Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Best of Benefit

Over the past couple of years, I've managed to rack up QUITE the Benefit Cosmetics collection. I had the advent calendar last year and have been given a lot of Benefit gifts. Today, I am sharing with you my favourite Benefit products out of my collection.






The Powders

Out of all of the Benefit products, I definitely love the blushers the most. I pretty much own all of them and there isn't a single one I don't like.
  • Dandelion is a really lovely pale pink that suits everyone and is a really versatile colour. 
  • Dallas is great for the summer months, as it is a deeper pink.
  • Rockateur is a more shimmery pink, somewhere between Dandelion and Dallas and is another very versatile blusher.
  • Coralista is my favourite summer blusher, it is a shimmery coral colour.
  • Sugarbomb is another pink shimmery blush but it has warmer undertones. (not pictured)


POREfessional

I tend to use the POREfessional underneath makeup, as a primer. It leaves a really silky feel on the skin and definitely smooths out your pores. It helped me a lot during the summer months with keeping my foundation put on my nose! 

Stay Don't Stray Eye Primer

I use this baby every single day. It is by far my favourite eye primer. I've tried countless different ones but this comes out top every time. It's really easy to blend on the eyelid, it covers up my veiny eyelid and eyeshadows blend seamlessly on to it. The shadows stay on the lid all day without budging. Honestly, I don't think I could praise this eye primer anymore. 

They're Real Push-Up Liner

Another favourite, and daily product of mine. The angled tip makes it easy to use, as all you have to do is twist the tip to get the product. The formula itself is ridiculously good, it is jet black and it doesn't know the word 'budge'. It stays on my lid all day and you even need an actual eye makeup remover to take it off, makeup wipes aren't enough! 

That's my Best of Benefit post! I could go on about a few other products but I think I'm going to leave it to the top four today. 

Thank you for reading and let me know what your favourite Benefit Cosmetics products are!

Love, Gweni xxx 
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Sunday, December 13, 2015

Smashbox Shape Matters Palette

When Boots brought out this product at half price, I had no choice other than to succumb to my materialistic frugal self and buy this palette. It was down from £60 to £30 and then an extra 10%, making it £27! I even chose click and collect to avoid paying for postage. I've filmed a video of me using it as well, it's at the bottom of the post if you wanted to watch!

P.S. Only a couple of days left to join my giveaway - click here for more info!


I am a huge fan of the Smashbox Full and Double Exposure eyeshadow palettes, so I had no reservations on the quality of the Shape Matters palette.



What caught my attention from this palette were the contour and highlight powders. I've been wanting to try the Anastasia Beverly Hills contour palette but just couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money on something that I had no idea if I'd like or not. Also, HOW different could a bronzer be in a palette in comparison to a normal bronzer.


The contour and highlight powders include: a grey toned contour, a more orange bronzer contour, a pale matte highlight and a pale champagne shimmer highlight. My favourite is definitely the grey toned contour, I love putting it on my cheekbones. Both of the contour powders are really easy to blend and they don't look cakey at all. 

As for the highlight powders, I do think that the matte colour does need to have some concealer underneath. It is not the most pigmented of powders but when coupled with the concealer, it works as a fab setting powder whilst giving you the desired colour. The highlight is a little bit too light for me but I do still like it. I prefer more golden highlighters but that's just my own preference!


There are also 3 brow products, one wax product and two brow powders. The wax is so easy to use and it holds really well. I just pop it onto my brows and then put the middle brow product on. The powders are both ash toned and suit my brows. Now that I'm only filling in my brows, I have found that lighter colours suit me. I seldom use the other darker brow powder. Unfortunately, as with the contour colours, these colours may not suit you but I have been lucky.


On the right hand side, there are nine eyeshadows. All of which are pigmented and don't have too much of a fall out. The colour range is good, you can create a neutral eye or a smoky look really easily. There are three shimmer colours and six mattes. I love the neutral colours, especially when I'm in a rush I will go for those ones. But the darker colours and more colourful are also a great compliment, ensuring that there is enough variety into the palette. You can have it all!


It comes with a double ended brush, a brow brush and an eye shadow brush. I don't like the eye shadow brush much but I do like the brow brush. The eye shadow brush is really rigid and neither soft nor hard, I just don't get on with it. The brow brush on the other hand, is a really good thickness, angled and really easy to use.

