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Bargain Buying, Makeup Tutorial, Youtube Video

Makeup Tutorial New In Products!

I always say, don’t judge me for calling this a ‘makeup tutorial’, so I just want to begin with that statement, because I am well aware of my lack of major skills in the makeup department. It’s just a blanket statement and we understand what it means 🙂 Ok now that’s out of the way….

It’s been a minute since I sat down in front of the camera and just did a face. So I wanted to do just that. I have been lucky enough to receive some products from PR over the last couple of weeks that are really decent too. So how did I incorporate them? By doing a ‘makeup tutorial’ with some new in products, genius.

For the most part I used new products, I did have to throw in some oldies too, just because I didn’t have a full face of makeup to use. I’m not that popular 🙂 The new products are mostly from Catrice and Essence, as their new Spring\Summer ranges have just launched. There is loads more products to check out from the brands, I just have a cross section.

I also had some newbies from L’Oréal, including the Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation, which I am currently obsessed with, no lie! And the Maybelline Made For All Lippies. Oh and the new skinny brow pencil from IT Cosmetics.

For me, the star of the show is the Topshop Chameleon Eyeshadow in Evolve. This kind of defeats the purpose of the makeup tutorial because it’s not new. But they have reinvented their beauty range, so I’m using that as my excuse. I need to get my hands on more colours of these shadows.

I am no makeup artist, so the makeup definitely didn’t go to plan. There was a few hiccups along the way, and my winged liner left a lot to be desired. But we got there and I was fairly happy with the finished result.

Click on the video at the top of this post to see the ‘makeup tutorial’ unfold. Or you can click here to go directly to my YouTube channel. If you like it, don’t forget to subscribe while you’re there.

xxx

PR SAMPLES INCLUDED******

March 1, 2019/1 Comment/by Gem

Makeup

It Cosmetics CC Cream Oil Free Matte

Oh I jumped on the It Cosmetics bandwagon, I jumped on it hard 🙂 I just couldn’t bloody resist it. Good coverage and really high SPF! So many people had such awesome things to say about it, and the brand is in Arnotts now. It was a no brainer really.

I bided my time a little until the Oil Free Matte version came to our shores. I am generally oily, particularly in my t-zone. The older I get, the more dehydrated some of my skin is getting, but I still get a super oily nose, so I like oil free products.

So what is the Oil Free It Cosmetics CC Cream you may ask? Well I’ll let the brand do the specific explaining and then I’ll throw my two cents into the equation:

‘Created to improve the look of skin texture, this complexion-perfecting breakthrough provides long-wear coverage and camouflages skin imperfections including dark spots and discolouration without creasing or cracking. It’s also infused with charcoal, tea tree extract, colloidal clay and Moroccan lava clay—plus, oil-absorbing, minimising technology and an advanced anti-aging serum. You’ll see powerful results instantly and more dramatic results over time. Finally, a full-coverage CC cream that airbrushes the look of your pores while providing natural-looking matte complexion perfection that lasts!’

The other versions of the It Cosmetics CC Cream have broad spectrum SPF 50+. The oil free version is SPF 40+ which is still amazing! I love the packaging. It’s a tube with a pump, so you can squeeze every fairly expensive drop out of it.

It Cosmetics do recommend you apply this with a brush. And that’s what I was doing, like I would with a foundation for the first couple of weeks. I liked it at this point, the coverage and pigment was great and the longevity fairly decent, especially for something that has such high protection. However I did find, it clung to dry patches as it is matte, and it was hard to blend into my giant pores. I have the shade Fair Light.

Then, I brought it on holiday with me, and started wearing it as my SPF. One of the days I was just wanting to slap some on and used my fingers to blend it in. This was a bit of a revelation for me. It blended so much easier into my skin, it was easier to get it into all the nooks and crannies. Which makes complete sense I guess, since it is a CC Cream. It just performs like a really decent foundation.

Here it is in action on my skin in video form:

The coverage and staying power of this stuff is pretty overwhelming considering it’s good for your skin to boot. I need to get a sample of the original formula asap to see how that performs on my skin! I do get a bit of shine on my t-zone after a few hours, but I’ve yet to find anything to combat that. And a bit of blotting makes it disappear. The rest of my skin lasts really well though and I’ve found myself using less powder with this and can even skip setting spray if I fancy. Just be wary it is matte and it can cling to dryness. Once you aware of that, it does exactly what it says on the tin!

The It Cosmetics CC Cream Oil Free Matte is available now from Arnotts. It will set you back €39.

