Your Questions Answered - Tips and Tricks

Hello Again!!

Just a quick post to share with you my thread on netmums. I started this thread to get to know what sort of topics to cover for the blog and truthfully I've had so much fun answering everyones questions and knowing im giving you all a little boost of make up confidence that Ive just keep it going!! so check it out, no doubt someone somewhere has asked that burning question that you would love to know the answer too and remember you can always contact me on facebook or via email and I will always help if I can.

http://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/woman-504/hair-beauty-530/918253-make-up-artist-ask-me-anything.html

lots of love!!!

xxx

How To Tackle & Cover Large Pores

Hello Ladies,

Well today I thought I would discuss with you large pores how to help cure them and also how to help cover them!!

Large pores tend to be found on the cheeks and sides of the nose. there are a number of factors that cause large pores, genetics are one and age is another - as we age our skin loses the elasticity to keep it firm. Dirt and oil is another factor through insufficient cleansing and sleeping in make up and finally dehydration is in my opinion the biggest cause. Dehydrated skins crave water and over produce oil and enlarges the pores as they try to cling onto any moisture they have. 

How Can I Tackle Large Pores? 

To help cure large pores I would firstly increase the levels of water you drink, you should notice a massive improvement almost immediately with the size of your pores. I would next look at your skincare. Make sure you cleanse your skin fully every evening. Thats every evening without fail, no matter how tired you are!

I personally double cleanse, first with a balm or oil cleanser and secondly with a creamy soothing cleanser. Follow with a hydrating toner, then moisturiser. A toner will prepare the skin and will allow your moisturiser to penetrate deeper. Your moisturiser should not contain shear butter or other pore clogging ingredients.

Regular exfoliation is also advised. I currently use Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Toner on a daily basis, applying before I spritz with a hydrating toner. This will ensure your pores are clean of dead skin cells and fresh and prepared for your hydrating toner and moisturiser. I would also use an AHA exfoliator at least once a week to give your skin a real workout (Liquid Gold is my choice).

How To Cover Large Pores?

Sooooo onto the fun part. How do you cover those pesky large pores?? The concept is thin smooth layers for better coverage.

Primer

I firstly apply a good smoothing oil free primer. Benefit Cosmetics The Porefessional is pretty much, in my opinion the best at smoothing large pores, but as its silicone based it doesn’t work with all foundation. If you use a water based foundation (if the first ingredient is water or aqua, its water based!) then I would suggest you use Laura Merciers Oil Free Primer- slightly more expensive and not as visibly smoothing as The Porefessional, but gives a fab finished and smooth look under foundation.

Foundation

I would apply your primer with a flat foundation brush or fingers, pressing into the skin and leave to settle for a minute or two. Then apply your foundation lightly and blend into the skin using a buffing foundation brush – Sigma F80 or Real Techniques Buffing Brushes are fab. This will give you a more diffused airbrushed finish. Then reapply another light cover of foundation to any problem areas such as the pores and stipple into the skin using the same brush. I usually find that lightly patting the area with my ring finger also gives the same effect. Leave the foundation to settle for a minute or two.

Powder

Next you are going to need a matte loose translucent finishing powder. Matte skin hides pores a million times better than dewy. And finishing powder sets your foundation, so it will prevent it from slipping into those pores, creating those little sunken pockets of foundation. Instead of brushing the powder on with a large brush I find a tight packed kabuki brush works better or a small powder puff. You need to take the powder and press it into the skin rather than brush. The pressing motion fills the pores and doesn’t unsettle or move your foundation.

Blush

Skip highlighter on cheekbones and sparkly shimmer blushes as this will highlight your pores like a little beacon. Stick to matte blush and apply only on the cheekbone and not the apples of your cheeks. This will lift your face and will draw the attention away from the pores to the smoother skin at the temples. Illamasqua blushes are my absolute favorite (my personal favorite being the shade naked rose)

Have a go and let me know how it all works!!!

xxxx

The Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter Balm Cleanser and Herbal Toner Review

I am writing this long overdue review of some items that I received form the wonderful Organic Pharmacy. They were the Carrot Butter Balm Cleanser and the Herbal Toner.

Some of you may know that I have battled with my dehydrated acne prone skin for many years and have tried every acne solution going, but its only been recently that I’ve tried a different approach by switching my skincare to more a gentle line for sensitive skins. Gone are the harsh foaming washes and oil free moisturisers and in come the balms and hydrating mists and creamy moisturizers.

In my quest to find the perfect combination I tried The Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter Cleanser and Herbal Toner which I am going to review for you below.

Carrot Butter Cleanser

The thing I love about the Carrot Butter Balm is that its 100% organic and is made up minus any toxic and harsh chemicals. The gentle balm and the rich nourishing ingredients seemed like the perfect combination for my acne prone skin. The item arrived in a gorgeous white box and alongside the product Organic Pharmacy provides you with a muslin cloth and a little scoop so that you don’t need to use your fingers in the pot – which is amazing as you wont then be transferring any bacteria from your hands into the product. This is something I wish other balm makers would take note of!

So the official spiel says “Carrot Butter Cleanser is a balm cleanser that melts on contact with the skin. It is infused with antioxidant Carrot and Calendula as well as decongesting Rosemary and soothing Lavender for a really deep but gentle cleanse. It removes eye make up as well as dirt and pollution” which I think its pretty spot on!

