A New Mascara From BPerfect Cosmetics

| I've been testing a new mascara for the last few weeks from BPerfect Cosmetics & here's how I got on with it! |

There is a large variety of different types of mascaras which provide different results from lengthening, to volume, to separation etc. However this duo from BPerfect Cosmetics* is quite different from your standard mascara; This is actually a brush on lash extension system. Lash extensions have become very popular in recent years so this is a quick and affordable way of getting longer and fuller looking lashes.

It's really easy to use: You start off by applying a layer of the Lengthening Gel Mascara, then followed by a light layer of the Enhancement Fibers and finish off with another layer of the gel mascara. You can repeat the steps if you like your lashes to look longer and fuller but I just did it once as I was happy with the results for my everyday makeup. This duo not only provided great length to my lashes but it also made them appear fuller looking. I didn't use an eyelash curler whilst using this and I found it lifted my lashes and curled them slightly, making my eyes look bigger and more awake in the morning.

I have a pair of Mac false lashes which I'm obsessed with - they're not the most dramatic lashes out there but they're perfect for everyday wear but they also look great with dramatic eye makeup for an event - and the results I got with this remind me of those lashes! I was really impressed with that as while I love the results of my Mac lashes I definitely don't like the effort that comes with applying false lashes. This mascara and the enhancement fibers is a quick and easy way without making a mess with glue to get those results. 

The mascara wand was very easy to use and it was the perfect size for coating each lash and it was easy to apply to my bottom lashes also. The products didn't budge throughout the day and my lashes looked the exact same during the evening as they did when I first applied the products in the morning.

Would I recommend? Absolutely! It's particularly good for those who aren't confident with applying false lashes as the results are very similar to some lashes on the market. If you're after long, full lashes then this is definitely for you!

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BPerfect Cosmetics Brush On Lashes

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*This post contains a PR sample but all reviews on clionahill.com are based on my own experience with the product. 

Makeup To Brighten Your Day

| Makeup Products To Brighten Your Day! |

The days are getting shorter and dark rainy days are becoming more frequent. Whilst Autumn and Winter are my favourite seasons, I'm not really a fan of this aspect and it can affect my mood sometimes. I try to do little things to boost my mood during these dark miserable days and one of the things I like to do is wear bright makeup.

Base | I start off by applying my Mac Natural Radiance primer. I have a couple of samples of this which I'm still working my way through but when they run out I'll definitely be picking up the full-size version as I love it! It's really hydrating for my dry skin and provides a lovely glow which is great for perking me up during the Winter months.

I think a dewy foundation would look a bit overboard with this primer so I usually opt for my Nars Sheer Glow which has a satin finish. The finish of this foundation is quite unique compared to any of my other foundations and it just has the ability to make my skin look a lot healthier than it really is. It must be love, love, love! 

To brighten up the under-eye area I like to use the Mac Prep & Prime Highlighting Pen. I have minor dark circles and most concealers cover them up without the need of a colour corrector so this medium coverage concealer does a great job. As well as concealing my dark circles it also provides luminosity and it's a great product for cream highlighting.

Complexion | To brighten up my complexion even further, I add a pop of the Sleek Solstice highlighting palette. All of the shades are very pigmented but the lilac shade is my favourite and it's the one I reach for the most. When applied to the skin it looks almost white/silver and has a high metallic sheen - It slightly reminds of the Mac 'Lightscapade' highlighter. This has the ability to make my features really pop! I applied a small amount when I was taking passport photos and let's just say you could see my highlight from space....

To add some colour to my face I always turn to my Nars 'Luster' blush. If you read my post on 3 high-end blushes to try then you'll know how much I love this blush. It's a gorgeous apricot peach shade with a golden undertone and it's one of those blushes that takes me from looking like a zombie to more alive and healthy looking *wink wink*

Eyes | The Too faced Chocolate Bar palette has a vast array of bright colours to brighten up a dull day. 'Candied Violet' is a statement purple shade which would definitely brighten up your day and 'Creme Brulee' is a high sheen shade which reflects the light beautifully, it's very different from any other gold shades I own *insert love heart eye emoji* 

Another product to brighten up my eyes and make them look bigger is the Rimmel Scandal Eyes nude liner. I pop this on my lower lash line and it instantly makes them look wide awake even when you get up at 6am on a Monday morning. 

Lips | My lipstick choice depends on what eyeshadow I've used; If I go for the purple shade in the Too Faced palette then I'll go with a subtle lipstick. Recently, I've been loving the Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips lipstick in 'Kidman's Kiss' {review} as it's a subtle bright lip. It's a stunning peachy pink shade and it works well for adding a bit of colour to my makeup wardrobe as it's not quite a nude lipstick but it's not a true pink lipstick either, it just sits in the middle if that makes sense. 