Have you tried it yet?

xxx

October 12, 2018/by Gem

Makeup, Youtube Video

Kat Von D Lock It Foundation Review

I thought I would chance doing a review in video form. I don’t do these very often just because I am more comfortable writing my thoughts than saying them out loud a lot of the time. It’s hard sometimes to show the coverage and finish of product in pictures though. So, here are my musings on the Kat Von D Lock It Foundation in all of their rambling glory 🙂

I’ve already done a post on the Lock It concealer here if you’re interested in my thoughts on that too.

I bought the concealer and brightening powder (and the Shade & Light Palette), when the counter first opened here in Dublin. I was lucky enough to meet up with the PR here a while back and they kindly sent me home with the Kat Von D Lock It foundation. They colour matched me to the shade 46 Cool. I wanted a cooler tone to counteract the redness in my skin. The shades come in warm and neutral tones too.

As I say in the video, this foundation does oxidise and darken a little. I probably could have done with a shade lighter. However coming into the warmer months, I should just get away with it.

Overall, I am a big fan of this foundation, if you are looking for full coverage with a demi matte finish on the skin. I think the longevity is really good too without it being too drying either. Click on the video above or here to see it in action properly.

You can buy the Kat Von D Lock It Foundation in store from bigger Debenhams stores or online here. Have you tried it yet? Or any of the other Kat Von D products on offer here? I need to get my hands on some of the new brow products pronto 🙂

xxx

*PR SAMPLE**

May 20, 2018/by Gem

Bargain Buying, Nails

Chrome Nails Do It Yourself

It’s been a long long time since I’ve spoken nails here on Beautynook. I believe my last post was here years ago chatting about smelly Revlon nail polishes! I’m too embarrassed to click on it. But if you want to have a look and cringe at my even worse photos, go right ahead 🙂 I’m breaking the fast and coming at you with a post about doing chrome nails. At home, yourself. No salon is required here…or UV lamp, don’t worry 🙂

To create your own chrome nails, you will need: A nail polish colour of your choice, a clear top coat of you choice. You can use your finger, but it can get a bit messy, so may I suggest you rescue a sponge applicator in an eyeshadow palette you might have lying around. Then, the main thing you need is the chrome powder.

I know loads of high street brands are jumping on board with these now, so you don’t have to get the specific one I am using. But it is from Essence and it is super affordable. And Essence is readily available here in Ireland, so it might be a good one to look out for. The one I have is called Metal Shock Nail Powder in ‘Mirror, mirror on the nail’.

I would suggest creating your chrome nails on a wipe clean surface, or on something you don’t mind getting sparkly. The powder is super fine and it can get messy.

Start with clean nails. I applied a clear base coat, just in case the polish stains mine. Completely optional though.

With your polish colour of choice, apply a layer to one hand. I did a couple of nails at a time, just so I could show the process, but doing all five in one go is fine.

Let the polish dry for a few minutes. Essence suggest 60 seconds. I find that a bit too soon personally. You end up moving the polish and making a mess. I left mine for about 3 or 4 minutes.

Dip you eyeshadow sponge lightly into the powder and then begin the process of gently rubbing it onto the nails, one at a time. Don’t press too hard, remember the polish underneath is still tacky.

As you rub the powder in, the magic happens. You get the chrome nails effect!

It works in the same way as if you were doing it on gel nails, you’re just not curing anything so it might not last as long. But, you get a very similar result right?

Finish the nails off with a clear top coat. To lock everything in place, but to also help with the shine. Essence do a polish specifically for this purpose, but you could just use one you already have.

You will have a bit of overspill of powder around the nail bed. Just let them dry and you can clean everything up with a cotton bud and some nail polish remover.

And there you have my do it yourself chrome nails! Cheap, easy and pretty effective, if I do say so myself 🙂

xxx

*PR SAMPLE

January 12, 2018/by Gem

Makeup

Too Faced Melted Latex Liquified High Shine Lipstick

Too Faced are just constantly bringing out new products. I only road tested some of their new releases here not too long ago. There is lots more coming from the brand in the near future too. I have here one of their latest releases, the Too Faced Melted Latex Liquified High Shine Lipsticks. Try saying that with a few jars on you 🙂

There are 16 shades within the Too Faced Melted Latex range. I have five of the more wearable colours to show you here. That was my doing completely. Some of the colours are super fun, but they would have been completely wasted on me.

$Too Faced Melted Latex$

These are completely new to me, so this definitely isn’t a review. It’s more of just a try on of the colours in blog post form, so you can see them too 🙂 Of course, from the name Too Faced Melted Latex, we know these are going to be super shiny!

