My Favorite Mac Nude Lipsticks.

My Favorite Mac Nude Lipsticks.

We've all been there, walking through the aisles of our local chemist or wandering around a department store beauty hall, arms destroyed with swatches as you examine with intricate detail the differences between the blobs of colour on your skin. The finish, the texture, the pigmentation. You turn to your shopping companion for advice and are hit with the earth shattering "they look the same to me, just pick one". Amateurs. Anyone who is obsessed with beauty knows that some nude lipsticks are as different as night and day. Today I'm talking you through some of my favorite nude lipsticks from Mac.  

Patisserie: A lustre finish meaning it is sheer with a hint of colour. It looks mauve in the bullet but really is a beautiful, peachy pink. It's very comfortable to wear on the lips and gives a subtle sheen to the mouth. It is the perfect shade for everyday or to pair with a dramatic eye look in the evenings). Lustres are not known for being long lasting but I don't think there's anything more glam then taking a nice lipstick out of your handbag and re-applying for all to see. 

Blankety: An Amplified finish, this one is a good all rounder, it's pigmented, hydrating and long lasting. As the name suggests, this shade covers everyone. It's almost a subtle way to wear that increasingly popular greige lip. This is my personal favorite Mac shade to wear. I use it all year round with any eye look, it's a real go to for me. 

Modesty: A Creme Sheen finish, this is most people's favorite finish, it's high shine and has good pigmentation. It looks smooth on the lips, is hydrating, comfotable to wear all day and this deep peach shade is universally flattering. 

Creme Cup: Another Creme Sheen lipstick. I find this finish works well on all age groups. This light pink colour is very fresh for coming into the Summer (C'mon Ireland, you can do it) and is also a real winner among brides. 

Kinda Sexy: Moving into the mattes now. With everyone so on board with liquid lipsticks (I'm still trying), I don't think I need to explain that in order to wear a matte lipstick on the regular, you need to keep you lips in good condition, but I will anyway. Lip scrubs (home made or bought) and lip balms are essential to keep your favorite lipstick from looking crusty, not a good look. Kinda Sexy looks really orange and frightening when swatched but is wonderfully peachy on the lips, while it looks great an most people, this one is a real gem on blondes.

Please Me: Another matte. This one is more bold when it comes to nude lipsticks. It's a beautiful rosy shade that can be built up to make more of a statement lip or can be blotted and blended to create a natural looking stain. 

Now you've seen my favorite nudes.....Show me yours.

You can find these lipsticks and more here

Until Next Time,

Go Forth and Be Fierce,

The Beauty Psycho

xoxo.

Beauty Book Club: Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful

Beauty Book Club: Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful.

Welcome to my first Beauty Book Club. I thought I would kick off this series with makeup artist extraordinaire and the Queen of the beauty book...Bobbi Brown. Pretty Powerful is a makeup manual with a difference. This book focuses on who women are and what beauty means to them. It's named after Brown's charity campaign launched in 2013 in which the cosmetics company teams up with global organisations to empower women by making education more accessible to them.  

 This manual really carries on that spirit of empowering women, it encourages women to enhance what they already have and not cover it up, there are no signs of instagram makeup here. By focusing on your radiant skin or dazzling eyes you can own your looks and be confident in who you are, which is a Pretty Powerful feeling (see what I did there?).

 Along with the typical makeup tips like how to apply products and how to ensure your makeup lasts longer, the book is broken up into six categories; pretty natural, pretty radiant, pretty strong, pretty classic, pretty authentic and pretty bold. Each section has corresponding makeup looks explaining how to take each look from day to night. You can pick what group you fall into and base your look around that or you could change up your look depending on what kind of powerful you're feeling that day.

 These sections have been matched up with women who emulate what that category embodies (i.e. athletes are "pretty strong").Women, some celebrities, some everyday women are interviewed throughout the book about what makes them feel powerful and beautiful. For some it's overcoming obstacles like chemotherapy or a divorce, for others it's knowing what they like and working hard to get it, but one thing that all these people have in common is that they're holding their own in life and are unashamedly proving their power.

 Power can come from looking the part as this book explains but it also comes from feeling the part. An emphasis is placed working on your beauty from  the inside out and taking time for yourself to exercise, eat well, and meditate. This is more then a beauty book, it's a lifestyle manual. It is a very inspiring read, Bobbi Brown has a lovely way of making women of all ages, colour and weight feel great with just a few key tips and tricks to get them glowing inside and out but the real pleasure for me was getting to know the people in the photographs. Motivated women who are all pretty powerful, this book will get you ready to take on the world, I cannot reccommend it enough.

You can find the book here

Until Next Time,

Go Forth and Be Fierce,

The Beauty Psycho

xoxo

My Top Five Mac Eyeshadows.

I guess the picture has given it away (Oops) but I thought I would talk you through some of my favourite Mac eyeshadows. While other brands are really coming to the fore front, Mac has been a makeup artist staple for years and has re-shaped the industry we know today. As you have probably noticed by now, the shadows I have selected are all pretty neutral but what can I say, I know what I like. These are my most worn and most loved shades. 

Woodwinked: Original I know, I think this makes it onto everyone's list but that's because it really is that great. This coppery, golden brown is the lazy girls answer to making an effort. A wash of this over the lids reflects the light and tones beautifully, creating the illusion that there are two or three colours on the eye. It can also be used wet and popped on just the centre of the lid to create drama to any glam look.

All That Glitters: This soft light gold can be used wet or dry on the lids to add that extra sparkle. Glitter is also notorious for fixing an eye look gone wrong, so pop this in the centre of the lid and no one will ever know that you had a makeup meltdown.  

Omega: This swatch looks the most boring but it is in fact my most used shade, so much so that I've actually hit pan (is there a more satisfying feeling?). The cool toned, matte taupe shade is so versatile, it can be blended into the crease as a transition shade, used on the lid as a hint of colour or my personal favorite.....used to fill in brows. This magic shade works on all hair colours from the whitest of blondes to the darkest of brunettes and everything in between. I use it to lightly draw in my brows every day and I really feel it gives the softest most natural result. A real must have if you find yourself wondering around Mac not knowing where to start. 

Sketch: There really is nothing else like this in my (vast!) eyeshadow collection. It was one of the first shades I ever bought from Mac. It was recommended to me by the counter makeup artist because I have blue eyes and she felt this would really make them pop. She was right. This deep purple brown tone looks amazing on cool tone eyes and the tiny flecks of red glitter really add something special to a look when they catch the light. It's not a shadow that I hear people talk about which is a real shame. It really doesn't get the credit that it deserves.

Satin Taupe: You know when you do a makeup course and they tell you not to put shimmer on more mature ladies? Yeah, that doesn't apply to this shadow. The shimmery pewter, taupe has a sheeny finish and is beautiful on people of all ages. Can be used on it's own or as part of a more full on look.....don't be afraid to break the beauty rules with this one.

So that's my round up of my favourite Mac eyeshadows. Some classics, some more niche but all beautiful.

You can find all the shades and more here

Until Next Time,

Go Forth and Be Fierce

The Beauty Psycho.

xoxo.