Save or Splurge? | Benefit's They're Real! Mascara Dupe.

Yano how people get adrenaline rushes when they jump out of planes and go chasing after twisters and tornadoes? My adrenaline rushes comes from Netflix, kittens and bargain beauty finds. The latter is probably what you're here for, and if you just so happened to be looking for dupe for the Benefit They're Real! mascara, then Gracey gotcha covered. (Sidenote: if you were looking for the former, my twitter is @GraceyOConnell and I am 100% down for chatting about RuPaul's Drag Race or Buffy)

I have to be honest, I can justify spending a lot of money on a makeup brush or a very decent foundation, but when it comes to mascara I wince at spending anything more than 15 euro on it. I go through them so quickly, leave them in my boyfriend's, in my mam's house, in my own house - I'm constantly having to rush into Boots and pick up a new one because I forgot the one I had just opened 2 weeks ago. Best believe I did ordinary level maths for my leaving cert but also best believe that in makeup maths, that's a lot of mascara and if I were to do that with high end mascaras well... that would just be too esssspensive. Also, I'm gonna say what we're all thinking here and declare that I rarely notice a difference in high or low end mascaras. Budget brands (like Rimmel and Maybelline, my FAVEZZZ if you were wonderin') have such great formulas and uniquely innovative wands that I'm happier with a 12 euro mascara than I am with a €30+ one because I'm saving money but getting good lashes out of it... Lancôme Hypnose Drama, I am looking at you, you overrated little heartbreaker.

Top 5 | Blushes for Autumn/Winter.

I know, I KNOW. I pretty much fell off the face of the earth this past week or so.. I'm so sorry! I moved into a new house on the other side of the country, started back for my second year of college last week and had a friend staying with me all weekend so I had zero time to blog. That, and I've had 2 novels and 19th Century French poetry to deal with since last week. I'm hoping I'm now back into a semi regular blogging schedule again. I'm finding it difficult to balance that and college, but I'll make it work! Anyway, onto the good stuff... blush! I did a post on my top blushes for spring/summer and decided I would do one for autumn/winter too. I tend to go for more muted tones on my cheeks at this time, and go for a heavy contour and highlight. With it being the season for dark lips, however, I still think it's important to have some bit of colour on the cheeks, to stop your face from looking very washed out.

Mini Reviews | 5 Products I've Used Up (Empties #1)

Before I get into this post, I have to apologize for slacking on blog posts since coming home from France. I hate making excuses, but I'd been super busy showing my friend around Galway and Dublin for the week, then travelling back up to Galway for house related/moving/college things and finally trying to see all of my friends from home before we go our separate ways for the college year again - phew. I thought it would be easier to fit blogging into that schedule but I was mistaken, I'll be much more prepared next time. It killed me not being able to blog for a little over a week!
In any case, this is my first ever Empties style post... I'm not sure how enjoyable they are to everyone else but I find them incredibly useful. The concept is a little weird, basically looking into the contents of someone's beauty bin but Empties posts are a great way to get an idea of someone's fully formed opinion on a used up product. Most importantly, you get to know if the person would buy it again... and sure isn't that the main thing?! I've decided to keep it to 5 products to try and make this post somewhat short and sweet.

FOTD | Lucky Green Feathers.

Another quick FOTD - I actually intended on doing a whole step by step for this, then got really into it and realised when it was pretty much finished that I hadn't taken a single photo of the thing (genius). Anyway, I posted it on Instagram and did say I'd post some up-close photos and product details along with it so... here you go! Green is a colour I rarely use in makeup so I'm trying to get out of that rut. I used a light green on the lid with a deep green in the crease. I wanted a little more colour and so added the purple the whole way along the lower lashline. It's actually a very easy look - 1 lid colour, 1 in the crease, 1 on the lower lashline etc. I finished the eyes off with a pop of gold in the inner corner to compliment both the green and purples and paired it with a nude lip! I'll have a few step by step pictorials coming up soon hopefully, I'm doing some pre-written blog posts before I go off to France on Monday so if you have anything you'd like to see then please let me know :)

Shout out to Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade for a strong brow game.

Products Used:

• Urban Decay Primer Potion - Eden
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow(s) - Naked 2 (transition shade) Foxy (browbrone highlight) Half Baked (inner corner) 
• MAC Eyeshadow(s) - Lucky Green (lid) Plumage (crease)
• Urban Decay Glide-On Pencil - Ransom (waterline and lower lashline) this colour is actually no longer available since they redid their pencils but Psychedelic Sister would work well, if not even better considering I set the pencil with the same shadow!
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow - Psychedelic Sister (lower lashline)
• Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade - Dark Brown (review here)
• Benefit Blush - Hoola (bronze and contour)
• Benefit Cha Cha Tint (review here) 
• Kiko Rock Attraction Blush - Pearly Rock (highlight)
• MAC Myth + Creme Cup (obsessed with this lip combination at the moment!)

Follow me on Instagram (@LongHairAndLashes) to see more FOTD's and other makeup stuff :) 

How To | Perfect, Glowing Summer Skin & Lips.

