Prime and shine

Eye shadow is definitely one of my favourite stages of make-up. I love experimenting with colours, shapes and seeing how with different blending techniques you can manipulate the appearance of your eye shape. The one thing I used to struggle with was getting it to stay as perfect an our later as it did when I first did it. Especially with colourful looks it really didn't look good when the colours sunk into the creases of your eyes! So I invested in primers, the first primer I used was a cheap one from Asda, I didn't really see a huge difference so started using different kinds of eye shadows and although some eye-shadows do stay better than others the problem wasn't solved. I then decided to try the primer thing again but this time I did some research and heard about the Urban Decay eye-shadow primer potions. I got myself one and only then did I realise it was fully possible to have long lasting eye-shadow! I sort of became obsessed and started out trying different eye-shadow primers and after having tried almost every eye-shadow primer out there i have found the best two (even better than the Urban Decay one...)

1. Benefit Stay Don't Stray

This stuff will literally keep your eye-shadow unmovable for hours on end. Perfect for a night out where you are likely to get all hot and your make-up could melt, this will keep it in place.

It prevents creasing if you have particularly oily lids and  prevents smudging. LOVE this stuff and there is a darker shade for darker skin tones.

2. Helen E Stage eye-shadow primer

This primer I only got introduced to recently but I already love love love it! It gives even the most subtle eye-shadow colours more pigment. Its great for making colours stand out and the matte texture really helps keep the shadow in place. There is only one colour of this but I find it works perfectly on my skin which is dark, if anything it helps to make the shadow stand out more. 

So... just had a thought whilst writing this... Is mixing primers allowed? I definitely know you can mix face primers, so I'm officially going to go and try out mixing these two shadow primers and see how well it works. It can only be twice as good right?

Mwah x

Top 5! (Current)

Okay so if you ask me my favourite make-up products every month it would be different eveytime as I love to switch it up and try new things. There a few things though that would come up every time but on the whole I always tend to find new things that become my favourite till the next best thing comes along :D

Ill start with Studio Fix from MAC as that is a recurring favourite. Ever since I started using this about 4 years ago, its been a staple in my make-up bag. The thing I love about this particular product is that you have full control over the coverage. MAC on the whole is quite full coverage but because this is essentially a powder foundation, if you apply it with a brush you can create the most subtle coverage or really build it up to its full potential with flawless results every time. I also love it when products have SPF in them because its just extra protection and that never a bad thing! All MAC products have SPF 15 in them! I literally can't fault this product, it never makes me feel to made up either, as its not thick and there are sooo many shades to choose form that everyone can get a perfect match.

THIS! is amazing! I was introduced to this a while back and feel like I really need to share the greatness off this product. Porefessional is a Primer from Benefit, it is the UK's number 1 best selling primer and this is why... Most primers I feel either give your skin a slightly ashy look, or a rubbery feel. I am yet to find a primer that compares with this. As your applying it you can see the visible difference as it reduces the size of pores, and smooths over any lines preparing your face for a layer of foundation or powder, ALTHOUGH you can use this product on its own for daily use as I do, the product applies in a very silky way and doesn't dry out your skin, so for a more evened out complexion without looking made up I use this and that's why I love it! its like a two in one. Amazing primer that also acts like a toner. and I just loove the feel of it on my skin :)

Helen E Blemish concealers are awesome! I find that they are a perfect texture to really brighten up under your eyes without looking cakey and they cover up well without adding too much layering to your face. They are light but effective in other words. I use the darkest shade, but can get away with the medium shade because of how well they blend. When I'm doing a dramatic eye make-up look and really want to highlight my brow bone I tend to use the medium one. The yellowish coloured one is for white skin and works just as well giving a healthy illuminated look. I love this, and the price makes it soo much more appealing at only £10 (pop into a store and you can grab one for £5!)

