Category: beauty

What’s In My Make Up Kit?

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Warning! This is a long one…

As a Make Up Artist I am forever getting messages about the products I use, how I use them, what I use on clients and what’s in my kit. This post will be an overview of my die hard products that are never too far away from my kit.

My make up and my kit make up are separate so that I know I can literally get up and go the morning of a wedding or day of doing makeups. Not only that, but it’s good to keep your make up and kit make up separate in terms of hygiene. I wouldn’t use an eyeliner on someone that I use on my myself for example, even with cleaning it. Perhaps that’s just me, but I like them separate.

The products I use I like them because I trust them, I have used them for years, they suit a large variety of skin types and are easily packed up. I would love nothing more than to pack up every type of highlighter and bronzer I own but I would need 3 suitcases. It’s important to pick the best of the bunch and keep it compact.

Hygiene
Before you even think about touching someone’s face or going near a make up product please make sure that you have a hygienic set up. In one zip lock bag I always have
– Spray bottle of water
– Spray bottle of alcohol
– Brush cleaner
– Hand sanitiser

You can pick up empty spray bottles anywhere, I grab mine from Boots as you can get different sizes and some even come in packs.
Hand sanitiser is one of those products that can smell so strong and I hate the thought of someone smelling that on my hands so I use The Body Shop Sanitisers in my kit. They have so many wonderful scents, I love the Satsuma one! They are £2.50, in a small enough size that will fit neatly without taking up too much room and they are usually 3 for 2 as well which is amazing!

Tools & Accessories
In addition to your hygiene you should of course have the following in your kit
– Clear travel bags. I get mine from eBay as I didn’t want to spend too much on them as I bag everything! You can also get them from the likes of Boots, Superdrug and even Primark!
– Disposable Mascara Wands – you can again, get these anywhere. I get mine from Mac, because I’m boujee but you can’t them from Sallys, Amazon, eBay, etc
– Sharpener (I sharpen and alcohol pencils before every use)
– Brushes, of course this goes without saying
– Eyelash curlers – I live for the Charlotte Tilbury Life Changing Eyelash Curlers
– Small scissors
– Metal Palette (I have a My Kit Co one – it’s great for mixing foundations)
– Tweezers
– Eyelash glue
– Cotton pads & cotton buds

Skincare
I do be genuinely shocked when I see make up artists start to work and they go straight in with primer or foundation. What. Are. You. Doing? I always use moisturiser, don’t get me wrong it doesn’t have to be anything fancy! Just use some type of skincare before applying, the make up will glide on so much better and the skin will look and feel fresher. Again, I have a zip lock bag with travel size cleanser, toner and moisturiser as well as a pack of wipes. I stock up on the No. 7 wipes when. they have the £5 off vouchers in Boots!

Primer
Some people love primer, some people hate it. I am one of those people that love it and I have many to prove it! For years I used the Smashbox primers but I fell out with them when they stopped doing the blue one! I now use the Make Up For Ever primers. They have one to suit every possible skin type and I do own most of them!

I would highly recommend for anyone even just starting out if you got the Mattifying Primer and the Hydrating Primer as most people can fall into the dry or oily category and at least that way you have something to suit the majority. If you feel like you want to expand The Smoothing primer gets rid of pores like nothing I have ever seen! They do mini 15ml sizes, £14.50 of some of the primers too which is a great way to try them out however, the larger 30ml size, £26 is better value. I have 30ml of the Mattifying, Smoothing, Hydrating, Nourishing and some of the Radiant primers as these are great for different skin tones, then a 15ml of the Redness Correcting Primer. Primers genuinely last me a really long time and unlike foundation where I find everything runs out at once, primers I will only need replacements every few months.

I also have the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter’s. While not technically primers or foundations, they are more of a complexion booster so if a client is asking for nice glowy skin you can bet that they have this all over their face. I currently just have shades 1, 3 and 5 but plan on expanding because it’s just SUCH a beautiful product.

Foundations
I have a hard time committing to one foundation. Like I have a few variations in my kit but can never decide if I want to just have one type of foundation to keep it simple or to cover my back have a few different formulas.
All my foundations are Mac Cosmetics, I trust them and I know how to work with them. I can make them thicker, make them lighter and I know they work well with the primers.
If you are just starting out, to save on expenses get familiar with the foundations you are interested in and get a few colours that you can mix to suit everyone but, please get a shade to suit darker tones. You don’t want to get caught out and not have the right shade for someone!

I have Studio Fix in probably too many shades… Pro Longwear as well as Face & Body. These foundations see me through every type of make up that people want, whether they want something sheer, full coverage, matte or dewy I have got you covered.

Concealer

I have tried concealer after concealer and the best one that I have tried that suits a wide variety of people is the Make Up Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer, £4. Now, there are SO many different colours which is amazing for a brand to have but it doesn’t mean you need to own all of them. One of the key things about being a Make Up Artist is that you need to make do with what you have so just aim to have something light, medium and dark at first. Then you can add to your collection.

Contour
Contour isn’t something that I do on everyone so I don’t see the need in having loads of products for contouring and highlighting so sticking to the basics is key. I am in love with the Technic Cosmetics Colour Fix Cream & Powder Palettes which retail for £6 online but you can grab it cheaper in stores. I recently picked up a few in Franklins for £2.40!
They are great not only from a price point of view but genuinely really good products! I used to use the Anastasia Beverly Hills which are amazing of course too, but I don’t seen too much of a difference to warrant paying £42 compared to £6 or less!

