side and I feel like I need some extra glow. I've used this for years now and have gone through countless bottles. It's one of those finishing touches that just makes my skin look better. Is it necessary, absolutely not. But I love how it works and I love the difference I see when I use it even if nobody else does.

 


Glitter-y Eye Quad (RoseBronze) x2, (BluePearl)

I love these quads. I probably used them more the previous year when I had less glitter products like the Danessa Myricks ones and the Lemonhead L.A. ones. These are pan glitters suspended in an almost creamy base and therefore they are super easy to apply and you don't get any messy glitter fall down on the rest of your face. If you're new to glitter I'd suggest these as they're quite a good price and you get four glitters in an easy to use formula. There's a third one that I don't have and the colours are more neutral. After writing this I'm actually exciting to use them again as it's been a while and I'm reminded of how much I love them. Read the full review here, see more here and here.


Physicians Formula



Murumuru Butter Bronzer (Light)

I bought this thinking maybe I'd give powder bronzer a try, it wasn't too expensive and seems to get good reviews. It's a nice formula but not amazing, the colour is most defintely too warm and not the right shade for me, although I can make it work if I'm light handed. It also has such a strong scent, like a piña colada which is lovely if you're sitting on a beach sipping one but I just don't want my face to smell like one. For those reasons I rarely find myself wanting to use it I tend to favour the cream bronzers in my collection as I feel they look more natural on my skin and since I'm so pale I don't want to use anything too obvious. I just don't think I'm a powder bronzer person or else I just haven't found the right powder bronzer for me. 




PÜR Cosmetics



4-in-1 Love Your Selfie Foundation & Concealer (LN2) x6 (used as concealer x28)

As you can see I've used this just 6 times as an actual all over foundation but much more as a concealer. This is a game changing complexion product for me. I tend to not use it under my eyes but if I have redness or a spot or anything on my face that needs concealing, this is the best product I've tried in terms of coverage. It comes in a bottle that has a pump and then if you twist off the lid there's also a doe foot applicator. I tend to not use that but rather just pump out a tiny amount onto the back of my hand and work from there as it's more sanitary. One of the biggest reasons I love this, apart from its coverage is that there are 100 shades. Yes, you read that correctly. 100 shades! This is the most shades I've ever seen in a foundation. I could be wrong but I'm fairly sure there's no other brand that has topped that number. I actually bought this after hearing RawBeautyKristi talk about how much she loved it. It's been one of my top products over the past five months when my skin went berserk just before I had my baby and then for about four months afterwards. It's still not 100% back to normal but it's much improved from how it was with the red, angry, hormonal acne. This gave me back confidence whenever I had time to do my makeup and made me feel less self conscious. I can't say enough good things about it. It looks great all over as foundation too if you need more coverage all over, it contains ingredients that just make it melt into the skin and it lasts for ages as a little goes a long way. This is going to be one of those products that I always have to have in my collection.


On Point Eyeliner (Down to Earth) x7

I actually got this when I bought the RawBeautyKristi palette because the order was delayed. They threw this in for free and it's actually such a nice formula pencil. It also has one of those lids that keeps the shape of the pencil as you twist it on. Something I probably never would have bought myself but I find myself reaching for it any time I need a brown eyeliner.


PÜR X RawBeautyKristi Palette x3

I didn't use this as much as I should have this year. I love this palette and I probably prefer it to the collaboration with ColourPop. I like that it has two different sides and I find the shadows quite easy to work with even though they're so pigmented. This is going on my list of products I want to use more in 2022. It was limited edition so there's not much point in me saying too much about it. Read my full review here.


Refy Beauty



Brow Pencil (Medium) x20

This and the Delilah are my two favourite brow pencils of the past couple of years. There's about €5 price difference, the Refy is the less expensive one and the only reason I bought the Delilah again instead of the Refy is I was ordering from pharmacy online and they had a discount code so I bought another Delilah. As there's not much difference for me I'd probably go for the Refy when I need another brow pencil. The shade is probably slightly better and it's a bit of a more waxy pencil. 

