Beauty Blogger of the Week: Celine from Vintage Teapot

Apr 29, 2015

Our Beauty Blogger of the Week is Celine from Vintage Teapot . Her blog is the perfect place to indulge in everything fashion, beauty and lifestyle related.. We asked Celine for loads of details on everything beauty related so you'll be sure to pick up a few tips.

What's your best budget beauty buy?
Without a doubt the Osiris CC Cream available from Lidl stores nationwide, while used on it's own it failed to impress when used as a primer/base with a liquid illuminator it works wonders, smoothing out any imperfection for the perfect radiant canvas to apply foundation to! It's definitely one of my holy grail, all for under €3!

What's your top make-up tip?
One of my top make-up tips, particularly for eyeshadow novices, is to blend a warm-toned brown through the crease before you apply any other shadow. The likes of Benefit's Hoola Bronzer work perfectly, just apply with a fluffy crease brush or any blending brush to make blending any other colours so much easier, to ensure no harsh lines and a perfectly blended smokey eye!

Do you have a favourite all-round beauty product?
I've recently discovered so many uses of Bio-Oil which I blogged about here, the wide range of uses it has definitely makes it one of my favourite all-round beauty products. Recently, I have loved using it as a bath oil for supple skin, popping some on my face for some extra nourishment and running it through the ends of my hair after washing! It's the ultimate pamper evening essential, while also carrying so many nourishing ingredients- winner!

What's your earliest beauty memory?
Growing up in a house full of boys, when my younger self was in search of some make-up I headed straight for my mum's dresser. On one particular occasion I can remember scouring her drawers looking for wipes after excessively applying bronzer, little did I know that the wipes I grabbed were actually tan wipes. I can vividly remember my mum's anger the following morning when I woke up with an orange face – thinking I'd done it on purpose!

Most girls have a signature scent- what's yours?
When it comes to perfume, I have a tendency to just grab and go from the selection of perfumes I receive as gifts, as perfume is never something I really pick up myself. I never devote myself to one particular perfume so I've yet to establish my signature scent, however i'm currently an avid wearer of Yves Rocher's Flower Party by Night – it's the one I currently reach for daily for it's beautiful floral scent.

What's in your make-up bag right now?
The contents of my makeup change almost weekly, but currently it contains:

Osiris CC Cream
NYX Liquid Illuminator
Rimmel 25Hr Foundation
17 Stay Time Concealer
ELF Blush Palette
ELF Cool Bronzer
TheBalm Mary Loumanizer
Stila In The Light Palette
Isadora Long Lash Mascara
Isadora Flashing Volume Mascara
Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 07
Artistry Sheer Lipstick in Honey
Sleek Brow Kit

Check out Celine's Facebook and Twitter to keep updated on everything beauty related.

Beauty Blogger of the Week: Amy from Daily Mamey

Apr 22, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Amy McMahon is our Beauty Blogger of the week.

Her fabulous alphabetical blog, Daily Mamey, features an alphabet per month, so you can be sure it will keep us up to date on everything fashion and beauty related.

We had a chat with Amy and got all the gossip on her beauty buys and make-up routine!

1. What’s your best budget beauty buy?
My best budget beauty buy is Rimmel London's Colour Rush Balm lip crayon, shade: Rumour Has It. It's super cheap at only €7.99 and last for hours and hours without reapplying.

2. What’s your top make-up tip?
Always, always, always make sure to blend your foundation, blusher and contouring! Nobody wants a streaky complexion or an obvious foundation line. It's just not a good look…

3. Do you have a favourite all round beauty product?
I think dry shampoo is a beauty bag necessity all year round. I use two different types: Aussie's "Miracle Dry Shampoo Aussome Volume" and Batiste's "Blush Dry Shampoo". I've been cursed with oily hair so even if I shower night, my hair could look greasy the following morning. It's a nuisance, but using dry shampoo always helps.