And lastly, if I've gone for a neutral eye and I'm feeling bold then I'll choose my Mac 'Tropic Tonic' lipstick. This statement coral shade will no doubt brighten up my makeup look and boost my mood on a dark rainy day. The shade is perfect for the Autumn/Winter months as it leans more on the orangey-red side rather than having pink undertones like most coral shades. I know red and burgundy lipsticks are a more traditional A/W shade but they have the tendency to look dark and dreary whereas this one is bright and cheery!

What makeup products brighten up your day?

Love,

Cliona xx

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The Best Of The Rose Gold Packaging

| My Favourite Makeup Products With Rose Gold Packaging! |

Rose gold has taken over the world; From homeware items to jewelry to electrical gadgets to stationary. In the past few years, the makeup industry has jumped on the rose gold bandwagon, including some of our favourite high-end brands as well as some well-known budget brands. As I was rooting through my makeup collection to decide what makeup to wear on my birthday {see my choices in this blog post} I noticed I had a lot of makeup with rose gold packaging so I decided to write a post about my favourites. Obviously, there's more to a product than just the packaging, but isn't it a wonderful feeling when the product itself is great as well as having pretty packaging?

Lips: 

The lipsticks are the highlight of the post for me so I thought it would be good to start with them: First up is Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips Lipstick in 'Kidman's Kiss' {review}. CT is famous for her breathtaking rose gold packaging. Her entire range is made with rose gold packaging but for me, her lipsticks are the standout product on the packaging front. The lipstick is encased in a beautiful delicate rose gold exterior along with an intricate lip motif on the product itself. The shade of the lipstick is a light peachy pink which adds a subtle wash of colour to the lips. The lasting power is what sets this lipstick apart from any other in my collection; It lasts all day with little reapplication needed.

The Rosie for Autograph lipstick in 'Silk Rose' has similar packaging to it's CT counterpart. The packaging feels luxurious with a weighty feel to it so it resembles a high-end product. The rose gold exterior is much darker than the CT lipstick but a huge similarity that the two products have is the motif engraved on the lipstick. The Rosie lipstick has a flower motif which adds a nice little touch. The shade of this lipstick is a dark nude with purple undertones. It's the darkest nude I own but it's perfect for the Autumn months! 

Base:

The rose gold packaging of the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation is quite understated with just a hint of rose gold on the lid. The finish of this foundation is incredible! It's demi-matte which provides a healthy appearance to my skin. It's medium-full coverage so I can apply a light layer if I'm having a good skin day or I can build it up when I have a collection of friends visiting my face ;-)  

L'oreal hit the nail on the head with their Lumi Magique Concealer Pen. Not only does it have incredible rose gold packaging but it's also the best concealer pen on the high street. The product has pink undertones which help counteract blue/purple under eye circles. The concealer provides radiance and illuminates the eye area making tired eyes look more awake. The pen-style applicator makes it easy to apply and it distributes the right amount of product. And the best part is, it's affordable! 

Eyes:

If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat {username: clionahill} then you'll know that I bought my first Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow quad in 'Dolce Vita' as a pre-birthday treat. This is the perfect palette for creating a warm brown smoky eye and the quality of the shadows are incredible. I received the best compliment ever on my birthday when my sister asked where I got my makeup done! It was all thanks to this palette, my Nars red lip pencil, and another surprise blush & bronzer palette coming to the blog soon.......

The next rose gold standout is Rosie for Autograph eyeshadow quad in 'Copper Gold Rush'. The palette comes with a light matte brown shade which works well as a transition shade, a dark brown with slight shimmer which is great for smoking the look out, a peachy highlight and a shimmery cranberry shade. The pigmentation of all of the eyeshadows are excellent, particularly the copper and dark brown shade. The copper shade works well on its own or you can spray a bit of Mac fix+ on your brush for a statement look.

Do you love any products with rose gold packaging?

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The Birthday Makeup Menu

| It's My Birthday Tomorrow & Here's What I'll Be Wearing On My Face! |

Twas the night before my birthday when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse - Well, apart from my dog Piper of course ;-) The cake had been iced, the presents were wrapped. The birthday outfit was laid out, a pamper evening had took place. All that was left to do was to plan the birthday makeup menu.......

For my base, I'll be wearing my beloved Charlotte Tilbury Magic foundation. I try to save it for special occasions as it feels so luxurious and I don't want to take that special luxe feeling away from the foundation. But my birthday is the perfect excuse to wear it! Under my foundation I'll be wearing my usual primer: Mac Strobe Cream. I've said it before but I'll say it again; This acts as an amazing hydrating primer and prevents foundation from clinging to dry patches as well as providing the mother of all glow - Swoon! And lastly for my base products, I'll be using Mac Pro Longwear concealer {review} for both my spots and under the eyes. 

