Illamasqua highlighter brush of life!

Hey Guuyyyss!

So I may have found the best make-up brush ever! I was having my make-up done at Illamasqua in Oxford Streets Selfridges and the beautiful woman doing my make-up was using what looked like a mini blush brush to apply my foundation. I thought it was odd but didn't really comment as she clearly knew what she was doing. When she showed me the mirror I was genuinely amazed... not so much at the foundation but at the finish. I personally remember thinking the colour wasn't a perfect match for me but the brush had literally given an airbrushed finish. The finish was as if it had been applied with an airbrush machine, it was as if she had buffed the product into my skin rather than layer it on top. I asked the lady about the brush and she said it was theyr most popular brush because it does absolutely everything. I actually went away with a sample of the foundation to try it out and every time I haven't managed to get it looking as good so went back to the Illamasqua in Meadowhall in Sheffield and was enquiring about a concealer which she also put on with the same brush and same results, loose powder, blusher, highlighter, eye-shadow ALL WITH THIS BRUSH!

I literally cant explain how perfect it was for each individual use it was put to. Iv'e now been able to use the brush to apply a full make-up look on someone and can honestly say it blows almost half the brushes I already own out the water. (I say most because there are things you obviously can't do with a fluffy brush, e.g. eye liner). I love love love this brush and recommend every make-up artist owns at least 4-5 of these gems. In terms of practicality I wouldn't recommend only using this brush or you'll have a worn out brush pretty soon from all the cleaning in-between colours. I would definitely say I prefer to use this brush to a flat foundation brush and the size of it make it easer and more precise than a medium sized stippling brush. The brush is made from synthetic fibres which will mean they don't soak up any of the product and usually last longer without shedding.

..It was love at first stroke, best believe I will be saturating my kit with these brushes!

Thanks for reading

Mwah xo

GIMMI BROW

So the newest product to be launched from Benefit Cosmetics line is finally here... and it's amazing!
'Gimmi brow' is a brush on gel that leaves natural looking fibres on the skin and hair for fuller filled out brows. The brush allows for precision and shaping. You can go for a natural look with this product and also for a full on intense brow by building. It lasts all day and keeps your brows in place and is also (Thank God) water resistant. I literally love this stuff. It comes in two shades, light/medium and medium/dark, having used all of Benefits brow products I find this one the easiest and most natural looking. It also works well with 'Browzings'. Don't get it mistaken for 'Speed brow' which is a translucent brow gel purely for setting the brow hairs whereas 'Gimmi brow' also applies colour.

But.. seeing as I'm giving an honest review I feel is should also tell you guys what I found to be the negatives (There are hardly any). If you have quite thick jet black eyebrows this product may not be for you and I would recommend 'Speed brow' instead because 'Gimmi brow' is so pigmented it comes out an ashy colour on jet black as the darkest shade is a dark brown. One other thing that isn't entirely a negative is that the brush holds a lot of the gel on it so it can get messy if you don't realise this. I recommend practising in the mirror a few times to get your desired look or even going to any benefit counter and asking them for a make up lesson in how to apply it once you've bought it. They would be more than happy to help.

Here is a before and after I did on a client.

 

 

Mwah xo

Mixology!

Okay so this post is all about how to mix products to make even more amazing products. Sometimes meaning you don't have to get a different product all together. There are some make up products I see and I'm just like... really? I could make that by mixing something I already have so here it goes...

Radiant foundation?

It's not everyday matte make up. Especially in this lovely weather, radiance is also a very sexy look to go for and this is how to achieve it without going out and buying a 'radiant foundation'.

Your fave foundation


        +

Your highlighter

















This works so well and really gives your foundation a radiant glow. I recommend liquid highlighters as they blend easier with the foundation. Just a pea sized amount mixed into however much foundation you would usually use and Voila! :)


Metallic lipstick?

Metallics are sooo in this season! From clothes and shoes, to make up. Precious metals are the way forwards. So here is the magic formula

A moisturising lipstick


+

A shimmery eyeshadow








I'm sure we all have both of these in our make up bags. I highly recommend benefits Creaseless eye-shadow as the colours are so gorgeous and metallic and super long lasting which would hold your lipstick longer as well. Using a lip brush (or your fingers) blend the two and apply for a glam pout!


