MY MOST USED BEAUTY PRODUCTS

 Hello everyone! I thought I'd share what products I've been reaching most for in the past few months. I bought the majority of them while I was in New York last November but I've listed some UK stockists so you can get your hands on these goodies too! 

Firstly I'll start off with the NIP+FAB Glycolic fix daily cleansing pads which are insane! I've noticed that they have upped their prices lately but it's worth it to stock up when Boots have their 3 for 2 offers on. I have tried the Extreme night version of these pads but I found them to be a little harsh. I use them as a toning pad - in the morning after I've washed my face, and in the evening after I've removed my makeup. The glycolic acid retexures your face giving you a light exfoliation while the hyaluronic acid refreshes the skin. These are an essential in my skincare routine!

 The Kat Von D shade and light palette was number one on my New York list after hearing such amazing things about it and it did not disappoint! It comes with three contour shades and three highlight shades. The highlight shades are matte powders aimed for using where you would highlight with concealer rather than the shimmery kind of highlight. I love that each contour shade has a different undertone - one is more of a cool undertone to really sculpt, the second is a little warmer that I tend to use to add colour to my face, and the last is a beautiful deep shade which is quite neutral. The pigment is amazing so you can use a lighter or heavier hand depending on how strong you want your contour.

I was silly enough to forget my mascara while I was in N.Y so off to Sephora I went (I went twice a day everyday by the way) to pick up a new one. I'm not really fussy when it comes to mascaras but one in particular caught my eye because I heard SO much about it. It was the Two Faced Better than sex mascara and I am delighted I bought it. It absolutely lives up to the hype and even makes my stubborn lashes look long and full. The only downside is that I notice a little flaking towards the end of the day but nothing major! It's sold out online but you can buy Two Faced cosmetics from Debenhams.

 

I'm sure almost every girl on the planet has one of these sponges in their makeup kit by now. I have used a lot of different variations of this makeup sponge but I had never tried the real deal. I was one of those people who thought 'how could there be a difference in sponges?'. Boy was I wrong! The BeautyBlender is so bouncy and light compared to the dense versions I've tried that just drink up all of your foundation. I always damped mine and I've been using it almost everyday. I use the pointed end to set my foundation with my beloved banana powder. 

And of course I had to try out the BeautyBlender cleanser because cleaning sponges is the bain of my life! I was really surprised at how quickly this cleanser melted the makeup from the sponge. I have seen that Primark released a version of this for €2 or something ridiculously cheap so definitely try that out because I've heard amazing things about it 

- and who doesn't love a bargain!

The NARS radiant creamy concealer is no stranger to my blog but I have been having a bit of a love-hate relationship with it lately. I find myself reaching for it more and more but I've also been noticing a few breakouts in the areas that I apply it. I have been blessed with clear skin and I would only get the odd hormonal breakout but I'm starting to think I'm going to have to end my love affair with this concealer! The finish and coverage are so beautiful that I keep using it but my skin just seems to be getting worse! 

 

 

Next up is the Charlotte Tillbury bar of gold highlighter which has replaced my Anastasia glow kit as my daily highlight. The ABH glow kit can be quite chunky for day time but this little gem is so smooth and finely milled that it just blends in with the skin while giving off an amazing sheen.

I bought the eyeshadow quad and the eyeshadow pans separately so I could choose the colours myself. It's from Anastasia Beverly Hills but I cant seem to find the eyeshadows on any UK stockist websites! But if any of you girls are ever abroad these eyeshadows are amazing! They're not chalky at all and last all day without creasing.

And last but not least is my secret weapon when removing my makeup. This is the Charlotte Tillbury Multi-Miracle Glow balm and this pot is huge so don't let the price tag scare you off. It has a cream to oil balm formula and it honestly feels like a facial in a jar. I massage the product into my face and let it breakdown all of my makeup, then I use a wet face pad or sometimes I use Garnier Miceller water to wipe off all of the residue. You can also use this product on its own as a mask as it is enriched with vitamins and floral extracts that will nourish the skin. This is one of those products that I'd think I didn't need in my skincare regime but it is so amazing and leaves my skin baby soft!

