L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara

I've been using L'oreal's Voluminous mascara for a few years now and I love it! 

Firstly if you're thinking about buying this mascara make sure you buy the Carbon Black shade and not just the regular black - There is a different and the regular black isn't as good as the carbon black. The Carbon black is more intense black and you don't need as much of it! 

Like I said I've been using this mascara for a few years now and I've tried ALOT of mascaras before some way more expensive like Dior Blackout (Don't see what all the fuss is about!) YSL, MAC, Benefit etc etc...... 

But this is by far the best I've tried so far, its easy to build up for a fuller lash, it lengthens, it doesn't clump - basically it does everything most mascaras claim to do. Except all the rest fail and L'Oreal's Voluminous beats their mascara ass! 

Like a good MUA I'm always on the look out for new (dare I say) better products, so I'm open to suggestions, if you have a favourite mascara let me know so I can try it. Until then I'll be sticking to my fave. 

TIGI hair wonders

I've exclusively been using TIGI products on my hair for the past 4 weeks or so, I have never really used TIGI before but obviously have heard sooo much about their cult products and yummy smelling 'good enough to eat' shampoo's and conditioners. 

For shampoo and conditioner I have been using TIGI Bed Head Recharge. 

This products promises to "Achieve high octane shine with this new power packed duo – the UV protectant, vitamin-infused line removes pollutants, sweat and build-up to reveal super reflective shine. TIGI Bed Head makes getting shiny beautiful hair easy.

This anti-oxidant rich shampoo and conditioner eliminates nasties

such as pollutants, sweat and build-up, to reveal super-reflective

shine and dazzling results."

Like I said I have been using this product for the past 4 weeks and I can honestly see the difference! My hair is super soft & shiny. 

I have really long hair which is half curly half frizzy (When I brush my hair after washing and letting it dry naturally I look a bit like Diana Ross circa Chain Reaction!) But after using these little gems and blow drying my hair it is frizz free and super sleek, winner! I also only wash my hair once a week, after training it years ago so this shampoo feels like my hair is getting a really deep clean and the conditioner makes my mane feel so soft. 

They smell so good too, I even noticed my boyfriend had used them (hands off pal!) He got a swift telling off. 

Along with these two products I've been using TIGI Hair Reborn 

Reparitive Nocturnal Therapy which is a leave in over night mask. TIGI has brought out a collection to rival more high end brands such as 'Redken and Kerastase' 

This product promises to "Restore hair to it's strongest after just 30 days" 

This treatment is priced at £26.95 which is quite pricey - however this is a big bottle (100ml) you only use this once a week and only use 2-3 pumps, so will last ages!

You emulsify 2-3 pumps and run it through the ends of your hair, leave in your hair over night then wash in the morning. 

I have been using this for 4 weeks too and using this along with the Recharge shampoo and conditioner have got my hair in tip top shape. This treatment has made my hair healthy, sleek and shiny with a salon finish. 

Well done TIGI, where have you been all my life?!

My Match Made in Smokey Eye Heaven

I thought I'd tell you about one of my secret weapons I use ALL the time! 

If a client requests smokey eyes and they don't want a full on deep dark black smokey eye these are my 'go to' products. 

L'Oreal Midnight stars #179

Makeup Forever Aqua Cream Steel #2

The aqua cream is a cream product which I use as a base (usually over Urban Decay primer potion) although this product probably doesn't require a primer as it's a long lasting cream shadow (which is also waterproof!) I always use an eye primer for extra staying power - your eye makeup isn't going anywhere until you physically wipe it off yourself with a wipe and cleanser. 

Once I have applied this all over the lid, usually with my finger then blending out the edges either with a clean finger or a MAC 217 brush to make sure there isn't any harsh lines, I load up a clean MAC 217 brush and gently apply L'Oreal Midnight stars all over. I use little swirling motions being careful not to move any of the cream product underneath. 

The colour's are really similar - but Midnight star's has a slight gold sheen to it and together these two products look AMAZING! They create a gorgeous dark greyish sparkly smokey eye. I usually add a little cream liner on the upper and lower lash line. On the lower lash line I blend in the black gel liner with Midnight Stars so its not too harsh. 

