Chanel Vitalumiere Liquid and Powder Foundation

I had been meaning to purchase the Vitalumiere Aqua foundation for a while, I had heard marvelous things about the beautiful light consistency and dewy finish, and I eventually got around to using up my Smashbox 15Hour foundation and thought it was time for a new addition to the makeup family. I had a long and lengthy chat with the manager of the Chanel counter and found myself veering towards the original Vitalumiere foundation, turned off by the Aqua version's sheer lightness, as I favour a fuller coverage. She explained that the Aqua is pretty much a step up from a tinted moisturiser, and while I relish a 'barely there' face in the summer months, I figured if I was splashing nearly €50 for a foundation, I might as well go the whole hog. I have been let down by tinted moisturisers in the past, controversially, the Laura Mercier number being one of them, and when she mentioned it was not too dissimilar, I had my mind made up.

The foundation itself, which Chanel describes as having extracts to boosts cell energy to enhance radiance, and light-reflecting pigments to smooth away imperfections, is lighter is consistency that some foundations I've tried. It doesn't provide as much of a glowy finish as I would've liked, and it's longevity is mediocre. On the plus side, it blends very well, and it delivers on coverage. I was advised to wear the Vitalumiere Powder Foundation along with the liquid version, although I have found that the combination of liquid foundation and powder foundation is quite excessive and cakey. For me, its either or, and not together.

The powder foundation, is light and gives a soft matte finish to the skin, which unfortunately I am not really a fan of. Its consistency is sheer and natural on the skin and provides light coverage when used with the powder brush, and medium coverage when used with the sponge. It's also quite the handy little compact to carry around for touch ups. 

So for days where I want a fuller coverage, I'll opt for the liquid, with a swish of powder on the top, and for days when I'm not particularly bothered about a full face, I'll swipe on a light dusting of the powder foundation.

Overall, I will always choose a liquid foundation over it's powder counterpart, I can't help it. There is something about liquid that I love and will always come back to. I do like this foundation, although I am quite fussy when it comes to each component and aspect of a foundation, and this one ticks half the boxes.

Have you tried this foundation?

x

The LBZD - Little Black Zara Dress

There is something about summer sunshine that makes me want to get the legs out and throw on a light little number, and when I spotted this baby in Zara last week, I'll have to admit I was a bit skeptical at first. It was hidden beneath an assemblage of floaty tops and other bits that were dreary and non-appealing, but it's halter neckline is what drew me to it, even though at first glance it reminded me of the 90's. 

It is simple and delicate and light, and I figured it would be a perfect dress for a summer's day or evening. Hung loose and non belted, it swallows me, and although this look works for some, it made me feel frumpy and shapeless, and so I opted for a tan belt. 

The back is split and kind of unusual, and I like this little detail. The only downside is that you have to brave it and go bra-less, or wear one of those bras with the clear back strap. A halter bra with a clear back strap may I add. How complicated. So I braved it.

It is quite short, although it hangs a teeny bit lower at the back, almost in a drapy tunic like fashion. I can see myself breaking this out quite alot over the next few months!

Dress - Zara 

Belt - Therapy for HoF 

Necklace - Topshop

Earrings - H&M 

In other news, I am attempting to grow out my hair and embrace the middle parting look everyone seems to be hopping on. I've been using the L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil and I really have noticed a difference to the general health and feel of my hair.

I also purchased some new Chanel Vitalumiere goodies that I tried out for the first time today and so far I am loving the glowy light look and feel on my skin.  

I hope everyone has been enjoying the sunshine! Hopefully you've had some sun where you are :)

 Follow me on Instagram if you want to see more regular updates @noonabean. 

 :) x

Hashtag.

Walk on the pier at Howth | Apple Parfait Dessert from work | New Laptop! | Sunday Brunching | Greystones Beach | Fishtail braid! | Denim shirt | Rhubarb Terrine | Leather and layers | YSL Rouge Volupte Treats | The biggest burger I have ever eaten | A sunny morning at Carton House | Stephen's Green Park | Magenta jeans | Petit Fours!

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Hope youre all having a lovely monday! :)

 x

Beauty Wishlist May

1.| 2.| 3.| 4.| 5.| 6.| 7.

May's Makeup Wishlist is kind of dominated by compacts, brights, and just really pretty pieces that seem like amazing investments. There are three, THREE Chanel beauty bits included here, because 1. They are so beautiful, and 2. I just really love Chanel. The pops of coral shades are just so summery and juicy that they make me so excited for summer, sun and the beach. Although Ireland is a bit of a disappointment when it comes to sunshine, the past few weeks have been quite bright and cheerful, albeit a little chilly, but these wishlist beauties make me rearing to be bronzed and bright lipped for the summer months!

001. Pierre Hardy for NARS Blush in Boys Don't Cry - This is a Limited Edition blush from NARS that just looks so stunning and vibrant that a little would probably go a very long way. I adore NARS blushes, and I adore bright blushes even more. Two birds, one stone!

002. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation - This foundation has actually been on a little secret wishlist of mine for a long time now. Chanel boasts that it gives a fresh, natural complexion, and I am all about a fresh natural complexion.

003. YSL Rouge Volupté Shine in Coral Intuitive - I have two other YSL Rouge Voluptés in my collection and I absolutely adore them. This coral number just oozes sunshine and I am really really lusting after this one.

004. Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder - I need this in my life; the new Chanel powder to hit the shelves will most definitely be a big hit this year; an additional product to provide a luminous and bronzed healthy glow for summer? Yes please.

005. Chanel Les Tissages de Chanel Blush Duo Tweed Effect in Tweed Sienna - Ok I am definitely on a Chanel roll this month! Look at the beauty of this blush! Classic Chanel tweed pattern pressed into a beautiful powder blush; it comes in four shades and I honestly want them all. The Sienna has a hit of orange though which I am I slightly more drawn to!

006. MAC Lipstick in Sounds like Noise - This Hayley Williams collaboration from MAC is similar to Morange in colour and just screams fun, loud and eccentric. More orange!

007. NARS Eyeliner Stylo in Carpates - I've been on the hunt for a new liner for a while; I've been faithful to my trusty Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel liner for almost two years now, and I feel like I need a bit of a change up! The stylo's come in a range of colours, but classic black is the one I'm after for a perfect cateye flick.

What is on your summer beauty wishlist?

Follow me for more regular updates on my Twitter or on Instagram @noonabean! 

 :) x

Fashion Wishlist April

1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | 8. | 9.

April's Fashion Wishlist comprises more brights than I have been sporting the last few months! Apart from the horrendously snowy/random weather we have been having here in Dublin lately, this week has been quite sunny and bright, and it's getting me all excited for the warmer months; hence the hot pink and the sunnies. I've been lusting after more shapely and sophisticated ensembles lately, adding a bit of eccentricity from my accessories.

001. Topshop Curved Panel Shirt - I love the shock of pink this shirt could bring to any outfit, I can see this paired tucked into a leather skirt or shorts for a night out. Also it reminds me of MAC's Impassioned lipstick, one of my favourites, and now I want it!
002. Topshop Skull with Crown Collar Tips - I usually favour a necklace but these collar tips look adorable!

003. YSL Gold Glass Ring - I've seen this ring in so many different colours, but I love the simplicity of the creamy white one, and you can't go wrong with a bit of YSL hand candy!

004. River Island White Mesh Bodycon Dress - I love how bright and fresh white can look, especially with a tan, and this block white dress would be a perfect alternative to the LBD for a fancy evening out. Want!
005. Kotur Morley Neon Lace Box Clutch - This clutch is so pretty! The lace panelling paired with the lime green and white detail struck me straight away, it's so bright and spring-y!
006. Topshop Jersey Wrap Dress - Mint green is my favourite colour, and I could see myself wearing this with so many colours and styles in the next few months; blazers, statement necklaces, ballet flats, I love it!

007. Topshop Metal Brow Cat Eye Sunglasses - I've veered towards cat-eye style sunnies the last year or two, and these retro looking specs are simple but the white detail on the rim add something a bit different.
008. Topshop Surrender Bow Platforms - Lusting after chunky heels lately, and I am in love with the platform and the strap detailing on these!
009. Topshop Eye Textile Circle Skirt - I love the monochrome detail and pattern on this skirt and it's a great length to transition from wearing light tights in the spring to getting the pins out in the summer!

Hope you are all having a lovely Easter weekend!

Follow me for more regular updates on my Twitter or on Instagram @noonabean !

 :) x

It's Been A While..

Hello! 

I have been off the blogging bandwagon for a few weeks. I do apologise, some of you have been asking where I've been and it seems the time has flown and I haven't even noticed. I have been MIA due to work,  I am now two months in to my new job, and working 15 hour days, 5 days a week leaves little room for seeing family, friends and my boyfriend, let alone any room for relaxing, reviewing, shopping or blogging. 

This is a little post to let you all know that I am still alive and well (although that is debatable!). I recently did a bit of a sort through/overhaul of products both new and old, and came to realise that there is a core selection of products that I always tend to reach for, use the most, and also repurchase. And so, here is a little update into the products that have become the firm and trusty favourites in my collection.

 

See, still alive! (Top - Topshop, Jodphurs - Zara)
 

Skincare
Although my skincare routine changes quite regularly, there are a few products I constantly have to hand, Trilogy's Everything Balm being one, which is a balm/mulitasking/wonderous product that can be used in a multitude of ways. I love it for slathering on my face before bed and waking up with perfectly smooth and rejuvenated skin.
The Body Shop products are so tasty I could eat them all up. Two of my favourites, the Coconut Body Butter and the Vitamin E Night Cream are two products I repurchase time and time again, as they are so creamy, nourishing, and smell just darn delicious.
La Roche Posay's Effaclar Duo Corrective Anti-imperfection cream is a product I purchased fairly recently and I use it nightly on the oily patches of my face to minimise imperfections and unblock pores.

