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...

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 :-)

essence Gel Nail Kit - review

In the interest of pure research, you understand, I purchased the essence Gel Nail Kit.  This is the second of two posts today, as mentioned I didn't get a chance to organise a blog swap this month... so without further ado, I give you my review;  largely, A Story Told Through Pictures* :-)

(* pic-heavy post follows)

Chanel Collection Reflets d'Été (Summer 2014) - preview

This is a sizzling hot colour-drenched Summer collection in radiant pinks and oranges, dazzling golds and bronzes.  It's what Summer actually was last year in Ireland.  It's what I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for this year (a gal can wish).  The collection is one I eagerly await each year (who am I kidding, I await all Chanel collections!) and sees products, as per usual, in each of the lips-eyes-face-nails categories...

Illamasqua Summer 2014 - preview

OK so I'm a weensy bit late with this one.  Illamasqua's Summer launch is all about matte this year.  I love Illamasqua, they're ever-directional, don't follow trends, fly in the face of the norm, and definitely no stranger to all things theatrical when it comes to makeup.  So, instead of the usual golden-bronze shiny dewy skin of most summer collections, we see, interestingly, matte, matte, matte, and a majorly-inspired-by-the-80's campaign.

Four matte blushers, three matte lipstains, a matte primer and a matte nail top coat.  Lovely hurling.  Let's delve in...

Whaaaaaaaaaaasup... the latest gossip

I have had a crucifyingly painful back for the last week - headaches abounding, pain so bad that frankly, I was close to tears the last couple of days.  The kind of pain that was making me feel dizzy, out of sorts and hard to concentrate.  This evening I finally managed to haul ass to the physio (actually a brilliant sports massage therapist) and she's worked some magic; pain is still there, but manageable, and back is sufficiently "unlocked" to allow me to start working towards something with it.  Anyhow, all of that is a precursor to explaining why this day's post is a little light; it's just a quick snapshot of stuff that's going on in the world at the moment, cosmetics-wise, that you might be interested in...

OPI 4 In The Morning - review

OPI 4 in the morning (satin finish) from Gwen Stephani for OPI

Oh how I love matte nails.  Well, this is, unusually enough, a satin (off-matte) finish, with enough texture to not be a dead matte, and enough depth to make it interesting.  This is from the Gwen Stephani collaboration around Christmas-time (2013) with OPI, but I’m only getting around to reviewing it now.

Paris Photo-blog (inc some purchases!)

Sign on the top of a building, a bit blurry but taken at speed, from a distance,
from a moving car on the way in from Charles de Gaulle to the city

A different type of post for me - a photo blog of a recent trip.  A lucky girl, me, I got to go to Paris for my birthday...

(Warning: Image-heavy post)

Chanel Spring 2014: The Vibrant Reviews (Diapason & Charivari)

Chanel Le Vernis #603/Charivari & Illusion d'Ombre #92/Diapason

Following on from MontyC's review of Chanel's Notes de Printemps pastel shades, which features "pastel and electric pinks [...] cheerful reds and vibrant purples", I travelled the "vibrant purples" path and, similar to Ms. MontyC, also purchased two products - the Illusion d'Ombre in Diapason and the Le Vernis nail polish in Charivari.  I had intended to add the other Illusion d'Ombre to my collection thus far, but it just kind of disappeared on me when I swatched it - so it was a no-go for me.  But Diapason now, that's my kinda shade :-)

Chanel Spring 2014: The Pastel Reviews (Impulsion & Ballerina)

Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Impulsion - from Notes de Primtemps spring 2014 collection

It may not look like it or feel like it but Spring has most definitely sprung!  Chanel said so.  And when Chanel speak, I listen.  They describe their new Spring Collection - Notes de Printemps (which is on all Chanel counters now - look here for the preview post) as a "colourful melody of rhythmic shades of pastel and electric pinks, as well as cheerful reds and vibrant purples".  I chose to go down the pastel pink path and picked up two products - the Illusion d'Ombre in Impulsion and the Le Vernis nail polish in Ballerina.  When I saw all the pictures of this launch appearing online, these were the two products I had my eye on and when I got the chance to see them "for real", I knew I'd made the right choice!    