4. What’s your earliest beauty memory?
Until the age of fifteen, I was totally against makeup. Then I discovered lip gloss and fell instantly in love with makeup and have been ever since. I think my first beauty products I bought was an Essence juicy tube and it was cherry flavoured.

5. Most girls have a signature scent- what’s yours?
At the moment I really like "Honey" by Marc Jacobs. I wear that perfume practically every day.

6. What’s in your make-up bag right now?
In my beauty bag there is…

• Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse, shade: sand
• Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, shade: peach
• Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Contour Kit, light
• Seventeen Define and Conquer Contour Kit, light
• Benefit Cosmetics World Famous Neutrals eyeshadow kit
• Naked Basics Palette 1&2
• Bourjois Blusher, brown
• Seventeen Lip Crayon, shade: superstar
• Rimmel Lip Crayon, shade: rumour has it
• L'oreal Blackbuster Eye Liner
• Revelon Lip Crayon, shade: audacious
• Soap & Glory-lip gloss
• Catrice red lipstick
• Rimmel Stay Glossy Lip Gloss, shade: captivate me!

For brushes, I use Jack Wills makeup brushes (but keep them in a Cath Kidston makeup bag) and a Seventeen blusher brush. I'm looking for a good blending brush at the moment.

Check out Amy’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more of your fashion and beauty fix.

Beauty Blogger of the Week: AJ from AJmakeup

Apr 15, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Make-up artist and blogger AJ Fitzsimons is our Beauty Blogger of the Week, and for good reason!

AJ's blog offers a great mix of beauty, style, health and fitness posts, all written in AJ's signature friendly style.

So whether you're looking for cosmetics reviews, clean-eating recipes or want to know what shop to head to for the best jeans for your shape, you'll find it all there.

We caught up with AJ to find out some of her beauty secrets… and to take a peek inside her make-up bag! Have a look at what she had to say…

1. What's your best budget beauty buy?
It has to be Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. I use the shade Fair and have about 2 or 3 of these on the go at all times – one in my handbag, makeup bag, and my beauty area! It has great coverage without being too heavy and it’s nice and creamy – and so cheap too at less than €6.

2. What's your top make-up tip?
Invest in your brows! You could have applied the most amazing face of makeup with the best of products but if your eyebrows don’t frame your face correctly or aren’t taken care of properly then it can really take away from the overall look. It's so important to maintain your brows, whether that means investing in products, getting long-term or regular treatments, or just spedning time reading blogs and YouTube tutorials! I’ve recently invested in Embrowdery which is a semi-permanent treatment. I posted about it on my blog and everyone loves it.

3. Do you have a favourite all-round beauty product?
Coconut Oil for sure. Not only for its endless multi-functional beauty uses (make-up remover, teeth whitener, hair treatment) but also to cook and bake with! My blog isn’t just fashion and beauty, but also clean eating tips and weight management. Coconut oil is a key ingredient and eating clean along with a regular intake of water has a very positive impact on your skin – making makeup application and all round beauty maintenance easier!

4. What's your earliest beauty memory?
I used to wash my hair every morning in the shower before school, until my Nanny told me it would wash away all the natural oils from my hair. I don’t exactly know how true that is, but I get complimented a lot on the length, condition and thickness of my hair and I’m pretty sure it’s down to the changes I made following her advice. Even hair professionals think I wear hair extensions!

5. Most girls have a signature scent – what's yours?
I wear Alien by Thierry Mugler for day wear, and Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf in the evenings if I’m headed anywhere.