The balm is actually quite solid in the pot, more solid than other balms I have come across, but it turns into an oil when warmed up in the hands and massaged into the face. This is great as it really means you can really massage it into the skin, but I found the oil left a residue even after removing with a hot wet cloth. I didn’t want to agitate my skin by scrubbing, but even with good firm swipes the residue was still there. I can imagine if you have drier skin then the slight residue would be soothing and calming and would leave you with beautiful smooth skin, but as an oily to combination girl I wasn’t too happy with it.

Another thing I wasn’t to overly keen on was the smell. I’m not sure what I was expecting but the smell is not overly pleasant. Kind of reminds me of liquorice! I guess with a name like carrot butter I was expecting a smooth rich carrot cake smell, well in my dreams!!

One thing I loved is that the website for the Organic Pharmacy lists the full ingredients which I wish more brands did and as you can see they are 100% natural. Fabulous!

All the ingredients used in this product

Rosemary (Rosamarium Officinale) , Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii), St Johns Wort (Hypericum Perforatum), Sunflower (Helianthus Annus) Oil, Vitamin E (Tocopherol) , Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera) , Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao), Beeswax (Cera Alba), Carrot (Daucus Carrota) , Chamomile (Anthemis Nobilis), Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) Oil, Lavender (Lavandula Officinalis), Marigold (Calendula Officinalis) Extract, Sesame Seed Oil (Sesamum Indicum),

Overall it does remove make up and it does soften the skin and isn’t too harsh and even though it’s a small pot it does last ages. I have been using for a month now morning and night and Im halfway through the pot and for £34.96 for 75ml I think that’s pretty reasonably priced.

I think it would be great for dry/ combination skins and it doesn’t feel harsh or stripping on the skin. The only major thing I’ve noticed is that I’ve had slightly more breakouts and I think that’s down to the slight residue the balms leaving behind. I’m going to continue using it and see if the breakouts improve, although I won’t be purchasing as I don’t think its right for my skin personally.

You can buy the carrot butter balm from here http://www.theorganicpharmacy.com/health-beauty/carrot-butter-cleanser/39

Herbal Toner

The Herbal Toner I found was absolutely lovely! I usually use two types of toner on the face on the morning – one being exfoliating (Clarins gentle toner FYI) and then I spritz this after to rehydrate my skin and prepare it for moisturiser. I then used just this on the evening. By spritzing this toner after cleansing I find it soothing and cooling and I find my skin absorbs the moisturiser better. As we are now coming into winter I’m getting excited as I know by continuing to use this toner I won’t suffer from the dreaded dry skin caused by central heating/freezing winds in that never ending cycle.

The Organic Pharmacy website says “For normal or combination skin. Witch Hazel and Aloe are infused with 18 organic herbs acting synergistically to minimize pores and keep the skin in perfect condition. Fresh scent of Sicilian Lemons lift and tone the skin” and again this is very accurate.

The toner has a very light citrusy smell and I have noticed that my pores are smaller so this is definitely helping. I have also been spritzing this on my back as I suffer with slight acne there too and it has seriously helped with the skintone on my back. My back looks more even and certainly less red!

Again the list of ingredients is exciting to learn and it’s nice to know your spritzing something natural and soothing instead of laden with chemicals, here they are for all you that are interested:

Aloe (Aloe Barbadensis), Rye Alcohol, Peppermint (Mentha Piperita) , Rose (Rosa Damascena) , St Johns Wort (Hypericum Perforatum), Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Palmitate) , Witch Hazel (Hammamelis Virginia) , Lemon Balm, Benzoin, Chamomile (Anthemis Nobilis), Chickweed (Stellaria Media), Elderflower (Sambucus Nigra), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Globus), Fennel (Foeniculum Vulgare), Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica), Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis), Horsetail (Equisetum Arvense), Lavender (Lavandula Officinalis), Lemon (Citrus Limonum), Marigold (Calendula Officinalis) Extract, Marshmallow (Althea Officinalis),

The toner retails at £28.96 for 100ml and although slightly higher priced than most toners this is definitely something I will be purchasing when it runs out. I’ve found that 2 spritz’ is enough for my face (1 spritz on my neck, 1 spritz on my chest and 2 spritz on my back) and I’ve only used a quarter of the bottle so far in a month which is great!

Overall this is a fab toner which I think all skin types would benefit from and I definitely cant sing its praises high enough and I’m not surprised its one of Organic Pharmacy’s best sellers!

The herbal toner can be bought from http://www.theorganicpharmacy.com/health-beauty/herbal-toner/44

* products were provided to me to review from Debenhams Beauty Club. 

Alpha-H Liquid Gold review

Since I am on a serious mission to have great skin Ive upped the anti with skincare using my pennies to splurge on skincare rather than make up at the moment. One purchase that I’m going to review for you is the Alpha H Liquid Gold. 

The company spiel is “Liquid Gold is enriched with natural glycolic acid to help you enjoy brighter, smoother-looking skin and to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Revitalise a tired complexion with Alpha-H Liquid Gold”.

This is a bit of a strange product as it applies like a toner but is actually a exfoliating treatment. It's best to apply at night 2- 3 times a week with a cotton pad before your moisturiser. Although you can skip the moisturiser, I personally found that my skin stung a little if I didn't apply it. 

