Malin+Goetz cleanser, moisturiser, lip balm - review

I was thrilled when I saw this set of three products from Malin+Goetz coming free with a magazine during the summer because, you know, they’re fancy.  And I’m soooo fancy:-)  It’s only recently though that I got around to using them.  After the jump for the low-down...

Sisley Express Flower Gel Mask - review

For today's Mondays with MontyC, I'm revisiting my current favourite brand (Sisley) and talking face masks, and one in particular, their Express Flower Gel mask.  Masks are a quick, easy and faff-free way of giving your skin a much needed boost of <<insert whatever you feel it needs>>.  For me that will always be hydration and glow (love me a bitta glow).  If you don't know by now, my skin is normal to dry and sensitive (and like most people's skin, it's drier throughout the winter months) and this recent discovery was an instant hit.

Sisley Black Rose Precious Face Oil - review

For today's Mondays with MontyC, a recent "in lieu of a winter coat" purchase (see below!) is this one, the Sisley Black Rose Precious Face Oil.  Let's get the price out of the way now upfront, because as most of ye will know, Sisley ain't cheap.  It's €162 (for a mere 25ml).  Make of that what you will, but before you do, hear me out...

Lancôme Gel Éclat Clarifying Cleanser - review

This Friday I'm in love with the Lancôme Gel Éclat Clarifying Cleanser.  The is the best cleanser I've ever had the pleasure of using.  I'm sitting here trying to think of adjectives worthy enough, let's just say I'm impressed.

Charlotte Tilbury Multi-Miracle Glow - review

For today's Mondays with MontyC, I'm revisiting the Charlotte Tilbury range of products with a new pot of wonder I bought recently, her Multi-Miracle Glow cream, which she describes as a "cleanser, mask and balm for baby soft skin".

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Dynamic Hydration Serum - First Impressions

For today's Mondays with MontyC, I'm talking about Vichy's Aqualia Thermal Serum.  I've been meaning to get my hands on this for I don't know how long now.  What prodded my brain into action was Instagram; more to the point Sali Hughes' Instragram picture of this product, along with two other favourite products of mine (Chanel's Hydra Beauty Nutrition (moisturiser) and Clarins Blue Orchid (face oil)), all of which she had used that day.  Sali (among others) have been talking this serum up for ages... and I'm happy to report that it really is all that... and now it's my turn.  

Vichy Idealia Eyes - review

After reading Siobhán's preview of Vichy Idealia Eyes I was eager to give it a go because (a) my eyes generally look I've been up partying or crying or both, (b) I find Vichy products to be reliable, and (c) refer to point (a)...

Beauty Tag: Would You Rather...

For today's Mondays with MontyC, I spotted this great tag ("Would You Rather...") recently on the gorgeous blog Luxe Life Aspirations by the super stylish (and fellow skincare obsessive) Michelle and I thought it would be fun to tackle these questions myself.  I like beauty tags.  I think they let you open up a bit more than a usual blog post.  So here goes!

Benefit The Porefessional Pro Balm - review

Good morning Friday Friends, this week's post is a review of Benefit's The Porefessional Pro Balm which is designed to reduce the appearance of (yup you've guessed it) pores...

MontyC's Monthly Favourites: October 2014

           MontyC's October Favourites           

October has been another mental busy month with work for me so the products mentioned here are combination of old faves and new discoveries. But believe me they all earn their keep and that's why I love 'em.  So here goes...

Tom Ford Eye Colour Quad in Cognac Sable - review

For today's Mondays with MontyC, I'm revisiting one of my absolute favourite make up brands, Tom Ford, and an eyeshadow quad called Cognac Sable, which as the name suggests, is all about the golden browns.

Sali Hughes "Pretty Honest" book - review

For today's Mondays with MontyC, we're looking at... a book review, of all things!  Bear with me...

When it comes to cosmetics, be it skincare or makeup etc, there are a bewildering number of products available to us.  Just walk up and down the aisles of your local supermarket, pharmacy or department store and count how many brands you see.  And then count how many ranges there are in each brand.  And how many products in each range!  If you've reached a point where you're thinking it's time to up your skincare game, what do you do?  If you think it's high time you started a proper skincare routine, where do you even start?  Maybe it's cosmetic surgery you want to know about... or you've got adult acne... or you need a new foundation, the questions are endless...

