Blog Update and New Youtube!

Hello all.

You've probably already noticed that there has been a long absence from the blog for some time. If truth be told I haven't really had the enthusiasm nor the motivation to write on my blog over the last few months. However, I do have some exciting news for you! 

I will be sticking (hopefully) to a schedule for my blog as well as uploading to my new Youtube channel, Georgia Next Door on a weekly basis. I'll be posting new videos every Tuesday and Friday (Although I have been slacking on the Youtube sector as well, so apologies to any new subscribers) and I will be uploading blog posts every Wednesday and Sunday for you as well!

Although I do love making Youtube videos I will always have a passion for writing so I will continue to update this blog alongside the videos for my wonderful readers.

So, if you'd like to keep updated with new video uploads and blog posts don't forget to subscribe to my channel and of course, follow my blog either on Blog Lovin' or She Said Beauty.

I'll be posting this Wednesday so keep an eye out!

Love to all,

G 

x

Shimmery Brown Smokey Eye Tutorial

I decided that I'd be a bit different with this blog post and show you a tutorial for a shimmery smokey eye which I created using the MUA Undress Me Too Palette. It's a really wearable look for everyday and pretty easy to create. I hope you enjoy wearing this look! Feel free to send me pictures of this look if you do create it.

 First of all, I make sure I prep my under eye area. The skin under your eyes is quite delicate, hence the occurrence of those dreading dark circles and shopping bag eyes! I use Boot's Vitamin E Gentle Eye Cream which was a recommendation by a blogger friend of mine ItsAmiieeism. I seem to always go back to this eye cream as I find others make my eyes water and nobody wants puffy eyes before applying makeup! I highly recommend this eye cream. I place a few dots under my eyes and pat it in with my ring finger. It hydrates the eye area and makes for a great base for concealer (it can prevent concealer creasing and stops you from getting dry under eyes). 

After the eye cream, I apply a light primer on my eyelids and under eyes to keep the eye shadow and concealer in place. As you can see this is a face primer, not an eye primer but I think eyelid primers are a bit of a rip off to be fair. Most primers will do the same job in keeping your makeup in place all day. This Revlon PhotoReady Face Perfecting Primer is super light and smooth. It feels like velvet when applied and does not transfer like some silicone based primers. It hides pores and fine lines and just makes an amazing base for makeup.  

Then apply the Color Tattoo by Maybelline in 'On and on Bronze' with a flat blending brush. The Colour Tattoos are an amazing base for eyeshadow and are long wearing. Once applied they are hard to budge. On and on Bronze looks amazing on it's own also and would make a great simple smokey eye if you want a quick yet dramatic look. I look how easy these are to apply. I take some of the product on a blending brush and pat the product on before blending it in so that I can build the pigmentation. 

I then take the MUA Undress Me Too Palette. I use the shades Lavish (a matte chocolate brown shade) 

I contour the crease of my eye with Lavish using the Real Technique's Base Shadow Brush. I then apply Fiery/Tranquil over the Colour Tattoo. If you'd like a more defined eye then you can add the colour Obsessed in the outer corner of the eye using a smaller eye brush. I then use the Base Shadow Brush to blend those colours together. This brush is so soft so it's really easy to blend with. 

I then take the Loreal Super Liner Blackbuster to line my eyelids. Keep the liner as close to the lash line as possible so you don't draw attention from the shadow. It will also help to emphasise your lashes. I absolutely love this eyeliner. Liquid eyeliner is very much like marmite. You can end up looking like a panda with most liquid liners, which is why pen liners are so brilliant. This Super Liner Blackbuster is so easy to use and creates similar drama and pigmentation to a gel liner. It also does not dry out easily which is what I dislike most about pen style liners.  

You can then tight line your upper lid using Maybelline Gel Liner. 

I then take the Scandal Eyes Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in Bronze  and apply it to the lower lash line. You can smudge the liner with an angled brush for a more smokey look. 

Take the The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara by Maybelline and apply this to the top and bottom lashes. This mascara adds volume and length. I've always adored the Max Factor False Lash Effect mascaras and never seemed to like any others. This mascara is just fantastic though and makes your lashes stand out without looking too clumpy or false. Apply two coats of mascara from the root of the lash and shimmy the wand up the lash (shimmy means to shake the wand if you didn't know). 

I then take Mac's Studio Finish Concealer in NC15 and apply that in a triangular shade under the eye. I applied the concealer using Real Technique's deluxe crease brush. Because of it's domed shape it is great for applying concealer under the eyes and blending the product. I love this Mac concealer as it has a great coverage but does not look to cakey. You can set the concealer with powder to stop it from creasing. It really brightens the under eyes and covers dark circles amazingly. 

So here is the makeup look! As you can see it's super easy to create. I also applied Bourjois's Healthy Mix and Rimmel's Natural Bronzer as well as applying Lavish shadow to my eyebrows. 

I hope you like the makeup and if you have any requests for other makeup looks, comment below with suggestions. 

Lots of Love 

G x

Remembering my Little Brother

As you may have all seen, I have not been blogging for the last few months.

