Snow Snow Snow !!!

This morning we were greeted by a thick covering of white snow which is always an opportunity to take some beautiful snaps!
I trekked down to the bus stop this morning although ended up turning around half way due to the crazy conditions and me being slightly worried I'd get stranded in the middle of no where (I travel a distance to get to college) :!

I hope you enjoy these photographs that I took today, did you get any snow? :)

What Drugstore Brand is Best for What?

I was inspired by Anna to do this post after she gave her views on what drugstore brand is best for what and I came up with fairly different opinions.
I always head towards different counters if I'm after something in particular- I know who does it best for me......

The Best for Foundation ..... I've tried and tested many foundations from all the drugstore brands however I always find Rimmel do the best. My favourites from Rimmel include Wake me Up and Match Perfection as they both give a lovely dewy finish and always feel nice on my skin.

The Best for Concealer ..... It's a close one between Rimmel and Collection. Rimmel Wake me Up concealer is a great creamy concealer that works well under eyes however doesn't give the highest coverage. On the other hand, Collection's Lasting Perfection concealer gives a brilliant high coverage although can tend to be slightly drying so it all depends what my skin is feeling at the time.

The Best for Eyes..... I love cream eye shadow as they last a long time and can also be used as a great base for other shadows to go on top. The best cream shadows in the drugstore come from Maybelline with their 24 hr Colour Tattoos- On and On Bronze is fantastic to create a quick glam eye and Creamy Beige Leather effect is a great nude to even out colour or to be used as a base.

The Best for Cheeks..... Sleek wins here hands down- they're face contour kit is great  and I use it nearly everyday to give the illusion of amazing cheekbones:') Sleek also have a good reputation when it comes to blush although I'm still yet to give them a try but they're on my wish list!

The Best for Mascara..... Finding the right mascara for you can be tricky, something that works for your best friend more than likely won't work for you- we all have our own preferences. For me, Maybellline mascaras do the trick and I'm never disappointed. I absolutely love The Falsies mascara and would rate it way above Benefit's They're Real which used to be my firm favourite.
I'm currently testing out a new mascara from Maybelline called the Lash Sensational which is going well so far- I'll more than likely give you an update in a future post to say what I think about it

The Best for Lipsticks ..... I'll be honest here, drugstore lippys never stand out to me and I always find myself going back to my trusty MAC ones, however Boujours released these 'lip gloss' matte lipsticks last year and I really like them. Boujours Rouge Edition Velvet lipstick's are easy to wear and leave a long lasting matte stain without feeling drying.
I have the colours Hot Pepper and Grand Cru- my favourite is Hot Pepper!


What do you think? Which brands do it for you with certain products?

Building Your Make-up Artist Kit: Getting Started

Whether you're an aspiring make-up artist like myself, or you simply want to put together a collection for yourself, the big secret is in your kit. No make-up artist can function without their kit and getting the correct basics can really make you stand out. I study media make-up at college so I am currently beginning to build my kit to hopefully help me achieve my dreams in the future. As I am a full time,un-paid student, buying big bulks of pricey items can be tricky however I have a few tips for getting the best out of your money and letting you know what's worth it and what's not

In your kit you will need ....

Foundation (in a variety of shades and undertones)
Don't expect everyone to be ghostly pale just because you live in England- get a variety of foundations varying from light porcelain to dark. I like Rimmel Match perfection because it works well on every skin type as well as colour, it's not too dewy or too matte so you can alter it to your preferences and it's cheap so you can afford to buy a few different shades at a time.
Another favourite is MAC face and body, this is a very lightweight liquid foundation that can be built up and works on all skin, as well as being available in many shades and tones. It's also a great versatile product, it can be used on the body to cover up anything as well as being a great foundation.
MAC Studio Fix is another good one if you plan to create full coverage, special occasion make-up.
Foundation is something you should invest in, a bad base will ruin the whole face so it's important to get it right

Concealer 
Conceal and correct pallets are great and provide a few different colour shades to work on different people, they are also more hygienic than your standard sponge applicator as you can use them straight from the pallet with a brush. I like the MAC conceal and correct pallet and I would recommend either buying the light or medium version.
For a more affordable alternative, you can buy great cheap pallets on Amazon (Link here) or simply buy a new version of your favourite affordable concealer that you can use with a brush.