All in all, I am really happy with this palette. I've had it for around two months now and I use it almost every time I do my makeup, it really has become a staple! I do think that my opinion would have changed if I had paid £60 for it though, but for £27 it was worth every penny. I've had a look and it seems to be sold out on the Boots website!

What do you think? Do you have this palette? Do you like it?

Thank you for reading and have a lovely day.

Love, Gweni xxx


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Saturday, December 05, 2015

L'Occitane Event, Birmingham

I'm so excited to write this post, as it was my first ever blogger event! I was sent an invitational email last week and I snapped up my ticket quickly. The event took place in the new L'Occitane shop in Grand Central, Birmingham.

L'Occitane Birmingham Blogger Event
My goodies!
L'Occitane, pronounced 'lox-i-tan', is a French brand which specialises in body products, think shower gel and body lotion. Everything smells divine and they have a lot of different ranges. My favourite was the Néroli & Orchidée range. As I study French as part of my degree, it was really lovely to be able to read all of the labels in French.


L'Occitane Birmingham Blogger Event

L'Occitane Birmingham Blogger Event

As soon as I walked in, there was a really friendly atmosphere. Abbigayle, who organised the event, came up to me straight away and gave me some information about the evening. There was some Christmas nibbles out and some bubbles - so I was very happy!

L'Occitane Birmingham Blogger Event

I chatted to some of the other bloggers there and it was so nice to actually meet some faces behind the screen. Everyone I chatted to was really nice and I hope to see them all again and I'm excited to read their blogs! There were a couple I didn't get to chat to unfortunately but I hope I'll be able to get to know them through their blogs.

L'Occitane Birmingham Event
Yay Blogger Friends! Me and Hannah from Love Icon Fantasy Ego

The evening consisted of games, including finding your favourite 3 products and taking a picture, product bingo and matching the product to the celebrity. I really loved the games, it was a nice way to have fun whilst getting to know other bloggers and the brand.

The team in the shop were fab, I enjoyed their company a lot. They were knowledgable, very approachable and they had a good sense of humour. They all complimented me on my skirt as well, which made me really happy.

Between the games, there was a break of around half an hour (?) to have a look around, get a hand massage and chat to the staff. I helped myself to some of the delicious food, because food, and chatted to some fellow blogger beans.

L'Occitane Birmingham Event
Sophie from Sophie Etc 
L'Occitane Birmingham Event

We were given a 15% discount off everything for the evening and could get a goodie bag if we spent £15.

As it was my first blogger event, I was unsure what to expect but I was under the impression that we were going to be given a goodie bag for free. I had understood it to be an event for L'Occitane to get some exposure but I think it was actually an opportunity for us to meet fellow bloggers and offered a discount. A bit like the body shop parties.  Now that I understand that's what the evening was about, it was very generous for the shop to close early for us and to give us a 15% discount. I wish I hadn't done all of my Christmas shopping beforehand!

L'Occitane Birmingham Event

I ended up buying myself a Néroli & Orchidée hand cream and a Christmas gift for someone else. As I was over the £15 limit, I got my hands on the goodie bag. It includes lots of miniature products, such as shower gel, hand cream and soap. Check out my pictures below! I can't wait to use them all, they all smell amazing.

L'Occitane Birmingham Event L'Occitane Birmingham Event

L'Occitane Birmingham Event

Also, I WON A PRIZE! One of the competitions was to take a picture of your 3 favourite products and post it on Instagram. So thank you if you liked that photo - you won me a Shea butter Christmas bauble (apparently sold out!) and some chocolate!


L'Occitane Birmingham Event

All in all, I had a really fun time and so glad I've finally been to a blogger event! I feel like a fully pledged blogger now.

Thank you to Abbigayle and the team at L'Occitane, Grand Central for such a fab evening!

Thank you for reading! Do you use any L'Occitane products? I'd love to hear your opinion! 

Love, Gweni xxxx
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Friday, November 27, 2015

Christmas Gift Guide

I couldn't help myself, I HAD to do a Christmas Gift Guide! I've added a range of different priced beauty products (and one wild card!) which will hopefully be tailored for all different ages. Enjoy and I hope it helps!