These two products are so gorgeous together! Here are a few clients I've used this combo on.  

Face Lace - Festival Collection

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I wrote about the Face Lace Festival Collection in my 'Festival Beauty Essentials' blog, so thought I'd do a little blog explaining a little more about them. 

Created by Makeup Artist Phyllis Cohen Face Lace is a non smudge, non fade, pre-made makeup design that you can apply in literally seconds! 

Their motto is - Peel off, stick on, show off! 

I love this product. It's simple yet genius! I have seen Face Lace used in numerous editorial shoots and I imagine they are used all the time for fancy dress, parties and just general life (if you're me!) 

When you first peel these off their backing paper they are soooo stick, which is good as they won't budge when you stick them down properly. As they are so stick just be careful not to rip them as they are delicate and far too pretty to end up in pieces because of heavy handed, impatience! (This almost happened to an over eager me!) 

Click here to visit the Face Lace online store and purchase your own. 

*Kindly sent by the Face Lace team for review* 

Mac Mineralize Skin Finish in RIO & Sleek Contour Kit MEDIUM

Yesterday I bought these little goodies for myself - not for my kit for a change! 

MAC's mineralize skinfinish pressed (blusher/highlighter) in shade RIO. 

It's a lovely pinky/peachy colour with a frosty finish.

I did a heavy swatch for the purpose of the photo's - as you can see it looks slightly lighter than it does in the pan. Its quite creamy to touch, so be careful when applying it with a brush as its rather pigmented. 

I applied this to my cheeks with a MAC 129 brush. 

On the MAC website RIO is described as 'Bronze with a bright pink pearl' I personally don't see the bronze in the swatches or on my cheeks just the pink/peach. Maybe on someone who was a lighter skin tone the bronze may come through but as I'm fairly dark (MAC NC42, MUFE 170) I personally don't see it on me. 

Also on the MAC website they say the Mineralize skin finish is 'A luxurious velvet soft powder with high frost metallic finish. Smooths on adds buffed up highlights to cheeks or an overall ultra-delux polish to the face'

I personally wouldn't use this all over my face unless I wanted to look like a big shiny disco ball. But I would use it was as a blush or lightly over another blush for a little highlight. 

I do really like the Mineralize skin finish powders - Soft and Gentle being a staple in our kit at the studio! We also use the skin finish natural's as a bronzer. 

I also do like this shade, but I can see it making it's way from my own personal kit into the studio kit as I think it would look gorgeous on lighter tones. I got this from MAC for £22

On the photo's below I also have Sleek's contour kit in MEDIUM on too. 

I've wanted to try this for ages, after seeing some amazing makeup artists create super fierce cheekbones with it! I was expecting good things. Here's the Sleek swatches. 

I was a bit put off by the overly talcy smell of the Sleek contour kit - it smells a bit like cheap powder products. I know, I know it is cheap at only £6.49 but the smell just made me think of 50 year old compact powders that old ladies use.

It did glide on lovely though and does what it says on the tin! It doesn't have any warm tones in and mimics the natural 'cool' tones that shadows natural give off - so perfect for cheating cheekbones or a slimmer nose. 

I only used this on my cheekbones and temples. All in all for the price you can't really complain about this contour kit. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality - just not by the iffy smell!

Below I have used a heavy amount of product for the purpose of the photo's.

*All products bought by my fair hands and with my own money* 

Festival Beauty Essentials

So I made it back in one piece from Glastonbury.
A little grubby, very tired but what an amazing experience!
I’m not exactly a ‘girly’ girl - mud doesn’t scare me (bring it on!) the fact I couldn’t wash my hair didn’t faze me, sleepless nights? who sleeps at a festival anyway!? 
But the one thing I could not live without was my beauty essentials. 
I’m going to tell you all about my absolute must haves for any festivals you’re planning on going to this year. 