E.l.f really surprised me with their false lashes. I bought them as an experiment. I wasn't expecting too much from them but was extremely pleasantly surprised. I genuinely have converted to these. I don't buy my falsies from anywhere else now. They have three different types from natural to dramatic and they come with a half lash on top of the full one to add extra definition if need. I couldn't fin a picture of the exact one I have but its basically the same but in black packaging with an extra half piece. The glue is really good as well, it is quick to set and clear, the spine of the lashes are also very flexible so its really to apply and get right into the corners. It also come with tweezers! Love them :)

Urban Decays Naked 2 Palette is just simple amazing. Every time I open it up I feel like a kid in a candy store with the colours. They are most definitely the best pigmented eye shadows I own. A bonus to this is also that it comes with a double sided brush, (I'm not talking like some crappy plastic bush) you get a professional eye-shadow/contouring brush that comes in really handy. My favourite colours are Half baked, Busted, Verve and Blackout. I find those colours combined also create a very sexy smoky eye for a night look (my fave kinda eye make-up). The eye-shadows don't crease and are incredibly long lasting, especially if your using primer underneath. They don't fall all over your face when your applying it either. I'm in love with Urban Decay eye shadows and I just love all the colours, all so feminine and pretty, and also very much worth the price.

So they are my top 5 for now! Ill be doing one of these every few weeks so keep and eye out! I highly recommended all these, I'm sure you wont be disappointed :D

Mwah xo

Finally!

So my doll of a flat mate finally plucked up the courage to allow me to do her makeup! Wooo :) because she is a natural beauty and doesn't wear much makeup I was very weary of doing a heavy coverage look so I stuck to subtly but effective. Suprisingly she really loved it, especially the eyes, I used Helen E blemish concealer under the eyes and did a slight smokey look using the naked 2 pallete (The love of my life). I used an orangey pink on her lips for extra cuteness and added a very light brushing of bronzer to her ccheeks. Here is the look!

Mwah xo

The Rouge lip

When I think red lips, three main stars come to mind, Rhi Rhi, Rita Ora and Scarlett Johansson. red lipstick is an essential in everyone's beauty kit! No matter your complexion the right red is enough to complete any look! 

Scarlett Johansson is a timeless beauty with such a classic look. She is one of few people who could get away with picking the brightest shade of red and rocking it because of her super bright pale skin. This isn't to say only pale people can wear bright red lipsticks but the luminosity in her skin is really accentuated with the lipstick. As you can see below, her skin is tanned but she has a very illuminated complexion which has been highlighted with the under eye concealer trick which makes the red lipstick look absolutely amazinggg on her skin!

I find when it comes to darker skin tones a red with very slight purple undertones gives the same effect. The more purpley and less orangey, the less dramatic but still gives a lovely finish. Here Kerry Washington is owning the red lipstick and it really does brighten her complexion without looking too overly bright and that look is really not hot.

 For those with very rich dark skin tones the same applies, look for shades with a more berry like finish IF your going for this look but don't let anyone say you cant rock a Ruby Woo as the statement bright red look is also very hot, just more daring and gives a different effect, maybe not for everyday wear (or maybe, if you like). If you have a darker skin tone and still want to rock the bright red colour naturally, the way to avoid it looking too POW is by lining and filling in your lips with a colour that matches your skin, then applying the red over it. When you blend it in the red will still be as bright but it will blend more naturally in a gradient effect so there isn't an obvious clash between your dark skin and the bright lip colour. If you have dark lips make sure to line them with a colour that is in-between the colour of your lips and the colour of the lipstick your applying. This gives a better finish and makes the lipstick last longer.

My pick of amaazzee red lipsticks: Top 3

MAC Ruby Woo - Perfect for bright matte lips and suuuper long lasting

TopShop Lips in beguiled - Lovely finish, and long lasting deep red 

Helen E - Caribbean - A very moisturising sexy red 

Mwah xo

Beach partaaay

Here is my beautiful client! 

She had a beach themed party to attend and wanted me to make her up. Obviously the beach theme meant nothing too heavy so I went for smokey eyes, clean face and peachy lips. She loved it and i loved doing it!  She is such a stunner, here are her eyes which she loooved!

 At the moment I don't charge for my makeovers as the aim for now is to get my name out there!  I will literally do anyone's makeup for free with the faith that they will love it and recommend it to others. When I have a more regular client base ill sure be charging. I forever wish to remain on that learvning curve, always improving and becoming more experienced.  

