Christmas Party Makeovers: 5 of Dublin's Best Beauty Counters

With silly season well and truly started I wouldn't be surprised should you tell me that you've already been to your office Christmas shindig - hell I was at an eBay festive knees up in January!

Chances are though yours is upcoming and besides exfoliating your bum daily for crystal clear photocopies and/or practising your gracious ducking and weaving to avoid the scaldy mistletoe, there's a couple of places that can really help with your preparation. Today we're talking make up and the professional application thereof. 

I've picked out 5 of the best beauty counters I've used in the past, though I can't guarantee they can recreate the festive facial explosion above...

1. Benefit: 40 mins: 

Free with the purchase of two products

The masters of the Benebrow, Benefit are a stellar choice when it comes to makeup application, not least because the gals listen to every word you say before they ever pick up a buffing brush. Instead of a set fee for a makeover the policy here is to buy two products - that's a full face for you and potentially two Christmas gifts - Win/Win/Win! 

While every Benefit counter will take great of you, I'd highly recommend you pop into the newly opened Boutique in South William St to make an occasion of it (the fact that there's a new cheesecake shop on the same street is a happy coincidence). 

2. MAC: 40 mins: 

€40 Redeemable

When it comes to party looks, MAC have it down. You can really vamp it up in the hands of the MAC girls and I'd heartily recommend a trip to your local counter or standalone store to be transformed before your very own eyes. 

3. Smashbox: 60 mins: 

Free with the purchase of two products

With the Wonder Vision sets flying off the shelves you'd be crazy not to consider allowing the Smashbox ladies to beautify you before heading home with two products in your mála. 

While I've yet to meet a Smashbox SA I didn't love, the team in Arnott's are second to none. My makeover with the lovely Emma (above) is the first time I've ever 'wowed' myself after the big reveal as she'd done such an incredible job, I was loathe to wash my face that night. 

4. Inglot: 40 mins: 

€30 Redeemable (Lashes €10/€12/€14)

The most affordable of the bunch, Inglot's makeover for just €25 is certainly nothing to be sniffed at. The pigmentation of their shadows are incredible and offer some of the best longevity on the market today - highly important when off for a night on the tiles. 

With an entire store of shades to choose from the girls will give you exactly the look you'd like or you could, as I often have, give them free reign to create a masterpiece - once you love it they can make up a palette of the shadows used so you can recreate the look at home for your next bajillion nights out. 

5. Chanel: 40 mins: 

€40 Redeemable

If you're anything like me, the only time your entire visage will be covered in Chanel is when I've had a make over. If you're looking for something a little bit special, maybe a trip for you and an office pal before your night out then Chanel is the way to go. 

It's an ideal opportunity to pick out something a little luxurious for a special lady in your life (including yourself) using the €40 redeemable tag. With the new Christmas make up collection Nuit Infinie de CHANEL, you're sure to feel a million dollars on your way out for the night, the chance to say 'It's Chanel Dahhhlink' is just a bonus. 

Leaving it to the experts means no more getting yourself in a sweat wrangling with the dreaded flicked eyeliner and taking a flannel to your face 30 minutes before your party (I've been there). 

As the season hots up be sure to book at least a week in advance with your counter of choice then sit back and enjoy. 

NOTD: Banana Sunday with Sally Hansen, Essie & Inglot

It's been a while since I've posted a Nail of the Day so thought I'd share this simple look today. Bright and sunny and more than a little inspired by my bargainous Lidl roses, this mani is stoopidly simple but I've had so many compliments it's silly. 

Essie's Sunday Funday is a bright coral from my favourite of this Summers collections and Go Bananas is Sally Hansens pastel lemon from the gorgeous limited edition Exotica range.  Both topped with Inglot's stunning Holo glitter: 201. 

Of course these colours would make a stunning sponged ombre mani too but, when in a rush, any creme bright will complement creme pastels and give you a lovely effect. Go forth and  mix/match from your stash, yo!

What's on your nails today then? 

Free Inglot Master Classes: Orange Eyes!

I was delighted to be invited across to my local Inglot (Blanchardstown) last week to sample their mini master class. These classes are free and concentrate on either eyes or face. The Inglot sales assistant will either talk you through step by step on one eye and ask you to recreate the look or (as I opted for (because I was heading out afterward)) will do both eyes for you. 

Products Used on the Night

Rachael suggested because of my eye colour (blue/green) that we try some oranges, mandarins and browns. Although seriously doooobius, I agreed. 

Brushes Used

The Newly Launched Kohl Pencil: €13.25

Because we were only concentrating on eyes Rachael used a touch of creamy concealer but more highlighter around my eyes than any other product. The result was certainly surprising, so much so that I've ditched the concealer for the past few days and used highlighter only. 

I was a little hesitant to try their new soft, smudgeable black kohl pencil with orange eyeshadow, thinking it might be a little Halloweeny but again I was pleasantly surprised. Wanna see the results? 

What think we? Rachel was spot on the money with her suggestion of oranges to compliment my eye colour, wasn't she? Amazing to see the effect that a coloured shadow can have on your eyes. 

Naturally I had to bring both Shine AMC 10 and 383 home with me and have fairly successfully recreated this look twice since. 

If you're considering an Inlglot purchase or are just heading out for a night on the tiles I'd highly recommend booking yourself in for one of these free masterclasses. All details can be found in your local Inglot store. 

Let me know if you're liking the oráiste! 