My thoughts after using this product for 3 weeks is that my skin is smoother and tighter. I’ve just had my monthly breakout so I cannot say my skin is clearer but the spots I am getting aren’t hanging around for as long as usual and they don’t seem to be scarring (leaving that nasty red/purple colour behind). As this was no problem to incorporate into my skincare 2-3 times a week I will endevour with it and hopefully I can update this review in a few months time singing its absolute praises. I personally think that for all you ladies due to be married that this product would really pack a punch in the big day run up. As I was also a advocate of exfoliation Ive only noticed a small improvement in the way my foundation applies but I will 100% say that if your not a regular exfoliator then this will knock your socks off when it comes to how your make up will look on your skin. This will be especially great for ladies whose makeup usually goes patchy or flakey.

DIY Vintage Bridal Make Up

Hello lovely bridal ladies!!!

This post is all about how to create a gorgeous vintage look that looks amazing for a vintage themed wedding. I have included a before and after photograph of the look so you can see exactly what the products look like altogether and I will take you through each step from start to finish. Let me know what you guys think and if there is any looks that you would like to see. 

Products Used:

Laura Mercier oil free primer

Dermablend foundation in Opal used as a concealer

Luminess Air primer

Luminess Air Ultra Foundation in No 2.

Laura Mercier translucent finishing powder

Rimmel Exagerate Lip Liner in Red Diva

Benefit Cosmetics Lipstick in Zero guilt

Nars Smudgeproof eyeshadow primer

Stila kitten eyeshadow

Make up geek crème brulee eyeshadow

Mac shroom eyeshadow

Benefit cosmetics browzings in no 4

Mac Blacktrack eyeliner

Illamasque naked rose blusher

Loreal million lashes in blackest black.

Mac emphasize powder

1. PRIMER – I firstly applied Laura Merciers Oil Free primer to a clean and moisturized face (waited 5 mins after applying moisturizer). You can use your fingers for this. 

2. CONCEALER- I next used the dermablend under the eyes and on any blemishes. I used Dermablend as it’s the best product for coverage that doesn’t cake or crease under my eyes. You also only need a very tiny amount. I buffed this in using Real Techniques Domed Crease Brush. 

3. FOUNDATION – I used the Luminess Air airbrush foundation with light sweeps waiting 1 minute between layers. I used 5 layers in this look. (See my Review here it for more information). 

4. EYES – as the foundation is drying I applied Nars smudgeproof primer all over the lid using my finger. I applied the colour crème brulee by make up geek into my crease line using a Mac 217 brush, blending upwards, outwards and slightly down onto the lid. I then patted on Kitten eyeshadow by Stila all over the lid using a basic flat eyeshadow brush. I patted this on as it’s quite a loose eyeshadow and can cause a lot of drop off onto the cheeks. If this happens use a fan brush to sweep away. I again blended a little crème brulee into the crease again and down onto the outer corner of the eye and under the outer lower lash. I next took Macs shroom and blended a little into the inner corner of the eye and under the brow bone using a pencil brush. I finished the look by applying Macs Blacktrack onto the upper lash line created small subtle flicks and also tightlined into the upper and lower lashline using a small angled brush for precision and added two coats of Loreal million Lashes mascara. 

5. POWER – I next took a kabuki brush and patted Laura Mercier loose powder onto my face to set the foundation and give that classic matte look I pat and don’t sweep as sweeping can move your foundation. I then used Macs emphasize powder lightly under the eyes precision powder brush to create light and a slight contour and also on my cupids bow. 

6. BLUSH – I used Illamasque Naked Rose blusher on my cheekbones and blended outwards with a real techniques blush brush to create a more natural flush. 

7. BROWS – I brushed my brows with a browbrush and then used the powder from Benefit Cosmetics Browzings to fill in any gaps in my brows and then used the wax to shape and set the brows. 

8. LIPS – I lined the lips with Rimmel Exagerate Lip Liner in Red Diva and filled the lips in with it. I then went over the top with Benefit Cosmetics Zero Guilt Lipstick. This lipstick is amazing as it’s the most long-lasting red lipstick I have ever found and also its blue based which means my teeth also look whiter.

Hope you guys all love this as much as I do!!

How to stop undereye concealer from creasing

Hello ladies,

Just thought I would do another make up application post as I know how popular they are and I always seem to get emails asking how to do apply various things. One question I get asked a lot from you lovely older ladies is how to cover up those dark circles when you have fine lines and wrinkles as concealers seem to sit in those lines or crease. 

Well firstly here is a list of products that I use. There are cheaper versions out there which are absolutely fine and you can use instead:

• Moisturiser
• Damp BeautyBlender Sponge
• Nars smudgeproof eyeshadow primer
• Mac prolongwear concealer
• very cheap box of tissues
• Laura mercer loose translucent powder
• Tapered crease brush (I use a Royal & Langnickel for this). 

First of all apply your moisturiser under the eye area and leave to sink in for a few minutes. Next take a tissue. The cheap face tissues are the best as you want it a thin as possible. Pull the tissue apart so that you have a very thin layer. Lay the tissue over the eye area and press gently over the moisturiser with your ring finger to remove any excess oil. 

Next take your eyeshadow primer (clear primers are better for this) and place a straight line of it from the inner crease downwards. Using your finger pat and press this into skin until you have a smooth base. Next take your concealer and place dots from the inner crease outwards. Using your beauty blender press and bounce the concealer into the under eye area pulling slightly downwards and upwards towards the temple so it looks like a Nike tick. Keep patting until blended. Once blender take your tissue again and place over the eye and lightly press using your ring finger again. Don’t smudge the concealer, your just trying to absorb any excess oil. It’s the oil in products and your skin that causes the creasing. Finish by lightly patting some loose powder over the area with a small long tapered brush to set the concealer and stop it moving. 