1. hair saviours

I bought these little gems for £8 for the set it came with the all important dry shampoo (best invention of the 21st century? possibly!) this dry shampoo smelled fab and not a greasy root in sight. The weather resistant hair spray came in very handy for a rainy Thursday afternoon, luckily the sun shone for the rest of the weekend and this hair spray was used alot! The oomph powder made our hair very ‘shabby chic’ festival ready - one word of warning, your hair will not budge after using this, so use it sparingly. 

2. Lip care 

One of the hottest days of the year happened at Glastonbury, everywhere I turned people had peeling noses and bright red shoulders! Festivals are very unpredictable weather wise - especially in this country, so pack for anything that may happen. Take wellies AND sun cream because you may need both. One area people often forget to protect are their lips, I took my trusty Hawaiian Tropic SPF 25 lip gloss - however I am sat here writing this with a sunburnt lip! I didn’t apply this enough, so learn from my mistake and top up your lipcare every hour or so. 

3. Glitter & sparkle

Festival essential! Everywhere you look people have face art, neon paint and glitter all over their faces. Take your own and get creative, it’s makes for a fun half hour in the tent with your friends! I got a small 4 section nail art stack pot for around £2 which I used on my face, I already had the Collection glitter eyeliners which are only a couple of pound too from Superdrug. 

4. Cheats Festival Art

These amazing creations will see you right through your festival! The amazing Face Lace festival collection designs will save you time, hassle and have your looking festival ready in a few seconds! Just peel off, stick down and you’re done! 

5. Luscious face wipes

I swear by Johnsons nourishing face wipes, they are so moisturising, last for ages and 1 wipe will take all your makeup off including waterproof mascara! 

6. Rich Moisture

I always take a very rich creamy moisturiser with me to keep my skin from drying out, I love Embryolisse Lait-creme concentrate, known in the industry as ‘Miracle cream’ for its amazing ability to restore even the scaliest of skin back to full health! Order yours online from £10 for a 30ml tube. 

So they are my main festival essentials, remember don’t worry too much about what you look like. Just get into the festival spirit and enjoy why you’re there - for the music and partying! Happy camping.

Comment and let me know what YOUR festival beauty essentials are! 

Depotting Lipsticks

DEPOTTING LIPSTICKS INTO A PALETTE
I’ve put this off for ages because I thought it would be an impossible task (for me anyway) but once I got started I was in the zone and actually really enjoyed it! Maybe I need to get out more? First of all I started by taking a deep breath and staring at my 30 odd lipsticks that needed a new home. I had read that melting them may ruin the lipsticks, but others also stated that this was rubbish and their lipsticks were fine, in a quandary I decided to ‘smush’ them in rather than melting.

That didn’t go down to well! It didn’t look pretty and was a big mess, 2 lipsticks in I was running for my spoon and candle.

We had purchased the Japonesque palette for the studio after months of routing around in our lipstick drawer, searching through the endless lipsticks tubes and only being able to tell what shade it was by reading the bottom! This wasted far too much time and it was decided this was necessary, especially as Christmas (one of the busiest periods for us) was coming up.

The palette comes with a handy mini plastic spatula which I used to chop off some of the lipstick bullet, the amount is trial and error really. But when in doubt chop off less rather than more than you think you need.

I chopped in onto a spoon and held it over a cancel for about 30 seconds or so, you don’t want it to boil so don’t hold it directly on the flame, just above.

then you very carefully pour the melted lipstick into the palette, remember it’s hot so be careful!

It completely drys in a few minutes, like magic! This took me about 3 hours as I had to then peel each sticker off the bottom of the lipstick tube and stick it onto the plastic insert inside the palette, then because there was some lipstick left in the tube I had to label that so we knew what lipstick was what when it came to refilling the palette.

 Like I said earlier though, I did get into it and was like a woman possessed I didn’t move until it was entirely finished. Although I did have a mini breakdown when at the very end I was elated that it was all over and I was packing away when I spotted a lipstick that had been hiding! 

All in all it was well worth it, and I kind of had fun deciding what shades should go where and putting the whole thing together. I think as a makeup artist it is so important to make your job as easy as possible, and by having all your lipsticks there in front you makes life easier and your kit less bulky!Plus its also pretty to look at.

Have fun creating your very own custom lip palette! Happy depotting :)