Colour Correcting; The even better solution to fabulous skin.

Hola compadrés!

Apologies for the delay in my post this week, I can only imagine the devastation the delay caused. I have returned at the opposite end of the week to bring you more tips and tricks. As per usual real life decided to park itself right in the middle of my routine. Honest to God, the cheek.

Anyway! My skin has been a bit unruly as of late, so I've taken to using an old school green corrector under my foundation to tackle the high colouring around some choice "activity". I haven't used a correcting product in ages, so naturally the novelty kicked in and I had to have a go of everything; the under-eye blackness, the blemishes, and a little bit of brightening primer for the whole shooting galley. I lost the run of myself entirely.

I've since calmed down and gone back to a more moderate routine that lets me out the door at a reasonable time in the morning. Today I've brought a little bit of information with me about correcting products and what they do. I'll be sharing this info with you ('cause I'm nice, see) and talking about how to use different products for different problems. If needs be then now would be the time to grab a cuppa/snack/put the child to bed before we move on.

The whole theory behind colour correcting is that opposite colours on the colour wheel will cancel each other out. Products with specific tones in them will even the look of the skin once foundation is applied on top, helping to conceal really stubborn colour issues. There are different colours for different problems, but we'll get into that a little bit later on. The general rule with this technique is that the deeper your skin tone is, the more intense the colour of your corrector should be.

It can all be a little bit complicated if it's new to you. Chances are that either the packaging or a consultant will inform you as to what each product does, so take your time when picking out one for yourself if you think you'd like to try it out. 

Colour correctors usually come in two forms, one being a densely pigmented cream product. These are used for specific areas of discolouration on the skin. These usually include heavy under eye circles and redness or red blemishes. These creamy products are applied to the area and your foundation is applied on top. They're best applied only to the offending colour, as if they bleed onto any areas of clear skin the colour can show through your base. 

The second kind of product is a sheer primer to be applied all over the face. A product like this will counteract more widespread discolouration. These have less colour in them and are used to even out a difference in skin tone rather than specific problems. Redness is one that crops up here a lot, but also sallow complections and dull, tired skin benefit from these bad boys. Again, both formulas come in different colours to take care of different things. The general, run of the mill colours that crop up again and again will be broken down for you below. 

Green: As far as I've seen this is by and large the most common colour marketed to the public. It's also very easy to use this wrong, although I kind of feel like that's not always the consumer's fault. Green tones will cancel out excess redness, be it widespread or localised. These come in either a concentrated corrector or a fluid base depending on what your skin needs.

Green can be notoriously difficult to hide with a foundation, so using a softer green tone is definitely more advisable. Less intense redness could get away with a yellow toned primer, and it'll be far easier to cover.

Peach/Pink: Either a soft peach or a rosy pink will cancel out blue tones in the skin. Sometimes these guys go unnoticed because they're often sold as concealers for the under eye area rather than dedicated correctors. That being said they're most suited to that area as they combat the cool tone in under eye darkness. For paler skin, try a more pink tone. For medium skin tones a warm peach will be fine. If you have a deeper skin tone then something more orange-peach will work better for you. 

If you find a primer with this tone to it (Smashbox do a fantastic one) then you can use it to brighten dull skin. Darker ladies will see a renewed glow to their skin if a warm base is applied under foundation. 

Yellow: This is for covering bruising or scar tissue with a purple hue to a it. Yellow creams are fantastic for hiding stubborn purple discolouration, especially those found in healing surface injuries. An eye primer with a yellow tone to it can help to disguise visible veins under the thin skin on the eyelid. That much has been learned from experience!

A sheer base with a yellow tint to it will liven up tired skin on the paler end of the spectrum, or kick start a warmer skin tone and give it an extra lit-from-within kind of radiance. 

Lilac: So we know that yellow will cancel out purple, so a purple will cancel out... Yup. Sallowness, or excessive yellow tones in the skin. 

Purple creams can be used to correct brown age spots in pale skin, disguise old bruising or any other discolouration with a visibly warm hue to it. I wouldn't use this colour on warmer or black skin as it'll show up as ashy and grey. Us white walkers can pull this off, though. 

Lilac toned base products will revive cooler skin tones and add back a porcelain glow. The palest of pink tones will love the effect this has one waking up your skin. Just don't go too purple, anyone remember that scene with Edward Scissorhands and the Avon lady? Yeah. That can actually happen. 

Beyond those listed above there are a multitude of colours that aim to conceal and correct something or other. Take your time picking out one for you, and keep in mind the four basic colours above. Any other variations will generally stem from one of the problem solvers we discussed mere moments ago. 

Colour correcting can be a fantastic weapon in your beauty arsenal but if you're still a bit iffy, feel free to contact a make up artist and book an appointment. Let them know what it is you're looking to learn and achieve, I've no doubt they'll be more than happy to give you a dig out.

As always, any queries or questions are more than welcome! You know where to find us.

Until next time,

J x 

I've Found The ONE.

Hey Guys,

So Kylie Jenner has been literally EVERYWHERE. And if you missed that you must be living under a seriously big rock in the back arse of nowhere. Way back at the start of the year her sister (Kim, you probably don't know her) mentioned some of Kylie's favourite lip products that help her to achieve her over lined lips. It just so happens that one of her favourite products is also one of MY favourites. MAC Soar lip pencil. And since then it has been out of stock for months! 

Anyways, Soar is literally my go to lip pencil/lipstick for everyday, its the type of pencil you can throw in your makeup bag and use with a bazillion different looks that perfect brown neutral with just a hint of pink. Although it is a fabulous lip colour bear in mind that it is a lip pencil that will dry out your lips. But in all honesty once its on you won't have to re-apply it much throughout the day. I constantly get asked "what lip colour have you got on today?" and nine times out of ten it's usually Soar. I have noticed though that Soar looks different on everyone, so no two people wear it the same. 

Back to Kylie and her HUGE lips, there's a reason she uses this lip pencil because it makes your lips look bigger than they actually are. So if your like me and are challenged in the lip area, this is a game changer. It gives the overdrawn and bigger look without looking like you went a bit too far. If you pair this with Tom Ford Indian Rose it is just perfection! 

You can find this pencil at your local MAC counter IF it's in stock. 

Love, 

S x

Cream Eyeshadow; how it can brighten, tighten, and lock in your look.

Good evening!

Even lifting my body off of my bed to sit down in front of my laptop and type this post is working out to be a whole lot more effort than it should. That tells you exactly the kind of day I'm having. So naturally I'm doing things the easy way today. Lazy, much?

