Tag: belfast blog

New Year, Same Me

cosmeticsjunkiee

Aloha all you beautiful people!

I am sitting here happy as a clam all toasty and wrapped up in an extra layer of fat that I put on over Christmas and just thinking about the coming year and everything that it’s going to have in store.  With 2018 just around the corner it got me thinking about all of those New Year Resolutions that we make and then worry ourselves over to inevitably not stick to and feel horrible about ourselves which is why

my new years resolution this year is to not make a resolution

I am positively giddy about the fact that I am not going to starve myself for a week in order to attempt losing weight.  I am over the moon that I am not going to beat myself up that I haven’t learned a new skill or taken up a hobby.  I am on cloud nine that I am going to continue to drink just a little too much at the weekends therefore ruining my Sundays.  I am ecstatic that I am going to have the first take out of 2018 and not feel a pick of guilt because I said I would cut down.

For years now I have busted my balls trying to become a ‘better person’ in trying to stick to these ridiculous goals and then spending the following 10 months hating myself that I never completed or stuck to them.  Well, enough is enough!  No longer will I waste my time on these stupid resolutions in order for me to feel down on myself.

Don’t get me wrong, I plan on accomplishing some things this coming year but none that I will write down and beat myself up about if I don’t change.  For example, I really ought to start driving, clear out the pile of clothes I am in denial about, eat a little healthier and maybe put away some money in a savings account.  To me those are like – life changes for a better state of mind, not a resolution that I need to force myself to change.  I find resolutions very unhealthy and a lot of emphasis gets placed on them, especially at this time of year.  It’s basically like saying to yourself ‘you weren’t good enough this year, let’s try again for next year.’  Of course there are some bad habits that we all would like to shake but again, I am not going to get myself down in the dumps about it.

If you are someone that loves making resolutions as a way of trying to ‘improve’ yourself then go for it – Godspeed – however, I am not one of those people.  I can’t wait to wake up on New Year’s Day hungover, crawl out of bed and straight for the Diet Coke and take away menu because I am not placing myself on some strange diet that requires I eat a cube of cheese three times a day.

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I am looking forward to maturing slightly next year.  I feel like the year I turn 27 I really need to get my ducks in a row.  That being said, 2017 I moved in with Joel in our cute little rented house in Belfast (my stuff takes up 95% of it, his 5%) and I have accomplished a lot this year.  Can’t wait to see what 2018 has to offer and I can’t wait to not have to force it with New Years Resolutions.

Happy New Year!

Amy xo

Favourite Make Up For Ever Products

cosmeticsjunkiee1 Comment

Aloha, beautiful people,

Today’s topic will be on the beauty of the brand MAKE UP FOR EVER.  Not a lot of people know about the brand, other than the odd stick foundation being used by their favourite You Tubers.  Considering a new counter opened up in Debenhams, Belfast and it is where I work, I thought it would only be fair that I share a little bit about the products and tell you my favourites (all views are my own!)

First up, a little background on the company.  MAKE UP FOR EVER is a brand that was created in 1984 by an amazing lady – Parisian Dany Sanz.  Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy has since taken over the brand however, Dany still plays a crucial role in the inner workings of the brand.  MAKE UP FOR EVER is a brand that allows their users to be creative and play with make up in a way they never have before.  They provide the tools and products for make up professionals and make up fanatics alike.

verticalIn the 1980’s there were very few products available for the working professional and those that were actually available only came in certain shades.  Dany took it upon herself to create her own products that she could use –  and MAN did that take off!  Dany got so many requests from fellow makeup artists and students that she opened up a boutique in Paris.  MAKE UP FOR EVER was born.

Fast forward 33 years and MAKE UP FOR EVER is available in 52 countries and is a widely accredited make up brand.  To have a counter in Belfast is a real treat as it is one of only 3 stores in the whole of Ireland, the others being in Cork and Dublin.  I currently work, as I have said in the store in Debenhams and it has been amazing so far.  The counter opened in June and has created a major buzz already!  The products reputation and popularity allowed us to jump straight in with our customers and we have had the most creative nearly 6 months –  which you will know if my Instagram is anything to go by (@cosmetics.junkiee)

I am going to stop giving you the run down on the company and get on to the good bits that you fellow make up junkies will be gasping for!  These are simply a list of my top picks from the counter and all opinions on the products do remain my own!

