Posts

So many of you told me you love watching Get Ready With Me style videos. I love watching them too (not my own though if I’m being honest ha) So here’s a Spring Makeup one, where I am basically applying a face of makeup that I would wear for a Spring day/early evening. Myself and himself were off for some Friday eats this day so I thought it would be a appropriate because I was actually doing my makeup to go somewhere, not just for the sake of filming πŸ™‚

 

This is more of a talk through style video, which I still haven’t completely mastered, words still elude me πŸ™‚ But I thought I would give it a whirl and sure don’t they say practice makes perfect, right?

Irish beauty blogI used a mixture of more affordable and more high end makeup which is a true representation of my normal makeup routine. I like to mix it up πŸ™‚

So the products I used (including skincare) are:

La Roche Posay Serozince- Full review here

Vichy Normaderm Beautifying Anti Blemish Care Moisturiser- Full review here

thisworks Light Time Open Eyes Eye Cream

Essence Prettifying Lip Oil

Maybelline Baby Skin Primer

Image Skincare I Conceal Flawless Foundation

Soap & Glory Archery Brow Pencil

HD Brows Kit

Billion Dollar Brows Brow Gel

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Essence 2 in 1 Shadow & Liner Pencil in 06 She’s Got The Mauve

Lorac Pro Palette

By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon

Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner in Rich Brown

YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Waterproof Mascara- Full review here

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer- Full review here

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

Mac Full Coverage Foundation (as concealer)

Nars Laguna Bronzer

Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in medium- Full review here

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette (all three πŸ™‚ )

Ben Nye Cameo Powder- Full review here

theBalm MaryLou-Manizer- Full review here

Rimmel Exaggerate in Addiction

L’Oreal Infallible Fixing Mist- Full Review here

So there you have it all the products I used in my Spring Makeup Get Ready With Me. I would love to know what you think and be sure to tell me your favourite types of beauty videos to watch.

Thanks for watching (and reading :))

Gemma

xxx

 

 

Beautynook Top Cream Shadow Stick Picks

I use cream shadow pencils, sticks whatever you want to call them alot in my day to day makeup routine. Formulas have gotten so great nowadays that you can use them as shadow on their own and they don’t budge (for the most part) throughout the day. Or you can layer them under shadows to intensify them or increase their longevity too. They come in very handy.

So I compiled some my favourite brands for this post to show you some of the ones I love using and that I have tried and tested.

First up is the posh ones of the group.

By Terry Ombre Blackstar

These are the By Terry Ombre Blackstar. These are so very nice and so very posh with their €30 price tag. They are so creamy, pigmented and easy to blend though and they last all day on the lids. You can literally just throw one of these all over your lids, blend the edges and you’ve got yourself a really lovely eye look.

I have two shades…so far πŸ™‚

5 Misty Rock 4 Bronze Moon

5 Misty Rock (on top) 4 Bronze Moon (bottom)

I have a couple of brands that I just have one offering from, but I wanted to include them because I pick them up regularly.

Rimmel Scandaleyes shadow stick

The Rimmel Scandaleyes. I love this shade under gold or creamy coloured shadows. It’s a great neutral shade to have in your collection. They come in an alot of different shades though. This is 002 Bulletproof Beige.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Bulletproof BeigeI bought one of the new Bourjois Colorband sticks not too long ago in Boots.

Bourjois Colorband Eyeshadow & Liner

This shade 05 Mauve Baroque is a great more affordable dupe for the By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Misty Rock. These stay put on the lid too, no messing about. You need to work quickly with them once it’s on it’s on!

Bourjois Colorband Mauve Baroque

Bourjois Colorband Mauve Baroque

 

The Kiko Longlasting Shadow Sticks are new in my makeup collection, but I picked them up because I’d read so much positivity about them in the blogging and You Tube world. You have to order online if you’re in Ireland which is a pain but the shipping is really good, as are the sticks themselves πŸ™‚

I got three shades 05 (another dupe for the By Terry Ombre Blackstar, do you see a theme forming?), 10 a sparkly blue green shade and 10 an electric blue.

Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow

These are just awesome, simple as that. Creamy, smooth ,vibrant, longlasting, and come in a plethora of colours to suit everyone, and they are so reasonable priced too. More will find their way home to me soon, I’m sure of it.

Kiko Longlasting Shadow Sticks 05,11,10

05, 11,10

A couple of Wet n Wild picks up next.

Wet n wild Idol Eyes Creme Shadow Pencil

If you are a regular round these parts you’ll know I am a huge fan of this affordable brand. These are their Idol Eyes Creme Shadow Pencil. So ridiculously affordable and lovely base for shadow to help them stick around and help the colour become more vibrant too. These come in loads of colours, soft, but not as pigmented as maybe some of the others on the market. For the price though they are pretty great πŸ™‚ I have two:

Wet n Wild Idol Eyes Graphite Techno

E133 Techno (on top) E135 Graphite (on bottom)

I left the probably most well known ones until last.

Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencils

These are of course the Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencils. Apologies as mine have seen better days, they aren’t very photogenic. That doesn’t mean they’re not good at their job though. These things are brilliant! I’ve been buying Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencils a long time, I use to have to buy them on eBay from America, but thank god Ireland now finally has gotten its act together and we are starting to see Nyx in pharmacies more and more. Wohoo! These literally come in all of the colour of the rainbow and more. They come in different finishes too,Β  some are matte some are more shimmery or sparkly. They are stupid pigmented and last well on the eyes. I have even used these on my water line and they last really well inside the eye too. I know Milk is such a cult shade now. It’s a matte, opaque white, if you are wanting vivid colours to stand out, you need Milk in your life believe me!

I have six in my collection, I’ve had more in the past but where they’re gone I don’t know πŸ™

Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencils

In Order 603 Pots & Pans, 615 Slate, 612 Gold, 617 Iced Mocha, 624A Rocky Mountain Green and 604 Milk

There you have it, if you are in the market for some new cream shadow sticks, I hope I’ve helped a little showing you some of my favourites. I tried to pick some from all spectrum’s of the market to suit everyone. I honestly get so much use from all of these little beauties. Writing this blog post has just made me want to buy more πŸ™‚

xxx

Birthday

So I turned another year older not too long ago, 29 to be exact. One step closer to 30 Arrrgggghhhhh, no I’m not worried about that in the slightest πŸ˜›

My lovely friends and family were very kind to me (and I was a bit kind to myself too) so thought you might want to nose at what I got, perhaps for some shopping inspiration or just to window shop.

First up, is my main pressie from the boyfriend, I dropped many a hint for these.

Raybans

These are the Rayban Clubmasters. I am a sunglasses junkie and have wanted these for ages.

Rayban Clubmasters

I am going through a bit of a 90’s phase at the minute as are alot of people and these sunnies fit right in with this πŸ™‚

Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb

He also treated me to a fresh bottle of my very beloved fragrance Viktor&Rolf’s Flowerbomb. I love this perfume so much. It’s flowery and musky all at the same time, and lingers on your skin for ages, I think I will always have a bottle of this in my perfume collection.

Diptique Mimosa Candle

Out of some bday cash, I treated myself to another smelly item. This is Diptyque candle in the scent Mimosa. I am obsessed with this smell, it makes me happy, if you are ever in Brown Thomas or Spacenk, give your nostrils a treat and take a whiff. This is definitely not an everyday purchase, it set me back 50 quid, madness I know, but Diptyque candles burn beautifully and the scent really fills the room, so I do think you get your money’s worth out of them.

Ted Baker Mint Makeup Bag

I got this gorgeous mint green Ted Baker makeupbag for my handbag, I couldn’t resist. BT2 were having a sale and I picked up this little beauty for 21 euro. Don’t think that’s too bad at all, and it fits perfectly into my handbag.

I bought some posh bits of makeup to add to my every growing collection.

By Terry

I have been after this for ages and it’s always out of stock, so when Spacenk opened in Grafton Street, and they had it I literally jumped on it. This is the very coveted By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Misty Rock.

Misty Rock

This is my second Ombre Blackstar I have Bronze Moon too which I absolutely adore. This one however, I think is going to be my favourite. It is the prettiest mauvey purple colour, that shimmers in the light, and nearly looks wet on your eyelids. It may need its own blogpost soon πŸ™‚

By Terry Ombre Blackstar

By Terry Ombre Blackstar Misty Rock

Another makeup wish was granted from the new Spacenk.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Palette

This is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette. Hourglass do these setting and highlighting powders separately but to be able to get them in a palette form really makes me happy as you can have the 3 of them in 1.

Hourglass

Hourglass palette

There is 3 setting/highlighting powders in the palette. Dim Light, Incandescent Light and Radiant Light. Again this product may need it’s very own blogpost soon πŸ™‚

I bought some Boots in Office while out on my Birthday travels.

Office Boots

Office Black Boots

These cut out boots were on the sale rack and I couldn’t resist. I think they’ll work for hot and cold weather aswell as with dresses and trousers. At 46 euro I think they were a bargain and I will get a lot of wear from them.

The last thing I bought I really feel bullied into. Everyone is obsessed with this palette and won’t stop talking about…so well I had to invest πŸ˜›

Lorac Pro Palette

I won’t waffle on too much about it because I had to buy it on eBay and it hasn’t come yet, but the internet is ripe with blogposts about how fab it is.

 

I should probably leave it there and stop milking the birthday, think I’m a bit old for that now πŸ™‚

 

If you have any of these be sure to let me know what you think. I love your feedback.

