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Ten Minute Makeup Look

Myself and John are on a little break away in Wexford. We’re in Duncannon and honestly it’s one of the prettiest places I have ever been in my life. The scenery is breathtaking! One of the days we thought we would head out for a bit of lunch and a wander so I thought I would turn the camera on and take you through my Ten Minute Makeup Look.

I would describe this as quick, simple ten minute makeup look with a bit of added extra effort. I didn’t want it to take too long, but I still wanted to look put together.

The products I used for my ten minute makeup look are as follows:

The Hyalmide HA Blur Prismatic Blurring Surface Hydrator. You can read more about this on their website here.

L’Oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation. I have a full review of this here.

Nyx Micro Brow Pencil. Full review here.

Freedom Brow Powder Duo. I spoke more about this here. I also talk about the Collection concealer in this post too.

The Soap & Glory Archery 2 in 1 Setting Gel. I did a post on this here.

theBalm Put A Lid On It eyeshadow primer. There’s a full blog post on this here.

Makeup Revolution, Ultra Contour Palette. I have a review of this here.

Makeup Geek Foiled Shadow in ‘In The Spotlight” and their shadow in ‘Brown Sugar’. You can see up close swatches of these here.

Colorpop Crème Gel Liner in ‘Stomper’. There’s swatches and more info on this here.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer. Click here if you want a full review on this.

Fairydrops Scandal Queen Waterproof Mascara. I have a full review and close ups of this in action here.

Mac Full Coverage Foundation. I have literally used this for years. it something I always repurchase. You can buy Mac from Brown Thomas.

Wet n Wild Dual Ended Contour Stick. I did a first impressions video not too long ago on this here.

L’Oreal Glam Bronze Cushion De Soleil. Full review here.

Ben Nye Cameo Powder. There’s a full review and more info on this here.

The Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette is really new to me. I have swatches in this post here if it tickles your fancy 🙂

And then finally the Barry M Matte Me Up Lip Crayon in number 3. I did a post about a couple of these a while back here.

There you have it, my ten minute makeup look from our little home away from home 🙂

If there’s anything else you want to know about, just ask. If you fancy watching this video directly on my Youtube channel you can just click here too 🙂

As always thanks for watching and reading. It makes all of the effort worth while.

Gemma

xxx

August 23, 2016/by Gem

Makeup

YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Waterproof Mascara

I am a big fan of ‘drugstore’ more affordable mascaras. As you know if you’ve been around these parts before, I am a waterproof mascara junkie. It’s been a while since I had tried a high end one so I traipsed into Brown Thomas a few weeks ago, had a look around, asked you lovely people on Snapchat what I should get and left with the YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Waterproof mascara.

May I add the girl on the counter was super lovely and friendly which made the experience so much nicer. I love going to Boots and picking up bargains, but I do also love splurging every now and again on more luxurious items. As Tom Haverford and Donna from Parks and Recreation would say “Treat yo’self’ and that I did with the YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Waterproof Mascara 🙂

I have to be honest I kind of hoped I wasn’t going to really like it, because it means if it runs out I am going to want to buy one again. Alas, it was love at first use, damn you YSL!

The packaging alone is pretty glorious, right? They definitely get brownie points for that.

The formula of the YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Waterproof is wet but still very build-able without clumping together on your lashes. It has quite a thin tapered bristled wand that is great for really getting into the roots of your lashes.

The reason I always go for waterproof is because I have really straight lashes and waterproof formulas seem to hold a curl better throughout the day for me. I also have oily eye lids and normal formulas can sometimes transfer and make a mess.Since getting this mascara I have always used a eyelash curler before application, just to give my lashes an extra bit of oomph, for the purpose of this post I didn’t though and I was actually quite happy with how my lashes turned out regardless. For me and my crap eyelashes, there’s volume, there’s length and there’s a bit of curl too!

Here’s my lashes before application.

Then here is my upper lashes on one eye with a couple of coats of the YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils.

I even use this mascara on my bottom lashes too, as the wand it not too big and the formula doesn’t flake or transfer. This means I don’t have to necessarily buy a separate tubing mascara from my bottom lashes which I normally do. That’s penny pinching right there 🙂

Here’s the before and after on each of my eyes.

And then here’s the YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils applied to both eyes.

I do still prefer giving my eyelashes a quick curl with the eyelash curlers because I want maximum lash.

But if I forgot to do it or didn’t bring an eyelash curlers away with me, I wouldn’t be in panic mode as I have been in the past 🙂

I bloomin’ love this mascara, it’s pricey for sure, but it really ticks all the boxes for me. I may not use it exclusively forever because I do like to try new products, (it’s what I do ha), but if I HAD too, I wouldn’t be too unhappy about it at all.

You can pick up the YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Waterproof mascara from Boots instore or online here and from Brown Thomas instore. It costs 32.50.

What do you think, would you splurge? Let me know what you’re favourite mascara is?

xxx

April 22, 2016/2 Comments/by Gem

Makeup

Benefit Porefessional License to Blot

I’ve had the Benefit Porefessional License To Blot for a long time now.

