EmJ Lipgloss and Pencil Rolls

One of my New Years resolutions for 2014 is to get my business more organised , I have bits and pieces dotted all over my house , and paperwork is a massive downfall . The only part of my business that is well organised is my kit bag . I like everything in palette form and separated into their individual pouches but that is probably another and very long blog post in itself .

But one thing that has really helped is these lipgloss and pencil rolls from the emJ Company   . They sell for £14 each and I have 4 of them . It makes my working life so much easier when I can see all my glosses and pencils without having to rake through piles of them . I came across the brand on twitter and they have an array of various brush belts, set bags and rolls perfect for a working makeup artist , and come in many cute design options too. 

They have elasticated holders so can fit pretty much most lipglosses I would imagine , certainly fits all the ones I own , and can be rolled up and tied to be popped I to your bag . I clean  mine in the washing machine to clean at a low temperature as my kit bag can get messy or can easily be wiped clean which I like and come out like new . 

Think one of the brush belts will be next on my list as the one I have is from my training days , just can't decide which one .......

(Full range can be found at www.theemjcompany.com )

New Real Technique Brushes For 2014

There has been a quiet buzz regarding the new Real Technique brushes being released, I  have always been a fan of the range so I am excited to see how these perform and when they come to light . On sale on amazon already for pre order available on the 8th January 2014. However I'm just wondering why there has nt been more on these as they are highly regarded brand withing the makeup artist and beauty blogger community. 

There are 4 new ones within the range  - 

(From left - right) 

Retractable Bronzing Brush 

Retractable Kabuki Brush 

Silicon Liner Brush 

Retractable Lip Brush 

Nice to see retractable options making life easier for those that like to travel or carry their top up in their handbag . The silicon liner brush also sounds interesting, not something I have ever tried so will definitely be buying that one . 

Best Of The Sales Bargains

Rather than traipsing into the shops hunting for bargains I thought would share a few things that have caught my eye whilst online browsing .

First up is a Laura Mercier body and bath duet in creme brûlée , a bath salt and body cream in one of my favourite deserts . How can I resist .... Reduced to £15 from £30 at Space NK.

Next is a Lancôme Ombré Absolue eyeshadow quad , full of the colours I have been wearing recently , taupes for my day to day , and loving experimenting with cranberry shades recently, for a smokey eye . In John Lewis for £16.50 reduced from £33

Another palette that caught my eye due to the sheer volume of product for just £26.50 from £40 in Selfridges. There is pretty much everything there to complete many eye looks . Liner , shadow , mascara and brushes .

Last but not leasts a good  old Soap & Glory gift bag at £17.50 from £35 in Boots. 

Hope you find lots of bargains out on your sales shopping escapades . Let me know if you find some great deals . 

Mac Punk Couture Collection

I do have a fascination when all the spring makeup collections come out, they are by far my favourite , with various pastel shades, all pretty and nice and makes me think of the better weather coming soon.

However if your fed up of looking at various shades of nude, MAC may have the collection for you , with gothic blacks and neon pigments , it goes agains the grain . Launching in the UK on the 2 January 2014 .

LIPSTICKS

Studded Kiss - retro matte oxblood red

Instigator - retro matte blackened plum

Hautecore - retro matte black

Punk Couture - retro matte blackened grape

PIGMENTS

These have to be my favourite 

True Chartreuse 

Neo-Orange

Magenta Madness

CREMESHEEN GLASS

Jet Boy - sheer black with gold pearl

No Apologies - sheer black with purple pearl

Dark Outsider - true black

NAIL LAQUER

Impassioned 

Formidable 

Nocturnelle

EYE SHADOW

All Races - matte taupe/mauve 

Magic Moor - velum pearl blackened plum 

Idol Eyes - lustre violet with gold

Carbon - matte black

Can't wait to get my hands on some of these to try , not sure they will make my everyday kit but possibly for photoshoots and creative work .

Will you be tempted to release your inner punk with a collection like this ???

Yay It's Christmas Eve

There is a constant buzz of excited children in my house today , it can only mean one thing it's Christmas Eve. With daily updates of "how many sleeps?" My 5 year old has now decended to hours . 