First up we have “Hopeless Romantic”.

The second one I have is “Peekaboo”.

Third up is “Love U, Mean It”.

The fourth shade I have is “Safe Word”.

And then finally the fifth colour I have is “Rated R”.

First impressions of the Too Faced Melted Latex lippes are, the colours are super opaque and…shock horror, super shiny 🙂 They are quite thick and sticky in consistency and if you have any dry patches or wet residue on the lips, they don’t apply greatly over it. Make sure to prep your lips before application. I really like the applicator and the range of colours is great too! They smell fruity, but the scent isn’t majorly over powering. If you are looking for a high shine, full on colour liquid lipstick, these could definitely be for you.

You can find the new Too Faced Melted Latex Liquid Lipsticks online now here from Debenhams. They cost €23 each.

xxx

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

August 11, 2017/by Gem

Makeup

Kat Von D Lock It Concealer & Brightening Powder

I’ve been talking alot about Kat Von D of late, Since they’ve parked their bums in Debenhams, I want to try everything! I did a post on the Shade & Light Eye Contour Palette here too if you are interested. This post is all about the under eyes though. I am giving my thoughts on the Kat Von D Lock It Concealer and the Brightening Powder.

I picked up both products together a few weeks ago and have been using the pretty much consistently since.

There is a whole array of products in the Kat Von D Lock it line, ranging from face primer, to setting spray.

I’ll start out talking about the Lock It Concealer.

Off the bat, I love the packaging, specifically the doe foot applicator. It has a tear drop shape, so it works really nicely around the eye contours. I also love that it comes in an abundance of shade ranges, and they differentiate by tone too! So, you can get warm, neutral and cool.

I went with L5 Neutral, which is a really good match for me:

It has quite a thick consistency on the skin, but blends like a dream. It covers really nicely and brightens up the under eye area too. On me, it has yet to crease, flake or settle in any fine lines once I set it. I usually go in with a light (ish) layer, blend it in and then apply another dot to the darkest area of my under eyes.

Overall, I am a big fan of the Kat Von D Lock It Concealer. It gives me very similar vibes to the Clarins Instant Light which I am a huge fan of too! It costs €26 from Debenhams in store or online here.

Next up we have the Kat Von D Lock It Brightening Powder.

I bought this specifically to use over the concealer. I am sure if you wanted just a little brightens under the eyes without using a concealer, this could work too.

It comes in three shades, I picked up the lightest one ‘Petal’. It is a really finely milled loose powder with a peachy undertone.

With it being a loose powder and in a smaller container, it can get messy to use, I won’t lie. Saying that, it does a really lovely job at setting my concealer and really does help smooth out under the eyes, as well as adding extra brightness.

It feels like velvet on the skin and a little goes a really long way. It doesn’t leave your under eyes feeling tight or dry when you apply it. Again, this is another Kat Von D purchase I am glad I made. The Brightening Powder costs €24.50. You can buy from Debenhams in store or online here.

Now, I just need to get my hands on the Kat Von D Lock It primer, foundation and setting spray and I’ll be good to go :). Have you tried anything from the range?

xxx

April 26, 2017/1 Comment/by Gem

Posts

I always say, don’t judge me for calling this a ‘makeup tutorial’, so I just want to begin with that statement, because I am well aware of my lack of major skills in the makeup department. It’s just a blanket statement and we understand what it means 🙂 Ok now that’s out of the way….

Click on the video at the top of this post to see the ‘makeup tutorial’ unfold. Or you can click here to go directly to my YouTube channel. If you like it, don’t forget to subscribe while you’re there.

xxx

**************PR SAMPLES INCLUDED********************

The It Cosmetics CC Cream Oil Free Matte is available now from Arnotts. It will set you back €39.

Have you tried it yet?

xxx

You can buy the Kat Von D Lock It Foundation in store from bigger Debenhams stores or online here. Have you tried it yet? Or any of the other Kat Von D products on offer here? I need to get my hands on some of the new brow products pronto 🙂

xxx

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

xxx

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

You can find the new Too Faced Melted Latex Liquid Lipsticks online now here from Debenhams. They cost €23 each.

There is a whole array of products in the Kat Von D Lock it line, ranging from face primer, to setting spray.

I’ll start out talking about the Lock It Concealer.

Next up we have the Kat Von D Lock It Brightening Powder.

I bought this specifically to use over the concealer. I am sure if you wanted just a little brightens under the eyes without using a concealer, this could work too.

PR SAMPLES INCLUDED******

*PR SAMPLE**

*PR SAMPLE