 

Brow Sculpt x20

I had wanted to try this for a while after hearing lots of great things about it. It sounded like my kind of product, a mixture between a wax and a gel. It's a great one for thicker brows that need more hold. The brush is double ended with one end that combs the product through and the other that you can use to shape. I can safely say that this 100% lives up to the hype. I love that it has a bigger brush which is ideal for my brows and it's something I've never seen in a brow grooming product, the brushes are usually quite small.  I love this and will definitely repurchase it. You can also buy a set of this with the Brow Pencil. 

 

 

Revlon


So Fierce! Vinyl Eyeliner (Force of Steel) x3, (Royal Blues)

This is not your typical eyeliner. It's a pencil but as the name suggests it's more of a vinyl finish. They blend out quite well if you want a less intense colour as they are quite pigmented and you can actually build on top with eyeshadow too. There's some great shades in this range too, I have another three of them. I'm a big fan and would definitely buy more shades if I needed them. Read my full review here.

 

RMS Beauty


Eye Polish (Magnetic)

I was given this as a present and I've only used it once which I know is not great. I'd never tried anything from RMS before and I'd heard mixed things about the brand. This is an eye polish, it's more sheer than a cream eyeshadow and has a tendency to crease after a some wear time but that's what it's meant to do. It gives you that undone, effortless, lived in look that people either love or hate. I personally love it. I like it when makeup isn't perfect, it's not like paint it's moveable on a living, expressive face so it's never going to be perfect. This gives a shortcut to that kind of look. It's definitely not going to be for everyone. I haven't used it much because there's not too much more you can do except for wear it alone because of the texture. But could be a good one and done eye colour if you don't mind it moving around a bit. Maybe a bit more of an editorial product rather than something for the every day consumer.



RÓEN Beauty



Eye Shadow Palette 11:11 (Situation)

I've definitely used this more than once. I've actually worn it quite a lot in work as it gives you a shimmery eye with little effort, just apply with your finger and blend. I find this method does leave creases after hours of wear but if you apply over a powder eyeshadow it gives more longevity. There are 4 shades and the textures vary depending on the shades. Some have more of a sublte shimmer and others have more chunky glitter. They give that beautiful wet look on the eyes. I absolutely love this formula, it's unique in my collection and the shades are so beautiful and easy to wear. I love that the more textured glitter gives an almost foiled effect. If you're a glitter fan like me I'd highly recommend looking into these more.


Sephora Collection


Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner (08 Brown)

My beloved Sephora. I haven't stepped foot in one since I was In Paris in February 2020. I love these pencils. I've had a few shades over the years. I actually recently had to throw this out as I'd had it too long and it wasn't working as well. I obviously can't replace it at the moment and I have enough brown liners so I don't need it but I look forward to that day I get to walk through the doors of my favourite makeup playground again. 


Shiseido


Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation (160 Shell) x2

I loved this foundation! Definitely one of the best formulas I've tried. It makes my skin look great. I was kindly given this by a blogger friend who had received a few shades and this was too light. I thought it would be too dark on me but it actually worked. Although I'd probably go a shade lighter next time (and there will be a next time!) I gave this to my sister during my pregnancy clear out worrying that the SPF in it would irritate my skin. As I said already I now realise that I may have overreacted. But I will absolutely buy this again once my foundation collection has depleted a bit. See it in more detail here.


Eyebrow Pencil (Brown)

My friend brought this back from Japan for me and I hadn't opened it until about 6 months ago. To be honest I probably won't use it again as it's too warm for my brows and just looks a bit unnatural on me. It is a nice pencil, more soft than the usual brow pencil but if it had been a different, more cool brown shade it might have worked better for me. 

