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Try saying cranberry & copper makeup tutorial three times fast. It’s pretty impossible, but now that I have your attention, here is my rendition 🙂

cranberry & Copper Makeup Tutorial

Without even realising or trying, I used mostly affordable products to create this look. The Obsession X Belle Jordan Palette is the main component.

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All the shadows are from that with one of the Essence Melted Chrome eyeliners.

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I also tried out the €2 eyeliner stamp I picked up from Penneys before filming. Not a new concept by any means, but I’ve never tried one so I was kinda excited.

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So be sure to click on the video above or here, if you want to see the cranberry and copper makeup tutorial in action, but also see me attempt to use the stamp 🙂

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I was pretty happy with how this look turned out. The liner wasn’t my best work, but I was experimenting so hopefully you forgive me.

Cranberry & Copper Makeup Tutorial

If you want to see what I used for my base, all the products were under investigation here. I filmed a first impressions video before the tutorial.

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All affordable products were used in that too!

I am uploading this on New Years Eve, I thought it would make a nice alternative to the typical red lip or gold eye makeup looks we usually gravitate towards. It’s not exclusive to NYE, so you may read this at a later date. But, I just want to say Happy 2019 to you all. Thanks for clicking and commenting and following me on social media. I really appreciate all the interaction. 2018 was a weird year, for a lot of people, me included. Let’s hope 2019 is a upgrade 🙂

Roll on all the new beauty releases for 2019 too. Jaysis, I better start saving now 🙂

Gemma

xxx

********PR SAMPLE WERE USED IN THIS VIDEO*********

I am no stranger to the EX1 Cosmetics brand online. I’ve seen it mentioned so much over the past few years. It’s been available for us to buy here in Ireland the last while, but only online, so I never pulled the trigger.EX1 Cosmetics First Impressions

However, Boots are now stocking EX1 Cosmetics officially now. I was perusing the makeup aisles in Boots in Liffey Valley. Nestled within the more well known brands, there it was. Small, but mighty 🙂

EX1 Cosmetics First Impressions

They only seem to have four products for us to choose from here. I think they only have five products to choose from in total though, so we’re not missing out too much. They have a compact powder as well, but that wasn’t on the stand in Boots.top beauty blogger ireland

I was ridiculously eager to try the products I got, people have such high praise for the brand. Prices range from around €13-€17, so it’s definitely a brand that’s more on the affordable side. I know a lot of makeup artists love the foundation, so that makes it even more endearing. I filmed this video the day after I picked the products up, just because I couldn’t wait. This is not a review, it’s a first impressions video, just showing you how the three products apply and chatting about if I like them first time around. This is my skin before application, plus a ridiculous screenshot because it made me laugh ha!

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Then this is my skin after applying all three of the EX1 Cosmetics base products. I used the lightest shade 1.0 in all the products. The shade range doesn’t seem to be brilliant.

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EX1 Cosmetics Ireland

They definitely evened everything out and made a blank canvas for me to apply over. Of course I go into more details in the video, but first impressions of all three products are good. I’ll give a more in depth insight once I try them more. Be sure to follow me on Instagram to keep up to date.

xxx

Obsession X Belle Jorden Eyeshadow PaletteI picked up the Obsession X Belle Jorden Eyeshadow Palette completely on a whim in all honesty. I was just perusing the Boots makeup stands, as one does, and happened to give it an oul swatch.

Obsession X Belle Jorden Eyeshadow Palette

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Belle Jorden isn’t someone who is on my YouTube radar. I now see that’s because I am not young and cool! The embarrassment is palpable, don’t come at me 🙂 Anyway, she released the Obsession X Belle Jorden Eyeshadow Palette along with a collection of lip glosses. Well that’s what google told me anyways. Obsession is a sister brand of Revolution Beauty, and we have just recently got stands in Boots stores here in Ireland.

I picked up the palette, because I felt like I needed some more red toned shadows in my life and swatching the tester palette impressed me. And it was only €13 in store. I put up a little teaser video of it in action on my Instagram and got some good feedback. People who have it, were raving about it. And, people who were just checking it out for the first time (like me), were intrigued. This long winded introduction brings us here, I thought I would swatch the Obsession X Belle Jorden Eyeshadow Palette to show you all the colours in action.irish beauty blogger

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There are 16 shades in total ranging from orange, brown, purple, plum and pink. And also including a matte white and black. There’s mattes, shimmers and a couple of fun foiled shadows, warm and a bit cooler in tone for good measure too.top irish beauty blog

From left to right we have:

Starlight, Glow Baby, Pops, Bear.

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Sagittarius, Sassy, Hot Sauce, Queen.

