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Beauty Favourites 2015

I know so many wonderful bloggers have done their version of beauty favourites already so apologies if you’ve been inundated. I think it’s a really great idea though and I haven’t done monthly faves this year, so I thought I would do a yearly round of my beauty favourites 2015!

First up is an easy one. I know the Urban Decay Gwen Palette came out late in the year, but it has become one of my most reached for eyeshadow palettes.

I am completely head over heels for it. There is neutrals galore, transitional shades, fun sparkly shades and even a couple of cray cray shades to keep things interesting. Gwen, I bow down to you and can’t wait to see the new releases you and Urban Decay have up your sleeves for 2016 🙂 Full swatches of the palette can be seen here and I even did a makeup look with it here if you fancy a nose.

Next up is the very coveted Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop.

No joke I have used this pretty much everyday since I got it. When I first got my grubby little mitts on this in mid 2015 it was only available in America. Now the lovely people of Spacenk are stocking it here, so everyone can bask in the Champagne Glow. Another one of my 2015 finds was the brush I use to apply the Pop 🙂

This awesome F28 brush from Blank Canvas Cosmetics. The lovely Ashling from Total Makeup Addict introduced me to this beauty and I will forever be in her debt for it. It’s the perfect cheek bone highlighting tool.

My favourite setting powder of 2015 would have to be the Chanel Vitalumiere Powder Foundation.

I have pretty much used this exclusively for the past year.

I have a whole review if here. It’s a foundation so there is coverage with it, which I personally like. You can build it up or thin it out depending on application or what brush you use so it’s really versatile. Pricey but versatile 🙂

My next beauty faves are a little more pocket friendly.

Again I have a review of these here, but they are two of the All About palettes from Essence. Essence have a few different colour choices in these really handy eyeshadow palettes and they cost less than a fiver, bargain! Oh and they’re damn pigmented too!

2015 was definitely the year of budget friendly favourite for me. Another one is the Catrice Glamour Doll Waterproof mascara.

For the latter half of the year this is the only mascara I was (and still am now) using. And what do you know, I have a full review of it here 🙂

My favourite under eye concealer duo have been the Catrice Liquid Camouflage and the Flormar Perfect Coverage.

Cheap as chips and together for me are a dynamic duo. You can see them in action here.

My favourite blush of the year has to be the Max Factor Creme Blush in ‘Seductive Pink’.

This is just the easiest blush colour to wear. It goes with everything. I love the formula of these too. They blend so nicely. You can see it swatched here if you fancy a nose 🙂

My lip liner find of 2015 probably has to be Whirl by Mac.

This lip liner got a life of it’s own in 2015. It’s a great all round colour though that you can use on it’s own, under nudes and even under darker and brighter shades of lippie. It’s great for evening out the lip line too. I have it swatched here if you want a closer look.

The Only Lipsticks from Rimmel are another makeup find of 2015 that I am very happy with.

They came at the end of the year I know, but I’ve been obsessed with them so I had to include them. These two lighter shades have been the ones I grab for most but I own six of them and I wear all the shades alot. I love the finish, the pigmentation and the price point. (yep, I have them all swatched here 🙂

I have two facial skin care faves for 2015 that I wanted to add in aswell.

Serozinc from La Roche Posay.

I think I’ve gone through about 4 of these so far and I will repurchase! There’s a full review of it here, but I use Serozinc as a toner, to freshen up my makeup and as a finishing spray when I am finished my makeup. It’s a great all rounder.

My last fave is from the Oils Of Life range from The Body Shop.

This is their Intensely Revitalising Gel Cream. I use this as a night cream. I have oily skin, so heavy creams can sometimes clog my pores. This stuff feels so light on my skin and soaks in really quickly but still leaves behind nice soft hydrated skin. May I add it smells incredible too!

That’s my Beauty Favourites for 2015 done and dusted. Seriously, where did that year go?

Should I do below the neck beauty favourites too, as in more body orientated stuff ha. Let me know.

xxx

January 8, 2016/by Gem

Makeup

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector-Champagne Pop

I already harped on about my go to highlighter, the Balm’s Mary-Lou Manizer not too long ago here. And then I get my greedy little mitts on this.

The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in the Shade ‘Champagne Pop’.

‘Champagne Pop’ is in collaboration with American YouTuber Jaclyn Hill. If you are a YouTube makeup tutorial fan, you already know who Jaclyn Hill is, but if not, she is a Florida based makeup artist turned YouTube makeup guru with millions of people subscribed and watching her makeup tutorials here, including little old me 🙂

We have Becca here in Ireland. Spacenk sell it as well as Mise Beauty. It’s a gorgeous makeup brand that originated in Australia. They already have some beautiful skin perfectors in their collection i.e highlighters, but ‘Champagne Pop’ is the newest one on the block. Unfortunately for us it is a Sephora exclusive, so all us Irish fans had to beg steal and borrow to be the proud owners 🙂

‘Champagne Pop’ is a powder highlight with a peach/champagne tone to it.

I’ve never owned a Becca Skin Perfector, and now after owning this, I want them all. It glides onto the skin beautifully and is pigmented from the first swipe.