Today's post is inspired by the amount of activity I've been doing for most of the day, i.e as little as is necessary. If you read my latest post (and why wouldn't you? Shame...) then you know that MAC's Painterly paint pot is my go to eye base. It's basically a cream eye shadow that matches my skin tone. But there are other cream products in a variety of colours that you can use to create almost any eye look. These products make doing your make up quick, easy and foolproof with minimal effort. No prizes for guessing why I love them. Intrigued? Thought so. Let me break it down.

To start with, there are two kinds of cream products for the eyes; ones that set in place to last longer and ones that stay creamy. The ones that set in place can be used alone for a quick application of colour to the eye, or they can be used as an eye shadow base. The colour and texture you use will determine how the eye make up will look overall. You can use designated products like paints pots, or even gel liners. I find Anastasia Beverly Hills' "Dipbrow" to be a brilliant cream shadow as well. These all dry to last throughout the day.

Using a cream eye shadow that matches your own skin tone will simply keep the colours on longer and make them easier to blend. It'll make the colour a little more vibrant but overall they should look the same as in the pan. Using a bright base will make vivid colours appear more intense. Using a darker coloured primer will make the eye make up appear more smokey and dramatic. If you use a particular tone or colour similar to powder shadows applied on top then you'll amp up the drama and make them more vibrant! 

Example; MAC "Deeply Dashing" pressed pigment applied alone, then over "Painterly" Paint Pot and finally on top of  "Pomegranate" Colour Tattoo by Maybeline. The darker red base brings out the warmth in Deeply Dashing, changing the tone of the product.

The second kind of product, the one that stays creamy, can be a multitude of things. You can use coloured face paint, concealers, eye liner pencils, and tons more. These products tend not to last as long and definitely need to be set in place with a powder product in a similar colour. You do have much more choice of colour, though. I'd stay away from lipsticks, lip liners and cream blushes as some of the red pigments can irritate the eyes. The most popular choice for this option is pencil eye liners. They're waxy and smooth and often quite easy to blend. This option is more suited to photographic or fashion make up looks, as it won't last all day on most people. 

Cream colours are essential for many make up artists and they're a fab little technique to add to your make up routine to make day to day beautifying that little bit easier. Whether you want to add a brightened effect to your eyes (that's me of an early morning shift) or you want something more dramatic and smokey then a cream shadow will work wonders for you. 

If you decide to experiment with some more colourful products and take a step outside your own comfort zone then definitely show me! You know where to find me, as always links are at the top of the blog. 

As for me, I'm cleaning up after myself and diving into bed. Don't judge, the evenings are already getting shorter. Say nothing'! 

Until next time!

J x 

Back to basics; My go-to goodies.

Good evening, folks!

In a similar vein to last week's update, I've been a little bit busy as of late! I've been in work all of this weekend and I had a packed week last week. Not that it wasn't fun (I can't mention how fun as that info would be woefully incriminating!) but it certainly kept me on my toes. I discovered, entirely by accident as I was getting ready one day, that I'd started to stockpile some old reliables and kept them close to hand. Given that sleep was a commodity, I found it easier to remove the usual deadened look off myself this way.

Let me preface this by saying that I don't own a set "make up bag" as such. I do have preferred products but seeing as I've amassed a bit of a collection my face tends to be different every day. It was kind of a surprise to me when I ended up keeping the items I'll mention below in a small case on top of my desk. I'll be honest, I found it adorable. Every morning it greeted me with the same reliability as public transport would in any other country on Earth bar our own. Who wouldn't find their day bolstered with that kind of sweet routine amid daily chaos?

I'm not saying that I used all of these products every single day, I chopped and changed depending on my humour. On inspection when I decided to make this post, these were the items tucked inside the small acrylic case. I'm gonna go through each one and explain how I use it, why I like it and where appropriate, who I might recommend it to. Got your popcorn? Good. Away we go.

No. 7 Brilliantly Bare Beauty Enhancer: I've talked about this product in a primer post before. I love this because it's a lightweight, silicone based primer with a yellow tint. This brightens my skin alone, but I mix this with a concealer and use this all over as my base. 

M.A.C Prolongwear Concealer; This product forms the colour in my pseud-foundation. I mix this with my Brilliantly Bare all over and then use it alone under my eyes. It's a fluid with fantastic coverage that sets down and forms a film on the skin. My undereye area will always be a problem, but this is definitely the most flattering product I've ever worn. I find that using this with a silicone based primer gives a long wearing but natural coverage suitable for oily skin. Some Face & Body products are gorgeous on the skin but far too moisturising for me. 

M.A.C Full Coverage Foundation; This product was the topic of debate online for a while, but essentially this is M.A.C's Studio Finish concealer in a larger pot. Unless you want to be finicky about ingredients then both products do exactly the same thing. The upside is you save yourself a ton of money buying the larger version. I have a couple of colours I mix and apply to match my base. I use this for blemishes, never under my eyes. It's far too creamy. 

M.A.C Studio Fix Podwer Foundation; Can you see where I'm going with the whole base routine? I use small amounts of products with decent coverage to create a natural looking, even skin. I press this foundation over my T-zone to keep my oil at bay. On super quick days I'll use my primer by itself and layer this on top. This products is honestly a Godsend for oily skinned folk. 

M.A.C "Harmony" Blush: I promise I don't only use M.A.C products. I went on a serious spending spree at one point and still use most of the products that I bought. This blush is a brilliant contour colour for me. I have very fair, neutral to cool toned skin. The grey tone of this products gives me a natural looking shadow without being too warm. 

Illamasqua "Lover" Blush: See? See?! Proof that I'm not a one brand man. I got this products on sale and I'm more than delighted with it. It's a peach blusher that blends amazingly to add a natural flush to the cheeks. This is perfect for lifting my complection without adding too much colour. It's so soft in the pan and smells divine as well. I'm dying to try more blushes from this company.

M.A.C "Lightscapade" Mineralize Skinfinish: This is a pale coloured highlighter with cool undertones and a soft, satin finish. This gives a subtle but noticeable highlight without being too shiny. Again, those of us in the oily clan will like this because it won't make us too luminous later in the day. For all my pale folks, this is a must. It won't deposit any colour on the skin so you'll end up with a gorgeous highlight that actually lifts your features without making you look either orange or like you've run a mile. Aka; pink and shimmering. 

M.A.C "Painterly" Paint Pot: I'm starting to look like I lied at this point, but anyway! Bear with me, they're so worth it! Painterly is a cool neutral cream shadow that sets to a matte finish on the skin. This makes it the perfect product to use alone to brighten the eye or as a really good base for eye shadow. Anyone with a warmer undertone could try "Soft Ochre", it's much the same but with a yellow base to it. 

Illamasqua "Fidelity" Eye Pencil:  A medium to deep brown eye liner. Simple sounding, but I've actually never found a colour I like as much as this. It has all the impact of a black pencil, can be used as a base for darker shadows but won't leave a muddy or grey tone that some products can. 

