e.l.f Beauty School 3pc Eyelid Primer Review

e.l.f says:  Use the Eyelid Primer available in Nude, Pearl or Champagne prior to makeup application to get longer-lasting and crease-proof eyeshadow. You can wear it alone or on your eyelid as a crease-proof eyeshadow to brighten and even skin tone for perked up eyes or dab it on your brow bone as a shimmery highlighter.

 Well Hello there my lovely Cailin Bans.........hope you are all well :) :) 

As you can see today i am reviewing the e.l.f Beauty School 3 pc eyelid Primer collection which only arrived on the UK Site in August......I was super excited to try these as i love love love the e.l.f Primer from the essential line........I got these on the 50% deal but these originally cost £3.50/$3/€4 each........I have these a good month and i have been using them non stop so on with my review :) :) 

The Packaging and Product 

So as i mentioned about this is an eyelid primer collection and in this you are getting 3 different primers 

• Nude 
• Pearl 
• Champagne 

Each primer is half the size of the Primers about (2.3g) each,  you buy on their own which are £1.50 but i love the size of these they are so handy for travelling........The Tubes are the same as the bigger sized tubes.....They are a soft plastic tube with a hard plastic lid.  Some people complain it looks cheap but i say they look pretty funky in my language lol......

 Nude:  Is your normal eyelid primer....Its a skin tone shade primer that is hugely popular from the e.l.f site.......It works amazingly well.......I love this Primer :) :)  This is obviously my favourite out of the lot but thats simply because i have been using this for so long :) 

Pearl:  This is a lovely white shade with glitter.......This is alot thicker in consistancy but blends out sheer like the nude one........Its said to be great for a highlight under your brow as well as brightening up your eyeshadows ........I did find that there is alot of glitter in this.....I certainly wouldn't use this as a highlight under the brow but it does look really well on the inner corner of your eyes and it does brighten up your eyeshadows....even if you have a favourite matte eyeshadow that you would like to see with a bit of glitter this is perfect for that.  

Champagne:  Hmmmmmm this really is different.....Its a light Taupe shade with shimmer to it.....At first i thought oh no i dont like it...... I know in the picture it looks a bit off but actually when blended out it looks nearly the same as nude only with shimmer......This is perfect for any brown, neutral bronze shades but for any other shades it doesnt really work too well........

My Overall Opinion 

As i said before my favourite one out of the Pack is the Nude (sheer) eyelid primer in which you can buy on its own for £1.50/$1/€1.70 each.  The nude one is brilliant it doesn't crease and keeps your eyeshadow vibrant.  
The Pearl and Champagne eyelid primer im 50/50 on these two i mean yes they look good but i found they are alot thicker in consistancy than the nude one...........they blend out sheer and are easy to blend but the only doubt i have is will they dry out or form thicker in the tube after a while....I honestly dont see them lasting the 12 months it states they will last on the box but i could be wrong.  I will keep you updated on that one 
Ther Pearl one was slightly too glittery to be honest to use......and the Champagne one as i stated above can really only be used with warm shades but doesnt work with any other colours it also changed the texture of the eyeshadows making it harder blend......so overall the set is a no no for me i will not be purchasing it again....I would rather buy the Nude(sheer) one on its own. 


Well thats it from me today everyone have you got this set? what do you think of it? 


Take Care 
Lots of Irish Hugs and Kisses 
Love Nina Carry 

Recipe for Chocolate Pavalova

Hi there everyone :) Have you go a sweet tooth :) do you like chocolate and cream and strawberry's????? MMMMMMMMM me too so i have come up with the most delicious Chocolate Pavalova you will ever taste you wont want to share it believe me :) 

My Creation :) 

Ingredients 

6 Large Egg White (Room Temperature)

1/4 cream tartar

1 1/4 (240g) Castor Sugar

1 teaspoon white vinegar/1tsp Vanilla essence 

1 ts Cornstarch (cornflour)

3 tablespoons (20g) Coco Powder

 2oz (55g) Chocolate Chopped

topping

1 cup (240mls) Heavy whipping cream or ordinary whipping cream or the low fat cream whatever you desire 

1 tablespoon Sugar 

Fresh strawberries or fruit on top 

Method :) 