PRIMERS

Pictured are a select few of the primers that MAKE UP FOR EVER carry but I have pictures my favourites to use.  The Mattifying, Smoother and Hydrating Primers are my immediate go tos and actually have them in my kit for freelancing.  They do exactly what they say on the tin and you have GOT to appreciate the simplicity of them.  As a Make Up Artist I want something quick and easy that I can put on my clients so I can move on to the base but you don’t have to be a Make Up Artist to enjoy these products.  That’s the beauty of them!  do not be sucked in by primers that claim to do 100 things to your skin.  Take the Mattifying Primer for example – can you guess what it does?  Mattifies.  The Hydrating?  Brilliant,  great for dry skin (my personal favourite.)

Also pictured we have the Redness Correcting,  Nourishing and the Radiant Primer.  These I don’t tend to reach for as often however, they are fantastic to have on hand.  I have a touch of rosacea and use the redness primer, this is also another staple in my kit.  The Nourishing is great if you are a bit of an inbetween skin type and you want something that covers all bases ie.if you aren’t overly oily  or aren’t overly dry  but would still like a primer!  MAKE UP FOR EVER has quite a few Radiant Primers however, I reach for the pink one more often as I personally find it great for brightening up dull skin and this is a common concern in good ol’ Northern Ireland. *retails £14.20-£22.50*

FOUNDATION

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We have a good few foundations under our belts here at MAKE UP FOR EVER however, the one that resonates with everyone is most definitely the multiple award winning Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation.  If I had £1 for how many times I get asked about this amazing foundation a day I could probably buy one!  It’s the most recognisable foundation on the counter and for good reason.  I describe it as the Goldilocks foundation in that, it’s ‘just right’ for everything.  Coverage? Just right.  Creaminess?  Just right.  Colour?  Just right.  It’s thee go to medium coverage foundation with a natural finish on the market. It just happens to photograph beautifully as it was designed specifically for film and TV also so it is perfect for that selfie!  Ever wanted to look like your favourite on screen celeb? Well look no further!  Even when I am freelancing I use it as it suits all skin types, especially considering I have so many amazing primers to go underneath.  Of course if medium everything isn’t your bag then there are plenty of other foundations at MAKE UP FOR EVER that will suit you, so you are best popping in to see one of us and we can talk you through them.  *retails at £30*

CONCEALER

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Pictured here is my favourite concealer of all time.  I was exhausted from trying out concealers that could do it all as in, cover dark circles under the eyes without settling into lines but also be heavy enough that it will cover up those demon blemishes.  After years of searching,  awhile ago I finally came across it!  Behold, the again award winning Ultra HD Invisible Cover Concealer.  Not only is it a perfect concealer but it just so happens to be a fab match to the foundation.  The extensive shade range will cater to every skin need and I have collected quite a few colours as  I tend to contour slightly with this product as well.  I like that it comes in a tube as a lot of concealers that twist like a pen do my head in and any others that pump out I always waste so much product.  The concealer may seem small at 7ml however, I cannot stress enough how little you need!  A must have in my kit and on my face and for my customers – if you are ever in visiting the counter and are served by me I guarantee I end up talking about this!  *retails at £20.50*

POWDER

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You can’t never have seen this before?  If you haven’t – have you been living under a rock?  The Ultra HD Loose Powder – One of the more controversial products on the counter as there are amazing reviews and some not so amazing reviews.  The product itself was recently updated to leave an ultra fine powder that to me almost feels like Talc x1000.  It is the softest powder on earth.  Honestly, go into a counter and tip some on your hand and I swear you will never have tried a powder like it.  If that’s what it can do to your face then imagine what it will do for your eyes!  The more negative reviews boast that it gave really bad flashback and can leave the face very powdery.  From personal experience, this hasn’t happened to me however, there is a right and a wrong way to apply it.  If you apply too much with the wrong kind of brush for example, it will make your foundation a little lighter.   This powder works best in small doses and therefore will last you ages, so just be sure to ask advice when you are in store to get the best out of your products.  This works amazing under the eyes also if you suffer from creasing!  *retails at £24.50*