Sweed Lashes



Nikki_Makeup No Lash-Lash x5

I've actually bought two packs of these this year as I really liked how they looked. I'm not a strip lash fan, I prefer individuals as I find they look more natural which is my preference for false lashes. I rarely wear falsies but when I do it's these ones. 


Surratt Beauty


Relevée Eyelash Curler x24

This and the Kevyn Aucoin are hands down the best eyelash curlers I've tried but I think this one is a better shape for my eyelids. It's the more expensive of the two but it's something I use almost every single time I do my makeup so it's worth it to me.

 

Uoma Beauty



Stay Woke Concealer (White Pearl T1) x17

I bought this in the Summer of 2020 and it's now empty. It's very rare that I use up a concealer fully as I have quite a few but I just loved this formula so much. It's a doe foot applicator and such a creamy texture, great coverage and beautiful finish. Definitely up there with the best concealers I've tried. I'll absolutely be repurchasing this once I've used up more of what I have. Excellent shade range too. I'll probably go a shade or two lighter next time. Read my full review of Uoma Beauty here.



Say What?! Foundation (White Pearl T1N) x8

I love this foundation, I used it more than 8 times for sure. It's a soft matte hydrating formula and it looks beautiful on my skin. It's the foundation I found most comparable to the Lisa Eldridge one. The shade range is excellent too, there are 50 shades and each shade category has a different formula depending on the needs of that kind of skin for example the formula for my kind of pale skin has ingredients to combat redness and the formula for deep skin tones has ingredients to help with dullness. I've never seen that before in a foundation range. One of the best foundations I've ever used. 



Afro.Dis.Iac Cleopatra Ink Liquid Eyeliner x2

I found this was a great liquid liner, quite similar to the Glossier one actually, I would have happily bought either of them again if it hadn't been for the Hindash one. 

 


Drama Bomb Mascara (mini) x15

Love this mascara! It definitely lives up to its name giving me length and volume. Will absolutely buy the full size of this when I'm next in need of a mascara. Highly recommend trying these deluxe sample sizes of products too, I wish more brands would do them. 

 


Badass Icon Matte Lipstick (Tina)

This is such a beautiful matte lipstick formula. It's up there with my favourite matte formulas from Lisa Eldridge, Clarins and Pat McGrath. Very underrated and a great selection of shades. I bought a couple more that I haven't opened yet and I'm very much looking forward to trying those out too. 

 


Black Magic Carnival Palette x2

This palette just makes me happy. It has such stunning, vibrant shades but also some really easy to wear neutral ones too. The formula is beautiful too. I rarely see people mention Uoma Beauty but I really think their products are some of the best I've ever tried. Writing this has reminded me to get this palette out again. 


Urban Decay


*Eyeshadow Primer Potion x44

I don't think I'll ever stray from this again I learned my lesson with the Fenty primer, it just wasn't as good as this. I love how thin this formula is and it dries down quickly. I never have any issues with what I apply on top of it. As you can see I've used it quite a bit, most times I've worn powder eyeshadow. I originally had a PR Sample and I bought one myself halfway through the year as I used one up. I'll always have this in my collection. 

 


*Stay Naked Foundation (10NN) x2

I only used this a couple of times because it was expired and I found it wasn't blending as well so I had to throw away the end of it. I'd say that this is a good option for more oily skin. I found it quite dry and had to really make sure my skin was properly exfoliated and hydrated before using this otherwise it clung to dry patches. It's very long lasting and skin perfecting too but just not my favourite formula. I prefer the Hydromaniac for my skin type. 

 


Born to Run Palette x2

I think I only used this twice for the matte black shade Jet which an excellent matte black. I actually still really love this palette, I just haven't used it enough because I've had new, shiny things that have distracted me. I actually think this is one of my favourite Urban Decay palettes. I love the formula and the colour story. I need to use it more. See it in more detail here and here.


*24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (Perversion) x10

My go-to black pencil liner. These are just such great liners. Saturated colour that's easy to blend but once it sets it's staying there. Not the most exciting product but such a reliable one. 