I do love Christmas and smugly sitting with all my presents bought and wrapped today is a day for lazing around , eating chocolate and watching Christmas film after Christmas film cuddled in with the kids .

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and looking forward to what the new year brings .

How are you guys spending this stormy Xmas eve???

 

O I Do Love A Christmas Jumper

This year the whole family has to take on my affliction of the tacky Christmas jumper . If you can't wear something quite as rediculous  at this time of year , when can you is what is say.  We each have one to wear for our Christmas Day luch .

I made the mistake of asking my children to pick my jumper and they selected this one for me ,  - 

And this one for Hubby - 

They are pretty bad would nt you say ??

However of you prefer something a little less on the tacky side I have selected a few of my favourites  .

Topshop £50

New Look £27.99

Next £35

Dorothy Perkins £29 

The Christmas jumper has really taken off in the last few years and not just reserved for crazy uncle . Will you be wearing something quite as bad as mine , or picking something a little more glamorous . Let me know xx

A Cautionary Tale - Eyelash Extensions

This post was intended to take you through my experience of eyelash extensions , their uses , how they can look and how much I love them etc however it has turned into a bit of a nightmare . By no fault of the technician at all , what follows is completely my fault I have to say , as she does an amazing job. But if you are similar type of person to me , that can't just leave something alone it might just make you think twice about having them done .  

Just under 2 weeks ago I had my appointment to get some eyelash extensions fitted , I had had them in the past a few years ago and they lasted a few days despite meaning to be a longer term option, so never thought anything of it other than a wee treat to myself . I also am qualified to fit them even though I haven't for probably 2 years now. This is due to putting all my beauty treatments aside to concentrate on makeup artistry. 

Once applied I absolutely loved them , I asked for fullness and a little length , not wanting them to look ridiculous. I got exactly what I wanted . Did nt need any mascara , even without makeup I looked like I could have left the house without being mortified if I had bumped into someone I know . 

After week 1 all was still well , I had lost the odd one here and there but still looking good and still very pleased . A few days later there was one lash that had started to niggle at me as it had went a little squint so I gave it a tug and pulled out several instead . Oopsie . I then had to take them all out as I had this small patch that was missing any extensions , and it was really irritating me  so I proceeded to put oil on my lashes as I knew this would weaken the bonds and remove the false lash. Numerous attempts of steaming and oil applications I lost a few but still pretty full lashes remained . After becoming increasingly impatient I started really rubbing and pulling at my lashes till I got every single one out. 

Needless to say I was left with sore eyes and practically no eyelashes left. Why O why did I not just make an appointment to have them removed I do not know , but once I had decided they had to come off it had to be done then and there .  And it's going to be a good 6 months of daily false eyelash application for me  before they grow back to hopefully what they were . 

again I to have to say it was nothing to do with the application , it is merely down to me and how I react to anything of the false nature , it's not the first time , and should know better . Nail extensions last a few days before I feel like my finger tips are throbbing and have to be removed , ruining my nails in the process due to me picking them off rather than using correct methods. Also had micro ring hair extensions fitted , I could nt even put my head on the pillow they hurt so much and a day later I sat with a pair of pliers and  had to remove them . 

So if your like me and a picker , biter , can't leave that little bit that's niggling you alone , please don't do what I did .

First Applied 

What is now left of my eyelashes , most of the ones on the closed eye shot are my bottom lashes sob, sob ( sorry picture quality is not the best ) 

Dealing With Brows

For the last few years brows have been big business, and I still meet many clients who say to me that they do absolutely nothing with them. The impact having a well groomed and defined brow makes is incredible . Just look at the images of Megan Fox below before and after , it speaks volumes .

I believe it a begins with having them shaped by a professional, whether you like waxing, plucking , threading  or HD Brows , seeing a professional can make it so much easier in the long run as they will give you the grounds to build upon. I like to tint mine also as I am quite fair but dye my hair darker . 

I would always suggest going with your natural shape , don't expect Cara type brows if you have barely any hair . But a guide to help you know where to start and stop is pretty simple .

You want them to begin, if you can imagine a line leading from the side of the tip of your nose , leading through your inner eye and up.