Christmas Gift Guide


1. Iconic Pro Lipstick - Makeup Revolution £2.49
http://www.makeuprevolutionstore.com/makeup/lips/lipstick/iconic-pro-lipstick/iconic-pro-lipstick-no-perfection-yet.html

If you're looking for a cheap alternative to a MAC lipstick without losing quality, then look no further than the Iconic Pro Lipstick range by Makeup Revolution. I can't rate MUR enough, everything is dirt cheap but of a really high standard of quality. The lipsticks come in a huge range of colours, perfect for a secret santa gift!


2. Sleek Eyeshadow Palettes £7.99
http://www.sleekmakeup.com/au-naturel-i-divine-au-naturel-i-divine# 

For less than £8, you can't go wrong with a Sleek eyeshadow palette. There are around 15 or so different palettes so you're not low on choice, you will find something in there to suit your gift recipient! For alternatives, have a look at makeup revolution eyeshadow palettes. You can actually win one of these on my instagram account at @g_beauty_blog


3. Ultra Pro Brush Collection - Makeup Revolution £12 (currently £8)
http://www.makeuprevolutionstore.com/christmas/ultra-pro-brush-collection.html

I love the MUR brushes and would definitely recommend this as a present! Quality is fab and it's a great present for a novice in the beauty world, as well as us beauty junkies. Honestly, anything from MUR is a good present.


4. MAC Lipstick £15.50
http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/168/310/Products/Lips/Lipstick/Lipstick/index.tmpl

I've used Ruby Woo as the colour in the picture, but you can choose which ever one you wanted. I would advise going with a Matte, Amplified or Satin finish. I would also advise choosing a bright colour over a nude, only because it can be hit or miss with a nude and a bright colour is more likely to suit their skin tone. Obviously, if the said recipient doesn't like wearing bright lipstick, I probably wouldn't advise buying them one!
Colours I would advise: Ruby Woo, Russian Red, Lady Danger, Impassioned, Pink Nouveau, Full Fuchsia, Diva, Rebel.


5. White Company Candle £20
http://www.thewhitecompany.com/candles-and-fragrance/home-fragrances/candles/seychelles-signature-candle/

Ok so technically not beauty, but still a valid contender. I love White Company, I go in the shop and want to buy everything. I've pictured the Seychelles candle in the picture as it is my favourite scent, but there are loads of others to choose from. Yankee Candles are the obvious choice for candles, but let's be honest, White Company candles look much more classy. There are hundreds of things I could put on this gift guide from White Company but thought I would stop at the candle, seeing as it is one of the cheaper gifts. But I would recommend the photo frames, the scent diffusers, robes and everything else that they sell.


6. Laura Mercier Gift Sets - in the Glow Trio £25
http://uk.spacenk.com/en_GB/in-the-glow-trio/MUK200015992.html

The Laura Mercier gift sets are so pretty this year, I want them all! The highlight set is on the cheaper end of the gift sets, but is still good value for money. Although I don't own it myself, I have swatched most of the Christmas gift sets and none of them have disappointed. Laura Mercier is sold in most department stores, so make sure you're getting the best deal!


7. NARS Killer Heels Mini Lipsticks £29
http://narscosmetics.co.uk/en_GB/killer-heels-mini-lipstick-set/0607845038863.html#start=2

I am a sucker for lipstick sets and even more for limited edition products. You can't go wrong with NARS and I'm sure anyone who received this set would be very pleased! There are also other gift sets that I would recommend, such as the face palettes, but they can be quite expensive.


8. Benefit Gift Sets - Real Cheeky Party £29.50
http://www.feelunique.com/p/Benefit-REAL-Cheeky-Party-Kit

I've included the feelunique link as it is sold out on the benefit website. I've already bought this set for two of my friends because it's such great value for price. The full size powders are usually £23.50 each, as well as the other products being around the same price. There are loads of different Benefit sets and I think any of them make a good present. The benefit of benefit (I did just go there) is that it is easily found on discount, feelunique often have discount codes as well as other websites.


9. Urban Decay Naked Palettes £38
http://www.urbandecay.co.uk/holiday-2015/naked-and-perversion/naked-palette

This is another product that you can always get at least 10% off, try feelunique or Debenhams. Out of the naked palettes, I would advise buying the first one out of all of them. It has the biggest range of colours that are wearable, in my opinion. I love all of the naked palettes but I definitely do use my naked 1 the most. The only issue with this is that there is a chance that the person already owns it. This is the order I would buy them in naked 1, naked 2, smoky and then naked 3. That is taking into account the variety of colours and the likelihood of people using it and the colours suiting them. They are all beautiful palettes and are always a great idea as a gift, money permitting.


10. Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick Wardrobe £220
Selfridges Link to Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick Wardrobe

Honestly, I just added this in the hope that someone would buy it for me. Jokes aside, it looks super pretty and if you can afford this for someone then that person is very lucky (and I am eternally jealous). Hint: there's 20% off Selfridges at the moment!


I know I will be publishing this on Black Friday, so you shouldn't have to look far for a bargain on any of these products. Otherwise, check out websites such as Feelunique, Debenhams and John Lewis for cheaper gifts. Feelunique always has some kind of discount codes, I like to google "feelunique discount codes" and trying my luck with any of the codes that come up. They also offer free delivery over £10 and they always deliver so quickly! It is ALWAYS worth doing a quick google to see if you can get the product cheaper elsewhere.

Edit: oops I forgot to add in Zoeva brushes! Definitely worth having a look at, I absolutely love them!

Happy shopping and I hope my gift guide has been of use to you!

Love, Gweni xxx

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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

GIVEAWAY - Winter Skin Package

With the quick turn of the cold weather, the lovely team at Organically Epic have offered to giveaway a Eco by Sonya Winter Skin Package on my blog! Eco by Sonya is an Australian company which specialises in vegan skin products.

It is worth well over £130, so you really are in for a treat! The rules are really easy to follow, you can do as many or as little of the requirements as you want. The more you do, the more likely you are to win! Simples. 



The package includes:

  • Winter Skin
  • Face Tan Water
  • Pink Himalayan Salt Scrub
  • Coconut & Mint Body Wash
  • Extreme Exfoliant Glove

All of these products are valued around the £30 each and are of a really high standard. I've been so impressed by Eco by Sonya products so far and I'm so happy to be able to give you the chance to win your own products. You can read all about the Pink Himalayan Salt Scrub here and the Invisible Tan here.

The competition is open to my UK readers only and the winner will be picked at random. You can login with Facebook or you can just pop your email in, they don't send you annoying emails so don't worry! It's just so that I can get in touch with you if you win. Competition ends on the 15th December 2015.

If you are tempted by any other Eco by Sonya products, check out Organically Epics website here. There is free delivery for November and December and you can even get 10% off with the code: gbeauty10. 

Good Luck and I look forward to announcing the winner on the 16th of December 2015.

P.S. Organically Epic is actually running a separate competition on their Instagram page, go check it out if you're interested in winning twice!



a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Monday, November 23, 2015

Invisible Tan Review

Aloha from the warm sands of... Birmingham. This week I have been testing out the Invisible Tan by Eco by Sonya, which was sent to me by the lovely team at Organically Epic. After the success of the Pink Himalayan Salt Scrub, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the Invisible Tan!

Ecotan invisible tan

Eco by Sonya is an Australian company which specialises in vegan tanning. I have written about the company in a previous post all about the Pink Himalayan Salt Scrub. You can also read more about the company on Organically Epics website here.

The product describes itself as a self tanning crème which delivers a rich honey tan in one application. And yes, it did deliver just this! It is aimed for those with medium/olive skin tones, which suited my faded tanned skin. 

To prep the skin, I used my trusty salt scrub in the shower. This left my skin feeling really smooth and ready to go. I then popped a generous amount onto a tanning mitt and distributed it evenly over my body. I really didn't have to try to hard to get the product to sink into my skin, it just rubbed in perfectly by itself. It had a really similar formula to moisturiser.

Ecotan invisible tan

I was then instructed to leave it on for 8 hours and washing off. I popped the product on before bed and woke up the next morning and just had a quick shower. I could feel it a little bit on my skin but it definitely wasn't uncomfortable. It just felt as though I had moisturiser on. Honestly, I was so knackered I fell asleep straight away!

I purposely hadn't changed my sheets as I anticipated there might have been a stain or two, but I have had a good inspection and there is nothing to be seen! It has left the tiniest slight scent of the tan though.

Now, let's be honest, it wouldn't be a fake tan if it didn't have a particular smell. I found that the cream does have a relatively strong smell but it isn't unpleasant. It's really difficult to describe the smell, but I would go with lemongrass fake tan. This smell left as soon as I washed it off the next day.

