Beauty Rediscovered - Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream

Whilst trying to stick to a spending ban I have been clearing out my beauty drawers and finding long lost products that I seem to have neglected. One of these is my Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream. Yes it smells a little odd and the texture is a bit bizarre but I forgot just how good this multi use product is. 

First and foremost this product does come in an unfragranced version so if the smell does put you off, don't give up on it yet! The packaging isn't particularly exciting but it is a cult classic in the beauty world and when a product does what it says it will I can forget about the aesthetic aspect. The texture is like a gel balm, not sticky but feels rich in texture. I love the handy and hygienic tube packaging, especially for use in my kit on make up jobs. 

I use this balm for lips, it is a great remedy for dry chapped lips without leaving too much of a high shine finish. It is fantastic for creating a sheen on cheekbones on photoshoots and for any very dry skin on hands or face it is an essential at this time of year!

I can't believe I ever tossed this to the back of my drawer as it has truly become a must have for me in the last few weeks! 

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The amazing Beauty Blender

I love brushes. I have a makeup brush addiction and am constantly buying new ones for myself and my kit. So when I first heard about Beauty Blenders, a sponge to apply foundation and concealer I was sceptical to say the least. I could not understand why anyone would choose to apply foundation with a sponge especially top make up artists. However I was randomly shopping in Guru Make up Emporium and spotted a duo pack of Beauty Blenders and thought why not give them a go. I left them in my drawer for ages, desperate to stick to my stippling brush ways, but a couple of months ago I decided to break open the packaging and apply my foundation with one. 

The sponge on the left has been used. On the right is brand new.

The sponge almost doubles in size when immersed into water and used. The new blender on the right looks much more appealing!

I had heard that it was best to dampen the sponge first with water squeezing out any excess water and then apply liquid foundation. It was as I first began to apply my liquid that I suddenly realised what all the fuss was about. My foundation literally disappeared onto my skin, blending in perfectly. I stippled the sponge onto the skin, pressing product onto the areas I wanted and could not believe how perfectly natural my skin looked. It was perfected but still looked like skin. I used the pointy tip to apply concealer and once again was astounded by the ease of application and flawless finish. 

I am by no means giving up on my foundation brushes however this has really opened my eyes to how many ways there are to use tools and makeup to provide results and I can honestly say that I will be repurchasing these blenders when mine have come to the end of their life. I will buy the duo pack again as it is much more cost effective at around £20 for the two. There are dupes out there for a cheaper price so may try them out but usually the original is best with these products so I am happy to pay for a good quality product that works!

A truly remarkable product!

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Anastasia Brow Dipbrow Pomade

Anastasia Beverly Hills makes some of the most amazing brow products I have ever tried. The brow wiz is an exception pencil, the brow powder is beautiful so when I saw that they had released a brow gel I knew I had to try it. This brand is huge in America but still creeping into the UK it has only one UK stockist that I have found, Cult Beauty.

This gel comes in a variety of colours but I opted for the lightest, Blonde, as I have recently had more light pieces put through my hair again in the wishful hope that it will bring Spring/Summer sooner!

You can see from the pictures that the colour is ideal for blondes as its not too warm but not too ash grey and therefore matches fair hair perfectly. It is also a build able colour so for nights out you can go a little deeper in tone by adding a bit more product. I use an angled brow brush to apply it in light feathery strokes almost mimicking each hair on the brow and added a bit more depth at the bottom of the brow to create an almost ombre effect.

This product is incredible. It looks natural but polished, subtle but defined and stays put all day! I have used it alone as well as in conjunction with the powder and pencil and it works great all three ways. I will definitely be buying more colours for my kit as I cannot bear to part with this. It has become an every day must have for me! 

If you are looking to invest in new brow products and are not sure whether to go for pencil or powder this is the perfect combination of the two with the added benefit of holding the hairs in place.

Perfection in a pot

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Another day, Another Space NK Haul

Breaking News! I stepped into Space NK with no intention of buying and left with new makeup goodies! Well it was bound to happen when I met up with fellow MUA and makeup addict Nikki for a catch up last week. The service in our nearest store in Kingston is always fantastic and we spent a good 2 hours in the store browsing and playing with products before deciding to purchase a few products. 

Worth it for the bag alone ;)

4 new goodies! Chantecaille The Pebble refillable compact, Chantecaille Smitten blusher, Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer and Hourglass Femme nude stylo No.3

The only Chantecaille product I have previously owned is their Just Skin tinted moisturiser which is incredible. The prices are high but so is the quality so when I saw this Pebble compact I fell in love. A refillable compact that fits any of the blushers or eyeshadows in the shape of a pebble with little slopes it actually feels like a smooth beach pebble (except Silver and luxurious and beautiful). I chose to fill it with Smitten powder blush, a stunning true peach tone with a satin finish. The blush colour is like nothing I already own and is perfect for Spring. It also compliments the new Hourglass lip colour I bought perfectly.

