Friday, 28 September 2012
French Pharmacy Shopping - Friday Video
Due to a horrific cold I decided I sounded to awful to do a tutorial when I got back from my lovely holiday in France (cold arrived the day we got back!) so this is just a quickie to show what I spent all my money on while I was there. I look ill...
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Lavera Soft Eyeliner
I don't spend enough time researching and using 'green' makeup and beauty products. If I'm honest I usually assume that the quality isn't as good and therefore spend my money on products I know and trust. Makeup isn't cheap and there's nothing worse than buying something that turns out to be crap and as a makeup artist once I've found something that works, is long lasting and that works well on a lot of peoples skin I tend to stick with that product.
Recently I was sent a couple of products to try from biggreensmile.com so I've been testing them out one at a time and the first one I've been using I'm really loving. Lavera soft eyeliner has the staying power of eyeliner but the blendability of kohl - you get a lot of product for your £8.95 and it's suitable for vegans, contact lens wearers and is Natrue certified. It comes with a smudger at one end so it is a great, quick way to get smokey eyes and is available in black, brown and grey.
What is great about biggreensmile.com is you can see all the ingredients for the product so if there is anything you are allergic to you can tell right away and anything you are not sure about you can research it before buying. I personally don't find the website that appealing to use but I'm going to save it to my bookmarks and try, once I've tested out their other products, try and reorder from there as much as I can - they don't only do makeup but hair care, deodorants, cleaning and baby products and stocks a couple of well known brands like Neals Yard, Burts Bees and Dr Hauschka.
I really recommend checking out this site and the Lavera eyeliner for those of you who have sensitive eyes or want more eco-friendly products.
What You Need to Know - Lavera Soft Eyeliner
Recently I was sent a couple of products to try from biggreensmile.com so I've been testing them out one at a time and the first one I've been using I'm really loving. Lavera soft eyeliner has the staying power of eyeliner but the blendability of kohl - you get a lot of product for your £8.95 and it's suitable for vegans, contact lens wearers and is Natrue certified. It comes with a smudger at one end so it is a great, quick way to get smokey eyes and is available in black, brown and grey. What is great about biggreensmile.com is you can see all the ingredients for the product so if there is anything you are allergic to you can tell right away and anything you are not sure about you can research it before buying. I personally don't find the website that appealing to use but I'm going to save it to my bookmarks and try, once I've tested out their other products, try and reorder from there as much as I can - they don't only do makeup but hair care, deodorants, cleaning and baby products and stocks a couple of well known brands like Neals Yard, Burts Bees and Dr Hauschka.
I really recommend checking out this site and the Lavera eyeliner for those of you who have sensitive eyes or want more eco-friendly products.
What You Need to Know - Lavera Soft Eyeliner
- £9.50
- 6 shades
- Sponge smudger on one end
- NaTrue certified
- Available from Big Green Smile, Pravera, Holland and Barrett
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Revlon Grown Luscious Mascara
I feel bad returning from holiday and writing a bad review - I will post a video of my french purchases as soon as my disastrous post-holiday cold passes. But until then... I've been wanting to try out new mascaras for ages as I always stick to the ones I know I like and there are thousands out there. I've heard some good things about Revlon's Grow Luscious Mascara and thought it may be the solution to my stumpy eyelashes. I have to say after a couple of months I'm not that impressed.
My eyelashes don't seem to have changed at all and it's really hard work getting a good effect. You have to really rock it backwards and forwards and do a lot of layers to get any impact at all. It does feel nice once it's on but I caught sight of myself in a mirror when I'd just bunged one layer on before going to the shops and I looked like I didn't really have any lashes at all. Much, much prefer Max Factor Masterpiece or L'Oreal Telescopic False Lash effect and will be sticking to those as my high street purchases in the future.
I'm determined to persevere until it's finished in case I suddenly wake up with amazing long Bambi lashes but I'm not optimistic...
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| Not even worthy of a better photo... |
My eyelashes don't seem to have changed at all and it's really hard work getting a good effect. You have to really rock it backwards and forwards and do a lot of layers to get any impact at all. It does feel nice once it's on but I caught sight of myself in a mirror when I'd just bunged one layer on before going to the shops and I looked like I didn't really have any lashes at all. Much, much prefer Max Factor Masterpiece or L'Oreal Telescopic False Lash effect and will be sticking to those as my high street purchases in the future.