And that’s it!! Your undereye concealer will last a million times longer that usual and the eyeshadow primer should prevent any creasing, exactly how it does for your eyeshadow. 

If you have any questions or would like some advice then your welcome to comment below or email me at herefordbridalbeauty@hotmail.co.uk and ill reply as soon as I can. 

xxxxx

25 beauty ways to use Coconut Oil

I recently bought some coconut oil for use in cooking and researched the different ways I could use this in beauty and I was suprised at the hundreds of different recommendations so I thought I would compile a list for you of the best ones I've found and maybe you could let me know of any that you have tried out!! Im definately going to use it as a body scrub and Ill try it out on my hubby's Psoriasis when it flares up this winter!! Happy Reading!!



25 Beauty Uses for Coconut Oil

1. On the skin as a moisturiser (body and face)
2. As an eye-makeup remover (removes even waterproof mascara)
3. To lighten age spots when rubbed directly on the skin
4. As a naturally SPF 4 sunscreen
5. Topically and internally to kill yeast or yeast infections
6. As a massage oil
7. A tiny dab rubbed on your hands and then through hair will help get rid of friz
8. Mixed with equal parts sugar or salt for a smoothing shower body scrub
9. Rubbed on lips as a natural lipbalm.
10. Topically, can help damaged skin heal faster after injury such as a bruises or scabs.
11. As an incredibly intensive conditioner- Rub into dry hair, put a shower cap on and leave for several hours.
12. On feet to fight athlete’s foot or fungus
13. Can help sooth psoriasis or eczema
14. Rub coconut oil on the inside of your nose to help alleviate allergy/ hayfever symptoms
15. Can help reduce appearance of varicose veins
16.  Can help speed the healing of sunburn
17. As a natural shaving cream and after shave lotion
18. When used consistently on skin it can help get rid of cellulite
19. Can reduce the itch of mosquito bites and sooth the itch of chicken pox. 
20. Can help resolve acne when used regularly over affected area.
21. Can be rubbed into scalp or overplucked eyebrows daily to stimulate hair growth
22. Mixed with salt to remove dry skin on feet
23. On cuticles to help nails grow.
24. Rub into elbows daily to help alleviate dry, flaky elbows
25. Naturally clears up cold sores (and softens lips!)

I bought mine from Neil's Yard for £4.50 which you can buy here  http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/Coconut-Oil

Neils Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm

Soooo as a lady who previously (before I was introduced to beautymouth.com) thought I had very oily acne skin actually turns out I have sensitive dehydrated acne skin. The oiliness was just my skins way of saying "look lady you really need to drink more water so I don’t have to work so hard!" the first change I made to my skincare routine was to give up foamy cleansers. Foaming cleaners are seriously drying and after you cleanse/ wash your face your face shouldn’t feel light and dry. I took the recommendations from beautymouth and tried a balm cleanser instead. The cleanser I chose was Neil's Yard Wild Rose Beauty Balm.

Why you ask? Well I live in Hereford at the moment and there is a serious lack of good skincare stockists/ department stores/ actually good shopping shops in general! (Herefordians will agree with me on this) and with skincare I like to see the product before I buy to ensure its a good size and that I get all the useful information that the sellers (who usually know these products inside out) can provide. To my luck there is a Neil's Yard shop in Hereford and it has exceptionally lovely and very knowledgeable staff who are just bursting with organic information.

The beauty Balm is a bit of a cult product and I would say is possibly Neil's Yards best seller and now I know from personal experience that it definitely deserves it.

The list of ingredients is refreshingly natural and organic and it feels great knowing your aren’t filling your pores with chemicals:
 
Rosa canina (Wild rose) seed oil*, Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil*, Cera alba (Beeswax)*, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea butter)*, Cannabis sativa (Hemp) seed oil*, Borago officinalis (Starflower) seed oil*, Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium) flower oil*, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) leaf oil*, Boswellia carterii (Frankincense) oil, Cymbopogon martini (Palmarosa) herb oil*, Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli) leaf oil*, Ascorbyl palmitate, Tocopherol, Citral, Citronellol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.
*Organically produced ingredient. Natural constituent of essential oils listed. Made with 99% organic ingredients.

The product comes with its own muslin cloth which is good and I use this along with good old flannel face clothes. I use one per day and then put them in the wash basket to ensure I'm only using clean clothes on my skin.

The balm itself smells amazing and feels slightly oily but creamy and due to the thicker texture than oil glides over your skin like silk. You apply this onto dry skin and massage and cover your entire face including eyes. It’s organically produced and doesn’t irritate eyes in the slightest (I usually have sensitive eyes).

Next with a running warm-slightly hot tap run the cloth under until wet and wipe the balm off. If you wear quite heavy make up, you may need to repeat with the balm or cleanse again with a different cleanser (Alpha H milk cleanser is my 2nd cleanse). Then finish with a toner and a moisturiser.

My skin is left feeling amazingly soft and not in the slightest dry or flaky. It feels clear and looks brighter. As this is a balm it’s also super versatile. You can actually use this as an overnight treatment as well or a moisturiser if you’re especially dry. I just cannot sing its praises enough!

My skin is super perky and my make up goes on so much more smoothly and stays fresher for longer as my skin isn’t so irritated and dehydrated any more. I would highly recommend investing in this balm and it’s worth every penny!!!

