How to Wear False Eyelashes and my Faves!

I’m always asked what my favourite eyelashes are to use and to be honest, I like a good few of them depending on the look I’m going for.  I don’t tend to wear them during the day but they are a must if I’m on a night out.  They can be fiddly to apply but with a bit of practice you can easily put them yourself.  Here are a few tips

• To start you need to have a small nail scissors to hand as well as a tweezers, some Duo glue, and some black eyeliner
• Once you remove the lashes from the packaging, put them on your own lashes to measure and if they go past your natural lashline or too far into your inner corner, they are too long and need to be trimmed.  I always find that most lashes do need a slight trim to fit or else they irritate your eyes and look wrong
• Apply the glue to the back of your hand, pick some up with the blunt top end of your tweezers and run it along the lash band until it’s all covered in a thin line of glue.  Wait a few seconds for the glue to become tacky.  Wipe off any glue that’s on the top of your tweezers.
• Look down into a mirror and apply the lashes holding them with a tweezers downwards on top of your own lashes
• Tuck in both ends and adjust until they are neatly on.  Use the blunt end of your tweezers to press the lashes into place.
• Don’t worry about the white glue showing at this stage, that will dry clear.
• When the glue is dry, go over the band with black eyeliner to conceal it even more.
• Ta da!  Flutter your lovely long lashes at everyone who looks at you!

These are some of my favourites and you can get them in most Boots and Penneys stores:

The i-Envy ones are only €3 in Penneys!

The Ardell ones I got in Salon Services but you can also get these in Boots they just come in different packaging, my faves are the Wispies & Demi Wispies and they around €7.  The Double Up ones are exactly that, 2 pairs of lashes together for a super dramatic look!

The MAC lashes above are the No 4′s , I also like the No 7′s and the corner lashes – No 20 are my absolute favourite for a natural look and are very easy to apply if you’re only starting to apply lashes yourself as you only apply them to your outer corners.  They are all €12.

The Salon System Natralashes are lovely and I would wear these ones for nights out or the Eyelure Naturalites in 107 are the same and you can get these in Boots.

The individual ones can be tricky to apply to yourself but it just takes patience and a steady hand.  I mostly use these for my bridal clients as they are so natural looking and give such a beautiful wide eyed effect.  You can get similar to these in Boots for around €7-8 also.

If you’re on a budget or wear lashes every day, I’d highly recommend these lashes below from Penneys.

And the best bit? They are only €1.50!!!  You can’t go wrong for that price, although the glue that comes with them is rubbish, but I always throw away the glue that comes with any box of lashes and use my Duo glue anyway.  You can buy the Duo glue in MAC or Inglot for around €10 and it lasts for ages.

I also have to mention these ones from Girls Aloud which are really fab!  My faves are Kimberley and Nadine ones below.

What are your favourite lashes? Let me know in the comments below

MAC New Clear Palettes

MAC have a new Palette which is clear so if you are a lover of MAC’s eyeshadows and collect quite a few of them I would recommend you check this out.

I popped my two new Green colours in to show you how they sit (more about them as well as a Green eyemakeup tutorial in another post!), you can put 24 eyeshadows in like this or if you use the insert that comes separately you can fit 15 shadows as below.  If you use it without the insert you can put a few blushers in along with your eyeshadows also, as MAC do blusher pans too, this is so handy for when you are travelling and only want to bring certain colours with you and have everything to hand in the one palette.

Clear Palette with Insert

The good thing about these is that you can also put other eyeshadows in with the MAC ones such as the Inglot eyeshadow pans which are also magnetic so you can have eyeshadows from different brands in the one palette which is only great!  These palettes cost €18 from MAC and if you want to buy the insert that’s another €8 so €26 for both.  There are other similar palettes you can use also.

Z Palette

The Z Palette is another good one that you can use for any eyeshadow and blusher pans, once you prise your eyeshadow/blusher pans from their original casing you can stick on the little magnatised stickers that come with the Z Palette to the back and they instantly stay in the palette!  You can buy these online from www.love-makeup.co.uk  and they are approximately €20/€22 with P&P as it’s a UK site.

Do you have a big eyeshadow collection and will you be getting these?

MAC Pressed Pigments

Mac Pressed Pigments

MAC has a new makeup collection out for Spring 2013 and as part of the collection, they have brought out some pressed pigments which have all the intensity of a pigment with glitter, but are compressed into a powder compact which makes them easier to apply yay!