 

HOW TO GET FULLER HAIR WITH CLIP IN EXTENSIONS

I've always had long hair for as long as I can remember, but recently I've been having my hair cut a lot shorter than usual. Partly because I'm not as daunted at the thought of having 2-3 inches cut off my hair anymore - and partly because I desperately need it! Bleached hair + hot styling tools do not do any favours for the health of my locks. I remember when I was 15 I would die at the though of having to cut more than half an inch off my hair even though my split ends were visible from space. I think it was more of a comfort thing because let's be honest, your hair is basically your identity when you're that age.

Fast forward five years and who would have known I would be willing to sacrifice my length in order to maintain the colour and health of my hair?!

When your hairdresser says she's proud of you for suggesting to cut 2 inches off your hair you know you're a changed woman!  Whenever I visit the babes at The Style Club on North Earle street I always ask for a blunt cut and long layers which I think is what suits my hair best.

Now my hair is by no means short but it is definitely the shortest it has been since I was 13. I started wearing clip-in extensions on the odd occasion for fullness two years ago when this amazing company got in contact with me about testing out some of their hair. Initially I laughed it off because my hair was 22 inches long and I didn't need any length but I decided to try them out for fullness and I am so happy I did! I find that having clip in extensions makes my hair hold a curl for longer and when I wear my hair straight I don't get that annoying curve around my face or neck which usually happens after a few hours so that's always a plus!

THE EXTENSIONS
 The first set of hair I got was 22 inches in the colour Butterscotch Blonde. I figured out my colour by looking at their Instagram page and comparing my hair colour to their photos. Butterscotch Blonde is the perfect colour for me because it has multiple tones going through it just like my own hair does. I decided the 22" was too long after having my hair cut so I switched it up with the 20".. you might think there would hardly be any difference but trust me there is! This hair is of such a high quality and is thick from root to tip!
I have the 20" Princess exquisite 300gram pack which is a lot of hair so unless you have very short thin hair I would suggest downsizing on the grammage. 

  It's worth noting that when you purchase a set of extensions you receive a separate little sample piece so that you can match the colour of the hair in person. If the sample doesn't match - don't open the full set of extensions and you'll be able to get a refund to purchase a different colour that might be a better suit.

Typically when I wear mine for daily use, if I'm shooting outfit photos, going for lunch or on a date with the boy, I only need 2 wefts to achieve my desired thickness because I have a lot of hair anyway. But for nights out I tend to go for 3 or 4 max because the hair is so thick and luxurious that's all I need. Of course, if you have thinner hair than mine and are using the extensions for length then you would use more wefts.

The great thing about these extensions is that they have a realistic shine and texture which doesn't scream "I'm wearing fake hair!" and they blend easily into your natural hair allowing you to straighten or curl them as if you grew it yourself!

TIP 
Make sure to section off your hair as you apply each layer of extensions. I like to section above the ears first and apply a three clip weft. Then use your eye level as a guide and apply a four clip weft. Then I section off at the temples and apply another 4 clip weft and maybe a one clip weft on each side if needed. And I always give my hair a quick tease before apply the extensions because it gives the teeth of the clips something to hold onto!  

 I love these extensions because I can pick and choose whenever I want to wear them and nobody ever notices that it's not all my real hair - you just feel more glam when you have big hair! I use a curler on my set whenever I wear them and they really age well and don't become ratty or frizzy at the ends at all. But be sure to us heat protecting spray on the hair to minimize damage. 

Luxury for Princess are a Dutch brand so shipping usually takes 2-4 days which is great! If you do decide to try out the brand be sure to use my discount code 'Aisling' so save some money at the checkout!


 


I am not being paid to write this review, all opinions are my own! I would never recommend a product I didn't truly love.