Neil's Yard Beauty Balm costs £37 for 50g and you can buy from  http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/Wild-Rose-Beauty-Balm

Beware of Mineral Oil

Hey ladies just another quick post to make up for the massive delay in new posts recently!!

Just thought I would make you aware of an ingredient called Mineral Oil. It’s used widely in cosmetics and heaven forbid some skincare products as well. It’s a very cheap and nasty base ingredients used as a binder or bulking agent. It’s very well know to block pores, cause spots and irritate skins. Alot of cheaper cosmetics use this due to its cheap costs and actually even some top end brands use it too.

As an acne sufferer, since sorting out my skincare and removing cosmetic products containing mineral oil from my personal make up routine I have noticed a massive difference in my skin. It’s no longer as red and sore and my scarring has dramatically reduced. yyyyeeeaaaahhh!!!

Have a look at the ingredients list on the back of your products and any future purchases before you buy. There are much better ingredients these companies should be putting into products, one is Almond Oil which acts exactly the same as Mineral Oil as a base ingredient but is naturally found and much better for your skin!
If you are using a product that contains Mineral Oil (Bio Oil is a good example) and you love it then please carry on. Mineral Oil wont harm your skin (like melt it off) I’m just saying in my opinion if you want the best possible conditioned skin then Mineral Oil shouldn’t appear anywhere near it!

balance Me Radiance Oil

If you are someone who suffers from spots or breakouts or acne or you have bad acne scarring and have tried anything and everything from expensive creams to toothpaste (never put toothpaste on your face!!)  Then I would suggest that you try balance Me Radiance Oil. It comes in a large spray version for £30 or a smaller rollerball version (10mls) for £15. I would totally suggest the rollerball version as its super convenient.  

This little rollerball is carried around with me wherever I go and any sign of a red bump gets rolled to death. Using an oil like this one for spot fighting is much better for your skin and your spots and helps prevent scarring and will heal the spot quicker or zap it before it comes to ahead so to speak. Also by using oil on the spot it will leave the skin soft and smooth making the spot easier to cover up and blend rather than using a treatment that will dry the skin and cause the spot to crust. Crustiness is impossible to hide (trust me I deal with it a lot in my line of work). You can conceal the colour but you can’t conceal the uneven texture.

Everyone should own one of these it will be one of the best investment you could make in the fight against spots! 

Radiance Oil costs £15.00 from www.balanceme.co.uk

Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo

Hello lovely ladies!!

Just thought I would update you all with a little product I was recommended by a lovely shop assistant after randomly complaining to her about how I wish dry shampoo didn’t leave my black hair grey!! I’ve tried all the brunette dry shampoos and black hair powders etc but they always and I mean always leave my face or hairline/ ears dirty looking where I have accidently caught my skin. The smile on her face when she had the perfect answer for me, no smugness or superiority from her, she was truly lovely!!!

What’s the answer!! Big Sexy Hair dry shampoo!! It’s actually clear!! And when I say clear I mean completely clear!! See the picture below with it in my unwashed hair!!!

No slightly grey tinge or dirty hairline!!! Amazing!!! The formula is clay based as apposed to powder based like the batiste and friends lot. It is very mattifying and I wouldn’t say it’s ideal for wearing your hair down and straight (it would feel dirty and wouldn’t have much movement until a few hours later). It kind of feels heavy at first, butttttttt and it’s a big butttt this is perfect for hair up days, even more so that I now reach for this instead of mouse and hairspray. It has a perfect consistency and hold to keep hair in place exactly where you want it. It also doesn’t have the crispiness of hairspray and it will leave you updo looking soft.

They used to sell this in boots along with the full line of big sexy . . .  but it seems to be much harder to find. I’ve been buying this from Amazon. You only get a small can of 250ml for roughly £7.99 but if you have dark hair or even bright coloured hair and you find that dry shampoos are greying your hair then I would 100% recommend this!!! It’s a black hair girl’s best friend!!!

If you want to buy or check it out further then heres the link!!  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sexy-Hair-Volumizing-Shampoo-150ml/dp/B001U6FIVE

Skincare Routine advice from Beautymouth.com

Hi ladies!!!!

Sorry for the mega late post!! I’ve been away with the hubby and have finally got back into my bridal routine!! Phew!

Just thought I Would link to a fabulous blog that I’ve heard about among the Make Up Artist Circuit and it really is amazing. If you have ever struggled with a skincare routine or would like some advice on products for your skincare type or even if you are just interested in beauty and want an enjoyable and funny read then please check out Caroline Herions blog at beautymouth.

The link below is for her skincare routines for mornings and evenings in a straight talking, down to earth and very funny way. I love her sense of fun and everything she says is spot on!!

http://www.beautymouth.com/2013/06/routines-cheat-sheet.html

Well guys I’ll get on and write a few blogs of my own!! Coming up is the battle of the beauty sponges and also some high street dupes that could literally be the high end version!!

Love you lots!!!

xxxx

Moroccan Oil Luminous Hairspray in Strong Review

You know guys I love trying new hair products, especially when I find great quality ones that do exactly what they say they are going to do! I recently bought some Morroccan Oil Luminous Hairspray in strong. Its a hairsprays with the cult argan oil built into it. So, not only do I get a great lightweight hold, my hair looks healthier, shinier, and totally naturally beautiful. The super fine mist is just enough to hold my hair in place without weighing it down and you'll never have to worry about it looking or feeling greasy (as what happens with hairprays with added shine) or "crunchy" (as what happens when 99% of other hairsprays are used). It also has that "Moroccan Oil" famous scent, which I think I am truely addicted too!