 


*Vice 4 palette (Grasshopper) 

I loved this shade it's such a stunning emerald green. However I'd had this palette for 7 years and it just wasn't performing as well. It was probably long expired and I'm trying to get better at following expiry dates with my makeup. There are some great dupes for this on Temptalia. 



*Naked Ultraviolet Palette x4

I received this in the Summer of 2020 and used it quite a bit in the latter half of the year. I used it 4 times this year which is more than I used some of the palettes I got this year. This didn't seen to get great reviews but I actually loved it. Maybe because I'm a big fan of purple eyeshadows but I liked the shades in this and I found myself inspired when I took it out to use. This and Naked Honey are my favourite of the recent Naked palettes. Read the full review here.



*Naked Ultimate Basics Palette x2 (Discontinued)

This is just a great all matte palette with a variety of warm, cool and neutral shades ranging from light to dark. I probably would have used it more if I hadn't bought the Hindash Beautopsy palette which essentially has most of these shades. This is no longer available and I don't know why as it's a great "basic" palette in the best way. If you want something similar definitely check out the Hindash one. 

 



*Naked Wild West Palette x4

When I first saw the images for this I thought it looked nice, I actually liked the green/blue shades mixed with the neutrals and I loved the look I created with them. The neutrals are lovely too. It's a nice palette, I don't think you'd be disappointed if you bought it but it's just not my favourite Naked palette. I prefer Ultraviolet and Honey. 


Backtalk Palette

This was one of those UD palettes I think most people weren't too bothered about but I loved it and used it so much the first couple of years I had it. I've had it for almost 4 years now and it's probably expired but I can't let go just yet as I still love it. It's obviously not available anymore so I won't go into much detail about it. See it in more detail here.



*Naked Honey Palette 

I've had this since it was released in Autumn 2019 and it's definitely one of my favourite Naked palettes of the past few years. That being said I didn't use it much at all this year. Only once in the looks I posted on Instagram, maybe a handful of times day to day but not much. I think it's the last Naked palette that seems to have that richly pigmented formula, I've found the launches since to perhaps be a little less intense. If you like these neutral shades and the UD formula this is a great palette, it's almost like a replaced to the original Naked palette for me. See it in more detail here and here.

 


Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator (10 Ultra Fair) x4

I was excited to try this when I first read about it so I bought it on Cult Beauty when they had a discount on Urban Decay products and I think it worked out at quite a good price. Despite the possibly confusing name this is essentially a tinted moisturiser. More suited to normal/dry skin types I would say and I've found it absolutely gives the hydrated looking skin it claims it will. I can't really say much more. Would I buy it again? Probably not, mostly because I have similar products I like more. If you have quite dry skin it could be worth getting a sample of this. 


*24/7 Matte Shadow (Introvert) 

Urban Decay describe this shade as a matte peach, if say it's definitely more pink than peach, or I suppose you could call it a cool peach. Either way it's exactly my kind of shade. I love these kinds of mid toned dusky pinks all across the lids alone or topped with a glitter like the Bodyography ones. I find this shade to be great as a "transition" shade too. I've always enjoyed using the Urban Decay matte formula. Some matte eyeshadows can be intimidating if they're quite pigmented as that can make them difficult to work with and blend. I find they can sometimes stick to the eyelid and become patchy or skip on the eyes leaving an uneven colour distribution. This never happens with the Urban Decay ones, they're always so velvety in texture and I never have an issue blending them out. Love the clear packaging of these too. 

 


*24/7 Shadow Moondust (Lithium)

I had been interested in trying the Moondust formula for a while as it seems to get good reviews and I'm always up for a glitter eye product. So I was delighted when I was sent this shade during the Summer. It's described as a brown with iridescent 3D sparkle. It looks like a more cool brown in the pan but it blends out to a medium brown with some slight warmth to it and  evenly dispersed microglitter that has that wet look to it. This is a great one and done eyeshadow as it's almost like a matte brown and glitter topper in one. I loved using this and I actually applied it over Introvert, the matte pink and they paired beautifully.