They come in 12 different shades as above from light colours to dark intense colours and can be used on their own or over similar coloured eyeshadows for a pop of glitter (you must know by now, how much I love a bit of glitz!).  Pop these on the centre of your eyeshadow to give a pop of shimmer or apply wet to really intensify the colour.  They say that these can be applied as a highlighter to the cheekbone also but the glitter is so chunky that I really can’t see this being practical unless you want to look like a discoball!

Mac Pressed Pigments

Swatches

I got 2 lovely shades above, “Deeply Dashing” (left) which is brown with silver glitter flecks and “Smoky”  (right) which is a beautiful blue again with silver glitter flecks.  Both would be gorgeous over similar colour eyeshadows and I can’t wait to try them on myself or on my next photoshoot.  I also loved the dark “Jet Couture” shade but I have something similar from Chanel so didn’t pick it up this time but it would be beautiful over a dark smoky eye.

These are limited edition and are priced at €21.50 from MAC in Brown Thomas so grab them while you can!  Just because Christmas is over, doesn’t mean you can’t still sparkle

Christmas Party/New Years Eve Makeup

There’s no time like Christmas/New Years Eve to bring out the sparkle so this makeup tutorial will add a bit of bling to any party look.  I did a glitter/brown eye with glossy wine lips that’s just perfect for the party season.  If you prefer to just play up the eyes, you can also wear a nude coloured lippie with this that will look equally as fab

Here is the same look with a nude lip:

These are the products I used:

Foundation:  Bourjois Healthy Mix

Concealer: MAC Select Cover up concealer which is great for the under eye area as its got a lovely creamy consistency

Blush: Inglot AMC Face Blush in 87 which is a lovely liquid blush that gives a beautiful glow to your skin

Eyes step by step:

• First I applied Maybelline 24hr Colour Tattoo cream eyeshadow in Eternal Gold all over my eyelid
• I then took Collection 2000 Glam Crystals glitter eyeliner in 03 Funk (a gorgeous gold glitter) and applied it all over my eyelid up to just before the crease of my eyelid for an amazing sparkly look
• Then I shaded in the crease with a mixture of Kid and Cork Eyeshadows from MAC
• I lined my eyes with Maybelline Eye Studio black Gel Eyeliner which I winged out for a more dramatic effect
• Finally I applied Benefit They’re Real! Mascara to my top and bottom lashes and for even more glamour, I added false lashes

The great thing about using the glitter eyeliner rather than loose glitter is that it stays put and doesn’t end up all over your face the way the loose glitter does and although Collection 2000 is a budget brand their glitter eyeliners (which don’t have to be used as eyeliners!) are such good quality and they’re only €3.49 so you can pick up a few colours and use them in the same way as above using matching coloured cream eyeshadow underneath.

Moving onto the lips, I used the following for the Wine lip:

• I lined the lip in with Rimmel 1000 kisses lipliner in 063 Black Tulip
• Then I went over this with MAC Cremesheen Glass in Colour Saturation from the Christmas lipgloss collection

For the Nude lip this is what I used:

• First I lined my lips with Boots No7 Lipliner in Nude
• I then applied Rimmel Kate Moss Collection lipstick in 03 which is just the perfect Nude shade
• I then applied NARS Lipgloss in Orgasm which is a lovely Nudey-coral colour with a gold shimmer to it but you can leave this out or use a clear gloss if you want.

And that’s your party makeup done!  Will you try this look?  What kind of makeup do you think is perfect for the party season?  Let me know in the comments below

Oh and please excuse the state of my eyebrows, I left it too close to Christmas to book in for a wax and this is the result unfortunately :-/ will probably have to do a quick pluck myself til I can get an appointment at my regular Salon but that’s never the same as a good wax!

SAMPAR Paris Skincare

A few weeks ago, while wandering around the cosmetics section of Debenhams drooling over makeup, I ran into this brand of skincare, SAMPAR Paris.  I’d never heard of them before and that’s because they are new to Ireland but apparently they are a really well known brand in France (they’re sold in Sephora).  The sales assistant offered to enter me into a competition to win a gift basket of SAMPAR goodies and I gave her my details thinking I’d never win.  Well, I nearly fell off my chair when I got a call from her a few days later to say I’d won the goodies!  Fecking delirah I was I never win anything!

Anyway I’ve been trying out these products for a few weeks and I do like them so thought I’d do a review on what I got in case there’s anything there that’d suit you lot.