6. What's in your make-up bag right now?
I recently posted a full listing of this on my blog – I have a huge make up bag that I drag around with me because I travel a lot so it takes me from a day to a night look for any situation. But some key products for my every day look at the moment would be:

– Stila One Step Illuminate
– IsaDora Nude Sensation Fluid Foundation
– Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
– Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
– Elf Cosmetics Undereye Setting Powder
– Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in Alluring Rose
– The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer
– Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Liner
– LipGlam Lip Balm
– The Balm Lipstick in shade Mai Bills Be Paid
– The Balm Lipgloss in the shade Snap

For more beauty, health, fashion and lifestyle advice, check our AJ's blog or follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Beauty Blogger of the Week: Amy from Red Lips Red Hair

Mar 19, 2015

by Amber Saunders

This week's beauty blogger pick is the lovely Amy McLoughlin, the brains behind Red Lips Red Hair.

We love her blog's great mix of personal chat, product reviews and tutorials – and we have SERIOUS hair envy, too!

We caught up with Amy to find out her expert beauty tips and tricks and to get the lowdown on her favourite products…

1. What's your best budget beauty buy?
One thing about me is that I adore budget beauty, so I’ve agonised over the answer for this. I have to admit that I’m a huge buyer of budget brands, and a lot of the time I favour them over high-end. Right now, my top budget beauty buy would have to be my Rimmel Brow This Way Gel in the Medium Brown shade. I don’t mind going bare-faced a lot of the time, but brows are so important that I can’t leave the house without them done.

2. What's your top make-up tip?
Get a skincare routine that works for you and stick to it like glue!! I cleanse and tone every morning and evening, and it’s helped my skin so much. Even when I get out of the shower, I still take my Nivea Cleanser quickly over my face on a cotton pad to make sure I’ve got squeaky clean skin. Then I moisturise in the morning and use a night repair serum before bed. It’s done me wonders!!

3. Do you have a favourite all-round beauty product?
I’m really digging the Rimmel 8 in 1 Radiance BB Cream right now, when I’m too lazy to put energy into a full face of make-up. Its light, makes your skin look fantastic and has a whole slew of benefits for your skin, making it the perfect all-rounder. And for under a tenner? You couldn’t beat that with a stick!

4. What's your earliest beauty memory?
Because my sisters are so much older than me, I used to be caught raiding their make-up when I was a kid. I used to nick their foundations, cream shadows and lipsticks and doll myself up. Of course, I thought I was gorgeous, but I’d say it was pretty dire! To this day I still won’t go next, nigh or near pan-stick!!

5. Most girls have a signature scent – what's yours?
I love Prada Candy, it’s sweet and girly and makes me think of good times, with good friends. A lot of memories are attached to it, that’s for sure. Sometimes when I’m feeling a bit more badass I’ll go for Killer Queen by Katy Perry. Prada Candy is a long standing love though.

6. What's in your make-up bag right now?
-Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Shell
-Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair
-Natural Collection Pressed Powder in Cool
-Wet N Wild blush in Pearlescent Pink
-W7 Absolute Lashes Mascara
-Catrice Liquid Liner
-Urban Decay Naked 2
-Rimmel Brow Gel in Medium
-A few lippies: MAC Faux, Rimmel 01, and Urban Decay in Shame.
-A few brushes: BCC F20, RT Powder, Blush and a handful of eye brushes!

Thanks Amy! For more great beauty tips like those, check out Red Lips Red Hair or follow the blog on Facebook and Twitter!

Beauty Blogger of the Week: Niamh from Little Miss Me XO!

Mar 4, 2015

by Amber Saunders

The gorgeous Niamh is the brains behind Little Miss Me XO, a lifestyle, beauty and fashion blog full of fab product reviews and advice.

We caught up with Niamh to get the lowdown on her beauty secrets, must-have products and make-up tips!

Check out what she had to say…

1. What's your best budget beauty buy?
I would have to say the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer and the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. I couldn't pick just one as both of these products are amazing! The concealer gives great coverage while also brightening your under eye area, and it’s so cheap at just €6.99. The sponge is similar to a beauty blender and can be used to apply concealer or foundation – it’s a must-have for me!