As for the tan itself, I have found it to be a lovely layer onto my tan. It genuinely looks as though I have just had a couple of extra days in the sun. It is not at all obvious that it's fake. As it is an invisible tan, it is intended to just give you that extra little bit of tan rather than change your entire skin colour. I have been advised to use two layers though to get a deeper tan, something I will definitely have to try in the future. When I do, I will make sure to post a picture on Instagram, so make sure to follow me on @g_beauty_blog!

Ecotan invisible tan
I am excited to see how this pans out over the next couple of days. At the moment my skin feels really soft, moisturised and brown! I'm so happy to have found a tanning product that really suits me and my skin. I was worried that I might end up looking a little orange, but this has not happened at all. It has just deepened the tan that was already there! Happy days.

Fast forward a week and the tan faded really gradually by itself. I hardly noticed it leaving which is a huge bonus! My skin never felt dry and I couldn't smell the fake tan on me after I had that first shower the day after I left it on all night. 

The product is said to provide five full body applications and I am sure it will provide that, if not more! I only used it on my arms this time, I wasn't getting my legs out so it seemed like it would be a waste of product!

All in all, I have been really impressed with this product. It left me looking sun-kissed, moisturised and glowing. I had absolutely no trouble in its application or with it fading away. I would definitely recommend this to any of you fake tan enthusiasts out there! 


Make sure to use your 10% discount with the code: gbeauty10 

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know what your thoughts are. 

Love, Gweni xxx


Don't forget to keep in touch!

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This post contains press samples but all opinions are my own.
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Monday, November 16, 2015

Instagram Christmas Giveaway

This year, I am hosting a Christmas Giveaway with Jess from Jellybluesblog.co.uk on Instagram! I am so excited to be doing this, I really enjoyed hosting a giveaway a few months back and I hope this will be as successful.



Jess and I have both bought a few bits ourselves to combine together to make the ultimate Christmas package! Check out what Jess is giving away here. 

Christmas Gifts that I have included:

Zoella Fizz Bar Collection
Sleek Eyeshadow Palette in Au Natural 
Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Russian Roulette
Barry M Red Nail Varnish

 
 





HOW TO ENTER

Christmas Giveaway
Win meeeeee

Ah yes. The important part. 

We've tried to keep the giveaway as simple as possible, so we have kept it just to Instagram.

          1. Follow Jess and myself on Insagram - @g_beauty_blog and @Jellybluesblog

          2. Repost the Christmas Giveaway picture (as shown above or here

          3. Add the hashtags #GJBgiveaway and #christmasgiveaway and tag Jess and I in your caption

          4. Let us know what your favourite part about Christmas is! (Optional - but so much fun!)


The giveaway is open until the 10th of December 2015 and the winner will be announced on the 11th of December 2015. It is also open internationally and it is 10 entries maximum a day. The winner will be picked at random!

Best of luck to everyone and I hope everyone enjoys the festivities this year.

Love, Gweni xxxx 

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Friday, November 06, 2015

Praire Charms Box Review

I know, I know. I'm about 2 months late writing this post. Oops! Moving on with the show.

At the start of the summer, Prairie Charms got in touch with me via twitter asking if I wanted to be a part of their next subscription-esque box. Although I usually do say no to blogging opportunities that include paying for things yourself, but something about this brand got me excited. It was a little more interesting than just beauty products, as the box is supposedly tailored to you and your tastes and I was told that my blogs name would be advertised in the box.

Prairie Charms Box Review

I have filmed an unboxing video and I will eventually get it edited and popped onto the old interwebs. But for now, my degree is my number one priority! All good things come to those who wait. And work hard on their degree. I hope. 

From the photos, you can probably see how pretty and colourful the box is. It was a Luau Party theme and they really did stick to it. I love bright colours, especially pink and blue so it was very aesthetically pleasing to my eye.

Prairie Charms Box Review

Prairie Charms Box Review

There were loads of cute little confetti type presents in there which I had assumed we're put in especially for us bloggers to use in the backgrounds of our pictures. I sadly left them at home so they won't be making an appearance in my blogposts soon, my deepest apologies. 

I was also sent an assortment of sugary american snacks. I ate those bad boys up in pretty much one sitting of 2 minutes. Sorry not sorry. They were yummy (from what I remember!).

Prairie Charms Box Review

There were a few hair pieces in there as well. A clip with a shell on it and some hair ties. I've been wearing the ties quite often and I am a fan. They don't leave a kink in your hair and are really comfortable to wear. They're also really cute. I love my scrunchie as well. I would have preferred to have gotten the box at the start of the summer though so I could have gotten some more wear out of them!

