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What’s In My New Handbag?

I am going back to old school YouTube roots a bit. Totally for a bit of fun and totally to show you my new bargain of a handbag from River Island.

I had been eyeing up this bag for a minute. They had posted a pic of it on Instagram and it looked so up my street.

I am crossbody bag kinda gal. I am an absolute brat when it comes to carrying things. Think of a five year old bringing their toys with them and then halfway through the journey deciding they don’t want to hold them anymore. That is me in a nutshell 🙂 I was previously using this backpack from Zara. It didn’t last very long though and I find I was just filling it with crap. I have a couple of Rebecca Minkoff cross-bodies and have been using them day to day, but I really needed something of decent quality that I could bash around a bit.

This bag is suede and leather and it originally retailed for €75/£55. If you buy from the likes of ASOS or River Island online, always buy in pounds. The conversion is so much better. I was holding off until it came into the shops, but kept checking up on it online. Does anyone else do that with things they really like? 🙂

I randomly checked on it one day and it was on sale for £25!! So I thought screw seeing it in real life first. With shipping, it cost me €31!! I thought that was a really bloody good deal for a leather bag. It’s still on sale on the River Island website here. (Update: It has just become out of stock, but they have loads of fab bags still on sale here) . Remember to buy in pounds 🙂

Overall, I am super happy with the bag. The quality is really decent and there’s no big RI logos anywhere on the outside of it. I am not a huge fan of that. It’s a little bigger than I thought it was, but for a day time bag, I am completely ok with that. The thick strap I love, although it isn’t as long as I would like and it isn’t adjustable. I definitely wouldn’t be able to wear this crossbody over a big coat. Not ideal, but I’ll probably just wear it inside my jacket as it gets colder, or on one shoulder.

In the video I give you a quick run through of what’s in my handbag. For fun, and just so you can see what it can actually hold. There is only one big compartment within it. It has a little zip enclosure for your purse/phone. And then a couple of little pockets. If you like your stuff compartmentalised within your bag, this isn’t for you 🙂

I know loads of you bought it. (Thanks loads for using my affiliate link). I’d love to know what you think and if you’re happy with your purchasing decision like me:)

xxx

October 19, 2018/by Gem

Makeup

Makeup Favourites At The Moment

I didn’t do monthly favourites last month. I went on holidays. Have I mentioned that already? 🙂 And just didn’t get around to it. So I thought I would have a look at my stash and talk about five of my makeup favourites of the moment. You know I like to do these things in fives for some reason. I have no idea why.

Five makeup favourites that have been on my face consistently for the past few weeks. All of these were on holiday with me. Although I will say I did buy two of them while I was there. But once I did, I didn’t stop wearing them.

First up is something I haven’t really shut up about and have a collective post on the range here.

In particular, this eyeshadow called Zinc About You’, from the Essence Melted Chrome range has been making it onto my eyelids a lot.

It’s just a cool taupe pinky colour to wear on it’s own patted on the lid. You can check it out in that capacity here. See told you I haven’t shut up about it, I have a ridiculous amount of content on these. But it also works within a full on makeup look. I wore it out for dinner more dramatically with a smidgen of glitter added over top and got so many compliments. And it’s only €3.80. Bloody score!

Second of my current makeup favourites is something I got in a giant press pack from theBalm, seriously it was epic. This was one of the things that stayed in my possession from all the loot. It’s their Balm Beach Long Wearing Blush.

It’s just a really un offensive, goes with anything kind of blush.

It has a bit of pink to it and a hint of peach, so I just feel like it works well for warming up my skin tone. It’s a blush you can build up or just add a wash of colour to the cheeks with, which is what I personally like. Just a really good staple.

Third up is a product I’ve bought time and time again through the years. I have a review of it here that I did years ago. Sorry about the brows 🙂

They’ve changed the name since then and it’s now called the Catrice Glam & Doll. I generally always use a waterproof mascara, just because they hold a curl better.

I just bloody love this mascara. It lengthens my lashes, gives them volume and keeps the curl after I use an eyelash curlers. I bought a fresh tube to bring on holidays with me just because I know it works for me, and I am so glad to be using it again. It’s also less then a fiver and so readily available too.

My last two makeup favourites of the moment are holiday purchases from Kiko.

One was something specific that I went in for, although they didn’t have the exact colour. My lovely OG blogger friend Dee said to me the last time I went to Kiko to get their Water Eyeshadow in 200. Not only is it a lovely eyeshadow, it makes such a gorgeous highlight. I forgot that time, so I was made sure not to this time round.

