BEAUTY | A Modern Love Affair

Now, we're back to regular programming. I always feel like I'm rising above my station when I post about something other than makeup!

Have you ever wanted something so much, that you think you might be disappointed when you finally get it? Yeah, that didn't happen to me. The Modern Renaissance palette was everything I hoped it would be, and so much more. Can we talk about the packaging first? Mauve. Velvet. Gasp! It's just so dreamy!

This palette has been sold out for what feels like an eternity. At first, I tried to convince myself that I didn't need it. Who was I trying to kid? And thus, the struggle began. When I was in Florida, I dragged my family to every Sephora, Ulta, Macy's, Bloomingdale's. You name it, I searched it. I had deluded myself into thinking it would magically come back into stock. That's the power of this palette! 

And rightly so. Anastasia Beverly Hills don't mess around when it comes to eyeshadow. Not only are they high quality, but they're super pigmented. They're the right amount of buttery goodness, that makes them blend to perfection. Can you tell that I'm in love? I already knew this, but this palette just reaffirmed the facts. Now let's talk shades. 

With 14 shadows, there's a perfect mix of matte and shimmer. All are incredibly warm-toned. The dream! My two go-to eye looks are a brown/gold smokey, and a pink/burgundy smokey. This palette definitely speaks my language. I may never use anything else. Okay, let's dial down the dramatics! But, I can guarantee that for the foreseeable future, these are the only shadows I'll be using!

If you can catch this guy in stock, you NEED to snap it up. It's a warm-toned, dream come true. You can find it on the ABH website, Beauty Bay and Cult Beauty. It retails for $42/€49/£41. And well, when you think about cost per wear, well it nearly pays for itself! 

Have you fallen under the Modern Renaissance spell?!

Until next time, 

Elle x 

Find me on:

Twitter - Tumblr - Instagram @ellebolger - Bloglovin' - Facebook - Snapchat: elleblgr_blog 

TOP 5 | Holy Grail Products

We're reviving the Top 5 series today, with my holy grail products. There are the products I'd need if I was stranded on a desert island with Zac Efron. Because why else would I need makeup on a desert island?!

1. L'Oreal True Match Foundation 

True Match has actually replaced Maybelline's Fit Me as my favourite drugstore foundation. It just ticks all my boxes! It is a medium coverage formula, but can be built up to full coverage very easily. The formula is super blendable, as advertised, and feels lightweight on the skin with a dewy finish. The shades are separated by skin tones - Warm, Neutral and Cool, with 32 shades between them. I do go between three shades, in and around the 5 to 6 region. Mainly because the actual shades I use can't be found in Ireland. Bummer! True Match Super Blendable Foundation can be found in Boots and most pharmacies, and retails at €14.99

L-R: 5N Sand, W5 Sand Beige, W6 Sun Beige

2. MAC Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skin Finish
This product started my love affair with highlight, and I haven't looked back since! Soft and Gentle is a warm, peachy champagne shade. The coverage is buildable, it can be semi-sheer or super opaque. Just depends on how you like your highlight. I personally go for the glow-worm look! While you'd think the finely milled glitter would be a bit overkill, it actually makes the skin look naturally luminous. Soft and Gentle retails at €31.50 currently, and can be found at MAC counters or on Brown Thomas online. 

3. Wet n Wild MegaLast Lipsticks

These are some of the best drugstore lipsticks around. Wet n Wild came to play! The formula is comfortable on the lips, even with it's matte finish. As for pigmentation, these lipsticks are opaque with one swipe. The colour range is huge, and the line is full of dupes for lots of high end lippies! To add to this all-rounder, they are super affordable too. Perfect for anyone starting a makeup collection, or a kit. They retail at €2.99 and stands can be found in Penneys, Dunnes and pharmacies nationwide.