Powder
Loose powder is just a no go for me for generic make ups. They are messy, they get all over your kit and are annoying. I am all about the pressed powder life. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder, £34 gets my vote every single time and I carry all 3 shades. It is the most perfect powder, I am in love. I actually get excited for the powder stage to watch the powder work it’s magic. It effortlessly sweeps over pores, making the skin look super smooth without looking too ‘powdery’ and ensures an all day lasting finish.

I wouldn’t dream of changing the powder in my kit but I do also have the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder, £3.99 which is what I used before – to have just in case.

Bronzer
I have a bit of an obsession with bronzer so when you look at my kit this is probably the one messy, unorganised – still in a clear zip bag though – part of my kit. I find new bronzers from different brands and just die over them and I always end up buying two of each. One for me, one for the kit.

I would be lost without my Nars ‘Laguna’, Mac ‘Give Me Sun’ as well as a few other Mineralize Skinfinish’s and my Chanel Soleil de Tan. I do however have Make Up For Ever Pro Bronze Fusion, £30 bronzers in all shades so I know I have at least one bronzer to suit everyone but I can’t stop buying new ones…

Highlighter
For being highlighter obsessed, I am surprised I haven’t got more in my kit. For cream highlighter is just has to be my Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand ‘Spotlight’, £29.
Powder highlight I tend to go between my BPerfect Mmmmitchell Sub Zero, £32.99 as it is all in a handy palette and plenty of colours to suit different tones. However, I tend to reach for a Mac palette that I curated myself of my favourite Mac Extra Dimension Skinfinish, £25.50 shades ‘Oh Darling’, ‘Whisper of Gilt’ ‘Doubleglam’ and ‘Show Gold.’ De potting them and

Blush
I love blush. One thing I learned was that one blush doesn’t suit everyone. So I have a wide variety of blushers as I find it’s what awakens up a make up and transforms a persons complexion.

I have created Mac palettes as I love the inserts that you can buy that fit 6 blushers in a palette. It makes life so much easier when packing up a kit as there is already so much to pack! I definitely use these the most as they sit so well on top of the other products I use. My favourites and most used are Peaches, Swiss Chocolate, Fleur Power & Melba.

I do also have a few of the Milani Baked Blushers, £10 and Charlotte Tilbury Beach Sticks, £30 as I love these on more mature clients! They give a beautiful glow to the skin without looking dry or caked.

Brows
I am a creature of habit for eyebrows and I like to do a certain style. Of course, on request I will do whatever the client wishes but I like to use pencils and brow gels. I try and stay as far away from thick gels or pomades as much as possible.

I couldn’t possibly use any other brow pencil than the Mac Eyebrow Stylers, £15 they are perfection. They last for ages, are twist up which I love and have really great colours. I do love the NYX Micro Brow Pencils, £9 which are a great alternative!

In terms of brow gel, one of my favourite Charlotte Tilbury products of all time are the Legendary Brow Gels, £18.50. They fluff the hairs up perfectly without looking too fake and ensure that it stays all day.

Eyeshadow
I have gone through many phases of eyeshadow in my kit, from carrying what felt like a hundred single eyeshadows to carrying a hundred palettes. I have since downgraded the palettes I bring with me and keep it as simple as I can. I have my favourite bridal type palettes and my weekend palettes and they seem to cover me for just about everything.
I mainly use
– BPerfect Carnival Palette, £39.99 – I cannot remember what I did before this palette came along. Seriously.
– Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette
– Mac Cosmetics Palettes that I have made – I live for these
– Mac Cosmetics Pigments, Doll Beauty Pigments, Urban Decay Glitter Liners & Helen E Glitters (these are everything)

Eyeliners
I love gel liner and try to use it above liquid liner when I can. I find it lasts longer and I don’t have to worry about it crumbling. I have a few favourites but I always tend to opt for Inglot’s Gel Liners and I have quite a few colours – you just don’t know what someone will ask for! 77 (Black) and 96 (Brown) are among my most used and of course Inglot’s Duraline is never too far away in case they dry out a little. Side note – if you haven’t purchased Duraline before, I highly recommend you try it. It has so many amazing purposes, but I especially love it for mixing with gel liner.

Mascara
I don’t really worry about the mascara I use as not only do I have the disposable mascara wands but most people want eyelashes applied. I love the Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara, £10.99and this is generally what I’ll have, unless I have received little mini mascaras which are so handy for your kit! Anytime I am buying anything at a make up counter I always ask for mascara samples – if you don’t ask you don’t get!

False Eyelashes
I love all eyelashes, even the most strangely theatrical and dramatic lashes. That being said, typically I am working on bridal party make ups so I aim to keep my lashes on the more natural and fluffy side.
I use individual lashes a lot either on their on or on top of strip lashes and I love the Eylure Individual Lashes as you get small, medium and long lashes in the one box as the majority of other brands you have to buy a whole box of the same size.

For strip lashes, I have Ardell Demi Wispies as you can buy them in packs, so it saves you a little money! I change up my lashes each time depending on what’s on offer but I always go back to the Ardell’s.

Lip Liners
Mac. Rimmel. Charlotte Tilbury. No others will do! I pick up the odd lip liner from other brands here and there but I just use them on myself, I love these brands of lip liners for the kit as they are great on everyone.

I love Mac due to the colour range, Rimmel’s are super creamy and so great on maturer clients and Charlotte Tilbury just because, they are Charlotte Tilbury. Most used/highly recommended shades:
– Nude Mac ‘Spice’ & ‘Boldly Bare’ | Rimmel ‘Tiramisu’ | Charlotte Tilbury ‘Hot Gossip’ & ‘Iconic Nude’
– Pink Mac ‘Soar’ & ‘Edge to Edge’ |Rimmel ‘Eastend Snob’ | Charlotte Tilbury ‘Pillowtalk’ & ‘Pink Venus’
– Red Mac ‘Cherry’ | Charlotte Tilbury ‘Kiss n Tell’
– Plum Mac ‘Nightmoth’ | Charlotte Tilbury ‘Bad Romance’ & ‘Love Trap’

Lipsticks
Similar to the lip liners I have the lipstick in shades to match. I’ll admit, I have an unholy amount of lipsticks but to make it easier to carry I have depotted them and melted them down into palettes. You can get empty lipstick palettes from anywhere but mine are from Mac £2, of course!