Here at Make Up For Dolls, like a lot of other blogs, we try to help out with honest reviews of products we buy and put to the test.  These are not magazine "reviews" which are frequently just paid promotions.  Most blogs (I do say most!) are honest and try to give a genuinely balanced opinion of a particular product.  And one of the longest serving and most respected of us all, the journalist, broadcaster, Guardian columnist and all round Welsh legend that is Sali Hughes, has written a book called "Pretty Honest" to answer some more of these questions.

Vichy Dermablend Corrective Compact Cream Foundation - review

Although I'm not usually one for high coverage foundations - recurring nightmares of the great (and recurring) Max Factor Panstick Disaster of my youth - I went wild and tried the new(ish) Vichy Dermablend Corrective Compact Cream Foundation, that's quite a mouthful!

Clarins Ombre Matte #5 Sparkle Grey - review

Very quick review today of another of the Clarins Ombre Matte shades, which have been available as part of the Autumn Ladylike Collection from Clarins... I've already used and reviewed two of these here as part of a Look of the Day post, today is the turn of #5 /Sparkle Grey.

with flash

without flash

This really is precisely the kind of shade and finish I love - as you can see, it's a mauve-and-brown toned grey, veering into that group of shades described as "taupe".  I bought this as it's the only one of the Ombre Mattes which has a bit of a (slight) frosted schparkle to it (it's not an annoying OTT fally-outy type frosting, never fear) and I did love the two matte Ombre Mattes I tried out (plus, I found myself back home in the sticks with ne'er an eyeshadow with me but a Clarins concession at the local pharmacy... handy out).

without flash

with flash

... as you can see from the pics, the flash shows off that slight reflection and reveals the mauvey-minky tone at the base of this shade.  I love it, I've been wearing it on its own as a schmeer of colour on my lids... together with a lighter shade and this in the outer corners as a subtle day-time blown-out smokey eye... on its own, built up at the lashline and pulled up and blended-out for a standard, classic smokey eye.

That's it!  Told you it'd be a quick one today!

MontyC's Monthly Favourites: September 2014

Welcome to my September Favourites!  This month my favourites are made up of tried and tested products that I use again and again and if I'm under pressure for time as I know they will work for me every single time I use them.  They rock.

Shu Uemura Paddle Brush - Review & Giveaway!

So lots of recent trips to the salon to get my hair in order.  It was the summer, so beachy, slightly messy, boho hair, slightly too long hair (that really needed a tidy but what odds) was just fine.  And as it also kept catching in the crook of my elbow every time I bent my arm, and was therefore driving me berzzzzzzzzzerk, it was time for the chop.  Although I hate cutting my hair.

Keep reading!  The important bit is coming up!

bareMinerals bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation - review

Another foundation, I hear you ask?  Well, there's a lot of 'em out there to try to get through!  That's the way it goes with blogs - those of us who produce blog posts do so (a) with mind to what we're using ourselves - my trials and reviews (b) with a nod to what is coming out soon - my preview and promo posts, and with a strong desire to try out and report back on what's new.  bareMinerals bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation is one of those Brand New Things I've been wanting to try out.

Before I launch into the usual headers, I will say that this foundation produces a truly beautiful finish, it gives you a natural looking, youthful, refreshed, glossy, glowing, flawless finish.  It's so gorgeous.  Keep that in mind, because there are a few caveats along the way...

Irish Inglot Online Store Opens Tomorrow!

Inglot's Irland online store... opening its virtual doors 01 October '14

Try saying that three times!  As a lover of All Things Inglot, I'm delighted to pass on some PR news to you - Inglot's Irish online store launches tomorrow, 1st of October.  In conjunction with the launch, there are a handful of new products to report (brief preview below) and also another announcement, there's a Cork store, yes, Cork is finally getting their own Inglot store (MontyC, who lives in Cork, will no doubt be delirah!) - opening around the end of the month (October).  Happy days!

