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Saturday, July 27, 2013

See Stars in Her Eyes

In the summer months, our makeup doesn't tend to stay on our face as well as other months of the year, so we need a little helping hand when it comes to staying put all day long. I've put together some of my favourite eye products I've been using the past couple of months to keep those eyes looking fresh till dawn.


An eyeshadow primer is vital in these summer months to keep your eyemakeup lasting all day. The lids of the eyes can get naturally oily,  no matter what skin type you have, so to control these oils a primer must be used. I love MAC Paint Pot in the shade Painterly for my skin, however this is a very light shade so it won't suit all skin tones. There are primers specifically made for the eyes which are good such as the Urban Decay Primer Potion or Inglot Eye Primer amongst others but I find the Paint Pots work wonders with soaking up any excess oils. Concealers can be used also but I would avoid using them if you have very oily lids.

If you know me at all, you know that eyebrows are, in my opinion, the most important part of your makeup. They lift the eyes, frame the face and really finish a look, if done right. I love using MAC Gel Eyeliner in the shade Dipdown to give my brows a defined, sharp look without being too much. I firstly define the arch and extend it into the tail. I then fill in the top of the brow, lifting it at the arch slightly to brighten the eye area. Using the excess on the brush I lightly fill in the outer half of the brow. Next, i use a spoolie brush to even out the colour and disperse some of that product into the inner part of the brow giving you a beautiful, natural ombré brow.
Using a gel liner through the brows in the heat is best as it is generally more water resistant than your average brow pencil or eyeshadow. This is perfect for if your out in the sun, in the pool on your holliers or just want your makeup to last that extra stretch.
Lastly for the brows, I am addicted to Catrice Eyebrow Filler. Like a mascara for your brows, this product has a small amount of pigment in it so when brushed through the brow hairs it adds a bit of colour as well as a beautiful texture. It also helps the brow hairs to stay in place keeping them perfect and sharp all day long.


These days I am loving a simple eye with a colour pop on the lip, but we all need a little bit of colour on those lids, just to keep it interesting. Under the brows I love using MAC Pigment in Pink Opal, a soft pearlescent shade that can be applied sheer or packed on for a more intense colour! 
On the lid, to add an extra bit of glow and sparkle, I love the MAC Pressed Pigments. My favourite shade is Warming Heart, a perfect soft gold shade with an infusion of fine glitter. I bring this colour up to the crease of the eye with a dense synthetic brush to get the best colour payoff. A little bit of a matte brown, around two shades darker than your skin tone, into the crease with a fluffy brush works wonders. It will break up the sheen of your lid and highlight colour aswel as giving definition to the shape of your eye.

Most days I like to wear my eyes quite bare, but if I'm looking to put in a little extra effort I love to add a classic 50's flick to give extra definition and to shspe the eyes. To do this, I use Inglot Gel Liner in the shade 77. This is by far my favourite eyeliner to use as it is jet black and it is 100% waterproof so it can be used on the lid or waterline and it will last all night long! 
This product has one downfall. It does tend to dry out quite quickly in the pot. When this happens I use a droplet of Inglot Duraline and mix it in with a small section of the liner to cream everything back up again. Good as new!! 
Duraline can also be used as a primer, to pack on pigment or glitters and to add moisture into dried out products such as gel liners, matte lipsticks, mascaras ect.

And last but not least is my all time favourite mascara, the Inglot False Lash Effect Mascara. The brush in this mascara is probably the best I've come across. I'm not a fan of Inglot mascaras in general, but this one really lengthens your lashes, adds volume and is jet black. I also found this mascara to last very well. I have gas mine around four months and it has only dried out now. Usually, I find myself changing mine every few weeks but this one lasts amazingly!!

Any questions just ask
Jx

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Sun-Rays and Ritches

This summer has been a bit all over the place here in Ireland. Rain to start off with! No surprise there, and then into a scorching heat wave, and then greeted with tropical storms, we don't no weather to pack our RayBans or our brollies into that all in one handbag!!

Well I've prepared my favourite makeup products for this summer to keep your complexion covered in the rain or dewy in those rays of sunshine!!


FACE:

This spring/summer I have started to use the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation in the shade 210. I am usually used to a full coverage finish from Revlon Colourstay Foundation but thought a lighter finish would be nicer for the warmer months. Being a medium coverage, this foundation can be worn quite sheer or build up to a medium-full coverage so can suit for any surprises Mother Nature has in store for us. I found the colour selection in this range to be very yellow. Even the pink shades are still on the yellow side of the scales. So if you are a yellow toned beauty or love your tan to be straight from a bottle, this should be perfect for you! However porcelain or very pink toned ladies might want to steer clear!!

As I've opted for a lighter coverage foundation, I need a bit of concealer for those problematic areas such as under the eyes and around the nose. My choice of concealers is the MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC20 (around 2 shades lighter than the 210 foundation from Maybeline). This concealer is of a fuller coverage so I apply it with a damp beauty blender to make it look more natural and blended.



Blusher, I think, is a must have for these summer days. A little flush of colour on the cheeks just brings that little bit of brightness to your face, honestly, it makes a world of difference! I just couldn't choose one colour to stick to, so I have my three favourite shades that I've been addicted to the past couple of months. Peaches, a beautiful orange toned coral colour, Fleur Power, a soft pink with a hint of peach, and Pink Swoon, a soft candy pink, all from MAC. They will change your life.......well, your face!!

One thing that is vital to give you the perfect glow is the highlighter!! Now before I go on, I must admit, I used to HATE highlighter on my face! The thoughts of it would send shivers down my spine! I would absolutely love it on other people and pile it on all of my clients but thought it looked like I was covered in sweat!! I am a changed woman! MAC Highlighter in Soft and Gentle is the most stunning soft, golden highlight that catches the light beautifully making your features stand out MILES!!


And finally, probably THE most important makeup item for the summer months is the Bronzer. To put over the foundation to warm up those cheeks, to put underneath the cheeks to contour beautiful shapes into the face or to wear with no makeup underneath just to give the face a bit of warmth when it's too hot to wear a full face of warpaint. I love MAC Bronzing Powder in Deep Dark for when I want a small bit of a glow to the skin or INGLOTs Face Powder in the number 31 if I want a matte finish.

Your face is now sorted for those unpredictable summer days, rain, sun or snow. Let me know if you have any questions.

Jx