I'm determined to persevere until it's finished in case I suddenly wake up with amazing long Bambi lashes but I'm not optimistic...
Friday, 14 September 2012
Creative with Pixiwoo - Friday Video
Still on holiday and assuming (maybe slightly hoping...) that it's raining in England so surely the best time to stay in and play about with makeup. I love this one from Sam at Pixiwoo
You should subscribe to their videos
You should subscribe to their videos
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
The Em-J Company
Since becoming a full time makeup artist I've found it quite hard to track down really nice, professional size and quality tool wraps and bags. There are shops like PAM, Charles Fox, Cocktail Cosmetics and Guru (all of which I love) but they sometimes don't have what I want and a suitably sized brush wrap was impossible to find.
Thank goodness then for EMJ - beautiful, professional quality products for makeup artists, hair stylists and other creatives. When I found the website I went a little crazy and immediately ordered a roll-up mat and a classic tool roll. Then for my birthday I asked my sister for the Jimany Cricket set bag and then all my prayers were answered and they started producing brush rolls.
There are many different designs available - for the most part I really like the plain black, faux leather, classic look. The roll-up mat (£17) is incredibly useful if you are used to having to set up and work wherever you can. Easily cleanable with wipes or water you can unroll this mat and lay your makeup out so that everything is accessible and you don't have to worry about getting spills on carpets or table tops. The tool roll (£15) is great for storing all those annoying bits and pieces that end up in the bottom of your bag - mascaras, disposables, polos, scissors - and it rolls up so neatly it doesn't take up too much room in your kit.
The new brush rolls are pretty spectacular. I originally ordered the deluxe brush wrap (£58), as I wanted as much room as possible, and it is gorgeous and perfect for professional makeup artists. However, a bit too big for me when often I work with my brushes loose in a pot or in my set bag. It has room for 50 brushes and has lots of pockets for other tools and essentials. I exchanged it for the classic brush wrap (£38) which holds 26 brushes. Both are easy to clean and look fabulous - I only wish they had the same ties on them as the other rolls and mats. I'm so glad I didn't settle for any of the other wraps I've found.
My favourite product of theirs (that I've tried) is my Jimany Cricket set bag (£40). Although I usually go for the classic black I'm a real sucker for green and there's no missing this bag - I'll know it's mine and with set bags its best to get them either clear or coloured so you can see things in it... nothing worse than rummaging around in the bottom of a black hole trying to find that illusive eyeliner you just dropped. Its a great size - big enough to fit things in but small enough that you don't get tempted to over pack it and make it too heavy. It has fantastic pockets on the outside in different sizes and a zip top that you can open completely for easy access. With long handles so you can hang it up when necessary and made from oil cloth it's easy to keep clean. I love it more every time I see it.
These products are incredibly well thought out, well made, fun and practical and EMJ will be my first port of call when I need any new wraps and rolls. I really hope that they start making brush storage pots.. there are so few available and at ridiculous prices - we are crying out for an EMJ one.
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| Brush roll |
There are many different designs available - for the most part I really like the plain black, faux leather, classic look. The roll-up mat (£17) is incredibly useful if you are used to having to set up and work wherever you can. Easily cleanable with wipes or water you can unroll this mat and lay your makeup out so that everything is accessible and you don't have to worry about getting spills on carpets or table tops. The tool roll (£15) is great for storing all those annoying bits and pieces that end up in the bottom of your bag - mascaras, disposables, polos, scissors - and it rolls up so neatly it doesn't take up too much room in your kit.
 |
| Jimany Cricket set bag |
My favourite product of theirs (that I've tried) is my Jimany Cricket set bag (£40). Although I usually go for the classic black I'm a real sucker for green and there's no missing this bag - I'll know it's mine and with set bags its best to get them either clear or coloured so you can see things in it... nothing worse than rummaging around in the bottom of a black hole trying to find that illusive eyeliner you just dropped. Its a great size - big enough to fit things in but small enough that you don't get tempted to over pack it and make it too heavy. It has fantastic pockets on the outside in different sizes and a zip top that you can open completely for easy access. With long handles so you can hang it up when necessary and made from oil cloth it's easy to keep clean. I love it more every time I see it.
These products are incredibly well thought out, well made, fun and practical and EMJ will be my first port of call when I need any new wraps and rolls. I really hope that they start making brush storage pots.. there are so few available and at ridiculous prices - we are crying out for an EMJ one.
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