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Yep, we can all panic. It’s September favourites time. How did that even happen?

 top irish beauty bloggerI am in disbelief that it’s October! The C word is just creeping up on us…..fast!

 My September favourites are much like any other month. They are a mixed bag of things that I feel I have been reaching for alot over the past four weeks. This month definitely had a bit of a skincare theme. It’s probably the change in the seasons that has me more conscious, unconsciously 🙂

September Favourites 2017

Of course there is some makeup in there too, that can’t not happen. Makeup stages are my thing. I will wear something religiously for weeks and then completely forget about it. Yes, I am fickle. It doesn’t mean I don’t still love something. It just means my obsession changes focus because I have a short attention span 🙂

September Favourites 2017

My September favourites include:
  • The Bioderma Micellar Water limited edition pump bottle €16 from Cloud10beauty here.
  • A couple of products from Shiseido’s new Waso range . I can only find the full range online from Harvey Nichols here. It is a more affordable range from the brand. You can see the synopsis and ingredients of all the products on the Shiseido website here.
  • Pure Potions Skin Salvation Bath And Body Oil. This range is available in store from Holland and Barrett. I found the oil directly on the brands website here too.
  • Mac Syrup Lipstick. I did a post on this a little while ago here.
  • Stila Magnificent Metal in Rose Gold Retro. I used this in my go to rose gold makeup look here.
  • The Elf Shimmer Highlighting Powder. You can see this swatched here.
  • And the finally my gold mini Casio watch. John bought me this years ago from Asos. They don’t have it anymore. I found it for the cheapest price in Ireland here from Argos if you want to check it out.
  • September Favourites 2017
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And that’s September summed in product from 🙂 Hope you had a lovely month. You can watch the video where I waffle about the products by clicking above, or click here to watch it directly on YouTube.

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Thanks, as always.

Gemma xxx

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

 

top irish beauty blogger

It’s been a minute since I did a makeup look on my YouTube channel. I always call them looks rather than tutorials. I feel like the word tutorial is more professional, and I am definitely not that. In makeup or video form 🙂 I created this rose gold sparkle eye makeup look a couple of weeks ago and snapped an Instagram of it.

Rose Gold Sparkle Eye Makeup Look

I was super happy with how it turned out and I got some good interaction on social media from it. So, I thought I would recreate it in video form. To show you what I used, how I did it. And, just how simple it was.

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The main components of this rose gold sparkle makeup look is my beloved Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette. I am so sorry, I have literally not shut up about this palette, I know. But I have just been enjoying using it so bloody much. And, I have to stay true to what I used on the day, right? I have a review of it here, so I won’t bore you with the details.

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The glitter came in the form of the Stila Magnificent Metals Eyeshadow in Rose Gold Retro. I have a post on this here too. I find although this is a cream eyeshadow, I do get fall out. So I used the NYX Glitter Primer underneath. I picked this up in Boots here. Of course any sort of adhesive base would do the job.

These along with the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil in Torch were the main products I used to create the eye look. I got this from Debenhams, but it’s actually cheaper from Feel Unique here.

I also mentioned my lip combo in my Insta post, so I recreated that too. It’s a very ‘me’ combo. Rimmel Eastend Snob lip liner all over the lips, with Mac Syrup lippie over top. Mauve and neutral. My go too lip colour for the past few months.

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I totally got bored taking photos of myself 🙂

Obviously you can see create the rose gold glitter makeup look over on my YouTube channel here. Or you can just click on the video above to watch also.

Be sure to let me know what you think!

Thanks for tuning in, as always.

Gemma

xxx

The Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows are a tongue twister first of all. I swear I keep having to check the name on the box to make sure I am writing it correctly!

Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow

Second of all, the Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows are something I have been really excited about launching here for a long time. There are so many releases in the makeup world that if you are immersed in it, you can tend to take them for granted a little.

Stila Magnificent Metals

After seeing a lot of the big American YouTubers playing with these though, I was in awe of just how pretty they were!

I own two of the Stila Magnificent Metals cream shadows now. I thought that was enough to give you a somewhat rounded view on them as they aren’t cheap 🙂 The Magnificent Metals started out in the Stila family as as actual eyeshadow that you activate with a solution to get a foiled effect.

