90s Archives - Irish Beauty Blog Beautynook

Mac Whirl Lipstick and Lip Liner

I’ve had Mac Whirl lipstick for a while now. And I’ve had the liner forever, literally. And I never thought to do a blogpost on them. Silly me! Well I am rectifying this now for the archives and just in case any of you want to see them in action 🙂

There was a lot of hype around Mac Whirl lipstick launching after the success of the liner. I get so much use out of the lip liner. It’s great on it’s own, under similar shade lippies, not so similar shades and even gloss. It just works. It’s that typical 90’s flat brown shade.

I feel like it has a hint of blue in it because like any more blue toned red, it definitely makes your teeth look more white and bright, score!

The Mac Whirl lipstick itself is a matte formula. Mac Cosmetics do a great creamy matte formula, they apply smoothly and last well. But generally with any matte lippie, your lips need to be in tip top condition before application and it can cause dryness as you wear it throughout the day and night.

It’s weird because I don’t find the lip liner shade intimidating, but the lipstick is of course more opaque, so I do find it’s a bit of a statement to wear. Of course, this thought process is in the eye of the beholder, and the person wearing the lipstick.

Overall I am a fan of both Mac Whirl lipstick and the lip liner, but I do find myself reaching for the lip liner more day to day. Now Mac , if you’re reading this, if you could make a Soar lipstick too, that would be great. I love a brown lip but I am also partial to a mauve lip too 🙂

What’s your favourite Mac lipstick?

xxx

November 28, 2018/2 Comments/by Gem

Fashion, Youtube Video

Fashion Haul ASOS, Zara, River Island

What’s seldom is wonderful. I am back with a fashion haul. It’s been a while I know. But I’m brutal at them though ha!

I love clothes, I just don’t love my body. So it’s really hard to put it on show online. That means a fashion haul for me is more just showing clothes to the camera and trying to describe them. Maybe one day I’ll be comfortable enough for the fancy cutaways showing the clothing on. For now, I hope this method is ok.

I chat in abundance about what I bought and why I bought it in the video above or here. And then I will put pics and links down below of everything I can.

I think everything I bought from ASOS, Zara and River Island altogether cost just over €200. For the amount of things I picked up online, I think that’s a pretty good price!

My Zara fashion haul is first!

Striped giraffe shirt which I’m wearing in the video.

This is available online here.

Buttoned linen dress.

Available here.

Paper bag bermuda shorts.

Available here.

High rise jeggings with taping.

Available here.

Next up is ASOS. I only picked up two things from them.

First up is these fringed sliders from a brand called Kaltur.

I actually wore these the other day and I did end up with blisters on the tops of my feet. Just something to note. They are available here.

ASOS own brand ruffle wrap lip top.

Available online here.

Last but not least in my fashion haul are the bits I picked up from the River Island sale.

Black stipe puff sleeve wrap over blouse. I think my fave item from what I got.

Was still available when I was writing this online here.

Next up is this lemon cut out blouse.

Available here.

The dud of the haul is probably this pom pom t shirt, just because I sized up and it was already an over sized item.

Available here.

And then finally the second pair of shoes I picked up were these backless loafers.

And that’s it for my birthday money fashion haul. Let me know what you think and I promise I will try with the try on cutaways some time in my blogging future 🙂

xxx

June 24, 2018/0 Comments/by Gem

Fashion

Fashion Wish List Summer

My fashion wish list for Summer definitely has a theme. I’m still on the bardot bandwagon, I want light materials, bright colours and all the runners going. I’ve never been more happy to be able to wear trainers again and for it to be accepted. And let’s face it bloody cool!

I will admit it and say I don’t think my sense of style reflects my age in any way. I am nearly 33 (in June), but I have regressed to dressing like my 15 year old self and I am completely ok with it. I’m curvy with big boobs and big hips. I am also super conscious of my tummy area and I HATE the tops of my arms. These are all factors I take into consideration when I go clothes shopping.

I actually really love fashion and it’s something I’ve always been interested in it, I’ve just never always felt worthy of it. I have gotten a little better in my 30’s though and do try to go out of my comfort zone even if it’s just with accessories. Fashion is there to be played with I think, just like makeup and my goal is to try a little more with it. However at the same time, I’m broke so when it comes to shopping, I try to think about every purchase even if I’m just dropping into Penneys for a look, I want to be able to utilise everything I purchase.

This is definitely an achievable fashion wish list, with a couple of accessories thrown in with hopes of them being added to my birthday list too 🙂

First up I really want a flattering midi bardot dress. ASOS have a plethora to choose from, from ASOS own and other brands too. The style is definitely staying around for Summer 2018. I am loving this little number in particular from River Island.