Unless any of you follow me on Twitter, you may not know that on May 30th of this year, my family lost Elliot, my little brother, very unexpectedly at the age of 16. Elliot had the most amazing personality. He was extremely kind and caring, which everyone who had the privilege of knowing him commented on. Elliot also had an amazing sense of humour and had some truly amazing talents, especially in Art and Graphics. 

Elliot wasn't just my brother, he was my best friend. 

I decided to share a tribute about my brother on the Blog as I feel that words could never describe what a truly amazing person he was. How he was there for his friends when they were suffering from depression, how he went and sat with the kids in his year who were alone at lunchtime after falling out with friends and how he was the first up on the dance floor at any party. He was loved by people from all walks of life and all backgrounds. At his funeral, hundreds of people turned up to support our family, thousands of people who's life's had been touched by a young man that was so very loved by everyone who knew him. 

My memories of Elliot are the most precious thing I will ever own. I loved the fact he never judged and always saw the beauty in life. Sometimes he was a pain in the arse but that was one of the things I’ll miss most about him. He was very persistent and would always nag me to treat him to something or put some new music on his phone. Elliot was the life and soul of every party. He was really great at dancing and would always perform for people. His adventurous personality was something to be deeply admired. Even though as a child he was scared of everything, as he grew older, he started to experience new and exciting things. He loved rollercoaster’s, weight boarding and wanted a motorbike when he was able to afford one.

Elliot is and will always be one of the most genuine, sensitive, kind and handsome men I have ever had the privilege of having in my life (and I’m not just saying that as his sister). He will be missed forever and always. 

This was a section of the tribute read at Elliot's memorial service. 

As you can imagine, my family is devastated by such a loss. 

I have been thinking of writing this post for a while now. 

I really haven't been up to writing any beauty posts on the blog recently. I was even thinking about quitting the blog. But I know that Elliot would have wanted me to continue writing. 

I miss him more and more everyday. He is always on my mind. 

If anyone is reading this who has lost a sibling, don't hesitate to get in contact. You can email me at gezzieecoan@gmail.com or if you are between the ages of 13 to 25 years then you can join my friend Becky and I's young sibling loss support group on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/siblingsofthestarssupportgroup/

I'd like to be able to create a foundation in Elliot's name in the future for Young Sibling Loss in his memory as I know that friendship and kindness was such a big thing to him. 

I hope you are all well,

Lots of Love, 

Georgia x

March Favourites

Ok ladies and gentlefolk, so this will be my first ever monthly favourites post!! Don't get too excited will you. In this post I'll be speaking about my favourite beauty products for the month of March and even some of my non-beauty related favs. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it:

Beauty Favourites: 

Origins Drink-Up Intensive Over Night Mask.

I've always found the idea of an overnight mask a bit messy. However, this Origins mask for dehydrated skin is amazing. It's pretty much like a really thick moisturiser, so not a face mask in the traditional sense. It smells absolutely divine and leaves your skin feeling silky smooth the morning after. A great product for those with dull and dry skin! I've been using this every two weeks after a facial scrub and feel like my skin is a lot brighter. Healthy skin leaves for a happy heart! I'm in love with this product. At 20 squids it's not cheap but it's definitely worth the money.

John Lewis 

 I'll be doing a more detailed review on this later this week.

Apocalips in Steller.

These 'world ending' lip lacquers from Rimmel are great for those days when a lipstick is too much. With the shine and gloss of a lipgloss but the pigmentation and staying power of a lippy, this lacquer is defiantly a staple product for the spring. I love the fact it's so easy to apply with it's angled wand and really stays put no matter the occasion. It comes in 8 shades so you are bound to find a colour which suits you. I don't think much to the taste (think playdoh and plastic) but the texture is really pleasing and it applies really well. It's true to it's colour when applied and can jazz up the most simple of makeup looks!

£5.99-Boots

Neutrogena's Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash.

This is not the first time I have used this product but after suffering from appalling skin the last few months (it's literally been like spot invested party on my face) I decided to sort out my troublesome skin for good. I use the Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit wash morning and night. It makes my skin feel super clean and fresh. The smell is lush and I honestly feel like this product is doing wonders for my skin. It's already clearing up and the best thing about this product is it doesn't dry out my sensitive skin. It's the best of both worlds in a bottle. 

                                                  £3.29-Boots

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in Vanille.

Due to my oily combination skin, I often find that medium coverage foundations just don't work for me. I often find them slipping off half way through the day or find that they just don't provide enough coverage on my bad skin days. However, Bourjois's Healthy Mix Serum, a gel foundation which comes in 4 shades, is a real god send. It makes a lovely change from my usual Long lasting Mac Foundation, which can sometimes be a bit too heavy for everyday and I think might even be the reason for my breakouts. The Healthy Mix Serum is light yet covers all the pigmentation and redness I find myself with in the mornings. It's got a really refreshing smell and just gives my skin a lovely glow, so it's no wonder it's now one of my favourite foundations. 

£10.99-Boots 

Mac Studio Finish Concealer in NC15.