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The next generation of these are what we have here. They are basically a shimmery cream eyeshadow laced with glitter. There are eight shades in the collection for sale right now to us. I know there are more coming though. The two shades I own I’ll admit are quite similar, but I wanted to get colours I would actually wear.

Stil glitter and glow

The first one I bought is probably the most wanted shade, ‘Kitten Karma’.

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‘Kitten’ is Stila’s most sold eyeshadow shade, so it made sense to make it into a Magnificent Metal cream shadow too. I would deem this as a taupe golden shade with golden sparkle.

My most recent purchase from the range was ‘Rose Gold Retro’.

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As the name would suggest, this is rose gold cream eyeshadow laced with golden glitter.

For me (and I only own two of them) there is definitely formula differences. From reading reviews online, this isn’t old news either. Out of the two I own, ‘Kitten Karma’ applies better and the glitter within the cream eyeshadow adheres to the eyelid more. There is definitely more sparkle within it too ‘Rose Gold Retro’ tends to have more fall out of glitter after the shadow sets, although the cream shadow itself is thicker and more pigmented. They do both set on the lids and are smooth to the touch on application. There’s no grit and they wear really well. I find them easy too apply and spread out on the lid aswell. I tend to take the product from the wand onto my finger and pat them onto the lid. That seems to be the best way they work for me.

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Overall, the Stila Magnificent Metal Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows are really pretty. It’s an easier way to add a pop of glitter to a look without having to work with loose pigments or glitter. There is inconsistencies in the formulas though and some colours are definitely better then others.

‘Kitten Karma’ seems to be hardest shade to come by. I got it directly from the Stila UK website here. ‘Rose Gold Retro’, I bought online here from Beauty Bay, which worked out cheaper as they do free shipping.

What are your thoughts on them? Have you picked up any?

xxx

Yep it’s happening, it’s January Favourites time!

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I am panicking a bit, not going to lie. We are properly into the second month of 2017, eeeekk! But in blog/vlog world that gives us an excuse to recap and look over the month and pick out some of our most used bits and bobs. I do this in video form now, but I do like to still do a blog post too.

My January Favourites for 2017 consist of a couple of fashion bits, a skincare item and of course my one true love, some makeup as well.

January Favourites

I have a bit of disclaimer, I filmed this feeling a little bit under the weather. I have the cold that so many people have at the minute that just won’t go away. So it’s a bit of rambley video, hope that’s OK ha. I am a bit zonked on cold medication 🙂

The products mentioned are:

  • A Zara bag pack, that is gone from the website now, I apologise if you liked the look of it.
  • Coverse Hi Top runners. You can get these in so many places, but I’ll put a link to them on the Schuh website here if you want a closer look.
  • Asos watch: I can’t find a to the exact one, but they have lots of similar (and actually some nicer ones) here.
  • Cailyn Dissolv’It Makeup Melt Cleansing Balm. I got given this at an event, but it retails for €25 from their website here.
  • Isa Dora Matt Fixing Powder. I got this as a press sample. But, I found it on the Feel Unique website here for €17.86.
  • Zoeva Blanc Fusion Palette. I have a review and info on all of the palettes within the Plaisir Box here.
  • Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liners. You can pick these up in Boots in store or online here. They are €5.49
  • And then finally Mac Extended Play Mascara. I have a whole blog post about this here.

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And that is all of my January Favourites. You can watch the video by clicking on it above or going to my YouTube channel here. Have you any stand out products from the month?

xxx

 

 

Beautynook Top 5 Mac Lipsticks

I could probably make a list like this at least once a year. I know Mac lippies are a bit expensive and other more afforable brands do brilliant alternatives that I have and love, but Mac lipsticks were the first ‘higher end’ makeup I ever owned. I love going into Mac full stop, but coming home with a sleek black bullet full of colour just gets me so excited and less face it they do great lipsticks. You can pick them up in Brown Thomas or in some BT2 and they are priced at 19.50 euro.

