cheap and cheerful makeup recommendations

Please Note: Unfortunately this post was one of the blogs (pre.28th of July 2014) that suffered a 'Blogger' crash.. which saw all images vanishing! I have tried to replace the images from the crash as best as I can. However images of me with products etc.. may be lost as a result and therefore the images you see may not match the text(which is original and was not effected by the crash). My blog has therefore had to start fresh and all blogs starting from July 29th 2014 are correct with the appropriate, original and correct images but unfortunately the same can not be said for images lost in posts before this date. Apologies for any inconvenience caused. Shahira xo

Hey Blog Readers! 

I realise that at Primark prices you can't go too wrong with Penney's make-up because lets face it even if you don't like something you haven't busted the bank ;) but there are some products that I would recommend against others and also some products that I actually use in replace of some other high end brands... SO I thought I'd share them with you :)

The brand I always go for in Primark is Catrice.

Catrice products that I have tried and tested

I am a concealer freak -It's the one item I have to have in my bag at all times... put me on a desert island and tell me I can only have one make-up product and concealer is what I'd go for because it covers dark circles and imperfections.

Concealer Palette: 
I love this cheap and cheerful concealer palette and I use this before foundation. The main colours that I go for here are the salmon/pink which I use to correct any "purpleness" in the under eye area and the green to conceal any redness. The other colours are ok to but I prefer a thicker consistency for my actual concealer and I use this palette more as a 'corrector'. I have used a similar make-up forever palette and I would give them both the same review but I wouldn't re-purchase the make-up forever as it is too expensive for what it is and this one is just as good!

A must for me is the Catrice Camouflage Cream-This is seriously excellent and it's very comparable to MAC studio finish concealer! It has a thick consistency but it covers everything and it's easy to blend :)

The catrice light reflecting highlighter is again good for brightening up the under eye area. I would recommend this product as it is purse friendly and it does work however it is not as comparable as the Camouflage cream to higher end products.  Personally I would love this product if they did it in a lighter or more yellow toned colour. 

'Better than flase lashes' mascara: 

I don't believe in buying expensive mascara... I've done it before but the truth is you can get a 'cheapy' that is just as good if not better! I love this mascara by Catrice, although it might not be for everyone because it makes your eyelashes really thick and full! and it may be too clumpy for some people's taste (due to it's large brush )however, personally, I love big brushes on Mascara's -the bigger the better :) 

A big thumbs up goes to the Catrice Eyeliner! 'Smokey eyes'
I would recommend this product above other highend brands because it is as great as it's cheap and cheerful price!! It glides on perfectly and with precision but the brush on the end allows you to also smoke it out! I really don't like Mac 'Smoluder' -Don't get me wrong it's a good product in terms of it's pigment, colour and ease of use but it wears down ridiculously fast which means you have to keep a topper handy and it's gone almost as soon as you've brought it! I would go for the catrice product over mac!

 

Liquid liner

The Catrice liquid eyeliner is good and I especially like the waterproof version.. I would say it's as good as any other of it's design however I would tend to prefer a marker pen for liquid liner (I believe you can get these at catrice so I may try it in the near future ;) ) 

Prime and Fine

I don't like spending much on primers. Prime and Fine feels beautiful and silky smooth on the skin however the tub packaging isn't the most hygienic so you have to be careful not to contaminate it. My favorite primer is Gosh 'velvet touch'. 

Foundation: 

The photo finish foundation, is in my view, only an 'OK' product. It is very nice on the skin and it looks fab! however, I don't like the perfumed smell as I find overly perfumed makeup makes me break out. With that said everyone's skin is different so perhaps it may work for you.. It's a good back-up if you run out of your usual foundation. 

I don't like the Catrice 'Made to stay' highlighter pen. It does give a beautiful shine however it's quite like a crayon in consistency and it doesn't blend well! I find this can leave harsh lines and look uneven, unblended and messy. This product also flakes easily!  I don't think the shine alone from this is worth it and I won't be picking it up again. 

The thin highlighter pencil is a little better however I only use this product directly under the eyebrow and nowhere else! I'm not sure if I would buy this again... I do like it as a eyebrow bone highlight but that's about it.. I guess you could also dab a bit on the cupids bow but it is the same as the above product in consistency and 'blendability'.. it's simply thinner in it's packaging and therefore more precise. 