Dior Star Foundation - review

For today's Mondays with MontyC, I'm looking at another new foundation launched onto the world.  For me a good foundation isn't a treat, it's a hard working necessity and some of the new foundations to hit our beauty counters recently are really good.  So let's take a closer look at one of them - the brand new, sparkeldy, shiny*, Dior Star  Foundation.

*it's not actually sparkeldy or shiny

Percy & Reed Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Balm - review

I'll put my hands up and say that styling products and hair "stuff" in general has always made me nervous.  Now that I'm (literally) lying on a couch and exploring the subject, I think this may be due to having zilch money during my earlier getting-dolled-up-and-going-out years (pre-babies!), causing me to resort to, frankly, shite products, resulting in, frankly, shite hair.  Excuse my French but there is no other way to describe it...

One year on: Chanel the Trio

So it's actually slightly more than a year now since I started using this lovely trio of Le Jour, La Nuit, Le Weekend from Chanel, and it occurred to me that it would be a good idea to revisit how I've got on with them...

Suqqu Reset Cleansing Oil - review

I've tried a few of the Suqqu cleansers now at this point in time and this, the Reset Cleansing Oil, is the only one I've used which works as a makeup remover per se.

Vichy Idealia Eyes - preview

A new product just launched by Vichy promises that holy grail: a single step eye care that corrects dark circles, lines and shadows, and that has long-lasting results over continued use: Vichy Idealia Eyes.

Estée Lauder Advanced Time Zone Night Age Reversing Line/Wrinkle Cream - review

For today's Mondays with MontyC, I guess I have to come clean and agree that I've been on a bit of an Estée Lauder bender recently!  It's such an iconic brand, I felt the time had come to get to know the products a bit better.  Plus, and let's be honest here, for a skincare nut like me, it's really any excuse to try out another face product.  Today it's the turn of the Advanced Time Zone Night Age Reversing Line/Wrinkle Cream.

Illamasqua Matte Veil - review

Illamasqua Hydra Veil
Image coutesy of Illamasqua.com

Another review that has been a while coming, while I use (and absolutely love) the Illamasqua Hydra Veil (see review here), I don't tend to do many matte looks in the summertime, preferring minimum products and minimal finish to my skin in the warmer summer months.  As I wasn't sure about this one, I obtained a sample and have been trialling that the last week or so.

L -> R: Illamasqua Matte Veil, Illamasqua Hydra Veil
Image coutesy of Illamasqua.com

First-off, let's get this out of the way, I'm not going to get into comparing-and-contrasting the two Illamasqua Veil products (Matte Veil and Hydra Veil) - Illamasqua themselves have a great comparison post here if you're interested.

L -> R: Illamasqua Hydra Veil, Illamasqua Matte Veil

I will just say this: whereas Hydra Veil is a cooling gel that contributes to hydration in the skin, giving a slightly dewy glow to the skin, Matte Veil is more of a gel-cream, used to minimise oil, smooth-over pores and give a more matte finish to the skin.  They're intended to be used by all skin types, but if you have particularly oily skin, or parts of your skin which are oily, for example the T-Zone, then the Matte Veil would come into its own on those areas in particular.

To use it, just scoop out a pea-sized amount with the accompanying spatula (nice idea, but please please please put this into a tube Illamasqua!), apply it over the face with fingers or a brush (either or, both work fine), and presto, you've got a matte, and mattifying primer which I've personally found brilliant for my oilier patches, especially in the summer when my skin goes a bit nuts on the old oil front.

zoomed-in quite a bit... you can see that in the ringed section on the right, foundation is blended nicely (this took zero effort too, incidentally), whereas in the section on the left, the foundation is somewhat still sitting on the skin, and caught (and evident) in the hairs on the back of my arm

It really does lend a helping hand to makeup - foundation glides over this and blends far easier than if you were just applying directly to your skin, taking far less time to buff in, especially at the sides where your face is naturally covered in barely visible downy hair.  As with any good primer, make up lasts me longer (maybe a couple of hours longer), it applies easier, and I also find I'm using less foundation than I would without it (same as they Hydra Veil then).