They didn’t have the shade unfortunately, but I did find a great alternative in 208 Light Gold.

These are specifically formulated to work wet or dry. I think as a shadow it’s better to wet your brush, as a highlighter it works perfectly as is. It’s a lovely light gold shade. And I think €8.95 for a dual use product is pretty decent.

My other makeup favourite from Kiko was a last minute decision. And a bit random, but it totes worked out 🙂

This is the Kiko Pencil Lip Gloss in 06 Pink Glitter.

It was €3.95, it’s pink, it’s sparkly and I bloody love it. I’ve never owned a gloss in pencil form. It’s not the easiest thing to sharpen because the product is quite soft, that’s definitely a downer. But, I love the colour, love the sparkle and love that you can draw your lip line and fill in with your lipgloss. It’s kind of ingenious, right?

And for now, I’ll stop rambling because this post is 700 words long 🙂

xxx

CONTAINS PR SAMPLES**

October 15, 2018/by Gem

Beautynook Tips, Makeup, Youtube Video

Affordable Everyday Makeup Tutorial

As per usual, I just thought of a concept for this video and then when into it and hoped for the best 🙂 This my affordable everyday makeup tutorial. It’s definitely more just me doing my makeup with affordable and easy to get hold of products here in Ireland. I call it a tutorial, just because it’s good for when people are searching for things online. A makeup enthusiast is what I am, not a professional 🙂

I kept things really simple for this affordable everyday makeup. The eyeshadow on the lid is the star of the show and then everything else just falls around it. This pretty much just me wanting to look more awake and alive. How did I do? 🙂

Some of the products I used I love and have been using for ages. Some are newbies that I am loving. And then there’s a couple I used for the first time. I talk through all of that in the video, so be sure to have a click. As always, I’ll link what I can below.

Primer: PS Beauty Matte Primer.

Foundation: Revolution Conceal & Define Foundation.

Brows: Maybelline Brow Precise Micro Brow Pencil in soft brown. Isa Dora Shaping Gel.

Eyes: Zoeva Matte Eyeshadow Fix. PS Nude Addiction Eyeshaow Palette. Essence Melted Chrome eyeshadow and liquid liner. Catrice Glam & Doll waterproof mascara.

Powder: Maybelline Master Fix Loose Setting Powder.

Bronzer: PS Bronze Bronze Queen Matte Bronzer.

Blush: Models Own Sculpt & Glow Contour Palette.

Highlighter: Wet n Wild Megaglo Highlighter in Precious Petal.

Lips: Catrice Lip Foundation Lip Pencil. Note Cosmetics Mattemoist Lipstick over top.

Then, I finished everything off with the CYO Fixing Spray. I used this because I had it. I can’t really recommend it in all honesty.

And there we have my affordable everyday makeup look! Let me know what you think. And as always, thanks for clicking 🙂

Gemma

xxx

***INCLUDES PR SAMPLES*

October 3, 2018/1 Comment/by Gem

Bargain Buying, Makeup

Essence Cosmetics Melted Chrome

The Essence Cosmetics Melted Chrome products out of all of their Autum/Winter products were the ones that intrigued me the most.

I got sent a big cross section of all the new in stuff with one of the Essence Cosmetics Melted Chrome eyeshadows. The formula excited me greatly. Then I realised it’s pretty much a collection in itself. There’s eyeshadows, liquid liners and even liquid lipsticks!

The lipsticks don’t really interest me if I’m being completely honest. Just because I wouldn’t be wearing a chrome lip on an everyday basis. But I hit up the Essence stand to grab some more of the single eyeshadows and to try the liquid liners as well.

Now, I didn’t buy all the shades. Firstly, because I am not made of money, yo! And also, I just wouldn’t utilise all of them once this blogpost is written. So, I came to a happy medium and got two more of the eyeshadows and then three of the liners. A good cross section I thought 🙂 There is six shadows and four liners to choose from in the collection. All priced at a ridiculously reasonable €3.80!

I’ll show you the Essence Cosmetics Melted Chrome shadows that I have in my possession first.

We have 04 ‘Steel The Look’. This was the one I got in the PR package. Next is 01 ‘Zinc About You’. Then lastly is 06 ‘Copper Me’. This one is a little harder to work with than the other two.

These eyeshadows have nearly a wet and sponge like consistency. They become super metallic after a couple of layers. I find they apply best with a finger. I tend to feel that way about most metallic shadows to be fair.

Then we are onto the Essence Melted Chrome Eyeliners.

