Today's Make Up

Hi there. I was doing my make up today and I thought I'd share how I applied everything. So I'm going to list what products I use then explain how I applied them.

Face:

Foundation - Rimmel Stay Matte in 010 Light Porcelain and Wet n Wild Coverall in 816 Fair/Light

Powder - Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Plus

Bronzer - W7 Honolulu

Blush - NYX Bourgeois Pig

Concealer - Essence Stay Natural concealer 03 Soft Nude

Eyes:

Shadows - Sleek Oh So Special palette shades Organza, Wrapped Up and Bow

Liner - Wet n Wild Mega Liner Black

Mascara - Rimmel Glam Eyes Lash Flirt Volume and Flirt 

Brows - Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Kit in Ash Brown

Lips:

Lipstick - Mac Creemsheen in Creme Cup

Lip gloss - NYX Mega Shine in Salsa

Brushes:

Real Techniques Stippling brush

ELF Blending brush

ELF smudge brush  - not pictured

Bare Minerals blush brush - not pictured

Claire's brush for bronzer - not pictured

Other brushes from Ebay 

Personally I go back and forth between doing my eyes first and doing my face first. Today I started with my eyes. I used my ring finger to apply a thin layer of foundation and set it with my mac powder. I applied Organza all over my lid and blended Wrapped Up into my crease with a little bit of Bow under my brow. At first I lined my lid with Noir from the Oh So Special palette but then I decided to go over it with my Wet n Wild liquid liner. I applied the mascara but this mascara is a bit more than I like for  day time look. I prefer something a little more natural but it does the job. For my eyebrows I use my ELF smudge brush to fill in my brows. I used the lighter shade of the Wet n Wild eyebrow kit.

I have a lot of redness in my cheeks so today I wanted to try something I haven't tried before. I put a pea size amount of the Rimmel Stay Matte to the back of my hand and used my Real Techniques brush to apply a very thin layer on the cheeks and anywhere else I thought looked red. Then I used a small amount of the Wet n Wild foundation all over my face. Alone I don't like either of these foundations. They both feel quite heavy and the Rimmel one creases but I quite like them layered like I applied them today. I applied a little Essence concealer under my eyes. For my bronzer I start just above my tragus and blend towards my mouth. I really like the W7 bronzer in Honolulu. I think it's really good and it's very affordable I think it's around €3. Lastly I swept my NYX blush from the apples of my cheeks towards the top of my ear.

Here is the finished look

Make Up Shelf Life

This is something I have been thinking about a lot lately. I know certain products should only be kept for a certain period of time but I couldn't remember how long that was so I decided to look it up and thought I'd share what I found with you. I used 2 articles for the information in this post. The first is an allure article you can check out here. The second is an elle article which you can check out here. In the elle article Bobbi Brown outlined the shelf life of the products. So let's get started.

Mascara:

Allure: 2-3 months to be safe and if the mascara smells like gasoline it's gone bad.

Elle: 6 months.

Eyeshadow:

Allure: 3 months for powder shadows. Keep a close eye on smell and colour of cream shadows.

Elle: 2 years.

Eyeliner (liquid and pencil):

Allure: 3 months. 

Elle: 1 year.

Foundation:

Allure: 6-12 months.

Elle: 2 years.

Concealer:

Allure: powder and stick up to 2 years. Liquid 1 year.

Elle: 2 years.

Powder:

Allure: up to 2 years.

Elle: 2 years.

Blush:

Allure: powder - 2 years. Cream - 1 year.

Elle: 2 years.

Lip Products:

Allure: 1 year.

Elle: 1 year.

Make Up Applicators:

Allure: Brushes washed every 2 weeks can last years. Cheap sponges 2 uses

Elle: Brushes wash every few weeks. Sponges 6 months - wash after every use.

The elle article also includes brow pencils - 1 year, moisturiser - 2 years and cleanser - 1 year. The allure articles has more detail than the elle one. I didn't want to go into detail in this post just give a quick outline of how long the articles give products. Personally I have quite a few products that are older than the shelf life given here. Especially eyeshadow and blush but they aren't irritating or breaking me out so they can stay in my collection for now. Hope this post was helpful.

:)

My Drugstore Wishlist

There are a few things I've had my eye on for a while now but the way things are I just haven't been able to get my hands on them. A few of these I just can't decide which to buy but I'm hoping to get my hands on these bits in the next few months.