So I wanted to compile my top 5 for you. I thought 5 was a manageable number and I could get a good range of colours and finishes into the list, in case you are a Mac newbie or you are just looking for a new one to add to your collection 🙂 I will disclaim and say I am not really a nude lip gal. I have a couple of more nude options in my Mac collection like ‘Lovelorn’ and ‘Myth’ but they don’t really get a whole load of love. I wanted to be honest with my picks, so if you only wear nude lippies…I’m sorry 🙁

First up, I have probably the most wearable out of my 5 picks.

Mac Plumful

This is ‘Plumful’. This is a lustre finish lipstick. You can see from the bullet this is well loved by me.

Mac Plumful

It is a modest berry colour, that I think would suit a multitude of people. It has a lovely sheen to it with it being a lustre, so gloss does not have to be added if you like a glossy finish. It goes with any kind of makeup look and is so easy to wear, you can slap this on on the way out the door and you don’t need to worry about it. It last reasonably well too and will leave a hint of a stain behind when it starts to wear.

Next up I have Plumful’s more intense cousin 🙂

Mac Rebel

This is Rebel and this is a Satin finish lipstick.

mac Rebel

I have blabbed about Rebel a good bit since I have added it to my collection. It’s a medium to dark berry toned shade depending on how intensely you apply it and is cool toned. With it being a Satin finish, it is not completely matte, it has a subtle shine to it which makes it comfortable to wear. I love Rebel for a dramatic night out with minimal makeup, it really makes a statement. If you like a dark lip Rebel is a good option to have in my opinion, I get alot of wear out of it. Again, it lasts really well and is easy to touch up throughout the night or day as the Satin formula doesn’t cling too much to the lips.

‘Girl About Town’ is one of my favourite lipsticks ever ever ever.

Mac Girl About Town

Growing up, I had crap teeth, so in my teens and early 20’s I didn’t experiment with lipstick alot because I didn’t want to bring attention to them. A few years ago I got Invisalign (best thing I ever did). After a few months my teeth were straight and my lipsticks stash started to grow and grow. Girl About Town was one of the first intense colours I ever bought and will always hold a special place in my heart.

It is an Amplified finish.

Mac Girl About Town

This means it packs a bold punch, a little goes a long way. It is a fuschia pink with blue undertones, hello whiter teeth! Although it is nearly a matte formula when on, it’s a creamy lipstick and glides onto the lips really well. I love this shade, it makes you look brighter whatever your skin tone. If you don’t have it, swatch it the next time you are in Mac, it is really worth the look.

 

The last two on this Mac lipstick journey are matte formula lipsticks.

First up is ‘Lady Danger’.

Mac Lady Danger

Lady Danger is one of the coolest lipsticks I own ever, full stop!

Mac Lady Danger

It is bold, it is rich, it is orangey red and it has warm undertones, so not for the faint hearted. I think it is alot more orange than red, but I suppose it depends on who is wearing it that determines that. On me (Mac NC20) it is more orange. Lady Danger lasts a really long time on the lips. Although it’s matte its not the most drying lipstick I have ever used, it doesn’t cling too badly if your lips are not in tip top condition. Not for everyone I know, but I just love it 🙂

 

My last choice is a no brainer. Mac do red lipsticks and they do them well, so one had to creep it’s way into my top 5.

Mac Riri Woo

This is their Retro-Matte lipstick in ‘Riri Woo’.

Mac Riri Woo

This is the red that they collaborated with Rihanna on, but ‘Ruby Woo’ from the permanent collection is pretty much the same when applied, the packaging just pulled me in on this one.

Riri Woo is the perfect cool toned matte red lipstick. It is pigmented beyond belief but it is one of the most drying lipsicks you will ever use. You need to be prepared for that. It lasts for ages too and will stain the lips as it wears but if your lips begin to dry or flake you will feel it and notice it and it won’t be pretty, so you do have to keep an eye on your lips throughout the day or night. It is best applied with a lip brush for precise application as it can drag the lips a bit.

I sound a bit negative saying all of that, but it is so worth it for the lip colour you get in return, just prepare in advance for it!

There you have it. My top 5 Mac lipsticks. I am always in the market for more favourites, so be sure to tell me yours.

xxx