Most used/highly recommended shades:
– Nude Mac ‘Honeylove’ & ‘Viva Glam II’ & ‘Peachstock’ | Tom Ford ‘Sable Smoke’ | Charlotte Tilbury ‘Kim KW’ & ‘Pillowtalk’
– Pink Mac ‘Creme Cup’ & ‘Snob’ | Estee Lauder ‘Desirable’ & ‘Powerful’ | Charlotte Tilbury ‘Liv It Up’ & ‘Velvet Underground’
– Red Mac ‘So Chaud’ & ‘Ruby Woo’ | Estee Lauder ‘Envious’ | Charlotte Tilbury ‘Walk of Shame’ & ‘So Marilyn’
– Plum Mac ‘Rebel’ | Tom Ford ‘Casablanca’ | Estee Lauder ‘Irresistible’ | Charlotte Tilbury ‘Love Liberty’

Lip Glosses

I don’t have a whole pile of lip glosses in my kit as I tend to use clear or light glosses over lipsticks. I have recently started using Charlotte Tilbury ‘Collagen Lip Bath’, £25 on everyone as it makes the lips look unbelievably plumped and full as well as deliciously glossy! I have a few odd coloured glosses from all over the place but I use the Lip Bath most often.

Setting Sprays


NYX Matte & Dewy Setting Sprays, £7 are my go to, I love them! For anyone who is oily of course gets the matte spray which helps to tone down shine. Anyone who is dry, yes you guessed it – they get the dewy spray. I recently started using the Iconic London Setting Sprays, £20.50 but they are extremely dewy and only for those that like a good glow!

This was believe it or not, a quick overview of what is in my kit. If you have any questions about anything I use or if you use something in your kit for clients I would love to hear about it – maybe it’s something I could use myself!

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

Amy xo

Top 5 Face Creams for Normal/Dry Skin

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Here we are again, another instalment in my Top 5 series where I, yes you guessed it, list my top 5 products in a category. Skincare is a tricky one to get advice on over the internet so I would always recommend that if you are looking a new serum or moisturiser, etc to go in and visit your local store and get some samples or more information from the guys and gals that work there. Everyone’s skin is so so different and can change on the regular and so these creams may. be my favourite creams, they may not work for you. That being said, I am obsessed with all of these and would definitely recommend them for anyone with skin similar to mine!

Kiehl’s Ultra Face Cream

If you follow me on Instagram it is no secret that I love this cream. It’s relatively affordable, I would say middle of the road price. It’s a wonderfully light cream so for those of you who don’t like anything too thick or heavy then this one is perfect for you! With 24 hour hydration this cream is perfect for dryer skin types but is perfect for everyone. For me personally, I just love how this product feels, it melts onto my skin and leaves my skin looking nice and healthy. It’s one of the products that Make Up by Mario swears by and uses it on his clients before makeup. For that reason I now have a tub that lives in my kit, if it’s good enough for Kim it’s good enough for me. You can also get it with SPF30 – I use the one without in my kit as we don’t want flashback!

Available in 28ml for £16, 50ml for £24.50 and 125ml for £45

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream

Well, what can I say about this multi award winning, fantastic, loved my models and celebrities, luscious, gorgeous and hydrating cream? It has genuinely changed up my skincare regime for the better and if I HAD to pick it would probably be named my ultimate favourite. It’s the cream that I know I can trust and that it’s going to do exactly what it says on the tin.
The cream itself it packed to the gills with Hyaluronic Acid which is going to seal and lock in that moisture leaving your skin supple and dewy. Vitamin E makes dull and tired skin happy and healthy while Vitamin C brightens and evens complexion.

Charlotte first curated her ‘magic’ cream when she was working backstage and doing makeup for models. Think of models skin, yes they are gorgeous but they are busy, up late, at that time perhaps didn’t have the best diet, etc so that has an effect on their skin. Charlotte created something that she knew would completely transform them before they got their make up on and so, this cream is the ultimate backstage secret product to make your skin Hollywood ready.

Available in 30ml for £49, 50ml for £70 and 150ml for £180

Estee Lauder Re Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Transformative Energy Creme Rich

24. Karat. Gold. That’s what is in this cream. I mean, a whole host of other things too, but when I use this cream I feel so smug because I am essentially rubbing gold on myself. Plus, the gold adds radiance, so winning. This cream is so velvety and I swear it changes the texture of your skin immediately. Black Diamond Truffle extract helps to firm skin, ticking the boxes for any of you that are concerned with ageing. If you have the chance to try out this cream – or any of the other products in this range you should take it, they are outstanding. Also, it comes with a gold spoon so you can spoon out the exact amount that you need for you face… like, hello? How extra!

Available in 50ml for £280

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream, £28

This cream is my OG, original, first ‘proper’ face cream I ever used. It was life changing and every now and then I always go back to it. As well as the Kiehls, it lives in my kit for clients as it’s perfect for the body, cuticles and works wonders for dry lips – just don’t lick it or swallow it!
Elizabeth Arden got the name ‘Eight Hour’ from a die hard client who used the cream on a child’s grazed sore knee and eight hours later it was magically better! So if it can help a child’s knee, it can help my dry face!

