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!!

Barry M Gelly Nail Varnish Satsuma

I thought I would write a quick review of my thoughts on the new Gelly nail varnishes by Barry M. I have always been a Barry M Nail Varnish fan as the colours are strong and they are quick and easy to apply. My only bugbare with them has been that on my finger nails the varnish hasn’t lasted more than 2 days without chipping.

My delightful friend Rosie popped over one night and brought with her, her new Barry M Gelly Nail Varnish in Satsuma, which a gorgeous summer strong orange colour.

Barry M describes these nail varnishes as "Barry M Hi Shine gel effect Nail Paint provides an extra glossy finish in just one coat.- Highly-pigmented, chip resistant formula- Gives a glossy, gel-like finish with a single coat- In a range of colour-pop hues".

Satsuma Gelly Nail Varnish

I must admit the statement is true!! The colour is just as strong and fab and easy to apply as the original Barry M Nail Varnishes but the finished look lasted 7 days without chipping on me and that was without a top coat! When Rosie explained I didn’t need a top coat with it and that the varnish will dry quickly and give a high shine she wasn’t wrong. My nails were beautifully shiny and with 2 coats the colour was flawless and beautiful and dried completely within 15 mins. I was mightily impressed. I cannot believe these little beauties have passed under my radar without me noticing and I'm so glad Rosie introduced me to them!!

Picture taken from Asos.com

I shall be going out immediately to purchase all the colours I can get my mitts on but I especially love the pomegranate colour and at £3.99 with a buy 1 get 1 half price on at boots I will be doing this sharpish!!


The Gelly nail varnishes can be bought from http://www.boots.com/en/Barry-M-Hi-Shine-Gel-Effect-Nail-Polish_1281299/

Simple smokey eyes using a kohl pencil

Now I know there are lots and lots of tutorials on hoe to create smokey eyes, but sometimes you just don’t have the money or the time to create a full on smokey eye and just want something that is simple to do, but yet is very very effective.

I am going to show you have to a very quick smokey eye. This is great is your not very skilled or just don’t have the time to create a full eye effect and im only going to do this with using a khol pencil. 

The pencil I used in these pictures is Boujoris 16hr khol. I really love this pencil. It’s relatively cheap at £4.99 but yet has great staying power once it has dried. It goes on very much waxy and then dries to a harder finish. Once trick with this look is if your pencil is too cold it wont be easy to blend. Hold the pencil in your hands for 5 mins before you start. The heat will allow the pencil to be easier to work with.

First step would be to prime your lids to give the look staying power. I use Nars smudgeproof with a light dusting of face powder over the top, but if you don’t want to use a primer then use your normal foundation and powder your lids.

Take your khol and draw a thick half circle from your lash line into your crease. It doesn’t have to be smooth or accurate (as you can see mines quite messy!)

Then take a smudger (usually eye pencils have one at the other end) or a thick stiff eyeshadow brush or even your fingers and blend inwards towards the inner eye and also downwards towards the lashline. If you make any mistakes or blend too far or too much then use a cotton bud to gently wipe where’s needed.

Then use the same brush and gently run this under your bottom lashes. The remaining product on the brush will create a gently smokey look under your lashes.

Finish the look buy adding khol to your waterline and add lots of mascara. 

Very very easy!!!