Holy Grail Products

First thing I noticed when writing this post, was I have seriously expensive taste. No wonder I am broke half my life, sure my wages are to be found in the tills of the beauty counters.

Second thing I noticed, I have actually found quite a few of my holy Grail products. Holy Grail products are hard to come by. Often you have to try a multitude of different products to find your holy grail item. I thought I would share with you the Holy Grail items I have found so far.

 

Smashbox Photo Finish primer

For me primer is a must. While there are many high street and high end primers that do a fantastic job, for me my absolute holy grail primer is the Smashbox Photo finish primer . This primer has a high silicone content, so it might not be for everyone, but I find it smooths out my skin, blurs out the fine lines and pores, while at the same time acting as a brilliant base for my foundation. I have repurchased this primer at least 4 times now, which for me is almost unheard of. You can buy this primer at all Smashbox counters for €32 or online here. You can read about the benefits of primers here

 

Makeup For Ever Liquid Lift foundation

Finding a holy grail foundation, is normally an on going quest for many woman. I have been lucky enough to find two foundations that I just can’t live without. First up is the Make Up For Ever Liquid lift foundation. I have normal skin that came sway to either oily or dry depending on the mood that takes it. I like a medium to full coverage foundation, though lately I have been tending to stay away from more full coverage. Liquid lift is a light weight foundation that gives a flawless  satin finish to the skin. It is a medium coverage that lasts well throughout the day. I would get a good 6 – 8 hours out of it without having to top up. a bottle will set you back €35 in Make Up For Ever on Clarendon street, or you can buy it online here. You can read a full review of The Make Up For Ever liquid lift here.

 

Nars sheer glow

This is a much hyped about foundation and it is not hard to see why. Nars sheer glow is a water based foundation that has a light to medium coverage. The finish to this foundation is neither glowy or matte. I believe that this would suit most skin types, although there are people that it just doesn’t sit right for and without a primer this foundation can look cakey. For me I love it. It sits on the skin like a dream and gives the skin the most flawless finish. You can read a full review here. A bottle of Nars sheer glow costs €40 and in store can only be bought in Brown Thomas Grafton street, or Space Nk Grafton street. You can buy it online here

 

Nars radiant creamy concealer

I absolutely love this concealer. When it comes to banishing dark circles, for me, this is the business. Nars Radiant creamy concealer packs a serious amount of punch when it comes to  coverage and it does so without looking cakey or heavy on the skin. In fact this concealer has a kind of light reflecting, illuminating finish under the eye. It not only banishes dark circles, but it gives your under eye area a “lit from within glow”. It has a buildable coverage , and works just as well no matter how little or how much you apply. However in saying that, a little goes a long way. You can read a full review here. The Nars Radiant creamy concealer is expensive for a concealer at €26, but for me it is totaly worth it. You can purchase the concealer here.

Hourglass ambient lighting palette

Many people have emailed me asking me how to get their foundation to stay on longer. First up is a primer and second up is a setting or finishing powder, with the Hourglass finishing powders being in my opinion the best you can get. This palette contains Dim light which is a finishing powder, radiant light which I use over the areas I have contoured.   and the final shade is incandescent light, which can be used as a highlighter. These powders are said to mimic the effect of different lighting on the skin. I can not sing high enough praise for these powders. They are so beautiful on the skin and make your foundation look so much better. They make your skin look alive and luminous. They are expensive, but they really last a long time and are beautiful on the skin. You can buy this palette and the individual coulours in Space Nk Grafton street or on the online store. 

Hourglass Ambient light blusher in Diffused heat

I have drawers of blushers and yet, for the most part, this is the only blusher I use. I adore it.  Hourglass have managed to give their blushers the same flattering light technology as the Ambient Lighting finishing powders. The Hourglass blushers have a marbled effect and the colour is swirled in with the Diffused light finishing powder.Diffused heat is said to be a “vibrant poppy” shade. I would describe it as a coral colour. The reason it is called diffused heat, is as I mentioned above, it is mixed with  the yellow toned Diffused light finishing powder.Just like the finishing powders, these blushers are finely milled and don’t look cakey or powdery on the skin. This is a very pigmented blusher so a little goes a very long way. There are 6 colours in the range and if you haven’t already heard, Hourglass are releasing a blusher palette like the powder palette, that will include a limited edition blusher. I will be first in the queue when this is released. You can buy this again in Space NK.

Becca shimmering skin perfector pressed in the shade Moonstone

This is only a recent edition to my makeup collection, but it has already made it’s way to holy grail status. This is the most beautiful finely milled highlighter I have ever used. It is seriously pigmented, so a light hand is needed when applying. It gives the most beautiful glow to the areas where you apply it and while it is expensive, it will last a long time and the glow it gives your skin makes it so worth the money. You can read a full review here. You can buy this in Space NK for €37

Mac Painterly Paint Pot

Mac paint pots are a really pigmented cream eye colour, that apply like a cream, but dry to give a vibrant colour, that acts as a fantastic base. While I have a number of these paint pots, the one I use literally ever day is in the shade Painterly. This is a skin colour paint pot, that I use to prime my eye before I apply colour. It evens out the colours of my eyes, while giving a good base for the eyeshadows to go onto. It also stops the shadows creasing throughout the day. They cost €20, but once you close the lid on them straight after use, it will last a long time. I have mine for at least a year and it is still going strong.

Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant mascara

I havent spoken about mascaras in a long time as I have been wearing eyelash extensions for months now. However, due to the fact my lash guru has moved to Belfast, I am now back to my natural lashes. For me there is no other mascara that can give me the length and volume that I love, than the Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant mascara. I love this stuff. The mascara promises to add, volume, length and curl to your lashes. It contains new 4D technology that covers the lashes in seriously black pigment. If you like really black mascara, then I don’t think you are going to find anything blacker than this.The cone shape of the brush means that you can get right from the root of the lash to the very tip with even distribution of product.The mascara wears well throughout the day and I don’t find it flaking or drying out. It is easy to remove, unlike some other lengthening and volumizing mascaras and I find it gentle on my lashes. You can buy this from Make up For Ever on Clarendon street for €23, or online here. You can read a full review here