I am a casual girl at heart, so t shirts are definitely a staple in my Summer wardrobe. A cool slogan gets me every time. They’re great for throwing on with jeans, shorts and skirts a like.

I am a sucker for all the 90’s throwback ones like this Fila one from Urban Outfitters.

Co-ords are another thing I need more of in life. I am imagining a Pretty Woman moment in a shorts and blazer combo, like this one from ASOS. Love the pastel pink shade.

I am already a Old Skool Vans wearer. They take some breaking in, but once you do that, they will be the comfiest shoes you’ll ever own. I am all over their sorbet colour offerings, particularly the mint ones. JD have a bucket load of fun ones to choose from.

These will make it from my fashion wish list to my actual wardrobe somewhere in the very near future.

Sunglasses are a real obsession for me, particularly Ray-Bans. I wear my Clubmasters to death, so I think 2018 may be the year I splurge on a new pair. I have my eye (get it? 🙂 ) on these mirrored ones from ASOS. I don’t know if I’m cool enough to pull them off though.

A birthday fashion wish list item is this Coach Parker Quilted Bag.

This has popped up on my Instagram ads (they obviously work), a few times. I like that it’s multi coloured, I like that the chain is black and I like that it’s a shoulder bag. I am a bit of a brat when it comes to carrying a handbag. At nearly €600 though, I would have to see it in the flesh and hold it before I’d make a decision. A girl can dream 🙂

I could go on, but we’ll be here all day. What’s on your fashion Summer wish list?

xxx

May 16, 2018/0 Comments/by Gem

Makeup

90’s Grunge Inspired Makeup Look

I am going to sound totes dramatic, but hear me out. This 90’s Grunge Inspired Makeup Look was totes out of my comfort zone. Well not totes, but a little bit. It wasn’t the makeup itself that pushed me necessarily. It was the thoughts of a makeup theme that did. It’s kind of new to me.

As I like to reiterate all of the time, I am not a makeup artist. I just tend to stick to things I know that work for me. But I thought sure why wouldn’t this work for me? Matte brown smokey eyes, lashings of black kohl liner and a matte brown lip, I can do that! And sure I did!

It’s not perfect but thats the beauty of a 90’s grunge inspired makeup look. It doesn’t have to be. This weirdly represented something for me. A lot of makeup artists (or people in general), give beauty bloggers a hard time because they’re not technical enough. But if you’re just showcasing makeup on your face and talking pragmatically about products, I don’t really see it as any different as being a film or a food reviewer ? Makeup is subjective and we all do it differently and want to achieve different results. Anyways, I guess this convo is subjective too, so I’ll stop there 🙂

Here I am channelling my 90’s grunge chick. It was actually super simple as you will see in the video above or you can watch it directly here.

The main elements were Makeup Geek’s Tiki Hut eyeshadow. Urban Decay’s 1993 lip liner. I thought that was totally appropriate to use. And the Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink which is you can see swatched here.

Let me know what you think of my 90’s grunge inspired makeup look. Are you embracing the 90’s revival or should it be left in the past where it belongs? 🙂

xxx

CONTAINS PR SAMPLES

April 15, 2018/0 Comments/by Gem

Fashion, Haul, Lifestyle, Makeup

Fashion, Beauty And Homeware Edinburgh Haul

Edinburgh definitely wasn’t supposed to be a shopping holiday. We were only there for two days. Myself, John and my Mam went. We explored the city (which is awesome by the way). We did some of the tourist attractions. Camera Obscura is definitely something to do if you go, and ate and drank ourselves silly. On the last day our flight was in the evening so we pottered into the city and the shopping just happened. My mother is a professional shopping in fairness so she took us all along for the ride 🙂 I ended up getting some fashion bits, beauty and homeware bits too. Compiling it all together I realised I had enough to compile a haul 🙂

Also myself and John casually got married in Camera Obscura.

My brother paid for the very intimate ceremony. £2 to be exact. Don’t worry it wasn’t official, if we ever do get married I probably would’t wear a veil…or a denim jacket 🙂

Edinburgh city is really great place to shop as well as sightsee. It’s not too big so you can get around pretty easy by foot and there’s lots of great stores to peruse.

I was particularly excited to see Anthropologie. I’ve never been inside one of their stores, although I have lusted after their products online. I have seen UK YouTubers I follow with their amazing Slivered Geode Coasters. I knew I wanted at one strictly for Instagram purposes 🙂 They are 14 quid a pop! I ended up with two. My brother bought me one (wedding present ha), and then John kindly bought me one too.