2. What's your top make-up tip?
My top make-up tip is to always use a primer. Whether it is a face primer or eye primer they really are an important step which is commonly left out. I have only recently started using an eye primer and it makes such a difference to your eye make-up, giving you a great base to work from and helps to keep your eyeshadow in place for longer.

3. Do you have a favourite all-round beauty product?
I would say the Benefit They're Real Mascara is my favourite product at the moment. It really helps to define your eyes by adding length and volume to your lashes.

4. What's your earliest beauty memory?
My earliest beauty memory is getting a little make-up set from Claire's Accessories, which I thought was the coolest thing ever. Little did I know make-up would become such a big part of my life… We all have to start somewhere!

5. Most girls have a signature scent – what's yours?
I love Live by Jennifer Lopez. It's a fruity and floral fragrance which smells amazing on the skin.

6. What's in your make-up bag right now?
– Mini Benefit Porefessional
– Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Desert Beige
– No7 Perfect Light Loose Powder in Fair
– No7 Instant Radiance Concealer in 10
– Mini Benefit Stay Don't Stray in Light/Medium
– No7 eyeshadows
– Benefit They're Real Mascara
– No7 Lip Crayon in Delicate Pink
– A mix of Real Techniques Brushes

To get more updates from Niamh, check out Little Miss Me XO or follow her on Twitter and Instagram!

Beauty Blogger of the Week: Edel from The Beauty Dial!

Feb 18, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Dubliner Edel Cox is the brains behind The Beauty Dial, a beauty, health and style blog which has received both national and international acclaim since it was launched in 2012.

The Beauty Dial was nominated at the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards in both 2013 and 2014, and Edel is also now the beauty expert on RTÉ's Today Show, as well as working full time in the world of PR and Marketing. Could we love this girl any more?!

Edel took some time out of her hectic day to school us on her beauty secrets and tips….

1. What's your best budget beauty buy?
I think Cocoa Brown Tan from Marissa Carter would be my best budget buy. It leaves a gorgeous deep tan that never looks orange no matter how many layers you apply. Its only €7.99 and develops in just one hour, meaning not only is it extremely good value, it’s also very handy and you never have an excuse to be milky white. I think a tan always makes you look and feel that little bit better.

2. What's your top make-up tip?
It would have to be applying concealer in a downward triangle under your eye, as this completely brightens up your eye area and gets rid of any dark circles. Many people just apply concealer in a semi-circle under the eye but this actually tends to draw attention to bags under the eye rather than disguising them. By applying the concealer in a downward triangle you create an illusion of natural brightness and distract away from darker areas.

3. Do you have a favourite all-round beauty product?
It's so hard to pick just one, but if I had to I'd pick Roger & Gallet Dry Oil. It is literally luxury in a bottle. Its a multi-purpose product as it can be used as a body oil and a hair oil. It also smells divine making your hair and skin smell gorgeous. It leaves your skin feeling silky smooth and unlike other oils it doesn't remove your tan. I always apply it to my legs before a night out for a lovely sheen. Its one product I make sure that I never run out of.

4. What's your earliest beauty memory?
My earliest beauty memory is from when I was younger – I went to a sleep over in my friend’s house for her birthday and we all brought our mothers’ make-up to do makeovers. We hadn't a clue what to use or how to apply any of the make-up. The photos of us are hilarious as we all have orange skin that is not blended in anyway, blue eye shadows with red lipstick… beautiful!

5. Most girls have a signature scent – what's yours?
I have two – Paco Rabanne Lady Millon and Ralph Lauren Romance, I absolutely love them both.

6. What's in your make-up bag right now? Include a picture if you like!

My make-up bag grows by the day, right now it contains:

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
Benefit That Gal Primer
Benefit High Beam Highlighter
MAC Bronzing Powder
MAC Mineralize Skin Finish
Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow
Roger & Gallet Dry Oil
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick
MAC lipsticks
Max Factor Lip Gloss
Benefit Fake Up Concealer
NYX Bronzer/Blush
Beverly Hills 1 Minute Formula
Urban Decay Make-Up Setting Spray

For more updates, check out The Beauty Dial, or follow the site on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook!

