My Sister’s Favourite Makeup

21 Jan

This week I am sharing my beautiful sister Sinead’s, top makeup picks. When she was a teenager, and I was visiting Ireland from London, she would raid whatever I had in my makeup bag. Our love of makeup is something we have always had in common. Sharing our passion to find the perfect foundation, the next best eye shadow palette, and generally anything new, we try, that works.

These days, I am the one that is mostly taking tips from her. She has definitely mastered how to apply the perfect makeup look. There has been many a bride whose’s makeup she has skilfully nailed, for their special day. She has a talent when it comes to doing her own and other people’s makeup, that’s for sure. For my milestone birthday last year, she was on hand for full glam. Just how I like it.

So after a long FaceTime call earlier this week, here are her top picks, strap in there is a lot! The key message is, when you are north of thirty five, hydration for the skin is rule number one. This guarantees a nice glowy finish and of course, makes your skin look younger and plumper.

Let’s start with Primers, why use one when you can use three, her words! MAC Radiant Primer - This gives you a lovely hydrated look and is an excellent base for foundation. Primark, they do an excellent dupe for the Bobbi Brown vitamin enriched moisturiser, which is way more affordable and just as good. The Elf primer is excellent for around your nose and any large pores. It’s tacky so perfect for where you want your foundation to really stick.
Next up Foundations, the search has been long and expensive but the top runners are Nars Light Reflecting Foundation or MAC Studio Radiance, they are both excellent. They go on well, give medium coverage and when wearing, it photographs really well. They don’t break up and are both hydrating. As you get older you need hydrating foundations, no debate. Currently Sinead’s front runner is Nars.
Inglot undereye concealer, light and good for mature eyes, never looks dry, it sits nice and has a moist texture. Hydration under the eyes is so important, if your concealer looks dewy, it’s a game changer, your undereye will look younger and brighter.
The Inglot eye kohl pencil is for your waterline, it instantly brightens your eyes, and it’s waterproof, perfection.
Sosu cosmetics, an Irish brand who do a super contour stick , it is so easy to blend and it looks very natural, it gives you a lit from within glow. Yes please, I hear you say.
Nudestix Nudie Bloom - If there is one blusher you should own it’s this one, it gives you a nice dewy look, and gives youth back to your skin, which we are all here for.
Nyx Brow Glue this is a little tint glue, you apply to dry brows and then you can fill in a few brow hairs with the Nyx lift & snatch pen. Your brows won’t move.
Maybelline instant eraser eye concealer, great for brightening up and blending into your foundation.
Shein She Glam insta powder in bubble gum, this is a brightening powder which helps with blending your blush into your makeup, an alternative is Huda Easy Bake in poundcake which is another loved powder.
Trigwell, such an amazing puff for powder, presses the powder well into your makeup rather than letting it sit on top of your skin. Great addition to your makeup tools.
Kash Beauty Eyeshadows; the midnight metals pallet, with nice cool tones and a small bit sparkle, nothing overwhelming, you can create a couple of good looks. They stay on lovely blend great, easy to use.
P Louise wedding wish palette - a huge pallet, the shimmers are unreal, it has neutral, warm and cool tones, Not one for travelling.
Sigma stick for priming your lids, your eyeshadow doesn’t move, and it doesn’t crease, it neutralises your lids if you have any redness, and gives you a lovely base to apply your eyeshadow. If you have oily lids this is the product you need to sort that.
Mascara - Sinead is convinced spending money on expensive mascara’s just isn’t worth it, so the pick for mascara is Collection Lash Surge, affordable and give a nice full effect without being clumpy. On the list to try is Mac extended play, meant to be brilliant for lower lashes.
Setting spray - Elf is brilliant for its staying power, and urban decay all nighter takes away the powder look and melts all your makeup together.
Lips - Nude - MAC Cork lipliner and MAC honeylove lipstick. Red Combo - MAC D is for Danger with liner Brick
Lashes - 3/4 Eyelure 008, Full lashes are not cool, 3/4 is where it’s at, use the glue it comes with its handy to chuck in your bag for a night out. Also top tip - the mini glue is it great for festival season when gluing down those gems. Bring on Glastonbury.
Freckles - To make your skin look skin like drawing your freckles back on it something that is definitely a trend. What Sinead likes is that it brings a bit more skin back, post applying your foundation, and brings back a more natural look. Use Nyx brow pen to draw some freckles back in.