The end should be,  if you start from the same point on your nose through the outer corner of your eye.

And the highest point or arch should be , again from the same starting point , through your pupil if looking straight ahead . Hope my diagram explains that better . 

A lot of people need to elongate their brows or missing the start of their brows , so to gain some of this back you need to fill them in. Personally I have good start and end but missing the tip of my arch so I spend more time on that. 

There are a few ways to go about this , my preferred methods are my Smashbox Brow Tech To Go (£19) in blonde which has a wind up pencil in one end and gel to tame any strays and secure them all in one product, and no need for a sharpener - I can never find one when I need it  . Or my HD Brows powder palette in Foxy (£19.96) with an angled brush , this has a few shades geared towards brunettes.   The key is to start with light strokes and build up, if you go in heavy handed you will end up with something that looks like it has been felt tipped on , which is not a good look . You still want them to look natural, just more defined and they really will frame your face, can make you look younger and lift the eye. 

OUCH - Sensitive Teeth

A strange one I know , but in these winter months I seem to notice it more with the cold winds rattling against my teeth. After 4 babies it has really taken its toll on my teeth and noticed a real difference in the last 2 years since my last baby was born. Numerous visits to the dentist and almost a monthly dental bill looming it has made my teeth incredibly sensitive . I have always looked after my teeth and years of agony and ridicule with braces as a teen  means I have tried my best , so it is so disappointing when I see the way they are deteriorating . 

I have tried numerous products and toothpastes from Sensodyne to Arm and Hammer , the only one that has made any kind of a difference is the Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief. It comes in various formula s and I opt for the whitening as that's another area of concern for me. 

I cannot praise this highly enough,  I feel like one of those people on the adverts where it's a miracle and can bite on a piece of ice again .

MAC Masterclass Brush Collection

M.A.C introduces a unique, breakthrough range of brushes that deliver a high level of performanceand revolutionize   personal makeup application.  Ergonomically designed for even and effortless application, lush, silky , seamlessly. The brush handles feature a special grip design and a tilted brush tip for ultimate  precision.

I know the blog has been a bit MAC heavy for the last few posts , sorry, but a trip to Harvey Nics was to blame . But since they have been realeased in America I have been seeing so many reviews of these brushes filtering through. So far most of what I have read has been positive so  I cant actually wait to give them a try when we can get our hands on them  readily here. 

There are 3 brushes all synthetic so useful for cream and powder products. 

Linear 1 brush which is for use to line lashes , lips and fill brows. With short , stiff bristles to ensure precision . 

Oval 3 brush - is more multi purpose . Can be used for eyeshadows, concealers , and precision powder application . It is shaped to help get round the contours of your face.

Oval 6 brush -  For your foundation , blush and powder to create a flawless coverage .

Do you think that MAC can re- invent  the makeup brush ??  What's your thoughts and will you be giving them a try ? 

Mac Warm Soul and Dainty Blush Review

I have seen numerous youtube tutorials using these 2 blushers and it's not something I have ever really bought from Mac and went in specifically to buy them. I did come out with considerably more but that's the deal with mac , you can't just stop there , always something else to tempt you . I was told by the counter staff that Dainty is really popular and very rarely stays in stock and I only managed to grap one that was found behind the till . 

Looking at them I was drawn to Dainty straight away , a nice soft  petal pink and is my usual go to shade . On the other hand Warm Soul was not what I was expecting , described to me as a non blush for those natural days it looked really orange and scared me ever so slightly . 

They are mineral based so go on softly and can be build for more intensity and have a lovely luminosity to them . I can see Dainty be used regularly within my kit . The Warm Soul I have had the opportunity to use on a wedding makeup trial where the bride wanted a soft bronze look and worked really well , so might be saved for those kind of looks . 

What are your favourite Mac products??

Xmas advent tip 12

So my 12th Xmas advent tip following on from yesterday's is how to achieve fuller looking lips. Line you lips on the outer edge of you lip line , don't go too overboard or your end up with a trout pout . Then a little highlighter across your cupids  bow and using a lighter lipgloss or highlight placed in the cente of your bottom lip will give the appearance of more luscious looking  lips . 