Beauty Blogger of the Week: Kate from Pure Irish Sugar

Jan 21, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Pure Irish Sugar was set up over a year ago by Dublin native Kate Kelly. As a natural redhead (look at those gorgeous locks!), Kate's posts are a great resource for any one with fairer hair and skin who may find it difficult to find products to suit them.

Kate says she wants "to show how makeup really can transform your face and enhance your features," no matter what your colouring.

We caught up with this up-and-coming beauty blogger to find out her beauty secrets and to get the lowdown on her favourite products!

1. What's your best budget beauty buy?
My best budget beauty buy would have to be Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan. At only €7.99 you really cannot go wrong with this tan. It is easy to apply, has no fake tan pong and makes you look like a bronzed goddess who just came back from the south of France! This is one product that I cannot live without.

2. What's your top make-up tip?
I use a cotton bud tip after applying my liquid liner to create a super-fierce flick. Just add some cleanser to the cotton bud tip and sweep under your eye and outwards to get a really clean straight line. A little practice always helps too.

3. Do you have a favourite all-round beauty product?
It has to be Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. This is the most amazing facial exfoliator which leaves your skin so soft after using but also reduces the appearance of pores – a huge problem of mine. It is a powder and all you have to do is mix with some water and apply. I also mix it with my cleanser for when I have a lot of makeup on.

4. What's your earliest beauty memory?
My earliest beauty memory is when my mum introduced me to eyebrows! As a redhead I have blonde eyebrows. My mum was a beauty therapist and the weekend before I started secondary school she decided it was time that I joined the real world and tinted my eyebrows- very lightly might I add. Now I cannot leave the house with out my brows on! It was a beauty moment I will never forget.

5. Most girls have a signature scent – what's yours?
I actually only wear two perfumes and have for the past three years or so. During the day I am a Juicy Couture girl. I am so used to the scent that often someone might ask 'What perfume have you on?'. My night time scent is Lancôme Trésor Midnight Rose which has bold blackcurrant notes with vivacious jasmine, peony and pink pepper to create a magical bouquet of floral notes.

6. What's in your make-up bag right now?
Right now I am loving Blank Canvas F20 brush. I got it recently and I don't think I could use another foundation brush. It blends your foundation to a flawless finish. My lips are really dry at the moment so NEUX Reve De Miel Lip Balm is coming to the rescue every time and tastes like honey too! I indulged at Christmas and bought myself Charlotte Tilbury's Face Sculpt & Highlight and all I can say is it's AMAZING (or SHEmazing)! I couldn't live without my brows or mascara and I just love Benefit's Brow Zings and They're Real Mascara!

For more beauty tips and reviews, check out Pure Irish Sugar, or follow Kate on Twitter or Instagram!

Beauty Blogger of the Week: Andreea Opris

Dec 9, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Your Beauty, an Irish beauty, fashion and lifestyle blog written by the stunning Andreea from Bucharest, offers fantastic reviews of the latest products and an insight into the numerous beauty issues we've all been faced with, so if you're on the look-out for some top tips then be sure to check her out!

The lovely Andreea, who started her blog almost four years ago, chatted to us this week about her budget beauty buys, her Maybelline must-have and her essential eyebrow tool!

1. What is your best budget beauty buy?

I am a concealer junkie and after trying numerous high end products; Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown, Lancome etc, nothing compares to The Eraser from Maybelline. It’s the best! Never cakes, covers well and looks flawless.

2. What is your top make-up tip?

Apply your concealer after the foundation application, using the upside down triangle method. Using a fluffy eyeshadow brush blend it in with circular strokes. Finally, set it up with a fine translucent loose powder.