I have to admit, I'm a matte skin girl at heart. However, when it comes to summer I really like to switch things up and go for a more 'glowy' look to the skin - not necessarily dewy, and definitely not oily or shiny! This generally involves creams and lighter formulas rather than piling powder on top of powder. This routine looks so fresh on the skin and I absolutely love it. I've come up with a pretty solid routine that will suit both dry and oily skins (give or take 1 or 2 products!) Most people with dry skin will automatically gravitate towards this look, but even if you have an oily skin I'd suggest giving it a go... or incorporating some of these products into your routine for a summer glow to the skin! I decided to include some of my favourite lip products for summer, too. Skin and lips are always a big thing for me during the hotter months and although I like bright lipsticks for summer nights, I also enjoy 'easy' sheerer washes of colour for during the day. If you're interested in seeing some of my top picks for bright summer lipsticks, I have a blog post all about it here. In the meantime, if you have any summer skin product recommendations then I'd love to hear them!

Favourite Blushes for Summer - powder, cream, gel, liquid.

I thought I'd follow up my nail polish and lipstick post with one for Summer blush. In my opinion, blush completes any makeup look and Summer can be a good time to break out some brighter cheek colours in different finishes and textures. Some foundation/concealer or powder, mascara and blush is generally my go to Summer look and blush really brightens up the face when you're going (next to) nakey faced. I wanted to include different colours of blush from a few different price points and wanted to add powder, cream, gel and liquid formulas that I like to cater for a variety of skin types. Although I do wear some pink in the Summer (and it looks great on pretty much anyone!) I LOVE to wear coral/orange/peach because I typically don't reach for them in the Winter. I think these colours look great in the Summer on a tan skin, but I have found some peach and coral shades that will work on even the fairest of milk bottles! Hope you enjoy :)

May Beauty & Non-Beauty Favourites ft. Lush, Benefit, MAC, Wet n Wild.

I usually see new 'Favourites' posts online and think "Is it into a different month already? That flew!", but I feel like this month was really dragging and I'm glad to be seeing the (proper) start of Summer 2014! I think May went by so slowly because it was the first full month at home while the majority of my friends were still doing exams. Cabin fever definitely set it and there's only so many times you can hang out with your cat/watch Mad Men before you need proper social interaction! This month was still (somewhat) eventful, though. I went to a College Ball in Kilkenny (Get Ready With Me post here) and as of yesterday, I am now employed for the Summer months! Now, all of my friends are home for 3 months and we're all reunited (cue Peaches and Herb reunited and it feels so gooooood).

I wanted to include a mix of make-up, hair, skincare and non-beauty related items in this post, whilst giving you a round-up of my month. I love blogs that give you a bit more of an insight into the person themselves - my life which sometimes revolves around more than just makeup (but not too often!). With June just around the corner, I'm hoping to have some more lifestyle/travel blog posts (documenting my trip to Italy - places to go, pasta to eat!) and have some summer makeup related entries. As always, any requests/questions/recommendations/feedback is always welcome via Twitter/email/whatever! My Twitter/Instagram is @DrnkTxtRmeo_ and my email is LongHairAndLashes@gmail.com :)

Start of Summer = any excuse to make your own flower headband. 1 sewing kit, 8 fake flowers and a whole lotta patience later... Wearing Flat Out Fabulous (MAC) on my lips with Magenta lipliner.

College Ball, Kilkenny.

May Favourites!

Get Ready With Me: College Ball.

Last week I went to Kilkenny city for a dinner/dance ball type thing for my boyfriend's college. It was such great fun... good music, good food, good company and above all, a really good excuse to get my roots done (eventually!) and get dressed up. I wasn't going to do a post like this, but I thought it was a nice way to make my blog a bit more personal, whilst still keeping it on the beauty spectrum. I also got a couple of questions regarding my dress/makeup etc on the night so I thought it would be a good idea to lump it all together and show you everything; jewellery, makeup, nails. Essentially, an OOTD, FOTD and NOTD post all in one. I think these posts could be good for special occasions and might even give people a few ideas for debs/prom/wedding season coming up. Hope you enjoy! :)

Shane borrowed an American's hat and thought he was the next Dirt Nasty. 

Face of the Day (FOTD)

About a month ago I posted this FOTD on Instagram (@drnktxtrmeo_) and thought it would be a good idea to list the products used on here. This look is a very deep purple on the inner and outer corners with a rose-gold accent on the centre of the lid. Not a shape I typically go for and the lack of winged liner would normally make me have heart failure but it's always fun to try different things - after all, it's only make-up... nothin' permanent! ;)

                                                                 
                                                                  Products Used:
Cheeks:

• Mac Prism and Harmony blushes (contour)
• Nars Orgasm blush
• Mac Lightscapade (highlight)

Eyes:

• Urban Decay Primer Potion (original)
• Urban Decay Shadow Pencil - Delinquent (base)
• Inglot shadows #325, #375
• Mac Shadowy Lady, Carbon
• Urban Decay Strange, Nooner, Trick (Naked3)
• Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner - Zero
• Benefit They're Real mascara
• Ardell natural demi-wispies 

Lips:

• Mac Creme Cup (cremesheen)

 Follow me on Instagram: http://instagram.com/drnktxtrmeo_