  My Thoughts
 
This product is just the best. I swear it's the only hairspray I will ever use again (until they bring out a better version if thats possible!) to lock in my style and add some smoothness and shine when wearing my hair down and curly or to give incredibly grip when up. It tames flyways, holds my style, and leaves my hair feeling touchably soft. Unlike other hairsprays, this one doesn't smell chemically or feel like a hairspray at all. I was honestly worried I had wasted my money when I applied it the first time, it was so light and non hairsrpay feeling, since I was getting ready for a bridal shoot and used it at around 8am I didnt think it would last the whole day. When I got home at 4:30pm, my hair was still holding its style and didn't look greasy or "hair sprayed" in the slightest. The Luminous HairSpray is an awesome, natural-looking, and has increddible hold.

All in all, this is a fabulous addition to the Moroccan Oil product line up. On average, each can of hairspray runs for roughly £16 depending on where it's purchased. The cans hold 330mls so I'd say the price is fine considering the solid brand name and addition of argan oil. although we would all like this to be a bit cheaper! I bought my from www.feelunique.com where I registered for their VIP discount which means I get 5% discount from the Morrocan Oil range. check it out and let me know what you think!

Graftobian HD Creme Foundation Palette

Hello ladies!!

I thought I would write a little review about another of my favourite foundations. If I'm not using Airbrushing foundation on clients then my next go to foundation is Graftobian HD Crème Foundation. It’s just truly beautiful. Its super pigmented so you only need a small amount and its one of those foundations which you can add moisturiser or water or highlighter to, to thin out or to give it a good glowy boost. It looks amazing on all skins and really is a dream to work with.

It’s not one of those foundations that you could wear everyday as its very old school and was created for the stage and contains some quite heavy ingredients that could cause massive breakouts, but as I said its super pigmented, has no SPF and looks amazing in photographs so it’s a one to keep for special occasions. It’s also pretty cheap for what it does and you will find this foundation in most make up artist’s kits.

Graftobian has a great colour range: there are 59 shades that are divided into warm, neutral and cool tones so there’s something to suit almost everyone. However the shades all have random names like ‘midnight marigold’ and ‘hidden magic’ so it’s difficult to guess your shade. Luckily they have created a little chart which compares the shades to those of other more known brand foundations so its easy to find your right shade.

They also sell these foundations in five shade palettes, which is great for starter kits and also good if you tend to go up a shade in summer and down a shade winter or you simply need to mix shades together to get the perfect one. The palettes are split into their Cool, Warm and neutral groups.

You can apply the foundation using your fingers, a foundation brush, stippling brush or beauty blender sponge. I find it looks its best when applied with a stippling or buffing brush, but the beauty blender sponge does give more coverage but doesn’t leave skin with the ‘airbrushed’ finish that you get from a brush. So I would recommend you cover blemishes and under eye area with the sponge and then use a brush for the rest of the face.

In spite of the crème’s oily texture it is surprisingly long-lasting with and without a setting powder. It does look its best when set with a good finishing powder such as Laura Mercier's translucent powder. I had assumed when I first got it that it would slip off on more oily areas like the t-zone, but I was pleasantly surprised when 8 hours later oil had just started to show through. It’s also pretty good with humidity so ideal for holidays or for ladies getting married abroad.

Price wise it retails on Amazon for £26 for the 5 foundation palette, which when you think you are getting 5 shades is pretty cheap! You also really don’t need much and it can even be thinned out if necessary. The packaging is a little cheap and plasticy, but it does its job at keeping the foundation safe and dry so who cares!!

Overall the product has versatility that many brands advertise but few deliver: sheer, medium and full coverage all in one (small) package and also with a variety of shades which are great for mixing and matching. Brilliant in my book!!

Graftobian can be bought from http://www.graftobian.com/commerce/product.jsp?prodId=1618&catId=2063

Luminess Air Airbrush Foundation

Good Morning lovely ladies!!

I thought I had better start writing some reviews about products that I use in most of my bridal work. The first thing I thought I would write about is the airbrush make up I use. I originally saw Luminess Air on QVC and was a amazed at how quick the application was and the coverage it gave. I immediately started to Google search it and came across a mixed bag of reviews. Some people loved it and some people really didn’t take to it.

photo taken from www.luminessair.co.uk

In case you don’t know what Airbrush Make Up is, think of the gun mechanics use to spray paint cars. It’s a very similar process. You pop a few drops of a special airbrush foundation into the gun. It’s special as it’s very very watery and is fine enough to be delicately sprayed through a needle onto the skin using pressured air and with a trigger you can gently spray a fine layer of foundation onto the skin. This layer dries into 3-4 secs in which you can apply another layer, and then keep applying layers until you have reached the coverage you want. As you use so little foundation (we are talking drops) it’s very economical. As the foundation is so fine, it gives flawless results that’s virtually undetectable in photographs and is used a lot in HD work.

I took the plunge and ordered the professional kit to try out, as the machine has a 30 day money back guarantee I felt comfortable knowing if it didn’t live up to its claims I would send it all back!

When the set arrived it came in a very well presented box with cute silver butterflies all over. In the box was the machine with the attached airgun, 4 starter shades in light, a primer, a bronzer, a blush and glow highlighter, a water bottle and a CD which shows you step by step on how to clean and how to apply.