L-R: Bare It All, Mauve Outta Here, Spiked With Rum, Sandstorm, Mochalicious

4. Benefit Hoola Bronzer
This is the only product I use for powder contour. I honestly can't look past it. It's such a universal shade, it suits all skin tones. The tone of the bronzer itself has a good balance, it's cool but not muddy, warm but not orange. It blends out nicely, and the coverage can be built up, depending on your taste! Hoola retails at €34, from Benefit counters.

5. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
I don't have a lot of dark pigmentation in my under eye area, so I love using this concealer just to brighten rather than conceal. The Fit Me concealer has a light to medium coverage, and works best if you have light dark circles. The formula is lightweight, creamy and blends out like a dream. It doesn't cake, and with a little bit of setting powder, there's no creasing. What more could you ask for?! The concealer retails at €8.99, and can be found on Maybelline stands in Boots and pharmacies nationwide.

What products make the cut for your Top 5?

Until next time,
Elle x

PS: I just created a Snapchat account for this blog; elleblgr_blog. Head over there for blog updates, random life things, and who knows what else!

Find me on:

Twitter - Instagram: @ellebolger - Bloglovin' - Facebook - Snapchat: elleblgr_blog

BEAUTY | The' Pink To Make The Boys Wink' Haul

While this isn't a huge haul, I had some gift cards leftover from Christmas, and discovered the Wet n' Wild stand in my local Dunnes Stores, so my spending was a little warranted!

I think I went a little crazy with the lip products. Oops! It began as a search for a pinky-nude, but escalated quite quickly. Oops again! In my defense, I can't help myself when it comes to lip products, I throw all caution to the wind! Can you blame me? I had a gift card from Sam McCauley's Chemist taking up residency in my purse, so I thought that should be my first stop! There I picked up the Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss in the shade 101, Catrice's Ultimate Shine lipstick in the shade 250 Yes We Can-dy, and one of the Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquers in Apocaliptic. I then headed over to Dunnes Stores and picked up a Wet n Wild Mega Slicks Lip Balm Stain in 127 A Stiff Pink. 

L-R: Yes, We Can-dy, 101, A Stiff Pink, Apocaliptic. 

I also picked up the Catrice Camouflage Cream in 020 Light Beige in Sam McCauley's. While perusing what the new Wet n Wild stand had to offer, I came across their Wild Shine Matte Top Coat. Having been undecided about the Barry M Matte Nail Paints, I snatched this up. This way I can turn any nail polish matte! Ace! I also picked up another Wild Shine polish in French White Crème. 

That's it for this haul! If you want me to review any of these, let me know in the comments! What have you been hauling lately? Have you tried anything from Wet n Wild yet? 

Until next time,
Elle. 

Find me on:

Twitter - Tumblr - Instagram @ellebolger - Bloglovin' 

Manicure Monday #12

After some recent humming and hawing, I decided to reevaluate Manicure Mondays here on my blog! Not only was a weekly nail post becoming tedious, but my nails were paying the price too! While I still plan to post every Wednesday and Friday, Monday posts will either be bi-weekly or monthly. For the moment, I'm leaning more towards the last Monday of the month. What do you think?! Also, would you prefer to see a round up of all the polishes and nail things I've been loving or just a standard, run-of-the-mill mani post?

This week, I went for a nude polish, and it's Rimmel London's Lycra PRO in the shade 365 Beige Style. I'm quite sure if this range has been discontinued or not, but Rimmel's Salon Pro in Get a Nail Tan or Beige Babe would be similar! They retail at around the €6 mark, and can be found on Rimmel stands.

At the minute, I'm really drawn to neutral nail colours, lots of white, nudes, grey and black. I love how they look on the nail, and are perfect for the dreary winter months! Beige Style is a very subtle, glossy nude.Like all the Lycra PRO polishes, it's easy to apply and fast drying. This colour is quite sheer, but it works well oddly enough! Of course, if you want it to be more opaque, the colour is definitely buildable!

What are your thoughts on neutral nails? Let me know in the comments! 

Until next time, 

Elle. 