SAMPAR is a French cosmetic brand.  They don’t test their products on animals and all products are non-comedogenic – sounds great eh?

Now to the science bit: “We equipped all of our products with an antipollution shield, the urban advance complex. Its 3 active ingredients neutralize the negative effects of pollutants, relax the skin and boost its natural defences.”

Glamour Shot – Transparent Foundation – €39

They say: A cream with the results of make-up? Must be magic! Glamour Shot is the 1^st transparent foundation to be applied over your daily moisturizer. Watch unwanted shine, fines lines & wrinkles (83%*), pores, redness and blemishes fade away in just seconds. The complexion is immediately unified (91%*). After 1 month, the wrinkles and fine lines seem smoothed (91%*), the skin is like lifted (91%*), the face seems firmer (83%*). Results: Wrinkles are visibly corrected, the skin texture is smoothed, and the complexion is matte.

I say:  Transparent foundation? – no sorry it just doesn’t work for that, I don’t know about you but I need colour in my foundation to hide the redness and even my skintone…. maybe you could use it this way if you have absolutley perfect blemish free skin but since most of us don’t, this won’t really work.  Having said that, it  is good to use as a primer under your foundation as it smoothes everything out and creates an even base.  It can also be used over makeup to mattify the skin as a touch up.  It’s quite expensive for just a primer though never mind a foundation with no colour!

Ultra Hydrating Fluid – €64

They say: Intense hydration is your first defense against early wrinkles, and Ultra Moisturizing Fluid quenches thirsty skin, strengthening restructuring mechanisms and protecting it all day long.

Results: Wrapped in a cocoon of well-being and carefree, the skin reclaims its suppleness and vitality.

I say: Carefree?!  Not after paying that price I wouldn’t be!  Very pricey for a moisturiser I must say but if you want a good one then by all means splash out and treat yourself.  I do like this moisturiser though, my skin just drinks it up and it seems to be doing it good plus I love the pump bottle that dispenses just the right amount so you don’t waste any and so it seems to last for ages.

You’d be better off buying the set of 2 products below in which you get the moisturiser for free:

Urban Glamour Kit €39

Offer yourself the complexion of your dreams with the “must have” Glamour Shot, the skin care that reduces wrinkles and imperfections in 1 minute!

You get the Ultra Hydrating Fluid for free, rich in hyaluronic acid, that intensely moisturizes for a completely rejuvenated complexion.

Daily Dose Foaming Cleanser – €20

They say: Daily Dose Foaming Cleanser, a delicate blend of essential oils and lime-blossom water, lifts away make-up and impurities and restores a perfect balance to combination and oily skin.

Results: The skin is purified, balanced, clear and freed of excess sebum.

I say: I didn’t get on very well with this but then I’m not a fan of foaming cleansers, the dry parts of my combination skin really don’t like them.  Although this says it’s for combination and oily skin it still made my skin feel a little tight afterwards but then that’s just the way my skin is.  If you have very oily skin this will work well for you.  I gave this to my Mam and she loved it.

3 Day Weekend Moisturiser – €39

They say: 3 Day Weekend is a moisturizing face care with amazing tan activator and extender properties that gives the skin a breath of summer air. Its fresh and moisturizing gel stimulates the skin’s natural melanin, pigment necessary for tanning, for sunkissed skin without sun, self-tanners or make-up all year long.

The new and improved 3 Day Weekend formula promises:
- Intense 24-hour moisturization
- Up to 32% increase of melanin levels*
- Safeguard your sun resistance capital with SSP (Smart Sun Prevention)

I say: Hmmm… not sure about this.  I used this religiously every night and while it was lovely and quite moisurising given it has the consistance of a serum rather than a cream, it didn’t tan my face at all!  It doesn’t have any tanning ingredients in it so how it was supposed to do that I have no idea.  Nice moisturiser, but don’t buy this if you’re looking to tan your face.

Nocturnal Rescue Mask – €29

They Say: Night after night, the Nocturnal Rescue Mask becomes one with your skin to create a veritable reparative film and accelerate its natural regenerative processes. This remedy for blemished skin is the proud guardian of your skin’s purity and finesse.

Results: The skin is mattified, the pores tightened, marks and cutaneous redness eliminated.

Especially suited for oily and combination skins.

I Say:  I tried this every night before going to bed and I did actually notice a difference in the oilyness in my skin and it did tighten my pores and the price is not too bad so I would give this a thumbs up!