Being a massive Mac fan, it seemed only fair that I give one of their concealer's a spin. After reading some reviews that this concealer was quite drying and creased easily, I was really put off purchasing it. But as all products can react differently depending on certain skin types, I decided I would find out myself. On purchasing this product, I did find it quite drying but found out after a few uses it was probably because I was applying too much. I've been using this little beauty for a few weeks now and it's perfect at covering those pesky under eye circles and I find that just the right amount prevents creasing. My studio finish is in NC15 which is a great shade for brightening the under eyes and just making you look like you have had a great night's sleep. I love this concealer and it's coverage. 

£13.05 Debenhams 

Soap and Glory Shea Butter, Sugar and Peach Seed Body Polish. 

I've always been a massive fan of Soap and Glory since receiving a gift set from them a few years back. Their body butters and scrubs smell good enough to eat and this mini scrub from their collection is no exception. This Shea Butter, Sugar and Peach Seed Body Polish not only smells like heaven but is also great for your skin. It leaves my skin feeling really smooth and healthy. I love the fact it's mini size as well and for 2.50 it's a great way to try SG products without committing to a full size tub. Also great for travel. 

LOVING Soap and Glory so much!

Maybelline's 24 Hours Colour Tattoo in 'And on Bronze'.

I'm not even going to hold back on this one. I am full on in love with the Colour Tattoos by Maybelline, primarily the shade 'And on Bronze', which I found out about from beauty blogger, Essie Button. I'm always up for products that shorten the time I spend doing my makeup in the mornings, and this product really does do that! It's a cream eye shadow which stays put for 24 hours!? But for real though, who tests out these claims? Aha.

It is such a great product though. It applies like a cream in seconds but looks like you've spent ages blending in a number of brown eyeshadows. It doesn't crease (which for me is the best thing EVER) and just looks lovely with a brown eye pencil and a flick of mascara for an effortlessly glamorous look. It also comes in 13 different shades to match any makeup look! I just love this and I guarantee you will too. 

£4.99 Boots 

Garnier Soothing 2 in 1 make-up remover.

I've never been too fussy about makeup removal products, not realising just what an important part of the skin regime it is. I've been quite lazy about removing my makeup in the past and would tend to use makeup removal wipes, which I have recently found out are not great for your skin. So, after hearing some great reviews about Garnier's 2 in 1 Makeup Remover, I decided to try it out. The product is quite oily, which I feel doesn't dry out my skin like makeup wipes. It's also a multi-tasking product, the blue liquid being a remover for eye makeup and the white a cleanser for the face. It's really quick and takes of stubborn makeup in minutes without irritating my eyes or sensitive skin. Simple yet effective, I love this product!

£2.99 from Boots

Soap and Glory's The Greatest Scrub of All Facial Exfoliator.

I've been looking for a facial scrub that's gentle enough for my problematic skin and I think I've found the prefect facial exfoliator in the form of Soap and Glory's The Greatest Scrub of All. It's grains are really fine and gentle, so it's not as abrasive as other scrubs I've tried in the past. It smells SO nice and leaves my skin super smooth. I also think it's really helped my blemishes and I've seen a real difference in my skin's clearness. I love the fact this scrub is so gentle yet really refreshes my skin. 

£9.00 Boots

Non-Beauty Favourites:

In The Flesh.

As an avid Zombie film fan and a MAJOR fan girl of The Walking Dead, I couldn't resist biting into the new series of 'In The Flesh' on BBC Three. It tells the story of Kieran Walker, a Partially Dead Sufferer, re-ainmated with the help of a new Government Regime to put ex-zombies back into the community. After months of re-habilitation and medication, Kieran returns back to his home town of Roarton, where an uprising and vigilante groups have been set up to prevent the undead returning to the quiet, northern town. The three-part series, starring Luke Newberry, is a zombie series with a twist. It takes the idea of sergrogation and discrimination within society and gives it an alternative story. The days of brainless undead are long gone. The acting in this series is really admirable and mesmerising. You feel drawn and emotional attached to the characters within the first 10 minutes and the last episode left me howling like a lost puppy dog and sore eyes for hours. If you are a fan of the recent film, Warm Bodies, check this series out on BBC I Player now, you won't regret it!

Argo.

The historical thriller has added itself to my top movie list. Gripping and nail bitingly fast paced, this film doesn't need fake scares or demons to give you a fright. The fact this film is based on a real story is even more shocking. Fantastic storyline with strong acting from Affleck and his co stars, I loved the way this perfect piece of cinema had your heart racing and your head questioning for hours after it ended. Defiantly a must see for those who love drama!

Icomania.

A super addictive app, similar to the popular Four Words, gets you to guess the brand/character/film/country from a simplistic poster. It's topical, fun and relatively easy if you know your film and celebrity based references. It's also free which is an extra bonus! I've been addicted to it for a week and have almost completed all the levels. There are also constant updates, meaning the fun never has to end!

Free 

Mike and Ike

Just the most delicious sweets in the whole world. I'm addicted to them!! Jelly beans in tropicana flavours, who could want anymore then that!?