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1706, Mama’s Girl, Magic, So Cute.

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Miami, 13, A.F, Lola.

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Overall, I have to say I’m a fan of  the Obsession X Belle Jorden Eyeshadow Palette! I really like the dare I say, grungy but still glam colour selection. The shadows for the most part are pigmented and I found what I’ve used properly so far, easy enough to work with. There is some fall out, but nothing too ridiculous. And it is very affordable which is always a plus. What do we think? Have you tried it yet? Are you a Belle fan?

xxx

 

 

irish beauty blog beautynookI 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 :)******

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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.

lash lift Vanity Rooms
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lvl lash lift vanity rooms

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.irish beauty blog

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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.

lash lift elysian brows
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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 🙂irish beauty blog beautynook

 

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

I’m always amazed at the difference when I see my before and after makeup shots. It’s not that I hate myself without makeup, I’ve somewhat come to terms with my lot. It will just never not be cool, the things you can achieve with makeup 🙂 I was going out for my brother’s birthday on Saturday. (If you follow me on Instagram, you would have seen). I turned the camera on and created this easy as always, gold smokey eye look.

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I’ll try to list the most important products I used for this. Usually I take a photograph of them all for reference. But I was just kind of in the moment for this, so I didn’t take it too seriously, hope you don’t mind.

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I spent the entirety of the video listening to my time capsule on Spotify. It’s mainly 90’s and 00’s hip hop and R n’ B That’s why there’s music over most of it 🙂 All I knew is, I wanted to create a gold smokey eye with a bit of glitter. I think I achieved that.

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I used all Makeup Geek eyeshadows. They were just what I gravitated towards on the day. Tikki Hut and Gold Digger were the main components and I used the Penney PS Glitter Eyeshadow over top.

Revolution Conceal & Define foundation with Tarte Shape Tape were the more full coverage liquid base of choice.

gold smokey eye makeup tutorial

Blush was theBalm Balm Beach with the Pixi Glow-y Glossamar Duo in Subtle Sunrise. Two of my very faves. Lips are Mac Soar Lip Liner with Syrup lippie over top.

 

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My brows never really go to plan when I film. I think it’s because day to day I stand at the mirror doing my makeup. When I film I sit down 🙂 But sure they were grand, just nothing to write home about.

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And that is pretty much it for my gold smokey eye look and an obnoxious amount of pictures of myself ha. Click the video above or here to see the whole thing in action. And let me know what you think.

Gemma

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

I’ve already reviewed the concealer, so it only made sense for me to get my makeup loving mitts on the Revolution Conceal & Define Foundation.

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That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. If I can’t blame blogging on my need to buy makeup, what can I blame it on? 🙂 What are my thoughts on the Revolution Conceal & Define Foundation? Actually really similar to the concealer, I like it!

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It comes in 24 shades as well as different undertones which is awesome. I have the shade F4.

Revolution Conceal & Define Foundation Review

It looks like a giant version of the concealer, only it comes in a glass bottle, which is always nice, and unusual for ‘drugstore’ brand. Something to note, the bottle only contains 23ml of product. Foundation usually comes in a standard 30ml quantity. It’s an affordable product though, so I won’t mark it down for that. It comes with a doe foot applicator on the lid (very Clinique-like). Not something I am particularly a fan of, I prefer a pump, but that’s completely personal preference.top beauty blog

I think the Revolution Conceal & Define Foundation does exactly what it says on the tin. They describe it as a ‘buildable, blend-able full coverage foundation’, and I have to agree. It has a fairly thin consistency, considering it does pack a punch in the coverage department.top irish beauty blogtop beauty blog irelandtop irish blog

It means you can go in hard with it if you like a really really flawless base, or blend out a thin layer if you prefer a more medium coverage finish. For me, it blends out well with a sponge or a brush. It does dry down quickly in my opinion though so it’s best to work pretty fast with it.

Revolution Conceal & Define Foundation Review
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Revolution Conceal & Define Foundation Review
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It definitely has a more matte finish and I find the longevity really decent, especially on my oilier skin. It might also be good to note that it’s oil and paraben free.

Overall I am a fan of the Revolution Conceal & Define Foundation. I will reach for it in my usual rotation, which is always a good sign for me. When I test base products, sometimes I have to force myself to use them when I know I’ll be out and about for a long period of time. I trust this though. I can put one layer on during the day, or a couple if I’m going out in the evening. It works for both and I’m not afraid of it sliding off of my face after a couple of hours. It’s cheap too coming in at around the 11-12 euro mark here in Ireland. depending on where you buy it. I’m a fan 🙂

xxx