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres review

Gloss? Stain? Lipstick?  Why Compromise?  Have it all.

Live the sophistication of a boundless glossy colour that truly fuses your lips in a new shine.  A GLOSSY STAIN you barely feel. OUR NEW MOVEMENT IN LIPWEAR IS BORN. 

I am always on the search for long lasting lip options for my bridal work and a stain is generally always the longest option but doesn't always give me the look I want. So have seen some amazing reviews on this product and thought I would give them a try .  I picked up 4 colours in shades  106,107,15 and 25 .(from left to right )So I could try a natural and something a bit more vibrant . 

I love the packaging and the window to see the colour that it contains . It has a doe foot applicator and holds just the right amount of product, which makes it really easy to apply. It went on smoothly and the colour spread evenly on my lips. 

It really is a good mix of lipstick, lipstain and gloss. There was no stickiness and felt really comfortable to wear . The glossy element lasted for hours even after eating and drinking and when it eventually did wear off I was left with a nice stain to the lips and not something that I usually find where it's faded more from the middle and a distinct line round my lips 1990 's style.  So really impressed and will be a great addition to my kit. In fact I still have staining on my hands from yesterday where I tried the samples on my hand . 

There are loads of colours in the range and can't wait to add more to my collection especially a red tone . 

Tip 11 of my advent calendar of beauty tips

To get precision lipstick application I always like to line my lips with a sharp pencil and use a lip brush as opposed to straight from the bullet , especially when you are using a red or dark shade as it is really noticable when it's not neatly applied.

I also like to go round the outside of my lips with a concealer on an angled brush to clean up the edges or this can also help rectify any little mistakes . 

If you do make a major mistake aaaahhhhh - take a damp cotton bud, press firmly on the mistake and then push it in towards you lip instead of side to side or you will just spread the lipstick further out .  Here is a pic of some of my precision lip work , photographer by Claire Coulter . 

On the 10th day of Christmas advent tip

If false eyelashes are n't your thing , then to really open your eyes curling your eyelashes is a must and a step not many people do . It can really make a difference . My tip is firstly to curl you lashes if you don't already and to get extra curl and hold heat the curlers up using your hair drier (not so hot that it burns though people  ) and then immediately apply mascara . 

Traditional ones are great but why not try theses new S shape curlers by Shu Uemura for precision curling .(£20 ) 

Advent Tip number 9

If you planning a dark smokey eye for your xmas party , do your eye makeup first . And then you  are able to clean up and eyeshadow fallout or mess that you have made before doing you foundation.   

Murad Acne Complex 30 day trial

In utter despair with my skin and a recommendation from a friend I have decided to try the Murad  Acne Complex kit . The kit arrived with enough product for 30 days in which I am hoping to see some improvement in my skin.

The products include Clarifying Cleanser and wipes, exfoliating acne treatment gel, skin perfecting lotion and acne spot treatment. 

The key ingredient like many acne products is Salicylic acid which exfoliated the skins surface and removes excess oil, resulting in a smoother and even complexion.

And Hydrogen Peroxide which spirals deep into the pores blasting bacteria with oxygen and water . It removes all the bacteria , toxins and dirt to leave you with deeply clean skin. 

It claims to not dry out the skin which is my usual issue with these types of products , which can look more unsightly than the acne itself . 

I have taken a few before pics of my face today but not feeling confident enought to post them just yet , I will wait till my 30 days are complete and will check in again with a results post .

Advent tip number 7

You know what it's like when you have finished all your eye makeup , you go to put mascara on and you get it all over you lid ruining your makeup. To help prevent this use an old business card (or have also seen a plastic spoon used )and place behind the lashes so you can coat your lashes without the fear of getting it everywhere . 

My Most Wished For Beauty Gift Guide ..

Now I know I have pretty much harped in about xmas in every post recently . But its pretty hard to get away from . So I have composed a list of my most wished for beauty gifts  .

Now it is a proven fact a girl cannot have enough lipgloss. And Stila never fail me. Their Colour Me Glossy is an amazing set of 9 lipglosses from £29.50 covering every eventuality from nude hues to the bold .

