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Beauty Advent Calendars 2017

I get asked every year to do a beauty advent calendar post, and I’ve always not ended up doing one. I generally always like to be able to use and give a physical opinion on products when it comes to the blog. I’ve been doing this four years now and that’s what kind of feels natural to me. To talk about products I have road tested and used. But sure there’s always exceptions and I’ve realised that now.

I’m a little blogger fish in a big pond and I can’t buy or get sent all of the fancy beauty advent calendars every year. So, I thought I would just compile the ones that are really taking my fancy in the run to Christmas for 2017 🙂

The first one is the one I am really considering buying for myself, although I have yet to justify it. This is the Beauty In Wonderland from Look Fantastic

This is retailing from their website here for €98. They say it contains product worth up to £300.

It’s a mixture of all different brands and all different types of beauty products. Also the packaging is pretty gorgeous. i blame Sharon Leavy from Behind Green Eyes for making me lust after this so much 🙂

Feel Unique do their own version too here. This costs €42 which is a little more palatable, I know.

They also give you a list of the products enclosed if you don’t want to wait until the Christmas countdown.

Clarins always do a really lovely beauty advent calendar and this year is no exception.

This is what would be deemed the more feminine version but there is a male offering too. This will set you back £52.50 here. This has been the cheapest I’ve found it online. It contains 12 minis including one of their Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors, one of my personal faves.

Lancôme have a ridiculously lovely one this year with a 25 day countdown.

This costs €130 from Boots here, but you do get 25 mini products, ranging from skincare to fragrance.

If you want exclusively skincare, L’Occitane have a beautiful 25 day calendar chock full of it.

I actually think this is a really good deal at €59 from Debenhams here.

If Charlotte Tilbury is your go to brand, you’re in luck! She has released a Naughty & Nice Magic Box for this year.

It contains 12 makeup and skincare goodies. This is the most expensive one of the bunch coming in at €180 here.

If lipstick is your thing, Nyx have released their Kiss & Tell Advent Calendar again this year.

This is €67.57 from Asos here. Although if you buy in pounds it generally works out cheaper.

It contains 24 lip colours to suit any mood.

I know these are all pretty pricey, so if you are looking for a more budget friendly beauty advent calendar, hopefully I can cover you here.

The Tanya Burr 12 Sweet Days Beauty Calendar contains 12 products including nail polish and glitter liners.

I included this because you can still get your beauty hit with it, and it’s on sale from Feel Unique at the moment here. They also have it on 3 for 2 if you’re shopping for anyone else.

Asos have a budget friendly option too here from Mad Beauty.

This is a range of hair, skin and nail products and will only set you back €14.85.

My last choice is this years Makeup Revolution Calendar. This contains 25 full sized products.

It is on sale at the moment from Superdrug here. It was £50 and now it’s £30.

And there you have my beauty advent calendar countdown. Any take your fancy? Have you already bought one? Let me know 🙂

November 13, 2017/by Gem

Skincare, Youtube Video

Elf Magnetic Mask & Night Time Routine

The Elf Magnetic Mask is one of the coolest products I have ever tried. Does it work? I’m not sure yet I’ve only used it twice so far. I couldn’t resist putting in a video though to show you how you use it.

This concept of the Elf Magnetic Mask isn’t new to the market necessarily. There has been a few out before it. But, this is hands down the most affordable one at the moment. Unfortunately it hasn’t made it to our shores yet.

I was lucky enough to get one as a press sample. It is on their website here though and they do international shipping, if you fancy taking the plunge. For some reason the euro price is much more expensive. Hopefully if it does come over here, it won’t be as bad.

I can say my skin felt really nice both times I’ve used it. And I do feel like it drew some clogged pores to the surface. I definitely had a bit of a breakout after the first time. But in a good way, if that makes sense? 🙂

So in the video I give you a demo of the Elf Magnetic Mask. It’s so much fun to use. You apply the mask and then use the magnetized applicator to literally pull it off your skin. Sounds scary, but you can hardly feel it. There’s iron in it so that’s what makes it magnetic.