So these two are the ones I use/love the most. Hope you guys try it out and love it!
Until next time :)

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

Progress

Just a little update on my portfolio building, its actually going really well! I've cornered most of my friends to try different looks, some have tuned out well and others... well lets call them abstract LOL! I love doing it, i feel so comfortable and at the moment I'm trying lots of different styles and looks to really see what my limits are and what i need to improve on. I'm applying for lot of opportunities that i see to just widen my experience and hopefully one of these days ill hear back! :D I will be doing a video in the near future showing my makeup routine for anyone who wants to actually see me doing makeup. When i get a better camera that will be up. Now that I've done a lot of looks of my friends I'm trying to see if any photographers are interested in working with me for me to create a look and they capture it in their own way so we both have work for our portfolios, I've heard this is a really good way to start out so ill let you guys know how that goes.

OMG... I spent a large amount of money on items to build my kit today, I splurged on Urban decay, Elf and my beloved ebay of course, I got a few essentials and more brushes. I know its a risk but I feel that to gain any success in life you have to take risks, and to get to where I aim to be I am willing to take risks as I have faith in my talent. Never give up on your dreams. 

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

Eyes Lips and Face

E.l.f Cosmetics is an international online cosmetics brand. The main thing about this site that really catches most peoples attentions (yes and me) is how cheap it is! Like ridiculously cheap! At first i was very skeptical because of their prices,i mean there is good price and then there is dirt cheap... I first ordered the 'All over cover stick' for £1.50. I was pleasantly surprised to be honest. It is good as a light concealer, I never really used it all over my face but it did well to hide blemishes and its light weight texture felt nice and almost moisturising on my skin. Although i do feel like it is very hit and miss with this product as there are only 7 shades and not everyone will find a match. I recommended it to one friend who has lighter skin and it just didn't suit her skin, whereas another friend i recommended it to loved it and replaced it with her foundation.

Another item i ordered was the kohl black liner with a smudger on the end, i LOVE this item! The pencil is so dark and smudges really well, easy application without any effort, smooth strokes. Okay so up until this point e.l.f had done well by me so i got a bit experimental and ordered a big shop with all sorts of products from brushed to eye shadow primers... The eye shadow primer had me kind of speechless if I'm honest. When there were different shades i was a bit confused but thought id go with it, i really should have been put of then, but i chose a dark shade for my skin even though i was sure primer was usually supposed to be translucent or a in concealer style so the luminous gold i was seeing was questionable but i thought 'its a primer, it will do the job'. When it arrived it was even brighter and still with hope left in me i tried it on and i honest can say it is the weirdest product ever. The primer was so bright no amount of eye shadow even showed up over it and it was so slimy and didn't set at all so i had watery eyelids ...ARGHH it was a nightmare (stay away from the primer) i don't know how the other colors are so i guess i cant be too skeptical. BUTTTTT having said that, I do love the brushes! Like wow! 

They are so cheap and honestly (please no abuse for what I'm about to say) there are some brushes i have found better than Mac brushes :O yes i said it. I have the Mac set of brushes and am in love with their brushes but i prefer to use the e.l.f studio stipple brush for only £3.75 over the Mac 190 foundation brush to apply my liquid foundation. #JustSayin 

So overall i think its very hit and miss with e.l.f, i love so many of thier products but be weary as there are some products that show exactly why they are so cheap, i will continue to order from e.l.f as i feel like my mistaike has made me wiser on what is good and not, and when there good, there reeaall good. If your worried about an item before you order it leave a comment saying what your considering because chances are I've tried it and ill let you know what i think of it :D

Thanx for reading guys, still getting used to this blogging thing!

Mwah xo

P.s. Nearly forgot! Check this out... AHHMAZZZE http://eyeslipsface.co.uk/en/restofworld/+pound10+-gifts/100pc-marble-eyeshadow-palette/invt/71614