Sunday 25 February 2018

Crumlin Road Gaol: Four Hour Paranormal Investigation

I love the paranormal; I watch it on TV, read books about it, and love hearing stories from people who have experienced spooky goings on. I find it so interesting to think that perhaps us humans aren't alone, and I feel like it would be very naive of us to think that we are.

You can imagine my excitement when I was told I would be going to Crumlin Gaol, an old jail steeped in history situated just outside Belfast city centre. This wasn't just any tour, it was a four hour paranormal investigation with GSI (Ghost Searchers Ireland), a team of professional ghost hunters armed with all the hi-tech equipment needed to make contact with the other side.


As we pulled up outside the jail, I noticed how creepy the courthouse, which sits directly opposite the jail, looked. Apparently it's pretty much just a shell now, however there are plans to convert it into a hotel in the future.

The courthouse opposite the jail

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Friday 23 February 2018

P. Louise Base: Do You Really Need It?

I wear eyeshadow pretty much every single day of my life, whether it be three different shades or just a quick, simple smokey eye. Sometimes I don't have a lot of time to spend on my make up, so it's important the eyeshadow base maximises colour payoff, and helps me blend quickly and easily.

Up until now, I used Too Faced Shadow Insurance religiously. I have been through countless tubes, and to be fair, it prevented creasing and kept my eyeshadow in place. However, I purchased the new P. Louise Base and now I am thinking that maybe the Shadow Insurance isn't the be all and end all.


This is a 15ml tube in a light skin tone shade, and upon applying it to my eyelids I noticed how it's so much thicker and more opaque than the Too Faced offering. The Shadow Insurance has little to no coverage, it just gives the shadow something to stick to. P. Louise Base evens out skintone, and preps the eye space ready for eyeshadow application. You can also use it to carve out your brows, as it's full coverage means it can conceal any unwanted brow hair, giving you a flawless finish.

In the photo below you can see how the colour payoff compares with an Inglot shadow over both primers. The top is Too Faced Shadow Insurance, which you can see is slightly more patchy and less intense compared to the bottom swatch of the P. Louise Base. 

Top: Too Faced. Bottom: P.Louise Base
In terms of maximising colour payoff, this P. Louise product definitely ensures eyeshadows look their best, and the blending process is so much less laborious. I've noticed how much more easily and quickly I can blend out harsh lines, the colour basically blends itself, I actually cannot believe how good this product is.

The one small issue I have is that it's only a 10ml tube, but to be honest a little goes a very long way so I'd say this may last me a decent length of time. If you have particularly creased lids, or simply struggle with blending, you should consider investing in this little tube of magic. It has changed my eyeshadow application for the better, and it's only £10.

So do you need it? Yes, you most certainly do!

Available here!
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Wednesday 21 February 2018

Beauty Lookbook


Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Iconic Primer Stick & LA Girl Pro HD Primer
Foundation: Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour Foundation in Warm Sun & Ivory
Powder: Kat Von D Lock-It Translucent Loose Powder
Bronzer: Too Faced Sweet Tea & Sleek Powder Contour Kit in Light
Highlighter: Becca Champagne Pop
Blusher: Mac Melba
Brows: Freedom Brow Pomade in Caramel Brown
Eyes: Violet Voss Holy Grail Palette & ColourPop Flexitarian Highlighter on inner corner. Mac Nylon on brow bone. Also, MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy smudged along lower lashline & Ciate Fierce Flicks Eyeliner on top lash line.
Mascara: Maybelline Colossal Big Shot Waterproof
Lips: Barry M Lip Liner in Doll & L'Oreal Color Riche Shine in shade 642

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Tuesday 20 February 2018

NI Blogger Brunch And Some Self Reflection

I attended my first 'Blogger Brunch' on Sunday 18th February, and it was a good one! First of all, I only really properly started blogging in June last year, so to even be invited to such events really surprises me. I started blogging because I eat, sleep, and breathe cosmetics. I thrive off new releases, love trying out products, and enjoy how wearing make up makes me feel. The fact that people read my blog or follow my Instagram makes me so happy, and for that I am very thankful.