 


*Lash Freak Mascara x17

I've had this mascara twice now and I actually quite like it for when I want voluminous lashes. The brush is definitely the weirdest mascara brush I've ever seen but somehow it works. It's quite a wet formula so I find it does layer well and works even better once it's been open a week or two. It's not my favourite UD mascara though, I preferred Perversion so I'd definitely buy that over Lash Freak. 

 


*Vice Lipstick (Oatmilk) x2, (Hex) x2

I think this is the third time these lipsticks have been reformulated and re-released. I'm not sure why as I liked the previous iterations and much preferred the packaging as these ones have this weird angled lid that I always put on wrong and then have to twist around until I get it right. Packaging aside, these are beautiful formulas. Oatmilk is a cream finish and Hex is a matte. Both are comfortable to wear, easy to apply and look gorgeous on. Oatmilk is quite a pale shade so I find it works best with a deeper liner blended out slightly and a thin layer of the lipstick. Hex is my kind of shade. It's a deep red burgundy shade that's ideal for Autumn and Winter. It's such a beautiful shade. If you're looking for a great quality lipstick that isn't too expensive these ones are a great option. 


*All Nighter Setting Spray x8

This is one of those products that lives up to its cult status for me. I find it just works so well at increasing the longevity of my makeup. I don't use it all the time because it is expensive and I obviously don't need my makeup to last all day every time I wear it but when I use this is definitely makes a difference. 

 


*Naked Cyber Palette x2

This is a strange one for me. It's the most recent press sample I was sent from Urban Decay so I haven't used it too much. I think I've used it three times total. I was a bit confused when I first saw this, I'm not sure how the shades correlate to a 'Cyber' theme. That aside I was a bit underwhelmed when I tried it out. It's not what I would have expected from Urban Decay and honestly I was quite disappointed. The warm rust shade on the right is probably the best shade in the palette even though it's meant to be a base for the shimmers, glitter toppers and duochromes. It just doesn't perform the way I wanted it to. You really have to work to get the so-called topper shades to look like anything on the lids. It's just insipid even when used with a wet brush or fingers they just don't have the impact they should. The whole palette is quite pale too and there seems to very little to differentiate some of the shades. If they had perhaps chosen some cool and warm mid to deep matte shades alongside some great quality toppers, almost like the Moondust formula, that proper wet look, glistening eyeshadow, this could have been my favourite Naked palette but I just think the formulas are lacking for Urban Decay who are known for high impact. That being said, this could be the ideal palette for someone who wants something that isn't going to be too much. Pale shimmers and glitters that are inoffensive. This could be someone's dream palette but I don't think it's the usual Urban Decay customer.

 

VIOLETTE_FR


Yeux Paint Matte (Tendre Corail) x3, (Caramel Chaud)

I was so excited when I found out that Violette was launching a brand as I've followed her career for years with great interest. I love her YouTube videos, they're so unique and cinematic and the looks she creates are always so effortless and chic. I was excited to see what kind of products she would be producing with her new brand. Sadly when it first launched there was no shipping to Ireland so I had to wait a while and of course that allowed the anticipation to build. The good thing about that was it allowed me to read reviews and see the products in use before I placed an order. I wanted to try a matte and a glitter eyeshadow so I bought Tendre Corail and Bleu de Minuit in my first order as well as the Petal Bouche Lipstick. I wanted to buy the Baume Shine but it was out of stock so months later when that was finally restocked I made a second order which included the other products. I loved Tendre Corail when I first tried it, the matte formula is particularly pigmented so you just need the smallest amount to cover your entire eyelid. I found it blended out with ease and lasted well too. I loved the shade Caramel Chaud which is warm/yellow medium brown shade. I find the best way to apply these is to apply a small amount to the bck of your hand or a palette (if you have one and want to be more hygienic) and work from there with a flat brush to apply and then blend it out with a fluffy brush. I haven't tried using my fingers as I thought it would be too messy. You can also apply directly onto your eyelids and then blend but I find that harder to control and I usually end up applying too much. I like these as a wash of colour alone, applied as an eyeliner or with a glitter on top. I think the About Face ones and the Danessa Myricks Colorfix Mattes are very similar if not better, less expensive and you get more product. While I do love these Yeux Paints and love wearing them, I don't know if I would pay €27 and the expensive shipping for more as I'm happy with what I have.


