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Kim K's make-up artist just launched a mascara – and I was one of the first people to try it

Kim K's make-up artist just launched a mascara – and I was one of the first people to try it

The Irish Sun08-05-2025
I'D put money on the fact that mascara is the most popular make-up product.
It's definitely the easiest to apply, and makes an immediate difference to your face, so even if you're not into make-up, you can't get it wrong.
I've had many new mascaras, all promising to be the best one ever, cross my desk already this year with price points ranging from a few pounds to over £50 - and a quick search of Boots.com throws back over 400 results for "mascara", so it's no wonder finding The One
feels like a minefield.
I know this is a huge claim - but I think Kim Kardashian's famed make-up artist
Mario
Dedivanovic's debut mascara might just be the perfect all-rounder.
6
Makeup By Mario Master Mascara took three years to develop
Credit: Makeup By Mario
Before I tell you why, let me first list all my requirements, so you can understand how picky I am.
I've got sensitive eyes that always seem to be itchy, so I need a lightweight formula that doesn't make the problem worse.
Read More Hair & Beauty
Because of said itching, it also can't flake - there's nothing worse than looking in the mirror and seeing black specs all over your face.
I've got very oily skin, so it needs to be smudge-proof - but because of said sensitive eyes, I try to avoid waterproof formulas, which can take a heavy-duty cleanser to remove.
6
Tara's lashes without mascara
Credit: Tara Ledden
As for my lashes, they're long (a win!) but fair and very straight - so the brush needs to be able to get into the inner corner of my eye to pick up every hair and lift my lashes, while the formula has to hold them in place once it's on and not clump lashes together or look thick towards the ends.
I told you - I'm a really tough customer when it comes to mascara.
Most read in Fabulous
Miraculously,
A few years ago, I attended a Mario Dedivanovic make-up masterclass where he divulged his foolproof four-step mascara routine.
Curl lashes, wipe excess off mascara brush, apply to lashes, then comb lashes through to separate. But the clever design of
6
Makeup By Mario's cone-shaped wand is great for short lashes
Credit: Makeup By Mario
Makeup By Mario Master Mascara, £28
It has a cone-shaped tapered wand that I knew I was going to love as soon as I saw it.
The slimline design means I can get up close and personal with the base of my lashes without transferring the product on to my eyelid, but it's not too complicated that I need perfect lighting and a magnifying mirror to work out which way to use it.
Plus, the head of the wand has fibre bristles, which I prefer, as they help distribute product more evenly.
The bristles are super-thin and spiral around the wand, so they comb through every lash - picking up ones I didn't even realise I had - adding volume, and seamlessly carry product from root to tip while also preventing lashes sticking together so they look wispy rather than spider-like.
6
Master Mascara's before and after photos are seriously impressive
Credit: Makeup By Mario
It has a shorter wand than most on the market, which allows more control as you can get closer to your face.
I'm usually wedded to my lash curler, but I've stopped using it completely since trying
Hours after applying, I can feel my lashes touching my brow bone when I look up, so I can vouch for how well it stops them falling flat.
6
Tara's eyelashes after using Makeup by Mario Master Mascara
Credit: Tara Ledden
The first time I used it, I was worried the formula might be too wet and thus prone to smudging, but it dries down quickly on lashes putting my fears to rest.
I even wore it when I went to
cheer
on my friends running the London Marathon - if you've seen any videos on TikTok, you'll know how emotional it can get, but there was no sign of panda eyes at the finish line.
Yet still, because of the pro-vitamin B5 and caster oil-packed formula, my lashes don't feel at all crispy.
It's not something I do often, but in the name of research, I even reapplied the mascara after a full day's work to see what would happen.
It didn't flake or get clumpy, only upped the volume for a more dramatic look.
6
Master Mascara doesn't flake or smudge, even on oily skin
Credit: Makeup By Mario
Makeup By Mario Master Mascara, £28
I love how you can tailor the application and achieve countless different looks - from minimalist, lengthened lashes to OTT false-lash effect volume, it's the most versatile formula I've used in a long time!
Top beauty trends for 2025
Hayley Walker, Beauty Expert at
Haircare
Hair gloss treatments are a must-have as beauty enthusiasts love the salon-quality shine and enhanced colour delivered by the trending treatment.
Hair glosses are multifunctional, as they nourish the hair while offering a vibrant, healthy-looking finish, combining 2025's core trends. This treatment is perfect for those seeking an affordable, at-home glow-up.
2025 will focus on skin repairing and texture-enhancing treatments.
Skincare
Rejuran treatment, a celebrity-endorsed procedure, will see a rise in demand this year as many seek to enhance their skin's appearance. The procedure entails injecting polynucleotides derived from salmon DNA to enhance skin texture and elasticity. 'Rejuvenation is expected to dominate 2025 skincare trends as many seek to achieve a flawless, youthful complexion.
Skincare will also include back-to-basic products for a simplified routine.
Ginseng cleansing oil and panthenol cream are among the trending products for 2025. The cleansing oil is excellent for dissolving make-up and impurities without clogging pores and is enriched with nourishing properties to leave the skin feeling and looking refreshed and radiant.
Make-up
Make-up trends will follow suit to achieve youthful and radiant looks. Under-eye brighteners will be sought-after products for delivering coverage while enhancing natural radiance. This beauty tool will complement natural beauty while improving and brightening dull skin.
Make-up looks will be bigger and bolder in 2025 with cluster lashes expected to surge this year. These lashes bring the glam to glamorous looks as they deliver dramatic volume to enhance everyday or special occasion looks.
Peel-off lip stains circulated the beauty industry in 2024 and are expected to dominate in 2025. The growing popularity of this product is due to its ability to provide long-lasting, transfer-proof colour to lips, enhancing a natural aesthetic. Additionally, cherry-coded aesthetics are expected to be everywhere this year as the deep, rich hue can be achieved using peel-off lip stains or bold lip looks for a dramatic effect.
Nails
2025 will be another year of countless, show-stopping nail trends. Goddess Nails and Aura Nails deserve an honourable mention as these designs channel an ethereal, celestial aesthetic for bold, self-expressing nails.
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Celebrity make-up artist Katie Jane Hughes brings her beauty brand to Ireland