Benefit Rollerlash Mascara: This gives me the length and definition  that I want without it being too dramatic. The smaller bristles on one side of the curved wand make doing your lower lashes a whole lot easier. This doesn't clump, create spidery lashes or go crispy once it sets. An A+ in my book.

Illamasqua "Strike" Precision Brow Gel: Now, I do like the Dipbrow Pomade by Anastasia Beverly Hills. However, by comparison the Illamasqua gel doesn't dry as quickly which gives me plenty of time to play. It also means the product stays nice and fluid in the packaging itself. I know that Illamasqua do more colours in this particular brow gel. I'm happy enough with the colour for the moment but once I'm out of it I might look for something more along the lines of my (clearly dyed) red hair. 

Smashbox Full Exposure Palette: This has been a firm favourite of mine for a while, so much so that I bought two. One for myself to use and one to use in my kit for freelance work. It has a cool toned and a warm toned side, both consisting of matte and shimmering shadows. This is a basic set of shadows that anyone entering make up artistry should have, all in one place. The centre shadow on the shimmering row is a gorgeous highlighter for the skin as well. Multi purpose products always catch me in the end!

M.A.C "Flesh-pot" Lipstick: A pale pink lipstick that's just nude enough to be swiped over the lips and it's good to go. This gives me enough colour that I look like I have something on my lips but it's so easy and effortless that I'd genuinely be lost without it. This, mascara and some highlighter on the skin is one of the lowest maintenance but instantly brightening "faces" that I have in my arsenal. 

As I said, I don't use all of this loveliness on my face at once. I'd be an eternity getting it all in place. I did find that whether I wanted to vary my make up or keep it simple these were never far from my reach. I'm contemplating investing in an actually make up bag, one that was purposed to carry cosmetics from its very creation. The novelty is a little bit addictive. 

See something you like up above? Let me know if you use it differently! If you have any suggestions for bits and pieces that I might like then please let me know. Any excuse to obtain more make up is justifiable in my eyes. 

Until next time, 

J x 

SPF; How does it factor in?

Well hello!

I'm back and, to be quite frank, shattered! I just attended my first ever "hot yoga" class and I can feel a habit forming already. The basic idea is that you go through yoga poses in a heated room to maximise the effects and relax muscles. This worked, and I'm definitely the better for it.

However! I was far too blissed out to even consider what would happen when I left the room. As you can imagine, spending over an hour stretching your body in a heated room produces sweat. A lot of it. Despite that fact it's actually a really nice experience. I didn't think that once I stepped out into the cold Irish evening that my soaking t-shirt would go ice cold. As I hopped into my car I made contact with a sodden, chilly piece of clothing. I nearly leapt through the windscreen. That will definitely be put down with notes for the next time.

All this experience with heat and the fact that it's July (combined with a fantastic point that Susan made in her post about your big day) got me thinking about SPF. As I'm a wrecked little bunny I'm going to go through some quick facts about SPF, how it works in make up products, and how to avoid the dreaded flashback! Read on, my lovelies.

• SPF cannot be layered to increase the protection factor. Layering an SPF 15 over an SPF 15 won't give you an SPF 30. Layering an SPF 15 and and SPF 30 won't give you 45, it'll remain at thirty. The highest factor you apply will be the highest protection your skin will have. 
• The little rascal in make up and skincare products that causes flashback is "Titanium dioxide". This is a physical sunscreen that protects the skin by bouncing light back, so it reduces the amount of sunlight that actually has the chance to burn the skin. When photographed this ingredient does the same thing to a camera flash. This reflected light is caught on camera and makes your skin appear much paler. 
• If you know you're going to be photographed it's best to avoid SPF altogether. If your primer or moisturiser contains an SPF you should be fine, as long as it doesn't exceed SPF 15/20. Try not to layer products that contain any sun factor as you'll only build up layers of TD and I don't think I need to tell you what that does! Definitely avoid any foundation products that contain this as they're right on top of the skin and in prime position to bounce back that flash.
• If you're not sure whether or not your base products will give you hassle, check the ingredients. If the aforementioned bad boy is high up on the list then I suggest you run a mile! 
• Lastly, make sure you do wear an SPF every single day. I know I probably sound like some ridiculous medical professional or an Irish Mammy gone rogue but it really is important. Sun damage is one of the leading causes of premature ageing. That alone has me operating on vampire status and trying to avoid direct contact with sunlight as much as possible! You'd think that would be easy in Ireland, but funnily enough... 

That, m'loves, is about all of the essentials I can think of. I know this was short and sweet but when summer rolls around I inevitably get asked by one or two people about the effects of sun protection in make up, so I thought I'd jot this down for any other confused souls out there. It's really simple once you know what to look out for, it's just getting that info that helps. 

As always, any questions or queries are more than welcome! Give us a shout on any of our social media and either myself, Susan or Aisling will get back in touch. 

I'm off to curl up in a ball and probably pass out peacefully. 

Until next time!

J x

A lesson in etiquette.

Ok, lovelies!

Buckle your belts, I'm back in a not so usual slot this week. As I mentioned in my last post I'd had some time away from work. I'm now back into the swing of things, and quite happy about it. I want to preface this post by saying that I do actually love my job (beauty consultant, for those who don't know. That's corporate speak for "counter bitch with a brush belt") but there's one aspect in particular that I want to talk about.

Since the middle of last week I've been jack-knifed from a life of leisure to a world of work and the one thing dulling the shine for me is how people behave at a make up counter. I'm not going into any details regarding specific situations but rest assured, my sleep-addled brain repressed any former experiences in this department. In the words of HRH Céline Dion "It's all coming back to me..."

Like, seriously. If you're not reeling from the shock of someone barking that they're "only having a look" from across the lipstick display then you're throwing yourself bodily against the shelving units and re-merchandising an entire section before an investigating manager finds the placed ripped asunder.

Now, I know in my own heart and soul that some sales people will hound you until you part with your hard earned cash. I'll get to that part later on. Making a purchase isn't always a smooth sail, but let me run through a few tips with some helpful input from the "inside", as it were. I promise you, we're not all bad. A fair few of us genuinely want to help, having either witnessed or been on the end of a service similar to the above description.

Read on for a revised etiquette curriculum.

Hygiene.

Please, please, do not approach a make up counter and use products or testers straight from the display packaging. Would you share your lipstick with a friend? If the answer's yes, you'd want to be fairly good friends and privy to each other's oral hygiene. If your answer is no, then why would you do it with so many potential other people?!

Applicators will be supplied for appropriate products, if not then the products will have been cleaned and sanitised. That's to cover the necessary bases for hygiene regulation and to keep you safe. You should still ask a consultant to apply products, or lend you a clean brush for you to use on yourself. 