No secret that I have dry skin, but every so often my redness in the centre of my face and cheeks flares up and that’s when I pull out this cream for my face. It is amazing at calming down my lil rosy cheeks and I find it really soothing! The fact it’s so versatile makes it a shoo-in for my Top 5.

Available in 50ml for £28

La Roche-Posay Nutritic Intense Riche

The odd time my skin can be sore, especially in Winter when the harsh elements irritate the skin. If this happens to you or you have skin that is easily irritated then look no further than this intense cream. It is so comforting and soothing and doesn’t sting when it is applied. You know that tight skin feeling when you get out of a really hot shower? If your skin feels like that then this cream will be perfect for you.

Available in 50ml for £16.50

What are you go to face creams? I would love to hear and maybe try them out myself. As always, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

If you like this Top 5, click here to view other posts in the series

How To Make Tired Eyes Seem Brighter

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I don’t know about you guys, but my eyes are permanently exhausted – and I don’t even have children! I am sick of looking at my eyes and wishing that they weren’t so battered looking. I have compiled my favourite products and some tips to beating those tired eyes and getting rid of those bags!

Be smart with your eyeliner
Whether you are using black, brown or a colour it shouldn’t matter so much, the trick is all in where it goes. Applying too much eyeliner underneath the eyes can actually enhance how dark the eye area is as opposed to covering it up. Rather than applying darker liners in the waterline instead bring them further underneath the eye and smudge it into the lash line so it’s not so harsh.
My favourite thing to put in the waterline instead is the Charlotte Tilbury Rock n Kohl ‘Eye Cheat’, £19. It is a universal nude tone which literally cheats the eyes into looking wider, fuller and more awake. I have had pencils like these before but they have never been the right colour, all being either too white so you look like a crazed doll or too rose tone so that you look a little ill. Charlotte has created the perfect tone to neutralise the waterline creating a rested look.

Step up your eye cream game
If it’s darkness you are trying to prevent or fix then look no further than eye creams containing Vitamin C. A hydrating eye cream that is powered by Vitamin C will brighten the look of under eyes and in turn, reduce the appearance of dark circles. My personal favourite is the Drunk Elephant C Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream, £54. The obsession is real with this eye cream, I have noticed a change in my under eyes after only a few days and I’m in love. This rich and restorative eye cream features a blend of eight peptides, five forms of Vitamin C and cucumber extract for firmer, stronger looking eyes. My eyes just feel SO hydrated when I use this cream, I can feel the product working, definitely worth the price!

Conceal, conceal, conceal
A concealer is never too far away from me. I seem to have one in my handbag, in my makeup bag and generally in my hand at the make up counter where I work. I love concealer – when used right. When looking at our eyes and how dark and tired they might be, the majority of us will go straight for the quick fix which is the concealer. Knowing how to apply your concealer correctly will make all the difference. Less. Is. More. Instead of sweeping your concealer right the way across your under eye trying to cover everything, try applying it from the inner corner, down alongside the nose and whatever is left pat over across to the outer corner of the eye. This will cover the correct areas without leaving you feeling heavy and caked in product.

Finding the right concealer for you is a whole other ball game as there are so many out there with so many difference textures and finishes. The best way to know what you like is deciding on the kind of texture you like and take it from there. For me, I love something creamy in texture making it easy to blend without being too heavy. With this in mind I tend to avoid anything that comes from a pot or a stick as these products tend to be thicker. My go to concealer is the Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer, I have discussed this concealer on my blog before as it featured in my Top 5 Concealers post. This is the only concealer that I seem to constantly repurchase, I try other ones and I think ‘Yea, they were nice but let’s see what else there is.’ Whereas in the Maybelline concealer I trust.

Mask it up
We are all so busy that we can forget to take the time out to look after ourselves. One of my favourite ways to make sure that I am looking after my eye area, and general wellbeing is making sure that I treat myself to a mask. Even while sitting watching your favourite TV programme, pop on an eye mask and you can guarantee that you will feel better and look more awake. I use the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery Eye Masks, 4 pack £38. Pop them on at night, after a long day and leave them on for around 10 minutes and your eyes will be refreshed and hydrated. I notice that my eyes look a little more radiant after using them, and if anything they just feel great!

I have also used the Garnier Eye Sheet Mask with Hyaluronic Acid and Orange Juice, £2.99 which are great for a daytime burst of revitalisation. These are ideal if you are heading somewhere during the day and you want to look your absolute best! I have a wedding to go to soon and you best believe I will have these on before I get my make up done. Plus, they smell nice.

What do you guys like to do for your tired eyes? Or are you blessed with perfect eyes? I would love to hear what you do!
You can follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

Amy xo

Make Up Wishlist

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Does anyone else spend hours browsing through Instagram or Facebook and see gorgeous makeup pictures or stunning flat lays or products and think ‘ooh, I want that.’ Well, I do constantly. Even though I am a makeup artist with a fair bit of makeup in my drawers and kit, I still see things and I can’t help but add them to my wishlist.

My beauty wishlist is a list of products that I wouldn’t normally just go out and buy and I save them, for days where maybe I am feeling a little down, I’ve had a bad day and I want to cheer myself up. Or I have had a really good day and I want to treat myself. I mean, there’s really plenty of excuses we can come up with for buying makeup. Anyway, here’s what’s on my list and if anyone wants to treat me to them then please feel free!

Melt Cosmetics Dark Matter Eyeshadow Stack, £40

Melt Cosmetics, made known to me via Instagram had always seemed so unavailable to me until very recently. Good old Beauty Bay have started stocking them and I shrieked with happiness. Yet for some reason I still haven’t bit the bullet and bought them. Maybe one day… I also have my eye on the Rust stack, they look like such beautiful colours and to be honest, anything Jamie Genevieve touches basically goes straight to my wish list.