• Preheat oven to 130 degrees and place rack in the centre of the oven.....Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and draw a circle about 8 inchs(20cm) circle on paper 
• To make the pavalova:  Whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form.  Slowly Add caster sugar SLOWLY until meringue is thick and glossy and sugar is dissolved.....check this by getting a bit of the meringue between two fingers and rub your fingers together if you feel sugar grains you need to whisk more.
• Using a spatula fold in the vinegar + vanilla gently....sift in the coca + cornflour on top of meringue......lastly fold in the chocolate (chopped)
• Gently spread the pavalova inside the circle your drew on the paper (the reason i say gently all the time is the less air that goes into the meringue the better the finished pavalova with look and the lighter it will be) smooth the edges 
• Bake for 1 and half hours or until the outside is dry....let it cool with the oven door open (Never take a pavalova straight out of the oven or it will craic everywhere and collapse on you) 
• Just before serving whip the cream and sweeten with sugar then mound the cream into the centre of the Pavalova decorate with fruit 

And VVVWAAAALLLAAAA you have your own home baked Chocolate Pavalova 

you will find this is quite luscious or but the meringue just melts in your mouth 

If you prefer Pavalova without chocolate just repeat the ingredients above but without the chocolate :) 

Chocolate Pavalova 

This is my Plain No Chocolate Pavalova :)) 

Well thats it from me everyone let me know how you get on if you try this recipe and i hope you enjoy i know i do :) :) 

If you like to see more recipes please ask away 

until next time 

cya soon 

love nina carry 

Review e.l.f Kabuki Face Brush

This new anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and create a flawless look with this e.l.f. studio brush! Our handy and easy to use Kabuki Brushes provide a light to full coverage on your face or body to ensure a flawless finish. The compact brush is perfectly sized to allow for precise and controlled application of bronzer, powder, or a highlighter on your skin.
*Vegan Friendly

I ordered this off eyeslipsface.co.uk as part of my 50% off haul i got about  months ago....I was aiming to buy the e.l.f Kabuki Body Brush but it was out of stock so i opt for this one for now.......The Kabuki Face Brush costs £5/$5/€6 each.....
I am going to load up a few pictures and then tell you about the brush and what i think :) :) 

This has to be the cutest brush i have every purchased if you know me at all i love little cute things (hence my 5 babies lol) but i couldnt help but think the minute i opened the box "OMG how dam cute is this" I think the people in my house thought i was gone CRAAAZZZZY lol 
Anyway :) I have heard so mixed reviews about this brush but i really dont see why.....Yes its small but i hate Kabuki brushes that are too big for your face and pick up too much product....I have one at home i purchased a long time ago for my face Girls seriously the brush is the size of my face lol 


You are getting a Small brush with beautiful synthetic hair bristles that are soooooo soft you literally want to carry it around all day just brushing your face anytime i use this it practically makes me sleepy :) 


This brush is so perfect for your everyday mineral powders or pressed powders.  It picks up just the right amount of product.  If you have a more rounder face this too could work as a blush brush but prefarably i wouldnt use it for that purpose......I highly highly recommend to you to get one for your collection i have to go buy 2 more for my twinnies (aged 2) as they kinda got the feel of this one and screamed for it.......and they love love love soft cuddly things.......


Oh and i washed this before i used it and i havent lost one single hair :) :) 


Well i hope this review was helpful i think this was the quickest review i ever made haha HAPPY DAYS.  But i think i got all the info you need on this brush i have no faults whatsoever and i cant wait to buy the Kabuki Body Brush now :) 


Happy Shopping Ladies 
until next time 
Take care 
Love Nina Carry 

Recipe Homemade Cupcakes :)

Hey Hey everyone got a Childs Party Coming up or just fancy a nice little treat with your cuppa?  Today im sharing a simple recipe for Plain & Chocolate Cupcakes ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ingredients 

You Will Need :

175g/6oz/6 tablespoons Self Raising Flour 

125g/4oz/4 Tablespoons Caster Sugar

125g/4oz/half block of margarine

2 eggs

2 tablespoons of cold water 

Optional: to make chocolate cupcakes add 2 heaped tablespoons of Drinking chocolate and an extra 2 tablespoons of water 

Also optional have a packet of choc chips handy 

Method

• Preheat Oven @ 200 degrees ensure its full preheated 
• Place bun cases onto tray 

•    Put Flour, Butter, Margarine & water into the bowl altogether and whisk until smooth 
• OPTIONAL at this stage you could add your chocolate chips into the mix.  