Powder
Go for the Rimmel Stay Matte powder in transparent- a fantastic cheap powder that mattifies and locks make-up into place

Lipstick & Liner 
Don't go crazy and buy  'on trend' colours just yet, make sure you have a good nude and red lipstick- you will use these the most and they will look great on everyone. I love MAC Russian Red and MAC Shy girl. Get matching lip liners for your red and nude, I like MAC Cherry and MAC Spice.
MAC Lipstick and liners are brilliant- spend your money here

Eye shadow 
Invest in an large empty eye shadow pallet (MAC do the best) and gradually fill in with shades you know will be used. Start with nude colours that you know could create a simple look, my first MAC eye shadows in my pallet were Brun, Charcoal Brown, Satin Taupe, Embark and Shroom.
I would highly recommend Satin Taupe, Cranberry, Naked Lunch, Carbon, Red Brick and Deep Damson.
Creating your own pallet is expensive however it's custom made by yourself and you've picked each shade therefore you're less likely to not use certain colours due to not liking them

Eye liner & Mascara 
Don't mess around with liquid liner pens- get yourself a small pot of gel liner and use a brush, MAC Fluid line in Blacktrack is great

Mascara is a tricky one, your main priority is hygiene therefore you're going to have to use disposable mascara wands for every application. Don't spend much money here, mascaras don't last long and you won't be benefiting from the fancy brush that comes with it

Brows 
Simple, get two matte brown eye shadow shades, one light brown and the other dark brown- perfect for everyone. Apply the colour with a small angled brush and get yourself a cheap clear mascara to help keep colour and hairs in place

Cleanser & Moisturiser 
If your client is wearing makeup when they arrive, you're going to have to remove it. Make-up wipes don't do the job and look un-professional. Pick up a bottle of Micellear cleansing water next time you're in Boots and keep it in your kit to be there for gentle and quick make-up application.

I have a big tub of Nivea cream to use on everyone before applying make-up, it works on all skin types and absorbs quickly- don't spend a lot here

Tools 
Brushes! every make-up artist needs them and quantity is important.
I found a super cheap set on amazon that includes nearly everything you will need, including eye and face brushes. They're fantastic for beginners and I really like them - they may not last long but for the price you can't complain! (Link here)
Real Technique brushes are also brilliant for beginners and are very accessible being able to pick up in Boots and Superdrug for a great price.

In your brush collection, you will need at least one of the following
- Foundation brush, either classic or buffing
-Small concealer brush
-Powder brush
-Flat top eye brush
-Buffing eye brush
-Crease eye brush
-Brow brush/ disposable mascara wands (Link here)
-Small angled brush
-Small lip brush

Other Essentials 

Mixing pallets are used instead of putting foundation on the back of your hand (gross!) and to mix together different shades. They're cheap and essential for any make-up artist
(Link Here)

Spatulas. Never scoop your hands inside a product- always use a spatula to get your product then use it from that. Hygiene is important

Clear carry bags- I get mine from amazon, they're great for transporting make-up and seeing what you've got inside
(Link here)

Hand gel. Clean hands are essential- hygiene must be your number one priority when applying make-up on others. Keep a mini hand gel in your kit to thoroughly clean hands

My top tips for building your make-up kit 

Here's a run down of my top tips for building your make-up kit.....

-It's an investment. You may be suffering from a shortage of cash right now but try and keep your spirits high, put lots of effort in and you should get the money back and more in the future from clients and jobs. Remember, these products will help you become successful, without success money will never come.

-Versatility. Try and pick products that you know will be able to be used for more than one thing, for example an eye shadow for both brows and eyes or a foundation that can be used on the body

-Do your research. I never buy make-up without doing my research- look up reviews online, makeupalley.com is fantastic to read reviews from other beauty fanatics and professionals and I also love watching Youtube review videos

-Don't feel pressured to buy anything. Counter staff can be a right pain sometimes, don't let them pressure you with their un-realistic facts and bossiness. Don't be afraid to say no, if they're rude, walk away, they don't deserve your custom. Ask for samples, be polite, tell them what you want but do not be scared to say no- they're only doing their job and shouldn't get offended

-It's un- realistic to expect to go out and buy your whole kit in one go, these things take time and even the best make-up artists are still expanding their kits. One tip I have is to only allow yourself to buy one or two items per month, make yourself a list to make things easier and save yourself money

-Take a course in make-up. You may already have the skill, however achieving a qualification looks great and you're more likely to be employed into the industry. You will also receive amazing opportunities like visits to make-up shows/events and discounts at big brands like MAC (I once received a one off 35% discount at MAC... amazing!)

