winter Archives - Irish Beauty Blog Beautynook

Glitter Winged Liner

Three scary words I know. Glitter winged liner. Don’t worry. They’re scary to me too. I’m no professional 🙂

Winged liner for me, does not come easy. I really have to work hard for that flick. I overthink it and my left eye just doesn’t like to be bullied into doing anything it doesn’t want to do. My little trick, that I 100% did not invent does help ALOT though. I did it here on camera for the first time yonks ago and always resort to it when I want a feline flick. That video is from two years ago. I like to feel like I have come on leaps and bounds personally and makeup-ly since then 🙂

When I’m feeling a bit bleh, makeup really helps me get out of my head. So the other day I started playing with liner. I created a glitter liner look and got so many questions on it. Perfect for me, it meant I could do it in video form and hopefully some of you lovely people would watch.

This time around I got fancier and added a glitter winged liner and a bold lip to boot. I reckon this look would be great for now and as we creep into the festive season. Yep we’re nearly there. Meer weeks to go!

And yes, I am obviously am quite proud of this makeup, considering how narcissistic this blogpost is with just photos of my face. I am sometimes happy with my work 🙂 The star of this show is the glitter, of course. It’s the infamous Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner in ‘Midnight Cowboy’. This had been on my lust list for ages. Finally, I gave in and picked it up. There is so many more affordable alternatives out there though, so don’t be deterred.

The lippie is the darkest shade from the Bourjois Rouge Velvets that I own. They are a bloody gorgeous formula. And that’s pretty much it! Everything else is in the video above or you can click here. Let me know what you think 🙂

Gemma

xxx

October 26, 2018/by Gem

Fashion, Youtube Video

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

Haul, Youtube Video

Zara Duty Free And Random Haul!

This has been a bit of a funny week for me. If you follow me on Snapchat, you’ll probably already know. And, I touch on it a bit in the video aswell. Last week was lovely, we spent it in Spain (Almuñecar to be exact), for our lovely friend Ella’s birthday. I had bought some stuff in duty free on the way back and the plan was just to give you a nose on Snapchat. But something pretty shitty happened this week and my brain hasn’t really let me get back to normality…yet. It will though 🙂 So, I thought I would combine a few bits that I have bought in town, some Zara bits and the duty free products and show them in a haul.

Hauls are fun to film, and hopefully fun for you to watch aswell. This was a good compromise for me. It meant I could just sit in front of the camera and ramble about the goodies I have picked up, and it gives me blog content too. I actually ordered some of the Zara things while I was still in Spain, online. I thought they would be a nice little treat to come home too 🙂 Then, we had prolonged our holidays for a little bit longer by spending the day after we came back, in town, doing some shopping.

I only did a haul here before I went away. So if you want to see more shopping you can watch that too!

What I can link I will, in case anything takes your fancy:

Zara online purchases.

Pom Pom Sweatshirt. Link here.
Two Tone Sweatshirt. Link here.
Mini velvet embroidered backpack. Link here.

Duty Free purchases. I bought these in Malaga airport, but they pretty much cost the same as they do here:

Esteè Lauder Doublewear Nude Foundation. Link here.
Lancôme Matte Shaker Liquid Lipstick in the shade…Link here.
L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil. Link here.

Clinique Beyond Perfecting 2 in 1 Foundation. I wanted to get this in the airport but they were out of stock of my shade Alabaster. So I treated myself to it in store from Arnotts. They have it online here.

And yes I bought a third foundation for good measure. The new Rimmel Lasting Perfection Breathable foundation. I picked this in from Boots here. The brand was on buy one get one half off, so I got their Insta Fix & Matte Powder because my lovely friend Sue (itscherrysure) raves about it.

The rest of the things are from Penneys so I can’t link them, but they are in store now. To watch the video in full, click on it above or head to my YouTube channel directly here.

Thank you so much to everyone for your lovely messages on Snapchat and for taking the time out to talk to me. I really appreciate it.

Gemma.

xxx

October 13, 2017/by Gem

Fragrance

Jo Malone Basil & Neroli

This will be my first attempt at reviewing fragrance here on Beautynook. I have always shied away from it, because I don’t think my way of writing is eloquent enough. But, I adore fragrances. I remember everything by smell, so I thought it was time I stepped out of my blogging comfort zone and just did it. Here are my thoughts on the Jo Malone Basil & Neroli Cologne 🙂

I have had a few Jo Malone fragrances in my life. My favourite so far is probably their Wood Sage & Sea Salt. The fragrance doesn’t linger on me unfortunately, but it smells incredible. I was lucky enough to be gifted the Basil & Neroli very kindly by The Loop a while back now, so it wasn’t a scent I decided upon myself.

And actually I am one of the few people in the world who doesn’t enjoy the scent of the Tom Ford Neroli Portofino, so I am so surprised by how much I am enjoying owning this cologne.

According to the Jo Malone website here, Basil & Neroli’s heart note is Neroli which comes from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree, hence the citrus zing you get from it. The base note is white musk, which obviously provides the muskiness and then the top note is Basil which plays in with the citrus, while also giving a peppery element to it too.