Flower Beauty Supernova Celestial Skin Elixir Primer, £14.99

Ever since I watched Santa Clarita Diet on Netflix I just had to know what Drew Barrymore was using on her skin because good Lord she looks unreal. She literally looks so amazing. I don’t know how I didn’t know this then but she has her own beauty brand called Flower Beauty. I remember thinking ‘oh I must research this brand more sometime’ and put it on a list somewhere and never did. Enter Jamie Genevieve’s YouTube video with Drew Barrymore where they used her products. I was hooked from the get go. The way Drew talked about her skin elixir and the love she had for it, sold it to me there and then. Her brand is now available in Superdrug so this one will be getting purchase very soon I feel. You can watch Jamie & Drew’s video here.

Benefit Roller Liner, £18.50

I’m a sucker for a hyped up launch and Benefit are no stranger to such a thing. I have been sucked into every mascara they’ve launched and haven’t been overly excited by them but this, this I am excited to try. This is normally something I wouldn’t think twice about buying then and there but I promised myself I wouldn’t buy any more liquid liners until some of the ones I have run out. I seriously have about 7 on the go at the minute. A quick dry, waterproof, 24 hour lasting liner that’s matte?! Yes please.  I’ll take two.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brushes

So, I have a love hate relationship with make up brushes. I have so many but as a Make UP Artist, you honestly just cannot have enough and it bugs me buying so many. So I hate that, but there’s nothing as satisfying as having a brush that perfectly executes a product. I recently attended a MMMMitchel Masterclass with BPerfect Cosmetics and he mentioned a few of his favourite brushes. Naturally they have gone straight onto the wishlist. The A25 Tapered Blending Brush, £24 is a beautiful looking brush that I can’t wait to finally buy! The A23 Illuminator Brush, £26 is a beautiful highlighter brush but can also be used underneath the eyes for setting powder.

BUXOM Cosmetics Full On Plumping Lip Polish, £15

Literally any and every shade is on the wish list. I love lip gloss and am so glad to see the back of matte lipsticks for awhile. I have heard so many amazing things about BUXOM’s lip products. These lip gloss are plumping as well so there’s an added bonus of your lips looking nice and full. I love the look of the shades ‘Princess‘ so it could be the first purchased…

Farsali Unicorn Essence, £50

You know all those Instagram videos where these beautiful girls with gorgeous skin do the weird thing where they drip serum down their face instead of just putting in on their fingers and applying? Yeah, they do it with this and I want it. Another elixir on the list I know but I still want to try it. This serum primer hybrid product completely took the beauty world by storm and I have FOMO.

Iconic London Prep – Set – Glow, £18.50

One look at these sprays and my eyes light up. Not only does this set makeup but you can use it to refresh the skin while it moisturises and leave you with an insane glow. I had sprayed this once when it first launched and I have never regretted not buying something as much as I do this spray because it’s been insanely popular since and haven’t managed to get my hands on it. The mist contains a mix of cucumber and chamomile as well as antioxidant-rich green tea and vitamin E – and even a burst of revitalising caffeine! What’s not to want?

I would love to know if you have tried any of these products or what beauty products are on your wish list? Let me know your thoughts.

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Top 5 Lip Liners

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The elusive lip liner – made famous to the younger generation courtesy of the Kardashians. Lip liners were the go to product for years until all of a sudden, the Noughties came along and we forgot the effect a lip liner can have. I blame the Nineties and that horrendously dark lip liner paired with a nude lipstick trend, maybe we had enough of lip liner after that.

Working on a beauty counter I do get hit with the ‘do you really need one?’ and ‘does it really make a difference?’ questions. The answer is yes. Lip liner not only completely reforms the look of your lips cheating them into looking bigger and fuller, but also helps to keep your lipstick on without bleeding out of the lines. There are that many cosmetic products on the market now that it can be hard to know which ones are best, so I have put together a list of my die hard favourite lip liners to ensure that you are using the best.

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat, £16

Home of the Pillowtalk Lip Pencil & Lipstick, Charlotte Tilbury goes straight to the top of the list for the best lip liner. The Lip Cheat formula is so creamy that it just glides onto the area of the lip, whether you have more mature skin or younger skin this lip liner will be perfect for you. With more mature skin, lip liners can pull on the lips making it uncomfortable to apply, but this texture glides on for an effortless application. My go to liners from Charlotte Tilbury are of course, the ‘Pillowtalk’ itself for the most perfect everyday pink nude and for more of a brown tone ‘Hot Gossip’ is one of my new favourites. A must for your makeup bag.

Mac Lip Pencil, £14

Mac Cosmetics are no stranger when it comes to topping beauty lists for having some of the best products on the market. Their lip liners are no exception. These are one of my favourites because no matter which colour I pick up, the formula holds up and have a truly amazing colour payoff. Usually darker plums or reds can be different formulas to master but Mac have it nailed and they are again, a must for the makeup bag. I wouldn’t be without the classic ‘Spice’, a beautiful nude perfect for a wide variety of lipsticks or my ‘Cherry’ red pencil. Cherry is thee red, my go to for that Marilyn Monroe, postbox, siren red lip colour that usually only comes out of hibernation at Christmas time. There are so many colours to choose from that it may be wise to bring the lipstick with you that you are looking to match.

Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Pencil, £3.99

Creamy. Rich. Pigmented. Affordable. I really don’t need to say much more about these lip liners other than that because they are truly amazing for £3.99. To be honest, I have said for awhile that I would pay double, triple even for those lip liners. They last so well and personally I find it really difficult to find nice, affordable lip liners that don’t feel like pencils you used to write with in Primary School. I see clients look at those liners in my kit and think ‘seriously…’ but they are great! ‘Eastend Snob’ is my favourite pink liner of all time. I think it’s so difficult to find a nice pink liner that isn’t too nude or peach. If you’re looking a nice pink liner then this one is perfect for you! It’s a twist up too so saves you having to sharpen!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Lip Pencil, £18.50

One of the first high end lip liners I had ever bought, these have remained one of my favourites in my makeup bag over the last lot of years. The liners glide on easily giving precise definition giving you control without flying too far over the edge. Yes, these pencils are a little on the pricier side but they do come with a lip brush on the other end allowing you even more of a precise application. These liners last all day, even outliving the lipsticks you wear them with, so there’s no worry of them coming off! My favourite shades in this range are ‘Mauve’ and ‘Rose’ perfect nude shades that perfectly compliment every skin tone. As a Make Up Artist I always have a few of these colours in my kit.

Boots No. 7 Precision Lips Pencil, £7

I have amassed a good few of these lip liners in my time, whether it’s because I always have a No.7 voucher or it’s because they are regularly on 3 for 2 I don’t know, but I love them. Moisturising and soft, these liners are easy applied and are also long lasting. They are again a twist up style of liner but what I love is these come with a built in sharpener! No.7 Lip Pencils are super pigmented, so definitely invest if you are looking a nice strong lip colour, because they are so moisturising they work really well all over the lips which keeps you lipstick on for even longer.

I would love to know what your favourite lip liners are, or whether you even use lip liners.

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Lip Fillers | Therapie Clinic Belfast

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Hello gorgeous readers,

If you have been following me and my ramblings for awhile now you’ll probably know that I got lip fillers a little under a year ago now and I absolutely love them. Whether you are for or against cosmetic work, fillers or whatever – I believe that if it makes you feel better then who cares what anyone else thinks. That’s my standpoint on it, thought I would just get that out of the way. If you don’t like them, then thank u, next. You can read about my first experience with fillers here.

This time I went to Therapie Clinic, a clinic that is widely known throughout the UK for it’s amazing service, great deals and great locations. My local Therapie Clinic is on Ann Street, Belfast. From the moment I walked in I felt welcomed and was greeted with friendly faces, I felt as if I was walking into a friends home. Upon arrival and after giving my name, I was asked if I was there to see the doctor and asked to fill out a form.

I was taken into a beautifully clean room and the doctor was so lovely and friendly again, I felt completely at ease. I got up on the bed and the doctor had a really good look ay my lips, asked me lots of questions about what way I like them, what style of lips I like and how big I would envision them being.

The same way as I explained the last time I got my lips done, I said that I didn’t want that ducky style of lip. I don’t like that really obvious ‘I’ve just had my lips done’ look, which sounds stupid considering I am about to get them. I like lips where you look at someone and you like ‘have they or haven’t they?’ Basically nothing TOWIE or Pete Burns. I had 1ml of filler the last time I got them done and I had it in my head that I would just get 1ml of filler in again, but after talking to the doctor she had a little feel and was able to tell me that there was still a good bit of filler left and that she would only recommend a 0.5ml. I was sceptical as I had wanted 1ml but damn am I glad she only put in 0.5ml. I can’t recommend enough to listen to the professionals when they are telling you what’s best because if I had have asked for the 1ml I would have crazy lips right now. They are the professionals for a reason, please do your research wherever you go and I am so happy with my results and couldn’t recommend Therapie enough.

As well as talking to me and keeping me relaxed, she gave me a little stress ball, which I thought was a really nice touch. I don’t find it an overly sore or painful procedure but if you are somewhat squeamish or uncomfortable then this will be great for you – better than someone’s hand for sure.

Before

After

Later That Night – Don’t panic, the swelling goes down after a day or two! I was so stressed the first time I got them done, I thought that this was going to be my life now with puffer fish lips! Even though you are warned that this will happen it is still a shock seeing them so big.

2 Days Later

So this makeup might be a dramatic way to show off the lips, but I don’t care. I had new makeup that I wanted to play with. Anyway, I love how they turned out and I am so pleased that my doctor at Therapie was so honest about what would be best for my lips and I trust her so much that I can’t wait to go back. I would recommend Therapie to anyone and everyone who is interested.

If fillers aren’t your thing then fear not, they do so much more than just that. They are so well known for their facials and laser hair removal services and actually have an offer on at the minute that I would love to share with you.

With every area of laser hair removal purchased you get a second area for only 1 penny. A PENNY! Plus, as if that’s not enough they offer a payment plan at 0%. You honestly would be mad not to try it.

All prices are available on their website here.

I’d love to hear if you are interested in anything I have mentioned, please let me know!

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

Dermaplaning

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Dermaplaning – first of all, what is it?  Basically, it’s a physical exfoliation procedure where a scalpel is taken to remove the top layer of dead skin, including the peach fuzz leaving a glowing, healthy complexion. This treatment has seriously helped my post Christmas skin and it’s honestly never been clearer. I have had a bit of a breakout recently and I have these blackheads that are a constant annoyance on my chin and they have started to clear all thanks to the treatment. After the dead skin has been removed it allows your skincare products to work faster and a lot more effectively so that you get the best possible results from your products.

I had Dermaplaning done a week ago at LH Beauty, Hollywood Belfast and I want to share my results with you, including some answers to the questions you were all asking over on my Instagram.

Before

I don’t have the worst skin in the world but I certainly don’t have the best skin!  My skin would be on the dry, dehydrated and sensitive side and my makeup always looks dry throughout the day. I wanted to do something that allows makeup to sit a lot better and where I can feel like I can wear less makeup.