Introducing Inglot's Seasonal Sparkle Polish: 224

Apart from my new grá for Inglot shadows I've been bitten by their polish bug too. I'm a huge lover of metallics when it comes to my talons and have been for quite some time, they allow you to get the sparkle (when the formulation is right) but also assist in skipping with the removal of glitters, which let's face it, is a pain in the flesh. 

Inglot 224: €10

Inglot 224: Serious Sparkle

As you can see, 224 is packing some serious heat when it comes to metallic shine and bright foil effect. To be fair I had tried one or two Inglot polishes before and hadn't been bowled over by their formulation, so how did this one fare? 

It applies like a dream, full foil opacity in two smooth coats with no dragging or graineyness that can be found in a lot of metallic nail polishes. 

It's a much calmer and more yellow gold shade on the nail than in the bottle but even so, once the sunshine hits, it's sparkle city. 224 is subdued enough for day to day wear and subtle enough to go with just about every outfit (including festive party rig outs) so for that it's definitely worth a looksee, as are the other four shades in this seasonal range. 

One word of warning though, longevity isn't as good as it could be. I had tip wear on day two and chips on day three but despite that I'd happily purchase the other shades. Be sure to use a base and top coat to try and elongate your metallic mani but other than that, just enjoy. 

Have you tried these new seasonal shades yet? A foil polish love in general? 

Popping My Inglot Cherry! Freedom Palette Swatches

I've long heard of the love that's been afforded Inglot shadows but with a cosmetics and make-up range of over 200 shades of eye-shadow, 200 shades of nail polish and over 150 shades of lipstick, truth be told, I've been a little daunted by the prospect of choosing the right ones so I've never actually made a purchase. That's not to say I haven't swatched the bejebus of probably 179 of those shades of shadow but I've never taken the leap. Until last week. 

The gorgeous girls at Inglot, Blanchardstown demonstrating seasonal looks

I'd the good fortune to head along to the Inglot Christmas Blogger event in the Blanchardstown store last week and took the opportunity to chat to the girls and to decide which colours shadows I'd choose to pop my Inglot cherry. 

Freedom Palette with 5 shadows: €36

Being an avid owner, lover and user of the Naked palettes and 6 trillion other browns/taupes/creams, I knew there were more than enough neutrals in my vast collection for now so opted for some deeper autumnal colours to change things up a bit and I'm absolutely thrilled I did. So what do they look like up close, eh? 

DS 471 is a soft olive green that swatches to a deeper shade on the skin. Shot through with silver microglitter, I've been wearing it as both a liner and a buffed out shadow. 

AMC Shine 42 is a golden metallic brown with both silver and gold shimmer but neither show up on the skin. It's warm and flattering with green/blue eyes. 

607 is a colour I'd never normally have chosen but am thrilled I did. A metallic rose red, it's stunning swatched lightly on it's own or as a bright alternative to be used in a smokey eye. 

AMC Shine 40, another metallic (can you sense a trend here?) is a aubergine purple with silver microshimmer that sparkles when swatched lightly. Again I've been using this as a stunning liner option. 

Last and certainly not least is one of the most beautiful shadow shades now in my possession,  Pearl 433. A creamy soft formulation means that this bright olive gold applies like a dream whether worn as a wash of colour or built up to something more. Twice I was asked what I was wearing while sporting this gilded number. 

So my verdict? While the fact that the shadows have no names irks me more than a little bit, I'm now pretty much addicted to this palette and the notion that I'll be building another one very, very soon. I've yet to try the brands other products but feel a blusher splurge coming on. 

Are you an Inglot lover? Any shades you adore that you think I should check out? 

By the By:

I should say that despite feeling a little overwhelmed

at the sea of shadows before me, the Inglot girls 

couldn't be nicer. I'd urge you to pop in and check them out. 

NOTD - Iridescent Delight

Nails today are almost psychedelic in their iridescence.  Following yesterdays Mean & Green, I changed up my nails to match my outfit, the plan was Lancômes Bleu de Flore navy teal on its own but then I was reminded during a chat with the lovely Sera of The Agoraphobic Fashionista of a rainbow topcoat that I've used on Barry M's Dusky Mauve in the past. Is there nothing a rainbow flakie can't make better? 

I wrote about Bleu de Flore in this Beaut.ie post, it really is a stunner on its own but the addition of the Inglot flakie has made the mani all the more eye catching. It's a very easy way to add the iridescent look, that's pretty huge this Autumn/Winter to any polish. 

What do we think? 

Happy Birthday Jervis Inglot: Sale Heads Up!

It's hard to believe it's already been a year since beauty Mecca, Inglot opened for business in Dublin's Jervis Centre but, come the 11th and 12th of August, Birthday celebrations will be in full swing and that means great news for customers. 

Aside from the chance to play with the eye watering array of high quality products, Inglot have arranged some fantstic offers for beauty lovers. There'll be 3 for 2 on nails (normally €10), you can pick up the AMC Face and Body Collection for €20; Lip glosses will be reduced to €10, there's a stonking 50% off the round Freedom System palettes (there's over 200 gorgeous shades to choose from (!)) PLUS there's 10% off all products on both days.

Some stunning new Inglot additions from the Autumn Colours 2012 Collection

I had a good old play around with a bajillion shadows when visiting Inglot in Blanchardstown with Karen of the LovelyGirlyBits last weekend, many, many hands were swatched, while oohing and aahing but I reluctantly left empty handed. If you saw my bargain post, you'll know why. That's just one of the reasons I'll certainly be hot footing it into the Jervis centre this weekend, I can't have the girls celebrate their big day alone *coughs suspiciously*. You should come too!