Prairie Charms Box Review

My second favourite piece from the box was the necklace I received. It's just a simple chain with a black bead on the end. Unfortunately, I think it was sized for a child. The chain is absolutely tiny and does not fit around my neck. I am a little disappointed to be honest, considering I am quite obviously not an 8 year old. I don't have a particularly thick neck either, and I am even quite a small person (big up 5ft) so I don't think I am the problem here. I didn't notice this until after a couple of weeks ago (around 2 months after receiving it), so I think it might be too late for something to be done about it.

EDIT: It was an anklet. I'm an idiot.

Prairie Charms Box Review

Last but never least, my favourite piece was easily the floral headband. I am princess of all things pretty and colourful when wearing this headband. I quite often wear it whilst doing my makeup, much to my housemates enjoyment (hi girlies :)). I love it and makes up for the fact that I can't wear that necklace! 

All in all, would I get another box? Probably not. I'm sorry. The Prairie Charms team are absolutely lovely and I couldn't fault them at all. They always replied to my messages and are positively delightful. BUT for £22.50, it just isn't really for me. My blog link was written in very tiny print on the back of a card and I had paid for the box sometime in June and it didn't arrive until the end of September. The team did send me emails keeping me updated on the boxes but I never felt like I knew when the box would arrive. 

Also, I'm more of a makeup kind of person so it just isn't in my best interests to spend a lot of money on jewellery subscription boxes! If you love these kind of things then I would most definitely recommend them. Everything in the box was of great quality and it was really fun, the colours used were beautiful and it was really fun opening the box and getting it in the post! Even if it was 2 minutes before I was leaving the house to go on holiday!

As always, I hope you enjoyed my post! Have you ever gotten anything from Prairie Charms before? 

Love, Gweni xxx 
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Saturday, October 31, 2015

Organique Shower Gel & Body Lotion Review

If you keep up with my blog, first of all thank you and secondly you may be aware that I visited the Organique store in Birmingham recently. You can read all about the store and the brand here! Whilst there, I was kindly given the Nasturtium & Grenadine Aromatic Shower Gel and Velvet Body Lotion to review.

Organique Shower Gel & Body Lotion Review: G Beauty

The formula for both of these products are certified vegan. They don't have any parabens or silicones or any of that nasty stuff so I know that I won't be putting any chemical harshness on my skin as well as looking after our planet. From a brand called Organique, can you believe it? All of the products can be found on the Organique webite: http://organiquestore.co.uk/. Otherwise you can visit Justyna in her store in Birmingham where you can also get student discount!

Nasturtium & Grenadine Aromatic Shower Gel

Although I am usually much more of a shower cream kind of gal, I decided I would still give the Organique Shower Gel Nasturtium & Grenadine a go and have been pleasantly surprised. I was really worried that I was going to have the same issue as I do with other shower gels, whereby they leave my skin feeling tight but this shower gel didn't do that at all. In fact, it leaves my skin feeling really soft and moisturised.

Organique Shower Gel & Body Lotion Review: G Beauty

The fragrance is pleasantly peculiar. It has a sharp citrus fruit smell, presumably the grenadine working its magic, but with a slight hint of floral. It is VERY fresh and zangy. I honestly cannot describe the smell in any other word than zangy. I have just googled the meaning of zangy and according to urban dictionary, it's a mixture of zing and tangy. Don't say I never taught you anything. 

The smell lasts on my skin all day, keeping me feeling fresh, fly, fierce and fabulous all at the same time. I am all about the adjectives today. The bottle itself is very easy to use but it does take quite a few pumps to get a sufficient amount of product. Not really an issue for me to be honest. I really quite like having a pump, really brings a bit of diversity into the old shower routine.


Nasturtium & Grenadine Velvet Body Lotion

Now, I'm not going to lie, I am useless at putting on moisturiser. Hence why I opt for moisturising shower gels. BUT I have made an effort to use this moisturiser as much as possible for this blogpost.

Organique Shower Gel & Body Lotion Review: G Beauty

The formula itself is easy to apply. It sheers out quite easily once popped on the skin, it doesn't take very long to rub in at all. The smell again is the same as the shower gel, zingy zangy and tangy but potentially more potent. You don't have to put your nose too close to smell the scent but it also isn't so strong that it's over powering. If you're someone who enjoys smelling your own skin (guilty) then you will like this.