UPDATED FOUNDATION ROUTINE & REVIEW

 I've always been a foundation enthusiast ever since I started wearing makeup. My very first proper foundation was Nars sheerglow which was unheard of as a thirteen year old - I was really into watching makeup videos on Youtube and I couldn't settle for anything less than what the top Youtubers were using! I always say that foundation is the most important part of your makeup routine and is totally worth investing in so I'm 100% okay with forking out extra cash for mine. 

While I was away in New York in November I picked up the Makeup Forever Ultra HD stick foundation that I had seen NikkiTutorials using in most of her videos. I'm never one for full coverage but I was getting bored of my YSL touché eclat foundation and wanted something that would give more of a flawless look. I was kind of apprehensive because I thought a stick foundation would give me the dreaded cake face look and clog my pores but this was not the case!

 

 

As always, I start with my YSL blur primer to even out my skin and ensure the foundation lasts all day. I have normal to dry skin so even though I don't get oily I still like to do this step make sure my face stays put all day.

I bought the shade 123 with the help of a Sephora makeup artist which matched my face perfectly. But I soon realized my face is wayyy lighter than my body so last month I bought a much darker shade 177 to bronze up my face. I figured that I could use them as a highlight and contour duo for now and mix both of them to make the perfect shade during the summer when I'm much more tan. This foundation is made for T.V and film and is invisible to 4K lens technology which also means it photographs beautifully!

 

 This is seriously the best foundation I have ever used (and I've used a lot) it blends seamlessly into the skin and has a creamy texture. It can be sheered out or built up to full coverage without feeling heavy or cakey. I wore this foundation to work everyday over Christmas and I couldn't even keep track of how many people stopped me to ask what I was wearing. There's something magical about this foundation that makes it look better the longer it's on. I came home from work one day after having the foundation on for about 9-10 hours and my sister complemented how nice my dewy foundation was. I honestly thought she was making fun of me because my foundation never looks good after that amount of time but when I inspected my face it still looked perfect. It gives a satin radiant finish and gives the skin a healthy glow all while giving amazing coverage.

  

 While I was in Sephora, I picked up a concealer to go with my new foundation. I decided to try out the full cover concealer in shade number 5 to brighten my under eyes. These two work like a dream and I don't get any creasing at all. I set my face with the Ben Nye banana powder that I have used for about two years now and my face does not budge at all! All I ever need is a tiny bit of powder top-up throughout the day.

 When it comes to application, this brush is my new best friend! This beauty is the Lock-it Edge Foundation Brush from the Kat Von D range and it is amazing. It's so dense and works at every angle of your face - I would happily replace all of my face brushes with these babies! It also works wonders for blending out under eye concealer or cream contour because it fits perfectly into the hollows of the face. Luckily for us Irish gals, Kat Von D is now being stocked in Debenhams! If you get chance to pop into the K.V.D stand you need to get your hands on the shade and light contour palette because it will change your life! If I want a more sheer application I'll use a damp beauty blender sponge which works amazingly as well. I've used the Primark version of the beauty blender but after using the real thing there really is no comparison. I used to think 'how can a sponge be any different' but the authentic beauty blender is just in a league of it's own because its so airy and light which applies the product much better than any other version I've tried. 

The foundation retails for €39 and the concealer retails for €28. Makeup Forever have a boutique on Clarendon street and they also have a stand in Debenhams on Henry street so you can go in and see the products for yourself.

I hope you guys liked this review!

 

 

MY SKINCARE ROUTINE

 

Skincare is something that has always been just as important as makeup to me when it comes to using quality products. If your skin isn't being looked after it can lead to breakouts and clogged pores. So, to combat this I make sure to cleanse my face every morning, followed by moisturizing, and every evening after removing my makeup I rinse my face with water just to make sure there is no residue left over.

 

I've been using  Kiehl's Ultra facial Moisturizer and Cleanser after I heard great things about it last year. I have normal to dry skin and this works a treat for my skin as its not too oily. I'm currently using the travel size versions of these products as I bought them to bring on holiday with me but this is a great way for you to trial the product before buying the full size! One thing I love about Kiehl's is that they always give you plenty of samples to try out other products when you purchase something. 