1. Real Techniques Core Collection

(Picture from boot.ie)

I have had my eye on these for a few weeks now, months really but I couldn't bring myself to pay €28.99. But recently I found out you can order them from realtechniques.com and the core collection is only €15.98 including shipping so hopefully I will be adding these to my brush collection in the near future.

2. Foundation

(Picture from boot.ie)

I'm coming to the end of my NYX stay matte not flat foundation so I have had my eye on what foundation to get next and these three are the ones I am considering at the moment but I just can't decide which one to go for. I think I might have to take the Bourjois 123 Perfect out of the running after testing it on my hand for like the 10th time I think the lightest shade might still be to dark for me. I find it so hard to tell sometimes.

3. Maybelline Eye Eraser

(Picture from boot.ie)

I really need an under eye concealer. I need to embrace concealer in general haha. But I really want to try this one. I've read some good reviews on it so hoping to get my hands on it soon.

4. Sleek Makeup

 (picture from sleekmakeup.com)

This is a very general one. I wanted to get my hands on some Sleek products for a while now. Last time I was at a Sleek stand I couldn't decide what to get and ended up leaving with nothing. :( after seeing they have a buy one get one half price on boots I'm thinking it may be time to place another boots order. :D I'm thinking of trying the I Divine palette in Oh So Special and maybe the Face Contour Kit in light.

(picture from boots.ie)

5. Tangle Teezer

(picture from carapharmacy.com)

I've heard a lot of good things about Tangle Teezers. Recently I saw them in my local Cara for around €9. I'm hoping to get my hands on it soon. Do you use a tangle teezer? What do you think of them?

That's all for now. If you've tried any of these I'd love to hear what you think of them.

:)

August Favourites

During the month of August I didn't buy many new products but I did rediscover some old and some not so old favourites that I wanted to share. 

1. Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in Vegas Strip/Light Bronzer

I picked this up last summer in New York and I've used it now and again over the year but very little in the past few months. I dug it out again at the beginning of August and I have fallen in love with it all over again. I think it gives a lovely finish to a look.

2. Mac Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme Cup

I absolutely love this lipstick. I actually misplaced it for a few weeks but I was so happy to find it in one of my handbags a while back. I just love the shade, it's a lovely natural pinky nude. I normally throw this on on my way out the door.

3. Benefit's Porefessional

This sample of porefessional has been in my makeup drawers for quite some time now. I finally started using it this month and I'm loving it. I'm hoping to try the Maybelline Pore Eraser soon. Fingers crossed it is a dupe for porefessional like a lot of reviews say.  :)

4. NYX Ultra Pearly Mania in White Pearl

 I also picked up this eyeshadow last summer in New York. To be honest sometimes I find it a little awkward to get the product out. I'm always worried to much will come out so I try to be very careful. Sometimes it takes a few shakes. I normally put the product on the back of my hand which can get messy at times haha. I must say I love packing this shadow on my lid for bright looks this month.

5. Ebay Blush Palette 

I got this blush palette a few years ago off Ebay. Out of curiosity I checked and they do still sell the palette, it looks the same in the picture anyway. You can check it out here or check out the swatches below. I honestly don't know why I stopped using this palette. I love the colours in it. I do tend to gravitate to the same 3-4 shades but it is a very handy palette in my opinion.

So that's it for my August favorite. Have a you tried any of these products? What do you think?

:)

My Rant-Product Prices

If you have read my New York Haul Part 3 you might remember me ranting about prices in relation to the Rimmel Scandaleyes jumbo eye pencils. It is something that, as someone on a tight-ish budget when it comes to makeup, really bothers me. 

The drastic difference in prices recently came to my attention again a few days ago. On a whim I decided to find an American drugstore that stocked Real Techniques brushes as I have had my eye on the Core Collection in Boots. I ended up on the Ulta website where the Core Collection which is €28.99 in Boots is a mere $17.99 which converted is roughly €13.64!

The crazy price differences can be seen in many products. Even elf is much cheaper in America. On elf's American website their studio hd mattifying cream foundation is $6 which converted is roughly €4.55. On the co.uk version of the website the same product is €9.96. Why such a big difference?

Maybe this is why Abercrombie & Fitch and other brands' websites automatically redirect to the EU version of the site. Does anyone know why there is such a difference? A few euro here or there I could understand but €5-15 differences for makeup products and that is still only the lower end. A non-beauty example with a larger price gap is a Michael Kors rose gold Mini Skylar watch. This particular watch is €279 on the Brown Thomas website is $250 on the Macy's website which is roughly 189.50. An €89.50 difference. Granted I don't know much about the prices of this watch Brown Thomas may be a more expensive place to purchase it I just used this as an example.

