New CID

If like me, you love trying out new make-up and getting pampered, you should go to the New Cid counter in Fenwicks. I received a complimentary ten minute make-over and was very pleased with the results. This offer is running for a while in order to promote their products as the counter has only been in store for about 6 months.

Battling fierce competition from Mac, Bobbi Brown and Benefit (to name a few), New Cid could still come out on top, with its versatile products and affordable prices, ranging from £11 to £26.50.

My make-up artist, Kate was really friendly. It was like chatting to one of my friends, which is what I’d hope for from a make-up counter. Someone young and vibrant who doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable. First, we chatted about what kind of look I wanted, what make-up I usually wear etc.

Kate started off with a product I hadn’t heard about before. Prmier, £23.50, is a water based product that you apply before foundation. It helps smoothen out lines and wrinkles, whilst making your make-up last longer. Kate told me to think of it like a base-coat that you apply to nails. It felt lovely on my skin – light and refeshing.

Normally I wear tinted moisturiser but I decided to try out the foundation, which still gave a natural finish and felt like I wasn’t wearing any make-up. I had on Vanilla, £26.50. Each comes with a brush applicator to smooth on, which uses less product. I also had on medium concealer, £17.50, which also contains a brush. I love these products – having to rush between my two jobs, university or meeting friends, I like to carry my make-up with me for touch ups. Having a brush already on my product, means more space for other essentials!

Next, Kate used a dark powder, £19, to give my face a bit colour and to get rid of shine. This also acts like a bronzer. Shimmer stick, £16, in Sorbet, was used on my cheeks to give a natural blush. I really like this, as you can use it on cheeks, eyes and lips. Then she brushed some of the pink i-glow compact shimmer powder,  £20, over my cheeks to give a bit more colour. This product is baked in the oven to give it a good texture.

On my eyes, Kate used the Choca Mocha eyeshadow quad, £20.50. She used medium brown on all my eye, then the darker one on my socket line and under my eye. I liked the effect and am going to practise at home! She also used charcoal smoulder, £16. This has an eye pencil on one end and a shadow on the other, which is ideal for smudging to create a smoky look. The i-groom eyebrow pencil, £13, also has a brush on the end to define brows. You can follow your natuaral line or if you want bigger eyeshadows, which is the look this season, you can use the pencil to thicken them. Since my 15-year-old cousin reckons I look like an alien, with my thin brows, maybe I should do this!

Kate used the shimmer stick again on my lips to give a pearly effect. I enjoyed about their new cocktail lipglosses, so Kate used Tequila Sunrise, £16, a peachy colour to match my look. These are halfway between a gloss and a matt lipstick. They come in small pots with a mirror. I liked the look of pina colda too, a pearly white, which smells of coconuts too!

I throughly enjoyed my make-over, especially since I got a glass of bucks fizz too! New Cid’s image is natuaral and fresh – all the make-up artists followed this. Not like some brands whose make-up often looks overdone!

There are three offers on at the moment – Buy any three products and get a make-up bag free. Powder and blusher brushes are £5 now, instead of £20. And if you pay £10, you get all your make-up done, free falsh eyelashes and they’ll fit them for you too. Ideal for a big night out.

Now all thats left to do is give my Mam my updated christmas list, including these products! I have a feeling Santa is going to be good to me this year!!