-Make sure this is what you want to do. Nothing annoys me more than seeing people waste away their money on tons of professional equipment to then decide a year later that they aren't interested anymore and want to do something else. Have a long think about it, this industry is tough, make sure you're prepared for what's ahead of you and most importantly. make the most of it


I hope you've found this post useful, let me know what you're kit staples are in the comments below! :)

My Skincare Routine

Last summer I posted a skincare routine however recently I've mixed things up slightly and have found these products to work extremely well for me. My skin is pretty normal and I don't get spots frequently however it does sometimes turn dry in the cooler months but other than that, without sounds big headed, my skin is pretty good and I honestly think that's due to my good, regular skincare routine which I'm about to tell you all about.

Morning Routine 
I think that washing my face properly in the morning really helps to wake me up and look fresh for the day ahead, to start off I usually rise my face with warm water then get a small amount of the Clean & Clear Daily Exfoliating wash onto my fingers and gently massage it all over my face, avoiding the eye and mouth area then simply rise off using a flannel and warm water. Exfoliating with a proper scrub daily isn't great as its harsh on your skin however this wash has extremely small beads that brighten the skin to get rid of any nasties, my skin is also very used to this product as I've been using it for years so I know it's not causing any harm.
Secondly to give my face a proper wash and to get rid of any excess from the scrub, I get my Clean & Clear Deep Action Facial wash and again simply massage onto the face then rise off with warm water. I find this wash really clears my skin and leaves it looking fresh.
I've been using both of these products from Clean& Clear for many years now and I've always gone back to them as I know they work well on my skin and I'm sure its down to them that my skin has behaved so well throughout my teenage years and I couldn't recommend them both enough !

Finally, after coming out of the shower I always apply a moisturiser to ensure my skin is hydrated and this is the best time to apply your moisturiser as your pores will be open due to the warm shower and it will get the most out of the product. I'm constantly testing out new moisturisers but I always like them to be hydrating but still to absorb quickly into the skin, ready for makeup. The one I'm using at the moment is the Garnier Moisture Match for normal to dry skin- I really love the idea of this range from Garnier, they have several different moisturisers all catered for different skin types which I think is great as many people with more oily skin are usually scared of moisturiser so these are perfect for everyone.

Evening Routine 
I love the feeling of taking my makeup off at the end of a stressful day so my evening skincare routine is always something I look forward to. I have a few different products that I like to use depending on how much time I have or how luxury I want my routine to feel, for the quick and easy method I simply get some of The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Balm (I also love the oil version of this product) and gently massage it all over my face, including eyes, then rise off with warm water- this will remove every trace of your makeup, including waterproof eyemakeup. After I would lather on a rich moisturiser and then I'm done.

If I have a little more time I will start by removing eye makeup with either a Micellear Cleansing Water (I love the Garnier and Loreal ones), a cleansing oil or a eye makeup remover.
Next I'll grab my Liz Earl Cleanse & Polish and get about 2 pumps of product and massage it all over my face, then soak a muslin cloth in warm water and rinse. This is a lovely luxury cleanser which always makes me feel like I'm in a spa due to its herbal like smell and how it leaves my skin super soft.
La Roche Posay Serozinc is a cooling water spray with added ingredients to help prevent and treat troubled skin- I like to use this every now and then if my skin is playing up however with my skin being slightly dry I don't like to use it too often as it is designed for combination- oily skin and it can dry out mine sometimes.
A rich moisturiser in the evening is perfect for every skin type as it will work overnight to leave your skin feeling hydrated and smooth- I like creams from Nivea or if you're after a more luxury one, the Balance Me Moisture Rich face cream is lovely.

My Current Favourites, January 2015

Happy new year! I hope you all had a good Christmas and welcomed in the new year well. I've discovered some amazing new products recently so I thought I'd share them with you to let you know what my current favourite beauty, makeup and hair products are.