Fragrance smell different on everyone, it depends on your pH balance. On me, the Jo Malone Basil & Neroli dies down to a sweet zesty scent with a hint of musk. It’s a scent I think I would equate more with the colder months. I wear it more as a daytime scent personally and I find it lingers really well on my skin without being over powering.

It’s a unisex cologne which I can totally get on board with. I think the mixture of sweet and musk can work perfectly for both men and women. Although of course, it is completely up to you what fragrance you wear 🙂

You can pick it up in different sizes from The Loop directly if you’re traveling or you can do click and collect here. It’s obviously a little cheaper to shop duty free (€87.20). Of course can get it in Brown Thomas on counter, or from the website here. The 100ml will set you back €109. It will also be a permanent fixture from them too!

Jo Malone Basil & Neroli launched this past September. It is the first cologne from the brand in 20 years that has basil as the top note. Lime Basil & Mandarin was the last! I thought that was a good tit bit of information to add in, to end this post 🙂

Have you tried it?

xxx

***sample***

December 18, 2016/by Gem

Makeup

L’Oréal True Match Foundation

I have been declaring alot of love for L’Oréal makeup products of late. My ride or die affordable foundation has to be their Infallible 24 HR Matte ( I have a full review of it here). A while ago they did a huge new campaign for their cult classic the L’Oréal True Match Foundation. The shade range has grown and they have reformulated it. It claims to be more luminous, while still being long lasting on the skin.

I hadn’t used it since I was probably a teenager, but when the new campaign came out, I thought it was time to give the new formula a test run. So, here are my thoughts on the new L’Oréal True Match Foundation.

It comes in a 30ml glass bottle with a nifty pump which I always appreciate. It just takes the thinking out of dispensing. I’m usually a pump and a half kind of gal.

The Irish Boots website currently has 23 shades in stock to choose from. They cover light to dark skin tones but also undertones too which I think is brilliant. I am pale with a pink undertone so I went with the shade 1.R/1.C Rose Ivory. It matches me really well.

The formula is quite light and loose. It is really easy to blend and I enjoy using a brush or a damp sponge to apply it. Depending on your application, you can sheer it out or build it up. You can get decent coverage out of it though.

Here it is in action on my spot prone and red skin.

You can see it definitely evens out my skin tone, and helps make my active breakouts a bit less scary looking 🙂

Although it has a medium, build-able coverage, it doesn’t mask the skin. It has what I would call a satin finish on me anyways rather than luminous as it states. But, I do usually use a mattifying primer underneath. If you used a more illuminating primer or if you don’t need one at all, you might get a bit more of a glow from it. For me, It isn’t the most long lasting foundation. The Infallible 24 HR Matte is definitely better from that perspective. But it isn’t formulated for oily skin specifically and I can get a few hours out of it before the shine begins to come through so, I am completely ok with that.

I think it is one of those elusive foundations that does work for the most skin types. I can definitely say I am a fan. It has been great for me over these colder months especially. My skin tends to be a little dryer and generally more unhappy in Winter. This glides over the unhappy parts. It doesn’t cling to dry patches and it still manages to balance the look of imperfections. If I want it to be a bit more long lasting I mix it with the Infallible 24 HR and they actually work really well together.

You can get the L’Oréal True Match Foundation instore or online from Boots here and it will set you back €14.99.

Are you a fan?

xxx

November 27, 2016/by Gem

Haul, Makeup

Bourjois Haul First Impressions

So, as you might have seen in my last post here. I hauled some Bourjois products in Boots. They are currently doing 3 for 2 and I took full advantage 🙂

I love the Bourjois brand overall, but some products for me can be hit or miss. However, their Rouge Edition Velvet matte liquid lipsticks are probably one of my ride or die matte lip formulas. And for some reason, I have never done a proper review of them. Since I bought two shades last week (as well as a new mascara), I thought I would show you the colours as well as the formula in action. And, give you my first impressions of their new Volume Reveal mascara in waterproof. I have seen alot of good things about this mascara online so I thought I would add my thoughts into the mix.

The two shades of the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets I picked up are:

08 Grand Cru which I thought was more of a deep matte red off the bat. It comes off as a brighter red on the lips though.

Then we have 14 Plum Plum Girl which is a matte plum shade.

I will say although both of these dry down to a matte finish, the formula itself doesn’t dry down completely unless you wait for every layer to dry completely. I do love the texture and the finish of them though. They last well and fade leaving a stain behind. The colour range is great too. The Rouge Edition Velvets retail for €12.99. You can get them in store or online from Boots here.

My other purchase was of course the Volume Reveal Waterproof Mascara.

It comes with a x3 zoom mirror on the side of the tube. Not sure if I would get much use of it. But you never know 🙂

It has a quite a large plastic spooley.

The formula itself is thick and dries very quickly. You can layer it but you have to work fast. It definitely does give plenty of volume to the lashes though.

Not as much curl as I would usually like, but it is more of a voluminous formula. And it’s fair to say it does what it says on the tin 🙂

The Volume reveal comes in non waterproof and waterproof and retails for €13.99 again in Boots in store or online here.

And that’s my 3 for 2 Bourjois haul done! Let me know if you like this type of show and tell. I would love your feedback 🙂

xxx

November 21, 2016/by Gem

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