Find me on:

Twitter - Tumblr - Instagram @ellebolger - Bloglovin' 

FESTIVE | GRWM: Family Dinner

With Christmas only a week away, there's bound to be lots of family dinners on the horizon! I recently wore this look for a big dinner with all my family, and I think I may recreate it for our annual Christmas Eve dinner! It's not dramatic in the slightest, the main focus is on the lip colour while everything else is super neutral! Here's how I created it! 

• For my base, I primed with NYC's Smooth Skin Perfecting Primer in the shade 684, then used my fingers to apply the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in 103 True Ivory. I concealed under my eyes, down the bridge of my nose, and the middle of my forehead with the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 3 Medium, blending that out with my ring finger. I set this with Natural Collection's Loose Powder in Warm Translucent. 
• For my eyes, I primed my lids with the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden. I used my Essence Eye Liner Pen to draw a thick line on my upper lash line, winging it out slightly at the outer corners. I curled my lashes, then applied KIKO Cosmetics' Luxurious Lashes Waterproof Mascara to my upper and lower lashes. Taking the darkest shade from the Essence Eyebrow Stylist Set, I filled in any sparseness in my brows. 
• Using my Sonia Kashuk Lip Brush, I lined my lips with MAC's Candy Yum Yum, then applied the same colour to the rest of my lips. 
• To complete the look, I highlighted my cheekbones with MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle, then set this with Natural Collection's Loose Powder in Warm Translucent. 

Products Used:

Outfit of the Day:

Denim Skater Skirt: New Look (€15; on sale)
Grey Tank Top: Zine @ Zumies ($6.99)
Black Leather Boots: New Look (€59.99)
Navy Cardigan (Not Pictured): Aeropostle ($31.99)
Tartan Scarf: Primark (€5)
Watch: Stand at The Outlets at Orange, California ($40)
Rings: Assorted (River Island, Primark, Dorothy Perkins, Claires) 

What are some of your favourite minimalist make up looks? If you try out this look, be sure to let me know in the comments! 

Until next time, and Merry Christmas, 

Elle. 

Find me on:

Twitter - Tumblr - Instagram @ellebolger - Bloglovin'

Manicure Monday #7

This weeks polish is the Rimmel London LYCRA PRO Professional Finish in the shade 500 Peppermint. It retails for around the €6 mark, and can be found on any Rimmel stand!

While it's not exactly a winter-y shade, with a little over a week to Christmas Day, the name Peppermint had me sold! It's a bright, duck egg blue, bordering on a Tiffany Box blue! The application is made quick and easy with the trademark Rimmel Maxi Brush! It's opaque in 2 coats, and dries quickly, perfect if you're on the go over the holiday season!

What polishes are you loving this week? 

Until next time, and Merry Christmas, 

Elle. 

Find me on:

Twitter - Tumblr - Instagram @ellebolger - Bloglovin'

FESTIVE | Get Ready With Me: Christmas Night Out

Over the Christmas season, there's always lots of nights out, whether it's a work party, a birthday, a family do, or even tackling the 12 pubs of Christmas, you'll want to look your best and most festive whatever the occasion! Nothing screams 'festive' like glitter, and lots of it. Here's my take on a glittery, smokey eye:

                                         

• I primed my eyelids with the Elf Primer in Pearl, then took my Bad Gal Palette from Sleek patted the 'Blade' shadow just on my lid with a flat shader brush. I then buffed the 'Gun Metal' shade into the crease, and my lower lash line, and blended 'Underground' in the outer V. As an inner corner & brow highlight, I used 'Innocence' from the same palette.
• I lined both my water & tight line with my Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil in Black Fever, then taking my Eyeliner Pen from Essence, I thickly lined my upper lash line.
• I primed my face, then buffed my foundation using a Sonia Kashuk Buffing Brush. I concealed under my eyes, down the bridge of my nose, and the middle of my forehead, blending that out with my ring finger. I set this with Natural Collection's Loose Powder in Warm Translucent.
• I curled my lashes, then used my Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Very Black to set the curl, and give definition. I used Benefit's They're Real over top for extra drama. For my brows, I used the darker shade in Essence's Eyebrow Stylist Set for fill in any sparse areas.
• Taking the blush from Sleek's Face Form Contouring Palette in Light, I blended it out on the apples of my cheeks, then highlighted my cheekbones with MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle. 
• Using a Sonia Kashuk Lip Brush, I lined my lip liner with Barry M's Lip Paint in 156, then filled in the rest with the same colour. 