Celebrity make-up artist Katie Jane Hughes was in Dublin recently while on tour with Dua Lipa , doing the pop star's make-up in her inimitable style. Just a few weeks earlier, Hughes had hit one million followers on TikTok . If you don't know Hughes by name, you know her techniques. Your friends use them. You've watched videos inspired by them. Her teaching is so accessible, her knowledge so extensive, that her influence spreads far beyond her own channels. A celebrated artist for many years, Hughes has painted the famous faces of Hailey Bieber, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Ashley Graham and many more. But it was the announcement of her own brand, two years ago that catapulted her into a new realm of influence. In person, she's striking. Her skin is smooth and glowing, and her make-up, unsurprisingly, is flawless. She's also incredibly warm and friendly. A few minutes into our chat, I feel like we've known each other for years. She's generous with her time and more so with her knowledge. READ MORE 'I feel like is solving a bit of an education problem. I work with so many brands and they're like, 'Oh just show people how easy our product is to use.' I'd think to myself, well it is easy to use for somebody that knows how – it's not easy to use if they don't know how, or if it's never been shown by an aunt or a cousin or a relative or whoever. So, education had to be the foundation of the brand. I was adamant about that.' make-up brushes One of Hughes' most viral TikTok videos demonstrates 'how to do skin well' – teaching you how to make full-coverage foundation look like real skin. It showcases one of her signature and now most loved techniques: 'priming the brush'. She pumps foundation on to the back of her hand, works it into a fluffy foundation brush until the product is almost invisible on the bristles, and then begins applying. The effect is instant – like the foundation is lightly Photoshopping her skin in real time. To date the video has racked up more than 13 million views. 'I really just want to simplify beauty. But at the beginning, I almost want to overcomplicate it. Here's what I mean by that. People will say to me, 'I need a new bronzer. The one I have isn't working.' And I'll say OK, what one are you using now, what do you like, what do you not like, what's your skin type – are you dry? Because if you're dry and you're using a full-coverage matte bronzing cream then that's not going to work. 'I want to help people to really think about the make-up they're using – to figure out what they like, what they don't, and what works for them. I don't really like holding back information on tips and techniques – I don't know why others do that. It makes no sense to me. Make-up should be easy and fun for everyone.' Soft Smudge Lip & Cheek sticks The products Hughes has created for are certainly fun. They're also functional and innovative. The range is still small but growing: four multi-use make-up brushes, Soft Smudge Lip & Cheek sticks (available in five shades), Hyper Shine Lite Pigment pots (in four shades), and her personal favourite, Hyper Shine Serum. 'It's something that you can use with everything – you use it on your lips, you can use it at night as a balm, it's essentially a massive mixing medium. And if you're a 'no make-up make-up' person, and you don't want any colour, it's a gorgeous gloss for the cheeks,' she says. 'The goal with the products is to teach people how to play, to almost get their hands dirty when they're doing their make-up – if you're not manipulating products with others, mixing your blush and your highlighter, or your highlighter with your serum, or your blush with your serum, you're not stretching the products as far as they can go.' Her next launch is an eye and lip contour crayon, followed by a brow gel. 'It's really simple, not like a brow lamination; it's not tinted, it's simple but effective. You'll love it.' now ships directly to Ireland. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Blurred Matte SPF30 (€44 from Cult Beauty) This week I'm loving ... Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Blurred Matte SPF30 The latest addition to Laura Mercier's line of tinted moisturisers is Tinted Moisturiser Blurred Matte SPF30 (€44 from Cult Beauty). It comes in 20 shades and is formulated to help reduce excess shine while providing a smooth, soft matte finish. The texture is creamy and consistent with the luxurious quality of the brand's previous base products. It's an excellent medium coverage option for combination or oily skin.

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Irish Independent

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  • Irish Independent

Louise McSharry: How to strip back your make-up look when the weather hots up

Unfortunately, dampness doesn't exactly lend itself to most of our beauty practices. Make-up melts off, hair gets frizzy, and crevices get stinky. So how do you stay looking good when the heat comes a-calling? My advice is always to lean into it. Sure, you could invest in expensive setting sprays and anti-humidity hair sprays, but if you know things are going to be really damp, there's no point in stressing about your face or hair getting wrecked. Instead, I like to think about how I can manage to maintain a look even if the sweats are intense. Last week, at Primavera Sound in Barcelona, I went to see musicians Charli XCX and Troye Sivan perform their Sweat tour, so you better believe I employed this tactic. For make-up, this meant that I kept it relatively simple. As far as I'm concerned, there's no point in applying heavy foundation in these circumstances; it won't look good as you sweat and will feel uncomfortable. 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