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 

Flutter Fav!

Hi Guys!

Today I am bringing you a review of one of my favourite mascaras. I think mascara is one of the thing that is essential in every girls/guys makeup bag and there are two types of people in the world. People who spend as little as possible on a mascara and people who will splurge on a good mascara. Well I've found a happy medium!

MAC False Lashes Mascara had been my go to mascara for a long time and then somewhere along the road I took a detour and started experimenting with new mascara's. The holy ghost above must have been watching me and thought I deserved a little treat and in the post came the teeniest package from Brown Thomas, a little sample of False Lashes. That's where we rekindled our romance. 

Honestly a fabulous mascara, the cone shaped wand means you can get right into those inner and outer corners. Its a haired wand which means no poking yourself in the eye with stupid plastic applicators! I also find that every time I go to apply this mascara there is always just the right amount of product on the wand. As for longevity this mascara scores an A+ in my book unless I give my eyes a rub but that's self inflicted (bloody contacts). In the before and after pictures I only put on one coat so you could see this mascara in action also note how there is ZERO clumps!

At €24.50 it's not cheap by any means but I've had a brain wave....after every mascara save it up along with the rest of your MAC empties (6 to be exact) and return them for a free lipstick, bonus Jonas so your not only getting a deadly mascara but a free lipstick in the long run! So if your in the market for a new mascara why not try this one out.

So let me know in the comments below would you fork out that much for a mascara or would you rather by whats on offer in Boots? What's your holy grail mascara?

Love,
S

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

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 

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 

"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 

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 

 

Pale Girl Problems: Contour

Hey ladies,

I hope everyone is well and looking forward to the weekend and if the weather is to be believed its going to be a washout! But alas, the summer weather is on the way and today's post is vital if your a pale girl wanting to get that chiseled contoured look that is literally everywhere at the moment. Most bronzers that are on the market at the moment are aimed towards people who can carry off a tan...so where does that leave us pale girls? Don't worry Suzie Q has got you covered and I am going to let you in on my secret weapon!

After many failed attempts I finally found the perfect contour shade NYX Powder Blush in Taupe. It differs to most contours as it has a grey tone instead of a warm bronze. It makes contouring look way more natural on paler skin tones and gives the face a defined shape. I pair mine with a Real Techniques Contour Brush and apply it under my cheekbones, up to my temple and around to my hair line. I often avoid putting it under my jawline purely because its hard enough finding a foundation that matches my skin tone so I don't want to have a line between my neck and face.

The best part is that it is the cheapest of all the bronzer/contour products I have tried thus far at €7.49...result! You can find it at your local NYX stand which are slowly becoming more widely available through out Ireland or online on SamMcCauley.com and LittlewoodsIreland.ie!

Keep your eyes peeled over the next week as I'll be bringing you reviews on more products for paler skin tones so make sure you hit the follow button on Bloglovin. If your looking for something in particular hit us up on twitter @ThreesCompanyBB or tweet me directly @WhatsNewSuzieQ.


Until next time!
Love, S 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

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