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

More of my work...

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

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

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

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 ♥

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