Get Ready With Me 17/9/15

Hi everyone,

A few months ago I did a Get Ready With Me Post, which I really enjoyed writing. My makeup routine has changed a bit since then, mainly due to the fact that I've started working,so I thought I would just give you an updated version of how I do my makeup on the daily.
*Sidenote* Let's all just agree to ignore how static-y my hair is in the pictures. I'm trying to sort it out (all suggestions are welcome).

I got back into using primer soon after I got my first job in the summer, as a way of trying to make my makeup last a bit better when I didn't have time to touch it up every two hours. And it does the job pretty well. My makeup does still fade/get shiny over time, but it does it more evenly.

Next I apply my foundation with my Real Techniques brush, which I am still convinced is the best thing since sliced bread. Last week I was with a friend at a makeup counter and the woman there told us that when you apply foundation, you should start in the centre of your face (nose and t-zone; apparently the area that needs most coverage) and work out rather than starting with your cheeks or forehead, as I used to. It does actually work and saves a lot of foundation. I've also just started trying to use less foundation in recent months, partially because my skin has improved a bit (though I feel like as soon as I type this I'm going to have a massive breakout) and also because I don't like the idea of masses of makeup on my face for 10 hours a day.

 In keeping with this idea, I've also started to wear less concealer. I just put a tiny dab under my eyes and over any spots I might have. I've also switched the order of when I apply my concealer (I used to do it before foundation, now I do it after) because now that I'm not putting as much on it blends in better.

For powder, I'm still using Maybelline the Matte Maker. It just seems to last forever. I bought a new powder months ago because I was sure I'd have run out of it by now, but that isn't the case. As a powder, it's fine. I have never had a drugstore powder than I'm totally happy with, and that properly mattifies my shiny nose, so this is just more of the same really.

Next I apply mu blusher with my Elizabeth Arden powder brush. I've been using the Sleek blush in Flushed, and it's my absolute favourite. It's the perfect Snow White red colour.

Since extolling the virtues of the Soap and Glory Archery pencil in my last Get Ready With Me, I have actually lost it. I have a horrible suspicion it might have accidentally ended up in the bin. Unfortunate;y since discovering that pencil I've developed something of an addiction to filling in my eyebrows. So in the interim I started using an eyeshadow in the Collection Nude Palette (the second last shade on the right). It seems to be a pretty good colour match, and although I still haven't totally perfected filling in my eyebrows, I think they look alright.

For mascara, I'm using the Rimmel Wake Me Up mascara. To be honest, I like the packaging of this mascara, I like the smell (it smells like cucumber) and that's about it. It just doesn't really do anything in terms of length, volume, etc. If you're looking for a very natural mascara it might be the one for you, but otherwise give it a miss. I'm just using it up at this stage.

Wet'n' Wild recently released their complete collection of matte lipsticks in Ireland (you used to only be able to get certain ones) and I'm obsessed with the colour Wine Room, a red/pink/wine hybrid. It's all I've been wearing the last few weeks.

And that's it!

Here We Go Again...

Hi everyone,

*Awkward desk selfie*

Long time, no see. Since I last posted here I've done an internship, gone to Portugal, gotten a job, graduated college and cut eight inches off my hair, to name but a few things. I had a very busy summer, but I never intended to take as long of a hiatus from this blog as I did.You see, what started off as a combination of laziness and busieness, brought on by trying to readjust to a 40 hour working week, quickly turned into a complete lack of creativity and any motivation to blog. 

Starting a new job/internship/college course etc is always tough. It's emotionally and physically draining and you find yourself exhausted as you frantically try to adjust to your new schedule. I did it twice in the last three months, and it really contributed to my creative block/disinterest. I frequently found myself so tired that I would simply roll out of bed and put on whatever was comfortable, convenient, or just there. There was also the practical elements of my new jobs to take into account; when you're sitting at an office desk for 8 hours, you want to be comfortable. When you're moving around a lot, you have to be able to. If you're standing for long periods of time, you need comfortable shoes. If you're sitting under the air conditioning, you want to be warm. 

All of these things combined led to me feeling very restricted in what I could wear and just very disinterested. I would get up in the morning, get dressed in whatever was clean and not think twice about it. Same with makeup. I got into a pattern of wearing the same things again and again. I even stopped wearing lipstick (if you're new here, scroll through my last few posts and you'll get why that's' a big deal) because it would just come off anyway.

I understand that this probably seems very trivial and shallow to a lot of you (I am well aware that this falls into the category of 'firstworldiest of First World problems'). For a lot of people, getting up and dressed in whatever is there is probably standard.  But I've always been some who enjoyed putting thought into what they wore, liked the process of picking out clothes, and that would plan outfits (and makeup) in advance. And suddenly I didn't have that anymore. Everything just became very mechanical and uninteresting. I didn't write, because I didn't have anything to write about.

So what changed? A few things, actually. As I mentioned earlier, I graduated from college a few weeks ago, so that meant or the first time in ages, I had to go out into the shops and find something to wear. I cut 8 inches off my hair (I now have something of a lob), the most significant change I've made to my appearance in a while, so that sort of forced me to experiment again with hairstyles and products in order to figure out what worked. The shops started stocking autumn/winter clothes and suddenly I say things that I liked. I got into YouTube again and started watching people like Christine, who have a very distinct sense of style. But to to be honest, there was no big 'Voila!' moment where lightening struck and time froze and I suddenly felt inspired to put thought into my clothes again. My interest just gradually came make to me.

And now here I am. I titled this post here we go again, because I'm back, at least for now, and I have a lot of ideas for upcoming posts. I'd like to try and branch out a bit just from makeup (although I have a feeling I've said that before) into fashion and style and tutorials. Although there will still be a lot of posts about lipstick, I promise.

