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Life And Life Thoughts

God I haven’t written a blogpost in so long, I nearly forget how to do it. And because I know a thing or two about SEO and the scary world of search engines, it’s going to be hard not doing all the technical things 🙂

Honestly, I just fancied writing my thoughts down, they might not even make sense, so apologies if I just ramble. The last year, for me has been an absolutely whirlwind of emotions. I lost my blogging mojo. I blogged cos I love it, I love beauty. But after doing it for nearly six years, I also loved the thrill of knowing people were actually reading it. Clicking on my posts, taking my words into consideration, looking at my photos.

I’m a small fish in all of this, and when the blogging business started to evolve and change, less and less people were tuning it. So, I just haven’t been active here. The drive disappeared. I’m still plugging away on social media. My favourite is Instagram, specifically stories nowadays. But, I’ve even pulled away from that a bit, it’s not the same, and it can be hard for some of the old school online content creators to be seen and taken seriously.

I’m 34, kinda common, kinda chubby and I curse a lot, I’m sure brands don’t have boxes to tick for any of those qualities. And that’s ok, I don’t need validation, I know I’m a ok, I’m grand and that’s enough 🙂

It’s not something I talk about a whole lot, but I struggle with my own thoughts. They hold me back, they make me fearful of a lot of things. I use humour on the outside to handle it. When I’m alone or with John it’s a different story. Life is a muddle. The last year of my life has been a lot of crying, fearing death, fearing life without my mother.

Trying to be strong for her, failing miserably because she’s stronger than all of us. Talking about funeral arrangements, worrying about the pain she might be feeling and will feel, and feeling guilty for thinking about life after she’s gone, what we’ll do, where we’ll live. It’s crazy because I’ve had some of the best moments in my life happen within this time too. Through my mam’s second battle with cancer, I’ve learned to let go a little more, be a bit more spontaneous. We’ve made some great memories together. I’ve made amazing memories with John and my friends. John’s business is booming, I couldn’t be prouder of him. There’s goodness within the haze of sadness.

This was going to be a life update. I thought I would start writing and come to some profound conclusion, something that might help me, or anyone who reads this. I can’t really, the world is a fairly scary place right now. But day to day, for each of us, it can be ok, every day we get through is a job well done. I often feel like I should have accomplished so much by now. I was decent in school, I’m semi creative. But who’s to say that’s the path for me? Maybe my path, or your path is just learning to like yourself more. To actually live in life more, rather than be afraid of it.

Have I fixed myself? Not in the slightest, but progression is key, no matter how small it is. And I’ve definitely done that. So those are my life thoughts 🙂

xxx

October 21, 2019/by Gem

Makeup, Makeup Tutorial, Youtube Video

Easy Burgundy Eye Look

I’m probably going to say this everytime I put up a post on Beautynook now. It’s been a while blog friends. I’m definitely not as dedicated to blogging as I once was. But sure I’m not gone completely. I still waffle about makeup over on Instagram on the daily 🙂 This video was filmed on my phone, completely off the cuff the other day. I was about to dig into my only Marc Jacobs eyeshadow, that I had never used before, so wanted to document it. The lighting isn’t the best, but sure hopefully the banter is 🙂 This is my really easy burgundy eye look.

This super simple burgundy eye look could essentially be done with one eyeshadow, some liner and mascara. I probably over complicated it to begin with, just because I was winging it and didn’t know how the fancy eyeshadow would perform. The Marc Jacobs O! Mercy O!Mega Eyeshadow

I bought it on a whim for myself as a birthday present, along with an eyeliner of a similar colour which I use briefly too. The shadow is absolutely huge, it could probably double as a blush. The pay off is really great and it blended well too. I will say by the end of the evening though it was definitely patchy on my oily lids. I’ll reserve judgement though and try it with different bases before making a final decision on it.

The Huda Beauty New Nude Palette was cracked out for this burgundy eye look too. I really don’t reach for this much in all honesty, but it is pretty to look at 🙂

The lip combo is from Essence, cheap cheerful and effective, I think. Nude by pinky nude. I’m too pale for full on nude lips.

I didn’t film my base routine, but it’s essentially the same as shown here, so you can check that out if you fancy some more content.

So there you have my easy burgundy eye look. Let me know what you think.

Gemma

*PR SAMPLES USED**

August 16, 2019/by Gem

Bargain Buying, Makeup

Essence Lash Princess Mascara Waterproof

Well hello there, it’s been a minute or two since I put fingers to keys and wrote a blogpost! Life, lack of creativity and well the lack of people tuning into them all contributed to it in all honesty. But sure no harm in letting my creative juices out every so often, I like writing 🙂 I picked up the new Essence Lash Princess Mascara, the waterproof version, pretty much upon its release. I always use waterproof mascara and people had such good things to say about the other formulas. And it was less than a fiver! I got mine in Penneys.

From the get go, the Essence Lash Princess Mascara (waterproof), was for me. I don’t use waterproof mascara, because I think I can dunk my head in water and be ok, although some formulas are reasonably good for that. I use it to hold a curl in my straight, boring lashes.

This mascara is quite a thick consistency and it has a bristle spoolie, which usually my lashes don’t like as much. In this instance they do though.

You get volume from the first application of this mascara. A lot of product goes on to your lashes. I don’t find that it weighs mine down in anyway, but it can clump. That is something to be wary of.

It provides volume and length really quickly and holds a curl, so it ticks all the lash boxes for me.

It can flake a little after a few hours of wear, but I don’t find that it transfers too much. I don’t use it on my bottom lashes, I find the wand to cumbersome for that. I stick to my trusted Mac Extended Play for that.