Overall, I was half and half with these products, they were good quality and seem to have good ingredients, however they have the prices of a high end brand - one of their Moisturisers is over €100! - so if your budget doesn’t stretch to that then this is not the brand for you.  I like the moisturiser  above but again, it’s quite expensive to buy on it’s own without the set.  Also some of the claims are a bit out there, colourless foundation and tanning moisuriser with no tanning ingredients?? Okaaaaay…!!

Anyway they are very generous with their samples so if you see the SAMPAR counter in Debenhams, check them out and ask for some samples of products you might like to try.

Benefit “They’re Real” Mascara Review

I’ve been trying out this mascara for a while now and I wasn’t sure about it at first but now, I actually like it!  It comes in a box with a free half-size mascara that you can throw in your makeup bag or if you’re a professional makeup artist, this is handy for keeping in your kit.

What I liked:

• You only need one coat with this mascara and it gives you fabulously long lashes
• The brush really separates your lashes and makes them look quite natural and not clumped together
• It will last all day and doesn’t flake off at all
• I love the little freebie mascara you get in the box, so handy

What I didn’t like:

• It can make your lashes feel very hard and “set” but that just takes some getting used to
• The brush can feel a little scratchy when you first apply it because it’s one of those plastic spiky wands
• If you over apply or apply 2 coats, prepare to get the spider eye effect!  One coat is really all you need
• It’s a fecker to get off!  Only an oil based eye makeup remover will remove this mascara, nothing else.  Even then I found I still had panda eyes the next morning and needed to remove more.  Not a bad thing if you want your mascara to last though!

Overall I’d give this a big thumbs up.  It give more length than volume so if that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll love this.

The set above costs €25 from Benefit Cosmetics and can be bought at most big department stores.

Try it and let me know what you think!

 

 

Oily/Acne Prone Skin – Best Foundations & How to make your base last all day

I’ve been asked this question a few times; Which foundation is the best to use if you have oily/acne prone skin and how do you get it to stay on for the day?

The answer to that is; It’s all in the prep! Basically you need to use a good primer to mop up the oil and give your foundation something to stick to so it doesn’t slide off your face by lunchtime. Then, rather than caking on the foundation to cover spots or redness, you need to put a light layer on and go back with a dry (rather than creamy liquid) concealer and conceal over the spots you want to hide, and set all with powder, lightly applied.

Here are a couple of products from each category that, when used together are great for oily skin:

Primers:

La Roche Posay, Effaclar Active Mat moisturiser – Although this is technically a moisturiser, it works very well as a primer for oily skin. Just use it where needed (generally the T-Zone) and it will create a great base for your makeup.

Laura Mercier Oil Free Primer – Does what it says on the tin, one of the best primers out there but pricey. This would be worth the investment if it were for a special occasion like your wedding or especially if you were getting married abroad and worrying about your makeup sliding off in the heat.

Foundations:

Basically any foundations that are Oil free (water based) will be suitable for oily skin

Makeup Forever Matt Velvet + Foundation– This is my go-to foundation for oily skin, it works like a dream and keeps any oily areas matt for hours. I use this myself on my combination skin and find it really great.

Revlon Colourstay for Combination/Oily skin– This is a great cheap foundation which again, works really well.

Concealers:

The best concealers for spots are ones with a “dry” consistency to them and contrary to what you might have heard, the colour should not be a shade lighter than your foundation as this will only highlight your spot! The colour should obviously match your foundation to blend everything in.

MAC’s Studio Finish Concealer – you only need a dab and it’s great for covering spots.  Don’t use under the eyes though, you need a concealer with a creamy finish for that.

Vichy Dermablend Stick Foundation – This works great as a concealer and is excellent for covering redness.

Powders:

Powders will set everything and make sure the foundation, as well as the concealer, stays in place and doesn’t melt off. The trick is to only use on the places you need it so you’re not caked in powder (don’t forget to powder over any areas you used concealer also). Use a velour puff and roll the powder into the skin, then dust off any excess with a large fluffy brush.

MAC Blot Pressed Powder – This is my favourite powder to use, it absorbs all oil and keeps you matt for hours. I get through tons of this between my own use and use on my clients!

Rimmel Stay Matt Powder – This is a good cheap version of Blot powder, while it’s not as good, it does the job if you’re on a budget.

Good loose powders are: Makeup Forever HD Powder or MAC Prep & Prime.

Follow those steps your base will be flawless and shine free for hours.

If you need to control shine during the day use blot papers rather than adding more powder. See my post here on how to touch up your makeup during the day.