I was very lucky to receive just the right amount of MAC eye-shadows for Christmas to complete my pallet which I was very happy with ; my 3 new shadows are Scumptous Olive, Deep Damson and Quarry. I've especially loved using Scumptious Olive all over the eye lid then Deep Damson blended through the crease to give a really nice 'earthy' strong look- I'll insert a picture of me wearing these two shadows together

(If anyone would like an updated MAC eye shadow collection- let me know!)

Illamasqua had an amazing sale after Christmas and I couldn't resit ordering this lip pallet that includes 4 lipstick colours and I got it for around £10! (what a bargain!) The colours are all pink tones and I think they will be great for the upcoming warmer seasons. I also love this pallet as I study media makeup at college so I often apply makeup to others and lipstick must be applied using a brush to reduce cross infection, therefore a pallet of lipstick is very practical and a lot more hygienic than your average stick lippy. The pigmentation of these lipsticks is fantastic and they can be built up to achieve a very bold look which would be perfect for editorial makeup.
Personally I've been reaching for the lightest shade in the pallet called Fable which works well paired with a lip liner like the Rimmel Exaggerate in East End Snob and then if I fancy some gloss, I love using Tanya Burr's lipgloss in Picnic in the Park to give me a perfect pink lip!

Eyeliner has never been one of my strong points however I've recently been testing out a few different products to see if I can find the right one for me. I've tried MAC's Blacktrack Fluidline and Soap&Glory's Super Cat liner however neither have impressed me as much as the Collection Fast Stroke liner which is by far one of the best eyeliner's I've ever used! The nib applicator is extremely fine which helps you create a super thin line and it also glides on with no tugging to help get that perfect cat eye flick. Another bonus is the price, I spent nearly £20 on an eyeliner once which I've probably used a few times and was a complete waste of money however with this one from Collection only costing you around £3, it's always going to be a winner!

(Actual cat eyes, definitely the look I was going for! haha!)

I'm a little lazy when it comes to hair and I find it a big effort to wash my hair more than three times a week at a push (gross to some of you- I know!) and I've never really got on well with a dry shampoo before as they always made my hair feel chalky and even more in need of a good wash. However my opinions on dry shampoo completely changed when Ruth Crilly launched her very own range which claimed to be sheer + invisible which I complete agree with! I particularly love the New York and London fragrances as they make my hair smell amazing as well as adding volume and making it feel as good as new

I received the Vera Wang Princess perfume as a Christmas present and I love the floral but not overpowering scent. I've become obsessed with this and think it would make a great gift it you're after something to buy for someone special

MAC lipsticks are amazing and I've always got my eye on a new colour so I was extremely happy to find this one called Plumful under the tree at Christmas. It's a gorgeous rose plum that gives a comfortable creamy finish. I've never been a big fan of very dull nude lip colours so this is perfect for me as an in-between nude and bold colour

2014 was the year of the brows and I finally feel like I've got my perfect brow routine products. To achieve a defined arch I love using this brow pencil from MAC called Stud and I lightly pencil in my arch following my brows natural shape. This is a great product however it would probably be too dark for me if I used it all over, therefore I always use a light brown shadow (like MAC Charcoal Brown) and gently push the product upwards using a small angled brush mainly on the inner part of the brow- this also helps make your eyebrows look more natural

I've never been a fan of a super matte heavy coverage foundation however for special occasions I've been reaching for my MAC Studio Fix foundation which does give a matte and heavy coverage although it doesn't look cakey and works well on my dry skin when used with a good moisturiser and primer. I highly recommend this foundation to anyone looking for a high coverage foundation that is buildable and works well on any skin type. It's fantastic for special occasions like a party, wedding or prom as it will look great in photos and will last a long time

My final favourite is something I never thought I'd be able to justify for the price however when I was gifted a gift card for Christmas, the temptation was too much and I decided to buy the highly raved about Liz Earl Cleanse & Polish. I've used many different cleansers before however this one gives that extra something and is a great luxury product if you're in the market for a fancy cleanser. I use it every evening and it removes& cleans my face very well whilst giving off a spa like herbal fragrance which I love. Would I buy it again? probably not due to the heavy price tag for what you get although I do think it would make a great gift for a beauty fanatic!

That's it for my current favourites whilst entering 2015, what have you been loving recently?

Speak to you soon!