So the first go was a complete fail! Not only did I overfill the gun and ended up with foundation spilt all over me, but I spotted loads and was way too heavy with myself. The foundation looked patchy and awful and I thought really emphasized my blemishes. Booooo

Now after using this gun for almost a year I have learned exactly how to manage it. I realised after the next few tries that it was going to take a while to get used to it and I watched lots of you tube videos and tried various different primers and concealer and now I wouldn’t be without it for bridal work.

What I quickly realised with the foundation is that every other product you use in conjunction with it needs to be water based as well. Such as primers, concealers, highlighters, powders. Anything else (such as silicone) doesn’t mix well with the foundation and eventually separates! Some great products I know work well are:

Primers: Laura Mercier Oil Free primer, Mac pre+prime primer, No7 oil free primer,

Concealers: Luminess Air Concealer, L’Oreal True Match Concealer, Mac Pro Longwear, Vichy Dermablend, Mac Studiofix Concealer.

Powders: Laura Mercier loose powder, Mac Prep+Prime loose powder, Ben Nye Banana powder, Silkcorn, Clinique loose powder

Highlighter: Mac Shapewear in Emphasize, Mac Vanilla Pigment

The finish the Luminess Air gives is beautiful. It leaves skin glowing, natural, flawless and even. Certain tricks I’ve found gives a better finish such as applying concealer first where needed, not airbrushing on the eye area as this sits in fine lines around the eyes and makes the area look dry and wrinkly and not using airbrushing on more mature skins. Again it makes lines and wrinkles more emphasized. Also allowing the Luminess Air to dry completely before applying powder really makes all the difference. I usually apply the foundation and then move onto the eyes before coming back to the skin to powder. Also you need to only apply the lightest pressure on the trigger and always, always keep the gun moving. The finer the mist and the more you move the gun, the better the end result.

The application time is increased in my view from traditional foundation by around 10 mins, but it’s cleaner and more hygienic as the Luminess Air gun never touches the skin and it photographs so well that it knocks all my other foundations out of the water. It’s also water based which means that its not clogging your skin the way silicone foundations do and it allows your skin to breath, which is great for girlies with problem skin.

The only downsides to the gun with me is that i still cannot apply the eyeshadows, blush and bronzer correctly, but this isnt such a big dealbreaker for me as I would much rather use traditional powders as I believe they would give a better finish, but I guess some people would want the whole hog with this.

Due to the application times, I just wouldn’t have the time to apply this to myself every morning (but wish I could!) so I use this for nights out or special occasions so please check it out and if you want to see some of the end results using the Luminess Air check out my gallery on my website www.herefordbridalbeauty.moonfruit.com or here is an example of a vintage look done on myself!

I bought the kit from the UK Luminess Air website but ive noticed that the make up itself is very expensive (£34 per foundation) on there, so I buy the make up form the US Luminess Air website www.luminessair.com. The shipping is $10 which is about £6 when you spend over $50 (about £30) on the site, which is great. The foundations on the US site are about £12 and they always have some sort of promotion on which is also great. Overall I’m very pleased with adding this onto my bridal work and I know my clients love it.

My Top 10 Eyeliners

Hey lovely ladies,

Just thought I would do a top 10 list of eyeliners that I have used and loved. I know how frustrating it is buying new eyeliners to then find out they smudge, crease, move and disappear. So here is a list of some of the best out there in my opinion from both High street brands to high end from gels to good old pencils. They are in no particular order just listed how they have appeared in my head!!

1. Boujoris Clubbing Liner

The spiel:
Its ultra resistant formula lasts for 8 hours. It won’t budge while you're dancing the night away!
The precise supple brush allows for easy application and a high definition result.
100% tear and sweat proof!

My thoughts: 
It really is a great 100% tear and sweat proof formula. It’s a little tough to remove, but I would recommend this for brides out there. No matter how much you cry it won’t come off! It’s a liquid liner and the brush is pretty thick and accurate. I have always found that this dries out in the bottle pretty quickly but it’s worth it for the price. Buy

2. Mac Fluidline gel liner in Blacktrack

The spiel:
Ultra-smooth, Fluidline's gel formula provides the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish. Goes on 'foolproof' with a brush in an easy dip-and-stroke action. Long-wearing. Smudge-proof. Lines up in a rich array of colours and finishes.

My thoughts:
This is my go too eyeliner. It’s so easy and beautiful to apply and gives a solid black colour. If left to dry it has great staying power or if still wet you can smudge really well to give a Smokey effect. It can also be applied on top of false lash glue to blend in the tell tale fake lash line. The packaging looks high end with it being glass and although its small this gel liner will last you ages, in fact it will probably dry out before you can finish it. It doesn’t come with a brush but I always use a hard angled brush and this is certainly one of my favourties. It doesn’t surprise me that it has a cult following. Buy it here.

3. L’Oreal Paris Super Liner gel Intenza in Pure Black. 

The Spiel:
Create your signature look and dare to be Graphic with L’Oreal Paris Super Liner Gel Intenza. The luxurious gel texture glides on easily. Up to 24 hours of black. Comes with its own professionally inspired brush.