I am openly pleading with you not to make one of my clan follow your around the counter with sanitizing spray and a spatula to scrape away cream products. 

Communicate.

You know that product you read about? Or maybe you just wandered in to a store but it caught your eye anyway? Yeah? Well guess who knows a good bit of fairly relevant information about it. 

The person who asked you if you needed help, most likely. 

The best thing you can ever do is talk to your consultant. Whether you know exactly what you want or you haven't a clue, always ask. If you're just having a browse, work away. If you end up needing something then by all means holler. 

Everything you need to know about the product will have been handed down to us by the company themselves. If we've discovered anything unusual or interesting about the product in our time using it, you'll be informed. The worst thing you can do for yourself is fly solo through your mission and end up missing out. Being frosty doesn't make our day go quicker either. 

Respect the counter condition.

By that I mean, try to leave the counter the way you found it. It's just simple manners, to be quite honest. I'm not asking you to bring Detol and wet wipes in your handbag but try to pop things back on shelves. Putting your testers back in the wrong place is not a problem, we appreciate that you took the time to put them back at all! We'll straighten everything up later.
Part of our job is to maintain the space we work in for the public, by helping us out we really appreciate that. If you frequent any counter and you do leave the place in a horrific state, please amend your ways. The boys and girls looking after you have other responsibilities too.

Don't fear your consultant.

Let me say this. No one is gonna nail you to the floor and rob your wallet. No ons is gonna take you aside and give you a Chinese burn until you cough up the dough. You'll definitely never see a line of mascara'd and lipsticked counter staff doing the Haka between you and the door until you agree to buy the serum, moisturiser and the foundation. We're not scary people, honestly!
We work with a range of products, if you give us your situation we'll do our best to provide you with the best of what we have for your needs. I won't lie and say that making money isn't part of our job, it absolutely is. Targets are a key factor in working in retail and they determine how well we do. I've yet to meet a sales person who would send someone away with the wrong products just to rack up some numbers. The right people for the job will never lump you with something you can't use. If someone does, avoid them like the plague!
In retail your customer care is as important, if not more important, than your figures. So if I have a fantastic run on my targets but I'm horrible to people, can you guess where I'll end up? The post office of a Thursday. It literally pays us to be nice. Plus we get to play with make up all day. We're like pigs in shite!

Don't take the piss. 

I can't put it any plainer than this. Do not walk into a store and take the mickey out of the people working there. It's rude, it's disrespectful, and it's a waste of time on both parts.
Do not repeatedly ask for samples of products. Many companies work on a tester order basis. If the majority of product is given away as samples, they're left waiting for new testers to arrive.
Do not sit at a counter with no intention of buying anything but requesting that your consultant apply a full face of make up. Seriously, do not do this. There's a service charge at the very least.
Do NOT do the above and then follow it up with "Oh, well I'll be going through duty free.." They have their own staff, thanks.
Lastly, do not berate whoever is serving you about the price of your purchase. We have no control over that whatsoever. You're paying for higher quality ingredients as well as the service you receive at the point of sale. This is why the products have the price tag.


After that, I think I have no more bases to cover. Let me just say that there are so many fantastic people that I meet on a daily basis. One of my favourite things about my job is the amount of interaction and communication that goes on. Many's the time a woman has come in to top up her essentials and five minutes later we're burning the ears off each other because there's some common denominator between our lives. That's Ireland in general for you, but still.

There's always one or two characters who'll shake up your day one way or another. They say variety is the spice of life, so I suppose I should appreciate that if my job were an ice cream, it wouldn't be vanilla!

I'll have more make up based posts for you soon, don't you worry. For the time being I've been pre-occupied finding my feet a little bit. Documenting the experience has been a help!

If you've had any bizarre experiences at a make up counter, let me know. You hear the best stories about counter connections!

Until next time,
clean up after yourselves!
J x

The new kid on the block; "Strobing"

From the top, let me apologise for being absent last week. I shirked all responsibilities and took a week off work and blogging, as you do! Of course yous missed me like crazy, so naturally enough I have some making up to do.

During my week away from functioning as an actual human being I was plenty busy catching up on Youtube and Instagram. The latter brought my attention to a technique knowing as "Strobing". Me being the beauty addict that I am, I looked into it further. The look consists of a sheer to medium coverage base with highlighting products placed on the high points of the face. What this does is reflect light only where you've applied the product to subtly lift and define the features. The skin appears healthy and dewy while the face still has dimension, but without heavy contouring. Where possible, people tend to use cream highlighters to maintain a natural, seamless finish. The whole idea is to shape the face without using a lot of product.

Some are heralding this as a new-found miracle, while others are of the opinion that this has been around for ages and we were all too busy contouring ourselves and hiding our true identities behind full coverage foundation that we didn't even think about lightweight, translucent wondrousness.

Personally, I think this is a classic marketing routine that happens every year. Summer trends very rarely wander off a certain track. You have tinted moisturisers, BB creams, sheer lip and cheek colours (usually creams and gels) all coming out around the same time. To me this make sense as no one wants to be wearing a full face of war paint in upwards of 25 degree heat. Talk about creating a rod for your skincare routine.

The clever clogs behind advertising and retail promotion have to find new ways to excite us year in and year out to ensure that we continue to buy these new products. "Strobing" is this year's answer to "dewy skin","illuminated skin," "a natural sunlit glow", "a healthy sheen" ad infinitum. I think the name is really appropriate given that seventies disco glamour is definitely back with a bang (as made evident by MAC's upcoming "Le Discko" collection and the current fashion trends we're seeing) so why not call to mind disco lighting and the gorgeous seventies glow that made everyone look so soft focus and sultry?

Whatever name is being put on it, I'm in. I love it. I love everything about strategically highlighting the skin so that you look radiant and glossy. I love pairing it with bronzer and looking like the sun loves me. With that said, let me show you some of the tips and tricks I have for using different kinds of highlight this summer so that you can get'cha glow on!

Shown above; MAC Mineralize Skinfinsh in "Lightscapade", Sleek Makeup Precious Metals Highlighting palette and Benefit Cosmetics' "High Beam"

When doing this look you want to take three things into consideration; the Formula, the Placement, and the Finish. 

Formula. 

As I mentioned in a previous post about foundation, the formula of a product is how it comes in the packaging. You have three main formulas for highlighters and illuminators; powder, cream and liquid. All three have different benefits and different ways to be used. 