3. Most girls have a much-loved lipstick – what's yours?

This is so hard to narrow down! I love bold, vibrant colours and by looking at my collection, I seem to be attracted to different shades of coral. If I really had to choose one, you cant beat Mac Vegas Volt. A must-have!

4. What was your very first perfume and what are you currently wearing?

My very first scent was Clinique Simply, I wore it for most of my teenage years. Sadly it was discontinued, but I still managed to track down a bottle on Ebay to keep for special occasions! Currently I switch between Marc Jacobs Daisy and Dolce&Gabbana Light Blue, both light and uplifting, which is great for early Monday mornings!

5. You're only allowed to use three make-up products for the rest of your life… what are they?

Eyebrow pencil, concealer and mascara. I could use the concealer to hide imperfections as well as an under eye brightener, whilst the mascara will help to make me look awake. Eyebrow pencil should be a basic human right, defined brows are a must!

If you would like to hear more from the lovely Andreea, why not check out Your Beauty now!

Beauty Blogger of the Week: Sinéad Kavanagh

Nov 12, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Our beauty blogger of the week is the beautiful Sinéad Kavanagh. Sinéad currently works in education so she describes herself as a "budding make-up artist with a work problem". You can see why we like her, right?

A self-confessed make-up and fashion addict, Sinéad decided to devote time to her passion when a health scare made her reevaluate certain aspects of her life. Thankfully, Sinéad has made a full recovery and is brightening up our weeks with make-up tips, video tutorials and product reviews in a down to earth, honest manner which we know you will all appreciate!

Including The Beautiful Truth in your round-up of beauty news and reviews is highly recommended, ladies.

What is your best budget beauty buy?

Without a shadow of a doubt, it would have to be the Wet n Wild Mega last lipsticks. These lipsticks pack a serious punch of colour, as well as being long lasting on the lips. They have a semi matte formula, but they still feel creamy on the lips. My favourite colours would be Spotlight Red, Bare It All and Mauve Outta Here. At €2.99 each, these lipsticks should be in everyone's makeup bag.

What is your top make-up tip?

Keep your eyebrows natural. I see far too many people with eyebrows that look like they have been applied with shoe polish. Eyebrows are there to frame and accentuate your face, not take over your face like to competing caterpillars. The Anastasia brow Wiz, is a fantastic eyebrow pencil for giving a defined, but natural brow.

Most girls have a much-loved lipstick – what's yours?

This is a hard question because I have so many lipsticks that I adore. I think it would have to be a throw up between Mac Ruby Woo and Smashbox Legendary. Both are blue toned reds, with Ruby Woo being a matte lipstick and Legendary being a really moist long lasting red. I think a red lipstick just makes everything look so much better.

What was your very first perfume and what are you currently wearing?

As a teenager, I wore Exclamation non stop. It was an awful sweet perfume that was a right of passage for many teenagers of my era. Now I have refined my taste in perfume a little bit and I am currently wearing YSL In Love again.

You're only allowed to use three make-up products for the rest of your life… what are they?

Oh God, the horror of having only 3 makeup products for the rest of my life! If I had to pick, it would be the Physicians formula 2 in 1 lash boosting eyeliner and serum. I actually can’t be without this liner, it is fantastic for creating the perfect winged liner. Second would be Make Up For Ever smoky extravagant mascara for creating super volumised and long lashes and finally it would have to be one of the above red lipsticks.

To hear more from Sinéad, why not check out The Beautiful Truth and its Facebook and Twitter pages now!

Beauty Blogger of the Week: Sinéad from This Life Diary!

Oct 14, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Our Beauty Blogger of the Week is the lovely Sinéad Healy from This Life Diary. Sinéad, who hails from the west of Ireland, set up her blog as a way to kickstart her career in writing and journalism. This Life Diary offers great mix of beauty, style and life advice – we’re big fans!

We got chatting to Sinéad about some of her beauty secrets – read on!