Don't get me wrong I love these brands, that is why I am so frustrated. They are brands that I have had my eye on several of their products. I have been looking at different websites which stock them a lot recently. There is most likely some very logical economic or legal explanation for these differences, however from a brief look it seems pretty ridiculous in my opinion. All I know is next time I am in America I will most likely have a very long list of things I'm better off buying over there than here.

:)

Liebster Blog Award Nomination

This little surprise made my weekend! I was on twitter on my phone for the first time in a few days and I had a few notifications that for some reason never came up on my computer. Shannon from shanz101beauty nominated me for Liebster Award! :D Thanks Shannon!

 

                             When I was nominated I googled the award. The rules seem to vary a little but the general rules are: 

-You have to answer all questions that are given to you. 
-You have to link back to the person that nominated you. 

-Nominate 11 bloggers who have less than 200 followers. (Some posts says 5-11)

-Give your nominees 11 questions to answer. 

-You can't nominate the person who nominated you. 

-You have to tell nominees of your nomination. 

-Finally link your post to the nominees for more info.

So here are my answers to Shannon's questions:

Q. What's your favorite thing about blogging?
A. It's hard to pick one thing but I guess I'd have to say sharing tips and tricks I've picked up over the years.

Q. Favourite starbucks drink? 
A. I'm a bit of a plain jane when it comes to starbucks - hot chocolate is my go to.

Q. How did you choose your blogs name?
A. My brother actually helped me come up with the name, I couldn't decide so he suggested Keenmakeup as a play on my last name.

Q. How long have you been blogging?
A. About a year now. It really doesn't feel like it though.

Q. What is your dream job?
A. I wish I knew. This is something I've been trying to figure out over the last few months.

Q. Favourite youtuber?
A. I'd have to say Tati at GlamLifeGuru. I've really been loving her videos.

Q. Favourite blogger?
A. That's a really hard one....hmmm....I really can't decide there are so many great bloggers.

Q. What type of music do you like?
A. Anything really. Mostly chart music though.

Q. What do you like to blog about?
A. Makeup I love writing reviews on new purchases. I do hope to branch out a bit though :)

Q. This time next year, do you still see yourself blogging?
A. Yea I hope so anyway. 

Q. What is your favourite tv show?
A. Another really hard questions. I watch so many tv shows. I'm gonna cheat a bit on this one :P Favourite finished show is The OC. My favourite show still running is a really hard one, it's probably Pretty Little Liars.

My nominees are:
1 Grace from Grace'd
2 Eleanor from Eleanor Mae
3 Amy from Everyday Unicorn
4 Stephanie from My Beauty Obsession
5 Natalie from Natalie Keane MUA  
6 Catherine from Catherine Sarah
7 Cat from Big Blonde Girl
8 Beth from Beth Young Makeup
9 Alexandra from Lipsticks and Heels
10 Steph from Stephs Place

My questions are:
1. What made you want to start blogging?
2. What 2 products can you not live without?
3. Who is your favourite blogger?
4. What is your biggest makeup pet peeve?
5. What shop can you never seem to leave empty handed?
6. What is your favourite movie?
7. Who is your favourite youtuber?
8. What do you hope to be doing career/school wise this time next year?
9. What is your favourite snack?
10. What is your favourite makeup brand(drugstore and/or highend)?
11. What is your favourite time of day to blog?

:)

Wet n Wild Mega Liner Review

I picked up this eyeliner a few months ago. This is the first liquid liner I've purchased in years. I used to hate liquid liner because it always ended up smudging above my crease so I switched to gel liner. At first I used the Physicians Formula one but I had to get it sent over from America (this was about 2 or maybe even 3 years ago before the brand came to Ireland) then I found the Essence one but when my last Essence gel liner ran out and I couldn't find another one I decided to try the Wet n Wild liquid one.

 

At first I was pretty worried the applicator would be hard but I was pleasantly surprised. The brush is soft and easy to work with. I got an Essence liquid eyeliner a few years ago and I switched it with the applicator brush of another liquid liner because I couldn't stand the hard plastic applicator.

I think the long handle helps control the thickness of the line. And since the brush is soft you can make the line thin or thick. Personally I like a thinner line for the day time and a slightly thicker line for night time.

Like any liquid liner, I advise you to be careful and try to keep your hand steady which I find difficult at times. Over the past few months I've had more than a few bad eyeliner days. I really love this one though. I use it as part of my everyday makeup routine. Have any of you tried it? What do you think? 

:)