Yeux Paint Twinkling (Bleu de Minuit), (Rose d'Aurore) x2

I did use these more than I've mentioned above. I liked them blended out all over or as a liner and I've worn both of these shades in both ways. I really like the colours I chose but I probably wouldnt't wear them every day. The pink is defintely more of a "me" shade. I haven't yet tried the About Face Fractal Glitter Eye Paints which look similar, the Danessa Myricks Colorfix metallics and Foils are probably unbeatable in terms of price, formula and value. I prefer the Lisa Eldridge formula of liquid glitter eyeshadow even though you get slightly less product. I just find them much easier to work with. However if you want to use them as liners, the VFR ones have a more versatile formula. Again I just don't think I'll be buying more even though she just released a beautiful green/gold shade that looks stunning, I just don't think it's worth it when I love the Danessa Myricks Colorfix so much and they're much less expensive. There's nothing wrong with any of these products, I enjoyed using them, the packaging is beautiful, the finish, the longevity but I just think the DM ones are better all round for me.



Petal Bouche Matte (Amour Fou) x3

I didn't think I'd ever really be buying another liquid lipstick but I just couldn't resist this one. The shade was too beautiful and every time I saw it I felt I needed to try it. I was quite disappointed when I first tried this. I have tried my fair share of liquid lipsticks, my favourite formula was probably the Lancôme Matte Shakers (may they rest in peace). I just loved everything about them, they were so easy to apply, lightweight, easy to remove and had beautiful shades. The problem seemed to be with my method of application which I'm sure would be the same as most people applying a liquid lipstick, applying directly to the lips with the applicator and then spreading it out and shaping. When I tried it this way the first time it just did not look good at all. It was uneven, messy and patchy and when I went in with more product I still couldn't get it even. Parts of my lips were a deep red and other parts were a more bright shade of red. I realised this is a product that needs a little more time, patience and care. The next time I tried it I decided to ignore the instructions on the website and do my own thing. I used a lip primer first to make sure my lips were hydrated and evenly textured. Then I applied some product to the back of my hand and used the Spectrum X Katie Jane Hughes No. 14 brush to apply it in thin layers. This way I could control exactly how much I was using. I applied the first layer almost like a stain so my lips were evenly coated and then I went in with a second layer and finished by perfecting the edges with the flat thin brush. This worked so much better as the colour was even and I avoided a messy lip line. I also ended up with that beautiful red velvet rose petal look. I've defnitely used red liquid lipsticks that are easier to apply like the Lancôme ones, the Sephora Lip Stains, the NYX Professional Makeup ones. I've never had the issues I had with this. However once you get the hang of it and wear it a few more times, it definitely does get easier to apply. I thought maybe it was just me, but I had messages from people who bought it after me and said the same thing. Luckily I could pass on my advice and it seemed to work. It's just not an everyday red lipstick for me, it takes a steady hand and time and patience and that's fine sometimes but mostly I want ease of use. I love the finished look, it really does give the velvety rose petal look to my lips but I can't see myself buying this in another shade. I'd rather the Lisa Eldridge True Velvets.