Mwah xo

Natural Vs Made up

 So i got bored and made up half my face. Creativity meets boredom i guess lol. I started off doing my eye then thought id just do exactly half my face and compare the difference. I was glad to see the difference wasn't crazy dramatic as this is a look i could do for the day and was very simple. Firstly i used the prep and prime balm that i mentioned in my previous post as a primer on my eyes to really bring out the colour of the shadow. I used this eye shadow palette to create a smoky effect using the dark green as the crease colour, the black at the outer corners, the pale pink in the corner and the light green under my eyes. I then lined under my eye with a green eyeliner from Helen E lined my waterline with the elf kohl pencil.

 I used Mac studio finish concealer under my eyes and on my brow bone, which i then highlighted with bronzer (Helen E - Diva). I used a tiny amount of no 7 liquid foundation around the rest or my face. I used a dark powder lightly under my cheekbones and a lighter powder under my eyes to set the concealer. i then dusted Mac studio fix all around my face and added a brush of Mac's raisin blush under my cheekbones and around the sides of my face. A thick application of eyeliner and lashings of mascara and the look was complete!

Underneath i have shown where i have highlighted (Orange lines) and where i have contoured (Blue lines).

Hope this helps

Mwah xo

How does she do it?

When I think Megan Good, I think HEALTHY, GLOWING, DEWY. I will never know exactly how she does it but after lots of trial and error i think i have found a way to create this look. I always wondered how she manages to look so dewy and made up without looking greasy and I feel that Mac's Prep and Prime beauty balm does the job. Applying it with a foundation brush all over skin evens out your complexion and creates a dewy glow. I avoided matte concealers to brighten under the eyes and the T zone area. I used the maybeline concealer in colour 30 as its a light creamy texture. I primed my lips with the same balm and lined them with a deep brown/red colour and used Helen E lipgloss in Red Currant to blend out the line. The beauty balm is great for natural coverage that doesn't mattify your skin, if you have dry skin make sure you moisturize well before you apply so it glides on well and gives the right effect. Helen E miracle conceler stick under the eyes and on my brow bone really gave a dewy look and highlights the face. Light contouring around the sides of the face keeps the look fresh and not too over done looking, i would avoid pinky blusher as the look really just uses natural colours, if you really want to I would suggest a very light application used only as a contour colour and not for the apples of the cheek. For those who already have oily skin i recommend a light spray of the Urban Decay setting spray after you have applied the makeup to control the 'dewy' look throughout the day. Lashings of mascara to finish off the look!. :D This is a quick natural look that can easily be transformed from a day look to a night look with some liquid liner and a dab of deep coloured blush.

Here is my attempt lol (looks wise i think Megan wins by a mile but i think i managed to re-create the look decently, let me know what you think haha) 

p.s. Sorry about the not so great quality....

Mwah xo

Bronzer love

So I did a mini shoot yesterday with my fave girlies! By the end of it we were all exhausted but i got some lovely shots. I did the makeup and styled them both. Here are some of the pictures, hope you guys like it! P.s. I went crazy with bronzer. I think its perfect for sunny weather as it really illuminates your face and creates structure and a nice sun kissed look. The bronzer I used was Healthy glow bronzing powder by e.l.f (I highly recommend).

Mwah xo

In my element

So yesterday I decided to start building a proper portfolio of my makeup looks. I've been thinking about it for a while but really just never started. I managed to corner my sister and after an hour of being in my element this is what I created. 

Eyes - I wanted statement eyes but nothing too harsh and dramatic. I used elf matte brown eyeshadow as a base then created a light smoky look with dark green shades from the maybeline mini eyeshadow pallete,  I used a mac concealer for the brow bone.

Skin - I went all out with coverage.  I started with maybaline concealer around the face and no7 foundation,  using a stipple brush I blended this all in THEN I brushed baby powder all over the face. I then applied the mac conceal under the eyes and down the nose and the no7 foundation again and used a foundation brush to blend it all in. I then used a translucent powder for around the eyes to set the concealer and then mac studio fix around tp set the rest of the face. I used sleek contour kit to contour her cheek bones and straighten the nose.

Lips - I lined the lips with a light brown pencil (drug store brand) and dabbed a shimmer eyeshadow all over then coated in Helen E lip gloss in colour 'Red Currant'.

Eyebrows - I used a waxy eyeliner pencil (I find them easier) and followed the shape of the brow adding a slight arch and concealing around to neaten up

Hope this helped and hope you liked the look! :) Any questions,  feel free to comment! 
Mwah! xo

P.s. Eid mubarak to all you Muslims ♥