I’ve never been happier using a face mask…look at me like!

Within the video, I also gave a quick rundown on what I’ve been using to cleanse and then my bedtime moisturising concoction too.

I used:

Bioderma to take my eye makeup off. It’s in a limited edition pump bottle. If you can get your hands on it. Do! It’s on the Cloud10Beauty website here.
Nia Cleansing Balm. It’s on their website here.
Clarins Double Serum. (Review here).
Clarins Total V Contouring Serum.
Neostrata Bionic Eye Cream Plus. I found it on the Meaghers Pharmacy website here.
The Ordinary Retinoid 2%. More info on this here.
Botanics Facial Oil. It’s on the Boots website here.
Catrice Volumizing Lip Balm.

This is my current night time routine although I do alternate serums and I don’t always use an oil. I have oily skin, so it really just depends on whether I feel I need it or not.

As always you can click on the video above to watch the magic happen or you can go directly to my YouTube channel here. 🙂

Let me know what you think.

Gemma

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

September 22, 2017/by Gem

Makeup, Monthly Favourites, Youtube Video

August Favourites 2017

It’s officially September! I am getting in right on time this month 🙂 Start of a new month means hopefully a fresh start, and of course time for favourites in blogger land. You can click on the video above to hear me waffle on about my August favourites or watch here.

My August favourites are all beauty related. It was a bit of a shit month personally, but beauty wise, it was pretty awesome 🙂

I was definitly a slave to Urban Decay through August. They have has some epic releases though so I couldn’t help and jump on board.

I have a post about the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette here, so I won’t ramble on about it too much. This has all the deets. And, I did a makeup look with it here, so I got you covered if you want to see it being put to the test.

Since doing those posts though I did add to my Heat collection with the 24/7 Glide On Eye Liner in Torch (which I keep calling Scorch, duh). You can get it from the Debenhams website here.

I have been also digging the Naked Skin, The Illumizer Beauty Pressed Powder. This is on the Debenhams website here. My lovely blogging buddy Sue from (itscherrysue) presented me this in the pub at the start of August. How very kind of her.

My other August favourites consist of the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer (review here), this was another lovely gift. The Benefit Brow Tones brow gel, this stuff is really interesting. Again, it’s on the Debenhams website here.

Then, we have the Dr Hauschka Cleansing Milk. It’s on the Nourish website here. The Dove Nourishing Care & Oil Body Wash. Literally just bought this from Boots here because it was on sale, but I really like it 🙂

And then last but not least the new Clarins Double Serum. I have a full review of this here if you want to check it out.

There we have my all beauty related August Favourites. Have you any stand out products from the month?

xxx

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

September 1, 2017/by Gem

Skincare

Clarins Double Serum 2017

Let me start by saying, I’ve never used the Clarins Double Serum up until this year. It was created in 1985 and has be reformulated a fair few times over the years. I believe it has won many awards too and many people think of it as their holy grail. I am no skincare guru, but I know people like the awesome Caroline Hirons haven’t been too complimentary about the previous formulas. They contained mineral oil.

Fast forward to 2017 and another reformulation of the Clarins Double Serum. They took heed, and it now doesn’t contain mineral oil.

So a quick synopsis of what it is as of today. The 2017 Clarins Double Serum is as the name would suggest, two serums in separate chambers within one bottle. This means that they only come into contact when you are applying them to your skin. Clarins say this helps the effectiveness and means they can have more good ingredients, technically within one bottle. It contains 20 plant extracts with one extra ingredient, turmeric. Turmeric is noted for it’s anti ageing properties. It’s meant to work for all skin types, including sensitive skin. And according to Clarins, meant to ‘address all signs of ageing’.

Obviously, I can only tell you my experience with it. I have been using it religiously for over a month now. I went to the launch and very generously received a sample. First off after doing my research, I have realised I am using way too much of it! And this stuff ain’t cheap! You only need one pump, and pat it into cleansed skin. I have been using two, the shame! Although saying that, you can twist the nozzle for a small application or a larger one.

