Marissa Carter's Beauty Secrets
Over the next few weeks and months, we here at Spin Style are taking time out with some of Ireland's most prominent beauty influencers to find out their must-have products, what they can't live without and the budget beauty heroes they've recently discovered and fallen in love with. First up, we take a peak inside Dublin born Cocoa Brown Tan founder Marissa Carter's beauty treasure trove to discover her unbiased beauty secrets. From her all-time favourite industrial-strength mascara to her step-by-step daily beauty routine, you beauty fiends in for one hell of an insider treat. A beauty innovator in her own right, with her own products being lauded by the Kardashian klan, you can trust that if Marissa's using it, it's got to be good. Little word of warning though; by the time you reach the article's end, you'll no doubt be rushing off for a massive beauty shopping haul and for that we apologise in advance to your unsuspecting bank balance.
Favourite mascara ever?
Code Beautiful Mascara - it's incredible. So long lasting that I actually had to buy a stronger eye makeup remover to take it off. It's €29 and you can get it in Ireland online from Cara Pharmacy.
That's what you want though. All time favourite foundation?
This a tough one! For serious coverage and if I'm filming Xpose I always go back to Inglot HD Foundation, shade 76. During the day or at weekends when I just want something light and hydrating (my skin can get very dry) I use Fuschia Perfect Skin Foundation. It gives a luminous finish and doesn't look or feel cakey.
#GoldenGoddessOil #Highlighter #CocoaBrown #MyCocoaGlow
A photo posted by marissacarter (@marissacarter) on
Cakey = The Worst. What's your number one desert island beauty product?
Would it be ridiculous to be whitening my teeth on a desert island? Well, that's what I'd be doing! I use iWhite teeth whitening trays - they're a peroxide free teeth whitening option which are amazing and they don't make my teeth sensitive at all. I am totally addicted!
Must have false tan?
When I sold my beauty salon, Carter Beauty, I sold my spray tanning machines with it and I only recently bought myself a new one and I have my poor husband like a ghostbuster these days, spraying me with the Cocoa Brown spray tan solution in our shower. I have the grout in the tiles destroyed! Seriously though, you just can't beat a spray tan! I've been giving myself abs with tan too. If you can't tone it, tan it, I say!
A photo posted by marissacarter (@marissacarter) on
Latest beauty product you've bought and become obsessed with?
It has to be Instant Effects Lip Plumper. It's the flippin' business! It's €30 and has been scientifically proven to increase lip volume by up to 20% in two minutes. Kylie Jenner I'm coming for you!
Best ever beauty advice?
Skin cells are made from the food you eat. I've always been an advocate of supplementing your diet with vitamins and minerals that help build healthy, luminous skin cells. Can't rave enough about Revidox. It's actually the only supplement on the market that's scientifically proven to reduce the biological age of skin cells. I'm all about the science! I think they're about €25 for a 30-day packet.
Favourite false lashes?
That would have to be Penneys' Diva 01 strip lashes for day wear, Diva 02 for night and I am addicted to semi Permanent eyelash extensions on my bottom lashes. I get them done in The Lash Boutique in Dalkey.
Favourite bronzer?
Sleek bronzing palette. It has a shimmery bronze colour, a matte dark brown for contouring and a golden highlighter. €13 on cloud10beauty.com
Favourite make-up brush brand?
The AYU makeup brushes cannot be beaten in terms of quality. None of this 'hairs all over your face' business which drives me mad! AYU are an Irish brand too, run by Laura and Suzie who are real girl bosses! I can see them becoming as big in Ireland as Real Techniques did in the UK. They even have their own YouTube channel.
Favourite blusher?
Clarins cream blush in a coral shade. I put it everywhere. Bridge of my nose , cheeks and lips.
Beauty influencers - who are you inspired by in the celeb world?
I think what Jessica Alba has done with her beauty brand Honest is just phenomenal. She's created a billion dollar beauty empire and looks great while she's at it!
Beauty pet peeve?
Unnaturally heavy, drawn on eyebrows. I'm guilty of having tweezed off my eyebrows in the 90's so I need plenty of help I'm the eyebrow department but I hate when eyebrows look really fake.
Favourite skincare brand?
I have too many! For serious results I turn to Shiseido and Neostrata. When my skin needs desensitizing and TLC I use Declaré and Eau de Thermale Avène.
Favourite nail salon in Dublin?
Michelle Burke Nails.
We love her! Favourite hair salon in Dublin?
I follow Lygia Vella wherever she is! She's been my hair dresser for over 10 years. She's currently working in Senso Studio in Dalkey.
Let's talk fashion for a minute. Favourite high street store?
Debenhams is my favourite place to shop for clothes unless I'm shopping online with OPSH.com.
Favourite sports brand?
Sports wha?! I haven't ran in two years. The shame!
Okay. Lastly, back to beauty. Let's run through your every day beauty look.
Right. 1. Boots No7 Instant Radiance Balm as a primer. 2. Fuschia Perfect Glow Foundation shade Sun Glow. 3. Rimmel Highlighter Concealer Duo pen to hide dark circles. 4. Absolute New York eyeshadow palette. Fab Amercian brand that's just come to Ireland through BeautyMatters.ie. 5. Code Beautiful Mascara. Clarins' cream blush on cheeks. 6. Inglot Matte Lip Tint shade 17. 7. Sleek bronzer and finish with, 8., a dab of Cocoa Brown Golden Goddess Oil to highlight cheekbones and collar bone. I think the collar bone is the sexiest body part! 10. Almost forgot my eyebrows there... Cailyn Gelux Eyebrow gel in shade Hazelnut.
Follow Marissa Carter on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @MarissaCarter.
CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT LASHES? BEHOLD, OUR TOP 3 FALSE LASH BRANDS
![Kris Jenner is "Over The Moon" For Khloe Kardashian](/content/000/images/000264/271877_54_news_hub_221065_656x500.jpg "Kris Jenner is "Over The Moon" For Khloe Kardashian")