But obviously you can build it up to whatever intensity you desire.

It’s gives such a pretty glow to the skin. It shines rather than sparkles if that makes sense? And I love it for this. The peachy shade works on Mac NC20 pale skin, and I have seen others using it with lighter and darker skin tones online and it works just as well.

I apply it with something like this little duo fibre brush from Nima

I dip it in lightly.

Then apply a couple of light layers to the tops of my cheeks. I’m not going to call them cheekbones because my cheeks are way to chubby for that 🙂

It leaves you with a lovely champagne shine to your skin as you can see.

Like Mary-Lou, as well as being an absolutely beautiful highlight on the face, Champagne Pop applies just as lovely on the eyes either on the lids as a peachy pop or in the inner tear ducts to open up the eyes. I use a Nima concealer brush for this or a pencil brush.

I like to apply a little on my cupids bow too if I’m feeling really fancy 🙂

My skin has a tendency to ‘eat up makeup’. It just soaks in and begins to disappear after a while. I find that ‘Champagne Pop’ does stay put well on me. And even at the end of the day when the oils are after coming through on my skin (shine in the wrong places) I can still see highlighter on my cheeks. For me, this is rare. Mary-Lou Manizer and Champagne Pop have been the only highlighter I have ever owned to stand the test of time on my oily skin.

I can’t really say anything bad about this product except I wish it was easier to get hold of. There has been talk online though about Champagne Pop coming to Europe though, so if it does, run out and buy it, you won’t be disappointed 🙂

I got Champagne Pop direct from Sephora and it cost $38. It is now part of the Becca permanent line and you can buy in Spacenk and on their website.

xxx

September 15, 2015/3 Comments/by Gem

Makeup

Inglot AMC Brow Liner Gel – Review

You know, the first ever blog post I wrote was about the Inglot AMC Gel Liner in black 77, still a staple in my makeup today, but the blogpost here I suppose was a little bit more rough around the edges 🙂

I am here today talking about my newest Inglot purchase. Their new AMC Brow Gel Liner.

I picked up the shade number 17 and I think it’s a pretty good match for my medium/dark brows. They come in an array of colours and the girls will gladly match you up to the one that suits your colouring the best.

The pot itself is absolutely tiny (2 grams to be exact), but I had it on good authority from Sinead of The Beautiful Truth that a little product goes a long way and she wasn’t kidding.

This stuff is ridiculously pigmented. I bought the Anastasia Dipbrow when it was first released here, so I have used a gel for my brows before. I still have the Anastasia one, but it has dried up so is more difficult to use. I think I like the Inglot version of it better anyhow.

Here’s my brows with no product.

I start off by combing my brows with a spooley to get any foundation off them.

It goes on super easy, so much so you have to be very aware of how much is on your brush, be sure to take the access off in the lid before you apply.

I use the Inglot 31T angled brush. I apply it to the tail of my brows first as that’s where I want the most product I use the brush in flicking motions on the brow to try to (kinda) mimic hairs rather than just putting down a complete block of colour.

Then, whatever is left on the brush I apply it to the front of my brow again flicking it into the hairs and trying to just fill in the gaps and make my brows look more groomed. I have a good amount of brow, they just don’t grow how I want them too. And sometimes I get a bit too over zealous with the tweezers aswell…it’s a problem :p

Then I comb through again with a spooley to take away any excess gel.

The Inglot AMC Brow Gel Liner stays put once it’s applied. My brows get pretty oily throughout the day so, usually if I use something like a pencil I’ll set it with a powder aswell just to lock in the colour for as long as I can. I find the Inglot gel liner lasts really on me. I do use a brow gel on top, but that’s more to keep the brows I already have in place rather then to help set the product. This one here is the Essence Make Me Brow which I love and have a review of here.

Here’s one brow finished. You can see the difference right? 🙂

Then two brows completed.

I really like the Inglot Brow Gel Liner. It’s pigmented, it goes on smoothly, it’s easy to use and it lasts. You can use it sparingly for more natural brows, or go full on with it for more bushy caterpillars, whatever your preference 🙂

It will set you back €16 and it will honestly last you an age!

xxx

September 11, 2015/2 Comments/by Gem

Fashion

H&M Autumn/Winter 2015

Last night I was lucky enough to go to the preview of H&M’s Autumn and Winter Collection.

The stock is in store from tomorrow the 10th of September so you don’t have long to wait, thank god 🙂

H&M is one of my favourite stores to shop in, and the Autumn/Winter collection this year does not disappoint. There is pieces for every budget and all styles, shapes and sizes. There is some fab key pieces for your wardrobe too, that will take you through the entirety of the colder months…yep winter is a-coming’ time to get your woollens out of hibernation 🙁

The lovelies from Stellar Magazine were there greeting everyone coming into H&M College Green and the gorgeous gazelle Vogue Williams was on the decks pumping out the tunes.

I snapped some pictures last night of what I thought would be wardrobe staples and thought I would put them together in a little blogpost, so you could get a jist of what will be in your local H&M store. Some of the pieces are even in store already.