I also got the prettiest monogrammed mug which was on special for £8.

You can shop the Gilded Shapes mugs here.

Primark aka Penneys got hit a little as well. They seem to do a thing where you can buy some stuff in certain stores but not in others so it’s always good to have a little looksy.

Apologies, I have no idea if any of these are available in Ireland.

I picked up two pairs of trousers.

I have a really similar black pair from New Look and get a lot of wear out of them so I thought I would pick up a couple more.

This super cute t shirt was £8.

Definitely more for Spring, but you have to act fast in Penneys so this went into the basket too 🙂

I chose two of the cream eyeshadows from their newly released In The Nude Collection.

I actually went to the launch of this collection here in Dublin a couple of weeks ago and these were one of the products I was impressed with. They were only £2!

The last thing fashion related thing I bought is probably my favourite.

Yes, they are Disney themed!!! I just fell in love with them, they’re so cute right? They have Mickey and Minnie AND lipstick kisses on them! And they were only £10. I am a child at heart for sure.

A quick look around Superdrug just to see if they had anything different than in Dublin made me leave with two things.

Although I’ve tried a fair few items from Makeup Revolution, I’ve never tried anything from their I Heart Makeup Range. Now I’m fully aware that these are a complete rip off of Too Faced, but sure look they were cheap 🙂

The Chocolate and Peaches Palette went into my basket. It was £7.99.

Keeping on the peach them then, I got the Peachy Pink Kiss Blush. This was £4.99.

I will keep you posted about how I get on with them.

I decided on this trip that I was going to keep a look out for a baker boy cap. How fashion forward of me. Initially I had bought this one before Christmas from ASOS. I bloody love it but unfortunately my giant head is too big for it as it’s made from quite a ridged material.

This striped one was spotted in Zara.

I put it on and although I liked it it’s not as universal as just a plain black one. I was about to put it back the mammy whipped it off my head and bought it. It stayed on my head for the whole day after that and I love it. Although the boys kept calling me a train conductor 🙂

I was still on a quest for a plain black one, and ended up spotting this corduroy one in Topshop.

Because of my big mallet, I didn’t want one that was too puffy and if it had hardware I wanted it to be gold, this fit the bill perfectly.

The Mammy then spotted the same cap in pink and insisted on buying that one for me too. It’s not on the website so I can’t link it sorry.

Yes, she is a shopaholic. So now I am the proud owner of THREE baker boy hats! There’s a grey one too that she wanted to get as well, I had to reel her in at that point 🙂

The last thing I got was this little gold star and moon pendant from Topshop also.

It was on sale for £3 and I absolutely love it.

And that’s it for my Edinburgh fashion, beauty and makeup haul. We had the best time there. Myself and John are already planning to go back. Have you been? Click here to check out our Brussels vlog.

xxx

February 28, 2018/0 Comments/by Gem

Makeup, Youtube Video

November Favourites 2017

It’s my second last one for this year. Time for my November Favourites for 2017:)

Why yes, that would be me awkwardly posing with some of my November favourites selections, why ever do you ask?

As always you can watch the video over on my YouTube channel for more info and musings on the products in question. I will link them here too though in case anything in particular takes your fancy.

First up I talk about the sweatshirt I am wearing. I picked it up in store at the beginning of the month. Super casual and cosy. I am kind of obsessed with it.

You can find it on the website here.

The This Works Deep Sleek Heavenly Candle is online for the best price from Look Fantastic here.

I reviewed the Esteè Lauder Double Wear Nude Foundation here not too long ago. I actually said in the video that it retails for €34. Totally forgot I picked it up in duty free though. The cheapest I can find it online is from Debenhams here.

The Dermalogical Pre Cleanse Balm is something I didn’t think I would like. I’ve been literally using it every night since I got it though. Not cheap but you use very little product per use and the mitt comes included. I found it cheapest online from Feel Unique here.

My last favourites are the Bourjois Rouge Velvet lipsticks that I just will not shut up about. Apologies if you’re sick of listening to me. But honestly, I am obsessed. I know I might be obsessed with other lipsticks in days from now, even hours. But for this past month, I have been loving these lippies 🙂 I did a video and blog post about them here, if you want to see the ones I have swatched.

And there you have my November Favourites for 2017. Have you had any loves for the month? Let me know!

Gemma

xxx

*******INCLUDES PR SAMPLES*********

December 1, 2017/0 Comments/by Gem

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