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EX1 Cosmetics First Impressions

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.

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 🙂

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.

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!

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.

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

December 21, 2018/by Gem

Bargain Buying, Makeup

Obsession X Belle Jorden Eyeshadow Palette

I 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.

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.

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.

From left to right we have:

Starlight, Glow Baby, Pops, Bear.

Sagittarius, Sassy, Hot Sauce, Queen.

1706, Mama’s Girl, Magic, So Cute.

Miami, 13, A.F, Lola.

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

December 18, 2018/by Gem

Treatment

Getting a lash lift. My Experience

I 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 :)

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.

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.

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.

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 🙂

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

December 14, 2018/2 Comments/by Gem

Makeup Tutorial, Youtube Video

Gold Smokey Eye Makeup Tutorial GRWM

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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*****

December 11, 2018/by Gem

Makeup

BPerfect Sub Zero Highlight Collection

So this is definitely more of a show and tell than a review, just as a disclosure. I received the new BPerfect Sub Zero Highlight Collection in collaboration with MMMMitchell last week in PR and I wanted to show it off a bit 🙂

I have the other BPerfect collaboration palettes in my possession too, but I feel like I got my hands on them too late to dedicate a full post. You can check out the Carnival Palette here in action though if you’re curious.

Right, I have to completely come clean. Although I love Instagram and watch a lot of YouTube in my spare time, MMMMitchell was not on my radar. I’m more of an Instagram granny I think, and my makeup style is more wearable and everyday. He is the typical Instagram makeup king!

And he is known for his glow hence this BPerfect Sub Zero Highlight Collection collaboration.

This is a seven shade highlighting palette. With six pressed powder highlighters and one that they call a ‘topper’ that you’re meant to be able to use over all six shades to help them pop.

From left to right we have:

MMMM A Pearly white shimmer.
Made It A Champagne shimmer.
Lifestyle A Golden shimmer.
OTT A Bronzed gold topper.
In Blankets A Soft beige shimmer.
Baebly A Rose gold shimmer.
Bodi-Odi-Odi A Bronze shimmer.

Like their other two collaborative palettes the BPerfect Sub Zero Highlight Collection is super pigmented and the powder are soft and easy to blend. Ok, there’s my mini review 🙂

Are all shades going to work for everybody? I don’t really think so, but that’s what you get with a highlighting palette. However I will say, the shades that might not work as highlighter for your skin tone will make for lovely eyeshadows. That’s how I’ve been trying out the darker shades. On me, I feel like the shade ‘Baebly’ works best as a highlighter with ‘Made It’ a close second.

The BPerfect Sub Zero Highlight Collection Palette is available from stockists now and retails for €37. Have you tried it yet? Do you have your eye on it? Let me know.

*PR SAMPLE***

December 3, 2018/by Gem

Makeup

Mac Whirl Lipstick and Lip Liner

I’ve had Mac Whirl lipstick for a while now. And I’ve had the liner forever, literally. And I never thought to do a blogpost on them. Silly me! Well I am rectifying this now for the archives and just in case any of you want to see them in action 🙂

There was a lot of hype around Mac Whirl lipstick launching after the success of the liner. I get so much use out of the lip liner. It’s great on it’s own, under similar shade lippies, not so similar shades and even gloss. It just works. It’s that typical 90’s flat brown shade.

I feel like it has a hint of blue in it because like any more blue toned red, it definitely makes your teeth look more white and bright, score!

The Mac Whirl lipstick itself is a matte formula. Mac Cosmetics do a great creamy matte formula, they apply smoothly and last well. But generally with any matte lippie, your lips need to be in tip top condition before application and it can cause dryness as you wear it throughout the day and night.

It’s weird because I don’t find the lip liner shade intimidating, but the lipstick is of course more opaque, so I do find it’s a bit of a statement to wear. Of course, this thought process is in the eye of the beholder, and the person wearing the lipstick.

Overall I am a fan of both Mac Whirl lipstick and the lip liner, but I do find myself reaching for the lip liner more day to day. Now Mac , if you’re reading this, if you could make a Soar lipstick too, that would be great. I love a brown lip but I am also partial to a mauve lip too 🙂

What’s your favourite Mac lipstick?

xxx

November 28, 2018/2 Comments/by Gem

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