Anyway, back to the Blogger Brunch...Yasmin from SnazzyYazi Style Blog and I travelled to Belfast together on a rather cold, dark morning, and arrived at Babel ready to chat with other like-minded bloggers, and finally get to meet some faces I have seen on Instagram but haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet.

As I said, it was my first Blogger Brunch and so I was slightly nervous as I didn't know exactly what to expect. Basically, it's where all the Northern Irish bloggers come together to network, chat about issues they may have and basically engage with each other to share information, tips and general positivity.

Each blogger had the opportunity to stand up and speak, (I didn't, as the number of people staring back would have made my knees knock together, but maybe next time!) and share their views on the blogging industry, talk a bit about what they do, or just have a good old rant.


There were some lovely girls from Benefit Ireland there too, sharing their knowledge on how to create the perfect flatlay, and we even had the opportunity to try it out for ourselves. There was also some chat about Benefit's newest launch, Bad Gal Bang, which you can read all about in my post right here.


In between chatting and taking a tonne of photos, we were served some lovely food and even a Belvedere vodka cocktail. Yes, it was 10.20am and we were drinking cocktails, but hey, life is short.


Overall, I found the brunch a great experience, and the short speeches from other bloggers were very interesting to listen to. I learnt it's not all about followers, it's about being original, genuine, and enjoying what you do. I didn't start blogging because I wanted free stuff or with the hope of being famous one day, because that would be my worst nightmare. Being sent products in return for my honest opinion is just a bonus, and being occasionally recognised in real life because someone follows me on Instagram, makes me laugh. Basically, I love writing and sharing my thoughts on beauty because it might help someone somewhere, and my friends won't listen to me talk about my 237th nude lipstick anymore.



So thank you for taking the time to read my posts, I really do appreciate it and hopefully at the next Blogger Brunch I'll pluck up the courage to get up and speak, so much so that they'll have to pry the microphone from my heavily fake tanned hand.

Make Up Details
Foundation: Maybelline Superstay
Blusher: Mac Melba
Bronzer: Too Faced Sweet Tea
Brows: Freedom Brow Pomade
Lips: Charlotte Tilbury Penelope Pink
Highlighter: Becca Champagne Pop
Eyeshadow: Morphe 15N Palette & Colourpop Single Shadows
Tan: Conscience Clear Medium

Outfit Details 
Dress: Pretty Little Thing
Boots: ASOS
Bag & Scarf: Accessorize
Jacket: River Island
Watch: New Look
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Friday 9 February 2018

Top 4 Foundations Of A Self-Confessed, Difficult To Impress Blogger

I am quite hard to please when it comes to foundation, I don't like it too matte, too dewy, too sheer, too yellow, or having any pink tones whatsoever...


I know a lot of people struggle to find a foundation that ticks all the boxes, and even when they do, they are still wondering whether there's another, better foundation out there just waiting to be discovered. I have found four foundations that I am confident in wearing, a couple are more recent purchases, and one I have already gone through countless bottles of.


Too Faced Born This Way Foundation was my absolute favourite foundation of last year. I wore it day in and day out, going through numerous bottles of both Warm Beige and Light Beige. I fell in love with the finish, the tone of the shades, and how well it matched my tanned body. I also received compliments on how well my skin looked almost daily, so of course I loved wearing it! At £29, it's not the most expensive high end foundation, and in my opinion it's worth every penny.


Born This Way is more of a moisturising foundation, and although I am on the oily end of the skin spectrum, this didn't bother me too much. It contains no SPF so it photographs beautifully, and it just made my skin look glowing, fresh, and very smooth.  I haven't been wearing it as often recently as I feel like it began to get quite oily if I wore it all day, however because it looks so amazing in photographs and I love the shades for when I am wearing dark tan, I will continue to use it ocasionally.