BRONZER

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SO, Pro Bronze Fusion Bronzer.  Honestly, I hated this bronzer at first.  I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t see the orange stripes on my face anymore until somebody complimented my subtle glow when I was wearing it and I was like ‘ohhhh’.  So when I want a subtle bronzed look that I can build up, I use the MAKE UP FOR EVER bronzer in the shade 20M.  I recently used it at the lastfew weddings I did and it also photographed beautifully.  Plus, Jamie Genevieve uses it… So I use it.  I would recommend a very soft brush to apply as I used a more dense brush and it lifted off too much product and left me grey looking.  You know that grey cheek look? Not cute.  I recommend the MAKE UP FOR EVER brush in #128.

ARTIST FACE COLOR

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Oh my GOD I love these!  I use them every day!  There’s a vast selection of blushers, highlighters both matte and luminous and contour shades.  They are magnetic and you can either stick them in a palette you already have or purchase the case.  Anything that is compact and refillable gets my vote, especially as someone who requires everything to be small and organised.  This is brilliant for people who travel also because it has everything!  This one is actually the Jessie J Limited Edition palette but it contains all of my favourite colours from the range.  I use it for highlighter, contour and blush however, there ain’t nothing stopping you peeps from filling it up with all blush or whatever you want!  Each retails at £18 however the Jessie J Limited Edition palette is £54 – which is amazing!

BROWS

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MAKE UP FOR EVER aren’t known massively for their brow products, you know like Benefit or Anastasia Beverly Hills are, etc.  but they damn well should be!  I fell in love instantly with the Aqua Brow, which is like pomade in a tube which I prefer than a little jar as it doesn’t dry out at all!  There really is something or everyone with the brows here, I go through phases of which I prefer.  Today I used the Brow Pencil with the Brow Liner to create a fluffier brow and when I want a more sculpted brow I will use the Aqua Brow.  When you buy the Aqua Brow it comes in the cutest little set!  It has a pouch with a small spoolie and small angled brush – a make up bag must have!  One thing I always use on my brows regardless of what makeup look I am doing or whether I am even wearing makeup is the Brow Gel.  It instantly makes me feel better about myself, also considering my brows are feral, it keeps them at bay! *retails from £14-£33*

DIAMOND POWDER

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Glitters will come… glitters will go but holy crap this glitter I will keep repurchasing!  There are so many beautiful colours, I can’t cope.  The glitter sticks on itself, without the need of an adhesive which comes in really handy and doesn’t leave eye makeup looking chunky!  The pot seems small but you need so little of it that it will last you ages – plus it’s really nice to look at!  Some advice, please don’t keep it in a make up bag as if it opens everything will be covered! *retails at £18.50*

AQUA XL PAINTS

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These wouldn’t be something that you would run to pick up but the range of these face paints are amazing.  They can be used on the eyes, lips and face and are so versatile.  I used them a lot over Halloween creating different looks and they are surprisingly easy to use.  I can recommend MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Seal to go along with them as it’s like a mixing agent, so it thins out the cream so it applies easier.  Pictured are my two favourites to use as a cream highlight, they are so beautiful!

LIP

Liiiiips – who doesn’t love lipstick?  It’s the one accessory I carry around in my handbag and am probably never seen without.  I cleared out my handbag yesterday and I took out 11 lipsticks and about 5 lip liners.  These are some of my favourite colours from MAKE UP FOR EVER’s lip range – we have the Artist Rouge Creme lipstick M300 and the Aqua Lip Waterproof Liner in 8C.  The lip is an amazing creamy matte that does NOT move.  If you are looking for that all day lipstick then yaaaay I found it!  I have also pictured the latest launch of the Artist Liquid Matte (L-R) 101, 105, 301, 401, 501.  The world has fallen in love with liquid lipsticks and while they can be a little on the drier side these liquid lipsticks aren’t!  Now, when they hit the like, 8 hour wear mark they can be a little dry and I normally take them off and reapply and I am good to go!  So 8 hours out of one application of a liquid lipstick is pretty good going!  They are seriously creamy also when you apply them which is an added bonus!