Next on my list is the Sarah Chapman Daily Essential collection.  Sarah is a world renowned facialist  and products are much raved about so its about time I tried them .  It contains Ultimate Cleanser, Age Repair serum, Dynamic Defence, Overnight facial and a cleanisng mitt for £49 

The Clarisonic Mia 2 (£125) has been a much longed for item and have debated over for ages due to mixed reviews.  It uses sonic technology and works with the skins natural elsticity to remove impurities and leave skin softer ,  smoother and cleaner than traditional methods.  I have always had troubled skin and hoping this may be the answer. 

Finaly something for the nails and this Nails Inc Nail polish Diary collection (£42) is perfect . 12 full sized nail polishes with varying shades and special effects will take me from the everyday to the days I feel like something a little different . I love the Nails Inc formula and is one of the best for lasting on my nails .

Heres hoping hubby is reading . Whats on your wishlist ???

Alexa Chung for Eyeko set

Alexa Chung is well known to being partial to a cat-eye so who better to be in conjunction with Eyeko . This is a duo of Eye do liquid eyeliner and Eye do mascara . Perfect for recreating her gorgeous look . 

Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner - Is a waterproof, black eyeliner in a felt pen style applicator which I find is the easiest option for an eyeliner novice .  It boasts that the nib gives optimum control during application and dries to a waterproof finish that do doesnt move, flake, or fade .   It can also be used in the waterline which I would normally not attempt with a pen style eyeliner . I used this in my previous post and have to say its a really nice eyeliner pen , that wears well and doesn't budge or feather like some. 

Eye Do Mascara - I have always loved the eyeko range of mascara s for my own professional makeup kit  . Mainly due to the packaging as I can squeeze the tube to get  mascara out when using disposable mascara wands . But also the formula it build s up well and gives great length easily .  However it can also be good for your lashes with key ingredients Keeatin and Ginkgo Biloba combined with botanical proteins infused with vitamins A and E .

A really nice kit and at £35 a nice  stocking filler for Xmas perhaps . 

On the 6th day of Christmas ...

Now I know that's not quite right but the songs going round and round in my head.

 So tip number 6 of my Xmas advent is if you really struggle getting a straight line when doing an eyeliner flick or smokey winged out look  , take a little tape , make sure to make it a little less sticky by sticking it to a hand first and run it from your  bottom lash line towards your eyebrow . Then run your eyeliner along the tape, when you come remove the tape you are left with a crisp liner flick . 

Please excuse my red eyes , they are fine , just full of the cold 

Advent tip number 5

Can you tell I have already ran out of different ways to name thes posts ...

Well tip number 5 is for those that wear lipstick and have had the embarrassing situation when you have went to the bathroom and catch yourself in the mirror to see lipstick all over your teeth. 

So to stop this , once you have applied your lipstick if you pop your finger in your mouth and slowly pull it out . And all the excess lipstick that tends to get all over your teeth will end up on your finger . 

Five festive tips to take you from desk to dancefloor

With Christmas party season upon us and a lot of office parties happening , I have come up with a few solutions to take your work/ day makeup and transform it into ultra party glamour with as little products as possible . 

Now in an ideal world we would be cleansing all our makeup off and starting again , but in reality I know we pile the products on top when we are short of time .

So to keep products to a minimum I would start by refreshing your face with spritz of Avene Eau Thermale ( from £3.15 for 50ml). Now this might be enough to revive your base and in which case I would miss the next stage .

However If your needing a little more , I love to pop a little Bare Minerals foundation (£25 per 8g)on top of my day makeup , it doesn't need to be set and will cover a multitude of sins. 

As for your eyes a nice shimmery shade swept across the whole lid even using your finger will add a nice party feel and lining your eyes using something like the Avon super shock gel pencil in black (£6) will define the eyes and placing it in the waterline will make it a more intense look  .

A change of lip colour will instantly change the look , going for something more vibrant or a red will transform it into a much more festive look .  

Finally a spray of dry shampoo into the hair to take away any greasiness that has build up and add instant volume and texture for a tousled feel. Something like TIGI Rockaholic is one of my particular favourites .

Then your all set to go party , in less than 5 minutes . Have fun ...