The Essence Lash Princess Mascara waterproof is a damn good mascara though. It gives maximum impact with very little effort. I curl my lashes and apply a couple of coats and I’m done. I don’t feel the need to layer too much more for a long, (well as long as my lashes can go) lashed look 🙂

Have you tried it yet? Are you a fan of the original? Let me know.

xxx

July 16, 2019/by Gem

Makeup, Youtube Video

Eyeshadow Palettes I Don’t Reach For

This is not a dig at any of the brands that created these eyeshadow palettes. In fact I don’t really think overall, it’s really a dig at the eyeshadow palettes themselves. It’s just me explaining why I don’t reach for them, and why they don’t seem to work for me.

I might get a bitchy in between, but that tends to happen when you’re on a roll, right? 🙂 I have a bucket load of eyeshadow palettes. Makeup is my favourite pass time. There’s always going to be times I spend my money, or get something in a pr package that just doesn’t float my boat though.

There’s times also where you think you’re going to love a product, and then it just doesn’t get utilised. And that’s fine, it’s the look of the draw. Beauty products are being released constantly, it’s so easy to get caught up in the new shiny things on offer.

I’ve mentioned, I think all of these eyeshadow palettes in one form or another here on Beautynook or on my Instagram page. Some of them I loved initially, some I wanted because of the hype and some were bought on a whim. There is no reason to my thought process. And by the end of the video, I talked myself into trying to use at least one of them again, just because I don’t think it got a fair trial.

There is five palettes in total:

All the brands listed I enjoy and use a lot! I don’t think you can love everything a brand brings out. As I say in the video too though this is just my opinions and thoughts. We are all different. When it comes to reading reviews on products, never just read one. It’s always good to get different views and thought processes. Do you have and love any of these? Let me know.

xxx

*********INCLUDES PR SAMPLES*************

May 10, 2019/by Gem

Bargain Buying, Makeup, Makeup Tutorial, Youtube Video

Gold Glitter Eyeshadow Tutorial | Budget Beauty

I’m a going through a bit of a budget beauty phase at the minute. Here is another one to throw into the mix. I created this really simple, but I think effective, gold glitter eyeshadow look using all Penneys/Primark products.

Now I did cheat ever so slightly, just because I didn’t have everything I needed, like eyeshadow primer for example from Penneys. But all the products after that are Penneys own brand, PS Beauty, or products that are readily available in store. I’m talking like I used a bucket of products, I didn’t. You’ll see in the video 🙂 I have reviews already of the powder eyeshadows from Penneys here and the glitter and cream shadows here and here. That’s all the main bases covered I think in this gold glitter eyeshadow look.

There is chat about my eyebrows too in this video, which I’ve recently gotten micro bladed. I have put all my brow updated into highlights on my Instagram, just so I can refer to it if there’s any questions. I go through the process and the pricing and all that good stuff over there.

The gold glitter eyeshadow look itself I think is reasonably easy and I didn’t go in too heavy. I wanted it to be wearable, but still a bit sparkly.

The star of the show is the €1 Penneys eyeshadow called Gold Digger.

I’ve also come to the realisation in the past few weeks, that doing your eyeshadow before your base is brilliant. You can clean up any fall out and correct your work and you base won’t have glitter eyeshadow in it 🙂

I am super happy with how this turned out, the spot under my eye is really annoying, but I have to get over that 🙂

I kept the skin super simple, and added a matte pinky nude lip and a good splodge of highlighter to finish things off. Let me know what you think. Do you rate any of the Penneys makeup?

xxx

May 3, 2019/by Gem

Bargain Buying, Makeup, Makeup Tutorial, Youtube Video

Full Coverage Concealer Budget Beauty

It seems I am on a bit of a budget beauty roll at the minute, so just go with me 🙂 My last post was all about brows. This time I wanted to focus on full coverage concealer. I’ve picked three that I own and use regularly.

First up is the Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer.

This had major hype when it was first released. Here it is in action of the face:

It will set you back around a fiver, depending on where you buy it. It comes in a plethora of shades and undertones, 25 to be exact. I did a full review of this here, if you want my in depth thoughts. I think it’s a really decent buildable concealer though and is great for the price point.

Next up is the L’Oréal Infallible More Than Concealer, Concealer.

Again here it is in action of my face:

I dive into my full of review of this full coverage, budget concealer here, if you fancy a read. This has really decent coverage. And I know there are people out there who would choose this over Tarte Shape Tape in a heartbeat. I adore Shape Tape, so I don’t really compare the two. For me, this dries down fast, so you have to work quickly, but it can be a bit more difficult to blend. Having said that, it’s a great ‘drugstore’ fuller coverage concealer, and it comes in 25 shades which is great. I just think for drier under eyes, the other two I chat about here would be better in my very personal opinion 🙂

My last choice is one I haven’t spoken about on Beautynook yet.

I chatted about it briefly on my instagram stories the other day. So if you follow me there, you already have the beauty scoop. This is the Essence Camouflage + Healthy Glow Concealer #mouthful. Here it is in action on my skin first:

I think this only comes in two shade choices which is pretty pants, but Essence are forever bringing out products and changing up their stands. Maybe that has something to do with it. This, for me, is the thinnest formula out out of the three concealers.

It feels the most hydrating under the eyes too, but can still offer up full coverage for those dark circles. I believe there was a matt version of this too, but I have yet to try it. I like that this one isn’t completely flat though and it lasts on me throughout the day. The applicator is also a really cool teardrop shape so makes swiping it under the eyes really easy. And it’s an absolute bargain that you can pick up in Penneys for about 3 euro. Score!

And there are my three budget friendly full coverage concealer choices of the moment. Have you tried any of them?

xxx

PR SAMPLES INCLUDED*

April 26, 2019/by Gem

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