SO ANYWAY, that’s quite enough rambling about my favourite products!  What are your favourite products, if any from MAKE UP FOR EVER?  I would love to hear! Drop a comment or send me a message!  If you are in the Belfast/Northern Ireland area and are wanting to get your make up done – YOU CAN.  Come in and see us in Debenhams, Belfast to have a look at our amazing products and book for a make up application or a make up lesson.  See below for prices which are redeemable on products on the day!

Eyes/Base – £25

Full Make Up – £45

Make Up Lesson – £45

Can’t wait to see you all chicas!

Amy xo

 

Current Skincare Regime

cosmeticsjunkiee1 Comment

Hello beauty babes!

I hope you are all well and are having a great start to the week.  This post is just going to be a little list of my current skincare regime.  My go tos and my favourite things to use on my skin.  My skin is having a little mental breakdown at the minute and I blame it on having a cold and not being very well recently.  All the more reason to remind myself of how important a good skincare regime is.

A lot of people can be discouraged by having a skincare regime because some things are too expensive but something you need to remember is there is always a cheaper, purse friendly option of something so there really is something to suit everyones budget.  I can’t stress the importance of going in and having a consultation at your favourite counter or getting some samples to make sure that what you are spending your hard earned cash on is worth it.  A lot of counters actually will set aside time and book you in for an appointment for a facial, etc so definitely do your research before heading to Debenhams, House of Fraser, Boots, etc to treat yo self.

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So my morning regime and night time regime are fairly similar, there are just some things I don’t use in the mornings eg. make up remover because… obvy I have no make up on.

Now, my skin falls under the dehydrated/normal category with a chance of breakouts at any given moment so what works for me, may certainly not work for you.  As I said, definitely carve out an hour of your week to go to a counter or skin specialist to figure out what it is you would like your skin products to do for you.  For years I thought I was oily until I went to someone and they were like ‘No dear, you dry.’  On the whole, I am pretty lucky with my skin and I do think a lot of it comes down to genetics, my mum has amazing skin and so does my granny.  I really don’t think it’s down to the glass of wine I am currently chugging.

Anyway, firstly at night I always remove my eye makeup.  You don’t neccessarily need an eye makeup remover specifically for the eyes however, your eye area is so delicate that face products could be too heavy for the eyes and lead to problems in the future.  I use an eye makeup remover because due to working with make up and wearing a fair bit I need something a little more heavy duty than your average 2 in 1 style product to remove everything.  At the minute I am using Lancome Bi-ficil Eye Make Up Remover (£21.50) as it removes even the darkest of smokey eyes on one pad.  I really love the Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Make Up Remover (£3.89) also – I find this is a great dupe for the Lancome one.  Perfect for those on a budget!  I find I need to use a lot more product with Nivea and so do go through it very quickly whereas my Lancome one lasts AGES!

Now that my eye makeup is off and my eyes look like pee holes in the snow, I have to remove the rest of my makeup.  Up there with peeling off eyelashes this is one of the more satisfying parts of my day!  I use my all time favourite Estee Lauder Take It Away Make Up Remover Lotion (£23.50) as it leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean!  As I have dry skin I try to avoid water on my face at all costs but for those of you that love the fresh feeling of using water of course I am going to recommend Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish (£16).  My mum swears by this stuff!  If I am wearing a lot of makeup that day, like more than normal I tend to use the Garnier Miscellar Cleanser Water (£3.29ish) roughly all over my face and then go in with the Estee Lauder.  Unneccessary step? Maybe.  Again, you could just use the Miscellar Water just on it’s own and it still gets the job done for a fraction of the price.

Now that your skin is squeaky clean… you’re ready for the actually skincare products now.  Le sigh.  So many products.  So, for cleanser I love love love my The Body Shop Aloe Vera Cream Cleanser (£7.50).  It leaves me skin feeling seriously silky and smooth and there is genuinely always an offer on when I go in so I am stocked up for life with this!  They have a whole range of skincare items that suits a variety of skin types and I used to use the entire Aloe Vera range – it was perfect for me when I was in school!  When I am feeling like I want to treat myself (errday) I always revert back to my Kiehl’s Centella Skin-Calming Facial Cleanser (£28).  It’s so lightweight and leaves my skin feeling so soft that I want to run around and get people to stroke my face.  It contains Aloe, much like The Body Shop cleanser so is amazing for sensitive skins.  I feel that Kiehl’s moisturises my face more than the Aloe Vera cleanser but for the price of The Body Shop you can’t complain!