A more recent discovery of mine is the new liquid foundation from Bobbi Brown. The Long-Wear Weightless Foundation is full coverage and although it claims to be matte, I'd say on my skin it appears to be more of a natural/satin finish, which I love. It is quite thick when you're applying it, but a little goes a long way and I find applying it with a damp beauty sponge delivers great coverage, but still looks fresh. If you're interested in trying this perhaps get a sample first as I have heard many mixed reviews. I got a sample of the 'Warm Natural' shade and loved it so I ended up buying the full sized bottle. It is on the pricier end of the scale at £31, but it looks absolutely gorgeous on.


The other two foundations in my top four are more affordable, and I've been loving both for day to day wear. The first is the Sleek Lifeproof Foundation, and it's fantastic considering its £8.99 price point. I have a more in-depth review right here, so you can have a read at that if you fancy. There is a pretty impressive shade range available in this foundation too, and the shade I have has a golden undertone that matches perfectly with my tan. I will most definitely be repurchasing this when it's done, which will be quite soon!

Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour Foundation is another brilliant, affordable foundation that I have been wearing non-stop. It claims to give a soft matte finish, and I do agree, however, I am slightly oily so I end up being more luminous throughout the day. The coverage is amazing and I would have no problem wearing this on a night out either as it photographs well and makes my skin look lovely and even. It's only £9.99, and because I struggled to find one shade to match my tan, I bought a light and a dark shade and I just mix them, which works perfectly.

So there we are, my top four foundations at the minute! It's a well balanced group with two high end and two more affordable products, so it just proves that you don't necessarily have to pay a lot to get a decent foundation. If you have any current favourite foundations do let me know in the comments below.


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Friday 2 February 2018

Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara: Out Of This World?

After months of speculation, social media teasers, and pink astronauts floating around, Benefit have finally revealed their brand new launch.


Bad Gal Bang is the new addition to the Bad Gal family, and joins both the first and second best selling mascaras on the UK Market; They're Real & Roller Lash. I know Instagram is full of disappointed sighs as there was such a big build up for the new product, but the claims and technology behind this mascara are pretty impressive.


Yes it's a mascara, and yes you can get a mascara at any beauty counter you stroll up to, but if you think this is 'just another mascara' that's where you're wrong.  It's also not a reformulation of the original Bad Gal lash, personally I feel this mascara has a lot more to offer.

Let's start with the four years of research that went into creating the out of this world mascara. The 36 hour wear, volumising formula contains aero-particles inspired by those used at NASA to give volume without the weight. I know what you're thinking, "Yea right"? Well, Benefit can actually back this up with real science, as they have replaced usual volumising powders with these aero-particles, so it's an innovative and unique mascara. In fact, there are no others on the market that contain these aero-particles, so that's why there has been so much hype surrounding the launch.

The 360 degree reach wand is also super slim, tapered and extremely flexible, meaning you're not poking yourself in the eye when applying. This is great for people like me who struggled with the big spiky wand in They're Real.


Bad Gal Bang is also water-resistant, flake free, and also contains Vitamin B5 known to strengthen the lashes. But what does it look like on?


As you can see, I don't have impressive lashes in the slightest, but Bad Gal Bang totally transforms them. Just look at the length of my bottom lashes! I have honestly not tried anything quite like it. It is more of a wet formula but this in no way hampers volume or definition. It feels really light on the lashes, and doesn't feel like it's going to weigh them down. If you like volume, super black, defined lashes without clumps, you will love this formula.


The packaging is also gorgeous, and I feel like it looks a bit more serious and grown up compared to some of Benefit's other products. The matte black tube looks sleek and high-end and the lid has small rubber studs which not only looks edgy, but it actually helps with holding the wand. Overall, it gets a huge, intergalactic thumbs up from me!

Bad Gal is available now at all Benefit counters and retails for £21.50.
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