brow Archives - Irish Beauty Blog Beautynook

Getting a lash lift. My Experience

I just got my third lash lift and shared some of the experience on my Instagram, as I always do. There was lots of questions so I thought it might be worth doing a blogpost about my thoughts on it here.

I had my first one at the beginning of 2017 in the Vanity Rooms in Stepaside. They invited me out to try out their LVL lash lift. I was so excited because I have super straight lashes. It’s something I always moan about. If I want a curl to last, I have to use a decent lash curlers and then go in strong with the waterproof mascara to maintain it. I toyed with the idea of lash extensions. But I am too much of a picker, and I love eye makeup too much 🙂

Disclaimer, excuse the brows from these throwback pictures, I’ve come along way :)

So what is a lash lift? It’s basically a perm for your eyelashes. In my experience, it’s a three step process. I have had both LVL (a brand name of Nouveu lashes I believe), and then I was invited to try Yumi lashes too in Elysian Brows, it seems to work the same way for them all.

You’re prepped and your eyes are protected. A plastic shield is put on above the top lashes and then the lifting solution is applied in upwards motions moulding your lashes around the shield. Very gently and precisely I might add. That’s left to do it’s work, then removed. A setting solution is then applied and you let that do it’s thing. After that in most places, A tint is applied to make your lashes look darker and more defined.

A lash lift is not particularly a comfortable treatment. Your eyes are closed throughout and they are being prodded at, so going to a professional in my humble opinion is a must! It’s uncomfortable for sure, but it’s not painful, nor should it be.

It’s also way less maintenance than eyelash extensions. It’s just your own lashes curled, so you don’t have to maintain them necessarily, although it’s good to brush them through regularly and try not sleep on your face if you can 🙂 Some single lashes can go astray, so combing them through helps keep them on the curl and narrow ha! They say you don’t need mascara after getting it done, I use mascara to make them look more full and I get the six-ish weeks out of my treatment. Just don’t do anything crazy for the first 24 hours! You can of course purchase specific serums and mascaras in the salon that may help prolong the effects, I don’t do that myself.

A lash lift lasts as long as your natural lash cycle really, so it can be up to eight weeks. You’ll see the curl disappear, and you’ll want another one 🙂

My latest lash lift was in the Brow Boutique in Jervis Street shopping centre. At €55, it was the cheapest place I could find in the city with decent reviews and a reputable name. They did a great job and I’m super happy with the outcome. I would recommend all three salons.

If I can fork out the cash every six-eight weeks, it’s something I would definitely keep up! Have you had a lash lift? What has been your experience?

xxx

December 14, 2018/2 Comments/by Gem

Makeup

Mac Eyeshadow Collection

I have been slowly re-adding to my Mac eyeshadow collection ever since they brought the price of the single pans down to €7. For a long while I had just stopped buying them and even gave a host of them away. As other brands came onto the market like Makeup Geek or even now Penneys that do great single pans, buying exclusively Mac just wasn’t necessary.

As the price is a bit more affordable and Mac is a more readily available for us too with Brown Thomas, Arnotts and even ASOS selling it now. Although, ASOS don’t sell just the pans. I’ve been using it as an excuse to buy up some of the colours I’ve always wanted to try buy just never got around to over my makeup loving years. And some old favourites. I’m not really buying basics as in transition shades or anything, just shades that take my fancy, although that may change. Never say never 🙂

My Mac eyeshadow collection is way smaller than it used to be, but I thought this might be helpful, just in case, like me, there’s certain shades you want to try. I can update it as I pick up more, and be sure to leave me suggestions in the comments below of other cool single pans to pick up.

I feel like I’m starting again with my collection and it feels good, I won’t lie.

Nine pans are all that adorn my new pro palette at the minute, but they’re very nice pans, and I’m happy with them all 🙂

From left to right we have:

Naked Lunch, a frosted pale, nearly the same colour as my skin tone kinda shade.

All That Glitters is another pale frost with a bit more of a peach tone.

Satin Taupe is exactly what it say on the tin.

Woodwinked is a warm brown metallic shade.

Amber Lights is a warm copper with a frosty finish.

Coppering is a warm copper with a frost finish.

Vex is completely new to me, I’ve never owned it before. It’s a pale frost with like a pewter shift to it and I just thought it looked interesting.

Club is one of my favourite Mac eyeshadows. It has a duo chrome finish and looks different with how you apply it. It shifts brown and green.

Lastly we have Cranberry. It’s a warm frosted cranberry shade.

Here’s some of them in action on my eyeballs really simply.

And that’s it for now! I’ll be sure to update the list as I shop 🙂

xxx

July 29, 2018/by Gem

Brow Routine Updated

I sound dramatic when I say I get a lot of questions about my brow routine. But, it’s actually probably my most asked beauty question.

My eyebrows have come such a long way in the past couple of years. I was definitely one of the ‘tadpole’ brow crew. We started in our teens and we just continued on plucking and plucking and never looking back 🙂 With the help of YouTube videos and the awesome brow gals at Benefit though, I finally gotten a handle on filling them in.

Unfortunately my natural eyebrows are left in a bit of a wreck from over plucking. I did get a stem cell treatment done last year that definitely helped them fill out a bit, but as you can see, a decent brow routine is completely necessary for me.

As I say in the video, I am no expert and my brows are not perfect, nor are they twins. But I’ve come to terms with that and just do them to the best of my ability. I’ve gotten better over the years, so maybe this time next year I’ll be even more accomplished 🙂

My brow routine is probably the longest part of my makeup application and I’m completely ok with that. I think they’re the most important part for me, and I kind of build everything else around them. I do use and excessive amount of products I know.