• Also Optional is to add 3 heaped tablespoons of drinking chocolate to the mix to make chocolate flavoured cupcakes........add the water if necessary 

• Put Heaped teaspoons of the mix into the bun cases half fill each bun case 
• Place on the top shelf of the oven and bake 10-15 mins or until golden brown 

The Result of my Plain Cupcakes 

The result of My Choc Cupcakes as you can see 2 is missing just out of the oven 

There you have it everyone simple recipe for you and you can even put you own designs on the lip cut the top of put a dollop of cream on it and make butterfly cakes 

or you can make some coloured icing on the top and put some sprinkles on it 

be creative and enjoy 

thats it from me today 

until next time 

lots of Irish Hugs and Kisses 

Love Nina Carry 

e.l.f Mineral Eyeshadow Set Review

e.l.f says: Bring a touch of natural beauty to your eyes with these soft, translucent shades that add subtle highlights for daytime or increased drama for night. With key vitamins A & B, these eyeshadows hydrate and minimize the appearance of fine lines. Available in an array of light-reflecting color options they can be worn wet or dry, together or alone, for countless shimmering styles and trends. They're all natural consistency makes them incredibly easy to apply and blend for a flawless finish. All our mineral makeup is 100% mineral based with no parabens, no preservatives and no chemical dyes.

I purchased this on eyeslipsface.co.uk on one of their 50% deals........These are 3 different types of Mineral Eyeshadow sets, the "Smokey eye, Expert eyes and Basic Eyes"......All But the "Smokey Eye" set was sold out so thats exactly what i went for......I havent heard too many reviews about this set for some reason so curiosity got the better of me i had to find out what they were like :) So These usually Cost £12/$12/€13 each but i got this half price HAPPY DAYS!!!!!

The Packaging 

The Instructions on the Box on how to do a look with these eyeshadows

As you can see you are getting: 

3 Mineral Eyeshadows (depending on the set you pick) but in this Set i got shades "Mysterious, Socialite & Seductive"

An eyeshadow brush

A Contour Brush 

An Eyeliner Pencil with sharpener 

They come in a box which has instructions on how to do a look with these shadows........It also has a list of ingredients and some information on what some of them mean.  

The Products 

The Brushes and Eyeliner 

The eyeliner:  You are getting a Black eyeliner with this set......Its ok it wouldnt be my favourite to be honest....I would much rather use my own favourite eyeliner than this one but its not exactly the worst i have tried.......Its not entirely reliable applying it as its not very pigmented but heating it up with a lighter for 3 seconds makes any "Cheap" eyeliner work so theres the tip you you havent any other eyeliner to use.  Lasting power is ok too it will end up needing a top up throughout the day.....

Eyeshadow Brush:  This reminds me of the Studio "C" Brush a little......The studio one is a wee bit denser though......This is perfect for patting on the eyeshadow onto my lid.........it washed well too i only lost a few hairs from it which i am impressed with .

Contouring eye brush:  This is a great brush to apply the darker eyeshadows into the crease it actually fits into the crease very well and blending out the shadow.  Again washing this i only lost a few hairs.  They are fairly good brushes especially coming in a set like this :)

The Eyeshadow Brush 

The Contouring Brush 

The Eyeshadows 

You are getting 0.03oz in each eyeshadow which is the same amount as the ones you buy separate Which Cost £3.00/$3/€4 each.  The package on these are the exact same as the ones i reviewed before to see them click here to see that review.......

"Socialite"

Socialite:  This is a beautiful dark grey taupy shade with a purple undertone......This is my favourite i even tend to wear this one on its own as its great to make my hazel eyes show up.....even in photos my eyes look greener than ever......Its highly pigmented a little goes a long way....and yes there is shimmer to it so this is more for a night time look but i cant help but go for this for during the day the shimmer you can work at just blend blend blend the shimmer to nothing lol.........