As you know if you’ve been around these parts before, I have oily skin. But I am also getting older (boohoo). I still get oily, but the dehydration in my skin is becoming more apparent. This has been a great go between for both of these instances. I’ve been using it most mornings on it’s own with just eye cream, and then in the night. Sometimes on it’s own, or with an oil over top for added hydration. It soaks into the skin super fast and doesn’t leave behind any residue. This is great for makeup application particularly. I personally love the fragrance, It’s quite clean and fresh. But if fragranced skincare isn’t your thing, I suggest giving it a sniff before purchase.

What I have found since using Double Serum is that my skin looks brighter and more alive. Even the mammy has commented on it, which isn’t a usual occurrence 🙂 It feels more supple too which is brilliant!

Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect miracles from skincare, or from any beauty products really. Most hype is just hype a lot of the time. But, I can hand on heart say I’ve noticed a difference in my skin since using it. Anti-ageing? I guess only time will tell, and I think you have to continuously use products to reap those benefits. Skin plumping and tightening are generally (in my humble opinion), temporary.

Overall though, I am bloody loving this facet of the Clarins Double Serum. It is pricey at around €90 a pop for 50ml. But, if you don’t over use it, like me, you should get a good amount of time out of a bottle. You can buy it from Brown Thomas here.

Have you tried Double Serum?

xxx

*****PR SAMPLE*****

August 30, 2017/by Gem

Makeup

Summer Makeup Essentials!

Since the sun is shining, don’t say that too loud, we might spook it! But, since it is, I thought I would put together some of my summer makeup essentials. This isn’t so much about the products, just dive into your collection and see what you have already to play with.

These are products I have in my stash right now. I love shopping my stash, especially when a new season begins.

Summer makeup for me, is about a light base and having fun with everything else.

My skin tends to behave itself a little bit more in the summer months so I can spend less time on my base. It still needs help though!

My Summer makeup will always consist of primers. I have oily skin.

I just find adding a few dabs of it to the t zone and blending it out over my whole face, really helps with the longevity of anything I put on top of it. Eyeshadow primer is another must for me. All year round, but particularly in the warmer months. Oily lids are no joke! I am really enjoying The Ordinary High Adherence Silicone Primer (you can buy it here) and Benefit Porefessional has always been a holy grail for me.

Because I use a more mattifying primer, I find I can go a little bit more dewy and light with the foundation.

If I know I am going to be out in the sun for a long period of time, I will of course use sun protection on my face. However, it does tend to melt my makeup. So, if I am going somewhere that is more shaded, I’ll use a foundation with SPF.

One very important Summer makeup essential for me, is coloured eye liners.

Whether it be liquid, gel, waterproof pencil, or pencil with eyeshadow over top, this is something I cannot get enough of in Summer. It is just such a fun way to add something to your makeup without trying too hard. I love applying a slick of it across the lash line. If I am feeling extra daring, I’ll even attempt to wing it out. Adding a pop of colour to your water line too is a lovely way to incorporate a hint of colour to a makeup look aswell. I used the Nyx Vivid Brights Liner here in a makeup look last Summer.

Without waterproof mascara, I am a basic lash person.

My lashes are straight and need waterproof mascara to hold a curl. It is imperative in the Summer time too though. It is a bitch to get off, but a decent waterproof mascara means you don’t have to worry about panda eyes behind your sunglasses. Or if you suffer with watery eyes, you are less inclined to have black marks down your cheeks. I talk about two of my favourites pictured here and here.

My last Summer makeup essential is a glossy lip. I never thought I would say those words, but glossy lip products have come such a long way.

They don’t have to be sticky and they can be super long wearing and colourful too. Products like the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors are great. They add shine with a hint of colour as well as nourish the lips. So handy to throw in your bag for top ups throughout the day.

Shout out to Rosie for helping me take the photos!

And, I will stop rambling 🙂 Have you any Summer makeup essentials?

xxx

May 26, 2017/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.