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Get Ready With Me

Here’s my first ever Youtube video! It’s a speeded through Get Ready With Me. I love zoning out and watching these, and on the plus side it meant less talking for me 🙂 It’s not perfect, but sure neither am I.

Thanks so much for watching and if you like it please be sure to subscribe here. That would make my day…my year in fact, can you tell this is a big step for me? 🙂

There’s a list of all the products I used in the info box of the video too, so if you see something you like they’re all listed in order pretty much.

Let me know what you think and also what videos you like to watch yourself, I am going try create one a week on my channel, but I will also do an accompanying blogpost with any extra details and of course a bit of waffle 🙂

Gemma

xxx

February 21, 2016/1 Comment/by Gem

Haul, Makeup

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Blush Palette

Urban Decay released the rest of their Gwen Stefani collaboration goodies last week! The lipsticks,lipliners and the brow kit look beautiful…that packaging though? I only caved slightly and bought the blush palette.

I got the eyeshadow palette when it was first released and I am so happy to have it in my Urban Decay collection. Have I ever told you, I kind of sort of collect Urban Decay palettes? 🙂 You can see the eyeshadow palette up close here if you are undecided about picking it up and want to see it in more detail.

I’m talking all things blush in this Urban Decay Gwen Stefani post though. Here she is in all her glory.

I am in love with the packaging, it’s sturdy, stylish and compliments the eyeshadow palette, which makes me very happy not going to lie, I love a good theme ha!

You get six shades of blush in the palette. They each contain 2.8 grams of product.

The colour range and finish is varied and as you would expect from Urban Decay they are pigmented and very smooth.

Here they are swatched on my arm for reference:

This is ‘Cherry’

This is ‘Easy’

This is ‘Angel’

This is ‘Lo-Fi’

This is ‘Hush’

This is ‘OC’

Overall, I personally really like the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Palette. I think I would be more inclined to call it a face palette though. ‘Angel’ for example is more of a highlight shade than a blush. I would probably mix this in with other shades to change the colour or add shimmer to them. Also, ‘Lo-Fi’ to me is more of a warm bronzer shade. I think the other four colours ‘Cherry’,’Easy’ ‘Hush’ and ‘OC’ are really lovely blush shades and I will get plenty of use out of them day to day.

I don’t think this a definite go out and buy it release, but I think if you do pick it up you’ll be happy to have it in your collection. Also, they’ve made it limited edition which always makes us a bit more obsessed, right? Clever marketers 🙂

The Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Blush Palette will set you back €42 and you can buy it from Debenhams in store or online here and House of Fraser.

Let me know your thoughts?

xxx

February 1, 2016/4 Comments/by Gem

Makeup, Monthly Favourites, Skincare

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, Makeup Tutorial

New Years Eve Makeup

I know Christmas is what we’re probably looking forward to the most, but New Years Eve is a big occasion too right? So. I have here a New Years Eve Makeup Look I would happily rock on the faithful night. I went for a subtle glittery eye with a matte pink lip. I think this combo would work for any night out not just New Years but it’s nice to have an excuse 🙂

Base, brows and eyeshadow primer dunzo!

Then onto the good stuff, I’m using the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Palette.

Isn’t she a beauty? I have a full review of it here if you want to see it up closer.

I grabbed the shade Stark to begin and added a wash of it to my crease just to makeup everything blend better on my lids.

To deepen the crease colour more I took some Anaheim and blended that over top.

To conceal any discolouration on the brow bone and lighten it, I applied some Skimp. It has a little bit of sheen to it but nothing too crazy.

Punk is one of my favourite colours in the palette.

I used a tapered brush to apply it on the outer v of my eyes, and blended it across my crease slightly.

To just add a base for the pigment, I patted some Baby over the rest of my lid.

And then some more blending happened 🙂

I don’t think this step was really necessary, because the pigment is more of a shadow than a glitter, but I did it so I’ll add it in.

I applied a really small amount of Duraline onto my eyelids (I have a full blogpost on Duraline here).

I pulled out Makeup Geek’s pigment in New Years Eve for a bit of festive sparkle and because it’s aptly named for a New Years Eve Makeup look 🙂

I applied this with a flat brush over where I placed the Duraline.

I just deepened up Punk in the outer corner then.

I used the colour Blackout, from the Gwen Stefani Palette to line my lash line because lashes have to happen…it’s New Years Eve Makeup. 🙂

I chose Ardell Demi 120 false lashes, I like that they flare out on the outer corners.

To hide the false lash band a bit more, I applied a line of liquid liner across them.

I concealed and then went onto the lower lash line. I added some of the Punk shade on the outer end of my eyes, the same as the top lid.

And then some Baby on the inner part.

Mascara time then.

I wanted to darken things up a little more so I tight lined with some black liner.

For some inner corner brightness, I used the shade Pop.

I wanted to go with a somewhat strong pink lip. I lined my lips first with Nyx Lip Pencil in Pinky.

I chose one of my favourite lip products the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in the colour Ole Flamingo.

I did some loose curls in my hair for the occasion and then we’re done 🙂

Let me know what you think!

Have the best Christmas and of course New Year ever, and thank you so much for reading, I really really appreciate it.

xxx

December 23, 2015/by Gem

Makeup, Makeup Tools

What’s In My Holiday Makeup Bag

I already delved into all the skincare goodies I’m bringing for our Christmas trip away here I thought it was only natural to show what will make it into my holiday makeup bag. I say a bag, lets be honest I’m bringing a couple of bags I’m not gonna lie 🙂

My makeup bag is definitely overflowing, but as I said in skincare post I like to be prepared!