"Mysterious"

Mysterious:  This is a matte greyish lavender......Alot of people dont like this shade but i think it looks well with this set.......Maybe the downside to this is that its not hugely pigmented......This is also not as finely milled as some of the other pigments its a bit on the chunkier side.  It does apply smoothly so dont let that bother you......

"Seductive"

Seductive:  This is a Dark Charcoal shade......And of coarse matte.....I love this shade...simply because when you apply it you have an instant smokey eye without the mess your ready to go in 5 minutes.....Its so easy to apply and blend.  

"Socialite, Mysterious & Seductive"

The Swatches 

Swatches in Normal Lighting 

Swatches taken with Flash of Camera 

My Overall Opinion

Ok I was excited at the start about buying this kit and i made a vow i would get the others once they were back in stock....NOW im not as sure dont get me wrong this set was well worth the money especially when i got it half price but as far as paying full price and buying again i dont think so.....Reason been is i have plenty of brushes so i wouldn't really be gaining anything the next time......the liner isnt exactly a must have....which only leaves the eyeshadows in which i can buy seperate and i actually have them eyeshadows which are in the other sets.......but i would buy again if i was to buy them as a gift...........

I think its a great idea e.l.f came up with to do these sets especially for people who are only starting up with makeup and want some guidance in making a look or 2.  

Well thats it everyone have any of you tried these set if so what do you think of them 

Thanks for reading my review and dont forget to leave me a comment i love hearing from you all 

Until next time 

Cya Soon 

Love 

Nina Carry 

Recipe for Jam Tarts :)

Hey everyone Today i am sharing with you yet another Recipe for my Lovely Jam Tarts......Now i know growing up i always loved Jam Tarts and my kids love them too.......But we all have a favourite and i hated the fact they came in a 6 pack and there was only 2 of Strawberry, Blackberry annd Apricot or lemon Flavour jam on them.....My favourite was Strawberry and Lemon but by the time the pack got around the family my favourites would be gone :( pooooor nina :( so when i got older i decided to bake my own and use my own favourite jam :) i would make Strawberry Jam Tarts and Lemon Curd Jam Tarts mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm loads for everyone including me :) 

My Lovely Homemade Jam Tarts 

So Here is the Recipe for you to try and enjoy.  If you have kiddies have them join in this is such an easy recipe and you kiddies will have such great fun making them.......

Jam Tarts :) 

225g Cream Plain Four

125g Butter (Room Temperature) 

25g Caster Sugar

1 Egg Beaten 

4 Tablespoons Water (Approx)

Any Flavour Jam 

1. Preheat the Oven @ 200 degrees and Lightly Grease Your Bun 
2. Put the Flour & Sugar into a bowl....Rub in the Butter until mix looks like breadcrumbs 
3. Add the egg + Water to the Flour and mix into a soft dough.....Turn onto a floured board + Gently Toll on the Roll on the flour.
4. Roll out dough to 3mm of an inch. Cut into rounds with a 71/2 cm cutter.....Place the rounds in the bun tin + Prick well with a Fork
5. Put them into the preheated oven for 10 minutes....Remove from the oven and place a tea spoon of your favourite jam into each Tart......
6. Return to the oven for a further 10-15 minutes until the pastry is golden 
7. Allow to cool....Put on the Kettle & make a Cuppa Tea and enjoy your favourite Jam Tarts :) :) 

In this photo i have made Strawberry, Blackberry and orange marmalade Jam Tarts and also dusted a little with icing sugar 

Thats my Recipe of the Day everyone hope you enjoy.....Let me know what you think :) 

Until Next time 

Enjoy 

Love Nina Carry 

e.l.f Haul Review & Swatches

Hi there everyone today im going to review 3 separate items form e.l.f:
e.l.f Studio HD Powder
e.l.f Studio Mist and Set Spray 
e.l.f Studio Daily Brush Cleaner
I got all of these on eyeslipsface.co.uk the UK site on their 50% off sale in which they have been having alot off lately.  They are brilliant for doing deals and i love going into their facebook page everyday to see what deals they have on sometimes im a good girl and dont give in to temptation but when they have such great deals you just HAVE to buy something dont you :) :) 

Studio HD Powder

e.l.f state:  The high definition loose powder creates a "soft focus" effect to the skin. Masks fine lines and imperfections for a radiant complexion. The incredibly soft and invisible powder is great for on-screen and everyday wear.