I know this is a slightly different post to what you normally see on here  (I think it's the longest one I've ever written), but I just wanted to be honest about why I've been away for so long. It's also really gotten me thinking about the idea of creative blocks in general and the best method of dealing with them. I just waited mine out, but I often wonder if just forcing myself to write would have worked just as well. If you have any input or thoughts on the subject, or have any similar experiences, I would love to know. 

Till next time,

Ciara

How To: Simple Side Plait

• Part your hair to one side

• On the side of your parting with less hair, grab a section of hair from the top of your head, that extends as far back as your ear

• Divide this piece of hair into three sections

• Start plaiting, grabbing small sections from the front and back of the plait and adding them into the plait as you go. 

• Continue plaiting in this way, grabbing sections from further back as you go, so the plait is diagonal

• When you get down as far as your ear, stop adding sections to the plait, and finish it off.

• And that's it. Once it's done, there are a number of options for what you want to do with it. You can leave it as is... 

•  Pull it back, and pin the end of your plait underneath the back of your hair...

•  Or if you're feeling really adventurous, tie your hair back into a ponytail, and wrap the end of the plait around your bobbin, like this...

Pretty Packaging

Hi everyone,

I was browsing the website xovain a few days ago, when I stumbled across a post by Kelly where she talked about the most prettily packaged makeup products in her collection. Taking a page from Kelly, I thought I'd show you some of mine. This may be the post pointless post ever, but I hope that some of you (weird people like me with a passion for pretty makeup) might enjoy it :)

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Mascara

I'm actually not crazy about this mascara itself, but I do love the Elizabeth Arden's gold packaging. It's just so classy.   (It also happens to reflect the camera quite a lot - sorry about that).

Elizabeth Arden Highlighter

Sticking with the Elizabeth Arden theme, this highlighter is lovely.

Max Factor Creme Puff Blush

This blush is so lovely that, as you can see, I haven't actually opened it yet. Any of you who have read this blog for awhile (or even just read some of my Makeup of the Day posts) will notice that most of my blushes/powders/etc inevitably get dropped on the floor and smashed, so I'm a bit scared to open it.

Elizabeth Arden Eyeshadow Palettes

Elizabeth Arden triumphs again!

MAC Alluring Aquatic Lipstick

This is the only lipstick that I've ever bought from a MAC collection, and the packaging is basically why I was drawn to it in the first place (good strategy, MAC). It's just so cool and pretty and it looks like it's wet but its not...its very nice. Moving on...

Lipstick Queen Lipsticks

I think these lipsticks are just unusual looking, they're quite heavy and feel expensive (I got them in a sale, so they weren't that expensive. I really like the yellow and purple combination of Red Saint and the black-but-not-quite-black-sorta-purple colour of Red Sinner.

Kiko Matte and Luscious Cream Lipsticks

These look like the lipsticks of the future. Or lipsticks from space. They're very cool and futuristic. And they're the cheapest thing on this list. I think they were around €6/€7, so bonus.

Review: MAC Retro Matte Lipsticks

Hi everyone,
In my Get Ready With Me post from last week, I mentioned the MAC lipstick All Fired Up and promised you a full review of it. Since then I've actually bought another lipstick, Flat Out Fabulous, and thought I would just kill two birds with one stone and review both of them.

Flat Out Fabulous (top) and All Fired Up

Both lipsticks are from MAC's Retro Matte collections. The MAC website describes All Fired Up as a 'bright fuchsia' and Flat Out Fabulous as a 'bright plum' and I probably couldn't do a better job at describing them myself, so I'm not going to try. Obviously the colours are what originally drew me to these lipsticks (I remember seeing the original Retro Matte ad with All Fired Up and thinking 'I'm gonna need that') and I think they're really unique. I don't have anything like them in my collection, and if you've been around this blog for awhile, you'll know I have a pretty big lipstick collection.

The lipsticks are very bright and matte (as the name would suggest) but they're very comfortable to wear; they don't feel drying or heavy. They also last an incredibly long time. I wore All Fired Up to a party recently, and after a couple of hours (and eating and drinking) it still hadn't budged.

All Fired Up (top) and Flat Out Fabulous

So I was very impressed with these lipsticks (clearly, as I went out and bought a second one). They are some of the best matte lipsticks I've ever tried. Unfortunately, (according to the MAC website anyway) there are only two other colours in the range; Relentlessly Red, which isn't dissimilar from All Fired Up, and Ruby Woo, which I've heard mixed things about. It's a bit disappointing, because when the range first came out I'm sure there were more shades, and they really are very good lipsticks. But I'm really happy with these two, and who knows, you may see the other two in a blog post yet.

All Fired Up

Flat Out Fabulous

What I Wore |Job Interview

Hi everyone,
So the title pretty much says it all. I had a job interview earlier this week and thought I would so you what I wore. Enjoy.

The Makeup

• Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in 'Ivory'
• Collection Last Perfection Concealer in 'Fair'
• Maybelline The Matte Maker Powder
• Sleek Blush in 'Flushed' 
• Soap and Glory Archery Pencil in 'Hot Chocolate'
• Collection Illuminating Touch Concealer in 'Naked' (as a highlighter)
• Collection Eyes Uncovered Palette (the third and fourth shades)
• Elizabeth Arden Eye Pencil in 'Smoky Black'
• Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Mascara
• No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick in 'Deep Rust'

The Outfit

Top - H&M

Blazer - Penneys

Trousers - Mango

Lets all just agree to ignore the dusty mirror...


Shoes - New Look

The Whole Thing...

Unfortunately this is as close as I can get to a full-length shot. This is what happens when you're tall and don't have anyone to hold the camera for you.