1. What is your best budget beauty buy?
For me it would have to be ANY Catrice product. A very broad answer I know but their foundation is something I swear by and I am in love with their mascaras! The brand is affordable, great quality and perfect for young girls starting out a make-up collection as well as a favourite among those with a wide collection of high brand make up.

2. What is your top make-up tip?
It's a fairly boring answer and quite obvious: give your face a break from make up a few times a week. If that only means taking your make-up off several hours before going to bed every day, then let that be it, your skin needs a chance to breathe. Oh and water, drink ALL OF THE WATER!

3. Most girls have a much loved lipstick – what's yours?
Any of the Kate Moss Rimmel lipsticks. 01 and 107 are my all time favourites.

4. What was your first perfume and what are you currently wearing?
Lacoste Pink was my first perfume if I remember correctly. Living in a house full of girls means there are no shortage of perfumes, but recently I have been taking to wearing the Paris brand from River Island, at just €17 a bottle it's a perfect everyday scent. For on-the-go, a roll-on version is perfect to pop in your hand bag at just €5.

5. You're only allowed to use three make-up products for the rest of your life – what are they?
A Catrice Eyebrow pencil – without one I would be expressionless as my eyebrows are extremely light. Secondly, Catrice Glamour Doll mascara which is hands down the best mascara I have used in a VERY long time. The last would be Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation. I had a love-hate relationship with this foundation for a very long time but I have grown to love it as it has great coverage and contains an SPF.

Some great recommendations there!

Don't forget that as well as checking out Sinéád’s blog, you can also follow her for regular updates on Twitter and Instagram!

Beauty Blogger of the Week: Róisín C from Cuti-CLUE-les

Aug 12, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Cuti-CLUE-les was set up by Róisín who needed an outlet to express her love of nail art. It all started about three years ago when she was online unsuccessfully trying to find polish swatches. It was then that she came across nail polish blogs and Cuti-CLUE-les was born: "The one thing I noticed is that Irish beauty blogs tend to be all about make-up but it was hard pressed to find a nail polish blog at that time and the main brands like OPI and China Glaze that most international bloggers talk about aren't readily available here."

SHEmazing! caught up with Róisín to get the lowdown on her tips, hints and nail polish secrets.

What is your best budget-friendly nail polish brand?

At the moment I would say Catrice. They update their collection every couple of months and they have a great selection of colours and finishes. They cost around €3 so are very affordable. Price aside, the formula on Catrice is pretty consistent. Rarely do I come across one that needs four coats, they dry fairly quickly and last a good amount of time without chipping. Price does not dictate quality for the most part when it comes to nail polish.

What is your top nail polishing tip?
When you go to paint your nails, do one stroke on the middle of your nail, one to the left and one to the right. This will help to prevent any streaks and you will get a nice even layer of polish on your nail. I’ve found this method gives the best results and it really reduces the amount of mistakes you make, so less time spent cleaning up your nails.

What is your favourite nail polish brand and why?
My favourite brand has changed a lot over the few years I've been painting my nails. Based on the sheer amount that I own, I would have to say Catrice nail polishes are my favourite. When I first got into nail polish and doing nail art, Catrice was the only brand I would look at. It's fairly easy to find in Ireland and they have a huge variety of polishes. Some of my absolute favourite polishes come from Catrice including, "Have an Ice Day" which is a holographic topper that I just heard is being re-released. Catrice use a wide brush in their nail polishes and I find it makes painting my nails easier as I have fairly wide nail beds.

What was your first nail polish?
I bought my first nail polish back in 2011. Before then I had no more interest in nail polish than I had in walking on the moon! It was around the time I first started reading nail polish blogs and it really fascinated me. The polish was Stargazer 105 and it is a shimmery navy blue. I still have it after all these years. I have to admit I don't wear it all that often but I still love it.