This usually costs £6/$6/€7 each but i got this for half price which is even better again....now for even the full price it is definitely worth it.......... it comes in a fairly big black plastic container....It looks extremely elegant and looks more expensive than what you have paid for it i love that....I know you are only getting a black square box but i dont know what it is about it i have had some people saying to me "wow you must have paid a good bit for that " hehehehehe........the box is literally the size of the palm of you hand.........

When you open the lid you will see this powder puff which is quite soft and elegant too but i prefer to use a brush to apply this powder that's just a personal preference of mine.......when you take the powder puff out you will see a sifter with a seal over it now if you dont want to lose too much product i advise to you to poke so holes into the seal that way you save more and only get a little at a time.......
In the 2nd picture you will see that you get a white powder....Its nice very finely milled and so so light........dont worry it applies translucent on your face but caution DON'T USE TOO MUCH you dont need alot for it to do its job......The main reason i dont use the Powder Puff is because the PUFF IS WHITE and the POWDER IS WHITE so you can actually apply too much using it as YOU CANT SEE HOW MUCH YOU HAVE ON THE PUFF!!!!! 
My overall opinion
Using this you'll notice the difference immediately - it really evens out the texture of the skin, mattifies it, and leaves your skin feeling soft and silky.  This is pretty good using under mineral foundations as i have normal to combination skin sometimes i find i can get an oily t-zone depending on the time of the month lol if i use this powder before putting my mineral foundation on it gives me some oil control.......if i use liquid foundation i use this over it....


Does it make you look better in photos?????YES it sort of gives you that Airbrushed look in the photo as the powder does even out some little imperfections you might have.......I do find i can have visible pores in some close up photo that make me cringe and i end up deleting the photo but if i use this you wouldnt notice my pores i love it........It lasts all day so its very suitable for anyone who is doing their own makeup for a wedding.......This is perfect for all skin tones.....


The Cons ??? if you do suffer with dry skin you will find this a little drying especially....but if you moisturise well you wont find this happening.

Studio Mist and Spray

e.l.f states:  Wish you could have a product for your makeup like Hairspray is for your hair? Well…keep your makeup staying in place all day with a radiance boosting invisible hold with our new Makeup Mist & Set. The invigorating mist moisturizes and soothes the skin with key ingredients Aloe, Green Tea, Cucumber and Vitamins A, C & E. The lightweight, comfortable and alcohol free formula improves makeup wearability and prevents color from running or fading. 

Im not going to write a huge essay about this lol:

As you can see you are getting a plastic spray bottle that is 2.02oz......It costs £3.50/$3/€4 each......

How to use:   After you apply your make-up apply one spray to set your make-up. Spray the mist from 12-16 inches from your face. I find 2 sprays of the mist covers my make-up. Let it dry naturally, it dries very quickly anyway. You can also use it during the day to touch up or on bare skin as a bit of a re-freshener.  I used it quite a bit in the summer and it gave me such a great feeling to my face like the feeling you get after washing your face and splashing it with cold water soooooo refreshing........

 

I was a bit weary about this i thought yes i going to spray this and my makeup will run.......especially if i wear mineral foundation......But i was amazed my the results i sprayed and left it....I checked my makeup hours later and it never budged once my mascara didnt even run....my eyeshadow was still in place and my blush looked like i just applied it......It definately holds your makeup in place.....Ive heard mixed reviews about this but maybe people have been either spraying too close or too far but for me it works anyway.   

Studio Daily Brush Cleaner

e.l.f states: An anti-bacterial daily brush cleanser for quick cleaning in-between makeup applications. Disinfects brushes to provide a fresh and clean application every time. Helps to keep your brushes lasting longer for extended use.

This costs £3.50/$3/€4 each for 8.5floz which is a fairly decent amount of product for the price.......I was pleasantly surprised with the size of the bottle.....

Im abit of a clean freak and i hate the fact that anything i use is dirty but i also know washing too much can do more damage that good this is mainly the reason i opt for this.....I liked the idea that i could clean my brushes daily and not do alot of damage to my brushes either......