 

Thanks,

Gemma

xxx

 

 

Gem's May Faves

Can you believe May is over? It’s officially June which is the start of my birthday month, yep I’m giving myself a month, any excuse to get presents πŸ™‚

It favourites time…

Mine are a little high end product heavy I have to admit, so apologies, but they are new products to me and I have been really enjoying them.

First up is a new blush to my collection.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush-Diffused Heat

Hourglass

This is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in the shade Diffused Heat. Hourglass are a very fab and very posh brand that we can only get in Space nk in Harvey Nics, Dundrum or online. Although there is talk of a Space nk opening in Grafton street soon which is very exciting. As you can see from the pictures above, the blush has a swirled pattern. Every one of the Ambient Lighting Blushes are unique, as they all have a different swirl. This is in the Shade “Diffused Heat”. I was cheeky when buying them and asked to look at all of the ones they had in stock so I could get the one that had the most saturated colour. These blushes are made with the Ambient Lighting Powder which Hourglass is well known for. The result is a lightweight, non powdery luminous blush, that depending on how you place your brush into the palette, can be full on colour or nice and natural.

Hourglass Diffused Heat Swatch

The Diffused Heat shade is a lovely pink based colour with a coral undertone, and a sheeny finish. I have used this alot in the month of May.

Next up in another Space nk buy.

IMG_2833

This the By Terry Ombre Blackstar cream eyeshadow stick in 4 Bronze Moon. I bought this really out of curiosity. I had seen some of the Youtubers I watch raving about these, so took the plunge and bought one for myself. I have to say I can see what all the fuss is about and I want more! Bronze Moon is a really lovely browny bronze shade.

By Terry Bronze Moon Swatch

The shadow itself is so soft, opaque and creamy. It blends on the eyelid with no effort at all and has the prettiest sheen to it, that even if you layer shadow over it, still shines through. I have oily eyelids so put this to the test with just eyeshadow primer and I can say it lasted on my lids for the day without creasing. Overall love this product, and have used it absolutely loads through the month of May.

Next up is my last posh makeup find.

Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder

Kevyn Aucoin

Kevyn Aucoin sculpting powder

This is Kevyn Aucoin’s The Sculpting Powder in Medium. It’s the teeniest little product, you would nearly think it was just an eyeshadow, which in fairness you could probably use it as aswell. This a holy grail product for carving out those cheekbones. I need a whole load of help with this with my round chubby face so it was inevitable it would end up in my shopping basket one day. I know your thinking, you can just use bronzer for this, and you can by all means. However, some bronzers can wind up looking too warm or red on the skin and that does not look natural at all. The Sculpting Powder can be great for all skin tones, I think it is especially great for pale skin. It has a grey undertone with no red whatsoever, so when blended into the contours of your face looks more natural and shadow like instead of brown streaks on your face.

Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder Swatch

This powder is really soft and blendable and a little goes a really long way, so it will last a very long time. I’m thinking of it as an investment πŸ™‚ And I can say I have used this everyday in the month of May so has been a definite fave for me.

I have a fashion fave to blab about this month.

Topshop All Mine Metal Trimmed Boots

IMG_2981

These are Topshop All Mine Metal Trimmed Boots. I bought these at Christmas time and have worn them alot. I have definitely worn them the most in the month of May with everything from jeans to dresses. They go with everything, have a good enough heel to give you a bit of height and most importantly are comfortable. I can wear these all day without wanting to amputate my feet. May is meant to be for sandals and flip flops but we live in Ireland and May’s weather has been pretty moderate so wearing leather boots has been completely normal I promise.

Next up is something for the nashers!

Colgate Max White One Optic

Colgate

I bought Colgate’s new whitening toothpaste this month the Max White One Optic and have been really liking it. I find alot of whitening toothpaste’s don’t always leave your teeth feeling clean. Brushing with this leaves my teeth squeaky clean and I feel like it has been helping with the colour of my teeth as well. It is a fluoride toothpaste and claims to have optic brighteners to give a temporary whitening effect. I bought this in Boots on a whim when I needed some new toothpaste, and am really happy with it. When it runs out I will be repurchasing for sure.

My last but certainly not least fave is of the furry variety. It is not products, clothes or makeup…shock horror πŸ™‚ May has not been the most fun month for me from a personal point of view, so this is something I wanted to add in because it made getting through the month a little bit easier.

Rosie

Meet Rosie, my furry best friend ha! She is the weirdest,coolest and most loving companion you could ever ask for. She just got a haircut so looks like a puppy but she’s a fully fledged doggie I promise πŸ™‚

Rosie

She greets me when I come in from work, when I get up in the morning and any time I need a little pick me up, she has never ending hugs to give πŸ˜› Bit of a weird fave on a beauty blog I know, but I just thought she deserved a mention, because she’s been (and always has been) a great little pal.

 

Not a huge amount of favourites this month, but hopefully a few good ones to read about.

Thank you so much for stopping by and happy June!

Gemma

xxx