It’s something I actually pick up quite a lot and just forgot to ever talk about it. It an unusual little product.

Its looks a bit like a pritt stick for your face 🙂 When it comes to comes to marketing and packaging the Benefit team are some of the best in the business, they really are and the Benefit Porefessional License To Blot is a really innovative little product.

According to Benefit: ‘This instant oil-blotting stick with tiny invisible blotting spheres mattifies shine for up to six hours after application. The specially designed triangular tip targets shiny zones: the sides of your nose, forehead and chin. Oil has finally met its matte!

The Benefit Porefessional License To Blot is pretty much designed to throw into your handbag for blotting on the go. It comes in a retractable tube and the product itself is in a triangular shape so it can get around the contours of your face.

The product itself has like a balm texture to it, it’s colourless, so would work on any skin tone. It does have a scent to it, but it’s really very slight.

So does it work?

It definitely blots off any excess oil you might have creeping through your foundation. It also softens the look of any pores that might come through aswell. You should really use a light hand with it and pat it onto the skin as Benefit encourage you to, as it can leave a silicone like film over the top of your makeup. It doesn’t however promote caking like adding powder might do. The fact that you’re applying the product from the tube can get a little grubby as you’re left with makeup marks on it after use, so you have to be sure to clean as you go. I can’t say that it keeps the skin matte for six extra hours, not on my skin anyways, but I would say at least half that time for sure.

I sometimes use the Benefit Porefessional License To Blot in a way it’s not intended too also. Because it works for minimising the look of pores and it is good for blotting, I’ll use it in conjunction with whatever primer I have on the go in my real problem areas on my T-zone before applying foundation (and even sometimes after foundation, if my skin is really acting up).

Overall I really like the Benefit Porefessional License To Blot. It has its flaws but overall does what its supposed to do and may I add at €21.50, it’s cheaper that the primer, but kind of does the same job 🙂 You can pick it up from Debenhams here

xxx

April 15, 2016/2 Comments/by Gem

Makeup Tools, Makeup Tutorial

Simple Makeup For When You’re Ill

I have a full blown cold, like most of the people in Ireland at the minute, right? Lovely start to the year 🙂 Life goes on though and we have to suffer through. This is my go to simple makeup for when I’m feeling a little under the weather. Let me blow my nose one last time and we’ll begin…

I have oily skin so I wouldn’t be adding radiance to my face on a regular basis, but when I am under the weather my skin does tend to dry up a little more so I can weirdly take advantage.

I added a good amount of the Botanics Radiance Balm onto cleansed skin (I have a full review of this stuff here, we all need it in our lives).

For some lip hydration I applied some of the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, literally can’t be without this. I apply it every night before bed, and when I have a cold it goes under my nose too helping with the extra dryness.

I still have to prime, so I did and then it’s foundation time, thank god! I used a damp Beauty Blender to apply a thin layer to my skin.

I think the sponge feels more kinder to your skin when you’re feeling a little rough.

I used it for concealer too.

I applied some waterproof concealer around my nose, just a light layer, it’s going to diminish pretty quickly with all the nose blowing, but if you set it with powder you’ll get a little time out of it 🙂

For the actual makeup look, I think the softer the better.

I filled in my eyebrows.

I used a skin colour eyeshadow primer to conceal any redness on my lids.

To brighten up the eyes I applied a light gold cream shadow stick all over the eyelid.

Over the top I applied a similar coloured shimmery shadow.

To add a little definition, I added a matte taupe shadow lightly into my crease.

I applied a a light shimmery shade to the brow bone.

Lastly, I added a really small amount of the taupe shade on the lower lash line too.

I needed a touch more concealer under the eyes then…those bags ain’t Chanel 🙂

To brighten up the eyes more I applied some skin coloured eye liner to the waterline. This is a great step to tackle any redness and make you look more awake.

Curl the bejesus out of your eyelashes. I know it’s simple makeup, but I never neglect the lashes.

Then, lots of mascara on the top lashes. I opt out of mascara on the bottom ones because lots of watery eye shenanigans happen and of course the compulsory sneezing…it’s not worth it even the waterproof kind.

Bronzer is a nice addition, to warm up the complexion a smidgen. There’ll be no contouring today though 🙂

I added some peachy blush rather than pink, as I already have enough pinky flush going on.

I applied some light setting powder all over the face, nothing to heavy. There’ll be alot of face touching throughout the day, no point caking it on. You can always re apply.

I couldn’t resist a little highlighter, but it’s not necessary whatsoever. A little in the inner corner of the eye always helps I think though 🙂

To finish off this simple makeup look I just applied some glossy balm to the lips.

And we’re done!

I didn’t go into depth with the products I used, because I think they’re all stuff you already have lying around or that you use everyday. This is definitely not a glam face of makeup, it’s more of a I want to look human and survive the day makeup!

If you’ve been hit with the January plague like myself, feel better soon 🙂

xxx

January 6, 2016/4 Comments/by Gem