After

After the process my skin felt unbelievable, on the train home I couldn’t stop feeling my face and I think I was starting to creep people out.  I want to leave my thought process after the dermaplaning so that if you get it done you know what to expect.

Day One – Oh My God, my skin looks so dry it didn’t work for me

Day Two – Oh Shit, there’s a few marks on my skin that weren’t there before, I look glowy though

Day Three – Oh damn, I am glowy AF.  Feeling’ it, and make up goes on really easily now, this is great!

Day Four – My skin looks awesome, dermaplaning was worth it.

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FAQs

Does it hurt?

Not at all!  If anything, it might feel a little uncomfortable but I am a total weirdo and I enjoy things like that, so I loved the experience.  It feels like when you are buttering toast, or at least that’s what it sounds like!

Does your hair grow back weird?

No, I think this has to be the most asked question I have had!  It doesn’t grow back weird and I am not expecting to have a beard anytime soon.  If I do grow a beard, don’t worry I will let you all know immediately.  Your hair growing back thicker is a total myth!

How much hair came off?

A good bit of hair came off, I don’t have the hairiest face ever but if you have a good bit of hair you’ll really notice a difference! Hair is normal on your skin, don’t ever be ashamed of it, that being said my skin feels amazing!

Is it okay for different skin types?

Totally fine whether you are oily or dry like me. Only if you have severe acne there may be some doubt but just go in and have a chat with your beautician and they can inform you of what’s best.

How did it feel putting makeup on?

I didn’t expect there to feel like there was much difference but honestly, it felt nice using a brush to put makeup on.  I don’t now how to put it into words, but it just felt really smooth plus makeup looks so much better without all those little hairs!

Would you get it done again?

Oh, absolutely!  It was a satisfying feeling to get done and actually quite relaxing, so for that reason alone I would get it done.

Where did you go?

I went to the fabulous Louise in LH Beauty, you can find the salon on Instagram and Facebook.

How much does it cost?

Depends on where you go but make sure and do your research on prices as some places could charge a lot more for the same treatment.  I was kindly gifted this service, but the entire treatment I received would have cost £60, £40 for the actual dermaplaning and £10 for each optional add on before and after the treatment. Louise gave me a Hyaluronic Sheet Mask which restores hydration after the treatment which I would highly recommend as I could actually feel it working on my skin. Without that mask, I think my skin would have been a lot drier for a lot longer after.

I absolutely loved Dermaplaning and I can’t wait to get it done again. Is this something that you would be interested in getting done or have you had it done already? I would love to hear!

The Junction, Antrim

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I was recently invited down to check out The Junction, Antrim as part of their Connection Club Weekend.  The Junction is an amazing shopping destination situated about 20 miles from Belfast with not only over 30 retailers but an amazing 10 screen Omniplex cinema.  The Connection Club is a promotion that enables you to receive extra discounts, offers and exclusive events.  Think of it as a VIP card that allows you to save a little money while you shop – allowing you to shop more!  You can sign up for the Connection Club here and view what stores are available here.

Of course me being me, I quite literally ran straight to the beauty outlet as it has my name written all over it.  I went in fully confident that I would walk around and have a nosy at all the amazing offers however, as soon as my foot stepped over the threshold I completely lost all ability to think and went from the front to the back up and down the aisles telling staff that ‘this is amazing’ and obsessively congratulating a girl called Mags who keeps the lipsticks looking so neat on doing such a good job.  Mags, I am sorry.

View this quick video of me walking around the store and keep scrolling for a more in depth view of the offers available – perfect for dare I say the C word?  Christmas.

Thank you so much to The Junction and Beauty Outlet who gifted me with a voucher!  If you follow me on Instagram then you’ll see all the goodies I got!

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As soon as you walk in there’s a fantastic beauty bar area with chairs and glorious light up mirrors surrounded by amazing offers.  A great area to sit and try on makeup!

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I first had a rummage around at the foundations and while there is a huge variety o products I did however notice that there are not full shade ranges.  I was able to find my colours very easily and there is still a great range but you may have to sacrifice going a little lighter or darker if you cannot find your shade – but that’s okay, because they have bronzers.  One of my favourite foundations, Rimmel Lasting Finish foundation is available there and you can see my first impression of this foundation on my YouTube here.

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I think my favourite part about walking around this store had to have been the lipstick section.  Not only was it just so satisfying to look at but the lipsticks were around the £1.99/£2.99 mark.  I mean, my Starbucks order costs more than that.  If you watched my Instagram stories then you’ll know that I got so overwhelmed by the lipstick aisle that I actually only left with two lipsticks and two lips liners.  It is just so unlike me.  I can’t wait to go back and buy more!

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I felt like I was walking around Willy Wonka’s factory in this store, honestly.  Just look at all those brushes and beauty blenders?  I was in total heaven and all for a fraction of the price that you would pay in places like Boots and Superdrug.  I love getting things like these as little presents, if you were starting to think of mini gifts for *whispers* Christmas then these are all perfect!

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Again, on the gift train – whether it’s a gift for yourself of you are in need of a present for someone these are amazing and come in the cutest packaging.  W7 were one of the main brands I seen in the beauty outlet and I have used some things from them before and they are actually pretty good, amazing for the price!  How amazing is this brush set below?

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In addition to makeup and accessories they also have a great range of skincare, bath and body and fragrances so there really is something for everyone!  So looking forward to going back to the store and The Junction in general as all staff seem so friendly and The Junction is an amazing place to walk around.

Have you been before?  What are your thoughts? Let me know!

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Top 5 Blushers

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The beauty world has become so obsessed with highlighters and bronzers that
we have forgotten about one very important part of our makeup routine – the
blush. I have always loved blush and if I am honest, probably have loved it a little
too much in the past. When I was 15 I definitely had that Aunt Sally look nailed.
Fast-forward a few years and a practice in application I finally see what the fuss
was all about.