 

Face masks are one of my favourite products to use on my face (I'm actually wearing one as I write this). TIP: Try steaming your face before using a face mask to really open your pores and let the mask work it's magic! I like using them after a long day to unwind and have a little weekly pamper session - I love the cooling sensation it gives to the skin!

Two of my faves are the Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Clay Mask & the L'oreal Pure clay mask. I use the C.T mask when I want my skin to glow but also get rid of impurities - usually masks make your skin dry but this one leaves the skin dewy and refreshed. 

But when I need some heavy duty purifying I opt for the L'oreal mask - it's amazing for unclogging pores but it does leave my skin very dry! 

 

 Now this next product is classified as a mask but I would definitely say it's more of a moisturizer. ThirstyMud Hydrating treatment by GlamGlow is what I would use after the L'oreal mask I just spoke about. It's kind of like a balm you put on your skin to rehydrate any dry or tired skin - and it smells like coconuts! I bought mine from Space.NK on Grafton street (they stock Eve Lom, ByTerry, Hourglass and loads more).

And of course my beloved Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream needs a mention because it is simply amazing! Like I've said on previous posts, It is expensive but the best way to try out the product is to purchase one of the Christmas skincare gift sets - I've had my 15ml pot for almost a year now and it still has product left! The gift sets may be different than last year but hopefully they have something that includes this baby!

Another little gem I've been using is Witch Hazel Gel. If you haven't heard of it before, Witch hazel gel naturally soothes and helps to tone and close pores. It helps to keep skin clear and dissolves grease from the skins surface. I put a little bit of product on a cotton pad and apply to my face or just concentrate it on any problem areas I may have.

I hop you guys found this helpful and try out some of these amazing products for yourselves!

Aisling x

 

BEACH WAVES

 

I've been getting so many questions from you guys lately asking how I curl my. My last Hair curling post was very popular so I'm back with another one! I just recently had long layers cut into my because I wanted a fuller, more tousled look when curling my hair. I've always lusted over those perfectly effortless waves I see on Instagram - think ultimate beach babe Tash Oakley. My hair seemed to be to flat to achieve my desired look but adding in some long layers really changed up my hair and now a beachy wave is my go-to look!

 STEP ONE

I part my hair down the center but you can part it whichever way you prefer and spray some heat protector evenly on around the hair. I like to start with the hair closest to my face first and then work my way around to the back. And because this is a beachy curl there is no need for sectioning off the hair in layers. I take a section of hair about an inch thick and curl away from the face - the barrel should be behind the hair before wrapping it around. This barrel has a clip attached so it's a little different than a wand. I start by wrapping the hair around the barrel and then releasing and continuing to wrap and release until most of the hair is covering the barrel and hold for about 7 seconds. The key here is to leave about an inch of hair out from the bottom of the curling iron so that its less of a curl and more of a wave.

 

 STEP TWO

Repeat this process on all of the hair but make sure to change the direction of the curling iron when doing the other side of the hair so that everything faces away from your face. You can take different widths of hair when curling as it all adds to the tousled effect so don't be too worried if your hair isn't perfectly symmetrical.

STEP THREE

When all of that is complete I like to brush through the hair with my fingers just to separate the sections a little. Then I like to spray the hair with some sort of finishing spray to make sure the hair stays put all day. I chose this Aussie Miracle Beach Waves spray because its made specifically for the type of look we want to achieve. Aussie are having a great promotion on in Boots at the moment and I bagged three products for only €15! Give an even spritz around the hair and scrunch upwards. There was no crispy texture to my hair afterwards which I was really happy about and it didn't dry out my hair at all.

 

 

 

And that's it! Typically I can get this done in the morning in about 15 minutes because it's so simple and it's even better that I don't have to set my alarm an extra half an hour early to look half decent! 

I got this curler for Christmas and I completely ditched my old one because I just love the look it gives and it's really inexpensive! You can buy it here .You can read my hair FAQ here in case you missed it where I tell you everything you need to know about my hair - from what how I got to this colour blonde to where I get my hair done.

Hope you liked this post!

 

 

Aisling x