What shade are you currently wearing?
At the moment I am wearing Nicole by OPI "Khloe had a little lam lam" from the Kardashian Kolors collection. This is the perfect teal nail polish. It applies beautifully and it's almost opaque in one coat. I know a lot of people don't have time for the Kardashian clan but they came out with some beautiful polishes. The polish was a present from Sharon at Behind Green Eyes who is one of my best blogger friends. It's one of the few polishes that I would wear for a week, take it off and re-apply it straight away. That’s pretty rare for me. I am in love with dark creme nail polishes at the moment. I think they make your nails look so elegant.

What are the three essentials for painting your nails
First off I need a good basecoat. This prevents the polish from further staining my nails. I paint my nails a lot so they are slightly stained although it's barely noticeable, thankfully. Next would be a good quick-dry topcoat. At the moment I'm using the Sally Hansen Insta-dri topcoat and it has really impressed me so far. Not only is it very affordable but it leaves your nails so glossy, like you've just came out of a salon. The last thing I would need when I paint my nails is a cheap concealer brush. This is an absolute must for cleaning up around your nail once you've painted them. Just dip it into nail polish remover and gently swipe away any mistakes. It gives you that nice clean curve around your cuticle and it makes your nails looks flawless. The Elf concealer brush is one of the best brushes for getting a nice clean edge.

Check out Róisín’s blog, Cuti-CLUE-les, and don’t forget to follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Beauty blogger of the week: Karen and Joanne Constantine

Aug 6, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Lovely Girlie Bits is run by Irish sisters Karen and Joanne Constantine who have a passion for all things beauty and fashion. Their blog is full of tips on make-up, skincare, hair care and fashion and is written with a hilarious tone that will keep you informed and laughing at the same time.

SHEmazing! caught up with Karen who let us in on her beauty secrets and tips:

What is your best budget beauty buy?
There are so many great quality beauty bits out there on the market but if I had to pick just one, it'd have to be Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water. It's fantastic for removing make-up in a jiffy and because it's always on special offer, there's no excuse not to pick up a bottle and start taking your make-up off each night!

What is your top makeup tip?
I'm going to cheat and give a general beauty tip and a make-up tip because I'm bold! If there's one thing I tell everyone who'll listen to me, it's to ditch the make-up wipes. My skin was literally transformed within three weeks of not using them and cleansing my face properly. My top make-up tip is to blend. Blend your foundation, blend your blush, blend your eyeshadow, blend your bronzer and you will have flawless makeup.

Most girls have much-loved lipstick, what's yours?
Asking me to pick one lipstick is like asking me to pick my favourite child. Thankfully, I've no children and my lipsticks don't get their feelings hurt when I play favourites, so at the moment I'm loving Clarins Joli Rouge in Coral Tulip and The Body Shop Colour Crush Shine in Sunset Romance. I'm more of a gloss girl at heart though and am obsessed with YSL's Gloss Volupte in Beige Nu from the Black Fetish collection and all of the Colour Elixir Glosses from Max Factor.

What was your very first perfume and what are you currently wearing?
I'm obsessed with perfumes and I thank my parents for that. My dad had more fragrances than any other man I know and even now my mam has a bottle of the first ever perfume I bought and that's Anais Anais! How I didn't choke people with the smell of it is beyond me but I loved it. Right now I'm wearing L'Occitane's Cherry Blossom and it is amazing. Although I've only had it a few weeks, it's the one to beat this year!

You're only allowed to use three make-up products for the rest of your life – what are they?
Mascara. I have beady villainous eyes without mascara and it's my desert island product hands down. Wearing it defines my eyeballs, makes me look awake and resemble a human being! Next is a base. I'm embracing wearing a lighter coverage on my skin and so I'd be happy to use Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream for the rest of my life. It makes my skin look healthy and radiant. Finally, I'd need a coral lip. Either of the two corals I mentioned above would be fine by me and I'd be able to use them as a blush too!

Check out Lovely Girlie Bits and don’t forget to follow the girls on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.