It doesn't give you a dead matte finish, but I have tried it with a number of foundations (Illamasqua and other brands) and definitely have found that it dumbs-down any dewiness contained in those foundations - so yes, you can use it with other foundations, and yes, you'll get a slightly different finish with Matte Veil + Name Your Foundation than you would with just your "Name Your Foundation of Choice" and no Matte Veil.  Incidentally, I've also found that the Matte Veil will mattify your skin without eliminating any radiance/glow in the foundation you've pushed on top of it, so it'll eliminate any dewiness but not radiance.  Hence, not a dead finish.  Neat trick.

This is water-based, so will work better with water-based foundations, and it will also work with silicone foundations - but don't use it if your foundation is oil- or wax- based.  It doesn't contain any nasty ingredients (parabens) but it does seem to contain titanium dioxide, so watch out for flash-back.  I believe that £30 will net you a 30ml tub of this, same as the Hydra Veil.  Look here for my review of the Hydra Veil and here for more info on the Illamasqua site.

Chanel Le Lift - review

This review has been a long time coming.  I did a preview post about the new (ish) Chanel Le Lift cream (Chanel's latest foray into a genuinely new and very interesting type of anti-ageing skincare) back in January, it was launched in Ireland around the end of January and I started my own trial of the cream in February.  After a month, I could only conclude it did absolutely nothing for me.  I was gutted.  But I wanted Mammy MakeUpForDolls to try it out too, but as she was away off galivanting around the world for a while, it really was only in the last couple of months she's been using it.  And loving it. And raving about it.  Y'see, it's really catering for her skin age, rather than mine...

In the interest of full disclosure, this was a PR sample.

NYX Makeup Setting Sprays - preview

I have written before about makeup setting sprays (I have a couple that I use) and NYX have now released their very own Makeup Setting Sprays - two of them in fact, (1) a matte finish and (d) a dewy finish.

Vichy Normaderm Night Detox - preview

It has been a while since I've posted a preview post and this one certainly looks interesting - Vichy have released a new product, Normaderm Night Detox, the world’s very first detox & purifying night cream for oily skin ladies and gents.

Oily skin produces three times more sebum than that of normal skin, and skin produces most of its sebum around midnight, so you'll always find that your skin (whatever its type) is oilier in the morning than later on in the day.  This excess sebum is visible the next morning and is most noticeable around noon, as it takes around twelve hours for this excess sebum to be excreted to the surface of the skin.  If you have oily skin, this explains why your make-up always disappears by around about lunchtime!

MontyC's Monthly Favourites: August 2014

MontyC's August 2014 Favourties

Hi folks and welcome to a new planned monthly post featuring my favourites from the previous month (these may or may not be products I've blogged about during that month).  The products may not always be new but they'll still be winners by my reckoning!  As this is something I've really just cooked up, my August post is a little late, but the plan is that once a month, likely at the start of each month, I'll write a blog post on  my favourites the previous month in the Mondays with MontyC slot.

Suqqu Moisture Massage Scrub - review

As a reminder, swapping days with Emer (the ArtyMama) - her usual Friday post is here, go take a read if you haven't already!

According to their own PR, this Moisture Massage Scrub from SUQQU "enables you to get the benefits of daily face wash, massage and a scrub all in one easy step".  Although Suqqu products are not available in Ireland, with Selfridges just across the pond, and the miracle that is Internet Shopping, I reckoned I'd give it a review anyhow.

Estée Lauder Perfectionist Youth Infusing Makeup SPF25 - review

Today is the turn of the new kid on the block, Estée Lauder's Perfectionist Youth Infusing foundation.  Given MontyC's positive experience with the serum, and given my liking of Estée Lauder foundations in general (Double Wear Light is probably the best foundation for medium coverage for oilier skintypes - it's the one I've been using a lot of this year on brides), I was looking forward to trying this one out...

Clarins Multi-Active Day Early Wrinkle Correction Cream - review

Ed's note:
Yes, you read correctly :-)
I know it's not Friday - but since I came back from holidays things have been a bit kaplooey!  So Emer's usual Friday post is today, Wednesday - to give me a chance to catch up and get organised with posts for the remainder of the week... I will also be announcing a bunch of giveaway winners on Saturday next - so please go and enter if you haven't already!
Enough from me.  Back to Emer's words of wisdom :-)

---

I've noticed that since the birth of my second daughter eleven months ago, my previously fresh looking skin has become a little duller, a little saggier and fine lines have cropped up here and there.  Of course it doesn't help that the fact of this matter is making me frown, exacerbating the problem.  As dubious as I am about all these miracle creams, I'm still a sucker and I'm still going to try them out. This is where the Clarins Multi-Active Day Early Wrinkle Correction Cream comes in...