However, I get super oily in that area of my face throughout the day, so pencil alone just doesn’t cut it for me! And I use two brow gels to add texture, and to set everything too.

I’m not listing products here, because I feel this video is more about how rather than what I use. But if you want to know about anything specific, just ask 🙂

Let me know what you think and as always thanks for clicking.

Gemma

xxx

**PR SAMPLES INCLUDED*

July 18, 2018/by Gem

Makeup, Makeup Tutorial, Youtube Video

Everyday Summer Makeup Tutorial

This is my honest everyday Summer Makeup look! I tried to keep it as real as possible and just edited out my ‘ums’ and any long winded techniques. My brows take forever 🙂

It’s nothing fancy or ground breaking, but this is generally what I do on a daily basis if I’m wearing makeup. The eye look might change a bit if I’m feeling fancier or lazier. The lip colour might change if I’m feeling a bold or bright lip, but the base tends to not really. I’ve found what works for my skin in the heat, so I don’t want to jinx it too much if I’m going out and about. If I know I’m staying close to home, then I can experiment and trial new products 🙂

It all depends on what you feel most comfortable with. For me, brows and a bit of eyeshadow definition is a must. Eyeliner is not necessary so it’s not something I do day to day. Once I have a wash of colour on my lids I am happy enough. The main components of my everyday Summer makeup look, I’ve spoken about a lot before. I think this is an important aspect of this video though. You know I like these products and above all, you know I trust them.

I won’t get into everything, but some of the main products I used are in my June Favourites here. I have a review the Urban Decay Primer here, and of both the foundations I used here and here. Mac Springsheen blush has been a favourite for literally years and the highlighter from Pixi is a new, but very loved favourite.

And that is my ‘errand running’ everyday Summer makeup. If you watched the video, you’ll get the joke 🙂

Thanks for tuning it. Tell me, what are some of your Summer makeup essentials?

xxx

PR SAMPLES INCLUDED*

July 11, 2018/1 Comment/by Gem

Monthly Favourites, Youtube Video

May Favourites 2018

It’s about that time again dudes. Another month, another faves video. This time I’m looking back over my May Favourites for 2018.

May has been a trying month for me personally I won’t lie, but shite talking about makeup and beauty products definitely helps with all the personal stuff 🙂

My May favourites for 2018 and beauty heavy, there’s no fashion or random loves in sight. Also the lip I am wearing is one of the new L’Oréal Color Riche Shine lipsticks in 466. I am loving the formula of these.

My messed up hair is something I can’t even apologise for. It was a good idea at the time. I swear one of these days I’ll take a course on styling hair or something. I am absolutely brutal at it 🙂

As always I’ll list my May favourites here, but if you want to hear my musings on them click on the video above or here to check them out.

Vichy Mineral 89 Serum . I definitely use more than necessary of this stuff as a day time moisturiser. But it’s great if you don’t like a heavy cream in the day or for night time. I use it in conjunction with a serum and it doesn’t interfere with my makeup.

I actually think the Essence Kawii Trend Edition Collection is gone from June, so apologies if you like what you see.

This is a great little palette if you see it around though.

The Kryolan Translucent Powder is a great staple to have in your makeup stash.

Mine is battered and bruised, all with love though. I end up going back to it so much 🙂

Second last in my May Favourites is this giant eyeshadow brush from Blank Canvas Cosmetics.

Specifically known as the F11 Large Eyeshadow Brush.

Then finally two brow products from Isa Dora which I have been using all through May and really enjoying.

The Precision Brow Pen and the Brow Shaping Gel. Feel Unique actually sell Isa Dora too so I’ve linked them if you want to have a closer look.

And that’s it for my May Favourites. We are officially in June, my birthday month. My June faves are usually a bit more interesting as a result 🙂

xxx

PR SAMPLES INCLUDED

June 1, 2018/by Gem

Makeup Tutorial, Youtube Video

Makeup In A Hurry

I’m feeling very makeup video-y this week it seems 🙂 I’m back with a more wearable everyday look. This is what I do when I am in a bit of a hurry but still want to look put together and presentable.

I would more or less do a variation of this makeup look most days I wear it. I would just switch up the eye or lip colour. But, the principle and the application would be the same. Unless, I am trialing specific products or I’m feeling really fancy…or lazy.

It’s really simple and honestly takes no major skills at all. I adore makeup, but I’m no professional. I even added in me (kinda, sorta), doing my hair too 🙂 Have a click here to watch the video in full, or you can watch it above.

Here is some of the main products I used:

Benefit Porefessional Primer. Buy here.
theBalm Put A Lid On It Eyeshadow Primer. Buy here.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Nude Foundation. Full review here.
LA Girl Shade Slim Eyebrow Pencil Buy here.
Benefit Gimme Brow. Buy here.
Rimmel Lasting Finish Concealer. Buy here.
Chanel 268 eyeshadow quad. Not available online anymore.
Makeup Geek Whimsicial Eyeshadow. You can see it swatched here.
Huda Mauve Obsessions Palette. Blogpost about it here.
Max Factor Creme Bronzer. Review here.
Mac Spring Sheen blush. You can buy here.
theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer highlighter. Available here.
Rimmel Eastend Snob lip liner. Online here.
Mac Syrup lipstick. Available here.
Too Faced Setting Spray. Online here.

Anything else you’re curious about just ask me, as always 🙂

Let me know what kind of YouTube videos you like to watch. Do you prefer watching to reading? I would love to know. I’m a big beauty YouTube fan, so I love making videos even though I’m not very good at it. Every time I edit it myself, I say, OK Gemma, next time enunciate more and stop saying ’em’. It never happens 🙂

xxx

December 15, 2017/by Gem

Posts

******Disclaimer, excuse the brows from these throwback pictures, I’ve come along way :)******