I have had my eye on the Hourglass femme nude stylos for a while so when I swatched shade number 3 on my hand I knew it had to be mine. The shades go from 1 to 6, all different tones and shades of nude to suit any skin tone. As a regular fake tanner I found that 3 was the perfect amount of warmth for me but 2 would also be a great option for the winter months. 

Last but by no means least I had completely forgotten about the fact I wanted to try this product until Nikki asked the assistant if she could try it out. I remember lots of makeup artists raving about it because despite its tiny pot and its high price (£38) it is so pigmented that the smallest amount can cover the entire face seamlessly. We both tried number 8 and the results were breathtaking. Firstly the yellow tone of number 8 is ideal for us fake tanners, secondly I was stunned at the beautiful full coverage it gave. I put it onto my chin, nose and forehead and the result was flawless. I will be trying this out for a bit longer before I buy more shades for my kit but after one use I think its going to be a life long friendship.

I used my Space NK indulge card, a points system card, and got £10 off the total because of my previous spending spree so that made me somehow feel less guilty ;) 

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My foundation collection!

This post was inspired by one of my favourite bloggers Laura from http://www.buynowbloglater.com who wrote a post on her foundation collection and a run through of how she felt about each one. I am going to be doing something similar today with my collection, running through every foundation I personally own (not included my professional kit) I will be telling you what I love about each one and why! I will also be revealing which one is my all time favourite Holy Grail foundation out of this line up at the end of the post!

My skin type is pretty normal, occasionally combination, so what might work amazingly on my skin, might look terrible on a dry skin so please bear in mind that these foundations work great for me but might not for you so always worth picking up a sample of a foundation before buying! I have put my line up in left to right from generally most coverage to least.

The foundation line up! L-R

MAC Studio Fix Fluid, Estee Lauder Double Wear Light, NARS Sheer glow, Make up For Ever HD, Shiseido Perfect Refining foundation, Burberry sheer foundation, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, NARS pure radiant tinted moisturiser, Chantecaille Just Skin, Laura Mercier illuminating tinted moisturiser

So lets start with the thickest foundation of the lot, MAC Studio Fix Fluid. Many love this, many hate it, but theres no denying that if you want full coverage it does what it says it will. Yes it smells a bit weird and is pretty thick when applied but if applied in the right way it can create a flawless smooth base ideal for people who love to hide all sins. It is oil free and therefore great for combination to oily skins. Some people do experience flash back on camera but personally I haven't had any issues with it. I haven't worn this in a long time as I now much prefer foundations with a glow and this is definitely more matte but when applied with a large stippling brush or a damp sponge it can give a lighter, more natural finish and is definitely a good product to have in case of a bad skin day!

Moving ever so slightly down the coverage scale we come to Estee Lauder Double Wear Light. The original Double Wear formula is incredibly thick and I didn't enjoy wearing it at all so when I first saw this I assumed that the formula would be very similar. However it really is much lighter still giving a medium coverage I would say but feels more comfortable and looks more like skin. This is a great product for when your skin is a little red or a few blemishes have appeared because it gives a smooth flawless look without looking heavy. I would call the finish matte/satin.

NARS Sheer Glow, now this is in my top 3 for sure. Not sheer or particularly glowy its not actually what I expected but I still fell head over heels in love on first application. It gives at least a medium coverage I would say and the finish is more satin than glowing but it leaves the skin looking radiant and flawless. This is my go to foundation for nights out because it photographs beautifully and stays on all night too. It is very build able too so for nights out where I'm wearing a strong smokey eye or dark lip I tend to apply two layers for ultimate flawless finish!

Make Up For Ever HD is a bit of a cult classic in the makeup world. Harder to get hold of in the UK I bought this little beauty at IMATS purely because of the rave reviews I had heard from fellow make up artists. I wanted to try it on myself before putting it into my kit and I have to say it is a fantastic foundation. As the name would suggest it photographs beautifully and on the right skin type it is perfection. On dry skins I find this can drag a little so I would use it on combination onwards however I love it on myself and if I'm looking for a medium coverage with a velvety finish this is ideal.