Remember "all that glitters is not gold"... Just because a product is expensive it doesn't make it good and it certainly doesn't make it better than some of it's cheaper dupes... sometimes you can get cheap products which are very comparable if not better than some high end products. After all...make-up is made with a lot of the same ingredients  regardless of what the brand is and it's really a matter of trial and error to find out which are worth the splurge and which you can get without breaking the bank ;) 

Lots of Love, 

Shahira Xo

If your company would like a review or specific blog-post on a product, treatment, service or any other item to appear on www.shahirabarry.com email info@shahirabarry.com with the details.

Selfie overload -BTS at Boudoir girls photoshoot

Please Note: Unfortunately this post was one of the blogs (pre.28th of July 2014) that suffered a 'Blogger' crash.. which saw all images vanishing! I have tried to replace the images from the crash as best as I can. However images of me with products etc.. may be lost as a result and therefore the images you see may not match the text(which is original and was not effected by the crash). My blog has therefore had to start fresh and all blogs starting from July 29th 2014 are correct with the appropriate, original and correct images but unfortunately the same can not be said for images lost in posts before this date. Apologies for any inconvenience caused. Shahira xo

Yup put me on a photoshoot with a great makeup artist and hairstylist and I'm bound to overload with 'selfies'... I love getting my hair and make-up done: it's so much fun and I find it very relaxing.. I'm fairly good at doing my own and I've often thought of doing a make-up course because I watch YouTube tutorials more than I watch TV!!and I have a true love and passion for make-up but never the less, while I like messing with make-up, I also love sitting back and having someone else make-me-up :)

This Shoot was setup by Natalie of Boudoir Girls to showcase some of the costumes and props they have for their different themes whether its for a Hen party at the hotel or a special set that can be created at the studio for a boudoir shoot yes you can get photographed on a four poster or in a shoe closet..anything goes! . Boudoir Girls are also celebrating 3 years in business so some fun images to follow for that in the new year. Makeup looks can be created for different themes which boudoir girls can arrange for your party. They work with a large group of super talented and professional artists and hairdressers all over the country. For this shoot Fiona Coyne worked her magic on the Makeup (Heaven Scent ) and Lisa Walsh did an amazing job on the Hair. 

Contact details: Boudoir girls 087 6332611 Heaven Scent 091 567192 Lisa Walsh 087 4184622 


Here's an overload of selfies from BTS ;)

I loved this makeup look-It's soft, girly and pretty! Fiona used airbrush foundation with an airbrush gun which was pretty awesome!-I need it in my life :)

Everyone always tells me to wear red lippy more often.. but it's something I tend to avoid (except on the Christmas holidays). Don't get me wrong it's gorgeous on lots of people but I'm not sure it's my fav on me because I have such dark hair and quite sallow skin I think it can be quite harsh... that plus keeping red lippy on and not all over your face is a MaHOOsive pain in the butt!! Never the less I was happy to change it up for part of the shoot because a shoot is a more controlled environment where someone is keeping an eye if it's on your face or your teeth..at one point I did manage to get it on my nose ;) :P lol 

Líosa did a great job on my hair which was done in oldschool 1940's waves with a deep parting to the side!x

The caviar lips were so cool for this look! -I think it turned out really well and thankfully they stayed on :) 

I would highly recommend both Fiona and Líosa if you're looking to get your hair/make-up done in the Galway area! I would also highly recommend a photoshoot with Boudoir girls  as your  Hen party activity or just as a treat for yourself to get a pampering makeover and some nice photos with the girls. It's Suitable for Birthday’s, reunions, girls nights in etc... etc... - See more at www.boudoirgirls.net

I was booked on the Boudoir girls shoot through my talent agency-Talent Base, and it was a very handy job for me because it was in Galway so it didn't involve too much travelling-YAY :)
I had such a lovely, girly day! everyone was so friendly and I'm friends with Sian and Katherine so it was fun to work with them! Natalie (the photographer) is such a lovely woman and I can safely say I've never had dinner cooked for me on a shoot before so that was a welcome surprise and so thoughtful!

It was a true pleasure to work with all involved!

Left to right: Líosa, Sian, Katherine, Myself, Fiona and Natalie 

Lots of Love, 

Shahira Xo

If your company would like a review or specific blog-post on a product, treatment, service or any other item to appear on www.shahirabarry.com email info@shahirabarry.com with the details.