The BIG Day!

Aloha,

Jamie will be back with you on Wednesday so today you have me (Susan) instead! Wedding season is well and truly in full swing and if your getting married well than lucky you....I'm gonna be giving you my best tips on the vital last minute things that will get you ready for the big day.

Preparation is key. You want to be looking your best on your big day so ideally you will have had been on a strict skincare routine in the run up to the wedding. Cleanser, toner, serum, moisturiser, eye cream and SPF are the essentials. A week before your wedding scrub your skin to remove any dead cells that could hamper your makeup....from then on out you need to be on your best behaviour to prevent break outs....no picking....plenty of water and most of all try control your diet! Much easier said than done when its a very stressful time. If you are unsure of what skincare to be using, I would recommend visiting a spa and having a facial or alternatively go to a beauty counter that is geared towards skin and speak to an experienced consultant. Do your research online (more on that later).

Last minute prep on the big day before your makeup artist arrives is very fuss free. Use a lip scrub (Lush is my fave) and apply a balm afterwards to hydrate lips as we want that pout perfect especially if your going for a stronger colour like reds. You probably searched high and low for your makeup artist and without a doubt he/she is the bees knees but there is a few things that are essential to your wedding makeup that you definitely want to make sure are included. Primer is key to making sure your makeup lasts all day and prevents oil so you don't look shiny in your photographs. Avoid SPF at all costs as it can flash back in photography and give you the white face and tanned body look...not good. Eye primer is also essential to the longevity of your makeup, it will prevent shadows from creasing and will make colours appear much brighter. Ask your MUA to set your makeup with a setting spray rather than a powder and that way if all else fails you know you have something to fall back on (trust Urban Decay on this one) and your skin won't look overly dry or cake-y.

Not neglecting your body, make sure to scrub your skin once/twice a week to make sure it is in super condition if you decide to wear false tan. Add a moisturiser afterwards as this will prevent the tan from sticking to dry patches. 

Weddings can be super expensive but they can also be a learning curve when it comes to skincare and makeup. If you know your getting married in a year or twos time why not ask family and friends for your birthday, Christmas, anniversary etc to receive vouchers instead of gifts. And then when you have had your makeup trial you have the money there to buy all the bits'n'bobs you've seen a professional use and you can learn a few tips along the way on how to use them. 

So I think I have waffled enough so I'm gonna leave it there for now but I will come back to this topic at a later stage to tell you my top secret, tried and true best skincare products to get your skin in perfect nick for your big day! 

Love,

S

Where To Invest?

I'm back and back with a bang none the less. I had to take a slight hiatus last week due to a very poorly dog who is currently in my lap having a power snooze as I write this post. But lets move on... following Jamie's post on Monday all about looking after your skin I thought I share with you the area's I like to spend my hard earned cash on. When it comes to makeup and skin care its easy to settle for less than the best but there are a certain few areas that I will always spend that little more on!

• Skincare - Cleanser and Moisturiser

Your makeup will only look as good as the skin underneath and using a good cleanser and moisturiser will make a huge difference to your skin. Choosing the correct products for your skin type is key so if your unsure pop to your local department store and fish around the skincare counters and ask for some advice! And the three most essential things...water, SPF and taking your makeup off which might mean two cleansers so be it! You're skin is with you for life so it is worth the investment and make sure you bring that moisturiser down the neck too, it holds your face up so don't neglect it! 

• Foundation

Similarly to above, choosing a good foundation will show off your skin in the best light. Texture and colour are key. Foundation can be 'spensive so if your unsure, start from the bottom by visiting makeup counters and getting samples to try. When you find "The One" everything else that goes on top should just fall into place! If your not comfortable spending too much on a foundation that you wear everyday and will more than likely fly through in no time, why not keep it for special occasions or nights out? Then scouring the self selection aisle in Boots to find the one that will take you through the day/work. 