It leaves your skin feeling soft and not greasy at all. The lotion sinks in really quickly, no need to worry about it leaving that horrid sticky feeling afterwards. If it had done that, I probably wouldn't have written this post. I hate it when body butters/creams etc do that, it puts me right off. Luckily, this moisturiser doesn't do this! 


The two bottles are 250ml and I am sure will last a really long time. I've been using the moisturiser very often and I've hardly scratched the surface. I will definitely consider purchasing some more when these bottles run out in 20 years time.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Please do let me know if you've used any Organique products before, I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions!

Love, Gweni xxx 
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Sunday, October 25, 2015

Eye Makeup For No Eyelashes

As a result of my trichotillomania, I have unfortunately pulled out a lot of my eyelashes. I thought I would make a positive out of this negative situation and share with you my tips for covering up my bald patches with makeup! If you want to hear more about my Trichotillomania story, click here. Or if you want advice on covering up bald eyebrows then click here! I also have a few youtube videos here if you want to check them out too.

No Eyelashes Makeup: G Beauty

At the moment, my lashes are all different lengths so it has been quite difficult for me to cover it up. What I do is quite simple but it can take a while to get used to it. If you have any tips on covering up problem lashes, I would love to hear your suggestions.

If you're a trichster, I'm sure you are well adept in the world of winged liner. This has been a bit of a life saviour for me recently. You can make the line quite thick so that it's hardly noticeable that the lashes are all at awkward lengths. My favourite eyeliner product is by far the Benefit They're Real Push-up Liner. It just doesn't budge all day, you even need a proper eye makeup remover to take it off. This is particularly good for us trichsters, if you find yourself pulling in public then you don't have to worry too much about the eyeliner coming off. 

Aside from the formula being awesome, the pen itself is really easy to use. You do have to get the hang of it at first but once you do then you will never look back. As for drawing on the line itself, I think this comes down to preference. What I do is draw a line on the lash line and then draw a separate winged line. For the winged line, I follow my bottom lash line for the angle for the winged line. I then connect the two lines together and thicken it a bit. I hope that makes sense. I am no expert on winged liner, that is just what I've learnt over the past couple of months. I've taken a few pictures and put them in a collage below, I hope that helps!

Eyeliner Makeup For No Lashes: G Beauty
Products used: Benefit They're Real Push Up Liner, Nars Larger Than Life eyeliner, Fleur de Force Eylure False Lashes in Simply Fleur, Naked and Buck eyeshadows from Urban Decay

I would advise putting some eyeshadow on first as winged liner can look a little out of place on non makeuped skin. Obviously, that is just my personal preference. For subtle makeup I choose matte neutral eyeshadows, e.g. Naked and Buck from the Urban Decay Naked palette or Cashmere and Sexpresso from the Natural Matte palette by Too Faced. If you want cheap alternatives, look at the Makeup Revolution Iconic Elements palette. Otherwise, go crazy on your eyeshadow!

No Eyelashes Makeup: G Beauty

After the winged liner and eyeshadow, I will then curl whatever lashes I have. Then pop on a kohl eyeliner in my upper water lash line. This is easily the best way to cover up your bald patches by just popping it on them. Some of my favourite liners are the Rimmel Scandaleyes, the NARS Larger Than Life eyeliner and Makeup Revolution All Day and Night eyeliner. Honestly, there aren't many terrible kohl eyeliners out there so no need to worry if you don't own any of these.

After I've make sure I've got enough black liner on, I pop some mascara on my lashes. I don't put much on because I don't want to draw much attention to them and I think it'll be better for the growth of the lashes.

No Eyelashes Makeup: G Beauty

That is what I do for just normal days in University. If I'm going out doing something other than just work, chances are I will wear false lashes as well. I don't tend to wear them daily because, who can be bothered for the drama of putting on falsies EVERY morning and I don't want to stunt my lash growth with eyelash glue etc. 

For every day lashes, I really like the Connie lashes by Vintage Cosmetics Company, Eylure false lashes in 070 and Eylure Fleur De Forces Simply Fleur false lashes. All of these are fairly weightless and give a natural effect. I am wearing the Fleur De Force lashes in the 'tutorial' picture above.