My next foundation was sent to me by Shiseido after I enquired about their make up collection. A less mainstream brand, this is available in larger department stores and online. I didn't know what to expect but with the name Perfect Refining foundation my expectations were suddenly raised! I was not left disappointed! This gorgeous velvety foundation is light to medium coverage and very buildable with a gorgeously smooth application and comfortable feeling. I would definitely consider adding this to my professional kit because it is that perfect medium between light and full coverage, matt and dewy finish.  A lovely product.

Next up is a pricey addition in the form of Burberry sheer foundation. I bought this in the Summer hence the dark colour so I tend to only use it in the Summer months but thats when I believe it looks best. With a dewy sheer to light finish it looks radiant like just landed from my holiday radiant and evens out skin whilst retaining a natural glow. It's everything I thought it would be. Burberry makeup is natural with subtle definition and a strong focus on skin and this foundation encourages the natural skin to show through. This is best for when your skin is looking in great condition or else you will find yourself using a lot of concealer to cover redness or spots.

Chanel vitalumiere aqua is perfect. Yep I said it its PERFECT. I cannot find a fault with this foundation! It smells nice, it looks classy but feels light in a plastic container. It is water based so needs to be shaken before applied so the texture is kind of runny and sheer but when applied to the face a miracle occurs and the skin looks instantly better! I love the sheer to light coverage for day time however it is still build able so I have often worn this on nights out too. This foundation has got me more skin compliments than any other and I feel like my skin looks natural yet flawless when I'm wearing it with a satin finish. This is what true love feels like ;)

Its hard to find something that even compares to the Chanel, however recently I have found a beautiful tinted moisturiser by NARS which is almost as impressive! This radiant tint gives a pretty impressive coverage for a tinted moisturiser and looks very natural whilst hiding imperfections. It smells gorgeous and applies so smoothly. I love wearing this on jobs because it lasts all day and I feel like my skin looks evened out but not too heavy for early morning shoots! A gorgeous product.

Oh Chantecaille why are you so darn expensive?! £57 for a tinted moisturiser is a little bit mad however I cannot deny that for me it has been worth every penny! Yes I wish it was £30 cheaper but it does everything it promises to so I can't fault it. It gives a decent amount of coverage for a tinted moisturiser and this is a real summer holiday essential for me. I bought this for Summer when I was tanned so the colour is too dark for me unless I've fake tanned but when I do wear it I remember why I love it. Satin finish, smooth texture, luxurious packaging it really is a joy to use.

So yes you probably guessed from my rave review that Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua is my holy grail foundation! Its perfection! 

I have lots more foundations on my makeup wish list including Givenchy and Dior so hopefully will get to try those this year! 

What is your favourite foundation?

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2013 Favourites!

2013 has been a great year. Not only have I taken the leap and become a freelance makeup artist full time but I have fallen in love with so many beauty products! It has been a great year for product launches and I have a few firm favourites that I will be taking into 2014 with me. Here are my must have products of 2013 and I would love you to share yours with me too!

My favourites selection!

Makeup 

Laura mercier radiance primer - This has been a firm favourite of mine for years and I have two on the go at the moment just in case I lose one! I have been using this a lot this year as I am loving the dewy glowing skin look and this creates the perfect base under foundation to keep it on all day and give the skin a bronzed glow. 

NARS radiant creamy concealer - This concealer was a new purchase this year. After hearing rave reviews I decided to give it a go and have been so impressed with the formula. It is creamy yet light, buildable and long wearing. I use this on all areas of the face including under eyes and it does a fantastic job of concealing whilst retaining a natural skin finish. I will be buying more colours this year for highlighting and contouring.

Illamasqua gel liner - This liner has been a pleasure to use this year. I have always been a MAC backtrack fan but found that the formula tended to dry out quite quickly. This Illamasqua gel liner has a slightly more creamy consistency and therefore glides onto the skin more easily and stays put. The colour is a true black too.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation - Still my all time favourite foundation because of its light but buildable texture and beautiful finish on the skin. Worth every penny of its £32 in my opinion and I have had so many compliments on my skin this year whilst wearing it so I will definitely be wearing this in 2014 too.

Urban Decay Naked 3 palette - A new favourite as I only received this for Christmas however it has already become a must have in my makeup collection. Neutral tones, shimmer and matte finishes, light to dark, this palette really does contain everything I would need. I adore warm plum tones and with rose gold and plum undertones this is my ideal eyeshadow palette and I can't wait to use it more this year. The colours, pigment and finish on the skin are fantastic.

Hair

Unite 7 second conditioner - Unite hair care is a brand I had been keen to try for a while after hearing that Kim K is a fan. I delved into the collection with the volumizing shampoo and conditioner which I  have really enjoyed using but the stand out product for me has been the 7 second conditioner. As my hair is long, I struggle with knots and this detangled has almost completely eliminated that problem. Simply spray into the hair when damp, leave 7 seconds then brush through with ease. Smells fab too!