• Mascara

Give a girl the right mascara and she can conquer the world. Length, volume and curl....I want it all and believe you me I have a mascara graveyard to prove it. Mascara's can cost between a few euro right up to the price of a meal for 2 so it can be an expensive treasure hunt. But if your like me and your days off consist of only a tinted moisturiser and a mascara they are worth it, it can take me from tired to bright eyed and bushy tailed in one step! 

They are just a few things that I don't mind dishing out for! What are the items you spend the most on or do you think you can find just as good in budget brands? Let me know in the comments..

Love,

S and Paddy. x 

My Essential/Favourite/Can't Live Without Kit Products:

So this is just a few products that I love, can't live without. These are products that I always seem to use personally and products that I turn to for the majority of my makeovers. Apologies about the limited range of brands, these are just products that I have used and loved, but I do need to branch out and try other brands. You can probably also tell that I love warm neutral colours, I know I need to be brave and venture out into the world of colour.

1. Smashbox Luminizing Primer: This primer just gives a sheer golden radiance to the skin which I love. I also like to use it if someone is wearing false tan as the golden glow works great paired with a tan. This primer is also great when away in the sun and worn underneath a BB or CC Cream.
   
2. MAC Strobe Cream: This is a wonder cream, it instantly hydrates and brightens skin. It works great on dry, dehydrated, tired or dull skin as it quickly boost moisture and radiance.
   

   
3. Smashbox Primer Water: So this is one of my most recent additions to my kit and I've been using it everyday since. Use it under make as a super sheer and light primer, it can also be used on top of powder to set your look for the day and throughout for an instant hydration boost. You and others will notice the difference it makes, skin looks healthy and glowing.
   
4. Inglot Duraline: This product is the best friend of winged liner and make-up artists. It is a mixing medium which can be used with gel liners to make them more fluid or with pigments to create your own liner or use it on its own with a clean angle brush to sharpen or fix a winged liner. 
   
5.  Inglot AMC Gel Liner 77: Definitely my favourite gel eye liner, the pigment is super intense and long wearing. This is the perfect winged liner product. The colour pay off is instant and doesn't budge or crease.
   
6.  MAC Warm Neutral Palette: This palette is a must have for anyone who loves a natural smokey eye. It contains 15 warm eyeshadow shades perfect for creating a range of looks but I think it is super suited to bridal looks which tend to be a little softer and romantic.
   

   
7.  Smashbox Suntan Matte Bronzer: My perfect matte bronzer, use it to warm the skin, add colour or use for a soft contour. The colour is completely matte and the powder is super light and easily buildable. But sadly it has been discontinued as it has been replaced and I am looking to trying the newer version.
   
8. MAC Paint Pots: These paint pots are great on there own blended out for a quick simple eye look, or use underneath as a base and to increase depth for a more dramatic look. I personally love Groundwork which is a warm taupe, it is a great base for a smokey eye. A few other choice colours are Indianwood, Painterly and Soft Ochre.
   

   
9.  Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand Gold: This is a light weight fluid highlighter which is a humectant so it keeps the skin hydrated as it attracts moisture to the skin. I use under foundation and apply across the cheeks bones, centre of forehead, chin and nose to give a super dewy glow to skin.
   

 10.  Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade: This is the best brow product I have used. It is waterproof and doesn't smudge, the colour is rich and intense,a little goes a long way. Use it with a small fine angle brush to shape and define brows. It works on both full and sparse brows. I used to think I couldn't live without mascara but now I can't live without brows, specifically this product.

So I hope you liked the insight into a few of my most essential and everday products, but I do hope to try some new products in the near future, funds permitting. 

Lot of Love

A

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

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 

Get To Know Us A Little Better

Happy Wednesday!

Today we have another video for you and its a little bit more personal, it's a "Get To Know Us Tag". We have compiled a list of a few popular tag questions and filmed a little video and hilarity did ensue! As you can see we are three very different personalities, if it wasn't for the love of makeup god knows what we would talk about - I jest. So grab a cuppa sit back and enjoy!

.....Also if you got as far as the celeb lookalikes this is the picture we were talking about!

Until next time, 

S x