brows Archives - Irish Beauty Blog Beautynook

Budget Brows With Catrice

I am due to get my brows micro bladed very soon. (Wish me luck 🙂 ). But before I do, I thought I could throw in another brow routine here on Beautynook. This time it’s all about budget brows and it’s all thanks to Catrice Cosmetics.

Catrice sent me out some new and some oldie brow products from their range last week. They have a bucket load of products to choose from now. From pencils, powders, pomades and everything in between. All of the products are under a fiver each too, which is awesome. My three budget brow choices from the range in my video demo are: The Slim’matic Ultra Precise Brow Pencil. I’m using the shade dark. The Eyebrow Set. This comes with two powders, with a tiny brush and tweezer tucked underneath. And to set everything in place I used the clear Lash/Brow Designer.

The three products together work out at around €11.50, so I thought it was worthy of the title budget brows. I particularly love the powder and the brow gel regardless of the price tag. The pencil is great, but it’s super duper soft, so uses up very quickly. In my humble opinion of course.

Here’s my brows before any product is applied.

Then, here is one completely done with all three budget brow products from Catrice applied. It’s really amazing what a brow can do.

I filmed a really short demo of them all in action which you can check out above and here. Let me know if you are liking the video demos along with the blogposts. I am enjoying putting them together 🙂

My brows are definitely only distant cousins, but here they are finished and ready to head out the door!

Catrice Cosmetics really do have so many great budget brow products to choose from, to suit any taste. These would just be the three I would gravitate towards on a daily basis. Have you tried anything from the range?

xxx

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April 19, 2019/by Gem

Bargain Buying, Makeup Tutorial, Youtube Video

Makeup Tutorial New In Products!

I always say, don’t judge me for calling this a ‘makeup tutorial’, so I just want to begin with that statement, because I am well aware of my lack of major skills in the makeup department. It’s just a blanket statement and we understand what it means 🙂 Ok now that’s out of the way….

It’s been a minute since I sat down in front of the camera and just did a face. So I wanted to do just that. I have been lucky enough to receive some products from PR over the last couple of weeks that are really decent too. So how did I incorporate them? By doing a ‘makeup tutorial’ with some new in products, genius.

For the most part I used new products, I did have to throw in some oldies too, just because I didn’t have a full face of makeup to use. I’m not that popular 🙂 The new products are mostly from Catrice and Essence, as their new Spring\Summer ranges have just launched. There is loads more products to check out from the brands, I just have a cross section.

I also had some newbies from L’Oréal, including the Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation, which I am currently obsessed with, no lie! And the Maybelline Made For All Lippies. Oh and the new skinny brow pencil from IT Cosmetics.

For me, the star of the show is the Topshop Chameleon Eyeshadow in Evolve. This kind of defeats the purpose of the makeup tutorial because it’s not new. But they have reinvented their beauty range, so I’m using that as my excuse. I need to get my hands on more colours of these shadows.

I am no makeup artist, so the makeup definitely didn’t go to plan. There was a few hiccups along the way, and my winged liner left a lot to be desired. But we got there and I was fairly happy with the finished result.

Click on the video at the top of this post to see the ‘makeup tutorial’ unfold. Or you can click here to go directly to my YouTube channel. If you like it, don’t forget to subscribe while you’re there.

xxx

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March 1, 2019/1 Comment/by Gem

Treatment

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

Beautynook Tips, Makeup Tutorial, Youtube Video

Glam Purple Makeup Tutorial

This was like all my makeup look posts pretty much off the cuff 🙂 I needed to do my makeup, had some time so thought I would do a glam purple makeup ‘tutorial’.

I hate calling it a tutorial, but that’s what people seem to search so it just gives me more reach. As I always reiterate, I’m a makeup enthusiast, I know I’m not a professional. I had notions of attempting to do a cut crease, but my hands just wouldn’t let me, so this is what I came up with 🙂

There’s definitely a mix of high end brands and more affordable brands within this purple makeup look. I don’t think it’s too over complicated either.

I’ll try list and link everything I used here:

And I believe thats everything! You can check out the video directly here or click on it above.

I think I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. To me it’s a glam purple makeup look. I could see myself rocking this on a night out. Pretend I didn’t just do it and then sit on my laptop for the rest of the day 🙂

Thanks for tuning in as always and let me know what you think.

Gemma.

xxx

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August 1, 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

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July 11, 2018/1 Comment/by Gem

Makeup

Clarins Summer Collection 2018

The Clarins Summer Collection for this year has been something I’ve been waiting with baited breath for. That sounds a bit dramatic I know, but there was one product in particular that I struck up a fancy with.

The theme is Sun kissed, hot Florida vibes. The packaging is adorned with flamingoes and palm trees to get us into the Summer mood 🙂

I have a cross section of all the products, except for two.

There is a limited edition bronzing version of their SOS Primer.

There is two shades to help warm up all complexions. They retail for €31.00.

There’s also limited edition shades of their Lip Comfort Oils. This one is in Blackberry.

These retail for €21.00.

The 4 Colour All In One Pen is back again! I have a post on the one from last Summer here.

This time around, the packaging much brighter to keep within the Miami vibes, as are the pencils themselves.

It comes with three eyeliners. A matte black, plum and bright turquoise green. As well as a bright pink lip liner too. I’ve definitely been getting the most use out of the green and pink, they go really well together. The pen retails for €36.00.

Next up in the Clarins Summer Collection run through is limited edition emerald green Supra Mascara.

I have to be honest opening this I was in awe, but trying to utilise it was another kettle of fish. For me personally it doesn’t add much colour to the lashes if any. I’ll keep trying with it though as I know people think highly of the Supra Mascara formula. This retails for €26.00.

The last product is my very favourite from the Clarins Summer Collection.

This is the limited edition Blush & Bronze Compact for 2018.

I have to be honest it was the cool flamingo and palm tree motif and packaging that made me lust after this initially. But, it’s actually a really nice natural bronzer to boot.

It has three matte shades within going from a matte bronze to a deeper tone. I tend to just swirl them altogether and apply them to the high points of my face and neck. Clarins say it contains skincare so can help protect the skin from pollutants too. This compact retails for €47.00.

All products are available from Clarins stockists now. Any of them tickle your Summer fancy?

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May 30, 2018/by Gem

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