My Thoughts: 
This was the first gel liner I ever bought and I bought it as a dupe to Mac's Blacktrack above. It dries to a glossy finish (matte lovers will not like this!) and it comes with a great little brush. The brush is actually really good for a freebie and can do both thin and fat lines nicely. It isn’t the brush of my choice though as I prefer the hard angled brushes. It does take a little longer to dry than most liners and to me this liner doesn’t last as long as Mac's Blacktrack but for the price and the free brush it’s certainly not a product to sniff at.
Buy it here.

4. Mac Kohl Pencil in Smolder.

The Spiel:
 A soft-on pencil liner that lines, defines and shades the eyes with rich colour and a silky-smooth, matte/pearl finish. Ophthalmologist tested.

My thoughts:
I do have a love-hate relationship with this pencil, but for some reason it’s always my go to kohl pencil. It gives an instant one swipe full colour payoff and is lovely and soft, so perfect for sensitive eyes or for my clients who get nervous with me being so close to their eyes. Smolder remains smudge-able for awhile and eventually sets, but I do eventually see some additional smudging after wearing it for all day on my lower lash line, but I forgive it as it’s so beautiful! Buy it here

5. Mac Kohl pencil in Teddy

The Spiel:
A soft-on pencil liner that lines, defines and shades the eyes with rich colour and a silky-smooth, matte/pearl finish. Ophthalmologist tested.

My thoughts:
I had to list this one separately to smolder above as they are both so different. Teddy is an absolute must buy. It looks so different and amazing on everyone. It’s a gorgeous bronze/ brown pencil with a slight golden pearl shimmer to it. I've found that no matter what your eye colour, it will make it pop. It’s also great to use for ladies who hate wearing eyeliner as it’s so beautiful and really not in your face colour. I’ve also used teddy as a smudged base for a brown Smokey look and it looks fab painted all over the eyelid with a gold pigment washed over it before it dries. Amazing pencil! Buy it here.

6. Barry M Gel Liner

The spiel:
For a rock ‘n’ roll finish try our NEW Waterproof Gel Eyeliner collection available in Black, Silver and Champagne!

My Thoughts:
I originally bought this on a whim, because Boots had a 3 for 2 on offer. This is a great little buy and is very cheap and cheerful. They liners make great eyeshadow bases as well. This dinky little pot has a brush hidden in the lid which is a nice twist and the brush is quite sturdy and well made. You must be a little careful with this liner as its best applied lightly and thinly and it isn’t a one for applying on top of false lashes. Applied thickly or over false lashes I’ve found it dries quite flakey. But as a base or applied thinly its fine and gives a smooth finish. Not the most amazing eyeliner, but convenient, small and great for the handbag for touch ups. Buy it here.

7. Avon Supershock Coloured Gel Eyeliner Pencils

The spiel:
Gel style eyeliner in an easy-to-use pencil for a bold intensive colour.

My thoughts:
These come in 6 colours - although they aren’t very adventurous. Steel is a great little find though and looks best when paired with blue eyes. It gives a rich intense liquid like colour but applied like a pencil. They are great value and last a long time. They are very smooth and silky to apply and don’t drag on the skin. 
Buy it here.

8. 17 Tattoo Me Semi Permanent Eyeliner

The spiel:

Eyeliner that lasts after the after party.

SEVENTEEN Semi Permanent Liquid Eyeliner, for up to 48 hours wear! Tattoo Me!

My thoughts:
When I read the spiel above I first thought "bold little statement for a rather cheap high street brand" but actually this is a wonderful little find and is quite true to its word. People who know me well know how much I love boots seventeen brand. They really pack a punch when it comes to giving the big boys a run for their money. the only issues I have with it is that you need to be really accurate with the application as it takes ages to dry and if you smudge or make any mistakes its going to be a nightmare to fix. This eyeliner has real staying power and even oily eye make up removers struggle to remove it, so be careful!!
Buy it here. 

9. YSL Effet Faux Cils Long Wear Cream Eyeliner in Bronze-Black

The spiel:
Effet Faux Cils Long-Wear Cream Eyeliner creates a spectacularly intense line without creasing or flaking. Its soft, silky formula formulated with quick-drying oils creates a lightweight base for smooth application without skipping. Beautiful and mess-proof, it stays put for smudge-proof, all-day wear.

My thoughts:
I bought this as it was recommended to me by another professional. The bronze/black gives a similar effect as to Mac’s teddy in that it’s beautiful on any eyes and really gives a rich effect that makes eye colour pop, but its more of a golden colour to Teddy’s Bronze. It’s rather expensive but easily worth it. The packaging is expensive and it looks great on a dressing table. It’s longwearing and very easy to apply. It dries quickly and goes well over the top of false lashes. It also lasts really well in the waterline.  
Buy it here.


10. Nars Larger-Than-Life Longwear Eyeliner

The spiel:
Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner takes liner to the next level. Rich, creamy color that glides on smoothly with a completely Smudgeproof finish. Incomparable 12-hour wear with no smearing and no caking. Deeply dramatic shades named for the most iconic streets in the world.

My thoughts:
I adore these eyeliners so much. They come in 14 amazing colours and give a full rich colour in one sweep. The liners are soft and blendable and dry pretty fast to give a smudgeproof finish.  They twist up and but also there is a built in sharpener in the end which is great on shoots. Barrow Street is my favourite. It’s a pastel green colour and looks amazing on brown or blue eyes. they really last on your eyes and I’ve found that even after the 12 hours it says it wears for there is very little smudging.
Buy it here.


So that was your list!! phew!!! Do you have any thoughts? Or is there an eyeliner that is your absolute must that I didn’t mention? let me know below!!