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. 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 Nicole deVere of Rouge Writing Hood

---

  I don’t have a make up bag per say but rather a jumble of products located at different angles of my bedroom and bathroom. The downside of this is of course is being highly unorganised and ultimately, late for almost every social gathering but, it also means that I’m constantly re-discovering beauty favorites – hooray! Here’s a few of my must haves of the moment. Life Isn’t Perfect, But Your Skin Can Be: I’m a firm believer that a good skincare routine is the most essential part of any beauty regime. If your skin looks and feels healthy, your foundation will sit properly and dry skin will be banished which is great because nobody likes to look like a patchwork quilt. Begin by applying a good SPF and if you’re as ghostly pale as I am, SPF 15 is simply not enough. I love this Bioderma ‘Photoderm Bronz Spray SPF 50’ which retails at approximately €30. It’s a great formula which absorbs quickly, is fragrance free and most importantly, keeps wrinkles and sun damage at bay. When the sunshine comes out to play, I like to use a lightweight moisturiser like Benefit’s ‘Triple Performing Facial Emulsion’ (€32.50). My final skincare step is cleansing. I’m loving Shiseido’s ‘Benefiance Extra Creamy Cleansing Foam’ which is expensive at €50 but works as both a cleanser and a mild exfoliator. Prime Time: When it comes to prepping the skin for make-up, I like to use as few products as possible. I always begin my make-up routine with a little lip balm and my all-time favorite is Blistex’s ‘Relief Cream’ which retails at €3.59. For the warmer weather I’ve been prepping my face with Bioderma’s ‘Sebum Pore Refiner’ (€17) which creates a matt effect and helps eliminate clogged pores. To keep eye make-up in place, I have been using Urban Decay’s ‘Primer Potion’ for more than 5 years. It keeps eyeshadow in place for over 12 hours and at €21.00 the tubes lasts at least 16-18 months. You Know I'm All About The Base: As the palest girl in the parish, I have always had a problem with shade matching foundation to my skin. At the moment I am loving Charlotte Tilbury’s ‘Light Wonder’ (€42) which is light-medium coverage and allows skin to breath. If I’m going out at night and want more coverage, I will pick up my Tom Ford ‘Traceless Perfecting Foundation’. At €72 it is pricey but I expect one bottle to last a pretty long time. I really like Benefit’s ‘Boi-ing’ (€24) concealer at the moment – it’s definitely ‘industrial strength’ standard. And finally, my lovely beauty therapist recently introduced me to Jane Iredale’s ‘Hydration Spray’ which is perfect for giving thirsty, tired skin a little pick-me-up. It retails at approximately €30 and is well worth the money for those of us who can barely manage to look awake at our desks. Follow the Hollow: Contouring is definitely the make-up trick of the moment but it can be quite difficult if you don’t have the right products. I am loving both Charlotte Tilbury’s ‘Filmstar Bronze and Glow’ (€65) which is adored by celebrities worldwide and Dior’s ‘Nude Shimmer – Instant Illuminating Powder’ (€53.50). Just use a taped brush and follow the hollow below your cheekbones for application. Eye Want That Eyeshadow: Here are a few of my favorite eyeshadow palettes: Sleek’s ‘Storm Palette’ (€10.49), Benefit’s ‘Big Beautiful Eyes’ (€36), Charlotte Tilbury’s ‘Fallen Angel’ (€59) and Tom Ford’s ‘Golden Mink’ (€72). They all have great pigmentation and staying power and there’s one to suit every budget. Regarding eyeliner, I love MAC’s ‘Technakohl Liner’ (€18) in the brown shade ‘Earthline’. At night, I like to vamp it up with Maybelline’s ‘Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner’ (€11.99). Unfortunately, those of us with fair hair know well what it’s like to have invisible eyelashes. When it comes to mascara, Benefit’s ‘They’re Real’ (€26) is Holy Grail material but when I’m on a budget I opt for L’Oreal’s ‘Mega Volume Collagene Mascara’ (€13.49). All I Need In This Life Of Sin, Is Lips Like A Kardashian: My grandmother once taught me that a slick of lipstick can change your entire appearance for the better. Therefore, lip products are definitely my favorite beauty buy – they’re just little pretty tubes of happiness. Always start your lip routine with a liner for a plumped up effect. I adore Charlotte Tilbury’s ‘Pillow Talk’ (€22) which is the perfect ‘nude’ shade. If I want a subtle ‘barely there’ look I always wear MAC’s ‘Syrup’ (€19.50). However, more often than not, I will be rocking a red lip. When I heard that Taylor Swift wears Nar’s ‘Velvet Matte Lip Pencil’ in ‘Dragon Girl’ (€25), wild horses couldn’t have stopped me getting to my local department store. I also like Revlon’s Revlon’s ‘Colourstay Moisture Stain’ in ‘Miami Fever’ (€10.99) which is a lovely coral colour. Get Cheeky With Me: My final make-up step is always a pop of blusher. If you leave this step until the end of your make-up routine, you will be able to decide how much product is needed. My blusher of choice at the moment is Sleek’s ‘Rose Gold’ (€3.49) which is a pretty little dupe for Nars' cult classic ‘Orgasm’.