• Powder; These products last the longest on the skin. They're best suited for oily skins or those who want their make up to stay put as long as possible. These are best used after you've set your base with a powder, or directly over a matte base. This will stop the product underneath from catching and will help with blending. 
• Cream; These products tend to have the most colour intensity and pay off. These are best used over the top of your base, but definitely don't use powder under these. The cream will melt into the liquid or cream you have on underneath and give you a really natural, seamless blend. Best used over something that doesn't set matte. These work really well to add luminosity to dry and dull skin.
• Liquid; These babies can generally be used under or over your base. Some can even be mixed into the foundation to add a less intense all-over glow. Again, I would use these without any powder underneath and I'd steer clear of using them over anything that sets to a matte finish. Liquid highlighters tend to look softer than cream versions but will add similar oomph to a thirsty, dull skin. 

Placement.

Where you place the product is going to make a big difference, similar to contouring. You want to bring forward the highest points of the face but keep everything in proportion. The best places to highlight are the tops of the cheekbones, the brow bone, just above the arch of the eyebrow, the bridge of the nose and the cupids bow. 

What you want to do is make sure that you're applying the right amount to each area. For example if you wanted to make your nose appear slimmer, apply a thin line down the centre of the nose. This will make the nose appear as though it comes to a thinner "peak" across the bridge. Similarly if you felt that adding highlighter above the brow wouldn't suit your features then by all means skip that part. 

Even without deeper shades to carve out the hollows of the face, we're still shaping with this technique. There are plenty of contouring guides across the wide, wide web. I'd totally recommend checking them out, but pay more attention to where you're highlighting and lifting rather than hollowing out. A little trick I love is to use a matte powder, either translucent or matching your base, where you don't want shine. This will help to contain the glow to those more complimentary locations. 

Finish.

The last thing to think about is the "finish" or how the products look on the skin. Do you want a high intensity sheen? Are you comfortable with something a bit more low key with a soft, satin glow instead? Is it a appropriate to receive Holy Communion looking practically bio-luminescent? Just some things to consider...  

If you're a little bit more timid, work with small increments of product. I always say you're better off starting small and building your colour and intensity rather than applying too much and wearing the face off yourself with a wipe trying to put things back in order. I'd recommend a powder highlighter to anyone looking for something more natural.

On the opposite end of the scale, if God-like glow is your thing then definitely check out cream illuminators. They blend gorgeously into the skin but impart far more sheen and shimmer than other fomulations in my experience. But do be careful and start with less than you think you need. These blend really well and can sometimes get out of hand. A little practice will set you right, though. 

With all of that said and done the only other advice I can offer you is just to jump in the deep end, bag yourself the necessary products and give it a go! This look is one that anybody can wear and it will look absolutely knockout, don't be afraid of the light! 

If you do give this a go please please pleeeease tag us on twiiter @threescompanybb or Instagram @threescompanybeauty and let us see!

Until next time,

glow get 'em! (Pun central...)

J x 

Wingin' it: Top tips for applying winged liquid/gel eyeliner.

'Ello!

Monday has rolled around again and I'm back. After a couple of weeks of skin related posts I'm bringing you more make up this time around. Today I'll be going through how I apply gel or liquid liner. I'll be including some tips and tricks along the way, as well as products I would recommend! Let's get down to business...

The first thing to think about is what product you prefer to use. I prefer a gel as I find it's easier to create a smooth line with this type of product. The formula is a little bit thicker and doesn't smudge as easily as a liquid. However, if liquid is your thing then by all means go hell for leather with that!

If you're using a gel like me then nine times out of ten it'll come in a small pot. You can use either an angled or pointed liner brush to apply this. I prefer to use an angled brush (I used Inglot's 31T brush for this particular look) as the flat edge creates a smooth line for you. I also used Inglot's #77 gel liner. It's matte black and waterproof, so it's a must have for keeping your liner looking fresh all day. Once you nail down what you want to use, it's time to start the application.

• Start by following your lower water line and applying a line of product. The water line is the ledge of skin just above your lower lashes. By following the curve that this creates you'll find the most complimentary angle for your eye shape. Everyone's eyes are relatively close in shape so this will help create an even angle for both wings. 
• Create a line towards the eyelid, aiming for your top lashes. You want to create a lifted triangle from your lash line to the end of your liner. This will be the body of your wing. By starting this line just away from the end of the first one you applied, you keep the thin and pointed tip on your wing. 

• Next I take my liner right into my inner corner and lift it up along my lid. I use less product here and keep it nice and thin at the beginning. You can always build this up later if you want it thicker. 
• Next is the part where I take my line across the top lash line! By doing this last I already have the width of my liner determined by the wing and the inner corner. I find that this stops the liner from becoming thicker than I intended. As before, you can always build on top of this later if you prefer. 

• The last thing I do is fill in the space left between the top of my line and my lashes. I take my time here and make sure I have enough liner pushed down into my lashes so that no skin is showing between my lashes and my liner. You can use this step to add any thickness to your liner or tweak the shape. You'll see the overall shape once it's filled in completely, so I'd say wait until this step before you add on to it. 

Another little goodie worth mentioning is Duraline by Inglot. It's a mixing medium that you add to any gel liner to make it more liquid. This product is absolutely genius! Manys the time this has saved a dried liner in my kit and extended the life of it by miles. You literally only need the tiniest bit though, so do be careful. You can also use this to clean up and sharpen your eye liner once you're finished. Take it on a flat concealer brush and run it against the wing of your liner for a clean, crisp finish.

Of course there are many different liner products and brushes that you can use to achieve a gorgeous finish. Have a little shop around and a little play with some bits and pieces. By finding a product that works well you'll have half the job done before you even start.

If you have any questions, you know where to find me. Any feedback would also be really appreciated, let me know what you'd like to see! We have some fab posts planned for the coming weeks so I'm really excited for them to go live. 

Until next time,

J x 

Looking after the skin you're in.

Good morning!

I'm having a balanced breakfast of coffee and Netflix, how you doin'?! I know I'm a day early but tomorrow (June 1st) I'll be doing the VHI Mini Marathon for charity with the lovely ladies I work with so I decided to check in with you guys while I have a free day on my hands.

While we were preparing and making lists of essentials (a hoody just in case, a change of clothes for after, wine, etc...) of course the topic of SPF came up. Being outside in the elements for 10K poses a certain level of risk. Naturally we have all bases covered by now with weatherproof clothing and SPF Factor 50 all in the one bag (I won't mention the dreaded Irish climate), but it's nice to be careful.

All of this got me thinking about taking care of your skin in general. I'll be doing an in depth post on my actual skin care routine and the products that I love soon enough. For now I've compiled a list of tips and tricks that I find make a huge difference to my skin and how it looks. Some might be obvious, but maybe one or two might be new to you and you can hopefully incorporate them from here on out. Read on and see!