Toner – do you need it or don’t you?  Up to you.  When I worked for Estee Lauder a common complaint was that toner stung the skin or made the skin feel tight or uncomfortable.  For me, I am a little obsessed with toners because I am gross and like to look at the cotton pads to see just how much dirt is coming off.  It’s disgusting.  We all do it.  Toners are great because they buff off dead skin cells so that our serums and moisturisers go onto a newer layer of skin allowing your products to work more effectively.  Again, keep yourself right and go have a chat to figure out what’s best for you.  I have only tried maybe 3 or 4 toners in my life but at the minute I am using Kiehls Ultra Facial Toner (£17).  I can’t say much about it other than the fact that it leaves my skin feeling really hydrated and supple.  It’s a non alcohol formula which works great on my skin as I am so sensitive!

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I have two night time serums – no one judge me ok – I use the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (£52) and the Kiehls (Sorry I am obsessed…) Midnight Recovery Concentrate (£38).  I’m not a loser, I can use one without the other I just don’t want to.  Advanced Night Repair is like liquid gold on the face.  It helps with every single key sign of aging and acts like a moisture magnet so that when you apply your moisturiser it sucks it all in so it works harder, better, faster and stronger.  It is the number one for absolutely everyone, no matter the skin type!  Midnight Recovery Concentrate on the other hand is like taking a little trip to a spa in the comfort of your own home with the beautiful natural scent and make your skin look seriously radiant.  A few drops of this honestly will give you younger looking skin by morning – I stole that.  They say that.

For moisturiser I used to use Estee Lauder’s Re Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Transformative Energy Creme (£265).  The reason I no longer use it is honestly just the price.  I ‘d rather pay my rent.  Now, if I could afford it I would buy two!  The cream itself it B-E-A-U-tiful!  I’m not going to go into why it’s on the more expensive side but basically the Re Nutriv range contains 24 Carat gold…

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It feels absolutely effing fantastic on my skin, it has never looked fresher, more awake and been more hydrated.  The moisturiser itself lasts absolutely ages because you need so little of it to push into the skin.  A 50ml jar lasted me around 4 and a half months!  So if you are looking something extremely lavish and amazing then look no further than this!  I am struggling to find a moisturiser that I love at the minute but I do really like Clinique Moisture Surge Intense Fortifying Hydrator (£34).  It does exactly what it says on the tin so if you are after a moisturiser that will seriously hydrate then that’s the one!  Based on the rest of my regime then I’ll probably go out and try a Kiehls moisturiser!

Eye cream is something that I don’t mind paying a little extra on because it’s always the problem area people talk about when they get older that they wish they had focused on when they were younger.  I use the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum  (£47) because I love what the face serum does so I want the same results for my eyes.  Plus, the beauty of this is because it’s a serum  much like the face, you can put another eye cream over the top.  You don’t have to, but sometimes I do!  The eye serum hydrates immediately and feels seriously cooling on the eyes.  I keep mine in the fridge and it feels unreal!  When I put an eye cream over top I use the Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream (£15).  As it is enriched with Hyaluronic Acid and has an Aloe Vera base it will intensely hydrate and revitalise tired eyes.  I always use the excess on my lips for extra hydration before bed!

That’s it for my night time regime, the only other thing I use on my skin is the Skinkissed Vitamin C Serum (£39.95) during the day before my Clinique moisturiser.  I have already written a post about this serum so I won’t go into much detail but you can read the post here – https://cosmeticsjunkiee.wordpress.com/2017/09/08/skinkissed-la-meor-vitamin-c-serum/

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SO I really think that this might be enough skincare chat for one day…

I hope you enjoy this little insight into what I use on my face on the daily!  If anyone has any recommendations of skincare products that they like or think there is something I should try then please comment and let me know! I love trying new products!

Thanks for reading!

Amy xo