Écriture de Chanel Stylo Eyeliner - review

Chanel's latest liquid eyeliner (pen format).  My new BFF and E and E...

This stuff is really lovely.  Sorry, becuz cheap it ain't.  €33.50 will net you one of these beauties, which in my very humble opinion, is slightly Taking The P*** for an eyeliner.  That said, I took advantage of a bunch of BT points and snapped it up for a fraction of that, and well, I wanted to try it... in the interest of reporting back to you guys, of course.  Ahem...

Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Cream - First Impressions

When it was announced that Charlotte Tilbury's makeup and skincare was going on sale here in Ireland, I knew inside of a nano-second what product I would get (from my very long CT wish list :-)).  It was this, the Moisturiser Known As Magic Cream.  I'd read a lot about it and had seen her use it in her videos and the more research I did, the more I knew I wanted to try it (as I wasn't in a position to get a sample of it first to try out, and given that it's not inexpensive, I wanted to be as sure as I could before shelling out).  I have a few bits and pieces of Charlotte Tilbury makeup already and was impressed with them so I had high hopes for this.

Friday's Giveaway - the eyeshadows

Day five of my holidays, day five of my little mini giveaways.  Today is the turn of eyeshadows... a rather yummy eyeshadow quad to be exact :-)

Thursdays Giveaway - the eyeliners

Day four of my holidays, day four of my little mini giveaways.  Today, it's all about the eyes - eyeliners to be exact!

Wednesday's Giveaway - the pinks

Day three of my holidays, day three of my little mini giveaways.  Today, it's the turn of the pinks...

Tuesday's Giveaway - black n white

Day two of my holidays, day two of my little mini giveaways.  Today, it's all about the nails, in black and white!

Monday's Giveaway - the nudes

Sooooo... I'm on holidays.  Seriously, much-needed time off.  I've been guarding this period of two weeks like a hawk, refusing to take on any bridals or trials, even one or two that would have been nicely lucrative!  I've decided for the second of the two weeks to have mini, teeny tiny, bijoux giveaways each day... today is the turn of the nudes :-)

Cover | FX Illuminating Setting Powder (medium) - review

Oh how I love thee, let me count the ways!  This, Cover | FX Illuminating Setting Powder, is my latest "find", in Space NK I think I got it, in a recent-ish Harvey Nics event, in the goodie bag.  Of course, it's beyond too dark for me (this one is the medium shade), but it does the trick nicely as a lovely (slightly sheeny) bronzer.

Creme de la Mer: the three cream moisturisers - review

Creme de la Mer... The Trio: The original Moisturising Cream, the Moisturising Soft Cream and the Moisturising Gel Cream... all the same crazy price (€135) and all, I'm sorry to report, bloody brilliant :-)

Clarins Ladylike Collection: Look of the day

Rather than just doing a review of some of the Clarins Ladylike Collection pieces I've been trialling, I thought I'd do a quick Look of the Day post instead.  Bear with me... I've never done one of these before!

Note that mostly Clarins products were used for this tutorial, however some other products of course were also used.
Warning: picture-heavy post.

My favourite yellows

I have been waxing lyrical about yellows lately (here, here and here) - I am somewhat obsesseed!  And someone asked me why, as it's not a colour you'd get asked to use very often on Irish faces.  I actually love yellow - I think it's striking and unusual, but it's hard enough to get a decently pigmented one that translates from pan to face, and that lasts, so I'm always on the look-out...

Sisley Hydra-Global Intense Anti-Aging Hydration moisturiser - review

Last Friday was the turn of a newly formulated night cream, today on Mondays with MontyC we're turning back to a fantastic daytime offering, Sisley's Hydra-Global Intense Anti-Aging Hydration moisturiser.

Oh how I wish I didn't like this stuff so much!