Review your skin care routine every 6 months;
Just like the whole winter vs. summer wardrobe routine, your skin care should go through a little editing process every 6 months or so. Whether it just be adding something moisturising in the winter or changing your SPF level in summer, your skin will need to little bit of TLC once the temperature gauge takes a large swing in either direction. The changes don't have to be massive and you certainly don't have to spend a whole lot of money, but doing a little de-cluttering and freshening up will do your skin the world of good.

Don't forget your body;
I'm a demon for doing this. I'll go weeks without so much as a lick of lotion on my knees or elbows and I'll be howling! Wearing skinnies for prolonged periods of time when you should have slapped E45 onto your legs is punishment in itself. Take it from me, I use the exfoliating side of a sponge once a week from the neck down and use a generic body lotion to keep my skin in check. I find this helps prevent blemishes down onto the neck and chest as well. Bonus! Obviously if you have drier skin on your body or a skin condition, please be careful with the scrubbing part.

Diet;
You all know what's coming. I starts with W- and ends in -ater. There's that, and also making sure that you get decent vitamins and good food into you. You'll have more energy and appear more vibrant all around, as well as giving your skin a little boost. At the start of this year I made a major change in my diet and started a fitness routine. My skin has thanked me for it, which is a nice side effect! If that's not your cup of tea, try to include a multivitamin with breakfast as an added boost!

Sleep with your hair away from your face;
Sebum secretes onto the skin and also onto the hair. Therefore sebum is just hitching a ride along your hair shafts in between washes. If you're sleeping with your hair in your face, the oil is more likely to transfer onto your skin. I'm sure you've guessed it, but introducing excess sebum back to your skin after cleaning it isn't beneficial. Get yourself a nice lil' girlo bun on the top of your head before you settle down for fourty winks and you be grand!

Change your bedding frequently; 
This ties into the previous tip. During the night your skin will produce oil and shed dead skin cells. I know it sounds gross but it's harmless and a natural procedure for the skin to go through! However, the longer you sleep on the same bedding the more build up that will be there. I personally flip my pillows each night so that I'm sleeping on each surface as few times as possible. This will help prevent a build up on one surface. I know we're all fabulously clean and hygienic anyway, but it doesn't hurt to get into a routine.

Don't be digging in your pores;
I'm going to sound like someone's mam but leave your face alone! I'm so guilty of this, I know there's nothing more satisfying than getting rid of a nasty white head but you'll do damage. Squeezing too hard can drive the blockage deeper into the skin and damage the pore even further. It will take longer for your blemishes to heal, and there's a chance you'll leave permanent marks. If I can try, you can try!

I know a fair few of these are generic enough but you'd be surprised the differences that can be made! As I mentioned I'll be putting together a proper skin care routine post, including reviews of some products I've been quite liking. Until then I'll be incorporating the above as much as possible!

Here's hoping we're all glowing and gorgeous for this summer,
Until next time,
J x

My Staple Pieces; MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation.

Ah, home sweet home. A.K.A a Monday where I'm in the comfiest clothes I own planted in front of a laptop with photos syncing to Dropbox so I can gush about cosmetics. You know the drill by now.

The post I'll be doing today is a review I probably should have opened with. I have no idea why it's taken me so long to get around to talking about this. I'm actually a little bit embarrassed because if you've heard me talk about make up before chances are I've mentioned this at least fifteen times.

It is, of course, MAC Studio Fix Powder foundation. I first came across this baby when I saw Chrisppy use it in her videos. I thought it looked good, and I'd heard good things about powder foundations for oily skins. So I took myself off to my nearest MAC counter and picked it up. Here is a breakdown of what the product is, how I use it, and why I love it.

MAC says: "Stuido Fix is a one-step powder and foundation that provides a smooth, all-matte, full-coverage finish. Long-wearing, velvety texture that allows skin to breathe."

I say; A powder foundation with medium, buildable coverage. I disagree that this is full coverage. I would say that you can definitely build it to that level but because it's a powder I wouldn't for fear of it looking cakey. I personally layer a concealer underneath if I feel I need it. I do like the wear time on this, though. Even when my oil comes through later in the day I don't think it looks bad at all. 

On the left side of my face is one layer of 

Studioo Fix Powder. On the right side, clean skin.

How I apply; I start with clean, moisturised skin. It's important to make sure your skin is moisturised properly. This is a powder foundation so any areas with dry texture will immediately show up. I then prime with whatever product tickles my fancy on any given day. I apply Studio Fix Powder with a short, medium density buffing brush similar to a MAC 109. I find that this gives me a more natural looking finish and doesn't apply the product too thickly. A bonus for me is that if I'm feeling lazy and don't remove my facial hair (boy status showing, right?) I can buff a little bit into the edges and not have it really noticeable in that area. If I have any minor colour still coming through I use a small amount of product and add an extra layer in those places only. 

My overall verdict on this product is that it's a must-try at the very least for anyone with oiliness as their major concern. If blemishes are a worry for you this can definitely be used as a setting powder to add extra coverage over a liquid. If you don't worry a whole lot about pigmentation then try this on it's own. I like to use a balancing primer underneath and use this as my coverage. Let me know if you'd like a full base routine and I can get that done!

As always, feel free to get in touch! Let me know what you think of my wonky eyebrows as demonstrated in the above picture, or just ask about products and techniques. You do you, boo boo! 

Until next time,

stay classy San Diego!

J x 

"Setting" the record straight; Hydrating sprays vs. Setting sprays.

Good evening, ladies and gents. I'm outside of my usual Monday time frame I know, but that can't be helped. I'm here tonight instead, and I'm going to address a misconception that I come across quite frequently. This is something I used to take as gospel as well, but I'm now the wiser. The presumed notion I'll be referring to is as follows;

"MAC Fix+ is a setting spray."

On closer inspection Fix+ isn't a setting spray (although it does leave a nice finish once all of the make up has been applied.) It won't, however, increase the wear time of your make up. It's far from "setting" that this beauty was reared. 

Given that various beauty houses and even skincare brands have their own version of spray on products (be they toners, moisturising mists or other inventions) I think it's important to address the difference between the two key groups and let you guys know what they can be used for, and how to get the best out of your product. I'll start with the hydrating lads, shall I?

Hydrating sprays.

Main use; To add moisture back to dry, dehydrated skins. 

Key Ingredients; Glycerin. Rosewater, Aloe Vera extract is also listed quite frequently.

These sprays are generally marketed more as skincare, and they work really well at this step. Fix+ contains glycerin which is a humectant. Any humectant ingredient binds water to the skin by absorbing moisture in the environment. Layering these under serums and moisturisers will help to hydrate the skin. Products like Moisture Surge Face Spray by Clinique and Jurlique's Calming Mist are both hydrating and soothing sprays that contain this fantastic little ingredient. 