Before I begin listing my favourite blushers let’s talk about what it does for your
face. Blusher has the power to actually brighten and lift your face and is the
perfect finish to create a beautiful makeup look. Blusher is classy and enhances a
real, natural face shape as opposed to ‘look at my natural sunken in cheekbones’
a la Kim K. As nice as that look can be, when done right, there’s something about
a blush that makes all the difference.

When I look for blushers I tend to buy fairly versatile shades that suit a variety of
skin tones so that I can keep them in my kit to suit everyone. Whatever your
preference be it matte or shimmery, there is always something out there to suit
you.

MAC ‘Melba’ Powder Blush, £19.50

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I have always loved MAC’s blushers as their formula is perfectly creamy and they have an amazing variety of shades.  My most used shade is by far Melba and as it is a beautiful soft coral peach shade this blusher beautifully compliments a huge variety of skin tones.  It is super pigmented so just use a little each time you are using it.  With no shimmer it’s great for all skin types and ages and is a staple in my Make Up Kit giving a the skin a perfect glow.

Shop Here

NARS Blush ‘Orgasm’, £24

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This blusher shouldn’t need any introduction as if you are familiar with blushes at all, you should have tried this one.  If you haven’t, what are you doing?  You owe it to yourself to try the blush that permanently tops the list as one of the best blushers on the market.  An iconic blusher that gives natural, healthy looking colour without looking too heavy and again, you only need a light application to give a beautiful colour.

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Milani Baked Blush ‘Luminoso’, £10

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These blushers are unreal and for £10 they are such a good quality!  It’s very hard to pick just one shade that I like from this range as I use them all and love them all.  As I tend to go for more coral colours with blush I tend to use ‘Luminoso’ the most.  Baked on Italian terracotta the powder is so finely milled that it delivers a smooth and silky application.

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Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic ‘Ecstasy’, £30

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Charlotte’s range of blushers are my absolute favourite.  They scream luxury and everyone needs a little luxury in their make up bag!  Currently there are 6 powder shades to choose from and again, sorry I like the coral shades so my favourite is the shade ‘Ecstasy’ but there are colours to suit everyone.  I love having a glow from my blusher and with Light Flex Technology these blushers capture and reflect light again leaving your skin with a beautiful soft sheen.

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Bare Minerals Gen Nude Powder Blush ‘Pretty In Pink’, £22

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Seriously blendable and buildable blushers this range from Bare Minerals is a staple in my own routine and in my makeup kit.  I’ve collected a few shades since they have launched however, I use ‘Pretty In Pink’ most often, a beautiful subtle pink shade and ‘Bellini Brunch’ which is a beautiful peach shade.  The formula is so creamy and glides on to the skin effortlessly without catching and giving the skin texture giving the skin a soft focus effect.

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What blushers do you like, or do you even use blusher at all?  I would love to hear your favourites.

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And if you like this Top 5 series then you can check out my other Top 5 posts HERE

Top 5 Mascaras

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A mascara is one of those products that nobody is ever done looking for the next best thing.  When you find a good powder or a good foundation, you stick with it for awhile but a mascara?  Be honest, how many different mascaras have you tried?  How many have you re bought because they were actually good?

Let me help you stop wasting your money with some of my tried and tested favourite mascaras.

Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes, £23

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This mascara is one of those ones that is perfect for those of you who don’t like crazy, dramatic lashes.  Sounds stupid, you want a  mascara that does the most for you but this mascara does it, without giving you thick and unnatural looking lashes.  With a brush that has 5 grooves it deposits enough mascara to the base of your lashes, so that it pushes the lashes up and out.  The bristles themselves are so fine that they catch every lash ensuring fluttering, fluffy lashes.  My favourite thing about this mascara is that it doesn’t smudge.  I don’t know what is wrong with my eyes but the majority of mascaras that touch my eyes, fall down and smudge, this one doesn’t allowing it to last all day.

8ml

Lancome Hypnôse Volume-à-Porter, £25

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I keep this as my ‘night out’ mascara.  It is perfect for amping up those lashes to give a sexy and seductive flutter.  I had used the Lancome Hypnôse Drama for years but I far prefer this mascara as it gives extra volume and glides on like a dream without feeling clumpy and doesn’t leave you with spidery lashes.

6.5ml

Max Factor False Lash Effect, £10.99

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Again, another superb mascara for every day use.  No flaking and no clumping provides amazing longwear which is perfect for during the day as no one likes to look in the mirror on their lunch break and look like they just watched The Notebook.

I love the brush on this mascara as it applies just the perfect amount of product and never goes overboard.  It’s easy to remove as well, which is perfect for me as I have such sensitive eyes and vigorous removing of eye makeup is not good.

13.1ml – SO much product!

Estee Lauder Doublewear Zero Smudge Lengthening, £23

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Boasting 15 hour wear this mascara is sure to survive all day with you.  Delivering voluptuous lashes, this mascara always gives me the most amazing length with my lashes.  I always use this mascara when I am going for a strong liner look, as the lashes lift above the liner line creating amazing Brigitte Bardot style eyes.

6ml

Clinique High Impact, £19

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Last but certainly not least, Clinique’s High Impact mascara was one of the first premium mascaras I ever bought, I remember buying it in Boots and feeling like such a big girl not buying something like Miss Sporty.  This mascara adds maximum volume while defining and lengthening.  The brush and formula have been specifically designed to work together to create dramatic, thicker lashes.

7ml

Have you tried any of these mascaras or have you found your ultimate mascara?  I would love to hear about it!  Send me a message and let me know.

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Read more from my Top 5 Series HERE