No Eyelashes Makeup: G Beauty

No Eyelashes Makeup: G Beauty


As for going out lashes, I prefer to wear ones that are a bit thicker and more bold, especially as my makeup is usually a bit more dramatic. My favourite ones are the Eylure 101 (not pictured because mine are quite skanky at the moment...). I have quite round eyes so I'm lucky in that false lashes suit me but I know that they're not for everyone. I have found that there is a lot of trial and error with false lashes, with different kinds and also cutting them to see what suits you. 

That pretty much sums up how I cover up my trich on my eyelashes! I hope that helps any of you out there struggling with hair loss or hair pulling problems. I'd love to hear any suggestions you have and let me know what you think in the comments!


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Thursday, October 15, 2015

Top 5 MAC Autumn Lipsticks

As Autumn is finally upon us, I wanted to share with you my top 5 MAC Autumn lipsticks!

MAC Autumn Lipsticks - G Beauty

MAC Autumn Lipsticks - G Beauty


MAC Autumn Lipsticks - G Beauty
Yes, yes I did go and get leaves
Todays post is actually a collaboration with Jess from Jellybluesblog.co.uk! Me and Jess both started our blogging venture at the same time, so I'm really excited to be writing a collab post with her today. I've been reading her blog and lusting after her beauty collection for months and I hope you go and check her out. Although she mostly writes about beauty products, I have seen a few jewellery and dog food posts too! So if you're looking for a new blog to follow today, go and check out hers! She also dabbles in the ol' world of Graphic Design, hence why her logo is so pretty! 


I'm so excited to see what lipsticks she chose. Jess is much more interesting than me and has chosen non-MAC lipsticks as well in her post, so if you're looking for a bit more variety then definitely check out hers! She is also very active on Twitter and Instagram if you want to join me in my lusting. 

Enough of my brown nosing, and on with the show! I have chosen 5 MAC lipsticks today. All 5 of them have a special place in my heart and I'm very happy to be sharing them with you today. I know MAC lipsticks aren't the cheapest, but I honestly just don't rate many lipsticks as much as them. I have chosen a lot of berry and red colours, I hope you like them! I LOVE a good bold autumn lip.

MAC Autumn Lipsticks - G Beauty

MAC Autumn Lipsticks - G Beauty
From left to right: Rebel, Diva, Viva Glam I, Cyber and D for Danger

Rebel

MAC Rebel - MAC Autumn Lipsticks, G Beauty

This was my first ever MAC lipstick and I have never looked back since. Rebel is a purple berry colour. It has a satin finish, which is comfortable on the lip but has a good amount of pigment. It's still one of my all time favourites and would definitely recommend it for a bold colour.


Diva

MAC Diva - MAC Autumn Lipsticks, G Beauty

Again, another favourite of mine. This colour comes off quite burgundy when worn and it is a matte consistency. I find mattes a little drying on the lips and less comfortable than other formulas but it is still very wearable. If you want a lip liner to go with this, I would recommend MAC lip liner in Portside. The two are beautiful together and I always find it much easier to put on bold lipsticks with a liner, less room for mistakes!


Viva Glam I

MAC Viva Glam I - MAC Autumn Lipsticks, G Beauty

This is a deep red and matte formula. I can't believe it's taken me so long to buy it! I wore this to support Wales in the England v Wales rugby match the other day. Wales won, so just saying. It probably has good luck vibes.


Cyber

MAC Cyber - MAC Autumn Lipsticks, G Beauty

This is quite a bold colour to pull off but can definitely be done! It is a satin finish and can come across quite glossy on the lips. It is a dark purple that is definitely a staple for halloween. I am in the process of finding a lip liner to go with it though as I found it wasn't QUITE bold enough for me when I wore it the other day. I will probably go for Cyber World lipliner for MAC, let's be honest. Also, this was a great lipstick to drink red wine with. 


D for Danger

MAC D for Danger - MAC Autumn Lipsticks, G Beauty

This is part of the new Matte line and it is gorgeous. It is more of a pink red than Viva Glam I but is still as wearable. This is one of my favourite pub lipsticks. Need. To. Stop. Drinking. 

That concludes my top 5 MAC lipsticks! Another one that was close to coming onto the list was New York Apple if you weren't quite satisfied with these five! If you're a fan of Pink Lipsticks, I also have a Top 5 Pink Lipstick post as well. Click here to read it! 

Do you have these lipsticks and do you like them? Which one is your favourite? 

Thank you for reading and have a lovely day!

Love, Gweni xxx 
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