For the drier skin types out there, feel free to spritz a light layer over your make up to bring back a healthy sheen to the skin! These won't lock your war paint into place so for my oily skinned clan, stick to using these in your skin routine.

Setting sprays. 

Main use; To set the make up and keep it in place all day. Some can be used to prime the skin also.

Key Ingredients; Silicon ingredients, many contain alcohol.

In the style of Ronseal, these do exactly what they say on the tin. These products are designed to set the make up in place by leaving a lightweight, oil-controlling film across the skin so that the end result doesn't look heavy or cakey. These are usually offered as an alternative to setting powders, or to take away the look of heavy powder application. 

I've looked at the ingredients of a few choice options and they mostly contain silicon elements. If you remember the post about skin primers you'll know that these ingredients are beneficial for oily skins. This makes them fantastic primers as well, especially if you don't want too many heavy duty products on your skin. The down side is that they often contain alcohol so that the liquid can evaporate from the skin's surface. This will stop it mingling with any naturally occurring sebum but if you're in any way dry or sensitive I'd turn your head at this point. 

If you're interested in taking them for a test drive then definitely check out Urban Decay's De-Slick, Cinema Secrets Super Sealer or Model in a Bottle's Original Setting Spray. 

I know there's not a whole world of difference when it boils down to it but picking up the wrong one could wreak havoc on your beauty regimen. I'm by no means a skincare or product development aficionado, but my college days left me with some valuable info. Get into the habit of checking out what's in your beauty bits and pieces and you'll thank me, promise!

If you want to see some more product break downs like this one, definitely let me know! Give me another reason to spend hours reading about make up. Like, please? 

*insert the usual tired speech about various social media links at the top of the blog right here* I know I'm dragging the arse out of it now, I'm sorry. Not sorry enough to stop but I do feel a small twinge of guilt. Definite character progression, no? 

I hope this was in some way helpful.

Until next time, 

J x 

The Big Day: I Do & I Dont's

Your wedding day is approaching so here is a few dos and dont's from me, to help you prepare and know what to expect when it comes to getting beautified before you say I do.

Skincare:

Please do not admit that your skincare routine consists of a make-up wipe, if it does get yourself down to your nearest chemist or beauty counter. Don't be afraid to talk to a consultant and find out which products best suit your skin. Personally I am a huge fan of Clinique products as they are all allergy tested and fragrance free, Clinique Smart Serum works wonders, if you want to a radiant glowing bride.

Trial:

I would always recommend a Bridal Trial as a must because everyone has they're own interpretations of natural make-up or a smokey eye. If you will be wearing false tan on your wedding day, it's a good idea to a tan trial if possible therefore your make-up artist can be fully prepared to match your foundation.

Make-Up:

Your make-up for the day should be a perfected version of you, your wedding day isn't the day to try a new look. If you have never worn eyeliner or a red lip you probably won't feel comfortable on the big day and looking back on pictures might regret your choice.

Bridesmaids:

Your bridesmaids should be prepared to do whatever you ask of them, after all it is your big day. They shouldn't refuse to wear the look you chose, request different make-up or go and alter the make-up after. So just be sure inform them of the look and what you say goes.


Timing:
 Allow extra time. You might be the most organised bride ever but be sure to allow extra time because you cannot be prepared for everything and something is bound to be forgotten or mislaid and more often than not someone will be late. Book Hair and Make-Up at the same time, if needs be they can work simultaneously or alternate between them.

Photography:

Allowing extra time will also give your photographer a chance to take some candid shots of you in the preparation stages and he or she might also have time pose some shots. Also be mindful of the rooms or area you are being photographed as these will be in the background of your wedding images.

If you're reading this in preparation for big day, I hope you have an amazing day and feel like the princess you dreamed of being as a child.


Same time next week!

Lots of Love,
A

Foundation Fact File.

Guess who has coffee and a full post's worth of make up chatter to get through? Yeah. Me. You guessed it. 

This week we're having a chinwag about foundation. Years of doing make up, and a few extra years of doing my own make up, have taught me that your foundation can make or break your look. It's also the major point of stipulation when it comes to a lot of make overs. Owing to the great passion that people have for their war paint I decided to do up a little guideline for those of you who are a bit lost when it comes to buying a foundation. 

I'll go through some common make up jargon (i.e the words that'll no doubt be hurled at you at some point when you're in store having a wander) and break them down so that the next time you need to invest the process won't be so daunting. 

Undertone; The undertone of a foundation is grouped as either warm, neutral or cool. "Warm" foundations have more yellow pigment in them, and "cool" toned products have more pink pigment. "Neutral", naturally enough, is somewhere in the middle. 

The undertone is usually the first hurdle that knocks people down. Some bases have more prominent pigments than others. As a rule of thumb, if the foundation looks grey or washed out you should try something warmer. If your foundation is coming across too yellow, or even orange, try something with a more neutral or cool tone. 

Formula; The formula is basically the way the product looks in the packaging, i.e liquid, powder, cream, etc. Different formulas have different benefits and strong points. For example a powder foundation is ideal for an oily skin type as it will absorb excess oil while you wear it. A richer liquid or cream product will be best for a drier skin as it will add a healthy sheen to the skin. 

Do a little research into the products you like the look of, as not all formulas stick to straight forward rules. There are some liquid foundations that work amazingly on oily skin and some powders that work nicely on dry skin. It all depends on the finish, which we'll cover next. 

Finish; When we talk about the "finish" of a foundation we mean how it looks on the skin. Matte, dewy and satin are all finishes. The finish isn't always determined by the formula, so as I said definitely do a little inside snooping to find out about some attractive products. 

A matte finish has no shine to it and gives a soft, powdered look to the skin. A lot of oily skin types like to go for this finish as many matte formulas will absorb excess oil and reduce unwanted shine. On the flip side we have drier skinned folk who like to add some faux glow. They might opt for a dewy finish which leaves the skin looking fresh with a sheen to it. Have a play with some foundations, ask some questions and see what takes your fancy!

Coverage; Oh, the Irish ladies are big into their coverage! Whether they like a light and sheer base or they want full on foundation, the Irish cailíns know their stuff! This is the one area that the Irish public has definitely educated themselves on, and brilliantly so. 

The coverage of a foundation determines how opaque the product is. Full coverage will completely obliterate your natural skin tone and replace it with your base colour. Medium coverage will show some texture and natural colour. Light coverage will show your skin and let it shine through while evening out the skin tone. 

One thing to consider here is whether or not you actually need a lot of coverage. One or two hormonal spots on your chin won't warrant a blanket of base across the gorgeous clear skin along your cheeks. Consider pairing your foundation with a concealer. Examine how your skin changes and behaves and let that help you in picking your foundation. 