First up is eye products.

I’m bringing 3 palettes, excessive I know, don’t judge, one of the zpalettes does contain my Inglot blushes though and a yellow under eye setting powder so it’s kind of ok, right? 🙂

I’m bringing the new Urban Decay Gwen Palette which I have swatches of here I bloomin’ love this palette and don’t want to be without. Also some Makeup Geek shadows in a zpalette and then the palette of a few Inglot shadows and some blushes.

Eye primer is essential in my world so I have a mini Urban Decay Primer Potion being added to my makeup bag. Then, in case I’m feeling posh I’m going to pack the Charlotte Tilbury cream shadow in Bette, I have a full review of this here. Rather than a black gel liner I have been loving using a dark grey one at the minute so I’m bringing my Inglot matte gel liner in 78. Then two kohl pencils. A grey L’Oreal one and a brown one from Rimmel.

The rest of my eye goodies consist of lashes, my fave individuals from Penneys, a pair of Amazing Shine lashes that I love, you can now buy these in Mr Price which is really handy. Then some Duo glue to apply them, an eyelash curler from Shu Uemura and finally some Catrice Glamour Doll Waterproof mascara, I have a full review of this here I love it 🙂

For the face, of course I am going to bring a few options because I am very fickle, and like to change my mind…alot. Also I think you need day time options and night time options too.

The Botanice Radiance Balm is coming. I have a review of this here The primer I have been using for the last while is the Wet n Wild Coverall. I really like it for my oily skin. I have the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in a shade darker in case I get a little bit of colour, I can mix it with my tried and tested Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude foundation (review here) and a tester of the Makeup For Ever Ultra HD which I really like too. I’m also bringing the Benefit Porefessional License To Blot which is such a weird product. It’s a cream blotting stick and it bloody works!

My concealer choices for the week are my beloved Mac Full Coverage foundation. I love using this as a concealer. Then, my favourite under eye concealers of the moment (again another full review here 🙂 The Flormar Perfect Coverage and the Catrice Liquid Camouflage.

Powders consist of four faves…yep four I have problems ha! I have Nars Laguna in this really cool palette (it’s called Tahiti) and it comes with a mini Ita brush! Then the Chanel Vitalumiere Powder Foundation, sorry for dropping all of the links but I reviewed this too . the cult classic Champagne Pop from Becca is coming, I have this reviewed too here .The last one on the right then is to bring with me for touch ups, it’s the Mac Studio Fix Powder.

For contouring (and cream highlighting) I have a couple of old reliables. The Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium (yep review here 🙂 and the Smashbox contour and highlight sticks (demo here 🙂

Brow products consist of the Soap & Glory Archery Pencil, then three Billion Dollar Brow products, you can buy these from Boots. I have their brow brush, brow powder and brow gel.

I have a full colour spectrum of lip choices to choose from going into my makeup bag. A red from Tom Ford called Cherry Lush, a Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Ping Pong, Essence liquid lipstick in Show Off (review here) and then one of the Rimmel The Only One Lipsticks in Naughty Nude (I have a load of these swatched here) A couple of lip liners join the crew too. Rimmel Eastend Snob and Mac Whirl.

To apply all the slap some brushes are essential, right? I have the Nima Brush Girls On Tour travel set, I’m so excited to use these beauties, you can see them up closer here. I have a mini Mac 217, a random mini flat Nars brush and a big Powder n Pout P230 which I have yet to try so the hollier will be a good test. I think these will keep me going for the week, right?

That’s all the makeup that will make it into my suitcase. I’m definitely an overpacker I know, a couple of makeup bags will be needed.

If you want to have a nose at what I get up to, be sure to follow me on Snapchat. I love snapping. My username over their is ‘Beautynook’.

As always thank you so so much for reading 🙂

xxx

December 21, 2015/by Gem

Haul, Makeup

Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Palette

Urban Decay have finally released their collaboration palette with Gwen Stefani. I couldn’t resist, I needed it in my life. The Urban Decay marketing team are geniuses 🙂

I picked my Urban Decay Gwen Stefani in Debenhams. It will set you back €46. They have it on the website with free shipping here, if you like what you see 🙂

The palette contains a mixture of neutral matte, satin and shimmery shades for the most part, with a couple of more intense colours for good measure. I think it’s a good mixture. As a Urban Decay fan I have alot of their palettes, so I’m used to them having some crazy colour combos within them. I think the Gwen palette gives good practical but still really pretty colour choices. You get 15 shades in total which is pretty decent for the price. They are soft and pigmented as you would expect from the brand. I love all the names she gave them too. If you’re a Gwen fan since her old school No Doubt days (like myself) you will get all the references she makes with them.

Now onto the good part, the eye shadows in action 🙂

The top row:

We have ‘Blonde’, the lightest shade in the palette.

‘Bathwater’ (one of my favourite No Doubt songs :).

‘Skimp’.

‘Steady’.

‘Punk’.

Then the second line of shadows:

‘Baby’.

‘Anaheim’.

‘Stark’.

‘Zone’.

‘Serious’.

And finally the third line of shadow and where most of the crazier colours lie:

‘Pop’.

‘Harajuku’.

‘Danger’.

‘1987’.

And ‘Blackout’, a matte black is always a welcome addition to a palette for me.

I struggled to part with the money for the Gwen palette so close to Christmas for myself I have to admit. The guilt has subsided now however and I’m so glad I did. She’s just so darn pretty. I love everything the colour choices, the packaging everything! And there’s also an added bonus with it. You get samples of the lipsticks Gwen will be releasing with Urban Decay too. Score!