There was lots of lovely accessories in store, but the shoes and boots particularly stood out to me. H&M wouldn’t be a place I buy alot of my shoes in, but I think I’ve been converted 🙂

I know I know they’re all black choices, but sure it is for Autumn and Winter…right 🙂

Next up coats and jackets. H&M have them in ambundance and for really good price points. the majority are under €100.

I think this one was my fave, love the collar and the length.

They have a cool vest option too if you’re not really a coat or jacket girl.

Loved this 70’s inspired look on one of the mannequinns.

The jeans look like they would be really flattering.

And this cute bow top.

It would be a great transitional piece for wearing to work during the days then would still work jazzed up with accessories and heels for night.

I think it would work great with this faux leather skirt.

I was very restrained and only picked up one thing.

This little sweater was only €14.99. I love the colour and of course the slogan is really cute too right?

I just wanted to add one more thing in because this item was getting more attention, than probably anything else in the store.

This is a handbag from the kids collection ha!!

The H&M kids selection would have you feeling totally jealous I have to admit. The items are amazing. Well worth a look if you are kitting out your little one.

Anything take your fancy?

xxx

September 9, 2015/2 Comments/by Gem

Bargain Buying, Makeup

Essence All About Greys, All About Nudes Palettes

I have been talking alot about affordable makeup of late and I am LOVING it! It’s so great budget friendly brands are stepping up to the plate and bringing out products that we we are excited to use and talk about all the time!

This blogpost is going to be all about two of the three palettes Essence brought out not too long ago.

The first one is the Essence ‘All About Greys’ palette.

I picked this up the same day I got the Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette. It obviously doesn’t have as many shade choices but I just thought the colouring was similar so it could be a cheaper alternative.

So as you can see, there is eight shades in total. They are all cool toned and they all lend themselves to a dark and grey smoky eye just like the Naked Smoky.

They are all shimmery shades, except for the white on the top far left and the black on the top far right, so I do think if you are doing a look with this palette you do need some sort of matte transitional shade to help you along your way, even if you just use your bronzer. The shadows themselves are pigmented, they are soft to the touch, and they do blend, although it will take you a while to do it. Here they are swatched below:

Top Line

Bottom Line

So what about the Essence ‘All About Nudes’ version of the palette?

These shades are much warmer, and I think personally it’s generally a more wearable palette.

There’s more mattes within the eight shadows in this one, so you’re less likely to need another palette to help you along if you are creating a look with it.

Here they are swatched below:

Top Line

Overall, I think these palettes are pretty awesome for their €4.99 price tag. I will say if your lids are in any way oily, you’ll need a primer no doubt about it. I think the shadows do need to be worked with more than maybe some other ones on the market. Some of the shades (particularly the shimmers) actually go on so much nicer and vibrant with your finger or a damp brush, but I think this tip helps with alot of shadows we may own so I don’t hold that against Essence too much. There is fall out, so be weary of that too when applying.

I mix and match these palettes with others I have in my collection, but they do get used and I do reach for them.

There is another palette in this ‘All About’ range that is more bronzed and that looks really nice too, if you prefer a more bronzey look. After playing with these two, I would be more than happy to fork out a fiver for that one too!

As always thanks for reading and I hoped this helped if you were undecided 🙂

xxx

September 7, 2015/1 Comment/by Gem

Beautynook Tips, Makeup

Easy Tight lining Tips

These are just really simple tight lining tips but like my last Beautynook Tips post about mascara here, I thought I would share just in case 🙂

I don’t know about you, when it comes to tight lining my waterline, I’m a bit funny. Using a brush just tickles the inside of eye and usually makes my peepers water, so it’s not really ideal.

I find gel liner is the best medium for staying put all day (and night) in the waterline. Kohl pencils just don’t cut the mustard when it comes to lasting power, especially for a night out, when you don’t want to have to keep topping it up. Inglot gel liners for me are some of the best out there. The Inglot liner in number 77 (black) is actually the first product I ever wrote about on Chatterbox. That was a little while ago now 🙂

They come in so many colours, and last so well, so well you need to use oils to get them off most of the time, but I am not complaining because they stay put, sometimes we have to make sacrifices 🙂

So onto my little application tip. Instead of using a brush to apply the gel into the waterline, use an eyeliner pencil!

This tip is one I got from the lovely Marlena owner of the now infamous Makeup Geek brand, which I am a HUGE fan of!

I usually pick one that’s a similar colour to the gel I’m using just so if there’s any transfer you can’t see it, but if you’re in a pinch any eyeliner will do.

Dip the the pencil into the gel and then apply the gel with the pencil.

It gives you an even distribution of product and it doesn’t tickle or annoy you like a brush might. I use this method every time and it works so well. Then when you want to use the pencil eyeliner as just a pencil just sharpen it to get rid of any excess gel, or just give it a wipe before the gel sets and you’ll be good to go!

If you have really watery eyes and find even the gel tends to move around on your waterline, try setting it on top with a similar coloured eyeshadow, that will help set the product even more!

Simple but hopefully a couple of handy tips there for you 😉

xxx

July 8, 2015/2 Comments/by Gem