artist Archives - Irish Beauty Blog Beautynook

EX1 Cosmetics First Impressions

I am no stranger to the EX1 Cosmetics brand online. I’ve seen it mentioned so much over the past few years. It’s been available for us to buy here in Ireland the last while, but only online, so I never pulled the trigger.

However, Boots are now stocking EX1 Cosmetics officially now. I was perusing the makeup aisles in Boots in Liffey Valley. Nestled within the more well known brands, there it was. Small, but mighty 🙂

They only seem to have four products for us to choose from here. I think they only have five products to choose from in total though, so we’re not missing out too much. They have a compact powder as well, but that wasn’t on the stand in Boots.

I was ridiculously eager to try the products I got, people have such high praise for the brand. Prices range from around €13-€17, so it’s definitely a brand that’s more on the affordable side. I know a lot of makeup artists love the foundation, so that makes it even more endearing. I filmed this video the day after I picked the products up, just because I couldn’t wait. This is not a review, it’s a first impressions video, just showing you how the three products apply and chatting about if I like them first time around. This is my skin before application, plus a ridiculous screenshot because it made me laugh ha!

Then this is my skin after applying all three of the EX1 Cosmetics base products. I used the lightest shade 1.0 in all the products. The shade range doesn’t seem to be brilliant.

They definitely evened everything out and made a blank canvas for me to apply over. Of course I go into more details in the video, but first impressions of all three products are good. I’ll give a more in depth insight once I try them more. Be sure to follow me on Instagram to keep up to date.

xxx

December 21, 2018/by Gem

Makeup, Makeup Tutorial, Youtube Video

Wearable Colourful Eye Makeup Tutorial

I am completely jumping on the bandwagon I know, but it has pretty much been love at first sight ever since I got my hands on the BPerfect X Stacey Marie Carnival Palette. The colours are ridiculously fun, with pops of wearability. If it had a matte base shade, it would be close to a perfect palette for me. The colours are super pigmented and blend really well. Can you tell I love it? Ok, enough gushing. I created this super easy and (I think), wearable colourful eye makeup using it, and posted it on my Instagram.

I got some lovely comments, (thank you). So, thought I would recreate it in video form on my YouTube channel. My approach to colour is very much in the real world. I am not a makeup artist, nor am I a super talented Instagram makeup gal. I’m just a 33 year old who loves to play with makeup, but still be able to pop up to the shop for a pint of milk in it 🙂

And I hope this comes across here. There is such thing as a wearable colourful eye makeup look. To me, it just has to be approached simply with some added liner and more everyday tones to ground the pop shade a bit. I’ve been having so much fun playing around with the BPerfect Carnival Palette. Whether it be full on colour like this, or just slicks of brightness along the lash line.

The shade ‘Mint’ in-particular calls to me, so that’s the star of the show in this look, but of course you can use whatever shade you like.

I touch on a few of the other products I used in this wearable colourful eye makeup tutorial. But, I wanted to focus on the shadows being the star of the show.

Let me know what you think. And if you have the palette, I’d love to know your thoughts on it 🙂

xxx

*PR SAMPLE***

September 23, 2018/by Gem

Bargain Buying, Makeup

Current Budget Friendly Makeup Favourites

I haven’t done a round up like this in a while. So, here is five of my current budget friendly makeup favourites.

I am not a makeup snob by any means. If a product is good, it’s good, regardless of the price 🙂

My first budget friendly makeup pick of the minute is the very talked about Coverage Foundation from The Ordinary.

I harped on about this here in a dedicated blogpost, so I won’t go into too much detail. But, I am a big fan. I always judge a foundation on whether I would pick it up to wear for a night out or going out all day. This is definitely one I reach for alot. I love the coverage, the finish and the longevity. Oh and may I add, the price point too!

My second choice will come as no surprise either (sorry ha!). The Maybelline Eraser Eye in the shade ‘Brightener’.

I like both of the colour correcting shades (details on both of them here). I think I just reach for the Brightener more. I feel like I can get away with it just on it’s own. Whereas the ‘Neutralizer’ leaves a bit of a yellow hue to the skin. I am delighted these shades are available in Ireland now, because for me, the ‘Light’ concealer version, just wasn’t light enough. These work so much better.

My third budget friendly makeup favourite is another Maybelline Product. This is their Master Fix Setting & Perfecting Loose Powder.

This is actually Maybelline’s first loose setting powder. It is super finely milled and applies really lightly and smoothly onto the skin.

It’s really mattifying, so I usually apply a liberal layer of it and then use a setting spray over top to lift the skin a bit. It absorbs oils really well though and definitely helps with the longevity of your makeup. It is a more pricey ‘affordable product’ at €13.79 from Boots here.

Number four is the Catrice Metallic Liquid Liner in 010 ‘Bronze Lee’. I bloody love that name 🙂

You can see it in action is a previous blogpost here. These Metallic liners come in a couple of different shades, I believe. I need to find the others to add to my collection. I really like the formula and the finish. The shade is less intimidating than black or even dark brown. And I can generally create a flick with the applicator. When I can say that you know a liquid liner is half good. Feline flicks are not my forte at all.

Last on my budget friendly makeup roundup is the Maybelline Brow Artist Plumper.

I am way late to the party with this one. I don’t know why I never tried it up until now. I have the shade Medium/Dark. I like that the spooley isn’t very tightly bound.

It means it doesn’t hold onto alot of product. I can find with some coloured brow gels, it can end up all over your skin. This doesn’t leave your eyebrows feeling crispy either. It just adds a bit of a tint with some added fibers for fluffiness. It’s a really decent tinted brow gel. It costs €8.49 from Boots here.