Baume Shine Universal Highlighter

I've actually only used this once and I did like it. It's quite similar to the Glossier Haloscope formula which was my absolute favourite for a year or two. I still love it but I have other highlighters I'm using at the moment and I didn't want to open up another Haloscope until I've gotten through what I have already been using. I definitely need to use this more before I form a full opinion on it but if you like Glossier Haloscope you'll defitely like this. It's a reflective hydrating balm highlighter that gives a glowy sheen to the skin with texture and reflection rather than with pigment. I prefer this kind of formula as it allows your skin to come through as well as whatever blush you're using. 



West Barn Co.


Original Soap Brows x14

I still love this. Even with the fancy Patrick Ta and Refy brow gels and waxes. It's lasted for ages and there's still lots left. It's definitely not going to be everyone's favourite as it gives a specific look and it may not play well with other products. I only ever use it alone or with Glossier Brow Flick so I'm not sure how it would work with a powder or pencil. Yes you could buy a clear, glycerin soap for a third of the price and put it in a tin or some kind of container yourself but I like the convenience of someone else doing that for me plus this soap has been specifically formulated to go on the face whereas other clear soaps may not be suitable for near the eyes. It's lasted for for the longest time regardless so it's still great value for me, even if it is soap in a tin. 

 

YSL Beauty

Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascara x18

I can safely say this is 100% one of the best mascaras I've ever used! I bought it in the Christmas sales last year as a set with a couple of mini products. I'd never tried a YSL Beauty mascara before and I'd heard great things about this one so when I saw the set on sale for €22, I went for it. It's one of those mascaras that's a look on its own. It lengthens and volumises like nothing else I've tried apart from the Pat McGrath Dark Star. It's only really when I look back at photos of me wearing this that I can see how much it stands out from the other mascaras I used last year. It's also the most expensive mascara I've tried, it retails for up to €35.50 but you can get for for around €31. I can see why this is so well loved. It's just a fantastic mascara that performs above and beyond what others do. That being said, mascaras only last 3 months in general before they start to dry out so I guess you have to decide if it's worth the money. I've never tried anything like this at a cheaper price and I did try to buy that gift set again this year but it was sold out. I'll absolutely buy this again at some point when I feel like treating myself.


Touche Éclat Illuminating Pen (1 Rose Lumière)

I've had this before and liked it. My sister gave my this one and I think it expired before I used it up. It's often mistaken for a concealer but it's definitely more of a radiant highlighting, brightening product. I would use it to subtly highlight the high points of my face or brighten under my eyes on top of a colour corrector. I do like it but I wouldn't buy it because I don't find I'd use it often enough to justify the price. It's one of those polarising cult products that people either love or just don't get. I'm probably somewhere in the middle. I like it but I just don't love it. 

 


*Rouge Volupté Shine lipstick (131 Chili Morocco)  

These are stunning lipsticks. It's hard to beat YSL in terms of high end lipstick packaging. I think they have really nailed it, it's so beautiful. This formula is an "oil-in-stick", lipstick meets balm type product. I was sent some shades from the Burning Chilis collection which was a range of brick reds and burnt neutrals. This is such a beautiful formula, I really can't fault it. It's comfortable, smells amazing, easy to wear and the shades are beautiful. These are the best of this type of product that I've tried, however they are expensive so I suppose it just depends what your budget is and whether you think it's worth it. 


*Crushliner Waterproof Eyeliner (N6 Bleu Enigmatique)

I've only used this once but I was sent a few shades in this formula which I look forward to trying out. I really don't have anything bad to say about this. It applied smoothly with a saturated pigment, blended out nicely and didn't smudge throughout the day. What more could you want from an eyeliner. 




So that's it, every makeup product I used in 2021. I've defintely learned some things by compiling this list and I'm hoping that next years list won't have as many new prodcuts but I also look forward to revisiting some of these products a year from now. If you've read the full post I applaud you because I don't know if I could possibly read it again after writing it and proof reading it. Thanks for your support and taking the time to read my words.


Emma x


























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