So, armed with this knowledge, I hope that you guys and dolls have a little bit more confidence when it comes to picking out your new holy grail product. Buying a foundation can be one of the most influential purchases of your entire make up wardrobe, so I'm aiming to make it a little easier.There's a lot more that goes into creating the perfect foundation but with these four points under your belt you'll be fresh faced and fancy free in no time!

Don't forget to also follow us on twitter and Instagram, both of those are linked at the top of the home page. If you want us to see any of your posts tag us and hashtag "#ThreesCompanyBeauty"

I hope this was helpful guys!

Until next time,

J x 

 

The Essentials; The Brush Edition.

Monday? Check. Coffee? Check. Decaf at this hour, naturally. Another post? Check. We're in business.

Susan took up my usual haunt last Monday and did so beautifully, but I'm back this week with a post on some of my favourite brushes. These are the brushes I call on in any given situation, and the ones I think that you guys seriously need to invest in! Good brushes make all the difference when it comes to applying your war paint. 

It's a Bank Holiday Monday night so I'll keep this on the side of "Light Reading" and group these bad boys by Eyes, Skin and Lips. If anyone would like a more in depth review, just let me know and I'll throw together a lil' somethin'! For now, let's get cracking.

Eyes.

(brushes listed L-R)

Eco Tools Concealer Brush: A stiff, flat synthetic brush. Perfect for applying cream shadow. I also use this for under eye concealer, but I much prefer it for work on the eyelid.

Inglot 31T Brush: The very last word in angled brushes as far as I'm concerned. Razor thin and super precise, I love this for winged liner or for brows. The brush is flexible enough to create a soft, natural brow if needs be. 

Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush: An ideal brush to apply eye primer with. This blends cream or powder gorgeously. The brush won't absorb fluid products, making it perfect for cream products.

MAC 239: A flat brush made of goats hair. This is brilliant for packing shadow onto the eye with the best payoff. I also like this for shadow underneath the eye, as the top of the brush is thin and dense.

Inglot 6SS: A large blending brush for applying a light wash of colour, perfect for applying a contour shade into the crease. I start almost all of my eye looks with this brush to determine the space I'm working with. The 6SS is made of natural hair, so it's best for powder shadows.

MAC 217: The cult favourite. A small, oval shaped blending brush. The 217 can be used for larger areas or to add specific definition. Again this is better with powders in my experience as it is white goat's hair and can stain. I've used some popular alternatives for this brush but keep coming back to the 217.

CrownBrush C224: An oval shaped concealer brush. This is my go to brush for under eye concealer as it's dense enough to blend the product without reducing the coverage. The C224 is a basic brush I think every one should have, no one won't benefit form owning this guy.

Inglot 10S: A long, thin blending brush. This is perfect for smudging out eye liner or defining underneath the eyes as its shape keeps it really precise. I use this to create a really soft inner corner highlight as well. 

Skin.

(brushes listed L-R)

CrownBrush C435: A large, soft, angled brush. This brush blends powder bronzer over the face and neck quickly and easily without adding too much product. Plus it feels amazing on the skin!

CrownBrush C426: A huge duo-fibre brush with a domed head. I absolutely love this brush for blending powder products down onto the neck. If I have a client with a tan that doesn't quite match a shade in my kit I prefer to use a powder bronzer or foundation to match the neck as these are less likely to transfer onto clothes. This brush blends these products really softly for the most natural finish.

CrownBrush C466: A classic flat foundation brush. This is synthethic but incredibly soft. I get no streaky lines when I apply liquid products with this brush. Being totally honest, I was never a fan of this type of brush until I picked this one up. I now own three. That's how fabulous this is. 

CrownBrush C427: A smaller version of the C426, and more dense. You can be a lot more precise with this brush, I love this for applying a contour product with. Being duo fibre it works equally well with powders and creams. I own a couple of these as they work well for blush so I may use more than one at a time. 

Inglot 4SS: A large blending brush. This brush is so soft that I look for reasons to use this, just to feel it on my face! It's best for applying product in a specific area. I find this a little bit small for blush but I love it for specific contour or highlight placement. Despite being natural hair it works quite well with creams. 

Real Techniques Buffing Brush: If I'm in a rush, I pull out this guy. It blends product into the skin for a gorgeous natural finish. I use this with MAC Studio Fix Powder for easy coverage and even skin when I roll out of bed 25 minutes late. This is a Godsend. 

Lips.

(brushes listed L-R)

CrownBrush C463: An angled brush that's perfect for getting crisp lip lines. I love this for defining the outside of the cupid's bow. The edge is flat as opposed to curved so it does half of the work for you. 

Real Techniques Accent Brush: The tip of this brush is rounded, so I do love this for defining the curved bow of the lip. This is irreplaceable for me when it comes to doing dark, precise lip colours. I know this is marketed as an eye brush, but for me it's lips all the way. 

Face2 304 Lip Brush: I picked this brush up out of need rather than interest to be honest, but I ended up loving it. The brush is flexible enough to blend lip liner and lipstick together without losing control of the product. I also love this for touch ups. Once I have my shape defined, this brush fills the space really easily. 

I could go on from here, but I'll leave it at that. It's safe to say that these have become tools of my trade. If any of these become discontinued I'll have to hang up my brush belt for good! If you like the look of anything you see above, I've included links to some online shops below:

To purchase any of the CrownBrush items you can visit their online shop here.

MAC and Inglot brushes can be purchased from theie respective retail locations around Ireland. Inglot Ireland have an online shop, for their brushes you can click here. 

Real Techniques And Eco Tools retail in Boots in Ireland and can be purchased from the Boots website here. 

Face2 retail through Makeup Forever on Clarendon Street, Dublin. To purchase the Face2 Lip Brush through the Makeup Forever website, click here.

With all of that said, I'll leave it right there. As always, get in touch on our other social media locations. All of those are linked at the top of the blog. Blah,blah, blah, shameless plug and traffic driving through different platforms, you know the story by now...

Good night and God bless!

J x 

Purple & Teal Reverse Cut Crease!

Good Morning and Happy Monday!

I couldn't think of a better way to kick off the week than with a new fabliss video! This month Jamie has been super inspired by all the people he follows on Instagram so he whipped up this little number that is a mash up of all the looks he liked in one. Its bright and bold with a touch of a lower lash. We aren't listing all the products used with this one so if they're something you want to know pop us a comment or a tweet and we can get back to you.

I personally think this would be the perfect makeup look if you were going to a festival this Summer. All that is missing is a floral headband, band tee and some cut off denim shorts. So let's cut to the video and leave the waffling for another day...

        

Make sure you pop back on Wednesday for our next post, it's one not to be missed especially if your a bride to be! *SPOILER ALERT*

Until next time,
S x