Budget Gel Topcoats: catrice vs essence - review

Editor's Preamble: First post by the lovely Emer for our Funky Fridays with Emer series, which will occur every two weeks :-), featuring two fantastically cheap drugstore branded gel topcoats...

Firstly can I just say how honored I am to be allowed to pen my humble ramblings for Makeup for Dolls, I'm a huge fan!  Also I would also like to point out that neither a beauty expert nor scientist I be so please bear with me :)

I was delighted to try out these gel style top coats, mostly because I love beauty on a budget and if I can find something that I can do cheaply at home rather than pricey trips to the salon, then I'm all over it.  Also because I've found that I rarely even bother applying nail polish anymore - with my lifestyle it's chipped, dented or 'smooshed' (yes that is the technical term) within hours.  And that's after waiting over 30 minutes afraid to scratch my itchy nose in case I damage it, along with the usual trick of immersing my shivering digits in icy cold water.  And a top coat.

But hurrah, these gel-style top coats are the business!  Okay, they are not quite as durable as a "real'" gel top coat, nor are they as glossy, but to be honest I wasn't really expecting them to be.  But they do a damn good job nonetheless...

Inglot Berry Beautiful Spring Makeup Launch - preview

Inglot Berry Collection - campaign visual

Inglot's new Spring makeup launch is arriving in-store tomorrow, the 16th of January and features gorgeous matching new lipsticks, nail varnishes and eyepencils in warm berry shades, extending the darker shades of Wintertime into spring...

Inglot Sparkle Collection for Christmas '13

Inglot's new Christmas sparkle bar... ooooooooooooh!  Sparkles!  Wheeeeeeee!

Inglot's stunning Sparkle Collection for Christmas features new face, nail and body products, all glittery and sparkly, just in time for the festive season.  Who doesn't love love the glam of glitter at Christmas-time!  I don't care how young or old you are, we all love to sparkle a little or a lot.

BBBBB: British Beauty Blogger Beauty Box - review (part II)

BBB Beauty Box Contents
Image Courtesy of BBB site

This review was kindly provided by MontyC, who has guest posted a number of times in the past.  Thanks MontyC!  It's quite a long review and this is the second part of two... look here for the first part.

BBBBB: British Beauty Blogger Beauty Box - review (part I)

BBB Beauty Box Contents
Image Courtesy of BBB site

This review was kindly provided by MontyC, who has guest posted a number of times in the past.  Thanks MontyC!  It's quite a long review and this is the first part of two...

Bridal Survival Kit - review

Carmel and Oonagh at Galánta Events, an Irish Event Planning/Management Service business based out of Waterford are clearly doing well, as they've won the Best in New Business/Enterprise Award at the FAB Waterford Women in Business Awards in 2012.  I noticed their call out, some time back on a recent Irish blogger site, looking for guest contributors, and while I had my hands sufficiently full with my own posts at the time, a few clicks later I found something that caught my eye - a product they've put together called the Bridal Survival Kit.  Being involved closely with brides, I contacted them and asked them if they'd be interested in me reviewing it.  So they agreed, and kindly send me one in the post.

Collection Superstition de Chanel - purchases & swatches

Sticking to the plan... mostly :-)

Well, I previewed this collection recently and figured I'd probably want a few items - to look at the new Stylo Yeux eyeliner and to buy the new Volume de Chanel Mascara - both in a khaki-bronze shade.  I had also wanted to look at the nail polish, Le Vernis, in Alchemie (in khaki and gold), to complete the matching triad.  And just to swatch, nothing more, the Ombre Essential shade of Gri-Gri.

I came close enough, with my final purchases, to my original plan :-)

Irish Nails & Makeup for the ODI

Those who don't follow cricket won't know that ODI stands for One Day International.  Today, arguably the biggest Cricket match ever held in Ireland sees us (the Irish!) hosting them (the English) in Malahide Castle in North County Dublin for a limited overs match in which two Irish players feature on the English squad, in which the English are arguably featuring their second squad, and in which I sincerely hope we win...

I shall be there, cheering on the Boys In Green, with my OH to whom I've explained the rules of cricket at least a dozen times, and with whom I'm fairly certain I'll lose my rag if I have to explain them again :-)