It’s a serious perk of the job here at Her.ie towers that we get to try and test some of the latest and greatest beauty releases and call it work. Lucky us. Here is a heads up on three products that got a communal thumbs up from the team in the week that was…
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Makeup Setting Sprays, €9.99, NYX
NYX hasn’t been in our lives all that long, but we’re starting to wonder what we did without it. The latest release from this pocket-friendly brand are these lightweight sprays, designed to keep your makeup fresh and fixed. There are two varieties available; a Matte Shine-Free Finish or Dewy Fresh Glow. We tested them out this week for work and a night out and we were pleasantly surprised by the results – makeup definitely stayed put longer and looked fresher. They’re simple to use too; just shake the bottle and spray onto your face from about a 6inch distance.
For more on NYX, visit their website here.
Travel Size Tan & Toes Perfection Pack, €13.95, Sally Hansen
We have a lot of time for Sally Hansen in Her.ie Towers. If she were a real woman, we’d happily buy her a drink so say thanks. This very cute Limited Edition pack contains a can of Airbrush Legs and a complimentary Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure summer shade, for the price of Sally alone. Win! The pack is carry-on friendly for flights and the perfect size to throw in your overnight bag. You can pick it up from grocery stores, Penneys, and selected pharmacies nationwide.
Gel Shine Lacquer, RRP €10.39, Max Factor
Talk about this for history – Max Factor’s newest release comes almost 90 years after Mr. Max Factor invented Supreme Nail Polish – a beige-coloured powder that was sprinkled on the nails and buffed to give shine and tint. Now for you. Max Factor has move with the times, though, and the latest innovation from the company is their new Gel Shine Lacquer. The cosmetic buffs promise an intense colour payout with high shine and up to 7 days wear. As for colour? We’ve been treated to the “Modern Glamour Colour Collection” by Pat McGrath, Max Factor’s Global Creative Director. Pat said of the 9 signature shades: “Nails are one of the easiest ways to give yourself an instant glamour transformation. As Max Factor celebrates 100 years of creating glamorous looks, I was involved in shade selecting the divine new Gel Shine Lacquer colour palette – each shade I chose as a true modern twist on classic colours that defined fashion make-up throughout the decades.”
Here’s what Max Factor have to say about the range:
1950’s Red: The ultimate nail colour we all associate with the 1950’s is a true, pin-up red. Bright, scarlet nail polishes with matching matte lipsticks were all the rage at this time and it’s a classic beauty staple that will never go out of style. Every woman must own a modern red polish, and Patent Poppy is perfect for classic glamour look but with a modern twist – it’s a vibrant true shade of red with a slight hint of orange that just pops.
70’s Blues: As the Punk movement was growing, blue nail polish was popular among the hipsters of the day. Lacquered Violet is a move towards a warmer blue with purple hues mixed for added depth. It’s a truly sophisticated, stylish shade that builds on the blue of the 70s but with amazing opulence and the strong sense of femininity that was so prevalent across the AW14 catwalks.
In contrast, Glazed Colbalt shade perfectly brings to life the summery shades of blue seen across the Givenchy and Valentino SS14 shows. With rich turquoise undertones, it’s a truly modern cool blue that’s so soft, minimalist and wearable today.
80s Brights: A time of the New Romantics, such as the Blitz Kids and Boy George, vibrant colours made a comeback along with the explosion of colourful club kids. Personally, nothing epitomises 80s fashion more than bright fuchsia. With more feminine muted pink tones, Twinkling Pink shade is a truly current and sophisticated throwback to the 80s. Team pink with turquoise – this SS14 season’s unexpected accent, the key to bringing this retro shade up to date is keeping it modern with an opulent high shine texture such as Gleaming Teal.
Glowing neon orange was also iconic among women of the 80s, and Vivid Vermillion has coral undertones that are so desired by women today.
90s All shades of Burgundy: Grunge gets glam with luxurious burgundy wine hues that are the perfect cool, rich, deeper, sophisticated shade of red inspired by the iconic shades of the 90s. A nostalgic line-up of updated grunge, Sparkling Berry and Sheen Merlot are boundless perfection with ultra-dark jewel tones in rich burgundy shades that’ll add instant glamour to nails. While, at the lighter end of the shade spectrum is Radiant Ruby that’s perfect for paler skin tones.
Currently, every single member of Team Her.ie is sporting one of these shades. Enough said, really.