My first port of call for the eyes is my brand new Charlotte Tilbury 'Dolce Vita' palette. This was a little pre-birthday treat from myself - If you can't treat yo' self on your birthday, then when can you? *wink wink* - and this is actually my first CT eyeshadow quad. I'm seriously impressed so far as the quality is amazing and the pigmentation is brilliant. I'm going for a brown smokey eye look so a brown kohl liner from Maybelline is an essential! I'll be smudging that along my lash line and in my waterline too. I'll be finishing the eye look with one of my favourite mascaras: Maybelline Lash Sensational*. I was actually sent this to review along with another mascara so I'll be doing a post on the two very soon..... 

But back to the birthday makeup for now, and my last step for the eye area {would you include brows in the eye makeup category? I'm never sure!} is my Sleek Brow Kit. If you read my top 10 budget beauty buys post yesterday then you'll know how much I love this!

As I'm doing a subtle brown smokey eye, I've decided to go for a dramatic red lip - It is my birthday after all ;-) I also treated myself to a new Nars Matte Lip Pencil in the shade 'Cruella'. I'm obsessed with their matte lip pencils and anytime I'm in Brown Thomas I have a strong urge to buy more. I haven't worn it properly yet so I'm not sure how it wears throughout the day but my first impressions are good. Like all of the other matte lip pencils I've tried, the formula is incredible, they're easy to apply and the pigmentation is out of this world! To match the lip pencil I'll be using a cheap but cheerful red liner from Primark/Penneys.

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Have you used any of these products?

I'll see you tomorrow for a very special birthday post!

Love,

Cliona xx

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Top 10 Budget Beauty Buys

| The Best Budget Makeup Products On The Market! |

I love to treat myself to a high-end product every now and then {probably too often, ha!} but budget products can be just as good sometimes! Although I think some budget brands are amazing, others can be a little hit and miss so finding the right budget products that are just as good as their high-end counterpart can be a little tricky sometimes. But today, I've rounded up 10 of my favourite budget buys than get the seal of approval from moi.......

| 1. L'oreal True Match |

If you read my favourite foundations post then you'll already know how much I love this foundation! It's my favourite everyday foundation as the light-medium coverage covers my imperfections whilst still looking quite natural. It has a satin finish which has the ability to make my skin look healthy and refreshed despite the lack of water intake and the late nights - I'm guilty of both, sorry skin! *insert the monkey with his hands over his eyes emoji*

| 2. Ps Pro Translucent Powder |

Everyone needs a translucent powder in their makeup bag and I've been using a cheap but cheerful one from Penneys/Primark. I'd love to try the Laura Mercier powder that everyone raves about, but for now, I don't have the budget for it so I'll be sticking to this one. As my skin gets quite dry I don't tend to use powder but I've been loving this one for setting my concealer. It doesn't cling to any dry patches or accentuate them, sets concealer well, and is great for 'baking' too.

| 3. Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer |

This is a very underrated product here on my blog as I don't mention it as much as I should! The formula is very creamy and hydrating making it perfect for under the eyes. It's also quite brightening and the coverage is up there with some of my expensive products. Often I find that budget under-eye concealers are quite sheer and lacking in the coverage department but this one completely covers my dark circles and brightens things up a little in that area also. 

| 4. Sleek Brow Kit |

This is hands down my favourite brow product of all time! The gel in it is fantastic; Creamy, easy to apply and sets unruly brows in place. Although I'm obsessed with the wax, I'm not really a fan of the powder in all honesty. It's not that the powder is a bad product, it's just because the shade doesn't really suit me. I find it looks quite ashy on me so I tend to leave that step out. But the gel is truly amazing and so amazing that it has been crowned my favourite budget brow product of all time!

| 5. Maybelline colour Tattoo in 'On and on bronze' |

I couldn't write a budget beauty post without giving a shoutout to the Maybelline colour tattoos. This gorgeous bronzey shade with its incredible creamy formula is the perfect one swipe wonder eyeshadow for those sleepy Monday mornings. It has a shimmery finish which looks incredible on its own for a subtle daytime look or it can be paired with some darker shades for a statement look. Basically, it's a great all-rounder eyeshadow!

| 6. Zoeva Cocoa Blends Palette |

This handy little palette was only €17 but the quality of the shadows could rival those from Urban Decay! It's the perfect Autumn palette with a vast array of warm shades ranging from a stunning cranberry to a dark black. This palette has you covered with Autumnal warm shades!