Tangle Teezer - Another must have in my routine especially for detangling is the cult favourite Tangle Teezer brush. It makes combing through my long hair after showering so much easier and the handy size and shape make it a handbag essential. I recently got this gorgeous purple sparkly version for Christmas to replace my old pink one so I can't wait to use this more!

Skin

Algenist Multi Perfecting Pore Corrector Gel Moisturiser - I bought this moisturiser in Space NK after the sales assistant raved about it. I told her I had tried many brands within the store but wanted something that gave results I could see and something I might not have seen before. I walked away with about 4 items from the Algenist range and have loved using this moisturiser in particular. Beautiful silky gel texture glides onto the skin and really does improve the look of the skin instantly! My pores definitely look reduced and I love the feel of this product.

Sarah Chapman Skin Tone Perfecting Booster - This product was actually a sample in my Space NK goodie bag but I have fallen in love with it! The booster is aimed at skins with discolouration or pigmentation issues and although my skin is fairly clear it definitely improves the look of my face after use. It feels luxurious and has inspired me to try more from the Sarah Chapman Skinesis range this year with the Overnight facial being top of my wish list.

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip cleanser - I bought this cleanser after skincare guru Caroline Hirons raved about the range and wanted to see if this cleanser delivered in results. The scent was a little odd and first but I quite like the clay scent as it makes me feel incredibly fresh and clean and every time I use this cleanser my skin feels amazing. I use it in the shower in the morning and its a real joy to use.

What are your 2013 favourites?

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Blend blend blend!

I am addicted to blending brushes! Granted I am addicted to any makeup brushes but blending brushes are truly a makeup artist essential. Blending brushes can come in different shapes and sizes but generally are fluffy and fit perfectly into the natural crease of the eye. I have many blending brushes but I have a select few which I constantly reach for because they do the job so well.

I thought I would share my favourites with you and tell you why they are so fantastic!

Left to Right Bottom to top - MAC 217, Crown Brush C433 Pro blending brush, Tom Ford blending brush, Cozette brush S165 Large Contour brush, Hakuhodo blending brush (from a set)

First up is the legendary MAC 217 brush. This fluffy brush is a makeup artist must have and the perfect size and shape for both applying crease colours and blending them! It fits perfectly into the socket and using circular buffing motions can blend out any harsh lines. I also find the tip of the brush the perfect size for placing deeper colours into the very outer corner and then using a different clean 217 to blend. I always have at least 4 with me on jobs and if you have never tried a blending brush it is a great brush to add to your collection. At £18 it's not too pricey and they really do last for years.

Next is the Crown brush C455 Pro blending brush and at about £6 this is an absolute bargain. Crown also do a pro scheme for makeup artists so you can really stock up on these. Again I carry a lot of these in my kit. Obviously the hair isn't as soft as the more expensive options but mine have lasted a good couple of years without losing their shape and they do the job well. The brush is almost identical to the MAC 217 so if you are on a tight budget this is a great option.

The Tom Ford blending brush is an absolute beauty of a brush. The hair is incredibly soft and the design of the brush is as you would expect sophisticated and luxurious. The brush is slightly slimmer than the previous two brushes and because of this the end is fantastic for placing darker colours into the crease or blending out a dark smokey eye. At £42 this brush is definitely an investment but its one worth making if you are a makeup addict or you regularly like to wear smokey eyes. 

The next brush you may notice is larger than the others and this Cozette S165 large contour brush is definitely more for useful for blending than for applying. This large fluffy tapered brush really does the job and any harsh lines are buffed away. This is a great brush to do a super quick job of blending because of the size and a great brush to have at hand if you get a little heavy handed with colours on the eye lid! Cozette brushes are vegan, lovely and soft and at only £13.50 it is a must have in my opinion.

Last but not least this Hakuhodo blending brush is the newest in my collection. I bought it at IMATS this year as part of a travel set so the handle is shorter but the brush size is not compromised. This brand is a cult favourite amongst makeup artists because the quality is second to none. This brush doesn't have a name or number on it but it looks very similar to their S142 model when I looked online. It is similar to the long tapered blending brush the mac 224 but a million times softer and easier to work with! Because the shape is longer and thinner it is less firm than the MAC 217 and creates a softer blend where the outer edges of the eyeshadow can be buffed to disappear to nothing. The prices are quite high with a blending brush retailing for about $38 but they are worth every penny. This tapered brush is soft, moveable and blends like a dream! 

What are your favourite blending brushes?

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