Tanning
I am a total Cocoa Brown Tan convert. I received a bottle recently to test out and it surpassed all of my expectations. Amazing tan in one hour???! Sold. I am quite impatient, and so waiting 4 hours or even worse, overnight for a tan to develop is my idea of a nightmare. This tan provides a rich longlasting colour, in one hour. I don't think I can really elaborate. It's amazing!

Makeup
I absolutely adore highlighting. The subtle glow a highlight can add to the right parts of the face makes such a difference, and for that I nearly always use MAC Strobe Cream; I like the consistency of a cream as a highlight, paired with the powder of a bronzer or contour, to add perfect shadow and light. To contour I always reach for MAC Matte Blush in Harmony. It's the perfect matte brown for my skin tone, works with nearly every colour blush, and stays put all day. It's perfection.
I used to be an avid liquid liner addict. Now nothing but gel liner will do. Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Liner is my go to liner. It beats some popular higher end and more expensive gel liners hands down. I have this one in both brown and black, and it stays creamy and pigmented forever.
I go through phases of using various mascaras, using up a tube and moving onto the next. But I really love the L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara, it provides amazing volume, rich colour and doesn't clump or flake.
I've mentioned before of my love for little palettes, and the NARS Arabian Nights Palette is my absolute favourite. The colours are so vibrant and pigmented, and it's perfect for travelling or nights out.
MAC Creme Cup lipstick is one of my most worn MAC lipsticks, I love the cremesheen finish and the colour is a gorgeous satiny pink hue. These two YSL lippies (Rouge Volupte in #19 and #4) were a recent splurge and I absolutely adore them. The colours of both, and the texture and shine of the Rouge Volupte range is uncomparable to any other lipsticks I own. They are smooth and beautiful and I love the packaging something terrible. I have also become quite a fan of Topshop makeup, their blushes and lipsticks in particular. My favourite Topshop lipstick is Whimsical, it is a stunning coral peach, a colour I have nothing similar to in my collection. The finish is somewhat satiny, but the colour payoff is amazing. I look forward to wearing this alot in the summer!
Chanel Coco Rouge Shine in #71 needs no introduction. I posted a blog post devoted entirely to this lipstick alone here. It's the perfect nude, amazing with a smokey eye, so slicky and balmy that it doesn't even really feel like a lipstick.

What are your makeup favourites of the moment?

I hope you all had a lovely St. Patricks Day! :)

x

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in #71 Style

I have been on the hunt for the perfect nude lipstick for a while. The perfect nude for me is glossy and balmy, but stable, durable and long lasting. While I relish a nice statement bright, there comes a day, or night for that matter, where slicking on a simple nude to finish off a face is all I need/want. Especially with a statement eye.

I have a few nudes in my collection, a good few, but I've never been entirely satisfied with any of them, be it their colour or consistency, there is always one characteristic that lends a hand to their downfall.

But the Chanel number is absolutely perfect. In every single way. I actually adore it something terrible.



(Just-purchased token Instagram photo.)

So the thing about nudes is that they don't really suit everyone. Why try rid your lips of their perfect pink pigmentation? I once thought that lipsticks were supposed to augment the natural shade of lips rather that obscure or mute them. But then I came to realise that a perfect nude, paired with the right palette of colours for the rest of the face can look timeless, sexy and classic, just like a pillarbox red can. In my opinion, the key to a perfect nude is consistency and finish.

My search for the perfect nude began last year, in February, when I went to the IMATS in London with Julie. I splurged my last few Sterling pounds on Myth by MAC in the airport, but unfortunately became entirely turned off nudes for a while, my distaste for it briefly mentioned in this post. Its texture and consistency made my lips dry and flaky, and it's colour just did not suit my complexion.

Fast forward a few months and I decided I absolutely needed to find a nice nude. I was all set to buy Creme d'Nude by MAC, a muted beigey cremesheen nude which looked as if it had the potential to be my saviour. I love a bit of cremesheen. Unfortunately for MAC, I had a few mishaps that day with customer service, and I ended up at the Chanel counter. I settled for Style, no.71 in the Rouge Coco Shine collection and left feeling very smug and quite delighted with myself.

(Sidenote: I have since purchased Creme d'Nude, and while it is beautiful, Style definitely surpasses it!)

Now first off, it doesn't really look very nudey. It's a very pale pink, with gold shimmery flecks and a very glossy finish. The thing about Style is that is mutes my lips, while still giving a slight pigment of colour, lasts all day and looks glossy and beautiful. That to me, is the perfect nude. One that mutes, but still delivers on shine, durability and texture. 

Do you have a perfect Nude?

 :) x