| 7. Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in 'Milk' |

I love using this as an eyeshadow base to make the shadows POP! It's particularly good for making golds, pinks and cranberry shades stand out - perfect for the Autumn festivities *wink wink* It also cancels out any veins or pigmentation on the eyes and creates a smooth base for shadow application. I'm a big fan of wearing white liner in my waterline to brighten up my eyes and make myself look more awake. However, I don't tend to use this product for that as it's just a bit too big.

| 8. Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara |

One of the best mascaras I've used as it provides volume, length as well as lifting the lashes and curling them slightly! I don't even need to sue a curler with this, it's that good! The super black shade provides a dramatic look to the lashes and you really only need one coat for your lashes to be completely transformed! 

| 9. Essence Lip Liner in 'Satin Mauve' |

I love budget lip liners and I think they're just as good as my Mac ones. I've never tried any of Essence's liners but I was really impressed with this one! It's a medium mauve shade which suits Mac Brave perfectly. The formula of the liner is outstanding, and it's the best budget liner I've used to date! It's just as pigmented as Mac's liners, literally glides on and has pretty good lasting power. The only downside to it is, I find that I have to sharpen it a lot more than any other liner I have, I'm not sure why but it just gets blunt very easily. But asides from that, it's incredible! 

| 10. Kiko Gossamer Emotion Lipstick in '102' | 

I won't rave about this too much as I already did that not so long ago in my favourite lip combo post. This muted nude pink suits the liner above really well and the pigmentation is the best out of all of my other high street lip products. I would describe the finish as satin, it has a slight sheen to it, and the formual is creamy and comfortable to wear.

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What are your favourite budget makeup products?

Love,
Cliona xx

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5 Products Worth The Hype

| 5 Hyped Up Makeup Products That Are Worth The Hype! |

A copious amount of products get a lot of hype in the blogging world and too many times I've given into the hype as I was dying to see what all the fuss was about. I have a lot of products that receive a massive thumbs up from me and I can safely deem some of them worth the hype, so without further ado let me introduce you to 5 products that are worth the hype in my opinion.......

| 1. Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter |

If you read my Becca Champagne Pop review then it'll come as no surprise to you that this is my favourite highlighter ever! It's the most pigmented highlighter I've come across and anytime I wear it I always get so many compliments. Someone who I hadn't seen in a while said I looked very healthy and I was glowing! Unfortunately I can't take credit for that one - It was all down to this highlighter *wink wink* If you've tried this highlighter and you've found an alternative that's as good in the pigmentation department as it then do let me know. You can never have too many highlighters in my opinion! 

| 2. Mac Strobe Cream |

This product is more so hyped up in the Youtube world rather than the blogging community. I haven't seen it featured in blogs all that much but I see it featured on almost every makeup artists' YT channel and I can see why. Not everyone is a fan of using it as a primer but that's exactly what I love it for! If you've been a reader of my blog for a while then you'll know all about my dry skin woes and this works perfectly as a primer for my skin. Whenever I find my foundation clinging to my dry patches {despite all of the masks and hydrating products in the world!} I'll turn to this and it hydrates my skin like nothing else creating a smooth base for makeup application. And not to mention it provides a serious glow!

| 3. Mac 'Brave' Lipstick |

Last year the world went crazy for the "Kylie Jenner lip" and there were a variety of different lipstick and liner combinations featured on blogs and youtube channels attempting to recreate her plump lips. At the start of this year I gave in to the craze and bought the famous 'Brave' lipstick. I chose this lipstick as opposed to 'Velvet Teddy' because this has a satin finish where as VT has a matte finish. Although I do love a good matte lip, I prefer the satin and creme-sheen finishes from Mac. The satin finish has a slight shine to it but it lasts much longer on the lips than the creme-sheen finishes. The shade itself is a pinky nude with a pearlescent sheen  which looks great worn on it's own or with the liner below.

| 4. Mac 'Soar' Lipliner |

The liner is much darker than the lipstick but it's what creates bigger and fuller looking lips. I would describe the shade as brown nude with dark pink undertones to it. Although the swatch looks somewhat scary it is actually an easy to wear shade - It goes with everything from light nudes such as 'Creme Cup' for an ombre effect or darker nudes like 'Sex Machine' matte lip pencil from Nars.

| 5. Nars Sheer Glow |

This is one of my favourite light to medium coverage foundations! It has a satin finish which gives a healthy appearance to my skin - Love! It's water-based so it suits my dry skin perfectly and it's always the foundation I turn to during the colder months. If you have dry skin then this foundation is definitely worth the hype!

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Have you tried any of these products?

What products were worth the hype for you?

Love,
Cliona xx


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