First Thing I noticed is the smell....It has an antibacterial scent its not too strong but you can smell it and the smell stays on your brush but i love that i love that nice clean smell.....(even in my home im obsessed with cleaning products and if i dont smell it i feel like its dirty) 

The Directions are fairly straight forward  After using your brush, spray several times over the brush bristles. Gently wipe the brush onto a clean cloth to remove make up. Allow brush to fully air dry before next use. Repeat daily or as often as necessary. 

I cant recommend this product enough girls its perfect for everyday use....Now it doesnt remove the make up fully but enough that you can reuse your brushes again without any of the previous makeup mixing with your next......... Plus it gets rid of any bacteria that might form from usage that day !!!!!!This is particularly great for people who suffer alot from eye infections this is great for disinfecting your brushes.....

Just always make sure to wash your brushes fully once a week....

This is well worth the money i have no complaints about this and it has become a regular buy for me.  I love this.  

Well that concludes my review on these everyone if you have any questions as away 

until next time 

Lots of Irish Hugs and Kisses 

Love Nina Carry 

e.l.f Custom Face (refill) Review

e.l.f says:  Exquisite texture, and delicate mineral pigment  leaves cheeks feeling healthy and looking radiant with that natural glow. Infused with texturizing agents, skin feels smooth and pores are minimized. Choose your favorite colors that best compliment your unique and beautiful look.
Place your element into the e.l.f. technologically designed magnetic lock system compact, and complete your customized palette. Brush gently over face powder with e.l.f. blushing-bronzing brush and tap any excess powder off brush and apply, blend into apples of cheeks for flawless application.

e.l.f UK site recently hit 250k likes on their facebook page Click here to see.....So as a way of saying thank you they are doing yet another 50% off all their products on eyelipsface.co.uk.  The Code is: 250KFB(uk & European customers) 250KFBIT(Italian Customers) until the 12th September 2pm UK time  

"Love this photo its great" 

I recently ordered 2 compacts and 4 custom face refills from e.l.f UK site as they only have 50% off about a month ago.........
I have already reviewed the Compact in a previous Review Click here to view .  
So i will go ahead and review the Custom Face Refills i got along with my compacts.

The Product 

In Shades "Flushed, Bronzed, Coy & Glow"

Like the custom eyeshadows you are gettting a small thin box ingredients listed on the back.......inside the blush/bronser is placed in plastic that was formed to the shape of the pan. And the plastic is clicked-lock.   This is quite handy to keep in of you didnt want to buy the compact to put it in :)  

The Shades 

Flushed:  This is a beautiful strong rosy shade with shimmer.....The shimmer is not that noticeable when applied.......Be warn this shade is so so so highly pigmented you really need to use a light hand if you have fair skin or you will look like a porcelain doll........This is a perfect shade for anyone who has darker skin tone oh it would be beautiful :) This shade i will be purchasing again 


Bronzed:  This is a nice bronze shade if you have fair skin use a light hand as this can make you look a little orange if you have medium skin tone this is perfect for you and i dont think this would make a difference to anyone with a dark skin tone.......this is a lovely shade and very highly pigmented so a little goes a long way 


Coy:  This is certainly not the shade for my i would perhaps use it on my eyes but not on my cheeks......This is more of a brown shade plus gold shimmer.....I could see maybe someone who is a darker skin tone wearing this but not of an Irish gal like me 


Glow:  I Love this shade love it!!!!!! I am A Lover of Peach and Pinks......This is a beautiful Peach shade with a slight bit of shimmer which adds a beautiful natural glow to your cheeks.  Its a little less pigmented than the rest but it is build-able which i like as i can wear it during the day in intensify it at nights out :) :) 

The Swatches 

Swatches in Normal Light 

Swatches in Sunlight 

My Overall Opinion 

Ok to get the cons out of the way the only real con i have about these is the size....The fact that they are so highly pigmented i would love to see them in a bigger size.....they can be hard to use with a brush because of the size and if you use one often they wouldnt be long used up and maybe another con would be the fact they are a little powdery.  Thats all the cons i have the rest are pros.....I love the blushes......They are extremely handy for your handbag.......For £1.50/$1/€1.70 each you cant lose out.......If you havent tried these i recommend you give them a try :) :) 

Thanks so much for taking your time to read my review and i hope it was helpful to you..

Take care 

Cya soon 

Love Nina