I am completely smitten with these liners. I have been wearing them consistently since picking them up. They’re opaque and wear super well too. Can you tell I’m impressed? 🙂

The three I have are:

01 ‘Copper Of Love. I think this is my favourite from the bunch. Then, ‘Zinc My Way’. And finally 03 ‘Platinum Beauty’.

Overall, I am a really big fan of the Essence Cosmetics Melted Chrome range. Well, what I have from it anyways. And for €3.80, I would 100% recommend!

Have you tried any of them?

xxx

September 26, 2018/1 Comment/by Gem

Bargain Buying, Makeup

Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer

I ordered the Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer along with their stick foundation and new liquid liner on a whim at like three in the morning. I couldn’t sleep so I was scrolling through Instagram and something came up about them. The trigger was pulled, and they were ordered 🙂

There is so many comparisons being made online to it and the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer. I own Shape Tape, so that was justification enough in buying it, right? Makeup Revolution are more than well known for releasing ‘dupe’ products. Mostly of more expensive brands, which they do for a much more palatable price.

The Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer is definitely a more reasonable price, coming in at €4.99! I have to admit, other than the chubby packaging it comes in, I can’t really compare it to Shape Tape. I feel like they’re two different formulas. ST is a much thicker consistency, longer wearing and more full coverage, in my humble opinion.

The Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer comes in a bucketload of shades, which is bloody awesome! 25 to be exact with different undertones to boot. I have the colour C1 which is a good match for me.

I actually like the doe-foot applicator more on the MR concealer over Shape Tape. It’s a bit smaller and easier to clean up under the eyes with.

The consistency of this concealer is what I would describe as thick-ish. Perfect english I know. I just mean, it’s not Shape Tape thick, but it’s not runny either. It’s somewhere in the middle 🙂 You can apply a fairly light layer of it and it will give grand coverage, or you can really build up the opacity. For me, it works better in a couple of lighter layers.

It is a super drying formula, in my opinion, so that is something to note if you suffer with creasing under the eyes. It sets super quickly too, so you have to work fast with it.

I don’t get much creasing personally and always set my under my eyes, so I haven’t had a problem with it myself. Here it is in action on my skin.

Overall, I think the Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer is a damn good, more high coverage concealer for the price point. On my skin type, I will just be sticking to using it under my eyes. I don’t think the staying power is quite there for the rest of my more oily skin.

Have you tried it?

xxx

September 19, 2018/2 Comments/by Gem

Makeup

L’Oréal Cherry My Cheri Palette

The new L’Oréal Cherry My Cheri landed on my doorstep as a PR gift a couple of weeks ago now. The theme as you would guess from the name is cherry hued shades. On first glance, the colours are so in. And they seem to tick every box from light, neutral, transitional, lid and dark shades. It would be a colour palette you could definitely take with you on a weekend away and have lots of matte, satin and shimmer options.

There is 16 shades to choose from in the L’Oréal Cherry My Cherie Eyeshadow Palette. To the touch, they feel soft and pigmented. The shades do have a subtle fruity scent to them. But actually it’s not too intense at all, although it is used as a marketing tool by L’Oréal. If you lift the plastic off the back above, it shows you the shade names and what kind of finish it is.

Calling it a mega eyeshadow palette is a bit much in my personal opinion, yes the pans are pretty decently sized, but it you can hold it in one hand. I think the packaging looks really similar to the NYX Ultimate Palettes.

Here are all the shades swatched from left to right, from top to bottom. As always I just used my fingers.

The colours all swatched pretty vibrantly, and there wasn’t too much fall out or mess. Obviously, it’s applying them on the eyes that really counts, so I did do a quick little eyeshadow look too, showing you some of the shadows in action.

My two cents on the L’Oréal Cherry My Cheri Palette? I think its pretty expensive for a ‘drugstore palette’. It comes in at nearly 20 quid in most places, including Boots. Although I did find it on sale from Littlewoods here. Yes, the shades do swatch nicely and you can lay them down on the eyes pretty well. However, when you start to blend, that’s when things go a bit pear shaped. You’ll see in the video I had to reapply the lid colour a couple of times. As I tried to blend out a matte shade in the crease, I completely blended away the lid shade. And the matte shade if I’m being totally honest This, for me is where the problems lie. Also I tried to use the darker shade as liner and the opacity just wasn’t there at all. I needed some setting spray to make it work. It wasn’t needed to just bump up the colour a bit, it was necessary. I just find the palette hard work!

Have you picked up the L’Oréal Cherry My Cheri Palette? I’d love to know your thoughts on it?

xxx

*PR SAMPLE***

September 10, 2018/by Gem

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