Products Used:

Outfit of the Night:

Striped Leggings: H&M (€12.99)
White Vest: Primark (€9)
Rose Gold Watch: Stand at The Outlets at Orange, California ($40)
Heeled Chelsea Boots: Primark (€20)

Do you have a go-to look for Christmas nights out? Be sure to let me know in the comments! 

Until next time, & Merry Christmas,
Elle. 

Find me on:

Twitter - Tumblr - Instagram @ellebolger - Bloglovin'

Manicure Monday #6

This week's manicure is one of my all time favourite polishes. It's Revlon's Nail Enamel in the shade 185 Sweet Tart.

This polish is a blue-toned, almost neon, pink. It's a creme formula that gives a glossy finish and is opaque in one coat! This colour is very cute, and is a super fun way to bring neons into winter!

What are your thoughts on neons in winter? Are they a way to brighten up dreary days or a sad reminder of the past summer?

Until next time,
Elle.

Find me on:

Twitter - Tumblr - Instagram @ellebolger - Bloglovin'

Manicure Monday #5

This week's polish is Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure in 670 Midnight in NY. This can be purchased from any Sally Hansen retailer. I'm not too sure on pricing, as it varies, & my bottle was actually a gift!

Midnight In NY is a glossy, black polish. It's got a very subtle shimmer throughout, which can be seen when the light hits it. It's a great twist on the classic black polish! The formula is quite thick, and is opaque in two coats. The brush is wide too, which makes for a quick and easy application!

What polishes are you loving this week?

Until next time,
Elle.

Find me on:
Twitter - Tumblr - Instagram @ellebolger - Bloglovin'

REVIEW | 17 Miracle Matte Foundation

While I'm very adventurous with all other make-up, when it comes to foundation, I play it very safe! I've been using the Maybelline Fit Me foundation for close enough to a year now, and have found it hard to look past it! However, with the current 3 for 2 in Boots, I decided to get a little brave and branch out foundation wise!

I have an unhealthy obsession with matte finishes - lipstick, eyeshadow, powder, nail polish, you name it, I want it. But I'd never tried a matte foundation.. Until now! I purchased the 17 Miracle Matte Foundation in the shade Honey. It's marketed as having a "matte satin flawless finish" and "up to 16 hour shine control". I'm not going to lie, I was excited to use it. I had been stuck in my ways for too long, and I was ready for change!

My excitement, it seems, was short-lived. On first application, the foundation was cakey and patchy. Uh oh! After A LOT of blending and a dusting of translucent powder, it began to look somewhat presentable. Second time around, I applied a primer beforehand, and it was a disaster zone. My face looked muddy and discoloured in places. Not what you want before a night out. It looked so bad, I had to go back to my old faithful!

I'm not one to write products off without a fair trial, so I gave the Miracle Matte another shot. Third time's the charm, or so they tell me! Unlike the first two applications, I began by focusing on my cheeks, applying it to one at a time, and then the rest of my face. Surprisingly, it looked okay, for the most part. There were still some patchy areas near my jawline, it just needs some TLC!

My main issue with this foundation is it dries too quickly, making difficult to blend. No bueno! Because of it's quick drying, it also needs some time when applying. My best advice, take your time, go in stages! Coverage wise, it's a nice everyday foundation, I just prefer a higher coverage. When I'm determined to like something, I will not stop until I find some sort of redeeming quality!

Have you tried any matte foundations? Did you have better luck than me?

Until next time,
Elle.

Find me on:

Twitter - Tumblr - Instagram @ellebolger - Bloglovin'