Pretty packaging, hero products, must-have purchases…make-up is a subject we could spend hours chatting about. Everyone has their tried and tested buys and in a bid to find out more about the best way to get bang for your buck, we decided it was time to call in a little expertise. Beauty bloggers make it their business to trial run products and are up to date with the latest releases before they even hit the shelves. In a new weekly feature, we’re going to quiz beauty bloggers on their make-up essentials and why these are the products they return to time and time again. This week we're chatting to blogger Niamh Kelly. 

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I love to have a rummage through other women's beauty bags. Some ladies can create a truly effortless look with minimal products but I rely on a good army of essentials to master the 'no make, make up look'. I absolutely love shopping for make up and I could spend hours watching my favourite You Tuber's creating seasonal trends and TRYING to recreate my own version. Usually during a week day morning, I have around twenty minutes to create a semi decent face due to my sheer laziness to get out of bed. I keep it simple as I don't like to wear too much. That all changes though come the weekend, I enjoy nothing more than spending some extra time blending out that perfect smokey eye or keeping it classic with a bold statement lip and a subtle contour and highlight. I kick start the process with a good skin prep and cleanse, and after applying my La Roche Posay eye cream and Effactlar Duo {+} products I top it off with some moisturiser and I'm good to go. I always prime my face with the Laura Mercier Foundation primer in Radiance, it's my wonder product and it gives an absolutely beautiful glow to my skin leaving it feeling silky soft. This makes applying and blending my foundation and other products all the more smoother. I can never go without primer, I think it is such an important item to include into your daily make up routine. I'll then put some illuminator on by using Clarins Base Minute in Apricot, a warm shade that gives a slightly tanned look to my face. Next step is my foundation. I have tried and tested a ridiculous amount of brands over the years for my oily skin type. For about two years now I have settled with Revlon. It was recommended to me by another beauty blogger and I haven't looked back. It is medium to full coverage and has a semi matte finish with a lovely dewy effect. Topping it off with some Bourjois Healthy Balance powder to use in my T-zone and helps keep my foundation in place with the drastic cake effect. I recently switched my concealer to Urban Decay's Naked Skin weightless complete coverage which I am madly in love with. I have problems with my eyes, from dark circles to Malia leaving me feeling pretty self-conscious. I like a full coverage look that doesn't leave my eyes looking dried up. If I apply powder, it ages my under eye area and some concealers crease around my Malia. I believe that concealer should be applied all over your face to help balance your look and give a more dimensional look. When it comes to blush, I usually opt for a soft coral shade that is quite natural looking with a soft sheen. I switch between Benefit's Rockateur and Max Factor. These two are must-haves for me and are bold enough to notice without overpowering my face. On a night out I will contour and highlight my face using Chanel's Soleil Tan De Chanel and Hourglasses Ambient Lighting Palette. These two together are just magnificent, the Chanel cream contour leaves my face looking perfecting sculpted while the Hourglass gives a gorgeous highlight effect. Eyebrows have never been a strong point for me so I always need to have them filled in, enter Anastasia Beverly Hills. I first purchased her Brow Whiz pencil when I was in New York and I have never looked back. It helps to mimic my hairs without looking too harsh and leaves them looking a lot fuller and tidy. As I have dark brown eyes, I love creating a warm smoky eye using Charlotte Tilbury's Vintage Vamp palette. The colours are absolutely stunning and the pigmentation is pretty impressive. This palette is so easy to use and blends like a dream. I'll always top off my look with some Benefit Rollerlash mascara, it curls my eyelashes so beautifully and doesn't clump or smudge around my eyes. Finishing off with my lips, I prime them with MAC's Prep + Prime. I have been using this product for years now and I swear by it. I love a 90's neutral lip for my daytime look so I wear Bold There lip pencil and Hourglass nude lipstick. For an evening out, I often apply Make Up Forever's Rouge Intense lipstick. All of these lip products are long lasting and never bleed, definitely worth investing in if you ask me. If you're a beauty blogger and want to tell us all about your beauty dos and dont's, drop a line to our girl Cathy at cathy.donohue@her.ie