And that’s my five current picks! Things that are actually in rotation on my makeup desk at the moment, that hopefully won’t break the bank 🙂

xxx

*****CONTAINS PR SAMPLES*****

June 30, 2017/1 Comment/by Gem

Monthly Favourites, Youtube Video

April Favourites 2017

It’s April Favourites time for 2017. This year is going too damn fast! But, the weather is getting a little bit better and it’s a bit brighter out. So, I can complain (of course), but I won’t 🙂

My April Favourites for this year consist of mostly makeup, of course. But there is a hair care tool and a new tech gadget, that myself and John splurged on. We had a busy month, so it was a bit of a treat for getting through it.

L’Oréal Infallible 24 Matte. Review here.
L’Oréal True Match Foundation. Review here.
Mac Sheertone Shimmer Blush in ‘Springsheen’. Available from Brown Thomas here.
Maybelline Color Show Pencil in 520. Swatched here.
Maybelline Brow Precise Micro Brow Pencil in ‘Soft Brown’. Available from the Boots website here.
Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 13. This is a new colour and I cannot find it online. But the older shades are available from Debenhams here.
Paese Artist Silky Matt Liquid Lipstick in 707. I have swatches of it here.
Canon G7X Mark ii. I researched this camera to within in a inch of my life :). I already have a DSLR, so I am hoping this will help me up my photo game on social media. And then maybe myself and himself can experiment with vlogging too. I bought mine from Conns Cameras on Claredon Street here in Dublin. They were super nice and helpful. It is on their website here, if you want to check out the specs and all that good stuff.

You can as always click on the video and to watch or click here to watch it directly on my YouTube channel.

And that is my April Favourites for 2017 in a nutshell. Roll on May 🙂

Thanks so much for watching and reading, as always.

Gemma

xxx

May 1, 2017/1 Comment/by Gem

Monthly Favourites, Youtube Video

March Favourites 2017

‘Guess who’s back, back again?’ Well you know from the title really. It’s favourites time. Yay! It’s time for me to round up my March Favourites and give you an insight into why they have been floating my boat for the last few weeks.

Be honest with me, do you actually like monthly favourite posts? I, myself love reading what people have been loving. I would like to think we use and love the products for more than just the month in question. It’s really weird that you definitely gravitate towards different things though for spurts of time. Especially months that we are transitioning into different seasons, so you tend use different products.

My March favourites consist of as always mostly beauty (I am a beauty blogger first and foremost of course :))

Obviously I go into more details in the video above, so you can just click on it or go directly to my YouTube channel here.

I filmed this after a few funny days personally. It was also a few funny days in ‘blogging world’ too. So I ramble a bit and am a bit scatterbrained, I hope you don’t mind 🙂

The products I mention are:

Rayban Clubmasters. John bought me these a few years ago now from Asos here. I always buy from Asos in pounds, it tends to work out cheaper.
Jo Malone Basil & Neroli Cologne. I have a full review on this here.
& Other Stories Fleur De Mimosa Body Lotion. I got it in store here in Dublin but they sell online here too.
Vita Liberata Body Blur. Beauty Bay seems to have this for the cheapest I can find online here.
H&M Colour Essence Pencil in Raw Umber. They are on the H&M website here. I got mine in store.
Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Cream Eyeshadows. I have a full review of the two I own here.
Mac All That Glitters single eyeshadow. I got this from Brown Thomas in store. You can buy online here.

And that’s it for my March Favourites.

As always thanks for clicking, I really appreciate it 🙂

xxx

April 10, 2017/2 Comments/by Gem

Makeup, Makeup Tools

Nima Brush ‘Girls On Tour’ Travel Set

If you haven’t heard of Nima, eh where have you been living? 🙂 They are an Irish owned makeup brush owned created by the lovely Niamh Martin. I’ve waffled loads about different brushes here on Beautynook in the past. I’m a big fan. Nima Brush’s last big release was the Artistic Collection which I spoke about in more detail here if you fancy a nose.

Nima Brush’s newest additions to their every growing brand is the ‘Girls On Tour’ Travel Set. They are seven of some of the most loved brushes from the Artistic Collection in a more travel friendly form, and in a really cute Nima pouch. The set costs €55 and you can pick it up from the Nima site here.

First off, how gorgeous are these brushes? If you are on the hunt for a Christmas pressie for a makeup lover…or a treat for yourself, I think Nima have you covered. The Girls On Tour Set would be great for bringing on holidays or just to have in your handbag for touch ups.

I think the choice of brushes are really thought out and have you everything you need for doing your makeup on the go.

Here’s the low down on Girls On Tour:

The ‘Blaithin’ is included.

This is probably my most reached for Nima Brush, I have the full handle sized version. I use it for contour mostly which you can see in action here but I love it for blush and powder too.

We also get the ‘Jane’.

The softest duo fibre stipping brush ever!

The ‘Tara’.

Perfect for blush, bronzer,contour the works.

The ‘Girls On Tour’ set also contains another one of my favourites from the Artistic Collection, the ‘Debs’.

This is a gorgeous blending eyeshadow brush.

The ‘Patricia’

A duo fibre tapered eyeshadow brush.

The ‘Ollie’.

I would describe this as a smudger brush, perfect for the lash line.

And finally, the ‘Danielle’.

Danielle is an angled duo fibre brush. I would use this for brows,liner or even lip definition.

The only real differences between the Girl’s On Tour collection and the Artistic Collection version of the brushes is the slight change in colour and the length of the brush handle. The actual brushes are the same great quality that we’ve grown to expect from Nima.

I have small child like hands so for me the Girls On Tour set will probably end up becoming part of my everyday makeup. For now, I’m trying really hard to keep them to bring on holiday with me next month…wish me luck 🙂

xxx

November 26, 2015/1 Comment/by Gem

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